Day After

Obama now plans to visit Ground Zero

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama plans to visit New York City on Thursday to mark the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The White House said Obama will visit ground zero,the site of al-Qaedas attack on the World Trade Centre,and meet with the families of people killed nearly 10 years ago. White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer announced Obamas visit on Twitter.

US closes its embassy,consulates in Pak

ISLAMABAD: The US on Tuesday closed its embassy and consulates in Pakistan to the general public until further notice,a day after US special forces killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a daring raid near the garrison city Abbottabad. The US Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates in Peshawar,Lahore and Karachi are closed for routine business to the general public until further notice, Embassy spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said.

Its time Pak is declared a terrorist state,says Rushdie

WASHINGTON: As Pakistan faced tough questions over Osama bin Laden,Indian-born novelist Salman Rushdie said it was time to declare it a terrorist state,observing the old flim-flam of saying the country knew nothing about his whereabouts would not work anymore. This time the facts speak too loudly to be hushed up, he said in an essay published on the website The Daily Beast. Rushdie said in the aftermath of the US raid on Osamas mansion all the big questions needed to be answered by Pakistan.

Kathryn Bigelow works on film about Osama: Report

LOS ANGELES: After training her lens on the Iraq war,Oscar winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow is now making a movie on the decade long search for the infamous Osama Bin Laden. Bigelow,who made history by becoming the first woman to win a Best Director Oscar,is busy completing the screenplay of the Osama project,reported Variety online.

US views of Obama improve with Osama death

WASHINGTON: The killing of Osama bin Laden sharply boosted President Barack Obamas image,improving Americans views of his leadership and efforts to fight terrorism,a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found. About four in 10 Americans said their views of Obama improved. Forty-two per cent said they had a higher opinion of Obamas handling of anti-terrorism efforts,with 50 per cent saying it was unchanged and 8 per cent that it had worsened. Thirty-two per cent of Americans think Obama deserves the most credit for the US special forces assault on Osamas compound,while 13 per cent gave credit to former President George W Bush. A third of Americans say they are more in favour of holding terror suspects without trial at the Guantanamo prison since the Osama killing.

Congress questions Pak role,may cut aid to country

Story continues below this ad

WASHINGTON: Congress may consider cutting the almost 1.3 billion in annual US aid to Pakistan if it turns out the Islamabad government knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding,the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Tuesday. Sen Dianne Feinstein,a Democrat,said she wants more details from CIA director Leon Panetta and others about the Pakistani governments role. The No. 2 House Democratic leader,Rep Steny Hoyer,said if Pakistan does not ease doubts about its dedication to fighting terrorists,Congress should explore whether it makes sense to reduce US aid to that country. I dont know whether it would be effective or counterproductive,well have to look at that, he said,adding,It needs to be looked into.