US swimmer braves pain, sharks on Cuba crossing

HAVANA: A 61-year-old US swimmer battled shoulder pain and asthma in shark-infested waters off Cuba on Monday at the start of a trip to the United States aimed at promoting closer ties between the Cold War foes.

“We want these three days to help the two countries get closer,” Diana Nyad told a press conference in Havana before embarking on her marathon swim, adding she also hoped to show that people can lead active lives after 60.

“I am a better athlete today than I was at 29,” she told CNN.

A CNN producer following the journey by boat said that after 18 hours, Nyad had completed about a quarter of the 100-mile (166-kilometer) trip from Havana to the Florida Keys and was battling more than currents and the risk of sharks.

“Everything’s going well. She’s had a little bit of a problem with her shoulder, it’s been bothering her,” said the producer, Matt Sloane, adding that Nyad had been treated with ice and anti-inflammatories.

She was also having “a little bit of trouble breathing” and had used an inhaler, he said.

“Otherwise, she’s really strong,” the producer added.

Nyad tried to cross the Florida Straits in 1978 but was forced to abandon the bid after 42 hours due to poor weather.

The following year, she set an open sea record by swimming from the Bahamas to the Florida Keys — a journey that is the same distance as her current swim, but a feat she described as much less dangerous.

Five yachts and four kayaks are accompanying her on the journey, along with a 45-person support team, including trained shark divers and electronic devices designed to repel the predators.

Australian swimmer Susie Maroney, at 22, became the first person to swim from Cuba to the United States in 1997, though she used a shark cage.

Nyad told NBC television’s “Today” show that she declined to use a cage, adding: “I don’t want to have that asterisk next to my name.”

She will stop and tread water every 45 minutes to rehydrate and every 90 minutes to eat, organizers said.

The distance swimmer, who turns 62 later this month, set a record for circling the island of Manhattan at the age of 50, clocking in at seven hours and 57 minutes.

“It doesn’t have to be a big moment,” she told NBC about her latest feat. “It just means be engaged in your life. Don’t let it go by. We all have one life and it’s a one-way street.”

The United States has not had diplomatic relations with Cuba since 1961, when it slapped a trade embargo on the communist-ruled island. AGENCIES

Aisam ul Haq in the Finals of US Open Mixed Doubles

Pakistani tennis star Aisam ul Haq Qureshi reaches in the finals of the US Open Mixed Doubles with Czech partner Kveta Peschke. Aisam will be the first ever Pakistani to play a Grand Slam final.
Aisam and Kveta beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Mark Knowles of Bahamas in a fierce battle 7-6 & 7-6.
In a time of greater stress for Pakistani sports fans where the whole Nation is disappointed and in sorrow to hear the fixing allegations imposed on Pakistani cricketers and also the downfall of Pakistani cricket, Aisam has given something really big to cheer about. He has also qualified for the Mens Doubles semifinals in the same tournament with Indian partner Rohan Bopanna.
Aisam says his success is a reward of heartily prayers from the Nation. He says he is grateful to Allah that the country has seen some good news. He further asks the Nation to pray more for his success as he would do his best to bring the trophy home for them.

Barefoot Bandit receives Hollywood offers for his tale

SEATTLE: The tale of the Barefoot Bandit is Hollywood-ready, with its barely schooled, shoeless scamp dodging police as he allegedly stole planes and cars in a cross-country dash before he was nabbed in a high-speed boat chase in the Bahamas.

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Barefoot Bandit receives Hollywood offers for his tale

Canada, Bermuda in ICC T20 League semis

HAMILTON: Canada and Bermuda qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket League here Sunday.

Bermuda defeated Bahamas by 11 runs to get semi-final berth while Canada ousted Argentina to reach the semi-final.

Australia boat accident, 12 dead

SYDNEY: Twelve people were feared dead on Tuesday more than 24 hours after an unidentified boat sank in rough seas far off Australia’s northwest, an official said.

One body had been recovered and 11 people were still missing in the remote spot 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) from Australia’s mainland, a customs spokeswoman told media. Some 27 survivors had been picked up by a passing tanker.

Two bodies sighted in the water have yet to be recovered, a news agency said early Wednesday.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the 39 people on the stricken boat, which went down overnight on Sunday, were bidding to join the more than 1,700 asylum-seekers who have made the perilous voyage to Australia this year.

“Obviously, considering the amount of time they’ve been in the water, there are concerns for their safety. But we’ll keep looking,” the customs official said of the missing.

Choppy seas continued to hamper the search by the Bahamas-registered LNG Pioneer, which diverted to the scene after a plea by Australian authorities and has now been joined by a Japanese fishing boat.

Eight Australian aircraft were sent to comb the far-flung site off the Cocos Islands, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, including a Dornier plane fitted with night vision equipment which hunted overnight.

Hopes of finding alive any more of the group, claiming to be from Sri Lanka, have all but faded, with a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor confirming the search will be reviewed on Wednesday, according to media.

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Australia boat accident, 12 dead was first posted on November 4, 2009 at 10:17 am.

Who is Big Papa on Real Housewives of Atlanta Update

Who Is Big Papa On Real Housewives Of Atlanta:Since the premiere of Bravo’s ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ there has been widespread speculation over the identity of “Big Poppa,” the mystery boyfriend of Kim Zolciak, one of the show’s stars.

Turns out, Big Poppa is Lee Najjar, a very successful – and married – real estate mogul based in Atlanta. TMZ cameras were the first to capture images of Zolciak and Najjar on a romantic vacation at the Hotel Atlantis in the Bahamas last November.

Zolciak, a single mother of two, has always been mum on who was footing the bill for her extravagant lifestyle, but at the first season reunion special, her co-star NeNe Leakes let it be known that Big Poppa was very married.

Miss Univers 2009 Is Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez

HAVANA: Miss Venezuela was crowned the 2009 Miss Universe in Sunday night’s pageant held in Bahamas, according to reports reaching here.

Stefania Fernandez, 18-year-old, became the 58th winner of the title in the show broadcast live around the world from the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas.

Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, was the runner up.

Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.

It was the second consecutive year that a Miss Venezuela won the title. Venezuela have won the title five times.

Ekta Choudhary For Miss Universe 2009

The Miss Universe 2009 pageant is just a few hours away. As we prepare to tune in to witness Miss India Ekta Choudhry compete for the crowning
glory at the pageant in Bahamas, her mother Rita Choudhry is also busy praying for her daughter.

Talking exclusively to TOI, Rita says, “I spoke to Ekta sometime back today; she was a little tired and was planning to get some sleep as she gets hardly any time to rest. It’s a big day for Ekta and I’m sure she will really do well. She is a very confident child and is not at all nervous.”

Though Ekta’s parents will not be with her at the Bahamas as she competes for the Miss Universe 2009 crown, her family’s best wishes are with her. Her mother says, “Though you can’t predict anything, my husband and I, our friends and family, everyone is praying for her. We are really looking forward to seeing Ekta at the pageant. I have told Ekta not to lose her cool and answer the questions thoughtfully. I have also advised her to keep chanting Gayatri Mantra as it will give her strength.”

Ekta may miss seeing her parents’ faces in the crowd at the pageant, but her friends are making sure they will be there to cheer her on. Says Rita, “Some of her close friends have already reached Bahamas to attend the Miss Universe pageant and cheer up Ekta. She was really happy to see them, even though she could only meet them for 10-15 minutes because of her hectic schedule.”

Several Indians are also turning up in full force to back Miss India at the Miss Universe contest, “The other day Ekta told me that 60 people from the Indian community would be there at the event to cheer for her. She said all of them are very friendly. I even spoke to one of them and he told me, ‘Madam you please don’t worry. It’s okay if you are not in Bahamas with Ekta at the moment; we are here to support her and will take care of her as family’.”

“I saw the videos of preliminary competition; even the people of Bahamas were cheering for Ekta when she came on stage. This is all very touching. I wish we could also attend the pageant. I wish Ekta all the best. May God Bless her,” Ekta’s mother concludes.

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Ekta Choudhary For Miss Universe 2009 was first posted on August 23, 2009 at 2:11 pm.

Hurricane Bill First Atlantic Storm Season

MIAMI: Hurricane Bill, the first of the Atlantic storm season, barreled past Bermuda and churned toward the US and Canadian east coasts Saturday, sparking fears of life-threatening rip currents.

Packing winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour, with higher gusts, the storm was set to head close to the upscale island resort of Martha’s Vineyard, where US President Barack Obama and his family are heading for vacation Sunday.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned Saturday “large swells generated by Hurricane Bill are still affecting the Bahamas and Bermuda and the southeast coast of the United States.

“Large swells will begin to affect much of the remainder of the US east coast and the Atlantic maritimes of Canada later today and Sunday. These swells will likely cause extremely dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents,” it warned.

Bill is a Category Two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, meaning the storm threatens to cause widespread damage but does not carry the same potential to destroy homes as a Category Three storm.

In Canada, authorities issued a tropical storm warnings for much of Nova Scotia’s coast, while a hurricane watch was in effect for some far parts of the province.

In the Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola, authorities reported waves up to 10 feet (three meters) due to Bill’s passage.

Bermuda shut down its main airport overnight Friday to Saturday as the tourist destination bunkered down. But Bermuda avoided a direct hit from Bill which neared Massachusetts in time for the Obamas’ arrival.

Yacht owners battened down the hatches at Martha’s Vineyard, a popular resort for the wealthy where the US first family was due to spend a week unwinding for the first time since Obama’s inauguration in January.

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Hurricane Bill First Atlantic Storm Season was first posted on August 23, 2009 at 11:29 am.