
Lankan President reiterates stand
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that it had been made clear to India and the international community that Sri Lanka would not suspend the military operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
He said that that the LTTE “did not understand the language of negotiation” and “therefore the operations will have to continue on behalf of the people.''
Rajapaksa indicated that he was sympathetic to the Indian Government's political compulsions as it was propped up by regional parties. He was “aware of the political pressures in India at the moment, especially considering the reality of coalition politics and the diverse
interests that surface in such situations.'' Rajapaksa added that his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not have any reference to “stopping military operations against the terrorism of LTTE.''

China to donate 3 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses to Sri Lanka

Travesty of justice: India after Pak upholds acquittal of Daniel Pearl's killer

New US jobless claims drop; still at 847,000 as pandemic rages

EU warns it could block vaccine exports, wields legal threat at drugmakers

EU should consider legal means to secure promised vaccines: Charles Michel

US economic growth moderated to 4% in final quarter of 2020

Germany recommends AstraZeneca's Covid shot only for people under 65
- The country’s immunization commission said there was insufficient information on the shot’s effectiveness for people over 65 years old, though it added that “beyond this limitation, the vaccine is also considered to be equally suitable.”

Chinese victim’s son seeks answers as WHO virus probe team starts work

Pope Francis to meet Iraqi Shiite leader Ali al-Sistani
- The trip is aimed primarily at encouraging the country’s beleaguered Christians, who faced decades of discrimination by the Muslim majority before being targeted relentlessly by Islamic State militants starting in 2014. But the first visit by a pope to Iraq also has a strong interfaith component.

Russian court orders Navalny to remain in jail ahead of trial

Biden to rescind Mexico City Policy: Know all about contested ‘global gag rule’

UN goal to end child labour by 2025 deemed impractical, out of touch

Blocked links showing deceased woman as Hathras rape victim: Google, Twitter, FB

Rare 72-year-old Scotch whisky to be auctioned in Hong Kong
- It is the first time that the 1948 Glen Grant whisky, by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, is being offered in an auction. It is number 88 of 290 decanters bottled by the company, and will be auctioned off by Bonhams with a book estimate of 300,000 to 380,000 Hong Kong dollars.
