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Stars promoting safe sex

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:41:23 -0500

Actors Jackie Chan and Pu Cunxin and folksinger Peng Liyuan are preparing to tackle a taboo. Their new Public Service Announcements call for safe and protected sex using condoms. The Life is Too Good series of announcements are part of a drive to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Pu Cunxin wants to use his fame to spread the word. SOUNDBITE: Pu Cunxin, actor, participant in Public Service Announcements, saying (Mandarin): "China has a floating population of several hundred million, people separated for long periods of time from their partners. How do we teach them about protective sex, especially the young couples? I think that our announcements will make people think, more and more will get the message, if we work hard to broadcast it, they will benefit." In an effort to spread the message, the announcements, directed by Oscar winning director Ruby Yang, will go out on all forms of media. From websites to public transport to state television, the message will be everywhere. SOUNDBITE: Ruby Yang, Public Service Announcements director, saying (English): (WHAT'S PSA) "On CCTV they can talk about condoms and sexual transmission so its, I would say, a mini breakthrough to show this series of PSA on CCTV." The last condom campaign, 8 years ago, was withdrawn due to worries that it promoted promiscuity. PIECE - TO - CAMERA "Those who are most vulnerable in China still have little access to television. UNDP has harnessed new media to spread the word to those most at risk. In Beijing, I'm Tyra Dempster, for Reuters."

Jimi Hendrix sex tape

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:33:54 -0400

Talk about going to the archives. Jimi Hendrix is the supposed star of the latest celebrity sex tape. Adult film company Vivid Entertainment is releasing a video allegedly starring the rock guitarist engaged in various sexual acts with two women. The rock guitar virtuoso died of a drug overdose in 1970. John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for his "Give Peace a Chance" are going up for auction. Christie's said the document could fetch as much as $600,000 dollars. The lyrics are being sold by comedy writer and presenter Gail Renard, who was 16 when she befriended Lennon and Yoko Ono. According to Christie's, Lennon gave Renard the lyrics, telling her: "One day they will be worth something." The lyrics go under the gavel on July 10. Pop singer Britney Spears will soon return to prime-time television. Weeks after glowing reviews as a guest star on the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," Spears will return to the show on May 12 to reprise her role as a sassy office assistant named Abby. Spears' first appearance on the show last month drew 10.6 million viewers, up sharply from the show's season-to-date average audience of 8.1 million. Paris Hilton continues to draw a crowd. The party-girl socialite stopped traffic in West Hollywood where she made a visit to the ever trendy Kitson, where she launched a new clothing line. Mel Gibson is back in front of the camera for the first time since 2002. He is set to headline the thriller film, "Edge of Darkness." The 52-year-old actor has kept a low profile since his drunken anti-Semitic outburst in July 2006. In "Edge of Darkness" Gibson will playing a straitlaced cop who uncovers corruption while investigating a murder. Grand Theft Auto 4 went on sale Tuesday, with fans lining up at midnight to grab the first copies of the criminal action game. The launch is expected to be the biggest entertainment event of the year, with first-week sales forecast to be near $400 million, beating those of last year's "Halo 3." Based on earl...

John McCain visits Iraq

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:31:40 -0400

U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain steps off a helicopter in Mosul, Iraq. He's here on a fact-finding mission for the Senate Armed Services Committee to assess a U.S. troop build-up that he's strongly backed. After meeting Iraqi and U.S. military officials, McCain travelled to Haditha where he toured the streets with Iraqi and U.S. soldiers. This is McCain's eighth visit to Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein. Although he supported going to war he was critical of how it was being conducted until an extra 30,000 troops were deployed last year. According to McCain the quickest way to end the war in Iraq is to continue with the troop surge that's part of a new counter-insurgency strategy. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who are competing closely for the Democratic nomination, favour bringing U.S. troops home as soon as possible. As for the American public, in the five years since the war began, they've become more concerned with an ailing economy than the rights and wrongs of war. Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri, Reuters

Report Vindicates Canadiens GM

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:36:36 -0400

Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has praised the findings of a Transportation Safety Board investigation into a tall ship accident that killed his 25-year-old daughter. - "Everyone in the sail training industry should be reading closely, so they can apply the lessons learned at the cost of a life," Gainey said Thursday. - The Transportation Safety Board spent more than a year delving into how Laura Gainey was swept off the port deck of the Picton Castle on Dec. 8, 2006, by a wave during a mid-Atlantic storm. - In a report released Thursday, the TSB said the decision to leave port amid a forecast for stormy weather and the lack of training among the crew were contributing factors to the accident that lead to the death of Gainey's daughter. - "It is a case study for what happens when safety or risk management systems are not in place," said Gainey, who admitted to feeling a mix of deep sadness and bittersweet satisfaction when he read the findings. - Most of all, he said, he felt "sadness as to how this accident happened" in the first place. - "It was so preventable," he said as he travelled near Ithica, N.Y. - Laura Gainey was wearing protective clothing but no life-jacket or safety harness when she disappeared. Canadian and U.S. air and sea crews searched for three days but were unable to find her. - The findings in the final report, which was released in Ottawa on Thursday, indicate the vessel's managers did not take the long-range forecasts of adverse weather and the limited training of the crew into consideration when it departed Nova Scotia for the Caribbean on Dec. 5. - "We came to the conclusion that with strong safety measures in place, loss of life can be avoided," lead investigator Paul van den Berg said. - The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation. The board can't assign fault or...

Murdered journalist's anniversary

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:10:23 -0500

A year after his killing, thousands gather at the Istanbul offices of murdered journalist Hrant Dink. Dink was shot dead a year ago by ultra-nationalist gunmen. He'd received death threats after writing articles which urged Turkey to accept responsibility for its part in mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks and Kurds in 1915. Dink's widow spoke to the gathering. SOUNDBITE: Hrant Dink's wife, Rakel Dink saying (Turkish): "One year after, we are here to remember him. We are here where they are trying to clean off his soul and blood. Can this pavement be cleaned off like this? Can it be made to be forgotten like this? Can it be closed off like this?" Protesters later clashed with police after marching on the offices of the right wing Nationalist Action Party. 19 suspects are on trial for Dinks' murder but police have been criticised for failing to act on warnings his life was in danger. Dink's writings had brought him a suspended jail sentence under a law which makes it a crime to insult the Turkish identity. The European Union has called the law a major obstacle to free speech. Andrew Potter, Reuters

Warships Patrol Arabian Sea

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:33:25 -0500

Four Nato warships have been patrolling the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden in support of merchant vessels.

Calcutta sex workers demonstrate

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:24:49 -0400

Kolkata sex workers seek legalisation of their profession Kolkata, May 1(ANI): Sex workers in Kolkata took out a candlelight procession seeking freedom and legalisation of their profession on the eve of May Day, which is observed the world over as labours' day. The march was organised by the Durbar Mahila Samanway Committee, a Calcutta-based organisation of sex workers. Over the years, the committee has succeeded in bringing sex workers together under one umbrella organisation.

Mexican Drug Cartel Shootout

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:29:42 -0500

For the past few years, it hasn’t been unusual to see army troops on Mexican streets. And ten people were killed in the latest gun battle between soldiers and drug hitmen. Others were injured in the shootout in the northern Mexican border city Reynosa. The city and the surrounding state are home to Mexico's most violent drug gang, the Gulf cartel. Its armed wing, the Zetas, are known for torturing and decapitating rivals. These weapons were seized after the four-hour firefight. Scared residents were caught in the crossfire, while going about their daily business. SOUNDBITE: Martha Hernandez, Reynosa resident, saying (Spanish): "There was a lot of panic inside the store, as shots and loads of explosions were heard. We were taken to shelter behind the store." The gun battle took place as hundreds of Mexicans blocked roads and bridges into the United States to protest against army operations against drug gangs. Officials said the protests were organised by drug traffickers themselves. Many Mexicans support President Felipe Calderon's army-backed campaign to defeat the drug cartels. But the campaign's been in place for over two years, and he's under increasing pressure to tackle spiralling drug violence which killed 6000 people last year. Joanna Partridge, Reuters

India's sex workers Bank

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:40:25 -0500

A bank in India is helping sex workers save their money for a brighter future. MOREINFO: The bank was started by a sex-worker collective in the heart of Mumbai's red light district. More than 1,200 sex workers now hold accounts at the Sangini Women's Co-operative Society bank, which will soon introduce low-interest loans. SCRIPT: India's financial capital Mumbai is a beacon for sex workers from all over South Asia, yet prejudice and red tape has locked them out of the banking system. Many sex workers lack proof of identification which excludes them from opening up bank accounts and those who do have the necessary documents say they're often made to feel unwelcome at banks. Now a new bank especially for sex workers removes the traditional obstacles SOUNDBITE: Unidentified woman "I have two children, a boy and a girl. The girl is married and the boy is small. I want to educate him so he can get a good job so that he can marry and be happy, that's my dream." Many investors are saving their way out of prostitution. Shilpa Merchant who helped to set up the banK says some women want to return to their villages, but have no savings and need to keep working to pay off loan sharks. SOUNDBITE: SHILPA MERCHANT "This is a way for them to finally get out of the vicious cycle of being dependent on the madame or being dependent on the money lender and being able to refuse a customer who doesn't wear a condom. They do not have this fear of where is my next meal coming from." Some investors are saving up to buy their freedom. Many of Mumbai's sex workers are sold to brothels and must pay large sums to leave If a woman is confined to a brothel the bank will pay her regular visits to collect her savings. The bank provides no immediate way out of sex work, but by investing as little as fifty cents a day, many women can contemplate retirement and even set up businesses. In Mumbai, I'm Alana Rosenbaum reporting for Reuters.

Actress Sherawat does tribute

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:58:47 -0500

TRIBUTE TO MADS MAGIC !!! Mumbai 3 Dec (ANI): Actress Mallika Sherawat seems to be the first choice of film makers when they wish to pay their tributes to any actor - be it sex siren Helen’s Mehbooba track or Madhuri Dixit’s ‘Choli ke Peechhe…’ act. Mallika is all set to recreate the famous or infamous Mads number in the upcoming flick ‘Welcome’. The sexy actress is featuring in an elaborate song and dance sequence that recreates the hit Madhuri track.

Market turmoil continues: Bernanke

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:31:08 -0400

Wall Street is not out of the woods yet, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. He told lawmakers the upheaval in financial markets continue but government officials are working to restore order. Meantime, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is also on Capitol Hill telling lawmakers regulators need more power in times of crisis like the one that brought down Bear Stearns. mediascrape Conway Gittens, Reuters

Trading tractors for buffalo

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:51:46 -0400

It's back to basics for these Thai farmers, and working the land isn't that easy. Farmers are swapping their fast, heavy duty machinery for slow water buffaloes. mediascrape Basmah Fahim, Reuters.