Shoe Thrower Hailed by Iraqis as Hero

 

The shoe throwing incident by Muntadhar al-Zeidi, an Iraqi journalist to President Bush on his secret visit to Baghdad is now  the talk of the town in coffee shops, business offices and even schools — and a subject across much of the Arab world.
Al-Zeidi’s act of defiance Sunday transformed him from an obscure reporter of a minor TV station into a national hero to many Iraqis fed up with the nearly six-year U.S. presence here.

A charity run by the daughter of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi bestowed a medal of courage on al-Zeidi, calling on the Iraqi government to free him.

Several thousand people demonstrated in Baghdad and other cities to demand al-Zeidi’s release.

A geography teacher at a Baghdad elementary school asked her students if they had seen the footage of the shoe-throwing. “All Iraqis should be proud of this Iraqi brave man, Muntadhar. History will remember him forever,” she said.

Family members expressed bewilderment over al-Zeidi’s action and concern about his treatment in Iraqi custody. But they also expressed pride over his defiance of an American president who many Iraqis believe has destroyed their country.

Banks Hit by Pyramid Scam

Banks from all over the world faces huge losses from a suspected pyramid fraud scam managed by former Wall Street heavyweight Bernard Madoff.

The following banks have so far disclosed their exposure to Madoff Investment Securities in New York following his arrest last week.

HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking groups, could lose $1 billion, it announced Monday, adding to a litany of expected losses across some of Europe’s leading financial houses.

The Royal Bank of Scotland told CNN its hedge funds had exposure of up to £400 million ($600 million) to funds managed by securities broker Bernard Madoff.

In France, BNP Paribas said Sunday its maximum potential loss was about €350 million euros ($468 million).

And in Spain, Banco Santander said it had a direct exposure of €17 million while clients of its hedge funds had €2.33 billion at risk in Madoff’s firm. The country’s second-largest bank, BBVA, said it could lose up to €300 million.

Japan’s Nomura on Monday said it had ¥27.6 billion ($303 million) of exposure, but that the impact on its capital would be limited.

Madoff, a former chairman of the Nasdaq exchange market, was arrested on Thursday, and is alleged to have confessed to defrauding investors of 50 billion dollars. He was charge for operating a $50 billion Ponzi scheme from his investment advisory business.

A Ponzi — similar to a pyramid scheme — is an investment fraud in which high profits are promised to investors from fictitious sources. Early investors are paid off with funds raised from later ones.

Journalist Throws Shoes at Bush in Baghdad

Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi throws shoes at Bush during the news conference with Prime MInister Nuri al-Maliki in his palace in Baghdad, Iraq.

Bush ducked both shoes as they whizzed past his head and landed with a thud against the wall behind him.

The shoe thrower shouted “This is your farewell kiss, you dog!” and “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” in arabic after he was pinned on the ground by security personnel, he screamed: “You killed the Iraqis!” 

In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt.

Al-Zaidi a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt, drew international attention in November 2007 when he was kidnapped while on his way to work in central Baghdad. He was released three days later.

The U.S. president’s  whirlwind trip in this city is shrouded in secrecy.
The visit to the Iraqi capital just 37 days before he hands the war off to his successor, Barack Obama, who has pledged to end it, was his way of highlighting a drop in violence and to celebrate a recent U.S.-Iraq security agreement, which calls for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011.

“The war is not over,” Bush said, but “it is decisively on it’s way to being won.”

Pakistan Raids Camp of Mumbai Plotter

Pakistani forces raided a camp used by the group whom India blames for last month’s massacre in Mumbai and arrested an alleged mastermind of the attacks that shook India’s financial capital.

The troops grabbed Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi who is among the 12 people taken Sunday in the raid on the riverbank camp. Said camp was run by the banned group Laskhar-e-Taiba. There was a brief gunfight in the camp near Muzaffarabad before the militants were subdued, the officials said. He said Lakhvi was named by the Mumbai gunman as a mastermind of the attacks.

Indian officials said  that the sole Mumbai attacker captured alive has told them that Lakhvi recruited him for the mission and that Lakhvi and another militant, Yusuf Muzammil, planned the operation. The three-day seige of India’s commercial capital left 171 people dead.

It was not immediately clear what Pakistan intended to do with Lakhvi.Pakistan and India do not have an extradition treaty. Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari indicated anyone arrested in Pakistan in connection with the attacks would be tried in Pakistan.

Manila shootout kills 16

Sixteen people have been killed in a shoot-out between gunmen and police authorities in Sucat, Parañaque, Philippines.

Among those killed in the firefight were three civilians, 10 suspected robbers, one policeman, the police said

Alfonso de Vera, 53, and his seven-year-old daughter Alyanna were also killed by members of police Special Action Force, according to witnesses. 

Manila police chief Leopoldo Bataoil said the men had belonged to a gang that was planning to rob a warehouse in the suburb of Paranaque.

The men, some armed with rifles fitted with grenade launchers, started firing indiscriminately after realising police were following them, he added.

Judge blocks suspensions of Kevin and Pat William

A Minnesota judge has blocked the NFL’s suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league’s anti-doping policy. Earlier, Vikings’ Kevin and Pat Williams have gone to court to block their suspensions.

Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued a temporary restraining order at the players’ request on Wednesday, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case. No further hearing date immediately was set.

The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn’t list all its ingredients.

The Williamses who are not related are considered big part of the success of the Vikings. They are  7-5 and in first place in the NFC North.

Canada’s PM to Fight Planned Ouster

Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned an opposition plan to oust his government in an upcoming confidence vote, calling the effort a threat to Canada’s economy and democracy.

Last month, Harper set a December 8 date for a vote of confidence in his government. But he could ask Canada’s governor general, Michaelle Jean, to suspend parliament until January — a move that would buy the Conservatives time to rally support for Harper.

Harper’s Conservative Party, which has governed with a minority in the House of Commons since 2006, gained seats in Canada’s October elections. Harper, speaking in a televised address, vowed to use “every legal means” to stop the opposition from unseating his minority Conservative government next week and replacing it with an opposition-led coalition.

The embattled Conservative leader was responding to three parties that have united in opposition to his handling of the economy, saying he has failed to present a plan for dealing with the global economic crisis.

Thai Protesters End Siege

Thai protesters said they will end their siege at Bangkok’s major airport after Thailand’s top court dissolved the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and two of its coalition partners for electoral fraud.

The decisions spell the end of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat‘s brief term in power, as he is one of the 35-member executive board of the ruling People Power Party. Executive board members are banned from politics for five years as a result of the decision. 

The decisions spell the end of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat‘s brief term in power, as he is one of the 35-member executive board of the ruling People Power Party. Executive board members are banned from politics for five years as a result of the decision. Somchai said that he accepted the court’s call for him to step down shortly after the verdict was announced; the ruling coalition, however, should remain largely intact. Regular members of the three parties – the People Power Party, Chart Thai Party and Matchima Thipithai Party – have 60 days to join another political party. PPP members were already preparing to migrate to the newly formed Puea Thai Party, and other parties have been set up to accommodate members of Chart Thai and Matchima Thipathai. In total, 109 lawmakers were banned.

Members of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy, occupying Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport, cheered and hugged on hearing the news.

Brad Pitt – ‘Personal and Special’ Tattoos

Brad Pitt was left squirming during a recent taping of OPRAH WINFREY’s talk show when a fan insisted on chatting to him about his tattoos.

The movie hunk was on the show promoting his new film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with co-star Cate Blanchett when a devotee from Ontario, California, called Christina phoned to ask him to explain his skin art.

She asked, “I’m very interested in knowing the meaning of especially the iceman and the new one that you have of the Daniel Pearl quote.”

And fun-loving Blanchett quipped, “And will you show them to us?” as nervous Pitt blushed and tried to avoid the question.

He refused to show off his tattoos, but offered, “If you have a partner… it’s a great thing to do together, and it becomes personal and special in its own right and I’d rather just leave it at that.”

But Oprah wasn’t about to let the topic lie, asking the fan, “What are you talking about?” – to which the knowledgeable caller started describing her hero’s skin art.

Christina said, “I just wanna know what was the idea behind it… I know you’ve got one on your tummy, don’t make me go there!”

Gracious Pitt chuckled and said, “Thank you for the question, I’m sorry I can’t help you out anymore than that.”

Scottsdale Apartment Fire Displaces Residents

Red Cross workers are helping some Scottsdale residents find a place to stay Wednesday night after a fire damaged two apartments.
 
A fire broke out at the Scottsdale Springs near 77th Avenue and Osborn Road around noon. Firefighters evacuated nearby apartments and the extent of the damage is unknown.
 
One adult female was transported to a Valley hospital for smoke inhalation; she is expected to be OK.
 
One firefighter fell partially through the floor of a patio but was not injured, according to a fire department spokeswoman.
 
The cause of the fire is under investigation.