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Tuesday,
September 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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SARS scare
grips Singapore economy again
Pak
rejects India’s offer Straw
begged Blair not to go to war, 51 pc Americans against more funds for Iraq
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No pact
for Lok Sabha poll, 2 dead, 40 hurt in Chechen Madonna
turns author, launches book
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SARS scare grips Singapore economy again Singapore, September 15 Old concerns, about the deadly spread of the virus just a few months back, again came to haunt the authorities in Singapore after a 27-year-old youth of Chinese origin, working in a microbiology laboratory at the National University of Singapore, tested positive for SARS in the first week of September. As the news of fresh infection became public, masks again made a comeback at various hospitals in Singapore for the first time after the World Health Organisation (WHO), declared Singapore SARS free on July 5. While Singapore Health officials were terming it as an ‘isolated case’ with no risk to public health, the business community and tourism industry officials were skeptic. The Deputy Director, Singapore Healthcare Services, Mr Lee Kai Yin, said that there was no cause for panic at all, even though as a precautionary measure 25 person who had come in contact with the infected youth had been kept at home quarantined. With the fresh concerns over SARS, the tour operators in Singapore were again fearing the worst. As a tour operator of Indian origin, Mr Bhajan Singh, said he did not earn a single penny during the three months when SARS scare had ravaged the country, as there were 100 per cent cancellations from tourists and business travellers. ‘‘Ever since the fresh SARS case has been reported, we have been flooded with queries from anxious callers who had plans to travel to Singapore to know how the situation was,’’ said another travel agent. If the panic spread, we would be doomed, he said with concern. The Singapore economy had faced its worst recession since its independence after the SARS scare earlier this year. There were large-scale cancellations by tourists who had planned holidays or business trips to
Singapore. The SARS infection had raged in Singapore earlier this year for three months, killing 33 persons and affecting 238 persons. Though a constant vigil was being maintained even after the WHO declared Singapore SARS free, the resurfacing of the infection had forced the health department to activate the already existing anti-SARS mechanism. Thermal scanners had again been installed at all entry and exit points at airports and also in hospitals, schools, public places and tourist spots, to detect if anybody was running fever. The Government had distributed 1.1 million SARS kits, comprising of a digital oral thermometer, two surgical masks and instructional manuals in the four main languages. A 15-minute test kit for SARS had been developed which was being field tested and was expected to be sold to medical professionals within the next two months. Medical experts and WHO officials had predicted that SARS could make a comeback later in the year, due to seasonal changes, as the corona virus thrived in cold temperature. The WHO had commended the Singapore authorities for its SARS handling but had alerted that though the first battle had been won, it was essential to focus on the science of the disease. Though there was no cause for panic at the moment but the lurking fear about a repeat epidemic was haunting every Singaporean mind. |
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Pak rejects India’s offer
Islamabad, September 15
Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said in Islamabad, while responding to Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha’s reported remarks that “if Pakistan can cooperate with the USA with regard to fighting terrorism in Afghanistan, why can’t Pakistan cooperate with India in fighting terrorism in India and specially in Jammu and Kashmir’’. —
DPA |
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Straw begged Blair not
to go to war, says book London, September 15 In a confidential ‘personal minute’ he wrote to Mr Blair just before the fighting started, the Foreign Secretary suggested that the UK should offer the Americans ‘political and moral support’ but not combat support, ‘Blair’s Wars’, by political writer John Kampfner said. The book is being serialised in The Mail on Sunday. Mr Straw argued that the United Nations refusal to back the invasion would make it damaging for Britain to take part. Mr Straw called on Mr Blair to tell President George W Bush that British soldiers would help clear up the mess and keep the peace once the war was over, but “we would not fight the Iraqis”. A shocked Prime Minister “rejected the suggestion point blank” saying there was no going back — and forced him to promise to keep quiet, ‘Blair’s Wars’ said. Mr Blair secretly decided in April, 2002, to go to war, a full year before hostilities — but kept it secret from his Cabinet, the book claimed. According to it, the 45-minute claim about Mr Saddam’s missiles was “a red herring designed to scare and Blair knew it.” It said Downing Street was kept in the dark when President Bush ordered US forces into action. The disclosure is a massive blow to the Prime Minister. The Hutton inquiry into the suicide of Dr David Kelly, the defence scientist, has already forced Mr Blair’s Chief of Communications Alastair Campbell to resign. Until now, Mr Straw has been regarded as one of Mr Blair’s most loyal allies. No one has been more robust in defending the war and Britain’s role in it. Mr Straw will now be under intense political pressure to account for his attempt to stop British troops getting involved. —
PTI |
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51 pc Americans against more funds for Iraq New York, September 15 While 51 per cent of the respondents participated in the ‘Newsweek’ poll said they opposed President Bush’s request for additional funding, 55 per cent opined that the Bush Administration did a bad job in preparing the public for the costs of US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just 37 per cent said the administration did a good job and 52 per cent of the participants approved the way Mr Bush handled his job as President, one point down from the last Newsweek poll in August and six points down from a survey conducted by the magazine in July. The poll showed 42 per cent favoured the additional spending and 28 per cent said the additional allocation would make a big difference as against 38 per cent who believed that the difference would be only small, it said. Another 27 per cent opined that the additional expenditure would make no difference in helping the USA achieve its goal in both countries. Asked about the number of American military personnel now in Iraq, 46 per cent of those polled said the US should reduce their troop strength. But 51 per cent said, in general, the number of US military personnel should be reduced only if replaced by international troops and 31 per cent felt it should be reduced anyway. Two years after the September 11 terror attacks, 52 per cent Americans still believed they did not feel safe where they lived and worked . —
PTI |
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No pact for Lok Sabha poll,
says Mulayam London, September 15 “We will not have an alliance with any party. We will only give and take support on issues — issue-based support,” Mr Yadav said while participating in a BBC Hindi Special Programme broadcast last night. Asked specifically whether the party would stay out of a coalition led by the Congress in the next General Election, the SP chief said: “The Samajwadi Party will not have any alliance and will not be a part of any front — we will only give and take support based on issues.” Asked whether his government would enact a legislation to fight communalism, Mr Yadav said: “Any organisation whether religious or casteist, cannot be allowed to break the law.” —
PTI |
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2 dead, 40 hurt in Chechen suicide attack Moscow, September 15 At least 100 persons were inside the building which was severely damaged in the impact of the explosion ITAR-TASS agency said. Confirming two deaths, Russian interior minister Abukar Kosetoyev said 40 injured had been admitted to various hospitals. Investigating groups were continuing work at the site of the blasts, he added. Chechen rebels are believed to be behind the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility for today’s blasts. A series of suicide bombings in and around Chechnya and in Moscow have killed more than 150 persons in the past five months. —
PTI |
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Madonna turns author, launches book London, September 15 ‘’The English Roses,’’ a moralistic tale about the pitfalls of envy, was released in 30 languages and more than 100 countries with all the worldwide hype normally associated with the latest Harry Potter saga. Critics today decided that the story was a more than passable effort by a first-time kids’ writer. Amanda Craig, children’s book editor of the Times, said: ‘’Madonna’s style is riddled with cliches but she knows that the direct approach works best in a fairy tale... It is sweet, frothy stuff with a grain of kindness at its heart.’’ Novelist Jeanette Winterson, who tried the book out on her seven-year-old god-daughter, said: ‘’It is fun and Madonna has a nice style except for the cliches ... The end is fabulous and affirmative.’’ —
Reuters |
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GALILEO PROBE TO CRASH INTO JUPITER HARISON'S GUITAR SOLD FOR $ 434,750 28 KILLED IN BUS MISHAPS ESTONIA TO JOIN EUROPEAN UNION |
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Pop icon Madonna, embarking on yet another career twist,
today launched her first children’s book, with a print run of more
than one million copies around the world. ‘’The English Roses,’’
a moralistic tale about the pitfalls of envy, was released in 30
languages and more than 100 countries with all the worldwide hype
normally associated with the latest Harry Potter saga.
