Assad’s wife ‘defends’ Syria crackdown

LONDON: The British-born wife of Syria’s president has spoken in support of her husband for the first time since the 11-month uprising against his regime began, a British newspaper reported Tuesday.

“The President is the President of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the First Lady supports him in that role,” The Times quoted Asma al-Assad as saying in an email sent via an intermediary from her office.

The email is her first communication with the international media since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime began, The Times said.

“The First Lady’s very busy agenda is still focused on supporting the various charities she has long been involved with and rural development as well as supporting the President as needed,” the email reportedly continued.

“These days she is equally involved in bridging gaps and encouraging dialogue. She listens to and comforts the families of the victims of the violence.” it added.

The statement came after Syrian forces pounded protest hubs with rockets and shells, killing 79 civilians on Monday, according to activists, and as Britain recalled its ambassador to Syria “for consultations”.

Unlike her husband, a minority Alawite, the 36-year-old First Lady is a Sunni Muslim who originally hails from Homs — the central Syrian city rocked by some of the worst carnage since the revolt began in March last year.

Stylish and charismatic and with a degree from King’s College in London where she was raised, the former investment banker had helped promote the soft side of an iron-fisted regime.

But she has virtually disappeared from the public eye since the revolt broke out and had drawn criticism for her silence on a crisis that has left more than 5,000 people dead in her country.

Last month she appeared with two of her children to support her husband of 12 years as he spoke at a pro-regime rally, but did not speak herself. AGENCIES

Nigeria: Acting President Dissolves Cabinet

Taking a major step to weed out incompetence and strengthening, Acting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved cabinet in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

This comes after Jonathan replaced Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa and appointed Aliyu Gusau as a security adviser. Jonathan himself was appointed Acting President only on February 9 following a week’s long power vacuum following the illness of President Yar’Adua.

His continuing absence from office is said to be causing concern amongst investors regarding the country’s direction.

Yar’Adua’s failure to formally hand over to Jonathan upon his departure and the unclarified role played by the First Lady since his return has led to many prominent Nigerians calling for his resignation.

Who Was The First Lady to Conquer Mt. Everest

Who Was The First Lady to Conquer Mt. Everest, It was the first lady to conquer metric tons. Everest? The name of the first woman in space, which was the first woman to be prime minister in the country, and give Ed’m not the angel i made him a star. All kinds of men, have benefited from my advice, including Warren Buffett and if you come and see me I can tell you luck. All of this snow-white, who drifted well, i do not give Lyme owners made him a star. All kinds of men, have benefited from my advice, including Warren Buffett and if you come and see me I can tell you luck. All of this snow-white, who drifted well. , Which was the first movie star to be featured on a postage stamp.?

Michelle Obama’s Wax Statue Unveiled at Madame Tussauds

Michelle Obama’s Wax Statue Unveiled at Madame Tussauds, US First Lady Michelle Obama was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in New York. The statue of Michelle Obama wears the stunning white gown, designed by Jason Wu, she wore on inauguration night in 2009.
Children from an elementary school in Harlem were among the first to see the statue after it was unveiled. “It’s great. I haven’t seen nothing like it before. It looks like the real person because when you touch it, it looks, it feels like a person,” said student Elizanel Martinez. “They look kinda realistic. It kind of feels like the eyes follow you, and Michelle Obama’s dress is kind of sparkly,” added student Allan Quezada.
Mrs. Obama’s wax figure will stand beside her husband, Barack Obama, in a replica of the White House’s Oval Office. Mrs. Obama is the third First Lady to be honored with a wax figure inside Madame Tussauds. Jacqueline Kennedy and Hillary Clinton also have likenesses inside the museum.

Michelle Obama Birthday

Michelle Obama Birthday, President Barack Obama waved to onlookers as he and first lady Michelle Obama left dinner at Nora. Photo by Mike Theiler / pool.

The president assembled two of his predecessors in the Rose Garden today to promote humanitarian aid for Haiti.

The president will travel to Massachusetts tomorrow to help a Democrat win election to the Senate and keep the party’s 60-vote hold on the Senate – and with that, the president’s domestic agenda.

Tonight, the president took the first lady to dinner.

Sunday is Michelle Obama’s 46 birthday.

They went out tonight to Nora, near Dupont Circle. Nora bills itself as the nation’s first certified organic restaurant. There was no word on the first couple’s menu selection. Entrees run about $30.

The president wore a gray suit with a collarless black shirt. The first lady wore a black, long-sleeved dress.

But they were not alone.

The dinner roster included : Marian Robinson, the first lady’s mother, Valerie Jarrett, special adviser to the president and personal friend of the Obamas, Eric and Cheryl Whitaker, friends of the Obamas from Chicago, Eric Holder, attorney general, and his wife Sharon Malone, Marty Nesbitt, another friend from Chicago. Susan Sher, the first lady’s chief of staff., Elizabeth Alexander, who recited a poem at Obama’s inauguration,. Cindy Moelis, head of the White House Fellows program, and Jocelyn Frye, policy director in the first lady’s office.

They partied for nearly four hours. They arrived just after 6:30 pm EST, the first main course was served by 8:43 and desserts by 9:04. Guests started leaving at 9:40.

The first couple left the restaurant at 10:10 to the loud applause of bystanders, with about 50 people gathered at the corner of Florida Avenue and R Street singing “Happy Birthday” as the president and first Lady walked to their car.

Reporters from the attendant pool shouted “How was the party?” and “Was the First Lady surprised?” One woman replied that the first lady was indeed “surprised.”

jean biden funeral

TrendPK.com jean biden funeral:Funeral Services: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will join Vice President Joe Biden and his family in Wilmington, Del., today to attend the funeral of Biden’s mother, Jean Biden, who died Friday at the age of 92.
Take Two: The U.S. House reconvenes today for the [...]

mark gastineau

TrendPK.com It’s been more than two decades since Brittny Gastineau’s father Mark, the legendary New York Jets player, left Brittny’s mom Lisa for actress Brigitte Nielsen. But it was not until last week that Brittny met the fruit of that union: her half-brother Marcus Killian Gastineau, who’s now 20.
Brittny had never before [...]

First Lady Descendant Of Pocahontas

TrendPK.com First Lady Descendant Of Pocahontas: Pocahontas story is all too familiar. Pocahontas was the daughter of a tribal chief Powhatan. As English settlers came to Virginia they were not treated very well. Pocahontas not only saved John Smith from execution but also brought food and other goodies to the settlers. [...]

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama PHOTO: Google Buys Ad To Explain Offensive Image.

Google has purchased online ads in an effort to explain to users why an offensive image of Michelle Obama is appearing, and is ranked so highly, in its Google Image search results.

The Google ad, titled “Offensive Search Results,” appears directly over the pictures of the First Lady that show up when users perform a Google Image search for “Michelle Obama.” Source and thanks

Sesame Street Anniversary,Big Bird

Sesame Street Anniversary,Big Bird: Sesame Street and Big Bird celebrate their 40th anniversary today.

Sesame Street Anniversary,Big Bird:Sesame Street and Big Bird celebrate their 40th anniversary today. Big Bird and Sesame Street came to television on November 10, 1969 and through the Jim Henson characters have captivated generations of tv audiences.

At 40, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s program on US television.

In the 1960s, the Carnegie Institute following a proposal by Joan Ganz Cooney gave $8 million to establish the Children’s Television Workshop and deliver new programming. Additional funding came from Ford, the US Government, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The show was promoted before its air date with a 30 minute trailer that would air on NBC called This Way to Sesame Street. When the show aired, it would quickly earn a 3.3 Nielsen rating.

Big Bird would appear on screen with First Lady Pat Nixon in 1970. Jim Henson has since explained that the character played by Carroll Spinney in a suit is not a muppet.Big Bird’s breed has also been in dispute, thought to be a canary, but later explained as more of a condor.

source:http://news.lalate.com/

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