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Obama vows to tackle West Asia ‘on Day One’
Mumbai Heat
Lankan jets pound guerrillas, 26 killed
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Indonesian Prez launches third music album
Ukrainian bride out to hire ‘decent’ guests George Bush defends legacy
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Obama vows to tackle West Asia ‘on Day One’
Washington, January 12 Obama, who takes over on January 20, said there could be delay in his election pledge to shut down Guantanamo Bay prison camps, but indicated reluctance to probe the charges that previous administration evesdropped and tapped public at large. Appearing in the ABC News programme ‘This Week’ just days ahead of his swearing-in, Obama pledged to take prompt action “from Day One” on West Asia peace process and warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions could trigger arms race
in the region. “What I am doing right now is putting together the team so that on January 20, starting on Day One, we have the best possible people, who are going to be immediately engaged in the West Asia peace process as a whole”, Obama said on ABC News programme ‘This Week’. “They are going to be engaging with all the actors there. They will work to create a strategic approach that ensures that both Israelis and Palestinians can meet their aspirations,” Obama said replying to a query on Gaza conflict. Israel indicated yesterday that it was mulling to stop its war on Hamas, amid clashes of an offensive that had killed nearly 900 persons in the Gaza Strip. On Iran’s nuclear issue, Obama said, “I think that Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges. We have a situation in which they are pursuing a nuclear weapon that could potentially trigger a nuclear-arms race in West Asia.”
— PTI
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Mumbai Heat
Karachi, January 12 “We will react like a responsible country and as I said yesterday, if they (India) have some evidence or identify that Pakistani soil was used by any terrorist, we will conduct an inquiry and investigation,” Gilani said. “If the charges are proved, we will punish the persons concerned according to our own laws because we can't allow Pakistan's soil to be used for terrorism. We are totally clear on this," he told reporters during an official function at the shipyard in this southern port city. Gilani, who had yesterday ruled out handing over any Pakistani national found to be involved in the Mumbai attacks to any other country, said Islamabad was not acting on anyone's pressure. Asked about statements by Indian leaders calling on Pakistan to do more against elements in the country who were linked to the Mumbai attacks, Gilani said: “We are a responsible and strong country, we are not acting on anyone’s pressure. We know how to defend the country.” “We don't want to make any irresponsible statement,” he said, adding that there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty. Asked about Pakistan government's decision to bestow one of the country's highest civilian honours on US Vice President-elect Joseph Biden, a move that has been criticised by opposition and Islamic hardline parties, Gilani said, “As far as Biden is concerned, he is pro-Pakistan. He has given a lot of support for Pakistan and democracy.” — PTI
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Lankan jets pound guerrillas, 26 killed
Colombo, January 12 Lankan MI-24 helicopter gunships and fighter jets made precision air assaults at two identified Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) gathering points located in general area Iranamadu, in support of the advancing TF-3 and 57 Division troops this morning, the military said. Kilinochchi town, 330-km from the capital, was overrun by troops earlier this month and the rebels are now confined to the jungle and lagoon district around Mullaittivu on Sri Lanka's northeast coast. According to Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, MI-24 helicopter gunbships launched air assaults at an LTTE gathering point located 1 km Southeast of the Iranamadu tank at around 8.15am. A separate air strike was launched by Lankan jets at an LTTE gathering point located 2 km North of the Iranamadu Tank near Kilinochchi this morning, the Air Force said. The Army has won a string of major victories over the guerrillas in recent weeks, capturing their political capital and taking hold of LTTE's main base on the Jaffna peninsula.
— PTI
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Indonesian Prez launches third music album
Jakarta, January 12 “Evolusi” (Evolution) is about his feelings toward being President of the world’s most populous Muslim country and one of its largest democracies. “I urge all the children of the nation to unite, love and dedicate themselves to the country to build a better future for Indonesia,” Yudhoyono said in a statement.
— AFP
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Ukrainian bride out to hire ‘decent’ guests London, January 12 In an advert online saying that only her parents could be at her wedding in London and she needs 30 people to fill her side of the church. "I'm having a large mixed wedding of about 150 people. My partner has loads of families around to invite to the wedding," said the ad on gumtree.com. "Unfortunately for me, my family are all in Ukraine so they all can't make it, only my mum and dad will be there. I need 30 decent people to represent me for the church wedding”, it said. — AFP
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Washington, January 12 In his last formal news conference before demitting the White House on January 20 after a turbulent two-term presidency, Bush rejected critisism of his “war on terror” tactics and his policy on Iraq and on the economic crisis facing the nation. He said the president-elect would be facing an enemy that “would like to inflict damage” on Americans. Bush said he realised that some issues such as the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had created controversy. But he defended his actions after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including approving tough interrogation methods for suspected terrorists to protect the country. — PTI
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