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Si Robertson’s book to be released on September 3

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson’s book to be released on September 3

Duck Dynasty fans’ favorite  Uncle Si Robertson, who says God has a sense of humor because he’s turned four disheveled-looking Christian guys into reality television stars, will be releasing his new book next month.

Si Robertson, the youngest brother of family patriarch, Phil Robertson, works at Duck Commander where he’s been making the reeds for duck calls since his retirement from the U.S. Army, and shares anecdotal advice and stories about life in his book, titled Si-cology 1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

Phil Robertson’s brother, who’s known for his storytelling and for saying that he carries three items along with him everywhere he goes: tea, the Tupperware cup his parents sent to him during the Vietnam War, and his Bible, told LifeWay that the Robertson family gives God the glory for all of their success.

“Hey, it’s unreal,” Si explained.

“Cause if you asked any of the Robertson men who’s behind all this – [people] ask Willie all the time, <<How did you become so successful?>>”

Uncle Si Robertson's book will be released on September 3
Uncle Si Robertson’s book will be released on September 3

The answer that Willie Robertson provides, according to Si, is: “Hey, that would be the Almighty. He’s the one that has made this a success.”

Speaking about God, Si Robertson said that although a lot of people don’t believe God has a sense of humor, he quipped that the lives of the Robertson men is proof that He does, and in abundance.

“God has got a great sense of humor, OK. Because, hey, look as Jase. God has taken four guys that look like about five miles of muddy road and made them famous in the TV world.”

He then turns the tables on nonbelievers and asks what it is they depend on for support when they receive bad news, such as receiving a diagnosis of a terminal illness.

“The only thing I’d say is: I wonder, when people run into bad times, they go to the doctor and find out, <<I’m dying with cancer>>, and they don’t believe in God, where do they turn to?”

Si Robertson continues: “We’re all mortal. We’re all going in that grave. And there ain’t but one way that you’re going to beat it that I know of. Like Phil always tells them: <<If you’ve got something to offer me, better than what I just shared with you, I’m all ears; I’m ready to hear it>>. Because that’s the only one I ever heard that beat the grave.”

“And he promised you that since He beat it, if you believe in Him, He’ll make you beat it.”

Si Robertson’s 240-page book that will be available on September 3 will include family photos, and anecdotes and stories about his childhood, duck hunting, his days in college, the Vietnam War, and his wife, Christina, and their two children, Scott and Trasa.

Duck Dynasty Season 4 will broadcast at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 14.

Uncle Si and Willie Robertson make acting debut as guest stars on ABC’s Last Man Standing

Sonia Pantiss
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Uncle Si and Willie Robertson make acting debut as guest stars on ABC’s Last Man Standing

Duck Dynasty stars Si Robertson and his nephew, Willie Robertson, will leave their Louisiana stomping grounds to make their acting debut on ABC’s Last Man Standing.

Uncle Si and Willie Robertson will help kick off the comedy’s third season premiering Friday, September 20 at 8/7c.

Uncle Si and Willie Robertson will make their acting debut as guest stars on ABC's Last Man Standing
Uncle Si and Willie Robertson will make their acting debut as guest stars on ABC’s Last Man Standing

ABC didn’t reveal the nature of their guest roles.

Starring Tim Allen as Mike, a man’s man surrounded by all women – his wife and three daughters – who challenge him constantly on his ideas of men and women’s roles in society and the home.

Also starring Nancy Travis, Molly Ephraim, Kaitlyn Dever, Amanda Fuller, Christoph Sanders, Flynn Morrison and Hector Elizondo, Last Man Standing was renewed for a third season in May.

Meanwhile, Duck Dynasty has become A&E’s most popular show. Its Season 3 finale in April drew 9.6 million viewers.

MERS coronavirus: Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans

Kathryn R. Bown
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MERS coronavirus: Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans

A new research suggests that dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans the deadly MERS coronavirus that emerged last year.

Tests have shown the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus, or one that is very closely related, has been circulating in the animals, offering a potential route for the spread.

The study is published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.

But the scientists say more research is needed to confirm the findings.

The MERS coronavirus first emerged in the Middle East last year. So far, there have been 94 confirmed cases and 46 deaths.

While there has been evidence of the virus spreading between humans, most cases are thought to have been caused by contact with an animal. But until now, scientists have struggled to work out which one.

To investigate, an international team looked at blood samples taken from livestock animals, including camels, sheep, goats and cows, from a number of different countries.

Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans the deadly MERS coronavirus
Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans the deadly MERS coronavirus

They tested them for antibodies – the proteins produced to fight infections – which can remain in the blood long after a virus has gone.

Professor Marion Koopmans, from the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment and Erasmus University in The Netherlands, said: “We did find antibodies that we think are specific for the MERS coronavirus or a virus that looks very similar to the MERS coronavirus in dromedary camels.”

The team found low levels of antibodies in 15 out of 105 camels from the Canary Islands and high levels in each of the 50 camels tested in Oman, suggesting the virus was circulating more recently.

“Antibodies point to exposure at some time in the life of those animals,” Prof. Marion Koopmans explained.

No human cases of the MERS virus have been reported in Oman or the Canary Islands, and the researchers say they now need to test more widely to see if the infection is present elsewhere.

This would include taking samples from camels in Saudi Arabia, the country where the virus is the most prevalent.

Prof. Marion Koopmans said: “It is a smoking gun, but it is not definitive proof.”

Health officials say confirming where the virus comes from is important, but then understanding how humans get infected is a priority.

Gregory Hartl, from the World Health Organization, said: “Only if we know what actions and interactions by humans lead to infection, can we work to prevent these infections.”

Data suggests that it is not yet infectious enough to pose a global threat and is still at a stage where its spread could be halted.

Oprah Winfrey victim of racism in Zurich

Sonia Pantiss
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Oprah Winfrey victim of racism in Zurich

Oprah Winfrey says she was the victim of racism during a recent visit to Switzerland.

The talk show host said an assistant refused to serve her in an upmarket handbag shop in Zurich.

Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s richest women, was apparently told the bags on display were “too expensive” for her.

Her claims, made to a US television programme, come amid a political row over plans by some Swiss towns to ban asylum-seekers from some public places.

Human rights groups have likened the plans – which include banning asylum-seekers from swimming pools, playing fields and libraries – to apartheid.

Oprah Winfrey was the victim of racism during a recent visit to Switzerland
Oprah Winfrey was the victim of racism during a recent visit to Switzerland

Oprah Winfrey, who stars in Lee Daniels’ new film The Butler, visited Zurich last month to attend singer Tina Turner’s wedding. The Oprah Winfrey Show is not shown in Switzerland.

She said she left the shop calmly without arguing, but that the experience was proof that racism continues to be a problem.

“There’s two different ways to handle it,” Oprah Winfrey said.

“I could’ve had the whole blow-up thing… but it still exists, of course it does.”

About 48,000 people are currently seeking asylum in Switzerland. It has twice as many asylum seekers as the European average.

Officials say the curbs, which will also see asylum-seekers housed in special centres, are aimed at preventing tensions with residents.

Switzerland’s asylum laws were tightened in June.

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Kim Kardashian is worried her fans are forgetting her

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian is worried her fans are forgetting her

Kim Kardashian is now said to be worried her fans are losing interest in their former idol after she deliberately remained in hiding for two months following the birth of her daughter North West.

Her sister Kourtney Kardashian was on hand to remind followers of Kim’s existence on Wednesday, by tweeting a bikini snap of the two taken on holiday in Mexico in 2011.

With the strange caption: “Squallay.  kimkardashian,” the shot shows the siblings walking on the beach with Kim Kardashian showing off her killer curves in a green bikini.

Kourtney Kardashian wanted to remind followers of Kim's existence by tweeting a bikini snap of the two taken on holiday in Mexico in 2011
Kourtney Kardashian wanted to remind followers of Kim’s existence by tweeting a bikini snap of the two taken on holiday in Mexico in 2011

The vintage picture comes as the new mother is battling to lose the baby weight, ahead of her “big debut”.

After welcoming her daughter with Kanye West on June 15, Kim Kardashian decided to hide out at her mother’s house until she had shed the excess pounds.

But two months on Kim Kardashian is now afraid that she has waited too long to showcase her slimdown and that her star power is slipping.

“Kim has had this plan to show off how great she looks after giving birth and selling the pictures or videos for a lot of money, but she’s getting worried that it’s been too long and people aren’t as excited about seeing her anymore,” a source told RadarOnline.com.

“Kim is used to having millions of adoring fans begging to see her all the time, but there has been a shift in her fan base and she’s getting nervous that people don’t care as much about her,” the insider revealed.

Kim Kardashian is even worried that she can’t compete with the world’s most famous birth, that of Prince George.

“After all the excitement the whole world had for Kate Middleton’s royal baby, Kim had hoped that people would care about her that much, but now she’s freaking out that they’re not.”

Desperate to keep tongues wagging about her, Kim Kardashian stuck out her own tongue in a silly Keek video that she posted to social media on Tuesday.

This followed Kim Kardashian’s first post-pregnancy appearance in a brief video for Kris Jenner’s daytime chat show earlier this month.

Polina Polonsky claims Lamar Odom affair started on the night of Kim Kardashian’s baby shower

Lisa.Felice
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Polina Polonsky claims Lamar Odom affair started on the night of Kim Kardashian’s baby shower

Polina Polonsky, who claims she had a passionate affair with Lamar Odom, has revealed further details about their alleged relationship.

Polina Polonsky, 33, has now given specific details about the alleged six-week fling – including which nights she allegedly spent with Lamar Odom, and where they stayed.

The lawyer even claims that her friendship with Lamar Odom turned physical on the night of Kim Kardashian’s baby shower  – which is the last time Lamar and Khloe were photographed in public together.

The new claims came as Khloe Kardashian left Los Angeles. She was pictured jetting out alone on Thursday afternoon, hiding behind a pair of thick rimmed red glasses.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom married after just one month of dating in 2009.

Polina Polonsky has taken a lie detector test and offered up precise details of the alleged affair.

Polina Polonsky claims that her friendship with Lamar Odom turned physical on the night of Kim Kardashian's baby shower
Polina Polonsky claims that her friendship with Lamar Odom turned physical on the night of Kim Kardashian’s baby shower

In new revelations on Thursday night the criminal defense attorney told Star magazine that although she had known Lamar Odom for some time, the relationship did not turn romantic until the evening of June 2 at Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel.

Earlier that day Lamar Odom had attended Kim Kardashian’s baby shower with Khloe.

“Lamar and I have known each other for a long time, but June 2 was the first time we really hung out,” Polina Polonsky told Star magazine.

“I was under the impression that he had left Khloe, and that’s why he was living at the Roosevelt. He acted completely available, and we definitely had a mutual attraction.”

Polina Polonsky said the two did not sleep together that night, but on June 9 their relationship turned physical with a first kiss.

“On June 17, I stayed at my place alone. And then, the next day, I went back and stayed with Lamar at the hotel until June 21.”

Polina Polonsky has previously claimed that the following week there was a furious confrontation with Khloe Kardashian who discovered the lovers at a cheap motel in downtown LA.

The new allegations come after Jennifer Richardson, 29, said she too had enjoyed a secretive liaison with Lamar Odom.

Lamar Odom furiously denied Jennifer Richardson’s allegations, although he and Khloe Kardashian have yet to comment on Polina Polonsky’s claims.

Karen Black dies from cancer aged 74

Sonia Pantiss
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Karen Black dies from cancer aged 74

Karen Black, who featured in cult films such as Easy Rider, Nashville and Five Easy Pieces, has died aged 74.

Hugely prolific, the Illinois-born actress appeared in more than 100 movies over a career spanning 40 years.

Karen Black died at a clinic in Los Angeles, three years after she was diagnosed with ampullary cancer.

Her breakthrough role, in 1969, was as a prostitute who takes drugs with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider.

Karen Black, who was raised in a Chicago suburb, almost always played troubled, neurotic characters.

Karen Black died at a clinic in Los Angeles, three years after she was diagnosed with ampullary cancer
Karen Black died at a clinic in Los Angeles, three years after she was diagnosed with ampullary cancer

Despite her impressive filmography, Karen Black had to turn to the public to help pay her healthcare costs.

Her online funding appeal raised more than $60,000, according to her husband, Stephen Eckelberry.

Karen Black earned an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for one of her most memorable roles – opposite Jack Nicholson – as a waitress who dates an upper-class dropout, in Five Easy Pieces.

She won a best supporting actress Golden Globe award for the role of mistress Myrtle Wilson in 1974’s The Great Gatsby.

The star went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award for playing a country singer in the ensemble cast of 1975 musical drama Nashville.

Karen Black also starred as a jewel thief in what turned out to be Alfred Hitchcock’s last movie, Family Plot, released in 1976.

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Lavabit: Encrypted email service used by Edward Snowden shut down

Nancy Clayson
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Lavabit: Encrypted email service used by Edward Snowden shut down

Lavabit, an encrypted email service thought to have been used by Edward Snowden, has abruptly shut down.

Ladar Levison, owner of the Texas-based Lavabit service, said legal reasons prevented him explaining his decision.

He said he would rather suspend his business than become complicit in “crimes against the American people”.

Correspondents say Lavabit appears to have been in a legal battle to stop US officials accessing customer details.

Edward Snowden, a 30-year-old former CIA contractor, has admitted leaking information about US surveillance programmes to the media.

Edward Snowden is believed to have been using the Lavabit service after fleeing the US
Edward Snowden is believed to have been using the Lavabit service after fleeing the US

He fled the US – where he now faces espionage charges – and has been granted temporary asylum in Russia.

Observers say Lavabit was put in the spotlight following reports that Edward Snowden was using the service while holed-up in Moscow airport.

“I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people, or walk away from nearly 10 years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit,” Ladar Levison wrote in a letter posted on the Lavabit website.

He said he had decided to “suspend operations” but was barred from discussing the events over the past six weeks that led to his decision.

“This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would strongly recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States,” Ladar Levison wrote.

The US Department of Justice has so far not commented.

Edward Snowden spent about a month in a transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport as the US pressured other countries to deny him asylum.

On August 1st, Edward Snowden left the airport after the Russian government said it would grant him asylum there for a year.

Moscow’s decision prompted President Barack Obama to scrap a planned meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Paul Fronczak: FBI reopens probe into 1964 missing Chicago boy case

Nancy Clayson
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Paul Fronczak: FBI reopens probe into 1964 missing Chicago boy case

The FBI has reopened an investigation into the disappearance of Paul Fronczak, a newborn boy stolen from a Chicago hospital in 1964.

It comes after DNA tests showed that the child returned to the missing baby’s parents is not their son.

Paul Fronczak, now 49, was raised by Chester and Dora Fronczak after detectives found him abandoned in New Jersey in 1965.

But he questioned his identity as he felt he did not look like them, reports say.

Hundreds of police officers and FBI agents searched for the baby after his abduction from Michael Reese Hospital in April 1964 – when he was just one day old.

A woman dressed as a nurse reportedly told Dora Fronczak that the doctor wanted to examine her son. She handed him over and he was never returned.

Over a year later, a boy deemed to resemble the missing child was found abandoned outside a shop in Newark and given to the Fronczaks.

The FBI has reopened an investigation into the disappearance of Paul Fronczak, a newborn boy stolen from a Chicago hospital in 1964
The FBI has reopened an investigation into the disappearance of Paul Fronczak, a newborn boy stolen from a Chicago hospital in 1964

Earlier this year Paul Fronczak asked his parents to do DNA tests, and they revealed the case of the mistaken identity, according to KLAS-TV News.

Joan Hyde, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Chicago office, told the Associated Press that the bureau had decided to reopen the case after reviewing the original case file.

“We decided it merited another look,” she said.

“The main thing is to look at physical evidence and see if technology and tests that weren’t available when the case was originally worked could provide leads.”

Paul Fronczak, who is leading his own efforts to find his missing namesake, told Chicago radio he was optimistic about the renewed probe.

“Honestly, I really feel that we’re going to solve both these mysteries, and I’m very hopeful, and I really feel that it’s time,” he said.

“It’s going to happen.”

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Zimbabwe election: 305,000 voters turned away

Diane A. Wade
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Zimbabwe election: 305,000 voters turned away

Nearly 305,000 Zimbabwean voters were turned away during last week’s elections, which the opposition has said were rigged.

These are the first such official figures provided by Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The number of rejected voters has been a major complaint.

It also said 207,000 voters were “assisted” to cast their ballot – another alleged source of fraud.

President Robert Mugabe gained 938,085 more votes than his main rival.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who took 34% of the vote, has alleged massive fraud.

His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party is planning to file court applications against the results of the presidential and parliamentary votes.

Robert Mugabe, 89, won with 61% of the presidential vote and his Zanu-PF gained a two-thirds majority in parliament, with 160 seats compared to 49 for the MDC.

African and regional monitors praised the poll for being peaceful but noted some irregularities. Western observers were not invited to witness the July 31st vote.

But a local observer group, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and its network of 7,000 observers, has said that about one million voters were “systematically disenfranchised” by being omitted from the voters’ roll or turned away.

Nearly 305,000 Zimbabwean voters were turned away during last week's elections
Nearly 305,000 Zimbabwean voters were turned away during last week’s elections

The electoral roll has come in for criticism for having duplicate names and the names of dead Zimbabweans – the MDC says it has found 838,000 entries with the same name, address and date of birth but different ID number, 350,000 people who are more than 85 years old and 109,000 aged over 100.

The figures of those turned away from polling station represent 8.7% of votes cast.

According to the electoral commission’s statistics, the largest number of turned away voters – 64,483 – was in Harare.

The MDC has stronger support in towns and cities and ZESN says voters had most trouble registering in urban areas.

In its assessment of the election, the African Union observer mission noted that it was concerned by the high number of assisted voters nationwide.

The MDC says that “assisted voters” – supposedly the illiterate or infirm – were made to vote for Zanu-PF.

The ZEC figures show that assisted voting happened more in the rural areas, Zanu-PF’s stronghold, where, according to ZESN, 99.97% of voters were registered.

Such figures are shocking as the UN regards Zimbabwe as the most literate country in Africa and the number of assisted voters represents 5.9% of votes cast.

MDC party, which had been in a coalition with Zanu-PF for four years following disputed elections in 2008, is expected file its appeals within the seven days of the results, which were announced on Saturday 3 August. This could be as late as next Wednesday as the MDC’s legal team say weekends are not counted and next Monday and Tuesday are public holidays.

The court then has 14 days to deliver a judgement. If the court upholds the results, Robert Mugabe must be sworn in within 48 hours of the ruling.

A week after the election, Robert Mugabe dismissed criticism of the polls and lashed out at Western countries for their concerns about the vote.

“We are very happy that we have dealt the enemy a blow, and the enemy is not Tsvangirai,” AFP news agency quoted the president as saying.

“Tsvangirai is a mere part of the enemy. The enemy is he who is behind Tsvangirai. Who is behind the MDC? The British and their allies. Those are the ones who were the real enemies.”

Robert Mugabe has long accused the British of trying to oust him from power in its former colony because of his policy of seizing white-owned land.

Zimbabwe elections results 2013:

Presidential:

  • Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PF – 61%, 2,110,434 votes
  • Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC – 34%, 1,172,349 votes

Parliamentary:

  • Zanu-PF – 160 seats (up 61 seats from 2008)
  • MDC – 49 seats (down 51 seats from 2008)

Jennifer Aniston admits kids question annoys her

Lisa.Felice
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Jennifer Aniston admits kids question annoys her

Jennifer Aniston has revealed there is one question more than any other that annoys her – the kids question.

Speaking on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Jennifer Aniston, 44, said she recognizes all the tricks used by interviewers trying to bring up the subject of her starting a family.

Jennifer Aniston said she knows it’s coming when she is asked: “Something about family and trying to relate it to the movie with, <<Oh, if I was to have a child how many kids do I want?>>.”

And “do I want a boy or a girl?” the actress said in an interview with ABC News correspondent Amy Robach.

Speaking on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Jennifer Aniston said she recognizes all the tricks used by interviewers trying to bring up the subject of her starting a family
Speaking on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Jennifer Aniston said she recognizes all the tricks used by interviewers trying to bring up the subject of her starting a family

“I didn’t realize you could place orders, I honestly didn’t realize it was like a drive-through, that you could talk to a little electronic voice.”

Jennifer Aniston explained: “My friends and my partner are truly my family.”

The star – who is engaged to actor Justin Theroux – was speaking out during an interview to promote her new movie We’re the Millers in which she plays a club dancer.

Jennifer Aniston said she had her doubts about the role: “I said yes thinking <<wouldn’t that be great>>, thinking, <<well, I’ve never played a stripper, at least not in film>>.

“Then this panic sets in three weeks, two weeks, one week before the actual day of shooting.”

Jennifer Aniston revealed she worked out six days a week in preparation for the role.

“Honestly it was the craziest workout. My diet has always been pretty clean but I think I was super, super strict, especially in terms of, I’ll usually cheat once or twice a week and I just kind of didn’t.”

Jennifer Aniston also revealed she and Justin Theroux are in no hurry to tie the knot. The pair who became engaged last year have been subjected to rumors that their relationship is on the rocks.

“I surround myself with my amazing work, my amazing friends, my amazing partner, my beautiful dogs … and I tune that noise out.

“I mean, I think it’s very sweet that people want everything for me,” Jennifer Aniston said, adding that she’s “so content and happy” where she is.

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Cuticle tattoo: Latest nail trend from Rad Nails

Lisa.Felice
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Cuticle tattoo: Latest nail trend from Rad Nails

Cuticle tattoo is the latest lacquer trend to take the beauty world by storm.

The temporary designs are designed to sit below the cuticle area, to highlight or contrast with your manicure. They’re ideal for those who want to subtly experiment with body art without committing to a real tattoo.

Cuticle tattoo is the latest lacquer trend to take the beauty world by storm
Cuticle tattoo is the latest lacquer trend to take the beauty world by storm

Rad Nails, an American e-tailer who ship worldwide, describe the $6 tattoos as “an easy way to accent your nail art”.

They are applied like press-on tattoos and just need a small amount of water to make them stick.

Rad Nails, the nail art brand that has become well known for their limited edition Ryan Gosling nail wraps, offer four different patterns.

Choose between moon-shaped Another Round, triangles dubbed Your Point?, geometric pattern In a Pinch, and Double Drips, a paint splatter effect.

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Joe & Seph’s launches Gin & Tonic popcorn

Nancy Clayson
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Joe & Seph’s launches Gin & Tonic popcorn

Joe & Seph’s launched Gin & Tonic popcorn, a genius snack that combines the best of the current trend for gourmet popcorn with one of Britain’s favorite liveners.

Joe & Seph's launched Gin & Tonic popcorn
Joe & Seph’s launched Gin & Tonic popcorn

The product is air popped and it contains 5% real gin and 5% real tonic.

Joe & Seph’s have a second boozy option: caramel macchiato with whisky, which is described in the tasting notes as having notes of ‘smooth cream, followed by Columbian coffee and Scotch whisky to finish.

It is a nice foil to the G&T flavor, which is described as “deliciously fruity and spicy, a fascinating combination”.

Then there’s wine popcorn – a sauvignon blanc version and a pinot noir – created by U.S. company Populence (www.populencenyc.com) – who sell giant kettles of the stuff for $8.

Pope Francis tightens financial supervision at Vatican bank

Clyde K. Valle
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Pope Francis tightens financial supervision at Vatican bank

Pope Francis has stepped up the fight against corruption at the Vatican by strengthening supervision of financial transactions at its internal bank.

The Pope issued a decree designed to combat money-laundering and prevent any financing of terrorism.

It is the latest move to stamp out abuses at the Vatican bank, which handles funds for the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis recently set up a commission to investigate the bank and report back to him personally.

Last month the Vatican froze the account of a senior cleric, Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, suspected of involvement in money-laundering.

Monsignor Nunzio Scarano and two others were arrested by Italian police in June on suspicion of trying to move 20 million euros ($26 million) illegally.

Pope Francis has stepped up the fight against corruption at the Vatican by strengthening supervision of financial transactions at its internal bank
Pope Francis has stepped up the fight against corruption at the Vatican by strengthening supervision of financial transactions at its internal bank

Pope Francis’ number one priority this summer is to sort out the financial mess at the Vatican bank and a parent body which looks after the financial assets of the Holy See.

The new decree is intended to tackle “money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”, the Vatican said.

It sets up a financial security committee to coordinate the anti-corruption effort.

Church spokesman Federico Lombardi said the decree would help the Vatican resist “increasingly insidious” forms of international financial crime.

A French-based financial watchdog, Moneyval, has been carrying out a review of the Vatican bank’s operations.

It found that the bank had not always exercised due diligence.

The Vatican bank, which is known officially as the Institute for Religious Works, handles the payroll for some 5,000 Vatican employees.

It also handles the funds for the central administration of the Catholic Church and holds the accounts of cardinals, bishops, priests, nuns and religious orders around the world.

It does not lend money and has assets worth $8.3 billion (6.2 billion euros).

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Shark found in New York subway train

Nancy Clayson
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Shark found in New York subway train

Transport officials have confirmed today that a dead shark has been discovered on the subway in New York City.

The shark, about 4 ft long, was found under a row of seats on a Queens-bound train.

The conductor asked passengers to leave the carriage and the train continued to the end of the line, where a supervisor disposed of the shark.

The shark, about 4 ft long, was found under a row of seats on a Queens-bound train
The shark, about 4 ft long, was found under a row of seats on a Queens-bound train

Pigeons and even an opossum have made their way on to the trains before, but never a shark, transit officials said.

However, where it came from remains a mystery.

Isvett Verde, of Brooklyn, New York, who took a photo of the shark, said she noticed that the empty carriage of the N train “smelled extremely fishy” when she boarded at 8th Street.

“It’s hard to be surprised as there are always crazy things happening in this city, but even that was a bit much,” Isvett Verde said.

Other pictures of the exotic discovery have also gone viral, including one of the shark with a cigarette in its mouth next to a fare card and a can of energy drink.

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Linda Lovelace biopic to be released after court case is dismissed

Sonia Pantiss
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Linda Lovelace biopic to be released after court case is dismissed

An attempt to block the release of a biopic of actress Linda Lovelace by the company that owns the rights to her most famous movie Deep Throat has been rejected by a judge in New York.

US District Judge Thomas Griesa dismissed a $10 million claim by Arrow Productions, enabling the film to open on Friday as planned.

One of the film’s producers expressed relief “that common sense prevailed”.

Amanda Seyfried plays Linda Lovelace in the new biopic.

Arrow filed its copyright action in Manhattan on Tuesday, claiming it had not been approached “for a license to use any of [its] intellectual property”.

Amanda Seyfried plays Linda Lovelace in the new biopic
Amanda Seyfried plays Linda Lovelace in the new biopic

It said that more than five minutes of footage was copyrighted material taken from Deep Throat that had been used “without license or permission”.

Arrow’s legal action revealed it had licensed Deep Throat to Inferno, another film about Linda Lovelace which was to have starred Lindsay Lohan and which was eventually abandoned.

“Arrow Productions’ complaint was transparent about its desire to control discussion about Deep Throat… and to hinder projects that would compete with theirs,” said Millennium Films’ Mark Gill in a statement.

“We believe this case was an insult to the legal safeguards in place maintaining our right to freedom of speech.”

Another of the defendants – Radius TWC, a division of The Weinstein Company – said it “couldn’t be more pleased”.

“The world will finally get a chance to see Linda’s real story unfold on screen in Lovelace,” said its co-presidents, Tom Quinn and Jason Janego.

“Never again will she be silenced by the producers and distributors of Deep Throat.”

Lovelace dramatizes the life of the actress born Linda Boreman in 1949.

It depicts her abusive marriage to her manager Chuck Traynor, her troubled relationship with her mother Dorothy and her role in the making of Deep Throat.

Deep Throat became one of the most successful movie in its category in the 1970s as well as a pop culture phenomenon.

It subsequently gained additional notoriety after its title was assigned to Mark Felt, the pseudonymous informant who assisted the Washington Post‘s investigation into the Watergate scandal.

Linda Lovelace died in a car accident in 2002 at the age of 53.

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Venezuela’s Supreme Court rejects Henrique Capriles’ election appeal

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela’s Supreme Court rejects Henrique Capriles’ election appeal

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by opposition leader Henrique Capriles against April’s contested presidential election result.

The Supreme Court of Justice described the appeal as “inadmissible”.

After the ruling Henrique Capriles tweeted that there was a “lack of justice” in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro, Hugo Chavez’s handpicked successor, won the election by less than 1.5 percentage points – about 200,000 votes.

The opposition alleged that the vote had been marred by fraud.

Venezuela's Supreme Court has rejected Henrique Capriles’ appeal against April's contested presidential election result
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has rejected Henrique Capriles’ appeal against April’s contested presidential election result

In June the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission (CNE) confirmed President Nicolas Maduro’s victory in an audit on millions of votes, but Henrique Capriles denounced the audit as “a fake”.

In her ruling on Wednesday, Justice Gladys Gutierrez said the opposition had not offered “sufficient proof” to back up their allegations.

The 10-point appeal had been lodged by Henrique Capriles, the opposition coalition and several citizens.

On Tuesday, Henrique Capriles criticized the court’s delay in making a ruling and said that he would take the case to “international bodies”.

April’s election was called after the death of Hugo Chavez on March 5 following a long battle against cancer.

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Polina Polonsky claims Khloe Kardashian attacked her during motel confrontation over Lamar Odom affair

Lisa.Felice
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Polina Polonsky claims Khloe Kardashian attacked her during motel confrontation over Lamar Odom affair

Attorney Polina Polonsky, who claims she had an affair with Lamar Odom, has now accused Khloe Kardashian of attacking her.

Polina Polonsky claims Khloe Kardashian started swinging punches after catching the lawyer and Lamar Odom together at a Downtown Los Angeles motel.

Lamar Odom had to drag his furious wife out of the room, where he had a foul-mouthed argument with his spouse before they left the Vagabond Inn on July 13.

The revelations were made in the tabloid Star magazine, and representatives for the Kardashians have yet to respond for a request for comment.

Polina Polonsky told Star magazine: “Khloe charged into the room and began swinging at me…she tried to attack me!

“Lamar had to grab her by the hoodie and pull her back. She is way bigger than me. It was terrifying.

“Lamar took her into the hallway, and I shut the door for my own safety. I could hear them screaming at each other, and I kept banging on the door telling them to leave before they got arrested.

“As soon as they left, I left – I couldn’t stay there after all the craziness.”

Polina Polonsky, a criminal defense lawyer, claims she was relaxing after a night of passion with Lamar Odom when they got a nasty surprise at 5.30 a.m., when Khloe Kardashian started banging on the door.

She claims Khloe Kardashian started shouting: “Open the door now, or I am calling the police!”

Khloe Kardashian has been accused of trying to punch Lamar Odom's alleged mistress Polina Polonsky
Khloe Kardashian has been accused of trying to punch Lamar Odom’s alleged mistress Polina Polonsky

Polina Polonsky added: “I told her to leave, but she refused. I called the front desk and asked them to call the police because I was so scared, but no one ever came.

“While Khloe was screaming outside the door, Lamar was calling people to come and get her.

“She was out of control. The whole scene was so frightening – and I couldn’t understand why we were hiding, because he made it clear that he didn’t want to be with her!”

Polina Polonsky also claims her life has been ruined by the drama surrounding her alleged affair.

She said: “[Khloe’s] investigated my loved ones, and she personally tried to attack me.

“I can’t even go home, because I’m scared that something bad will happen.

“I want my story to be made public.”

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had just been trying to rebuild their marriage following claims he had been unfaithful with dancer Jennifer Richardson.

However that was before the fresh infidelity claims were printed by Star, which is also claiming Polina Polonsky passed a lie detector (polygraph) test to prove she is telling the truth.

Lamar Odom first met Polina Polonsky at Los Angeles’ Roosevelt Hotel on June 2, where he had been staying for a week amid marital difficulties with Khloe Kardashian.

Polina Polonsky said: “I was under the impression that he had left Khloe, and that’s why he was living at the Roosevelt. He acted completely available and we definitely had a mutual attraction.”

Brunette Polina Polonsky, who claims to have had a six-week long affair with Lamar Odom, claims she had her first kiss with him on June 9th, before consummating their romance on June 13th at her apartment.

She said: “After we had s**, Lamar stayed the night with me. The next day we went back to the Roosevelt. I stayed there with him for the next couple of nights.”

However, Polina Polonsky said Khloe Kardashian was quick to discover her husband’s infidelity.

In an attempt to confront Lamar Odom while he was in the midst of being unfaithful, Polina Polonsky claims Khloe Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner made an impromptu visit to The Roosevelt Hotel.

Getting no answer after knocking on what they believed to be Lamar Odom’s door, Khloe Kardashian allegedly kicked down the door, before realizing she had the wrong room.

Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner then found the right room and reportedly confronted Lamar Odom, who was on his own as Polina Polosky was at her apartment at the time.

Polina Polonsky then claims that Lamar Odom was so infuriated by his wife’s behavior that, on June 22nd, he temporarily moved into her apartment, where he stayed until July 8th.

However, Khloe Kardashian is said to have then found out where Polina Polonsky lived, enlisting the help of momager Kris Jenner once again to confront her spouse.

But Polina Polonsky said: “I couldn’t believe they found where I lived and came to my apartment! They were knocking on the door, but Lamar refused to answer.”

This is not the first time that Lamar Odom has been accused of cheating on Khloe Kardashian.

It was previously claimed that Lamar Odom has been cheating on Khloe Kardashian with 29-year-old brunette, Jennifer Richardson, after meeting in a Washington, D.C club a year ago.

Honey Boo Boo tries bridesmaids dresses for Mama June’s wedding

Lisa.Felice
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Honey Boo Boo tries bridesmaids dresses for Mama June’s wedding

Alana Thompson, aka Honey Boo Boo, was taken back to her glamorous contest days in Wednesday’s episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Honey Boo Boo was clearly enjoying herself as she tried on garish and colorful gowns for her forthcoming role as flower girl at her mother June Shannon’s commitment ceremony to father Sugar Bear.

“To be honest, I look good in all dresses,” Honey Boo Boo told viewers after trying on a bright fuchsia pink dress complete with frilled skirt.

Alana Thompson appeared to enjoy the expedition a lot more than her older sisters, with Lauryn “Pumpkin” and Jessica “Chubbs” not used to wearing dresses.

Older sister Anna “Chickadee” faired a little better due to her being “really skinny” according to Pumpkin.

However, there was an equal amount of discussion about the smell of Pumpkin’s feet than the dresses themselves.

An ultra short minidress was dismissed by June Shannon as “not age appropriate”, before she settled for a pink and blue number.

Honey Boo Boo relived her pageant days by trying on garish bridesmaids dresses for Mama June’s wedding
Honey Boo Boo relived her pageant days by trying on garish bridesmaids dresses for Mama June’s wedding

The sisters were busying themselves in preparations for the forthcoming commitment ceremony and to take their mind of family patriarch Sugar Bear’s mystery illness.

Sugar Bear, real name Mike Thompson, remained in hospital recovering while the girls stayed in charge of cleaning the house and arranging a bridal shower for Mama June.

Of course, the food list for the big event ended up taking priority, with meatballs, steak and a buffet all being thrown forward as possible options, before the girls settled on a pizza and chicken wings for the bash.

“We hope this bridal shower will hope Mama calm down, because she needs a little celebration or something,” Chubbs told viewers.

The big day came with June Shannon accosted by her sister’s new boyfriend Jose who found himself the only man in the restaurant as June and her friends chowed down on food and drink.

However, Pumpkin ruined the sisters’ unusually ladylike behavior by squashing a slice of tiramisu in her mother’s face, which June Shannon objected to, mainly because she is not a fan of the Italian desert.

Mama June then got emotional when it came to thanking her friends and family for attending and said she hoped they’d all be at the commitment ceremony.

Earlier, the four girls had been left in charge of keeping house while Mama June was visiting her partner in the hospital.

Honey Boo Boo appeared to have a very novel way of keeping the house clean, using the same mop for the floor as the inside of the fridge and the cupboard doors.

“It is very emotional – for me and the kids,” June Shannon said.

“I’m physically drained. The other girls really look up to him as a father figure.”

Honey Boo Boo was thrilled to be reunited with her father when he was finally allowed home and the pair shared a welcome home thumb wrestle.

Sugar Bear appeared to be in rather amorous mood after putting his feet up for a few days, asking a spluttering June Shannon: “How do you feel about having another baby?”

 

Beyonce reveals her new pixie haircut

Lisa.Felice
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Beyonce reveals her new pixie haircut

Beyonce stunned her fans yesterday as she unveiled a drastic new haircut.

Beyonce, who is known for her trademark honey colored tresses, has finally ditched her long weave for an edgier short pixie crop.

To launch her new look, Beyonce, 31, posted pictures to her Instagram account showing pictures of herself gazing in the mirror.

she can also be seen from behind feeling the back of her head where her long hair used to be.

Dressed in a short sleeve printed T-shirt and gilt choker, Beyonce shared another snap showing her pixie cut from the front – slightly combed back and parted the side, complete with dark roots.

Beyonce has been a diehard weave wearer for years – and will no doubt have thought long and hard about taking this new direction.

Comparisons to Rihanna – who has worn the shorter look on and off for some years now – will be inevitable.

Beyonce stunned her fans yesterday as she unveiled a drastic new haircut
Beyonce stunned her fans yesterday as she unveiled a drastic new haircut

Rihanna has also recently unveiled her shorter natural hair after removing her weave.

Beyonce has rarely sported anything other than big, bouffant looks in since blasting onto the music scene with Destiny’s Child.

And her new look could – like Halle Berry’s short crop from film Boomerang – see a rush to hair salons for fans eager to copy her new look.

Beyonce’s wig collection was once estimated to be worth $1 million.

The wigs are mostly handcrafted and custom made for the star out of real human hair, and a single wig is reportedly worth $10,000 each.

It’s unclear if she will keep her new look for long, but the singer donates her worn pieces to an organization that provides wigs for chemotherapy patients, so they should expect something of a bonanza shortly.

Beyonce still had her longer locks as she performed her last show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Monday.

Working up a sweat beforehand, she said:  “I biked to Barclays for my last show in Brooklyn!”

Sharing photos to prove she was truthful, Beyonce made a collage showcasing her make-up free face hidden beneath a white trilby hat and aviator shades.

Syria denies Bashar al-Assad motorcade attack

Roy Siemens
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Syria denies Bashar al-Assad motorcade attack

Syrian rebels’ claims that they attacked President Bashar al-Assad’s convoy have been denied today by the information minister.

Reports that rebel rockets hit his motorcade were “dreams and illusions”, Omran Zoabi told Syrian state TV.

Rebels said they fired mortars at his convoy as it headed towards the Anas bin Malek mosque in the Malki area, where the president has a residence.

Pictures showed Bashar al-Assad unharmed at a prayer service at a Damascus mosque to mark the end of Ramadan.

Earlier, Islam Alloush of the militant Liwa al-Islam Brigade, told Reuters news agency that rebel rockets hit the president’s motorcade as it drove to the mosque in the Syrian capital.

Other activists reported rockets were fired into the same part of the city.

Bashar al-Assad unharmed at a prayer service at a Damascus mosque to mark the end of Ramadan
Bashar al-Assad unharmed at a prayer service at a Damascus mosque to mark the end of Ramadan

It was unclear whether the pictures of the president aired on Syrian state television were pre-recorded. For a brief moment they carried a “live” caption, which then swiftly vanished.

It is possible that the footage was pre-recorded, analysts said, as the reports that the president’s convoy was struck while travelling to the mosque had come around one hour previously.

All roads leading to al-Rawdha neighborhood of Damascus, where the presidential office is, were closed for security reasons before the incident, Syrian opposition sources told the pan-Arab Saudi-owned Dubai-based al-Arabiya television station.

Firas al-Bitar, a rebel leader, told al-Arabiya that 17 mortars had targeted the presidential convoy. The opposition had been given advance information on Bashar al-Assad’s movements, he asserted.

But another of the president’s opponents, Wahid Sagar, told Al Arabiya the president might have been in a different convoy to one which reportedly came under attack.

On Wednesday, Syrian government forces claimed to have killed more than 60 rebels in an ambush near Damascus.

Military sources quoted by the state news agency Sana said the victims were insurgents in the jihadist group, al-Nusra Front. They had been planning an attack on a military post, they said.

The news came as rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of Aleppo, one of Syria’s biggest cities, showing how clashes between government and rebel forces had devastated built-up areas.

International flights begin landing at Nairobi airport after fire

Diane A. Wade
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International flights begin landing at Nairobi airport after fire

International flights have begun landing at Nairobi’s international airport a day after fire gutted the arrivals hall, causing serious disruption.

A plane from London was the first to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 06:30 local time, Kenyan airport authorities said.

Other planes from Bangkok and Kilimanjaro also arrived.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. Kenyan authorities say no serious injuries were reported.

The Nairobi airport is a regional hub serving more than 16,000 passengers daily and its closure caused widespread disruption.

International flights into the city had been diverted to other airports in Eldoret and the coastal city of Mombasa.

On Wednesday the interior ministry announced the resumption of domestic and cargo services.

The fire took about four hours to bring under control, by which time the arrivals hall had been gutted.

International flights have begun landing at Nairobi's international airport a day after fire gutted the arrivals hall
International flights have begun landing at Nairobi’s international airport a day after fire gutted the arrivals hall

The Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) said that Kenya Airways flights were arriving and taking off “now at more or less normal operations”.

Other international airlines had not yet clarified their operations, it added.

The fire started in the airport’s international arrivals and immigration area at around 05:00 on Wednesday and spread quickly.

Questions are being asked about why so few fire engines were available initially.

It appears that some engines got stuck in the Kenyan capital’s notorious traffic jams. Many engines at the scene also quickly ran out of water.

Soldiers and police even came with buckets to help put out the fire, Sylvia Amondi, who was at the airport to pick up a relative who had been due to arrive there, told AFP news agency.

A third of Europe’s flower imports, and many fresh vegetables, come from Kenya and the Kenya Flower Council exporters’ association described the fire as “disastrous”.

Shares in Kenya Airways, which uses the airport as its main hub, fell 2% after the fire.

Foreign airlines which use the terminal include British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM, Turkish Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways. Several cancelled flights to Nairobi on Wednesday.

The country’s anti-terrorism chief, Boniface Mwaniki, has said he does not believe the fire – which happened on the 15th anniversary of the bombings by al-Qaeda of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – was connected to terrorism.

Correspondents say the airport is old and overcrowded.

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Cocoa helps older people keep their brains healthy

Kathryn R. Bown
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Cocoa helps older people keep their brains healthy

A new research suggests that drinking cocoa every day may help older people keep their brains healthy.

A study of 60 elderly people with no dementia found two cups of cocoa a day improved blood flow to the brain in those who had problems to start with.

Those participants whose blood flow improved also did better on memory tests at the end of the study, the journal Neurology reported.

Experts said more research was needed before conclusions could be drawn.

It is not the first time cocoa has been linked with vascular health and researchers believe that this is in part due to it being rich in flavanols, which are thought to have an important role.

In the latest study, researchers asked 60 people with an average age of 73 to drink two cups of cocoa a day – one group given high-flavanol cocoa and another a low-flavanol cocoa – and consume no other chocolate.

Drinking cocoa every day may help older people keep their brains healthy
Drinking cocoa every day may help older people keep their brains healthy

Ultrasound tests at the start of the study showed 17 of them had impaired blood flow to the brain.

There was no difference between those who drank flavanol-rich cocoa and those who had flavanol-poor cocoa.

But whichever drink they were given, 88% of those with impaired blood flow at the start of the study saw improvements in blood flow and some cognitive tests, compared with 37% of people whose blood flow was normal at the beginning of the study.

MRI scans in 24 participants found that people with impaired blood flow were also more likely to have tiny areas of brain damage.

“We’re learning more about blood flow in the brain and its effect on thinking skills,” said study author Dr. Farzaneh Sorond a neurologist at Harvard Medical School.

“As different areas of the brain need more energy to complete their tasks, they also need greater blood flow. This relationship, called neurovascular coupling, may play an important role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

The researchers said the lack of difference between the flavanol-rich and flavanol-poor cocoa could be because another component of the drink was having an effect or because only small amounts were needed.

Simon Cowell will gift Lauren Silverman a $10 million Beverly Hills mansion

Lisa.Felice
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Simon Cowell is reported to be giving Lauren Silverman a $10 million home in Beverly Hills.

Simon Cowell, 53, will gift pregnant Lauren Silverman one of his mansions in order for the 36-year-old socialite to bring up their child in Los Angeles.

Lauren Silverman is currently based in The Hamptons, near New York where she lives with her husband Andrew and their seven-year-old son Adam.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, the home is situated on the exclusive Trousdale estate in Beverly Hills and “will be given to Lauren” after her divorce.

The newspaper suggests that it is understood that Simon Cowell will live in another property nearby and see the child “when he can”.

“Simon has amassed a lot of houses with his fortune and will want to provide for his child,” a US property source told the newspaper.

Simon Cowell will give Lauren Silverman a $10 million Beverly Hills mansion to raise their child nearby
Simon Cowell will give Lauren Silverman a $10 million Beverly Hills mansion to raise their child nearby

“But he seems to give away a house every time he splits from a girlfriend, so he is getting through them more quickly than he thought.

“He has instructed his advisers to let Lauren have the house, which means she can be nearby but crucially not too close so he can get on with his work and usual lifestyle.”

It is thought Lauren Silveerman will live at the property with her mother Carole Saland and her baby.

With neighbors including Ringo Starr and Elton John, Lauren Silverman will apparently enjoy a 7,265 square-foot home complete with swimming pool and four bedrooms.

“Simon has lots of housing in Beverly Hills all close to each other and now lots of it contain his exes,” a source said.

“He doesn’t seem to mind that he could bump into them at any time, but the rate he is going he may need to buy some more.”

Simon Cowell and his beau are hoping the divorce can soon be settled.

Lauren Silverman, who is expecting a baby with the music mogul, has held “productive conversations” with her estranged husband as they continue to thrash out their divorce agreement.

 

James Gandolfini’s Rolex stolen from hotel room shortly after his death

Lisa.Felice
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0
James Gandolfini’s Rolex stolen from hotel room shortly after his death

James Gandolfini was reportedly robbed on the same day that he died of heart attack in Rome almost two months ago.

James Gandolfini’s expensive Rolex watch was stolen from his hotel room shortly after his life was tragically cut short.

According to insurance forms obtained by TMZ, a $3,000 Rolex submariner timepiece went missing from James Gandolfini’s Boscolo Luxury Hotel Exedra suite.

James Gandolfini’s expensive Rolex watch was stolen from his hotel room shortly after his life was tragically cut short
James Gandolfini’s expensive Rolex watch was stolen from his hotel room shortly after his life was tragically cut short

The form implies that the thief perhaps took the watch during the commotion following the heart attack that killed James Gandolfini.

It states that there were no signs of forced entry nor any damage done to the room.

James Gandolfini died following a massive heart attack during a family trip to the Italian city.

He was vacationing with wife Deborah Lin and his 13-year-old son Michael when he collapsed in the bathroom of his suite at the city’s Boscola Exedra Hotel on June 19.

James Gandolfini – best known for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano in hit HBO show The Sopranos – had spent the day sightseeing in Rome ahead of an expected flight to Sicily on June 22 to collect an award at the Taormina Film Festival.

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