Archives

Virgin Mary's statue shedding tears again

          Sydney, Apr 28: The statue of the Virgin Mary near Perth is in news again. And for the same reason. It is weeping again, as it did last year, attracting thousands of pilgrims. The fibreglass statue went on display at Our Lady of Lourdes church at Rockingham in August after reports that it had begun to "cry" during the feast of St Joseph and over Easter, according to a report in the Age.

           Bought in Thailand by parishioner Patty Powell, it attracted world-wide attention and thousands of worshippers. On Sunday, Powell's niece, Shandale Powell, said that the statue began weeping again on Good Friday. The tears were found to be a mixture of rose oil and vegetable oil. Last year from August 15 the statue reportedly wept continuously. But it stopped in mid-January and was withdrawn from public display by Perth Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey who said it was not a miracle.

Govt plans to declare pilots' strike illegal

          New Delhi, Apr 28: Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday said that the Government was seriously thinking of declaring the ongoing pilots' strike as illegal. He said the strike was not planned as no notice was served in advance. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the Government also contemplated taking action against the members of the Indian Pilots Guild under whose aegis the strike has been going on. The strike entered its fifth day on Monday even as nearly 40 pilots have been suspended so far for not reporting for duty.

           The pilots called the strike after they refused to fly aircraft to Sars-hit Singapore and Hong Kong. They wanted written undertakings that none of the crew members accompanying them had visited the Sars-hit countries during the past ten days. Responding to queries, Hussain said "we have initiated a process of consultation with the Labour Ministry to declare their undeclared strike illegal and take necessary action against them."

           Meanwhile, in another related development during the day, Air- India chargesheeted 12 pilots, who were suspended two days ago, for their refusal to operate and "abandon" flights at various destinations. Official sources said the chargesheets were being issued to the pilots who were suspended on April 26. An officer is being appointed to initiate inquiry proceedings, they added.

Tell us about WMD and live royally: UK offer to Tariq (Go To Top)

          London, Apr 28: Britain is offering Saddam Hussein's key aide Tariq Aziz a royal hideaway in return for spilling the beans on the whereabouts of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Security chiefs reckon one of the remote homes on the Prince Charles' sprawling estates could be perfect for keeping Aziz tucked away, the Sun reveals.

           But the idea will sicken British taxpayers left to foot the bill for his life of luxury here. It would also mean giving in to his demands for full immunity from prosecution. Human rights groups say Aziz, 67, has the blood of thousands of dead Iraqi civilians on his hands. One organisation, Indict, was quoted as saying by the Sun: "This is sick. There's no way a monster with his record should be allowed to set foot in this country." Tory MP Andrew Rossindell added: "Decent folk would find it offensive and unacceptable if he was given a home in this country."

           Plans have been drawn up to reward Aziz with a new identity and a 1.5million pound home - complete with 24-hour police protection. He would be brought in via RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, aboard a US Air Force plane. Aziz would then be held under military police guard - possibly at the Army garrison in Chicksands, Beds - for between six months and a year. Once he has met his part of the bargain - by leading the Allies to Saddam's evil arsenal and turning in members of Saddam's toppled regime - he would be given a new identity. Aziz - famed for his moustache and thick spectacles - would also be offered cosmetic surgery to change his appearance before starting a cushy new life with his wife and four adult children.

Let a joint LoC monitoring by seven countries check for infiltration: Kasuri (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Apr 28: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has suggested joint monitoring of the Line of e Control (LoC) by Britain, United States, France, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and Iran to see if Pakistan is sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Talking to newsmen on Sunday, he said Pakistan has always welcomed the role of the United Nations and other neutral bodies or states to resolve the issue of Kashmir. "As India is not willing to accept increase in the number of the UN observers at the LoC, we want to engage some sovereign state or states to monitor the situation at the LoC", he added.

           The foreign minister maintained that there was always a need for a neutral party to judge the facts when one levels allegation and other denies it. "Same is the case with the allegation of cross- border terrorism against Pakistan," he said, adding that Indians should not blame Pakistan for all untoward incidents and happenings in their country, rather they must probe the facts before moving ahead.

George screened for Sars on return from Beijing (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Apr 28: Defence Minister George Fernandes, who returned to New Delhi after a week-long visit to China, was screened at the international airport for severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). Fernandes, who travelled widely across worst-affected Chinese provinces including Guangdong, said the Sars scare has been blown out of proportion. "Where there are reports of maximum scare of Sars we were there and came back unaffected. The situation does not warrant so much panic. I have got myself screened for Sars here also and when I went from Shanghai to Seoul, there also a check- up was done," Fernandes told reporters at the airport on Sunday.

Angry Kolkatans want Sars patient shifted from Apollo (Go To Top)

          Kolkata, Apr 28: Residents of Kolkata on Monday demonstrated against the authorities of Apollo hospital where the country's seventh SARS victim has been admitted. The residents, wearing masks, demanded 42-year-old Astitbha Purkayashta be shifted to any other hospital which was not located in a residential area. Earlier, around 20 patients had given in writing that they should be shifted to other hospitals. Employees also threatened to go on a strike unless Purakayastha was removed to the Beligatha ID hospital for treatment. "This patient should be given good treatment. He should be taken to ID hospital or a good nursing home where there is no residential place nearby. That is what we have told them. They are saying the patient is in good condition," said Dibyendu Biswas, a local councillor who led the protest.

French minister to push sale of Mirage, submarines (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Apr 28: French Defence Minister Michele Aliot Marie met Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani here on Monday. The details of the meeting were not known but defence analysts say both sides briefed each other on the assessment of the international scenario after the US and British coalition forces toppled Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Besides the international security scenario, the tension between India and Pakistan and developments in Afghanistan, the two sides also focused on expanding military-level cooperation between the two countries.

          The French are likely to make a pitch for 140 advanced Mirage 2000-V5 to India with New Delhi on the verge of finalising a technology transfer deal for acquisition and manufacture of advanced fighters to fill the breach between phasing out of ageing MiG series and delay in induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. Along with French Dassault, the other competitors are USA Lockheed Martin with their offer of F-16 fighting Falcons and the Russians with their upgraded MiG 29 and Su-30MKI. Marie is also likely to press for clearance of the multi-billion dollar sale and technology transfer of Scorpene submarines to New Delhi.

           The deal, which has been cleared by the Indian defence ministry and is awaiting the final nod from Cabinet Committee on Security, has evoked some flak, with some Opposition parties alleging that the government was defying all norms by going for single vendor purchases. Under the deal, India proposed to manufacture at the first instance six of these Scorpene class submarines while retaining the option of building further six.

           The French minister is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

Seven die as lightning strikes house during wedding (Go To Top)

          Siliguri (West Bengal), Apr 28: At least seven people were killed and 14 seriously injured when lightning struck a house during a marriage ceremony after a thunderstorm hit the town of Malbazar in Siliguri district, about 600 km from Kolkata. Dharma Ray, an eyewitness, said on Monday that the marriage was on when the tragedy occurred on the weekend night. "Marriage party had come. The function was going on very happily when all of a sudden there was lightning in which seven people were killed. Two are in hospital. It became difficult to continue with the ceremony and now we are taking the dead bodies for cremation," said Ray. Three men, one woman and three children were killed on the spot and the injured were taken to the North Bengal Medical College hospital in Nagrakata town. The condition of the injured are said to be stable.