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Phailin fury strikes Odisha, north Andhra
Powerful cyclone with 200 kmph winds batters coastal areas, brings heavy rain 5 killed Over half a million evacuated
Gopalpur(Odisha)/Hyderabad, October 12
'Phailin', a very severe cyclonic storm, said to be the second strongest after the disastrous super cyclone of 1999, today struck the Odisha coast, bringing in its wake torrential rains and wind speeds of over 200 kmph in the state and in the neighbouring north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Massive waves crash into the breakwater along a promenade in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. — PTI

PM directs all help for cyclone-hit
New Delhi, October 12
To minimise loss of human lives and curtail damage, the authorities today evacuated more than half a million people from the coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, which were battered by monster storm Phailin.

Hizb commander held in Bandipora
Srinagar, October 12
In a span of two weeks, security forces in Kashmir arrested another militant commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Hizbul militant commander Junaid, aliases Manzoor and Arshid, a resident of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, was arrested in a joint operation by the police and the Army yesterday.

Pak army backs Sharif against militants
Islamabad, October 12
Keeping open the option of military action against militant groups, Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani today said talks with them must be held within the constitutional limits. Kayani, set to retire next month after leading the army for six years, said the military fully backed the government's move to hold talks with militants.

US President warns of economic shutdown
Washington, October 12
President Barack Obama today appealed to Congress to pass the budget while pushing Republicans to agree to hike the borrowing limit to prevent an “economic shutdown". “Let’s pass a budget, put people back to work, and end this Republican shutdown. Let's pay our bills, and prevent an economic shutdown,” Obama said as the government shutdown entered its twelfth day.

Stapled visas: India lodges protest with China
New Delhi, October 12
India today lodged a strong protest with China over issuing stapled visas to two teenage Indian female archers from Arunachal Pradesh who were due to participate in the World Archery Youth Championships in Wuxi. The fresh visa row between the two countries comes days ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Beijing. China’s action obviously was prompted by its territorial claim over the entire north-eastern state.
(Details on Nation page)