For most goods Russia remains a land of take-it- or-leave-it socialist shopping of generic brands

For most goods Russia remains a land of take-it- or-leave-it socialist shopping, of generic brands carted from factory to shop in trucks labelled not with manufacturers' names but a single word - 'bread', 'milk', 'petrol', 'products' For smokers, though, the choice seems endless. Dear Sir Adrian, I realise I have left it a bit late, but I would like to comment on what has become known as the Cadbury report (in recognition of the role you played as committee chairman). Joseph Donald Parker, intelligence officer, born Bristol 16 June 1912, MBE 1942, died 9 August 1992. On being told that this was Art, the Captain glared at the team as if they should be keelhauled, and retired to his cabin. As they climbed the tower's outside stairway to the funeral platform, a few crows and kites swooped on to the rampart and were jerking their wings in a spasm of hungry anticipation.The Parsees, who venerate fire, laid the corpse tenderly on the platform.The only ornaments on the Tower of Silence are lines that beam out from the centre well, and it looked as though the dead man was caught dangling in the rays of a dark sun. Since these areas are currently in Serbian hands, the effect would be to reduce the amount of territory allocated to the Serbs to below 49 per cent.With the Serbs having conquered about 70 per cent of Bosnia since the war broke out in April 1992, it is not certain they will accept the Western-Russian initiative Equally, the Muslims and Croats want 58 per cent of Bosnia. One comic, George Burns, has even been able to turn old age into part of his act, the creakily blinking eyes and slowly flickering tongue into refinements of comic timing.It was almost 20 years ago that Walter Matthau co-starred with Burns in The Sunshine Boys, but it's surprising how little his portrayal of a septuagenarian has altered now that he doesn't have to do research.

Perhaps she was spared worse treatment because of her youth, but Dolma was kicked and beaten during three days of interrogation. Mr Acher said that with 51 per cent of those surveyed appointed in the old way, 'it will be interesting to see if, in the future, the chairman's influence wanes in this respect'.At the same time, there is a clear indication that many non- executives face twin - and possibly conflicting - demands to give strategic advice and represent shareholder interests.Mr Acher said: 'They appear comfortable with this dual role, but are clearly not getting sufficient information on some of the key strategy areas that one might expect.'There are areas where matters of strategic importance and the receipt of vital information need to be brought into line. A leading barrister said that hundreds of students were being 'set up to fail'. EXACTLY 200 years ago, Jeanne- Francoise Julie-Adelade Bernard, a nicely brought-up young girl from Lyons, married the rich banker Jacques Recamier She was only 15; Recamier was old enough to be her father. It might be a losing battle, but Terry's lawyers think he has a reasonable case to fight in court and we will have to wait and see what happens there.'(Photograph omitted). As public figures they have to expect slings and arrows, not to speak of brickbats; but they have come to expect - indeed demand - fawning and sycophancy. In my experience, they seldom mind adverse criticism all that much, so long as it comes from someone knowledgable, a criterion that is not easy to define; and the rest they can dismiss out of hand. Ah well, you cannot have it all.East Midlands: Tries Ward, MacNaughton 2, Pask, Alston, Wilkinson, Shelford, Penalty try, Webster; Conversions Tubb 6, Mansell.

WESTCOUNTRY, the new ITV contractor for South-west England, has made a poor start with its daily 6pm programme, Westcountry Live. DESPITE a post-tax loss of pounds 14.4m and a dividend cut, CE Heath is 'quite bullish' about the coming year, encouraged by strengthening insurance rates. But his girlfriend provided an alibi and as police had no other evidence, Hasset was not charged.In 1988, tests were conducted on swabs of semen taken from the body of the schoolgirl. And this at the age of 25, in only his third full Formula One season. Victory in tomorrow's British Grand Prix, at Silverstone, would be his seventh in eight races, and impressive by any standard. He spoke very rarely and his maiden speech, lasting only a few minutes, was one of the shortest on record. The concession is a sign that the administration, which has ruled out a wider bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb forces, now feels that it has no effective military option. 'Why does a millionaire have to stoop to these levels to make a fast buck? Now people I speak to are angry and want him out.