Strategy for protection of women’s rights stressed

CHITRAL: A workshop on creating awareness of women’s rights among representatives of local support organisations (LSOs) has been held at Booni, some75km from here. The event was held under Easy and Equitable Access to Justice Programme (EEAJP), which is a project of Legal Aid Forum for Human Rights (LAFHR). Niaz Ali Shah, the project co-ordinator, briefed the participants on objectives of the programme. He said the LAFHR worked for welfare of the needy, helpless, oppressed and aggrieved people, especially women. He said the LAFHR had arranged for trial of some 230 cases of poor women in different courts of Chitral free of cost besides conducting 20 seminars on women’s issues.

Representatives of different LSOs from the area took part in open discussion on violation of women’s rights. They said women were facing numerous problems in this male-dominated society. The participants called for framing a strategy and mechanism for protection of women’s rights. They said women were an important component of the society and they could not be ignored when it came to making decisions regarding their issues. They said parents usually ignored education and nutrition of their daughters. Shakira, a social activist, said women should be encouraged to participate in developmental activities. Others said Islam had protected women’s rights better than other religions. They said women should remember their duties with the rights.

They said women should come forward for development of the country without compromising on their cultural values. Ghulam Ali Shah of the Free Legal Aid Centre, Booni, highlighted legal ways for protection of human rights. He said the law allowed women to live a life of their own choice. He said women could marry whoever they wanted to and were entitled to inheritance of family property. He said the practice of forced marriages should be abolished. A large number of social activists and other attended the event.

news source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Heidi Montag Releases Another Song

The Hills star Heidi Montag released another single, “Fashion.” The Hills star Heidi Montag has released a new song that is destined to hit the floor along with her last single and video release, “Higher.” AOL News reported that The Hills star everyone loves to hate has stuck to her roots with “Fashion.” After creating a line and having a show, “Heidiwood,” Montag has found her niche: skimpy clothes, “music,” and her boyfriend and fellow Hills costar, Spencer Pratt, who says the new single is “the greatest song of my life.”

AOL says “Fashion” is a “chunky slice of Euro pop,” and that her “heavily digitized voice [is] reminiscent of Cher’s hit song, ‘Believe.’” Montag asks, “Don’t you wanna see these clothes on me?” and then continues to list off several top designers in a French-like accent. Montag’s song can be heard on AOL and People. People reported, “Heidi has started her own record label with Super Producer RedOne. RedOne will write and produce with Heidi an entire album of 13 songs.” RedOne has been credited for Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” and is currently collaborating with Michael Jackson. People even revealed that Akon will make a cameo appearance in the album.

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

Live Nation bosses out of sync on strategy: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A battle has broken out among Live Nation Inc's top executives over the concert-promotion company's strategy to reshape the music industry by making big, expensive deals with artists, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Wednesday. Live Nation Chief Executive Michael Rapino has tried to slow the pace of multimillion-dollar deals with artists, while Chairman Michael Cohl wants to accelerate it by striking deals with as many as 15 more artists, the Journal reported.

Live Nation struck a $120 million deal with Madonna and a $150 million deal with Jay-Z, the paper reported. It has held talks for a similar deal with South American pop star Shakira, according to several people involved, though no agreement has been reached, the Journal said. The disagreement between the two executives in recent weeks resulted in Cohl threatening to leave Live Nation, and the board at one point was prepared to intervene, the Journal reported. The executives are speaking again and Cohl has changed his mind about leaving, the Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. A Live Nation spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Music companies are trying to sign up artists to such "360-degree" deals which can include recording, publishing, touring, digital and other rights. The deals are all-encompassing as a way for music companies to try to make money even as their traditional business of selling music is undercut by free, and often pirated, music on the Internet. A 12-year global contract signed earlier this year with Irish rock band U2 includes merchandising and licensing rights, sponsorship and strategic alliances, digital rights, fan clubs and Web sites and other marketing and creative services.

news source : http://news.yahoo.com/

Puckerin leads Challengers over Cavs

Andrea Puckerin led the Challengers to a closely run 57-56 victory over the Station Hill Cavaliers in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) Women's League action on Saturday night at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex. After the Challengers squandered a 13-point half time lead, Puckerin took over in the fourth quarter and scored six of her 13 points. Teammate Shereece Shephard was also instrumental in the win. Shephard had five points in the fourth to finish with 11 total points. Susan Harris scored 10 for the Challengers.

For the Cavs, veteran player Astrid Alleyne scored 10 of her 18 points in the first quarter. Alleyne was only able to post four points in each of the last two quarters after a scoreless second quarter. Ruth Holder and Ria Phillips has eight points apiece in the loss.

Shorey silences Sonics

Shakira Storey rained 24 game high points on St John Sonics to lead the Clapham Bulls to a 66-57 victory at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex on Saturday night. After a scoreless first quarter and three points in the second, Clapham Bulls guard, Sade Clarke, scored eight of her 13 points in the final quarter to give Shorey the support their team needed to keep the Sonics at bay. After a half time lead of 10 points, 34-24, the Sonics tied the score 40-40 at the end of the third. Shorey scored nine of her 24 points to give her team the lift they needed to put the game away. The Sonics' Tammy Hope and Tiffany Husbands both scored 12 points, while Rosalyn Davis scored 19 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter, to lead the Sonics in scoring.

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