Exclusive: Senior al Qaeda figure killed in drone strike -

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD Jan 19 (Reuters) - A militant who acted as a senior operations organizer for al Qaeda was targeted and killed in one of two U.S. drone strikes launched against targets inside Pakistan last week, a U.S. official said. U.S. and Pakistani sources told Reuters that the target of the attack was Aslam Awan, a Pakistani national from Abbottabad, the same town where Osama bin Laden was killed last May by a U.S. commando team. They said he was targeted in a strike by a U.S.-operated drone on January 10 directed at what news reports said was a compound near the town of Miranshah in the border province of North Waziristan. That strike broke an undeclared eight-week hiatus in attacks by the armed, unmanned drones that patrol Pakistan's tribal areas and are a key weapon in U.S. President Barack Obama's counter-terrorism strategy. The sources described Awan, who also was known by the nom-de-guerre Abdullah Khorasani, as a significant figure in the remaining core leadership of al Qaeda, which U.S. officials say has been sharply reduced by the drone campaign. Most of the drone attacks are conducted as part of a clandestine CIA operation. Pakistani officials could not confirm that Awan was killed in the drone attack, but the U.S. official said he was. One of the sources described Awan as an associate of al Qaeda's current chief of external operations, whose identity is known to intelligence officials but not to the general public. "Aslam Awan was a senior al-Qaeda external operations planner who was working on attacks against the West. His death reduces al-Qaeda's thinning bench of another operative devoted to plotting the death of innocent civilians," a U.S. official said. Several previous alleged chiefs of external operations for al Qaeda have been caught or killed in drone attacks or counter-terrorism operations, the most notorious being Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington D.C. Mohammed was captured and is being held by U.S. authorities in the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility. Because their role in arranging operations involves interacting with militants in the field, external operations chiefs of al Qaeda have found themselves more vulnerable to exposure and counter-attacks by security forces than the movement's most senior leaders, who until bin Laden's demise last year appeared to be able to move about the region and issue provocative audio and video messages with near-impunity. A Pakistani security source based in the country's border region said that Awan was the remaining member of an al Qaeda cell Pakistani authorities have been trying to roll up since 2008.  

Rihanna's Hot and Stylish Bikini Looks

When you've got a killer bod like Rihanna, there's no excuse NOT to show it off! But the Barbados beauty cuts no corners when it comes to style, even when choosing her itty bitty bikinis. Check out some of her hottest beach-side and deck-side vacation looks. -- 

MZEE YUSSUF NDANI YA USA

Mzee Yussuf ameanza ziara yake nchini Marekani, akiongea na mwandishi wetu Mzee Yussuf alisema kuwa mwaka umeanza vizuri kwake kwani mwaka huu anatarajia kuzunguka Dunia nzima kuwaburudisha wapenzi wake wa muziki wa taarabu. wapenzi wa mzee Yussuf hapo Marekani kaeni mkao wa aramba aramba Aaaam Aaan!!!

Poland to put Hitler's forest lair on tourist trail ---

Adolf Hitler

 WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is looking for an investor to turn the "Wolf's Lair" of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler into a tourist attraction. The ruins of Hitler's fortress complex deep in the woodlands of northeastern Poland is famed as the site of an assassination attempt on Hitler by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and popularized by a 2008 film starring Tom Cruise. The Wolf's Lair served as one of Hitler's military headquarters during World War Two and was destroyed by the Nazi forces as they retreated in early 1945. The site -- whose name refers to Hitler's nickname, "Mr. Wolf" -- consisted of 80 buildings at its peak and is owned by the local forestry authority. "We are waiting for offers, but so far we have none," local forestry official Zenon Piotrowicz said. "The requirements are quite high because we want a new leaseholder to invest a lot, particularly in a museum with an exhibition that could be open all year long." The remaining ruins are open to the public, but do not attract many visitors because they are hidden deep in a forest and accessible only by treacherous dirt roads. The fortress near the Russian border was built in 1940 and 1941 to protect Hitler and other top Nazi officials from air bombardment during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. It had its own power plant and a railway station. The complex was heavily camouflaged deep inside a forest and surrounded by a minefield, which took 10 years to clear after the war.

Italy enthralled by ship's tale of two captains

ROME (Reuters) - The Coast Guard officer who ordered the captain of the capsized Italian cruise ship to go back aboard unwittingly became an instant hero on Wednesday, credited with saving the national honor on one of its darkest nights. Italy has become enthralled with the tale of two captains. One is Coast Guard Captain Gregorio De Falco, who furiously ordered the skipper of the Costa Concordia to return to his ship and oversee the rescue operations. The other is Captain Francesco Schettino - whom newspapers have branded a coward for fleeing in the face of adversity and who is now under house arrest, accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. "Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Go on board (Expletive!)" De Falco yelled at Schettino during a 4-minute radio exchange made public on Tuesday. The Italian word De Falco used, "cazzo" in Italian, is slang for the male sexual organ but it is commonly used to emphasize something, equivalent to "Go on board, damn it." The imperative phrase in Italian -- "Vada a bordo, cazzo!" -- was already on T-shirts by Wednesday morning. "Thank You, Captain" was the more sedate headline the country's largest national newspaper, Corriere della Sera, chose on Wednesday, reflecting the gratitude of Italians who see Schettino's behavior as a national embarrassment. "Two men ... two stories, one who humiliates us, the other who redeems. Thank you Captain De Falco, our country badly needs people like you," the Corriere della Sera said. An editorial in La Stampa said Schettino "filled the void in the disgrace and lies department left by Berlusconi," a reference to Italy's scandal-plagued former prime minister. Another memorable exchange between the two captains, listened to by millions of Italians since it was made public, is when De Falco tells Schettino: "You get back on board! That is an order! There is nothing else for you to consider. You have sounded the "Abandon Ship." I am giving the orders now. Get back on board. Is that clear?" The new "Italian idol" is an unlikely one. De Falco is 48. He is balding and, in uniform, looks more like the maitre d' of an exclusive restaurant on the Amalfi Coast than a swashbuckling heartthrob. "I'm no hero," De Falco told reporters on Wednesday as he entered a magistrate's office in the Tuscan city of Grosseto to give testimony for the investigation. Judging by the comments on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, Italians, living in a country many feel is mired in corruption and economic woe, would beg to disagree. A tweet from Sofia Rosada said: "It is men like De Falco who should be governing. Instead we are full of men like Schettino." Some have even played on the Jesus Christ-Judas Iscariot comparison, one a savior, the other a traitor. Judging from reports that De Falco is usually soft-spoken, unassuming, and even shy - when he is not faced with a shipwreck - he would likely reject the acclamation of instant sainthood. But he may be moved by a tweet from an Italian boy named Salvatore Garzillo: "The next time someone asks me what I want to be when I grow up I am going to say: 'a man like De Falco.'"

Hikers find human head in LA's Hollywood HillsLOS ANGELES (AP) —

Hikers in the Hollywood Hills found a human head in a plastic bag Tuesday when two of their dogs began playing with the object, Los Angeles police said The women made the discovery on a popular trail below the Hollywood sign at about 3:45 p.m., police said. "Two of the dogs began to play with the bag and what appeared to be an object. While the dogs were playing with it, at some point the object came out of the bag and they discovered that it was a head — a severed head," Sgt. Mitzi Fierro told KCAL-TV. The bag was visible from the trail, she said. The head was believed to be a male, Fierro said, and didn't appear to have been in the area for long. "There's not a lot of signs of decomposition yet," she said. The women who discovered the bag work as dog walkers and had about nine dogs with them at the time, Officer Karen Rayner said. Investigators hopefully will come up with a sketch of the victim in order to identify who he is, Fierro said. Coroner's investigators also will attempt to identify the victim through dental records. Police were guarding the crime scene overnight, with detectives set to resume searching for possible additional human remains and other clues after sunrise Wednesday.

MADONN’S GOLDEN GLOBES FEUD........

 

MR AND MRS DAVID

                                            MADONA AND SIR ELTON JOHN

When you're as famous as Madonna and Sir Elton John, maybe there's nothing left to do but feud -- and last night at the Golden Globes, their little battle seemed to reignite. John lit the first barb on the red carpet, remarking that Madonna had "no (expletive) chance" of winning Best Original Song, an award for which he was also in contention. And after asking if her rival was "wearing a dress," Madge remarked, "Let the best man win." And so she did -- picking up the Globe for her "Masterpiece," featured in "W.E.," which also marked her directorial debut. Madonna's acceptance speech, complete with her mild British accent, seemed tame enough, but John's husband, David Furnish, wouldn't have it. "Madonna. Best song???? "Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism." [ Related: Madonna insults Ricky Gervais ] Furnish's remark brought back memories of one John made seven years ago, when Madonna won Best Live Act at the GQ Awards. "Madonna, For her part, Madge didn't seem to let the barbs puncture her ego composure. "I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years," she quipped backstage. "He's known to get mad at me. He's brilliant and I adore him. He'll win another award so I don't feel bad!" And so the battle rages on.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & JESSICA BIEL: HEADED FOR HEARTBREAK .....

Justin

Jesica

Jessica Biel finally got her wish — after a pre-Christmas proposal, she's on her way to being Mrs. Justin Timberlake. But insiders say the union may already be doomed. "Jess has told her friends she knows he's got a roving eye but she's prepared to look the other way if he should ever stray," an insider says. "She's in it for the long haul." Justin, 30, has assured her his womanizing days are over and even promised to delete girls' numbers from his phone. Jessica's going into the marriage hopeful, but a realist. "He's been linked to so many women, from Olivia Wilde to Mila Kunis and even Ashley Olsen. She knows she has to take the good with the bad. He might have every intention to not cheat, but he may not feel the same after a few years and she's aware of that." Still, while her pals fear the worst, one insider says that Jessica, 29, may be stronger than she's given credit for. The evidence: how she handled their brief breakup. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE SHOWS OFF A FULL BEARD — LOVE IT OR LOATHE IT? "Jessica's played a cool game," says a pal. "She's a big fan of Kate Middleton and saw how she remained aloof and kept quiet after Prince William dumped her, and now, she's a princess! Jessica did the same thing — even though she was absolutely distraught. She played a very successful game and has finally won her man." Still, friends fear Jessica is setting herseulf up for heartache. Justin seems to have all the power and is "treating Jessica like a doormat," an insider says. "Often, a week will go by without seeing him. She's even suggested he teach her how to sing so they can spend time together. He's calling all the shots. But she's taking what she can get — and the one thing she wants is to be his wife, at any cost." Newly Engaged Justin Timberlake Shows Off a Full Beard -- Love It or Loathe It? Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel Are Officially Engaged! Did Justin Timberlake Propose to Jessica Biel? ** Justin Timberlake's Marine Corps Ball Date Says He "Brought Sexy Back" to the Dance Floor **

DEMI MOORE AND ASHTON KUTCHER'S RUN-IN AT SOHO HOUSE..........

 As the biggest names in Hollywood come together to celebrate awards season at the hottest parties in town, recently divorced Ashton Kutcher 33, and Demi Moore were bound to run into each other at some point! According to new reports, the now ex-couple had a seemingly awkward run in at last night’s CAA Foundation bash in LA. A source at E! Online reports that Demi and Ashton, who opted to separate when reports surfaced of the Two and Half Men star’s infidelity, avoided each other while out mingling at Soho House. Rather then catch up with one another, the 49-year-old reportedly chatted with friends like Madonna while Ashton circulated through the party at a different end of the room. At least the exes, who were married for six years, managed to kept it civil!

HARRY POTTER

HARRY POTTER!!.............Daniel Radcliffe took over Saturday Night Live last night, first taking a serious moment to thank his young fans as the Harry Potter franchise soon gets set to come to an end and then lightened the mood with a few jabs at the film’s more adult followers. DANIEL RADCLIFFE NAMED ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR FOR HARRY POTTER ** “To the children who love Harry Potter, I want to say your enthusiasm was the real magic. I so enjoyed being on the journey with you,” Daniel explained in his opening monologue. Saving room for a few laughs, the actor also addressed his adult fans, “I just want to say, those books are for children. You were reading children’s books!”

MBUNGE WA CHADEMA APOTEZA MAISHA

marehemu Regina Mtema enzi za uhai wake

Mbunge wa viti maalum kupitia chama cha Demokrasia maendeleo(CHADEMA) Regina Estelatus Mtema amefariki dunia jana kwa ajali ya gari iliyotokea karibu na daraja la Ruvu,ajali hiyo ilitokea mida ya saa tano asubuhi marehemu alikuwa akiendesha gari na ndugu zake saba,ajali hiyo ilitokana baada ya kutaka kulipita gari lililo mbele yake ndipo alipokutana na gari lingine mbele nakushindwa kulimudu gari na kuanguka mara tatu,Mh alifariki hapo hapo na ndugu zake kujeruhiwa,Taifa linahuzunika kwa kumpoteza kiongozi hodari na mchapakazi.tunatoa pole kwa ndugu na taifa kwa ujumla.

BRADD PIT TOLD HE COULDN'T ACT AFTER AUDITIONING FOR THE ACCUSED !!!!!!!

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

He's one of the biggest, most respected actors there these days -- with a probable Oscar nomination for his role in Moneyball -- but Brad Pitt didn't exactly take Hollywood by storm when he arrived in the late 1980s. The handsome 48-year-old graces the February cover of W Magazine, and reveals the first big-time role he auditioned for. "My agent sent me out for two films," Angelina Jolie's man of nearly seven years says. "One of them was The Accused with Jodie Foster. I was so excited." Foster, 49, won her first Best Actress Oscar in the harrowing 1988 drama in which she played the victim of gang rape. Did then-fresh-faced Pitt try out for the part of a rapist? "Probably not," he muses. "With this face, I was probably up for the guy with the conscience." the audition didn't go so well. "I called up afterward and asked, 'How did I do?'" the Tree of Life star recalls. "There were three seconds of silence and then: 'Have you ever thought about acting classes?'" Pitt's far more confident about his acting prowess nowadays. "I die really well, by the way," he boasts to W. "It's one of my strong points. I just take a bullet well."

Beyonce, Jay-Z Leave Hospital With Blue Ivy Carter

                                            Mr and Mrs J-Z
                                       

                                        Finally Beyonce with her Baby Girl Blue Ivy carter

                                        Solange,Beyonce's Mother Tina, Beyonce And her  father Matthew Knowes

Blue Ivy Carter went home from the hospital with mom and dad Beyonce and Jay-Z early Tuesday, Lenox Hill Hospital officials confirmed to the Daily News and E! News

The Daily News reports that Beyonce, 30, and Jay-Z, 42, dodged photographers by exiting via the uptown NYC hospital's side gate around 1:30 a.m.; two SUVs with tinted windows blocked traffic on East 76th street to allow the passage of a van. (No word yet on which vehicle held the famous family, or whether the procession was a decoy for an alternate departure.)


Fans worldwide are celebrating the birth of the superstar couple's very first child -- who even made her vocal debut, crying in Jay-Z's new song "Glory," -- but other new parents at Lenox Hill reportedly complained of the turmoil Blue Ivy's birth cause

Lenox Hill officials shot down accusations that some patients were temporarily denied access to the NICU to accommodate the VIPs on the premises.

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MZEE KIPARA AFARIKI DUNIA

Habari za kusikitisha kwa Watanzania, leo wamekumbwa na msiba wa kusikitisha baada ya kumpoteza Muigizaji bora Mkongwe wa Tanzania. Habari zinasemekana kwamba Mzee Fundi Said Kipara amefariki nyumbani kwake Maeneo Ya Kigogo  leo. Watu wa karibu wa Marehemu Mzee Kipara walipoongea na Mwandishi wetu leo walisema kwamba Mzee Kipara alifariki kwa uzee pamoja na maradhi madogomadogo yaliyokuwa yakimsumbua kwa muda mrefu.Tumepokea taarifa hii kwa masikitiko Makubwa, Mungu Ailaze roho ya marehemu mahali pema peponi. Amen.

Dolly Parton Stuns at ‘Joyful Noise’ Premiere

Dolly Parton dazzled at the Los Angeles premiere of "Joyful Noise" on Monday night. The icon, who turns 66 on Jan. 19, wore a daring white dress that few women half her age could wear so well

The curvaceous Parton is no stranger to surgery, and she's happy to talk all about her past procedures. During the course of her career, Parton has admitted to having had face-lifts, Botox, eyelid surgery, breast enlargements, chemical peels, and neck lifts.

During an interview with Larry King, Parton once remarked, "If it's a-sagging, a-bagging, or a-dragging, I'm gonna get it sucked, tucked, or plucked."

In fact, Parton pokes fun at her surgical history in "Joyful Noise": "Who cares if I've had a few nips and tucks," Parton's character says. "God didn't make plastic surgeons so they can starve."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

UHUSIANO WA DIAMOND (PLATINUMZ) NA WEMA SEPETU BADO NI UTATA !!!!!

Hivi karibuni palitokea mtafaruku kati ya uhusiano wa Diamond na Wema baada ya Jokate kuingilia kati na kuharibu mahusiano hayo, wema alionekana na kusikika na kipindi cha take one kilushwacho na television ya clouds fm akimuelezea Zamaradi kuwa anashangazwa kunyang'anywa fiance wake na muimba kwaya wa kanisani (jokate).

kwa upande wa  Jokate alikanusha na kudai yeye na Diamond ni brother and sisters

lakini kwa upande wa Diamond alpoulizwa akasema "NO COMMENT"

SMILLING FACES CONGRATULATE BEYONCE FOR HAVING A BABY GIRL !!!!!

Welcome to the world, Blue Ivy Carter! One of music’s most awaited offspring, singer Beyoncé Knowles and her rapper/producer husband Jay-Z had their first child on January 7th, 2011. Even before birth, Blue has already been on stage, red carpets and national television swathed in her mom’s stunning style. Pregnant fashionistas.
A month before the big announcement—or should we say, belly rub—Beyoncé tore up the stage at the ‘Good Morning America Summer Concert Series’ in a flirty, fringy Julien Macdonald knit dress and gold Swarovski crystal-encrusted Stuart Weitzman pumps. The revealing dress showed lots of skin, but didn’t reveal any indication the singer was carrying (she was about three months along). The daring choice of outfit, plus the rousing performance just further proved that Mama Beyo can’t be stopped!

Son of Packers offensive coordinator found dead in Wisconsin river

Several reporters on-scene in Green Bay report that a body found in the Fox River has been identified as that of Michael Philbin's, and the news was confirmed by police on Monday evening. Michael was the 21-year-old son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

Michael was reported missing on Sunday night. The last time he was heard from was 2 a.m. on Sunday. He lived in Ripon, Wis., and was visiting friends in Oshkosh, which is 21 miles away.

An employee in a building near the Fox River heard ice breaking and someone call for help around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. They recovered a body fitting Michael's description around 3 p.m. on Monday.

Michael previously was in headlines when he was sentenced to six months in jail for misdemeanor sexual assault and battery charges.

During head coach Mike McCarthy's afternoon press conference, he said that the Packers were holding out hope for Michael's safety. Philbin was in Oshkosh, and the team closed their locker room to press out of respect for the coach. The Packers were reportedly informed of the death late Monday afternoon.

The Packers were off for the weekend, having earned a bye, and learned on Sunday that their next opponent would be the Giants. Joe Philbin, the architect of Green Bay's top-rated offense, recently interviewed with the Miami Dolphins for the open head-coaching vacancy.
Pagination

Hatimae Mkurugenzi wa Smiling Faces Company akamilisha Tamasha la Tanzania Next Top Model

carolyne.Director of smiling Faces Company

.Asha.. Mshindi

Pablo.. Mshindi

TANZANIA RED CARPET AWARDS SEASON 3 YAFANYIKA JANA!!

Atimae jana tuzo za Tanzania red carpet awards zimetolewa jana pale Regency park hotel,tuzo hizo ziliambatana na fashion show ya Tanzania next top model, katk tuzo zilizoteka ilikuwa ni BEST MALE &FEMALE MODEL,BEST ACTOR & ACTRESS,BEST SOCIAL NEWS PAPER,BEST FASHION TV PROGRAM... na zinginezo na waliobahatika kupata tuzo hizo ni Yusuph Mlela,Ndumbangwe Misayo(thea),Tuesday Kiangala,Zamaradi,Kipindi cha Leo tena.