Desi Blog For Desi Crowd

The United States has apologised to Pakistan over “mistreatment” of a Pakistani military delegation at a US airport this week, the Pakistani defence ministry said Friday.

US undersecretary of state for defence Michelle Flournoy apologised during a telephone call to Pakistan’s top defence ministry official, Syed Athar Ali, the ministry said in a statement.

Flournoy “apologised for the mistreatment meted out to Pakistan’s military delegation at the Dulles airport, Washington”, the statement said.

Pakistan had ordered the delegation to return from Washington to protest “unwarranted” airport security checks imposed after the delegation was invited to a meeting at the US military Central Command.

“Syed Athar Ali expressed serious concern over the incident and emphasised the need for an institutionalised mechanism where such like incidents are averted,” the statement said.

“Ms. Flournoy assured secretary defence that all necessary measures will be institutionalised after mutual consultations to avoid recurrence of any untoward incident in future.”

The nine members of the delegation were about to fly to Tampa, Florida from Dulles when they were pulled off the plane and questioned for over two hours.

The United Airlines flight crew had become concerned over a remark by one of the officers, a Pakistani official told AFP on Wednesday.

The Pakistanis showed security authorities their passports and letters of invitation to the conference at Central Command, but by the time they were released they had missed their flight, the official said.

Washington sees Pakistan as integral to winning the war in Afghanistan, as Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents targeting coalition forces roam the mountainous region dividing the two countries.

Pakistan receives more than one billion dollars a year from Washington for its help in fighting the Islamist militants.

QUETTA:  Forty-three people were killed and more than 100 were injured in a bomb attack targeting a Shia Muslim rally in Quetta on Friday.

The bomb appeared to target a rally being held for Al-Quds day, an international annual event held by the Shia community opposing Israel’s control of Jerusalem and showing solidarity with Palestinian Muslims.

“The death toll has now reached 43 while the number of people injured are over 100,” hospital sources told DawnNews.

Television pictures showed smoke billowing into the air on a chaotic street with people fleeing and others lying prone next to motorcycles, taking cover from gunfire.

DawnNews cameraman Fateh Shakir was among those wounded in the explosion.

Mulberry may also manage to scoop another award if its designer Emma Hill can beat MFL favourite Camilla Skovgaard and Nicholas Kirkwood to the title of Best Accessory Designer, and Burberry face a similar situation when Christopher Bailey, E.Tautz, Margaret Howell and Paul Smith battle it out for Best Menswear Designer.

Competing for the esteemed Designer of the Year Award this year, meanwhile, are Christopher Kane, Erdem Moralioglu and Pheobe Philo for Celine.

Representing the up-and-coming cool kids of British fashion and up for the Emerging Talent Award are Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchoff and Michael van der Ham, whilst Charlotte Olympia, Husam El Odeh and Jessica McCormack will go head to head for the Accessories Emerging Talent Award, according to Vogue UK.

Read more…

She wants the best for herself and those she loves.
She lives, or is in process of creating, the life she dreams about.
She is strong and honours her integrity.
She’s not afraid to stand out or to blend in,
it all depends on what she feels like.

Read more…

Theme of the fourth issue of FotyMody was “water” and my first idea was to make an underwater shooting. Magazine caught this idea too because having ten finished shootings at that moment there was no underwater. Initially we planned to shoot in a pool with good lighting and comfort and model was to get down in it. In the end the search of location was finished the camera was found but the water in the pool was so cold that it fettered the models moves. Besides that an opportunity to make a necessary amount of pictures was failed. Because of my quick leaving to Crimea the FotyMody editorial stuff and I have made a decision to transfer a place of shooting. The task was the same but thy ways of its realization had changed a lot. It was impossible to find a pool or suitable location here.

Read more…

Your holiday party wardrobe just got a whole lot more glamorous–today, H&M confirmed to WWD that they will, in fact, be teaming up with Lanvin for a one-time holiday collection.

Mark your calendars–200 H&M stores will get the Lanvin capsule collection on November 20 (WWD)

She’s not just a former Spice Girl anymore: Victoria Beckham received her first nomination for the British Fashion Awards (Telegraph UK)

And she’s also going to be Tweeting during New York Fashion Week! (Fashionista)

Tim Gunn’s new book is filled with juicy gossip about the fashion world’s biggest boldface names–you’ll never guess who he calls a “spoiled snob” (Styleite)

Read more…

If you heard that ‘Celine Dion was rushed to the hospital’, then it’s just a bad rumour and it does not hold a bit of a truth. The “Titanic” singer who is expecting twin babies with husband Rene Angelil in the month of November, is reportedly hale and hearty, informs her representative.

Celine Dion with her husband and son.

“She’s never been in the hospital – her pregnancy continues to be healthy and she feels fantastic. As with most women expecting multiples, her doctor wants her to stay off her feet as much as possible as she finishes her pregnancy.

Read more…

Calling it a “teachable moment,” a Muslim group in Los Angeles unveiled a series of public service announcements on Wednesday (September 01). They’re designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim sentiment sparked by the planned Islamic cultural center near the World Trade Center site.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations or CAIR, a civil liberties and advocacy group, held the news conference at their Anaheim office.

The group’s executive director, Hussam Ayloush, said the the national campaign, which features Muslim 9/11 first responders and interfaith leaders offering up emotional messages, is aimed at countering the growing evidence of bigotry and intolerance.

Read more…

Former champion Andy Roddick made an early exit from the U.S. Open when he was eliminated in the second round by unseeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 on Wednesday (September 1) night on center court.

The 44th-ranked Tipsarevic, who served magnificently and powered forehand winners throughout despite having both his ankles wrapped in bandages, won the clinched the fourth-set tiebreaker 7-4 with a reflex volley at the net.

Roddick entered the match with 36-9 Open record compared to a 2-6 mark at Flushing Meadows for the Serb.

Read more…

The Venice film festival opened on Wednesday with “Black Swan”, a dark psychological drama starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina who finally lands the lead role but loses her grip on reality as the pressure builds.

The arrival of a rival dancer, played by Mila Kunis, triggers both obsessive jealousy and sexual liberation in a plot echoing that of the ballet around which it revolves.

Portman, her co-stars and the Venice jury led by director Quentin Tarantino walked the red carpet at the official world premiere, signing autographs and mingling with hundreds of fans.

Read more…