July 13, 1996

It began as an old-fashioned fairy tale but soon became just another failed modern marriage, brought down by anger, tears and adultery. And today, almost 15 years after the wedding between Lady Diana Spencer and Charles, the Prince of Wales, the consummately incompatible couple announced that they had finally reached an agreement on the terms for their divorce. Under the agreement, announced in a joint statement by Buckingham Palace, representing Charles, and Anthony Julius, Diana's lawyer, the Princess will receive a big lump-sum payment instead of regular alimony checks. Neither side would release details of the financial settlement, but London newspapers have reported that Diana is getting about $22.5 million in cash, as well as about $600,000 a year earmarked to maintain her private office.

Agreement Seen on Welfare

Bowing to threats by abortion opponents who said they would disrupt his convention in August, Bob Dole reversed himself today and said he would abide by their wishes concerning language in the Republican Party platform. An agreement worked out today eliminates language from the abortion plank that expressed "tolerance" for those who favor abortion rights, and sprinkles it instead throughout the rest of the platform.

The New York State Legislature made a harried dash toward adjournment on Friday and early this morning, passing bills to enact a long-delayed budget and moving toward the approval of legislation that would deregulate hospitals and authorize a $1.75 billion environmental bond act. Eager to finish so members could return home and campaign for re-election, the Legislature started approving the $66 billion budget that Gov. George E. Pataki and legislative leaders settled upon on Thursday. Most legislators got their first look at the lengthy budget bills after the agreement, which ended the longest delay in passing a state budget in the nation's history. [Page 24.]

A day after a bone-crushing brawl between rival retinues and angry fans who began landing blows once the professional fighters had been stopped, Madison Square Garden officials said yesterday that they would continue staging boxing matches. The fray followed a prizefight between Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota. It raised questions about whether the Garden -- where boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta fought their way to fame -- had warned the police of the potential for violence among fans. Authorities also wondered whether the police, who subdued the brawl after a 911 call from a man watching it on cable television at home in Brooklyn, had mobilized fast enough.