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Rim Fire: California emergency as Yosemite Park wildfire rages

Nancy Clayson
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Rim Fire: California emergency as Yosemite Park wildfire rages

A huge wildfire has burned into California’s Yosemite National Park, park officials say.

The week-old Rim Fire grew to 164 sq miles by Friday morning, and had burned 17 sq miles at the edge of the park by the afternoon.

The blaze has forced scores of tourists to flee during peak season and is threatening thousands of homes.

More than 2,000 firefighters have been tackling the flames in difficult terrain. It is just 2% contained.

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency.

The blaze has reached Yosemite’s backcountry at Lake Eleanor, which is accessible by hiking trails, park spokeswoman Kari Cobb told the Associated Press.

“It’s not a very visited part of the park, even though it is very beautiful,” she said, adding the fire was some 20 miles away from Yosemite’s main tourist area.

Kari Cobb said the park service was “not anywhere near” to closing the attraction.

Yosemite Park blaze has forced scores of tourists to flee during peak season and is threatening thousands of homes
Yosemite Park blaze has forced scores of tourists to flee during peak season and is threatening thousands of homes

The blaze has shut a stretch of motorway that is one of three entrances to the west side of the park, which receives up to 15,000 visitors a day in the summer.

The Rim Fire is one of 50 major wildfires burning in the western US.

The blaze is centred on Stanislaus National Forest, west of Yosemite, and has so far destroyed two homes and seven outbuildings.

A spokeswoman for the US Forest Service said 4,500 homes, hotels, businesses and several campsites are under threat as of Friday, up from 2,500 the day before.

Officials have gone door to door in the summer community of Pine Mountain Lake urging people to leave.

Local residents said the area, normally teeming with tourists, is now empty.

“This fire, it’s killing our financial picture,” restaurant owner Corinna Loh told the Associated Press.

“This is our high season and it has gone to nothing. We’re really hurting.”

Lee Bentley of the US Forest Service told CBS News: “We’ve got a monster on our hands. This fire is making its own weather.

“It’s going every which direction. This is one of the worst I’ve ever been on. I’ve been doing it for quite a few years.”

The area’s steep hills and rugged terrain are hampering firefighters’ efforts, officials say.

Despite the blaze’s proximity to Yosemite, spokesman Scott Gediman says the park is clear of smoke, and all accommodation and attractions are open.

Meanwhile, five wildfires in Yellowstone National Park have scorched about 18 square miles of mostly remote areas.

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Recipe: Watermelon & Lime Granita

Kathryn R. Bown
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Recipe: Watermelon & Lime Granita

Watermelon & Lime Granita

Ingredients (Serves 6-8):

2lb 4oz watermelon flesh, chopped
A generous pinch of salt
2 tbsp finely grated lime zest
Juice of 2 limes
3½ oz caster sugar

Watermelon & Lime Granita
Watermelon & Lime Granita

Direction:

Process the watermelon flesh in a blender with the salt, lime zest and juice, then pass it through a fine sieve into a freezer-proof stainless steel container or plastic tub.

Use the back of a ladle to push through and strain out any remnants of watermelon pips. Stir in the sugar, and continue stirring until it is dissolved.

Place the container in the freezer to chill, stirring with a fork every hour or so, paying special attention to the sides of the container where the mix will freeze solidly if unattended.

To serve, fork through the mixture to get crystals and spoon into chilled bowls or glasses.

Barbara Cartland’s top beauty tips

Lisa.Felice
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Barbara Cartland’s top beauty tips

Barbara Cartland wrote 728 books during her career, including a guide to beauty.

The late novelist even passed on the tip to fans.

The newly discovered beauty tips were part of a cache of letters collected from Barbara Cartland’s fan Sue Barker’s Cheshire home by her second cousin, Nada McArdle.

 

On beauty:

“If you give the other person your complete attention when they are speaking to you, they will invariably remember you as beautiful.”

“Keep your face above all, even before your body.”

Barbara Cartland wrote 728 books during her career, including a guide to beauty
Barbara Cartland wrote 728 books during her career, including a guide to beauty

On skincare:

“Citrus fruit juices and coffee are death to the complexion.”

“Put honey on your spots and by morning you will find that they have disappeared.”

Use the yoke of an egg mixed with almond oil as a facemask. Allow to dry and wash off with rose water.

Wash your face with cold water first thing in the morning.

On keeping trim:

“The two best exercises in the world are making love and dancing. If find yourself unable to practice these two options, try walking on tip toes around the house and kicking your legs like a can-can girl.”

“Do all you can to keep a waist. It is natural for many women to put on weight as they age, but if you can keep a small waist it gives one an appearance of being slim and elegant.”

“Keep your feet in good order; this makes all the difference to the way you walk – your walk can often give away your age.”

On alcohol:

“If you drink at a party, take four Brewers Yeast tablets before going to bed as alcohol destroys Vitamin B in the body.”

“The safest alcohol choices are good brandy and white wine.”

Source: Leopards and Lillies

Sgt. Robert Bales sentenced to life in prison without parole over Afghan massacre

Diane A. Wade
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Sgt. Robert Bales sentenced to life in prison without parole over Afghan massacre

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the US soldier who murdered 16 Afghan villagers last year, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Robert Bales, 39, opened fire on men, children and women during the attack in Kandahar province last March.

He pleaded guilty to the massacre in June to avoid the death penalty.

Robert Bales apologized for the massacre during his sentencing hearing at a Washington state military base on Thursday, calling it an “act of cowardice”.

He had been making a case for why he should one day be eligible for parole, which would have meant he could potentially have been released in 20 years.

But on Friday the military jury of six at Joint Base Lewis-McChord ruled against him.

Robert Bales showed no emotion as the sentence was announced. His mother bowed her head, rocked in her seat and wept.

Afterwards Afghan villagers who were flown out by the US Army to attend the trial spoke to reporters.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

“We wanted this murderer to be executed,” one man said through an interpreter, according to local media.

“We came all the way to the US to get justice. We didn’t get that.”

Sgt. Robert Bales was serving his fourth combat deployment when he attacked two villages in the middle of the night, spraying bullets into mostly women and children.

His lawyers argued that post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury were factors in the killings.

Nine Afghan villagers testified at the court martial.

Among them was Haji Mohammad Wazir, who lost 11 family members, including his mother, wife and six children.

The jury returned the sentence just hours after the prosecution and defense made closing arguments.

Prosecutor Lt Colonel Jay Morse showed jurors photos of a young girl who was killed as she screamed and cried.

In his closing arguments, he showed surveillance video of Sgt. Robert Bales returning to his base with what he said was “the methodical, confident gait of a man who’s accomplished his mission”.

“In just a few short hours, Sgt Bales wiped out generations,” Jay Morse said.

“Sgt. Bales dares to ask you for mercy when he has shown none.”

Defense lawyer Emma Scanlan read a letter the soldier sent to his children 10 weeks before the killing: “The children here are a lot like you. They like to eat candy and play soccer. They all know me because I juggle rocks for them.”

She told the court: “These aren’t the words of a cold-blooded murderer.”

While Emma Scanlan said she would not try to minimize what Sgt. Robert Bales did, she asked jurors to consider his earlier military service and give him a “sliver of light” – the possibility of parole.

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Nidal Hasan: Fort Hood gunman found guilty on all counts

Diane A. Wade
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Nidal Hasan: Fort Hood gunman found guilty on all counts

Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 comrades at a Texas Army base in 2009, has been convicted of all charges.

Nidal Hasan, 42, faces the death penalty after being found guilty of 13 counts of pre-meditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.

He said he opened fire on the unarmed US soldiers to protect Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

The jury, which reached a unanimous verdict in seven hours, begins the penalty phase of the trial on Monday.

The 13-member panel must come to a unanimous agreement in order to recommend the judge sentence Major Nidal Hasan to death. If they do not agree, he will face a life prison sentence.

The US military has not executed a service member since 1961. There are five inmates on the US military’s death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, all at various stages of the appeals process.

Among the last barriers to military execution is authorization from the president.

Nidal Hasan, a US-born Muslim of Palestinian descent, had no visible reaction as the verdict was read.

Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 comrades at a Texas Army base in 2009, has been convicted of all charges
Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 comrades at a Texas Army base in 2009, has been convicted of all charges

He admitted to being the gunman at the start of his court martial this month. Acting as his own lawyer, he questioned only three of 90 prosecution witnesses and declined to call witnesses of his own or make closing arguments.

His court-appointed legal advisers, who were little involved in his defense, have told the judge they believed he sought execution.

Nidal Hasan has said he carried out the attack on unarmed soldiers at a medical building at Fort Hood in order to protect Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, but the judge, Colonel Tara Osborn, barred him from presenting that argument in court.

The Army psychiatrist opened fire on 5 November 2009 at a medical facility on the base where soldiers were being evaluated before deploying overseas.

Prosecutors said he had prepared carefully for the attack for weeks, visiting a target practice range, buying a gun, and stuffing paper towels into his trouser pockets to muffle noise from the extra ammunition before he opened fire.

Soldiers and civilians testified they heard a man scream an Islamic benediction, then saw a man in Army camouflage open fire with two handguns.

Witnesses also said Nidal Hasan’s rapid reloading prevented the unarmed soldiers from halting the attack. Three separate people who attempted to charge him were stopped by gunfire.

Nidal Hasan fired 146 bullets, prosecutors said. The attack ended when he was shot by a civilian police officer. He was paralyzed from the waist down from the wound.

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian baby: North West’s picture revealed on Kris Jenner’s show

Lisa.Felice
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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian baby: North West’s picture revealed on Kris Jenner’s show

Kanye West has finally revealed the first picture of his and Kim Kardashian’s baby daughter North West on matriarch Kris Jenner’s show.

During an interview with the excited grandmother, proud new father Kanye West, 36, shared baby North’s photo with the audience and millions of viewers across America.

A snap of baby North flashed up on the screen after Kanye West and Kris Jenner sat down to discuss the new addition to the family.

“How cute is that gorgeous baby!! Who do you think she looks like?” Kris Jenner gushed over the snap, to which Kanye West responded with a laugh: “I pray that she looks like her mother when she’s older.”

Kris Jenner told the rapper that she thought her granddaughter was an “amazing combination” of both Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

“I think she is an amazing combination of the two of you. She is so adorable. She has Kim’s eyes, I think she has your cheeks and both of your lips. Some days she has your lips and some days she has Kim’s lips,” Kris Jenner said.

“They dissect her,” she explained to the audience.

“Kim would go, <<Look at her ears mom, look at her ears!>> It is so cute how obsessed you guys are.”

Before revealing the snap to the world, Kanye West categorically denied that he and Kim Kardashian had tried to shop first images of their daughter to the media.

“It’s all this talk about baby pictures and <<can you get paid for the baby picture or do you want to put it on a magazine>>,” he explained.

“And for me and your daughter we have not attempted to get paid for anything, we have not attempted to put it on a magazine.”

Kanye West said he decided to share the cute image of his baby on Kris Jenner’s show because he wanted to please little North’s grandmother.

“You just stop all of the noise and I thought it would be really cool on her grandmother’s season finale to bring a picture of North,” he said.

Kanye West has finally revealed the first picture of his and Kim Kardashian’s baby daughter North West on matriarch Kris Jenner’s show
Kanye West has finally revealed the first picture of his and Kim Kardashian’s baby daughter North West on matriarch Kris Jenner’s show

It was then when Kanye West shared the snap, much to the delight of a cheering audience.

During the interview, Kris Jenner asked Kanye West whether he hopes baby North will follow in her father’s footsteps and become a “rapper”.

Kanye West told her that he and Kim Kardashian would be encouraging their daughter to make her own decisions.

“I am going to give her the opportunity to develop her different skill sets and then decide what she is the best at,” he explained.

“…and we will give her the support and let her follow what she loves the most.”

Kanye West had previously hinted that he didn’t want his child to be in the spotlight, declaring: “This isn’t America’s baby.”

It seems the rapper had a change of heart and decided to share the image of baby North in a bid to boost Kris Jenner’s TV ratings.

Kim Kardashian, 32, didn’t make an appearance on the show but Kanye West shared several romantic pictures from their private album.

Before he showed off the new addition to the family, Kanye opened up about his precious daughter.

He told Kris Jenner that that she will give him a lot of stability in his life.

“To me it is such a blessing. I feel it is going to give me the stability that I need to really create and do god’s work,” Kanye West explained.

“She [North] is someone to be accountable for and responsible for.”

It had been widely reported that Kanye West had struggled with the loss of his mother Donda when she died of complications from cosmetic surgery in 2007.

He also revealed to Kris Jenner the depths of despair he went through, telling her that he “felt like he had nothing to live for”.

But he said his saving grace came in the form of Kim Kardashian and the couple’s new baby girl.

Kanye West explained that before Kim Kardashian came along he was constantly “putting his life at risk”.

“After I lost my mother, there were times… well I put myself at risk,” he said.

“I felt like sometimes I didn’t have something to live for.”

Kanye West explained that everything changed when Kim Kardashian came into his life.

Not long after the pair confirmed they were dating, they also found out they were expecting a child.

Little North West arrived into the world on June 15 and Kanye West said that his new family has  transformed him.

“Now I have two really special people to live for. A whole family to live for. A whole world to live for,” Kanye West said during the emotional interview.

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Russia backs UN probe of Syria chemical attacks

Roy Siemens
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Russia backs UN probe of Syria chemical attacks

President Barack Obama has said the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria in an attack on Wednesday is a “big event of grave concern”.

Barack Obama said the US was still seeking confirmation such weapons were used, but if proved true the situation would “require America’s attention”.

Meanwhile, Syria’s main ally Russia has said there is growing evidence that rebels were behind the attack.

The opposition says hundreds died in a government assault outside Damascus.

But despite calls from many different countries, there is no sign yet that the Syrian authorities will allow a UN inspection team to visit to investigate the claims.

Unverified footage shows civilians – many of them children – dead or suffering from what appear to be horrific symptoms as a result of Wednesday’s attack.

Also on Friday, UN agencies said the number of children forced to flee Syria had reached one million.

The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, and children’s fund, Unicef, described the figure as “a shameful milestone”, and said a further two million children were displaced within the country.

Last year, President Barack Obama said the use of chemical weapons in Syria would cross a “red line” and force a tough US response.

Meanwhile, Russia joined calls for an “objective investigation” by UN chemical weapons experts.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said Moscow had urged President Bashar al-Assad to co-operate with a probe, but also that questions remained about the willingness of the opposition to provide “secure, safe access of the [UN] mission to the location of the incident”.

“More new evidence is starting to emerge that this criminal act was clearly provocative,” the ministry added.

President Barack Obama said the US was seeking confirmation if chemical weapons were used in Damascus attacks
President Barack Obama said the US was seeking confirmation if chemical weapons were used in Damascus attacks

“On the internet, in particular, reports are circulating that news of the incident carrying accusations against government troops was published several hours before the so-called attack. So, this was a pre-planned action.”

The ministry also described as “unacceptable” calls from various European capitals for the UN Security Council to authorize the use of force in Syria.

Other leaders have also pushed for an urgent UN inquiry.

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said he was “giving his utmost attention to the tragic situation” and intended to conduct a “thorough, impartial and prompt investigation”.

The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, will travel to Damascus on Saturday to push for access for the UN inspectors.

“It is of paramount importance that all those who share the concern and urgency of investigating these allegations, equally share the responsibility of co-operating in generating a safe environment for the [UN] mission to do its job,” Ban Ki-Moon’s spokesman added.

Damascus has described the allegations that it sanctioned the use of chemical weapons as “illogical and fabricated”.

The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, has meanwhile said that it will do everything to assist the UN inspectors and ensure their safety.

“It is critical that those inspectors get there within 48 hours. The clock is ticking and we want to see those inspectors and we believe that the evidence will show who used those chemical weapons against innocent civilians,” spokesman Khaled Saleh told the Reuters news agency.

Opposition activists are also reportedly trying to smuggle tissue samples from victims’ bodies to the UN inspectors to prove their claims.

“The UN team spoke with us and since then we prepared samples of hair, skin and blood and smuggled them back into Damascus with trusted couriers,” activist Abu Nidal told Reuters.

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Lebanon: Tripoli explosions kill at least 42 people

Roy Siemens
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Lebanon: Tripoli explosions kill at least 42 people

Two huge explosions killed at least 42 people and wounded more than 400 others in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli, health officials say.

The explosions are thought to represent the deadliest attack in Lebanon since the end of the civil war in 1990.

As Friday prayers ended, a blast hit the al-Taqwa mosque, which is usually attended by prominent Sunni cleric Sheikh Salem Rafii. He was unharmed.

A second blast five minutes later hit the al-Salam mosque in the Mina area.

War in neighboring Syria has raised sectarian tensions between the city’s Sunni Muslim and Alawite communities.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attacks and called for calm and restraint.

Sheikh Salem Rafii is one of the most prominent Sunni leaders in Lebanon and is believed to have been a possible target.

He is opposed to Lebanon’s militant Shia Hezbollah group and has previously urged young Lebanese men to join opposition fighters in Syria.

Two huge explosions killed at least 42 people and wounded more than 400 others in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli
Two huge explosions killed at least 42 people and wounded more than 400 others in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli

It is not clear whether he was at the al-Taqwa mosque at the time of the attack, although some reports say he was giving a sermon.

Ambulances rushed to the aftermath of the blasts and heavy black smoke covered the sky.

“It was as if there was an earthquake, the whole city seemed to be shaking,” a local resident told Lebanon’s Daily Star newspaper.

Television pictures showed damaged cars on fire, with their windows smashed, and people running through the streets trying to carry wounded people to safety.

Bodies could be seen on the ground and windows were broken on surrounding apartment blocks.

The preacher at the al-Salam mosque – the site of the second explosion – is also an opponent of the Syrian government and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, Associated Press reports.

No group has taken responsibility for the latest attacks.

In a statement reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency, Hezbollah strongly condemned the blasts.

The group said the attacks aimed to “sow seeds of strife among the Lebanese and drag them into bickering under a sectarian guise”.

Outgoing Lebanese PM Najib Mikati and President Michel Suleiman have also condemned the attacks, calling on citizens to unite against violence.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “The secretary-general calls on all Lebanese to exercise restraint, to remain united, and to support their state institutions… in maintaining calm and order in Tripoli and throughout the country, and in preventing the recurrence of such destructive actions.”

Tripoli, a city of nearly 200,000 people and Lebanon’s second largest, is one of the country’s most volatile sectarian fault lines, with a small Alawite population living in the midst of a Sunni majority.

The Alawite community tends to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Sunnis mostly backing the rebels fighting him.

The bombs come a week after a massive car bomb rocked a Shia district of Beirut, leaving 27 people dead. The area hit contained Hezbollah strongholds.

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Laurel Coppock is the actress playing Jan in Toyota commercials

Sonia Pantiss
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Laurel Coppock is the actress playing Jan in Toyota commercials

Jan is a cute, perky brunette seen in the Toyota commercials who always has the right vehicle suggestion for whomever happens to step up to her desk.

In real life, Jan is actress Laurel Coppock, who, according to her IMDB profile, is a member of the famed Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles.

Laurel Coppock is playing Jan in Toyota commercials
Laurel Coppock is playing Jan in Toyota commercials

Laurel Coppock’s resume reads with mostly bit parts and one-time appearances on shows like ABC’s Modern Family, Two Broke Girls on CBS, The Office on NBC, and Workaholics on Comedy Central.

She does have one movie role to her credit.

Laurel Coppock played “Sophia” in the Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling romantic comedy, Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011.

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Marty Mongiello: White House chef secretly snuck soy and tofu into junk-food loving Bill Clinton’s food

Nancy Clayson
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Marty Mongiello: White House chef secretly snuck soy and tofu into junk-food loving Bill Clinton’s food

Former US President Bill Clinton’s journey to the White House was said to have been fuelled by a diet consisting of meat, french fries, sugar and little else.

One insider recalls how Bill Clinton could wolf down six pork chops a day and was known to gobble half a strawberry cake in a single sitting.

Another story tells of an aide having to step in after he bought a dozen doughnuts during a campaign stop in New Hampshire to prevent him polishing off the lot.

Now one cunning former White House chef has revealed how he was able to fool President Clinton by secretly slipping low-fat ingredients into his favorite dishes.

Marty Mongiello was so concerned he might be contributing to the early death of a president that he began experimenting “like a mad scientist” with healthy alternatives.

He began using pureed rice mixed with milk as a substitute for cream, soy paste instead of beef stock, tofu instead of cheese and splenda instead of sugar.

In 1993, First Lady Hillary Clinton became so concerned about her husband’s penchant for junk food, that she brought in diet guru Dr. Dean Ornish to work with the White House chefs who were used to preparing calorie-laden French cuisine.

Together they created a healthy menu with dishes like stir fry vegetables with tofu, and salmon with vegetables.

Bill Clinton’s voracious appetite and love of all things lardy became the stuff of legend
Bill Clinton’s voracious appetite and love of all things lardy became the stuff of legend

Once after preparing a naughty-looking fettuccine Alfredo starter for the Clintons at Camp David, Marty Mongiello was summoned to the table by concerned Hilary Clinton.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Marty Mongiello recalls a waiter telling him: “She wants to see you out there. Dude, you’re gonna get fired.”

“She said, <<Look, there’s cream, there’s cheese – these things are illegal>>. And I just explained how I made it.”

“Her reaction was: <<Wow, I can’t believe it. We thought those were a thing of the past>>.

“She wasn’t mad or anything, she was just really concerned about her husband’s health.”

Another dish that fooled Bill Clinton was a tofu cheesecake which used egg-whites and low-calorie cream cheese.

Despite the low fat regime Bill Clinton still struggled with his weight during his two terms as president.

At his annual physical in 1999, his physician noted the president had gained 18 lbs in two years.

When Bill Clinton left office his eating habits went downhill and in 2004 he had a quadruple heart bypass and was forced to adjust his diet once again.

Then in 2010 after doctors implanted two stents to open one of the veins from that surgery Bill Clinton adopted a vegan diet and has since lost a reported 24 lbs.

Princess Diana’s death: Prince Charles and Mohamed Al-Fayed contacted by police

Diane A. Wade
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Princess Diana’s death: Prince Charles and Mohamed Al-Fayed contacted by police

Scotland Yard has contacted Prince Charles and Mohamed Al-Fayed as the police assess claims that the SAS murdered Princess Diana.

Police said they are also getting in touch with Lord Justice Scott Baker, the judge who presided over the inquest into her death.

Princess Diana, 36, Mohamed Al-Fayed’s son Dodi, 42, and driver Henri Paul, 41, all died in a crash in Paris in August 1997.

Police are currently carrying out a “scoping exercise” as they look into claims that the trio were murdered by a member of the British Military.

They have not launched a full investigation.

Royal bodyguards and MPs have brushed off accusations that the Princess of Wales’ death 16 years ago was carried out by British special forces who then “covered it up”.

The sensational allegation surfaced in the second court martial of Sergeant Danny Nightingale, the SAS sniper convicted of illegally stashing a pistol and 338 bullets in his bedroom.

The claim was contained in a letter from the parents-in-law of Soldier N, Sgt Danny Nightingale’s former housemate, which was sent to the SAS’s commanding officer in September 2011.

Scotland Yard confirmed in a brief statement this morning that they will be contacting members of the Royal family to inform them about the new developments.

“We are in the process of notifying Princess Diana’s family, the family of Dodi Al Fayed and Lord Justice Scott Baker,” a spokesman said.

Scotland Yard has contacted Prince Charles and Mohamed Al-Fayed as the police assess claims that the SAS murdered Princess Diana
Scotland Yard has contacted Prince Charles and Mohamed Al-Fayed as the police assess claims that the SAS murdered Princess Diana

Scotland Yard routinely contact relevant parties to keep them informed about what is going on when there are new developments in a historic case.

The eight-page correspondence claims Soldier N boasted it was the SAS that had “arranged Princess Diana’s death” and that it had been “covered up”.
Sergeant Danny Nightingale, 38, was found guilty last month of illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition at a Hereford house he shared with Soldier N.

Soldier N, who is serving a custodial sentence for possessing firearms at the same address, was originally reported to the police by his wife, from whom he is now separated.

The letter was sent to Soldier N’s commanding officer in September 2011 and passed to the Service Prosecuting Authority before the start of the Nightingale trial.

All references to the SAS were removed by the SPA.

The paragraph referring to the death of Princess Diana says: “He also told her [his wife] that it was the *** who arranged Princess Diana’s death and that has been covered up.”

The letter says Soldier N told his wife there is a “box which members of his unit use for private jobs”.

“They put in the box the name, address and details of what they want done and then one of them who wants to earn extra money does that job.”

When Soldier N was challenged by his mother-in-law, he is accused of saying: “Let me stop you right there – I kill women and I kill children.”

As well as hiding weapons in his house, in a “reign of terror” on his family Soldier N allegedly attacked his son after mistaking him for the Taliban.

His children were also allegedly driven around in the boot of his Land Rover and he had hung his son 30ft above the ground in a tree.

An inquest in 2008 found that Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the ‘gross negligence’ of driver Henri Paul, a security manager at the Paris Ritz Hotel, who had been drinking.

Henri Paul’s mother Gisele said she believed her son was murdered together with Princess Diana and Mohamed Al-Fayed when the Mercedes he was driving crashed in an underpass.

Gisele Paul, 83, said: “We believe there was a plot to kill the Princess that terrible night in August 1997.

“We know in our hearts that our son was murdered and we still live with the hope that one day the truth will be known.”

The new information was also welcomed by Mohamed Al-Fayed, who also insists the couple were murdered. He said he trusted the Metropolitan Police would investigate the new claims “with vigor”.

A Royal spokesman said there would be no comment from Prince William, Prince Harry or Clarence House.

Bo Xilai rejects Gu Kailai’s testimony at trial

Diane A. Wade
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Bo Xilai rejects Gu Kailai’s testimony at trial

Bo Xilai has dismissed testimony from his wife, Gu Kailai, at his trial, saying she was unstable and had been coerced.

Video footage and written testimony from Gu Kailai, who was convicted last year of the murder of Neil Heywood, was posted on the court’s official microblog.

In it she said she felt Neil Heywood was a threat to her son, Bo Guagua.

Gu Kailai also spoke of receiving gifts from a Dalian entrepreneur, Xu Ming, from whom Bo Xilai is accused of taking bribes.

Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing Communist Party chief, is accused of bribery, corruption and abuse of power.

On Thursday he denied bribery, saying he had been forced into admitting it to prosecutors, and rubbished testimony from witnesses including his wife.

Of Gu Kailai’stestimony on Friday, Bo Xilai reportedly said: “In her unstable mental state, prosecutors put pressure on her so she would turn on me.”

Foreign media are not being allowed into the trial, which is taking place in the city of Jinan in Shandong province.

Analysts say the trial is as much about getting rid of a popular politician as it is about criminal wrongdoing. Bo Xilai is widely expected to be found guilty.

Bo Xilai has dismissed testimony from his wife, Gu Kailai, at his trial, saying she was unstable and had been coerced
Bo Xilai has dismissed testimony from his wife, Gu Kailai, at his trial, saying she was unstable and had been coerced

Bo Xilai’s downfall was seen as the biggest political shake-up to hit China’s ruling elite in decades. In February 2012 his police chief, Wang Lijun, fled to the US consulate in Chengdu amid an apparent fall-out with Bo Xilai.

Shortly afterwards, Chinese authorities announced that they were reinvestigating the death of Neil Heywood, who died in a Chongqing hotel in November 2011.

Gu Kailai has since been jailed for the murder of Neil Heywood – a crime she carried out, state media say, because of differences over a business deal.

In written testimony to the court, she said she believed that the personal safety of her son “was under threat”.

“In the second half of 2011 Guagua made a video call to me on his iPad telling me that Neil Heywood threatened him,” she said. Subsequent e-mails between the two scared her, she said.

“After the video call I was very worried which led to the 15 November crime [when Neil Heywood was killed].”

Written testimony from Patrick Devillers, a French architect, meanwhile, pointed to conflict between Gu Kailai and Neil Heywood over a financial deal related to a villa in France that has been a focus of the bribery charges.

It was paid for by Xu Ming, the court heard on Thursday, one of two men from whom Bo Xilai is accused of receiving bribes totalling 21.8 million yuan ($3.56 million).

In her video testimony Gu Kailai said it was true that Xu Ming had bought things for her and her son, Bo Guagua.

“When we need to book a flight, family members know to ask from Xu Ming,” she said.

Bo Xilai, responding to his wife’s testimony, is reported to have said: “How much credibility is there are about Bo Gu Kailai’s testimony, and her written material? Bo Gu Kailai has changed and she became crazy and lies all the time.”

It is not clear how long the trial will last. Bo Xilai is the last major player in connection with the Neil Heywood case to face judicial proceedings.

His son, Bo Guagua, remains in the US, where earlier this week he said any verdict would carry no moral weight if his “well-being has been bartered for my father’s acquiescence or my mother’s further co-operation”.

Bo Guagua also said his mother had been unwell since 2006, following a “sudden collapse of her physical health”.

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Sylvester Stallone in talks for Rambo TV series

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Sylvester Stallone in talks for Rambo TV series

Sylvester Stallone is in talks with The Expendables producer Avi Lerner about reprising his role in a TV series based on the film franchise Rambo.

Avi Lerner, a producer on the 2008 sequel Rambo, has teamed with Entertainment One and Nu Image for the adaptation.

He said he was “excited by the prospect of collaborating again with my good friend Sly for an encore”.

Talks suggest Sylvester Stallone, 67, will be involved on a “creative level” and may also reprise his original Rambo role.

First Blood (1982), the original Rambo movie, starred Sylvester Stallone as a troubled Vietnam war veteran.

Sequels followed in 1985 and 1988, with the franchise revived 20 years later.

Sylvester Stallone is in talks with The Expendables producer Avi Lerner about reprising his role in a TV series based on the film franchise Rambo
Sylvester Stallone is in talks with The Expendables producer Avi Lerner about reprising his role in a TV series based on the film franchise Rambo

“Rambo fans cover all demographics and we’re confident that we’ll quickly find this series a home,” said John Morayniss, of Entertainment One (eOne) Television.

Last year, Sylvester Stallone told reporters in Rome that he was keen to return to the role for one final big screen outing.

“The Rambo thing, that’s why I don’t retire. I just see a guy unable to go home. He needs war and I see him dying there,” Sylvester Stallone said, in November 2012.

“If my damn body holds up, it’ll be really good. Otherwise it won’t be Rambo fighting, it’ll be Rambo fighting arthritis,” he added.

The 2008 Rambo sequel made more than $100 million at the global box office, but earned mixed reviews.

Sylvester Stallone recently confirmed his appearance in the third film in The Expendables franchise.

Together the first two installments in the franchise have earned almost $575 million worldwide.

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Barack Obama shouted down by Buffalo crowd after he got the city mayor’s name wrong

Nancy Clayson
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0
Barack Obama shouted down by Buffalo crowd after he got the city mayor’s name wrong

Barack Obama was corrected by an annoyed crowd in Buffalo, New York, after he flubbed the name of the city’s mayor in a speech on the university campus.

President Barack Obama was making a policy speech about his plan to give universities ratings for their cost effectiveness when he began to praise “Mayor Brian Higgins”.

“Your outstanding mayor, Brian Higgins, is here. Give him a big round of applause,” Barack Obama says.

Some people in the crowd began to applaud, but others began shouting the mayor’s actual name – Byron Brown – at Barack Obama.

Brian Higgins is the Democratic Congressman who represents the Buffalo area.

Barack Obama was corrected by an annoyed crowd in Buffalo, after he flubbed the name of the city's mayor in a speech on the university campus
Barack Obama was corrected by an annoyed crowd in Buffalo, after he flubbed the name of the city’s mayor in a speech on the university campus

Barack Obama responds: “…What? Byron Brown. Yes. I’m sorry about that.”

He then blames the fumble on his age.

“This is what happens when you get to be 52 years old. When I was 51, everything was smooth,” the president joked.

Byron Brown, a Democrat, was not offended by the mistake. He told reporters after the event: “Clearly the president knows who we are. It was a slip of the tongue.”

In May, Barack Obama flubbed the name of Governor Martin O’Malley, the head of the state next door to the nation’s capital.

He referred to the fellow Democrat at “Jack O’Malley”, not once, but twice.

The president is touting a new program during a two-day bus tour that will rate colleges by the expected income of their graduates, compared against the cost of tuition.

Barack Obama says the plan will help parents and students make better-informed decisions about higher education.

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Kanye West sued by photographer Daniel Ramos over LA airport incident

Lisa.Felice
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0
Kanye West sued by photographer Daniel Ramos over LA airport incident

Kanye West is being sued by photographer Daniel Ramos, who says the singer attacked him at Los Angeles International Airport.

Daniel Ramos, who was one of the paparazzi waiting for the rapper on July 19, says he was punched by Kanye West and was wrestled to the ground.

The lawsuit claims Daniel Ramos was a victim of assault, battery and negligence and that his civil rights were violated.

Kanye West is being sued by photographer Daniel Ramos after LA airport fight
Kanye West is being sued by photographer Daniel Ramos after LA airport fight

“I told him twice, <<I don’t want to fight you>>,” Daniel Ramos said.

“However, he attacked me anyway.”

Last week LA’s district attorney decided not to prosecute Kanye West, saying Daniel Ramos didn’t have a significant injury.

The rapper is due to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) this weekend for a record seventh time.

Kanye West will showcase his single Black Skinhead at the event on August 25 at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

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Ben Afleck is Batman in Man of Steel sequel

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Ben Afleck is Batman in Man of Steel sequel

Ben Affleck is to play Batman in a forthcoming Superman sequel, bringing together the two superheroes in one film for the first time.

Ben Affleck, 41, will star opposite British actor Henry Cavill, who will reprise his role as Superman from the most recent film, Man of Steel.

Director Zack Snyder revealed the big screen superhero mash-up at a comic convention in San Diego last month.

Production is expected to begin next year for release in the summer of 2015.

“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill and then some,” Warner Bros President Greg Silverman said in a statement.

Zack Snyder, who also directed Man of Steel, said in a statement that Ben Affleck will provide an “interesting counter-balance” to 31-year old Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent.

“[Ben Affleck] has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne,” said Zack Snyder.

Ben Affleck is to play Batman in a forthcoming Superman sequel, bringing together the two superheroes in one film for the first time
Ben Affleck is to play Batman in a forthcoming Superman sequel, bringing together the two superheroes in one film for the first time

“I can’t wait to work with him.”

The Superman sequel – which has yet to be given a title – will reunite Man of Steel stars Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) and Diane Lane (Martha Kent).

Christian Bale most recently played Batman in director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Michael Keaton and George Clooney have also donned the black mask and cape in previous Batman films.

Ben Affleck’s film Argo, which he starred in and directed, won an Academy Award for best picture earlier this year.

The superhero genre is not new to Ben Affleck, who previously starred as the blind hero in the 2003 Daredevil film based on the Marvel Comics.

Batman and Superman are part of DC Comics universe, which is part of the Warner Bros Entertainment division.

Revenues from the latest films featuring Superman and Batman have exceeded $1 billion in recent years.

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North Korea and South Korea meet on family reunions

Diane A. Wade
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0
North Korea and South Korea meet on family reunions

North Korea and South Korea have begun talks on resuming the reunions of families separated by the Korean War in 1950-53.

Korean Red Cross officials met at the border village of Panmunjom in an attempt to restart the reunions last held in October 2010.

The two sides remain technically at war because the conflict ended in an armistice and not a peace deal.

The talks come as the two countries last week reached a deal on a joint industrial zone.

Many families were separated at the end of the war by the dividing of the peninsula.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye last week called for the resumption of the reunions, urging North Korea to “open its heart”.

The aim is for some of them to meet during a festival holiday in September.

North Korea and South Korea have begun talks on resuming the reunions of families separated by the Korean War in 1950-53
North Korea and South Korea have begun talks on resuming the reunions of families separated by the Korean War in 1950-53

However, the two sides have yet to agree on the venue, size and date of the possible reunions.

In South Korea, than 70,000 people have registered for the reunions.

Kim Kyung-ryun said that she had been trying for decades to reunite with her parents and siblings in the North.

“So many reunions have passed, and I’ve never been picked,” she said.

“So I wonder whether my chance will ever come, and I’m just a bit too tired to worry about it now.”

The current talks are the latest signs of tensions easing on the peninsula.

In April, North Korea withdrew its workers from the Kaesong joint industrial zone, angered by the expansion of UN sanctions after its February 12 nuclear test and annual US-South Korea military drills.

The deal reached last week came after six rounds of talks ended unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a North Korean man apparently defected after he was found on South Korea’s Gyodong Island.

It was not immediately known how he had crossed the border in stormy weather. South Korean officials said he was now being questioned.

Defections by crossing the border via land and sea is said to be rare, and most are made by North Koreans entering another country before going to South Korea.

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Recipe: Blueberry and yoghurt ice lollies

Kathryn R. Bown
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Recipe: Blueberry and yoghurt ice lollies

Fabulous frozen yoghurt and gorgeous granita make deliciously refreshing desserts.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

100 g (3½oz) caster sugar

100 ml (3½fl oz) water

200 g (7oz) blueberries

500 g (1lb 2oz) vanilla yoghurt

2 tsp vanilla extract

8 ice-pop moulds and sticks

Blueberry and yoghurt ice lollies
Blueberry and yoghurt ice lollies

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil, then simmer for 6-7 minutes or until syrupy. When totally cool, process in a blender with the blueberries until smooth.

Press the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Pour the yoghurt and vanilla extract into a large bowl.

Drizzle over the blueberry and sugar mixture and gently fold it through with a skewer to create a soft swirl (don’t over-mix it). Spoon the mixture into ice-pop moulds, insert the sticks and freeze for 3-4 hours or until set.

To remove the pops, dip the moulds in warm water for 10-12 seconds and gently release the pops.

Alan Robertson on his wild past and why he left church to join Duck Dynasty

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Alan Robertson on his wild past and why he left church to join Duck Dynasty

Alan Robertson is the Duck Dynasty’s beardless one and the newest member of the cast.

Alan Robertson, who made his debut on Duck Dynasty‘s Season 4 premiere last week, is explaining in an interview on CBN News’ Friday edition of The 700 Club why he left his job as senior pastor of a large church to join the show.

The oldest son of Phil and Miss Kay Robertson ministered at White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ for more than 20 years. He explains that some early teen craziness led him to the church early on.

“My high school years were just terrible and it was all a secret life – running around and drinking and cutting up,” Alan Robertson tells CBN News White House Correspondent Jennifer Wishon, who traveled to West Monroe, Louisiana, to interview him and his wife, Lisa.

“So I was at the worst possible place – I was hiding in plain sight. I was in the church but I wasn’t a Christian. I wasn’t living for Christ.”

After he graduated, Phil Robertson told him he either had to shape up or move out. Alan Robertson moved out and went to New Orleans, where he found more trouble. After about a year, he realized he needed to move back home.

Alan Robertson made his debut on Duck Dynasty's Season 4 premiere last week
Alan Robertson made his debut on Duck Dynasty’s Season 4 premiere last week

Alan Robertson made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ and Phil baptized him in the river behind their house.

And now Alan and Lisa Robertson, who do a lot of the family’s scheduling, have made a decision to be on-camera.

“I really feel like God had prepared us for such a moment as this and when America needs some family to say, <<Hey, we can make mistakes, you know. We can come from nothing – we can have all these things now but ultimately none of it matters except that we’re saved and we’re gonna be in heaven forever with Christ>>. “

Lisa Robertson notes: “To have a great church is good. But there is people out there that’s not ever going to darken the doors that we have here. And they may not ever darken the doors of any church building. And so if we can give them a little taste of Christianity, a little taste of God, but in a fun way to tell them that just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean that you can’t have loads of fun and laugh all the time and just enjoy what God’s given you.”

Alan Robertson adds: “We’re fairly young. If God gives us a lot more years on the Earth who knows where we’re gonna go from there in terms of what we’re gonna do?”

Just don’t expect Alan Robertson to grow a beard. Ever.

“I don’t want to get stuck with that look, I mean, are you kidding me?”

Plus, Lisa Robertson likes her husband clean-shaven.

“You know, when there’s things crawling out of your beard or whenever you’ve got food left from lunch or dinner, I don’t know, that just kind of grosses me out,” Lisa Robertson said.

Si Robertson’s advice for impressing women at Justin Martin’s first date with Brittany Brugman

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Si Robertson’s advice for impressing women at Justin Martin’s first date with Brittany Brugman

The latest episode of Duck Dynasty revealed how Duck Commander employee Justin Martin shocked everyone when he said he had a date.

The men of Duck Dynasty were wrapping up an unsuccessful fishing trip when family friend Justin Martin made a stunning announcement: He was planning on skipping the weekly Friday night poker game with the boys.

“I may or may not have a date tonight,” said Martin – who is known to viewers by only his surname.

Martin was nervous, so the Robertsons stepped in to help him make the date as successful as possible.

“I’ve known you for 10 years,” Jase Robertson told Martin as he fidgeted with a duck call.

“This is the first time I heard a woman come up.”

The wives, Korie and Missy, gave him a mini-makeover, and Uncle Si gave him a crash-course in etiquette.

Making it even more awkward, Si Robertson pretended to be the woman of Martin’s affections. “Hello Martin, my name is Tiffany,” he said, swinging a feather boa over his shoulder.

“Even when you’re eating, don’t let the conversation die,” Si Robertson advised him.

In a confessional later, Si Robertson dropped great suggestions of lines that women love, like “Can I have directions … to your heart?”.

Justin Martin’s first date was good enough as he scored himself a second date with Brittany Brugman
Justin Martin’s first date was good enough as he scored himself a second date with Brittany Brugman

Korie Robertson decided that Justin Martin’s wardrobe needed a bit of a makeover: “Let’s face it, he dresses like a seventh grader who hasn’t yet discovered deodorant.”

Korie and Missy Robertson ordered Justin Martin back to his wood-paneled, taxidermy-filled home to try and find an outfit that did not involve trucker hats or camouflage.

Willie Robertson, who had never been inside Justin Martin’s house, described his decorating style as “a mix between the Brady Bunch and that killer from <<Silence of the Lambs>>.”

While Martin was busy trying on various outfits for Korie and Missy, Willie and Jase snooped around their friend’s house.

“This is not normal,” said Jase Robertson, pointing out a large pile of mismatched socks.

“I think there’s something wrong with his feet.”

“Maybe they’re webbed,” Willie Robertson opined from the comfort of Martin’s leather recliner.

Picking up one of many framed photos of Justin Martin scattered throughout the house, Willie Robertson noted: “No adult male should have this many pictures of themselves.”

“All I’m seeing is huge piles of dirty socks and embarrassing photographs,” added Jase Robertson.

“It’s a bit creepy and weird.”

Perhaps it was for the best when Justin Martin told them the day after the date that he took absolutely none of their advice. He was just himself. And that was good enough, as he scored himself a second date with Brittany Brugman. He tweeted: “That was pre first date with @BrittanyBrugman. We’ve been together a while now so I guess I did something right.”

Justin Martin can only hope his second date goes as well as the season premiere of Duck Dynasty last week.

With 11.8 million viewers, Duck Dynasty became the most-watched nonfiction series in cable history.

Phil Robertson speaks against abortion

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Phil Robertson speaks against abortion

Duck Dynasty‘s Phil Robertson is not afraid to loudly proclaim his religious beliefs, including their stance against abortion.

A new video surfaced Tuesday of Phil Robertson delivering an impassioned speech slamming abortion.

“From the time you started inside your mother’s womb, Thomas Jefferson had it right,” he said.

“You have the God-given right to live, for crying out loud.”

Phil Robertson continued by holding out a finger.

“You’re this long! C’mon! You have a God-given right to live. And of all places, inside your mother – what in the world happened to us?”

Phil Robertson, a former standout football quarterback at Louisiana Tech, has been an ardent believer since the ’70s. During that time, the Duck Dynasty patriarch “was headed south” – drinking, fighting, mistreating his family. When his wife, Miss Kay, kicked him out, Phil Robertson turned to religion.

Phil Robertson is not afraid to loudly proclaim his religious beliefs, including their stance against abortion
Phil Robertson is not afraid to loudly proclaim his religious beliefs, including their stance against abortion

Though Phil Robertson feels free to let loose his opinions in a speech, he told the Wall Street Journal in June that his family purposefully plays down their faith on Duck Dynasty.

“We can’t get into spiritual matters on the show too much,” he said.

“That’s a little much for the production company. They say, you know, it’s not the Pat Robertson show.”

The Robertson family doesn’t hide their beliefs and it’s possible religion will play a greater role this season, with oldest son Alan – a former minister – joining the cast. In fact, before the season began, Alan Robertson said he hoped to spread his message to a bigger audience thanks to the popularity of Duck Dynasty.

Alan Robertson said of leaving his pulpit: “What I do for our church – you see, it’s a pretty good-sized church – impacts a lot of people. But because of my association with the show, I’ll get to minister to a lot more people.”

Duck Dynasty airs Wednesdays at 10 PM on A&E.

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Inside Kim Kardashian’s make-up bag

Lisa.Felice
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0
Inside Kim Kardashian’s make-up bag

Kim Kardashian has revealed the contents of her make-up bag and admitted that no item in her personal cosmetics bag sets her back more than $30.

Kim Kardashian, 32, explained to MailOnline that one of her beauty essentials is a $20 Moroccan Oil.

“This really helps to smooth my hair and makes it so soft,” she said of the oil, which is also loved by Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

When it comes to keeping her cellulite at bay, Kim Kardashian swears by Dove Body Scrub.

Speaking about the product, Kim Kardashian said: “I love this; it’s great for prepping the skin.”

Kim Kardashian has revealed some of her essential beauty products and all of them are under $30
Kim Kardashian has revealed some of her essential beauty products and all of them are under $30

She also uses Bio Oil, $14, because it “prevents wrinkles around my eyes and stretch marks over my body”.

Along with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney, Kim Kardashian has designed a range of beauty products, Kardashian Beauty.

Speaking about her favorites, Kim said: “I had to <<steal>> the first lab sample of Kardashian Beauty Intimate Spotlight because once I’d tried it I never wanted to be without it.

“It adds a beautiful glow to cheekbones, bridge of nose and Cupid’s bow to light up the face. I’m in love with this product!”

The reality star is also a big fan of the Kardashian Beauty Whip Lash Mascara, and the Au Naturel Lip Kit in Nude.

To take it all off at the end of the day, Kim Kardashian loves Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Wipes, which she snaps up from Boots for $6.

Kim Kardashian, who showed just how much make-up she wears when she famously charted her makeover and shared images of the process with her 16 million Twitter followers, said of the remover: “This is one of my most essential products, I need a makeup wipe at all times.”

Hosni Mubarak released from Cairo prison

Roy Siemens
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0
Hosni Mubarak released from Cairo prison

Hosni Mubarak has been released from Cairo prison after appealing against his detention.

The former Egyptian president was flown out of Tora prison by helicopter to a hospital, but is now expected to be put under house arrest.

Hosni Mubarak, 85, still faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that toppled him in 2011.

His release is seen by many as a sign that the military is rolling back the changes that flowed from the uprising.

Egypt is currently under a state of emergency amid the bloodshed which has accompanied the army-backed interim government’s crackdown on Islamists opposed to the army’s ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi on 3 July.

Hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood – the movement from which Mohamed Morsi comes – have been detained, including its most senior leader Mohammed Badie, who was wanted over alleged incitement to violence and murder.

On Thursday, the medical helicopter arrived at Tora, as dozens of Hosni Mubarak supporters – some waving flags – gathered outside the prison.

Hosni Mubarak has been released from Cairo prison after appealing against his detention
Hosni Mubarak has been released from Cairo prison after appealing against his detention

Egypt’s TV channel then showed the helicopter transferring Hosni Mubarak to a military hospital in the capital. The ex-leader was seen being transferred from the aircraft into an ambulance outside the hospital, amid heavy security.

This comes after a court ruled on Wednesday that the former leader must be released in a corruption case.

The ruling came during the hearing on charges that the former president had accepted gifts from state-run publisher al-Ahram. The value of the gifts has since been repaid.

The court said its decision was final and no appeal would be allowed.

Prosecutors have previously brought new charges when courts have ordered Hosni Mubarak’s release – a move intended to keep the ailing ex-leader in detention.

But shortly after the court ruling, the office of PM Hazem el-Beblawi said Hosni Mubarak would be placed under house arrest after his release.

“In the context of the emergency law, the deputy military commander issued an order that Hosni Mubarak should be put under house arrest,” the office said in a statement.

Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in jail last year for complicity in the killing of demonstrators, but a retrial was later ordered after his appeal was upheld.

That retrial opened in May but Hosni Mubarak has now served the maximum amount of pre-trial detention permitted in the case.

European Union foreign ministers on Wednesday agreed to stop export licenses on military equipment to Egypt and to reassess security co-operation in response to the clampdown.

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HHS hires criminal investigators to target consumers and companies that don’t follow Obamacare’s rules

Diane A. Wade
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0
HHS hires criminal investigators to target consumers and companies that don’t follow Obamacare’s rules

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) has hired more than 1,600 new employees in the aftermath of Obamacare’s passage.

The new employees include just two described as “consumer safety” officers, but 86 tasked with “criminal investigating” – indicating that the agency is building an army of detectives to sleuth out violations of a law that many in Congress who supported it still find confusing.

On the day President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010, HHS received authority from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to make as many as 1,814 new hires under an emergency “Direct Hiring Authority” order.

The Obama administration ordered that employment expansion despite a government-wide hiring freeze.

A total of 1,684 of those positions were filled and the new employees’ salaries alone cost the U.S. at least $138.8 million every year.

The HHS has hired more than 1,600 new employees in the aftermath of Obamacare's passage
The HHS has hired more than 1,600 new employees in the aftermath of Obamacare’s passage

The hiring began in May 2010 and continued through June 2013, making the later hires eligible for higher salaries as a result of annual cost-of-living increases.

The difference between what HHS spent on new Obamacare-related employees and what it was authorized to spend is explained by its failure to hire most of the 261 “consumer safety officers” it was authorized to bring aboard. Only two such employees were hired.

But while OPM authorized HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources Denise Carter – later renamed Denise Wells – to hire 50 criminal investigators, the agency increased that number to 86 on its own.

The lowest salary on the list was for a single contracting officer at Grade 7, Step 1, an annual rate of about $42,350, including a so-called “differential” payments. Those increases are given to all federal employees in order to adjust for regional cost-of-living differences.

The highest salary in 2010 dollars, including that differential payment, was about $161,450, earned by a total of 29 new employee. They include health insurance administrators, contracting officers and information technology managers.

The fleet of 86 new criminal investigators are earning a range of compensation between $51,800 and $89,350, according to the 2010 salary tables and differential payment guidelines.

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Inside Kylie Jenner’s Sweet 16 party goodie bag

Lisa.Felice
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0
Inside Kylie Jenner’s Sweet 16 party goodie bag

Kylie Jenner had over 150 guests at her Sweet 16 party and few of them went home laden down with gifts.

While the estimated value of the party favors was over $1,000, the Kardashian clan didn’t have to pay a cent towards supplying them.

Instead Kris Jenner enlisted Brand Placement L.A. to stuff Kylie Jenner’s Sweet 16 birthday gift bags with goodies.

Kylie Jenner’s luxurious favors were comprised of backpacks stuffed with gifts including Audiovox 808 headphones, iHome Bluetooth speakers, gift cards, and more.

Impressively, only four of the items were directly connected to the famous family – Kardashian Beauty cosmetics, a PacSun journal, Glamhouse jewelry, and Rob Kardashian’s Arthur George socks.

According to the New York Daily News, the Kardashian-Jenner clan “didn’t pay a cent” for any of it.

Brand Placement also provided the gift bags for Kendall Jenner’s Sweet 16 in November, but they were notably smaller than Kylie’s.

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is currently holding a Twitter contest giving one lucky fan a leftover swag bag and TMZ just posted pictures of the spoils.

Gift certificates for a Triangl bikini, salon treatments at Blo Blow Dry Bar, BALLASOX foldable flat, and $50 at Karmaloop were also inside.

Kylie Jenner's luxurious favors were comprised of backpacks stuffed with gifts including Audiovox 808 headphones, iHome Bluetooth speakers, gift cards, and more
Kylie Jenner’s luxurious favors were comprised of backpacks stuffed with gifts including Audiovox 808 headphones, iHome Bluetooth speakers, gift cards, and more

Also inside were MadPax Spiketus Rex backpack, NeffHeadwear beanies, Koolaburra boots, See You Monday hair turban, Fresh-Tops clothing, and a JonesTShirts.com tote.

There were cosmetics and haircare from It Factor, Cake Beauty, Cover FX, and an EOS lip balm basket.

Less exciting were the Duck Tape, Nika Water, Luggage Pros tag, and Emi-Jay hair ties.

The E! cameras were rolling as Kylie Jenner celebrated her landmark birthday last Saturday at downtown L.A.’s AT&T Center.

Everyone from the Kardashian-Jenner clan attended – except for Kim Kardashian, who took baby North to the funeral of Kanye West’s grandfather in Oklahoma, and Khloe’s husband Lamar Odom.

Kylie Jenner’s rumored boyfriend Jaden Smith, his sister Willow, and Glee star Naya Rivera were present at the Alice In Wonderland themed bash.

The five-foot-nine brunette received a smooch and serenade from R&B star Drake and rapper Big Sean during the festivities.

However, the newly licensed driver’s biggest present came in the form of a $125,000 black Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV.

Kylie Jenner’s big sister Kendall famously received a $90,000 Range Rover for her own 16th birthday.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner share an impressive combined 10.3 million Twitter followers as well as a “Back-To-School” PacSun clothing line.

Both of them were Sierra Canyon School cheerleaders until they started homeschooling last September.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians Season 8 currently airs Sundays on E!.

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