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

Scammers Fake Shakira Show To Sell Tickets

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Two bounced checks led officers to discover a scam where a music festival headlined by Shakira was faked to sell tickets, police said.

Beaverton police responded Friday to a call at Lazerquick at 2770 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. at about 11:45 a.m. for a report of a theft where a woman had written two bad checks that totaled more than $5,000, Detective Pam Yazzolino said.

The merchandise which had been purchased with those checks by Olga Antroprova, 24, was fliers and posters promoting a fake concert headlined by the singer Shakira, which was said to be in Bellevue, Wash. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, Yazzolino said.

The show was being promoted as the First Annual International Dance Festival.

To sell the phony tickets the scammers had set up a Web site where they could be purchased for $230 each, Yazzolino said.

She said it isn't known how many of the fake tickets were sold or how many victims there have been.

On Monday, detectives arrested Nguyen Nguyen, 35, on three outstanding warrants and are investigating his involvement with the fake concert ticket scam, Yazzolino said.

Antroprova voluntarily came forward and is cooperating with detectives, Yazzolino said.

Beaverton police are continuing the investigation into the scam. Anyone with information or who may have been a victim should call Detective Mike Hanada at 503.526.2267.

Source:http://www.kptv.com/news/17844085/detail.html#

Shakira Helps Fight Child Poverty

"Those who are born in poverty die in poverty," commented Columbian singer Shakira, about the Latin American children.
Shakira added, “A child who lacks sufficient nutrition and education is never able to lead a dignified life, and that must change.”

That is the challenge with which the young inimitable singer, planned to confront the presidents of several Latin American nations: Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay.

The event was held on September 24, where Shakira tried to encourage the presidents to begin a mutual effort to fight child poverty. The aim is to ratify an agreement during the October summit meeting of Ibero-American representatives.
Her words came as representative of ALAS (Latin America for Solidarity). An organization founded in 2006 by some of the most influential artists, intellectuals, and business leaders of Latin America.

Shakira donated US$40 million to ALAS for reconstruction in areas of Peru and Nicaragua that were devastated by natural disasters.
Shakira’s Early Involvement

The singer, born in Columbia in 1977 and of Catalan origin, had early on—since 1997— become involved in her native land with the “Fundacion Pies Descazos” (“Barefoot Children's Foundation”).
Her social responsibilities are primarily providing nutrition and education for street children, and those who have other basic needs.
Shakira was named ambassador for UNICEF in 2003. The lyrics of her songs often include corruption, crime, torture, and criminal abortion. The German TV program ZDF voted her "2007 Charity Person of the Year," for the program "A Heart for Children."

This year, her song "La Despedida," from the soundtrack of the movie "Love in the Times of Cholera," was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Original Song category.

Source:http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainmen

Shakira Takes Children's Charity Global

Colombian pop star Shakira's children's charity is to go global by Christmas (08).

The Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) charity has provided shelter, care, clothing and food for poor children in the singer's native Colombia and now she wants to take her message of help to the world.

Launching the global initiative during an Earth Institute initiative with South American leaders at America's Columbia University on Wednesday (24Sep08), the Hips Don't Lie singer said, "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."

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

She insists her summit meeting with the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, El Salvador and Panama went very well, and they've pledged to help Shakira: "They 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.

"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." (c) WENN

Source: http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212175147.shtml

Shakira meets Betancourt in Paris

Colombian pop star met with former hostage Ingrid Betancourt and her son Lorenzo in Paris Tuesday, celebrity website Celebrity Gossip reports.

Shakira is currently recording her new album in London and Betancourt is in Paris recovering after being held in the Colombian jungle by the FARC for six years.

Both women will be involved coming Sunday in a worldwide protest against the FARC. Betancourt, together with Colombian pop star Juanes, will head the march held in Paris. Shakira will hold a concert on the Colombian border with Peru and Brazil.

news source : http://colombiareports.com/

Shakira leads demo for hostages' release

BOGOTA: Pop star Shakira led nationwide demonstrations in her native Colombia yesterday demanding the liberation of hundreds of hostages held by rebels in the jungle for years.

Colombian ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt staged a concert in Paris as part of the rallies. "No more hostages!" Betancourt chanted as she addressed a crowd of several thousand people who came to watch more than 30 artists perform in a square across the river Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Colombian star Juanes, Spain's Miguel Bose, and French artists Renan Luce and Michel Delpech were also present.

Stolen Picasso recovered

SAO PAULO: Brazilian police recovered a Picasso engraving stolen during a brazen daytime heist from a Sao Paulo museum last month. One of the suspected robbers was arrested on Friday.

news sorce : http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/

Live Nation Follows Shakira '360 Deal' With Nickelback Signing

Colombian pop star Shakira to a reported $70-$100 million "360 deal," concert promotion giant Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) announced on Tuesday that it signed a new multi-faceted contract with Canadian rock band Nickelback. Under the deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, Live Nation acquired a vast array of rights for the band, including three touring and album cycles, tour sponsorship, merchandise, VIP/travel packages, secondary ticketing, clothing, licensing, non-tour sponsorship and endorsements, DVD and broadcast rights, fan club, website and literary rights.

Previously signed to EMI in Canada and Warner Music/Atlantic/Roadrunner Records in the rest of the world, Nickelback has sold more than 26 million albums worldwide. The band's last tour of North America and Australia, in 2006-2007, sold more than 1.5 million tickets and grossed in excess of $67 million. "This deal with Nickelback will enable us to fully capitalize on our vertically integrated platform to connect the band with their fans, monetizing our unparalleled reach to drive revenues and increase overall margins," said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. "This partnership is structured to increase our revenue and cash flow potential significantly, while reducing our risk profile. This investment is cross collateralized, spread over multiple years and comprises multiple business opportunities."

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