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Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning film, Django Unchained, has reopened in cinemas in China, a month after it was pulled for "technical reasons".

A manager at a UME Cineplex cinema in Beijing said: "The new version is one minute shorter than the previous one."

He speculated that a nude scene may have been cut.

The film's cancellation in April led to speculation that it did not meet censorship regulations required by cultural authorities.

Django Unchained stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a plantation owner and Jamie Foxx as a freed slave who trains to become a bounty hunter and demands his wife's freedom before the US Civil War.

Distributor Sony Pictures said Tarantino had agreed to "slight adjustments" to reduce the violence prior to its initial release in China last month.

Sony Pictures executive Zhang Miao said the changes to the film included "tuning the blood to a darker colour" and "lowering the height of the splatter of blood" in an interview with China's Southern Metropolis Daily.

The film, the first of Tarantino's to be released in China, had been cleared by the country's rigorous censors, who generally remove violence, sex and politically edgy content.

Earlier this year, some Chinese cinema-goers were left confused because of cuts to the James Bond film Skyfall that included unflattering references to the sex trade in the Chinese territory of Macau.

Meanwhile, Cloud Atlas with Tom Hanks was shown in Chinese cinemas without 38 minutes of footage that included gay and straight love scenes.

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The judge reminded her that citizens don’t get to choose when to pay the government just before ordering her to spend three months in a federal prison.

The Grammy-winning singer must report to prison on July 8 to begin serving the sentence for failure to pay federal income taxes for three years, followed by three months of home confinement and a year of supervised probation, the judge said. Hill must also pay penalties and taxes still owed and a $60,000 fine.

Hill pleaded guilty last year to three counts of failing to file tax returns on more than $1.8 million between 2005 and 2007.

The artist appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, for sentencing.

Hill told the judge she lives “very modestly” considering how much money her music — she has sold 16 million records — earned for other people.

“Someone did the math, and it came to around $600 million,” she said. “And I sit here before you trying to figure out how to pay a tax debt? If that’s not like enough to slavery, I don’t know.”

“This wasn’t a life of jet-setting glamour,” she said. “This was a life of sacrifice with very little time for myself and my children.”

Hill releases new music

The income in question was mostly from music and film royalties paid to companies she owned between 2005 and 2008, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

“Although Hill pleaded guilty to charges specifically related to those tax years, her sentence also takes into account additional income and tax losses for 2008 and 2009 — when she also failed to file federal returns — along with her outstanding tax liability to the state of New Jersey, for a total income of approximately $2.3 million and total tax loss of approximately $1,006,517,” the prosecutor said.

Hill’s lawyer, Nathan Hochman, told CNN that Hill has fully paid her taxes.

“I think the judge gave a fair and reasonable sentence,” Hochman said.

Her lack of a prior criminal record and the fact that she has six minor children helped, he said.

“I think the government has let a number of celebrities off and never criminally prosecuted them, Willie Nelson being at least one example,” he said. “I think that the court took that into account as well. Ms. Hill did not get a slap on the wrist and let off with just paying a certain amount of money but has had to go through this entire criminal prosecution.”

Hill also used her sentencing to talk about her music.

“I didn’t make music for celebrity status,” she told the court. “I made music for artistic and existential catharsis, which was not just necessary for myself but it was also necessary for the generations of oppressed people who hadn’t had their voices expressed like I was able to do it. Music is not something I do from 9 to 5. It’s a state of being, and like a doctor who delivers babies, I’m on call all the time because that’s the kind of work this is.”

Hill revealed in a message posted to her Tumblr account last month that she’s been working on new music.

“It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released,” Hill wrote. “And yes, I am working on new music.”

Her fans have been waiting for new music from her since her 1998 solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

CNN’s Doug Ganley contributed to this report.

Published May 6th, 2013 – 07:04 GMT via SyndiGate.info

A Justin Bieber fanatic who stormed the singer’s stage in Dubai on Sunday night in an attempt to reach the star has been released and will not be arrested, concert organisers have said.

Thomas Ovesen, COO of Done Events said that the male intruder, who rushed the stage while Bieber was playing the piano towards the end of his set was “a crazed fan who wanted a hug”.

Despite some online reports saying that the singing sensation was grabbed by the intruder, Ovesen confirmed that Bieber was not manhandled.

“Our only consolation is that Bieber was not touched,” said Ovesen.

Bodyguards intervened and grabbed the male, whose identity is still unknown.

According to gig-goers, Bieber “ran away to the left of the stage”.

As the star sprinted to safety, bodyguards grappled with the intruder – and the piano that Bieber had been playing at just seconds before tumbled to the stage floor in the melee.

“It happened in the process of getting him off stage,” said Ovesen.

Asked whether the intruder had been arrested for his actions, Ovesen replied:

“You want him arrested? No, he’s a crazed fan who just wanted a hug.

“Everyone wants to be on stage with Justin Bieber.”

Security in the fan zone at the stadium is the responsibility of Done Events.

Asked by 7DAYS whether security had been tight enough at Bieber’s concert, the gig organiser replied: “We will look at that. There are lots of people who are not working in that area. People want to be a part of what’s going on.”

Ovesen said the onstage security that grabbed the male intruder was “a mix” of Bieber’s personal team and Done Events staff.

Despite the potential seriousness of the stage invasion, Bieber, who had been singing the song ‘Believe’ when the incident happened, continued to then perform two encore tracks.

Chris Sacca also tweeted a video of security running onto the stage with the message: “Whoa. Crazy fan tackled @justinbieber and knocked the piano down the stage. Mayhem.”

It was the singer’s second performance in as many nights at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

The 19-year-old, kept fans waiting even longer for the gig to start on the second night. He was due to come on stage at 8pm and finally arrived at 10.20pm.

He was two hours and six minutes late for his appearance on Saturday night.

Story By: by Jasmine Garsd

Venezuela’s La Vida Boheme (left to right): Rafael Perez, Henry D’Arthenay, Daniel De Sousa, Sebastian Ayala.

For the next week, I’ll be traveling throughout Venezuela along with NPR’s Morning Edition. I leave our faithful audience in the good hands of beloved Alt.Latino co-host Felix Contreras.

I’ll help out mostly with our news coverage. But, Venezuela being the musical powerhouse that it is, Felix and I just had to take a dive into the scene there. And who better to guide us than Henry D’Arthenay, from La Vida Boheme, our favorite Venezuelan rock band?

We asked him to pick his five favorite Venezuelan musicians of all time. Of course, being the music lover that he is, he stayed up all night and came back to us with 30 recommendations.

So consider this week’s show an appetizer for Alt.Latino‘s 24/7 music stream, which will include all of D’Arthenay’s picks.

———————————————————————————————————————

Durante la próxima semana, estaré viajando por Venezuela como parte del programa de noticias matutinas Morning Edition. Los dejo en manos de nuestro querido coanfitrión, Félix Contreras.

En esta aventura caribeña, estaré asistiendo con nuestra cobertura de noticias. Sin embargo, dado que Venezuela es un país tan musical, Félix y yo cedimos a la tentación y decidimos zambullirnos en la escena musical. ¿Y qué mejor guía que Henry D’Arthenay de La Vida Bohème, nuestra banda de rock venezolano favorita?

Le pedimos a Henry que elija a sus cinco bandas venezolanas preferidas. Por supuesto, siendo un gran amante de la música, Henry se desveló toda la noche, y volvió a la mañana siguiente con treinta artistas venezolanos que deberíamos escuchar.

Por lo tanto, consideren que el show de esta semana es un antipasto, ya que también hemos decidido crear una estación de radio con los treinta artistas que nos trajo Henry: toda la música venezolana, pasada y presente, que ustedes necesitan conocer.

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“Tum-tum,” Downey replies.

“I got really sick from the plane from England,” Paltrow says. “Just terrible stomach problems.”

“Travel’s tough when you’re not a kid anymore,” Downey adds. “You’ve got to take it really seriously.”

Both are taking everything seriously now, from work to family to lifestyle. Downey and Paltrow are in enviable places among their fortysomething Hollywood peers.

At 48, he’s the great reclamation project of show business, rebounding from a fitful early career overshadowed by drug abuse and prison to become arguably the hottest leading man on the planet. “Iron Man 3” just opened to a whopping $195 million (it opens in the UAE on May 2 and the US this weekend), surpassing last year’s international debut of Marvel’s “The Avengers,” in which he also had the leading role.

At 40, Paltrow’s diversified into a super-hyphenate. While slowing down on acting to raise her two children with her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, Paltrow has just published her second cookbook, runs the lifestyles Web site Goop.com and is a business partner with fitness trainer Tracy Anderson. Paltrow also managed to book-end her Academy Award for “Shakespeare in Love” with an Emmy win for her guest spots on “Glee.”

Paltrow has plenty of detractors, though. Critics questioned her designation by People magazine as the world’s most-beautiful woman, which came days after Star magazine named her the most-hated celebrity.

Downey and Paltrow are following “Iron Man 3” with smaller dramas, Paltrow starring opposite Antonio Banderas in the Pablo Picasso tale “33 Dias,” Downey joining Robert Duvall for the father-son story “The Judge.” He also has plans for a third entry in his other franchise, “Sherlock Holmes,” though the future of “Iron Man,” Downey’s billionaire genius Tony Stark and Paltrow’s Gal-Friday-turned-girlfriend-and-CEO Pepper Potts are uncertain.

“Iron Man 3” hints that Tony might hang up his metal suits to focus on life with Pepper. Downey won’t tip his hand on the prospects of future solo entries or whether he’ll return for the upcoming “The Avengers” sequel. After so many years on the outs in Hollywood, though, Downey’s gotten used to the blockbuster life.

“Kind of like Tony’s obsession with the suit, this genre of movie, this and the ‘Sherlock’ stuff, it’s addictive,” Downey says. “Because they’re big movies. Interesting people seem to be drawn to them in recent years. You get really cool directors, people really running wild with their imagination.”

Paltrow eagerly says she would come back for more “Iron Man.” Especially now that she’s getting into the thick of things.

In “Iron Man 3,” Pepper graduates from glorified personal assistant to running Tony’s empire, and Paltrow even gets to put on the Iron Man suit and mix it up in the action scenes.

“I seriously question all my career choices up to that point. It’s like, what have I been doing in these highbrow frigging corset things? This is so much more fun,” Paltrow says.

Paltrow and Downey became friends after meeting at a film festival in the 1990s, though like much of Hollywood, she had doubts about the talented but manic actor who squandered his early promise through his partying and addictions.

He recalls that after they met, a mutual friend told him Paltrow had called looking for insights on Downey.

Downey: “She was like, ‘What is wrong with him? Who is this guy?’ She called him up asking, like, if it was going to be essentially bad for her reputation to be hanging out with me.”

Paltrow: “That is not true!”

Downey: “Not your reputation. What I mean was, I was wild.”

Paltrow: “He was really wild, and I was very naive. I immediately took a shine to him. … Then he went off the radar for a little while.”

Downey: “Sure, yeah. Just a decade or two.”

Paltrow: “I didn’t see him for a while.”

Downey: “Not surprising.”

Paltrow: “We lost touch and then …”

Downey (laughing hysterically): “She was out there banging out one hit after the next, and I was locked in a bathroom somewhere. So be it. Life is beautiful.”

Paltrow: “And now look.”

The once out-of-control Downey looks like a man in complete control now. Backing him up and keeping him honest, much as Pepper steers Tony straight, is his wife and producing partner, Susan Downey.

They have a year-old son, and considering the mess he made of his personal life in his 20s and 30s, Downey’s happiness on the home-front seems an appropriate complement to his career turnaround, which included an Oscar nomination for 2008’s “Tropic Thunder” (he also was nominated for 1992’s “Chaplin”).

Is his future nothing but bliss?

“I see perpetual vainglory,” Downey initially jokes. Then, “I see transitioning into things that are age and spirit appropriate, and I couldn’t have imagined that I’d be here five years ago. Ultimately, it comes down to relationships. What keeps driving me to feel that there’s more to explore in this universe is sitting right next to me,” he said, glancing at Paltrow.

“And my significant other, my partner, is a great, creative producer, and there are ways she is starting to inch me toward that are probably for my highest good.”

Tony Stark’s billions may top Downey’s millions, but the actor has one advantage over Iron Man. Tony has one Gal Friday in Pepper, while Downey has two – his wife and Paltrow.

“The cool thing is, and speaking of girl power, is she and the missus are friends,” Downey says.

“I love his wife,” Paltrow says.

“They’re both, like, type-A, organized, and so Susan and Gwyneth organize our ability to stay close and keep our doors open to each other and be current with each other’s lives and each other’s kids.”

“It’s fun,” Paltrow says. “We make an effort, because life can just get so busy and complicated, and we really go out of our way to carve out little pockets of time.”

And the great perk of hanging with Paltrow?

“Suffice it to say,” Downey says, “it’s also really easy for me to get good tickets to a Coldplay concert.”


Published May 1st, 2013 – 08:01 GMT via SyndiGate.info

Justin Bieber’s Believe World Tour didn’t exactly start well.

On opening night in Glendale, Arizona in the US, the teenager vomited on stage midway through a song, later blaming the incident on a milk-drinking overload before the show.

Seven months in, it would seem the rocky start was a sign of things to come. The Bieber pressure cooker, a pot of mounting volatility has bubbled over and over since the tour began on September 29 last year.

The deafening silence from the teenager’s representatives has only served to flag the current “issues” even more.

Battery allegations, drug discoveries, monkey madness, dangerous driving, lashing out at the paps and by far the most revealing quote from veteran music manager Peter Mensch who told the UK press: “His manager Scooter Braun is scared s***less” it seems the blue-eyed boy is headed off the proverbial rails.

But despite it all, it seems his UAE fans are standing strong.

Ahead of his Dubai dates on Saturday and Sunday at The Sevens, Bieliebers say “nothing could change their opinion” of their hero and idol.

Aliza Asghar, 14, a student at Dubai’s Oxford School, said she will always stand by Bieber.

“He has a wonderful voice and personality and dedicates himself to his singing. His voice touches the hearts of millions of his fans.”

Fellow Oxford School pupil Janina Adriano, 15, agreed, saying his latest antics hadn’t changed her opinion of him. “I think it’s all part of growing up. Teenagers like to explore different things, some good and some bad. Justin is no different.”

Ask a Bielieber why they love Justin so and the reasons are countless: His music, looks, talent, hair and ‘because he cares’ were all reasons given by excited Dubai fans.

“I’ve been a belieber for almost four years and Justin never fails to show how much he cares and loves all his beliebers from all over the world. I think it’s really amazing how he makes time for us, his fans, and to visit hospitals and give back to charities during his free time,” added Adriano. “Moreover, the message that his music conveys is fantastic. Not to mention, his voice… it’s just amazing. And let’s not forget the fact that he’s extremely good-looking.”

Asghar said she was blind to his imperfections. “I am a big fan and have a huge crush on him so any bad things about him will not change my view point. The media is trying to create a bad image. This is normal life for a celebrity like him.”

Dubai parents have proved understandably less loyal, especially given the latest scandal when Swedish cops this week reported they “found drugs and a stun-gun” on board Bieber’s tour bus.

Police spokesman Lars Bystrom says officers were suspicious over a “strong smell of marijuana” coming from the vehicle outside the Grand Hotel in Stockholm on Wednesday night.

A mixed bag of comments hit the Gulf News readers desk as the story surfaced.

@singlebutfree9m wrote: “Actually I had to refuse allowing my kids to go when I heard alcohol was being sold at event. So with drugs issue I’m glad I did”.

“I wouldn’t allow them even if they found Tic Tacs,” said @MediyaM10m.

@KickDrake22m took a strong stance saying: “This goes 2 prove that he’s no role model 2 our kids. I will not allow ‘with or without’ the drug issue. He is just a spoilt kid.”

Others parents were less concerned with retailer Splash CEO Raza Beig tweeting in via @razabeigsplash4m: “It’s entertainment… what have my kids got to do with him or members of his crew taking drugs..enjoy seeing him perform..that’s it.”

@Jaizz666 added: “just take the good part from him. kids going to listen to his music not to do what he does.”

tabloid! tracks the once blue-eyed boy’s ups and downs before he hits the Dubai stage this weekend:

September 29, 2012: On the opening night of his Believe world tour in Glendale, Arizona, the singer vomited on stage mid-way through a song. He later said it was due to drinking milk beforehand.

Mid-late October 2012: Ex-Israeli Army soldier Moshe Benabou turned security guard is fired from Bieber’s employment. Benabou later filed a lawsuit against the singer on January 10, 2013, seeking unspecified damages for assault and battery, in addition to $420,000 (Dh1.5 million) in unpaid overtime.

November 14, 2012: The singer was pulled over while driving his white Ferrari at around 6.30pm in the 600 block Hayward Avenue, West Hollywood. He made an unsafe left turn and had an expired registration.

January 2013: The year started with a tragic accident after a member of the paparazzi was killed while chasing his famous car. Justin was not in the white Ferrari at the time, a friend was driving. Justin called for a change in law to protect celebrities and photographers. The same month, completely unaware he was being snapped on a mobile phone, Justin was caught smoking a suspicious looking roll-up cigarette. US reports claim Justin was smoking marijuana. The singer was also accused of groping a girl’s breast when he met fans in Miami and the moment is caught on camera. The girl herself denied that was what actually happened.

February 2013: Having been pulled over by the US police several times, he told chat show host Jimmy Fallon about his constant run ins with the law saying “You know what, the police really like to pull me over. I don’t do anything, I promise.”. Then, a bitchy rant against Patrick Carney of indie band Black Keys had Justin saying the guy should be “slapped around” for dissing him. The following days were shamed by rumours he had cheated on long-term girlfriend Selena Gomez after their relationship appeared to be over for good. He was even rumoured to have had a fling with Rihanna (yes!) as well as numerous Victoria Secret models.

March 1, 2013: His 19th birthday brought yet more drama with swanky London club Cirque du Soir refusing his mates Jaden Smith (Will Smith’s son) and his latest chick Ella-Paige Roberts Clark for being underage. JB dubbed the night his ‘worst birthday’.

March 4, 2013: Fans booed after he turned up nearly two hours late on stage in London — on a school night. Young Bieber fans were forced to leave at 10pm as the show was due to start at 8.30pm. At 10.20pm Bieber still wasn’t on stage and furious parents said many children were left disappointed.

March 5, 2013: The Canadian pop star was branded an “arrogant git” after he made young girls wait three hours in the cold for a meet and greet — but then barely acknowledging them when he finally arrived.

March 6, 2013: More signs of a meltdown as Justin takes to Twitter to rant about the past few days of scandal and drama saying: “Rumors rumors and more rumors. nothing more nothing less. might talk about them 1 day. [Right] now I’m just gonna be positive. cant bring me down. I’m focused on the good things in life. I’m blessed and not forgetting it. I’m giving back every day for it. cant phase me.” (sic)

March 7, 2013: Things got even weirder as the singer went out to dinner wearing a gas mask. The Biebs donned the rubber mask as he headed to Mr Chow in London for a spot of posh nosh.

March 8, 2013: Justin was rushed to hospital after suffering breathing difficulties on stage at London’s O2 Arena. The singer was initially treated by doctors backstage before returning to finish the show. After the gig he ended up in hospital and wrote to his 35 million followers on Twitter that he was “getting better” along with a topless photo.

March 12, 2013: The singer cancels the second of two scheduled shows in Lisbon, Portugal at the Pavilhao Atlantico due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

March 14, 2013: Bieber posts a lengthy update on Instagram complaining about being compared to actress Lindsay Lohan and says he doesn’t deserve the negative press he’s getting.

March 25, 2013: Bieber is spotted shirtless in public at an airport in Lodz, Poland, as he left the country following a concert. Temperatures were reported as -10 degrees Celsius that day.

March 26, 2013: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrive at the singer’s home in California after a battery complaint is filed by Bieber’s neighbour Jeff Schwartz who claims the singer spat at and threatened to kill him after he confronted the star about racing his Ferrari around the area. No arrests are made.

March 28, 2013: The singer flies into Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss airport with his new birthday present, a capuchin monkey called Mally. After failing to provide a health certificate, officials quarantine the monkey at Bieber’s expence. He is now facing a fine of $15,000 and possible prosecution.

March 31, 2013: Bieber was banned from an Austrian nightclub after claims his security team smashed the cameras of fans at the club and even reportedly groped some of the girls, according to Austrian Times.

By Kelly Crane, Senior Reporter

Published April 29th, 2013 – 10:33 GMT via SyndiGate.info

Come on people. Let’s stop throwing our superstars under the marriage bus. Egyptian superstar Amr Diab posted a pic on his official Twitter page of him and his four children Nour, Abdullah, Kenzy and Jana in London with the caption “I love You”.

According to Sayidaty.net, Amr had posted the photo after rumors began circulating that he divorced his first wife and mother of his children and married again. Until this point, Amr did not comment regarding the rumor of his new marriage other than posting the photo.

At the time that guy that Barakat loves to hate did not deny or confirm the rumors, sources revealed that he decided to move his family residence in London due to the unstable conditions in Egypt. Sources added that Amr’s daughters study at a private school in London called “Queens Gate”.

Nour is Amr’s daughter from his first marriage to Egyptian actress Shireen Rida and his three other ones are from his Saudi wife Zaina Ashour.

Do you think we should leave Amr’s personal life alone for a moment? Let us know your thoughts!

Story By: by David Dye

Dawes.

Dawes‘ Taylor Goldsmith writes heartfelt first-person songs, somewhat in the style of Laurel Canyon predecessors like Jackson Browne. In an exhaustive interview with World Cafe‘s Michaela Majoun, Goldsmith describes the inspiration for the songs on the band’s new album, Stories Don’t End.

Dawes recorded Stories Don’t End across the country in Asheville, N.C., on its members’ own dime; they’ve decided to go independent and release their records themselves. Their last album, Nothing Is Wrong, was a major success which led to gigs opening for Mumford & Sons, among others.