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Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.
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Britney Spears talks bad dates, being single and motherhood
She may be one of the biggest pop stars in the world, but Britney Spears has revealed that even awkward dates happen to famous people.
The singer, who graces the October cover of fashion magazine Marie Claire, spoke about a recent date that was pretty bad.
(Marie Claire UK/David Roemer)
She told Marie Claire: “I had a really bad date. I mean, it was bad. I’ve been single for ages and had a date with a guy I liked.
“We went to the movies, but I could tell right away it wasn’t working. It was sort of awkward. So after the movie I came home and that was it. It just didn’t work … He just wasn’t that into me. I liked him. He knew that. But he definitely didn’t feel the same. It happens to everybody. Being famous doesn’t make you any different.”
(Marie Claire UK/David Roemer)
Britney recently took to the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she performed her new song Make Me.
The singer has two children, boys Sean and Jayden James.
(Marie Claire UK/David Roemer)
Talking about motherhood, she said: “My boys don’t care if everything isn’t perfect, they don’t judge me. If anything, when I’m all dressed up they aren’t happy because it usually means I’m going to work. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve got to this point where I’m feeling good about being single. The best relationship I’ve ever had is with my boys.”
To read the feature in full, see the October issue of Marie Claire, out today.
Chinese lawmakers want to reduce celebrities' wages
1 Sep - A draft was recently submitted by Chinese lawmakers to the bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee - the national legislature, suggesting that stars should not be offered a hefty fee to appear on film and TV shows.
As reported on ECNS News, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television's (SAPPRFT) recently made a criticism against the exorbitant fees given to top stars to appear in movies and TV shows.
A state media previously reported that some top Chinese stars received over RMB 100 million for their work in either movies or TV shows. The rumours caused singer-actor Luhan to clarify his situation on Weibo, denying rumours saying that he was one of the expensive stars who was paid a hefty salary for his role in his new project, "Zetian Ji".
Some legislators agree that the hefty wages could affect the quality of the production itself, and will harm the future of the Chinese film industry. One of NPC's member stated that a decrease in the salaries of artistes will help producers and directors focus on the quality of their work instead, while helping these stars to be more disciplined and have a better public image.
Black Eyed Peas reunite for new version of Where Is The Love?
Black Eyed Peas are back together after a five-year hiatus for a new rendition of their song Where Is The Love? aimed at ending gun violence.
The track was originally released in 2003 and was number one in the UK for several weeks.
The Black Eyed Peas
(AP Photo / Tammie Arroyo)
Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie are joined by other performers including Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla $ign, Mary J Blige, Justin Timberlake and Jaden Smith for the new version.
A statement says the song and accompanying video “calls for calm, asking citizens of the world to stop the hate and violence that has resulted in many lives lost”.
The proceeds for “#WHERESTHELOVE” will go to the foundation of will.i.am’s i.am.angel.
More than 200 musicians support Blurred Lines legal appeal
Composer Hans Zimmer, crooner R Kelly and members of such bands as the Go-Go’s, the Black Crowes, Linkin Park and Three 6 Mafia are supporting Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and T.I. in their appeal in the ongoing legal dispute over the hit song Blurred Lines.\
Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke perform Blurred Lines (Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)
More than 200 musicians filed a brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to express concern about the ruling last year in a case brought by the children of Marvin Gaye, who sued for copyright infringement claiming Blurred Lines copied Gaye’s hit Got To Give It Up.
Marvin Gaye (AP)
The musicians said the ruling could have an “adverse impact on their own creativity, on the creativity of future artists, and on the music industry in general”.
Gaye’s descendants won a $7.4 million (around £5.6 million) verdict, which a judge reduced to $5.3 million (around £4 million).
If you want to be part of my life, make sure you are ready
to accept not only the good side but also my stupid side.
A brilliant mind is useless without a humble heart. You make
an impression with what you say, but you make an impact with what you do
A love Story
Is not a
collection of perfect moment with a romantic beginning and a happy ending. It is
about moment of insanity, moment of craziness, unreasonable fights, illogical
arguments, crossing lines and putting up with “out of the blue “erratic mood
swings. Being in love is not about feelings safe and feeling sure about the
future. It’s about breaking you, shattering you, shuddering every single bone
and pulsating every single nerve in our body and still making your bone
stronger each day. It is about being vulnerable, uncertain, susceptible and
still madly in love. So don’t fear love when it comes, simply because it makes
you vulnerable and don’t be surprised when it leaves either. Just be glad you
had the opportunity to experience it. It might last for few minutes, few days,
weeks, months or years and then it might surprise you and last you a lifetime.
Me Before You Director Says Film Is ‘Misunderstood’ After Protests
The director of drama ‘Me Before You’ has said that she hadn’t expected the furore that the movie has caused among disability campaigners and that it’s been 'misunderstood’.
The London premiere of Thea Sharrock’s movie, which stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, was picketed by protesters who have objected to its portrayal of disability and assisted suicide.
“The disappointing thing is when people make a protest when they haven’t either read the book or seen the film. I have no problem with people seeing this film and not liking it for 101 different reasons; you go into every project with that as a possibility.
The director of drama ‘Me Before You’ has said that she hadn’t expected the furore that the movie has caused among disability campaigners and that it’s been 'misunderstood’.
The London premiere of Thea Sharrock’s movie, which stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, was picketed by protesters who have objected to its portrayal of disability and assisted suicide.
“The disappointing thing is when people make a protest when they haven’t either read the book or seen the film. I have no problem with people seeing this film and not liking it for 101 different reasons; you go into every project with that as a possibility.
“I understood going into it how vulnerable a topic it is and susceptible to very strong opinions. It has big themes in it that are very easy to make quick judgments on.”
*Spoiler alert ahead*
Asked how she’d respond to critics of the film, who have slammed it over its perceived message that it’s better to be dead than disabled – Claflin’s character Will takes his own life in an assisted suicide after struggling to come to terms with his quadriplegia – she said: “It’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what the message is.
“I was attracted to this because I love the almost traditional love story that lies behind it. It reminds me of films that I don’t think have been made for a while that used to be made quite a lot.
“And I love the bravery of the studios wanting to produce such a film. It’s a fictional story about how important the right to choose is. The message of the film is to live boldly, push yourself, don’t settle.”
Tom Hiddleston Debunks Claims He’s The Next James Bond
British actor Tom Hiddleston’s completely dismissed the idea that he’ll become the next James Bond once current 007 Daniel Craig hangs up his tuxedo.
Speaking alongside Chris Hemsworth to an eager audience and panel at Wizard World Comic Con, the ‘Thor’ actor was quizzed on the increasing speculation that he was going to take on the icon spy role - and he had some honest thoughts on the matter, according to Comicbook:
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, everybody. I don’t think that announcement is coming. But I’m very gratified to hear the enthusiasm. There’s not much that I can say that I haven’t already said, but I know… Your guess is as good as mine to be honest.”
While the first part of this strongly implies that, to the disappointment of many, he won’t be taking over; by the end he does leave the door open, with an implication he hasn’t actually been approached for the part. However, if Barbara Broccoli, the head of Eon Productions who make the Bond films, were to come knocking it could be a hard offer to turn down. After all, it’s not difficult to imagine the suave 35-year-old as the smooth-taking spy, but it’d mean his time as God of Mischief Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe could come to an end.
The general impression Hiddleston’s given us is that, aside from often being evasive over whether he wants to be Bond or would accept the role, we should assume it’s not on the cards.
Having recently starred in BBC’s acclaimed drama ‘The Night Manager’, the rest of this year’s bound to be busy for Hiddleston; with both ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Kong: Skull Island’ currently in production and due out in 2017.
There’s also a host of names being bandied around in regards who’ll step into Bond’s shoes, including Idris Elba, Emilia Clarke, Damian Lewis, Emily Blunt, and Jamie Bell - so in truth no one is any the wiser who it’ll be.
Injured Poulter named as European Ryder Cup vice-captain
Ian Poulter has joined the ranks of Europe's Ryder Cup vice-captains, it was announced Monday, after injury scuppered his chances of playing in this year's edition.
The 40-year-old Englishman is set to be out sidelined for the next four months with a foot injury, effectively ruling him out as a player from the biennial clash between Europe and the United States, which this year takes place at the Hazeltine course in in Chaska, Minnesota from September 30 to October 2.
Instead, he has become European captain Darren Clarke's fourth vice-captain after Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington were appointed to similar roles last week.
Europe hold the Ryder Cup and Poulter has four times been on the winning side in five editions, including the most recent at Scotland's Gleneagles course in 2014.
Although he has never won one of golf's four major championships -- the US Open, British Open, US Masters and US PGA -- Poulter has a superb Ryder Cup record.
Of all European players who have appeared in at least 15 ties, none has a better winning percentage than Poulter's 72.2.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much the Ryder Cup means, having given me memories to savour over the past 12 years and created friendships that will last a lifetime," said Poulter in a statement issued Monday.
"Therefore when it became clear, given my current foot condition, that I would not be in a position to try and qualify for the team for a sixth time this year or indeed be able to justify a wild-card pick, I was truly honoured and delighted to be asked by Darren to be a vice-captain.
Poulter sparked visitors' Europe's so-called 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012, with five straight birdies to partner Rory McIlroy to victory in the Saturday afternoon fourballs against the United States' Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.
Northern Ireland's Clarke, who was Poulter's partner in the latter's first Ryder Cup match in 2004, said: "I am absolutely delighted to name Ian as my fourth vice-captain for the match at Hazeltine.
"Ian's Ryder Cup record speaks for itself and stands comparison with anyone in the history of this great contest. It goes without saying what a vital presence he will be in our team room come September."
Timor Leste urged to be more aggressive in the second leg
After losing 3-0 in the first leg of their Asia Cup 2019 playoff against Malaysia, Timor Leste head coach, Fabio Maciel has urged his players to be more aggressive in order to overturn the tie.
While admitting that it will be a tough for them to find a win, Maciel wants his players to keep on fighting and give a good game against the Malayan Tigers.
According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website, Maciel stated: “It will not be easy to overcome the first leg loss, especially when we did not score the important away goal, but we will concentrate to make a good game tomorrow.”
“There will be a few changes in my side as we need to be more aggressive and have more possession of the ball. We have to be more intelligent in the way we play.”
The second leg of the tie will take place at the Tan Sri Hassan Yunos Stadium again and as they have spent some time in Johor, Maciel believes that they are more ready for the second leg.
“My boys are ready for the second leg. We have adapted better to the environment and corrected some mistakes from the first leg during training these few days.”
“If Malaysia relax after the big lead, we will be looking to take advantage and hope to spring a surprise.”
Malaysia took a comfortable lead going into the second leg, after a brace by Hazwan Bakri and a goal by Amri Yahyah gave them a 3-0 win in the first leg.
Is the Sky Falling for Independents? Film Execs Say Not Yet
A trio of newbie distribution outfits — Bleecker Street, Broad Green Pictures and Saban Films — remain upbeat amid the profound changes percolating through Hollywood.
Execs with each, plus “Sicario” producer Molly Smith, appeared Saturday at the Produced By conference at the Sony lot on the panel alarmingly titled “Is the Sky Falling? The Challenges and Opportunities Facing Independent Film Producers.”
“I don’t think the sky is falling,” said Bleecker Streets’s Andrew Karpen. “There’s clearly a market for over-35 audiences in theatrical releases.”
Bleecker Street’s successes so far include “Eye in the Sky” with $18 million, “I’ll See You in My Dreams” and “Trumbo” — the latter two with over $7 million each, despite limited theatrical release. Karpen noted that it’s crucial to not overreach with more screens than needed, and to recognize where the audience is going to be.
“If we can’t determine who that core audience is, we’re probably not going to get involved,” he added.
Daniel Hammond, chief operating officer for Broad Green, noted that the new studio decided that “A Walk in the Woods” had enough broad appeal to merit a wide release of nearly 2,000 screens, taking in nearly $30 million — despite mixed reviews.
“On a wide release, reviews are less important,” a bemused Hammond noted.
He added that Broad Green sees a focus on wide release as the sensible approach, underlined by making “Straight Outta Compton” producer Matt Alvarez its president of production as the majors focus most of their resources on tentpoles and franchises.
“We’re pushing in-house development,” he added. “We’re strongest in wide release.”
Smith said a similar approach worked with drug war drama “Sicario,” financed by herBlack Label Media which found plenty of traction and wound up grossing $46 million domestically via Lionsgate. “You have be nimble today, disciplined and conservative,” she noted.
Jonathan Saba of Saban Films noted that his label has often opted to go the VOD route rather than theatrical. Saban released 2014’s “The Homesman,” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank, and generated $2.4 million theatrically, a move it will make perhaps once a year.
“We’re agnostic to the medium of distribution,” Saba said. “We have not lost money on a film yet.”
The hour-long panel, moderated by Landmark Theater’s Ted Mundorff, lacked any bashing of the new giant players Amazon and Netflix. ‘For an independent producer, Amazon and Netflix are great partners,” Hammond said.
Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Man Utd ‘make record swoop’ for Lionel Messi
Kevin Darling
No matter how boring it gets watching Manchester United, there will always be something good for their fans to read about them. And today is one of those moments when Red Devils supporters can feel like they’re following the most exciting club in the world.
The Daily Mail has reported that Lionel Messi could be on his way to Old Trafford in a world record transfer.
The Red Devils have reportedly made “two approaches in three weeks” for the Barcelona superstar as they “explore the potential of a sensational move”. We’re not told what Barca’s response was to these approaches, so we can assume for now that it was complete silence.
But the Mail has helpfully dug up some “sources close to Messi” (agent? butler? cat?), who have revealed that the 28-year-old Argentine is “frustrated and hurt” by the media circus surrounding his tax evasion court case in Spain. What this has to do with any potential transfer is unclear.
The Mail then goes on to add that Messi would not move to Old Trafford until next season, because even they aren’t foolish to suggest that the world’s best player would sign for a club that wasn’t in the Champions League.
The paper ends by saying that Messi will “require certain assurances” if he is to remain at the Nou Camp beyond his current contract (ending 2018) but it gives no indication of what this assurances are.
So in summary, Man Utd would like to buy Messi but there is absolutely nothing to suggest that they will.
It’s the poor United fans you have to feel sorry for in all this, reading all these stories and getting their hopes up.
If that transfer has about a 2 per cent chance of happening, let’s move on to another one that seems a bit more likely (probably about 13 per cent). The Sun claims that new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has made Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere his “number one target” at the Etihad.
Although the occasionally fit England midfielder may find this flattering, the reasons for Pep’s pursuit aren’t very romantic, with City seemingly interested just to boost the quota of English players in their squad (currently there are just three - Joe Hart, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling).
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman’s proposed move to Everton could prompt an exodus (another one) from St Mary’s, with the Sun claiming that Victor Wanyama, Graziano Pelle and Shane Long will seek moves if the Dutchman leaves.
Elsewhere, Stoke have won the race to sign £10m-rated Norwich winger Nathan Redmond (Mirror), Barcelona have joined Chelsea and Man City in the pursuit of Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez (Talksport) and Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel is wanted by a couple of clubs in Turkey (Liverpool Echo).
Finally, at the exact opposite end of the scale to the Messi to Man Utd rumour, Talksport have claimed that West Ham are in talks to sign Besiktas’ 33-year-old Canadian midfielder Atiba Hutchinson. WOW!
Spain's Garbine Muguruza, right, hugs Serena Williams of the U.S. after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Paris. Muguruza won 7-5, 6-4. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
German citizenship is ranked the most valuable in the world
Not only do Germans have the most powerful passports in the world, they also have the highest quality of citizenship, according to anew report. The consultancy Henley & Partners’ first Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) ranks the value of 161 nations’ citizenship on a scale of 0 to 100%.
The top spot out of 161 nations went to Germany. The country scored high for its stability, the health, education and standard of living enjoyed by its citizens, and the ease with which Germans can move, work and settle in other stable economies.
The report takes into account “internal factors” such as a country’s human development (measured using the UNDP Human Development Index that ranks countries on health, education and standard of living); its economic strength (a country’s GDP measured at purchasing power, as determined by the IMF); and its levels of peace and stability (based on figures from the annual Global Peace Index).
The “external factors” it considered include the freedom of both traveling to and settling in a country. The QNI also used measures of “diversity of travel freedom”—that is, the number of destinations that a nation’s citizens can travel to without needing a visa. (This was the ranking that determined the German passport was the world’s most powerful.)
European nations dominated the top 20 spots. The UK came in at 11th place—and the consultancy estimates that the country would fall to 30th place if it leaves the EU. The thinking behind this is its citizens would have less freedom of movement to other countries if the UK leaves the bloc.
In 28th place is the United States. It ranked highly for its economic strength and levels of human development, but fell down on peace and stability, owing to the country’s mid-level ranking on the Global Peace Index, which is heavily affected by the country’s record on militarization and arms.
Unwed Indian women targeted in 'black-market baby scam'
In an intensive care unit, a nurse soothes a crying baby rescued in a raid on a private Indian hospital that police suspect was selling abandoned newborns on the black market.
"She is too weak and needs special care," the nurse said, patting the girl born underweight and premature and receiving treatment at another hospital, run by the government.
"I pray a nice couple adopts her and raises her like their own," the nurse said in the central city of Gwalior.
Police fear staff at the private Palash Hospital were selling babies for as little as 100,000 rupees ($1,500), with agents convincing unmarried mothers to give birth at the facility and then abandon them.
"Their agents meticulously went about searching for pregnant woman who wanted to abort but instead were convinced to give birth," police superintendent Kumar Prateek who led last month's raid and investigating the case told AFP.
"They were unwed woman, vulnerable. And the hospital exploited them, offering them secrecy in return for the newborns," he said of the stigma attached to unmarried mothers in socially conservative India.
Police say they have traced five babies born at the now-shuttered Palash -- located just across the road from the government hospital in Gwalior -- and sold illegally to couples in different cities.
However investigators fear the total number could be much higher, with hospital records showing more than 700 babies were delivered there in recent years.
Experts say stealing and selling babies to couples is not uncommon in India, even directly from hospitals where doctors and nurses are sometimes involved in handing them over to criminal syndicates.
But investigators say this was unusual in that agents targeted pregnant women who agreed to check into the facility and go through with the scam.
"Unlike female foeticide and illegal abortions, which are major problems for us, the live births happening at the hospital never raised any suspicion," Anoop Kamthan, Gwalior's chief medical officer, told AFP.
"Mothers were willingly abandoning their babies," he said.
Police were tipped off by a former disgruntled worker, leading to the raid and arrest of two senior hospital officials.
- 'Well-oiled networks' -
Taposh Gupta, hospital director and one of those accused, insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing, pointing the finger at his staff.
"I don't have any knowledge about it. My manager was in control of the administration and I am now hearing some eight to nine months ago they sold one or two babies," Gupta told AFP, while in police custody.
Gupta and another face initial charges including of slavery, as police try to piece together details of the racket.
Gupta says he too adopted one of the babies born at the hospital, but stressed that he went through proper legal channels.
Activists say blackmarket adoptions are common in a country with high levels of trafficking of women and children, although there are no official figures.
"We have examples of newborns being fraudulently declared dead and later sold for adoption. These are well-oiled networks spread across the country," said Anjali Pawar who works for international NGO Against Child Trafficking.
Some parents turn to the blackmarket because of the lengthy and frustrating process of legal adoption that has long involved endless red tape, according to experts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has overhauled the process since coming to power in 2014 in a bid to make it easier and faster, and boost traditionally low official adoption levels.
Some 3,000 legal adoptions took place in 2015, according to government figures.
- 'With love and care' -
Investigations so far have discovered that the hospital was getting about 100,000 rupees from childless working and middle class families who were desperate to start a family.
One couple say they are devastated after discovering from police that their adopted baby is one of those involved in the hospital scandal. They refused to give details of how they adopted the newborn, but insisted they thought they were acting legally.
"We followed all the procedures and adopted the newborn. They took some money on pretext of documentation and it all looked clean," the father said on condition of anonymity.
