5 arrested by Lankan navy

Five fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for straying into their territorial waters, returned home on Wednesday, reports PTI from Chennai. The fishermen were arrested and jailed for 70 days in Colombo. Both the State and the Central governments had secured the release of the fishermen through the Embassy. The fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram, will be sent to their respective places from Chennai.

Cancer-hit tigress’ B-day

A white tigress, suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy celebrated her birthday in style–with the traditional cake and a dressed chicken at the Vanivihar national park, reports IANS from Bhopal.

It was the 18th birthday of Rini–undergoing treatment for cancer for over a year. Special prayers were conducted for her speedy recovery and those present hoped that she would recover soon as she was responding well to chemotherapy.

Soren sworn in as CM

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief and former Union Minister Shibu Soren on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand after unseating Madhu Koda, reports DHNS from Ranchi. Soren is the fourth chief minister in over three years.He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi at a function organised at Marahabadi grounds amid the presence of hundreds of party workers. Eleven other legislators including seven Independents also took oath with Soren.

Justice Mathur heads armed forces tribunal

Retired Supreme Court Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur was on Wednesday appointed the first chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), which will handle all pending court cases involving armed forces personnel, reports DHNS from New Delhi.

Justice Mathur, who retired on August 6, will be the AFT chairperson for four years, official sources said. The tribunal will start functioning by October.

Oil rise due Gustav storm

Oil prices shot up above USD 118 a barrel on Wednesday, rising for a third day as Tropical Storm Gustav spun toward the Gulf of Mexico and threatened to collide with offshore oil and gas platforms, reports AP from New York.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose USD 2.11 to USD 118.38 a barrel in morning trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after earlier rising as high as USD 119.63. The contract added USD 1.16 on Tuesday to settle at USD 116.27 a barrel.