Shakira to jig in B-town film

Pop diva Shakira is all set to enter the Indian music scene. She has reportedly been roped in by producer Surya Pratap to croon in his film tentatively titled The Final Call.

If all goes well, the Hips don’t lie singer will soon be shaking a leg in an Indian film.

“Things have been almost finalised but we are still waiting for the confirmation on paper. The process is taking time since a lot of legalities are involved,” says Pratap, who has been involved with several south Indian films.

Punjabi singer-composer Daler Mehndi will compose the energetic number in English and Punjabi.

“I am naturally very excited about it. It has to be a number which does justice to Shakira as well as to my USP as a singer. It’s a huge responsibility but I hope to match up to the expectations,” says Mehndi.

Rumours say Shakira’s number will be recorded in the US, followed by a music video shoot in Los Angeles. Actor Sanjay Dutt has, according to reports, been approached to play the protagonist in the film.

“Sanjay has liked the script but let’s see if he gives his nod. The film basically deals with the emotional bonding between a father and son,” says Pratap, who has also written the script of the film.

It is believed actor Wilson Tong, who has worked in films such as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, The Treasure Hunters and Snake Deadly Act, will oversee the cinematography and action in the film.

“It’s a dream film for me and I am working hard to complete it with my choice of actors and stars. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get the actors of my choice,” says Pratap.

Bollywood has recently attracted several big names from around the world.

Not long ago, Miss UK Universe 2008 Lisa Lazarus came to Mumbai to shoot for the Salman Khan-starrer Veer, followed by Mexican beauty Barbara Mori who stars in Anurag Basu’s Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kites. Baywatch babe Carmen Electra will also reportedly groove with Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar in Sajid Nadiadwala-produced Kambakht Ishq. The film also stars Denise Richards, Brandon Routh and Sylvester Stallone.

“It’s great to know our film industry is drawing such big names. It means our work is being noticed,” says Kareena, who has reportedly taught a few dance steps to Electra

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php

Jay-Z concert planned in Washington, D.C. to celebrate presidential inauguration

Live Nation is partaking in the inaugural festivities surrounding the January 20 inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, with a concert by rapper Jay-Z at the 1,847-capacity Warner Theatre in Washington, DC on January 19. Jay-Z, who signed a contract with Live Nation in May, will perform with a full band.

Jay-Z has been a strong supporter of Obama's participating in benefit concerts and registration drives. Following the historic election, he penned a new song, "History," to commemorate Obama's win. Tickets for the concert will carry a face value of $375 and $500; a $5 service charged is added to all tickets purchased at the theater's box office.

The contract Jay-Z signed with the promoter is a 10-year commitment that is estimated to be worth $150 million. He is joined in Live Nation's Artist division with the likes of recording superstars Madonna, U2, Shakira and Nickelback. The deal includes touring, three albums and a new division at the company called Roc Nation.

Source:http://www.ticketnews.com/

Shakira may perform at Obama's party

Superstar singer Shakira is reportedly in talks to perform at U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration party on January

She may perform at a celebration to be held Obama is formally sworn into office, reports Peruvian newspaper El Comercio.

The paper further states that the Hips Don't Lie hitmaker may join stars including Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, and Anne Hathaway celebrate Obama’s historic White House Victory in Washington, D.C.

She was a vocal supporter of Obama during his election campaign.

"Obama can restore peace and the world''s confidence in the United States," Contactmusic quoted her as telling reporters at the time.

Her faith in Obama was later reciprocated with the Democrat voicing his admiration for the Colombian singer's charity work in aid of Latin American children.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment

The hips don't lie... Shakira IS a Latino dream

WITH a cry of "Arriba London!", a flurry of hair and the first of many thrusts of the hardest working hips in showbusiness, Shakira set about bringing some real Latin fire to town.

Most of Spanish-speaking London was there to greet her, to judge by the number of Mexican, Venezuelan and most of all, Colombian flags being flown throughout the audience.

Shakira Ripoll, from Barranquilla, Colombia, may have charmed Britain and America, but her core fans knew about her talents long before we caught up.

Refusing to compromise her setlist for the benefit of those of us not draped in yellow, red and blue, the majority of the songs she performed were in her native ..

Source:http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4623603.html

Stars align for Obama

Colombian superstar Shakira says Democrat Barack Obama is the best candidate for president, citing his leadership skills.

In a statement Saturday, the Grammy-winning pop artist said Obama can restore peace and the world's confidence in the United States. Obama faces Republican presidential nominee John McCain in the Nov. 4 election.

Obama said he was honored to receive the singer's endorsement. The Illinois senator praised Shakira as a role model for young Latinas in the U.S. and beyond.

Shakira encouraged U.S. Latinos to vote in November.

The United States "has a profound importance to me, and I think to the whole world as well," she said.

Source:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news

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/people

Columbian beauty to play Emirates Palace

SHAKIRA will headline the Rio Carnival themed New Years Eve extravaganza at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace.

The Hips Don't Lie singer brought Dubai to a standstill when she played here last year but this will be her first gig in the capital emirate.

The one-off party will include fireworks and DJ sets from international big hitters but as yet there are no more details on the event available.

Ticket details to be announced shortly

Source: http://www.ahlanlive.com/8366-shakira-shakira

Shakira is "Humanitarian of the year"

U.S. Magazine People en Español elected Colombian singer Shakira as Humanitarian of the Year, because of her work for children in Latin America.

The magazine, to be in the shops next Monday, will be dedicated to "the stars of 2008", will have Shakira on the cover, but will feature other Latin pop stars like Rocky Martin, Aracely Arámbula, Chayanne and Luis Fonsi.

Shakira is currently involved in two foundations. Both the Pies Diescalzos foundation and ALASare focused on improving the living standards of children in Colombia and Latin America.

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

Shakira: 'I'm quite pregnant' with my album

NEW YORK (AP) — Shakira revealed Wednesday that she is, in fact, expecting. But it's not what you may think. "I'm quite pregnant with my album," the Colombian pop star told a reporter by phone — between laughs — when asked whether her foundation work on behalf of Latin American children has made her want to become a mother.

"Yes, I have plans, but not yet," said Shakira, 31. "I'm pregnant with my songs. But someday, yes."

The singer-activist plans to ask about 20 Latin American presidents at a regional summit in El Salvador on Thursday to direct more resources to poor children and to put early childhood development at the top of their agendas. She will appear on behalf of ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action) Foundation, a nonprofit coalition she helped create.

Asked whether she plans to write a song about ALAS, translated as "Wings" in Spanish, the Grammy winner and United Nations goodwill ambassador said it's out of her hands.

"I can't control my muses," she said.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfSi0MQ

Shakira's personal poverty made her do charity

Before Shakira became a world famous singer, she was poor. And before she was poor, she was one of the few to enjoy Colombian middle class life. It was the poverty her family plunged into after the bankruptcy of her father's business that made her start Pies Descalzos, the foundation to help child education worldwide.

In an article in Newsweek, the singer writes how at age seven she went from riches to rags, because of the bankruptcy of her father's jewelry business.

"We had gone from being middle class to poor almost overnight, and from my 7-year-old child's perspective it was hard to imagine anything worse. I can still viscerally remember the seeming desperation of that moment," she writes in the magazine.

"My parents found ways to put our situation in perspective and to show me how fortunate we still were, especially given that—previously unbeknownst to me—so many families and children had so much less," she added.

Shakira remembers how she and her dad would take a walk through a Barranquilla park and she saw the children who really had nothing. "They lived in the dirt, in tattered clothes and with bare feet, scrounging through garbage for anything to eat. Many sniffed glue to dull the pain of their existence," she writes.

It was at that moment, she says, she promised herself she would help those children if she ever had the chance.

Now, after having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, the singer is keeping her her promise.

Her foundation Pies Descalzos (barefoot) already helped education in a number of schools in Colombia and, as she recently announced, will help children in other developing countries too.

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

Shakira urges to include children in upcoming Latin American summit

Colombian singer Shakira urged Latin American presidents to include the development of children during the next Ibero-American summit to be held in El Salvador.

Shakira, together with Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, attended a discussion at the Columbia University in New York where the artists debated with several Latin American heads of state.

"We want to propose that the topic of early childhood development is included during the Ibero-American summit in November,"Shakira told the Presidents.

Shakira, who through several foundations actively is trying to improve living conditions of children in Latin America, stressed the importance that the basic needs of children between 0 and 6 years old are met. Children lacking basic needs at an early age "will be sentenced to not have a decent life," the singer added.

The Latin American leaders joining the debate expressed their commitment to bring up the topic during the summit.

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

360? Maybe Not

Live Nation may have signed huge deals with Madonna, Shakira, and Jay-Z, but the upstart music company is looking to the major labels to distribute its tunes. According to a report in the New York Post this morning, Live Nation has been in talks with the likes of Warner Music Group and the other big music companies to get the music out to customers.

Live Nation has made a splash in the business, signing so-called "360 deals" to handle everything from recording music to concert tours to merchandising for music acts. C.E.O. Michael Rapino has signed Madonna, Jay-Z, Nickelback, and Shakira to the deal but doesn't have a new album from any of them due out for at least 18 months, the Post said. Last week, Live Nation dumped three industry veterans originally signed to build a label within the company. The paper also posited the company could explore exclusive deals with major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. Any deal with a major music company could be awkward: for instance, distributing a new Madonna album with Warner Music, her former label.

news source : http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets?

Colombians demand hostages’ release on Independence Day

Leticia (Colombia), July 21 (IANS) With marches and concerts, more than a million Colombians have celebrated their country’s 198th Independence Day and demanded the leftist rebels free everyone they have been holding hostage, EFE news agency reported Monday. In Leticia, the capital city of southernmost province of Amazonas, a military parade was organised to mark the day Sunday that was witnessed by President Alvaro Uribe and his Brazilian and Peruvian counterparts Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Alan Garcia, respectively.

Colombian pop singer Shakira kicked off the parade, singing the national anthem. The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer also recalled that Sunday was a historic day as all the countrymen united to demand the release of all kidnap victims and peace in the South American country, which has been in the grip of a bloody internal conflict for more than four decades. “I’m delighted and happy to be in Leticia, happy to take part in this historic day for all us Colombians who have united in the largest demonstration we have had in our history,” she said. Shakira travelled back to her country Sunday from London, where she is recording her latest album, to take part in the concerts being staged in most Colombian municipalities and in several cities around the world, calling for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas to release all their hostages.

“It’s a very important event for us, for the nation, for our president and for the presidents of our neighbouring countries,” Shakira said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe thanked the singer for her generosity in coming and being with the countrymen on the special day. Uribe also thanked his counterparts from Brazil and Peru for becoming part of the Independence Day celebration. “Here in Leticia July 20 has much significance, a message … for each square (inch) of the homeland, a message … for each (citizen), a message of commitment to liberty that is expressed here with the singing of the little parrots, parakeets and all the little birds of the Amazon jungle that are free 24 hours a day,” he added.

Garcia, in his remarks, said that he felt “satisfaction and joy” at being in the border city “to accompany the Colombian people and their president” on Independence Day. Residents of more than 1,100 cities across the country held marches Sunday for the third time in five months to demand that illegal armed groups and criminals release the thousands of people they are holding hostage. According to officials, at least one million people, in seven marches along an equal number of different routes, took to the streets in the Colombian capital wearing white T-shirts, releasing balloons into the air and chanting “Freedom, freedom, freedom”.

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

Shakira in top 10 worst lyrics poll

Shakira's club banging number Whenever Wherever has landed at number eight in the top ten worst lyrics poll. While, the 1992 hit song Rhythm is a dancer has been voted the song with worst lyrics of all time in a poll conducted by magpiemusic.com. The line "I'm serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer" topped the poll of terrible lines.

The top ten worst lyrics are:

1. I'm serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer - Rhythm is a Dancer

2. I don't want to see a ghost, it's a sight that I fear the most, I'd rather have a piece of toast, watch the evening news - Life

3. Is that yo ass, or yo mama half reindeer? - Shake Ya Tailfeather

4. He was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious? - Sk8er Boi

5. I love you like a fat kid love cake - 21 Questions

6. Time is like a clock in my heart - Time (Clock Of The Heart)

7. You got a Prada bag with a lotta stuff in it - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

8. Lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don't confuse them with mountainsI - Whenever, Wherever

9. She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck - Thong Song

10. Only time will tell if we stand the test of time - Why Can't This Be Love

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

Colombian pop star Shakira hails hostage rescue

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira on Thursday hailed the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages from Marxist rebels as a "historic day" for the country. The 31-year-old Grammy-winner, famed for her hit single "Hips Don't Lie," said the hostages' dramatic jungle rescue had restored Colombians' faith in the country's armed forces and institutions. "This is a historic day for all, for our country that has undergone so much. Today we cry tears of emotion and joy and we can look to a future with that hope that peace will arrive,"Shakira said in a statement. "Ingrid is a symbol of the suffering of all those who have been robbed of their freedom," Shakira added. "This has renewed our faith in democracy, our institutions, our own forces." Colombian-French politician Betancourt, who was abducted by rebels in 2002 while campaigning for the presidency, was on Thursday reunited with her children in Bogota following her rescue.

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

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/

Shakira uses fame to help the poor, eyes motherhood

MEXICO CITY (Reuters Life!) - Colombian singer Shakira is using her fame as a top-selling artist and hip-swiveling dancer to help poor Latin American children but she also has her heart set on a new role - mother to her own children. "I want two," Skakira told Reuters on Thursday at an event to promote her charity, the ALAS Foundation (which stands for Latin America in Solidarity Action when translated into English) that was set up in 2006 to help needy Latin American children.

But asked when she would like to start a family, she laughed nervously and said: "That's a good question." Shakira, 31, has been dating Antonio de la Rua, the son of a former Argentine president, for nearly eight years, with swarms of photographers constantly tailing the celebrity couple looking for hints about a possible wedding. Shakira is the biggest-selling Spanish singer of all time, having sold more than 50 million albums in English and Spanish worldwide, and wants to use her fame to raise awareness about the extreme poverty affecting millions of Latin American children.

Recently she visited British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to talk about third world education and also went to Capitol Hill in Washington to urge U.S. Congress to approve more spending to help send the world's poor children to school. "There are 40 million children in Latin America who have no access to any kind of development program, who receive no stimulation, nutrition or education and need to be nurtured and taken care of," she said in an interview with Reuters. "Artists have a tremendous power to communicate, to reach people, to woo, to inspire. It's an important and fundamental part of my life to be able to use my public profile to make certain issues visible, issues that are more important than my own career, that are more urgent and need immediate attention."

Her own charity, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, has been raising money since 1997 for some of the poorest children in her home country, Colombia, where the singer is widely admired. Dressed in a grey vest, black denim pants and high-heeled boots, the petite singer said that regardless of her commitment to help those in need, she did not plan to quit singing. "It is very important to continue making music and continue doing my job," said Shakira, whose name means "thankful" in Arabic. "This is the life that I have to live and so far it hasn't been bad." On Thursday, Shakira announced that Carlos Slim, Mexico's richest man, and Howard Buffett, son of U.S. investment guru Warren Buffett, had pledged nearly $200 million between them to the ALAS Foundation.

Shakira and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz will perform in Buenos Aires on Saturday along with other Latin American artists in a massive, free concert to raise awareness of about the 32 million children living in poverty in Latin America.

news source : http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/