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After a protracted battle,a Muslim center and mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero surmounted a final hurdle on Tuesday....

Mosque near Ground Zero clears major hurdle

NEW YORK: After a protracted battle,a Muslim center and mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero surmounted a final hurdle on Tuesday. The citys Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 9 to 0 against granting historic protection to the building at 45-47 Park Place in Lower Manhattan,where the 100 million center would be built. That decision clears the way for the construction of Park 51,a tower of as many as 15 stories that will house a mosque,a 500-seat auditorium,and a pool. Mayor Michael R Bloomberg praised the landmarks commissions vote.

UN drops 45 names from terror blacklist

UNITED NATIONS: A UN panel has dropped 10 Taliban along with 35 al-Qaeda members and affiliates from its sanctions terror list. The UN move comes after an 18-month review,the first of its kind since the list was created in 1999. Those on the blacklist are subject to travel restrictions and asset freezes. Thomas Mayr-Harting,Austrias Ambassador to the UN and chair of the Security Council panel that maintains the list,said,488 names were discussed over 38 meetings and finally 45 names were removed from the list.

Guyanas ex-lawmaker convicted in airport plot

NEW YORK: Two terror suspects,including a former Guyana lawmaker,have been convicted by a US court for plotting to blow up jet fuel tanks at John F Kennedy airport here to kill thousands of people and avenge perceived American oppression of Muslims around the world. Russell Defreitas 66,a former JFK cargo handler,and Abdul Kadir 58,a former Member of Parliament in Guyana,were convicted of multiple conspiracy charges by a jury of a federal court in Brooklyn on Monday.

Al-Qaeda kill 5 Iraqi troops,plant flag

BAGHDAD: Suspected al-Qaeda militants killed five Iraqi soldiers in a dawn attack Tuesday at a western Baghdad checkpoint and planted the terror groups black banner before fleeing. It was the second time in a week that al-Qaedas flag has appeared. The attackers arrived in three cars and used pistols in the assault in the mainly Sunni Mansour district.

Rocker Steven Tyler to join American Idol

LOS ANGELES: It looks like Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler could be adding some rock star glamour to the American Idol judging panel. The 62-year-old singer has said that he is probably going to be a judge on American Idol, TMZ online reported. Im doing it. What do you think? Im doing it, he told the website on Saturday following a concert in Las Vegas.

Peepli Live wins honour at Durban fest

JOHANNESBURG: Aamir Khans much talked about home production Peepli Live has been named the Best First Feature Film at the recently concluded 31st Durban International Film Festival. Helmed and written by Anusha Rizvi in her first directorial venture,the film is a satire on the farmers suicides and subsequent media and political response in India. South Africa is very lucky for me and I hope that luck extends to Peepli Live as well, Aamir Khan said from Mumbai Tuesday.

Tokyos oldest person,113,is missing

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TOKYO: A 113-year-old woman listed as Tokyos oldest person is missing,officials said Tuesday,days after the citys oldest listed man was found dead and mummified. Fusa Furuya,born in July 1897,does not live at the address where she is registered and her whereabouts are unknown,Tokyo Suginami ward official Hiroshi Sugimoto said. Her disappearance surfaced days after the discovery last week of the mummified body of the man Tokyo officials thought was the citys oldest male. Officials said they learned of the mans death and the womans disappearance when they began updating records ahead of a holiday honoring the elderly next month.