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Musharraf leaves for the Phillipines

     New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left for the Philippines on Monday afternoon at the end of his significant three-day visit to India. The President was officially seen off by the Minister of State for Environment N.N. Meena, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shanker Menon. Top officials of Pakistan High Commission in India, along with their spouses were also present at the technical area of Palam Airport to see off the visiting dignitary. The departure was delayed by two hours from its earlier schedule of 10.30 a.m. because of a last minute decision to read out a joint statement.

IAF's MiG 25 to be phased out: IAF sources

     New Delhi: One of the two fighter planes in the world capable of flying upto the stratosphere and Indian Air Force's most secret plane-Mig-25 is about to bid a farewell, informed IAF sources said. Mig-25, which is capable of flying up to a height of 70,000 to 80,000 feet and attain speed up to three times faster than sound, code-named Foxbat by the NATO alliance, has been used by India as a spy plane. The Mig-25s were based in locations kept secret by the IAF since its acquisition in 1980s. It was seldom shown in the public and its dare devil deeds were never allowed to hit the headlines.

Global manhunt on for Indian born doc 'Dr Death' (Go To Top)

     Melbourne: Australian authorities have joined a worldwide search for a Jayant Patel, a doctor of Indian nationality who has been dubbed as 'Dr Death" by the US authorities in Oregon. According to The Australian, Patel has been accused of killing or seriously injuring as many as 14 people as a result of his sloppy surgical work at Queensland's Bundaberg Base hospital. Following approaches made by Queensland's medical board, medical authorities in Oregon, where Dr Patel lives, have also appointed an investigator to track him down, amidst speculation that Patel has fled to India. The paper quoted Toni Hoffman, the nurse who complained to medical authorities about Dr Patel's work when he was at Bundaberg hospital, said that Dr Patel should be brought back to Australia to "face the music". "I really think he had some psychological problem because his ego was so huge and he probably would not have thought that was criminal. He thought everything was wonderful. While I thought his acts were criminal he wouldn't see it like that," the paper quoted her as saying, adding that death and injuries to patients treated by Dr Patel could have been prevented if his record was checked and if complaints she had made about him had been acted upon.

     A spokeswoman for Premier Peter Beattie said that though Patel's location was not known, yet they were confident of nabbing him. "But no matter where he is we will do our best to track him down," the paper quoted her as saying. Queensland Police are also on their part considering launching a criminal investigation into Dr Patel's activities. "Police remain in close contact with health officials and if anything is found to be of a criminal nature a senior officer will be appointed to investigate it," a police spokeswoman added. Queensland Premier Peter Bettie further said that although there was no extradition treaty between Australia and India, there was however an agreement between the two countries that allowed extradition under certain criteria.

Iraq president won't sign Saddam's death warrant (Go To Top)

     Baghdad: Iraq new President Jalal Talabani said he would not sign a death warrant for captured former leader Saddam Hussein. "Personally, no, I won't sign," he said while talking a British TV channel. "But you know, the presidency of Iraq are three people. These three must decide. So I can be absent. I can go on holiday and let the two others, the vice-presidents, decide."

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