Chad says its troops killed Algeria attack mastermind Belmoktar in Mali, but doubt is cast on claim

REUTERSChadian soldiers hold up their weapons as they cheer next to tanks and army vehicles ahead of their deployment in Mali. The African country said its troops killed Moktar Belmoktar, the terrorist behind the deadly attack on a natural gas plant in Algeria.N'DJAMENA, Chad — Chad's military chief announced late Saturday that his troops deployed in northern...

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Internet bubble millionaire goes from dot.com to drug con: Jennifer Sultan gets 4 years in scheme

This dot.com millionaire has now gone from penthouse to poorhouse to Big House.A Manhattan judge wrote the latest chapter in the riches-to-rags story of pretty Jennifer Sultan today -- promising her a four-year prison sentence as she pleaded guilty to gun conspiracy and drug sales."Yes," Sultan, a 38-year-old recovering pain killer addict, answered sadly,...

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Tavern on the Green re-opening in jeopardy

Tavern on the Green is running out of green before it even re-opens, The Post has learned.The cash crunch threatens the expected fall re-launch of the Central Park restaurant, sources said.Philadelphia-based restaurateurs Jim Caiola and David Salama need more dough to cover operating costs at the landmark eatery when it re-opens later this year after their...

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Fortune teller pleads not guilty in $150K scheme

Manhattan prosecutors have thrown the book at a pretty Greenwich Village fortune teller, charging her in a 16-count indictment with scheming to steal $150,000 from two customers.Brunette beauty Sylvia Mitchell, 38, turned heads in a trimly-tailored black cocktail dress as she pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to scheme to defraud and grand larceny....

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Fashionista admits to 'stupidly' stealing Dali painting, will be deported

His dalliance with art-thievery is over.A European fashion publicist will serve the next two weeks in jail -- and then be deported back to Greece -- after admitting today that he "stupidly" stole a $150,000 Salvatore Dali watercolor off the wall of an Upper East Side gallery."It was a really stupid thing to do," Phivos Istavrioglou, 29, admitted in pleading...

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Swindler cops to stealing more than $300K from elderly dementia victim

A dapper but cruel swindler admitted today that he stole more than $300,000 as the "personal banker" of a dementia-plagued, 94-year-old Manhattan woman. Edward Lewando, 52, of Holbrook, LI, spent his victim's money on himself at Bergdorf Goodman and Louis Vuitton, prosecutors with the Manhattan DA's Elder Abuse Unit said.Lewando will serve a three to nine...

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Death of ex-Post employee 'suspicious'

The death of a former New York Post employee whose body was found in her Cobble Hill apartment Friday is being investigated as suspicious, sources said. Elizabeth Borst, 55, was found on her kitchen floor after her husband, Gaetano Lisco, called neighbors and asked them to check on the victim because he couldn't reach her.Although Borst's death has not...

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Third arrest in video where little girls are forced to fight

YoutubeStills from the sick YouTube hit, which has since been taken down.Another teen was busted for forcing a fight between two grade-school girls in the Bronx that was captured on YouTube video, authorities said.The 14-year-old was charged as a juvenile with endangering the welfare of a child, cops said.Sources said she may be the sister of the 6-year-old...

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Heat's back on Wendy's finger-in-chili liar: This time she made up story about son's shooting, cops say

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A Northern California woman convicted of planting a severed finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili has been arrested again after police say she made up another tale, this one about a shooting involving her son.The San Jose Mercury reports that Anna Ayala, the so-called Chili Finger Lady, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of being an accessory...

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Developers want to raise proposed Brooklyn Bridge Park complex three feet to avoid massive flood damage

These guys want to put their Brooklyn Bridge Park plans on a pedestal.The developers tapped to bring a hotel and residential complex to Pier 1 near Old Fulton St are planning for a future Hurricane Sandy by raising both buildings up at least three feet to avoid the massive flood damage that devastated the surrounding DUMBO neighborhood during last...

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USPS delivers -- fashion

The USPS is putting their stamp on fashion.Heavy duty coats, hats, jackets, footwear and clothing inspired by mail carriers will soon be hanging on the racks at premium department stores like Nordstrom, Macy’ s and Bloomingdale’s.The cash-starved U.S. Postal Service partnered with Cleveland-based clothing company Wahconah Group to license it’s own line...

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Judge blocks city from Ken Burns film footage

Famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns today beat back an effort by the city to obtain raw footage and outtakes from his recent movie on the infamous "Central Park jogger" rape case.A judge granted the PBS icon's request to quash a subpoena for the unused material on grounds that his production company, Florentine Films, is covered by the "reporter's privilege."Manhattan...

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NFL lineman busted with loaded pistol at JFK

A muscle-bound NFL lineman was busted at LaGuardia Airport today for packing a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.Da’Quan Bowers - a second-year defensive end for the Tampa bay Buccaneers - was arrested at 11 a.m. at a US Air ticket counter as he was about to board a plane for North Carolina. Sources believe Bowers arrived in New York with the...

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Club cad bloodies Rihanna in bottle attack, after yelling something about Chris Brown: report

Startraksphotos / SplashRihanna leaves a London nightclub worse for wear after bottle attack.Bloody hell: Some lout in London crashed Rihanna's party.The sultry singer was bloodied after a man threw a bottle at her during a night out at nightclub The Box, apparently enraged because of her decision to get back together with abusive ex-boyfriend Chris Brown,...

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Upstate fire department's squirrel hunt fundraiser draws ire

HOLLEY — A weekend squirrel-shooting contest in upstate New York is a sell-out, with all 1,000 tickets spoken for, organizers said, despite a push by animal rights groups and others to cancel the event.The 7th annual "Hazzard County Squirrel Slam" will raise money for the volunteer Holley Fire Department, the event sponsor.Prizes ranging from $50 to $200...

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Victory for veteran thief: Jury deadlocks on Holocaust center break-in

Steven HirschMichael James, 53, (left) in court with his lawyer. James, accused of breaking into the Anne Frank Center, convinced a jury he just wanted to check out Holocaust artifacts.The trial of a career thief accused of burglarizing the Anne Frank Center ended in deadlock today, with nearly the entire jury believing that he could have gone inside the...

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Apology from bronzed pol who waited out Nemo in the Caribbean while residents suffered

The bungling Long Island politician who basked in the warmth of a Caribbean vacation while his constituents suffered through winter storm Nemo finally offered an apology yesterday.Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine said he regretted the comically inept response to the snow storm and shunted blame onto the town’s highway department.Superintendent Michael...

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JFK airport staffer allowed Kanye West and Kim Kardashian to sneak past security checkpoints

VLNY / Sharky / Splash NewsKim Kardashian and Kanye West.Celebrity lovebirds Kanye West and Kim Kardashian forced an airplane full of travelers to wait for takeoff at JFK after an airline employee allowed them to bypass security screening, sources told The Post.The stars -- who were running late for an American Airlines flight – were ushered around a security...

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WATCH: Cops punch, kick Queens teen in drug arrest

A Queens teen got a brutal beatdown by a group of NYPD police officers during a stop outside the Flushing YMCA, dramatic video released today shows.The Jan. 8 attack — which was captured on a witness’ cell phone — begins about 12:38 p.m. with two cops fighting to restrain Queens resident Robert Jackson, 19, on the ground while yelling “put your hands behind...

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13-year-old who opened fire on crowd of people arraigned

The geeky 13-year-old named "Elmo" charged with opening fire into a crowd of people in East Harlem was arraigned today on attempted murder charges.Elmo Williams had allegedly pulled a 9 mm pistol and tried to shoot a rival 14-year-old in front of Jefferson Houses just after school let out on Thursday. Manhattan Family Court Judge Stewart Weinstein ordered...

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