Saddam's House Hit But None Hurt, Says Iraqi Minister

          BAGHDAD, Mar 21: One of the residences of President Saddam Hussein has been hit in US attack but nobody was injured in the process. As much was acknowledged by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Sa'eed al-Sahhaf on Friday when he spoke to journalists. He also claimed that the Iraqis had destroyed two helicopters in fighting that began on Thursday, but denied that the southern city of Umm Qasr had fallen to coalition forces. He described the USA as the "superpower of villains, of Al Capone," adding that "we will not allow them to get out of this quagmire which we trapped them in. They will see their end there."

US Forces in South Iraq, Faw Peninsula Falls to Britishers

          BAGHDAD, Mar 21: American US forces in Kuwait have begun their march northwards from Kuwait towards Baghdad. Early on Friday, they entered southern Iraq, meeting only sporadic resistance. In a seaborne assault, British commandos captured the Faw peninsula on Iraq's southern tip and seized control of key oil installations following a pre-dawn assault.

           Col. Steve Cox, leader of the 40 Commandos, said: "All our targets were successfully captured. The main thing now is sorting the mess out in the daylight, make sure all the sites are protected and assess the local situation." And an American flag flew over the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr on Friday after US Marines took control of it. According to British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon, Iraqi troops have set ablaze up to 30 oil wells.

Aussie Troops on Surveillance Job inside Iraq (Go To Top)

          SYDNEY, Mar 21: Australian special forces are operating inside Iraq gathering details on troop movements and military targets, Australia's defense department says. "Our special forces task group has transitioned from the battle- preparation phase and is now undertaking active operations inside Iraq," Brigadier Mike Hannan told a press conference in Canberra on Friday, according to CNN.

          "The (operations) would include long-range reconnaissance and surveillance operations where they would be seeking detailed information on such things as enemy troop movements, identifying targets such as key military ops and so on," Hannan said. Australia has committed 150 Special Air Services troops in addition to combat jets, warships and around 1,900 other soldiers, to the U.S.-led attack on Iraq, in what the Australian military have dubbed Operation Falconer.

           Australian Prime Minister John Howard told radio listeners on Friday morning that the nation's forces had been involved in action against Iraq from the start of the war on Thursday. "Last night, I spoke by telephone to Brigadier McNarn, who's the Australian Commander in the (Persian) Gulf, and he reported that all of our men and women were in good spirits, their morale was very high," Howard informed.

15 Indians Still in Iraq, Says Envoy  (Go To Top)

          DUBAI, Mar 21: As many as 15 Indians are still in Iraq even as the US-led coalition forces have launched attack on the Gulf country, according to BB Tyagi, Indian envoy. Among the Indian nationals three are Christian missionary nuns and four students. The ambassador said that the three nuns from Kerala belonging to Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity are still in the Iraqi Capital looking after 25 children in an orphanage. Four students studying Islamic religion are in Najaf, 120 km from Baghdad, and at least eight Indians are in Karbala, the ambassador said, adding that "we have advised all of them to leave Iraq but they felt they are safe, and hence did not move out."

          It may be recalled that barely a couple of days before the US launched the attack, the Indian ambassador had shifted from Baghdad to Amman, the Capital of Jordan. The embassy in Iraq is presently guarded by local people.

241 Keralites Leave Gulf, Reach Cochin  (Go To Top)

          COCHIN, Mar 21: Another group of 241 Indian nationals working in the Gulf region arrived in Cochin on Friday following U.S-led war on Iraq. Most of the passengers said those still in the Gulf region were scared and wanted to come back as early as possible. One of the Indian expatriates who arrived from Kuwait said they got their tickets booked at the last moment as airports were closed there.

           Meanwhile, India's foreign ministry confirmed that the country was operating regular air service to the Gulf countries, expecially Kuwait. Some reports said Kuwait airport has been closed following threats. "All the airports were closed there. We managed to get our tickets booked at the last moment. The situation there is serious and we somehow got the tickets," one of the passengers said. Mohan, another Indian expatriate from Kuwait, thanked his employers for arranging their safe return, with tension mounting in the region.

           "Situation is a bit tense there, but life is going on. The flight was actually full. We are coming with our family. And our company (employers) allowed us to go for long vacation," Mohan added.

           Meanwhile, the Government of Kerala has set up a special information cell at its residential office in New Delhi. A large number of Indians working in the Gulf are from this State. C Chandran, Resident Commissioner of Kerala, said the cell was working in liasion with the Ministry of External Affairs to provide round-the-clock information.

           "This is called the special cell dealing with the Gulf situation. Now, in this cell we are open for 24 hours, manned by four people at a time. They will receive information and enquiries from anywhere in the country, particularly from Kerala and Keralites residing outside Kerala and India, and we will pass it on to the control room of the MEA to get sort of enquiries from Indian missions abroad," Chandran said.

           Air India has sent four aircraft to Kuwait to fly home 1,250 of its nationals and had said it was ready to evacuate 50,000 more. However, the Centre on Thursday ruled out evauating its nationals from the Gulf region saying that additional flights to the region were an exception and not a prelude to a mass evauation.

LTTE Attacks Chinese Fishing Vessel, 14 Dead (Go To Top)

          COLOMBO, Mar 21: At least 14 people were killed, mostly Chinese, when suspected LTTE militants attacked a vessel, it was reported here on Friday. Following the attack, the vessel sank. It was reportedly carrying Chinese fishermen when the incident occurred on Thursday. It was, however, not known whether the Chinese fishermen were here for fishing or recreation purpose. Eight Chinese and one Sri Lankan national were rescued by another fishing vessel nearby after the attack, Sri Lankan navy sources said. The incident took place north of Mullativu, a stronghold for the rebels who operate their own navy in the area.

Militants Attack Police Station in Manipur (Go To Top)

          IMPHAL, Mar 21: Unidentified militants attacked a police station here early on Friday. However, there were no reports of any casualty or injuries. The attack resulted in a heavy exchange of fire between the rebels and the police. The incident reportedly occurred in Senapati district. Sources said in the wee hours of the morning, heavily-armed militants opened fire at the Kangpokpi police station, about 35 km from here on the Imphal-Guwahati national highway. Police retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted more than an hour, they added. According to sources, the attackers escaped under the cover of darkness to nearby thick hilly jungles.

Attending Oscars During War Will be in Poor Taste: Kidman (Go To Top)

          LONDON, Mar 21: Oscar contender for best actress Nicole Kidman is weighing the idea of shunning the Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday because of the war in Iraq. Kidman, who is nominated for her performance in 'The Hours', had told friends she felt that attending the glitzy awards ceremony would be in "poor taste". The actress, who was one of those who pushed for the red carpet to be put away, is said to be torn about whether to fly from New York to Hollywood for Sunday's event. "At the moment, she says she will turn up, because so many others are, but admits she's weighing up the matter minute by minute," the report quoted a friend saying.

Monica Lewinsky to Host Dating Show (Go To Top)

          WASHINGTON, Mar 21: Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky will be presenting a programme for US television entitled Mr Personality. The show will be broadcast on Fox Network next month. The dating show will be a twist on the girl-meets-bachelors format, only to make matters more interesting (or so the makers think), the faces and hair of the gents will not be visible to the woman, and the men will have to win her favour by the sheer force of their charm and intelligence, reports People News.

           According to a report in People News, the men will live together in a house in California (installed with a barrage of cameras) and their true appearance will be seen by the TV audience when they are not wearing masks on their date.

Naomi not Happy about Movie on Her Life (Go To Top)

          LONDON, Mar 21: Super-model Naomi Campbell is annoyed at plans for a big-screen story on her life. The film is based on Lesley-Ann Jones' book 'Naomi: The Rise and Rise of the Girl from Nowhere'. "Naomi is hopping mad at the fact they are turning the unauthorised biography - which made her out to be a real prima donna - into a film," a movie insider said.

           Former EastEnder Judi Shekoni is hoping to clinch the lead role, says a report in the Sun. The book included details of her affairs with Mike Tyson and Robert De Niro, her reported suicide attempts after lovers' tiffs, her dirty telephone talk with Sylvester Stallone and even her feud with rival model Tyra Banks.

Tobey Maguire Will Return as Spiderman (Go To Top)

          WASHINGTON, Mar 21: After much speculations, the word is finally out. US actor Tobey Maguire is all set to reprise his role as Spiderman. There were doubts about Maguire's return as the webslinging superhero following a bad back he sustained while playing a jockey in the upcoming flick 'Seabiscuit.' And though his publicist Kelly Bush expressed concerns about the strength of his back, it was never stated that the 27-year-old actor would not reprise his role.

           In fact, Maguire is once again training for the role which will earn him 17 million dollars this time around, four times more than what he earned for the original. The movie, which is set for release in May 2004, will begin filming next month.

Kylie, Olivier `Inseparable' (Go To Top)

          LONDON, Mar 21: The romance between Aussie singer Kylie Minogue and French actor Olivier Martinez continues to grow. Recently, the couple had lunch in a restaurant in Los Angeles, where onlookers said they carried on like teenagers. "Kylie seemed unbelievably happy and carefree just to be with Olivier. She looked stunning but relaxed with messy hair and just a little make-up," an onlooker was quoted as saying by the Sun.

          "Kylie has made plans to do some recording in LA so she can be with Olivier as long as possible. Kylie really is as happy as she looks," said one of Kylie's friends.

Tarzan to Return in a New Avatar (Go To Top)

           WASHINGTON, Mar 21: Tarzan is returning to your TV screen in a new avatar, only this time model Travis Fimmel, of the Calvin Klein underwear fame, will be playing the ape-man. Tarzan, the jungle super hero created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, has been portrayed on the screen by 47 monosyllabic musclemen of various nationalities since the early silent movies. Fimmel, 22, a former Melbourne-based male model originally from Echuca, has been signed by Warner Brothers to star in a new television series. The series is due to premiere in the United States in October and will be seen in Australia next year.

           Fimmel first attracted world-wide attention last year when his tautly tuned torso appeared on a Central London billboard advertising Calvin Klein underwear. His obvious assets led to him being anointed the first 21st century ideal of male virility. Fimmel was one of hundreds of young actors and models tested for Tarzan's role, but despite very little acting experience, Warner Brothers president Peter Roth personally selected him.

           "Travis is a wonderful young man," said Roth, "He has not simply a great look, but that feeling you get that this person is going to be a big star." The series has Tarzan returning from the jungle to his childhood home in New York, where his uncle is the head of Greystoke Enterprises. His love interest, Jane, will be a New York detective played by Sarah Wayne Callies. Fimmel is said to be spending all his spare time on acting lessons hoping that his Tarzan role will lead to a future in feature films.

           But just four years ago he was flat broke when he was discovered working out in a gymnasium by a talent scout for Chadwick's, the Melbourne modelling agency. He had tired of milking cows on the family farm in Echuca, where he never bothered to wear shoes, and headed for Melbourne with a vague idea of breaking into acting. Instead, his impressive physique and country-boy facial freshness were noticed by Chadwick's, which launched him on a modelling career. Two years later, after saving enough money, he headed for Hollywood.