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Stefano Gabbana responds to Elton John’s call for D & G boycott

Lisa.Felice
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Stefano Gabbana responds to Elton John’s call for D & G boycott

Stefano Gabbana has responded to calls from Elton John for people to boycott the Dolce & Gabbana fashion label.

Elton John criticized the fashion designers after they called children born through IVF “synthetic” in a magazine interview.

Stefano Gabbana has since said that “it was never our intention to judge other people’s choices.”

“We do believe in freedom and love,” Stefano Gabbana added in a statement.

Elton John, who has two children with his husband David Furnish, had a go at the fashion designers for rejecting same-gender families and the use of IVF treatment.

On March 15, Elton John wrote on Instagram: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as <<synthetic>>.

“And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children.

“Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions.

“I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana.”Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Elton John boycott scandal

Business partners Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who are both gay and were a couple for 23 years until breaking up in 2005, have rejected same-gender marriage in the past.

In an interview with Italian magazine Panorama this weekend Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana went further saying they also didn’t agree with the idea of gay families.

“We oppose gay adoptions,” they said.

“The only family is the traditional one.

“No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”

Domenico Dolce went on to say that having children should be an “act of love”.

He said: “You are born to a mother and a father – or at least that’s how it should be.

“I call children of chemistry, synthetic children.”

Stefano Gabbana added: “The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging.”

In an interview in 2006, Stefano Gabbana revealed in another Italian magazine that he had approached a woman to be the mother of his baby but said he struggled with the idea.

“I am opposed to the idea of a child growing up with two gay parents,” he said.

“A child needs a mother and a father. I could not imagine my childhood without my mother. I also believe that it is cruel to take a baby away from its mother.”

Meanwhile, a fair few celebrities have backed Elton John’s boycott call.

Among them was Courtney Love, who tweeted that she wanted “to burn” her D&G clothes.

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Jeremy Clarkson suspension: BBC internal investigation begins

Sonia Pantiss
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Jeremy Clarkson suspension: BBC internal investigation begins

A BBC internal investigation has begun after Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from the show following a “fracas” with producer Oisin Tymon.

The enquiry is being headed up Ken McQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland.

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, was suspended from Top Gear last week following an alleged altercation with producer Oisin Tymon.

Oisin Tymon, 36, did not file a formal complaint and its understood that Jeremy Clarkson reported the incident himself.

The row has been said to have occurred because no hot food was laid on for Jeremy Clarkson following a day of filming in North Yorkshire.Jeremy Clarkson investigation Top Gear

Writing in his column in the Sun newspaper, Jeremy Clarkson appeared to hint that he was close to quitting calling himself a “dinosaur” and adding: “These big imposing creatures have no place in a world which has moved on.”

An online petition to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson has reached more than 900,000 signatures.

The critic AA Gill also voiced his support for Jeremy Clarkson in his Sunday Times column, calling the investigation into the row “preposterous and ponderous”, and praised Clarkson as hard-working.

Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and profitable TV shows, with an estimated global audience of 350 million.

The remaining shows in the current series were pulled off-air following the incident.

A lawyer for Oisin Tymon said his client “intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete”.

No official date has been fixed for the investigation to present its findings.

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Mike Porcaro dies at 59 after long battle with ALS

Sonia Pantiss
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Mike Porcaro dies at 59 after long battle with ALS

Toto bass-player Mike Porcaro has died at 59 after a long battle with motor neurone disease (MND), also known as ALS.

The rock band is best known for its hits Africa and Rosanna.

The band’s keyboardist Steve Porcaro said in a statement that his brother had died peacefully in his sleep at home, surrounded by family. Michael Joseph Porcaro passed away on Sunday, March 15.Mike Porcaro died from ALS at 59

Toto, which broke up in 2008, reformed in 2010 to raise money for Mike Porcaro and raise awareness of his illness.

Also known for the hit Hold the Line, Toto sold 35 million albums.

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather wrote on Facebook that Mike Porcaro was “now at peace”.

Motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare condition which attacks the nervous system.

As the condition progresses sufferers find basic activities such as walking, speaking and breathing increasingly difficult.

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Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu appeals for immediate help after devastation

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu appeals for immediate help after devastation

Vanuatu’s President Baldwin Lonsdale has appealed for an “immediate” help after Cyclone Pam devastated the tiny country over the weekend.

Baldwin Lonsdale said Cyclone Pam, a category 5 tropical storm, had “wiped out” all development of recent years and his country would have to rebuild “everything”.

Aid has begun arriving in Vanuatu – one of the world’s poorest – but contact has still not been made with some of its more remote islands.

Aid agencies say it could be one of the worst disasters ever to hit the region.

Photo Xinhua Agency
Photo Xinhua Agency

The official death toll stands at eight, but it is expected to rise.

The sense of devastation is absolutely immense and when you land it doesn’t take long for that sense of devastation to increase.

Many family homes have been stripped of their roofs or flattened by very powerful winds and torrential rain.

The air here is very thick with smoke because the cleanup has already begun – the debris is being chopped down, collected and burned. There is a sense here that people will rebuild but it only takes a brief moment in the capital to realize that this rebuilding effort will take many months if not years.

Vanuatu is a vast archipelago in the South Pacific with its population spread over more than 60 islands.

As the country’s communications are down, it is very difficult for the authorities to have a true picture of the devastation but it’s clear the number of dead will increase when communications are made with those outlying areas.

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Vladimir Putin is back: Russian president reappears in public after 10 days of absence

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin is back: Russian president reappears in public after 10 days of absence

Vladimir Putin has appeared in public for the first time after 10 days of absence, quelling intense speculation about his health.

The Russian president was meeting Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev in St Petersburg. He was last seen in public on March 5.

Commenting on the rumors about his health, Vladimir Putin said: “Things would be boring without gossip,” RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s navy on to a state of full combat readiness in the Arctic.

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

Russia says the navy drills involve 56 warships, planes and 38,000 personnel.

According to a tweet from the meeting in St Petersburg, Almazbek Atambayev said that Vladimir Putin “just took me for a little drive – he was at the wheel – nearby here, and I can confirm that he’s in excellent form”.

The Russian TV news channel Rossiya 24 also showed some brief footage of Vladimir Putin at the meeting, without sound.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov – quoted in a Russian journalist’s tweet – said St Petersburg was chosen as a convenient venue for Almazbek Atambayev, whose daughter is studying there.

Dmitry Peskov was also quoted as saying the “little drive” mentioned by the Kyrgyz leader lasted about 20 minutes, and Vladimir Putin “showed what a beautiful place Strelnya is”.

Vladimir Putin and Almazbek Atambayev were meeting at a tsarist palace in Strelnya, outside St Petersburg.

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How poor is Vanuatu?

Nancy Clayson
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How poor is Vanuatu?

According to the UN, the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu is one of world’s least developed countries.

Vanuatu has a GDP of $828 million compared to neighboring Australia’s $1.56 trillion, according to the World Bank.Vanuatu poor country

About two-thirds of Vanuatu’s population makes a living from agriculture. Fishing, tourism and offshore financial services are the other main industries.

Australia estimates that about 70% of Vanuatu’s population of 250,000 people lives on remote islands or in rural areas, with few services and limited access to clean drinking water, transport or electricity.

Australia is Vanuatu’s main donor, giving A$60.7 million ($46.5 million) in 2013-2014, about 60% of total aid.

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Saddam Hussein’s tomb almost completely destroyed in Tikrit fighting

Roy Siemens
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Saddam Hussein’s tomb almost completely destroyed in Tikrit fighting

Saddam Hussein’s tomb has been almost completely destroyed in fighting near Tikrit, Iraq.

Footage filmed by the Associated Press shows that all that remains standing of the once-lavish mausoleum in the village of al-Awja are some pillars.

Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militia are battling to drive Islamic State (ISIS) militants from Tikrit.

In 2014, the local Sunni population said they had removed the former Iraqi leader’s body and taken it to an unknown location.

The capture of the tomb came as fighting intensified north and south of Tikrit on March 15 as Iraqi security forces vowed to reach the city centre within 48 hours.

The footage shows the mausoleum, south of the city, reduced to concrete rubble.

Poster-sized pictures of Saddam Hussein that once covered the tomb have been replaced with Shia militia flags and pictures of militia leaders, including Iranian General Qassem Soleimani who advises the Shia militias.Saddam Hussein’s tomb almost destroyed in Tikrit fighting

There are suspicions among many in Iraq’s Sunni community that Saddam Hussein’s tomb was deliberately destroyed by the Shia militias.

AP said that its crew was embedded with the Iraqi military and may have been subject to reporting restrictions.

“This is one of the areas where ISIS militants massed the most because Saddam’s grave is here,” said Captain Yasser Numa, an official with the militias.

“The ISIS militants set an ambush for us by planting bombs around.”

ISIS said in August 2014 that the tomb had been completely destroyed but local officials denied this, saying it had been ransacked and suffered only minor damage.

Saddam Hussein, who was from Tikrit, was captured by US forces in 2003.

An Iraqi tribunal convicted him of crimes against humanity for the killings of Shia Muslims and Kurds and hanged him in 2006. Saddam Hussein’s body had been kept in the mausoleum since 2007.

The mausoleum featured a marble octagon with a bed of fresh flowers at the centre, covering the place where Saddam Hussein’s body was buried.

According to Iraqi media, loyalists removed Saddam Hussein’s remains last year amid fears that it would be disturbed in the fighting.

Tikrit was overrun by ISIS in June 2014 and several hundred militants are believed to be holding out there.

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Robert Durst confesses to three murders on The Jinx

Nancy Clayson
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Robert Durst confesses to three murders on The Jinx

Robert Durst has been detained in New Orleans after a warrant was issued by Los Angeles police investigating the murder of mobster’s daughter Susan Berman.

The tycoon was arrested just before the finale of HBO’s show The Jinx investigating the alleged crime.

Robert Durst has always maintained his innocence in the murder in 2000.

The show catches Robert Durst on tape apparently confessing to three killings, saying: “[I] killed them all.”

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst suggested in a previous episode that the property tycoon had written a letter only Susan Berman’s killer could have sent.

It sought to match handwriting on a letter from Robert Durst to Susan Berman with that on an anonymous letter sent to police alerting them to a dead body in the victim’s home.

Robert Durst’s lawyer, Chip Lewis, said his client would not challenge his transfer to Los Angeles and would continue to maintain his innocence.

The tycoon’s estranged family thanked the authorities.

“We are relieved and also grateful to everyone who assisted in the arrest of Robert Durst,” said his brother, real estate developer Douglas Durst, in a statement quoted by the Associated Press news agency.

“We hope he will finally be held accountable.”

Robert Durst, 71, had been previously questioned by police investigating Susan Berman’s execution-style killing.

Photo HBO
Photo HBO

The Jinx also investigated two other unsolved murder cases linked to Robert Durst:

  • In 2003 he admitted killing Morris Black, dismembering his body and throwing the remains into a bay in Galveston, Texas, but a jury accepted his claim of self-defense
  • He was also questioned by police following the disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen, in 1982 in New York. Robert Durst has always denied any involvement in that death

Susan Berman, whose father David Berman was an associate of Las Vegas mobsters Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, was killed with a bullet to the back of her head in her home, just as investigators prepared to question her about Kathleen’s disappearance.

In The Jinx which aired on March 15, Robert Durst is challenged about the letter evidence in a long interview.

According to filmmakers, Robert Durst was still wearing his microphone when he went into a hotel bathroom after the interview at a hotel, and he apparently spoke out loud to himself.

Robert Durst can be heard saying: “There it is, you’re caught. What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course”.

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Cyclone Pam wipes out Vanuatu’s development, says President Baldwin Lonsdale

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Pam wipes out Vanuatu’s development, says President Baldwin Lonsdale

Vanuatu’s President Baldwin Lonsdale says that Cyclone Pam has “wiped out” development in his country amid ongoing concern over residents of the Pacific nation’s outlying islands.

Aid has begun arriving in storm-hit Vanuatu – one of the world’s poorest – where trees and power lines have been felled and many buildings destroyed.

Aid agencies say it could be one of the worst disasters ever to hit the region.

The situation on some remote islands closer to the eye of the storm is not yet known as communications are down.

Almost every house in Vanuatu has received some damage.

Aerial images of the capital show houses completely flattened.

The official death toll is eight, but this is expected to rise as rescuers reach more the remote islands.Cyclone Pam Vanuatu devastation

Speaking in Japan where he had been attending an international conference on disaster preparedness, President Baldwin Lonsdale called the storm “devastating”.

“I term it as a monster, a monster – it’s a setback for the government and for the people of Vanuatu,” he said.

“After all the development that has taken place, all this development has been wiped out.”

Baldwin Lonsdale also said he had not been able to confirm that his own family was safe.

“As the leader of the nation, my whole heart is for the people, the nation.”

The president said climate change had contributed to the disaster, saying Vanuatu had seen changing weather patterns, rising seas and heavier-than-average rain.

Cyclone Pam, a category five storm, with winds of up to 185mph, struck populated areas when it reached Vanuatu early on Saturday, March 14.

It is now moving down the east coast of New Zealand. The storm has weakened significantly but about 100 people have been evacuated from coastal areas in Gisbourne, on the east of the North Island. An alert is also in place in the Chatham Islands, about 425 miles south-east of Wellington.

UNICEF worker Alice Clements in Port Vila said all the power lines were down, and many staff of the capital’s only hospital were unable to get in to work.

There is major concern about islands to the south, including Tanna, which was in the direct path of the storm. The Australian Red Cross tweeted that it had heard of “utter devastation” there.

Paolo Malatu, co-ordinator for the National Disaster Management Office, told the Associated Press news agency that planes and helicopters had been sent to fly over the islands and assess the situation.

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Brazil protests call for President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment over Petrobras scandal

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil protests call for President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment over Petrobras scandal

Over one million Brazilian protesters have joined demonstrations against President Dilma Rousseff, with many asking for her impeachment.

The protesters say Dilma Rousseff must have known about a corruption scandal in the state oil company, Petrobras.

The political opposition says much of the alleged bribery took place when Dilma Rousseff was head of the company.

However, Dilma Rousseff has been exonerated in an investigation by the attorney general and denies involvement.

Most of the politicians accused of taking bribes in a kickback scheme come from the governing coalition.

Protests have taken place across 22 Brazilian states and the federal capital, Brasilia.

The largest demonstration went ahead in Sao Paulo, attracting more than 500,000 people.Brazil protests call for President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment over Petrobras scandal

Many of the protesters waved Brazilian flags and wore the yellow shirts of the national football team.

They shouted slogans against corruption and the Workers’ Party government.

Opposition parties have backed Sunday’s protests but have not openly called for impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.

Senator Aecio Neves, who was defeated by a narrow margin in October’s presidential vote, issued a statement praising the protests.

He said Brazilians “went to the streets to reunite with their virtues, their values and also with their dreams”.

In Rio de Janeiro, police said around 15,000 people had joined a protest there, while in Brasilia a crowd of 40,000 was reported.

On March 13, tens of thousands of President Dilma Rousseff took to the streets.

Her supporters say calls for an impeachment, less than five months after she was elected to a second four-year term, amount to a coup attempt.

The Workers’ Party has been in power since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his first term in January 2003.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court approved the investigation of 54 people for their alleged involvement in the kickback scheme.

The list was prepared by Attorney General Rodrigo Junot who alleged that private companies paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts.

According to the investigation, high-profile politicians also took a share of the money siphoned off from Petrobras.

Rodrigo Junot’s list includes Senate President Renan Calheiros, President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, former Energy Minister Edison Lobao and former President Fernando Collor de Mello. All deny corruption allegations.

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Ferguson shootings: Jeffrey Williams arrested in connection with police officers shooting

Nancy Clayson
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Ferguson shootings: Jeffrey Williams arrested in connection with police officers shooting

Jeffrey Williams has been arrested in connection with the shooting of two police officers in Ferguson, Missouri.

Jeffrey Williams, a 20-year-old African-American, has been charged with two counts of assault and gun violations.

The police officers were wounded when shots were fired at them during a protest on March 12.

Ferguson has been a flashpoint for race relations following the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer in August 2014.

Giving details of the arrest, County Prosecutor Robert McCulloh said Jeffrey Williams had admitted to his “participation in firing the shots”, but added, “it was not certain if he had been targeting police”.

The prosecutor said that Jeffrey Williams claimed he fired the shots from a car in a dispute with other unidentified individuals.

Robert McCulloh added that a weapon had been recovered and that Jeffrey Williams is believed to have been the only shooter.Jeffrey Williams arrested over Ferguson shooting

Jeffrey Williams, an, had taken part in the peaceful demonstration earlier in the evening outside police headquarters.

The protest followed the resignation of Ferguson’s police chief after a Department of Justice report found racial bias in his department.

The police officers were wounded in the cheek and shoulder, and have since been released from hospital.

President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder condemned the attack.

Police chief Thomas Jackson was the sixth Ferguson official to be fired or step down. He had initially resisted calls from protesters and some state leaders to resign.

Thomas Jackson was widely criticized after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August and the weeks of demonstrations that followed.

The DoJ report found substantial evidence of intentional discrimination in the police and justice system.

The report contended that African-Americans were at the receiving end of 90% of officers’ use of force.

In November, a St Louis County grand jury found that white police officer Darren Wilson did not break any laws when he shot Michael Brown.

Police across the country have faced criticism following the deaths of a series of black men in contentious circumstances.

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Robert Durst arrested over Susan Berman murder ahead of The Jinx finale

Nancy Clayson
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Robert Durst arrested over Susan Berman murder ahead of The Jinx finale

Robert Durst has been arrested on a murder charge ahead of the finale of the HBO’s show The Jinx investigating the alleged crime.

The tycoon was held in New Orleans after a warrant was issued by Los Angeles police investigating the murder of Susan Berman.

He is the subject of The Jinx:The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, which is investigating three unsolved murder cases linked to the tycoon.

The Jinx says it has new evidence implicating Robert Durst in Susan Berman’s shooting.Robert Durst arrested in New Orleans

Robert Durst, 71, had been previously questioned by police investigating her execution-style killing.

He will appear in a New Orleans court on March 15 but his lawyer says he will not oppose being transferred to Los Angeles.

In 2003, Robert Durst admitted killing Morris Black, dismembering his body and throwing the remains into a bay in Galveston, Texas, but a jury accepted his claim of self-defense.

The property heir was also questioned by police following the disappearance of his first wife Kathleen in 1982 in New York.

Robert Durst has always denied any involvement in the deaths of his wife or Susan Berman.

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Kathy Griffin leaves Fashion Police because it didn’t work out

Lisa.Felice
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Kathy Griffin leaves Fashion Police because it didn’t work out

Kathy Griffin denies any scandal behind her decision to leave E!’s Fashion Police.

“It just didn’t work out. That’s it, that’s the scandal,” Kathy Griffin said during a standup show in Waterbury, Connecticut on March 13 in a video obtained by TMZ.

“However, Hollywood, of course, enjoys blowing something up,” the comedian continued.

“What’s nice is I got a really nice groundswell of support from other Twatters, um, from the Twitter. And that’s really nice.”

According to Us Weekly, Kathy Griffin expected she’d have more control over her role on the show and the nature of her jokes – being that she replaced Joan Rivers, its former doyenne.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

“It just didn’t work out and I’m just surprised that people are so invested in this show, but I shouldn’t be because Joan [Rivers] was so incredible and amazing,” Kathy Griffin told the Waterbury audience.

“It just wasn’t the right fit for me. So, now I’m all over the TMZ and all that stuff and it’s kind of funny.”

Kathy Griffin announced her departure from Fashion Police in a long statement on Twitter on March 12. She made it clear that she felt her brand of comedy didn’t align with the style show.

“After 7 episodes of Fashion Police, I have discovered my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show and now it’s time to move on,” she said.

Kathy Griffin also explained: “I do not want to use my comedy to contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance toward difference. I want to help women, gay kids, people of color, and anyone who feels underrepresented to have a voice and a LAUGH.”

Kathy Griffin also left as Fashion Police was under a cloud of controversy resulting from co-host Giuliana Rancic’s comments about Zendaya Coleman during the show’s Oscars episode, which many believed were racist, and a couple weeks after five-year co-host Kelly Osbourne left the show citing the desire to explore other opportunities.

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Tyga shares new photo of Kylie Jenner fueling rumors of dating

Lisa.Felice
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Tyga shares new photo of Kylie Jenner fueling rumors of dating

Rapper Tyga shared a new photo of Kylie Jenner on Instagram, fueling rumors that he is dating the 17-year-old reality star.

On March 13, Tyga posted a picture of Kylie Jenner with the caption: “Certain things catch your eye, but only a few capture your heart.”

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

In recent months, there’s been a lot of speculation about Tyga and Kylie Jenner’s relationship being more than just a friendship.

Tyga and Kylie Jenner have never publicly admitted that they are dating, but this is not the first time the rapper has gushed about the KUWTK reality star on social media.

Last month, Tyga posted a picture of Kylie Jenner with the caption: “Your beauty never goes unnoticed. One of the best/dopest person (sic) in my life.”

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Nick Cannon sues Mariah Carey’s business manager for selling $9 million Bel Air mansion

Lisa.Felice
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Nick Cannon sues Mariah Carey’s business manager for selling $9 million Bel Air mansion

Nick Cannon has sued Mariah Carey’s business manager Michael Kane for selling the couple’s home without his knowledge, TMZ has reported.

Nick Cannon, 34, has filed a lawsuit against Michael Kane over the sale of his and Mariah Carey’s $9 million Bel Air mansion (the 6-bedroom, 9-bath property was originally listed for $12,995,000 million).

According to legal documents, the America’s Got Talent host claims he was not informed of the house’s sale or of the closing date until February 24, E! News reported.

While he has “no objection” to selling the home, Nickk Cannon alleges his “initial efforts to obtain copies of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and other documents pertinent to the transaction were rebuffed by Kane”.Nick Cannon sues Mariah Carey's business manager for selling $9 million Bel Air mansion

The documents also claim Nick Cannon “has yet to see the estimated settlement agreement nor has he been provided with any information about required closing costs and loan payoffs, and other planned disbursements from escrow”.

Nick Cannon is seeking a trust be placed on the sale proceeds from the house until proper accounting for distribution of the sales proceeds.

In addition, Nick Cannon is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Michael Kane from obtaining, disbursing or using any of the funds from escrow of the home.

Nick Cannon filed for divorce from Mariah Carey in January 2015 after six years of marriage.

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Gridiron Dinner 2015: Barack Obama makes fun of Hillary Clinton’s email controversy

Diane A. Wade
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Gridiron Dinner 2015: Barack Obama makes fun of Hillary Clinton’s email controversy

President Barack Obama made fun of his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her recent problems with email in a satirical speech at this year’s Gridiron diner on March 14.

Barack Obama joined Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a potential Republican contender for the 2016 presidential election, and Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia for the annual Gridiron dinner, an evening of song and skits making light of major players in US politics.

The president joked that his reputation for being a tech-savvy president had now been eclipsed by his one-time foe Hillary Clinton, who has come under fire for using a private email account for her work as secretary of state.

“If you think about how things have changed since 2008, back then I was the young tech-savvy candidate of the future. Now I’m yesterday’s news and Hillary’s got a server in her house!”

“I am so far behind,” Barack Obama said.

Photo AFP/Getty Images
Photo AFP/Getty Images

Scott Walker also had some fun with Hillary Clinton’s email controversy, tying her to wealthy Wall Street donors.

“I even have Hillary’s private email,” he said.

“It goes right to her campaign headquarters. You know, it’s [email protected],” Scott Walker added.

He quipped that the joke was written by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is known for crusading against Wall Street, and who some Democrats hope will challenge Hillary Clinton.

Barack Obama, feeling loose with less than two years left in office, noted criticism that he had taken a “selfie” photo in a viral video promoting his health insurance program, but he turned the tables on Republican senators who sent a letter to Iran warning them against a nuclear deal the president hopes to secure.

“You don’t diminish your office by taking a selfie. You do it by sending a poorly written letter to Iran,” Barack Obama said.

Barack Obama also ribbed Vice President Joe Biden for his touchy-feely habits. Joe Biden drew criticism for massaging the shoulders of the wife of incoming Defense Secretary Ash Carter at his swearing-in ceremony.

“Joe rubs my shoulders, too,” Barack Obama said.

Barack Obama jabbed Scott Walker for dodging a question during a recent trip to London on whether he believed in evolution.

“I absolutely believe in the theory of evolution – when it comes to gay marriage,” the president said.

Barack Obama came out in favor of gay marriage in 2012 after many years of what he described as a personal evolution in his thinking about the subject.

The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest organizations of journalists in Washington. Membership is by invitation only.

Vatican backs use of military force against ISIS

Roy Siemens
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Vatican backs use of military force against ISIS

The Vatican backs the use of military force to stop attacks on Christians and other Middle East minorities by Islamic State (ISIS) if no political solution is found.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s top diplomat at the UN in Geneva, said jihadists were committing “genocide” and must be stopped.

The Vatican traditionally opposes military intervention in the region.

However, Pope Francis decried the beheading in February of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by ISIS in Libya.

The militants have targeted minority religious groups in the parts of Syria and Iraq under their control. Thousands more people have been forced to flee their homes.Vatican backs use of military force against ISIS

In an interview with US Catholic website Crux, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said: “What’s needed is a co-ordinated and well-thought-out coalition to do everything possible to achieve a political settlement without violence.

“But if that’s not possible, then the use of force will be necessary.”

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi added: “We have to stop this kind of genocide. Otherwise we’ll be crying out in the future about why we didn’t so something, why we allowed such a terrible tragedy to happen.”

Christians were the main target of ISIS attacks, the archbishop said, but all minorities were human beings whose rights had to be protected.

“Christians, Yazidis, Shias, Sunnis, Alawites, all are human beings whose rights deserve to be protected,” he said.

Any coalition, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said, must include Muslim states from the Middle East and be guided by the UN.

Crux said the archbishop’s endorsement of military action was “unusually blunt”.

Cyclone Pam: State of emergency declared in Vanuatu

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Pam: State of emergency declared in Vanuatu

Cyclone Pam had destroyed most buildings in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, including schools and clinics, said President Baldwin Lonsdale.

A state of emergency has been declared in the tiny Pacific state of 267,000 people, spread over 65 islands.

At least eight people are reported to have been killed.

However, it is feared the toll will rise sharply as rescuers reach outlying islands.

Thousands of people spent a second night in shelters.

Cyclone Pam, with winds of up to 170mph, veered off its expected course and struck populated areas when it reached Vanuatu early on March 14.

The authorities in Vanuatu are struggling to gauge the extent of the damage across the country because communications are down and fallen power lines and trees have blocked roads.Cyclone Pam Vanuatu state of emergency

Meanwhile, the first deliveries of aid have arrived on air force planes from New Zealand and Australia.

The UK, France, UN and European Union have also promised help.

A UN disaster assessment team is due to arrive in Vanuatu in the coming hours.

Chloe Morrison, an emergency communications officer with World Vision in Port Vila, said residents had woken to much calmer weather on March 15.

She said it would have been a “very, very tough time” for anyone not in a secure shelter during the cyclone.

Speaking from Japan, President Baldwin Lonsdale made an impassioned plea for international help earlier.

“I am speaking to you today with a heart that is so heavy,” he said at the UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

“I stand to appeal on behalf of the government and the people to give a helping hand in this disaster.”

The extent of the devastation is unlikely to be known for several days, said Tom Skirrow, Save the Children’s Vanuatu country director.

Unconfirmed reports on March 14 said 44 people had died in Penama province in the north-east of Vanuatu, according to the UN’s Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA).

Cyclone Pam had already caused major damage on other Pacific islands, including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

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Mahatma Gandhi statue unveiled London’s Parliament Square

James J. Williams
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Mahatma Gandhi statue unveiled London’s Parliament Square

A Mahatma Gandhi’s statue has been unveiled in London’s Parliament Square.

The unveiling of the 9ft bronze statue marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa to begin his struggle for independence.

The Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust raised more than £1 million ($1.5 million) for the work which was described as a “magnificent tribute”.Mahatma Gandhi statue unveiled London

The statue was unveiled by Indian finance minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, in a ceremony which also involved Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

British sculptor, Philip Jackson, was commissioned to create the work with his previous pieces including statues of the Queen Mother and Bomber Command.

Philip Jackson said he was inspired by photographs of the civil rights leader outside 10 Downing Street on a visit in 1931.

British PM David Cameron said: “This statue is a magnificent tribute to one of the most towering figures in the history of world politics and by putting Mahatma Gandhi in this famous square we are giving him an eternal home in our country.”

Mahatma Gandhi was known for his use of non-violent protest and undertook various hunger strikes to protest against the oppression of India’s poorest classes.

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Ebola outbreak: Ten US healthcare workers evacuated from Sierra Leone

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Ten US healthcare workers evacuated from Sierra Leone

Ten US healthcare workers are being evacuated from Sierra Leone after another aid worker back from the West African country had tested positive for Ebola and was being treated in hospital near Washington DC.

The evacuees may have been in contact with the Ebola patient and are being flown back on non-commercial transport.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said none were currently showing Ebola symptoms.Ebola outbreak Sierra Leone

They will stay in voluntary isolation for a 21-day incubation period. If any start to show symptoms they will be taken to one of three hospitals which are equipped to deal with Ebola cases.

On March 13, the CDC sent a team to Sierra Leone to investigate how the healthcare worker became exposed and determine who might have been in contact with the infected person.

The patient is being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.

It is the 11th person with the deadly virus to be treated in the US.

More than 10,000 people have died in the current Ebola outbreak.

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Jeremy Clarkson may leave Top Gear following suspension over fracas with Oisin Tymon

Sonia Pantiss
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Jeremy Clarkson may leave Top Gear following suspension over fracas with Oisin Tymon

Jeremy Clarkson has hinted he may leave Top Gear, following his suspension from the BBC’s show for an alleged “fracas” with producer Oisin Tymon.

Photo BBC
Photo BBC

Writing in his regular Sun newspaper column, Jeremy Clarkson, 54, described himself as a “dinosaur”, and said that the day comes when you “wave goodbye to big monsters and move on”.

A BBC internal disciplinary inquiry is due to be held into the incident.

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Burger King removes sugary soft drinks from Kids Meal menu

Kathryn R. Bown
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Burger King removes sugary soft drinks from Kids Meal menu

Burger King has decided to drop sugary soft drinks from kids’ meals following similar moves by McDonald’s and Wendy’s earlier this year.

The fast-food giant is replacing fountain drinks with fat-free milk, low-fat chocolate milk and apple juice in Burger King Kids Meals, USA Today reported.

Soft drinks will still be offered, but they will be nixed from the Kids Meal menu.Burger King removes sugary soft drinks from kids meals

Major fast-food chains have reportedly stopped marketing sodas to kids due to pressure from consumer advocacy groups working to end childhood obesity. McDonald’s, for instance, has partnered with The Alliance for a Healthy Generation, founded by the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, NPR reports.

Burger King made the switch as part of an “ongoing effort to offer our guests options that match lifestyle needs,” Alex Macedo, president of Burger King North America, told USA Today.

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Dennis: Obese dachshund sheds 44lb on diet

Nancy Clayson
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Dennis: Obese dachshund sheds 44lb on diet

Dennis, a miniature dachshund from Ohio, has lost 44lb (more than 75% of his body weight) after being put on a diet-and-fitness regime by his new owner.

Brooke Burton adopted Dennis two years ago from a relative who fed the dog nothing but junk food.

Dennis is now 12lb after weighing 56lb – almost five time the size of a normal dog of his breed.

The six-year-old dog lost the excess weigh through diet and exercise – but required surgery to remove excess skin.

Dennis’ “before and after” pictures have become a hit on the internet.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Brooke Burton said Dennis couldn’t take more than a few steps without being out of breath – before he switched to nothing but dry dog food and started taking frequent walks.

“In the beginning, you could tell he was very depressed, that he really didn’t feel good at all,” Brooke Burton, a nursing student, told the Associated Press.

“He didn’t have much of a personality. After he lost weight, this bossy little demanding man popped out. He’s into everything; he wants to play with everybody.”

Dr. Kathleen Ham, the veterinary surgeon who performed operations to remove Dennis’s excess skin, said the story should be cautionary tale for overindulgent pet owners.

“We have an expression: food is not love,” Dr. Ham said.

“Most of what your pet wants from you is affection and attention.”

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Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva welcome third child in Switzerland, tabloid claims

Lisa.Felice
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Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva welcome third child in Switzerland, tabloid claims

As Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been seen in public lately, a Swiss tabloid claims that his alleged girlfriend Alina Kabaeva has given birth to the couple’s third child.

The Kremlin immediately denied the rumor as a “hoax”.

Rumors about the absence of Vladimir Putin from the public view went into overdrive on March 13 as the Kremlin released new footage of the president and also announced that he will meet the president of Kyrgyzstan on March 16.

On March 12, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov fended off suggestions that the president has been out of the spotlight due to illness, something he dismissed by saying “no need to worry, everything is all right,” and joking that the president’s handshake was still so strong it could “break your hand”.

Vladimir Putin has not been seen in public since a March 5 meeting with Italian PM Matteo Renzi.

According to the Blick , Switzerland’s oldest tabloid, Vladimir Putin has been out of sight not because of his own ill health – but because his supposed girlfriend, former Olympic rhythmic gymnast and current chairwoman of the National Media Group, Alina Kabaeva, gave birth to the couple’s daughter in Ticino.Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva third child

The Blick report says many cars with Russian license plates have been seen outside a regional hospital in the past few days, and that Vladimir Putin is friends with a gynecologist who works there. It further claims that this is actually Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva’s third child- following a son in 2009 and another daughter in 2012.

President Vladimir Putin, 62, already has two daughters with his ex-wife, Lyudmila Shkrebneva Putina, though little is known about them and the Kremlin has never published a family portrait.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quick to dismiss the rumors, saying that its “not true” and referred to the story as a “hoax”, AFP reported.

This is not the first time Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva, 31, have been linked. In 2008, Russian media announced that the two were engaged to be married, despite Putin still being married to his now ex-wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva. Vladimir Putin denied it as “nonsense”.

Rumors swirled about a wedding again in 2013, after Vladimir Putin was divorced. The official Kremlin comment at that time was any talk of a wedding was a private matter for President Vladimir Putin to announce.

Gayle King’s wardrobe malfunction revealed on Instagram

Lisa.Felice
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0
Gayle King’s wardrobe malfunction revealed on Instagram

Oprah Winfrey’s best friend – CBS’s This Morning co-anchor Gayle King – discovered on Friday, March 13, that her beautiful Zac Posen dress split right down the middle.

Gayle King was cracking up at her booty-baring moment, even Instagramming before and after pics of the incident.

The first picture shows Gayle King, facing forward, modeling her seemingly intact dress.

“Stay with me this is going somewhere,” she promised her followers.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

In the second picture, Gayle King has a hand held up to her mouth in mock astonishment, and her seam-splitting snafu in the back is clearly visible.

The “wardrobe malfunction,” Gayle King explained, happened while she was “getting out of a car at Hearst Tower [in New York City] and felt cold air on my bottom!”.

“Thank goodness for black Spanx,” she added.

“[This] could have been (really) embarrassing!”

“Sooo,” Gayle King asked her followers, was the Zac Posen “dress too small or [was] my butt too big???”

Zac Posen himself commented on the pictures: “Replacement on its way or send to the studio and we will fix!! I’m really sorry about the seam ripping. Love Zp.”

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