Washington: The number of US Air Force personnel court-martialed on adultery charges has more than quadrupled in the past decade. While most of them are men, women are being accused in increasing numbers, statistics show. The trend is gaining attention as the Air Force prepares to open its court-martial case next week against 1st Lt. Kelly Flinn, the country's first female B-52 bomber pilot, who is 26 and single. Flinn is charged with adultery for her affair with a married civilian, and with fraternisation for having sex with an unmarried enlisted man. The New York Times reported on Thursday that Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall has told associates she would consider letting Flinn resign with an honourable discharge.

The European statesmen

New York: German President Roman Herzog and Czech President Vaclav Havel have been jointly awarded the 1997 European Statesman award by the institute for East-West studies. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented the awards last night that honour efforts toward European reconciliation and tolerance. In his acceptance speech, Herzog called for a ``politically united Europe that includes countries in Eastern and Central Europe''. He said it was particularly fitting that he and Havel received the award jointly. ``Two neighbouring countries whose relations in recent times have been so deeply troubled have now joined forces to build mutual understanding,'' he said.

Death for Cobain

Douai, France: Two teenage girls committed suicide by shooting themselves in what authorities said on Thursday was a gesture to the late American rock star, Kurt Cobain. The two girls, aged 12 and 13, shot themselves in the head with a .22 rifle on Wednesday after writing notes referring to Cobain's group, Nirvana, and the singer's suicide, said Jean-Marie Descamp, a prosecutor in this northern French town near the Belgian border. ``The two adolescents seemingly took from this singer a sort of morbid veneration, which explained their suicide,'' Descamp said. Cobain killed himself with a shotgun at his Seattle home in 1994. One of a group of shocked students standing in front of the Victor Hugo High School said the girls wanted ``to join Kurt Cobain, but we didn't believe them.''

Unabomber case

Washington: US Attorney General Janet Reno ordered prosecutors on Thursday to seek the death penalty for Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski despite pleas from his family that he be spared, a family spokesman said. ``The family is devastated by this development and they are in seclusion at this time,'' said family attorney Anthony Bisceglie. Kaczynski's brother, David, and his mother, Wanda had turned in 54-year-old Theodore Kaczynski last year after authorities had mounted an unsuccessful 18-year search for the Unabomber. Prosecutors contend he is responsible for 18 years of bombings that killed three people and injured 23 others in a campaign against technology. The family argued that other families in the future might be reluctant to turn in relatives if a death sentence were imposed in this case.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.