Bin Laden’s body buried at sea

 

 

The dilemma of what to do with Osama bin Laden’s body appears to have been quickly resolved if reports that he has been buried at sea prove correct.

Burying him on land could have led to his grave becoming a centre of contention as well as raising questions about where he should be buried.

“Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world’s most wanted terrorist would have been difficult,” a US official said, adding: “So the US decided to bury him at sea.”

Fears about Bin Laden’s burial place turning into a shrine for Islamists were probably unfounded, since the Wahhabi/Salafi tradition rejects such things. Even Saudi kings are buried in unmarked graves.

Senior US officials initially told news agencies that his body would be disposed of in accordance with Islamic tradition, which involves ritual washing, shrouding and burial within 24 hours.

Although the swift burial complies with Islamic custom and should therefore avoid causing any offence in Muslim countries, the apparent haste could lead to claims that the person killed was not really Bin Laden – though the US authorities have taken DNA samples and appear to have no doubts.

The 24-hour rule has not always been applied by the US in the past. For example, the bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein – sons of the Iraqi dictator – were held for 11 days before being released for burial.

Burial at sea is rare in Islam, though several Muslim websites say it is permitted in certain circumstances.

One is on a long voyage where the body may decay before the ship reaches land. The other is if there is a risk of enemies digging up a land grave and exhuming or mutilating the body – a rule that could plausibly be applied in Bin Laden’s case.

For sea burial, according to alislam.org, the body should be lowered into the water “in a vessel of clay or with a weight tied to its feet”. The website adds: “As far as possible it should not be lowered at a point where it is eaten up immediately by the sea predators.”

 

Water for Elephants Barcelona premiere: Robert Pattinson looks glum with Reese Witherspoon

 

They've been jet-setting around the world promoting their new film over recent weeks, but Robert Pattinson looked like he'd rather be somewhere else last night as he posed with Reese Witherspoon in Barcelona.

The on-screen lovers were celebrating the Spanish premiere of Water For Elephants but as they stood arm in arm together on the red carpet, R-Patz couldn't crack a smile.

Pattinson held Reese around the small of her back but their affection looked more awkward than anything else.

 

Smile R-Patz! Water For Elephants co-stars pose on the red carpet in Barcelona for the Spanish premiere but Robert Pattinson has trouble cracking a smile next to Reese Witherspoon

After having promoted the film in Paris the day before in a little red dress, Reese slipped on a knee-length black strapless LBD and matching heels for last night’s viewing.

While the Twilight saga star looked smart in a grey suit and unbuttoned blue shirt alongside his trademark dishevelled hair.

 

 

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Both stars then took a break from posing, before entering the cinema, to sign autographs for fans.

Earlier in the day Reese had still been in France and was taking advantage of the Parisian shopping district by perusing the stores with her bodyguard.

 

Show of affection: Pattinson held Reese around the small of her back as they both posed on the red carpet in Barcelona

 

Team effort: Reese and Robert pose with film maker Francis Lawrence (left) and fellow actor and their co-star Christoph Waltz (right)

The 35-year-old tried to dress incognito in skin-tight jeans and a denim shirt but was still recognised by onlookers.

Soon dozens of shoppers were gathering around the actress to take her photograph on their mobiles and cameras.

The film, titled Agua Para Elefantes in Spanish, is a dramatic love story between Reese’s Robert’s characters despite the actress recently saying their romantic scenes were ‘less than appealing’.

She described Pattinson’s ‘runny nose’ during their steamy love scenes and told MTV: ‘It wasn’t appealing. It wasn’t pleasant.’

 

Fan frenzy: Reese signs her autograph for fans waiting by the red carpet in Barclona for their 'Agua Para Elefantes' premiere

 

Looking good! Reese slipped on a knee-length black strapless LBD and matching heels for last night's viewing

But her 24-year-old co-star didn’t seem to mind her comments and
appeared nonchalant on the red carpet having just flown in from the Virgin
Islands.

Pattinson had been filming re-shoots for the honeymoon scenes of Breaking Dawn ahead of their European premieres.

He and co-star Kristen Stewart had been wrapping up work on the final Twilight film and told Entertainment Weekly last week about what fans can expect from the next instalment.

‘I like the honeymoon scenes because it’s such a massive turnaround in Edward and Bella’s relationship’, he said.

Shopping spree: Reese was shopping in Paris earlier in the day at the Carven store in the French capital in jeans and a denim shirt

 

Snapped: Soon dozens of shoppers were gathering around the actress to take her photograph on their mobiles and cameras

Emmerdale 'cougar' Ella seduces her daughter's boyfriend Adam

Emmerdale newcomer Ella Hart is set to cause trouble in the village when she seduces her own daughter's boyfriend Adam Barton.

The blonde businesswoman, played by Corrinne Wicks, makes a move on handsome young farmhand Adam (Adam Thomas) - despite his burgeoning romance with her teenage daughter Mia Macey (Sapphire Elia).

Although trying to rejuvenate her relationship with ex-husband Declan Macey (Jason Merrells), she finds herself attracted to Adam.

 

Playing with fire: Ella Hart (Corrinne Wicks) makes a move on her daughter's boyfriend Adam Barton (Adam Thomas)

Adam, who also works for Declan as well as dates his daughter, has a polite drink with Ella, who is feeling neglected by her on/off spouse.

But when Ella decides to make a move on Adam, she is pleasantly surprised when he responds.

 

 

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• Keep in touch with the latest showbiz gossip by following the Daily Mail's Twitter page

The sexy scenes end up becoming the beginning of an affair between the two, which will no doubt cause devastation should it ever become public knowledge.

 

Cougar town comes to Emmerdale: Despite Ella being twice his age, Adam finds himself attracted to the blonde mother

Actor Thomas - whose older brother Ryan Thomas plays Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street, told Take It Easy magazine: 'Well, it's every boy's dream to be chased by an older woman.

 

Close: Ella's daughter Mia Macey (Sapphire Elia) will be devastated by her mother and boyfriend's deception

'Adam's been going out with her daughter Mia for a while and he sees
Ella being neglected by her husband. He feels sorry for her.

'He's quite flattered. He just reacts how the majority of boys his age would.

'Even though he's got Mia to think about, it's offered to him on a plate and he doesn't really know how he should handle it.'

Although long divorced from Mia's father Declan Macey, Ella left her life as a successful businesswoman in Singapore to try and make another go of things with her ex.

With their daughter in tow, Ella stunned Declan when they arrived on the doors of Home Farm in November - where they have been living ever since.

But despite Ella's efforts to rebuild her relationship with Declan, her fling with Adam doesn't suggest she's not quite ready to commit to her former spouse.

 

Celebrity Apprentice 2011: NeNe Leakes unleashes verbal assault against Star Jones

The simmering feud between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over tonight on Celebrity Apprentice.

In what was arguably the most dramatic episode of the season, the ladies' explosive confrontation was just one of several dramatic twists, including the dramatic return of LaToya Jackson who was fired last week.

The whole ordeal between NeNe and Star began when Star suggested that NeNe should be project manager for their latest assignment of staging a live hair show.

 

Explosive: Tensions between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over in the most shocking episode of Celebrity Apprentice this season

But the Real Housewife of Atlanta was not happy about being told what to do and unleashed a barrage of insults and threats against Star.

'Who the f*** died and made you the
God of assigning project managers,' the Atlanta Housewife shouted, as a
stunned Donald Trump and the owner of the Farouk Systems hair care company watched in horror.

NeNe didn't stop there! She yelled at Star: 'I will take you down... when the rest of these girls won't.'

 

What an attitude: An out-of-control NeNe had choice words for everyone on the women's team

Adding to the drama quotient,
NeNe walked over and got in Star's faces issuing the warning: 'Now where's Barbara
Walters? How educated are you on the street?'

The strange reference to Walters appeared to be NeNe's way of saying that The View co-host may have given Star her big television break, but NeNe could just as easily take her down.

After overcoming her initial shock, Star responded: 'I don't do threats.'

 

Dramatic Twist:  Donald Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson where she urged the billionaire businessman to bring her back

 

Unprecedented:  A smiling LaToya was allowed to return to the show, just one week after being fired

But NeNe wasn't having it and yelled to star: 'Shut the f*** up.'

Despite their differences, NeNe finally calmed down and accepted the assignment,  but the fireworks and drama were just getting started. 

A few minutes later in another shocking twist, Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson who he fired from the show just last week.

 

Smart move: The men brought supermodel Niki Taylor back, who was fired weeks ago, to help spice up their hair show

 

Big hit: With her curly blonde hair and cheeky performance, Niki wowed the crowd during the men's show

'I want to come back... I don't see any grounds for my being fired,' LaToya said as she appealed to the billionaire businessman to bring her back.

'I've never done that...in the history of the show,' Trump said, but he eventually relented in what appeared to be yet another calculated move to boost ratings.

About ten minutes into the task, the men's team Backbone already seemed to be in trouble, although Lil Jon appeared relaxed and at times even cocky when it came to setting up a hair show.

 

Failure: Hope looked stiff and uncomfortable as she walked the stage during her performance in the women's hair show

The men then brought in talent in the form of supermodel Niki Taylor,  who was ironically on the women's team earlier in the season.

Back to the women's team, the actual assignment started out awkwardly as the ladies wondered how to proceed after NeNe's explosive outburst.

'She's just this vicious and mean woman,' former Playboy Playmate Hope Dworaczyk.complained, when NeNe obviously wasn't listening.

 

Winning: The men's team won the challenge, thanks to Lil Jon's leadership and help from his celebrity friends, including musician Questlove of The Roots

Once the women's team finally calmed down, they got things in motion with a theme that was geared around dancing, bouncing hair and having fun.

The men's show was even more energetic, with Lil Jon doing a bit of rapping, and bringing his celebrity friend, Questlove on stage, who is the front man for hip-hop group The Roots.

As they two teams headed into the boardroom more fireworks erupted when NeNe berated Star for her bossy behaviour and for acting like a puppet master to both Marlee Matlin and Hope.

Once the women stopped bickering, Trump finally took control and dropped another bombshell, revealing that he was bringing LaToya Jackson back, but this time she would join the Men's team.

 

Welcome back: The men celebrate Trump's decision to bring LaToya Jackson back as an addition to their team

 

You're fired: Trump tells former Playboy Playmate, Hope Dworaczyk, her time is up and sends her home

Then Trump announced that the men had won the challenge and one of the women would get the boot, for a second straight week.

When it was time to decide who should go home, NeNe told Trump that either Hope or Star should be fired.

While Marlee was allowed to leave the board room first,  Hope and Star tried to gang up on NeNe.

But their efforts failed, and Trump ended up telling Hope You're fired.

 

Celebrity Apprentice 2011: NeNe Leakes unleashes verbal assault against Star Jones

The simmering feud between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over tonight on Celebrity Apprentice.

In what was arguably the most dramatic episode of the season, the ladies' explosive confrontation was just one of several dramatic twists, including the dramatic return of LaToya Jackson who was fired last week.

The whole ordeal between NeNe and Star began when Star suggested that NeNe should be project manager for their latest assignment of staging a live hair show.

 

Explosive: Tensions between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over in the most shocking episode of Celebrity Apprentice this season

But the Real Housewife of Atlanta was not happy about being told what to do and unleashed a barrage of insults and threats against Star.

'Who the f*** died and made you the
God of assigning project managers,' the Atlanta Housewife shouted, as a
stunned Donald Trump and the owner of the Farouk Systems hair care company watched in horror.

NeNe didn't stop there! She yelled at Star: 'I will take you down... when the rest of these girls won't.'

 

What an attitude: An out-of-control NeNe had choice words for everyone on the women's team

Adding to the drama quotient,
NeNe walked over and got in Star's faces issuing the warning: 'Now where's Barbara
Walters? How educated are you on the street?'

The strange reference to Walters appeared to be NeNe's way of saying that The View co-host may have given Star her big television break, but NeNe could just as easily take her down.

After overcoming her initial shock, Star responded: 'I don't do threats.'

 

Dramatic Twist:  Donald Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson where she urged the billionaire businessman to bring her back

 

Unprecedented:  A smiling LaToya was allowed to return to the show, just one week after being fired

But NeNe wasn't having it and yelled to star: 'Shut the f*** up.'

Despite their differences, NeNe finally calmed down and accepted the assignment,  but the fireworks and drama were just getting started. 

A few minutes later in another shocking twist, Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson who he fired from the show just last week.

 

Smart move: The men brought supermodel Niki Taylor back, who was fired weeks ago, to help spice up their hair show

 

Big hit: With her curly blonde hair and cheeky performance, Niki wowed the crowd during the men's show

'I want to come back... I don't see any grounds for my being fired,' LaToya said as she appealed to the billionaire businessman to bring her back.

'I've never done that...in the history of the show,' Trump said, but he eventually relented in what appeared to be yet another calculated move to boost ratings.

About ten minutes into the task, the men's team Backbone already seemed to be in trouble, although Lil Jon appeared relaxed and at times even cocky when it came to setting up a hair show.

 

Failure: Hope looked stiff and uncomfortable as she walked the stage during her performance in the women's hair show

The men then brought in talent in the form of supermodel Niki Taylor,  who was ironically on the women's team earlier in the season.

Back to the women's team, the actual assignment started out awkwardly as the ladies wondered how to proceed after NeNe's explosive outburst.

'She's just this vicious and mean woman,' former Playboy Playmate Hope Dworaczyk.complained, when NeNe obviously wasn't listening.

 

Winning: The men's team won the challenge, thanks to Lil Jon's leadership and help from his celebrity friends, including musician Questlove of The Roots

Once the women's team finally calmed down, they got things in motion with a theme that was geared around dancing, bouncing hair and having fun.

The men's show was even more energetic, with Lil Jon doing a bit of rapping, and bringing his celebrity friend, Questlove on stage, who is the front man for hip-hop group The Roots.

As they two teams headed into the boardroom more fireworks erupted when NeNe berated Star for her bossy behaviour and for acting like a puppet master to both Marlee Matlin and Hope.

Once the women stopped bickering, Trump finally took control and dropped another bombshell, revealing that he was bringing LaToya Jackson back, but this time she would join the Men's team.

 

Welcome back: The men celebrate Trump's decision to bring LaToya Jackson back as an addition to their team

 

You're fired: Trump tells former Playboy Playmate, Hope Dworaczyk, her time is up and sends her home

Then Trump announced that the men had won the challenge and one of the women would get the boot, for a second straight week.

When it was time to decide who should go home, NeNe told Trump that either Hope or Star should be fired.

While Marlee was allowed to leave the board room first,  Hope and Star tried to gang up on NeNe.

But their efforts failed, and Trump ended up telling Hope You're fired.

 

Jessica Simpson continues mission to lose weight before her wedding on tandem bike ride with fiancé Eric Johnson

She recently said she was planning to lose weight for her wedding by 'dancing around her bedroom'.

But it seems Jessica Simpson is also exploring other ways to shed the pounds before she marries fiancé Eric Johnson.

The 30-year-old singer was seen enjoying a tandem bike ride with Johnson and a group of friends as they pedalled their way along the Venice boardwalk.

 

Shaping up: Jessica Simpson headed out on Venice boardwalk on a tandem bike ride with fiancé Eric Johnson

Wearing a pair of denim shorts, white
vest top and cowboy boots teamed with a khaki jacket and trendy
headscarf, Jessica grinned with delight as Johnson took charge of
steering the vehicle.

Jessica's weight has sparked a lot of debate over the years. She stunned fans when she stepped out at the MTV Movie Awards in 2005 looked thinner than ever after losing weight for her role as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard.

But Jessica failed to maintain the 36-24-36 figure she worked so hard to achieve, and started steadily piling weight back on.

 

Enjoying the sunshine: Both Jessica and Eric seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their trip out

 

Giggles all round: The pair were joined by a couple of friends as they cycled along next to the beach

Now, however, Jessica is determined to be in the best shape ever for her nuptials, and is trying to 'hopefully lose some weight' ahead of her big day.

She said: 'I'm still trying to figure out what to wear! I don't know if
I want the big boom, or the curvy thing, but it will be something
beautiful. I kind of have a couple of ideas in my head, and I have a
date; I'm really excited!'

Asked if she was going to be embarking on a proper diet and exercise regime before the wedding, Jessica replied: 'No exercise is fun! I am going to dance
around my bedroom and hopefully lose some weight - and lift some
weights and do what I can!'

 

In the shade: Jessica appeared happy to let Eric steer the tandem bike while she sat on the back

 

Trendy: Jessica wore a pair of denim shorts, white vest top and khaki jacket teamed with a trendy headscarf

However, Jessica is thought to have enlisted the help of Gwyneth Paltrow's personal trainer Tracey Anderson to help her on her way.

Jessica's friends said recently that the singer has no intention of returning to her formerly skinny frame for the wedding - she just wants to be in
good shape when she walks down the aisle.

One said: 'She wants to look healthy, not super-skinny. She’s seeing results with her new workout program. She really loves it.'

 

Changing sizes: Jessica at her thinnest at the MTV Movie Awards in 2005, and looking curvier in January 2009

Kate and Pippa Middleton choose Zara as they step out after royal wedding\

 

They have multi-millionaire parents
and royal relations. But as they stepped out in their Zara outfits the day after the royal wedding, it was clear that Kate and Pippa STILL can't get enough of the High Street.

Eschewing the designer labels both could no doubt afford thanks to their moneyed background, the Duchess
of Cambridge and her younger sister proved they remain decent,
down-to-earth girls with an eye for a bargain.

The two picked out perfectly pitched outfits for their first public appearance. Kate looked radiant in the £49.99 cornflower blue £49.99
dress, pairing it with £129.99 black LK Bennett patent pumps (the same pair she wore on the eve of her wedding as she arrived at The Goring hotel), and a
simple
black jacket.

For her very public departure from
The Goring hotel, Pippa chose a
classic royal blue double-breasted blazer costing £69.99.

 

People's princess: The Duchess of Cambridge chose a £49.99 Zara dress and £129.99 LK Bennett pumps for her first appearance following the wedding

The younger Middleton completed her outfit with a pair of figure-hugging white jeans, the Bristol
bag in shark, £149 from Modalu, and £120 cream leather Riva ballet pumps by American label Tory Burch.

Whether or not the girls conferred is
not known, though one would presume from the closeness of the girls'
relationship - Kate calls Pippa her 'best friend - that there would have been some
level of communication.

Coincidence or conspiracy, it was an excellent move.

 

 

More...

• Did Kate's Mum help to choose something special for the trousseau?
• Her Royal Hotness will be next to wed... as long as she doesn't run off with Flirty Harry first!
• Kate is every inch the people's princess as she steps out in High Street frock for first day as a Royal
• Her Roll Hotness: Party-loving Pippa Middleton designs her own very special wedding dress... out of toilet paper
• William to whisk Kate on £4,000-a-night tropical honeymoon... but 'couple face ten weeks APART as he is sent to serve in the Falklands'
• Forget Pippa, Chelsy's the only girl for Harry

The proletarian price of these
outfits - Kate's came in at £180 and Pippa's totalled £340 - stands in
sharp contrast to the cost of the girls' wedding outfits, a £60,000 bill that
was footed by the Middleton family - and that's without the hefty bill for the evening gowns.

Kate's made-to-measure Alexander McQueen wedding gown cost £40,000; Pippa's a cool £20,000.

High Street girl: Just like sister Kate, Pippa
Middleton chose Zara for her morning-after outfit, wearing a £69.99 Zara
blazer paired with white jeans, a £149.99 Modalu bag and £120 Tory
Burch pumps

This High Street love-in is no show of false parsimony though.
Kate is
known to champion the High Street and is fond of hitting the shops herself - a freedom some say may be difficult in her new role as a working Royal.

Ahead of her wedding Kate was seen visiting various stores to purchase summer pieces said to be for her honeymoon trousseau.

At
Warehouse she picked up summer dresses and a simple embroidered
blouse, spending £255.

At Whistles, one of her favourite shops, she
picked up a duplicate of the cream blouse she wore for her Mario Testino
engagement pictures (re-released and christened 'Kate'), a pair of blue and white spotty, high-waisted
trousers and a lemon T-shirt.

And as well as those faithful patent LK Bennett wedges, Kate also chose LK
Bennett shoes for her last official engagement before the wedding.

She wore the store's navy blue courts - £95 in the sale - with her 2007 midnight blue Amanda Wakeley suit, a look that was praised for being a savvy mix of High Street and designer (and the designer element was said to have come from retail outlet Bicester Village, a cut-price shopping centre).

As proof of her new-found sartorial clout though, despite many
criticising Kate's comfortable courts for what they called the 'frumpy' heel, fashion forecasters now predict Kate's sensible shoes could even spark a court shoe comeback.

So now, with Kate hailed a style icon thanks to her highly praised choice of wedding dress, and Pippa with her new-found fame as Britain's most eligible woman, whatever either of the girls wear, the rest of us are likely to follow.

First stop to get the Royal look? Better make it Zara.