The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Rajapaksa sacks Lanka’s first woman Chief Justice Colombo, January 13 Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today sacked the country’s first woman Chief Justice by ratifying her controversial impeachment by Parliament on corruption charges despite protests at home and global calls for restraint, pushing the nation into the brink of a major Constitutional stand-off. Shirani Bandaranayake (54) was served a notice ordering her to quit her post, two days after Parliament overwhelmingly voted to impeach her deepening the row between the judiciary and the government. Presidential aide Wijayananda Herath said the letter signed by Rajapaksa was delivered to the Chief Justice's residence. Bandaranayake's lawyers confirmed the receipt of the letter informing her of her removal from the post. The impeachment of Bandaranayake had earlier been ruled as unconstitutional by courts and a finding by the Parliamentary committee that held her "guilty" had been quashed. The impeachment of the Chief Justice went ahead despite calls by rights groups, citizens, clergy and lawyers who asked the government not to do so. By ordering the sacking of Bandaranayake, Rajapaksa acted in defiance of several international pleas for a review of the process, including from the US and UN. The Parliamentary committee on December 8 had ruled that Bandaranayake was guilty of three of the 14 charges in the impeachment proceedings against her moved by the ruling UPFA coalition legislators. The three charges were of financial impropriety based on non-declaration of assets and conflict of interest in a case involving a failed investment company. Bandaranayake denied all the charges against her. On December 6, she stormed out of the impeachment hearing in Parliament, saying she would not be given a fair trial. She also claimed that she faced verbal abuse by the government members of the Parliamentary committee. On Friday, the Parliament voted 155 to 49 to dismiss Bandaranayake, whose recent rulings had gone against the government. Presidential officials said that Rajapaksa would next move to appoint Bandaranayake's successor. Bandaranayake's lawyers did not want to comment on possible future moves by her. Her removal pushed Sri Lanka into the brink of a major Constitutional stand-off. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the Parliamentary select committee which found Bandaranayake guilty was illegal. The Appeal Court later quashed findings of the select committee. — PTI Financial impropriety Sri Lanka’s first woman Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was served a notice ordering her to quit her post The Parliamentary committee had ruled that Bandaranayake was guilty of three of the 14 charges in the impeachment proceedings The three charges were of financial impropriety based on non-declaration of assets and conflict of interest in a case involving a failed investment company
	Mubarak, sons gets a retrial Cairo, January 13 An Egyptian court today accepted former president Hosni Mubarak's appeal against his life sentence and ordered his retrial and that of his sons over the killing of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters demanding his ouster in 2011. Egypt's Court of Cassation or appellate court also accepted the appeals of all other defendants in the case — Mubarak's top six aides and former interior minister Habeeb al Adly. Consequently, Mubarak, his two sons Ala and Gamaal, Adly and his top security chiefs will all face a new trial. Last June, Mubarak and Adly were sentenced to a life in prison after being convicted for being responsible for the deaths of an estimated 800 protesters. Six high-ranking security officials were acquitted in the same case, sparking nationwide outrage. The opponents of Mubarak had also termed his life sentence a lighter punishment. "The court has ruled to accept the appeal filed by the defendants and orders a retrial," Judge Ahmed Ali Abdel Rahman said reading out the ruling during the brief hearing today. —PTI Gunmen attack protesters Cairo: Masked gunmen attacked protesters camped outside the presidential palace, hurling fire bombs at their tents and firing bird shots in clashes that left policemen and civilians injured, a security official said on Sunday. — AFP
	W African leaders to meet in emergency Mali summit Lagos, January 13 An emergency summit of leaders from West African bloc ECOWAS has been set for Wednesday in Abidjan as countries in the region ready troops to assist Mali in its fight against Islamists, a spokesman said. "It's an extraordinary summit. This one is just dedicated to Mali," Sunny Ugoh, spokesman for the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said today. Chiefs of defence staff from the region were also set to meet in the coming days, but Ugoh did not yet have precise details. The first troops promised by African nations were expected in Mali today to join local forces who, backed by French air support, have driven back an advance by Islamist fighters. The UN Security Council has approved an African force of 3,300 soldiers to help Mali take back its north. Islamists seized northern Mali, a territory the size of France, in the wake of last year's March 22 coup which ousted democratically elected president Amadou Toumani Toure. The Islamists' advance has intensified fears over whether the country could become a safe haven for Al-Qaida linked extremists who could pose a threat to the region as well as Europe and beyond. — AFP 11 Civilians killed in Army op Bamako: A presidential spokesman says at least 11 Malians were killed and over 60 injured after the country launched a military intervention to fight Al-Qaida-linked rebels advancing on a crucial town. In a communique read on state television late on Friday, Ousmane Sy, the secretary-general at the presidential palace said the 11 were killed in the town of Konna, which the rebels took last Thursday, prompting France to authorise airstrikes to help Mali take back the territory. — AP
	Quetta bomb blast Shias refuse to bury dead despite PM’s intervention Afzal Khan in Islamabad Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Sunday failed to convince Shia leaders to end a protest over the killing of nearly 100 members of the vulnerable community in bomb attacks in Quetta, with Shia leaders saying their dead would not be buried till their demands are met. A protest by thousands of Hazara Shias – who have refused to bury 96 persons killed in bombings on Thursday till the army takes control of Quetta – entered its third day on Sunday as the premier flew to the capital of Balochistan province to assess the security situation. Sources said a delegation of leaders of the Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen, a leading Shia body, met the premier and reiterated its demand for the dismissal of the Balochistan CM and his government and for the army to be given control of Quetta. The premier said he could not dismiss the CM as he was constitutionally elected. The sources quoted Ashraf as saying that the army could not be called out as the "situation was not so bad". He asked the Shia leaders to call off their protest and bury their dead, but the request was turned down by the MWM delegation. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan joined the protesting families of victims of Thursday’s blasts in Quetta. Khan backed the demands for dismissing the provincial government, imposing governor’s rule in the province and demanded that the army be called to help the governor enforce peace and order in the city. (With PTI inputs)
	14 soldiers killed in Pak bomb blast Islamabad, January 13 At least 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and more than 20 others injured today when a security forces convoy was targeted by a roadside bomb in the country's lawless North Waziristan tribal region. The incident occurred near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal agency, security officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. They said 14 soldiers were killed and over 20 injured in the attack. No further details were immediately available. The attack came just a day after Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud reportedly directed his militants not to target Pakistani troops in North Waziristan. — PTI
	Wanted: A super servant for Wills and Kate London, January 13 Prince William and his wife Kate have advertised for a super servant expected to be a jack of all trades as the royal couple prepare to become parents for the first time. An internal advertisement at Buckingham Palace calls for someone: "To provide a high standard of housekeeping for TRH (their royal highnesses) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge". The main duties included: "Ensuring all areas of the residence are cleaned and maintained to a high standard at all times. Caring for and maintaining personal clothing, cleaning silverware and glassware and in-house laundry." The all-singing, all-dancingservant will also be ready to run errands, prepare basic meals when required and care for and exercise dogs, the Daily Express reported. A current valid UK driving licence is "essential". St James' Palace has consistently stressed that the couple prefer to keep their entourage as small as possible. The advertisement comes after the couple took on a new "Man Friday" at the end of last year. The young Fijian-born lance corporal from the 'Parachute Regiment' is the couple's first orderly, whose role includes chauffeuring, logistics, and even organising the Prince's wardrobe. A royal insider said the advertisement has already attracted a great deal of interest: "Obviously the prestige of working for the world's most famous couple is an incentive". "But it is unheard of for one person to be asked to perform so many duties. Clearly the Duke and Duchess are going to get their money's worth out of whoever gets the job. About 15 persons have already applied despite everyone wondering how anyone will be able to carry out all these duties in just 37 hours a week," the royal insider said. "The advert states that they'll be required to work extra hours. Most people employed as housekeepers expect to do a bit of cooking on the side. And there's also going to be a baby to factor into the equation. It's unprecedented," the source added. — PTI
	Internet activist Aaron Swartz found dead New York, January 13 Aaron Swartz, a 26-year-old celebrated computer prodigy-turned-activist and co-builder of the popular social news website Reddit, has reportedly committed suicide, weeks before before he was to go on trial over hacking allegations. Swartz's body was found on Friday evening in Brooklyn, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman with the New York medical examiner's office. An uncle, Michael Wolf, said Swartz had apparently hanged himself. His family and partner said they were "in shock, and have not yet come to terms with his passing." The hacking charges relate to the downloading of millions of academic papers from online archive JSTOR, which prosecutors say he intended to distribute for free. Swartz, a committed advocate for the freedom of information over the Internet, had denied charges of computer fraud at an initial hearing last year, but his federal trial was due to begin next month. Charges in the case, including wire fraud and computer fraud, were pending at the time of Swartz's death, carrying potential penalties of up to 35 years in prison and $1 million in fines — PTI

France bombs Mali rebels as more troops arrive

BAMAKO/PARIS, Jan 13
French fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels in Mali for a third day on Sunday as Paris poured more troops into the capital Bamako, awaiting the arrival of a West African force to dislodge al Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country's north.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France's dramatic intervention on Friday to bomb a convoy of heavily armed Islamist fighters sweeping southwards had stopped them from seizing Mali's capital Bamako within days.

Western countries fear Islamists could use Mali as a base for attacks on the West, forming a link with al Qaeda militants in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa.

Le Drian said former colonial power France was carrying out continuous bombing raids against the alliance of rebel groups,which seized the country's vast desert north in April.

"There are raids going on now: there were some last night, and there will be more tomorrow," Le Drian told French television. "The president is totally determined that we must eradicate these terrorists who threaten the security of Mali, our own country and Europe."

Residents said French aircraft bombed the northern town of Gao, and a Malian rebel spokesman said they bombed targets in the towns of Lere and Douentza. — Reuters

11 Civilians killed in Army op

Bamako: A presidential spokesman says at least 11 Malians were killed and over 60 injured after the country launched a military intervention to fight Al-Qaida-linked rebels advancing on a crucial town. — AP

Mali PM in Algiers

Algiers: Malian Prime Minister Diango Cissoko visited Algeria on Sunday a day after Algiers proclaimed "unequivocal" support for its neighbour. Cissoko, accompanied by his Defence Minister Diaran Kone, was welcomed by his counterpart Abdelmalek Sellal at the start of the two-day visit. — AFP

BRIEFLY

Missing Son: Santanu Pal, father of Souvik Pal, distributes leaflets appealing for information regarding the wherabouts of his son in Manchester, England, on Sunday. Souvik (18) has been missing since New Year’s Eve. — AFP

Dead Indian lottery winner’s ties with family ‘strained’
New York: As authorities in US investigate the mysterious murder of an Indian-origin businessman, new details are emerging about strained relations between members of his family and feud among them over his estate. Urooj Khan died of cyanide poisoning under mysterious circumstances in July, just a day after he had received a cheque of $4,25,000 as his prize money after taxes for a million dollar lottery he had won a month ago. — PTI

30 killed in Nigerian oil pipeline fire
Abuja: At least 30 persons were killed in a fire that broke out while rival gangs were trying to scoop fuel from a burst pipeline in Arepo village in Nigeria's southern state of Ogun, the police said on Sunday. — PTI