Pak court seeks info on execution of Kasab arrest warrant
Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court hearing the Mumbai attacks case involving LeT’s Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects on Saturday sought information from the government on the execution of arrest warrants for Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari. Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan of the Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court heard arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers on making Kasab and Ansari part of the proceedings in Pakistan. The prosecution and defence lawyers have filed separate petitions with regard to making Ansari and Kasab part of the proceedings in the trial being conducted within Adiala Jail for security reasons.
Briton is 1st woman to row across Pacific
SYDNEY: A British environmentalist has become the first woman to row alone across the Pacific Ocean, receiving a rock star welcome in Papua New Guinea after finishing a nearly 13,000-km journey that nearly claimed her life. Thousands turned out to welcome Roz Savage, 42, as she rowed her 7-metre boat named Brocade toward Madang on Friday. Several people paddled canoes alongside her as she cruised into the harbour, where well-wishers adorned her with colourful leis. The Pacific row was meant to raise awareness about climate change and plastic debris polluting the ocean. She estimates she made 2.5 million oar strokes during her 250-day trip, which was broken up into three different legs.
Indian among 12 killed in Oman storm
Dubai: Three foreign nationals, including an Indian, are among 12 people killed in incessant rains triggered by cyclone Phet that lashed Oman knocking down electric poles and flooding localities. Nine Omanis and three expatriates were killed by the storm, General Malek al-Muammari, head of Oman’s civil defence force, told Oman’s state television. The Indian died in Quriyat area, an Oman TV report said, without identifying the victim. It said he was electrocuted. A Bangladeshi woman also died after being electrocuted in the same area while nationality of another expatriate has not been identified.
Obama names retd Gen as spy chief
Washington: US President Barack Obama has chosen a US intelligence veteran, retired Lt Gen James Clapper, as his new director of national intelligence. Clapper, whose nomination comes at a time of mounting domestic security threats, will replace Dennis Blair, who stepped down late last month amid heavy criticism after a string of security shortcomings, among them failure to thwart planned attacks including one by an al-Qaeda linked group to bring down a US airliner on December 25.
Dutch murder suspect questioned in Peru
LIMA: The lone suspect in the disappearance of US teen Natalee Holloway was paraded before reporters on Saturday as Peruvians denounced him and detectives began interrogating him about the murder of a Lima student. Chilean police spokesman Fernando Ovalle said Joran van der Sloot told them he did not kill 21-year-old Stephany Flores, who was found battered with a broken neck on Sunday in his Lima hotel room.
Indian-American wins Spelling Bee contest
Boston: She spelt the word “stromuhr” correctly to win the popular Spelling Bee contest, becoming the third Indian-American in a row to emerge victorious in the coveted competition. Fourteen-year-old Anamika Veeramani from Ohio topped the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee on Friday, taking home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. The eighth-grader, spelt the winning word stromuhr, a term for an instrument used to measure the velocity of blood flow, to emerge the winner out of 273 spellers in the final held in Washington.
Chace Crawford held for marijuana possession
Los Angeles: Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford has been arrested for possession of marijuana outside an Irish pub in hometown Plano, Texas. The 24-year-old actor, who shot to fame with his role of a Manhattan rich kid Nate Archibald in the hit show, was booked and later released on a misdemeanour charge of possessing less than two ounces of marijuana. The misdemeanour charge carries a maximum of 180 days in jail and a fine of $2,000, the CNN reported.
China’s fattest man escapes death
Beijing: Liang Yong, at 225 kg, China’s fattest man, who was on the verge of death, escaped as the doctors made him lose 18 kg. Liang, 30, was rushed to a hospital almost in coma as a metabolic disorder caused fluid to build up inside his body, threatening his vital organs liver, kidney and heart. Liang is recovering well, said doctors at Xinqiao Hospital in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.