After nine suicide attacks in just eleven days that killed 160 people, including many from the security forces, the Pakistan army has finally started its long awaited offensive in South Waziristan where the Pakistani Taliban are based.

Among those who are cooperating witnesses are California hedge-fund managers Ali Far and Choo Beng Lee, the people say. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan on Friday alleged that Mr. Rajaratnam along with two former Bear Stearns Cos. hedge-fund traders, several technology executives, a consultant and a ratings-firm analyst - illegally trafficked in nonpublic information of high-profile tech companies, generating a profit of $20 million.