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UK journalist 'released in Iraq'

A British journalist has been freed by forces in Iraq, local media quoted the Iraqi defence ministry saying.

Richard Butler and his Iraqi interpreter were seized in Basra in February. The interpreter was freed three days later.

Both were working for the American network CBS News.

Witnesses said the two men were taken from the Sultan Palace Hotel in Basra, southern Iraq, by at least eight gunmen on 10 February.

Local news reports in February said Mr Butler's release had been delayed because his kidnappers feared future arrest.

Mr Butler is a married photojournalist with experience of covering conflicts around the world.

International media watchdogs have reported dozens of journalists killed each year since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

News Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk

Wardsboro, Vermont

The case of a missing mother and her two young children has turned tragic, and now people in southern Vermont are asking why.

Police say the Wolcott woman, who appeared to be intent on suicide, waded into a brook in Wardsboro Saturday, carrying her six year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter drowned. The body of two year-old Grace Waring was found late Sunday afternoon.

Colchester Rescue pulled up in front of the home where 40 year-old Nicole Waring was staying with her two daughters and parents in Wardsboro, in Windham county. The rescuers were one of several public safety and fire services that took part in the search Sunday for any sign of 2½ year-old Grace Waring.

The search began on Saturday morning and continued into the night as rescuers began arriving from all over the state. Police are still trying to determine what caused this tragedy. Cpt. David Covell of the Vermont State Police told Channel 3, "Some of our police detectives have done interviews regarding this case. There is information to indicate that Ms. Waring was despondent around the time of the incident."

Police say an officer found the mother standing by the river and tried to coax her away from the water. But they say she pushed herself off, holding one of her daughters, and disappeared. Her body and that her six year-old daughter were recovered downstream.

Police say they're still trying to piece together the circumstances. They say the family called 911 shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday after they heard Waring leave the house in the middle of the night. "It's a unique situation," Covell added. "I'm sure it's impacted the community here. The troopers that have been working yesterday, the fire departments. It certainly is a tragic incident and we're all mothers and fathers ourselves and this type of thing hits home."

Investigators continue to search for answers as to why this tragedy happened.

Andy Potter - WCAX News

Nina Garcia Out at Elle? by Natalie Finn

One day Nina Garcia was in, but now she's supposedly out.  

Insiders are saying the Project Runway judge has parted ways with Elle magazine, where she has served as fashion director since 2000, Women's Wear Daily's website reported Friday. 

Garcia was said to be in her Manhattan office on Friday morning but was noticeably absent from a dinner Elle cohosted Tuesday with fashion house Moschino to celebrate Simon Doonan's new book, Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fashionable You.

Neither Garcia nor anyone from Elle has yet commented on the possible shakeup. 

The news comes just a few days after the Weinstein Company., which produces Project Runway, announced the Peabody Award-winning Bravo series would be moving to Lifetime, a surprise move that brought the wrath of NBC Universal's legal department down upon the Weinstein brothers' heads seemingly overnight.

In the breach-of-contract lawsuit it filed Monday, Bravo's parent company called the Weinsteins' five-year deal with Lifetime an "invalid agreement" and accused the producers of engaging in "sham negotiations."

Host Heidi Klum and the guy who makes it work, Tim Gunn, are already onboard with the network swap, which is set to occur after Project Runway's upcoming fifth season. 

While Lifetime execs have professed hope that Garcia and fellow finicky fashionista Michael Kors, neither have whom have signed on for more seasons yet, will both accompany the show to its new home, it's unclear whether Garcia's reported break with Elle would affect future deals.

The Colombian-born style maven took maternity last spring while awaiting the birth of her first child with hubby David Conrod and started penning a new column, "Fashionina," for the glossy monthly upon her return. 

Garcia is author of The Little Black Book of Style, which hit shelves in September. She is also slated to appear on Ugly Betty next month along with the fiercest Runway winner to date, Christian Siriano.

News sourced : http://www.eonline.com

Beyoncé, Jay-Z Hip-Hop to the Altar By Gina Serpe

First comes crazy in love, then comes marriage.

Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z, a match made in musical heaven, tied the knot in New York  Friday, just three days after setting tongues wagging by taking out a marriage license—and hours after what appeared to be the signs of lavish (and possibly nuptial) party preparations compelled dozens of reporters and photogs to gather outside Jay-Z's Tribeca loft.

"Yes, it's a wedding," a source at the scene told E! News. However, it was unclear whether the vow-swap took place earlier at another location or at the penthouse apartment.

Amy Vongpitaka, owner of Thailand-based Amy's Orchids, confirmed to E! News that she shipped flowers for Beyoncé's wedding. "The designer called us a week ago, and we had to move quickly. We used a total of 200 workers to cut and process 100,000 Dendrobium White orchids, and then we hand-chose the best 60,000."

There has been no official confirmation from the couple yet, although all signs point toward holy secret matrimony. Alan Nierob, Beyoncé's publicist, said he had "no comment" on the matter.

The intimate affair was attended by about two dozen friends and family members. Among those present: the parents of the bride and groom; Knowles' kid sis, Solange; Jay-Z's mother, Gloria Carter; former Destiny's Child mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams; and Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, who has collaborated with Jigga. Most were dressed in white. Also present: the Knowles' family minister from Houston, who presumably officiated.

(George Clooney happened to be photographed at the scene in a natty suit, but it turns out he was taping Charlie Rose. His timing was impeccable, anyway.)

The previously subdued festivities finally got raging at 2:30 a.m. ET when the Jackson 5 tune "I Want You Back" started blaring from the penthouse, followed by a steady stream of hip-hop music. The tunes were still blasting at 4 a.m. with no sign of the bash slowing down. 

Earlier in the day, crates of cream-colored orchids and oversize silver candelabras were spotted being delivered to the hip-hop superstar's penthouse. A white tent was also erected atop the building, presumably to keep out raindrops...and telephoto lenses.

According to various media reports, the Roman numeral IV was also prevalent throughout the party, in honor not only of the wedding month and day (4/4/08), but because the number holds special significance for the couple, each of whom was born on the fourth of the month—September for Knowles, December for the man born Shawn Carter.

(For what it's worth, In Touch Weekly reports that the duo, who have matching "IV" tattoos on their ring fingers, are planning a second ceremony in France on May 4, exactly one month from today. However, Jay-Z is on a North American tour with Mary J. Blige that's not scheduled to wrap until May 8.)

The duo's well-seasoned wedding rumors picked up speed on Tuesday, when People reported the superstars obtained a marriage license in Scarsdale Village, N.Y.

Adding to the deafening wedding buzz leading up to the vow swap was the descending of likely wedding guests on New York, chief among them Rowland and Williams. The particularly giddy twosome posted a video online Thursday evening from what they teasingly referred to as an "undisclosed location," later revealing it to be the Four Seasons.

Knowles, 26, and Jay-Z, 38, have been together for nearly six years.

Don't expect much of a honeymoon, though. The rapper, on the verge of signing a whopping $150 million music deal with Live Nation, has concerts scheduled for Saturday in Greensboro, N.C., and Sunday in Washington, D.C.

—Additional reporting by Ken Baker

News sourced : http://www.eonline.com