In a surprising development, Dalai Lama’s visa for South Africa has been denied by the latter, preventing him to meet with other Nobel laureates.

The reason behind the rejection is the publicity that this would cause which could divert the attention from South Africa’s scheduled hosting of the World Cup next year. This was revealed by a spokesman the country’s President on Monday.

Thabo Masebe, a spokesman for President Kgalema Motlanthe, said that the South African government had not invited the Dalai Lama because it “would not be in the interests of South Africa.”
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Impeached U.S. Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois is set to write a book that “exposes the dark side of politics.” This was revealed by his publicist Glenn Selig.

Blagojevich gained headlines after being the first American government to have been removed from office by impeachment in more than twenty years.

Selig said that the former government signed a lucrative, “six-figure” deal with Phoenix Books. The book is set for release this coming October.

The publicist added that the book will tackle politics both in the state and national level and will also include personal accounts. Despite this controversial announcement, Selig said that the former governor will include insights that could be embarrassing on his end and others as well.
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An upscale boutique in Anchorage, Alaska is forced to change its name following an unexpected cease-and-desist letter it received from a Los Angeles-based thrift store chain with the same name. The trademark issue broke out after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin mentioned the store’s name in an interview.

According to reports, Out of the Closet owner Ellen Arvold received the order and made the changed effectively last Saturday, in time for the store’s fifth anniversary. Arvold said that the decision was made in a snap because they don’t want to go through legal resources, saying that they don’t have the resources to battle it out.

Palin, who ran as the running mate of John McCain in the recent U.S. elections, reportedly spent $150,000 for her outfit alone, the Republican Party shouldered the expenses.

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A lot of things have been said about First Lady Michelle Obama’s Inauguration Day January 20, 2009 dress (designed by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo) and I have this to say – to all you haters out there, suck it! Michelle Obama is an independent, strong and highly accomplished lady and she looked gorgeous…period!

Who cares if she veered away from the so-called norm of choosing among red, white or blue as hue for her dress? Who cares if she picked an “unknown” designer for her yellow Isabel Toledo creation? It’s not the dress you should put so much attention on, you dimwits! It only goes to show that the new First Lady isn’t one that can easily be swayed by the dictates of so-called “fashion experts.” The First Lady rocked the look and I just love her for sticking to what she wants and to what she knows fits her and for having that distinctive flair!

Meanwhile, check out the dresses worn by adorable sisters Malia and Sasha Obama after the jump! J. Crew’s crewcuts division is really the talk of the town these days because of the Obama children’s outfts!

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Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin dismissed the controversy over the alleged huge expenditure on her wardrobe, saying that these news are “absolutely ridiculous.”

“There is a kind of this double-standard that’s going on. I don’t hear the guys being talked about their wardrobe,” Palin said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

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