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Spain: PM Mariano Rajoy faces renewed calls to resign over texts sent to Luis Barcenas

Diane A. Wade
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Spain: PM Mariano Rajoy faces renewed calls to resign over texts sent to Luis Barcenas

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy is facing renewed calls to resign after El Mundo newspaper published text messages allegedly linking him to Luis Barcenas, the man at the centre of a secret payments scandal.

The El Mundo report said Mariano Rajoy sent words of support to Luis Barcenas, former treasurer of the governing Popular Party (PP).

Lui Barcenas is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations.

Mariano Rajoy, too, denies any wrongdoing.

The PP’s former treasurer was due to appear before a judge on Monday, a week after he admitted for the first time that handwriting in a ledger detailing payments belonged to him.

A series of newspaper allegations that Mariano Rajoy and other top politicians received illicit payments has enraged a country in the depths of recession and record unemployment.

It is claimed that Luis Barcenas ran a PP slush fund that took donations from construction magnates and distributed them to party leaders in cash.

PM Mariano Rajoy is facing renewed calls to resign after El Mundo newspaper published text messages allegedly linking him to Luis Barcenas
PM Mariano Rajoy is facing renewed calls to resign after El Mundo newspaper published text messages allegedly linking him to Luis Barcenas

El Mundo newspaper said last week it had delivered documents with Luis Barcenas’s original ledger entries to the High Court.

Another Spanish paper, El Pais, published similar documents earlier this year.

The leader of the country’s main opposition Socialist Party, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, called for Mariano Rajoy’s immediate resignation on Sunday “given the unsustainable political situation in Spain”.

“Mr. Rajoy’s conduct in this situation can be summarized quite simply: silence, lies, and after what we have learned today, collusion, extremely serious collusion,” Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said.

El Mundo‘s most recent report includes a text message Mariano Rajoy apparently sent to Luis Barcenas in January this year – when the slush fund allegations broke.

He said: “Luis, I understand. Stay strong. I’ll call you tomorrow. A hug.”

The paper said the conversations showed Mariano Rajoy maintained “direct and permanent contact” from at least May 2011 to March 2013.

Luis Barcenas is being investigated over allegations he stashed up to 48 million euros in secret Swiss bank accounts. Prosecutors allege that some of the funds stem from illegal party donations or kickbacks.

He and his wife are also suspected of falsifying documents on their tax statements between 2002 and 2006.

Luis Barcenas and his wife deny the charges.

In June, a judge ordered Luis Barcenas to be held in jail until his trial starts after prosecutors argued that he was a flight risk.

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China’s economic growth slows again in Q2 2013

Clyde K. Valle
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China’s economic growth slows again in Q2 2013

China’s economic growth slowed in Q2 2013, the second straight quarter of weaker expansion.

The world’s second biggest economy grew by 7.5% in the April to June period compared to the previous year, down from 7.7% in the January to March period, data showed.

The figures were in line with analyst expectations.

After decades of blistering growth in China, analysts say authorities now seem ready to accept a slower pace of expansion.

The figures showed that weak trade data and actions by authorities to reign in bank lending contributed to the slower growth.

“As of now, China’s gross domestic product has been staying under 8% for five straight quarters, a clear sign of distress,” said economist Ren Xianfang from IHS Global Insight.

“The rather sharp growth deceleration and the recent financial market turmoil indicate that risks have been building on both the financial and real goods sector,” she added.

The government has set a target of 7.5% growth for the whole of 2013, which would mark the lowest rate of expansion in more than two decades.

China's economic growth slowed in Q2 2013, the second straight quarter of weaker expansion
China’s economic growth slowed in Q2 2013, the second straight quarter of weaker expansion

China has been a major driver of the global economy and many countries have gained because of the demand from Chinese companies, including the mining sector in Australia.

However, analysts questioned whether the 7.5% target would be achieved without some stimulus measures from the government.

“We will see some targeted measures to stimulate growth,” said Credit Agricole CIB economist Dariusz Kowalczyk.

“They have to do something. Otherwise they will miss their target. And they cannot afford that, because this is their first year in power.”

A spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics said: “Major indicators are within our targeted range but we face a complex situation.”

China’s leaders have repeatedly said that the long-term goal is to rebalance the economy away from an over-reliance on exports and investment, and spur consumer spending instead.

“Some measures, including the intensified property tightening campaign, new rules to curb misuse of public funds and the exit some previous stimulus policies, will inevitably have some impact on growth in the short term, but they will benefit our economy in the long run,” said Sheng Laiyun from the bureau of statistics at a press conference.

In 2012 China expanded at a rate of 7.8%, its worst annual performance in 13 years.

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Prince Charles and Duchy of Cornwall’s tax affairs under scrutiny

Clyde K. Valle
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Prince Charles and Duchy of Cornwall’s tax affairs under scrutiny

Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall’s tax affairs are due to be examined by an influential set of MPs in the UK.

Prince of Wales’ most senior official, William Nye, has been called to give evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on Monday afternoon.

The committee will consider whether Prince Charles is paying his fair share of tax and explore why the duchy does not pay corporation tax or capital gains tax.

It is only the second time that royal accounts have been examined this way.

The last time Prince Charles’s representatives came before the Public Accounts Committee they were accused of performing financial “jiggery pokery” and he was said to be the recipient of the “best housing benefit scheme in the world”.

Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall’s tax affairs are due to be examined by an influential set of MPs in the UK
Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall’s tax affairs are due to be examined by an influential set of MPs in the UK

The Duchy of Cornwall provides the heir to the throne with a private income.

Royal officials argue the duchy is a private landed estate, not a corporation or a public body, so it is exempt from capital gains tax.

They also say Prince Charles pays income tax on the money he receives from the hereditary estate after business expenses have been deducted.

Earlier this month, the prince faced calls from Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for West Cornwall, to “come clean” about the Duchy of Cornwall’s tax arrangements.

The duchy is a £762 million ($1.2 billion) estate of about 131,000 acres, mostly in the south-west of England, from which the prince received a record £19 million ($30 million) last year.

Clarence House has said public funding for the Prince of Wales fell by £1 million to £1.2 million in the last financial year, out of a total income of £20.2 million.

Cory Monteith dead: Lea Michele asks for privacy following her boyfriend’s death

Lisa.Felice
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Cory Monteith dead: Lea Michele asks for privacy following her boyfriend’s death

Cory Monteith’s girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele has asked for “privacy at this devastating time” following the death of her boyfriend.

Lea Michele, 26, released a statement on Sunday after her 31-year-old Glee co-star Cory Monteith was found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver, Canada on Saturday.

“We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea’s privacy during this devastating time,” a representative for Lea Michele told People magazine.

Cory Monteith had been in his luxury hotel room with friends on Saturday evening before heading out for the night. Lea Michele is not believed to have been with him.

“She [Lea Michele] is absolutely hysterical and completely inconsolable,” a source told HollywoodLife.com.

“She is devastated beyond belief.”

Cory Monteith’s girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele has asked for “privacy at this devastating time” following the death of her boyfriend
Cory Monteith’s girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele has asked for “privacy at this devastating time” following the death of her boyfriend

A friend of the star was spotted leaving Lea Michele’s Los Angeles home on Sunday morning to meet another friend with what appeared to be an overnight bag.

No cause of death has been confirmed at this point but there was said to be no implications of foul play. Medical examiners will conduct an autopsy on Monday.

Cory Monteith – who completed a stint of rehab in April for substance addiction – was last pictured with Lea Michele just last month.

Lea Michele and Cory Monteith are believed to have dated for around two years, with the actress and singer discussing her feelings for her co-star in an interview in Marie Claire magazine earlier this year.

“I don’t even remember a time when he wasn’t my boyfriend. No one knows me better than Cory,” Lea Michele told the January issue of the magazine.

“No one knows what it’s been like to go through this more than he does. Feeling like you have that net underneath you allows you to jump higher and go farther. He makes me feel like I can do anything.

“For the first time in my life, I feel really, really settled and happy,” she said.

“I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Cory Monteith is said to have spent his last hours enjoying an evening out with friends before he tragically passed away of unknown causes while alone in a hotel room.

Jimmy Kimmel wedding: Gabourey Sidibe pranks him arriving in white wedding dress

Lisa.Felice
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Jimmy Kimmel wedding: Gabourey Sidibe pranks him arriving in white wedding dress

Actress Gabourey Sidibe appeared to be pulling a prank on Jimmy Kimmel, wearing a white wedding dress as she arrived at his ceremony in Ojai, California on Saturday.

Taking on the role of his bride-to-be, the 30-year-old Precious star stepped out of her black Escalade limousine in the flowing gown and accompanying veil.

And Oscar winner Gabourey Sidibe even had a gal pal holding her train as she strolled across the stone path.

Avoiding the sun, Gabourey Sidibe also covered herself with a dark green umbrella.

Later, Gabourey Sidibe slipped into a red frock and white flats at the star-studded event, allowing Jimmy Kimmel’s bride Molly McNearney to be the center of attention.

Jimmy Kimmel, 45, seemed to appreciate the stunt, laughing as he greeted the actress inside the reception.

Gabourey Sidibe pranks Jimmy Kimmel as she arrives to his wedding wearing a white dress and veil
Gabourey Sidibe pranks Jimmy Kimmel as she arrives to his wedding wearing a white dress and veil

He tied the knot with his fiancée Molly McNearney at a lavish country ceremony in a quaint hill town high above Santa Barbara, California, his publicist has confirmed.

According to People magazine, invitations to the wedding requested that guests make a charitable donation in lieu of wedding gifts.

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney have been together since October 2011 and got engaged last August while on vacation at the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

They would appear to be a match made in TV heaven with Molly McNearney being the head writer on Jimmy Kimmel’s chat show, Jimmy Kimmel Live.

There will certainly be no shortage of laughter in their marital home.

It will be the second wedding for the hugely popular Jimmy Kimmel Live host who was married to first wife Gina for 14 years before they divorced in 2002. Jimmy  and Gina Kimmel have two children together.

Jimmy Kimmel then went on to date satirical comedienne Sarah Silverman, 42, but the couple broke up in July 2008 after five years together.

Recently Jimmy Kimmel spoke about the upcoming ceremony, saying: “It’ll be mostly a family affair, and there will be a Catholic priest officiating… I’m not that involved with the wedding planning, but I will be there.”

Barack Obama calls for calm after George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama calls for calm after George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

President Barack Obama has called on Americans to spend time in “calm reflection” after neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering black teenager Trayvon Martin.

Barack Obama said Trayvon Martin’s death was a tragedy for America, but that it was “a nation of laws and a jury has spoken”.

The president also called for a renewed debate about gun violence.

Trayvon Martin case case sparked a fierce debate in the US about racial profiling.

George Zimmerman, 29, had been facing possible conviction for second-degree murder or manslaughter, but on Saturday he was cleared of all charges at his trial in Sanford, Florida.

Prosecutors had argued that George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin dead on February 26, 2012, because he had racially profiled him as he walked through his neighborhood wearing a hooded sweatshirt in the rain.

Trayvon Martin was African-American. George Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.

But the defense said he had killed Trayvon Martin in self defense after the teenager punched their client, slammed his head into the pavement and reached for George Zimmerman’s gun.

The verdict sparked an angry reaction from many in the US.

Protest marches were staged in US cities including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Atlanta. In Oakland, California, some protesters started small fires and smashed windows.

In his statement, Barack Obama said the death of Trayvon Martin “was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America”.

He added: “I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher.

President Barack Obama has called on Americans to spend time in "calm reflection" after neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering black teenager Trayvon Martin
President Barack Obama has called on Americans to spend time in “calm reflection” after neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman was cleared of murdering black teenager Trayvon Martin

“But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken.”

Barack Obama said all Americans should respect the call for calm reflection from the Martin family, and that “as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities.

“We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis.

“We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this.

“As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin.”

Barack Obama had commented on the Zimmerman case in March last year, saying: “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”

Civil rights groups in the US have also called for calm, though have expressed their dismay at the verdict.

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson told CNN on Sunday: “I remain stunned at the decision. The department of justice must intervene to take this to another level.”

He said “the American legal system has once again failed justice”.

But he also appealed for calm, saying anyone seeking to “compound our pain with street justice” would do “damage to the innocent blood and legacy of Trayvon Martin”.

Rights activist Al Sharpton said the verdict was “a slap in the face to the American people”.

He compared the case to the beating of African-American man Rodney King by police in 1991, which sparked widespread rioting.

A petition launched by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), demanding that the department of justice open a civil rights case against George Zimmerman, had received more than 350,000 signatures by midday on Sunday.

Meanwhile George Zimmerman’s family and representatives have said they are afraid he could fall victim to revenge attacks.

His brother, Robert, said he had received frequent threats on social media and there was “more reason now than ever to think that people are trying to kill him”.

“He’s going to be looking over his shoulder the rest of his life,” he said.

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Trayvon Martin case: Celebrities reactions to George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Nancy Clayson
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Trayvon Martin case: Celebrities reactions to George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Beyonce stopped her concert and called for a moment of silence for Trayvon Martin, rapper Young Jeezy released a song in his memory and Russell Simmons called for peace after George Zimmerman was acquitted by a Florida jury in the death of the teenager.

There was a wide range of reactions from celebrities after jurors cleared George Zimmerman late Saturday of all charges in the 2012 shooting death of the unarmed 17-year-old Martin.

Beyonce took a moment to honor Trayvon Martin during her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Her concert started about 30 minutes after the Zimmerman verdict began to circulate.

“I’d like to have a moment of silence for Trayvon,” Beyonce star said as the stage grew dark with just a few key lights shining.

Beyonce then sang the chorus of I Will Always Love You, a song, fittingly given the location, written by country music star Dolly Parton and brought to a global audience by the late Whitney Houston, before transitioning into her hit Halo.

It was just one of several reactions from celebrities and artists following George Zimmerman’s acquittal by a six-woman jury.

Much of it focused on the perceived outrage of the situation. But others had more poignant responses.

Young Jeezy posted a new song, It’s a Cold World (A Tribute to Trayvon Martin), to his Facebook page with a comment: “I am in no way shape, form, or fashion … trying to capitalize off of the latest series of events. These are my true feelings and my form of expression about it.”

Russell Simmons, a producer and entrepreneur, posted a blog entry that said he’d be supporting the Trayvon Martin Foundation in helping to repeal laws like Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. He signed off: “God bless you little brother. Rest in peace.”

Beyonce stopped her concert and called for a moment of silence for Trayvon Martin
Beyonce stopped her concert and called for a moment of silence for Trayvon Martin

He also called for those upset with the verdict to channel their energy away from violence on Twitter, telling followers “we must remain peaceful. No matter what, remain peaceful”.

“If u have any anger this evening,” Russell Simmons wrote on Twitter, “put that energy into challenging these horrible laws that allow overly-anxious neighborhood watchmen to carry guns and shoot innocent people.”

Figures from music, film and sport repeated the sentiment while angry and saddened by the court ruling.

Stevie Johnson, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills compared the Zimmerman verdict to Michael Vicks dog fighting case.

“Living in a world where you fight dogs; you could lose everything (Mike Vick).. If you kill a black man you’re not guilty! #INjusticesystem,” Stevie Johnson wrote.

Musicians also tweeted their frustration with the jury’s verdict. Celebrities including Rihanna, Ice Cube, and Nicki Minaj criticized the court’s verdict.

Rihanna tweeted: “This is the saddest news ever!!! #whatsjustice.”

Ice Cube wrote: “The Trayvon Martin verdict doesn’t surprise me. Stanford, FL never wanted Zimmerman arrested. Now he’s free to kill another child.”

American Idol judge and pop star Nicki Minaj wrote: “And our taxes paid for that trial. We just paid to see a murderer walk free after killing an innocent unarmed little boy. #GodBlessAmerica.”

Actors spoke out against the verdict as well, sending their prayers to the Martin family and expressing their disapproval of the court’s verdict.

Singer and actress Mandy Moore responded similarly writing: “My heart is heavy…for all who knew and loved #TrayvonMartin. His life mattered. This is shameful.”

One star who overstepped the mark was New York Giants player Victor Cruz.

The footballer wrote: “Thoroughly confused. Zimmerman doesn’t last a year before the hood catches up to him.”

The message was promptly deleted.

Trayvon Martin’s father also used Twitter as a public forum to speak after the verdict was handed down in his son’s trial.

Tracy Martin released several tweets shortly after the jury’s verdict was announced.

“God blessed Me & Sybrina with Tray and even in his death I know my baby proud of the FIGHT we along with all of you put up for him GOD BLESS,” wrote Saturday night.

Then two minutes later Tracy Martin said: “Thanks to everyone who are with us and who will be with us so we together can make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

This morning he added: “Even though I am broken hearted my faith is unshattered I WILL ALWAYS LOVE MY BABY TRAY.”

Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, added: “Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have. At the end of the day, GOD is still in control. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I will love you forever Trayvon!!! In the name of Jesus!!!”

Cory Monteith’s last hours before dying in Vancouver hotel room

Lisa.Felice
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Cory Monteith’s last hours before dying in Vancouver hotel room

Cory Monteith had spent his last hours enjoying an evening out with friends before he tragically passed away of unknown causes while alone in a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada.

The 31-year-old Glee star – who completed a stint in rehab in April for substance addiction and appeared to be “happy and healthy” in recent months –  was out in Vancouver before returning alone to his Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in the city.

Cory Monteith had been in his luxury hotel room with friends on Saturday evening before heading out for the night. His girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele is not believed to have been with him.

No cause of death has been confirmed at this point but there was said to be no implications of foul play. Medical examiners will conduct an autopsy on Monday.

Recent pictures of the star showed him looking happy and healthy in the company of his long-term girlfriend after flying into LAX in California.

Cory Monteith last tweeted on Friday, joking around about the new sci-fi film Sharknado. He wrote: “What the c**p is Sharknado… Oh. IT’S A SHARK TORNADO.”

Authorities refused to say if there was any connection between Cory Monteith’s voluntary stint in rehab and his untimely death, the Toronto Star reported.

They also declined to comment on the contents of the room.

It is believed that Cory Monteith had been dead for several hours in his room before his body was found.

Cory Monteith had spent his last hours enjoying an evening out with friends before he tragically passed away of unknown causes
Cory Monteith had spent his last hours enjoying an evening out with friends before he tragically passed away of unknown causes

Cory Monteith had been due to check out of the luxury hotel on Saturday but when he failed to do so, cleaning staff went to his room where they found his body.

Paramedics were called who declared him dead at the scene shortly after noon. Police said there were no signs of foul play and said that Cory Monteith had died alone.

Video footage has revealed Cory Monteith returning to his room by himself after an evening out with friends on Friday.

Cory Monteith had checked into the hotel room on July 6 and was due to check out on Saturday.

The actor, who played the character Finn Hudson in the popular Fox show, had spoken publicly about his battle with addiction.

He had previously received treatment aged 19 and commented that he took “anything and everything”, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Cory Monteith’s family, who live in Calgary, were notified shortly before police held a press conference over the tragic news.

Acting Chief Doug LePard read in a statement: “Shortly after noon today, the Vancouver Police received a call from the BC Ambulance Service regarding a sudden death in a room on the 21st floor of the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel at 1038 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.”

Confirming: “The deceased has been identified as 31-year-old actor Cory Monteith, who achieved great fame on the popular TV series Glee.”

Before giving out further information, Doug LePard said: “I want to pass on our condolences to the family, friends, cast-mates and millions of fans of Mr. Monteith.”

Word had begun to spread on Twitter of the news late on Saturday night although there was no official comment made at that point.

Many believed it to be hoax, as it is not the first time news of his death had spread over the internet.

Tragically, this time the rumors turned out to be true. In a short statement, Cory Monteith’s publicist Melissa Kates said: “We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss.”

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Egypt freezes Muslim Brotherhood leaders assets

Roy Siemens
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Egypt freezes Muslim Brotherhood leaders assets

Public prosecutor in Egypt has frozen the assets of 14 Islamist leaders, according to judicial sources.

The Muslim Brotherhood head Mohammed Badie and his deputy Khairat al-Shater are reported to be among them.

Mohammed Badie and other Muslim Brotherhood figures are already the subject of arrest warrants, while the ousted President Mohamed Morsi remains in custody.

On Sunday, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi defended the decision to remove him from power.

In a speech, he said he had urged the Islamist president to hold a referendum on his rule days before he was overthrown.

“The response was total rejection,” he added.

Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said no group would be barred from politics: “Every political force… must realize that an opportunity is available for everyone in political life and no ideological movement is prevented from participating.”

Mohammed Badie and other Muslim Brotherhood figures are already the subject of arrest warrants in Egypt
Mohammed Badie and other Muslim Brotherhood figures are already the subject of arrest warrants in Egypt

A temporary government is tasked with leading the country under an army-backed “road map” to restore civilian rule.

The decision by Egypt’s public prosecutor Hisham Barakat to freeze the assets of senior Islamists comes amid an ongoing investigation into deadly clashes that have happened since President Mohamed Morsi was ousted.

Dozens of people have died during major demonstrations by pro- and anti-Morsi protesters in the past two weeks.

According to Egypt’s state-run Channel 1 TV, the leader of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party Mohammed Saad al-Katani has also been affected by the asset freeze, along with senior figures in rival Islamist groups.

In the meantime, Egypt’s new interim PM Hazem al-Beblawi has begun appointing people to senior cabinet posts.

Ahmed Galal, a liberal economist with a doctorate from Boston University, is to be finance minister. Nabil Fahmy, a former ambassador to the US, was named foreign minister.

Mohamed Morsi’s supporters, many of them members of the Muslim Brotherhood, have been staging a mass sit-in Cairo since their man was removed from power on July 3.

They are demanding his reinstatement as president and say the military’s removal of him amounted to a coup.

The army says it intervened to remove Mohamed Morsi in response to protests by millions of Egyptians who accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian and failing to tackle economic difficulties.

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Jessica Simpson shares bizarre photo of mother Tina tightly swaddled in a blanket

Lisa.Felice
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Jessica Simpson shares bizarre photo of mother Tina tightly swaddled in a blanket

In first tweet since giving birth to baby Ace Knute, Jessica Simpson has revealed that fiancé Eric Johnson is taking his responsibilities to the extreme.

Jessica Simpson, 33, shared a photo of her mother Tina, tightly swaddled in a blanket wearing a look of surprise.

Alongside the picture, Jessica Simpson tweeted: “Eric got carried away with his swaddling skills!”

Jessica Simpson shared bizarre photo of mother Tina tightly swaddled in a blanket
Jessica Simpson shared bizarre photo of mother Tina tightly swaddled in a blanket

A beaming Tina looked delighted to be a grandmother once more, the new addition probably taking her mind off her recent divorce from husband Joe, which was finalized in April.

New mom Jessica Simpson hasn’t been spotted since the birth of her second child via a scheduled C section on June 30.

Announcing the birth, the Fashion Star mentor’s rep told USWeekly: “Ace Knute (pronounced Ka-nute) Johnson has arrived! Mom and baby are doing great.”

“Jessica, Eric and Maxwell are thrilled to welcome the new addition to their family,” the rep continued.

Baby Ace takes the unusual middle name Knute from his Swedish paternal grandfather, but since the name was revealed it has been ridiculed on Twitter as “stupid” and “ugly”.

Jessica Simpson and 33-year-old Eric Johnson are already parents to daughter Maxwell who is almost 14-months-old.

Trayvon Martin case: Protestors gathered in major cities across US after George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Diane A. Wade
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Trayvon Martin case: Protestors gathered in major cities across US after George Zimmerman not guilty verdict

Protestors gathered in major cities across the US late into the night after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the Trayvon Martin case.

The demonstrators carried signs and gathered en mass in major cities across the country including New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles.

Though the marches were non-violent police assembled close by to monitor the crowd’s activity.

In Los Angeles and Washington D.C. protestors carried signs that read, “Stop Criminalizing Black Men”, and “Stop Impunity for Cops and Wannabe Cops”.

Protesters in D.C. marched through the streets chanting “Trayvon was murdered”, and “No justice, no peace”, according to NBC 4 Washington.

Demonstrations like the one in D.C. organized quickly in the hours after news of the verdict broke.

After the verdict was announced an outcry of rage poured out over social media and from demonstrators in front of the court house in the moments after the not guilty verdict came down in the George Zimmerman trial.

Crowds outside the courthouse were outspoken about their disappointment at the verdict and hundreds took to Twitter to voice their discontentment with the justice system and jury’s verdict.

Violent words were thrown around on the social media outlet, and many people have already declared George Zimmerman a “dead man walking”.

Protestors gathered in major cities across the US late into the night after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the Trayvon Martin case
Protestors gathered in major cities across the US late into the night after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the Trayvon Martin case

Demonstrators outside the court started chanting “Justice for Trayvon”, according to USA Today. Other shouted “The system has failed”, in front of the courthouse where they were gathered en mass.

People held up banners reading “End racial oppression” as they chanted and others just screamed “No” in shock after the verdict, SkyNews reported.

The crowd outside the Florida courthouse quickly began to protest the verdict as a chant of “no justice, no peace”, rose up according to The Orlando Sentinel.
The newspaper reported that soon after the crowd learned of the verdict the police quickly closed the entrances to the courthouse ground. Those remained inside were relatively calm.

Amongst the protesters at the courthouse were members of the New Black Panther Party who wore shirts reading, “Freedom or Death”.

The paper reported that the militants spoke of ‘injustice’ in the moments after the ruling.

“No one, no one could have foreseen that he would walk away,” James Evans Muhammad, the party chairperson told the Sentinel.

A crowd of college students were amongst the louder voices present, chanting their dissent well after the verdict was announced, according to the newspaper.

Many on Twitter also expressed their unhappiness with the outcome of the trial.

Several Twitter users started to call George Zimmerman a “dead man walking”, conjecturing on his safety after his acquittal and threatening his life on the social media platform.

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Bastille Day 2013: France’s National Day celebrations amid train crash investigation

Diane A. Wade
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Bastille Day 2013: France’s National Day celebrations amid train crash investigation

France is preparing to celebrate its national day – known as Bastille Day – as investigations continue into the country’s worst rail disaster for 25 years.

Six people were killed when a train derailed at Bretigny-sur-Orge, south of Paris, at 17:14 on Friday.

The French train operator SNCF says the crash may have been caused by a fault on the tracks.

President Francois Hollande is expected to call for solidarity in a traditional Bastille Day broadcast on Sunday.

Francois Hollande will give a series of television interviews as workers continue to inspect the wreckage.

A large crane arrived at the site on Saturday evening to lift away the remains of carriages, and to find out whether there are still bodies lying beneath.

French media are reporting that it could still take a number of days to clear the derailed cars.

Transport routes were particularly busy at the time of the crash, as France began a long weekend for Bastille Day.

The July 14 celebrations, marking the start of the French Revolution in 1789, traditionally include an annual military parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The July 14 celebrations, marking the start of the French Revolution in 1789, traditionally include an annual military parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris
The July 14 celebrations, marking the start of the French Revolution in 1789, traditionally include an annual military parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris

A minute’s silence was held across France’s train network at noon on Saturday to commemorate the victims of the accident.

Those killed were four men and two women, aged between 19 and 82. Thirty people were injured, eight seriously.

SNCF said 385 passengers were on board when the train crashed and the station platforms were crowded.

The train had just left Paris on Friday afternoon and was heading for Limoges when six carriages derailed as the train passed through Bretigny-sur-Orge station at 85mph.

The train’s third and fourth carriages derailed first and the others followed. One mounted the station platform.

Eye witnesses described the train flying into the air and flipping over. Some said it was like scenes from a “war zone” with people running and screaming.

Giving its initial findings, SNCF management told reporters a metal bar connecting two rails had become detached at points 200 m outside the station.

“It moved into the centre of the switch and in this position it prevented the normal passage of the train’s wheels and it may have caused the derailment,” said Pierre Izard, SNCF’s general manager for infrastructure.

An SNCF inquiry is now expected to focus on how the piece of metal had become detached.

Separate investigations are also being conducted by judicial authorities and France’s BEA safety agency.

Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier has praised the driver of the train, saying his quick actions averted a worse accident.

Frederic Cuvillier said the driver had “absolutely extraordinary reflexes in that he sounded the alarm immediately, preventing a collision with another train coming in the opposite direction and which would have hit the derailing carriages within seconds”.

The worst railway accident in France in living memory took place at the Gare de Lyon in Paris in 1988, when two trains collided, killing 56 people.

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Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez married in France

Lisa.Felice
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0
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez married in France

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez have reportedly married in France, following the announcement of their engagement last April.

Halle Berry, 46, and Olivier Martinez, 47, tied the knot at the Chateau des Conde in Olivier’s native France on Saturday, UsWeekly reports.

A source confirmed to the publication that Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez are now officially husband and wife.

Halle Berry is reported to have arrived in a vintage car to the sprawling Chateau des Conde in Vallery, France, where white tents had been erected to ensure the couple’s privacy.

The actress, who has been married twice before, reportedly wore a simple cream dress as she arrived in a white limousine.

A source said that a civic ceremony took place at 4.15 and then a religious one in a chapel in the grounds of the chateau at 5.30.

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez tied the knot at the Chateau des Conde in Olivier's native France on Saturday
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez tied the knot at the Chateau des Conde in Olivier’s native France on Saturday

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez boarded a flight for Paris on Tuesday with Halle’s five-year-old daughter, Nahla, joining them.

Now it appears to be the case that the family were headed to the Renaissance chateau in the Burgundy countryside, around an hour’s drive south of Paris.

Despite Halle Berry previously telling InStyle magazine of her wedding: “I do know it will be very small,” it seems that may have been a white lie, judging by the fanfare surrounding the French estate where the wedding was held.

People Magazine has reported that among the 60 guests – thought to be close friends – were the groom’s mother Rosemarie and brother Vincent.

Dinner is said to have been served for the guests at an arbor and there was also a fireworks display.

This is the first marriage for French actor Olivier Martinez, who previously dated Kylie Minogue.

It seems to be a change of heart for Halle Berry, who once declared six years ago: “I will never, never get married again.”

However, Halle Berry laughed as her comments came back to haunt her just last week, when she was quizzed by impending nuptials, saying: “I swore it off, right? Never say never, people!”

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez began dating after meeting on the set of Dark Tides in August 2010, and they announced their engagement less than two years later – in March 2012.

The actress is currently pregnant with her first child with Olivier Martinez – a baby boy who is due sometime around October.

The couple announced their happy news in April this year, before the proud dad-to-be accidentally let slip that they are having a son.

“My son will be an American, but I remain French,” he told People magazine on June 12.

Faye Jones: Missing teenager feared to be on the run with Turkish waiter Murat Can Ertani she met on holiday

Nancy Clayson
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Faye Jones: Missing teenager feared to be on the run with Turkish waiter Murat Can Ertani she met on holiday

Faye Jones, a British schoolgirl who went missing while on holiday with her mother in Turkey, is believed to be on the run with Turkish waiter Murat Can Ertani.

Faye Jones, 16, from Cramlington, Northumberland, has not been seen for three days since she fled with Murat Can Ertani, 22, in the popular coastal resort of Marmaris.

Her mother, Rhonda Jones, has been frantically searching for her ever since, but fears she may never see her again.

Turkish police say Murat Can Ertani is a criminal and has spent time in jail.

“This is my worst nightmare. She’s my only child and I’m a single parent. I never imagined she would run away,” she said.

Faye and Rhonda Jones flew over to Marmaris on June 27 to visit her grandmother who is retired and lives among the ex-pat community.

The schoolgirl was to be allowed to stay with her throughout the summer as a reward for working hard towards her GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

According to Rhonda Jones, Murat Can Ertani was already waiting for her. The pair had met when the family visited the same resort on holiday last year.

Rhonda Jones, 39, told the Sunday Mirror she knew they had become friends on Facebook but that it was “nothing serious”.

Faye Jones, who went missing while on holiday with her mother in Turkey, is believed to be on the run with Turkish waiter Murat Can Ertani
Faye Jones, who went missing while on holiday with her mother in Turkey, is believed to be on the run with Turkish waiter Murat Can Ertani

“Faye’s not been into boys,” she told the newspaper.

“She’s been studying for her GCSEs at home and sometimes I have had to prize her out of her bedroom at home.”

The friendship was allowed to continue on the basis that Faye Jones was never alone with Murat Can Ertani.

But Rhonda Jones said things turned sour after an incident in a bar when Murat Can Ertani allegedly slapped Faye’s friend Georgina.

Mother and daughter argued and Rhonda Jones was so alarmed she decided to call off the summer stay. She told Faye she would be returning home her.

But unbeknown to Rhonda, Faye was still staying in touch with Murat Can Ertani via text. She waited until her mother took a last trip to the swimming pool before they caught the bus to the airport and then fled.

Rhonda Jones said as she ran out of the hotel she could see her daughter getting into a green car. She chased it down the street but was unable to catch up and Faye disappeared.

Turkish police were alerted and Faye Jones was spotted a few hours later in a shopping plaza, but when officers gave chase the couple escaped, dumping the schoolgirl’s suitcase in the process.

Rhonda Jones said she has spent every waking moment searching for her missing daughter.

She told the Sunday Mirror: “I just want Faye to know she’s not in trouble and to remind her how very much I love her. I have to know she’s OK. I’m desperate for her to come back home.”

More than 30 Turkish police officers are said to be on the case and the family have been putting missing person posters up around the resort.

The governor of Marmaris says authorities are doing all they can and are working round the clock to find Faye Jones.

The British Consulate is also offering support but Rhonda Jones says she feels she is battling on her own.

“I’ve been out day and night – I’ve never slept and I’m not hearing nothing,” the mother added.

JK Rowling publishes crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling under pseudonym Robert Galbraith

Sonia Pantiss
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JK Rowling publishes crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling under pseudonym Robert Galbraith

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has secretly written a crime novel – The Cuckoo’s Calling – under the guise of male debut writer Robert Galbraith.

The British author was acclaimed for The Cuckoo’s Calling, about a war veteran turned private investigator called Cormoran Strike.

The book, published in April, has sold 1,500 copies in hardback so far.

Her secret emerged after the Sunday Times wondered how a first-time author could produce such an accomplished work.

JK Rowling said: “I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience.

“It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name.”

JK Rowling has secretly written crime novel The Cuckoo's Calling under the guise of male debut writer Robert Galbraith
JK Rowling has secretly written crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling under the guise of male debut writer Robert Galbraith

One reviewer described The Cuckoo’s Calling as a “scintillating debut”. Another praised the male author’s ability to describe women’s clothes.

A clue that JK Rowling was behind the novel was that she and “Robert Galbraith” shared an agent and editor.

The book was published by Sphere, part of Little, Brown Book Group which published JK Rowling’s foray into writing novels for adults, The Casual Vacancy.

There were also similarities in style between The Cuckoo’s Calling and JK Rowling’s other works.

JK Rowling said her editor, David Shelley, had been “a true partner in crime”.

Crime writer Peter James told the Sunday Times: “I thought it was by a very mature writer, and not a first-timer.”

The fictitious Robert Galbraith was supposed to have been a former plain-clothes Royal Military Police investigator who had left the armed forces in 2003 to work in the civilian security industry.

In previous interviews, JK Rowling has said she would prefer to write novels after Harry Potter under a pseudonym.

Another Cormoran Strike book by Robert Galbraith is in the pipeline, to be published next year.

Cory Monteith found dead at Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver

Sonia Pantiss
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Cory Monteith found dead at Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver

Cory Monteith has been found dead in a Vancouver hotel, police say.

Glee star Cory Monteith, 31, who played Finn Hudson in the Fox TV hit, was found dead at the Pacific Rim Hotel in the city centre on Saturday, said police.

The cause of death was not immediately apparent, police say, but foul play has been ruled out.

Cory Monteith, who had been in the musical comedy since its 2009 start, was treated for drug addiction in April, and had a history of substance-abuse.

His body was found by Pacific Rim staff after he missed his check-out time on Saturday, said Vancouver’s Deputy Police Chief Doug Lepard.

Cory Monteith has been found dead in a Vancouver hotel
Cory Monteith has been found dead in a Vancouver hotel

Cory Monteith had returned to his room at the Pacific Rim alone early on Saturday morning having been out with friends earlier in the evening, said Deputy Police Chief Lepard.

Coroner Lisa Lapointe said: “We do not have a great deal of information as to cause of death.”

Cory Monteith had been dating Lea Michele, who played his opposite number Rachel Berry in Glee, which follows a group of American secondary school misfits in their quest for singing contest glory.

Lea Michele loved and supported her long-term boyfriend and was proud he was seeking help, she told People magazine at the time.

Calgary-born Cory Monteith described himself on Twitter as “tall, awkward, Canadian, actor, drummer, person”.

Cory Monteith was treated for drug abuse aged 19 and had been open about his battle against addiction, telling one interviewer he took “anything and everything”.

Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman found not guilty for killing black teenager

Nancy Clayson
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Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman found not guilty for killing black teenager

George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watchman who shot dead unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin last year, has been found not guilty.

Lawyers for George Zimmerman, 29, argued he acted in self-defense and with justifiable use of deadly force in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The jury retired on Friday to consider its verdict on charges of either second-degree murder or manslaughter.

The case sparked a fierce debate about racial profiling in the US.

Protesters are gathering in Sanford, the Florida town where the shooting took place.

Police and community leaders have appealed for calm.

After the verdict, Judge Deborah Nelson told George Zimmerman he was free to go.

“Your bond will be released. Your GPS monitor will be cut off when you exit the courtroom over here. And you have no further business with the court,” Judge Nelson said.

George Zimmerman showed little reaction as the verdict was read out.

“Hopefully everyone will respect the jury’s verdict,” his lawyer Mark O’Mara told reporters after the case.

Mark O’Mara said George Zimmerman would now have to be “very cautious and protective of his safety because there is still a fringe element who have said that they would revenge – that they would not listen to – a verdict of not guilty.”

Lawyers for George Zimmerman argued he acted in self-defense and with justifiable use of deadly force in the death of Trayvon Martin
Lawyers for George Zimmerman argued he acted in self-defense and with justifiable use of deadly force in the death of Trayvon Martin

Another member of his defense team, Don West, said: “I’m thrilled that this jury kept this tragedy from becoming a travesty.”

The case brought into sharp relief some of the most divisive issues in the United States: race, gun control and equal justice under the law.

Florida police did not arrest George Zimmerman for six weeks after the shooting, provoking mass rallies in Florida and throughout the US.

Under the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law, the use of lethal force is allowed if a person feels seriously under threat.

Benjamin Crump, the Martin family lawyer, said: “Trayvon Martin will forever remain in the annals of history… as a symbol for the fight for equal justice for all.”

He, too, appealed for calm, saying “for Trayvon to rest in peace, we must all be peaceful”.

The family’s legal team said they were not in the courtroom when the verdict was read out.

State Attorney Angela Corey said she believed prosecutors had “brought out the truth on behalf of Trayvon Martin”.

“This case has never been about race or the right to bear arms,” she said.

“We believe this case all along was about boundaries, and George Zimmerman exceeded those boundaries.”

As the jury retired on Friday, the judge told the panel of six women to consider whether George Zimmerman acted in self-defense and with justifiable use of deadly force.

Without explicitly discussing race, the prosecution had suggested George Zimmerman assumed the African-American teenager, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt as he walked in the rain, was up to no good.

But the defense said Trayvon Martin punched their client, slammed his head into the pavement and reached for George Zimmerman’s gun.

The accused, who was legally armed with a pistol, had been sitting in his vehicle on a dark street when he saw Trayvon Martin.

George Zimmerman telephoned police to report a suspicious person, then left his vehicle in apparent pursuit of the teenager.

Shortly afterwards, Trayvon Martin was found dead, shot in the chest.

Earlier, George Zimmerman’s lawyer said he had proven his client’s “pure, unadulterated innocence” in Martin’s death.

But prosecutors said the accused had told a series of lies.

President Barack Obama commented on the case last March following calls for the arrest of George Zimmerman.

He said the “tragedy” of an unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida should prompt some national soul-searching.

“If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon,” President Obama told reporters at the White House.

Following the verdict, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – best known for its battles against segregation and discrimination – said it was calling “immediately for the Justice Department to conduct an investigation into the civil rights violations committed against Trayvon Martin”.

“This case has re-energized the movement to end racial profiling in the United States,” Roslyn M. Brock, chairwoman of the NAACP, said in a statement.

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Typhoon Soulik: 300,000 people evacuated in eastern China

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Soulik: 300,000 people evacuated in eastern China

Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern China have fled their homes as Typhoon Soulik moves inland amid warnings of floods and landslides, state media report.

Winds of 74 mph lashed the coastal Fujian Province, said China’s National Meteorological Centre.

Emergency response plans were being implemented, said Xinhua state media, after recent torrential rain reportedly left 200 people dead or missing.

The typhoon earlier led to extensive flooding on the island of Taiwan.

Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern China have fled their homes as Typhoon Soulik moves inland amid warnings of floods and landslides
Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern China have fled their homes as Typhoon Soulik moves inland amid warnings of floods and landslides

So far one person is reported to have been killed on the island, while more than 8,500 people were evacuated from mountainous and other areas prone to landslides.

In Fujian and Zhejiang, another Chinese coastal province, flights and train services were cancelled and fishing boats called back to shore.

In Taiwan, a police officer was killed by falling bricks but other people suffered mostly light injuries, including from fallen trees or being blown off their scooters.

The strong winds and heavy rain have caused electricity disruptions, a run on food and essential supplies in supermarkets, and uprooted trees and signs in some areas.

Soulik was the first typhoon to hit Taiwan this year and there had been fears of major damage because the island was the first place it made landfall, reports the BBC’s Cindy Sui in the capital Taipei: Nearly 50,000 soldiers were put on standby.

Typhoons are common during the summer in parts of East Asia, where the warm moist air and low pressure conditions enable tropical cyclones to form.

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Lindsay Lohan to have reality series on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network

Lisa.Felice
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Lindsay Lohan to have reality series on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network would be airing an eight party reality series after Lindsay Lohan emerges from court enforced rehab.

In an attempt to distance the program from the negative connections connected to reality television, OWN have dubbed the eight-part television event a docu-series.

Entertainment Weekly revealed that the cable channel had not only secured the rights to the first interview with Lindsay Lohan, 27, after she finishes her 90-day stint at the Ciffside centre in Malibu, California, but the likely to be highly anticipated series as well.

A spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey’s network told Entertainment Weekly: “OWN will air an exclusive interview with Oprah and Lindsay Lohan that will tape and air in August.”

Lindsay Lohan fans will have to wait a lot longer for the docu-series, with the spokesperson confirming it will not air until 2014.

However, those expecting an inside view of the shambles the star’s life has become since her mutiple arrests may be disappointed.

Oprah Winfrey's OWN network would be airing an eight party reality series after Lindsay Lohan emerges from court enforced rehab
Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network would be airing an eight party reality series after Lindsay Lohan emerges from court enforced rehab

The eight-part series is sold as more of an inspirational show than a side show, described as following “the actress as she works to rebuild her career and stay healthy”.

This is not the first time television has tried to make a reality series about Lindsay Lohan’s life.

According to Entertainment Weekly: “Lohan has turned down unscripted project offers for years, preferring to focus on scripted acting roles.”

However, Lindsay Lohan and her family did feature in reality show Living Lohan that aired on E! in 2008.

Prior to Lindsay Lohan’s legal dramas, it was not well received with one critic even describing it as “not just a symptom of cultural decay but an active agent of it”.

Anderson Cooper also slammed the show saying: “I cannot believe I’m wasting a minute of my life watching these horrific people.”

Lindsay Lohan, who turned 27 last week, is not set for release from rehab until July 31.

She will be out however, just in time for the release of her latest film The Canyons.

Premiering August 2, The Canyons – written by Bret Easton Ellis and directed by Paul Schrader – sees Lindsay Lohan play a girl who “sold her pride for material comfort”.

Lindsay Lohan’s character – who stars along side James Deen – laments about her need to stay away from Hollywood’s intrusion in her life.

Lady Gaga unveils first image and release date for new single and album Artpop

Sonia Pantiss
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Lady Gaga unveils first image and release date for new single and album Artpop

Lady Gaga has been keeping a low-profile in recent months after recuperating from her hip surgery and working on her new album.

Now she starts to build buzz around her upcoming album Artpop and new single.

Lady Gaga unveiled a new promotional picture from her new album, which will be released as a phone app.

Lady Gaga unveiled a new promotional picture from her new album Artpop, which will be released as a phone app
Lady Gaga unveiled a new promotional picture from her new album Artpop, which will be released as a phone app

The photo sees the singer with an unusual visor covering her face.

Lady Gaga announced on Friday that her new single would be released on August 10, with the album/app following on November 11.

Describing the album, the press release said: “The app itself is a musical and visual engineering system that combines music, art, fashion and technology with a new interactive worldwide community <<the auras>>. Altering the human experience with socal media, we bring ARTculture into POP in a reverse Warholian expedition.

“Exploring Gaga’s existence as a cultural interface, the user will share in the <<adrenaline of fame>> as they build and share their own projects, chat with one another and watch in real-time on a virtual globe as ARTPOP explodes into the physical and virtual universe at once on November 11, our <<Big Bang>>.

“On this day, HAUS OF GAGA venges  with forte to bring the music industry into a new age, an age where art drives pop and the artist once again is in control of the icon.

“In turn, the album ARTPOP musically mirrors Gaga’s creative process as she passes through the mediums of each artist she collaborates with, scoring a blueprint of her journey. The result, a <<rage>> of electronic passion and fury, defining each artistic process from beginning to end, Artpop could mean anything. But for her, this is a celebration of obsession.”

Lady Gaga’s Facebook posting comes after she has given herself a self-imposed Twitter ban since June 26.

The profile photo and backdrop has been removed and replaced with the standard Twitter egg icon.

However, it is believed Lady Gaga will return to Twitter once her single comes out next month.

Pran Krishan Sikand dies in Mumbai at the age of 93

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Pran Krishan Sikand dies in Mumbai at the age of 93

Veteran Bollywood actor Pran Krishan Sikand, popularly known as Pran, has died in Mumbai at the age of 93.

Pran was famous for playing the part of the villain in Hindi films, in a career that stretched more than six decades.

Between the 1960s and 1980s, he appeared in nearly every major Bollywood film, elevating the role of the villain to cult status.

Pran was famous for playing the part of the villain in Hindi films, in a career that stretched more than six decades.
Pran was famous for playing the part of the villain in Hindi films, in a career that stretched more than six decades.

The actor won many honors throughout his career, including the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Pran Krishan Sikand, was born in Lahore, in what is now Pakistan. A chance encounter with a screenwriter is said to have led him to his first role in a Punjabi film, Yamla Jat, in 1940.

Moving to India after partition, he started out as the main protagonist. But after excelling as a villain, he was almost invariably cast in such roles.

Pran played in more than 350 films, including the blockbusters of their day.

Most famously, he played opposite Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan in the 1973 film Zanjeer, in which Pran underwent a dramatic transformation into a good man.

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French train crash blamed on rail track fault

Nancy Clayson
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French train crash blamed on rail track fault

The French train crash which left six people dead may have been caused by a fault in the rail tracks, says SNCF, the state rail company.

SNCF said a metal bar connecting two rails had become detached close to Bretigny-sur-Orge station.

Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier has praised the driver, saying his quick actions averted a worse accident.

Those killed were four men and two women, aged between 19 and 82. Thirty people were injured, eight seriously.

A minute’s silence was held across France’s train network at noon on Saturday to commemorate the victims.

The train had just left Paris on Friday afternoon and was heading for Limoges when it derailed at Bretigny-sur-Orge at 17:14 on Friday.

Transport routes were particularly busy at the time, as France began a long weekend for Bastille Day.

Six carriages derailed as the train passed through the station at 137 km/h (85 mph). The train’s third and fourth carriages derailed first and the others followed. One mounted the station platform.

Giving its initial findings, SNCF management told reporters the connector had worked its way loose and become detached at points 200 m outside Bretigny station.

The French train crash which left six people dead may have been caused by a fault in the rail tracks
The French train crash which left six people dead may have been caused by a fault in the rail tracks

“It moved into the centre of the switch and in this position it prevented the normal passage of the train’s wheels and it may have caused the derailment,” Pierre Izard, SNCF’s general manager for infrastructure, told reporters.

The inquiry is now expected to focus on how the piece of metal had become detached.

Checks are being carried out on some 5,000 similar connections across the whole of the rail network.

A crane has arrived on site to lift a carriage which was left on its side.

Regional government head Michel Fuzeau said there was a possibility that more bodies could be found underneath, but that there was “no hope of finding anyone wounded”.

Aside from SNCF, investigations are being conducted by judicial authorities and France’s BEA safety agency.

Frederic Cuvillier said the driver had “absolutely extraordinary reflexes in that he sounded the alarm immediately, preventing a collision with another train coming in the opposite direction and which would have hit the derailing carriages within seconds”.

SNCF said 385 passengers were on board when the train crashed and the station platforms were crowded.

Local media said a group of people had attempted to steal from the victims and rescuers shortly after the crash and threw stones at emergency workers as they tried to reach passengers.

However, later Frederic Cuvillier said there had only been “isolated acts”, including an attempt to steal a mobile phone – although small groups had given the rescuers a “somewhat rough welcome”.

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Paris Jackson released from UCLA Medical Center and moved to a treatment center

Lisa.Felice
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Paris Jackson released from UCLA Medical Center and moved to a treatment center

Paris Jackson has been released from hospital and moved to another medical facility, one month after trying to take her own life.

Michael Jackson’s daughter was admitted to UCLA Medical Center following her suicide attempt on June 5, and on Tuesday she was taken to other facility.

The location of Paris Jackson’s new residence is unknown but a source close to the family have confirmed that the treatment centre was chosen by her grandmother Katherine and biological mother Debbie Rowe.

The two women selected the new medical facility on the advice of the 15-year old’s doctors at the UCLA hospital.

Paris Jackson has been released from hospital and moved to another medical facility, one month after trying to take her own life
Paris Jackson has been released from hospital and moved to another medical facility, one month after trying to take her own life

A source told People magazine that the decision to take Paris Jackson – who slashed her wrists and overdosed on pills – to another treatment centre rather that home was for her own benefit.

“The feeling is that Paris is still a danger to herself,” the insider explained.

“Both Katherine and Debbie want her to get the help that she needs.”

It is unknown if this treatment centre is the same location reported in The Sun and The New York Post, which claims the troubled teen would be moving into the $10 million Diamond Ranch Academy in Utah.

“As far as Paris is concerned she is fine and is ready to go home, but the doctors and her family are not taking any chances. She tried to end her own life and it doesn’t get more serious than that,” a source close to the family said.

“They are terrified she will have a major relapse if she has access to Twitter and the Internet again – especially with all the shocking information that is coming out in the AEG wrongful death court case.”

The insider continued: “[The Diamond Ranch Academy] is a secluded treatment centre for 12 to 18-years-olds that specializes in depression and grief management.

“While she’s there she can be around kids going through similar problems and concentrate on getting well again, without pressures from the outside world and all the negativity on the Internet.”

Paris Jackson has allegedly struggled with depression since her father died at the age of 50 in 2009.

George Soros and Tamiko Bolton wedding planned for September

Lisa.Felice
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0
George Soros and Tamiko Bolton wedding planned for September

George Soros is sparing no expense for his September wedding to his third wife, Tamiko Bolton.

George Soros, 82, and his 41-year-old girlfriend have reportedly printed about 1,000 invitations for the “extremely color-coordinated” celebrations but have only sent out “several hundred” to family and friends.

Guests will be treated to several events in different locations, but won’t have to splash out on a gift for the couple, who got engaged last August.

The Daily News reports George Soros and Tamiko Bolton will only use vendors in and around New York City, where the wedding will be held.

“All the food will be farm-to-table and the flowers will be in-season flowers. They will not be shipped in from elsewhere,” a source told the Daily News.

And the celebrations are expected to have a strict color theme.

Tamiko Bolton’s wedding planner was spied meeting with assistants at the Openhouse Gallery on Mulberry St. two weeks ago, and watched models trying on different caterer clothing.

“It was a full-on runway show for the planner to decide on outfits for the staff to wear,” the insider said.

George Soros is sparing no expense for his September wedding to his third wife, Tamiko Bolton
George Soros is sparing no expense for his September wedding to his third wife, Tamiko Bolton

George Soros and Tamiko Bolton, who met in the spring of 2008 and formally announced their engagement at a party at Soros’ summer mansion in Southampton last year, reportedly sent out only several hundred of the 1,000 invitations printed for their big day.

“The wedding will be attended by friends, family and colleagues from around the world, including George’s five children and the bride’s entire family,” the source told the Daily News.

“They will all come to New York and then other events, like the reception and a brunch, will be held at different locations around the city.”

Despite being treated to the best money can buy, the lucky guests won’t have to give the wealthy newlyweds a gift.

Instead guests have been asked to donate to either the National Dance Institute, the Harlem Children’s Zone, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the human rights group Global Witness.

This will be George Soros’s third marriage and the second for Tamiko Bolton, who was married briefly before.

George Soros has five children from his marriages to Annaliese Witschak, whom he split with in 1983, and Susan Weber Soros, who he divorced in 2005.

He rose to fame and fortune two decades ago on a now-historic trade, in which he took on the Bank of England and shrewdly wagered on a devaluation of the pound.

In 2011, George Soros, an active contributor to politically liberal causes, converted his hedge fund into a family office and stopped managing money for outside investors.

Tamiko Bolton, who once started an Internet-based dietary supplement business and is now running a web-based yoga education business, has a masters degree in business from the University of Miami.

Kim Kardashian and baby North West moving out of Kris Jenner’s house

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian and baby North West moving out of Kris Jenner’s house

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their daughter North have been living in Kris Jenner’s since the baby birth on June 15.

But Kim Kardashian, 32, initially had some serious reservations about moving in with mother Kris Jenner, and is now rumored to be upping sticks.

In a preview for Sunday’s episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian is not convinced as Kris Jenner urges her to move in.

Kim Kardashian had been looking at rental properties but her mother and manager offered her another option.

“You don’t want to be all the way on the other side and you need one of us,” Kris Jenner told her heavily pregnant daughter.

“You’re going to be isolated in Beverly Hills with a baby.”

She went on: “Live with me in this gorgeous house. That would be the perfect scenario.”

But Kim Kardashian wasn’t so keen – because she “hates” the black and white interior of her mother’s home.

“I can’t take a shower in a black shower,” she whined.

In a surprisingly endearing turn, Kris Jenner then attempted to win Kim Kardashian over to the shower by saying that she feels “like a ninja” in it.

But the move was simply met by silence from Kim Kardashian and sister Kourtney and a pitying laugh from Kendall Jenner.

Kim Kardashian had been looking at rental properties but her mother and manager offered her another option
Kim Kardashian had been looking at rental properties but her mother and manager offered her another option

Kim Kardashian was determined to finish her rant and said: “The toilet paper’s black. I like to see what I’m s****ing and what I’m wiping.”

And she had the full support of her big sister Kourtney on the matter at hand.

Kourtney Kardashian, 34, wide-eyed and serious, said: “The toilet paper also leaves little black dots in your v**.”

Kris Jenner, 57, thought of the perfect solution to the problem by offering to buy white toilet paper, but a part of Kim Kardashian still remained unconvinced.

She told the cameras: “I just know I’m going to get crazy and I’ll go crazy living here. I don’t know what to do.”

The preview comes as reports have emerged that Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and baby North have now found a mansion to rent until renovations are complete on their Bel Air home.

A source told Radar Online: “Kim and Kanye have finally settled on a temporary mansion for their family to move into. It should be ready for them to move in the next two weeks.

“It’s over 8,000 square feet and offers complete privacy, which was a big concern of Kanye’s. The security system is being upgraded and Nori’s nursery is being outfitted with surveillance cameras.”

And North’s safety is apparently of utmost concern for rapper Kanye West.

The insider added: “When it comes to Nori’s safety, Kanye isn’t taking any chances. Kim has had stalkers in the past, so nothing is being left to chance.

“Of course, Kim wants everything to be perfect immediately for their temporary residence, even though it’s a rental. Family pictures are being hung on the walls in the house, and Kim is talking about painting Nori’s room.”

 

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