Among many delightful ironies on view at Rutland Park Mansions is the sight of Ken Livingstone giving his enthusiastic support to a plan originating with the right-wing Adam Smith Institute.'Our plan,' says Gavin Fothergill, 'would mean just as many rooms going to the homeless as the council's plan But with us the whole building would be saved. THE VATICAN confirmed yesterday that it would sign an agreement with Israel by the end of this year, granting the Jewish state official recognition. He has a Gold cheque account at RBS, with a Switch card, and a separate deposit account. However, by around 500 years ago, there were at least 7,000 languages in the world, but pressure exerted by European imperial expansion - especially in Australia and the Americas - over recent centuries has reduced the world's language stock by almost 15 per cent to 6,000.In the past, most individual languages have each probably lasted for between 300 and 1,000 years before mutating into something new. Peter Kirsten and Hansie Cronje were run out as South Africa stumbled to 26 for 3.

It is a very strange situation because I am back with the team where I know 90 per cent of the people and feel quite at home It is difficult to know what to say. 'He'll definitely need the race, but the way he's working and the way he is I think he'll definitely win. This is all very well for an Ian Botham or a Frank Bruno but a rugby man packing them in at the panto is about as unlikely as you could get, even if the player is a one-off such as Chilcott. It emerged that the Independent on Sunday - responsible, up-to-the-minute newspaper that it is - had spent a great deal of money in securing the rights to a small portion of the aforesaid Madonna's latest oeuvre, Sex (dread word]) For the full pounds 5,000 17s 6d, we are now legally entitled to reproduce: (a) three (3) buttocks, fully naked; (b) one (1) bosom partially bared; and (c) one (1) head shot of Sir Norman Fowler with spectacles. My gift to him.' She also thanks 'Huichol culture' for its 'amazing yarn paintings' and 'Joan Miura and Mary Walsh for representing the Goddess in my household: for doing research, patching leaks, keeping the refrigerator stocked and shutting out the noise. A rare event, indeed.'They have normally helped us enormously by leaving players out or doing odd things,' Cooke said.Among the oddities were the sweeping changes Berbizier made after the French defeat of South Africa.

Why have millions of years of evolution apparently shaped the human brain in a way that enables us to get high? The answers may cast light on such conditions as depression and schizophrenia.Dr Roger Pertwee, of Aberdeen University, secretary of the International Cannabis Research Society, explains that the plant contains psychotropic substances, known as cannabinoids, that change human perception. 'I don't think an insurer does someone any favours by trying to accommodate them with household cover. In the parts of town not reached by piped music, men and women gathered in separate groups around a drummer and linked arms and chanted. 'If the Prime Minister is so confident of the support of parents, why doesn't he use the pounds 700,000 to hold a ballot of parents to find out what they really think? Why, if the Government is so sincere about parental choice, not let the parents choose?'The Prime Minister ignored the challenge, just as Mr Smith had when asked to condemn a call by the president of the NUT to 'annihilate' tests in the National Curriculum.'I do not think it is appropriate for teachers to take industrial action at the expense of these tests,' Mr Major said. Officials said the Cabinet would stick to the ceiling of pounds 253.6bn for next year, which would be 'tighter than they think'.There would be 'tremendous problems for the party' if Mr Clarke proposed tax increases, said David Shaw, vice-chairman of the Tory backbench finance committee.