Ex-Myanmar beauty queen accused of stealing crown

White House chef's wedding

had Obama family as guests

Here's what the Obama family had on its plate Saturday evening: the White House chef's wedding.

President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were to be among the guests at the wedding of Sam Kass, their longtime chef and a close friend. The bride is MSNBC host Alex Wagner. She and Kass were being married at a farm-to-table restaurant in Westchester County, north of New York City.

President Obama and Kass, who also serves as food policy counselor and regular presidential golfing partner, have a strong friendship. That bond was highlighted earlier this month when Obama went to Kass' Washington apartment for dinner amid the headlines from Iraq, Ukraine and Ferguson.

Kass began preparing meals for the Obamas when the family lived in Chicago.

The first couple and daughters Malia and Sasha were attending the ceremony at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y.

The union of Kass, 34, and Wagner, 36, also highlighted what some contend is too much togetherness between the media and the people they cover.

Naturally, the guest list was expected to include staff from both the White House and the liberal-leaning cable news outlet, with people from both sides breaking bread at the same dinner table.

Chris Brown heads to court this week on assault charge • Singer Chris Brown is scheduled to appear in a District of Columbia court for what would be a third attempt at a plea deal to resolve an assault case that dates to October 2013.

According to court filings, Brown was scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Friday for a plea hearing but was unable due to travel issues. The hearing was rescheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney, confirmed Brown is due in court. But he declined to comment on the case.

In January and June, Brown rejected plea deals on a misdemeanor assault charge. At the time of the incident, Brown was on probation in California for an attack in 2009 on his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

Brown's attorney, Stuart Sears, declined to comment on the case.

Myanmar beauty queen loses title, keeps crown • Myanmar's first international beauty queen has absconded with her $100,000 crown after being stripped of her title for being rude and dishonest, organizers said Friday.

May Myat Noe's photograph was blacked out on the Miss Asia Pacific World website, the word "dethroned" stamped by her name.

"She thinks as long as she keeps this crown she's the winner," said David Kim, director of media for the South Korea-based pageant. "She's not."

Organizers said Noe, 18, had "lied" and proved to be untrustworthy, but provided few details.

Noe was not immediately available for comment. She planned to hold a news conference at a later time.

A half-century of military rule and self-imposed isolation kept Myanmar contestants off the stage of international beauty contests until 2012. When Noe was crowned in May, it was seen as a new beginning for young, talented beauties.

celebrity birthdays

Singer Van Morrison is 69. Actor Richard Gere is 65. RB musician Larry Waddell is 51. Rock musician Jeff Russo is 45. Singer-composer Deborah Gibson is 44. Rock musician Greg Richling is 44. Actor Chris Tucker is 42. Actress Sara Ramirez is 39. RB singer Tamara is 37.

From news services

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/ex-myanmar-beauty-queen-accused-of-stealing-crown-2/