Kristen Stewart vs. Lily Collins — Fashion Faceoff

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? In this edition of Fashion Faceoff, two actress who've recently taken on the iconic role of Snow White — Kristen Stewart of the upcoming "Snow White and the Huntsman" and Lily Collins of "Mirror Mirror" — stepped out in strikingly similar blue dresses from Mulberry just seven months apart. Thus, it's time for us to decide which of them will be the heroine of this style story.

[Related: Kristen Stewart's Steamiest On-Screen Kisses] Kristen, 22, donned the dress while sitting in the front row of the British designer's fashion show during London Fashion Week last September. The "Twilight" actress accessorized with dark blue Mulberry booties. Lily, 23, also chose a Mulberry ensemble, including a navy bag and beige flats from the brand, for a Mulberry bash during the Coachella music festival this month in Palm Springs, California. Like Kristen, she opted to wear her long locks down, but with a center part. [Related: Watch the 'Snow White and the Huntsman' Trailer] The final act of any good story is filled with suspense, and this is no exception! Kristen and Lily should both be applauded for choosing such a fun frock. Kristen, who went for a rocker-chic vibe, also wins props for her garment's length, which plays up her long legs. And look, that smile means the often sullen starlet is actually enjoying herself at a celebrity event — something that doesn't happen very often! On the other hand, she does have some serious competition in the lovely Lily. "The Blind Side" actress wore her dress longer and looser, giving the look a more casual feel, although that's not a bad thing at a pool party. Sigh. It would be so much easier if Prince Charming would come save us from making this decision! However, he's probably too busy with all these "Snow White" remakes. So, if it's up to me, I say Lily ekes out the win because her look is pretty and polished. Do you agree?

Beauty Secrets of Music's Most Iconic Beauties

In celebration of ELLE's Women In Music issue (on newsstands now), we've compiled a list of female artists who are as beautiful as they are lyrical. Keep scrolling to see who made the cut!

Beyonce Beyoncé Beyoncé's come a long way since her single lady days, but she'll always be an independent woman: from metallic Minx nails to pumped-up tresses, her beauty looks are glamorous and bold. "She has great taste, and is involved in every aspect of her image and branding," says her longtime hairstylist, Kim Kimble. Of the singer's memorable Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) phase, Kimble says it was "all about female power-very Sasha Fierce. The hair had an androgynous quality to it and was a mix of feminine and masculine, long and straight in the back with a pompadour at the front."

Adele Adele The talented British songstress has it all, including a pretty fantastic cat-eye. "Adele has always loved liner and a lash," reveals Michael Ashton, her hair and makeup guru. "Eyeliner has been the focus of her makeup ever since we started working together five years ago-her beautiful almond-shaped eyes can carry any look, but I think a classic cat-eye is simple and striking." As for Adele's transition from bangs and low ponytails to va-va-voom volume, Ashton calls it an organic evolution: "Her latest hairstyle is a nod to the golden era of Hollywood, elegant and timeless." MORE: Which Short Haircut Is Best For You?

Debbie Harry Debbie Harry As the frontwoman of an all-male rock band, the Blondie star set the stage for future female rockers-and continues to mesmerize audiences with her bleach-blond shag and smoldering eye makeup. "She has an aura of coolness and amazing bone structure, which are perfect complements to her voice," says makeup artist Kabuki, who's worked with Harry. For cheekbones like Harry's, the Myface Cosmetics artistic director recommends using M.A.C powder sculpting blush to lift and enhance. As for her famous smoky eyes, he says to "contour above the lid, keeping the shadow light, but use lots of smoky liner around the upper and lower lash lines." Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani Stefani's imaginative hairstyles and exquisite makeup are nearly as impressive as her musical chops. "We just look at creating looks as a way to spend more time together-we've known each other for so long that it's a lot of fun," says Danilo, Stefani's coiffeur. Though he says the two of them like to keep things fresh, he admits Stefani is partial to a pompadour: "I've done quite a few of them, but I've done them a million different ways. We're always playing and trying out new ideas." Stefani is also adventurous in her makeup choices but, as with her hairstyles, she plays favorites. Dramatically lined eyelids paired with either a red or nude lip is a standby: "I don't always do red but my husband [Gavin Rossdale] really likes it so I'll probably have to keep wearing that color if I want to keep the marriage going," she once joked. MORE: The 50 Most Beautiful People in America

Katy Perry Katy Perry Musically, she's achieved top honors, becoming only the second artist in the 53-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to have five number-one singles from the same album (Michael Jackson was the first). Beauty-wise, Perry also stands out from the rest, rocking what seems like a different hair color each month-and never using the same lipstick twice. "I don't think we've ever done a makeup look more than once and we probably never will, but she'll always love lashes, liquid liner, and a bright lip," says her longtime makeup artist, Jake Bailey. "In the beginning that was all we did, but she's started exploring more sophisticated palettes, pairing smoky eyes with nude lips. She's also gotten experimental, trying out multicolored glitters and liners."

Bianca Jagger Bianca Jagger She was married to rock royalty and a regular at the legendary Studio 54-and her innate beauty and fashion sense were admired by the likes of Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, and Andy Warhol. " Bianca encapsulated the look of the '70s, when women were super-sexy yet understated in how they presented themselves; she's a strong, educated woman and has always known how to enhance her features in a way that's not overly made-up," says Ashton, her makeup artist. He says Jagger's eyes captivate him most: "Using a smudge of eye kohl and a little mascara teamed with soft, filled-in brows is my favorite way to accentuate them."

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez She's still Jenny from the block-and she's still exuding unbelievably glowing skin. Sure, she also favors a flawless smoky eye and perfectly highlighted tresses. But thanks to makeup maestro Scott Barnes, Lopez's golden complexion is a constant. "She has such a beautiful light about her and I just want the whole world to see what I see," says Barnes. "I use light to contour, which is the reverse of what most makeup artists do. Using lighter foundations with a lot of luminosity imparts glow to the skin." MORE: Naked Celebrities - Unretouched!

Lady Gaga Lady Gaga Gaga is known for her flamboyant fashion creations, but her beauty choices are similarly inspired. Of course, she often wears face-obscuring sunglasses. But don't be fooled, says her makeup artist, Billy B: "We always do a dramatic eye and full set of lashes behind her shades-she believes that when you're creating a character, you don't cut corners. That's just how she's wired, and that's why she looks like she's walking down a runway when she's going through Heathrow airport. It's not that she's a vain person-she'd choose a great performance over glamour any day. But she tells me her fans deserve that image. Everything she does is for them."

Nicki Minaj Nicki Minaj Combine her infectious hooks and rapid-fire rapping with her affinity for cartoonish wigs and Day-Glo makeup, and Minaj has brightened the musical landscape in more ways than one. "I have an amazing hairdresser [Terrence Davidson]," she tells ELLE. "I could literally tell him to put a jukebox on my head, and he would figure it out." Besides customized wigs, Minaj says eye makeup is the most time-intensive part of her beauty routine (bright shadow, thick eyeliner, and false lashes are essential). Not surprisingly, however, the Pink Friday artist says pink lipstick is the one thing she can't go without. "If there was no more pink lipstick in the world, I'd be useless. Seriously," she says.

2012 White House Correspondents' Dinner

Lindsay Lohan was just one of many celebs who was lucky enough to score an invite to the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C, on Saturday night. The annual event is not only attended by the president and the first lady, but many other government officials, members of the press corps, and even Hollywood stars. Though the troubled actress -- who was the guest of Fox's Greta Van

Bear falls safely from tree after police tranquilized it (PHOTO)

In a truly memorable photo, a bear can be seen falling from a tree after being tranquilized by police in Colorado. The young bear, estimated to weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, had wandered onto the University of Colorado at Boulder campus and climbed into a tree, according to the CU Independent, which captured the stunning image. "[The bear] was tranquilized by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department and it fell onto some mats that the Rec Center provided," CU Police Department spokesman Ryan Huff told the paper. "It is now in a cage and it will be relocated at a higher elevation." Before it was tranquilized, the bear spent about two hours in a tree near the campus dorms. It reportedly landed safely. On Tuesday, a family of black bears made the news, literally, after wandering onto the set of a local TV news station in Pennsylvania.

PIC: Kaley Cuoco Rocks Floral Bikini, Body Paint in Anguilla

Fun in the sun! Kaley Cuoco gave the world a glimpse of her killer bikini body when she tweeted goofy pics from a getaway to Anguilla with some of her friends Wednesday. The Big Bang Theory actress, 26, and a pal struck a pose during a boat ride--and accessorized their two-pieces with neon body paint. PHOTOS: Stars' sexy bikini style "Wild ones!" Cuoco wrote alongside the Twitpic. In a separate post, the Hop star shared a photo of her gorgeous, sunny beach view. "Best ever!" Cuoco tweeted. VIDEO: See Kaley's week of chic The actress' girls' getaway comes on the heels of her early March split from fiance Josh "Lazie" Resnick. Since calling off her engagement, Cuoco seems to be making the most of her newly unattached status; on March 23, she cozied up to Pepper singer Bret Bollinger at a Lakers vs. Trailblazers basketball game. This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: PIC: Kaley Cuoco Rocks Floral Bikini, Body Paint in Anguilla

Private island homes

This concept home has a retractable glass canopy and can be floated anywhere. Photo: Nigel Gee Taking up residence in the middle of an ocean, lake or river isn’t for everybody. But for anyone who yearns for a property line that laps to shore, options abound. Architecturally expressive abodes for the aesthetically inclined, secluded dwellings for the nature-loving set, spacious compounds for the party minded, and unforgettable retreats for families are just the beginning. Take the Utopia Project. It’s not just a home. It’s a man-made island. With glass canopy panels that cover its interior or open out to create decks, it’s suitable for any climate. And its spaceship-style design allow for observatories with 360-degree views. Views of what, exactly? Well, that’s for the owner of this private island to decide. After all, the island home’s naval design, created by Yacht Island Designs in conjunction with BMT Nigel Gee, means it can be floated slowly to any desired location. Once there, the structure can withstand even the roughest seas thanks its four legged design. And for those who like the idea of a man-made island but prefer the look of a tropical paradise to that of a floating UFO, the firm offers just that—a 295-foot island complete with a waterfall and faux volcano. Of course, most islands are not made out of steel. And certainly, the sky-reaching conifers, rocky points, rugged underbrush and verdant ferns are what would have attracted Frank Lloyd Wright to the tiny island in Lake Mahopac, New York, on which stands a summer house inspired by his drawings. Distinguished by its 28-foot cantilevered great room which juts into the lake, the modern masterpiece is visible from the mainland. The house features an expansive deck that’s contiguous with the rocky ledges that define the perimeter of the island. And to enter the home, guests must pass through a surprisingly narrow passage, built to accommodate a huge boulder. Indigenous to the tiny island and named the Whale Rock, it makes a a dramatic statement in the entry hall, where it basks in natural sunlight thanks to an expansive skylight. Of course, nothing says private island living like luxury. And Miami‘s La Gorge Estate is a pristine example. Originally built as a Mediterranean style for American entrepreneur Carl Graham Fisher, the villa, made up of three buildings, has since been remodeled to create a sleek and gracious contemporary modern home. Glass walls and large windows allow for unobstructed views of glittering Biscayne Bay from almost any room in the 16,000-square-foot main house. Read on for more about these and other private island homes: Architectural Island Gem Location: Lake Mahopac, New York

The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home includes a giant boulder inside. Photo: David Allee You don't have to be a Frank Lloyd Wright fan to recognize his signature style in this private island home. Its 28-foot cantilever is nearly twice the length of the one at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Celebrating the island's natural surroundings, the home features an enormous boulder in its entry hall and rocky surfaces discovered along the shores. Private-Island Resort Home Location: Near Grand Cayman Island

Waterways connect the deck house to the rest of Dragon Bay. Photo: Dragon Bay One of 19 deck houses at Dragon Bay, a resort community on a private island near Grand Cayman Island, this home is designed for outdoor living. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide views of water on every side. The home has a wrap-around entertainment deck, private beach, infinity pool, and outdoor summer kitchen. A boat can be moored beneath the deck. Waterways and pathways provide easy access to the rest of Dragon Bay's amenities. Futuristic Island Home Design concept

The floating island concept provides all sorts of luxury. Photo: Nigel Gee Arriving by helicopter? This man-made island concept has four landing pads as well as a mooring system and wet dock for anyone arriving by sea. Designed by Nigel Gee as “a place to be,” the naval-inspired destination is 330 feet in diameter and has 11 decks. The island's glass canopy allows sunlight to filter into the interior and can be opened, if desired, for fresh air. The top floor can also serve as an outdoor pool deck.

The modern estate was once a Mediterranean-style villa. Photo: Touzet Studio What was once an elaborate Mediterranean-style retreat in the 20s has been re-conceived as a modern luxury estate by Touzet Studio. Three buildings, including a main house, guest house and staff quarters, are situated on the private island. The glass-sided main house is oriented to Biscayne Bay with views from all six of its bedrooms as well as from its heated lap pool and multiple decks and balconies. Pine Cay Private Island Community Location: Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands

This private island home covers 10,000 square feet. Photo: amanresorts.com Situated on Pine Cay, an 800-acre private island, this 10,000-square-foot home is nestled in a lush landscape framed by an intimate pond. The villa-style residence is one of only a few exclusive residences on the tiny Caribbean island. Each of the home's four bedrooms is housed in a separate pavilion. Located at Amanyara Villas, it has its own private black-volcanic-rock, infinity-edged pool. Click here to see more photos of private island homes.

Ladies of the 2012 New York Auto Show

10 cars women love

Regardless of which direction the war of the sexes is leaning, one thing is certain: A gender gap still exists between women and men when it comes to buying a new car. According to the third annual gender and car buying study by TrueCar.com, the brand with the highest percentage of retail sales to women in 2011 continues to be Mini (46.2 percent), followed by Nissan (45.7 percent), and Kia (45.6 percent) compared to 2010 when Mini (47.9 percent) came in first, followed by Kia and Honda respectively (46.8 percent and 46.0 percent). On the flip side, 13 of the top 20 brands in 2011 with the highest percentage of male buyers were either exotic or luxury brands. While the stereotype for men and women in relationships tells us that men lead with their head and women with their hearts, the opposite can be said of their decision-making at the car dealership. According to the results, female car buyers really gravitated toward practical cars; smaller, more fuel-efficient cars while it was male buyers, who preferred either a fast, sporty vehicle or more heavy-duty vehicle, like a large truck or SUV, basing their decision more on aesthetics than substance. So what new cars are women buying? Let's take a look!

Volvo S40 Starting Price: $27,750 Percentage of female buyers: 57.9% Promoted by Volvo as the "Fuel Efficient Sedan," is it any wonder that women were attracted to the well-priced S40, which retailed for about $27,750 and offered great fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 30 highway, and a combined 24 mpg? Sadly, the Volvo S40 was discontinued for the US market after the 2011 model year, but if you just gotta have this fun to drive, sport sedan we suggest you take a look at the 2012 Volvo S60 instead.

Secret Service sex scandal: Congressional members call for wider probe, more female agents

As you would expect, the Secret Service sex scandal was a big topic of discussion on the Sunday morning talk shows, where several members of Congress called for a broader probe in the wake of prostitution allegations that have rocked the agency. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, told "Meet The Press" that "anyone who is found to be guilty" of misconduct ahead of President Obama's trip to Colombia last weekend will be fired. "As you know, there was one of [the 12 Secret Service members who] has been partially exonerated and he will probably not be terminated--we will face administrative action," King said. "But I would expect within a very near future to have several other Secret Service agents leaving the agency." Six Secret Service staffers have left in the wake of the escort scandal; the others have been placed on administrative leave, their security clearances revoked. "There are many, many agents in Colombia interviewing the women involved, interviewing the hotel employees," King said. "There [are] hundreds of Colombian police assisting the Secret Service in this. So it's going all out and from every indication I've seen from the moment this scandal broke until now, there's no attempt to cover anything over. Everything--every lead--possible lead is being examined." On "Fox News Sunday," Sen. Joe Lieberman said his committee would be broadening its investigation of the Secret Service to determine whether there has been a pattern of misconduct within the agency. "[We will be] asking whether this was an exception, or is there anything in the records that show this is a pattern of misconduct that has gone on elsewhere by Secret Service agents on assignment [or] off-duty?" Lieberman said. "What's the Secret Service going to do to make sure it never happens again?" Lieberman said that while sensitive information could have been compromised while the agents were with the Colombian prostitutes, there is no evidence that was the case here. Despite the scandal, both Lieberman and King expressed confidence in Secret Security director Mark Sullivan. "Director Sullivan, from the moment this broke, has moved effectively and this investigation is going full speed ahead," King said, adding: "In the next day or so, I think you're going to see more Secret Service agents leaving." Meanwhile, Obama campaign chief strategist David Axelrod said on CNN's "State of the Union" that he didn't think the problem within the agency was widespread. "In any organization things can go wrong," Axelrod said. "I must say that in my experience the Secret Service has been completely professional, so impressive. I always felt like they were ... willing to do anything to protect the president and the people around the president." But chances are there were previous instances of misconduct, Rep. Darrell Issa told "Meet The Press." "Nobody believes that something with 11 or 12 people involved couldn't have happened before," Issa said. "The real point is will we have confidence that it'll never happen again, particularly foreign nationals having access to our men and women in, in, in the Secret Service. That's the important part that the director is working on. Yes, these were prostitutes, which is awful and salacious, but they were also foreign nationals. Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney of the House Oversight Committee suggested having more female agents could help avoid such scandals. On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Susan Collins, a ranking member of the Senate's Homeland Security Committee, wondered aloud whether more female agents within the Secret Service's ranks would deter such bad behavior. "I can't help but wonder if there'd been more women as part of that detail if this ever would have happened," Collins said, calling for the agency to recruit more women and minorities. More popular Yahoo! News stories: • Orrin Hatch banks on Finance chairmanship ahead of Utah primary • Romney: I'll build Keystone pipeline even 'if I have to do it myself' • Orrin Hatch's challenger Dan Liljenquist on Utah Senate race: 'This is not in the bag' Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add us on Tumblr. Handy with a camera? Join our Election 2012 Flickr group to submit your photos of the campaign in action.

National University Rankings

Summary Harvard University is a private institution that was founded in 1636. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Harvard University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $39,849 (2011-12). Harvard is located in Cambridge, Mass., just outside of Boston. Harvard’s extensive library system houses the oldest collection in the United States and the largest private collection in the world. There is more to the school than endless stacks, though: Harvard’s athletic teams compete in the Ivy League, and every football season ends with "The Game," an annual matchup between storied rivals Harvard and Yale. At Harvard, on—campus residential housing is an integral part of student life. Freshmen live around the Harvard Yard at the center of campus, after which they are placed in one of 12 undergraduate houses for their remaining three years. Although they are no longer recognized by the university as official student groups, the eight all-male "final clubs" serve as social organizations for some undergraduate students; Harvard also has five female clubs. In addition to the College, Harvard is comprised of 13 other schools and institutes, including the top-ranked Business School and Medical School and the highly ranked Graduate Education School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and John F. Kennedy School of Government. Eight U.S. presidents graduated from Harvard College, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Other notable alumni include Henry David Thoreau, Helen Keller, Yo-Yo Ma, and Tommy Lee Jones. In 1977, Harvard signed an agreement with sister institute Radcliffe College, uniting them in an educational partnership serving male and female students, although they did not officially merge until 1999. Harvard also has the largest endowment of any school in the world. School mission (as provided by the school): N/A General Information School type private, coed college Year founded 1636 Religious affiliation N/A Academic calendar semester Setting urban 2010 Endowment $27,557,404,000 Applying When applying to Harvard University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 6. The application fee at Harvard University is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 7.2 percent. For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center. Selectivity most selective Fall 2010 acceptance rate 7% Application deadline January 1 SAT/ACT scores must be received by March 6 More About Applying Academic Life The student-faculty ratio at Harvard University is 7:1, and the school has 79.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Harvard University include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; History, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Sociology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.2 percent. Class sizes Student-faculty ratio 7:1 4-year graduation rate 87% - High Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates Economics, General 17% Political Science and Government, General 8% History, General 6% Political Science and Government, General 6% Sociology 5% More About Academic Life Student Life Harvard University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641, with a gender distribution of 50.0 percent male students and 50.0 percent female students. Harvard University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference. See what students are saying about life at Harvard University. Total enrollment 19,627 Student gender distribution Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity N/A Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority N/A Collegiate athletic association NCAA I More About Student Life Campus Info & Services Harvard University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Harvard University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Harvard University. Students who have cars on campus N/A Health insurance offered Yes Students required to own/lease a computer No More About Campus Info & Services Paying for School At Harvard University, 61.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $39,156. Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs. Tuition and fees $39,849 (2011-12) Room and board $12,801 (2011-12) - High Financial aid statistics More About Paying for School Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo Life is alright. As a computer science major, I probably spend more time cooped up doing work than other people. I like the house system. It's great to have upperclassmen living on campus, and the system does a good job of fostering a sense of community. Cambridge is a fantastic city to live in. I don't think you can really do much better in terms of location, unless you absolutely can't stand cold weather. Anything you could possibly want is nearby and the T is an incredibly convenient public transportation system. You wouldn't want to be driving around Boston, anyway. Some people complain about the party scene, other people seem to be pretty happy with it. To be honset, I don't party, so I really can't judge. Greg Junior Very grueling (academically for science majors, extracurricularly for humanities majors.) Everything is a constant competition, which grows tiring. Mike Junior The best thing about Harvard is the different types of people here. Like everyone has a different view on everything and everyone is passionate about something and willing to learn about other things. It seems like everyone is here to get something out of college. I think Harvard is just the right size and I love the sense of community that groups and clubs create. People usually try not to freak out when I tell I go to Harvard and it becomes awkward. Sometimes they do freak out and it still becomes awkward. It's just...always awkward. I love the fact that there are other schools around so that you can assert your superiority. Haha, just kidding. But it's great to have other schools cuz you can mix it up and go to their parties and take them to your parties.

Mariah Carey Poses in Bikini After Losing 30 Lbs. in Six Months

Unlike some new moms, Mariah Carey is more than happy to show off her post-baby body. The songstress, who gave birth to twins nearly one year ago, flaunts her abs on the May issue of Shape and reveals some of the weight-loss secrets that helped her shed 30 pounds in just six months. While pregnant with Moroccan and Monroe, "I put on around 70 pounds," Carey, 42, tells the magazine. "But if you look at photos of me when I was pregnant, you'd say, 'Wow, she gained 9,000 pounds!' A lot of it was water weight because I pretty much had head-to-toe edema, which is very painful. Luckily, all the swelling went away fairly quickly after the babies were born. Then I had about 30 more pounds to drop. I have such empathy for people who need to lose a lot of weight, because I know what they're going through. I remember thinking at the time, 'I'll never look or feel the same again.'" Related Content: First-Time Moms After 40 (Photos)] Carey — who poses for the magazine cover in a bikini bottom and striped, off-the-shoulder top — selected Jenny Craig to help lose the rest of the weight because she liked the way their program, which she started last July, is structured. (She's a big fan of the brand's meals, especially the soups, but prepares a lot of her own food at home.) In November, it was announced she had become the company's brand ambassador and her first commercial aired in December. "I used to be able to slim down just by exercising more, but that's changed," she says. "Since having the babies, I realize that 90 percent of losing weight is my diet." [Related Content: Nick Cannon Discusses His Recent Health Scare (Watch)]

The singer, who says her weight has fluctuated 15 to 20 pounds over the years, still fits in her exercise time though. "Today my workout routine is more about getting and staying toned," she tells the mag. "And for me, that means either taking hour-long walks a few times a week or jumping in the pool three or four days a week to do 45 minutes of aquatic exercises… Swimming is my favorite form of exercise." As for her exact weight, similar to Nutrisystem spokesperson Janet Jackson, Carey isn't telling. Last fall she explained to USA Today that she doesn't go by a scale — instead the 5'9" star measures by her "dress size. Right now I am between a 4 or 6." The megastar isn't the only member of her household who has undergone a diet overhaul recently. Carey tells people that her 31-year-old husband, Nick Cannon, has revamped his life since he was hospitalized for kidney failure in January and then again in February with blood clots related to his autoimmune disease, lupus nephritus. "It was really frightening," Carey says of the incident, "but he's feeling much stronger and is definitely on the right track. "He's taking better care of himself, eating a diet low in sodium and sugar, and getting more sleep." As for her own sleep patterns, Carey says having twins makes it a little more difficult, but she rolls with it. "My schedule has always been the opposite of most people's. I sleep during the day and wake up at 10 at night, which is why I've been able to adapt to the babies' schedule so well. I'm actually sitting here debating whether I should do a 10 p.m. or a 4 a.m. workout today. If I exercise in the morning, I'll be able to purée some pears and feed them breakfast." Between the babies and her new diet and fitness plan, she's juggling a lot, but fans of her music will be happy to hear that she's made time for recording. "I've started writing songs for a new album, which I hope will come out in 2012," she says. "Getting back in the studio and making music again — which I truly love doing — is the best way to end this crazy year." Read Mariah's full interview in the May issue of Shape, on sale April 23.

Dick Clark Dead at 82

Dick Clark died earlier today. The famed TV producer was 82. Paul Shefrin, a rep for the entertainment legend, told ABC News his client suffered a "massive heart attack." According to TMZ, Clark was at St. John’s hospital in Los Angeles for an outpatient procedure when the heart attack occurred. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest, who worked with Clark on his annual "New Year's Rockin' Eve" specials, took time out of tonight's "Idol" broadcast to memorialize his mentor. "We can't begin tonight's show without acknowledging the passing of a television pioneer and my dear friend Dick Clark," Seacrest said. "Without Dick, a show like this would not exist. He will be missed greatly." He then pointed to his watch and added, "I know that he's in a better place, saying, 'Hey let's get on with the show.' You got it, boss!" Earlier in the day, following the news of Clark's death, Seacrest offered condolences via Twitter. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family." The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native, who was born Richard Wagstaff Clark, became a breakout star after being tapped to host “American Bandstand,” an afternoon dance show for teenagers, which debuted nationally in 1957. Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin and the Jackson 5 were just some of the big acts featured on the hit show, though he reportedly regretted not booking The Beatles. Clark, went on to form his own production company and put out many popular shows, from the hidden camera series "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes" to game show "The $25,000 Pyramid." He also produced many TV award shows, including the Golden Globes. [Related: Dick Clark’s ‘New Year’s Rockin' Eve’ Just Turned 40] In 1972, he hosted "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" for the first time, helping Americans countdown to midnight as the ball dropped in New York's Times Square. He continued to helm the special until 2004 when he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. After Regis Philbin stood in for him the first year, Clark, who was also diabetic, passed the baton to "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest and, after recovering, made an annual appearance to address the audience. [Related: Dick Clark's Rocking Malibu Retreat for Sale] Clark's first time back in 2006, he had the same boyish spirit people had grown to know. Although he clearly struggled with his speech, sounding hoarse and sometimes indecipherable, he candidly addressed the audience, saying: "Last year I had a stroke. It left me in bad shape. I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It's been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I'm getting there," noting "I wouldn't have missed this for the world." Following Seacrest's lead, other celebrities expressed their sadness over the passing of Clark as well. Jenny McCarthy, who appeared on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," tweeted: “RIP dick Clark. You were amazing to work with. U will be missed. Xxxoo.” Joan Rivers chimed in, writing: “Very sad to hear about Dick Clark. What a great life. What a great career. Relevant until the end. He will be missed!” Even Snoop Dogg remembered the TV man, posting: “REST IN PEACE to the DICK CLARK!! U were pioneer n a good man!! Thank u sir.”

Dog wars heat up presidential race

Much has been made about Mitt Romney, in 1983, putting his family dog Seamus in a kennel on top of his roof and driving from Boston to Canada, with said canine Seamus making his displeasure known in a rather scatological way. Democrats have signaled they have every intention of making sure the American people - especially dog-lovers - know the tale. In January, senior Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod tweeted a photo of the president and Bo in a car, with the snide observation: "@davidaxelrod: How loving owners transport their dogs." The Romney campaign tonight signaled tonight that they are not about to cede any ground when it comes to a candidate's odd past with man's best friend. The Daily Caller noted that in President Obama's best-selling memoir, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," the president recalls being fed dog meat as a young boy in Indonesia with his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. "With Lolo, I learned how to eat small green chill peppers raw with dinner (plenty of rice), and, away from the dinner table, I was introduced to dog meat (tough), snake meat (tougher), and roasted grasshopper (crunchy)," the president wrote. "Like many Indonesians, Lolo followed a brand of Islam that could make room for the remnants of more ancient animist and Hindu faiths. He explained that a man took on the powers of whatever he ate: One day soon, he promised, he would bring home a piece of tiger meat for us to share." After his mother married Soetoro, Obama lived in Indonesia from 1967 until 1971, from roughly the age of 6 through 10. The discovery that the president had eaten dog meat prompted wise-cracks on twitter (hashtag - #ObamaDogRecipes) and this tweet from Romney strategist Eric Fehrstrom, who re-tweeted Axelrod's original message with a different take on the picture of the president and Bo. "@EricFehrn: In hindsight, a chilling photo," he wrote. The Seamus story was discussed again Monday when Ann Romney told Diane Sawyer that "the dog loved" traveling that way. "He would see that crate and, you know, he would, like, go crazy because he was going with us on vacation. It was to me a kinder thing to bring him along than to leave him in the kennel for two weeks."

Girl in Pulitzer-winning picture still has nightmares

Down a rutted dirt alley in Old Kabul, the "Girl in the green dress" -- the subject of AFP's Pulitzer-winning photograph -- still has nightmares about the day a suicide bomber made her image world famous. Tarana Akbari, 11, no longer wears her best dress, which was drenched in her own blood and that of her relatives who were among 70 people who died around her at a religious festival on December 6 last year. AFP photographer Massoud Hossaini, 30, won the prestigious US journalism prize for his "heartbreaking image of a girl crying in fear after a suicide bomber's attack at a crowded shrine in Kabul," the Pulitzer committee said. Tarana still cries sometimes when she remembers that day, but she managed an occasional shy smile in an interview with AFP at her modest home on Tuesday, as she cuddled her sisters, who were both wounded in the blast. That her picture has been featured on newspaper front pages around the world means little to her, she says, with a small shrug and a fleeting smile. But when she first saw the searing image she wondered: "How come I am alive. I can see all the dead bodies around me but only I survived." She is still frightened at times, and that bloody day still haunts her, awake or asleep, but she says she is getting better. One of the two spartan rooms that Tarana shares with her family of seven has a television in a corner, but what she sees there does not always help her recovery. Last Sunday, squads of Taliban suicide bombers infiltrated the capital and unleashed gunfire and explosions in an 18-hour assault before all being killed by security forces. "It made me frightened again," she said. "I am not happy, because that day when the bomb went off destroyed my family." Of the bomber and those who sent him on his mission, she says only: "They did a bad thing. They should not have done it." Her unemployed father, Ahmad, 35, lifts the shirt of Tarana's four-year-old sister to show horrific scars covering her entire stomach from the shrapnel that ripped through the celebrating crowd. Out of 17 women and children from her extended family who went to a riverside shrine near her home that day to mark the Shiite holy day of Ashura, seven died, including her seven-year-old brother Shoaib. Tarana herself has scars on her legs and arms and walks with a limp. She no longer attends school because her legs hurt, she says, adding: "I hope I can get well soon and go back to school." Asked about her hopes for the future, the sweet smile makes an appearance and she says she would like to be a teacher, with the local language Dari being her favourite subject. She spends her days playing with her sisters in the ramshackle house and in the dirt courtyard outside which leads to an alley where huddled young men openly inject heroin against crumbling mud walls. Behind those walls, the "Girl in the green dress" nurses her pain and her fears, now dressed in a plain, baggy, shalwar khameez hiding the scars from the day her life was torn apart.

94-year-old Billionaire Marries for Fifth Time. To Be Old, Rich and in Love

If you had almost five billion dollars, what would you do? For Karl Wlaschek, the answer is marry a lot.

Forbes is reporting via Vienna News that Austrian retail tycoon Wlaschek will wed for the fifth time at the ripe old age of 94. His bride-to-be, girlfriend Friederike 'Ricki' Schenk, won't reveal her age, but is likely a good three decades behind her groom. That means Wlaschek, a self-made mogul, has defied stereotypes by proposing to a woman who's closer to his age than the average Hef-to-twin-sisters ratio.

Read: the female self-made billionaire everyone's talking about

Still, the billionaire with the prolific marriage history is a plot-line we've seen over and over again. Revlon honcho Ron Perelman wed number five two years ago, shortly after the ink dried on his brutal divorce from actress Ellen Barkin. Larry Ellison and T. Boone Pickens are up to number four and the night is still young.

Five-timer Wlaschek earned his $4.7 billion dollar bank account by founding Billa, a European supermarket chain. He's since become one of the biggest real estate magnates in Austria. He announced his engagement at one of his own properties, a sprawling five star hotel in his native country, where he once played as a struggling young jazz pianist, back when the musical genre was in its infancy.

Video: Salma Hayek on being married to a billionaire

The groom met his future bride at a Vienna event a few years back, and soon realized somewhat touchingly or morbidly depending on your vantage point, that they'd both lost their last spouses on the very same day.

The couple's wedding is set to take place in a few days, according to Forbes (although some German gossip pages are saying the big day already happened this past Saturday).

The self-made Wlaschek already has four kids but still wants "another five or six children, at the very least." His bride laughed that comment off, saying "I am not so young any more."

10 Best Cities For Singles

Finding the best cities for singles goes beyond simply identifying the places with the highest percentage of bachelors and bachelorettes. Financial factors count, too. After all, you’ll want to meet someone who can afford to date, right?

To put together our list of best cities for singles, we took into account income and living costs. The cities that made the final cut boast household income levels well above the Census Bureau average of $49,536. The cost-of-living score–derived from Council for Community and Economic Research data–indicates essential costs, including rent. A high score is acceptable as long as it’s offset by attractive incomes and a strong dating pool.

Nicole Kidman: ‘I Don’t Mind Being Naked’

Not many actresses willingly flaunt their bodies in their 40s, let alone after they've had a baby, but Nicole Kidman, 44, not only doesn't mind showing off her physique, she admits to even enjoying it. In an interview with W, the star of the upcoming HBO biopic "Hemingway & Gellhorn" opens up about going nude for movies, her most memorable sex scenes, and what brought her closer with her husband, country singer Keith Urban. When asked about her propensity for filming scenes in the buff, Kidman — who has taken it all off for "Fur" and "Eyes Wide Shut" — admitted, "I don't mind being naked. Maybe as I get older, and now having had a baby, it might be different, but I enjoy not letting my issues get in the way of a performance. Once I start putting all my little insecurities in my mind, I'm not actually acting. Then it's about me — and it should never be about me. It should be about the character."

Bantai 77 Orang, Teroris Norwegia Mengaku Tak Bersalah

Oslo, Teroris Norwegia Anders Behring Breivik mulai diadili di Oslo, ibukota Norwegia. Pria berumur 33 tahun itu mengaku tak bersalah atas dakwaan melakukan aksi teror ketika dirinya membantai 77 orang tahun lalu.

"Saya mengakui perbuatan itu, tapi tidak bersalah atas kejahatan dan saya mengklaim membela diri," kata Breivik di persidangan yang digelar hari ini seperti dilansir kantor berita AFP, Senin (16/4/2012).

Hakim kemudian menyimpulkan pernyataan ekstremis sayap kanan itu sebagai "tidak bersalah."

Pernyataan itu disampaikan Breivik setelah Jaksa penuntut umum Inga Bejer Engh membacakan tuntutan-tuntutan terhadap Breivik, termasuk "aksi teror. Jaksa juga membacakan nama-nama 77 korban Breivik dan bagaimana mereka meninggal.

Breivik menyebut aksinya kejam tapi perlu. Dia mengklaim bertindak seorang diri dan untuk membela diri terhadap mereka yang dianggapnya sebagai "pengkhianat negara" karena telah membiarkan Norwegia terbuka untuk multikulturalisme dan membiarkan "invasi muslim" di Eropa.

Breivik sebelumnya telah mengaku mentalnya stabil saat melakukan pembantaian pada 22 Juli 2011 lalu. Saat itu, dia meledakkan bom di depan kantor pemerintahan di Oslo yang menewaskan 8 orang serta menembak mati 69 orang lainnya di perkemahan remaja di pulau Utoya.

Dokter Selamatkan Bayi dengan 6 Kaki di Pakistan

Karachi, Para dokter di Pakistan berjuang untuk menyelamatkan nyawa bayi laki-laki yang lahir dengan enam kaki karena kondisi genetik yang langka. Direktur Institut Kesehatan Anak setempat di Karachi menjelaskan bayi ini lahir dari istri teknisi X-ray seminggu lalu.

"Bayi itu lahir dari istri seorang teknisi X-ray seminggu yang lalu. Bukan satu bayi sebenarnya, tapi dua bayi, salah satunya prematur," kata Direktur Institut Nasional Kesehatan Anak di Karachi, Jamal Raza, seperti dikutip dari AFP, Senin (16/4/2012).

Seorang dokter di lembaga yang tidak ingin disebutkan namanya mengatakan anggota badan 'ekstra' tersebut adalah hasil dari penyakit genetik yang hanya terjadi pada satu bayi dari satu juta bayi. "Para dokter yang memeriksa bayi merencanakan pengobatan yang diperlukan untuk menyelamatkan hidup bayi dan memastikan ia dapat hidup normal," tambah sebuah pernyataan dari departemen kesehatan provinsi setempat.

Imran Shaikh, ayah bayi yang tinggal di Sukkur, sekitar 450 kilometer utara Karachi, mengatakan dia bersyukur anaknya dirawat. "Kami adalah keluarga miskin, saya bersyukur kepada pemerintah untuk membantu kami merawat bayi saya," katanya kepada media.

Obama Calls For 'Thorough' and 'Rigorous' Investigation of Secret Service Scandal

CARTAGENA, Colombia - President Obama today called for a "thorough" and "rigorous" investigation following the scandal surrounding the Secret Service officials tasked with his protection.
"What happened here in Colombia is being investigated by the director of the Secret Service. I expect that investigation to be thorough and I expect it to be rigorous," the president told reporters in his first public reaction to the controversy.
"If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I'll be angry," he said.
Eleven secret service personnel and five military service members have been accused of misconduct, including cavorting with prostitutes and excessive drinking, ahead of the president's trip here this weekend.
The misconduct is being scrutinized by the Secret Service and the military, and has prompted calls for a Congressional investigation.
"My attitude with respect to the Secret Service personnel is no different than I expect out of my delegation that's sitting here," Obama said at a joint press conference with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia.
"We're representing the people of the United States, and when we travel to another country I expect us to observe the highest standards because we're not just representing ourselves," he said. "We're here on behalf of our people and that means that we conduct ourselves with the utmost dignity and probity. And obviously what's been reported doesn't match up with those standards."
Obama added that he will "wait until the full investigation is completed until I pass judgment."
The scandal has largely upstaged the Summit of the Americas, which ended today without a joint declaration in part because the 33 leaders present disagreed over whether Cuba should be invited to following summits in the hemisphere.

North Korea launches long-range missile; launch fails

U.S. officials say they believe the launch failed.
U.N. Security Council is meeting Friday to discuss a response.
This is the third failed attempt at an orbital launch since 1998.

Defying international pressure, North Korea launched a long-range missile Friday morning. However, U.S. officials say they believe the attempted launch failed before the missile was able to leave the Earth's atmosphere.
U.S. officials confirm that a North Korean long-range missile appears to have broken apart midair after launch. Officials say they believe the missile fell apart within the Earth's atmosphere before crashing into the sea.
"Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea's provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
"The President has been clear that he is prepared to engage constructively with North Korea. However, he has also insisted that North Korea live up to its own commitments, adhere to its international obligations and deal peacefully with its neighbors," Carney said.
Japan's Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka has backed U.S. reports that the launch failed. "We have confirmed that a certain flying object has been launched and fell after flying for just over a minute," Tanaka said.
South Korea's Defense Ministry first reported the launch, which is seen as defying international warnings and widely viewed as a provocation from the rogue state.
The U.N. Security Council will meet Friday to discuss a response to the North's attempted launch.
South Korea Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters in a nationally televised news conference that the rocket was fired at 7:39 a.m, local time Friday. "We suspect the North Korean missile has fallen as it divided into pieces minutes after liftoff."
The launch comes after weeks of speculation regarding the possible launch, which North Korea's government says was being done to send a weather satellite into orbit. If true, it would represent the third failed attempt by North Korea to send a satellite into space since 1998.
North Korea says it was timing the launch to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the country's former leader, Kim Il Sung, which they are celebrating Sunday.
However, most observers say the launch is actually tied to the country's missile program. Japan has already given its military clearance to shoot down the rocket if it crosses into Japanese airspace.
A White House statement is expected to be issued shortly.
There was no word from North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, about the launch.
North Korean television was reportedly broadcasting popular folk music at the time of the launch and has only said it will offer an announcement on the launch "soon."

Fighting rages in countdown to Syria truce

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria was due to observe a ceasefire from dawn on Thursday, but its fierce attacks on opposition neighborhoods in the run-up to the U.N. deadline fuelled widespread doubts it would comply.
The Syrian army also showed few signs of withdrawing troops from urban areas, something supposed to have begun on Tuesday under the peace plan agreed with international envoy Kofi Annan.
Activists reported more tanks moving in to a major city even as a pledge to halt operations on Thursday morning was broadcast on state television. The Defense Ministry source quoted by the television giving the pledge on Wednesday also said the army would confront "any assault" by armed groups.
Annan's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said on Wednesday night an advance planning team negotiating how U.N. observers would monitor the ceasefire had left Damascus after a week of talks.
He had no further comment on any progress reached by the team led by Norwegian Major-General Robert Mood, so it was not clear whether the deployment had been agreed or called off.
Insurgents, who lack a clearly coordinated command structure, said they would stop shooting if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces withdrew and observed the truce.
"The Defense Ministry announcement is a detour on Annan's plan which clearly says he should pull back the tanks and end violence. We will wait until tomorrow and see. We will not act before tomorrow," Qassem Saad al-Deen, Free Syrian Army spokesman inside Syria, told Reuters on Wednesday.
At least 12 people were killed on Wednesday, activists said.
Western powers have scorned Assad's truce pledges, but so far lack an effective policy to curb the bloodshed, given their own aversion to military intervention and the resistance of Russia and China to any U.N. Security Council action.
Quoting from a letter to Annan from the Syrian foreign ministry, Fawzi said the government had undertaken "to cease all military fighting throughout Syrian territory as of 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) tomorrow, Thursday, 12 April, 2012, while reserving the right to respond proportionately to any attacks carried out by armed terrorist groups against civilians, government forces or public and private property".
He also stressed that troops should pull back.
Few in the Syrian opposition believe Assad has any intention of complying with Annan's plan to end 13 months of bloodshed.
"On the eve of the deadline for the full implementation of the ceasefire in Syria, there is no sign on the ground of compliance by the regime," the main opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) said in a statement.
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, said in an interview on PBS' "Charlie Rose" program that his government was "on board" with the peace plan.
But he said government forces would remain on alert to "counterattacks" and that "legally speaking, there is a big difference between declaring a ceasefire and putting an end to the violence."
Activist videos posted on YouTube showed a shopping mall engulfed in flames after it was hit in bombardment of the Juret al-Shayah district of Homs and bombs crashing into the city's Khalidiya district. The videos could not be verified and the Syrian government bars most independent media from the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said three people were killed in Homs and shelling killed a man, woman and child in Qusair near the border with Lebanon. Three people were killed near Damascus, the British-based opposition group said.
"Fighting is still raging as we speak, reflecting what has been an intensification of the violence that the Syrian government has pursued since April 1 when it committed to cease all hostile actions by yesterday," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said in New York on Wednesday afternoon.
"Its commitments, therefore, have little if any credibility given that track record," she told reporters.
MORTAR BARRAGE
The SNC called for an international ultimatum to Assad if he failed to respect the ceasefire.
"We would like to see a unanimous decision by members of the Security Council that sends an ultimatum to the regime with a deadline that is not too far down the road that says on such and such a date enforcement measures will intervene," SNC spokeswoman Basma Kodmani said.
U.N. action would need the support of Russia and China, which have blocked previous Security Council draft resolutions on Syria, citing concerns about a Libya-style intervention that would breach Syrian sovereignty.
"We will have another go at trying to persuade the Russians that the situation is deteriorating and the likelihood of regional conflict and civil war is increasing," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
China expressed "deep worries" about the violence in Syria and called for all sides to respect a ceasefire.
Russia stressed rebels battling to oust Assad must hold fire.
Turkey, hosting nearly 25,000 Syrian refugees, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu would speak with counterparts from the Group of Eight major nations telephone. Across its border with Syria, fighting raged on Wednesday evening, refugees at the border town of Kilis said.
Ankara has urged the Security Council to adopt a resolution that would protect the Syrian people, saying Damascus had not kept its troop withdrawal pledge and had increased the violence.
An activist in the city of Hama said at least 20 armored vehicles had newly moved into two central neighborhoods, while an opposition supporter in Rastan, between Hama and Homs, said heavy shelling of the town began after the announcement by the Syrian government that it would respect the ceasefire.
The SOHR said two people were killed in army raids in Deir al-Zor in the Euphrates river valley far to the east. Artillery shelled the Jebel Akrad area in the coastal province of Latakia.
In Deraa, cradle of the revolt against four decades of Assad family rule, activists said troops backed by armored vehicles had flooded the city and were making house-to-house raids.
Activist Omar al-Hariri said he had never seen so many troops: "The army is exploiting the ceasefire to arrest more dissidents than ever and security forces are burning houses."
'PART OF THE SOLUTION'
Annan, at a news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, urged Iran to help resolve the violence and warned of "unimaginable consequences" if it worsened further.
Salehi said Syrians should be able to have free elections contested by political parties, but reiterated Iran's opposition to any outside interference in Syria's affairs and made clear the Islamic Republic wanted Assad to stay in charge.
"The opportunity must be given to the Syrian government to make changes, under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad," he said.
Iran has unstintingly backed Syria, the only Arab nation to support Iran in its 1980-88 war with Iraq and the conduit for Iranian arms to Lebanon's Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah movement.
Syria, where Assad's Shi'ite-rooted Alawite minority dominates a Sunni Muslim majority, has become an arena for a sectarian-tinged regional contest between Shi'ite Iran and Sunni Arab rivals aligned with the West and led by Saudi Arabia.
Assad's forces have killed more than 9,000 people in the past year, according to a U.N. estimate. Damascus says rebels have killed more than 2,600 soldiers and security personnel.
(Additional reporting by Marcus George in Dubai, Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Sui-Lee Wee and Sabrina Mao in Beijing, Paul Eckert in Annapolis, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Oliver Holmes and Dominic Evans in Beirut, and John Crawley in Washington; Writing by Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Cooney)

Daftar 10 Gempa Terbesar Indonesia

10. Gempa bumi di Papua tahun 2009 berkekuatan 7,6 SR
Gempa bumi di Papua 2009 memiliki kekuatan 7,6 pada Skala Ricther. Gempa bumi pada tanggal 4 Januari 2009 tersebut telah menewaskan empat orang dan melukai puluhan orang.

09. Gempa bumi di Sumatera tahun 2009 berkekuatan 7,6 SR
Gempa bumi Sumatera Barat 2009 ini terjadi pada 30 September 2009. Gempa ini terjadi di lepas pantai Sumatera, sekitar 50 km barat laut Kota Padang. Gempa menyebabkan kerusakan parah di beberapa wilayah di Sumatera Barat seperti Kabupaten Padang Pariaman, Kota Padang, Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan, Kota Pariaman, Kota Bukittinggi, Kota Padangpanjang, Kabupaten Agam, Kota Solok, dan Kabupaten Pasaman Barat. Menurut data Satkorlak PB, sekira 1.117 orang tewas akibat gempa ini.

08. Gempa bumi Jawa tahun 2006 berkekuatan 7,7 SR
Gempa bumi Jawa Juli 2006 ialah gempa bumi berkekuatan 7.7 versi bmkg pada skala Richter di lepas pantai Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Terjadi pada 17 Juli 2006. Gempa bumi ini menyebabkan tsunami setinggi 2 meter yang menghancurkan rumah di pesisir selatan Jawa, membunuh setidaknya 659 jiwa.

07. Gempa bumi Bengkulu tahun 2007 berkekuatan 7,9 SR
Gempa Bumi Bengkulu 2007 memiliki kekuatan 8.4 Mw atau 7.9 SR, terjadi pada tanggal 12 September 2007. Pusat gempa terletak kira-kira 10 km di bawah tanah, sekitar 105 km lepas pantai Sumatra, atau sekitar 600 km dari ibukota Jakarta.

06. Gempa bumi Sumatera tahun 1797 berkekuatan 8,4 SR
Gempa bumi Sumatera 1797 adalah yang pertama dalam serangkaian gempa bumi besar yang pecah bagian dari segmen Sumatra dari megathrust Sunda. Hal ini menyebabkan tsunami yang sangat merusak di dekat Padang, di mana sebuah kapal Inggris 150-200 ton didorong 1 Km hingga ke pedalaman sungai Arau.

05. Gempa bumi Sumatera 1861 berkekuatan 8,5 SR
Gempa bumi Sumatra 1861 terjadi pada tanggal 16 Februari 1861. Itu adalah yang terakhir dalam urutan gempa bumi yang berdekatan pecah bagian dari segmen Sumatra dari megathrust Sunda. Hal ini menyebabkan bencana tsunami yang menyebabkan beberapa ribu kematian. Gempa dirasakan sejauh semenanjung Malaysia dan bagian timur Jawa.

04. Gempa Laut Banda tahun 1938 berkekuatan 8,5 SR
Gempa bumi Laut Banda 1938 terjadi di wilayah Laut Banda pada tanggal 1 Februari 1938, dan merupakan gempa bumi terbesar ke-9 pada abad ke-20. Kekuatan gempa bumi ini adalah 8.5 Skala Richter, dan menyebabkan tsunami setinggi 1.5 meter, tetapi tidak ada korban jiwa.

03. Gempa bumi Sumatera tahun 2005 berkekuatan 8,7 SR
Gempa bumi Sumatera 2005 terjadi pada 28 Maret 2005. Pusat gempanya berada di 30 km di bawah permukaan Samudra Hindia. Getarannya terasa hingga Bangkok, Thailand, sekitar 1.000 km jauhnya. Dengan kekuatan sebesar 8,7 SR, gempa ini merupakan gempa bumi terbesar kedua di dunia sejak tahun 1964.

02. Gempa bumi Sumatera tahun 1833 berkekuatan 8,8 sampai 9,2 SR
Gempa bumi Sumatra 1833 terjadi pada tanggal 25 November 1833, sekitar pukul 22:00 waktu setempat, dengan kekuatan gempa diperkirakan dalam kisaran SR = 8,8-9,2. Hal ini menyebabkan tsunami besar yang membanjiri pantai barat daya pulau. Tidak ada catatan yang dapat diandalkan menenai korban jiwa, dengan korban yang digambarkan hanya sebagai 'banyak'.

01. Gempa bumi Samudera Hindia tahun 2004, berkekuatan 9,1 sampai 9,3 SR
Kekuatan gempa ini awalnya dilaporkan mencapai 9.0 SR. Pada Februari 2005 dilaporkan gempa berkekuatan 9.3 SR. Pada tanggal 26 Desember 2004, terjadi gempa bumi dahsyat di Samudra Hindia, lepas pantai barat Aceh. Gempa ini berkekuatan 9,3 menurut skala Richter dan dengan ini merupakan gempa bumi terdahsyat dalam kurun waktu 40 tahun terakhir ini yang menghantam Aceh. 230.000 orang tewas di 8 negara. Ombak tsunami setinggi 30 meter. Bencana ini merupakan kematian terbesar sepanjang sejarah. Indonesia, Sri Langka, India, dan Thailand juga merupakan negara dengan jumlah kematian terbesar.

Obama’s second-term agenda is the missing piece in his re-election plan

Mitt Romney, in a speech last week, accused President Barack Obama of running a “hide-and-seek campaign” in which voters will have to wait until after the election to “find out what he actually will do.” In truth, there is always a November Surprise no matter who wins occupancy rights to the Oval Office. All presidents-elect modify their campaign promises in light of new economic realities, foreign-policy pressures and the discovery that there is an independent branch of government called Congress. Incumbent presidents can also be sneaky about a second term. Lyndon Johnson wins the lifetime-achievement award for deceptive pre-election rhetoric with his pledge in 1964, “We’re not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.”

Yet even though he is not Mr. Transparency himself, Romney is justified in posing the hide-and-seek question about Obama’s second-term agenda. Among the best places to find clues about Obama’s post-November plans are in the remarks that he delivers to Democratic loyalists at fundraisers. At almost the precise moment Tuesday afternoon when Rick Santorum was conceding the Republican presidential nomination to Mitt Romney, Obama was speaking to 60 high-roller Florida Democrats at a $10,000-a-person fundraising luncheon in Palm Beach Gardens. Framing the fall campaign in hyperbolic terms, Obama declared, “This election will probably have the biggest contrast we’ve seen since the Johnson-Goldwater election--and maybe before that.”
Since Herbert Hoover analogies have mostly been retired to the Old Tropes Home, it is politically understandable why Obama wants to portray Romney as the 21st-century heir to Barry “A Choice Not an Echo” Goldwater. But Goldwater, with his libertarian social views and old-fashioned friendships with Senate Democrats, might be a moderate in today’s Republican Party. And there have been more recent clash-of-ideology campaigns in the past half century. Think of George McGovern versus Richard Nixon in 1972, or unabashed liberal Walter Mondale taking on Ronald Reagan in 1984. (Of course, in those elections, the Democrats carried a cumulative total of two states).
[Related: New Obama campaign video attacks Romney as ‘severely conservative’]

For an incumbent president in April of a reelection year, this fund-raiser rhetoric is the closest analogue to a primary-campaign stump speech. Like a standup comic honing his monologue by playing to small rooms, Obama tries out riffs that, if they are good, might make it all the way to his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention in Charlotte. Even the hastily discarded lines offer a window into Obama’s mind as he tries to inspire the wealthy Democrats who are picking up much of the freight for his campaign.

Obama is having problems with what a frustrated George H.W. Bush once derided as “the vision thing.” Even as the president’s campaign appearances are punctuated by chants of “Four More Years,” Obama has offered only vaporous hints about what he would do with more four more years. The president used the word “vision” 10 times during the three Florida fundraising events that he headlined Tuesday. But only at a luncheon at the home of Hansel Tookes, the former president of Raytheon International, did Obama say flatly, “That’s our vision for America.” What the president was referring to was his portrait of “broad-based prosperity” and “a middle class where everybody who wants to work hard … can make it, regardless of what they look like, where they came from, what their last name is.”

Talking about “broad-based prosperity” has the fat-free content of Romney reciting the lyrics to “America the Beautiful.” Who in American political life is against the hard-working middle class? Or would publicly oppose the American Dream of making it regardless of the color of your skin or your family’s ethnicity?

When Obama speaks to Democratic donors, he stresses how far the nation has come since Inauguration Day 2009. This temptation to run through a greatest-hits album is irresistible for incumbent presidents, even if voters look to the future rather than the past. (Winston Churchill was thrown out of office just two months after V-E Day).
At a $500-per-person evening event in Hollywood (yes, we are still in Florida) on Tuesday, Obama set up a refrain that I suspect will be a lasting staple of his campaign rhetoric: “Change is the decisions that we made to help prevent a second Great Depression … Change is health care reform that we passed after a century of trying … Change is the fact that for the first time in our history you don’t have to hide who you love to serve the country you love.”
[Related: Obama on Reagan: A ‘wild-eyed, socialist, tax-hiking class warrior’]

To be sure, there have been policy hints in Obama’s fundraising speeches. But most of the proposals sounded like leftovers from the State of the Union address. “Let’s rebuild America,” Obama said in Hollywood, boldly invoking 1930s icons like the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge, before going on to say, “It’s time for us to take some of the money that we spent on war, use half of it to pay down our debt, use the rest of it for some nation-building at home.”

Here Obama seems to be blithely ignoring Congress, just as Romney frequently does on the campaign trail. Even if Obama is reelected, the Democrats will be hard-pressed to win back the 25 House seats need to return the speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi. The Senate, where the Democrats now prevail 53 to 47, could be in jeopardy even if Obama successfully graduates from the Electoral College. As political analyst Charlie Cook writes in National Journal, “Basic arithmetic makes some Democratic losses inevitable. The Democrats have 23 seats at risk. The Republican have just 10.” The likely reality is that Obama, if reelected, would be bedeviled by congressional Republicans through the rest of his time in office.

Anggota DPR dari Aceh Sibuk Telepon Keluarga

Petugas Badan Meteorologi Geofisika (BMG) Aceh memperlihatkan hasil catatan getaran gempa berkekuatan 7,1 SR di Kantor BMG Mata Ie, Aceh Besar, Rabu (11/1). Gempa yang berpusat di Perairan Simeulue dengan kedalam 10 km, membuat warga di Pantai Barat, Banda Aceh dan Aceh Besar berhamburan keluar rumah namun tidak menimbulkan kerusakan dan korban jiwa. (SERAMBI Indonesia/BUDI FATRIA)


Gempa berpusat di 434 km barat daya Meulaboh Aceh pada kedalaman 10 Km. BMKG telah mengeluarkan potensi tsunami.

Anggota DPR dari Aceh, Sayedfuad Zakaria, mengatakan laporan yang dia terima dari keluarganya masyarakat di Aceh sempat panik.

"Saya telpon belum nyambung. Sirine sedang bunyi dan masyarakat jauhi pantai," kata dia di gedung DPR RI Jakarta.

Dilaporkan warga berhamburan ke daratan tinggi Blang Bintang dan Tanah Tinggi.

"Kabar terakhir masyarakat mulai tenang dan tanda-tanda tsunami mulai hilang. Saya monitor terus," kata dia.

Takut Tsunami, Warga Aceh Lari ke Wilayah Tinggi

Gempa bumi berkekuatan 8,9 pada skala richter, terjadi pada pukul 15.38 WIB, dengan lokasi 2.31 Lintang Utara dan 92,67 Bujur Timur, atau 434 Km barat daya Meulaboh, Aceh, dengan kedalaman 10 Km.

"Untuk korban jiwa masih dalam pendataan. Setelah gempa kondisi listrik di Banda Aceh mati. Masyrakat langsung bergerak ke tempat-tempat atas. BMKG telah mengeluarkan potensi tsunami, dan BNPB masih melakukan koordinasi dengan seluruh potensi nasional," ujar Humas BNPB, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, kepada INILAH.COM, Rabu (11/4/2012).

Kerugian materi juga belum diketahui, karena masih dalam pendataan. "Informasi selanjutnya akan disampaikan segera jika ada data. Posko BNPB masih melakukan assessment, koordinasi dan lainnya," ucapnya.[bay]

Getaran Gempa 8,9 SR di Sumatra Sampai Penang

Gempa tersebut mengagetkan Retno karena getarannya dirasakan cukup lama. Ia berlari sambil menggendong anaknya keluar dari apartemen miliknya.

"Saya masih lemes karena gempa tadi. Saya gendong anak saya keluar," ucapnya.

Gempa berkekuatan 8,9 pada Skala Richter menguncang wilayah pulau Sumatra. Badan Meterologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) memprediksi gempa ini bisa menimbulan tsunami.

Peringatan dini tsunami, berlaku untuk wilayah Bengkulu, Lampung, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam dan Sumatera Utara. Gempa berkekuatan 8,9 SR terjadi pada pukul 15.38 WIB, dengan kedalaman 10 Km.

Lokasi gempa berada di 2.31 Lintang Utara dan 92.67 Bujur Timur. Belum diketahui apakah ada kerusakan dan korban jiwa. [bar]