M A I N   N E W S

Poorna Vijay exercise begins

New Delhi, May 5
India today began its largest military exercise in 13 years that will train troops to face nuclear, biological and chemical weapons’ strikes.

Code-named Poorna Vijay (Complete Victory), the exercise is being conducted well within the international border in Rajasthan, defence sources said.

They said more than 50,000 troops were taking part in the war-games 75 km from the western border. The Central Command was in charge of the corps-level exercise in which 120 combat aircraft from air bases in Bhatinda, Nalya and Bhuj were involved.

“Armoured, mechanised infantry, artillery and ground troops will move forward for complete take-over of enemy locations,” they said.

The five-day exercise would enable the fighter planes to test their ability to launch deep strikes, while the Army’s elite commandos and paratroopers would attempt to seize “enemy assets”, the sources said. UNI

Commonwealth Secy-General arrives today
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5
Commonwealth Secretary-Gen Don McKinnon is arriving here on May 6 on a three day official visit for consultations with the Indian government on the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Brisbane from October 6.

The Secretary General’s programme would include meetings with Ministers of External Affairs and Finance and address to a select gathering at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on “The Commonwealth Today”.

During the meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, it is expected that the discussions would focus on issues relating to the preparatory process leading up to the next CHOGM as well as the deliberations of the Commonwealth High Level Group.