Putin belts up MOSCOW Tens of thousands of Russians queued for hours in November for the privilege of spending a moment with privilege of spending a moment with a reliquary said to contain a belt that belonged to the Virgin Mary. The belt, which is usually kept at a Greek Or-

privilege of spending a moment with a reliquary said to contain a belt that belonged to the Virgin Mary. The belt, which is usually kept at a Greek Or-

privilege of spending a moment with a reliquary said to contain a belt that belonged to the Virgin Mary. The belt, which is usually kept at a Greek Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, was met by Vladimir Putin on its arrival in Russia, before embarking on a month-long national tour during which the crowds flocked in hope of benefiting from the belt’s supposed influence over fertility. “The belt of the Most Holy Virgin Mary possesses mi-

thodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, was met by Vladimir Putin on its arrival in Russia, before embarking on a month-long national tour during which the crowds flocked in hope of benefiting from the belt’s supposed influence over fertility. “The belt of the Most Holy Virgin Mary possesses mi-

thodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, was met by Vladimir Putin on its arrival in Russia, before embarking on a month-long national tour during which the crowds flocked in hope of benefiting from the belt’s supposed influence over fertility. “The belt of the Most Holy Virgin Mary possesses miraculous power,” said Vladimir Yakunin, who organised the tour. “It helps women and helps in childbirth.”

Most Holy Virgin Mary possesses mi-

Fleeting kiss ITALY Clothing company Benetton swiftly backtracked after a billboard advert featuring Pope Benedict XVI engaged in a passionate kiss with Mohammed Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand sheikh of al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, was condemned by the Vatican. Benetton expressed regret that the image “had so hurt the sensibilities of the faithful”. Failing to learn the lessons of their previous campaigns, including one featuring a man dying from AIDS, Benetton bosses were evidently taken completely by surprise that their well-intentioned attempt to bring a bit of peace to the world by showing two senior leaders of anti-gay religions kissing had elicited such controversy and so much free publicity.

kissing had elicited such controversy and so much free publicity. so much free publicity.

Time bandits MECCA The opening of the world’s largest clock in Mecca, which at just under 2,000 feet is now the world’s second tallest building, has prompted some to suggest that Arabia Standard Time should replace Greenwich Mean Time as the international standard for setting clocks. The case for “Mecca Time”, which is three hours ahead of GMT, has been bolstered by Abdel-Baset al-Sayeed of the Egyptian National Research Centre, who claims that Mecca is a “zero-magnetism zone”, which is “why if someone travels to Mecca or lives there, he lives longer, is healthier, and is less affected by the earth’s gravity.”

Unhappy returns

Unhappy returns INDIA Anyone who finds birthday parties too stressful may like to consider converting to the Deobandi branch of Islam, as scholars at the influential Darul Uloom seminary have just issued a fatwa against such frivolities, denouncing them as a “tradition of western culture”. Responding to a query by a student, vice-chancellor Maulana Abul Kasim Naumani, age unknown, pointed out that hosting a birthday celebration is a violation of Sharia law.

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