Anwar al Awlaki

Multiple U.S. sources have confirmed that American born Anwar al-Awlaki is dead,He was killed in a drone attack in Yemen that comes just months after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Awlaki was in top of hit list  of the U.S. terrorist list. As a charismatic speaker fluent in English, Awlaki was a leading propagandist and recruiter. His fiery sermons resonated with radicals in the U.S. and Britain, and his group, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), is actively recruiting Westerners with an online magazine called Inspire, with the latest edition coming out this week.

Awlaki was born April 22, 1971 in USA to Yemeni parents. In his childhood his family moved back to Yemen, where he father served as a professor at Sanaa University and as the agriculture minister.

In 1991, Awlaki returned to the U.S. for study civil engineering at Colorado State University. He also studied education at San Diego State University, and did doctoral work at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He later became a preacher at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Awlaki was interviewed many times about his ties with three of the hijackers, he knew at least two hijackers, Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi was present in San Diego mosque in 2000. The Sept. 11 Commission report said Awlaki was also investigated by the FBI in 1999 and 2000. according to investigation report none of the investigations led to criminal charges against him.

In 2002 he left USA and returned to Yemen. He was arrested by Yemeni authorities in 2006 as part of a group suspected of kidnapping a Shiite Muslim teenager for ransom. After spending one year in prison without trial, Awlaki was released following the intercession of his tribe.

After his release from prison, Awlaki moved to the Awalik tribal heartland in eastern province of Shabwa, an al Qaeda stronghold, and occasionally preaching in a local mosque.

In the past two years Awlaki had become increasingly influential at the core of the al Qaeda franchise in Yemen.

He was also attached directly to two terror attacks on the U.S. in 2009. Email exchanges between Awlaki and accused Fort Hood shooter gunman Nidal Hasan confirm that the al Qaeda leader was the inspiration for the massacre at a Texas army base that left 13 people dead.

In a May 2010 video Awlaki praised Hasan, and called the Ft. Hood shooting "an heroic and wonderful act." He also asked for the killing of American civilians.

walter payton

According to a revised book, Chicago Bears player Walter Payton abused painkillers in retirement and became suicidal.

Jeff Pearlman says the Hall of Fame running back used a cocktail of Tylenol and Vicodin in retirement, kept tanks of nitrous oxide in his garage and even obtained Ritalin from a friend whose son was prescribed pills. Pearlman writes that Payton drew the suspicion of pharmacists and a warning from the police after visiting many drugstores to get dentist's prescription for morphine filled.

Payton's longtime agent, Bud Holmes, is quoted as saying "Walter was pounding his body with medication."

The book will available in market for sale Oct. 4. An excerpt appears in this week's Sports described.

Holmes and Payton's executive assistant, Ginny Quirk, recall receiving suicidal calls at all hours during the mid-1990s, and Pearlman reports Payton was living apart from his wife Connie and having extramarital affairs after retirement. That created suspicious situation at his 1993 Hall of Fame induction, with Connie and his mistress attending.

Quirk gave statement it was her job to keep them apart.

"The joining Pro Football Hall of Fame is supposed to be the biggest moment in his life," Quirk says. "And in truth, it was probably the worst.. Four full days, and Lita and Connie were like two ships passing in the night. If Connie was decided to come late, I'd make sure Lita came early. If Connie was there early, Lita might be there late. I can't describe the horror of that trip."

Payton played 13 years for Bears and retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher after the 1987 season. He died from a rare liver disease and bile duct cancer in 1999.

In a statement, the Bears said Payton's is lives in their hearts.

"When we comes in field each Sunday, we represent the great players like Walter who helped build the rich tradition of our organization," the organization said. "Nothing is going to change our feelings for a man we have the lot of respect for and miss having around Halas Hall to this day."

chris christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has said he is not running for president. But one of his predecessors who has known Christie for decades says he is now at least thinking about it.

Former governor Tom Kean told the National Review Online that the chatter around Christie's change of heart in recent days is "real."

Kean said "I think the odds are a lot better now than they were a two weeks ago."

Christie is decided to speak later Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. in remarks titled "Real American Exceptionalism."

The news comes as front-runner Rick Perry repeatedly to get poor reviews for his debate performances. The Texas governor himself running in the race after initially saying he was not interested.

The chatter of Christie run may be just that. Kean, who would like to see Christie run, might be interest in stirring up talk of presidential campaign.

"He is the best debater and speaker  I may have ever heard in politics," Kean told the National Review, adding "he said many people are not satisfied with the field."

Republicans are clamoring for a candidate who would be able to energize the base and defeat President Obama in a general election. Erstwhile front-runner Mitt Romney is widely seen as one of the most powerful Republican candidates in a general election, but the most conservative parts of the party are less than thrilled with a candidate who was once governor of left-leaning Massachusetts.

Christie, as governor of Democratic New Jersey,might run into the same problem with Republican primary voters, who tend to be have the most conservative views of the party.

In New Jersey, however, Christie's approval rating has gaining sharply since he signed into a law a dramatic revamp of pension and health benefits for state in June.

About 54 percent of voters in his state now vote him on his performance as governor, while 36 percent dislike. That's a 10 point increase from the 44 percent approval in May, when about 44 percent also disapproved, and the highest approval rating for Christie since taking office after ousting former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009.

Act scores

ACT scores will become less important for some future applicants to DePaul University.

The DePaulia reports that a test-optional application process will be implemented from beginning of next year. This test-optional policy will allow applicants to choose between submitting ACT scores, and other standardized test scores, and answering a series of essay questions. According to the site, athletes, international and homeschooled students will still have to submit test scores to the university.

ACT scores and other standardized test scores will be submitted after enrollment, but it is implemented for research purposes only and will not affect those who have already been accepted. This is to help fight the idea that ACT and SAT scores are all that matter when applying to a college. As the site details, “Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president of DePaul’s Enrollment Policy and Planning, the school’s ultimate goal is to let people and students know that their four years in high school mean more than four hours on Saturday morning.” 

A spokesman for ACT media relations, Ed Colby, believes that the ACT is beneficial to students and colleges alike, “ACT scores are a standardized measure of academic readiness that allow students to show colleges how prepared they are to succeed in firstyear courses at that institution.”

DePaul has been considered on the test-optional program for about five years, and is currently launching it as a four-year pilot project, during that time success of the project will be measured.

Applicants for the fall 2012 semester will be the first eligible to opt out of supplying ACT scores for acceptance.

alley boy

Duct Tape Entertainment rapper Trouble is an up-and-coming Atlanta artist that people could pay attention to.

In this last interview, the ATL native talks about his new single and video, responds to labelmate Alley Boy's comments that any body can not film music videos in Atlanta without paying charges.

Trouble Trouble also described why there are so many guns in his "Bussin" video and talks about his distaste for New York strip clubs.

Diana Nyad Makes Another Attempt to Swim From Cuba to Florida

Diana Nyad is trying another attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida after failing to reach her goal in August.

The 62-year-old endurance swimmer from Los Angeles said she's ready for the planned 60 hour. Journey  began in Havana Friday night.

Nyad said, "I'm prepared and even saying that though, how many times do you get to do something of this big an adventure? You know, how many times do you get to feel this alive? This awake and alive?".

Last attampt was ended due to an asthma attack in last month after 29 hours in the water. She was 15 mph off course due to strong currents, according to Tweets on her page at the time.

Nyad is hoping to improve her own world record for open-water swimming without a shark cage. Australian swimmer finished a swim from Cuba to the Keys in 1997 but used a cage.

If she completes the swim, she will break her 1979 record, where she swam 102.5 miles from the Bahamas to Florida.

"I am confidence at 62 than I was at 28, which is the first time I tried this, 28 years old. She said I am not fast as I was in 1979.

Her spotters cheered Nyad on as she began her swim Friday.

"I know I'm going to be cold," Nyad told the Associated Press. "I know I'm going to run into all kinds of jellyfish and the nights are going to be long."

On Nyad's twitter account, her assistants have been updating the public of the swimmer's progress.

At one point, it appeared she was stung by a moon jelly.

Gary Johnson

In his second debate Thursday evening, former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson (R) scored some laughing expression at President Obama’s expense on the economy.
Johnson unleashed this funny zinger: “My neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovel-ready projects than this president.”
But the joke bore some resemblance to a similar punch line announced by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the same day as the debate.
In his interview, Johnson said he got the line from a contest held by a New Mexico radio station that asked listeners to deliver the top 14 best lines for use in the debate.
The line was “among a list of 14 zingers sent to me,” Johnson said, referring to the radio station. It was a “ excellent collection New Mexico effort that gave me that line.”

Afghan peace council head Rabbani killed in attack

Official confirm that the chairman of the Afghan High Peace Council, Burhanuddin Rabbani, has been killed with several others in a suicide  bomb attack in Kabul.

Afghan High Peace Council, Burhanuddin Rabbani was killed at his home by a suicide attacker who officials suspect had concealed a bomb in his turban.
He was meeting with Taliban at the time. The council tries to negotiate with the Taliban.
Mr Rabbani was a former president of Afghanistan and also leader of main political opposition in the country.
A senior advisor to the peace council, Masoom Stanakzai, is also thought to have been seriously wounded in the attack.
On death of Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghan President Hamid Karzai cancelled his trip to the US mid-flight. He is now returning to Kabul.
Mr Rabbani's residence is in a well-to-do district of Kabul, on the edge of a high security area close to the US embassy and the district where the Taliban launched a 20-hour attack last week, leaving 25 dead.
The attack is likely to fuel concerns over security in the capital. Security forces have closed off a number of streets in the district and the police are out in force, reports say.
Mr Rabbani and his security advisor, were meeting with members of the Taliban at the time of the blast.
"Two Taliban went with Mr Stanakzai. No-one was checked. Shortly after that we heard an explosion.
Counter terror officials have said that they assume the Taliban visitors were the suicide attackers but add that it is still too early to draw any definite conclusions.

Boxing: Canelo Alvarez on track as next big thing

Canelo Alvarez, right, beat Alfonso Gomez with a sixth-round knockout Saturday night at Staples Center. 

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez took yet another step in becoming the next best thing in boxing with an impressive sixth-round knockout of a game Alfonso Gomez. By defeating Alfonso and having won his 38th out of 39 fights (he has one draw), is he in position to step up to main-event status?
The Staples Center crowd unofficially estimated at 9,000 certainly thought so, laughing loudly at every punch and breaking into spontaneous chants of "Ca-ne-lo." Alvarez got his nickname from his red hair, as canelo translates into cinnamon.
Even though both fighters are from Guadalajara, Mexico, the crowd happy for Alvarez from when he was first shown in the dressing room until he was declared still WBC super-welterweight champion.
But Alvarez, with a strong, measured yet dominating performance Saturday, has yet to have the fight that could define the 21-year-old.
Alvarez adjust the tone for the fight in the opening round, dropping Gomez with a left with seconds remaining. Gomez wasn't hurt but it certainly was a precursor as to how the evening would go.
Gomez (23-5-2) showed confidence in his punches in the third round as Alvarez was felling satisfied for occasional flurries. But as the fight evolved it was clear that Alvarez's dangerous and tool lead over Gomez.

At last in sixth when Alvarez staggered the 30-year-old with a right, then chased him to the ropes where he pounded the defenseless Gomez until referee Wayne Hedgspeth asked to stop the fight.
"I had done my job in the beginning," Alvarez said. "I hit him very hard in the first round and I knew I can win adopting this strategy."
The Saturday event was billed as celebrating Mexican Independence Day by presenting the first ever tripleheader of live fights, pay-per-view (of the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz bout) and a live concert by Los Tuchanes de Tijuana and El Gran Silencia.

Metta World Peace: Ron Artest changes name to better the world

Metta World Peace is currently officially Ron Artest's new name. Mr. World Peace's name change was initially delayed because of outstanding traffic tickets. 

Los Angeles Lakers' Ron Artest arriving at the 59th Annual BMI Pop Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. May 17. A Los Angeles court commissioner has sanction Artest's petition to change his name to Metta World Peace. A court commissioner aproved the Lakers  forward's request to officially change his name to Metta World Peace on Friday, three weeks after the bid was not aproved because Artest had unpaid traffic tickets.

Poisonous Apple Juice? FDA Disputes Dr. Oz's Claim

Are you poisoning your children taking apple juice?
Dr. Mehmet Oz blasted a bombshell on his Wednesday broadcast when he declared his team had tested numerous brands of apple juice and found, all they have contained high levels of arsenic.
"We have found that apple juice can contain arsenic," Oz said while standing before the television cameras. "We launched an extensive investigation testing dozens of samples from three cities across America."
Oz announced on the show's website that People Republic of china is the world's largest manufacturer of arsenic.

LSU football's Les Miles: Tigers 'playing to the strengths of the defense'

"I told the team the defense required to come in and play the way they did to have the success that we came to have and they did. I felt like the intensity of the defense would be strong and that really ended up being the tale of the day. I felt like the offense did the things that they required to do. I thought we threw and caught, minus one pass, very well. We had over 200 yards throwing and I felt like we were very perfect. Minus a pick, I felt like we executed very good in the passing game. We were without our punter and we punted it perfectly, but I thought our guy did a good job. All being said, it's a win on the road in the SEC against a quality opponent. I think team Coach Mullen has performed a great job here and I think team had improved the game.

On playing on the road in their SEC opener:

"I think we did the things we needed to do to win. According to my view we throw the football better than we did and I think we have pieces of the offense that are not necessarily visible. At this stage we are kind of playing to the strengths of the defense and getting some first downs and making some plays in the sense that will allow us to run."

On weakness in the defense:

"We're not playing to good; we need some improvementt, intensity and style of play...we're getting there."

Brian Urlacher returns to Halas Hall

Chicago Bears linebacker Brain Urlacher returned  back to Halas Hall on Thursday after leaving the team to be with family members as they mourned the death of his mother, Lavoyda Lenard.

It's not certain whether Urlacher will practice Thursday or play Sunday when the Bears visit the New Orleans Saint. At this time he is not available for comment.

"I know sometimes when you're going through tough times, it is good for you to do is get back to something you like doing, and football is very important to Brian," coach Lovie Smith said on Wednesday.

The Bears are spending Urlacher as much time as he needs to deal with the situation.

Urlacher, 33, has played all 13 of his NFL seasons in Chicago and is widely considered one of the team's emotional leaders in the locker room.

Since 2008, the Bears are 21-13 with Urlacher in the lineup and 7-8 without him.

On Wednesday, Smith, the organization and several players, adding quarterback Jay Culter, publicly expressed condolences and lent support to Urlacher.

Lenard died in her home outside of Mount Pleasant, Texas, on Tuesday. She was 51. Lt. Brent Smith of the Titus County (Texas) Sheriff's Office said there was no evidence of foul play.

New York election a referendum on Obama, GOP says

Republican Bob Turner's upset victory on Tuesday in the special election for the heavily-Democratic congressional seat in New York's ninth district is a referendum on President Obama's financial policies and his relations with Isreal.

GOP leaders are saying "We have been told this is a referendum," Ex former cable television executive said after beating Democratic State Assemblyman David Weprin for the seat vacated by disgraced Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner. "And we're ready to say, 'Mr. President, we are not on right track.

On paper, the district looked like a shoo-in for Democrats: Mr. Obama's party have a three-to-one registration benefit in the heavily-Jewish district, and Democrats have represented the district for more than eight decades. Mr. Obama won the district by 11 points in 2008. But a poll released just day ahead of the election showed that voters in the district are not favored with the current direction of the country.

House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement Tuesday night that New York voters "delivered a strong warning to the Democrats who control the whole power in our federal government. It's time to scrap the failed 'stimulus' agenda and the misguided policies on Israel and focus on getting America back to creating jobs again."

3 police, 1 civilian killed in Taliban attacks in Kabul

 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there were no U.S. dead in Tuesday's Taliban attacks in Kabul. Clinton said United State "will take all necessary steps" to secure the area and keep personnel safe.
She said the "dedicated, brave men and women" from the U.S who work for the Afghanistan "will not be intimidated" by this cowardly act.
The Afghan Public Health ministry said  only one Afghani was killed and at least 18 were injured but none seriously in Tuesday's Taliban attacks in Kabul.
Three police officers have been killed in a string of attacks by the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday, police in the capital said.

Leila Lopes Of Angola Crowned Miss Universe 2011

New crowned Miss Universe Leila Lopes hopes her victory will allow her to assist her native Angola further escape its history of war and impoverishment and said she wants to focus on combatting HIV around the globe.
Speaking in a timid voice early Tuesday shortly after taking the crown in South America's largest city, the 25-year-old Lopes said that "as Miss Angola I have already done a lot to help my people."
"I  worked with various social welfare. I have worked with poor kids. I have worked to protect people from  HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs," she said. "I think now as Miss Universe I would be able to work more welfare works."
Responding to questions, Lopes said that she has never had cosmetic surgery of any kind. Her three tips for beauty were to get a lot of sleep, use sun block even when it's not sunny and to drink lots of water. Her best weapon was her smile in the competition.
Asked about racism in light of the fact that she's one of the few blacks ever crowned Miss Universe, Lopes said that "any racist needs to seek help. It's not normal in the 21st century to think in that way."
Lopes is Angola's first winner. She beat out 88 other girls to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest beauty pageant. She replaces last year's winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
She deftly handled the interview question that is asked of the remaining top five contestants. She was questioned about what physical trait she would change if she could.

France nuclear: Marcoule site explosion kills one

Blast at the Marcoule nuclear site in France, One person has been killed and four injured.

There is no risk of a radioactive leakage after the blast, caused by a fire near a furnace in the Centraco radioactive waste storage site.

The owner of the southern French plant, said it had been "an industrial damage, not a nuclear accident".

Reason of blast can not be detected.

The explosion blast at 11:45 local time (09:45 GMT). A security cordon was set up as a precaution.

But interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet later said there is no leakage of radiation, neither inside nor outside the plant.

Radiation does not effect single person, said officials. The worker who died was killed by the blast and not by exposure to nuclear material.

The EDF spokesman said blast happened in furnace used to burn waste, including fuels, tools and clothing which had been used in nuclear energy production but had only very low levels of radiation.The fire was under control.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was in touch with the French authorities to learn more about the nature of the explosion.

9/11: Clinton says Al-Qaeda behind New York threat

The US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has warned that al-Qaeda is behind a credible threat to Americans in the run-up to the anniversary of 9/11.

Hillary Clinton said there had been a "specific, credible but unconfirmed report" of an attempt to target New York and Washington DC.
President Barack Obama will visit New York and Washington on Sunday as the US marks 10 years since al-Qaeda attacked.
More than  3,000 people died in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania in 2001.

Anish Kapoor designs mobile concert hall for Japan

Sculptor Anish Kapoor is now designing a mobile concert hall for music and arts to the region of Japan hit by March's earthquake and tsunami.

The hall, seating up to 700 spectators, will be a "pneumatic structure" so that it could be inflated fastly with air.

Commissioned by Switzerland's Lucerne festival, the structure will be contruct in collaboration with the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki.

A programme of events is scheduled to begin in spring in 2012.

The project is titled Ark Nova - A Tribute to Higashi Nihon. Higashi Nihon was the area struck by the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March this year.

Libya conflict: Troop convoy crosses border into Niger

At least 50 armed vehicle from Libya has crossed over the southern desert border into Niger.

The convoy is believed to be carrying mainly Tuareg fighters recruited by fugitive Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to fight for his regime.
Col Gaddafi was not in the convoy said by Niger's foreign minister. On Monday, Col Gaddafi spokesman said he was still in Libya.
The new Libyan authorities say the convoy was bringing gold and money.
Col Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the death, even though he has lost control of most of the country.

Gaza flotilla: Turkey to take Israel to UN court

Turkey has said it will contact Israel's blockade of Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

It is the latest sign of strain between the two countries since last year's Israeli action against ships heading for Gaza, in which nine Turkish people were killed.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said Turkey can not accept the findings of a UN report which said Israel's blockade of Gaza was a legal security measure.
His comments came a day after Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador.Turkey also halted military  cooperation with Israel.

Madonna to release first single from new album in 2012

Madonna  has planed to release the first single from her new album in year 2012. The singer has released the news at the Venice Film Festival during the screening of her new film W.E.
Medonna told to reporters I'm not sure [when the new record will be out] but the first single will be released in February or March 2012.

The Maldives meets Dubai, in Malaysia

This is the Golden Palm Tree Resort and Spa, a rich Maldivian-style, over-water villa complex, just off the coast of Selangor in Malaysia. It is hard to believe that only a some years ago, this was the humble, sleepy fishing village of Bagan Lalang, in Sepang. It has since been transformed into part of a glittering, 22km-long coastline development, poised to place Malaysia firmly on the world’s expensive property and tourism map.
Sepang Goldcoast was conceptualised as an integrated holiday resort catering to international tourists and travellers, modelled on famous beach havens such as the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia and Miami Beach in the United States.
Sepang is situated in Malaysia’s r most developed state, Selangor, which is often referred to as the gateway to Malaysia; Port Klang, the country’s largest port, and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport are both located there.
Surrounding the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor's strategic location boosts its appeal as the preferred holiday destination for the rising middle class Malaysians and foreign tourists. Sepang Goldcoast is just 30-minute drive from the airport and just over an hour from the capital.
Local attractions include the stone-carved Hindu temples in the Batu Caves, the aboriginal communities at Pulau Carey and international sporting events like Formula One and yacht races. But at that time  the standout attraction at the moment is the Gold Palm Tree Resort and Spa, which has been opened since last summer.
From the air, close to 400 villas fan out into the ocean in the shape of a giant palm tree, much like the Palm in Dubai -- a grandiose development that has been plagued with problems from its inception. Malaysian Tourism officials are counting on the bold resort development to be the jewel in their tourism crown rather than an international embarrassment.
Rooms start a RM800, a cheaper rate compared to similar over-water villas in destinations like the Maldives. When completed, sometime over the next decade, Sepang Goldcoast will have resorts, beautiful parks, a marina, floating market and wildlife habitats. Besides sun worshiping, planned local activities include surfing, canoeing, kayaking canopy walks and yoga.
While a waterfront renaissance is nothing new, Malaysia is now providing the opportunities in drawing investments and developing iconic global attractions like this one. Hopefully Sepang Goldcoast will be an example of how revitalising rivers and waterways along with building tourist infrastructure, can reap economic rewards.

Obama reschedules Congress speech after Boehner objects

After objections from House Speaker John Boehner, President Barack Obama has decided to reschedule a Congressional speech on the economy.

President Obama desired to outline his much-anticipated jobs creation plan next Wednesday evening, but that conflict with a Republican debate.

Mr Boehner asked Mr Obama speak a day later instead, and the White House has decided to his recommendation.

US unemployment - still over 9% - could dominate 2012's presidential elections.

The White House had earlier insisted the scheduling conflict with a televised Republican 2012 debate at the Ronald Reagan Library in California next Wednesday evening was "coincidental".

But several Republican leaders said the timing was a political move to get sympathy.