Its congregation has dwindled, its authority has declined, the Synod is about as popular a body as the European Commission (why not Jacques Delors for Canterbury?), and the Church is split on the issue of female priests.The press may have under-reported these events because it does not have a good understanding of church matters and is afraid of its own ignorance, but it has certainly not caused the decline to occur. The Americans want to abolish duties on more products than the Europeans will accept, including beer and furniture.The EC says, in turn, that the US must cut its peak tariff on textiles from 37 per cent, and the US textile lobby is resisting fiercely, afraid it will be left hopelessly exposed to Far Eastern competition.There are other issues. Michael Gorodecki, putting the composer's view, stressed the boon of practical knowledge gained from the society's workshop events. Communism moves in mysterious ways.Simon Calder is co-author, with Emily Hatchwell, of the Travellers' Survival Kit: Cuba (Vacation Work, pounds 9.95).(Photographs omitted). The outcome of Mr Yeltsin's plebiscite is determined by a clear majority of votes cast, while the Congress referendum requires a majority of eligible voters. Once-great names - Young, Tebbit, Ridley, even Heseltine, although he's still there - have been brought low trying to find their bearings in the fly-blown wastes of British industrial policy.

But it is paying its way better than many expected.That should mean that manufacturers warm to the company's increasing requests for European franchises. The ABI also warns holidaymakers to check the personal liability cover clause in their policies. It's a pity that LaMonte Young, the true Minimalist pioneer, and so many other radicals of the movement were excluded from Tuesday's 'Minimalist Marathon'. Small coteries of campers and tourists busied themselves with tent pegs and beer cans There was no one in the vicinity over the age of 25 Rex, like me, must have been getting on for 40 It was hopeless, he wasn't there. The team must ultimately have black and white players in it.' How soon that will be is anybody's guess, but a step in the right direction has been taken. Last week he cadged a few off Prince Rainier.Nick Faldo has developed the unhealthy habit of falling under the spell of the twitch factor in recent weeks. Five people, two aged 17, complained of being hit, punched and threatened after the IRA killing of a police officer.

The official figure of around 4,600 tigers in India is probably wildly inflated. A gynaecologist coached a woman how to deceive hospitals into admitting her so that he could perform two illegal abortions on her, an Old Bailey court was told yesterday. It was very similar.'Owners called the bid defensive and opportunistic. SJSchumann: Piano Concerto; Piano Quintet - Alicia de Larrocha, Tokyo String Quartet, LSO / Sir Colin Davis (BMG/RCA 09026 61279-2)A MOST eligible coupling, the quintet like a confidence before that most free and open-hearted of concertos. PEKING (Reuter) - Aisin Giorro Pu Jie, the 86-year-old brother of the last Chinese emperor, is in hospital. The DPP is reviewing its decision not to press charges.Deborah Coles of Inquest, which monitors deaths in custody, said yesterday: 'There are many deaths where nobody seems to be accountable.