N.Korea new missile launch would be "huge mistake"

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned North Korea on Friday it would be a "huge mistake" to test launch a medium-range missile and said the United States would never accept the reclusive country as a nuclear power.

Addressing reporters after talks with South Korea's president and leaders of the 28,000-strong U.S. military contingent in the country, Kerry also said it was up to China, North Korea's sole major ally, to "put some teeth" into efforts to press Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Kerry, like other U.S. officials, played down an assessment from the Pentagon's intelligence agency that the North already had a nuclear missile capacity.

The United States, he said, wanted to resume talks about North Korea's earlier pledges to halt its nuclear programme.

But he also stressed that Washington would defend its allies in the region if necessary and pointedly said that Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, "needs to understand, as I think he probably does, what the outcome of a conflict would be".

North Korea has repeatedly said it will not abandon nuclear weapons which it said on Friday were its "treasured" guarantor of security.

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Kerry's visit coincided with preparations for Monday's anniversary of North Korean state founder Kim Il-Sung's birth date, a possible pretext for a show of strength, with speculation focusing on a possible new missile test launch.

GRAPHIC: N.Korea's military http://link.reuters.com/zur27t

GRAPHIC: Korea's economic divide http://r.reuters.com/gyn84t

Kerry, who flies to China on Saturday and to Japan on Sunday, said that if North Korea's 30-year-old leader went ahead with the launch, "he will be choosing, wilfully, to ignore the entire international community".

"I would say ahead of time that it is a huge mistake for him to choose to do that because it will further isolate his country and further isolate his people, who frankly are desperate for food, not missile launches."

SHRILL RHETORIC

The North has issued weeks of shrill threats of an impending war following the imposition of U.N. sanctions in response to its third nuclear test in February. Kerry said the threats were "simply unacceptable" by any standard.

"We are all united in the fact that North Korea will not be accepted as a nuclear power," he said.

Kerry later told U.S. executives in Seoul that China, as an advocate of denuclearisation, was in a position to press for a change in the North's policy.

"The reality is that if your policy is denuclearisation and it is theirs as it is ours, as it is everybody's except the North at this moment ... if that's your policy, you've got to put some teeth into it," he told the gathering.

But North Korea showed little inclination for further talks.

Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, said Pyongyang would never abandon its nuclear programme.

"The DPRK will hold tighter the treasured sword, nuclear weapons," it said, referring to the country by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

North Korean state television showed footage of newscasts from other countries depicting the trajectory a North Korean missile launch might take.

It also showed preparations for the Kim Il-Sung birthday festivities, including floral tributes, and a stadium of thousands of school children of the Korean Children's Union, each wearing a red scarf and saluting and marching in unison.

Speculation has mounted of an impending medium-range missile test launch in the North after reports in South Korea and the United States that as many as five medium-range missiles have been moved into position on the country's east coast.

Officials in both countries believe the North is preparing to test-launch a Musudan missile, whose range of 3,500 km (2,100 miles) or more would put Japan within striking distance and may threaten the island of Guam, which houses U.S. military bases.

The North has been angry about annual military drills between U.S. and South Korean forces, describing them as a "hostile" act. The United States dispatched B52 and B2 stealth bombers from their bases to take part.

Hours before Kerry's arrival, a U.S. lawmaker quoted a report by the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency, one of the 17 bodies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, as saying it had "moderate confidence" that North Korea had developed a nuclear bomb that could be fitted on a ballistic missile.

But Kerry poured cold water on the report said it was "inaccurate to suggest that the DPRK has fully tested, developed capabilities" as set down in the document.

South Korea's Defence Ministry said it did not believe North Korea could mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.

A U.S. official had earlier suggested that Washington's greatest concern was the possibility of unexpected developments linked to Kim Jong-un's "youth and inexperience". Asked if war seemed imminent, he replied: "Not at all."

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, meeting officials from her ruling Saenuri Party before her talks with Kerry, struck a conciliatory note by suggesting Seoul should at least listen to what North Korea had to say.

"We have a lot of issues, including the Kaesong industrial zone," local media quoted her as saying. So should we not meet with them and ask: "Just what are you trying to do?'"

The president was referring to North Korea's closure this week of the jointly run Kaesong industrial park, with the loss of 53,000 jobs.

Kerry said the United States would not object to the South talking to the North. He also did not rule out the possibility of U.S. aid some day flowing to the North, but suggested this could only happen if Pyongyang undertook real denuclearisation.

Kerry sounded upbeat about resolving a dispute between the United States and South Korea over a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that expires next year, saying he thought a compromise could be found by Park's visit to Washington next month.

South Korea is believed to want the right to reprocess its spent nuclear fuel, which would allow it to deal with a mounting stockpile of nuclear waste.

However, this could also allow it to produce bomb-grade fissile material, a step Washington is loathe to see it take in part because of its nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea.

"We are ... very concerned at this time about not having any ingredients that could alter our approach ... to either of those," he said. But Kerry added that he was "confident that one option or another will be able to come to fruition (with South Korea) by the time that President Park comes to Washington." 

Mini guide to shopping in Marrakesh

Nowhere else can shopping be so enlightening than the souqs of Marrakesh, where artisans make their crafts in front of you, shopkeepers greet you as a long lost friend and mint tea is permanently on tap.

Fashion and beauty
You’ll find an abundance of fragrant bath products at the charming L’Art du Bain Savonnerie Artisanale. Organic, artisanal soaps cost from around £2.50 (fixed price) and gifts come sprinkled with rosebuds and star anise, and tied with raffia (00 212 668 44 59 42; Souq Lebbadine, nr Souq Sebbaghine; 10am–7pm).

• Related article: Learn to cook in Marrakesh

Find the green door by the Mouassine Fountain, ring the doorbell and head up narrow stairs before heading into Atelier Moro, the city’s top-secret style showcase. Choose from cotton shifts embroidered with good luck symbols, Lalla Mika’s whimsical pompom necklaces made from recycled plastic bags, and arresting graphic red-and-white slippers (00 212 524 39 16 78; 114 Place de Mouassine; by appointment only).

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It usually takes decades to earn the title maâlem (master craftsman), but young Masroure Abdillah earns the title the hard way, pounding wool with savon noir (black soap) into felt. He then moulds it into seamless slippers, baubles for necklaces and sturdy tote bags. Masroure’s felt flowers make brooches, hatpins and everlasting bouquets (00 212 664 81 72 54; 53 Souq Lebbadine, Mouassine near Souq; 9am–7pm).

Homewares
For quality carpets without the haggling, head for the fixed prices and easygoing attitude of Ben Rahal Carpets in Nouvelle Ville. The small, careful selection may leave you spoiled for choice. Get informed about antique Berber rugs and realistic carpet prices, and avoid buyer’s remorse in the souqs later (00 212 524 43 32 73; 28 Rue de la Liberté, 9am–1pm and 3pm–8pm, Mon–Sat).

Spruce up your dining table with handcrafted table accessories from Mademoiselle Ibtissam’s Original Design, between Riads Zitoun and Kasbah. Find red tagine presentation dishes, linen tablecloths with pompoms, twin mini tagines for salt and pepper, tasselled silk napkin holders and more. The fixed prices are a bargain (00 212 524 38 03 61; 47 Place des Ferblantiers, near Badi Palace; 9.30am– 12.30pm and 2.30pm–7.30pm).

Atlas Abdelghani is a Bob Marley fan, as you can see from the posters he’s framed with recycled tyres, with one word embedded over Marley’s head: ‘Michelin’. Creations Pneumatiques is a recycling maâlem with a sense of humour and serious ingenuity – crafts range from photo frames to man-bags and treasure chests with air valves as drawer pulls (00 212 666 09 17 46; 110 Rue Riad Zitoun el-Kedim; 8am–10pm).

Crafts
Local women artisans have set up Cooperative Artisanale des Femmes de Marrakesh and made connections with other co-ops whose work they sell at low, fixed prices. Products include thuya wood bowls from Essaouira, Safi tea sets and small Middle Atlas rugs (67 Souq Kchachbia; 10am–1pm and 3.30pm–7pm Sat–Thu).

Musicians make pilgrimages to the lute-makers’ Abdelatif Instruments to watch beautiful music in the making, and here you can glimpse lutes, tambourines, gimbris (two- stringed banjos) and ribabs (single-stringed fiddles) being carved. Since you’re buying direct, you can customise your instrument and get a better deal, too (86 Souq Kchachbia, near Souq Haddadine; 9.30am–6pm).

As you might guess from the deep-purple floor and space-age orange ceramic tea sets, Jamade is not a traditional craft shop. The stock is modern and prices are fixed – featured local designs include coasters embroidered with Berber baraka (good vibes) by Tigmi women’s cooperative (00 212 524 42 90 42; 1 Place Douar Graoua, off Rue Riad Zitoun el-Jedid; 10am–2.30pm and 4pm–7pm, Sat–Thu).

Transport
BA, easyJet, Ryanair and Thomson fly from Birmingham, Manchester, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted to Menara airport, four miles southwest of the Medina (from £130). If it’s your first time at your riad or hotel, arrange an airport transfer to take you there so you don’t get lost. Walking is the best way to get around the Medina, which is mostly closed off to cars.

Where to stay
Travellers will want to put down roots at Riad Magellan, a six-bedroom riad where steamer trunks, antique globes and 1930s fans bring back the glamour of Art Deco Marrakesh. A terrace hot tub and deep-tissue massages will soothe economy-airfare kinks, and kind staff make this well-hidden, but ideally located retreat (in the heart of the Mouassine) feel like home (62 Derb el Hammam; from £60).

Riad al Massarah is a feel-good hideaway in the Medina that maximises sunlight, minimises eco-impact and supports a local children’s charity. There’s a small pool and a terrace ideal for taking breakfast (26 Derb Jedid; from £75).

Dar Ayniwen is a family-run villa in the Palmeraie with eight suites opening on to the gardens. On offer are a hammam, sauna, spa, heated pool, free shuttle and free cookery courses (Tafrata, Palmeraie de Marrakesh; from £170).

Jonathan Knight exits New Kids on the Block show mid-concert

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New Kids on the Block singer Jonathan Knight left fans confused and concerned Thursday when he walked off stage in the middle of a concert in New York.

According to reports, the five-member boy band was performing a mix of their old hits from the late '80s and early '90s, along with music from their new album, "10," when onlookers noticed that Knight seemed out of place.

HollywoodLife.com's Emily Longeretta was in the front row, and wrote on the celebrity website that Knight "seemed out of it. While the men started their choreographed dances, Jonathan stood uncomfortably in the background -- actually just standing and texting on his phone during the performance."

Billboard.com also reported that Knight seemed "visibly out of sync." He didn't join in when NKOTB got fans' arms waving with the memorable 1989 single "Hangin' Tough," and kept to the back of the stage as the other members worked to entertain the crowd.

The other members -- Knight's brother, Jordan, plus Danny Wood, Joey McIntyre and Donnie Wahlberg -- put their arms around him for support. Yet when Jordan said his brother was going to sing "Survive You" from "10," Knight made an attempt at the song, and then walked off the stage.The rest of NKOTB went on singing as fans chanted for Knight's return, but he never came back. The singer has been vocal in the past about his struggle with anxiety, prompting speculation that that's what he was facing Thursday night.

On his Twitter account, Knight appeared to give fans a simple apology, tweeting "I'm sorry......" on Thursday evening. Earlier that day, he posted the hashtag "I feel naked," perhaps indicating his state.

NKOTB, one of the heartthrob boy bands of the late '80s and early '90s, came off a lengthy hiatus in 2008, and have issued two albums since then. They're also slated to go on a tour this summer with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men, and Jonathan's performance Thursday had some questioning how many members of the group would make it.

But Wahlberg, for one, seemed unruffled.

"To recap," he tweeted after the New York event. "Joe was especially dazzling! Jordan was especially amazing! Danny was especially solid & Jon was especially shy! #Allsystemsnormal"

Halle Berry, fiance expecting child

Actress Halle Berry and her fiance, French actor Olivier Martinez, are expecting a child, Berry's representative told CNN on Friday.

Berry has a daughter, Nahla, from an earlier relationship with Gabriel Aubry.

Berry and Aubry have engaged in a long battle over custody of the child, culminating in a driveway brawl between Aubry and Martinez. The parents later reached a legal agreement, details of which are not known.

Berry, 46, won the Academy Award for best actress for her performance in 2001 "Monster's Ball."

Kidnapped 89-Year-Old to Captors

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An 89-year-old woman who spent two days locked in her car trunk thinking she'd never be found has a message for her teen captors.

"You got to be kind to other people if you want somebody to be kind to you," Margaret Smith said.

The 4-foot-11 octangenerian's story began with an act of kindness on March 18.

Smith had stopped at the Chicken Man Convenience Store in Milford, Del., for a Butter Pecan ice cream cone when two teenage girls approached her and asked for a ride across town.

"I decided not to, then I said, 'Well, a good deed,'" Smith said.

After driving around for a while, Smith said the girls snatched her car keys and stuffed her in the trunk of her Buick.

"The way they drove off flying, I didn't think nobody would ever find me," she said. "I just had to pray about and hope that I'd be found."

Smith spent the next two days crammed in the trunk, without food, water and her blood pressure medication. She said the only time the girls opened the trunk was to rob her of the cash she was carrying.

"I was very tired, cold, hungry, scared," Smith said. "I didn't know what to expect."

After spending 48 hours locked in her trunk, Smith's kidnappers inexplicably decided to dump her in a remote cemetery.

"I was crawling through the cemetery on hands and knees," Smith said. "Nothing but a pair of stockings on, no jacket...Finally somebody found me. I don't know who."

Smith was taken to a local hospital, where her family, who had reported her missing, received a call that she was safe.

Delaware State Police found Smith's car days later and arrested and charged five teenagers inside. All are believed to have some involvement in the kidnapping, robbery and theft, ABC News' Philadelphia affiliate WPVI reported.

Four of the teens, ranging in age from 14 to 17, are being charged as adults, while a fifth faces receiving stolen property and conspiracy charges as a minor.

U.S. Diplomat Killed in Afghanistan

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The friends and family of Anne Smedinghoff are mourning the 25-year-old Foreign Service Officer killed in a car bomb blast in southern Afghanistan whom they describe as vivacious and loving.

Smedinghoff was one of five Americans killed in a suicide bomb attack in Qalat, Zabul.

Working as a press officer for the U.S. embassy in Kabul, she was helping Afghan journalists cover an event at a boys school where the local U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team was to donate math and science books

The other Americans killed in the attack were three military service members and a civilian working for the Defense Department. Four State Department officials, including one described as critically injured, were among the 10 injured in the attack.

"The world lost a truly beautiful soul," Tom and Mary Beth Smedinghoff said in a statement. "Anne absolutely loved the work she was doing" as a press officer at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, they said.

Having served in the Foreign Service for only three years, Smedinghoff volunteered to serve inAfghanistan and arrived last July.

"We are consoled knowing that she was doing what she loved, and that she was serving her country by helping to make a positive difference in the world," her parents said. "She was such a wonderful woman -- strong, intelligent, independent, and loving. Annie, you left us too soon; we love you and we're going to miss you so much."

A senior State Department official who also knew Smedinghoff described her as being "really special," "sweet," and "very bright."

Traveling in Istanbul, Secretary of State John Kerry described Smedinghoff's death as the "stealing of a young life."

"There are no words for anybody to describe the extraordinary harsh contradiction of a young 25-year-old woman with all of the future ahead of her, believing in the possibilities of diplomacy, of changing people's lives, of making a difference, having an impact, who was taking knowledge in books to deliver them to a school. And someone somehow persuaded that taking her -- his life was a wiser course and somehow constructive, drives into their vehicle and we lose five lives," Kerry said.

Kerry had met Smedinghoff two weeks ago during his recent trip to Afghanistan, where she had been assigned to coordinate his trip.

"I remember her as vivacious, smart, capable, often chosen by the ambassador for her capabilities," Kerry said. He said of his call to Smedinghoff's parents on Saturday that "there is no harder conversation to have in the world."

Afghan security officials told ABC News that the State Department convoy had just left its headquarters in Qalat and joined the convoy of the local provincial governor who was also headed to the school book giveaway.

That's when two suicide attackers attacked the convoy. The security officials said there was an initial car bomb detonated by a remote device. Then a suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest appeared and caused more casualties.

Afghan sources say the school event had been announced a day in advance, which possibly allowed attackers enough time to plan the attack.

Another American civilian was killed Saturday in what was described to ABC News as a "massive firefight" in eastern Afghanistan that led U.S. forces to call in an airstrike that Afghan officials say killed 11 Afghan civilians, 10 of them children.

In a statement, ISAF said they were aware of several civilian injuries resulting from "fire support" provided in the incident but no civilian deaths. They said they were assessing the incident.

On Saturday, Afghan and American forces had launched a joint operation in three villages located in Kunar Province to root out Taliban fighters.

The American civilian, who had been advising Afghan forces, was killed as the U.S. and Afghan forces took heavy fire from multiple homes.

Afghan officials told ABC News that the unit called in an airstrike and that some of the weapons they dropped went errant. Ten children were killed when the roof of their home collapsed as a result, the officials.

An Afghan police official said eight Taliban fighters were also killed during the operation.

Jessayln Gilsig To Heather Morris: 'You're Going To Be A Great Mama!'

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Awww! That's so sweet!!

We just found out that Heather Morris is having her first baybay with her longtime boyfriend Taylor Hubbell, and even though she's only three months along, her Glee costar Jessalyn Gilsig already thinks she's gonna be one badass mama.

The 41-year-old actress said:

"Oh, she’s going to be an amazing mother. She’s a fantastic, fantastic woman. That’s a lucky baby."

Miz Gilsig also revealed that the 26-year-old's pregnancy was "totally unexpected," and although the expectant couple isn't married, she does see them tying the knot in the future.

We're glad that Jessayln is giving Heather kudos because this is definitely her time to shine!!

Kim Kardashian Has Only Put On 23 Pounds Since She Got Pregnant

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Well, hopefully, this will FINALLY put all of these horrible, thoughtless rumors to rest!

Kim Kardashian's weight has been under an enormous amount of scrutiny during her pregnancy, which tabloids alleging that since announcing she was with child, she's put on up to 200 pounds, is afraid Kanye West will cheat on her, and is considering a post-birth tummy tuck!

Yeah! It's so ridiculous and horrible that even Gwyneth Paltrow is telling folks to back off!

But according to new reports, the reality starlet is lashing out at one particular article from In Touch, titled "I Can't Stop Eating" and featuring a photo of her demolishing an ice cream cone…because she can prove that significant portion of it is made up!

Sources reveal that the reality starlet went in for a check-up last week, which confirmed that despite rumors of a 65-pound weight gain, she's only up to 151 pounds…which means that she's gained a mere total of 23 so far!

Furthermore, the 'ice cream' photo from the magazine was actually a shot of her in Monaco in 2009…and she was actually only eating sugar-and-dairy-free yogurt with strawberries!

Which we think is ESPECIALLY silly, since she has been spotted eating ice cream since she got pregnant!

AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHOUT HAVING TO FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!

How many times can we say "there's a LIVING THING inside of her that NEEDS nourishment?"

They call it "eating for two" for a REASON, folks!

Hang in there, gurl! You're in our thoughts!

Madonna RESPONDS To Malawi Controversy

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Yes! We're so glad she's finally speaking up!

Such a SHAME that her tireless and incredible efforts are being called into question!

You may have heard of some of the controversy surrounding Madonna's latest trip to Malawi, as the Education Minister Eunice Kazembe recently claimed that they had not been consulted regarding possible discrepancies over if the pop superstar and the organization BuildOn where supposed to build ten new schools or classrooms for the impoverished country!

Thankfully, Her Madgesty, who also brought her adopted children David and Mercy with her to visit their birthplace, recently made a statement on her fifth day there, outside the Consol Homes Orphan Care Centre outside the capital city Lilongwe, which reaffirmed how deeply she cares for the country's children, and how all of her efforts are for them, first and foremost!

Ch-ch-check out her words of inspiration (above)!

Amen to that!

Regardless of any confusion or crossed wires, it is CLEAR that Madonna's sole purpose is to use her position and resources to help improve the quality of life and futures of children, and we couldn't be more touched by the importance she places in giving back and doing good!

The lives you have affected for the better are COUNTLESS, gurl!

Keep it up! We need more people like you in this world!

Kim Kardashian-Based Single, Is Awesome

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Ray J is coming out with a new single and its title is a hilarious taunt to Kanye West:

I Hit It First.

Featuring a pixelated Kim Kardashian bikini photo for its cover art, the track will be released on April 9 and reportedly features the lyric

She might move on to rappers and ballplayers
But we all know I hit it first.

I had her head going North and her ass going South
But now baby chose to go West

No matter where she goes or who she knows
She still belongs in my bed.

Seriously, how awesome is Ray J?!?

The artist dated Kim for five years before starring in the Kim Kardashian sex tape that propelled one participant to fame and fortune and the other to....

... writing songs about that other person 10 years later.

Hey man. Whatever works.

Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev Pose With Transplant Patient

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The Vampire Diaries stars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev made a fan's life - and fortunately, she'll have a lot more of it after a successful lung transplant.

Nina and Ian, maybe the world's hottest on-and-off-screen couple, paid a visit to 14-year-old Kayla Miller in the hospital, where they posed for this pic:

"Sending congratulations to @kayla_0507 and her family. We all secreted this. Her life has been saved. I'm smiling ear to ear," Dobrev wrote on WhoSay.

The Vampire Diaries fan had her life-saving surgery last weekend.

Luckily, no heart attack ensued when Somerhalder leaned in.

It's not clear how the duo linked up with the fan at a Toronto hospital, although the actress hails from the Canadian city. In any case, it's pretty cool.

Nina, 24, and Ian, 34, asked their fans to wish Kayla well, too.

"Id like to ask everyone who reads this to send out positive energy to @Kayla_0507 tonight," Dobrev wrote on Wednesday. "Just take one moment of your time.

"Think of her and put it out there in the universe. Think happy thoughts."

"Smile :) The secret ... We can make anything happen."

Ian Somerhalder added: "Support @Kayla_0507 & her dream to run w/ the Run aLung - it takes place May 11 in Cambridge on Bob McMullen trail! http://runalung.ca."

Best of all? Kayla's mother wrote on Facebook that her daughter had received a new left lung and "will be able to function as a normal 14 year old girl."

Rick Warren's Son Dies of Suicide

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Rick Warren, the well-known pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church, relayed a tragic  message to his congregation tonight:

His youngest son Matthew committed suicide on Friday at the age of 27, killing himself via self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Warren passed along the sad news this evening at his church in Lake Forest, California.

"Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many," the church said in a statement. "Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts.”

Warren is the author of many Christian books, most notably "The Purpose Driven Life."

He founded the eighth largest church in the nation in 1980.

"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," the pastor said in a statement.

"You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.

"But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided."

Deadliest submarine disaster in US

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Family and friends who lost loved ones when the USS Thresher sank 50 years ago joined in tossing wreaths into the water Saturday in an emotional service in remembrance of the 129 Navy crew members and civilian technicians who lost their lives in the deadliest submarine disaster in U.S. history.

Hundreds gathered for the memorial service at Portsmouth High School that concluded with a small group tossing three wreaths into the Piscataqua River. During the service, a bell tolled 129 times.

The event, along with the dedication of a flagpole Sunday in Kittery, Maine, aims to call attention to the tragedy 220 miles off Cape Cod, which became the impetus for submarine safety improvements.

Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander of the Navy's submarine forces, acknowledged Saturday that the safety upgrades came at a steep cost to Thresher families.

"I've talked a lot about the good that comes from the Thresher andthe Thresher's loss, but that's probably not a consolation to the families who've lost a father or a son," Connor told a packed high school auditorium.

The USS Thresher, built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and based in Connecticut, was out for a routine deep-diving test when it ran into trouble on April 10, 1963.

The Navy believes the failure of a brazed weld allowed sea water to spray onto an electrical panel, causing an emergency shutdown of the sub's nuclear reactor. The ballast system also failed, preventing the sub from surfacing.

Filling with water, Thresher descended deeper and disintegrated under the crushing force of the ocean. Its remnants rest on the ocean floor at a depth of 8,500 feet.

Don Wise Jr., 59, of Plaistow, N.H., who lost his dad, said the Thresher crew members were doing something special, serving on what was a technological marvel, the Navy's fastest and deepest-divingnuclear submarine.

"They were going deeper and faster than anyone. I always considered my dad a hero and an adventurer," Wise said Saturday. "These memorials are how I connect my children and grandchildren with my dad."

Former Thresher crew member Frank DeStefano, 79, of Orange Park, Fla., said he owed his life to a three-day assignment to Washington that took him away from the submarine during the fateful sea trials.

He said he's happy to see that annual memorial events provide an outlet for families and friends to grieve.

"The only good part about these memorials is that we can help those who were really affected, like the families," DeStefano said. "And it's great to see the children that have come along."

Lynne Lawrence, of Alexandria, Va., whose father, Richard DesJardins, was one of the civilian technicians who died, attended the service with two siblings.

In a recent interview, she described her father as a fun-loving, busy engineer, and said she was sad he didn't get to see his children become adults or meet his grandchildren.

"It's a profound loss that affects you forever, but you grow from it and move on," she said. "Because you don't really have any other choice."

After the ceremony, a rifle team fired shots as the wreaths — one each for Navy personnel and civilian technicians who died, and one for previous Thresher crew members — were tossed into the river.

China asks North Korea to ensure safety of its nationals

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 China deplored rising tension on theKorean peninsula on Sunday but said its embassy was operating normally in the North Korean capital and it asked authorities there to ensure its diplomats and other citizens were kept safe.

North Korea, angry about new U.N. sanctions imposed for its thirdnuclear weapon test in February, has made increasingly strident warnings of an imminent war with South Korea and the United States.

The United States, keen to avoid action that could provoke the North, on Saturday postponed a long-scheduled missile test in California.

The North told diplomats on Friday to consider leaving Pyongyang because of the tension, but diplomatic missions appeared to view the appeal as more rhetoric and staff have stayed put.

South Korea said it was ready to counter any move, including a missile launch, that the North's unpredictable leaders might make.

China is reclusive North Korea's sole major diplomatic and financial backer, but its official statements have reflected an increasing impatience with the action of North Korean authorities under 30-year-old leader Kim Jong-un.

"At present, tensions on the Korean peninsula are rising unceasingly, and China expresses grave concern about this," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website (www.mfa.gov.cn).

China, it said, had asked North Korea "to earnestly ensure the safety of Chinese diplomats in North Korea, in accordance with the Vienna Convention and international laws and norms".

The ministry said China's embassy was "understood" to be operating normally in Pyongyang. China would "protect the legal rights and safety of Chinese citizens and Chinese-invested organizations in North Korea". It did not elaborate.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressing a forum on the southern island of Hainan, appeared to refer to the tension when he said no country "should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain".

Stability in Asia, he said, "now faces new challenges, as hot spot issues keep emerging and both traditional and non-traditional security threats exist".

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told the same forum that avoiding conflict on the Korean peninsula was vital.

"There, any aggression is a threat to the interests of every country in the region," she said.

"I do welcome the growing co-operation of all regional governments to prevent conflict on the Korean peninsula and to counter North Korean aggression ... Asia must be a region of sustainable security in which habits of co-operation are the norm."

In Washington, a defense official said a test of the Minuteman III intercontinental missile, scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, would be postponed.

"This is the logical, prudent and responsible course of action to take," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said the test had been unconnected to "anything related to North Korea" and added that another test launch could be expected next month. The United States remained fully prepared to respond to any North Korean threat, the official said.

MISSILE LAUNCH "COULD OCCUR"

The South Korean president's office said the country had a "firm military readiness" for any eventuality. It described as "planned behavior" the North's call for South Korean workers to leave the Kaesong joint industrial park, just inside North Korea, and for diplomats to evacuate Pyongyang by April 10.

"Ahead of that time, a situation like a North Korean missile launch could occur," Kim Haing, a spokeswoman for the presidential Blue House, quoted the chief of the National Security office as saying.

"As of now, there are no signs of all-out war, but if a local conflict breaks out, North Korea should be aware that it will pay the price."

Kim Jong-un is the third member of his dynasty to rule North Korea. He took over in December 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, who staged confrontations with South Korea and the United States throughout his 17-year rule.

North Korean anger over the sanctions following its nuclear weapon test has been compounded by joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that began on March 1.

The North has always condemned the exercises but it has been especially vitriolic this year as the United States dispatched B-2 bombers from their home bases to stage mock runs.

North Korean television provided little evidence of tension on Sunday, with newscasts showing old footage of Kim visiting military units. Nor was there any tension in Seoul, with residents strolling in the city centre on a chilly spring day.

South Korean media said on Friday the North had moved two medium-range missiles to the country's east coast, but there has been no confirmation of such a move. That prompted the White House to say that Washington would "not be surprised" if the North staged another missile test.

North Korea has not shut down a symbol of cooperation with the South, the Kaesong industrial zone. But last week, it prevented South Koreans from entering the complex and 94 returned home on Saturday, the Unification Ministry said, leaving a further 518 there.

Where did all the money go?

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Where did all the money go?

“Your guess is as good as mine,” David Montoya, the inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, says of $700 million in missing taxpayer money that Louisiana homeowners were given in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to elevate and protect their homes from future storms.

A new report released from the inspector general’s office shows that more than 24,000 homeowners who received grants of up to $30,000 to elevate their homes either misspent or pocketed the money.

“The fact of the matter is that the money they received was for a specific purpose and the specific purpose was to elevate these homes to avoid future catastrophes,” Montoya tells Power Players.

He rates the home elevation program as little more than a complete failure.

“Considering there was just under $1 billion earmarked for this particular program and there's $700 million that wasn't used for that, I’d give it a very low D,” he says.

But the lessons learned from the failed home elevation project provides a useful roadmap as Congress moves to offer recovery funds to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“Clearly, to give money out on the front end right after a disaster, when many of these people lost everything, with a promise to do something down the road, I think is counterproductive to what the program was designed to do,” says Montoya.

Montoya says his office will recommend that, for future disaster relief programs, funds are disbursed to individuals only after the project has been completed.

To hear more of the interview with the inspector general, including his explanation of why the government likely will never get the money back, check out this episode of Power Players.

"Justin Bieber Tortured by Selena Gomez"

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A source close to Justin Bieber has confirmed what we've suspected for months:

The singer's recent troubles - from pot smoking to hanging out with Lil Twist to spitting on his neighbor - can all be traced to his split from Selena Gomez in late 2012.

Bieber was "torn apart" by the break-up, an insider tells TMZ, and he hasn't been able to sufficiently recover because Gomez continues to call and text.

The mixed messages have left Justin "tortured," according to this same mole.

Just last week, Bieber stopped by Selena's house on his way out of the country, likely to either mend fences or urge his ex to make up her mind in one direction or the other.

It was a smart move because Bieber has clearly been expressing his anger and bitterness over the split in healthy, inappropriate, often illegal ways.

Beyonce Responds to Critics

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Beyonce made a controversial return to the music scene last month.

Following the release of "Bow Down," Blue Ivy's mother faced criticism from various sources, as Keyshia Cole blasted Beyonce for the message her lyrics sent and then Rush Limbaugh somehow got into the act.

How does the superstar respond to such harsh words?

"I am a modern-day feminist," she tells the May issue of British Vogue. "I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I'm just a woman, and I love being a woman."

Beyonce has dubbed her upcoming tour The Mrs. Carter Show, leading some to come down on her for merely labeling herself as Jay-Z's wife.

But "I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I've ever been," she says. "It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child. I was like, 'OK, this is what you were born to do'. The purpose of my body became completely different."

Beyonce kicks off these concerts April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia.

She will eventually make her way through 42 cities in North America and Europe before concluding August i Brooklyn.