Threat Extended: The State Department Sunday extended the closure of 19 embassies and consulates in the Muslim world through next Saturday in response to an unspecified terror threat. Some reports say the threat comes from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but no targets have been named. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said, “There is a significant threat stream and we’re reacting to it.” It’s unclear whether the alert is related to the recent string of violent prison breaks in the Middle East; 500 prisoners from Abu Ghraib in Baghdad, 1,100 in Libya, and 250 in Pakistan. Hundreds of Taliban and Al Qaeda members were among the prisoners who were sprung.  

National: The trial of Maj. Nidal Hasan for the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting begins today. Hasan will act as his own lawyer and question some of the witnesses he is accused of shooting.

• San Diego Mayor Bob Filner today begins two weeks of therapy to cure him of serial sexual harassment. Ten women have publicly accused Filner of being a groper and making gross sexual suggestions. Even while in therapy, Filner will have to answer questions in a harassment lawsuit.
• The only person killed Friday when a car drove down a Venice Beach boardwalk was an Italian woman in the US on her honeymoon.

Making Waves: US swimmer Missy Franklin won a record six gold medals at the world championships in Barcelona, Spain, making her the biggest winner in world championship history. The 18-year old won the 200-meter freestyle, the 100 and 200 backstrokes, and was part of three winning relay teams.

Weekend Box: Action pic “2Guns” with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg won the weekend with a sickly $27.36 million, less than half what it cost to make. We may never see the sequel “2Guns2”. “The Wolverine” was second at $27.725 million and “Smurfs2”, third at $18.2 million.

Small Screen: British actor Peter Capaldi, 55, has been named the new star of the popular BBC television series “Dr. Who”. He is largely unknown to American audiences. The series about a time-shifting doctor first aired on the BBC in 1963. Capaldi will be the 12^th actor to play the part.

Final Frontier: Japan has launched “Kirobo”, a miniature robot with puppy-dog eyes, to be a working companion for the Japanese astronaut aboard the International Space Station. Before leaving, the 13-inch Kirobo was programmed to tell reporters, “One small step for me, a giant leap for robots.” An example of riotously funny Japanese engineer humor.

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