Mid Day International News |
- Campbell's skirt blows up at Venice fest
- Pakistani Taliban added to US terror list
- Venus struggles to victory over Rebecca Marino
- Hostage drama at Discovery Channel building
- Russians urged to smoke, drink more
- 4 killed, over 50 injured in Lahore serial blasts
| Campbell's skirt blows up at Venice fest Posted: Supermodel Naomi Campbell ended up showing more than intended when a sudden gust of wind blew her skirt up at the 67th Venice film festival. The 40-year-old, who was sporting a black outfit with cutout panels showing her legs, was left exposed from behind, leaving her black underwear visible when the wind blew, reports dailymail.co.uk. Her outfit was already low-cut, displaying her cleavage. Campbell was just entering her hotel in the Italian city for the Sep 1-11 film festival when the unexpected incident happened.
| ||||
| Pakistani Taliban added to US terror list Posted: The United States has designated the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, linked to the botched Times Square bombing attempt by a Pakistani American, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday also designated two senior TTP leaders Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali Ur Rehman as specially designated global terrorists as the US imposed financial and travel sanctions on the Pakistan based group that trained Times Square suspect Faisal Shahzad. "These actions will help stem the flow of finances to TTP and provide the Department of Justice with a critical tool to prosecute those who knowingly provide material support to TTP and its senior leaders," State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley said announcing the sanctions. The US also announced a $5 million reward for any information leading to the arrest of Mehsud or Rehman under its Rewards for Justice Programme, while the Department of Justice issued an arrest warrant for Mehsud charging him "with conspiracy to murder US citizens abroad and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction." "Hakimullah Mehsud has been the leader of TTP since August 2009 and Wali Ur Rehman is the TTP Emir (leader) in South Waziristan. Rehman has participated in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan against US and NATO personnel, as well as attacks against Pakistani security forces," the State Department said. Noting the TTP "has carried out numerous attacks against US interests under Mehsud and Rehman's leadership," it said: "Such instances include a December 2009 suicide attack on a US military base in Khost, Afghanistan, which killed seven US citizens, and an April 2010 suicide bombing against the US Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which killed six Pakistani citizens." "The TTP and Al Qaeda have a symbiotic relationship; TTP draws ideological guidance from the Al Qaeda while the Al Qaeda relies on TTP for safe haven in the Pashtun areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border," it said. "This mutual cooperation gives TTP access to both Al Qaeda's global terrorist network and the operational experience of its members. Given the proximity of the two groups and the nature of their relationship, TTP is a force multiplier for Al Qaeda," the State Department added. It also said that "the TTP is suspected of being behind the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto," and that "most recently, TTP claimed involvement in the failed attempt by Faisal Shahzad to detonate an explosive device in New York City's Times Square on May 1. "TTP's claim has been validated by investigations which revealed that TTP directed and facilitated the plot." Daniel Benjamin, the State Department's Coordinator for Counter-terrorism, said, "Faisal Shahzad's attempted attack on US soil highlights the direct threat posed by the Pakistani Taliban." "Today's actions put the TTP and its sympathisers on notice that the United States will not tolerate support to this organisation, which has inflicted great harm to US and Pakistani interests," he said pointing out that "the TTP's destabilising effect in Pakistan's tribal areas has resulted in innumerable civilian deaths and considerable property losses." Thus, "It has greatly, indeed unacceptably, complicated the efforts to counter the threat posed by Al Qaeda," Benjamin said. Asked about concern expressed by India and some other nations that many designated Pakistan based terror groups have come back after changing their names, he said: "We actually are pretty nimble when it comes to adding other names for these groups to the designation so that they are covered as well."
| ||||
| Venus struggles to victory over Rebecca Marino Posted: Venus Williams battled blustery conditions and a bold challenge from Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino to reach the third round of the US Open yesterday. The third-seeded American won through 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to set up a third-round tie against another qualifier, Mandy Minella of Luxembourg, who upset 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. But she was made to scrap for it all the way, especially in a first set which saw Marino, who at 19 was 11 years younger than her opponent and playing in just her second WTA Tour-level event, regularly out-hit the two-time former champion. Williams had trouble with her serve action as the hot conditions on the Arthur Ashe Centre Court were joined by gusting winds in the afternoon.
| ||||
| Hostage drama at Discovery Channel building Posted: Armed man took three people hostage at the Discovery Channel's headquarters An enraged gunman has taken a number of hostages at the Discovery Channel headquarters in Maryland, US after his idea for a television show was rejected.
Police have not yet confirmed if he is carrying a bomb. Three bomb technicians have been rushed to the scene. It is not clear how many people Lee is holding hostage at the building in Silver Springs, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC. Police described it as a "small number". Most of the 1,900 people, who work in the building were able to escape safely. Children were also rushed to safety from the company's daycare facility, including four cribs full of babies. They were reunited with their frantic parents in a nearby McDonald's. Police said they are negotiating with Lee now and watching him on CCTV. It is not yet clear what he wants - but it is believed that he became enraged after Discovery rejected his ideas for a television show. In an online diatribe, he posted: "I have tried to submit television show ideas to the Discovery Channel about saving the planet and they have outright rejected all ideas and won't even listen. Adam Dolan, a sales director in Discovery's education division, said that he was heading to lunch with a co-worker when he heard about the gunman. He was told to go back up to the top floor, lock the door and turn off the lights. Eventually the workers were herded down a stairwell and told to go home. "Everyone was very scared, but at the same time ... I think people were calm and collected and responded as one would expect in this situation," said Dolan (28). When he got to the bottom floor, he saw shattered glass near the company's daycare and suspected it was broken to get the children out. Dolan said the company has unarmed security guards, who won't let anyone into the building without a badge. Another person inside the building added that the gunman had something strapped to his chest and had hostages. The person asked not to be identified, saying people inside were told not to speak to the media. ATF and FBI officials also said they were responding. People were being kept away from the main drag of the downtown area where the building is located amid restaurants and shops. Traffic in the area was jammed.
Morning latest James Lee was gunned down by police officers and the three hostages were rescued at 3:20 am
| ||||
| Russians urged to smoke, drink more Posted: Smoke and drink more, Russia's finance minister Alexei Kudrin urged citizens yesterday, explaining that higher consumption will help lift tax revenues for spending on social services.
| ||||
| 4 killed, over 50 injured in Lahore serial blasts Posted: At least four people are feared to have died and over 50 others injured as two low-intensity explosions occurred during a religious procession near Karbala Gamay Shah and Bhati Chowk on Wednesday. "Four persons have been killed and over 50 others injured in Lahore blasts," The NDTV reported. It has been reported that the religious procession was being held to commemorate Yaum-i-Ali (martydom of Islam's fourth caliph and Prophet Mohammad's son-in-law Ali), was on its way to Karbala Gamay Shah in Lahore.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Mid Day To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment