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.

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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/