Passenger attacks pilot in mid air aboard TAM flight

A Brazilian airliner made a forced landing after a passenger had a "psychotic attack," entered the cockpit and assaulted a pilot. The man also fought back furiously when crew members and passengers tried to subdue him.

File photo of a TAM jet [ Photo AP ]

The TAM Airlines jet was en route from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Sao Paulo when a man who some passengers said was wearing a TAM identification badge got into the cockpit because the door was open. Shortly after, the plane dove to the right, causing passengers to scream and the pilot to yell for help over the speaker system.

"All of a sudden shouts were heard from inside the cabin, and two stewardesses came out asking for help and grabbing a young man by his feet," one unidentified passenger told Uruguay's El Pais newspaper. "The people quickly jumped on top of him, the guy fought back furiously, biting and hurting a half dozen people.

Read details: Huffington Post

Read more »

AT&T drops $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA

[ via Reuters ] 19 Dec

AT&T has dropped its controversial $39 billion bid for Deutsche Telekom's wireless U.S. unit, bowing to regulatory opposition over the deal that would have made it the largest cellphone operator in the country.

AT&T's plan to buy T-Mobile USA, first announced in March, met with fierce opposition from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission and industry skepticism from the start.

AT&T will have to look elsewhere for the wireless airwaves it has said it needs to support the high demand for mobile data services and to compete with larger rival Verizon Wireless, which has agreed to buy spectrum from cable operators.

Read more:

Read more »

Pakistan buries soldiers killed by NATO

Full Story: BBC Asia 27 Nov

Pakistan Sunday buried soldiers killed as a result of air attack on a Pakistani check post by NATO attack helicopters early Saturday.

Burial rituals of the victim of "tragic unintended  incident by NATO" (Photo: AFP)

Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani led mourners in funeral prayers at military headquarters in the north-western city of Peshawar.

Although, NATO has apologised, calling it a "tragic unintended incident", and is investigating what happened,  the incident has once again heightened already tense relations between Pakistan and the US and NATO.

Read more »

US moves to Salvage ties with Pakistan after "deathly" NATO strike

Full Story: The Times of India 27 Nov

USA was quick to move to salvage ties with furious Pakistan over NATO's "deathly" air attack on Pakistani check post Saturday that left 26 soldiers perished, including two officers. 

US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bolstered that message in a joint statement Sunday, offering their "deepest condolences" and backing "NATO's intention to investigate immediately."

In the meanwhile, Pakistan announced the closure of its Afghan border to NATO, shutting down a supplies lifeline for 130,000 US-led foreign troops fighting the Taliban, and called on the US to leave a remote air base reportedly used by CIA drones.

This is the second incident in which NATO air attacks have targeted Pakistan Army check posts. The first was back in September 2010, which killed three Pakistani soldiers.

Read more »

'Highly likely' NATO caused Pakistan troop deaths

Full Story: BBC Asia

It is "highly likely" that NATO aircraft were behind a deadly overnight raid on a Pakistani border checkpoint Saturday, Brigadier-General Carsten Jacobson tells BBC.

Pakistan retaliated by blocking Nato supply convoys, and ordering a review of co-operation with the US and NATO.

It also demanded the US vacate the remote Shamsi airbase - though it has made a similar demand before and the base may already be empty of US personnel, a BBC correspondent says.

Read full story for details

Read more »

NATO "Condole" death of 26 Pakistani Soldiers

Full Story: BBC Asia 26 Nov

While it was earlier reported that a dawn air attack on Pakistan Army check post by NATO killed eight, the latest is that 26 personnel, including two officers perished in the attack.

The attack took place at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, in the Mohmand agency of FATA,  Reuters reports, at around 02:00 local time (21:00 GMT).

Isaf commander Gen John R Allen said the incident "has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts.

"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured."

The recent NATO attack has provoked a sharp reaction in Pakistan. The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says Pakistani officials are furious, arguing there was no militant activity in the area at the time. 

Read more »