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Measles outbreak kills 12 children in Pakistan

Posted in : Health

(added 1 days ago)

An outbreak of measles in a lawless Pakistan tribal district has killed 12 children and is spreading as curfews, power cuts and fighting have led to a shortage of vaccinations. North Waziristan is a deeply poor area that borders Afghanistan and is Pakistan’s most notorious stronghold for al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The area is frequently hit by drone strikes from the United States that target Islamic militants, AFP reports.

“For the past three weeks, we are daily receiving five to 10 children suffering from measles,” Mohammad Ali Shah, the chief of the main hospital in the North Waziristan town of Miranshah, said, according to AFP.

There have been up to 70 hospital cases of measles, 12 deaths of children and the death of one man confirmed in the past three weeks. UNICEF said there were 143 measles alerts this year in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous, seven district tribal belt.

“We do not have proper storage for measles vaccination because of long power outages and curfews and most of our stock expires due to these reasons,” Shah said, according to AFP. Poor transport facilities and poverty result in villagers who aren’t able to come to hospitals for treatment while military operations prevent vaccination teams from reaching people in the rugged, mountainous areas.

“There is accumulation of significant number of unvaccinated children in different parts of this region which are revealing as outbreaks or alerts over time to time,” Quamrul Hasan, a doctor with the World Health Organization, said, according to AFP.

Approximately 140,000 people died worldwide from measles in 2010, according to the World Health Organization. Ninety-five percent of the deaths came in low income countries with poor health infrastructure.

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian: Are They for Real?

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 2 days ago)

Less than a year ago, the tabloid sensation known as Kim Kardashian became engaged to her NBA player boyfriend of a few months, Kris Humphries, setting off a months-long media blitz that reached its not-so-shocking conclusion with their divorce announcement in October 2012. Even longtime fans familiar and accepting of the Kardashian publicity machine called foul on what many in the media deemed a “stunt marriage,” a multi-million dollar television special that suddenly seemed the epitome of all that was soulless in reality television.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian: Are They for Real?

Kim, a woman remarkable for her ability to sell weight loss products and hair removal systems, found her lucrative licensing empire in danger as her popularity sank to all-time lows. Her mother-manager Kris Jenner went on the defensive, orchestrating flattering photo ops (Kim serving Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless... in full makeup) and insisting that the monetary equivalent of the wedding gifts Kim received (among them a brand new white Ferrari) would be donated to charity. Finally, Kim vowed to live a life less public, telling Cosmopolitan UK in March, “[As] I get older and go through certain things, it's made me want to be more of a private person."

So why’s she making out with Kanye West in front of the cameras?

Kim and Kanye were a thing before they ever gave any indication of being a thing. For years, it had been rumored the longtime friends were secret lovers; West’s ex-girlfriend, hip-hop fem-bot Amber Rose, alleged the rapper had cheated on her with the reality television star, who was dating Reggie Bush at the time.

Neither Kim nor Kanye commented on the rumors—perhaps because they were just waiting to do it up big. In April, Kanye released “Way Too Cold” (née “Theraflu"), a collaboration with DJ Khaled that confirmed the juicy tabloid speculation with a simple rhyme: “I’ll admit I fell in love with Kim / Around the same time she fell in love with him.” They were pictured on a very public outing to F.A.O. Schwarz the same day, and quickly landed a portmanteau: Kimye.

Given the hype, it's hard not to wonder if all of this is for the sake of the flashbulbs. These two certainly know their best angles. But here's the thing: This is about as real a relationship as a reality star and a rapper could ever have. The flashbulbs are their reality.

Kim's career hinges entirely on having a marketable personal life, as evidenced by the backlash she faced when she filed for divorce. She rose to fame because of her bedroom activities (ahem, Ray-J), and must continue to live her life out in front of the cameras if she's to remain relevant. A tabloid creature by profession, Kim needs someone equally compelling in order to sustain the airbrushed Hollywood fantasy she presents season after season on E!. Luckily, Kanye's not averse to oversharing, and will be featured in some capacity on the upcoming season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Kanye's relationship with the media is more complicated than Kim's, to say the least. He doesn't often give interviews about his private life, preferring to spill via the occasional Twitter rant or via rap verse now that he's no longer blowing up RSS feeds with his LEGENDARY ALL CAPS BLOG POSTS. Perhaps it's because he's uncomfortable with relinquishing editorial control; With Kim, he gets to direct the media coverage with obviously staged photos and eyebrow-raising verses alluding to marriage. He also gets the ultimate fashion plate: He's already outfitted his alleged lady love in pieces from his burgeoning fashion label, including a ghastly pair of $6,000 sandals. Free advertising.

We'll never know for sure if Kim and Kanye truly love each other, but they do love attention, which could easily sustain them for at least 72 days of photo-friendly bliss. And if this is a stunt relationship, it might be the Best Stunt Relationship of All Time. That has to count for something.

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Esha Gupta to share screen space with Bipasha Basu in Raaz 3

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 3 days ago)

Mumbai: ‘Jannat 2’ star Esha Gupta is sharing the screen space with bombshell Bipasha Basu in Raaz 3. Esha praising Bips said that she is actress’ big fan. "I have been a big fan of Bipasha. I have seen her on the big screen and the scene in which she comes out of the sea wearing a white gown (in 'Jism'). Left a strong impact on me. In fact not only on me, but millions in our country and I was one of those. Now I am really honoured that she is my co-star in Raaz 3," Esha told reporters.

Esha Gupta to share screen space with Bipasha Basu in Raaz 3

Esha, who is creating waves with her performance in Jannat 2, was conscious that Bipasha is her senior and so she made it a point not to have many retakes. "Bipasha made my presence felt because she is someone who is very secure.I wasn't intimated, but I was definitely nervous because I didn't want to give many retakes and make a star like her wait," the 27-year-old said.

"She is lovely. She makes sure that she gives you all the attention and helps you. I didn't feel that I was not in the film, because the film revolves around three of us...So all three of us- me, Emraan (Hashmi) and Bipasha- have our own part in the movie," she added.

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Bikini Babe Audrina Patridge's Sin City Birthday Bash

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 4 days ago)

Spending the weekend celebrating in Las Vegas, Audrina Patridge flaunted her bikini body at Wet Republic Ultra Pool at the MGM Grand. Having turned 27-years-old on Wednesday (May 9), the former "Hills" hottie was joined by boyfriend Corey Bohan and a group of close pals while soaking up the sun, downing drinks and cooling off in the water.

Bikini Babe Audrina Patridge's Sin City Birthday Bash

Prior to setting off for the Sin City festivities, Audrina tweeted, "Vegas bound! Who's coming to party with me @WetRepublic tomorrow?!"As for her killer bikini body, Miss Patridge attributes her 2010 stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" to getting her in the best shape of her life.

Of this, the brunette beauty previously told Us magazine, "I would say I'm in the best shape of my life. Dancing is so different than going to the gym. I'm going to be so sad when it's over!""I feel more toned and more defined for sure," Audrina added. "I have maintained my weight, but I'm really, really defining my muscles and toning up."

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Kris Humphries to give evidence that Kim Kardashian marriage was 'far from real'

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 5 days ago)

Kris Humphries’ divorce attorneys will reportedly exhibit evidence that his marriage to reality star Kim Kardashian was “far from real.”

Kris Humphries to give evidence that Kim Kardashian marriage was 'far from real'

The basketball star's union with the reality TV beauty lasted just 72 days and Kris believes that his entire relationship with Kim was staged, and will present proof of this at the former couple’s upcoming deposition in June.

“Kris' lawyers plan on asking Kim when she is being deposed about producers of the reality show telling Kris in an email to ask Jonathan about his sexuality,” a source told Radar Online.
 
“Kris has written proof that he was instructed to ask Jonathan the very personal question, and they will be presented with this evidence during her deposition. It's Kris' contention that this only further provides proof that this relationship was far from real -- he was set up by producers to ask the question -- then made to look bad -- and the entire scenario was staged, it was methodically planned out, just like the rest of their time together it seems.”

“Kris would have never asked Jonathan if he was gay or not, without being told to do so. He especially wouldn't have asked that question with the cameras rolling because he would never want to embarrass anyone or cause any awkwardness.”

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Imogen Thomas: 'I'm a size 10 to 12, but now I feel extremely comfortable in my body'

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 7 days ago)

Imogen Thomas has told how she struggled with her weight as she turned to binge eating during the Ryan Giggs superinjunction controversy.

Imogen Thomas: 'I'm a size 10 to 12, but now I feel extremely comfortable in my body'

A year ago, the high-profile former Big Brother contestant was accused of trying to blackmail the Manchester United footballer over their alleged affair. A court later heard there was no basis on which to accuse her of this.
 
Imogen admits that emotional eating over the past 12 months left her feeling fed-up with her more fulsome size 12 figure.

"I think all girls have issues about their weight," she said. "I don't think I'm the only person out there. I've always been a binge girl — I'll always binge on certain days. I get bad days when I could eat four packets of crisps. It's not to do with being hungry, I'm eating because I want to feel better."
 
Spending so much time in the public eye and featuring regularly in lads' magazines, Imogen is reported to have lined up a cameo in the award-winning Channel Four show Shameless. But the 29-year-old is quick to hit the gym if she doesn't like the look of a picture.
 
"I get photographed a lot and I see lots of photos of myself, so that makes me more conscious of what I look like," she said. "You look at photographs and go, 'oh my God, look how huge I am, I have to go to the gym'."
 
Imogen has had her share of critics on the social networking site Twitter. She says: "I will always get criticised the most because I am in the public eye. My mum's Italian, so I've got the curves. People say, 'how can you say size 12 is fat?'. Well, for my height, it was quite overweight."
 
She says Slimsticks, which she now represents, has helped her control her appetite and lose a dress size.
 
"I'm happy with my weight as it is now," she says. I'm a size 10 to 12, but now I feel extremely comfortable in my body. I'm not promoting a size zero because I could never be that size and I don't think it looks good. Back in the day I was a size 8 when I was Miss Wales, but your body does change. I remember in 2006 when I was in the Big Brother house, I wore these All Saints jeans and six months later I couldn't get into them. My hips had changed so much, your body changes as you get older."
 
But she believes she is reaching greater maturity: "People say, 'look, you've got an amazing body', but I'm in the gym all the time. I do cardio work four times a week. The older I'm getting, I am more comfortable with myself and what I'm doing with my life."

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Zooey Deschanel discusses New Girl co-stars: 'I get along so well with these guys'

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 8 days ago)

Zooey Deschanel has revealed that she and her 'New Girl' co-stars are great pals because she chose them herself. The '(500) Days of Summer' star plays Jess in the Channel 4 sitcom, about a zany teacher who moves in with three male housemates - played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield and Lamorne Morris.

Zooey Deschanel discusses New Girl co-stars: 'I get along so well with these guys'

Zooey revealed to The Press Association that she helped with the auditions for her housemates-to-be, to make sure the guys she got on best with got the part. She said: "We get along great. I was very fortunate that when I signed on to do the show I volunteered to read with everybody who came in. So I saw all these guys when they first came in and I felt like if we cast people that all get along then that would translate, and it really has because I get along so well with these guys."

Lamorne, who plays roommate Winston, said he was delighted the show has been commissioned for season two, and was surprised the show had lots of macho fans. He said: "I constantly meet manly men who say, 'I'm not going to lie to you, at first I was like I'm not going to watch that show, but then I started watching the show and it's actually pretty cool, don't tell anybody I said that.'"

The cast came together at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, last night for the 'New Girl' academy screening. Zooey looked fresh-faced in a navy blue tea dress and red belt, while her fellow cast members kept it casual in jeans and T-shirts.

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The Avengers continues to shock Disney

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 9 days ago)

The Avengers has taken the box office by storm, smashing the domestic U.S. revenue record with a $200.3 million debut. It's by far the biggest opening ever, shooting past the previous record of $169.2 million for the debut of last year's ‘Harry Potter’ finale. The Avengers added $151.5 million overseas over the weekend to bring its total to $441.5 million since it began opening internationally a week earlier.

The Avengers continues to shock Disney

That raised the film's worldwide haul to $641.8 million in barely a week and a half, more than its Marvel superhero forerunners Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America took in during their entire runs.

If distributor Disney's domestic estimate Sunday holds when the final weekend count is released Monday, ‘The Avengers’ would be the first movie ever to haul in $200 million in a single weekend.

‘There aren't even words, to be honest. I'm running low on double takes. Every time we looked at a number, it just got bigger than what we could have hoped for in the best-case assumption,’ said Dave Hollis, Disney's head of distribution. ‘With this film, anything is possible.’

The Avengers started with solid midnight crowds Friday, though nowhere near a record. Then it did $80.5 million for the full day Friday, second only to the Harry Potter finale's $91.1 million first day.

The record weekend was the culmination of years of careful planning by Marvel Studios, which has included teasers for an ‘Avengers’ dream team collaboration in its solo superhero adventures.

Directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), The Avengers features Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

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Chris Hemsworth says Thor 2 should head in direction of Game of Thrones

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 10 days ago)

Heartthrob Chris Hemsworth has said that Thor 2 could learn from the HOB series, Game of Thrones. The 28-year-old actor has revealed that he is looking forward to working with director Alan Taylor, who has penned a number of episodes of the hit series, on Thor 2. "[Game of Thrones] had a real mythical element to it, but it was rooted in such an organic and tangible world," Hemsworth told MTV News. "I think Asgard could really benefit from that sort of a grittier, aged feel to it and not so ethereal," he continued.

Chris Hemsworth says Thor 2 should head in direction of Game of Thrones

"The big thing about the comics for me was the origin story. Thor was interesting, but what I found more fascinating was the other worlds and realms that you can be taken off into."Thor 2 is currently scheduled for release on November 15, 2013.
 
Game of thrones star Emilia Clarke has recently been discussing how the hit show has effected her life: "I'm really oblivious to it, because I look so different," said Emilia, whose natural brunette hair color makes her look quite dissimilar from her character, the white-haired, royal exile Daenerys Targaryen. Still, people do occasionally recognize her: A woman in a department store in Los Angeles was too stunned to get in the elevator when she saw that Emilia was in it. "Khaleesi?" the fan asked.

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Demi Moore finally changers Twitter name following split from Ashton Kutcher

Posted in : Entertainment

(added 12 days ago)

Demi Moore has finally come to a decision with her Twitter name following her split from Ashton Kutcher. The 49-year-old changed her title from 'mrskutcher' to 'JustDemi' after recruiting the help of her 5 million followers to find a new name for her page.  Demi previously tweeted: "So hard finding a name that was fun somewhat playful and available. So for now it will be justdemi It could grow on me!"

Demi Moore finally changers Twitter name following split from Ashton Kutcher

The actress - who split from husband Ashton Kutcher in November - had been complaining in April that she would 'have to get clever' because so many names had been taken. Demi Moore even got a few suggestions from her fellow celebs, with chat show host Piers Morgan tweeting her suggesting "How about mrsmorgan?" Demi replied joking that she thought that one may have already been taken.

However, it seems that asking her followers for ideas finally paid off as the star later added: "Thanks everyone for your help in finding my new name!"One thing that won't be changing however is her Twitter picture, which features the star as a young girl wearing red rimmed glasses, and a cute bowl hairstyle. Demi told her followers: "No the pic stays good reminder of me just demi."

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