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Cressida Bonas should get her own Wikipedia entry

Lisa.Felice
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Cressida Bonas should get her own Wikipedia entry

Looking for a Wikipedia entry of Cressida Bonas?

 

Cressida is an alum of Leeds University and the Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is also a professional model. Her older half-sister is a good friend of Prince William and rumor has it, she once had a crush on him. Cressida was introduced to Harry by Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenia, who also happens to be Cressida’s best friend. The couple confirmed that they were dating last spring and have been seen everywhere together. They are spending so much timetogether, that their close friends and family members think they are ready to take their relationship to the next level.

Cresida Bonas gallery wiki

Here are 10 things that Wikipedia could mention on Cressida Bonas Wikipedia page:

1) Half-sister to Prince William’s ex-crush, actress and model, Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, who was in Simon Pegg flop movie How To Lose Friends & Alienate People.

2) Educated at £30,000-a-year Stowe School in Buckingham, before going to Leeds University to study dance.

3) Cressida played Desdemona in Othello while at university, the show was later taken to the Edinburgh Festival.

4) Cressida spent her 24th birthday with Prince Harry at a ski resort in Verbier, Switzerland.

5) She appeared at 27 on The Tatler List – a list of ‘all the people who matter’ according to the upmarket mag.

6) Cressida’s mother is Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, a Sixties It girl with five kids by three of her four husbands (all of whom she divorced).

7) Believed to have been fixed up with Prince Harry by Princess Eugenie.

8) Friends with Arthur Landon – named by the Sunday Times as fourth on the UK’s Young Rich List with an estimated £200m inherited fortune.

9) Used to date Harry Wentworth-Stanley, 23, whose stepfather, the Marquess of Milford Haven (George Milford Haven), is a cousin of the Queen.

10) Cressida Bonas was first linked to Prince Harry last summer after they were seen together after the premiere of the Dark Knight Rises.

 

Meet Cressida Bonas family, wiki bio style

 

Cressida Bonas wiki entry (24)
Talk of a forthcoming royal wedding is lunacy, even though things are looking more serious between Prince Harry and his blonde. Known as Cressy to her mates, she has that naughty glint in her eye often found among Stowe girls and is a terror on the dancefloor and at festivals in the summer. She studied dance at Leeds, and is currently at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Some friends are surprised by the very public displays of affection with her new boyfriend (the last one was Harry Wentworth-Stanley). ‘She’s pretty low-key, so she won’t like being in the limelight,’ says one. ‘But that’s why Harry likes her.’

Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe wiki entry (33)
Once the object of Prince William’s unrequited affection, Cressy’s half-sister is now happily married to Sam Branson. A former Heathfield girl, she has starred in a smattering of films, including How to Lose Friends & Alienate People and Stage Beauty. Famed for her dewy skin. Also has a belly ring.

Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe wiki entry (29)
Jacobi is the only male among Cressy’s siblings. Thrillingly single, the former Harrovian shares more than a few similarities with Harry. They’re both partial to blondes, play polo and are most likely to be found partying at Bodo’s Schloss.

Gabriella Wilde wiki entry (24)
Cressy’s BFF is the half-sister of her half-siblings Georgiana, Isabella and Jacobi. Gabriella grew up in Hampshire and went to Heathfield, where she was suspended for smuggling in vodka. Since then, she’s modelled for Burberry and is set to appear with Julianne Moore in a remake of Carrie. Engaged to Alan Pownall.

Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon (66) and Jeffrey Bonas wiki entry
Cressy’s mum (the daughter of the late Earl Howe) and her father, Jeffrey Bonas, were married for six years, but famously naughty Mary-Gaye has had three other husbands and four other children. She won’t go to Ascot without her mobile kitchen. Old Harrovian and twice-married businessman Jeffrey is chairman of old-fashioned haberdashers MacCulloch & Wallis but spends his days researching local history at home in Norfolk. And playing golf.

Georgiana Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe wiki entry (34)
Artist Giana sculpts and sketches in her Ladbroke Grove studio before skipping home to Notting Hill, where she lives with her husband, hedgefunder Robert Butler. They were married at the family stately – Elvetham Hall, in Hampshire – with a bluebell-strewn aisle framed by guests perched on hay bales.

Pandora Cooper-Key wiki entry (40)
Cressy’s delightfully eccentric oldest half-sibling is the product of Mary-Gaye’s first marriage, to Esmond Cooper-Key. An accessories designer for Vivienne Westwood, she lives in Kensington with tousle-haired TV producer husband Matthew Mervyn-Jones and their two small children.

Richard Dinan wiki entry (26)
Instantly recognisable as the floppy-haired blond in Made in Chelsea, Mary-Gaye’s nephew and Cressy’s cousin actually lives in Parsons Green. He’s launched two businesses with Lord Brocket’s son Alex Nall-Cain. Very protective of his young cousin – but he says Prince Harry is a ‘f***ing good man’.

 

The UK’s The Telegraph has recently reported that Cressida Bonas is likely to marry The World’s Most Eligible Bachelor, also known as Prince Harry. The beautiful, blonde socialite has been dating the prince since shortly after Princess Eugenie introduced the pair. However, reports have claimed that Cressida was reluctant to marry at her age.

Known for her free-spirit and fun-loving nature, a friend of Cressida shared details about Cressida and Harry’s relationship with The Telegraph.

“Cressida has been in floods of tears. Harry is coming on very strong, but she is all over the place. She thinks she is far too young to get married and is scared by all his talk of marriage and settling down,” the friend said.

 “I’ve longed for kids since I was very, very young, so I’m just waiting to find the right person, someone who’s willing to take on the job,” Prince Harry said.

 

“Harry never stops talking about marriage and children, and she has now got used to the idea. The wedding is likely to take place next year,” the friend said.

Details about the potential upcoming nuptials are being kept quiet including the name of the friend who spoke with The Telegraph. However, the source who spoke with the magazine claims that “Cressie is going to marry Harry” and since Prince Harry turns thirty next year, 2014 will likely be the year.

 

How to create a Wikipedia entry page about Cressida Bonas

 

Wikipedia already has a lot of articles. Before creating an article, you should search to check that there is no suitable article that already exists. If an article on the topic you want to create is there, but you think people are likely to look for it under some different name or spelling, learn how to add a redirect with that name; adding needed redirects is a good way to help Wikipedia too.

Consider adding your information to existing articles that might include information about the subject of the article you propose. For example, if you want to write an article about a band member, you might search for the band and then add information to that broader article about that band member. This is the best thing to do if the subject of the proposed article has only limited depth.

If no suitable articles already exist or the subject has enough depth for an article of its own then you should consider starting a new article. First, to avoid the possible disappointment of your article being rapidly deleted, make sure that it meets Wikipedia’s requirements for inclusion. In brief, this means that the subject must have been mentioned in some detail by at least one (and preferably several) independent academically respectable sources. For more details see the section on this page Things to avoid and the articles on notability and reliable sources. There are three ways to create an article:

  1. Create the article using the ‪Wikipedia:Article wizard‬. Your article will need to be reviewed before it goes ‘live’.
  2. In the search box near the top right of a page, type the title of the new article, then click Go. If the Search page reports “There were no results matching the query. You may create the page….” followed by the article name in red, then you can click the red article name to start editing it. When you are done, press “Show preview” to take a look at how the page will appear. Try to fix any formatting errors, then press “Save page”. Your article is now part of Wikipedia and may be edited by anyone.
  3. Create the article by creating a Subpage in your own personal user space (which assumes you have a Wikipedia account). Typically, the name that you give to the Subpage will be the same as that of your intended article. When you have finished creating it (typically after a lot of repeated editing and saving), move the article from your Subpage to the Wikipedia mainspace (where the real articles are).

Tips for creating a wiki page about Cressida Bonas

 

  1. Try editing existing articles to get a feel for writing and for using the mark-up language in use at Wikipedia. Also, try reading some of our better articles, either those listed as featured articles or good articles.
  2. Consider creating the article on your user page first. If you have a user id, (which you must have if you are considering creating a new article), you also have your own area to start working on a new article; you can get it in shape there, take your time, and only move it into the “live” Wikipedia once it is ready for prime time. (Note: the Article Wizard has an option to create these kind of draft pages.)
  3. Search Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject, perhaps under a different title. If you find an existing article on your subject, it is best to redirect the name you were thinking of onto the existing article.
  4. Gather references both to use as source(s) of your information and also to demonstrate notability of your article’s subject matter. References to blogs, personal websites MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, message boards, and the like don’t count—we need reliable sources. Extra care should be taken to make sure that articles on living persons have sources—articles about living people without sources may be deleted.
  5. Please do not create pages about yourself or your friends, pages that advertise, personal essays or other articles you would not find in an encyclopedia.
  6. Be careful about the following: copying things, controversial material, extremely short articles, and local-interest articles.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies aged 93

Diane A. Wade
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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies aged 93

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the former leader of the Sephardic Jewish community, died earlier on Monday at the age of 93.

Orthodox Jews wearing black clothing congregated outside the seminary where Rabbi Ovadia Yosef studied. Israeli police said more than 500,000 people were participating in the funeral.

An ambulance service spokesperson said 40 people had received minor injuries.

Crowds of people could be seen surrounding the van carrying Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s body. Streets have been closed off and thousands of additional police deployed.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was a leading Torah scholar and arbiter of Halacha, or Jewish law.

He was also the spiritual leader of the Shas party, which he founded in 1984 to boost representation for Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin.

Until then, Israel’s government and religious institutions had tended to be dominated by Ashkenazi Jews – those of European descent.

Though it is currently in opposition, Shas became a kingmaker in several coalition governments.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the former leader of the Sephardic Jewish community, died at the age of 93
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the former leader of the Sephardic Jewish community, died at the age of 93

Shas leader Arye Deri wept uncontrollably as he expressed his grief.

“How will we remain alone. Who will lead us,” he asked, referring to the rabbi as “our father”.

Israel’s President Shimon Peres had visited the rabbi in hospital as his condition deteriorated on Monday.

The president and PM Benjamin Netanyahu were both present for the funeral, which is taking place on the day of the rabbi’s death in accordance with Jewish custom.

Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “deep sorrow” at the news of Rabbi Yosef’s death, describing him as “among the greatest rabbis of our generation”.

“Rabbi Ovadia was a giant in Torah and Jewish law and a teacher for tens of thousands,” the prime minister said in a statement.

“The Jewish People have lost one of the wisest men of this generation.”

The Iraqi-born cleric was also known for his controversial comments about Arabs, secular Jews, liberals, women and gay people.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef once likened Palestinians to snakes, and in 2010 called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to “vanish from our world”.

However, he also encouraged Israeli politicians to engage in the peace process with the Palestinians and by abstaining, helped secure the passage of the first Oslo peace accord through the Knesset.

President Mahmoud Abbas, meeting visiting Israeli MPs in Ramallah on Monday, asked them to send his condolences to Rabbi Yosef’s family.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ‘s son, Yitzhak Yosef, is the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.

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Fred Couples biography

Clyde K. Valle
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Fred Couples biography

Fred Couples is an American professional golfer who has a net worth of $105 million.

Born Frederick Steven Couples on October 3, 1959, in Seattle, Washington, he is a former World No. 1 golfer as he won arguably the most famous tournament in the sport, the Masters Tournament, in 1992.

Fred Couples has earned his net worth through his many professional wins in the PGA tours and Champions tours, as well as the Masters Tournament and his many player of the year awards.

Fred Couples is currently dating Nadine Moze
Fred Couples is currently dating Nadine Moze

Nicknamed “Boom Boom” for his long drives on the course, Fred Couples attracted international attention while he was at college, representing the University of Houston.

He joined the PGA Tour in 1982, and went on to play for the Champions Tour until present time. His tour appearances brought him 51 professional wins, as well as the 2010 Byron Nelson Award.

In 2011 Fred Couples slammed his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship, after which he won the Senior British Open Championship in 2012.

Like many notable professional golf players, he has been instrumental in designing golf courses around the country, including the Lost Canyon Golf Course in Simi Valley, California.

A current resident of Palm Springs, Fred Couples has other interests outside the golf course, like working in his garden, a love he inherited from his grandfather.

Fred Couples has two children, Gigi and Oliver, and is currently dating Nadine Moze.

US shutdown: China warns US to agree debt deal

Clyde K. Valle
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US shutdown: China warns US to agree debt deal

Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao has warned that the “clock is ticking” to avoid a US default that could hurt China’s interests and the global economy.

China, the US’s largest creditor, is “naturally concerned about developments in the US fiscal cliff”, Zhu Guangyao said.

Washington must agree a deal to raise its borrowing limit by October 17, or risk not being able to pay its bills.

Zhu Guangyao asked that “the US earnestly take steps to resolve” the issue.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has said that unless Congress agrees an increase in the debt ceiling by October 17, Washington will be left with about $30 billion in cash to meet its obligations – about half the $60 billion-a-day needed.

China, the US's largest creditor, is naturally concerned about developments in the US fiscal cliff
China, the US’s largest creditor, is naturally concerned about developments in the US fiscal cliff

For many governments and investors the approaching deadlock over the debt ceiling is far more critical than the current impasse over the federal shutdown caused by Congress’s failure to agree a new budget.

On Sunday Republican House Speaker John Boehner reiterated that Republican lawmakers would not agree to raise the debt ceiling unless it included measures to rein in public spending.

Zhu Guangyao said that China and the US are “inseparable”. Beijing is a huge investor in US Treasury bonds.

“The executive branch of the US government has to take decisive and credible steps to avoid a default on its Treasury bonds,” he said.

“It is important for the US economy as well as the global economy.”

“We hope the United States fully understands the lessons of history,” Zhu Guangyao said, referring to a similar deadlock in 2011 that led to a downgrade of the US “AAA” credit rating.

That deadlock ended with an eleventh-hour agreement.

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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 awarded to James Rothman, Randy Schekman and Thomas Südhof

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 awarded to James Rothman, Randy Schekman and Thomas Südhof

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 was awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof “for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells”.

The scientists have won the Nobel Prize after discovering how cells precisely transport material.

James Rothman and Randy Schekman, both from the US, and Thomas Sudhof, from Germany, shared the prize.

They found the way “vesicles” act like a fleet of ships transporting their goods to the exact destination.

It is crucial for the way the brain communicates, the release of hormones and parts of the immune system.

The billions of cells which make up the body are not empty blobs, instead they are packed with precise machinery. In order for a cell to function properly it needs the right materials in the right place at the right time.

Vesicles are tiny bubbles of fat which act as the cell’s internal shipping service. They can send material such as enzymes, neurotransmitters and hormones, around the cell. Or they can fuse with the outer surface of the cell and release their contents into the wider body.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 was awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 was awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof

The prize committee said the findings: “Had a major impact on our understanding of how cargo is delivered with timing and precision within and outside the cell.

“Without this wonderfully precise organization, the cell would lapse into chaos.”

A defective vesicle transport system is implicated in diabetes and brain disorders.

Prof. James Rothman, from Yale University, found proteins embedded in the vesicles which act as the docking mechanism meaning the cargo is released in the correct location.

Prof. Randy Schekman, from the University of California at Berkeley, discovered the genes which regulated the transport system in yeast. He found that mutations in three genes resulted in a “situation resembling a poorly planned public transport system”.

After hearing of the award he said: “My first reaction was ‘Oh, my God! That was also my second reaction.”

Prof. Thomas Sudhof, originally from Germany but now at Stanford University in the US, made breakthroughs in how the transport system works in the brain so that neurotransmitters are released at the precise time.

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Nicolas Sarkozy’s Bettencourt affair charges dropped

Diane A. Wade
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Nicolas Sarkozy’s Bettencourt affair charges dropped

The criminal investigation into Nicolas Sarkozy for allegedly soliciting secret campaign financing from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt has been dropped, French media say.

France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy has been left off a list of those to appear for trial over the “Bettencourt affair”, Le Monde reports.

Nicolas Sarkozy had denied visiting Liliane Bettencourt – alleged to be mentally frail – to solicit cash.

The decision could leave Nicolas Sarkozy clear to contest the 2017 election.

Nicolas Sarkozy has been left off a list of those to appear for trial over the Bettencourt affair
Nicolas Sarkozy has been left off a list of those to appear for trial over the Bettencourt affair

Although unpopular when he lost his attempt to be re-elected in 2012, opinion polls now suggest Nicolas Sarkozy would beat President Francois Hollande in a re-run.

The possibility of a criminal case against Nicolas Sarkozy has, therefore, gripped the media in France.

Liliane Bettencourt’s butler testified that Nicolas Sarkozy was a regular visitor to her home in the run-up to his first election victory in 2007.

It is alleged that one of Nicolas Sarkozy’s aides made separate visits, picking up envelopes stuffed full of cash.

Nicolas Sarkozy insisted that he only saw Liliane Bettencourt – known as France’s richest woman- once during 2007.

The argument came to a dramatic head in March, when a judge summoned both Nicolas Sarkozy and the butler for a face-to-face encounter, after which preliminary charges were filed against the former president.

Those charges have now been dropped, according to Le Monde newspaper and AFP news agency, which quoted a source close to the investigation.

Monica Lewinsky and 1995 government shutdown

Nancy Clayson
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Monica Lewinsky and 1995 government shutdown

During 1995 government shutdown, Monica Lewinsky was allowed to spend some quality time with President Bill Clinton as the non-essential White House staff were sent home and unpaid interns were taking on extra responsibility.

In 1995, the Starr Report describes the events of November 15: “During the shutdown, Ms. Lewinsky worked in Chief of Staff Panetta’s West Wing office, where she answered phones and ran errands. The President came to Mr. Panetta’s office frequently because of the shutdown, and he sometimes talked with Ms. Lewinsky. She characterized these encounters as “continued flirtation.” According to Ms. Lewinsky, a Senior Adviser to the Chief of Staff, Barry Toiv, remarked to her that she was getting a great deal of “face time” with the President.

Ms. Lewinsky testified that Wednesday, November 15, 1995 – the second day of the government shutdown – marked the beginning of her s**ual relationship with the President…”

During 1995 government shutdown, Monica Lewinsky was allowed to spend some quality time with President Bill Clinton
During 1995 government shutdown, Monica Lewinsky was allowed to spend some quality time with President Bill Clinton

The newspaper also wrote: “According to Ms. Lewinsky, she and the President made eye contact when he came to the West Wing to see Mr. Panetta and Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes, then again later at an informal birthday party for Jennifer Palmieri, Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. At one point, Ms. Lewinsky and the President talked alone in the Chief of Staff’s office. In the course of flirting with him, she raised her jacket in the back and showed him the straps of her thong underwear, which extended above her pants.

“En route to the restroom at about 8 p.m., she passed George Stephanopoulos’s office. The President was inside alone, and he beckoned her to enter. She told him that she had a crush on him. He laughed, then asked if she would like to see his private office. Through a connecting door in Mr. Stephanopoulos’s office, they went through the President’s private dining room toward the study off the Oval Office. Ms. Lewinsky testified: <<We talked briefly and sort of acknowledged that there had been a chemistry that was there before and that we were both attracted to each other and then he asked me if he could kiss me>>. Ms. Lewinsky said yes. In the windowless hallway adjacent to the study, they kissed. Before returning to her desk, Ms. Lewinsky wrote down her name and telephone number for the President.

“At about 10 p.m., in Ms. Lewinsky’s recollection, she was alone in the Chief of Staff’s office and the President approached. He invited her to rendezvous again in Mr. Stephanopoulos’s office in a few minutes, and she agreed. (Asked if she knew why the President wanted to meet with her, Ms. Lewinsky testified: <<I had an idea.>>) They met in Mr. Stephanopoulos’s office and went again to the area of the private study. This time the lights in the study were off.

“According to Ms. Lewinsky, she and the President kissed.”

Back in October 2013, this won’t happen again, as according to The Hill, White House interns will no longer be allowed to work during government shutdowns.

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Dario Franchitti and 13 fans injured in IndyCar crash

Clyde K. Valle
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Dario Franchitti and 13 fans injured in IndyCar crash

IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti fractured two vertebrae, broke his right ankle and sustained a concussion when his car went airborne into a catch fence during the final lap of the Grand Prix of Houston on Sunday, with flying debris injuring 13 fans and a series official.

Dario Franchitti, 40, was transported to a hospital where the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner would be held overnight, and a series official was treated for minor injuries.

Houston Fire Department spokesman Ruy Lozano said 11 of the 13 injured fans were treated on site at Reliant Park. Lozano said two were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The accident occurred when Dario Franchitti’s car clipped the tire of the car driven by Takuma Sato when the two were coming out of Turn 5 at the Reliant Park race course. After Dario Franchitti’s car hit the fence, it landed back on the track. Also involved in the wreckage was E.J. Viso, whose car collided with Takuma Sato’s car.

The accident brought an immediate caution flag and the race was halted with Power declared the winner.

Dario Franchitti car crash during the final lap of the Grand Prix of Houston
Dario Franchitti car crash during the final lap of the Grand Prix of Houston

Takuma Sato said his car clipped the wall before Dario Franchitti’s car collided with his.

“On the last lap I caught the marbles and brushed the wall and lost momentum,” Takuma Sato said.

“A couple cars passed me as I was off line and in Turn 5. I got very loose and Dario and I came together. Hopefully Dario is OK.”

The accident in Turn 5 was reminiscent of Dan Wheldon’s fatal 2011 crash at Las Vegas; in both cases, competitors had to drive through the wreckage.

It was a sobering moment for race winner Will Power, who broke his back in the Las Vegas crash, and Scott Dixon, who took control of the IndyCar championship race Sunday but passed by teammate Dario Franchitti’s car and waved in an attempt to get an update on his condition.

“The smells and the visuals, for me, and even talking to Will, you have the remnants of Vegas popping into your head with you coming around the corner and you can’t drive through it because there’s a field of debris,” Scott Dixon said.

“There was no near the amount of damage that we saw [in 2011], but seeing the replay was a big shock.”

Scott Dixon will head to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the series finale on October 19 with a 25-point lead over Helio Castroneves, who surrendered first place in the standings when he finished 23rd after mechanical problems Sunday.

Cressida Bonas: Who is Prince Harry’s girlfriend?

Lisa.Felice
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Cressida Bonas: Who is Prince Harry’s girlfriend?

Model and socialite Cressida Bonas, known as Cressy to her friends, is dating Prince Harry since 2012.

Things went through a rough patch when the blue-eyed, blond-haired beauty, Cressida Bonas decided to keep away following Prince Harry’s Las Vegas fiasco.

Cressida Bonas, 24, is the daughter of Lady Mary Gaye Curzon and thus is heir to the Curzon banking fortune.

A graduate from the Leeds University, Cressida Bonas seems to have a perfect blend of physical and intellectual beauty.

Cressida Bonas is dating Prince Harry since 2012
Cressida Bonas is dating Prince Harry since 2012

Cressida Bonas and Prince Harry’s first meeting was through her friend, Princess Eugenie. It was during the Dark Knight Rises premiere in July 2012 that she first got intimate with the Prince and, after that, the couple are reported to have flown over to the Caribbean together for Sam Branson’s birthday. The relationship is on a sure footing, going by the way Prince Harry has been very public in his displays of love and affection.

The socialite’s friends say it’s way too early to talk of an engagement between her and Prince Harry, so in the meantime she is trying to find a job in theatre having recently graduated from the edgy Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich.

Cressida Bonas’ family tree is mind-boggling but, in a nutshell, she’s the youngest of Sixties siren Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon’s brood of beautiful blondes.

Cressy’s motto is: “Treat others how you would like to be treated.”

Cressida Bonas loves rum, wearing scrunchies and The West Wing, but hates Dirty Dancing.

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Gravity tops US box office on its opening weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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Gravity tops US box office on its opening weekend

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock’s new movie Gravity has shot straight to the top of the US box office in its opening weekend.

According to early estimates, Gravity took $55.55 million over the weekend, making it the biggest October opening since records began.

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock’s new movie Gravity has shot straight to the top of the US box office in its opening weekend
George Clooney and Sandra Bullock’s new movie Gravity has shot straight to the top of the US box office in its opening weekend

The figure also ensured it was the biggest opening for a film starring Sandra Bullock or George Clooney.

Gravity, set almost entirely in space, is directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock play an astronaut and a medical engineer who work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Last week’s number one, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, dropped into second slot with $21.5 million.

Based on a children’s book, the first film – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs – was a breakout hit for Sony Animation in 2009.

The sequel is an original story, in which inventor Flint Lockwood must save the day after one of his inventions malfunctions, creating food-animal creatures, or animals made of food, that overtake the region of Swallow Falls.

Runner Runner, starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, opened in third place taking just $7.6 million.

The crime thriller follows Justin Timberlake as a graduate student who goes to Costa Rica to confront an online gambling tycoon played by Ben Affleck, who swindles him.

Former number one Prisoners, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman, slipped from second place to fourth.

Formula One movie Rush, which depicts the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, took fifth spot.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, Don Jon, was next in sixth place.

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John Kerry: Syrian government deserves credit for so far complying with chemical weapons deal

Roy Siemens
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John Kerry: Syrian government deserves credit for so far complying with chemical weapons deal

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said Syrian government deserves credit for so far complying with a chemical weapons deal.

John Kerry was speaking after international monitors began the destruction of Syria’s stockpile.

The mission was established under a UN resolution, which was passed after a deal between Russia and the US.

The initiative followed international outrage at a chemical weapons attack near Damascus in August.

“The process has begun in record time and we are appreciative for the Russian co-operation and obviously for the Syrian compliance,” John Kerry said after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Bali, Indonesia.

“I think it’s extremely significant that yesterday, Sunday, within a week of the (UN) resolution being passed, some chemical weapons were being destroyed.

“I think it’s a credit to the Assad regime, frankly. It’s a good beginning and we welcome a good beginning.”

John Kerry has said Syrian government deserves credit for so far complying with a chemical weapons deal
John Kerry has said Syrian government deserves credit for so far complying with a chemical weapons deal

The destruction of Syria’s chemical arsenal is being overseen by a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

An official on the joint OPCW-UN delegation said on Sunday: “The first day of destruction and disabling is over and missile warheads, aerial bombs, along with mobile and static mixing and filling units, were dealt with. Work continues tomorrow and in the next few days.”

The actual destruction of the stockpile, being carried out by the Syrians, is not expected to be straightforward, as some sites are in combat zones.

It is the first time the OPCW – based in The Hague – has been asked to oversee the destruction of a chemical weapons armory during a conflict.

The Syrian government gave details of its chemical weapons arsenal last month to the OPCW under the Russia-US agreement which also provided for Damascus to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.

That arsenal is thought to include more than 1,000 tonnes of sarin and the blister agent sulphur mustard among other banned chemicals.

In an interim report earlier this year, UN chemical weapons inspectors confirmed that the nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.

It was estimated to have killed hundreds of people and was blamed by the US and other Western powers on the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But he accuses Syrian rebels of being behind it.

Under the terms of the US-Russia deal, Syria’s chemical weapons capability should be removed by the middle of 2014.

[youtube VgJkZoBm5bA]

UEFA rejects claims of revamping European Championship to rival World Cup

Clyde K. Valle
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0
UEFA rejects claims of revamping European Championship to rival World Cup

UEFA has rejected The Independent on Sunday claim that it wants to revamp the European Championship to rival the World Cup.

The newspaper said the European governing body was considering expanding the tournament to include Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Japan.

UEFA has rejected The Independent on Sunday claim that it wants to revamp the European Championship to rival the World Cup
UEFA has rejected The Independent on Sunday claim that it wants to revamp the European Championship to rival the World Cup

A spokesman said: “UEFA is not aware of the plans mentioned in the story.”

The US and Mexico, of North and Central American federation Concacaf, have previously competed in the South American Copa America.

World governing body FIFA could regard a European Championship that recruits nations from outside the continent as a threat to the World Cup, its biggest source of income.

Euro 2016, hosted in France, is set to expand to 24 teams from 16, while in 2020 the tournament will be played across some of Europe’s major cities rather than in one country.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that move could mean the European tournament “lacks heart and soul”.

Airbus announces its first deal with Japan Airlines

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Airbus announces its first deal with Japan Airlines

Airbus has announced its first deal with Japanese carrier Japan Airlines (JAL).

The aircraft manufacturing giant has won an order from JAL for 31 of its A350 planes, in a deal worth nearly $9.5 billion at list prices.

The A350 is designed to be more fuel-efficient and is a direct competitor to rival Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, which has been hit by safety and technical issues in recent months.

The deal is a blow for Boeing, which has dominated Japan’s aviation market.

“This is Airbus’ largest order for the A350 so far this year and is the largest ever order we have received from a Japanese airline,” said Fabrice Bregier, chief executive of Airbus.

“I must say that achieving this breakthrough order and entering a traditional competitor market was one of my personal goals.”

Airbus has won an order from JAL for 31 of its A350 planes, in a deal worth nearly $9.5 billion at list prices
Airbus has won an order from JAL for 31 of its A350 planes, in a deal worth nearly $9.5 billion at list prices

According to the deal, JAL also has an option to purchase an additional 25 planes.

In recent years, the aviation industry has been hurt by a slowdown in demand and high volatility in global fuel prices.

That has seen many leading carriers turn to more fuel-efficient aircraft in an attempt to cut down costs and maintain profitability.

Both Airbus and Boeing have seen a surge in demand for such planes.

Airbus, which says the A350 will use about 25% less fuel than previous generation wide-bodied aircraft, has had 725 orders for the plane prior to securing the JAL deal.

The company hopes to start delivering the first A350s to customers by the end of 2014.

Yoshiharu Ueki, president of Japan Airlines, said the new planes would offer “high level of operational efficiency and product competitiveness” and help the airline to cater to “new business opportunities after slots at airports in Tokyo are increased”.

Meanwhile, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner continues to remain popular despite this year’s temporary worldwide grounding of the aircraft while safety regulators investigated the cause of fires. Boeing has received orders for more than 950 Dreamliner jets so far.

Japanese carriers, JAL and All Nippon Airways (ANA), are two of the biggest operators of the Dreamliner jets.

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Typhoon Fitow hits eastern China killing at least two people

Nancy Clayson
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0
Typhoon Fitow hits eastern China killing at least two people

Typhoon Fitow has hit eastern China after triggering the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.

With winds up to 93mph, the storm landed in Fujian province early on Monday, bringing heavy rains and causing widespread power cuts.

At least two people have been killed by the typhoon, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

The authorities earlier issued the highest alert – red – for the area.

Some homes are said to have collapsed in neighboring Zhejiang province and two port workers are missing.

Typhoon Fitow – named after a flower – made landfall at 01:15 local time on Monday in the city of Fuding, Chinese meteorologists said.

Typhoon Fitow has hit eastern China after triggering the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people
Typhoon Fitow has hit eastern China after triggering the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people

They warned that some areas in Fujian and Zhejiang could see more than 8 inches of rain in the coming hours.

In Fujian, 177,000 people were evacuated before the storm hit the coast, Xinhua said, while in Zhejiang, some 574,000 people had to leave their homes.

Some 35,000 boats in Zhejiang and 30,000 in Fujian were ordered to return to harbor for shelter.

Coastal facilities such as seaside bathing centres were also closed, state media reported.

“We must not leave anybody in danger,” Zhejiang Governor Li Qiang was quoted as saying.

The typhoon also caused suspension of bullet trains and coach services in several cities in the area.

Dozens of flights to and from Wenzhou airport in Zhejiang were cancelled.

The storm is now moving north-west and is expected to weaken quickly.

Typhoon Fitow is the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, Xinhua reported.

It comes just weeks after Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people in southern Guangdong province.

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How US shutdown is affecting business

Clyde K. Valle
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0
How US shutdown is affecting business

Business is starting to suffer from the US shutdown, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker has warned.

Penny Pritzker’s comments at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) came as leaders gathering for the summit voiced worries about the US situation.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said that what happens in the US “affects us all”.

On Friday, the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin said it would put 3,000 workers on unpaid leave.

The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget.

President Barack Obama cancelled a scheduled trip to Asia because of the shutdown.

“The shutdown is not good for business. It’s not good for the economy,” Penny Pritzker said.

The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget
The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget

One consequence of the shutdown had been her department’s inability to collate vital economic data.

“We’re a huge source of data for American business and that is a problem… It’s affecting businesses and it’s affecting their ability to get data,” she said.

From Monday, Lockheed Martin will put 3,000 staff on leave, but the defense giant said this number would rise if the shutdown continued.

“I’m disappointed that we must take these actions and we continue to encourage our lawmakers to come together to pass a funding bill that will end this shutdown,” Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed’s chief executive and president, said in a statement.

“We hope that Congress and the Administration are able to resolve this situation as soon as possible,” she added.

The announcement followed United Technologies’ decision to temporarily lay off 2,000 employees.

The company, which makes Blackhawk helicopters, said some manufacturing had been halted because there were no government inspectors working to sign off products.

The widening impact of the shutdown sparked concern at APEC meeting in Bali on Sunday.

Benigno Aquino said: “The US economy is the number one economy in the world, what happens there affects all of us.

“The world economy obviously is not in a position to withstand too much shock at this time when we are just recovering as a global economy.”

Meanwhile, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said the US had to confront its fiscal problems “in a better way than they are doing it now with shutting down the government”.

Barack Obama is refusing to negotiate with the Republicans over the budget issues until they pass a temporary bill to reopen the government.

The president also wants agreement to raise the $16.7 trillion US borrowing limit, to avoid the country defaulting on its debts.

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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner diagnosed with subdural hematoma

Diane A. Wade
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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner diagnosed with subdural hematoma

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been ordered to take a month off work after bleeding was found on her brain.

The 60-year-old Argentine president was undergoing medical checks for another condition when the bleeding – a subdural hematoma – was discovered.

Vice-President Amado Boudou is flying back from France to take over her duties.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been campaigning ahead of congressional elections.

The break from campaigning is considered awkward for the president as some opinion polls have suggested the government could lose control of Congress in the poll on October 27.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been ordered to take a month off work after bleeding was found on her brain
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been ordered to take a month off work after bleeding was found on her brain

Her spokesman, Alfredo Scoccimarro, issued a statement saying her doctors had carried out a brain scan in August after a previously undisclosed trauma – thought to be caused by a fall.

However, they found nothing untoward.

On Saturday, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner went to hospital for checks for an irregular heartbeat and also complained of headaches.

A further scan revealed the subdural hematoma – bleeding between the brain and the skull.

The condition is said to be “chronic” but not “acute” according to the presidential statement, and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will not be staying in hospital.

Her doctors are to monitor the bleeding using imaging technology.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a centre-left Peronist, was first elected in 2007 and then returned to power by a comfortable majority in 2011.

There have been hints that she may seek a third term, though Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has never confirmed this.

This would also require a change to the constitution – only possible if her party keeps control of Congress.

[youtube GX-D7IGRCws]

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics: Torch relay launched by Vladimir Putin in Moscow ceremony

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics: Torch relay launched by Vladimir Putin in Moscow ceremony

Vladimir Putin has taken part in a ceremony in Moscow to launch the torch relay for 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The torch will go on a 123-day journey covering some 40,000 miles before the Games start in the Black Sea resort on February 7.

The torch’s journey will include a trip into space.

The Russian president said the Games would show his country’s “respect for equality and diversity”.

The run-up to the Games has so far been marred by controversy over a new Russian law that restricts the spread of information about homosexuality, as well as allegations by rights groups that authorities have rounded up migrant workers who helped build the Games venues in Sochi.

Vladimir Putin has taken part in a ceremony in Moscow to launch the torch relay for 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
Vladimir Putin has taken part in a ceremony in Moscow to launch the torch relay for 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

The Olympic flame had been flown in from Greece after being lit last Sunday at the birthplace of the ancient Games.

Hoisting the flame in Moscow, Vladimir Putin declared in a ceremony shown live on television that “our shared dream is becoming reality”.

Vladimir Putin said the Games would show “respect for equality and diversity – ideals that are so intertwined with the ideals of the Olympic movement itself”.

He said the relay would show off Russia “the way that it is and the way we love it”.

“Today is a joyous and momentous day,” Vladimir Putin said.

“The Olympic flame – the symbol of the planet’s main sports event, the symbol of peace and friendship – has arrived in Russia, and in a few minutes it will be on its way around our huge country.”

On its journey the Olympic flame will:

  • Travel to the North Pole on an atomic-powered icebreaker
  • Ascend Europe’s highest peak, Mt Elbrus
  • Be taken to the depths of Lake Baikal in Siberia
  • Be taken on a spacewalk (unlit) at the International Space Station [youtube kOQibnX3_R4]

Syria’s chemical weapons destruction begins

Roy Siemens
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0
Syria’s chemical weapons destruction begins

The OPWC monitors have announced that the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons has begun.

The operation is being overseen by a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The mission was established under a United Nations resolution, which was passed after agreement between Russia and the US.

The resolution followed international outrage at a chemical weapons attack near Damascus in August.

In an interim report, UN chemical weapons inspectors confirmed that the nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of the city on August 21.

It was estimated to have killed hundreds of people and was blamed by the United States and other Western powers on the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But he accuses Syrian rebels of being behind it.

Syria’s chemical arms destruction is being overseen by a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Syria’s chemical arms destruction is being overseen by a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

“Today is the first day of destruction, in which heavy vehicles are going to run over and thus destroy missile warheads, aerial chemical bombs and mobile and static mixing and filling units,” a source with the inspection operation told the French AFP news agency.

It is not clear at which of the chemical weapons sites declared by the government, thought to number about 20, that Sunday’s operation is taking place.

The destruction of the stockpile, being carried out by the Syrians, is not expected to be straightforward, as some sites are in combat zones.

It is the first time the OPCW – based in The Hague – has been asked to oversee the destruction of a chemical weapons armory during a conflict.

The Syrian government gave details of its chemical weapons arsenal last month to the OPCW under the Russia-US agreement which also provided for Damascus to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.

That arsenal is thought to include more than 1,000 tonnes of sarin and the blister agent sulphur mustard among other banned chemicals.

Under the terms of the agreement between the US and Russia Syria’s chemical weapons capability should be removed by the middle of 2014.

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Halle Berry gives birth to baby boy

Lisa.Felice
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0
Halle Berry gives birth to baby boy

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez welcomed a baby boy into the world on Saturday, October 5, a rep for the actress confirms to Us Weekly.

Halle Berry, 47, first announced her pregnancy on April 5, telling CNN that it was “the biggest surprise of [her] life.”

Halle Berry, 47, first announced her pregnancy on April 5
Halle Berry, 47, first announced her pregnancy on April 5

“Thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me,” Halle Berry confessed at the time.

“So it’s been a big surprise and the most wonderful.”

Halle Berry largely kept mum about her pregnancy in the following months, but did admit to Entertainment Tonight in May that she considered the pregnancy a “miracle.”

“I feel really happy. It’s one of the best things that happened in my life, for sure,” the actress told reporters at the 20th annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women event at the time.

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez, 47, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Vallery, France this past summer, on July 13.

This is the first child for Olivier Martinez and second for Halle Berry, who gave birth to daughter Nahla in 2008, with then-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

Extremo Aero Show Chihuahua 2013: Monster truck crashes into grandstand killing 6 people in Mexico

Nancy Clayson
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0
Extremo Aero Show Chihuahua 2013: Monster truck crashes into grandstand killing 6 people in Mexico

At least six people have been killed and other 47 injured after a monster truck has crashed into a grandstand after its brakes failed during Extremo Aero Show in northern Mexico, officials say.

Two children were among the fatalities at the Extreme Airshow in the city of Chihuahua, capital of the eponymous state bordering the US state of Texas, said municipality spokesman Jose Luis Dominguez.

Two children were among the fatalities at the Extreme Airshow in the city of Chihuahua
Two children were among the fatalities at the Extreme Airshow in the city of Chihuahua

Some 3500 people attended the demolition show, in which pick-up trucks with giant tyres crush smaller cars, when the vehicle lost control and smashed into the stands at around 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, Jose Luis Dominguez said.

At least 35 of the 47 injured people were taken to hospitals. The park El Rejon, where the show took place, was immediately closed and helicopters and ambulances were dispatched.

It was the third annual airshow, which attracts 200,000 people on average and includes aeroplane stunts, skydiving and motorcycle acrobatics among other daredevil acts.

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Instagram to start placing ads in US users photo streams

Nancy Clayson
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0
Instagram to start placing ads in US users photo streams

Instagram announced it will start placing ads in US users photo streams in a posting on its website.

“We have big ideas for the future, and part of making them happen is building Instagram into a sustainable business,” the photo sharing service said.

Ads will appear in a few months and involve just a handful of firms.

Instagram was bought by Facebook for $1 billion, but has never made a profit.

Instagram announced it will start placing ads in US users photo streams
Instagram announced it will start placing ads in US users photo streams

The company, which now has 150 million users, has been a favorite among consumers but has long left analysts wondering how it could turn enthusiasm among photographers into a business model.

Early efforts by Instagram to generate revenue were met with user backlash, such as when the company changed the terms of service to seemingly indicate that it would own user images and could sell those images to advertisers.

The failure of this move was acknowledged in the company’s posting.

“As always, you own your own photos and videos. The introduction of advertising won’t change this,” it said.

Social media advertising is a booming business in the US.

According to research firm eMarketer, advertisers will spend $9.5 billion on social network ads worldwide this year.

Facebook has boosted its efforts to gain a larger share of this ad spending.

This year, the company’s share of global mobile ad revenues will rise to 15.8% from 5.35% last year.

Washington DC: Man dies after self-immolation on National Mall

Nancy Clayson
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0
Washington DC: Man dies after self-immolation on National Mall

A man died after self-immolation on Washington DC’s National Mall, police says.

The man poured a can of petrol on himself before setting himself on fire on Friday. Police are investigating the motive for the act.

A man died after self-immolation on Washington DC's National Mall
A man died after self-immolation on Washington DC’s National Mall

Passing joggers used their shirts to try to extinguish the flames.

The man was so badly burned that he will have to be identified using DNA and dental records, police spokesman Araz Alali said.

Officials said earlier that the man was still conscious when he was flown from the Mall to hospital on Friday.

The incident came a day after police shot dead a woman after chasing her car through the centre of Washington DC.

[youtube Mpelw1V9MyI]

Navy SEAL carries out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

Roy Siemens
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0
Navy SEAL carries out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

American officials say US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants.

In Libya, US commandos captured an al-Qaeda leader accused of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Anas al-Liby was seized in the capital Tripoli.

A leader of the al-Shabab group was targeted in southern Somalia, but that raid appears to have failed.

The al-Shabab leader – who has not been identified – is suspected of involvement in last month’s attack in the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, which left at least 67 people dead.

Al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack on September 21.

Anas al-Liby’s relatives and US officials said he had been seized in the Libyan capital early on Saturday.

He was parking outside his house when three vehicles encircled him, his car’s window was smashed and his gun was seized before he was taken away, his brother Nabih was quoted as saying by AP.

He added that his brother’s wife also saw the attack, describing the abductors as foreign-looking “commandos”.

US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants
US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

The raid was conducted with the knowledge of the Libyan government, a US official was quoted as saying by CNN.

Anas al-Liby “is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya”, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

The 49-year-old is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the 1998 US embassy attacks, which killed more than 220 people in Kenya and Tanzania.

He has been indicted in a New York court in connection with the attacks.

Anas al-Liby – whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai – has been on the FBI’s most wanted list for more than a decade with a $5 million bounty on his head.

Al-Qaeda’s leadership has been consistently targeted since the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US special forces in 2011 in Pakistan.

The US defense department has also confirmed that special forces carried out a seaborne operation in Somalia’s coastal town of Barawe on Saturday.

George Little said the forces “were involved in a counter-terrorism operation against a known al-Shabab terrorist”. He declined to provide any further details.

Initial reports in the US media quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the suspect had been captured or killed by US Navy SEALs in the pre-dawn raid on a villa.

However, the officials later said that the SEALs failed to find the intended target, who was not identified.

The raid was carried out by members of Seal Team Six – the same unit that killed bin Laden, a US military official told AP.

The official added that in Barawe the commandos had decided to abort the mission after encountering fierce resistance from al-Shabab fighters.

“The Barawe raid was planned a week and a half ago,” a US security official told the New York Times.

“It was prompted by the Westgate attack,” added the official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.

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US shutdown: Most of 400,000 defense staff sent home to return to work next week

Diane A. Wade
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0
US shutdown: Most of 400,000 defense staff sent home to return to work next week

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week.

Chuck Hagel said the decision was based on an interpretation of the Pay Our Military Act.

A budget row between Republicans and Democrats has forced the closure of federal services for five days now.

But the sides have now voted to approve back-pay for the 800,000 federal workers sent home without salaries.

Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week
Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week

In a rare moment of bipartisan co-operation, the House of Representatives on Saturday approved by 407-0 a bill to pay the federal workers once the shutdown ends.

There remains no sign of any deal on the federal budget, however.

Republicans who control the House of Representatives have refused to approve the budget, saying they would only do so if President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law was delayed or stripped of funding.

Barack Obama and the Democrats have refused, noting the law was passed in 2010, subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, and was a central issue in the 2012 election which Obama won.

The Pay Our Military Act was passed by Congress shortly before the shutdown.

Chuck Hagel said earlier in the week he wanted to find a way to get his civilian staff back to work.

He said lawyers had told him the Pay Our Military Act permitted employees “whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members” to be exempted.

“I expect us to be able to significantly reduce – but not eliminate – civilian furloughs under this process,” Chuck Hagel said.

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Bashar al-Assad indicates Germany as possible mediator

Roy Siemens
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0

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end his country’s 30-month-long civil war.

Speaking to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, Bashar al-Assad said he “would be delighted if envoys came from Germany”.

But he stressed that Damascus would not negotiate with rebels unless they laid down their weapons.

Bashar al-Assad again denied claims that his troops had used chemical weapons, blaming the rebels instead.

In the interview to be published on Monday, Bashar al-Assad said that President Barack Obama had “not even a whisper of proof” that Damascus had used chemical weapons.

“He has nothing to offer other than lies.”

Bashar al-Assad contrasted Washington’s stance with that of Moscow, describing the Russians as “true friends”.

Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end Syria's 30-month-long civil war
Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end Syria’s 30-month-long civil war

The interview comes just days after a team given the job of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons said it had made “encouraging initial progress” after talks with government officials.

UN-backed experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said Syrian documents handed over last Wednesday “looked promising”.

The team said analysis of technical diagrams would be necessary and “more questions remain to be answered”.

Onsite inspections and arms disabling are scheduled to start next week.

Concerted international action to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons was agreed by the UN Security Council last month.

Its resolution was based on an earlier deal reached by the United States and Russia in Geneva.

The US had threatened military action to punish the Syrian government over a nerve agent attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.

The Americans said more than 1,400 people were killed. Russia and Syria believe rebel groups were responsible for the attack.

Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal is believed to include more than 1,000 tonnes of the nerve gas sarin, the blister agent sulphur mustard and other banned chemicals stored at dozens of sites.

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