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Lankan army secures LTTE bastion Visuamadu
‘Difficult decisions’ on Iraq, Afghanistan ahead: Obama
An Indian rose for their Valentines
I’ll handle lawyers my way: Zardari
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S Africa to celebrate Indira’s 1941 visit
Indian teenager’s death confirmed
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Lankan army secures LTTE bastion Visuamadu
Mullaittivu (Sri Lanka), January 29 Troops of 58 Division gained control over the Visuamadu town in the final phase of operations against the LTTE after hours of fierce fighting with the rebels, security sources said.
Initial search and clearing operations are being conducted in Visuamadu, one of the last bastions of the Tamil Tigers', they said. The capture of Visuamadu town came four days after the army gained control over the coastal town of Mullaittivu, headquarters of 'Sea Tigers', the coastal wing of LTTE. According to military sources, troops have also gained control over a 10-km stretch of the road, running north of Visuamadu via Puliyampokkanai towards Chundikkulama. Troops are now engaged in mopping up the remaining LTTE resistances south of Visuamadu and Piramanthal Kulama, the ministry said. "LTTE cadres unable to withstand the military onslaught have further fled towards the declared safer zones at Teravilkulam and Udayarkattukulama," the sources said. The army also found two 20-feet crafts and a single person craft in Muttiyankattukulam, south west of Pudukuduyirruppu, one of the last bastions of the LTTE. Meanwhile, the military claimed that LTTE fighters continued firing heavy artillery towards security forces from the declared civilian safety region. According to the Sri Lankan air force, its fighter jets launched an air strike on LTTE resistance point located 1 km east of Vishuamadukulam tank to provide support to the advancing troops of the specialised 57 Division. Air force confirmed that the target was accurately engaged. "Security forces have been resilient on securing the safety of the civilians held by LTTE, despite continuous provocations made by the outfit for a military retaliation towards the safe zone," a military official said. — PTI
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‘Difficult decisions’ on Iraq, Afghanistan ahead: Obama
Washington, January 29 But no decisions were made at the more than 90-minute session with the military chiefs, officials said, and Obama gave no clue whether he intends to stick with a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq. “We’re going to have some difficult decisions that we are going to have to make surrounding Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said speaking with the heads of joint chiefs of staff and the military services. “Obviously, our efforts to go after extremist organisations that do harm to our homeland is uppermost on our minds,” he added. Obama must balance the risk of a rapid drawdown in Iraq against commanders’ requirements for up to 30,000 more US troops in Afghanistan, which would nearly double the US military presence there, in response to worsening security conditions. The President came out from the meeting in a secure conference room known as “the Tank” with Vice-President Joe Biden. They shook hands, chatted and joked with senior enlisted leaders and officers who lined the wood-panelled corridor to meet the new commander-in-chief. Obama told reporters that he had a “wonderful” discussion with the chiefs, which went longer than the hour allotted for the session, his first at the Pentagon with joint chiefs since he became the President. — AFP
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An Indian rose for their Valentines
Chennai, January 29 Besides the roses in red, yellow and other hues, the much-hyped "Taj Mahal", a new variety of deep rose, will make its presence felt for the first time on Valentine's Day, which falls on February 14. Tanflora Floriculture Infrastructure Park, a Tamil Nadu government enterprise, plans to export about 10 million cuts and Taj Mahal roses across the globe for this year's Valentine's Day. "The roses are being exported to Europe, Australia and countries in West Asia and Far East," managing director Najeeb Ahmed told here. — PTI
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I’ll handle lawyers my way: Zardari
Addressing the PPP parliamentary party meeting, President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said he would “handle” the lawyers’ protest in his own way. “You will see how I deal with the lawyers,” Zardari was quoted by the media as telling party men. The meeting as co-chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, but Zardari, who also heads the party as PPP co-chairman, announced that in future he would convene and preside over parliamentary party meeting every month. Information minister Sherry Rehman, while talking to reporters outside the parliament, said the government believed in peaceful protest demonstrations and would not block the long march planned by the lawyers. The meeting discussed the simmering hostility with the PML-N that has also decided to fully participate in the March 9 protest, which, the PPP-led government feels is designed to destabilise it. Zardari, in his apparent bid to pre-empt it, expanded the federal cabinet on Monday to enlist support of the MQM and the JUI. The President also talked about the ‘conspiracies being hatched to destablise the present system’. He was confident that government would overcome the current problems being faced by it and asked MPs to promote patience among the people.
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S Africa to celebrate Indira’s 1941 visit
Durban, January 29 "It might not be today or tomorrow, or 10 years from now or even 20 years, but the African people will rule this country," the visiting daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru had told the local Indian-origin leaders. Indira Gandhi's address led to the establishment of ties between the Indian Congress and the African National Congress. On February 8, 68 years later, this historic event will be celebrated when 200 people from 30 countries converge on this little-known town. Contestants of the 18th Miss India Worldwide Pageant at the Suncoast Entertainment World in Durban on February 14 will enamour the audience at the event.— PTI
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Indian teenager’s death confirmed
London, January 29 The police, however, added that the cause of death of the Goa-origin Marques, 15, was yet to be determined. More tests are scheduled to be carried out, they added. The death cast a pall of gloom on the Goan community, which had launched a visible public campaign in Reading, Swindon and nearby areas to help locate Marques. — PTI
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