www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050328/world.htm
F-16 sales decision rejuvenates Lockheed Martin The Bush administrations decision to sell F-16s to India and Pakistan com es as a welcome news to the struggling Bethesda-based manufacturer of th e fighter jets. Mike Nipper, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, told The T ribune on Friday afternoon that the defence contractor had been closely following news of the sale of F-16s to Pakistan but had not received any official notification on the sale from the Bush administration.
An ailing Pope John Paul appeared at his window to bless the fa ithful on Easter Sunday, but in a dramatic episode that brought tears to the eyes of many people, he failed in his attempt to speak. An unidentified man adjusts Pope John Paul II's cap as he looks at sheets of paper prior to delivering an Easter Sunday blessing at the Vatican o n Sunday. AP/PTI photo Mallika Sherawat and Akshay Kumar perform on stage during the Zee Cine Aw ards 2005 at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London on Saturday Mallika S herawat (left) and Akshay Kumar perform on stage during the Zee Cine Awa rds 2005 at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London on Saturday. The award s, in their eighth edition, were held in London for the first time.
A supporter of Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change looks towards th eir leader Morgan Tsvangirai during an election rally in Harare A supporter of Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change looks towards th eir leader Morgan Tsvangirai (unseen) during an election rally in Harare , Zimbabwe, on Sunday. Tsvangirai held the rally ahead of parliamentary elections set for March 31.
Schiavo's parents take 'last shot' at keeping her alive Pinellas Park (Florida), March 27 The parents of Terri Schiavo took what one of their lawyers called their final shot on Friday, arguing that the brain-damaged woman tried to say I want to live minutes before her feeding tube was removed on March 18.
Pak arrests 14 Indian fishermen Islamabad, March 27 The Pakistan authorities have arrested 73 fishermen, including 14 Indians , and seized their trawlers for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters.
Resolve Kashmir issue to avoid a Kargil: Pervez Islamabad, March 27 India and Pakistan should adopt a "positive" attitude towards the Kargil war and resolve the Kashmir issue to prevent repetition of Kargil-type i ncidents, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said. The moon appears as a halo behind a statue of Jesus at sunrise on Easter Sunday in Sydney The moon appears as a halo behind a statue of Jesus at sunrise on Easter Sunday in Sydney.
F-16 sales decision rejuvenates Lockheed Martin Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington The Bush administrations decision to sell F-16s to India and Pakistan com es as a welcome news to the struggling Bethesda-based manufacturer of th e fighter jets. Mike Nipper, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, told The Tribune on Friday afternoon that the defence contractor had been closely following news of the sale of F-16s to Pakistan but had not received any official notific ation on the sale from the Bush administration. Company officials say the firm was in desperate need of orders for the F- 16 failing which it would have been forced to close some of its operatio ns, an action that would lead to the loss of a few thousand jobs. Lockheed Martin has produced more than 4,000 F-16s in over 110 different versions. The F-16 is one of the worlds most sought-after multi-role fig hters. The F-16 is a revolutionary fighter when first introduced and has continu ously evolved to meet global needs. Twentytwo nations have chosen the wo rlds first fourth-generation fighter; Mr Nipper said an F-16 a single-engine, land-based fighter jet would cos t upwards of $ 35 million. The cost varies significantly depending on th e accessories and how they are equipped, he said. The F-18, a more advanced fighter, is a double engine, carrier-based airc raft, which is up to 30 per cent heavier than the F-16. The cost of the F-18 is considerably higher, Mr Nipper said, explaining that the jets s ell by the pound. Asked about the economic impact of the Bush administrations decision to s ell the jets to Pakistan and India on the US companies, a senior state d epartment official in Washington replied: They like it.
Top Ailing Pope blesses, fails to speak Vatican City, March 27 An ailing Pope John Paul appeared at his window to bless the faithful on Easter Sunday, but in a dramatic episode that brought tears to the eyes of many people, he failed in his attempt to speak. He made a few sounds but was unable to pronounce any words. The scene, broadcast on live television, came after his Secretary of Stat e, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, presided at the solemn Easter Sunday service for tens of thousands of people in an overcast St Peter's Square. During the mass, the Pope's window was left open, as a sign of his spirit ual link with the faithful below. His coat of arms was left hanging outs ide and the curtains wafted in the breeze. Then the 84-year-old Pope, sitting and wearing his traditional white cass ock, was rolled up to his window and waited while Sodano read the Pontif f's "Urbi et Orbi" message, Latin for "to the city and to the world". When Sodano finished reading the message, a priest announced that the Pop e would give the crowd a special blessing. He moved his hand in the sign of the cross but did not manage to pronounce any words into the microph one. It was the first Easter Sunday service not presided over by the Pope in t he 26 years since he became the Roman Catholic leader.
Top Schiavo's parents take 'last shot' at keeping her alive Manuel Roig-Franzia Bobby Schindler, brother of brain-damaged Florida woman Terri Schiavo, and his sister Suzanne Vitadamo, finish a press conference in front of the Woodside Hospice, Florida, on Saturday Bobby Schindler, brother of brain-damaged Florida woman Terri Schiavo, and his sister Suzanne Vitadamo, finish a press conference in front of the Woodside Hospice, Florida, on Saturday. Reuters photo Pinellas Park (Florida), March 27 The parents of Terri Schiavo took what one of their lawyers called their final shot on Friday, arguing that the brain-damaged woman tried to say I want to live minutes before her feeding tube was removed March 18. The surprise tactic stirred emotions on yet another day of courtroom deci sions, including a ruling by a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appe als for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, which on Friday night rejected a re quest to resume Schiavo's feeding. Hours before the ruling, Schiavo's fa ther, Robert Schindler, with red-rimmed eyes and a weary gaze, said his daughter is down to her last hours. On Friday night, Schindler and his wife, Mary, pleaded on television for Gov. The assertions that Schiavo was trying t o talk were disputed by attorneys for Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo , who accused the Schindlers' legal team of crossing the line and questi oned why the assertion had not been raised during the hours of impassion ed courtroom arguments over the past week. This was our last motion, said Barbara Weller, one of the Schindlers' att orneys. Weller - who said in an interview on Friday night that she told reporters about Schiavo trying to speak, but was mostly ignored - was both attorn ey and witness on Friday. She offered an affidavit that said Schiavo res ponded after she begged her to say I want to live. The brain-damaged woman struggled to answer, saying Ahhh and Waaa before becoming agitated and giving up, Weller wrote. The assertion contradicts the diagnoses of several court-appointed doctors, who have reported tha t Schiavo is in a vegetative state and have said that people often mista ke reflex actions, such as moaning, for true cognitive activity. Earlier on Friday, a federal judge in Tampa refused to order the tube rei nserted, saying the Schindlers had not presented enough evidence to supp ort their arguments that Schiavo is an abused disabled person. Public opinion, both nationally and in Florida, strongly favours Michael Schiavo, who says his wife would want the tube removed, and opposes the law passed by Congress during an extraordinary Palm Sunday session.
Top Pak arrests 14 Indian...
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