Obama praises military for Somalia hostage rescue

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised U.S. Special Operations Forces who rescued two hostages, including an American aid worker, from pirates in Somalia during an early morning raid.

Obama said Jessica Buchanan, an American aid worker with the Danish Refugee Council, is “on her way home.” Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted were kidnapped at gunpoint by Somali pirates in October.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts,” Obama said in a statement.

In a separate statement, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Buchanan and Thisted “have been transported to a safe location where we will evaluate their health and make arrangements for them to return home.” He said the two hostages were not harmed during the operation, and no U.S. troops were killed or injured.

“This was a team effort and required close coordination, especially between the Department of Defense and our colleagues in the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Panetta said. Obama said he had approved the mission Monday.

On Tuesday night, Obama appeared to refer to the mission before delivering his State of the Union address. As he entered the House chamber in the U.S. Capitol, he pointed at Panetta in the audience and said, “Good job tonight.” The president did not mention the operation during his speech.

In his statement Wednesday, Obama said: “The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice. This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people. AGENCIES

Discovery to start space mission on Nov 1

NASA made it official that Shuttle Discovery will launch on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station next Monday. If all goes according to plan, it will be Discoverys last scheduled flight before becoming a museum piece.
Discoverys launch date was announced at the end of a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center. During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle and the necessary equipment, support systems and personnel were ready. Over the weekend, engineers successfully replaced suspect seals in the orbital maneuvering system the twin engines in the shuttles tail that are used to steer the ship on orbit. Workers noticed an on-again, off-again fuel leak in the engines last week but believe they have fixed it. Discoverys flight will include two spacewalks and delivery of a cylindrical module that will help create more storage on the station.

Powerful forces want to finish me: Altaf Hussain

Staff Report

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has indicated to his party workers that some powerful forces want to finish him.

In his important message to MQM workers on the party website, he has directed them to continue his mission after his martyrdom.

Altaf Hussain has said in his open letter to MQM workers that they (party workers) should be ready for such a conspiracy against the party. SAMAA

Sasti Roti scheme to continue: Shahbaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government will ensure continuation of welfare programs, such as, Sasti Roti scheme.

During meeting with members of the provincial assembly belonging to various districts, Shahbaz Sharif said the Sasti Roti and Sasti Roti Dastarkhwan programs are not less than a blessing for the poor, destitute, laborers, orphans and widows. The welfare programs have been initiated in the province for deprived segments of the society, he added.

The Punjab Chief Minister linked the building of flourishing society with the supremacy of justice. “I have taken on the mission of ensuring quick and affordable dispensation of justice to the people,” he added.

Obama relieves McChrystal of command: report

WASHINGTON: A senior administration official tells media that President Barack Obama has accepted General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation as the top US commander in Afghanistan over blistering remarks about administration officials in an interview.

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Obama relieves McChrystal of command: report

McChrystal out; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama ousted General Stanley McChrystal as the top US commander in Afghanistan on Wednesday, saying that his scathing published remarks about administration officials undermine civilian control of the military.

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McChrystal out; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan

McChrystal says resigned for good of mission

KABUL: General Stanley McChrystal says he tendered his resignation out of his desire to see the mission in Afghanistan succeed.

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McChrystal says resigned for good of mission

Clashes in Kyrgyzstan leave seven dead

BISHKEK: Ethnic violence overnight in southern Kyrgyzstan, once the stronghold of ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, has left seven people dead and around 50 injured, the government announced Friday.

An earlier health ministry statement said the violence had left three people dead and 46 in hospital, of whom five were in a serious condition.

“Seven people have been killed and about 50 injured,” interim government spokesman Azimbek Beknazarov told national radio in updating the toll.

The violence had clearly been inter-ethnic and well organised, Beknazarov added, after having visited the city. And exchanges of fire continued even after a curfew was declared. Police in the city were still discovering bodies, said Beknazarov.

Afghan mission relates to Britain’s security

HILMAND: British Prime Minister David Cameron told troops on Friday they were not in Afghanistan for a “dreamy idea” or to build a model society, and pledged they would leave once Afghans could defend themselves.

On his first trip as prime minister to meet British troops in southern Afghanistan, Cameron said the new coalition he heads had a clear mission defending Britain”s national security from the threat of attack by al Qaeda.

He pledged to give the 9,500 British troops serving in Afghanistan, who have taken part in some of the fiercest fighting against Taliban insurgents, the equipment they needed.

Cameron, who formed a coalition of centre-rightConservatives and centre-left Liberals after the May 6election, said the operational allowance soldiers receive while on active service in Afghanistan would be doubled.

“We are not here to build the perfect democracy. We are no there to build some perfect model society. We are here to help the Afghans take control of their security so we can go home,” Cameron told about 400 British troops gathered on a dusty, sandstorm-swept parade ground at the Camp Bastion base in southern Afghanistan.

“I can sum up this mission in two words: It is about national security, our national security in the UK. We don”t have some dreamy ideas about what this mission is about,” Cameron said. “Just as soon as we have trained up that Afghan security we can go home with our heads held high.”

koehler

German president Horst Koehler resigns
BERLIN (AFP) – Germany’s president Horst Koehler said Monday he was stepping down with immediate effect in a surprise move following criticism of recent comments he made about the country’s mission in Afghanistan.

“I am resigning my post as federal president with immediate effect,” Koehler, 67, whose job is largely ceremonial, said in Berlin.

“It was an honour for me to serve Germany as president,” a visibly emotional Koehler told reporters with his wife at his side.

He said he had already informed Chancellor Angela Merkel of his decision.

“I thank the many people in Germany who have put their trust in me and supported my work. I ask for you to understand my decision.”

Koehler came under fire for saying that an export-reliant country like Germany occasionally needed to defend its economic interests by preventing regional instabilities like that in Afghanistan.

Such regional instabilities “certainly have a negative impact on us through trade, jobs and income,” Koehler told German radio on May 22.

A former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, the popular Koehler was elected to the post of president in 2004 and re-elected in 2009.

Polls show that a majority of Germans are opposed to the mission in Afghanistan.

Koehler said his comments were “misunderstood” and that his remarks were not meant to refer to the mission in Afghanistan, where Germany has 4,500 troops in a NATO-led force tackling a Taliban-led insurgency.

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