Enrique Iglesias Reveals Why He Won’t Marry His Girlfriend Of 11 Years

Wasif Chudhary

They may one of the rare long-lasting and relatively low drama celebrity couples, but singer Enrique Iglesias and his girlfriend, tennis player Anna Kournikova, won't be exchanging rings any time soon, if ever.
In a recent interview with Parade, the 36-year-old Latin singer explained why he called Kournikova his "wife" at a concert in Russia last year, yet hasn't popped the big question. He told the magazine, "It was just meant to be sweet in the moment. I honestly didn't mean to confuse people. I thought it'd be easier for the audience to understand than if I said "my girl."
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But why not make an honest woman out of Kournikova after dating for 11 years? Iglesias admitted, "I've never really thought marriage would make a difference. Maybe it's because I come from divorced parents, but I don't think you love someone more because of a piece of paper. And nowadays, it's not taboo to have kids and not be married. What makes a difference is that you're a good parent, period."
In that case, could children be coming sooner than marriage for the superstar pair? The couple first met when Iglesias hand-picked Kournikova, then 20, to play his love interest in his incredibly steamy 2001 music video for "Escape". Since then, there have been multiple rumors of secret marriage and separation, but despite whatever really happened, the couple is still together today.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Chocolate

Wasif Chudhary

If you're like most women, you're totally smitten with chocolate. People have been obsessing over this comfort food for thousands of years (the Mayans considered cocao a cure-all and the Aztecs used it as money). And all that obsessing has yielded some pretty surprising studies--and findings. Here, five things you need to know about your favorite indulgence.

1. It Can Boost Your Workout
Skip the expensive sports drinks and protein shakes. Research shows chocolate milk is just as effective a recovery aid.

A study published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism compared the effects of a recovery drink and chocolate milk on endurance athletes' ability to recover after a series of bike sprints followed by an endurance ride the next day. They found that chocolate milk was just as effective at relieving muscle soreness after the sprints, and preparing the athletes to perform in the endurance test the next day. Better yet, everyone preferred the taste of chocolate milk.

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2. Your Period Doesn't Make You Crave It
Half of American women experience chocolate cravings. Of those of who do, about half crave it right around "that" time of the month.

And while it's nice to have your menstrual cycle to blame when you find yourself noshing on half a package of chocolate chip cookies, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that menstrual hormones aren't the culprit. They compared the cravings of pre- and post-menopausal women and didn't find any change. They did, however, find a higher prevalence of cravings among women who suffer from PMS.

Why? Annmarie Kostyk, a chocolate expert who studied at the Professional School of Chocolate Arts, Ecole Chocolat, in Canada, says this has a lot to do with the psychology behind comfort foods. "Chocolate is sociologically considered a comfort food, and people crave comfort foods when they feel terrible," she says.

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3. It Won't Wake You Up
It's a common misconception that chocolate is packed with caffeine, says Kostyk. In reality, the amount of caffeine in chocolate is miniscule compared to what's in your other daily pick-me-ups.

An ounce of dark chocolate contains about 20 milligrams of caffeine, while an ounce of milk chocolate contains about 5 milligrams--the same as an 8-ounce cup of decaf coffee. In comparison, a cup of coffee contains about 100 milligrams and a cup of tea contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine.

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4. It Contains Flavonoids
Flavowhats? Flavonoids are a type of phytochemical, or plant chemical, that are found naturally in chocolate. Due to their unique chemical structures, flavonoids can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-protective effects, says Giana Angelo, Ph.D., a research associate who specializes in micronutrient research at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Consuming foods rich in flavonoids has also been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.

To reap the benefits, stick to dark chocolate. The average commercial dark chocolate contains about 60 percent cocao and has been found to contain 536 milligrams of flavonoids per 1.4-ounce serving. Research has shown that as few as 80 milligrams of flavonoids a day can lower blood pressure.

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5. It's Not All Bad for Your Teeth
How could a food that's long been touted as a cavity-causer actually have teeth-protecting properties? It turns out that theobromine, an organic molecule that occurs naturally in cocoa, can help strengthen tooth enamel, according to research from Tulane University.

ECP slaps disqualification on Waheeda

Wasif Chudhary

SLAMABAD: Announcing a landmark verdict on Wednesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Pakistan People's Party's candidate Waheeda Shah for two years and declared her election on PS-53 Tando Muhammad Khan null and void.

The ECP had earlier reserved the judgment in the much talked-about case till Wednesday.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza chaired the proceedings while Election Commission Members Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani (Punjab), Justice (retd) Fazlur Rehman, Shahzad Akbar Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Roshan Ali Essani were also part of the event.

Waheeda Shah had slapped a Presiding Officer Habiba Memon and Assistant Presiding Officer Shagufta Memon in a polling station of PS-53 Tando Muhammad Khan during by elections of last month in the presence of a DSP.

The video footage of the incident that was repeatedly played by news channels shocked the entire nation.

The issue was taken up by the ECP which announced its historic verdict today that is being hailed by all segments of the society including politicians, the civil society and human rights activists.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan also took suo motto notice of it and Waheeda Shah apologized for the shameful treatment she meted out to the officers of ECP. The case is still underway and it is yet to be seen what action the Supreme Court takes against her.

On Tuesday, Waheeda Shah did not turn up at the Election Commission Secretariat in spite of a summon served on her by the ECP. Her lawyer said his client's reaction was the result of a misunderstanding.

Ifran Shah, the DSP in whose presence Waheeda Shah slapped the polling officers in Tando Muhammad Khan was also suspended by the IG Sindh on Tuesday.

He was taken to task for taking no action and standing as a silent spectator as the incident unfolded in front of him.

Italy summons Indian ambassador over marines' arrest

Wasif Chudhary


ROME (Reuters) - The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the Indian ambassador Tuesday to protest over the jailing in India of two Italian marines suspected of shooting two fishermen they believed to be pirates.

The summoning of Ambassador Shri Debabrata Saha further escalated a dispute between the two countries over the incident last month. Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said the jailing of the men was "unacceptable."

The two marines were assigned to protect the Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie, which was sailing off the Indian coast when they opened fire to avert what they thought was a pirate attack.

The marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, handed themselves in to authorities in the southern coastal town of Kochi after the incident and were held in a police-guarded guest house before being transferred to a prison Monday.

Italy, which sent an envoy to negotiate their release, insists that India has no jurisdiction over the matter because it occurred in international waters.

It argues that, since the marines were aboard an Italian vessel, any investigation or trial should be conducted by Italy according to international law governing the high seas.

In New Delhi, the Indian foreign ministry re-stated its position that jurisdiction was theirs.

"Our views are very clear on this. The law of the land is taking its course," said spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

Rome began assigning military teams to protect its merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean last year after a series of attacks by Somali pirates on Italian ships.

Pirates operating in small fishing vessels and fast motorboats have hijacked dozens of ships in the region in recent years, extracting millions of dollars in ransom.

Financier Stanford convicted in $7 billion fraud

Wasif Chudhary



HOUSTON (AP) -- Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford, whose financial empire once spanned the Americas, was convicted Tuesday on all but one of the 14 counts he faced for allegedly bilking investors out of more than $7 billion in massive Ponzi scheme he operated for 20 years.

Jurors reached their verdicts against Stanford during their fourth day of deliberation, finding him guilty on all charges except a single count of wire fraud.

Stanford, who was once considered one of the wealthiest people in the U.S., looked down when the verdict was read. His mother and daughters, who were in the federal courtroom in Houston, hugged one another, and one of the daughters started crying.

"We are disappointed in the outcome. We expect to appeal," Ali Fazel, one of Stanford's attorneys, said after the hearing. He said the judge's gag order on attorneys from both sides prevented him from commenting further, and prosecutors declined to comment after the hearing.

Prosecutors called Stanford a con artist who lined his pockets with investors' money to fund a string of failed businesses, pay for a lavish lifestyle that included yachts and private jets, and bribe regulators to help him hide his scheme. Stanford's attorneys told jurors the financier was a visionary entrepreneur who made money for investors and conducted legitimate business deals.

Stanford, 61, who's been jailed since his indictment in 2009, will remain incarcerated until he is sentenced.

He faces up to 20 years for the most serious charges against him, but the once high-flying businessman could spend longer than that behind bars if U.S. District Judge David Hittner orders the sentences to be served consecutively instead of concurrently.

With Stanford's conviction, a shorter, civil trial will be held with the same jury on prosecutors' efforts to seize funds from more than 30 bank accounts held by the financier or his companies around the world, including in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada. The civil trial could take as little as a day.

Stanford was once considered one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. with an estimated net worth of more than $2 billion. But he had court-appointed attorneys after his assets were seized.

During the more than six-week trial, prosecutors methodically presented evidence, including testimony from ex-employees as well as emails and financial statements, they said showed Stanford orchestrated a 20-year scheme that bilked billions from investors through the sale of certificates of deposit, or CDs, from his bank on the Caribbean island nation of Antigua.

They said Stanford, whose financial empire was headquartered in Houston, lied to depositors from more than 100 countries by telling them their funds were being safely invested in stocks, bonds and other securities instead of being funneled into his businesses and personal accounts.

The prosecution's star witness - James M. Davis, the former chief financial officer for Stanford's various companies - told jurors he and Stanford worked together to falsify bank records, annual reports and other documents in order to conceal the fraud.

Stanford had wanted to testify and jurors were told he would do so, but his attorneys apparently convinced him not to take the witness stand.

Stanford's attorneys told jurors the financier was trying to consolidate his businesses to pay back investors when authorities seized his companies. Stanford's attorneys highlighted his work to build up Antigua's economy as well as his philanthropic efforts on the island. Stanford, the largest private employer on the island nation, was widely known as "Sir Allen" after being knighted by Antigua's government.

The financier's attorneys accused Davis of being behind the fraud and of lying so he could get a reduced sentence. Davis pleaded guilty to three fraud and conspiracy charges in 2009 as part of a deal he made with prosecutors.

Three other indicted former executives of Stanford's companies are to be tried in September. A former Antiguan financial regulator accused of accepting bribes from Stanford was also indicted and he awaits extradition to the U.S.

The financier's trial was delayed after he was declared incompetent in January 2011 due to an anti-anxiety drug addiction he developed in jail and he underwent treatment. He was also evaluated for any long-term effects from being injured in a September 2009 jail fight. Stanford was declared fit for trial in December.

Stanford and the former executives are also fighting a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit filed in Dallas that makes similar allegations.

Jerry Sandusky hearing date set to determine how much information prosecutors must share

Wasif Chudhary

Jerry Sandusky says he cannot answer questions as he leaves the Centre County courthouse following a hearing on several issues, including two requests: one, from the prosecution, for an out-of-county jury; the other, from the defense, for loosened bail conditions for Sandusky. JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News
Last week, Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola asked Cleland to force prosecutors to turn over more information they uncovered during their investigation, including times, locations and days of the weeks of the assaults prosecutors allege Sandusky committed. Amendola also wants "the identity of the individuals who were present at the location or in close proximity ... when the alleged illegal activity occurred ... ."

The state Attorney General's office responded Monday in a filing say they aren't required to turn over psychological evaluations regarding purported victims, or juvenile arrest records for someone who isn't a "charged victim" in the case.

Cleland hopes to resolve the issues in time to maintain the scheduled May 14 trial date.

Romney hoping for a ‘reset’ among voters, after a long and heated primary

Wasif Chudhary

CANTON, Ohio—Mitt Romney is spending his final day before Super Tuesday traveling through eastern Ohio, a region that has been especially hard hit by job losses and housing foreclosures.
Romney aides have long argued that this kind of political landscape favors their candidate in a general election matchup against President Barack Obama. But that was before Romney got caught up in a tougher than expected Republican primary that has left all the candidates bruised and battered. And the race isn't over yet.
In recent weeks, as negative ads have dominated the airwaves, Romney's unfavorable numbers have been slowly picking up. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds that just 28 percent of likely general election voters view him favorably, while 39 percent view him unfavorably. That's a 3 point hike since January. Among independent voters, who are likely to determine the outcome of November's election, Romney's numbers are even more dismal, as just 22 percent view the former Massachusetts governor favorably.
According to the NBC/WSJ poll, at this stage in the game, Romney's image is worse than past Republican nominees, including John McCain, whose favorable rating was at 47 percent in March 2008. George W. Bush had a 43 percent approval in 2000 and Bob Dole was at 35 percent favorable in March 1996.
At the same time, Romney, who once held a slight lead over Obama in the polls, has seen this advantage slip away. According to the NBC/WSJ poll, Obama now leads Romney by 6 points, 50 percent to 44 percent.
Still, one of Romney's chief arguments on the campaign stump is that he's the strongest candidate to face Obama in November. At every stop, he talks up his private sector experience and his position as a Washington outsider.
"I look at this campaign right now, and I see a lot of folks talking about lots of things," Romney said at an appearance at a guardrail factory in Canton, Ohio. "What we need to talk about to beat President Obama is jobs. Other people in this race have debated about the economy, they've read about the economy, they've talked about it in subcommittee meetings but I've actually been in it. … And that's what we need to defeat Obama."
Privately, Romney aides fret about the impact of a protracted primary campaign that is showing no signs of wrapping up thanks to opponents who have proved they can subsist on tiny bank accounts and ad campaigns funded by super PACs.
"It's not helpful," a senior Romney aide acknowledged last week. "But what can we do beyond fight from state to state?"
With an eye on November, the Romney campaign has sought in recent days to soften the candidate's image. Over the last week, Romney has scrapped his usual routine of delivering a basic stump speech to take questions from voters—a move that has allowed him to appear more loose on the stump and has given him an opportunity to talk at length about his family and life experiences in moments that might otherwise come off as staged and phony.
And while Romney has been forced to shift his focus toward his opponents in his remarks to voters, he's also kept the focus on Obama as much as possible—frequently making references to promises the president made in speeches four years ago and talking about the president's "failed policies." Aides hope the dueling message will boost Romney's chances against Obama if he emerges as the nominee.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior Romney adviser, dismissed concerns the primary process could prove to be too damaging for his boss.
"When this primary is over and people have had their heads knocked in by one another, that's just the nature of a hard fought campaign," he said. "We hit the reset button and the campaign begins anew with a different opponent. We'll be able to draw sharp contrasts with the president, and the president alone, not worrying about our competition. It will be a different race at that point, and the numbers will begin again."