Charlie Walk Out As Epic President

Epic president Charlie Walk will exit his post at the end of the month, sources tell Billboard. His future plans have not yet been revealed.

While his future plans have not yet officially been revealed, sources tell R&R that Walk will remain firmly in the entertainment industry -- he has several television projects in development, including a pilot with Ryan Seacrest. Expect him to solidify his plans in January.

Walk took over at Epic in 2005. He had been executive VP of creative marketing and promotion for Columbia Records Group, where he started in 1990. During his tenure as president, Epic scored big hits from Shakira, the Fray, Sara Bareilles, Natasha Bedingfield and Sean Kingston.

But the label's market share has plummeted from 4.22% of current albums for the year ending 2005 to 1.58% for the year-to-date 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Beyond Walk, Epic is expected to lose some A&R and radio promo staffers as part of layoffs this week.

Source:http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz

Obama invites Shakira to sing at inauguration: El Comercio

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama invited Colombian singer Shakira to perform in the White House on the day of his inauguration in January 2009, Peruvian newspaper El Comercio reported Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the upcoming U.S. President invited the star.

Shakira endorsed Obama's candidacy before the election. "It's an honor to receive so much support from someone that talented and a person that generous," Obama said about Shakira.

Source:http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news

Shakira’s antidote to ‘Cholera’

Stone Village Pictures and New Line will be putting Colombian pop star Shakira front and center for the promotion of its "Love In Shakira_250 the Time of Cholera," a wise choice if those in the office who have seen the flick are to be believed (but they don't appear to be hopeless romantics, so take that with a grain of salt).

Shakira will be performing songs from the film at its Nov. 6 premiere in Las Vegas. The Vegas debut of the movie will also serve as a dinner/auction a benefit for the Bare Feet Foundation, a Columbian nonprofit aiding children and their families.

Based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's acclaimed book of the same title, the story examines the effects of a few decades of unrequited love, and opens wide Nov. 16. Trailer here. Or go to the film's MySpace page to discuss the joyful topic of how long you'd be willing to wait for the love of your life.

We're told "Cholera" is set to feature three songs from Shakira, although fans of the artist will be familiar with "Pienso En Ti," a version of which appeared on her 1996 album "Pies Descalzos." Those wishing to get a full-on peak of the new tunes before the film's release are a little out of luck, as the "Cholera's" MySpace page is currently showcasing the lovely "Pienso En Ti." Shakira's "Despedida" is, however, featured in the trailer, and her "Hey Amores" is used in a later scene in the film.

No plans yet to release a physical CD. A spokesperson for the film says a digital release for Shakira's singles is more likely, but there is nothing yet concrete.

Source:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/extendedplay

CELEBRITIES are to get yet another chance to dance on Saturdays — and copy THEIR favourite star.

ITV is planning a new show called Dance Like Your Hero, where twinkle-toed types must learn to move like their favourites.

Well-known names will shake it like Shakira and Justin Timberlake as cameras follow their every move.

The team behind Dancing On Ice are creating the series, which looks set to hotfoot it on to screens next year.

A top telly source said: “It’s a brand new format that is tipped to be the next big thing in Saturday night telly. There’s massive interest in the show.

“It will see household names go through an epic transformation into their hero, showing the blood, sweat and tears.”

The source added: “Dance is very popular. Look how breakdancer George Sampson won Britain’s Got Talent.”

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/

Flash presents Shakira in Abu Dhabi

The Shakira bash has been limited to 10,000 revellers, who will be able to enjoy the show in an intimate and exclusive outdoor setting.

It marks the first time ever that a concert will be held on New Year's Eve in the UAE, and will be the first time that the rhythmic dancing singer with the powerful voice and big heart will wow music-lovers in the capital.

What's more, the dancing songstress will be devoting a full four days to rehearsals to create a brand new show exclusively for Abu Dhabi.

Shakira will sing in English from her vast, award-winning repertoire that includes world smash hits: Hips Don't Lie, Objection, Underneath your Clothes, La Tortura, Suerte, No Creo, Inevitable and Whenever, Wherever to name but a few!

For Abu Dhabi's ultimate party of 2008, Flash has additionally scheduled an eclectic mix of local talent and international DJs; in a programme lined-up to count-down to the new year and to last well into the early hours of 2009.

'We are so excited to be staging Abu Dhabi's first large-scale New Year's Eve concert and to have Shakira as our headliner is going to make this a night to remember. She has such a massive and diverse audience here in the UAE - thanks to her South American appeal, Lebanese heritage and unique singing and dancing ability. Shakira is the perfect entertainment choice for New Year's Eve in Abu Dhabi,' commented John Lickrish, Managing Director Flash.

Shakira fans and party-goers alike can expect nothing short of incredible at what will be a once in a lifetime New Year's Eve party, which will combine state-of-the-art production with cutting edge sound and lighting design.

Source:http://www.ameinfo.com/175573.html

Shakira: Pretty in Paris

Getting some fresh air in the City of Lights, Shakira was spotted on her way out of Le Hotel Meurice in downtown Paris, France earlier today (October 17).
The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress looked cute and casual in a purple v-neck sweater teamed with a pair of vintage wash jeans and some black high-heeled boots.

Source:http://www.infosjeunes.com/Shakira-Pretty-in-Paris

Shakira to lobby on child welfare

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Latin pop star Shakira, showing she can move more than her hips, will lobby Latin American presidents this week to start a regional project to pump money into children's health and education.

The singer will address a summit in El Salvador of Ibero-American leaders, including the presidents of Brazil and her native Colombia, over the need to feed and educate poor children, especially amid a global economic slowdown.

"There are difficult times coming in Latin America. Thousands and thousands of children will die if governments do not organize ways to distribute food during this crisis," Shakira told Reuters.

"I grew up in the developing world and I have witnessed the lack of opportunities that children have to live with," she added, speaking by telephone from Miami.

"In a country like mine, when a child is born poor, people die poor. But I'm fascinated by the fact that through education you can transform lives, you can end this cycle of poverty."

Some 35 million children live in poverty in Latin America with little or no access to proper food and education, Shakira said. Investing in a year of primary education can increase a person's adult income by up to 20 percent, she added.

Shakira's hip-swivelling dances and catchy ballads have earned her a huge global following and a string of Grammy awards. She began getting into social issues just a few years into her pop career, starting a Colombian children's charity called the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation in 1997, named after her breakthrough hit album released a year before.

While celebrities like Bono and Angelina Jolie have focused on Africa, Shakira uses her fame to make headlines on Latin America, where stubbornly high poverty levels can get overlooked because of healthier overall economic indicators.

Shakira helped launch the Fundacion ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action), which is behind the new initiative, and has lobbied British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the U.S. Congress on the need to educate children in poor countries.

"My heart is committed to this cause and it has been there for a long time, since I was 18," said Shakira, now 31, who has sold some 50 million albums around the world.

"I like to think that I can use my public profile to bring attention to more important issues than my own."

Her new project will seek funding from organizations like the World Bank and would monitor governments' efforts closely, although the golden-tressed singer regretted she would not have time to get involved in inspection efforts on the ground.

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews

Shakira: Pretty in Paris

Getting some fresh air in the City of Lights, Shakira was spotted on her way out of Le Hotel Meurice in downtown Paris, France earlier today (October 17).
The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress looked cute and casual in a purple v-neck sweater teamed with a pair of vintage wash jeans and some black high-heeled boots.


Source:http://www.infosjeunes.com/Shakira-Pretty-in-Paris_a130680.html

Lorraine's best and worst guests

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has revealed that the most difficult guest she has ever had to interview was Harrison Ford.

Lorraine, who presents LK Today, spoke to Star magazine about her most difficult guests: "Harrison Ford. I felt disappointed because I loved Blade Runner and was really looking forward to meeting him. It wasn't so much that he was rude, but he was a bit grumpy. I think he was bored and made it very clear that he did not want to be there.

"Bruce Willis also made for strange viewing. He was pleasant, but just took ages to answer a question."

The Scottish presenter added: "We had Shakira on and she was adorable, but the people around her were a pain.

"Her people kept saying to us: 'Shakira needs special water.' What rubbish. Shakira doesn't need special water, but these people need to justify their existence and make silly demands. You think: 'Oh, for goodness' sake."

But Lorraine admitted to Star that her favourite guests have been George Clooney and Will Smith - whom she describes as "adorable".

She said: "I remember saying to Will after I'd interviewed him: 'Thank you so much. I wish every A-lister was like you.' I honestly could have kissed him because I thought he had such a brilliant attitude."

Source: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/showbiz/

Shakira sings for hostages' freedom

Shakira led the way for her compatriots as Colombians came out to demonstrate for the freedom of the remaining hostages held by leftist rebels. Well over a million Colombians, clad in white and shouting 'No more kidnapping', marked their independence day with marches and concerts demanding freedom for the remaining detainees.

Demonstrators chanted Libertad! - the Spanish word for freedom - in rallies across the Andean nation and in some 40 cities abroad, including Paris, London, Miami, Beijing, Sydney and New York. It was the second nationwide mobilisation this year against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In the jungle border city of Leticia, native daughter Shakira performed after singing the national anthem at a military parade presided over by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the presidents of Brazil and Peru attending.

news source : http://ukpress.google.com/

Shakira meets Betancourt in Paris

Shakira is currently recording her new album in London and Betancourt is in Paris recovering after being held in the Colombian jungle by the FARC for six years.

Both women will be involved coming Sunday in a worldwide protest against the FARC. Betancourt, together with Colombian pop star Juanes, will head the march held in Paris. Shakira will hold a concert on the Colombian border with Peru and Brazil.

news source : http://colombiareports.com/

Shakira, other Latin pop stars vow to fight on for hostages

Shakira, other Latin pop stars vow to fight on for hostages BOGOTA (AFP) — Colombian singing sensation Shakira and nine other Latin music stars vowed Monday to keep fighting for the release of hostages held by Colombian rebels after 15 captives were freed last week.

The musicians, from Spanish singers Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bose to Colombian pop stars Juanes and Carlos Vives, made their pledge in a letter to the 15 ex-hostages, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt. "We will continue until we see all of them free," the letter says. "Our eyes and lips will not rest until we see and kiss those who remain captives of those without conscience."

The letter is also signed by David Bisbal, Juan Fernando Velasco, Ricardo Montaner, Paulina Rubio and Juan Luis Guerra. The same group of artists had promoted a peace concert at the Colombian-Venezuelan in March amid fears of a regional conflict pitting Colombia against Venezuela and Ecuador. Last Wednesday, the Colombian military rescued Betancourt, three US nationals and 11 Colombians who had been held hostages by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for years.

The guerrilla group still holds an estimated 700 hostages for ransom as well as 24 high-profile captives whom the FARC considers "political prisoners," a group that Betancourt and the Americans used to belong to.

news source : http://afp.google.com/

Vedder to play Massey Hall

Eddie Vedder, the lead singer for Pearl Jam, will be at Toronto's Massey Hall on Aug. 12 and 13 and in Montreal on Aug. 9 for the second leg of his solo tour. Tickets, from $75, go on sale July 11 through Ticketmaster. The '70s rock troupe Bad Company will reunite for a one-off show on Aug. 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., the group's first performance since 1999. Shakira is joining Madonna and others in signing a contract with promotion giant Live Nation, worth an estimated $70 million to $100 million.

Sacha Baron Cohen will star as Sherlock Holmes and Will Ferrell as his assistant Watson in a film comedy inspired by tales of the fictional English sleuth, Columbia Pictures said. Actor Wesley Snipes will be allowed to leave the U.S. for London and Bangkok to work on two movies while his lawyers appeal his tax convictions, a judge ruled yesterday. Rap star DMX was arrested for failing to appear in court, failure to pay fines and driving without a licence at a Phoenix airport yesterday, adding to legal woes that include drug possession and animal cruelty charges. The show will go on. The Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League, which represents New York producers and theatre owners, reached a tentative agreement yesterday, averting the possibility of a strike. The 39-month contract would increase compensation for actors by 11 1/4 per cent.

news source : http://www.thestar.com/

Rock in Rio music fest debuts in Spain

ARGANDA DEL REY, Spain (AFP) — Twenty-three years after its launch in Brazil, Rock in Rio moved to Spain as 42,000 people watched acts such as Neil Young and Alanis Morissette in a setting that was more like an amusement park than a traditional rock fest. Bob Dylan, The Police, Shakira and Amy Winehouse are also among the more than 60 acts set to perform over two weekends at a festival the Brazilian organisers hope will eventually become a "global brand" reaching as far as China. At Arganda del Rey, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Madrid, three stages -- the World Stage for headliners, the Hot Stage for lesser known acts and the Electronic Stage -- have been specially built at a 20-hectare (50-acre) site.

On Friday night, people from several generations observed three minutes of silence "for a better world", and the Madrid Youth Orchestra performed John Lennon's "Imagine" to open the festival, which continues on Saturday and on July 4-6. Canadian-born singer-songwriter Morissette was the first on the World Stage, followed by Jack Johnson and Spain's Manola Garcia. The night concluded well after midnight with 62-year-old Canadian rocker Neil Young. In 1969, Young performed with Crosby, Stills and Nash at Woodstock, the New York farming town where the US counterculture and the hippie era of the late 60s was highlighted during three days of sex, drugs and rock n' roll. The differences between that and Rock in Rio could hardly be more striking.

The organisers see Rock in Rio as a family event. "In Brazil, we saw had fathers who had gone to the first festival (in 1985) who later brought their children, and that's when we realised that this is about more than just music," Rock in Rio's vice president Roberta Medina told AFP. "We started to focus on promoting a lot of entertainment." At Arganda del Rey, there are dozens of attractions for all ages, including a 50-metre (150-foot) snowboarding slope with artificial snow, a skateboarding park, a ferris wheel, a catwalk for fashion shows, shops, bars and restaurants and even a daycare centre for children. On Friday, many parents brought their children, although all of about a dozen families interviewed by AFP said they had received free invitations, and had not paid the 65-euro entrance fee.

Deborah, a 37-year-old airline employee from South Africa who lives in Madrid, said she came with her husband and small child after she received free invitations. "It would be almost impossible for us to pay 65 euros," she said. "It seems a lot of money, even without a financial crisis."

news source : http://afp.google.com/

Shakira set to make a big impact in final

The Chingford-based 16-year-old, will become the first Waltham Forest Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) fighter for a number of years to step into an ABA finals ring, when she faces Chloe Fairhead at the Army base in Aldershot.The Sheerness puncher has much more experience than Ley, but Forest secretary Ian Cuddy is confident that his fighter will come up trumps in this junior final.

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He said: "Shakira is a very determined character and has been training very hard for this fight. "So while her opponent has had more fights we believe she is fully prepared. "It is a massive bout for both her and the club, because in my six years here this is the first person we've had in an ABA final. "Having already been invited to train with the London representative training squad, we know that she has the ability to win this final. "I'm sure Shakira is fully aware that if she wins she has a chance to go on and earn her England vest." Ley's male club-mates have been busy in action themselves, with Forest securing a 50 per cent win rate from their six bouts on their home show last weekend at Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow.

The star of the show had to be Tyler Nejet, who took the home fighter of the night award after beating Golden Gloves winner Billy Cooper of the Nemesis Boxing Club. The Forest fighter using good foot work and combination punches just edged a tight, but thrilling contest. Also securing wins on the night were Sam Gilley, who saw off the highly rated Michael McDonagh (Tottenham & Enfield ABC) and Glenn Leigh, who beat a very game Andrew Harper (Trojan ABC). Other home fighters in action on the same show were Michael Keenan, Bradley Anderson and Chris Farbridge, who were all unlucky in their bouts.

Reflecting on those results, Cuddy said: "It was nice to have so many winners on our own show and I thought Tyler in particular boxed brilliantly. "The lads that lost also put up some very good performances and Michael was very unlucky to see the decision go against him in his fight." Also in action on Friday night was Danny Hart, who making his first appearance in a year, put on a sensational performance to beat home fighter Tommy Smith on Cray Valley's charity show.Smith, a tricky southpaw, who had won nine fights from 12 bouts including four by knockout was simply blown away by a determined Hart and the home corner threw in the towel in round two.

news source : http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/

Il nuovo video di Shakira sul telefonino prima che in TV

La cantante latinoamericana Shakira ha acconsentito alla messa in onda in anteprima del videoclip del suo ultimo singolo, Hips Don’t Lie, sui telefoni cellulari “musicphone” compatibili con le reti wireless V CAST dell’operatore di telefonia mobile statunitense Verizon Communications.

Oltre al videoclip completo della canzone i clienti del servizio V CAST possono visualizzare anche spezzoni del dietro le quinte delle riprese video e fruire di altri contenuti quali suonerie e altri contenuti specifici per il telefono cellulare. Il videoclip, al quale partecipa anche Wyclef Jean dei Fugees, sarà in futuro messo in onda in televisione e su altri canali di distribuzione.

news source : http://www.mobileblog.it/

Bare music, bare food and barefoot

Donnie Bunting carves up his succulent roast lamb reared at his Longville Park farm at Christopher and Neadene Tufton's birthday party, Hopefield Avenue, Liguanea, St Andrew, last Friday. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer Six weeks ago my touring partners and I flew across to Tobago for the Plymouth Jazz Festival. I'd been to Trinidad's twin island before, and knew exactly where I intended to get the local fodder.

Which brings me to a word of advice on planning a holiday at this time of the year at this particular place: If you'd like to go to next year's event, then call your travel agent now. Reserve your flights and accommodation, and worry about buying concert tickets later. The one thing you don't need to book is a rental car. Every man and his brother turn into a taxi driver during this three-day weekend at the end of April. And if you dare ask where you can hire a vehicle to drive yourself, then don't be surprised when someone hands you the key to his jeep, tells you it's US$50 a day and he'll be back on Monday to collect it. Again, there's nothing sinister about it and you're in no danger. There's an opportunity for the locals to make money by providing you with a service, and that's all there is to it.

The journey

Now we were able to drive to Store Bay on the west point of the island for curried crab and dumplings from Miss Jean! I had been thinking about this dish since my last visit five years ago, so there was no way I was leaving a scrap of 'meat' behind. It is a typical meal in Tobago, and Trinidadians living in Kingston, New York and London have all told me about 'Miss Jean's'. Our evenings were tied up with the singers: Smokey Robinson, Steel Pulse, En Vogue, Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, and the barefooted belly-dancingShakira . The performances were fantastic, with the exception of Whitney's, who managed to be so bad it was worth watching the disaster that ensued on stage.

By the end of each night we were all starving. Due to the early start of the shows: five, six and seven, respectively, and the strict timeliness of the stars, there was not a moment to move from our seats to eat in between acts. Many food vendors were selling corn soup, 'doubles', shark and bake, and rotis, and we were all over them before the clock struck 12. And then the process would recommence the next day with the same: bare music, bare food, and somewhere in the world a barefooted Shakira!

news source : http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/

For a few magical moments

Peacocks fly, lion rajas hip hop, a blue baby elephant pouts, bugs bunny bounce, and (Baal) Ghatothkach performs more magic tricks than Merlin. Unarguably, the first half an hour or so of this animation feature directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, is sheer delight.

Evidently, the 77-year-old director reputed for his wry sense of humour (Pushpak, Appu Raja.. forget Mumbai Express though) is tapping the puckish child in him. He wants kids — young and grown up — to have a pop-the-corn time. And you do for a while. The picturisation of the songs — particularly the title track and then Angalik bangalik jadoo hai — are imaginative and high-adrenaline.

Clearly, though, animation in India still has endless miles to fly. The auspicious thing is that the trip towards Disney-Pixar standards has at least taken off the ground. The draftsmanship and colours have improved, yes, but detailing hasn’t. For instance, almost all the women characters look the same here — with maidan-sized eyes, lotus lips and Shakira-style hips.

Rao, also credited as the music composer, conjures a background score straight out of Titanic, except for a few mandatory flourishes of Indian classical. Be that as it may, it’s the scripting that needs major finessing. The story of Ghatothkach – the son of Bhima and Hidimba – keeps wandering restlessly into the multiple routes of the Mahabharata. The focus blurs. Consequently, the transition of Ghattu to the adult Ghatothkach is somewhat confusing. Like it or not, the second-half of the well-intentioned enterprise literally ends up losing its plot.

news source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Prep Spotlight - A personal look at Shakira Washington

Shakira Washington is an 18-year-old senior at Central High School. She runs the 100-meter hurdles and is a member of the 4 x 100-meter relay team. She's been on the track team all four years of high school. She finished third in the hurdles in the SIAC meet and placed second in the sectional, which qualifies her for the regional. Her mother is Shelia Washington. Her father, George, is deceased. Her fraternal twin sister is Shelise. She has an older sister, Erin, and an older brother, Eric.

Shakira plans to go to Philadelphia (Pa.) University and major in fashion design. She maintains a 3.9 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. She and Shelise each received $2,000 in scholarships from the Northside Kiwanis Club. What are the three words that best describe you? Honest. Friendly. Artistic. Take us through your school day. My classes are advanced environmental science, desktop publishing, advanced literature, statistics, advanced 3-D art, photography and economics. In AP literature, we shared poems we liked. I picked Alice Walker's "A Woman Is Not a Potted Plant." In art, I finished a jewelry piece last week and I'm starting printmaking. Did you consider playing other sports? No. When I was young, I couldn't catch, hit or throw. I don't have the hand-eye coordination for basketball and soccer.

news source : http://www.courierpress.com/

World record broken for biggest lesson

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. The lesson focused on the importance of providing quality education to everyone especially the 72 million children and 774 million adults who are currently missing out. All over the world politicians and ministers went back to school to attend the lesson taught by children. During the lesson they were asked what they planned to do to ensure quality education for all. The country with the highest attendance was Bangladesh; with 2.5 million people taking part in over 25,000 different locations across the country. Millions also took part in the lesson in Vietnam and in an impressive campaigning effort, one million took part in the lesson in the Palestinian Territories.

Celebrities, heads of states and officials took part in the lesson across the world. The highest profile student was Colombian singer and Grammy award winner, Shakira. She generated international attention as Honourary Chair of Global Action Week, along with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and World Bank President Robert Zoellick, as she lobbied congress with students in Washington DC. “I find it so inspiring that there are so many young people who care so deeply about the rights of all children to go to school that they would bring about this global movement,” saidShakira. “The most promising reason to believe that the world will achieve its goals of “Education for All by 2015” has been the emergence of strong civil society movement and this mobilisation of millions of children, women and men during the Global Action Weeks each year,” noted Kailash Satyarthi, Global Campaign for Education President. “We will not fall silent until we have ensured quality education for all.”

“One in four women in the world are illiterate. It’s not right, and it’s not just. The Global Campaign for Education has been demanding an end to this injustice since 2000,” noted Muleya Mwananyanda, GCE Action Week Coordinator. “By having legislators and government leaders join in the World’s Biggest Lesson, we are challenging them to share with us what they are doing to ensure others get educated, and have the opportunities to be sitting where they’re sitting now.” The World’s Biggest Lesson was the highlight of the Global Campaign for Education’s Action Week which took place 21 – 27 April. Every year, organizations across the world take part in the campaign, pressurising governments to meet their “education for all goals”. These were signed up to by 164 governments in Dakar in April 2000. With the phenomenal success of the “World’s Biggest Lesson”, 2008 is the biggest action week since the beginning of the Global Campaign for Education in 1999.

news source : http://www.alertnet.org/

British PM and Pop Singer Shakira Lead Education Effort

Grammy-winning pop singer Shakira is teaming up with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call for more global help in sending poor children to school. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington. The glamorous Colombian singer and the quiet British leader are working together to persuade developed countries to help finance an effort to provide a basic education for every child in the world.Shakira is the honorary chairman of a week of events to publicize the cause of an advocacy group called the Global Campaign for Education.

She says one of the group's goals is to get more help from world leaders in paying for primary education for 72-million children, ages six to 12, who cannot attend school because of poverty. "From 1999, there were 96 million children around the world who were not enrolled in any kind of education, and the number has decreased to 72 million, so, yeah, it is working, but we still have to do so much more," saidShakira. The group also wants to help some 226 million older children who miss out on school. British Prime Minister Brown joined with Shakira in a telephone conference on Monday, to push for the effort.

"I want to see us become the first generation in history to ensure that every child goes to school and that we develop the potential of not just some of the world's children but all of the world's children," said Gordon Brown. "If we meet our goals in education, we will not just transform those children's lives for good. By consigning childhood illiteracy to history we will help make poverty history too." As British treasury chief in 2006, Mr. Brown pledged $15 billion over 10 years for education in the developing world. Last month, Britain and France each agreed to support the education of eight million children in Africa by 2010.

Britain's commitment in this area dwarfs that of the United States, whose funding for global education aid is $465 million a year.Shakira will meet with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to persuade them to pass a bill, which members of both parties have endorsed, to increase U.S. aid for education in developing countries to $3 billion a year by 2012. The Education For All Act was introduced last May, but has not passed either house of Congress.

Another event sponsored by the Global Campaign for Education this week will have an estimated five million students from more than 100 countries take part Wednesday in an effort to break the world record for the largest simultaneous lesson.

news source : http://www.voanews.com/

Shakira shakes up Plymout

THE power of the Colombian bombshell, Shakira, could not be contained during her performance at the Plymouth Jazz Festival on Saturday night. In fact, she sucked the power right out of the electricity supply,running to the stage while singing and shaking her hips to "Don't Bother". But the barefooted Shakira was no diva about the situation. "These things happen," she said. "Let's pretend that we finished that last song and I am going to make it up to you. The power could go, but I am not going anywhere."

Shakira continued to chat freely with the sold out audience, endearing herself to many, while waiting for the electricity supply to be fully restored. "Please wait for me okay? Don't go anywhere. We're fixing it." She continued into "La Pared" and thanked the audience for their patience. Several costume changes later, Shakira left patrons mesmerised with her belly dancing skills. She seemed to be having as much fun as those she came to entertain, including President George Maxwell Richards, his wife Jean Ramjohn-Richards, their daughter Maxine, Local Government Minister Hazel Manning (sans her husband, Prime Minister Patrick Manning), Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George and sacked Trade and Industry Minister and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley.

Working members of the local and international media, however, were hustled away from the front of the stage, where chairs were provided for them on Saturday, and told by festival officials to go into the general admission area some 800 feet away. Reporters and photographers were told that Shakira's management had a problem with the group remaining in that area after the "three-song" limit allowed for shooting photographs. Oddly enough, though, many people, including children standing on the chairs in the same area, were allowed to remain. One of them was even recording the event with the use of a video camera - an act that was strictly prohibited by the promoters. It turned out that this group of people comprised family and friends of a CL Financial official. Notwithstanding, the show went on and the artistes were well received by the crowd.

British reggae group, Steel Pulse, created quite an impact with their driving rhythms and lyrics which tackled many political and social issues. The group made a name for itself with hits such as "Life Without Music", "Africans Unite", "Earth Crisis", "Steppin' Out" and "Taxi Driver".

R&B group En Vogue - the 18th most successful act of the 1990s (according to Billboard magazine) - also continued their comeback trail. The group, backed by pre-recorded music and not by live musicians, was well coordinated with superb vocal harmonies and well-executed choreography. Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones and Dawn Robinson performed, for about 40 minutes, their songs which won them several awards, including "Hold On", "Free Your Mind", "Don't Let Go", "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Whatta Man". Soca vibes were aplenty with Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blaxx, Olatunji Yearwood and Trini Jacobs. The festival ended last night with performances by Whitney Houston and Rod Stewart.

news source : http://www.trinidadexpress.com/

Sexy Shakira Helping Children

The singer Shakira, apart from having an envious music career and sexy looks, also has the need to help others, following the model of many celebrities.

On Tuesday Shakira held a lecture in a campaign against global heating held at Capitol Hill in Washington. The aim of the campaign is to educae young people about global warming.

Shakira is working part-time in the campaign and is a guest of honour.

news source : http://www.javno.com/

The truth about Shakira's sex tape

Shakira in a sex tape with her boyfriend and the Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz? This is the last crazy rumor that spread quickly over the web early this week! Bogus Internet reports suggested that there was a sextape of the Colombian singer Shakira in a threesome on a yacht with her boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, and the Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz.

Representatives for Sanz and Shakira insist there is no sex tape, and in a joint statement, the singers' representatives said: "This is a false rumour. This is totally absurd any way you look at it. There is no possibility that such a video exists.

The rumor got started when Argentine DJ Javier Ceriani made comments about the "sex tape" on his Zona Cero radio show starting his comments by a "It's been said ..." . It seems that Shakira 'sex tape' is just another April Fool's Day hoax.

news source : http://www.mister-info.com/

Shakira Sex Tape A Hoax

By: Cher Tippetts on Wednesday 02nd Apr 2008 : Shakira is the latest star to fall victim to a hoax sex tape - if you believe her reps. Internet reports suggested that Shakira, boyfriend Antonio de la Rua and music collaborator Alejandro Sanz had been caught on video enjoying a threesome.

The rumours kicked off when Argentine DJ Javier Ceriani referred to online gossip on his Zona Cero radio show, according to PeopleEnEspanol.com. He said: "It's been said...there is a private video recorded on a yacht, one that could implicate Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Antonio de la Rua."

However, reps for Shakira and Sanz have called out the reports as bogus. In a joint statement, they insist: "This is a false rumour. This is totally absurd any way you look at it. There is no possibility that such a video exists. It is a baseless and malicious rumour."

news source : http://www.entertainmentwise.com/

Omagh executive is top leader

AN Omagh-born BT executive has been named as one of the Young Global Leaders of 2008 by the World Economic Forum. Aaron McCormack, chief executive officer of BT Conferencing, is among a distinguished list of young leaders who are being recognized for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute through inspirational leadership.

He is named alongside: tennis champion Steffi Graf who is the founder and chairperson of Children of Tomorrow; Larry Page the co-founder of Google; and Shakira Mebarak, singer and manager of Pies Descalzos Foundation. Aaron said: "I am delighted to have been chosen to join the Forum of Young Global Leaders and to be able to join BT's activities with the World Economic Forum.

"I firmly believe this group can have a significant impact on issues that concern all of us – economic development, globalisation, the environment – and I look forward to playing a key role in the global discussions on these topics." Aaron, who is currently based in the US, became CEO of BT Conferencing in early 2006 and has executive responsibility for BT's audio/video conferencing division.

news source : http://www.newsletter.co.uk/

Shakira is finally comfortable with her body

Washington: After years of anxiety over the size of her breasts, Shakira is now happy with her body.

The Latina superstar has revealed that she was never comfortable with her small boobs.

In fact, the Columbian singer had even joked about her twin assets saying they could be "confused with mountains" in her breakthrough single 'Whenever, Wherever'.

But now the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer has said that a big butt rather than big boobs is more important in Latin culture.

"I used to worry about my breast size, but I've finally accepted myself for who I am. Besides, a big butt is more important in Latin culture," Contactmusic quoted Shakira, as saying.

news source : http://www.dailyindia.com/

USA women reach goal

By CASSANDRA TAYLOR
Sports Reporter

South Alabama secured a first-round home game in the Sun Belt Conference women's tournament with a 55-50 win over New Orleans Wednesday night at the Mitchell Center. Shakira Nettles scored a career-high 22 points for the Jags (18-10, 9-8).

"It's a tremendous relief to know that we don't have to make any travel arrangements," South Alabama coach Rick Pietri said. "Now, the only preference I have is to get as high a seed as we can. ... As we sit here today, we're sitting at No. 6 with the potential, with a little help, of moving up to No. 5."

The first-round Sun Belt tournament games will be played on campus sites Wednesday. Afterward, the tournament proper will be staged at the Mitchell Center March 8-11. The Jags jumped to a 21-9 lead, with Nettles scoring 10 of the points. "We knew how big this game was for the opening round of the tournament as well as positioning overall," Nettles said. "Defensively, we had a lot of energy, and as for my game, I just had fun."

Pietri praised Nettles' performance. "Shakira had a great night," he said. "She was the primary defender on (New Orleans' leading scorer) Le'Della English and managed to hold her to only 9 points. "Offensively, she made plays for us and finished plays around the goal." South Alabama led 34-27 at halftime and built a 12-point lead before the Privateers closed the gap.

"I thought at times we looked really good," Pietri said. "For the most part, we were able to turn turnovers into points. We also made some really good reads in the half-court offense." UNO (12-16, 6-11) got 13 points from Brittany Helms. South Alabama completes its regular season at Florida International on Saturday.

news source : http://www.al.com/sports/

Shakira's Boob Power

Some peeps' gravitas can be found in their heads, or even perhaps their legs. For Shakira, it's her jugglies that wield the greatest authority. Or her booby carriers, to be more precise. We recently brought you news of Shakira auctioning off her 2007 Oral Fixation tour wardrobe on eBay's Giving Work website.

Well, the bidding jungle is now well under way, with one suggestible fan shelling out a whooping £1,500 for Shakira's bra. You wouldn't catch us forking out that kinda money for a bosom holder, or even a more tempting item come to that - say, Brad Pitt's underpants?

Anyway, we digress. Shakira, who famously sang the words, "lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don't confuse them with mountains", has now discovered her rack ain't so retiring after all. Its money-swilling power says it all.

Still, everything goes to a good cause The Shakira auction, in aid of her Bare Feet Foundation which aims to build a school in her native Columbia, has so far raised £30,700 It's due to end this Sunday, with guitars among the items still up for bidding.

news source : http://showbiz.sky.com/

Quirky facts: Hospitality

* In order to make Shakira's stay comfortable, the Grand Hyatt imported berries from Australia, papayas from Hawaii and peaches from Dubai. The Colombian singer's suite was also decorated with white lilies and exotic plants from Jakarta.

* Hotel Taj Palace and Tower added black linings to the curtains in pop icon Madonna's suite to block out extra light.

* In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. In old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell, "Mind your pints and quarters." Hence, the phrase, 'mind your Ps and Qs.'

* Ancient Romans used to drop a piece of toasted bread into wine to wish one another good health. Hence, the phrase 'let's toast to this.'

news source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Less Che, more Shakira

HAVANA -- Young Cubans frustrated by a regimented and austere life under socialism see little hope of change under the team of old guard revolutionaries who have taken over following Fidel Castro's retirement as president.

Seventy per cent of Cuba's 11 million people were born after Castro's 1959 revolution. The younger ones dream of travelling abroad and want access to the Internet, iPods, trendy clothes, music and films.

Many were disappointed when Raul Castro, a 76-year-old army general, succeeded his ailing brother Sunday as Cuba's first new leader in almost half a century, and other elderly communists were appointed top key posts.

"This is a dynastic succession. Everyone is so disappointed," said Virginia, a teacher who quit her state job earning $19 a month to work as a nanny. Raul Castro's appointment as president was no surprise, but the new leadership team is more rigid -- and older -- than many young Cubans expected, or would like to see.

Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, a 77-year-old hardliner who fought with the Castro brothers in their guerrilla army in the 1950s, was named as Cuba's new deputy leader. Carlos Lage, 56, who pushed market reforms in the 1990s and is respected by foreign business people, had been expected to take the job but he was passed over.

Young people are tired of poor salaries and food shortages, and feel constrained by a system that offers few opportunities to own nice homes, cars and other consumer goods. Some saw Lage as a leader who might help modernize Cuba. "It should have been Carlos Lage. He has many good ideas. We should be rejuvenating," 20-year-old sociology student Maidolys said Monday as she hitched a ride to classes.

Fidel Castro's government built up the mythology of his 1959 revolution, celebrating the anniversary of important battles and exhorting people to be like Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the late Argentine guerrilla who fought with the Castros. But this has diminishing appeal to a younger generation that wants less Che and more Shakira.

"To them, change means not just better living conditions but the opportunity of freedom, the opportunity to live like the rest of the world does," said Andy Gomez of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies in Miami.

NO IPODS, NO YAHOO

Even among university students who believe in the socialist system, especially the advances in education and health care, its failings have fueled impatience. At a town-hall meeting last month, computing students peppered the head of the country's legislature, Ricardo Alarcon, with uncomfortable questions, including why their access to Google and Yahoo sites was blocked.

One asked why a Cuban must work two or three days to buy a toothbrush. Raul Castro has fomented debate on the state's shortcomings and what needs fixing since taking over as acting president when his brother fell ill in July 2006. He has raised hopes of modest economic reforms but will move slowly and also vows to continue communist rule. In his first speech as president Sunday, he said he would move to lift some restrictions soon but gave no details.

news source : http://www.canada.com/

Shakira launches own beauty range

Hip-shaking singer Shakira has teamed up with Spanish cosmetics giant Puig to launch her own line of beauty products.

Antonio Puig (pronounced pooge) founded the company - now one of Spain's biggest couture and cosmetic groups - in 1914. Its product portfolio includes Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera and Payot.

And now it's added Shakira to its ever-growing brand list. The star says of the range: 'I'm very excited to be able to express myself through another creative medium.

'My feeling is that personal care and beauty should be effortless and accessible for everyone.'

news source : http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/

Shakira's Boob Power

Some peeps' gravitas can be found in their heads, or even perhaps their legs. For Shakira, it's her jugglies that wield the greatest authority. Or her booby carriers, to be more precise. We recently brought you news of Shakira auctioning off her 2007 Oral Fixation tour wardrobe on eBay's Giving Work website.

Well, the bidding jungle is now well under way, with one suggestible fan shelling out a whooping £1,500 for Shakira's bra. You wouldn't catch us forking out that kinda money for a bosom holder, or even a more tempting item come to that - say, Brad Pitt's underpants?

Anyway, we digress. Shakira, who famously sang the words, "lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don't confuse them with mountains", has now discovered her rack ain't so retiring after all. Its money-swilling power says it all. Still, everything goes to a good cause.

The Shakira auction, in aid of her Bare Feet Foundation which aims to build a school in her native Columbia, has so far raised £30,700. It's due to end this Sunday, with guitars among the items still up for bidding.

news source : http://showbiz.sky.com/

Madonna, Shakira, Marilyn new faces of Sunsilk

Iconic celebrity women Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn Monroe will front the latest campaign for high street hair care range Sunsilk, beauty industry reports have revealed.

The three highly successful and inspiring stars follow hot on the heels of UK pop group Girls Aloud as the new faces of Sunsilk's hair product line.

Due to launch during the American Super Bowl on February 3rd, the Life Can't Wait campaign aims to encourage women to live their lives to the full by making the most of every minute.

Stan Cook, vice president of US hair care operations at Unilever, commented: "We're proud to unveil a powerful global campaign that features three truly inspirational icons.

news source : http://www.lookinggood-feelinggreat.co.uk/