He is said to have become quick-tempered since the failure of his marriage. Anil Kumar Kistoo proved it by beating his mother to death. He came home to where his son Sandeep and his mother Leelawtee live in Pamplemousses last Monday - drunk; he did not believe Sandeep when the latter told him he had been praying at the shivala before coming home. He thought his son had been with undesirable friends and started to beat him. Then he started battering his mother saying she had always “condoned” her grandson. Leelawtee did not survive her wounds and died a couple of hours later.

<B>Bird flu under the microscope</B>

Health specialists are more than ever on the alert. Although the tests done on migrating birds’ droppings revealed that they were not infected and represented no danger, the authorities intend to do blood tests to prevent any case of bird flu. Migrating birds constitute a danger for Mauritius as the birds come from Northern Europe and Siberia where cases of bird flu have been discovered. If ever tests reveal that the birds are infected, they will be killed. Mauritius has already started to stock some Tamiflu, aimed at fighting the disease but the stock will not be sufficient if there is an epidemic.

<B>A sister’s story</B>

The crown has not gone very far. The new Miss Mauritius is none other than Magalie Antoo’s sister. Emotion could be felt when Magalie gave the crown to Isabelle as neither could hold back their tears. Vanesha Seetohul was elected Miss World Mauritius and will represent Mauritius on the international scene. Véronique Tadebois and Kelly Désiré came respectively second and third.