CNN suspends commentator over anti-gay tweets

LOS ANGELES: Cable TV network CNN said on Wednesday it has suspended commentator Roland Martin over a series of Twitter remarks during the Super Bowl game that offended America’s gay community.

“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being,” the TV news network said in a statement.

Martin on Sunday made a series of Twitter remarks that poked fun at British soccer player David Beckham’s new underwear ad for fashion retailer H&M and at a New England Patriot football player for wearing a pink suit.

Martin tweeted: “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl”, as well as, “Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass”

His remarks provoked protests by gay and lesbian activist group GLAAD, which said Martin was advocating violence against gay people.

“CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community,” GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro said in a statement following CNN’s decision to suspend Martin.

Singer Madonna dazzles in Super Bowl half-time show

INDIANAPOLIS: Madonna dazzled the Super Bowl crowd with a high-octane half-time show that started with an army of Roman gladiators and ended with plea for world peace written in lights.

The glittering 12-minute performance at Lucas Oil Stadium featuring several guest stars had legions of fans racing to Twitter to give their thumbs-up, with some going so far as to declare it one of the best in Super Bowl history.

“Now THAT was a halftime show!” said @michaelsette7 of Toronto in a typical tweet of approval. “All hail the queen. Bow down everyone, bow down!”

Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker agreed, calling Madonna’s performance “joyous, unironic, open-hearted … She was both in full command and full of generosity towards her massive audience.”

With a new album titled “MDNA” out March 26, the 53-year-old Madonna teamed up with choreographer Jamie King and Canada’s Cirque de Soleil for the most-watched musical interlude of any major sporting event in the world.

Her challenge was to redeem last year’s dismal showing by the Black Eyed Peas, whose futuristic performance failed to impress spectators already put out by Christina Aguilera botching the lyrics of the US national anthem.

With muscular spear-wielding gladiators in gold marching onto the field, Madonna — styling herself as a Roman empress with a diamond-studded crown and kinky thigh-high boots — kicked off the show with her 1990 dance hit “Vogue.”

She then shifted into hip-hop mode, bringing out breakdancers — and an impressive tight-rope walker — for “Music” from 2008, accompanied by electro duo LMFAO who sampled their 2011 hit “Sexy and I Know It.”

Rap queen Nicki Minaj and irreverent M.I.A. then joined Madonna for the just-released “Give Me All Your Luvin” set to a “Glee”-like cheerleader theme, complete with golden pom-poms and marching band.

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, M.I.A. — real name, Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam — flipped a middle finger to the camera while singing a four-letter word that is part of “Luvin”‘s original lyrics.

The image on the screen then scrambled just as briefly, suggesting that NBC television — the official broadcaster of this year’s Super Bowl — was caught off-guard.

For the finale, Madonna rolled out her 1989 hit “Like A Prayer” with crooner Cee-Lo Green, a black-robed gospel choir and the stadium illuminated with thousands of tiny lights, concluding with the words “world peace” set against the darkness of the field — and Madonna disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Half-time at the Super Bowl has been one of the most coveted gigs in American pop music since the late Michael Jackson performed with a 3,500-child choir in 1993, but hit a bump with his sister Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004.

“This is a Midwestern girl’s dream to be performing at the half-time show,” said Madonna, a Michigan native, prior to Sunday’s show.

Performing the national anthem before kickoff was “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, with country stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert adding to the patriotic mood with a duet version of “America the Beautiful.” AGENCIES

Islamabad: Bangle stalls on the rise ahead of Eid

A large number of females are thronging Eid stalls to buy bangles, which have become an essential part of Eid shopping for females. In Islamabad, bangle stalls are seen mostly in Super Market, Jinnah Super Market, Golden Market, Sitara Market and Gulshan Market.

Shopkeepers at Jinnah Super and Super Market are displaying rich variety of bangles such as Rashmi bangles, metallic bangles, gems-studded bangles, pearled bangles and glittering bangles. In the wake of soaring gold prices, the trend of artificial jewellery is also increasing.

Christina Aguilera’s Super Bowl Performance

Christina Aguilera has spoken out about her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Sundays Super Bowl in Arlington, Texas. She repeated a line and also fumbled a few other words of the Anthem. Christina has made a statement to the Associated Press.

“I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place,” Christina also said in her statement “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of it’s sic anthem still came through.”

Overall, it was a spectacular evening’s entertainment and the much anticipated break time commercials didn’t disappoint either. A commercial for Best Buy featured the unlikely pairing of Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne. But let’s not forget what the night really was all about. This year the Super Bowl was won by the Green Bay Packers.

Live Chat: Akshay Oberoi on December 27 at 1500 hrs IST

Not many newcomers get a chance to debut with a banner as prestigious as Rajshri Productions. Akshay Oberoi however is one such lucky newcomer. Akshay debuts in Rajshri’s latest flick Isi Life Mein which has released this Christmas weekend.

Bollywood Hungama gives you a chance to have a live video chat with the super-talented Akshay Oberoi on Monday, December 27, at 1500 hrs IST. Don’t miss!

Live Chat: Bipasha Basu on October 13 at 1900 hrs IST

Today, good looks and strong personality means half the battle won, be it in Bollywood or any other profession, and who better than the Bollywood beauty Bipasha Basu to learn from? Well, it’s the same ‘Bodylicious’ Bipasha, who has been the talk of the town, ever since the word go.

Be it her brand endorsements or her films, she really knows how to make a statement! Well, if the promos of her latest film Aakrosh are anything to go by, then, she definitely is sitting on a gold mine. Bollywood Hungama brings to you the super sexy Bipasha Basu; all live in Celebrity Video Chat exclusively on Wednesday, October 13, at 1900 hrs IST.

Don’t miss it!

T-Series not affected by royalty fixed by Copyright Board

Copyright Board, in an order dated 25.08.2010, had fixed the rate of royalty between PPL and 6 FM radio broadcasters. But certain misconceptions and rumours in the industry hinted that the same royalty shall be applied for the entire industry including Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-SERIES).

Therefore in a writ petition filed by Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-SERIES) against the order passed on 25.08.2010 clarified the situation as the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has on 15.09.2010 in its interim order clarified that the rates fixed by the Copyright Board shall not apply to Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-SERIES).
Therefore this squashes all rumours that the copyright order passed by Copyright Board is only against PPL and not against T-Series or any other copyright owner.

T-Series-MD, Mr Bhushan Kumar, made a public statement regarding the court’s order saying, “We at Super Cassettes Industries are pleased with the clarification given by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in its interim order. We have granted voluntary license to (almost) all broadcasters in India. We are glad that our voluntary licenses will not get disturbed by the order in a proceeding where we were not even a party.”

2 killed in Karachi road mishap

Staff Report

KARACHI: Two people blazed to death after an oil tanker among four vehicles collided near Chokhio Mor at Main Super Highway, Karachi, said sources Thursday.

According to sources, four vehicles including an oil tanker caught fire after collided at Main Super Highway, Karachi, caused the killing of two people.

The incident suspended the traffic at Super Highway.

Fire-brigade staff reached at the spot soon after the incident.

“The oil tanker was filled with diesel that caused the fire eruption,” said eyewitnesses.

Sources said the accident was the result of over speeding. SAMAA

Recall all alleged match fixing players: Arif Abbasi

Staff Report



KARACHI: The ex Chief Executive of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Arif Abbasi has demanded immediately recall all players who have been accused of match fixing in England, SAMAA reported Sunday.



Arif Abbasi, talking to SAMAA, said that he was not in favor of playing test matches in foreign countries; the match fixing allegation on Pakistani cricketers is shameful. SAMAA

Sindh flood victims await relief, food in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: Thousands of flood victims from different parts of the province are living in dismal conditions owing to the lack of proper accommodation and food arrangements for them, SAMAA reported Sunday.



About 67,000 flood victims have been accommodated in different camps in Razaqabad, Keamari and Gulshan-e-Maimar, but they all complain that basic facilities are not being provided to them.



Thousands of flood affected migrants are living in various areas of Karachi without any help from the government.



The government and concerned authorities have not provided basic facilities to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who are living in Sohrab Goth near the Super Highway. SAMAA

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