Top News Stories –

Royal pregnancy: Hoax call fools Duchess of Cambridge hospital –
The hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge says it “deeply regrets” giving information about her to hoax callers from a radio station. Australian DJs posing as the Queen and Prince Charles got details from a nurse at King Edward VII hospital in central London. The hospital said confidentiality was taken seriously and telephone protocols are under review. 2Day FM said it was surprised to be put through but “sincerely apologises”. [BBC]
Duchess of Cambridge

Frankie Dettori banned for six months after failing drugs test –
Jockey Frankie Dettori has been given a six-month ban from racing after failing a drugs test in France. The 41-year-old, who has more than 3,000 career wins, tested positive for a banned substance on 16 September 2012. The suspension imposed by French racing authority France Galop will run until 19 May 2013, and will apply worldwide for the three-time champion jockey. [BBC]
Frankie Dettori

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Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Syrian civil war:
  • Hungary closes its embassy in Damascus and pulls out all personnel. (Reuters)
• 2011–2012 conflict in Lebanon:
  • The death toll from two days of clashes in the city of Tripoli reaches six, with dozens reported injured. (Al Jazeera)
• 2012 terrorist attacks in Kenya:
  • A remote-controlled bomb explodes in a predominantly Somali neighborhood in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, injuring nine people. (Reuters)
• 2012 Egyptian protests:
  • Violent clashes occur in Cairo between supporters and opponents of the President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi. (ABC News)

Arts and culture

• American jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck dies in Connecticut at the age of 91. (BBC)
• Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, best known for designing the main buildings of the capital Brasília, dies at the age of 104 in a Rio de Janeirohospital. (ABC News)

Business and economy

• American bank Citigroup announces plans to cut 11,000 jobs worldwide. (AP)
• The European Commission fines Philips, LG Electronics, Samsung SDI, Panasonic, Toshiba and Technicolor a total of €1.47 bn for fixing prices of TV cathode-ray tubes. (The Economic Times)

Disasters and accidents

• Rescue crews head to areas of the Philippines severely affected by Typhoon Bopha. At least 283 are now believed to have died as a result of the storm, with 339 injured, hundreds more missing and over 87,000 evacuated. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (The Weather Channel) (New York Times)
• At least 8 people are killed and 12 others injured after a 5.6 earthquake strikes Iran‘s South Khorasan Province. (BBC) (Reuters)
• Vehicle carrier Baltic Ace sinks in the North Sea after collision with a container ship with at least four people dead and seven missing. (Reuters)(AP via The Australian)

Law and crime

• American businessman John McAfee is arrested in Guatemala following an alleged illegal entry after leaving Belize where he is wanted for questioning over the death of fellow American Gregory Faull. (Reuters)
• Mexico‘s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation rules that a ban on same-sex marriage in Oaxaca state is illegal. (The Washington Post)

Media

• London‘s King Edward VII’s Hospital says it is reviewing telephone protocol after two disc jockeys from a Sydney-based radio station, 2Day FMmade a prank call to the hospital in which they posed as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, and spoke with a member of nursing staff about the health of the Duchess of Cambridge. (BBC)

Politics and elections

• The peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) resume in Havana, Cuba.(Chicago Tribune)

Sport

• The New Orleans Hornets plan to change their nickname to the Pelicans (after the state bird of Louisiana) for the 2013–14 NBA season. (ESPN)
• The draw for the elite qualification round of the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship is held by UEFA. Title holders Spain faceCroatia, Poland and last season‘s runners-up Greece. (UEFA)
• Lionel Messi is carried off on a stretcher with an apparent knee injury as FC Barcelona are held to 0–0 by Benfica at Camp Nou in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League. (Fox Sports)

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