High Court Violence
Shoot orders in Tamil Nadu
Chennai, February 21
Alleging that “anti-social elements” were using the Madras High Court violence to damage public property and burn vehicles, the Tamil Nadu police has issued shoot-on-sight orders against those trying to damage public properties and create disturbance.

Courts ordered shut

Taliban seal truce in Swat
Mingora, Pakistan, February 21
Taliban fighters and Pakistani officials agreed today to a “permanent ceasefire” in the northwestern Swat valley, a senior government official said. Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, also known as Mullah Radio because he uses illegal FM radio to spread his message, was expected to announce the ceasefire later.

Obama widens strikes inside Pakistan: Report
New York, February 21
After targeting Al-Qaida and Taliban militants in their "safe havens" on the Pak-Afghan border, US forces have now also started hitting Pakistani Taliban. US President Barack Obama has broadened the list of radical groups to be targeted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the group led by Baitullah Mehsud is one of them, "The New York Times" reported.

The Day After, Watery Grave

A Sri Lankan soldier stands next to the wreckage of a Tamil Tiger light aircraft lying in a marsh in Katunayaka, near Colombo, on Saturday, a day after it was shot down by government forces just outside the island’s only international airport. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam smashed a light aircraft into Colombo’s main tax office late Friday, killing two people and wounding 58, officials said. A second explosives-packed plane was shot down and crashed near the city’s international airport. — AFP (Inset) An undated handout photograph released by the LTTE shows rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran (centre) posing with Tiger pilots “Colonel” Rooban and “Lieutenant Colonel” Siriththiran at an undisclosed location, before the pilots embarked on an apparent suicide air raid on Friday. — AFP

Lalu sees Red
New Delhi, February 21
Not ruling out a possible tie-up with the Left in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, key UPA ally RJD said the aim of all the allies of the government is to fight the forthcoming elections together. Though there were differences of opinions during the N-deal, “they (Left) are our natural allies,” party chief Lalu Prasad said on the sidelines of the AIMA award presentation function in New Delhi.

Bhattal, KP in, Capt out
Chandigarh, February 21
Omission of the former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s name from the State Screening Committee announced by the AICC yesterday has come as a surprise. Interestingly, the Congress high command has named both Leader of the Congress legislature Party Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee as members of the screening panel.

Right To Education Bill
Age proof vital: MPs’ panel
New Delhi, February 21
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development looking into the Right to Education Bill feels it is not a good idea to do way with students’ expulsion from school, not seek a proof of their age and promote them right to the elementary level.

Minister led mob, Gujarat tells HC
Ahmedabad, February 21
The government in an affidavit in the Gujarat High Court has said that state minister Maya Kodnani led the mob, instigated them and distributed weapons to carry out Naroda riot which left 95 people dead in 2002.
(Details on Nation page)

‘Slumdog’ kids to walk Oscar red carpet Mumbai, February 21 Child stars, including those from the slums of Dharavi, who featured in the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ have all left for the Oscars ceremony to be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to the publicists of the movie here.