POLITICS: FBI adds 1st woman to list of most wanted Terrorist

By Olumide T. Agunbiade|Nigerian writer

THE FBI adds a woman on its list of most wanted terrorists for the first time – a 1970s black radical who authorities say shot a New jersey trooper, made a daring daylight escape from prison and fled to Cuba.

The agency and the state also doubled the bounty for her capture to $2 million. This announcement was the latest turn in the 40-year saga of Joanne Chesimard – also known as Assata Shakur – who was part of the Black Liberation Army and became one of the most notorious fugitives in New Jersey history.

Chesimard was found guilty of murder in the killing of Trooper Werner Foerster who was shot dead on may 2, 1973, after stopping her and two associates. She was convicted in 1977 and sent to prison, but she broke out two years later with the help of accomplices from the BLA and the Weather Underground, a left-wing radical organization.

Now 65, Chesimard, who is the step-aunt of late rapper Tupac Shakur, is the 46^th person added to the list of most wanted terrorists since President W. Bush established it after the Sept. 11 attacks. Osama bin Ladin was on the list until he was killed 2011.

  

ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Iron Man 3’ smashes opening box office record in China

By Olumide T. Agunbiade |Nigerian writer

AFTER only eight days of release, Iron Man 3 has already surpassed the $300 million mark at the international box office – and the $200 million Disney/ marvel release is only getting started.

The film’s hit at the box office was driven by the incredible business in China, where the film earned an estimated $21.5 million yesterday – the best opening day in box office history.

The threequel, which stars Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, got off to a faster start than The Avengers overseas (Iron Man 3 opened to $198.4 million; The Avengers bowed with $185.1 million, though it will be very tough for Iron Man 3 to match that film’s $888.4 million international total. We’ll have to wait and see!