PM condoles loss of lives in Japan, offers help

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday condoled the loss of lives in Japan earthquake and offeredIndia's help, saying, it stood in solidarity with the people of that country and was ready to help in any way required.

In a message to Japanese PM Naoto Kan, the PM said, "I am shocked to learn about the devastating earthquake that has hit the coast of Japan, and that has caused so much damage to life and property. I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and through you to all those who have suffered or lost their near and dear ones in this tragic disaster."

"I would like to convey to you that India stands in full solidarity with the government and people of Japan at this hour. We are ready to help Japan in any way required, and extend our resources are at your disposal," Manmohan said.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/132193/latest-headlines/indian-pm-condoles-loss-of-lives-in-japan-offers-help.html

Fresh ultimatum from Somali pirates

AMRITSAR: Somali pirates who had hijacked MV Suez, a ship of Red Sea Navigation , in the Gulf of Aden have given five days ultimatum for the life of six Indians and four Pakistani if they didn't get $ 2.3 million, informed United Nations Expert Advisor on Human Rights, Ansar Burney who claims to be in touch with the pirates for the release of the hostages. 

While talking to TOI over phone from Karachi on Tuesday, Burney said that he was negotiating with the Somali pirates on humanitarian grounds for the greater interest of human dignity and to save the lives of six Indians and 4 Pakistanis. The pirates had earlier demanded $5 million for the release of hostages, he added. 

MV Suez with the flag of Panama was hijacked by the Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on August 2, 2010, with 6 Indians, 4 Pakistani, 4 Lankans and 11 Egyptians on board, said Burney. 

Pakistan's former Federal Minister for Human Rights and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International, Burney, said that the condition of the hostages was critical as they had been sailing in the Somali sea for past nearly eight months ."They were being given some boiled rice and fish by their captors", he said. 

"They established contact with me on Tuesday and gave ultimatum for the hostages life if their demand was not met" said Burney, adding that earlier he had contacted them on Saturday for the release of crew members. 

Read more: Fresh ultimatum from Somali pirates - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fresh-ultimatum-from-Somali-pirates/articleshow/7601127.cms#ixzz1FLYtLaTc

Naxals abduct district collector in Orissa, give 48-hour ultimatum

A senior official of Orissa's Maoist-hit Malkangiri district, who went missing on Wednesday when he was going to attend a camp for local development in a remote area about 700 km in Bhubaneswar, has been abducted by Naxals.

The Maoists have set a 48-hour ultimatum and said they will release Malkangiri District Collector R. Vineel Krishna only if the Centre withdraws forces from the area.

Krishna went missing when he was going from one development camp in Barapada under Chitrakonda police station area of the district to another this afternoon and all communication links with him have remained snapped since then, additional director general of police and chief of anti-Maoist operations Sanjiv Marik said.

Malkangiri additional SP A. Das said communication links with the collector have remained cut off since Wednesday afternoon.

Additional reinforcements of policemen have been sent to the area to bolster efforts to trace the collector, Marik said adding a red alert was sounded in the area bordering Andhra Pradesh.

Source:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/130059/top-stories/naxals-abduct-district-collector-in-orissa-give-48-hour-ultimatum.html