Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Seth Meyers Marries Longtime Girlfriend Alexi Ashe

by Sierra Marquina Sun., Sep. 1, 2013 4:35 PM PDT

Seth Meyers, Alexi Ashe, PDA Frazer Harrison/Getty images

Jokes over! Seth Meyers is officially a married man. 

The funnyman married longtime girlfriend and human rights lawyer Alexi Ashe in Martha's Vineyard on Sunday in front of family and friends.

"They are so in love and really excited for their big day," a source told People. "They [were] really excited to celebrate their big day with all their close friends and family."

NEWS: Watch Alexi & Seth take on a grilled cheese challenge

Meyer described how he popped the question to his ladylove to the mag, saying, "I tied [the ring] in a bow around our dog's collar. I just had to sit there looking at the dog. I was like, 'The dog's going to eat the ring!'"

Luckily, that wasn't the case.

Ashe reportedly met the comedian at a mutual friend's wedding a few years back and has been smitten ever since.

A source told the mag in 2011 that Meyers is "very excited for the next phase of his life" and that "he's known that she's The One for a while, but it was all about timing."

PHOTOS: Speaking of weddings, check out these amazing engagement rings


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Thursday, 5 September 2013

Why This Is the Best Dancing With the Stars Cast Ever (Plus, Our Pick for the Season 17 Winner)

 ABC/Craig Sjodin

Welcome to the best season of Dancing With the Stars ever.


Unlike past seasons, where the best we could say is that it could always be worse, this season we're saying it couldn't get any better! Sure, if you're going to get technical, it could be better, if any big stars actually signed on to compete. Angelina Jolie, you wanna cha-cha? 


But this season has working actors who are currently relevant. And that's close enough! Which brings us to our first, possibly most controversial point: Is Amber Riley the most "famous" star the show has had?


PHOTOS: Check out the hottest Dancing With the Stars contestants ever


We're using star in the classical Hollywood sense of the word here. Someone with a bankable talent, who has (recently) worked in something (fairly) legit. Amber was a series regular on one of the most popular shows of the decade, Glee, for three seasons and was reoccurring for one more.


Sure, it's a slippery slop into obscurity when you're written off of Glee, but Amber's character, Mercedes, hasn't been, technically. She's returning for at least one more episode in the upcoming season, with the possibility of being in more left open. Plus, even if she were officially written off, her show was on within the past year. That's more than most other contestants who can say.


Anyway, it's something to think about. 


As far as nonstar stars, the bread and butter of the DWTS world, Snooki is more relevant than most reality stars that have competed on the show. She has her own series on MTV and a handful of other moneymaking enterprises. She's someone we still talk about and not because she was the latest victim of a death hoax. Or because she died.


NEWS: Dancing With the Stars' Anna Trebunskaya pregnant with first child!


As for stars of the past and the general category of "miscellaneous" persons that DWTS curates, this season banks fairly newsworthy people: Valerie Harper will be one to watch and will surely make it past at least the first elimination, with America guaranteed to root for her in light of her recent battle with brain cancer (which is now close to being in remission).


And Leah Remini, who this summer has single handedly taken on Scientology. Perhaps she can reenact her dramatic exit from the church via an interpretive dance? That's on our wish list, for sure.


And the biggest get of all: Bill Nye, the Science Guy!


Can you believe Bill Nye is going to be on Dancing With the Stars?!!!

Bill Nye GIF

NEWS: Valerie Harper is competing on DWTS—is it too much?


Now, for some early predictions. Please...

Bill Nye GIF

First Eliminated: Bill Engvall. Though the comedian probably has quite a few fans in Middle America, we're expect that his dance moves (or lack there of) will lead him to an early demise.


Most Dramatic: Elizabeth Berkley. We're basically expecting a toned-down version of Showgirls. Look alive, FCC.


Biggest Surprise: Snooki. While she may be best known for grinding on guido gorilla juiceheads in the club, Snooki has a history in cheer and dance that we think will serve her well.


Winner: Bill Nye


What? We can dream, right?!

Bill Nye GIF

Real Top Three:


3. Christina Milian


2. Keyshawn Johnson


Winner: Corbin Bleau


Pop star, football player, former Disney kid. It basically predicts itself.


PHOTOS: Check out the entire cast of Dancing With the Stars, Season 17


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Zac Efron Flaunts Sexy Washboard Abs on Set of Neighbors

Zac Efron, Neighbors Universal Pictures

Zac Efron looks yummier than the food he's barbecuing.

The 25-year-old looks sexier than ever as he flaunts his washboard abs while grilling food during a backyard bash in his new movie Neighbors.

Efron plays the head of a frat house who doesn't exactly get along with his neighbors, a couple played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in the comedy, which is due out in May 2014.

LOOK: Zac Efron+a kitten=too cute to handle

Although the actor's hunky appearance is no surprise to anyone, costar Rogen couldn't help but comment about just how good-looking Efron is.

"Zac Efron is incredibly handsome," he said at an event in May. "I did a scene with him, and we're both shirtless, and it was a very humbling experience. I marveled at the fact that we're literally the same species."

We marvel at him all the time.

PHOTOS: More evidence of Zac Efron's hotness


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Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck's Runner, Runner Official Trailer Released—Watch Now!

Runner Runner, Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck are joining forces in the upcoming flick, Runner, Runner.

The first official trailer was released Wednesday, giving a glimpse at the fast-paced action thriller that's based on real events.

In it, Affleck plays a wealthy businessman, thanks to his successful (and less-than-legal) online poker companies. Timberlake takes on the role of a Princeton student who takes a bite out of the competitive online gambling world.

After learning that Affleck is more enemy than friend, and that he's in serious trouble with the law, JT is left fighting for what's left of his fortune.

PHOTOS: Movies we can't wait for

The two battle it out in what appears to be the movie to see this fall.

The flick also stars Anthony Mackie and Gemma Arterton. Runner, Runner hits theaters Sept. 27.

And while Affleck is taking his turn at playing the bad guy, it's only a matter of time before he's donning a batsuit for his role as Batman. It was announced last month that the hunky Hollywood actor would be taking on the coveted character for the Man of Steel sequel alongside Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman.

During an interview on Fresh 102.7's Jim and Kim Show Timberlake spoke out in support of his Runner costar's ability to take on the bat role, despite tons of casting criticism.

PHOTOS: Check out these upcoming action flicks

Ben Affleck, Fan Made Batman Video YouTube

"I worked with Ben last summer and I've seen his process. I think he's a brilliant filmmaker. I think he's an extreme talent, so he could surprise a lot of people."

But when Justin was asked if he'd want to play Robin, he answered with a laugh, "Not a chance in hell," clarifying, "I ain't playin' Robin. I have no aspiration to ever be a superhero in a movie. Now villain? I'll tell you the villain I want to play more than anything because I grew up loving Batman, funny enough, is the Riddler. The Riddler is my favorite villain."

"The Riddler was like a sociopath," he added. "He was proper crazy. So if I'm gonna play crazy, I'm wanna play proper crazy."

"I'm ready," he said. "The Riddler. Gimme a call."

Now that would be awesome!

Check out Affleck and Timberlake onscreen together in the full movie trailer above!

PHOTOS: Check out all of Justin Timberlake's famous friends!


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Beyoncé and Jay Z Board Luxury Yacht: Get the Scoop!

 XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM And this is how Beyoncé and Jay Z enjoy a little R&R.

The birthday girl and her rapper hubby were spotted Monday boarding a yacht in Formentera, Spain, where the twosome took some time to relax with daughter Blue Ivy.


Queen Bey looked fab as she flaunted her short blond bob, sporting a leopard print cover-up while carrying a large camera. She left her sky-high heels behind as she stepped on the boat barefoot, while the "Tom Ford" singer received a helping hand from the staff.


PHOTOS: Beyonce hits Coney Island dressed as Minnie Mouse

XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM

The twosome appears to have chartered the Galactica Star yacht for their getaway, which features an abundance of A-list amenities, including a sauna, fully equipped bar and a Jacuzzi pool with a glass bottom located on the main deck, which allows for natural light to pour into the beach club directly below.


There's also a stunning balcony outside the master cabin, as well as a helipad on the foredeck, which can also serve as a lounging area.


Custom built in 2013 by Heesen Yachts, the 213-foot, 3-inch ship has an exterior styled by Omega Architects, offers accommodations for twelve guests in six suites and can also carry a crew of 13 onboard.


PHOTOS: Fashion Spotlight: Beyoncé


Sounds pretty fabulous, right?!


Oh, what we wouldn't give for a day in the life of Bey and Jay.


PHOTOS: Take a peek at the Carter family's cutest photos!


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Sunday, 1 September 2013

Kasparov: Cracks in Putin's Russia

Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny hugs his wife Yulia in the courtroom in Kirov on July 19, 2013.Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny hugs his wife Yulia in the courtroom in Kirov on July 19, 2013.Important trial outcomes are decided well in advance and with little need for evidence, writes Garry KasparovThe motivations for Navalny's brief respite are unclear but it likely reflects factional infighting inside the Kremlin, he saysKasparov believes success for Navalny's campaign would change the atmosphere of the countryEditor's note: Garry Kasparov is a world chess champion and human rights activist. He is the chairman of the Russian United Civil Front and the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, which holds the annual Oslo Freedom Forum. Kasparov is a frequent speaker on decision-making, strategy, risk, and technology, especially the area of human-machine collaboration. His book "How Life Imitates Chess" has been translated into over 20 languages." He can be found on Facebook here.

(CNN) -- Strange things happened in a small courtroom in the Russian city of Kirov last week. Moscow mayoral candidate, and my colleague in the Russian opposition, Alexei Navalny, was convicted July 18 on concocted embezzlement charges in the type of political show trial that Josef Stalin favored long before his spiritual successor President Vladimir Putin embraced them.

Then, the very next morning, the same prosecutor asked for Navalny's release pending his appeal. It was a move so unexpected that an incredulous Navalny asked the court to make sure the prosecutor had not been swapped for an identical twin overnight.

That something surprising happened in a Russian courtroom is itself surprising. As with our so-called elections, important trial outcomes are decided well in advance and with little need for evidence. (When the Kirov judge went to his chambers to deliberate over Navalny's release, one wit tweeted "the Skype connection to Moscow must be particularly slow today.")

 Chess champion and human rights activist, Garry Kasparov Chess champion and human rights activist, Garry KasparovThe judicial process and the democratic process in Russia are both elaborate mockeries created to distract the citizenry at home and to help Western leaders avoid confronting the awkward fact that Russia has returned to a police state while they stood by or, in many cases, while they eagerly did business with the repressive Putin regime.

That this strange occurrence happened to the most prominent member of the anti-Putin opposition movement is therefore shocking and meaningful. In Putin's Russia, political dissidents simply do not get out of jail. Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's wealthiest man, has been imprisoned since his October 2003 arrest for the "crime" of disloyalty to Putin.

Everyone knows his jail term is exactly as long as Putin's stay in power, no shorter and no longer. It is no coincidence that Navalny's sentence will leave him in prison safely beyond the 2018 presidential elections.

The motivations for Navalny's brief respite are unclear, and will likely always remain so, but it likely reflects factional infighting inside the Kremlin. Putin's main allies, the security and intelligence forces known as the siloviki, advocate ever-greater repression. They want to jail every opposition leader and activist and prevent any legitimate expression of democracy.

Former Putin classmate Alexander Bastrykin is the leader and symbol of the siloviki camp. As former top prosecutor and current chief of the powerful Investigative Committee, Bastrykin is the administration's main weapon against political and social resistance.

Apparently Bastrykin is not all powerful, however, and Navalny's hurried release counts as a defeat for his authority. But it is not clear for whom it was a victory. Navalny is running for mayor in Moscow in what was expected at the start to be another electoral charade. But incumbent mayor Sergey Sobyanin -- worried about a repeat of the 2011 protests against the blatantly fraudulent parliamentary elections which brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets, actually helped Navalny get on the ballot.

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Sobyanin is hardly a democrat, but his selfish interests may work to bring democracy back to Russia. Conjecture aside, Navalny's quick release was either incompetence or high-level internal sabotage -- and neither possibility is good news for Putin.

The siloviki live in a pseudo-Soviet bubble, working to keep the lid of repression down as tightly as possible for as long as possible. But others, including Sobyanin, look ahead and realize that taking this path will make the eventual explosion of opposition even stronger. Some of them are ambitious enough to chafe at Putin's obvious intent to hold power for life. They are far from liberal reformers, of course, and are seeking to advance their own interests. But at the moment those interests are leading them to undermine Putin's iron grip on every lever of power.

This matters, because the policeman on the Moscow street gets his strength from the knowledge that his superiors will support him unconditionally. He can crack open a protester's skull knowing his captain will defend his action. The captain knows the colonel will defend him because the general will protect him, the judges will protect them, and so on all the way up to the plushest chair in Putin's office.

This unbroken chain is critical and a public weakening of the links at the top means Red Square moves a bit closer to Tahrir Square. The protests that erupted after Navalny's conviction were the largest unsanctioned rallies since 2011 and the police let them happen nearly without incident. (The prosecution's request to release Navalny was made immediately after the verdict was read.) There is doubt in the ranks because they sense doubt at the top. If Navalny is set free, wonders the police captain, should he give the order to beat those protesters demonstrating in his name?

This may be only a brief moment of hesitation, but it is real. Cracks are appearing in the façade elsewhere as well. Mikhail Prokhorov, the oligarch who pretended to be an opposition candidate in last year's presidential election without saying a word against Putin, is now openly supporting Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov after he was arrested on bribery charges. (Kremlin partners do not suffer such indignities.)

Another Prokhorov ally, Yevgeny Roizman, is running for the mayoralty of Russia's third-largest city, Yekaterinburg. The most popular slogans during last week's spontaneous rallies were "Svoboda!" ("Freedom!") and "Putin vor!" ("Putin's a thief!") The situation looks increasingly unbalanced. A new wave of mass protests could force the Putin regime to find out how loyal its security forces really are.

Navalny is still convicted and he may be allowed to run for mayor only to attempt to discredit him before jailing him. If he gains too much support he can be locked up at any time, or worse, as he well knows, although this would create just the sort of scandal Sobyanin would like to avoid in his quest to appear to be a legitimately elected official. But the election might not be as easy as they think. In last year's presidential election Putin received 47% of the vote in Moscow -- and those are the official numbers, not real ones -- despite epic fraud and despite facing no real opposition. Can Sobyanin then be expected to surpass the 50% needed to avoid a second ballot without resorting to the same tactics that spawned outrage in 2011?

Navalny is a real fighter and he has thousands of enthusiastic volunteers to campaign for him and to closely observe the election process on September 8. There are only bad choices for the Kremlin at this point. Their fear of Navalny and the movement he represents is provoking conflict and confusion.

In the movie "Groundhog Day", Bill Murray's character wakes up in Andie MacDowell's arms after an eternity of repeating the same day over and over. "Something is... different," he says. "Good or bad?" she asks. "Anything different is good," he answers. Something different happened in Kirov last week and my optimism tells me it was a positive sign. After more than 13 years of predictable repression under Putin, anything different is good.

We should not let avid speculation distract us from the cruel reality of Navalny's situation -- and of Putin's Russia. The lives of opposition members and journalists are worth very little. A man will spend five years in a labor camp for nothing more than speaking openly his opposition to Vladimir Putin. Navalny's former colleague, Pyotr Ofitserov, refused to testify against him and got a four-year sentence. He has five young children. And for every case you hear about, there are dozens of others forming this new generation of political prisoners under Putin.

The big picture is important, but we lose our humanity if we lose sight of the real people whose stories make up that picture. Success for Navalny's campaign in Moscow, any demonstration that he has substantial popular support, would change the atmosphere of the country and give these prisoners hope. And it would give us all hope that real change is on the way.

READ: What's behind Navalny's conviction?

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Bananas thrown at Italy's first black minister

By Holly Yan, Lauren Russell and Boriana Milanova, CNN July 29, 2013 -- Updated 1033 GMT (1833 HKT)Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge -- pictured in June -- is Italy's first black government minister.Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge -- pictured in June -- is Italy's first black government minister.Cecile Kyenge has been the target of death threats and racist antics She became Italy's first black government minister in April Newspaper editor says the bad economy has contributed to racial tensions

(CNN) -- Racist taunts against Italy's first black minister, Cecile Kyenge, took another ugly turn over the weekend when someone hurled bananas at her during a rally.

Kyenge's appointment as Italy's minister of integration three months ago isn't sitting well with right-wing radicals whose racial slurs and antics have overshadowed her tenure.

The banana incident is just the latest.

It took place Friday in Cervia, where Kyenge was speaking to supporters. A man popped up out of the crowd and launched two bananas toward the podium, Kyenge spokesman Cosimo Torlo said.

The bananas fell short of the stage, landing between the first and second row of spectators.

Giancarlo Mazzuca, chief editor of the daily newspaper Il Giorno, was sitting two chairs away from Kyenge.

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Police haven't found the person who hurled the bananas. There will be increased security around the minister, Torlo said.

Kyenge shrugged off the episode -- as she has with the other incidents.

In a Twitter post, she called it a sad waste of food when so many people are dying of hunger.

Kyenge, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to Italy in the 1980s to study medicine. She became an Italian citizen and is an ophthalmologist in Modena.

While her ascent to a top government position reflects the success of immigrants, it also has stoked nativism.

Ominous mannequins

Just before Kyenge arrived for Friday's rally, a group smeared blood-red paint and anti-immigrant messages onto mannequins.

"Immigration kills," read signs attached to the dummies.

The far-right political group Forza Nuova ("New Force") claimed responsibility for the mannequins.

The scene was also littered with fliers that said Italy's future growth depends on "protecting the Italian identity," according to the ANSA news agency.

Insults from other politicians

Two weeks ago, Italian Sen. Roberto Calderoli likened Kyenge to an orangutan. Calderoli, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party, made the remarks at a political rally.

"I love animals -- bears and wolves, as everyone knows -- but when I see the pictures of Kyenge, I cannot but think of, even if I'm not saying she is one, the features of an orangutan," he was quoted as saying.

After his comments were published, Calderoli said "if I've offended her, I apologize."

"It was a joke, a comment in a joking way. There was nothing particularly against her," he said. "It was just my impression. ... It is all very well that she be a minister but in her own country. Given that this government needs to govern Italy, I hope that it is done by Italians."

Kyenge responded diplomatically, saying Calderoli "does not need to ask forgiveness to me, but he should rather reflect on the political and institutional role that he carries. It is on this that he needs to make a profound reflection also to then apologize."

She added, "Also, he must go beyond putting everything on a personal level. I think the time has come for us to study the problem of communication."

Death threats

Kyenge has also received death threats before visiting an area where the Northern League is powerful.

A local politician recently said on Facebook that Kyenge should be raped so she can understand the pain felt by victims of crime, which some politicians blame on immigrants.

She's been called a "Congolese monkey," "Zulu" and "the black anti-Italian." One Northern League official said "she seems like a great housekeeper" but "not a government minister."

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta appealed to Northern League leader Roberto Maroni to "close this chapter right away."

Read more: Racist abuse of AC Milan star investigated

Tensions over immigrants

Italy has been experiencing its highest level of unemployment in more than 20 years.

In tough times, some Italians focus their anger on immigrants, Mazzuca, the newspaper editor, told CNN.

"The economic crisis is worsening the situation," he said. "Jobs that until a few years ago wouldn't have even been considered by Italians are now becoming precious."

There have recently been more and more reports of Italians beating foreigners, particularly street vendors, Mazzuca said.

He said doesn't believe that Italians generally are racists and hopes Kyenge will be able to ease racial tensions.

"I really think that Kyenge is the right person in the right place," he said. "As an eye doctor, she is able to see in the distance."

Journalist Livia Borghese and CNN's Hada Messia contributed to this report.

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