How Bush is protected

BEL TSVILLE: President Bush, the nation's most protected citizen, on Friday learned how Secret Service agents make sure he stays safe, reports AP.

During Bush's visit to the Secret Service training center in rural Maryland, agents demonstrated how they would save the president In the water, speed him away from a motorcade explosion, and Intercept weapons from entering a hotel where he was speaking.

Bush also rode In a souped-up sedan with an agent demonstrating speed driving and 180-degree spins. And the president fired a Secret Service rifle, aides said

"He seemed like he was having a pretty good time and he was interested in everything." spokesman John Herrick told reporters.

Reporters and photographers watched Bush's helicopter land at the James J Rowley Training Centre, but were not allowed to accompany the president on his tour of the training facility.

Secret Service spokesman Robert Snow, citing security reasons. Instead escorted reporters to the firing range where they were briefed on the Secret Service weapons and were taught to shoot one of them, an Israeli-made Uzi submachine gun.

The Secret Service pref

The Secret Service prefers the Uzi because of its triple safety system and because it is simple and accurate, reporters were told.

Although the president was surrounded by officers of the federal agency on the training centre’s grounds of several hundred acres (hectares), his own White House security de tall remained with him.

The Secret Service was created in 1865 as a division of

the Treasury Department, assigned to combat counterfeiting of money.

The presidential protective mission was added to the Secret Service mandate following the assassination of President William Me Kinley in Buffalo. NY, in 1901

In addition to protecting the president, vice president and their immediate families, the Secret Service guards former presidents and their wives, visiting foreign dignitaries, and major presidential and vice presidential candidates and thetr spouses.

Bros, shoes beckon Imelda Marcos

MANILA. July 6: Five years ago Imelda Marcos bade farewell to her 300 brassieres and 1.000 pairs of shoes and fled with her husband in the face of a popular revolt to a life in American exile, reports AFP.

Now she is preparing to return to the Philippines, an act of revenge against destiny and the country's other celebrated widow. President Corazon Aquino.

From New York this past week, the wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said that she was prepared to go back to Manila in October with the remains of her spouse, who'ruled the Philippines

for 20 years.

To be buried in his native land was Marcos's last wish before his death two years ago in Hawaii.

Aquino, the leading lady of the "people power" revolution of February 1986. has long opposed tne return of Marcos, either dead of alive, and the former first lady, saying it would threaten national security in a country dogged by chronic instability.

'Remember me with smiles'

LOS ANGELES : Michael Landon was remembered for his integrity and humor Friday as family, celebrity friends and co-stars from "Little House on the Prairie' attended a private fu neral service, reports AP

Former President Reagan and his wife Nancy were among about 500 mourners at a noon ceremony at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary.

"I know that dad wants us to think of him and be filled with love and happiness and laughter, said Landon s daugh ter. Leslie Landon Matthews.

She read a poem her lather wrote for an episode of "Little House."

"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all." she read "If you can only remember me with tears, then don t remember me at all."

The 54 ycar-o)d actor, familiar to a generation of television viewers as Little Joe on the long-running "Bonanza". died Monday of liver and pancreatic cancer at his Malibu ranch. His body was cremated a day later.

His ashes will be interred at the cemetery, which also houses the remains of Lorne Greene, who played Beni Cartwright on "Bonanza".

Thief looks like Major

LONDON : A handbag thief being sought by police in Malvern, central England, bears an uncanny resemblance to Prime Minister John Major, police admitted Friday, reports AFP

"I think it's all to do with the glasses and the hairstyle that It ended up looking like Mr Major,’ pohee artist John Hutchina, who drew the picture for a wanted" poster said

The police notice calls on the public to "tell us if you spot the man we've drawn

But taking note of Mr Major's excellent alibi - he was speaking in the House of Commons at the time of the robbery .— it adds: We are not looking for the Prime Minister "