Six Sri Lankan fishermen rescued: Navy
Colombo, Jan 29: All six Sri Lankan fishermen who were abducted by suspected Somali pirates last week have been rescued, a media report on Monday quoted the navy spokesperson as saying. Online portal newsfirst.lk reported that the rescued fishermen, who were aboard the vessel named ‘Lorenzo Putha 4’, are being escorted to the capital of Seychelles. The security forces of Seychelles carried out a rescue operation following the intervention made by the Sri Lanka Navy, it said, adding that three members of the armed group had surrendered to the Seychelles Security Forces. The multi-day fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha-4 set sail from Dikowita fishing harbour in Sri Lanka on January 12, marking its maiden voyage. The crew comprised six fishermen from Marawila, Chilaw, and three of them are from the same family, the report said. Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Gayan Wickremasuriya on Sunday said the UN’s central maritime command was alerted by Sri Lanka on Saturday on the six fishermen and their trawler being captured by the Somali pirates 840 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu. He said India has pledged to assist Sri Lanka in the rescue of the fishermen. However, the online portal report made no mention of any Indian assistance in the rescue operation. (PTI)
Man booked for swinging swords at Sikh temple
Toronto, Jan 29: A 23-year-old man was arrested after allegedly making threats and aggressively swinging two large swords inside a Sikh temple in Canada’s British Columbia province. Officers responded to the disturbance during an evening service inside the Penticton Sikh Temple at 3290 South Main Street last week, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement. Police said one person was taken into custody and released later to attend Penticton Provincial Court at a future date. Investigations are underway by the area Mounties into the incident which saw no one getting injured. The temple released a statement, saying that it was “an unruly group of non-Society members inside the temple”. Jesse Garcha, from the Penticton Sikh Temple Society, said additional safeguards have been put in place to ensure there is no repeat of this incident. Garcha thanked the Penticton RCMP for their quick response and resolution. (IANS)
Chinese property giant ordered to liquidate
Hong Kong, Jan 29: Debt-laden Chinese property giant Evergrande has been ordered to liquidate by a court in Hong Kong, a media report said. Judge Linda Chan said “enough is enough” after the troubled developer repeatedly failed to come up with a plan to restructure its debts, BBC reported. The firm has been the poster child of China’s real-estate crisis with more than $300 billion of debt, the report said. When Evergrande defaulted two years ago, it sent shockwaves through global financial markets. Evergrande’s Executive Director, Shawn Siu, described the decision as “regrettable”, but said the company would continue to operate in mainland China. The firm’s Hong Kong arm was independent from its mainland business, he said in a statement, BBC reported. (IANS)