Pak’s ambivalence in cracking down on Saeed clear : NYT

New York, Sep.19 (ANI) : Pakistani authorities may have filed cases against Lashkar -e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, but Islamabad’s actions are being considered as a mere ‘hogwash’.

The New York Times, while reporting the actions taken against Saeed, said the ambivalence of Pakistani authorities in cracking down on the LeT’s fouder leader was clear.

The newspaper highlighted that the Pakistan government has never been serious regarding putting a check on Saeed and his covert terror activities being run under the LeT’s charity organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

“Even after he was placed under house arrest in December, the government took steps to soften the blow, allowing him, for instance, to hold a defiant news conference before his confinement began,” it said.

While the Pakistan government has been maintaining that it is seriously carrying out the probe regarding the 26/11 massacre, and tried to show the same to the international community especially the US by booking Saeed under the anti-terrorism act, its ‘bluff’ was laid bare when Saeed’s lawyer disclosed that the case registered against his client were ‘very weak’.

“I have gone through both the FIRs against Saeed thoroughly. The charges against my client are very weak. He has expressed his views like any other Pakistani,” Saeed’s lawyer AK Dongar told a private television channel.

Pakistani authorities also revealed that they have not received any instructions for arresting Saeed despite the registration of two cases against him. (ANI)

UN to probe Musharraf on unanswered questions on death of Benazir

New York, Sep.19 (ANI): United Nations investigators are preparing to question former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, amid mounting doubts over official versions of how she died and claims of a cover-up.

The Weekend Australian Magazine revealed Saturday evidence that a bullet – probably sniper fire from a high-velocity rifle – killed the former Pakistan prime minister.

The Musharraf regime said a “bump on the head” resulting from a Taliban or al-Qa’ida suicide bomber killed Bhutto on December 27, 2007, shortly before an election she was expected to win.

This evidence contradicts the regime’s claim that the murder was the work of the Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US unmanned drone attack.

There is no history of the militants using sniper fire – or even regular gunfire – in any of the hundreds of suicide attacks they have mounted in Pakistan.

Also revealed in The Weekend Australian Magazine is detail of the cover-up that followed Bhutto’s murder.

The crime scene in Liaquat Bagh, a park in Rawalpindi, was washed with high-pressure hoses within 45 minutes of the blast, destroying almost all forensic evidence.

Naheed Khan, Bhutto’s political secretary for 23 years, who cradled her head as she died, told The Weekend Australian Magazine: “There were bullets coming from different directions. There are lots of high buildings overlooking the area. This was a typical intelligence (agency) operation.”

Khan’s husband, Senator Safdar Abbasi, who is also a doctor, was in the Toyota Landcruiser when Bhutto was attacked.

“The way she died – her instant death – suggests very sharp sniper fire. A typical intelligence (agency) operation,” Abbasi said.

There is no suggestion of any involvement by Musharraf in her murder. But the UN investigators want to question the former general. Given the authority he wielded in Pakistan, including over the army and its agencies, Musharraf, 66, is thought to be in a better position than most to cast light on events surrounding the assassination. (ANI)

Suzanne Somers says chemotherapy killed Patrick Swayze

New York, Sep 19 (ANI): Actress Suzanne Somers, who is herself a cancer survivor, thinks that chemotherapy has killed Patrick Swayze.

The ‘Three’s Company’ star gave her opinion on the ‘Ghost’ star’s death while speaking to Shinan Govani at the party for Tom Ford’s movie, ‘A Single Man’, at the Toronto Film Festival.

“They took a beautiful man” and “put poison in his body,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.

Somers, who has a book about cancer coming out next month, said: “Why couldn’t they have built him up nutritionally and gotten rid of the toxins? . . . I hate to be this controversial . . . but I have to speak out.”

Other stars present at the party included Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, and Colin Firth. (ANI)

All India Radio Lucknow wins UNICEF regional broadcasting award

New York, Sep 18(ANI): All India Radio Lucknow’s broadcast on the hopes and dreams of rag pickers and homeless children has won the International Children Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Regional Award announced by the UNICEF.

UNICEF gives the awards for outstanding commitment to the ICDB by television and radio broadcasters, and encourages young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting.

The 2009 ICDB theme, “Unite for Children: Tune in to Kids,” asked children to explore what they care about and what are their values, fears and dreams.

“I am very happy. I am speechless,” said Archana Prasad, the chief producer of the Lucknow program called “Kids Tune in to Us.”

The winner of the 2009 ICDB Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony dinner at The Modern on November 10, 2009 in New York.

“We are thrilled with broadcasters’ dedication to the ICDB and children’s programming,” said Stephen Cassidy, Chief of UNICEF’s Internet, Broadcast and Image Section.

“We are inspired by the diversity and creativity these broadcasters exhibit in celebrating UNICEF’s mission to involve young people in the media-making process. Children around the world reap the benefits of their commitment,” he added.

The nominees, who won the regional competition, will now go on to compete for global honors. This year’s nominees come from India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Suriname, Togo and Ukraine and represent the best work produced in 2009.

Regional judging took place between June and August and entries were evaluated by teams of broadcasters, radio and television experts and communications specialists.

The judges looked at content, execution and year-round youth participation.

Other winners included, ATN Bangla (Bangladesh, “Voice of Children”), Cambodia National Television (CNT) (“Youth Today”), Citizen TV (Kenya, “Angel’s Cafe”), Surinaamse Televisie Journaal (STVS) (Suriname, “10 minuten Jeugd Journal,” created and produced by The Backlot), Television Togolaise (TVT) (Togo, “A Nous la Planete) and Studio ‘Razom’ (Ukraine, “Big Secrets”). The ICDB Regional Prizes for radio went to Radio Justiga (Brazil, “Sintonize as Criangas na Radio Justica”), EUCHIRA (Germany, “Kids from Germany Meet Kids from the Balkans”), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (Ghana, “UNIIQ Curious Minds / Gems of our Time”), TRAXXfm, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (“Tune in to Kids”) and Maputaland Community Radio Station (South Africa, “Zisize Children’s Radio Project”).

The ICDB was launched in 1991 to encourage broadcasters worldwide to create awareness for children’s issues and takes place the first Sunday in March. On that day, youth write, report, produce and present programs that allow them to reach a wide audience with their thoughts on the issues that affect them. (ANI)

Madoff’s Long Island house sold for over 8.75 million dollars

New York, Sep 18(ANI): Multi-billion dollar Poziking Bernard Madoff’s Long Island house has been snapped up by an unidentified buyer days for over 8.75 million dollars.

According to reports, a spokeswoman for property broker Corcoran Group said that an unidentified buyer or buyers have snapped up the property after the U.S. Marshals Service put the seized property on the market.

The U.S. Marshals Service had put the house on sale on September 1 to help repay victims of Madoff’s massive investment fraud, CBS News reports.

The 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house is set on a 1.2-acre plot amid dunes in Montauk, located on the south shore of Long Island. The house is modest by neighbourhood standards, but boasts of stunning views along the Atlantic Ocean.

Madoff was convicted after committing a fraud of over 60 billion dollars. He pleaded guilty to an 11-count criminal complaint, and had admitted to defrauding thousands of investors of billions of dollars.

He was sentenced to 150 years in jail in June after pleading guilty to orchestrating the multi billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. (ANI)

Lindsay Lohan’s seating arrangement tantrum

New York, Sep 18 (ANI): “Mean Girls” star Lindsay Lohan threw a diva tantrum at the Hammerstein Ballroom, after she decided she did not like the seating arrangements.

Lohan, 23, who is currently unemployed, began removing the seating cards or throwing them on the floor at the G-Star runway show on September 15.

“Lindsay decided she wasn’t happy with the seating arrangements,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

“She began taking the seating cards for celebrities like Juliette Lewis and Christian Siriano and moving them or throwing them on the floor,” the source said.

When event producers approached her for throwing Taylor Momsen’s place card to the floor, she told them to stay away.

“She said, ‘don’t [bleep]ing touch me,’ and rolled her eyes and continued moving the place cards,” the source added. (ANI)

Slurry Mischa Barton dances solo at G- star after-bash

New York, Sep 18 (ANI): Mischa Barton got a little too high at the G- star after-party at the Bowery Hotel, where she was “slurring her words” and even started dancing on her own.

Barton, who was recently had to go for involuntary hospitalisation for wisdom-teeth complications, stumbled up to the check-in table and started asking for the DJ.

“She kept saying, in a really spacey, weird British accent, ‘Like, I’m with the deejay. I to tally know the deejay. I’m here for the deejay,’” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

The insider added: “She was slurring her words.”

After being let in, Barton “needed to be escorted to the deejay booth” where she proceeded to “stand for about an hour, dancing in her own world. I don’t think her eyes were open to full capacity — or even half capacity-the whole time she was there,” said the source. (ANI)

Rafael Nadal caught flirting with Shakira

New York, Sep 16 (ANI): Spanish professional tennis player Rafael Nadal was recently caught flirting with Colombian singer Shakira at Nobu Tribeca, where she was promoting her new album ‘She-Wolf’.

Nadal, 23, who has been dating his high school sweetheart Maria Francisca Perello, nickname Xisca, for three years, had eyes for no one but the 32-year-old singer.

“They were each there with a friend, but once they started talking, they moved to a table alone for some privacy,” the New York Post quoted a witness as saying.

“There was flirting going on,” the witness added. (ANI)

Giant killer Del Potro believes he is the biggest tennis star on the circuit

New York, Sep.16 (ANI): Argentine tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro still can’t believe he has won this US Open, but now believes he is the biggest new star in tennis.

“It’s my best sensation,” he said. “Since my childhood I have dreamed of this trophy. I have realised my dream. It is an incredible moment. It’s amazing match, amazing people. Everything is perfect. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week I will be believing in this. Now, I can’t believe it,” The Mirror quoted Del Potro, as saying.

The 6 ft 6in Argentine caused a massive upset by beating a fustered Roger Federer in five thrilling sets in the US Open final.

The world No.1, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, was seeking his sixth successive title after winning 40 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows.

But he was simply battered into submission by the 20-yearold with a murderous forehand making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Despite a horrible start, Del Potro triumphed 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 in four hours and six minutes – the longest US Open final for 20 years. (ANI)

Argentina’s del Potro fulfills first of his two dreams

New York, Sep.16 (ANI): US Open 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro says that he has achieved one of the two dreams that he had set for himself.

“I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one was to be like Roger.

One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like Roger,” The Telegraph quoted Del Potro, as saying.

“Roger fought until the final point. He is a great champion. I’m very happy to be here with this trophy, with these people, on this court. This will be in my mind forever,” the fifth seed Argentinean tennis star added.

Del Potro did not celebrate his four-hour, five-set victory, which was Federer’s first defeat in New York City since 2003, with dinner in one of Manhattan’s vegetarian restaurants.

The man nicknamed ‘Enano’ or ‘Dwarf’, who came from behind to win 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 against Federer, stopped the latter from becoming the first man to win six successive US Open titles since Bill Tilden in the 1920s. (ANI)

Anti-terror raids carried out in New York

New York, Sep.15 (ANI): Law enforcement agents on Monday raided several residences in New York as part of a terrorism investigation, and are preparing to brief Congress about the investigation, Fox News reports.

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne confirmed that searches were conducted in Queens by task force agents but would not discuss the matter further.

Two U.S. intelligence officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said the target of any purported attack-or who would carry it out-remained unclear.

Authorities have not found any weapons ready for use-such as a bomb-that would indicate an attack was imminent, they said.

Nevertheless, one of the officials called the threat very real and emphasized the urgency of the threat.

New York Democrat Senator Charles Schumer was briefed by FBI officials about the raid, but refused to reveal anything because many of the details were still classified. (ANI)

Pak military involved in mass ‘extra judicial’ killings in Swat ?

New York, Sep.15 (ANI): While the Pakistan Army has claimed success in its offensive against the Taliban in the Swat and Malakand Divisions by killing scores of militants, human rights activists and local residents have blamed the security forces of carrying out indiscriminate killings in the region.

Recently hundreds of bodies were dumped onto the streets in Mingora. Eye witnesses said it appeared that those who were killed were subjected to torture, which has raised questions over the Pakistan military’s actions, The New York Times reported.

While the military has admitted that the bodies have turned up, it has vehemently denied its role in ‘extra judicial’ killings.

“There are no extrajudicial killings in our system.If something happens, we have a foolproof accountability system,” said Army spokesman Colonel Athar Abbas.

The Army has termed the whole issue as ‘revenge killings’ by civilians, but Swat residents denied such claims, the report said.

“There have been reports of extrajudicial killings by the military that are of concern,” This will not help bring peace,” said former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao.

The Human Rights Commission, a non-governmental organization, argued that all the victims had not been killed by civilians, saying there are credible reports of retaliatory killings by the military, it added.

However, some people have other views regarding the killings.her Shah Khan, a well known landlord of the region, said people would hardly raise any objection to the killings as the Taliban also used to massacre innocent persons in the same manner.

“If the security services kill in the same manner as the Taliban killed, people have no problem,” Khan said. (ANI)

Serena Williams remains unrepentant about her US Open outburst

New York, Sep 14(ANI): American tennis star Serena Williams has said she won’t apologise to the lineswoman for her outburst during her US Open semi-final defeat by Kim Clijsters.

“An apology from me? Know many people yell at linespeople? Players, athletes get frustrated,” The Mirror quoted Williams, as saying.

Williams lost her cool after being foot-faulted at the end of the contest. She unleashed a tirade on the line judge, briefly walked away and then returned for another blast at the line judge. he incident saw her receiving a point penalty for a second code violation, thus handing the semi-final match to Clijsters 6-4, 7-5.

Williams was unrepentant about the incident even during her post-match press conference as well, where she claimed she did not remember what she had said to the line judge.

Williams has been fined 10,000 dollars by US Open organisers for her outburst. (ANI)

Sexy scamster trio seduce Manhattan men off their ATM cards

New York, Sep 14 (ANI): Three girls in Manhattan, US are said to have ripped off dozens of single guys, picking them up at high-end nightclubs and pick pocketing their wallets and phones.

The trio are said to have targeted unsuspecting drunk men by offering them lifts or inviting them to after-hour parties, and then once the men were in the car they would take them to ATMs.

And while the men withdrew money they would sidle up to them, and once back in the car they would pinch their bankcards, and using pilfered PIN codes they would tap the victims’ accounts.

According to the police, the three lured in as many as 50 victims, and one man ended up losing 5,000 dollars, while others lost their cellphones and BlackBerrys.

“They knew just who to look for,” the New York Post quoted a detective as saying.

“Pretty much drunk guys looking to get from point A to point B. They’re in a good mood and figure, ‘Let me take a ride’,” he said.

The three women, all in their 20s, were busted on September 7 after allegedly swiping 1,600 dollars from a lawyer they picked up near Lotus on West 14th Street.

The lawyer, a highly paid private equity attorney who lives on Sutton Place, said he met the woman as he sat on a curb smoking a cigarette at 4 a.m. at 423 W. 14th St.

“They drove up in a car with the windows down and said, ‘Let’s go to a party. Would you like to come with us?’” he recalled.

He got into their car and they drove to an ATM machine so he could get money, and two of the suspects, Tiffany Rasberry, 21, and Barbara Labady, 22, followed and watched as he punched in his number and withdrew cash.

“They started touching me to distract me. I didn’t realize what was happening,” he said.

After the group got back in the car, a third defendant, Subhanna Beyah, 21, pretended to feel sick, and when he got out to let her exit, the three drove off.

That’s when he realized they’d snatched his ATM card.

Within 30 minutes, they’d withdrawn the money from his account. He called the cops, who searched the area, spotted the women, and arrested them.

Each has been charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and possession of stolen property.

One detective said the women viewed the scams as an alternative to turning tricks.

“They saw this as something where they tried to clean up their acts,” he stated. (ANI)

Leander Paes wins US Open men’s doubles

New York, Sep. 14 (ANI): India-Czech Republic pairing Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy won the final of US Open men’s doubles to claim their second Grand Slam title of the year.

They beat third seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles 3-6 6-3 6-2.

“This is the best year I’ve ever had on tour,” BBC quoted Paes, 36, as saying.

The Paes-Dlouhy duo had won French Open men’s doubles title in June.

Sunday’s triumph for fourth seeds pair comes after their loss in last year’s final at Flushing Meadows.

Dlouhy had also reached the 2007 final with previous partner Pavel Vizner.

Paes has now won six men’s doubles Grand Slam titles and three of those successes came with countryman Bhupathi. (ANI)

US marks eighth anniversary of 9/11 terror strike

New York, Sep 11(ANI): The eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, which killed nearly 3,000 people, was observed here on Friday.

On September 11, 2001, four hijacked planes crashed into the twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.

Memorial ceremonies are to be held at these sites and four moments of silence are observed, at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:59 a.m. and 10:29 a.m. ET, as these were the timings when the attacks took place.

President Barack Obama attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon, where 184 people died.

The names of more than 2,700 victims from the site were also read by family members and volunteers at the New York ceremony, which was attended by U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden.

For the first time, the anniversary was designated as a National Day of Service. On Thursday, Obama issued a proclamation honouring those who died and had urged Americans to mark the anniversary with acts of community service.

Remembering those who lost their lives on the tragic day, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said: “It is the sacred duty of the living to carry within us the memories of those we lost. While there is pain in remembering the loss, there is sweetness in remembering their lives.” (ANI)

Paes to face Bhupathi in US open doubles clash

New York, Sep 11 (ANI): Irrespective of who wins or loses, India will triumph as two of its tennis stars-Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes-face each other in the US Open men’s doubles final on Friday evening.

Paes will partner Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic, while Bhupathi, will partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas.

This is the first time Paes and Bhupathi are facing each other in a Grand Slam title clash.

Both Bhupathi and Paes have been in good form throughout the year Paes won the French Open this season while Bhupathi won the doubles title at the Montreal Masters.

The duo have met thrice in a Grand Slam event, but never in a final. Paes has beaten Bhupathi twice. (ANI)

‘Hillary loves being Secretary of State,’ says her spokesman

New York, Sep 10(ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s spokesman, Philippe Reines, has quashede reports that she might depart prematurely from President Barack Obama’s Cabinet to reclaim her US Senate seat.

“It seems that whoever was peddling lies about imminent weddings is now doing the same about jobs. So, let me be Shermanesquely clear: She loves being Secretary of State and isn’t running for anything. period,” The New York Post quoted Reines, as saying.

A Democrat had pointed out: “President Obama’s picks fly in even if they didn’t pay their taxes. But, her picks take forever. Plus, she has no real clout over Holbrooke or Mitchell.”

It was also reported that Clinton was considering quitting her job to retake her old US Senate seat from New York, which is currently held by Kristin Gillibrand. (ANI)

Hudson hero Sully set to return to friendly skies

New York, Sep. 11 (ANI): Hero pilot Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger is set to resume his duties in the cockpit.

Sullenberger, who became hero after a flawless emergency landing in the Hudson River, told the celebrity Web site TMZ.com that he plans to “be back at work soon.”

However, Sullenberger, 58, did not give an exact date for his return to the friendly skies, New York Post reports.

Despite his amazing skills which helped him save 155 passengers, Sully will have to practice before flying again.

Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, pilots must do three takeoffs and landings in a 90-day period, either in a plane or a simulator.

After 90 days, training must be done under supervision and requires that one takeoff simulate engine failure, something that should be no problem for the hero pilot.

Sullenberger glided into aviation history on January 15 with a flawless emergency landing in the Hudson River after geese disabled his jet’s engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport.

All 155 people aboard U.S. Airways Flight 1549 survived. (ANI)