Month: February 2015

NDMC for reunification of corporations

by

Facing severe financial crunch, senior office bearers of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) today pitched for reunification of the three civic bodies in the national capital.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2011-12 by the then Sheila Dikshit government giving birth to North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations.

The issue of the reunification of the corporations was raised by the councilors of BJP, which is the ruling party, in North Corporation’s Standing Committee meeting.

BJP, Cong accuse AAP govt of misleading people

by

BJP and Congress today accused the Arvind Kejriwal government of misleading people by playing tricks with figures while announcing 50 per cent cut in power tariff and free water scheme.

BJP Legislature Party leader in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta termed the announcement by the AAP government on cheap power and free water “misleading” and said AAP could not deliver what it had promised to the people in the run up to the Assembly polls.

Ben Hardy to star in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’

by

‘EastEnders’ actor Ben Hardy is in talks to join the much-anticipated action film ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’.

The British actor is eyeing a ‘key, as-yet-undisclosed’ role in the upcoming movie directed by Bryan Singer, reported TheWrap.

Representatives for both 20th Century Fox and Hardy have not responded to requests for comment.

The follow-up to ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ will be set in the ’80s and already secured Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Alexandra Shipp to play younger Jean Grey, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Storm respectively.

My admiration for Beyonce is beyond normal: Taylor Swift

by

Singer Taylor Swift admits she loves R&B star Beyonce beyond the ‘normal amount’ and tries hard to not let it become creepy.

Swift, 25, talked about her love for the ‘Drunk In Love’ hitmaker in a recent pre-Brit Awards interview, reported People magazine.

“It’s normal for everyone to love Beyonce. I love her more than that amount. More than the normal amount. I try really hard not to let it get creepy. I channel it into a joyous admiration and appreciation,” she said.

Shonda Rhimes not impressed with Gaga’s Oscar performance

by

Actress Shonda Rhimes took to Twitter to express her displeasure over Lady Gaga’s Oscar performance, which was a tribute to veteran star Julie Andrews.

The pop star’s sang ‘The Sound of Music’, the title song of Andrews’ 1965 film. The performance became one of the highlights of the 2015 Academy Awards but Rhimes did not like it.

“That was not okay. I mean, Idina is there. She is right there. RIGHT THERE. And oh dear God, Julie had to hear that. #Oscars2015,” Rhimes wrote.

My dad calls me ugly: Marc Anthony

by

Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband Marc Anthony has revealed his father tells him he looks ugly and advises him to work on his personality to become successful.

“My dad told me early on, he said, ‘Son, we’re both ugly,’. I swear to God, he says it to this day. And he goes, ‘You work on your personality. It builds character'” the singer, 46, said on Tuesday’s episode of The Meredith Vieira Show.

Anthony, however, did not take any offence to his father’s comments. “Absolutely not. I was born looking at his face – and he was right,” he said jokingly.

Lady Gaga is a new friend: Julie Andrews

by

Moved by Lady Gaga’s Oscar tribute performance for her, veteran star Julie Andrews says the pop star is a friend now.

The 79-year-old star was ‘deeply honored’ by Gaga’s rendition of the title song of Andrews’ 1965 Academy-winning musical ‘The Sound of Music’, reported People magazine.

“I was deeply honoured by the Academy’s lovely tribute to The Sound of Music and especially touched by Lady Gaga’s wonderful performance,” she said.

“I have always been a fan, but last night we bonded and now I have a new friend,” said the star.

Rob Schrab to helm ‘The Lego Movie 2’

by

Director Rob Schrab, whose credits include ‘Community’ and ‘The Mindy Project’, will helm the upcoming sequel to 2014 hit ‘The Lego Movie’.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who directed the first film, will produce and write the follow-up, titled ‘The Lego Movie Sequel’.

“We are so excited to collaborate with Rob. He is a comedy genius, a visual savant, and we have been stalking him for years. No one works harder than Rob, and his aesthetic, combined with his sense of humour, bring a strong, unique, thoughtful, and passionately nerdy voice to this project.

Katey Sagal to co-star on TV show ‘The Bastard Executioner’

by

‘Sons of Anarchy’ actress Katey Sagal and ‘True Blood’ actor Stephen Moyer will co-star on upcoming TV series ‘The Bastard Executioner’.

Sagal’s husband Kurt Sutter is also a part of the show, which is slated to begin on March 19 in Wales, reported People.

Sutter is also the creator of the series, which is off drama genre and will tell the story of a warrior knight, played by newcomer Lee Jones, who finds himself weary from the savagery of war but is forced to take up arms once again under King Edward I’s charge.

Kelly Clarkson releases single featuring John Legend

by

Oscar-winning composer John Legend has collaborated with singer Kelly Clarkson on her new single ‘Run Run Run’.

Clarkson has released the song, which will be featured in her seventh studio album ‘Piece by Piece’, reported Aceshowbiz.

The single is a cover of Swedish pop band Tokio Hotel. Prior to the duet, Clarkson has previously worked together with Legend. They were judges on the short-lived ABC competition show ‘Duets’ in 2012.

‘Piece by Piece’ has been slated for March 3 release via RCA Records.

Brandon Routh, Zhang Yuqi to star in ‘Lost in the Pacific’

by

Brandon Routh and Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi has been cast to headline the upcoming film ‘Lost in the Pacific’.

The film will tell the story “of a group of elite passengers on board 2020’s inaugural luxury, transoceanic flight.”

While the film stars’ characters have not been revealed, production on the movie has been slated to kick off later this spring, said The Hollywood Reporter.

Vincent Zhou has been recruited to direct. It is scheduled to hit theatres toward the end of 2015.

Boyfriend to join Micki Minaj on ‘The Pinkprint’ tour

by

Rapper Nicki Minaj’s boyfriend Meek Mill will be a special guest on her upcoming tour ‘The Pinkprint’.

The tour, which opens in Europe next month, will come to America this summer, where Mill, 27, join her, reported Aceshowbiz.

“#ThePinkprintTour comes to America this summer with meekmill and More! Can’t wait to unveil the rest of the line up! Loveeeee,” the 32-year-old star posted on Instagram.

Dates for the American leg of the tour are expected do be unveiled soon.

Afghanistan bowl out Scotland for 210, their highest WC score

by

Majid Haq and Alasdair Evans shared valuable 62 runs for the ninth wicket to lift Scotland to 210, its highest cricket World Cup score in three appearances, in a Pool A match against Afghanistan here today.

Asked to bat first on a seam-friendly conditions, Scotland lost wickets at regular intervals to be reduced to 144 for eight at one stage before Haq and Evans batted sensible to register Scotland’s highest ninth wicket partnership and also Scotland register their highest score in the World Cup.

Rice meets Chinese State Councilor Yang, discuss N Korea, Iran

by

US National Security Advisor Susan Rice has met Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in New York and the two leaders agreed to strengthen coordination on regional and global challenges, including North Korea and Iran.

“They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and agreed that North Korea would not succeed in its twin pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic development,” said Bernadette Meehan, Spokesperson of the National Security Council at the White House, yesterday.

Afghanistan bowl out Scotland for 210

by

Opting to field, debutants Afghanistan bowled out Scotland for 210 in a Pool B match of the cricket World Cup here today.

Brief Scores:

Scotland: 210 all out in 50 overs (Matt Machan 31, Majid Haq 31; Shapoor Zadran 4/38, Dawlat Zadran 3/29).

UN: North Korean company renames ships to evade sanctions

by

A North Korean shipping company that famously tried to hide fighter jets under a cargo of sugar has tried to evade ensuing UN sanctions by renaming most of its vessels in an attempt to obscure their origins, a new report says.

The effort by Pyongyang-headquartered Ocean Maritime Management Company, Ltd. Is detailed in the report by a panel of experts that monitors sanctions on North Korea.

The UN Security Council holds consultations today on the report, which also says North Korea’s government persists with its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of council resolutions.

UN Security Council calls for stepping up Yemen talks

by

The UN Security Council has called for the stepping up of UN-brokered talks on ending a growing crisis in Yemen after President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s escape from house arrest.

The Western-backed president was ousted by the Shiite Huthi militia last month and placed under house arrest in Sanaa, but at the weekend he managed to flee the capital and resurfaced in the southern port city of Aden.

Backlash looms as Washington legalises pot

by

Marijuana is about to become legal in Washington, but the idea of smoking pot in the shadow of the Capitol has some conservative lawmakers fuming.

Legalisation follows overwhelming support in November for a voter initiative to allow the possession, but not sale, of small amounts of pot by adults in the District of Columbia from midnight (local time).

Three states – Colorado, Washington and, since Tuesday, Alaska – already allow recreational pot use, with Oregon set to follow in July.

Clash leaves one dead in Mexico teacher protest

by

A clash between Mexican police and teachers who blocked Acapulco’s airport left one demonstrator dead, while seven officers were injured when they were struck by the protestors’ bus, officials have said.

Some 5,000 protestors demanding better pay and justice in the case of 43 missing trainee teachers had been preventing access to the Pacific resort city’s airport for six hours on Tuesday when riot police intervened.

Clashes, tear gas after police kill boy at Venezuela protest

by

The killing of a 14-year-old boy by a policeman during an anti-government protest is raising already high tensions in Venezuela amid a crackdown on the opposition and crippling economic problems.

Protesters hurling rocks clashed with police backed by armored vehicles late into the night, and the country was braced for further demonstrations yesterday after the student, identified as Kluiverth Roa, was shot in the head and killed during a confrontation in San Cristobal, the capital of a restive western state.

Sierra Leone reports sharp spike in Ebola cases

by

Sierra Leone said today it was seeing a spike in Ebola infections, blaming unsafe burials that threaten to undermine the recovery from the deadly epidemic.

The west African nation, which has registered some 3,400 deaths in the nine months since the outbreak spread from neighbouring Guinea, had seen a steady decline in new cases over recent months.

But it has warned that the trend was being threatened by people flouting a ban on traditional funeral rites, seen as a key factor in the spread of the highly infectious virus.

Putin ‘destabilizing’ Ukraine, Kerry says

by

US Secretary of State John Kerry today accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of destabilizing Ukraine through “land grabs,” warning Moscow and the rebels had failed to meet the terms of a tattered ceasefire.

Putin had put in place policies which “violate all the international norms with respect to territory and behavior,” Kerry told lawmakers.

“In Luhansk, and Donetsk, and now in Debaltseve, he has empowered, encouraged, and facilitated directly land grabs in order to try to destabilize Ukraine itself.”

US man pleads not guilty to supporting terrorism charges

by

A man has pleaded not guilty to state charges of supporting terrorism and money laundering.

A prosecutor says Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud provided support including a computer tablet to people engaged in terrorism in the Middle East during a visit there.

A judge set bond at USD 1 million for Mohamud during a hearing today, refusing a prosecutor’s request for a USD 2.5 million bond.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Mohamud was arrested Saturday because he posed a public risk locally.

Water found in astronaut’s helmet after spacewalk

by

A US astronaut found water pooling in his helmet right after completing a six-plus hour spacewalk on today, raising new concerns about flaws with NASA’s spacesuits.

The water inside Terry Virts’ helmet was “kind of pooling on the front side of his helmet above the eye level,” European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti told mission control in Houston.

The water was “about three inches in diameter,” she said after Virts came back into the Quest airlock and it was repressurized.

Polish court puts off Polanski extradition decision

by

A Polish court today delayed a decision on whether to extradite Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski to the United States where he faces sentencing for the 1977 rape of a 13-year-old girl.

“The judge did not specify the date of the next hearing. He expects to set it for April,” court spokeswoman Beata Gorszczyk told reporters after a nine-hour closed door hearing.

The 81-year-old fugitive, dressed in a suit and tie, for his part told reporters he was “tired” at a press conference that began late because he ducked out to take a call from his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner.