Osama bin Laden is dead

AP Photo

In this April 1998 file photo, Osama bin Laden is shown in Afghanistan. More photos »

WASHINGTON – Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was slain in his luxury hideout in Pakistan early Monday in a firefight with U.S. forces, ending a manhunt that spanned a frustrating decade.

"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House.

A jubilant crowd of thousands gathered outside the White House as word spread of bin Laden's death. Hundreds more sang and waved American flags at Ground Zero in New York — where the twin towers that once stood as symbols of American economic power were brought down by bin Laden's hijackers 10 years ago.

Another hijacked plane slammed into the Pentagon on that cloudless day, and a fourth was commandeered by passengers who forced it to the ground — at cost of their own lives — before it could reach its intended target in Washington.

The United States attacked Afghanistan within months, pursuing al-Qaida, and an invasion of Iraq followed as part of the Bush administration's global war on terror.

U.S. officials said the CIA tracked bin Laden to his location, then elite troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, flew to the hideout in four helicopters. Bin Laden was shot in the head in an ensuing firefight, these officials said, adding that he and his guards had resisted his attackers. U.S. personnel identified him by facial recognition, the official said, declining to say whether DNA analysis had also been used.

The U.S. team took custody of bin Laden's remains. A U.S. official later said bin Laden had been buried at sea and the remains were handled in accordance with Islamic practice, which calls for speedy burial.

The official, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters, said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. The official did not say where the body was buried.

bin Laden's death

Obama said no Americans were harmed in the operation. Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida. U.S. officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured.

The operation occurred in pre-dawn darkness on Monday in Pakistan — Sunday afternoon in Washington. Obama went on television late Sunday night to make the announcement.

Bin Laden's death marks a psychological triumph in a long struggle that began with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and seems certain to give Obama a political lift. But its ultimate impact on al-Qaida is less clear.

The greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. is now considered to be the al-Qaida franchise in Yemen, far from al-Qaida's core in Pakistan. The Yemen branch almost took down a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas 2009 and nearly detonated explosives aboard two U.S. cargo planes last fall. Those operations were carried out without any direct involvement from bin Laden.

Obama provided few details of the operation beyond to say that he had personally ordered it be carried out. Other officials said it was so secretive that no foreign officials were informed in advance, and only a small circle inside the administration was aware of what was unfolding half a world away.

But within hours of the announcement, Pakistani officials and a witness said bin Laden's guards had opened fire from the roof of the building, and one of the choppers crashed. The sound of at least two explosions rocked the small northwestern town of Abbottabad, where the al-Qaida chief made his last stand.

Flames were visible after the attack on the building, which was located about 100 yards from the gates of a Pakistani military academy — certain to raise questions about al-Qaida's ability to build a custom-made hideout in such close proximity.

Abbottabad, surrounded by hills and with mountains in the distance, is less than half a day's drive from the border region with Afghanistan, where most intelligence assessments believed bin Laden was holed up.

The White House said Obama convened at least nine meetings with top national security officials in the lead-up to Sunday's raid.

The president spent part of the day on the golf course, but cut his round short to return to the White House for a meeting where he and top national security aides reviewed final preparations for the raid.

Two hours later, Obama was told that bin Laden had been tentatively identified.

CIA director Leon Panetta was directly in charge of the military team during the operation, according to one official, and when he and his aides received word at agency headquarters that bin Laden had been killed, cheers broke out around the conference room table.

Halfway around the world, in Abbotabad, one witness described a military raid carried out under darkness.

"I heard a thundering sound, followed by heavy firing. Then firing suddenly stopped. Then more thundering, then a big blast," said Mohammad Haroon Rasheed. "In the morning when we went out to see what happened, some helicopter wreckage was lying in an open field."

A Pakistani official in the town said fighters on the roof opened fire on the choppers with rocket-propelled grenades. Another official said the four helicopters took off from the Ghazi air base in northwest Pakistan.

The U.S. and Pakistani officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

Obama said he gave the order for the operation after receiving intelligence information that he did not further describe.

Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death as a momentous achievement. "The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said.

Senior administration officials said the terrorist mastermind was found inside a custom-built compound with two security gates. They said it appeared to have been constructed to harbor one high-value target and that for undisclosed reasons, officials believed the hideout was bin Laden's.

The stunning end to the world's most widely-watched manhunt came just months before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by al-Qaida, that killed nearly 3,000 people.

The attacks a decade ago seemed to come out of nowhere, even though al-Qaida had previously struck American targets overseas.

The terrorists hijacked planes, flew one of them into one of Manhattan's Twin Towers — and, moments later, into the other one. Both buildings collapsed, trapping thousands inside and also claiming the lives of firefighters and others who had rushed to help them.

A third plane slammed into the Pentagon, defacing the symbol of America's military night. Officials have speculated that the fourth plane had been heading for the U.S. Capitol or perhaps even the White House when it crashed in Pennsylvania.

Based on statements given by U.S. detainees, intelligence officials have known for years that bin Laden trusted one al-Qaida courier in particular, and they believed he might be living with him in hiding. In November, intelligence officials found out where he was living, a huge fortified compound. It was surrounded by walls as high as 18 feet high, topped with barbed wire. There were two security gates and no phone or Internet running into the house.

Intelligence officials believed the $1 million home was custom-built to harbor a major terrorist. CIA experts analyzed whether it could be anyone else, but time and again, they decided it was almost certainly bin Laden.

Obama spoke with Bush and former President Bill Clinton Sunday night to inform them of the developments.

The president struck a less than boastful tone in his brief announcement, although he said the death of bin Laden was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaida.

"His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant," he added.

Moments after Obama spoke, the State Department put U.S. embassies on alert and warned of the heightened possibility for anti-American violence. In a worldwide travel alert, the department said there was an "enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan."

Prince William & Kate Balcony Kisses Complete Wedding

If you looked away from the screen for a moment, you probably missed it. It was a quick smooch. Kate turned to her groom, said something with a smile, and the prince reached over, rather hurriedly, and gave her a very quick kiss.

Maybe that's why he kissed her again.

The second kiss came just before the Royal Air Force flyover. Another first on a historic day: two kisses on the Buckingham Palace balcony by a newly married royal couple.

Pata Kibonzo

Pata Kibonzo

Uchafu..

MASTAA ‘tega nikutege’ katika Kiwanda cha Filamu Bongo, Miriam Jolwa ‘Jini Kabula’ na shostito wake, Jacqueline Pentzel ‘Jack wa Chuz’ wamebambwa wakinyonyana ndimi, Amani lina ushahidi mkononi.

Wawili hao walinaswa hivi karibuni maeneo ya Mango Garden, Kinondoni, Dar es salaam karibu na ofisi za ‘Jumba la Dhahabu’ wakiwa katika hali ya kimahaba huku wakijua kuwa, kitendo hicho hakiendani na utamaduni wa Mtanzania.

Katika pozi lao hilo, Kabula alionesha kumganda zaidi Jack huku mkono wake mmoja akiupeleka kwenye kiuno na vidole vya mkono wa pili vikiwa masikioni mwa mwenzake huyo.
“Khaa! Jamani mbona unapiga picha bila idhini yetu? Futa bwana, sisi tuko kwenye starehe zetu na ole wako tuzione gazetini,” aliropoka Jack baada ya kuona mwanga wa kamera ukiwamulika na kubaini kwamba, wamepigwa picha.

Wakati akija juu, hali ilikuwa tofauti kwa upande wa ‘mpenziwe’ Jini Kabula ambapo yeye alionekana kukifurahia kitendo hicho.

Mwandishi wetu hakuacha ‘gepu’ kukamilisha habari hii, alimfuata na kumuuliza kulikoni afanye kitendo hicho cha aibu:

“Wewe si umeshapiga picha, basi chukua ‘taimu’ yako, tuache na mambo yetu. Mimi naona ni kawaida kwani sisi hatuna hisia? Kama tumechoka na wanaume je!” Alikoroma Jini Kabula huku akimtazama mwandishi kuanzia chini hadi juu kama ishara ya kumdharau.

Baadhi ya watu waliokuwa katika eneo hilo na kushuhudia, walisikika wakilaani kitendo hicho huku wakisema kuwa ni uchafu mtupu. Walisema wasanii hao wamekithiri kwa vitendo viovu.

“Afadhali umewakuta ‘laivu’ maana huu ni uchafu. Tena hawa wamezoea, maana kila wakifanya maovu wanakanusha, tumewachoka. Na kama kioo cha jamii ndiyo hivi, hakuna maana,” alisema mwanamke mmoja mwenye umri kati ya miaka 45 hadi 50.
Baadhi ya wasanii wa ‘Jumba la Dhahabu’, walitoka nje na kukuta watu wamejazana wakiwashangaa wasanii wenzao kwa kitendo hicho.

Jack wa Chuz na Jini Kabula ni wasanii ambao hawakauki skendo chafu zinazomomonyoa maadili ya kitanzania zikiwemo za kuchangia wanaume na kuvaa nguo fupi za aibu kinyume kabisa na ‘taito’ yao.

Edward Nino: Mcolombia, mtu mfupi zaidi duniani

Edward Nino Hernandez is in many ways a typical 24-year-old Colombian male. He loves to dance reggae-ton, dreams of owning a fast car preferably a Mercedes.and wants to see the world.Top on his list of people he would like to meet are Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Miss Universe Tanzania 2010,Hellen Dausen

Hellen Dausen was declared as the winner of the 2010 Miss Universe Tanzania national pageant held in Mlimani City. The 23 year-old model represeneted Tanaznia in the59th Miss Universe pageant.

A TWISTED dad chained his eight-year-old son to a lamppost and tried to AUCTION him to strangers

Yong Tsui offered the terrified child as a slave because he wanted him off his hands.


He put up a table with a sign on it, giving the youngster's name and age and boasting of his capacity for hard work.

But when bidders began to ask how much the boy ate, angry bystanders attacked the father.

Police now have the lad in care in Wuhan, central China.

Yong told them the boy's mother died three years ago and he could not afford to raise him.

An officer said: "He has no job, no home and no money. He says he wasn't interested in money, just finding a home for the boy."

Yong also said he was influenced by the story of a two-year-old Chinese boy who is in care after his parents chained him up while they worked to stop him being abducted.

ze Germans Express Furor with 50 Cent's Peeps

ze company, Major Movez, claims all they wanted to do was talk with Fiddy's peeps about ze possibility of booking ze rapper for a concert in Graz, Austria in ze summer of 2009.

But according to ze lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, WME claimed it would cost ze German's $125k for ze opportunity to negotiate -- with no promise of a deal -- and if the deal fell through, "WME would return the entire amount."

Ze Germans claim they ponied up -- but when ze deal eventually crumbled, they never got their $125,000 back.

Now they're taking WME to court, where they are demanding ze swift return of their Deutsche Marks.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice

Gunners fan hangs himself after United victory

Gunners fan hangs himself after United victory

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=643825&sec=uefachampionsleague&cc=3888

man united 3- arsenal-1

H-BABA: Mr. Nice ni mpinzani wangu mkubwa...

MAMBO vipi watu wangu wa safu hii ya kiukweli, naamini huwa mnaisubiri kwa hamu kila Ijumaa. Baada ya kuchonga na msanii wa filamu, Richie, leo Ten Questions ‘TQ’ imelonga na mwanamuziki mkali wa TAKEU nchini. Huyu si mwingine ni Hamis Ramadhan ‘H-Baba’, songa nayo upate kujua anafanya nini katika nchi hii.

JUMBA LA KUUZA

FANI ya urembo nchini imeendelea kupakwa doa jeusi kwenye jamii, baada ya mpya tuliyoinasa hapa ‘juzi-kati’ kutufunulia uwepo wa jumba la kuwauza mamisi kwa watu wenye fedha ndefu a.k.a mapedeshee
Inanyetishwa kwamba kupitia jumba hilo, tayari mamisi kibao wamekwishapigwa bei, hivyo kutoa huduma ya ‘urojo’ kwa mapedeshee mbalimbali ambao wamekuwa na kawaida ya kuwapandia dau warembo wenye majina makubwa.
Kwa mujibu wa mbeya wetu wa kuaminika, jumba hilo lipo Kinondoni Mkwajuni, Dar es Salaam na linamilikiwa na Miss Ruvuma 2005, Isabella Mpanda.

Mbeya wetu alitueleza kuwa Isabella alilizindua jumba hilo miaka miwili iliyopita na mara moja alianza kufanya biashara ya kuwauza warembo maarufu ambao wanamezewa mate na vidume mbalimbali nchini.

Alisema, muda mfupi baada ya kufungua biashara hiyo, alianza kupata msululu wa wateja ambao kila nukta ya mshale wa saa ilipokatika, walipiga simu kuweka ‘oda’ au kuulizia mali mpya.

“Uzuri yule dada ni mjanja sana, lakini ni nyoka! Anaweza kuingia sehemu yoyote, kwahiyo alitengeneza network (mtandao) ambao unamuweka karibu na watu wenye pesa wanaopenda kubadili ‘totoz’ kama nguo,” alisema mtoa habari wetu na kuongeza:

“Pamoja na kuunda mtandao wa uhakika kwa watu wenye nazo, hasa wale wanaopenda totoz, alijiweka karibu na kila mrembo mwenye jina kubwa, hasa wale wanaotokea mara kwa mara kwenye magazeti.”

Akiendelea zaidi, mbea huyo wa ukweli alisema, mara kwa mara mapedeshee mbalimbali humpigia simu Isabella, wakimtaka awaunganishe na warembo ambao wanakuwa wanawahitaji kwa kipindi husika.

Alisema, Isabella anapopewa kazi hiyo, hufanya juu chini na kumpata mrembo anayekuwa akihitajika kisha kumuunganisha na pedeshee husika kwa malipo ya kiasi kikubwa cha pesa.

Alisasambua kuwa kiasi cha pesa za malipo, hutegemeana na utoaji wa pedeshee mwenyewe na aina ya mrembo anayemtaka, kwani wapo wenye nazo lakini ni wagumu ‘kukata pochi’ la kutosha.

Alitaja kiasi cha pesa ambazo mara nyingi Isabella ‘hukatiwa’ na mapedeshee ili kuwaunganisha na warembo kuwa ni kati ya shilingi 300,000, 200,000 na 150,000.

“Chini ya hapo Isabella hawezi kukuunganisha. Yeye mwenyewe anaangalia hela ambazo atapata mgao, kwa mfano 150,000 hapo piga ua 50,000 ni yake,” alisema mbeya wetu.

Aliongeza kuwa katika mpango huo wa kuwaunganisha warembo na mapedeshee, mpaka sasa tayari Isabella ameweza kufanikisha baadhi ya mamisi kununua magari ya kutembelea kwa mapato wanayoingiza kupitia biashara ya kuuza miili yao.

Aidha, mbeya wetu aliwataja baadhi ya warembo waliowahi kupigwa bei na Isabella kuwa ni Miss Tanzania namba tano 2006-07, Irene Uwoya, mshiriki Miss Tanzania 2005-05, Maureen Gislary na muigizaji Miriam Jolwa ‘Jini Kabula’.

Aliwaja wengine kuwa ni Miss Kanda ya Ziwa 2000, Rashida Wanjara, muigizaji Jacqueline Steven Mabango, mzazi mwenza wa Q-Chillah, Sheha Omar na Miss Ilala namba tatu 2008-09, Annette John.

Mbeya wetu, pia aliwataja baadhi ya warembo ‘wanaouza’ mitaa ya Uswahilini ambao hawavumi ‘kwa sana’ katika tasnia ya habari kama Angle Justas, Jamila msafiri, Rose John, Zuwena Mustafa na wengineo kuwa tayari ana vielelezo vyote kuwa wamewahi kupigwa bei na Isabella.

“Si hao tu, kuna warembo wengine kibao maarufu tayari wamekwishauzwa lakini siwezi kuwataja kwa sababu sina ushahidi, lakini hao nina uthibitisho ndiyo maana nimewataja,” alisema mtoa nyeti huyo na kuongeza:
“Baadhi ya mamisi wakiishiwa pesa, huwa wanampigia simu Isabella awatafutie mabuzi ili wapate ‘vijisenti’ vya kuwasukuma nayeye bila ajizi hutekeleza maombi yao.

“Kimsingi pale kwa Isabella ni kama danguro la mamisi au warembo maarufu, kwani baadhi yao hufika na kulala kabisa. Wengine wakiishiwa pesa wanahamia pale, wakitafutiwa mabwana na kuingiza kiasi cha pesa za kutosha ndiyo wanarudi makwao.”

Alisema: “Warembo ambao wamewahi kuhamia pale ni wengi, Irene Uwoya, Maureen, Annette, Jini Kabula, Jacqueline Steven Mabango na warembo wengine kibao ambao nimetaja orodha yao kuwa tayari wamekwishapigwa bei.”
Baada ya kuzinyaka ‘data’ hizo, mwandishi wetu alifunga safari hadi Kinondoni Mkwajuni na kujionea nyumba inayoelezwa kuwa ni jumba la kuwauza warembo wenye majina makubwa.

Kwa mujibu wa ushuhuda wetu, jumba linalotajwa si jumba bali ni chumba kimoja ambacho kina sifa zote za kuitwa geto.
Katika ushuhuda huo, mwandishi wetu aliwakuta warembo wengi wakiwa katika mapozi ya kihasara hasara juu ya kitanda chenye ukubwa wa futi sita kwa sita, huku wengine wakiwa wamejipumzisha kwenye ‘kapeti’ na kochi.
Akipangua hoja moja baada ya nyingine, Isabella alisema kuwa si kweli kwamba anajihusisha na biashara ya kuwauza warembo wenzake, bali watu wanamhisi hivyo.

“Nina marafiki wengi warembo, wengine ni wanafunzi wangu wa umisi ndiyo maana wanakuja kwangu kama marafiki, si kwa ajili ya kuwauza,” alisema Isabella na kuongeza:

“Hapa kwangu warembo wanakuja na kuondoka, hata mimi huwa nawatembelea na kulala kwao, hakuna kingine. Labda watu wanahisi kuwa nawauza kwa sababu wengine huwa wanafuatwa na ‘ma-boyfriend’ wao hapa hapa.
“Sasa watu wakiwaona wanaingia kwenye magari na wapenzi wao ndiyo wanavumisha kuwa tayari nimewauza wakati siyo kweli kabisa.”

Aidha, alipoulizwa ni kwanini anakiacha chumba chake kiwe kama geto, alijibu: “Chumba changu siyo geto, hawa ni marafiki zangu nipo nao, kama unaona hii ndiyo habari, kaandike unavyoweza.”

Gazeti hili, pia lilimtafuta Maureen na kumsomea tuhuma zake za kupigwa bei na Isabella ambapo alikanusha kuwahi kufanyishwa biashara ya mwili.

“Mimi nipo kwa Isabella muda mrefu, naishi kwake lakini hata siku moja sijawahi kununuliwa wala kuunganishiwa bwana, labda kama watu wanataka kuzusha yao. Isabella ni rafiki yangu wa kawaida tu, si wa kuniunganisha kwa wanaume,” alisema Maureen.

Kwa upande wake Sheha, yeye alijibu kuwa aliwahi kuishi kwa Isabella kwa sababu alimfuata rafiki yake Jacqueline Mabango ambaye alikuwa ‘anaminya’ kwenye geto hilo kabla ya kusafiri kwenda Iringa.

“Nilipotoka Iringa sikurudi tena kule kwa Isabella, nilifikia nyumbani kwetu Magomeni,” alisema Sheha a.k.a mama wa mtoto wa Q Chillah.

Naye Jini Kabula alijitetea kuwa Isabella ni rafiki yake kabla hajaingia Jumba la Dhahabu, kwahiyo huwa anakwenda kumtembelea na kulala kwake kama ‘mshkaji’ wake.

“Hajawahi kuniuza mimi, yule mtu ni rafiki yangu. Halafu mimi siyo malaya, kwahiyo siwezi kuuzwa kwa pesa,” alisema Kabula.

Jacqueline alisema kuwa aliishi kwa Isabella kwa muda, wakati alipokuwa akitafuta chumba. “Hajawahi kuniuza, kwani nilipopata chumba changu nilihama,” alisema.

Naye Jamila Msafiri alijitetea kuwa alilazimika kuishi kwa Isabella baada ya kukosa mahali pa kwenda. “Nilipata matatizo, nilipewa mimba na Mheshimiwa Temba (msanii Bongo Flava) akanitelekeza, kwahiyo nikakosa pa kwenda, nikaenda kujihifadhi pale kwa rafiki yangu,” alisema.

Usher

Usher spent the day with his adorable 17-month-old son Usher Raymond V in South Beach on tuesday with some friends.
While wife Tameka Foster –who nearly died while undergoing plastic surgery in Brazil last year — remained home to take care of their infant son Naviyd Ely Raymond, the father-son duo enjoyed some beachside male bonding before enjoying a picnic under the sun.
Sure, it’s cute now but it won’t be too long before Usher Jr. starts stealing all the lady attention away from Usher