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People: Jolie asks end to ‘evil’ of ignoring Syria’s innocent

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres listens as U.N. Special Envoy for Refugees Angelina Jolie briefs the U.N. Security Council on Syria’s refugee crisis Friday. (Associated Press)
From Wire Reports

Actress Angelina Jolie pleaded with world powers Friday to help the millions of Syrian refugees, sharply criticizing the U.N. Security Council for being paralyzed by its division over Syria’s four-year conflict.

Jolie briefed the council as special envoy for the U.N. on refugee issues. Syria’s ambassador said simply of her presence, “She’s beautiful.”

Jolie spoke during a full day of briefings on Syria that also included details of a new series of talks next month in Geneva aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis.

Nearly 4 million Syrians have fled the conflict into neighboring countries, which warn they are dangerously overstretched.

“We cannot look at Syria, and the evil that has arisen from the ashes of indecision, and think this is not the lowest point in the world’s inability to protect and defend the innocent,” Jolie said.

Jolie, who said she has made 11 visits to Syrian refugees in the region since the crisis began in 2011, called strongly for the political will to act. She said the council’s powers lie unused because its members cannot agree on how to address the conflict.

Tapper will lead ‘State of the Union’

Jake Tapper will take over as host of CNN’s Sunday morning public affairs program “State of the Union” in June.

The former ABC newsman, who hosts a weekday afternoon program on CNN, replaces Candy Crowley. She left CNN in December and a rotating series of substitutes has been filling in since.

Bieber, photographer settle dispute

Pop star Justin Bieber has reached a settlement with a photographer who claimed he was assaulted by the singer’s bodyguard outside a South Florida recording studio.

Attorney Mark DiCowden confirmed the settlement Friday between his client, photographer Jeffrey Binion, and Bieber. DiCowden said terms of the agreement are confidential. The photographer said he was roughed up while shooting pictures from a sidewalk outside the studio.

The birthday bunch

Actor Al Pacino is 75. Singer Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 70. Actress Talia Shire is 70. Actor Hank Azaria is 51. Actress Renee Zellweger is 46. Actor Jason Lee is 45.