Catherine McNeil - Australian Vogue Cover

Catherine makes her blonde debut on the cover of Vogue Australia's January 2010 issue!

BBC: Shirin Ebadi Nobel Peace Prize medal 'seized by Iran'

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Shirin Ebadi says she has been threatened by the Iranian authorities

Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi says the Nobel Peace Prize medal she won in 2003 has been confiscated.

The medal and accompanying diploma were taken from a bank box in Tehran about three weeks ago on the orders of Iran's Revolutionary Court, she said.

Ms Ebadi, who has criticised Iran's recent disputed election and the subsequent treatment of protesters, said her bank account was also frozen.

Iranian authorities have not made any official comment on the issue.

Norway, which presents the award, said it was "shocked", by the confiscation.

The country's foreign ministry said it was the first time national authorities had taken such action.

Undeterred

Ms Ebadi told the Associated Press that her French Legion d'Honneur award and a ring given by the German association of journalists were taken along with the Nobel prize.

I will return whenever it is useful for my country Shirin Ebadi Profile: Shirin Ebadi

Speaking in London, she said the Iranian authorities had also demanded taxes on the $1.3m (£800,000) she was awarded, but that the prize is exempt under local law.

Ms Ebadi, the first Muslim women to be awarded a Nobel prize, has been away from Iran since travelling to Spain for a conference the day before the 12 June election.

The result of the election, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected, saw thousands of people protesting for several days, with hundreds arrested.

Ms Ebadi said she had "received many threatening messages" since leaving Iran.

"They said they would detain me if I returned, or that they would make the environment unsafe for me wherever I am," she said, adding that her colleagues still in the country had also been "detained or banned from travelling abroad".

But Ms Ebadi said she would not let anyone prevent her from carrying out her "legal activities" and would eventually go back to Iran.

"I will return whenever it is useful for my country," she said.

'Unheard of'

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, a spokesman for Ms Ebadi's human rights group, said the prize money had been used "to help prisoners of conscience and their families".

The election result was followed by days of protest and hundreds of arrests

"The account has been blocked by the officials and they do not allow withdrawals," the AFP news agency quoted the lawyer as saying.

Mr Dadkhah said both the blocking of the account and the confiscation of the award were illegal under Iranian law and that the move was "politicised".

In Norway, where a committee chooses the annual recipient for the peace prize, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said: "Such an act leaves us feeling shock and disbelief."

The ministry summoned Iran's charge d'affaires to protest about the confiscation.

The Norwegian ministry said it was also concerned about the alleged beating of Ms Ebadi's husband in Tehran, with Mr Stoere saying the "persecution of Dr Ebadi and her family shows that freedom of expression is under great pressure in Iran".

The Norwegian Nobel Committee's permanent secretary, Geir Lundestad, said the move was "unheard of" and "unacceptable", Associated Press reported.

Victoria's Secret Show

This year's VS show featured five Next ladies in a great show that included the Black Eyed Peas!

Anja Rubik


Anna Jagodzinska


Abbey Lee


Elyse Taylor


Anastasia Kuznetsova

Angie Stone's 'Unexpected' Available In Stores & Online TODAY

Angie Stone reemerges with a more youthful sound on her latest effort Unexpected, now available in stores and online!

"With catchy choruses galore, the newly trendy Stone solidly transitions to a more urban R&B sound without losing a speck of old school credibility." - L. Michael Gipson (SoulTracks.com)

Tracklisting:

Unexpected
I Ain't Hearin' U
Maybe
I Don't Care
Hey Mr. DJ
Kiss All Over Your Body
Tell Me
Why Is It
Think Sometimes
I Found A Keeper
Free

Angie recently sat down with Essence.com to discuss her album and her new outlook on life.

Check out the exclusive interview here.

Alicia Keys on the Today Show

Check out Alicia Keys live on The TODAY Show this morning. Keys perform new single “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” and talks to TODAY’s Meredith Vieira about her new album, her non-profit foundation (Keep a Child Alive), and the big secret she plans to reveal on Dec 1.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Kelis Leaks New Song 'Acapella' on Twitter

Stop what you're doing! Kelis just leaked her new, David Guetta produced, electro-club-banger "Acapella" on Twitter @IAmKelis. She's back with a new sound, a new look, and even a new label.

Kelis also posted a special message to her fans on her new website.

"Well, walking through the streets of NY this summer...I use the term walking loosely...I was extremely pregnant and probably doing more of a very slow creep down each humid sticky block...people had so much to say to me. You know us New Yorkers don't ever keep anything to ourselves...I was asked if I would ever put another album out. I suppose people assumed after the baby and divorce and all the time I took off (went to culinary school during my break which was amazing and another conversation) that it would be on to motherhood for me. And well that's true...as I lay here with my perfect little won ton now writing you all this message. My answer was always the same. "Soon come guys" ;) and so here we are. My album is pretty much done. I signed a new deal and I'm madly in love with life and ready to share something with you. My song is called "Acapella" and I wrote it with love and life in mind. I hope that it finds you well and that you love it, cause honestly I do! Muah!"

-Kelis

"P.S. to all the people who have stuck around and supported me all these years do know that I sincerely feel you and love you! We did this all together"

Michael Jackson's White Glove Sold for $420,000

Get the Barnes & Noble Membership Pricing on Michael Jackson products for a limited time!

Music2Nite_MichaelJacksonCollection

Michael Jackson's white glove he used while premiering his moonwalk dance in 1983 has been sold yesterday for $420,000 (including tax). The lucky new owner is Hoffman Ma from Hong Kong.

The item was the most valuable from a collection of memrobillia at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. Its pre-auction estimate was $40,000 to $60,000.

"It was a fairly good discount," said Ma, a 36-year-old Jackson fan who bought the pop-music treasure on behalf of the Ponte 16 Resort Hotel in Macau.

Watch a video of Michael Jackson in 1983 performing Billie Jean with the white glove:

Toni Braxton Returns with "Yesterday"

After a hiatus since 2005 and touring in Las Vegas for the last couple of years, Toni Braxton is back.

She premiered her new single "Yesterday" on The Wendy Williams Show. "Yesterday" is the lead single off Toni Braxton's upcoming album "Pulse". The track was debuted in September.

"For my new album ... I'm doing some dance things in there a little bit."

"Hopefully I can add some great collaborations with some Jamaican artists," she added.

Toni Braxton will present the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist at the November 22nd ceremony of the American Music Awards.

Keri Hilson - "I Like" Video

"I Like" serves as Keri Hilson's new video and features scenes from Til Schweiger-starring German movie "Zweiohrkuken" in which the song serves as its soundtrack.

Keri Hilson is going to perform at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay International Music Festival on December 18. She will sing alongside several local acts such as Jozi and Bricks at the three-day event to be held at the World Cup Soccer Stadium.

Alicia Keys Unveils Cover of "The Element of Freedom"

This is the official, beautiful cover for Alicia Keys' new album "The Element of Freedom" (set to be released on December 15th).

There's a rumor going around that there might be a duet with Beyonce included on the album.

Track listing (this isn't 100% official yet):

1. The Element Of Freedom (Intro)
2. Love Is Blind
3. Doesn’t Mean Anything
4. Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart
5. Wait Til They See My Smile
6. That’s How Strong My Love Is
7. Unthinkable (I’m Ready)
8. Love Is My Disease
9. Like The Sea
10. Put It In A Love Song feat. Beyonce Knowles
11. This Bed
12. Distance And Time
13. How It Feels To Fly
14. Empire State Of Mind (Part II)

To promote her new album, Alicia Keys will embark on a promotional tour starting with "Dancing with the Stars", "The Today Show", "The American Music Awards" and more!

Watch the Future of Motown Perform the History of Motown

With every year Thanksgiving brings great family, great times, great food, and of course - great football!

This year during the Detroit vs Green Bay Thanksgiving football game, be sure to catch Vita Chambers, Forever the Sickest Kids, Hal Linton, Shontelle, Kem, and Melanie Fiona performing classic Motown songs during the 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Halftime Show: A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute!

The Motown tribute will take place during halftime of the first game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader when the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX.

www.classic.motown.com

There are also e-cards for more info on each artist and an exclusive video offering a sneak peek at what song each artist will be singing!

New Janet Jackson Video - "Make Me"

It is said that Janet Jackson is making a comeback with "Make Me". Janet hasn't really been away since she released "Discipline".

Janet will perform "Make Me" at this Sunday's American Music Awards at the Nokia theatre in L.A.

An insider looking at her rehearsal says: "There are some pretty risqué moves in the performance, including one where she grabs the crotch of a male dancer and pushes him forward," says the insider. "And it was amazing she could dance so well wearing those boots!"

The video for "Make Me" gets Music2Nite's stamp of approval, Janet gives us an amazing choreography along with an upbeat, cool new song.

Seal 'I Am Your Man' Audio

Seal will release Hits on December 8th which features a catalog of classic songs from his groundbreaking career. Take a listen to his cover of I Am Your Man originally performed by Bobby Taylor.

Windows 128 or Quicktime 128

Beautiful New Images of N'dambi + Live Performance!

Check out these sultry new photos from Stax Records' Southern Soul Gem, N'dambi!

N'dambi looks and sounds just as good live. See for yourself by checking out her live performance at Amoeba Music where she performs the soulful tracks "L.I.E.", "Ooo Baby", and "Can't Hardly Wait" off her new record Pink Elephant.

N'dambi Live at Amoeba Music, click here.

Introducing Debi Nova!

Already a massive star in her native Costa Rica, with six Grammy Award nominations and a number one dance single under her belt, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Debi Nova is ready to make her mark on the rest of the world. In March 2010, Decca Records will release Nova’s genre-defying, debut album Luna Nueva. The album is an electrifying combination of irresistible Latin rhythms and potent pop smarts that showcase this vivacious artist's considerable musical gifts (she plays piano, guitar, bass and more) as well as her rich Latina heritage.

Produced by multi-Grammy nominated Marius de Vries (Madonna, Josh Groban) and Gustavo Santaolalla ("Brokeback Mountain," "Babel"), Luna Nueva is a labor of love, long in the making, which not only showcases Nova’s electrifying vocals and musicianship, but her songwriting talents as well. The first single is the playful soca/hip-hop inspired “Drummer Boy.”

Debi has toured with both Ricky Martin and Sergio Mendes as a featured vocalist and has performed for more than 8 million people globally. As a songwriter, the Costa Rican beauty has written hit songs for Belinda and RBD, two of Latin Americas biggest artists.

Learn more about Debi's process of recording an album in both English and Spanish in this new EPK and experience her sound first hand on "Drummer Boy."

Ne-Yo's New Video for 'Never Knew

The heartfelt love ballad, "Never Knew I Needed", Ne-Yo's pop theme song from 'The Princess and the Frog' Soundtrack, is well on its way to becoming one of the top slow dance songs of the year. Now, Ne-Yo just released a new version of the video featuring footage from the upcoming film. Check it out now!

Listen to exclusive snippets from 'The Princess and the Frog' Soundtrack right here.

Katie Fogarty - Tush Magazine

Two different electrifying shots of Katie Fogarty appear on the cover of the new Tush Magazine. The cover and inside story were shot by Txema Yeste and styled by Belen Casadevall.

Lady Gaga's Apocalypse Video Contest + MOCA Performance with Bolshoi Ballet

In a unique step, pop sensation Lady Gaga, pioneering image-maker Nick Knight and fashion filmmaker Ruth Hogben launch a one-off collaborative project, inviting the singer's fans to submit their own video imagery for inclusion in her 2009-2010 World Tour 'The Monster Ball'. The inspiration is sharp, simple and brutal: the Apocalypse, symbolic of both destruction and rebirth. Visit ShowStudio.com to find out how to enter for a chance to win!

On Saturday night in LA, Lady Gaga performed at the Museum of Contemporary Art's 30th Anniversary Gala. She did her powerful new ballad "Speechless" from her forthcoming album, 'The Fame Monster', along with Russia's world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet. Watch her backstage interview and a snippet from the performance now!

MTV Shows

Lower East Side will meet Upper East Side on tonight's long-awaited episode of 'Gossip Girl'. The appropriately titled "The Last Days of Disco Stick", will feature a special guest appearance from Lady Gaga, who will give an epic performance of her current single, "Bad Romance".

"I am the narrator behind what is going on with the characters and make the song part of the moment," Lady Gaga explained to MTV News about the 'crazy performance-art piece'. "We used these ladders, and I'm falling off ladders. Ladders are kind of a monster symbol about bad luck. And I have this 35-foot-long dress on and these X's, very gothic-inspired. It was great. They let me do whatever the hell I wanted. It was amazing."

Lady Gaga's screen time was filmed during mid-October with the show's stars Penn Badgley, Hillary Duff, Jessica Szhor, and aspiring pop singer Leighton Meester (check out her new video with Robin Thicke right here).

Angie Stone Premieres New Video on Singersroom

Check out the video premiere for I Ain't Hearin' U exclusively on Singersroom.com!

The sassy Ms. Stone puts on her dancing shoes and shakes off the naysayers in this Bille Woodruff directed music video. The video also co-stars actress Terri J. Vaughn.

Watch the new video here!

Fans can stream Angie Stone's new album Unexpected starting today only on MySpace Music!

Erik Hassle's 'Hurtful' Penguin Prison Remix + Little Boots Tour Photos!

Swedish music sensation Erik Hassle's single, "Hurtful", has been getting remixed by DJs all over the US and Europe. Of particular note is the Penguin Prison remix, which gives the mid-tempo ballad a new loungy twist. Take a listen now!

Check out these exclusive pictures from Erik's recent European tour with Little Boots!

Fans Can Be Featured in Mishon's New 'Holiday Love' Video!

Mishon is giving fans the opportunity to be featured in his new video for his upcoming holiday single "Holiday Love"!

To enter fans need to submit footage of them spreading some “Holiday Love” (e.g. sharing a holiday meal with the family, unwrapping gifts, donating Christmas trees and gifts to families in need). Anything really that displays holiday love and spirit being shared.

To enter fans must attach their video to an email and include their Name, Age and Email Address to: MishonHolidayLove@gmail.com and he'll select the most heart-warming footage to be included in the official video for "Holiday Love"!

Karlie Kloss - Korean Vogue Cover

Karlie Kloss lands the December cover of Korean Vogue, photographed by Rafael Stahelin at Fast Ashley's Studios in Brooklyn, NY.

Here's the first preview:

BBC: Zambia 'porn' reporter acquitted

A Zambian journalist has been acquitted of pornography charges after sending officials pictures of a woman giving birth in a hospital car park.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8362853.stm

Heroine: Tererai Trent

Op-Ed Columnist
Triumph of a Dreamer
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: November 15, 2009
Of all the people earning university degrees this year, perhaps the most remarkable story belongs a one-time impoverished cattle-herd from Zimbabwe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/opinion/15kristof.html

Heroine: Chansa Kabwela

BBC: Surreal drama of Zambia 'porn' trial

The trial of a news editor in Zambia, accused of distributing obscene material, is coming to an end. Chansa Kabwela says she sent photos of a woman giving birth without medical help to senior government officials to highlight the effects of a nurses' strike. Jo Fidgen has watched the trial, and reflects on what it reveals about Zambian culture.

Chansa Kabwela is news editor of Zambia's best-selling newspaper

The arresting officer makes for an arresting sight.

Sharon Zulu strides into the witness box, a strapping woman in gravity-defying heels and a shiny, baby-pink trouser suit. Grace Jones disguised as Shirley Temple. The promise of a grand finale to the prosecution case.

So far, it has amounted to a succession of trembling ministerial secretaries expressing their humiliation and shock that a woman in childbirth, the most private moment of her life, had been photographed.

Shock, not over the fact that she had given birth in a hospital car park. Or that her baby had suffocated. But that the pictures had been seen by men - an absolute taboo.

This is not to say the photographs are not terrible. When I saw them, it took me several seconds to focus, as though my brain was refusing to process the images.

The most graphic shows a woman from the waist down, lying on a plastic sheet, with the bloodied torso of a baby between her thighs. The head is still inside her.

This is what Zambia's President, Rupiah Banda, declared pornographic, when he called for the photographer to be arrested.

Poster girl

But Mrs Zulu has been a police investigator for 19 years. She must have seen a few unpleasant things in her career. Surely, she is not going to be thrown off balance by these photos?

Not for the first time in this trial, my expectations are confounded.

The spectators have been ooh-ing and aah-ing all through the trial, like an audience for a Shakespearean tragi-comedy

Mrs Zulu tells the court that she felt assaulted, disturbed, naked. Upset with the person who had circulated the pictures.

"We are all Zambian here," she says. "We all know this is not allowed in our culture."

I shift uncomfortably, the only non-Zambian in the room. Maybe there are cultural forces at play here beyond my understanding. I scan the public gallery. A pretty unrepresentative lot - the benches are stuffed with pop stars, actors, free speech campaigners and opposition politicians.

The defendant, Chansa Kabwela, news editor of Zambia's best-selling newspaper, The Post, has become the poster girl for anyone who dislikes the government.

The spectators have been "ooh-ing" and "aah-ing" all through the trial, like an audience for a Shakespearean tragi-comedy. Or maybe a Zambian adaptation of Kafka. The magistrate has had to tell them off for intimidating the witnesses.

President Rupiah Banda has described the photos as pornographic

The defence counsel rises to his feet. An imposing man with elegant glasses and a soft voice layered with intellectual menace.

I have watched other witnesses crumple under his cross-examination. The audience holds its breath. We all sense that this will be the climactic scene.

He casually offers her some rope. What prompted this investigation? Was she aware that the president himself had made his position clear? Why did she not interview any of the intended recipients of the photos? Including those who had spoken publicly in support of Chansa Kabwela?

Mrs Zulu folds her arms, pouts, refuses to answer some of the questions, is reprimanded by the magistrate, and pouts some more.

Plot twists

The definition of obscenity employed by the defence is from British law in the 1960s. It talks about corrupting morals by making people homosexual, drug-takers, prostitutes.

A few scattered laughs as the legal extract is read out, but no outrage that an out-of-date law from the old colonial power is being invoked.

It seems to me that Zambia's social conservatism is in tune with a Britain that no longer exists.

Defence and witness continue their ill-tempered exchange as to whether the photographs are capable of causing arousal.

It has been a constant theme. One witness almost found herself agreeing that only a lunatic could be turned on by them, but stopped herself when she spotted the president's portrait looming over the magistrate.

Perhaps she was remembering that now infamous news conference when the Zambian leader declared the pictures pornographic.

I have been to see several plays in Lusaka, but none has had the human drama, the plot twists, the surrealism of the performance in Magistrates Court Three.

But I cannot help feeling that the principal character is hiding in the wings.

Fred Mmembe is the editor-in-chief of The Post newspaper. He hates the government and his paper shouts it loud and clear.

I am left with the uncomfortable feeling that the whole of Zambia is a political battleground at the moment, and that even in a courtroom, there is no such thing as no man's land

Stage whispers hint that he is the real target. And sure enough, he is soon charged with contempt.

His trial, for an article published about this case, began this week. Of course, that could just be one of those coincidences that good playwrights can get away with.

As we leave court at the end of Mrs Zulu's evidence, one of the defence team comes up to me. "Thanks for your support," he says.

I'm aghast. "I'm not supporting you," I say, pointing at the press bench. "I'm sitting there, I'm neutral."

"You support us just by turning up," he asserts.

And I am left with the uncomfortable feeling that the whole of Zambia is a political battleground at the moment, and that even in a courtroom, there is no such thing as no man's land.

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