It appears that US officials play down the North Korean threats, after weeks of bellicose statements from Pyongyang.
A White House spokesman said the US “would not be surprised” if North Korea launched a missile, while a top US military officer said recent threats appeared to fit a familiar pattern.
North Korea has threatened to attack both US and South Korean targets.
The communist country has told foreign embassies it cannot guarantee their safety in a conflict and diplomats in Pyongyang were asked on Friday to tell the foreign ministry by April 10 what help they would need in evacuating.
It appears that US officials play down the North Korean threats, after weeks of bellicose statements from Pyongyang
The warning prompted Russia to ask whether Pyongyang was offering help in the event of a conflict, or making a decision.
South Korean media reported on Friday that North Korea had moved two intermediate range missiles into position on the east coast.
The missiles are untested but it is believed they could reach as far as the Pacific Island of Guam, where the US has a military base, and where it has confirmed it will deploy a missile defense system.
South Korean news agency Yonhap said two warships equipped with Aegis defense systems would monitor the situation.
North Korea has issued a series of unusually strong threats since it was sanctioned by the UN in March for having carried out a third nuclear test.
It has threatened nuclear strikes on the US, formally declared war on the South, and pledged to reopen a nuclear reactor in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday a missile launch would not be unexpected.
“We would not be surprised to see them take such an action,” he said.
“We have seen them launch missiles in the past.”
Seoul has also played down North Korea’s reported missile move, saying it may be planning a test rather than a hostile act.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, called North Korea’s nuclear threat “reckless”, but said it seemed to fit a decades-long pattern of escalation followed by accommodation.
“I wouldn’t say I see anything to lead me to believe that this is a different kind of cycle,” he told the Associated Press news agency.
Even so, Gen. Martin Dempsey said the cycle was more unpredictable because relatively little was known about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who came to power after his father’s death in December 2011.
“Though we’ve always said that North Korea has been a bit opaque to us, in the past we’ve understood their leadership and the influencers a little better than we do today,” he said.
Many of North Korea’s angry statements have cited the annual military exercises between US and South Korean forces as provocation.
The US flew nuclear-capable B2 and B52 bombers over the South as part of the drill, and has since deployed warships with missile defense systems to the region.
Gen. Martin Dempsey said US moves had been “largely defensive and exclusively intended to reassure our allies”.
North Korea has not taken direct military action since 2010, when it shelled a South Korean island and killed four people.
Despite its warning that it could not guarantee the safety of foreign embassies, both Russia and the UK said they had no immediate plans to evacuate their embassies in Pyongyang.
President Barack Obama has apologized to California Attorney General Kamala Harris for the “good looking” remarks he made at a fundraising event on Thursday.
Barack Obama described Kamala Harris, a long-time friend, as “the best-looking attorney general in the country”.
Kamala Harris’s spokesman said she strongly supported Barack Obama but would not say whether she had accepted his apology.
Critics have cited the remark as an example of the ongoing hurdles women face in the workplace.
Speaking after Kamala Harris at the fundraising event in California on Thursday, Barack Obama said she was “brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you’d want in anybody who is administering the law and making sure that everybody is getting a fair shake”.
President Barack Obama has apologized to California Attorney General Kamala Harris for the “good looking” remarks he made at a fundraising event on Thursday
Then the president added: “She also happens to be by far the best-looking attorney general in the country… It’s true. Come on. And she is a great friend and has just been a great supporter for many, many years.”
On Friday, the White House said President Barack Obama had spoken to AG Kamala Harris to apologize for the “distraction” created by his comments.
“He did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments and her capabilities,” press secretary Jay Carney said.
Jay carney added that the president “fully recognizes the challenge women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance”.
Writers and bloggers have commented that although Barack Obama is a personal friend of Kamala Harris and a strong supporter of women’s rights, his remarks were inappropriate.
The Rolling Stones tickets for the band’s Hyde Park concert in July sold out in just five minutes.
Despite fans voicing concerns about the high cost of admission, which started at £95 ($150), the 65,000 tickets for Hyde Park gig went within minutes of being put on general release on Friday morning.
AEG Live promoter Rob Hallett said the response had been “incredible”.
Rob Hallett said: “We sold 65,000 tickets in the speed the system could handle it. If the system could handle it in seconds, we would have probably sold out in seconds.”
The Rolling Stones tickets for the band’s Hyde Park concert in July sold out in just five minutes
Tickets cost £95, although there were hospitality packages for sale at up to £299, but Rob Hallett said basic ticket-holders would not lose out.
He said: “The band wanted the regular ticket-holders to be right at the front of the stage staring at the whites of their eyes, not 200 yards away.
“The people who have coughed up for hospitality packages will get looked after in a way they have never known before.
“But when the doors open, if you can run faster than the next guy, it will be like any other general admission gig. You will get down front.”
The Rolling Stones will headline the Hyde Park gig in July, almost 44 years to the day they played a famous free concert in the central London park.
The band will also headline Glastonbury and play a north American tour later this year.
The Rolling Stones first ever concert in Hyde Park, which was on 5 July 1969, was just two days after the death of founder member Brian Jones and marked the live debut of his replacement guitarist, Mick Taylor.
Guitarist Keith Richards said he hoped there would be “some emotion involved” in the new gig.
Khloe Kardashian has revealed the secrets behind her 20 lb weight loss.
The reality star slimmer figure owes it in part to heart-pumping, foot-stomping boxing sessions.
Khloe Kardashian, 28, who has taken to wearing a series of skintight outfits lately, showed off her newly svelte figure on Thursday as she headed to an organic juice cafe in Los Angeles.
She said the sport keeps her motivated and prevents her from throwing in the towel on exercise.
“Well, I love to box,” Khloe Kardashian told OK! magazine.
Khloe Kardashian revealed her 20 lb weight loss owes it in part to heart-pumping, foot-stomping boxing sessions
“I’ve always boxed. I just love it. I’m good at it. I get the circuit really well.
“Like when they yell out numbers I’m really fast and good with it and it keeps me really entertained
“I don’t get bored and you shed weight when you do it.”
Khloe Kardashian’s motivator is world-famous trainer-to-the-stars Gunnar Peterson.
“I’ve been working out with Gunnar but I’ve been doing like a lot,” she said.
“I switch it up because I get really bored. So I do either Pilates or I go to Equinox gym and I make sure I do cardio, if I don’t do anything.
“But I love Gunnar for like my circuit training.”
Khloe Kardashian also turned to her older sister Kourtney – who has children Mason, 3, and Penelope, 9 months, with partner Scott Disick – for advice after seeing how quickly she has shed her pregnancy weight, according to Us Weekly.
Argentina has made an official protest after Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica was caught on microphone apparently referring to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as an “old hag”.
President Jose Mujica was overheard saying: “This old hag is even worse than the one-eyed man.” (Esta vieja es peor que el tuerto.)
A Uruguayan newspaper has posted audio of Jose Mujica’s comments on its website.
It has claimed that Jose Mujica was referring to Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband, who she succeeded as president.
Cristina Fernandez’s husband, Nestor Kirchner, had a lazy eye. He died suddenly of a heart attack in 2010.
Uruguayan President Jose Mujica was caught on microphone apparently referring to Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as an old hag
President Jose Mujica has denied that he had been talking about the Kirchners, but has so far failed to explain who else he was referring to.
Jose Mujica made the comments at the start of a news conference while speaking quietly with another official.
El Observador newspaper posted the audio on its website, claiming that the president did not realize that the microphones were on.
The newspaper said that its website has crashed because of historically high levels of traffic generated by its coverage of the incident which has also gained the attention of social media.
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman summoned the Uruguayan ambassador in Buenos Aires, Guillermo Pomi, to protest about the comments.
“It is unacceptable that derogatory comments that offend the memory… of a deceased person, who cannot defend himself, have been made, particularly by someone to whom Nestor Kirchner considered his friend,” a statement issued by the foreign ministry said.
Correspondents say that President Jose Mujica, 77, a former guerrilla leader who took office in 2010, has clashed in the past both with Cristina Fernandez and Nestor Kirchner.
Relations between Uruguay and Argentina have recently been strained because of concern in Montevideo over what it sees as protectionist measures enforced by Buenos Aires.
Nestor Kirchner was Argentina’s president from 2003 to 2007. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner succeeded him and won re-election in 2011.
Investigators have found that some key data about bond purchases by Bank of Cyprus is missing.
According to Cypriot media, the gaps were found in computer records studied by a financial consultancy, Alvarez and Marsal.
Bank of Cyprus – the country’s biggest bank – bought Greek bonds which turned into some 1.9 billion euros ($2.4 billion) of losses in the Greek debt crisis.
Depositors with more than 100,000 euros in Bank of Cyprus are now facing a big loss.
The “haircut” for such deposits in the bank is expected to be about 60%.
Investigators have found that some key data about bond purchases by Bank of Cyprus is missing
The money taken from those accounts, and from deposits above 100,000 euros at Laiki (Popular) Bank, will be used by the Cypriot government to contribute billions towards the bailout.
Strict capital controls – unprecedented for the eurozone – are in force in Cyprus, limiting cash withdrawals to prevent a run on the banks.
The “haircut” – hugely unpopular in Cyprus – is a condition for the EU and IMF to grant a 10 billion-euro bailout to rescue the country’s economy.
The Cyprus Mail website says information provided by Bank of Cyprus was incomplete and data-deleting software was found on some computers there.
There were significant gaps in computer records for the period 2007-2010. It is not yet clear whether the wiping of records was accidental or deliberate. There were signs of mass deletion of data.
The central bank says that Alvarez and Marsal are now investigating Laiki too – the island’s second largest bank, which is being wound up and folded into Bank of Cyprus.
“The investigation will continue and cover: the purchase of Greek government bonds by Laiki Bank; the expansion of Laiki Bank outside Cyprus; the role and responsibilities of all parties involved,” the Central Bank of Cyprus said on Friday.
The consultancy’s report on Bank of Cyprus has been leaked to local media, but not yet published.
Besides the Greek bond purchases, the consultancy also scrutinized Bank of Cyprus operations in Romania and Russia.
The consultancy’s findings have been handed over to the Cypriot parliament and the attorney-general, Petros Clerides.
The government has appointed a special judicial panel to clarify what happened in Cyprus’ financial crash and pinpoint any wrongdoing.
Wesley Snipes was released this week from a Pennsylvania prison after nearly three years and transferred to house arrest.
The star was admitted in 2010 on charges of federal tax evasion.
According to TMZ, Wesley Snipes, 50, left the McKean Federal Corrections on Tuesday, several months shy of his 3 year sentence.
Wesley Snipes is no longer listed as an inmate at the rural facility, and is now listed on the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBP) as being under the watchful eye of the New York Communty Corrections Office.
Officers will keep a watchful eye on the actor as he finishes out his sentence under home confinement, which the FBP lists as July 19.
Wesley Snipes was released this week from a Pennsylvania prison after nearly three years and transferred to house arrest
Wesley Snipes’ release is – ironically – just two weeks before tax day.
The actor was found guilty of not paying as much as $15 million in dividends to the government for his earnings from 1999 to 2001.
His lawyers argued that his tax advisers, Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn, who were also jailed, had duped their client with a claim that there were no laws requiring him to pay tax.
Wesley Snipes also expressed to CNN’s Larry King that he was “nervous” of his impending stay at the minimum security white-collar facility, which works its inmates from dawn until dusk doing chores such as landscaping and food service.
The actor was also given limited contact with his family – he is the father of five children – as inmates only have 300 minutes of call time per month and conjugal visits were not allowed.
“I think any man would be nervous,” Wesley Snipes said.
“Given the length of time that they are suggesting that I be away from my family, away from my profession, away from my ability to provide for my family and for those who have depended upon me to contribute to society… I think anyone would be nervous about that.”
While in prison Wesley Snipes had tried to appeal his sentence to the Supreme Court, but was turned down and ordered to finish out his term.
No word yet on how soon before Wesley Snipes jumps back into acting.
Wesley Snipes is best known for his roles in Jungle Fever, Blade and White Men Can’t Jump.
Honey Boo Boo’s visit to New York got even better with a trip to the ice cream truck with mother June Shannon on Thursday.
The 7-year-old reality star pondered the mouth-watering selections pasted on the side of the truck for some time.
Finally Honey Boo Boo chose a double strawberry soft serve twirl on a wafer cone with sprinkles.
It definitely seemed way too much for one little girl to eat by herself.
In fact, she appeared to have difficulty even holding the cone in her little hand.
Honey Boo Boo’s visit to New York got even better with a trip to the ice cream truck with mother June Shannon
But Honey Boo Boo made her cool treat shrink by the second.
Her mother June Shannon, 33, who recently dropped a whopping 115 lbs, followed close behind and even enjoyed a treat of her own – just one day after showing off her slimmer new figure in a mostly black ensemble with gem-collared top.
June Shannon’s ice cream was a single soft serve cone with sprinkles and definitely not good for the diet especially if she means to keep the weight off.
However, judging by how she lost the weight it might just come back anyway.
Halle Berry is reportedly pregnant with her second child, a baby boy, at the age of 46.
Halle Berry and her fiancé Olivier Martinez are having their first child together, according to TMZ.
They already share partial custody of Halle Berry’s 5-year-old Nahla, whom she had with former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.
Halle Berry is reportedly three months pregnant, and being done with her first trimester, already knows the sex of the child.
Soon-to-be-big sister Nahla will be sharing her mother’s love with a baby brother, according to sources.
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez, 47, have yet to confirm the rumors.
Halle Berry when she was pregnant with Nahla in 2008
The actress did nothing to prevent speculation though when she was on holiday in Hawaii last week, resorting to cover-ups whenever she stepped out on the sand with her family.
Last fall Halle Berry opened up to Wendy Williams about adding to her family, saying that Nahla had expressed wishes of being a big sister.
“My daughter is asking me,” she said.
“Every night we pray to God, and she’s so sweet. She says, <<God, please bring me a bunk bed and a baby sister>>. And I say, <<I can do one of those things, I know for sure! The other one we have to keep praying on>>. What do you say to her when she wants that and can’t understand why God’s taking so long, you know?”
The admission was ominous for Halle Berry, who also said that she has learned a lot since giving birth to her daughter five years ago.
“I’m a much better mother at 46, or 41 when I had her, than if I were 21 or 25. I was just a little baby, just trying to figure it out, trying to figure out who I was, let alone have the responsibility of trying to help another little soul develop and grow,” Halle Berry admitted.
Cuban police were called to keep the crowds at bay after Beyonce and husband Jay-Z were mobbed in Havana.
Beyonce and Jay-Z were celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary in Havana when they were surrounded by dozens of well-wishers.
The law enforcement officers arrived at the renowned restaurant La Guarida on Wednesday night.
Their bodyguards’ presence outside set the gritty, bustling neighborhood of Centre Havana abuzz, and a crowd gathered downstairs shouting Beyonce’s name until she went to a balcony and waved.
Waitress Silvia Fernandez said Beyonce toured the eatery and looked at photos of past celebrity clients including Jack Nicholson, Jodie Foster, Danny Glover, Will Smith and James Belushi.
“She was beautiful, without a drop of makeup, very natural,” Silvia Fernandez said.
“What happened with the people was incredible.”
Beyonce and Jay-Z were celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary in Havana when they were surrounded by dozens of well-wishers
Police arrived and made sure Beyonce was able to exit without incident.
Beyonce, 31, cut a striking image, with her hair styled into cornrows.
She was wearing a patterned yellow ensemble which showed off her legs while rapper Jay-Z, 43, looked like the quintessential tourist in shorts, a blue T-shirt and hat.
La Guarida staffers showed The Associated Press pictures of the two dining on typical Cuban creole favourites – fish, chicken, black beans and rice – accompanied by their mothers.
The privately run restaurant is famous as the filming location for the hit movie Strawberry and Chocolate, and is a mainstay on Havana’s tourist circuit.
Beyonce and Jay-Z – who married in Paris on April 4, 2008 – toured colonial Old Havana wearing dark glasses and were surrounded by bodyguards and excited fans.
She posed for pictures with local schoolchildren while Jay-Z puffed on a Cuban cigar, and then they popped into another restaurant that boasts a rooftop terrace with a sweeping view of the harbour.
Beyonce and Jay-Z declined to speak to reporters, and it was not clear why they travelled to Cuba. State-run website CubaSi called it a tourist trip.
Washington’s 51-year embargo makes it illegal for US citizens to visit Cuba for mere tourism, although tens of thousands of Americans travel there each year on academic, religious, journalistic or cultural exchange visas.
The Obama administration eased many of the restrictions in 2011, but tourists still need a special visa or to be part of an organized tour.
In the past, artists who were challenged by the government have said they visited for cultural purposes.
The “morning after” pill will available over the counter to girls of all ages within 30 days, a US federal judge has ruled today.
New York Judge Edward Korman said a decision by the US health secretary to limit over-the-counter (OTC) purchases of the drug to those 17 and older was “capricious”.
The reproductive rights group which brought the case called the ruling a victory for women.
A US government lawyer said it was considering legal options.
In Friday’s decision, Judge Edward Korman struck down the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule requiring girls under the age of 16 to have a prescription for the pill.
He said the FDA’s restriction was “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable”.
Morning after pill will available over the counter to girls of all ages in US within 30 days
The Center for Reproductive Rights, which brought the case, argued that there was no scientific proof that girls younger than 17 could not safely use the drug without supervision.
The group said that politics had more to do with limiting access to the pill. US social conservatives have denounced the emergency contraceptive as tantamount to abortion.
In 2011, the FDA said it had concluded that the “morning after” pill could be safely used by girls of child-bearing age.
But in an unprecedented move, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the agency.
Kathleen Sebelius said there was not enough evidence from all potential ages to support removing over-the-counter restrictions. President Barack Obama said he supported the decision.
In his ruling, Judge Edward Korman criticized the Obama administration’s justification, calling it “an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their rights to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions”.
Teva Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the birth control drug, called Plan B, had also petitioned the government to lift the restrictions.
An FDA spokeswoman declined to comment on Friday’s ruling, saying it was an ongoing legal matter.
F. Franklin Amanat, a lawyer for the Department of Justice, told the Associated Press news agency: “We are reviewing the decision and evaluating the government’s options.”
The Center for Reproductive Rights welcomed the ruling.
“Women all over the country will no longer face arbitrary delays and barriers just to get emergency contraception,” spokeswoman Nancy Northup told Reuters news agency.
Emergency contraception is effective for the first 72 hours after sex, but is more likely to work the sooner it is taken, and can cause side-effects such as nausea and diarrhoea in some women.
Snooki showed off her 42 lb weight loss the WWE Superstars for Sandy Relief at Cipriani in New York City on Thursday night.
Snooki, 25, gave birth to baby Lorenzo six months ago and is no surprise that she is eager to take every opportunity she can to show off her shrinking frame.
The Jersey Shore star sported a short black mini dress, bright gold belt and strappy heels for the New York event.
Snooki’s slimmed down legs and thinner face was clear to see as she posed on the red carpet with her long dark hair dipped in purple dye at the ends.
An oversized gold envelope style clutch bag and a chunky necklace completed her look.
Snooki showed off her 42 lb weight loss the WWE Superstars for Sandy Relief at Cipriani in New York City
Snooki, real name Nicole Polizzi, was reunited with fellow Jersey Shore castmates Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola.
Joined by the star’s fiancé Jionni Lavalle, the trio spent some of the party catching up together and Snooki posted a photograph of the quartet on her Twitter page.
“With my love bugs @mtvronnie @samxoswthrt @jlavalle5,” Snooki wrote alongside the snap.
The stars have a vested interest in raising money for the hurricane’s relief effort, with much of their beloved Jersey Shore affected by last year’s storm.
The party was hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs and marked part of WrestleMania week, with proceeds benefitting The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, both of which continue to provide assistance in the wake of the storm.
Snooki recently appeared on the Dr. Oz TV show where she encouraged dieters to stick to their weight loss plans.
“If I can lose 42 lbs. after giving birth six months [ago], I mean, anybody could do it,” she told the show.
“You just need the dedication, and you need to want to have your body back.”
Snooki reached 109 lbs in January this year after gaining more than 40 during her pregnancy.
Justin Bieber ditched his top and was seen walking back to his tour bus with his shirt slung over his shoulder in Frankfurt on Thursday.
The thermometer was struggling to get above zero in the city but the singer didn’t seem to mind the freezing temperatures.
Justin Bieber, 19, had his jeans riding low and his white underwear was left on show, as he strolled to the coach.
Justin Bieber ditched his top and was seen walking back to his tour bus with his shirt slung over his shoulder in Frankfurt on Thursday
The teen idol has been spotted shirtless on a number of occasions in recent weeks, including during his turbulent stay in London and as he made his way through security in Poland just last week.
Justin Bieber may well be feeling invincible after a number of schools changed their timetables because of his Believe tour.
Five schools in Norway swapped their exam dates to ensure students can attend Justin Bieber’s concerts at the Telenor arena later this month, according to reports.
Kristin Halvorsen, Norway’s education minister told Associated Press: “I am concerned that students should be concentrating when they take tests and midterms. The local schools have the responsibility to schedule the local midterms, and if they think there is any reason to change the dates, they have authority to do so. We’ve all been 14 years old and know that interests can be intense.”
Ireland Baldwin kicked off her modeling career with a sizzling swimsuit spread in the New York Post on Thursday.
Ireland Baldwin showcased her statuesque figure in a variety of candy-colored bikinis while aboard an 80-foot yacht on the Hudson River.
The 17-year-old daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger even braved New York’s chilly 40-degree temperatures while looking every bit the pro for her first big shoot the New York Post.
Ireland Baldwin flaunted her long pins and ample curves in everything from a sunny yellow two-piece, red halter bikini, and a beige snakeskin one-piece.
Ireland Baldwin kicked off her modeling career with a sizzling swimsuit spread in the New York Post on Thursday
She is clearly the fashion world’s latest “It Girl” with upcoming features in W magazine and Vanity Fair.
“Shooting with the famous Patrick DeMarchelier today! I’m incredibly blessed,” the six-foot-two stunner tweeted on Thursday to her 30,000 followers.
Before now, Ireland Baldwin was best remembered in the media as “a thoughtless little pig” courtesy of her famous father’s furious 2007 phone rant.
Ironically, she chose to make her debut in the New York Post since Alec Baldwin has had a notoriously torrid relationship with the publication.
However, Ireland and Alec Baldwin “text and talk on the phone all the time” now, and they celebrated his 55th birthday together after his Broadway play, Orphans, last Monday.
North Korea has asked foreign embassies in Pyongyang that might wish to get staff out if there is a war to submit plans to it by April 10, Reuters agency has reported.
Initial reports by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and China’s Xinhua news agency suggested that North Korea had suggested that embassies should consider closing because of the risk of conflict.
The request came amid a military buildup by the US in South Korea following North Korea’s warnings that war was inevitable.
“We believe they have taken this step as part of their continuing rhetoric that the U.S. poses a threat to them,” Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement after the reports from Russia and China.
North Korea has asked foreign embassies in Pyongyang that might wish to get staff out if there is a war to submit plans to it by April 10
A British diplomatic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that European Union embassies in Pyongyang had been summoned to deliver their evacuation plans.
Under the Vienna Convention that governs diplomatic missions, host governments are required to facilitate the exit of embassy staff in the event of conflict.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that North Korea had “proposed that the Russian side consider the evacuation of employees in the increasingly tense situation”, according to Denis Samsonov, a spokesman for its embassy in Pyongyang.
A report from Chinese state news agency Xinhua chimed with the Russian report, saying that Pyongyang had asked embassies to consider evacuation if the situation deteriorated.
North Korea, ruled by 30-year old Kim Jong-un, has not issued any statement indicating which of the conflicting reports was true. (Reuters)
Millie Mackintosh has revealed the cellulite-busting secret weapon she uses to keep her lithe legs in tip top shape: she is a huge fan of [ comfort zone ] Body Strategist+ Remodeller.
Speaking about the luxury Italian spa anti-cellulite cream, 23-year-old Millie Mackintosh said: “I slather this on morning and night after body brushing.”
“It keeps my legs looking smooth and cellulite free,” Professor Green’s bride-to-be said.
Millie Mackintosh has revealed the cellulite-busting secret weapon she uses to keep her lithe legs in tip top shape
The $68 [ comfort zone ] Body Strategist+ Remodeller is a visible remodelling double action cream.
The anti-cellulite cream has a thermogenic emulsion, which is a hot and cold effect.
The heat from this product causes an intense action that increases circulation in the targeted area once applied and this breaks down the fats that cause cellulite.
Other famous fans of the [ comfort zone ] range include Emma Watson, Kimberley Walsh and Yasmin Le Bon.
Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and National Rifle Association head Wayne LaPierre are the newest targets of a group that claims it has hacked the financial data of 38 celebrities, sports stars and public officials.
The hacker group made headlines last month for posting documents that it said exposed personal details about bold-faced names including First Lady Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney and Vice President Joe Biden (See full list below).
The site where the group published its information, which was believed to be hosted in Russia, went offline weeks later.
The website reappeared today, apparently based on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
TMZ.com first reported the new leak. The FBI is still investigating the hackers.
Phone numbers, addresses, credit scores, and even car payments and cable bills are all part of a document dump posted online by the unknown group of hackers.
Other new targets include convicted Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, Penn State child molester Jerry Sandusky and Robert De Niro.
Also on Wednesday, the Twitter account associated with the hackers was suspended.
FBI Director Robert Mueller, US Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton and LAPD boss Charlie Beck weren’t alone. Michelle Obama, VP Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had their addresses and other sensitive information posted online.
Angelina Jolie and other stars are the newest targets of a group that claims it has hacked the financial data of 38 celebrities
Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Kim Kardashian were also exposed by the site – although it is unclear how the information was obtained or why these individuals were selected.
Social Security numbers allegedly belonging to Mel Gibson, Jay-Z and 15 others matched records in public databases.
Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton, Donald Trump and Attorney-General Eric Holder also had their personal details made public in the mass dump of “secret files”, known as being “doxxed”.
There has so far been little comment from representatives of the public figures targeted in the cyber attacks as to the accuracy of the information revealed.
The site, which bore an internet suffix originating in the former Soviet Union, remained active on Tuesday and bears a quote from the TV show Dexter as the tagline: “If you believe that God makes miracles, you have to wonder if Satan has a few up his sleeve.”
It appears as if the site is continuing to reveal the details of yet more famous people today.
The names of Sarah Palin, Hulk Hogan and Arnold Schwarzenegger were added to the list on Tuesday.
Michelle Obama’s on the other hand is largely positive featuring an “I Love Michelle” sign and the message: “Blame your husband, we still love you, Michelle. <3.”
The existence of the hacker’s website was first reported on Monday by TMZ. The site reported that both the LAPD and the FBI are investigating the hack.
Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the LAPD was investigating the posting of chief Charlie Beck’s information and would also investigate the posting of information on any celebrities who live in the city and request an inquiry.
Store cards, car loans and cable bills are among the sensitive information that has appeared on the web.
Several of the purported credit reports appear to have been generated last week. Many of the pages featured unflattering pictures of the celebrities or government officials whose information was posted.
Forbesreported that some of the credit unions involved were investigating.
The site’s page on LAPD chief Charlie Beck includes a taunting reference to former police officer Christopher Dorner, who was killed in a shootout after killing four people over several days last month.
Charlie Beck reopened Christopher Dorner’s case and ordered a review of the LAPD disciplinary system after the black ex-cop’s online manifesto accused the department of racism and bias in his firing and vowed to get even with officers and their families
Christopher Dorner killed four people, including two police officers, in his rampage before he committed suicide during a fiery shootout in a California mountain cabin two weeks ago.
Charlie Beck’s page on the hackers’ site included the message “#YouCantCornerTheDorner” and an image of a woman protesting police corruption.
The hacker group Anonymous had threatened a cyber-attack in retaliation to Christopher Dorner’s death last month.
While government officials often have to disclose details on their finances – and celebrity divorces sometimes feature public financial data – the information posted online exceeds those disclosures.
Social Security numbers are rarely included in public records anymore because they can be used for identity theft.
Thirty eight celebrities and public officials have been targeted in the hacking attack, since the website was revealed last month:
A new research published in the British Medical Journal suggests that a high potassium diet as well as cutting down on salt will reduce blood pressure levels and the risk of stroke.
One study review found that eating an extra two to three servings of high potassium fruit or vegetables per day was beneficial.
A lower salt intake would increase the benefits further, researchers said.
While the increase of potassium in diets was found to have a positive effect on blood pressure, it was also discovered to have no adverse effects on kidney function or hormone levels, the research concluded.
A high potassium diet as well as cutting down on salt will reduce blood pressure levels and the risk of stroke
As a result, the World Health Organization has issued its first guidelines on potassium intake, recommending that adults should consume more than 4 g of potassium (or 90 to 100 mmol) per day.
The BMJ study on the effects of potassium intake, produced by scientists from the UN World Food Programme, Imperial College London and Warwick Medical School, among others, looked at 22 controlled trials and another 11 studies involving more than 128,000 healthy participants.
The results showed that increasing potassium in the diet to 3-4 g a day reduced blood pressure in adults.
This increased level of potassium intake was also linked to a 24% lower risk of stroke in those adults.
Researchers said potassium could have benefits for children’s blood pressure too, but more data was needed.
A separate study on salt intake, led by researchers at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, analyzed the results of 34 previous trials involving more than 3,000 people.
It found that a modest reduction in salt intake for four or more weeks caused significant falls in blood pressure in people with both raised and normal blood pressure. This happened in both men and women, irrespective of ethnic group.
Lower blood pressure levels are known to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary, who led the study, said that the “modest reduction” in salt intake was equivalent to halving the amount of salt we consume each day.
“In the UK on average our dietary salt intake is 9.5 g, so we are talking about bringing this down to 6g, or if you’re very careful you can get it down to the recommended 5 g – but it’s very difficult because of the amount of salt already in the food we buy.
“Bread is the biggest source of salt in our diet.”
Prof. Graham MacGregor added that a further reduction in salt intake to 3 g per day would have a greater effect on blood pressure and should become the long-term target for population salt intake.
Getting people to eat more fruit and vegetables containing potassium was equally important, he said.
“Salt and potassium work in opposing ways. So a combination of lower salt and higher potassium in our diets has a bigger effect than changing just one of those factors alone.”
The WHO recommends that adults should not consume more than 5 g of salt a day (about one teaspoon).
Shanghai poultry markets have been temporary closed by authorities due to the H7N9 bird flu outbreak.
A spokesman for the city authorities said the decision was taken on grounds of public safety.
Shanghai has already begun a mass slaughter of poultry after the virus was discovered in pigeons at a market.
Six people have died in this latest outbreak. The H7N9 virus is a form of avian flu not before seen in humans.
Shanghai poultry markets have been temporary closed by authorities due to the H7N9 bird flu outbreak
It is not yet known how people are catching the disease, although the World Health Organization says there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Four of the bird flu fatalities in China have been recorded in Shanghai.
The Chinese city is also monitoring another person who was in close contact with one of those who died after showing flu-like symptoms.
Shanghai health official, Wu Fan, was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the person tested negative for H7N9.
“There is no possibility of spreading the infection overseas,” Wu Fan also told a press conference.
Officials ordered the slaughter of at least 20,000 birds starting late on Thursday after the virus was detected in pigeons sold in Huhuai market.
Entrances to poultry markets were sealed and police stood watch as workers disinfected the areas, reports say.
There have been 14 confirmed infections of the new bird flu virus so far in eastern China, including in Shanghai and Zhejiang province.
The latest fatality was a farmer, 64, who died in Zhejiang, state-run media say.
Dr. Lynne Fenton, the psychiatrist who had treated James Holmes, who is accused of killing 12 in Colorado cinema massacre, had before warned police he was a danger to the public.
Dr. Lynne Fenton told police of threatening text messages James Holmes sent after he stopped attending counseling, newly released court documents show.
James Holmes, 25, is charged with multiple counts of murder in the attack during a premier of a Batman film at Aurora theatre.
Prosecutors have rejected a guilty plea and seek the death penalty.
The trial had been scheduled for August, but a judge has pushed it back to February 2014.
Dr Lynne Fenton told police of threatening text messages James Holmes sent after he stopped attending counseling
In an affidavit taken after the shooting and unsealed on Thursday, University of Colorado Denver police Officer Lynn Whitten told investigators that Dr. Lynne Fenton had contacted her in June.
Dr. Lynne Fenton was following a legal requirement to report a specific threat to authorities, according to the document.
Lynn Whitten said the psychiatrist was making the report “due to homicidal statements [James Holmes] had made” and that Dr. Lynne Fenton said he sent threatening text messages to her after he stopped attending counseling sessions.
James Holmes was a graduate student in neuroscience at the University of Colorado Denver but was withdrawing from his studies after failing a key exam.
Previous reports said Dr. Lynne Fenton had told campus authorities about James Holmes, but not that she had made a report of specific threats.
A warrant also unsealed on Thursday described a package sent to Dr. Lynne Fenton before the massacre, apparently by James Holmes. It included a brown notebook labeled “Of Life” that officials believe to be a journal, as well as partially burned $20 bills.
The documents were previously sealed, but a new judge overseeing the case ordered them released following requests from media organizations.
Separately, Judge William Sylvester has removed himself from the case after prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty.
Judge William Sylvester said the move meant the case would take up so much time that he could not carry out his administrative duties as chief judge of a busy four-county district.
District Judge Carlos Samour took over the case on Monday.
US researchers from Washington University School of Medicine have identified genetic markers that could help highlight who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The research in Neuron identifies mutations that affect the build-up of certain proteins in the brain.
High levels of these tau proteins increase the chance of having the disease.
US researchers from Washington University School of Medicine have identified genetic markers that could help highlight who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
Tangles of a kind of tau called phosphorylated tau (ptau) are a hallmark of the disease.
One of the new gene variants identified by the scientists was also shown to be linked to a small increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a greater risk of cognitive decline.
The team used genetic information from more than 1,200 people, significantly larger than previous studies in this area.
Dr. Alison Goate, who led the study, said: “We anticipate that knowledge about the role of these genes in Alzheimer’s disease may lead to the identification of new targets from therapies or new animal or cellular models of the disease.”
President Barack Obama is being accused of sexism for publicly remarking on California Attorney General Kamala Harris’s good looks at a fundraiser in San Francisco yesterday.
Barack Obama said of Kamala Harris: “She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough…She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general.”
The president added: “It’s true! C’mon!”
According to a pool reporter who attended the event, Barack Obama was doting on Kamala Harris, “noting a couple of times that she is, objectively, easy on the eyes”.
Commentators both liberal and conservative immediately took to Twitter to blast the president’s remarks as “unsettling”, “disgraceful” and “disrespectful”.
President Barack Obama is being accused of sexism for publicly remarking on California Attorney General Kamala Harris’s good looks at a fundraiser in San Francisco
“Obama’s comment about Kamala Harris is disgraceful and really terrible for workplace equality,” wrote Jonathan Chait of New York Magazine.
Rebecca Traister, writer for The New York Times Magazine and Salon: “On What planet in [Barack Obama’s] mind did he think that sounded like the right thing to say?”
Barack Obama’s supporters argue that the president and Kamala Harris, who is not married, are good friends and that it shouldn’t be considered a crime to compliment a women on her obvious good looks.
“The fact that this has in some way become a story about his overall respect of women (or lack thereof) is a slap in the face to the first lady, the first daughters, and every other woman who appreciates a compliment that extends far beyond appearance from the president or any other man,” Angela Rye, a Democratic political consultant, told Politico.
First Lady Michelle Obama has not commented on the controversy , but she did have a slip-up of her own on Thursday in a TV interview where she accidentally called herself a “single mother”.
During an interview with Burlington, Vermont CBS affiliant WCAX, Michelle Obama was discussing healthy foods and how the demands of raising a family can leave little time for nutritious cooking.
“Believe me, as a busy single mother,” Michelle Obama said, before quickly correcting herself: “Or I shouldn’t say single – as a busy mother.”
Explaining her slip-up, Michelle Obama added: “Sometimes, you know when you’ve got the husband who’s president it can feel a little single. But he’s there.”
Kamala Harris, 48, is a Democratic favorite and a trailblazer in her home state.
Her mixed race descent – having been born of an Asian Indian mother who emigrated to the U.S. from Chennai and a Jamaican American father- made her the first female, African American and Asian American attorney general in the state.
On top of that, Kamala Harris is the first Indian American attorney general in the US.
Kamala Harris’ career shows no sign of stopping, as she is regularly mentioned when pundits speculate about possible Supreme Court nominees should a new judge be appointed during President Barack Obama’s second term.
Another possible track for her is the gubernatorial one, as attorney general is a common springboard position for those hoping to climb the local ladder.
Little is known about Kamala Harris’ current romantic situation, except that she was in a serious relationship with the former mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown.
Kamala Harris and Willie Brown were a serious item and dated when he was the Speaker of the California State Assembly, but they reportedly broke up in 1998.
There are no pictures of President Barack Obama and Kamala Harris together at Thursday’s event, which was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee held at the home of John Goldman, the heir to the Levi Strauss fortune.
Queen Elizabeth II has received an honorary BAFTA award for her lifelong support of the British film and television industry.
Sir Kenneth Branagh presented the Queen with the award in a star-studded gala at Windsor Castle.
BAFTA chairman John Willis described Queen Elizabeth as “the most memorable Bond girl yet” – a reference to her cameo in the London Olympics opening ceremony.
Hollywood director George Lucas, who flew in especially for the event, said the UK had been influential for him.
John Willis said: “We should be proud of our industry. The people here this evening represent a vast variety of skills and ground breaking innovation, they have entertained and informed a generation and inspired generations to come.
“I am delighted that this evening has given us the opportunity to give something back. I have the great honor to announce that we are to present Her Majesty with an honorary BAFTA today, in recognition of her outstanding patronage of the film and television industries.”
Queen Elizabeth II has received an honorary BAFTA award for her lifelong support of the British film and television industry
The Queen, who attended with Prince Philip, featured with Daniel Craig as James Bond at London 2012 – when she appeared to parachute from a helicopter.
To laughter from the audience, actor Kenneth Branagh said: “Your sensational appearance at the opening ceremony of last year’s Olympics was especially memorable.
“So much so that several of my colleagues here tonight want you to know that should you wish to take it further into the world of British films that they have a number of scripts with them here this evening. I have to warn you, Your Majesty, not all of these films are fully financed.”
The 300 guests represented all areas of the industry including actors, directors, writers, producers, costume and set designers, publicists and critics.
Homeland star Damian Lewis, who attended the event with his actress wife Helen McCrory, said: “The arts and film industry punch above their weight with little funding.
“Our arts in this country and theatre and film and TV are some of our greatest exports, to have that recognized by your monarch is important.”
Comedian Billy Connolly attended the reception as did director Terry Gilliam, actress Minnie Driver and actor Idris Elba.
Actor John Hurt also commented on the Queen’s appearance at the Olympics.
“It was a bit of good fun, I thought so – good on her,” he said.
John Hurt revealed he had come to the event from filming Doctor Who, for its 50th anniversary, in Cardiff.
George Lucas said: “I’ve been here since ’75 so for me this is my second home.
“It’s been very influential for me, I’ve shot lots of movies here not only four of the Star Wars films but also Indiana Jones, all kinds of films – it’s been a long road.”
He added: “Many, many years ago Britain didn’t support the film industry and when I came here it was on its last legs and fortunately now it’s a lot steadier.”
Angelina Jolie has honored Pakistani schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai, who has launched Malala Fund, a charity to fund girls’ education.
In New York, Angelina Jolie said Malala Yousafzai would be “in charge” of the Malala Fund.
Malala Yousafzai, 15, said in a video the launch was “the happiest moment of my life”.
The charity’s first grant will fund the education of 40 girls in Pakistan.
Angelina Jolie has honored Malala Yousafzai, who has launched Malala Fund, a charity to fund girls’ education
Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in October in retribution for her advocacy for girls’ education.
The teenager now attends school in Birmingham, UK, following her recovery from the shooting and has signed a book deal worth about $3 million for her memoir.
The book, titled I am Malala, is scheduled for publication in the autumn.
“Announcing the first grant of the Malala Fund is the happiest moment in my life,” Malala Yousafzai said in a video message at the Women in the World conference in New York.
“I invite all of you to support the Malala Fund and let us turn the education of 40 girls into 40 million girls.”
Malala Yousafzai started school again in mid-March following surgery to fit a titanium plate and cochlear implant into her skull.
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