Shakira To Perform At Obama Inauguration Party

Superstar singer Shakira will celebrate U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's White House victory - with a performance at his inauguration party.

The Hips Don't Lie hitmaker is reportedly slated to join stars including Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, and Anne Hathaway at the glitzy event in Washington, D.C. next month (Jan09).

She was a vocal supporter of Obama during his election campaign, telling reporters: "Obama can restore peace and the world's confidence in the United States."

In return, the Democrat voiced his admiration for the Colombian singer's charity work in aid of Latin American children. And Peruvian newspaper El Comercio reports that Shakira is now lined up to perform at a celebration to be held after Obama is formally sworn into office on 20 January (09). (ZN/WNWCHP/MJ)


Source:http://www.cinemablend.com/celebrity

Shakira Rests Hips to Study at UCLA

For the past month, the Colombian pop star has been taking a class at the University of California, Los Angeles, called "Introduction to Western Civilization: Ancient Civilizations from Prehistory to Circa A.D. 843."

"She went when she finished her tour, for the summer," Shakira's manager Fifi Kurzman told The Associated Press.

For years the 30-year-old has studied on her own, also taking tutorials on the history and languages of the countries she visits, Kurzman said.

The singer, known for last year's "Hips Don't Lie" and other hits, released her first album at age 14 and later took time off to finish high school.

She decided to take a musical rest this summer following her worldwide "Oral Fixation" tour to focus on social causes, Kurzman said.

The class began Aug. 6 and ended Thursday, though Shakira didn't attended the last few classes, according to course lecturer Robert Cleve. Cleve said he hadn't known she was a celebrity during the course and was astonished to learn she was a pop star.

"She told me she was visiting from Colombia and that she was just doing this for her own enlightenment and enjoyment," Cleve said. "She looked like just an ordinary student. She wasn't flamboyant ... she didn't act like a big celebrity or anything."

Shakira, who sat near the front in the third row of the lecture hall, would often discuss the course material with him after class.

"I was really impressed with how intelligent she was," said Cleve.

Source:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/

Baby name of the day: Shakira

he baby name of the day is... Shakira.

Shakira means "thankful," according to babynames.com.

The most famous Shakira is the pop-Latin singer who goes by just the one name, but whose real name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll.

For more Thanksgiving-related names check out PregnancyAndBaby.com's story on the topic.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/x-608-Early-Childhood

Shakira highlights children's poverty during talk

NEW YORK: Shakira, a longtime activist for Latin American's poor children, plans to make her Colombian children's foundation a global one in the near future.

Shakira said Barefoot, known as Pies Descalzos in her native Colombia, will start focusing on children worldwide later this year.

"We have a model that works. Under less than $2 a day, we can provide a kid with top quality education and the nutrition that they need to be able to function and be able to learn because a kid with an empty stomach cannot learn," said the singer, a multiplatinum superstar known for hits like "Hips Don't Lie."

"So this model that has been so successful in my country, now I want to bring it to other countries in my small way."

Shakira made the comments Wednesday after appearing at Columbia University with Spanish singing sensation Alejandro Sanz and the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, El Salvador and Panama. The event focused on the importance of education, nutrition and health intervention for Latin American children. The singers asked the presidents to adopt an agreement on combatting child poverty during the upcoming Iberoamerican Summit in late October.
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"The presidents seem very committed and that's what we need. We need all the leaders of Latin America to have a definite commitment toward our children (because) the children of Latin America are waiting for opportunities," said Shakira in an interview after conference.

"Where I come from every child who is born poor will die poor and we have to change this, and this is the moment to do it. We are at the threshold of a new wave of awareness and sensibility toward our children's issues. But early childhood development should be at the top of our priorities and at the top of every president's agenda."

In attendance were Mexican President Felipe Calderon; Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez; the president of Paraguay, Fernado Lugo; El Salvador's president, Tony Saca; and Panamanian President Martin Torrijos. Also on hand was Dominican-born baseball star Sammy Sosa, Panamanian musician Ruben Blades and English rocker Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, along with Nobel Prize-winning economist James J. Heckman and Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The event was sponsored by the Earth Institute at Columbia, led by economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Shakira and Sanz are members of Latin America in Solidarity Action (the Spanish acronym is ALAS, or "wings"), a nonprofit coalition founded by Latin American artists, intellectuals and business leaders to promote social communities and early childhood development programs in Latin America. Earlier this year, ALAS held all-star fundraising concerts in Mexico and Argentina that helped secure $200 million in donations.

"I belong to a generation that is learning new ways to get involved in these issues. We are not a passive generation, we're very proactive," Shakira said. "We want to see all those brutal contrasts in our world disappear, we want to see poverty eliminated because we believe it is possible."

She also talked about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and urged Latino voters to use their voice and vote.

"I'd like to invite the Latino community to come out and make themselves present during this election because they can really make a difference," she said. "I care deeply about this country and I think everyone does because America's economy is so crucial for the rest of the world. The rest of the world's economy depends on the economy of this country and world peace depends on the policies of this country."

Source:http://www.iht.com/articles/ap

Shakira and Sanz to present "biggest social project of the century"

Colombian pop star Shakira and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz announced they will present "the biggest social project of the century" at the Latin American summit in El Salvador later this week.

The artists hope to reach an inter-American consensus on how to battle the problems of children early development in Latin America.

"We are going to El Salvador with the support of the participating countries, especially that of President Saca (of El Savador, who will preside the summit and of (singer) Enrique Iglesias who leads these forces of the iberoamerican dialogue. Our goal is to achieve that early education becomes a reality in our countries, now that we know it is the real way to abandon poverty," Shakira said.

Shakira urges Latin American governments to

1. Form a regional working group DIB on early childhood development, led by Shakira's ALAS foundation, involving several NGOs like Unicef and the World Bank.
2. Promote cooperation with the DIB in each and every Latin American country
3. Monitor the progress in all countries
4. Create a pilot project in at least 5 countries
5. Come up with financial and organizational strategies for the DIT in the countries
6. Provide feedback during the 2009 Latin American summit

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

Shakira named humanitarian of the year

Latin pop star Shakira has been named "Humanitarian of the Year" by the People en Espanol magazine for her work towards providing better health and education to needy children in South America.

The US magazine's next edition, which lists the year's most famous celebrities who have achieved star of the year status, selected the Colombian singer-songwriter for the title because of her charity work with impoverished children through her foundation Pies Descalzos and Latin America in Solidarity (ALAS), EFE news agency reported on Saturday.

The new edition of the magazine will hit newsstands on Monday.

The Hips don't lie singer, whose hip-swivelling dances and catchy ballads have earned her a huge global following and a string of Grammy awards, told the magazine that she learned to have compassion for the needy when she was seven-years-old and her parents' jewellery store went bankrupt.

Shakira was sent together with her mother and some friends to California, while her father sold off everything, including the bed the future music icon had slept in.

When she returned home, she had to sleep on a mattress on the floor. So she would understand that some kids were living in even worse conditions, her parents took her to a park in Barranquilla where homeless children sniffed glue to forget their hunger, the magazine said.

"We had a comfortable life and then one day I was shown something else. From that day on, I became obsessed to vindicate my family, my family's economic situation, and to one day help those kids that I saw on the streets," said the singer, who has sold 60 million albums worldwide.

"From that moment on, I was obsessed with achieving success to get my family back on its feet, to restore my family's economic position, but I was also obsessed with someday doing something for kids like the ones who made such a huge impact on my young mind," the singer told People en Espanol.

She was still in her teens when she took her first step in that direction, using some of the profits from her hit albun Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) to establish the foundation of the same name, which is currently building schools in Colombia for thousands of displaced children.

In 2006 she created, together with Spanish singers Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bose, the Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation or ALAS (Wings), which enjoys the support of other showbiz colleagues, intellectuals and entrepreneurs.

The singer-songwriter also told the magazine about her nine-year relationship with Antonio de la Rua, son of former Argentine president Fernando de la Rua.

"I live very happily as a couple with Antonio and I think it's quite romantic to freely choose the person to be with every day. To be the eternal girlfriend is something I find very romantic. For now that's how I see my relationship, the way I'd like to stay and the way he would too," she said.
Source:http://music.ndtv.com/story.asp?id=ENTEN20080071796

Shakira: No Time for a Baby

Saying she's pregnant enough with her songs, Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira said she has no current plans to have a baby, despite her work on behalf of Latin American children, the New York Daily News reports.
"I'm quite pregnant with my album," the 31-year-old Colombian pop star told the Daily News, although she said she does want to be a mother eventually.

Shakira appeared at a regional summit in El Salvador on Thursday, where she asked about 20 Latin American presidents to allot more resources for poor children and to make early-childhood development a priority. The United Nations goodwill ambassador is appearing at the summit on behalf of the Latin America in Solidarity Action Foundation.


source: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/4693.cfm

U2 sign billion-dollar contract

U2 have jumped on the same lucrative bandwagon as Madonna and Shakira, signing a deal with promoters Live Nation that could earn them more than $1 billion.

U2 could earn more than £500 million after signing a new contract, a sum that equates to more than AUS$1.2billion.
The Irish rock band have made a deal with promoters Live Nation, which will entitle them to 1.56 million shares in the company worth around £10 million.

The 12-year deal - which means frontman Bono will be 60-years-old before he finishes touring – could see the band earn closer to the staggering amount of £500 million in shared revenue.
The group will continue to make albums for record label Mercury Records.
U2 were reported to be signing a £50 million deal with the concert promoters back in April.

As well as handling the group’s tours, Live Nation – which also has deals with Madonna, Jay-Z,
Nickelback and Shakira - will also handle merchandising, digital and branding rights and will run their website and fan club.
The company first worked with The Joshua Tree hitmakers in Toronto in 1980 and have been organising their live events since 1997.
Bono said: "We've been dating for well over 20 years now. It's about time we tied the knot.

"We feel we have a great website but we want to make it a lot better. We want a closer, more direct relationship between the band and its audience and Live Nation has pledged to help us with that.”
Live Nation's chairman Michael Cohl added: "U2 has created some of the greatest rock music of all time. It has long been our intention to consolidate and extend our relationship.”

U2 – whose last tour was in 2006 - will hit the road towards the middle of next year.

Source:http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story

Shakira gets her way on LatAm summit

Latin American leaders are keeping their promise to Colombian singer Shakira and will include early childhood development on the next Latin American summit's agenda.

Tony Saca, President of El Salvador where the meeting will be held in November, said on national radio the topic will be on the presidents' list of topics to discuss.

Shakira had urged some of the presidents to talk about early childhood development. "We want to propose that the topic of early childhood development is included during the Ibero-American summit in November," Shakira told the Presidents in New York less than a week ago.


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

‘Too hot to handle’

Who’s got the biggest fan club in Mumbai? SRK, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan? Nope, it’s the city itself, which is on the favourites list of not just India’s biggest celebrities but also the world’s most famous names — fromShakira to Madonna to Prince Charles...and they’re all saying Salaam Mumbai!

Shakira sizzles but even the Latino diva admitted that she'd found something in Mumbai that was way hotter than her. "Indian food is just too hot to handle," the Grammy award-winning singer told After Hours when she'd come down for a performance in Mumbai. "I know a lot of my fans from other cities are disappointed that I performed only in Mumbai, but I'm sure there will be a next time,"Shakira said.

Over the years, Mumbai has notched up so many international fans. Mick Jagger's daughter Jade loves to shop here, as does model Elizabeth Hurley; Angelia Jolie took back an experience of riding in a Mumbai local, in a second class compartment (Brad Pitt bought the tickets for them — Charni Road to Churchgate!) and Madonna came with her whole family in tow to get a first hand feel of the wondrous city within the city, described so beautifully by Australian writer Gregory David Roberts in Shantaram.

The soul of the city lies in its quaint Irani dhabas, the frantic fervour of its Ganapati festival, the earnest children practising cricket at Shivaji stadium, the enchanting curve of Marine Drive and the ubiquitous dabbawallas that make the city run like clockwork. It's not surprising that the dabbawallahs were topmost on Prince Charles' mind when he came to Mumbai and a meeting was arranged for him. "For more than a hundred years they have had an incredible record of success without using any modern technology at all - it is an extraordinary example of what can be done," he said. And that's just one of the wonders that make up our wonderful city....

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

Shakira and Antonio’s Parisian Outing

Spotted again earlier today in the City of Lights, Shakira looks as though she’s taken well to the French capital as she chatted on her mobile phone while doing a little sightseeing. The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress looked cute and casual in a purple v-neck sweater along with a pair of figure-flattering jeans and black platform heels.

Earlier this week, Shakira had a monumental meeting with former hostage/Columbian political figure Ingrid Betancourt and her son Lorenzo. And it sounds like they’re working together for a good cause.

Both women will be involved this weekend in a worldwide protest against the FARC (the abductors of Betancourt). Ingrid and Columbian pop singer Juanes will head a march in Paris whileShakira holds a concert on the Columbian border with Peru and Brazil.

news source : http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/

EVERY TIME I DIE Seeking New Label Home - July 14, 2008

Buffalo, New York-based band EVERY TIME I DIE is currently seeking a new label home. Speaking to the UK's Rock Sound magazine, the group's vocalist Keith Buckley revealed, "Our latest album was the last thing we had to deliver for Ferret so we are in limbo. We are talking to some labels right now, I think people will be very pleased to know that it looks like we will not be signing with a major. Some were interested but I don't think we even got down to discussing deals, I know I would have signed a Shakira-esque 100 million dollar 360 deal but it never seemed to come up in conversation."

EVERY TIME I DIE recently announced the addition of bassist Josh Newton (FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, UNSANE, SHINER) to the group's ranks. EVERY TIME I DIE sold almost 14,000 copies of its new album, "The Big Dirty" (Ferret Music), in the United States in its first week of release last September to debut at position No. 41 on The Billboard 200 chart. "The Big Dirty" was produced by Steve Evetts and was described by the band as "the CD you would compile if asked to make a mix of the best EVERY TIME I DIE songs you haven't heard yet. Ten-plus tracks that tore from our filthy hands like the creature that jumped out of that dude's stomach in 'Alien'." To report any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, please send an e-mail to bmouth@bellatlantic.net with pertinent details. Anyone posting such material will be immediately and permanently banned. IP addresses are recorded to aid us in enforcing these conditions.

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

Shakira sells soul to Live Nation

The Columbian superstar has signed a mammoth 10-year deal with Live Nation, reportedly worth $70-$100 million dollars. That's a lot of belly dancing lessons.

Shakira follows in the footsteps of Jay-Z and Madonna as major artists who have secured huge deals with the concert conglomerate, though Jay-Z snagged $150 million and Madonna scored $120 million.

news source : http://network.nationalpost.com/

Shakira's hips didn't lie on Capitol Hill

It's not everday that you have the opportunity to put pictures of pop star Shakira into a political and policy blog. But she was in Washington Tuesday to raise awareness for her favorite issue, universal education, the effort to provide millions of children around the globe who are now denied even a basic education the chance at one. She's a spokesperson for the Campaign for Global Education.

A very worthy goal, indeed. But let's face it, that's not why the House hearing room was packed yesterday with gawkers. It was all about Shakira whose hips weren't lying on Capitol Hill.

news source : http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/

Latin Flavor: Shakira

I’ll grant you that making Shakira our Latin Flavor of the day is something of a cheat. After all, I think I’ve sort of (without really saying so) establish that the Latin Flavor category is really to be used to introduce you to Latina hotties you might not have ever heard of. Then again, it’s my site so I’m gonna post whatever the heck I want, and right now I want to see some smoking hot Shakira, so that’s what we’re all gonna get. Suck it up! By the way, I hear Shakira’s hip-gyrating goodness is twice as good live, so if she ever comes to your hometown, run out and grab tickets. And if you can’t afford one, rob some old lady and buy one.

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

The Pop Ten

Nancy Botwin flees the stultifying suburbs of Agrestic and heads for the border. We smell trouble. Word is the Mexican government is really cracking down on potgrowing soccer moms with a yen for Starbucks. New season premieres at 10 p.m. Monday on Showtime.

COLDPLAY Crooner Chris Martin told Rolling Stone that the title of their fourth studio album, "Viva la Vida," — which means "Long Live Life" — was inspired by a painting by long-suffering Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, not Puerto Rican pop singer Ricky Martin. Left unanswered is what possessed Chris and Gwyneth to name their kids Apple and Moses. Disc drops Tuesday.

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

For some gardeners, naked is the way to go

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Whoa! I had no idea nude gardening was such a popular pastime. I must have been living under a rock all this time. Fully clothed, of course. I can't link to some of the sites that have been brought to my attention because of the photos on those pages. Though not provocative in any way, for the most part, they do depict gardeners in what many would consider vulnerable states. The Naked Gardening Association contends, "Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude." Family friendly? A blog by Terra Cotta Inn (a clothing-optional resort) contends that Shakira "loves nude gardening." And a British site reports on a New Jersey man's "bold commitment to inappropriate nakedness" when he supposedly was arrested in September after "a family spotted him having a shower in his front garden."

There's more. The Casual Gardener (www.thecasualgardener.com www.thecasualgardener.com) offers "straight-forward techniques" for gardening nude to reveal "the naked truth of your life and doing." And according to ShobizSpy, actress Eva Mendes is on board, too. The site says "she is so comfortable in her own skin, she even weeds her flowerbeds ... while she's completely naked." It quotes the actress as saying, "I love being naked. I do everything in the nude, even the gardening! We're Cuban, and it's a hot island. Why not go nude?" So where does this leave the rest of us? Those of us who garden not only fully clothed, but who don special hats and gloves and shoes when we head out to become one with nature?

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

New Latino festival kicks off on Harriet Island Saturday

Some day, organizers of "Vive Minnesota ... El Festival," hope to bring the likes of Shakira and Enrique Igliesias to St. Paul. This weekend, though, folks will have to settle for three free days of dance, music, culture and fun. In what's being billed as the "first annual" of a future Twin Cities institution, the Latino festival will take to Harriet Island Saturday. Free events run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Features include two stages with 30 musical acts "spiced with Latin dance," games for kids and adults, and food for both the Latino-American as well as the Minnesota palate, according to organizers, who spent more than a year planning the event.

news source : http://origin.twincities.com/

When Shakira Calls, Even the Shy Appear

The Mexican telecommunications billionaire Carlos Slim Helú does not seem to like appearing in public, but he apparently could not resist an invitation from the Colombian pop star Shakira and about a dozen other Latin music stars. Mr. Slim was on hand in Mexico City for the announcement of two free rock concerts to raise awareness of ALAS, a foundation started byShakira and other musicians. The concerts were scheduled to be held on Saturday in Mexico City and Buenos Aires.

The goal of ALAS, which means “wings” in Spanish, is to press business leaders and governments to finance early-childhood development programs in Latin America. The foundation claimed a major success on Thursday: Mr. Slim pledged $110 million to children’s programs. Mr. Slim sat stiffly in a leather chair during the press conference last week, but he appeared to loosen up backstage when Shakira planted a kiss on his cheek. Also in attendance was Howard Buffett (son of the billionaire Warren E. Buffett), who pledged $85 million to existing Latin American projects. “When Shakira calls, you show up, so here I am,” said Mr. Buffett, who noted that he did not usually publicize his philanthropy.

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

STRIPPER MOM IS ALL BUSINESS

May 12, 2008 -- AT LEAST Shakira Garcia's boys have something interesting to discuss during show and tell. By day, Shakira is a Queens mom whose two boys need a steady fix of sneakers and Nintendo games. Which leads to Shakira's nighttime career - gyrating at the VIP strip club in Chelsea, where well-heeled bankers, politicians and a few women show their appreciation forShakira's gravity-defying C-cup with a steady flow of $20 bills. "I just want to make my boys happy!" trilled Shakira, 29, who believes her sons, 6 and 8, are oblivious to mom's profession. Shakira's body, a marvel of natural and surgical gifts, earns her anywhere from $500 to $1,000 a night - better than she made in tips working as a waitress at Kennedy Airport.

Still, you might ask: Why is a mother taking her clothes off for a living? And, more to the point, why is she telling me, of all people, about her line of business? These are dark days for the flesh trade, with upscale jiggle joints like Scores West busted for prostitution and sleaze emporia like the Queens club Kalua - site of the Sean Bell shooting - revealed as dens of iniquity specializing in drugs and hookers. Shakira is far from the only single mom to make money peddling mammaries. But she's about the only one who wants to talk about her dual roles. She wants it known that stripping can be a legitimate calling for a devoted mother. And the outfits are cute, too. Shakira heard about the club a year ago and was attracted to the idea that it had a sushi bar. "Ooh, sushi!" she said. "I figured, 'What the hell?' "

While Shakira's mom watches the kids, dumpy neighborhood mothers gossip about her as she struts off to work. She doesn't mind. Shakira insists the VIP club is totally safe, has zero tolerance for prostitution or drugs, and welcomes the ladies. "My first lap dance was the most scariest thing!" said Shakira, who has a high-school diploma. "But it was a couple, so that was OK. "The clients come in, 'How are your kids?' I'm like, 'How are your kids?' " One day, she wants to own a store. VIP club owner Sam Zherka says no dollar bills cross from client to dancer. "If you want to tip a girl, it's $20," Zherka said. He added that dancers will be fired for dating customers. It's so wholesome. So clean. So would I recommend stripping as a young mom's profession?

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

CINCO DE MAYO

Today is the Cinco de Mayo — the Fifth of May, a major holiday in Mexico — and in New Iberia, a group of 10 local children ages 8 to 12 will be dancing traditional Mexican and modern dances in honor of the holiday tonight at El Chile Verde. The children are of Mexican, Honduran and Caucasian descent, but all, said Erlinda Mendoza, a Jeanerette resident who has been organizing the dances for the past few years, have a bit of Latin in them. She said that is why the back of the shirts they wear when they practice say “Latin Spice.”

“Latin spice is a spice of all different kinds,” she said. “A love of music, style, of everything — of dance — they want to do it. They want to learn a different culture.”

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Another example of that would be children dancing traditional Cajun dances on “Cajun day,” she said. On the Cinco de Mayo, the kids will be dancing the “Jarabe Tapatillo,” also known as “The Mexican Hat Dance,” La Raspa, The Chameleon, and to Shakira, Beyonce and a new song called “Apple Bottomed Jeans.” Mendoza said most people think the Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of Mexico’s independence. However, Cinco de Mayo is the date the Mexicans got the Spanish out of Mexico in the Battle of Puebla. Sept. 16 is Mexico’s actual independence day.

The 10 children performing are Brianna and Alejandra Mendoza, Bryan and Jurgen Solano, Maria and Christian Cruz, Alyssa Melchor, Alyssa Babb, Trevor Amy and Brandon Andrews. The Cruzs are from Lydia and all the others live in Jeanerette. Brianna, 12, is Erlinda’s daughter and the oldest of the group. Her favorite dance is the Jarabe Tapatillo, “because all the kids participate.” The Jarabe Tapatillo is also the favorite of Bryan Solano, 7, and Alyssa Melchor, 8.

Jurgen Solano, 11, said his favorite part of all is the sombreros “because they’re colorful.” Alyssa Babb, 9, said her favorite was the Shakira dance “because all the girls do it. It’s just fun.” Christian Cruz, 9, said his favorite — and also least favorite — part was dancing with his sister Maria, 7. “She already knows it and she started after me,” he said. Maria said the dancing was fun. “I like it because I’m getting used to it,” she said.

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

Pop Star Shakira Urges More US Help For World Education

Colombian pop singer Shakira brought her glamor to Capitol Hill Tuesday, to urge U.S. Congress to approve more spending to help send the world's poor children to school. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington. Shakira is best known for her rhythmic beats, her sexy dance moves and her unique voice, but she had much more serious matters on her mind when she spoke in a crowded hearing room on Capitol Hill. The Grammy-winning pop diva is the honorary chairman of a week of events sponsored by an advocacy group called the Global Campaign for Education. The organization wants to provide an education for the estimated 300 million young people around the world who do not have access to school, about 72 million of them between the ages of six and 12.

"I grew up in the developing world, and I grew up seeing with my own eyes that children beg for an education, and I met thousands of parents who were desparate to provide an education to their kids without being able to," said Shakira. Shakira met with leading U.S. lawmakers Tuesday, and asked them to support a bill in Congress that would have the U.S. provide $10 billion over five years for global education. "In the developing world, where I come from, sometimes education is considered a luxury, a privilege, and not a human right, and this always bothered me. So this is personal to me," she said.

The Education For All Act was introduced last year and has so far failed to pass either house of Congress. Shakira acknowledged that with record-high prices for oil and food, and with a slumping U.S. economy, some lawmakers might think twice about approving the education aid, but she says it's money well spent.

"It is so important because it addresses about every aspect of development, from agriculture, which impacts on nutrition, to preventing disease, like HIV/AIDS and malaria, to improving and creating economic growth and social growth," said Shakira. "Education can really save lives. Education is the key." Shakira was accompanied at the press conference by about 50 high school and college students from the United States and other countries, who are also urging lawmakers to approve the additional education spending. One of them is high school student Fay Gan from New Jersey. "Now let me just remind you that this is not a charity, and this is not an act of good will," said Fay Gan. "This is a responsibility that we all have in this room. We must hold our governments accountable for this promise of education."

On Wednesday, the Global Campaign for Education will have an estimated five million students from more than 100 countries taking part in an effort to set a new world record for the greatest number of students learning the same lesson at the same time. The lesson will be about the importance of education. The effort to persuade developed countries to spend more to send poor children to school has received vocal support from leaders such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Bank President Robert Zoellick and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

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

Shakira's hips didn't lie on Capitol Hill

It's not everday that you have the opportunity to put pictures of pop star Shakira into a political and policy blog.

But she was in Washington Tuesday to raise awareness for her favorite issue, universal education, the effort to provide millions of children around the globe who are now denied even a basic education the chance at one. She's a spokesperson for the Campaign for Global Education.

A very worthy goal, indeed. But let's face it, that's not why the House hearing room was packed yesterday with gawkers. It was all about Shakira whose hips weren't lying on Capitol Hill.

news source : http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/

Did Shakira Show Off Her Oral Fixation in Sex Tape?

Shakira's hips don't lie, but do her duet partner's ex-employees? While Hollywood remains distracted with tame topless photos featuring a Hills' starlet, the Latin world is abuzz with news of a possible sex tape starring Shakira with not one, but two men. (Muy caliente!) AOL Musica Latino reports prosecutors are investigating claims that two former employees of Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, who has a hit duet with Shakira called "La Tortura," attempted to use the tape to commit extortion.

The alleged sex tape is rumoured to feature Shakira, her then-boyfriend, Antonio de la Rúa, and Sanz doing naughty things on a yacht. In a recent interview, Spanish radio host Javier Ceriani said "there's word of a private video taped in a yacht, which could involve Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Antonio de la Rúa, but this material is in the prosecutors' hands". Sanz's former employees, Carlos González and his wife, Sylvia Alzate, are accused of trying to commit extortion, and stealing a yacht, a jet ski and a computer.

People en Español reports both Shakira and Sanz's representatives have denied the existence of such a tape. Unless it surfaces out of mid-air (or as Exhibit A in the court case), we'll have to be content with Shakira and Sanz's admittedly steamy music video for "La Tortura." He plays a peeping Tom neighbour who finally has his way with her while she's cutting onions. No, seriously.

news source : http://www.dose.ca/

Shakira Denies Sex Tape Allegations

What appears to be an April Fools Day joke has been exposed as just that, with a representative for singer Shakira denying the existence of a sex tape involving her boyfriend and another singer, labelling the claims as "baseless and malicious".

Peopleenespanol.com reports that the rumor was started when Argentinean radio announcer Javier Ceriani stated, "It’s been said a lot these days that there is a private video recorded on a yacht, one that could implicate Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and [her boyfriend] Antonio de la Rúa, but that tape is in the hands of the courts."

A representative for Shakira has denied the tape exists, describing the claim as "totally absurd". "This is a false rumor. 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 rumor."

news source : http://thecelebritytruth.com/

Puig to make Shakira fragrance

Puig Beauty & Fashion Group have signed a worldwide agreement with singer Shakira to create a signature fragrance and personal care products produced with and inspired by the artist.

"I am very excited to be able to express myself through another creative medium," said Shakira. "My feeling is that personal care and beauty should be effortless and accessible for everyone."

Puig's other fragrance brands include Carolina Herrera, Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci and Antonio Banderas.

news source : http://www.basenotes.net/

St. James Police step up search for kidnapped teen

The police in St. James have intensified the search for a teen who was kidnapped on Tuesday morning. Shakira Barker, 15, of Blue Hole in Montpelier was on her way from an agricultural show in that parish when she vanished.

Shakira is of light complexion, five feet, five inches tall and was last seen wearing a pair of plaid red shorts, long sleeved white blouse and a pair of red shoes.

Shakira and a man were reportedly walking along the Blue Hole main road just after four o'clock in the morning when they were pounced upon by armed men. The man was shot and injured while Shakira was kidnapped.

The man remains hospitalised in serious condition while Shakira has not been heard from since. The St. James Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station. The community has been left tense since the incident.

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

Commentary: Slick Willy, Shakira and Scientologists party with miners

Are these boom times or what? The mining community in Toronto soaked in a rare bit of showbiz glamour in the lead up to the Prospectors and Developers of Canada convention in Toronto.

The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) charity rolled into town on March 1 to hold a banquet and raise money for Third World mining communities. Guests and performers included former U. S. president Bill Clinton, Elton John, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Burton Cummings and Eugene Levy.

While we applaud good works and hope this one becomes a success, it's been eight months since the CGSGI was launched and it's still not clear what the charity is actually doing to alleviate poverty, or even what the specific plans are.

Clinton's larger umbrella charity, the William J. Clinton Foundation, has come under fire south of the border for its lack of transparency for refusing to reveal its list of donors, which include the Saudi royal family and foreign governments. The foundation has raised more than US$500 million so far, including US$131 million from mining financier and former movie mogul Frank Giustra.

Political donations to Bill's wife Hillary, who is running for U. S. president, are capped at US$2,300 per person per election and limited to U. S. citizens, while donations to the Clinton Foundation can be anonymous, unlimited, and made by anyone.

Thus a concern is that major political influence with Hillary can be had by donating to the Clinton Foundation, especially with Bill insisting he would continue to raise money for his foundation if Hillary becomes president, and would then only reveal the donors on a "go-forward" basis. Hillary is also refusing to release her income tax statements unless she wins the Democratic Party's nomination as presidential candidate.

Media access was constrained at the CGSGI event, probably in response to recent, highly critical articles and editorials in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Bloomberg that looked at how Giustra flew Bill to Kazakhstan in September 2005 to meet with its strongman president, soon after which Giustra's company UrAsia Energy (since merged into Uranium One) was awarded lucrative state-owned uranium assets there. Giustra followed up months later with a US$31-million donation to the Clinton Foundation, a sum that was only acknowleged in December 2007. Giustra and Clinton say these things are unconnected. --The preceding appeared as an editorial in The Northern Miner

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

Commentary: Slick Willy, Shakira and Scientologists party with miners

Are these boom times or what? The mining community in Toronto soaked in a rare bit of showbiz glamour in the lead up to the Prospectors and Developers of Canada convention in Toronto. The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) charity rolled into town on March 1 to hold a banquet and raise money for Third World mining communities. Guests and performers included former U. S. president Bill Clinton, Elton John, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Burton Cummings and Eugene Levy.

While we applaud good works and hope this one becomes a success, it's been eight months since the CGSGI was launched and it's still not clear what the charity is actually doing to alleviate poverty, or even what the specific plans are. Clinton's larger umbrella charity, the William J. Clinton Foundation, has come under fire south of the border for its lack of transparency for refusing to reveal its list of donors, which include the Saudi royal family and foreign governments. The foundation has raised more than US$500 million so far, including US$131 million from mining financier and former movie mogul Frank Giustra.

Political donations to Bill's wife Hillary, who is running for U. S. president, are capped at US$2,300 per person per election and limited to U. S. citizens, while donations to the Clinton Foundation can be anonymous, unlimited, and made by anyone. Thus a concern is that major political influence with Hillary can be had by donating to the Clinton Foundation, especially with Bill insisting he would continue to raise money for his foundation if Hillary becomes president, and would then only reveal the donors on a "go-forward" basis. Hillary is also refusing to release her income tax statements unless she wins the Democratic Party's nomination as presidential candidate.

Media access was constrained at the CGSGI event, probably in response to recent, highly critical articles and editorials in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Bloomberg that looked at how Giustra flew Bill to Kazakhstan in September 2005 to meet with its strongman president, soon after which Giustra's company UrAsia Energy (since merged into Uranium One) was awarded lucrative state-owned uranium assets there. Giustra followed up months later with a US$31-million donation to the Clinton Foundation, a sum that was only acknowleged in December 2007. Giustra and Clinton say these things are unconnected. --The preceding appeared as an editorial in The Northern Miner.

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

Shakira happy with her boobs

Washington (ANI): 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://entertainment.oneindia.in/

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CELESTIAL CHOIR

HOUSTON, TX -- In the span of 12 hours, he was hobnobbing with Shakira, being blessed by a celebrity pastor, and being hailed by a Hallejulah-crying choir for his days as the "first black president." Welcome to Bill Clinton's day. A visibly tired former president, fresh off of a high-profile fundraiser in Toronto last night, still managed to muster a few "Amens" during three church appearances in the Houston area this morning.

Clinton first appeared at the massive Lakewood Church in Houston, one of the nation's largest mega-churches and the home to famed preacher and charisma machine Joel Osteen. The ex-president, accompanied by daughter Chelsea and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, looked impressed at the colossal congregation, which is housed in a former NBA basketball arena. Clinton did not speak, but bobbed his head in time to the soaring chords of the church's 100-person choir. When acknowledged by the superstar pastor, Clinton was received warmly by the eye-popping crowd, over eight thousand strong. "Love ya, Bill!" cried one audience member, moved by a different kind of spirit.

The size of the crowd was much smaller later in the morning, but their enthusiasm may have been even stronger. At Christian Hope Baptist Church, Clinton was cheered by an audience of African-American churchgoers whose gospel tunes were so rousing that more than one singer joyfully collapsed during the warm-up before Clinton entered the room.

During Clinton's remarks at Christian Hope, he acknowledged the difficult choice faced by Democrats who have long hoped for the chance to vote for either a woman or an African American president. "I don’t know why God asked us to make this decision," he chuckled. "It's funny sometimes, there is an old saying, that you gotta be careful what you ask for or somebody might give it to you."

Clinton seemed a bit sluggish this morning after touching down well after 2:00 am last night in Texas. The former president spent his evening in Toronto, Canada, at a glitzy launch of a new philanthropy effort. Tom Cruise, Elton John, and pop star Shakira reportedly attended the top-dollar fundraising event, which Clinton co-hosted with business partner and controversial mining tycoon Frank Giustra. (Giustra was a key character in the New York Times expose of Clinton's latest trip to Kazakhstan.)

The late night seemed to wear on the hard-charging Clinton, whose church appearances were among a total of a whopping eight public appearances scheduled for today. "You have to decide," he told the crowd at Christian Hope, rubbing his eyes with a weary smile. "I've made the best case I can."

news source : http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

Athletics: Shakira leaps into the Reading record books

READING Athletic Club triple jumper Shakira Whight posted a personal best and broke her club’s junior women’s record when she won the bronze medal in the junior women’s triple jump at the English age group indoor championships at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.

It was also her first national medal.

South of England champion Whight, who has shown tremendous form this winter, achieved her best leap of 11.92 metres in the opening round of the competition, added nine centimetres to her previous best set in a Southern Women’s League match at Abingdon last September and also set a Reading AC junior club record.

The Evening Post-sponsored club’s Reading AC’s Natalie Beale reached the semi-final round of the women’s under 17 60m hurdles finishing seventh in her race in 9.12 seconds. She clocked a slightly slower 9.14 in finishing fourth in her first round heat. She was not far off her personal best of 9.03 in last month’s South of England indoor championships.

Gary Steventon, who took the bronze medal at the South of England championships, was fourth in his junior men's 400m heat in 51.08 seconds. Bracknell-based international Chris Bolt beat a 300-strong field to win the Winchester open 10 kilometres road race in 31 minutes 14 seconds. He finished four seconds ahead of this year’s Wokingham Half Marathon winner Toby Lambert from Winchester.

— Bracknell athletes Adam Wimbledon and Zak Seddon both had good runs in the English national cross country championships at Alton Towers. In the absence of Berkshire champion Lewis Sloan, Seddon was the first Berkshire finisher in the boys under 15 championship taking 14th place in 12 minutes 9 seconds. The only other Bracknell runner in the race was James Mitchell who was 299th out of almost 350 finishers in 14:43.

Berkshire champion Wimbledon was also the top county runner in the boys under-13 championship where he was 18th out of 367 finishers in 11:04. Matthew Seddon, who like his brother and Wimbledon is coached by his dad, Jeff, was 89th in 11:46 with a third Bracknell runner, Michael Wimbledon, a long way back finishing 237th in 12:49. Berkshire silver medallist Henry Mitchell was 121st out of almost 300 runners in the men’s under 17 championship in 16:41.

The only race in which Bracknell finished a team was the junior men’s championship. James Ashton was 66th in 31:15, Richard Larsen 69th in 31:24, Jake Hughes 140th in 33:26 and Alex Mouradian 145th in 33:41. Newbury’s Mike Vardy was 89th in 31:48. Berkshire's cross country team manager Andy Tuttle from Newbury was 631st out of 1244 runners in the senior men’s championship.

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

Shakira, Wyclef, Flatts to play Grammys

The hips that didn't lie for most of 2006 will be back on stage at the Grammys Sunday night. The Recording Academy said today that it has added Shakira to its list of performers at the Grammy Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Sunday at 8 p.m. Shakira will be joined by Wyclef Jean, with whom she teamed on "Hips Don't Lie," the smash single that is nominated for best pop collaboration with vocals.

Country trio Rascal Flatts, the top-selling band of 2006 with nearly 5 million units sold, will also perform. The event will also feature a new-meets-old R&B segment, with teen sensation Chris Brown teaming up with legends Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie. As previously reported, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend, Ludacris, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Police, and Carrie Underwood are also set to perform at the Grammys. Justin Timberlake will perform twice during the night, once solo and again with the winner of the "My Grammy Moment" competition.

The Recording Academy also said today that Natasha Bedingfield, Tony Bennett, Lewis Black, Nicolas Cage, Ornette Coleman, LeAnn Rimes, Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls, Seal, and David Spade will serve as presenters at the event. Previously announced presenters are Joan Baez, The Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Nelly Furtado, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, P!nk, Rihanna, Chris Rock, and Stevie Wonder.

news source : http://www.mp3.com/

Sunsilk: "Hair Icons"

So, this is what half a million dollars pays for during the Super Bowl, huh? A 30-second commercial about three hair icons (not to be confused with America's Next Hair Icon): Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn Monroe. Nothing really spectacular, just some pop art images of those three with background music sung by each of them.

I'm trying to figure out who this commercial was targeted for. Obviously, they were aiming for all of the women who are watching the Super Bowl. But, with all of the testosterone flowing in these other commercials it seems like this ad got lost in the crowd. Plus, how many guys really know who Shakira is (other when there friends show them how hot she is). Frankly, Sunsilk's commercial money could have been used better elsewhere.

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