53rd Annual Grammy Awards Sum Up

Sunday night the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples center in Los Angeles. The nights entertainment saw 30 performers take to the stage. The night began with an Aretha Franklin tribute which included Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch. There was also an unlikely duet performed by Eminem and Rihanna. Eminem took the award for best Rap album. Then the seemingly ever present Justin Bieber shared the stage with Usher, who won multiple awards during the evening.

Country stars Lady Antebellum collected five awards, their awards included record of the year and song of the year, “Need you Now”.

Many had expected Justin Bieber to take the award for best new artist but instead it was won by jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding.

Lady Gaga arrived onstage encased in a giant egg from which she emerged to perform “Born This Way”. She won best pop vocal album for The Fame Monster.

Pakistan reject corruption allegations

LONDON: Fresh allegations of spot-fixing by Pakistan players following Friday’s third one-day international against England appear to be false, Pakistan Cricket Board legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi said on Saturday.

“At this stage we don’t believe these latest allegations that our players did any fixing in the third one-day match against England,” Rizvi told Reuters in Karachi.

“We feel at this stage these allegations appear unfounded.”

Earlier, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the world governing body was investigating the match after receiving information from a British newspaper alleging a suspicious scoring pattern in Pakistan’s innings.

“A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be

Referendum underway in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan is holding a referendum on a new constitution amid fears it could inflame ethnic tensions.

The proposed constitution would give parliament more power and set the stage for a general election in September.

Several hundred people died in clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country earlier in June.

The interim government called Sunday”s referendum after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was overthrown in April.

Polls opened at 0800 (0200 GMT) and will close at 2000 (1400G GMT), with results expected on Monday.

The BBC”s Tom Esslemont in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, says the conditions for holding a referendum are far from perfect.

wgn chicago

Crush of red: City says 2 million fans rally for Hawks Fireworks erupted as Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews hoisted the Stanley Cup before a crush of flag-waving, fist-pumping fans pegged by the city at 2 million.

“You guys are the greatest,” he told the screaming sea of red. “Thank you very much.”

Winger Patrick Kane led the crowd with the chant of “Chicagoooo,” holding on to the last note. “Let me hear you,” Kane said. “I can’t hear you.”

Kane called his teammates “the best guys in the world” and said the rally at Michigan and Wacker was the “best moment” of his life.

Before he made way for Toews, Kane quipped: “For all the cab drivers out there, I love you.”

The city’s Mayor’s Office of Special Events and the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications estimated the crowd at the rally and along the parade at around 2 million.Chants of “Let’s go Hawks! Let’s go Hawks” echoed down Michigan Avenue as the red parade buses carrying the Blackhawks rolled toward the stage.

Toews rode in the last double-decker bus, hoisting the Stanley Cup to a constant chorus of whoops and squeals as confetti rained down.

Those closest to the stage had been there for at least six hours, forgoing water and bathroom breaks for a chance to be close to the Stanley Cup.

“It means everything to me,” said Rodolfo Frias of Chicago. “History is being made and I’ve got a front row seat to it.”

When the last of the buses passed, crowds along the route poured into the street and followed, screaming and waving large Blackhawks flags. Police officers on horses lined up in front of them to keep them at a distance from the buses. Police barriers also lined Michigan Avenue

Russia warns against rushing Iran sanctions

BEIJING: Russia and China are against attempts to rush a vote in the United Nations Security Council on further sanctions against Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Friday.

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Russia warns against rushing Iran sanctions

17 killed as thunderstorm lashes Punjab

LAHORE: At least 17 people have been killed in thunderstorm that hit various cities and towns of southern Punjab here Friday, ARY NEWS reported.

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17 killed as thunderstorm lashes Punjab

Bollywood stars play cricket for charity

COLOMBO: Bollywood stars and Sri Lanka’s cricketers hit the pitch for charity Friday to help rehabilitate child soldiers and build homes for families affected by the country’s civil war.

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Bollywood stars play cricket for charity

Israel Vows to Stop Aid Ship as it Approaches Gaza

Israel vowed Friday to keep an Irish aid ship from breaching its blockade of the Gaza Strip, setting the stage for another maritime showdown as the vessel made its way toward the impoverished Palestinian territory.

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Israel Vows to Stop Aid Ship as it Approaches Gaza

lisa ann russell

Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar and wife Lisa Ann Russell have separated after having two children and being married for nearly 14 years, confirms People.

“They both remain focused on their family and are jointly committed to their children,” a rep says.

Internet reports claim that Russell’s partying ways had caused the split, which an anonymous source refutes.

“The reports saying that she’s out partying aren’t true,” says the source. “She’s a great mom. The two of them couldn’t be more hands on with the kids. Their number one focus is definitely their family.”

The hallowed halls of Bayside High on “Saved by the Bell” was where Gosselaar, 36, first met Russell, 38, who had a small role. And even though fans always figured Zack and Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) would end up together, real life turned out differently.

Russell and Gosselaar tied the knot in August 1996 and have a 6-year-old son, Michael, and 4-year-old daughter, Ava.

Besides “Saved by the Bell,” Gosselaar is also known for his stints on “NYPD Blue,” “Raising the Bar” and “Commander in Chief.” His next project is TNT’s legal drama “Franklin & Bash.”

rue mcclanahan death

n less than two years, Betty White has seen the passing of her ‘Golden Girls’ castmates Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan. Now, the comedy icon has given her first reaction to McClanahan’s death today from a stroke.

“Rue was a close and dear friend,” she tells ‘The Insider.’ “I treasure our relationship. It hurts more than I ever thought it would, if that’s even possible.”

From 1985 to 1992, White and McClanahan played unlikely friends on the hit series — White, as simple Rose, and Rue as the bodacious Blanche. Both actresses portrayed these same characters on four different sitcoms — ‘The Golden Girls,’ ‘The Golden Palace,’ ‘Nurses’ and ‘Empty Nest.’

‘Golden’ co-stars Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur passed away in July of 2008 and April of 2009, respectively.

White and McClanahan’s working relationship began well before either was a ‘Golden Girl.’ Both were supporting players on Vicki Lawrence’s kitchy sitcom ‘Mama’s Family’ in the early 1980s — White as Mama’s snooty daughter Ellen, while Rue appeared as her unmarried sister, Fran.

According to IMDB, White was originally considered for the role of Blanche on ‘Girls.’ However, producers were reluctant to typecast White as sexually aggressive after her turn as Sue Ann Nivens on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show.’ As Rue had already played a more introverted character — that of Vivian on ‘Maude’ — producers felt it best to challenge the actresses with roles unlike anything they had ever played before. It’s a good thing they did; White and McClanahan were iconic as Rose and Blanche, respectively. Both actresses won lead actress Emmys for ‘Girls.’

White and McClanahan also shared an interest in animal rights activism. Rue was active on behalf of PETA, and White endorses a number of animal welfare causes, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation and Actors & Others for Animals. White has also published a book about her love of animals — ‘Betty White’s Pet-Love: How Pets Take Care of Us.’

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