Whitney Houston dead at the Age of 48

Whitney Houston
August 9 1963 - February 11 2012

Legendary pop icon Whitney Houston passed away on 11 February 2012.

The singer, whose battles with alcohol, drugs and her husband Bobby Brown slowly took away her star shine and she give up at 48 years old. Houston's publicist confirmed the news to reporters from ABC News. The cause of the accident is still unknown.

Six police cars were spotted in front of Beverly Hilton Hotel today where Houston was staying. Reporters from TMZ reported that paramedics were called and found the lifeless body of the singer in her hotel room.

According to TMZ, paramedics tried electrical stimulation of the heart, with no success. Houston died at 15:55 pm local time.

Over the past two weeks Whitney Houston has appeared several times on social events in apparently "strange" condition. Witnesses described the star as "disoriented."

In May, the singer has been admitted to treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

The news on Whitney's death came on the eve of the biggest night in music - the Grammy Awards.

Whitney Houston

Stars began to mourn Whitney Houston on the social network Twitter.
Mariah Carey said she was shocked by the death of her friend, the incomparable Whitney. Mariah tweeted: "She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to grace the earth."
Lady Gaga confessed that when she composed "Born This Way" she imagined the song sang by Whitney, that was such a great inspiration for her.
Jennifer Lopez said that the world has lost one of its greatest voices. "Such a loss. One of the greatest voices of our time. Sending out prayers to her family... #R.I.P.Whitney." - she tweeted.
Christina Aguilera called Houston a legend. X-Tina wrote on Twiter: "We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed."
Rihanna has admitted that it feels so strange and sad to attend a rehearsal for the Grammy Awards ceremony shortly after she learned about the great loss. Rihanna tweeted: "No words! Just tears #DearWhitney"
Diddy and Justin Bieber said they were shocked by the news.
Alicia Keys: "I feel sick.... Life is precious, we are fragile souls. Let's love each other! I miss you beautiful Whitney, the whole world misses you!!"
Katy Perry: "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P."
Enrique Iglesias: "My thoughts and prayers go out to Whitney and her entire family. Working with her is an experience that I will cherish forever."
Queen Latifah wrote on Twitter: "Oh Dear Lord! Huritng so Bad!!! MY Sister Whitney!!!!!!! Newark please Pray!!! World Please Pray!"
Missy Elliott: "Thank u 4 the times we worked 2gether your Voice touched the World! N this rough time I pray for The Houston Family..."
Tony Braxton: "My heart is weeping...RIP to the Legendary Diva & Icon Whitney Houston!!!!! Such an incredible influence over music as a whole!"

Whitney Houston in 1988

Twitter is full of comments about Whitney.
Other stars like Dolly Parton, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Usher, Talib Kweli, Adam Lambert, Billy and Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo, Marc Anthony, Faith Evans, Pitbull, Kelly Rowland, Will.I.Am, Kelly Osbourne, Fergie, Jessica Simpson, Ricky Martin, Lenny Kravitz, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, Ellen DeGeneres, Courtney Cox (and more, and more, shall I keep going on?) mourned Whitney Houston.


Earlier reports say that the ex-husband of Whitney Houston - Bobby Brown - was also shocked by the news. He was taking part in his group "New Edition"s concert in Memphis, when he started crying and said: "I love you Whitney." 

"Grammy Awards" organizers said that the rehearsal is going on like usual.
There are rumors that tonight may be given "unexpected" award for Whitney Houston.

Houston was the golden girl of music. Since the mid-80s to late 90s, she was one of the most selling artists in the world. She wowed the crowd with her incredibly sensual and powerful voice.

Whitney  Houston has achieved great success not only in music, but as an actress with films like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale".

Whitney Houston - Rest in peace!

I want to give my sincere condolences to Whitney Houston's family.
Rest in peace, Whitney! You are a legend!

Let's hear something from Whitney once again.
Let's give her the respect she deserves.
Video: Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You ("The Bodyguard" soundtrack)

Libyan Dictator Moammar Gadhafi is Dead

Moammar Gadhafi

Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the most wanted man in the world, has been killed on Thursday, 20 October 2011.


Muammar Gaddafi – the dictator who ruled Libya with an iron fist for nearly 42 years before being driven from power in a bloody uprising.
Gaddafi has been killed as he tried to flee his hometown of Sirte. He was ousted by rebels in a bloody civil war.


The flamboyant tyrant who terrorized his country and much of the world during his 42 years of despotic rule was reportedly cornered by insurgents in the town of Sirte, where Gadhafi had been born and a stronghold of his supporters.


There were conflicting reports of how he was killed – there were initial reports that he was killed in a gun battle, but NATO has since confirmed it hit a convoy of Gaddafi loyalists fleeing Sirte on Thursday. It could not say whether the former Libyan leader was in the convoy.


Al Jazeera television showed footage of a man resembling the 69-year-old leader lying dead or severely wounded, bleeding from the head and stripped to the waist as fighters rolled him over on the pavement. Witnesses said his body was put on display in the nearby city of Misrata.


Initial reports from fighters said Gaddafi had been holed up with the last of his fighters in a furious battle with revolutionary forces. At one point, a convoy tried to flee the area and was blasted by NATO airstrikes, though it was not clear if Col Gaddafi was in the vehicle.


His body, bloodied, half naked, Gaddafi's trademark long curls hanging limp around a rarely seen bald spot, was delivered, a prize of war, to Misrata, the city west of Sirte whose siege and months of suffering at the hands of Gaddafi's artillery and sniper made it a symbol of the rebel cause.


A quick and secret burial was due later on Friday.

Libyan rebels

Libyans rejoiced as news of his death spread. Car horns blared in Tripoli as residents poured into the streets to celebrate. In Sirte, revolutionary forces fired endless rounds into the sky and sang the national anthem.


"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Moammar Gadhafi has been killed" Jibril said at a news conference in Tripoli.


"It's time to start a new Libya, a united Libya" Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril declared. "One people, one future."


Word of Gadhafi's death triggered celebrations in the streets of Tripoli with insurgent fighters waving their weapons and dancing jubilantly.


The White House and NATO said they were unable to confirm reports of his death.


U.S. President Barack Obama, in a veiled dig at the Syrian and other leaders resisting the democrats of the Arab Spring, declared "the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end."


Al Jazeera aired video of what appeared to be the dead leader, which showed Gadhafi lying in a pool of blood in the street, shirtless, and surrounded by people.


Gadhafi had been on the run for weeks after being chased out of the capital Tripoli by NATO bombers and rebel troops.


He had been believed to be hiding in the vast Libyan desert while calling on his supporters to rise up and sweep the rebel "dogs" away, but his once fearsome power was scoffed at by Libyans who had ransacked his palace compound and hounded him into hiding.

Gadhafi - the man who ruled Libya for 42 years.

Gadhafi, 69, ruled Libya with an iron fist for almost 42 years. He seized control of Libya in Sept., 1969 in a bloodless coup when he was just 27 years old. The then young and dashing army captain and his small band of military officers overthrew the monarch King Idris, setting up a new Libyan Arab Republic that over the years became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.


Gadhafi took over the top spot as the world's most wanted man after Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. troops in Pakistan.


At the height of his ability to threaten terrorism, President Ronald Reagan dubbed Gadhafi the "mad dog of the Middle East."


He was accused of backing the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco popular with American soldiers, reportedly funding the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro in 1985, and the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which resulted in the U.N. and United States imposing sanctions on Libya.


For years, Gadhafi refused to take responsibility for the bombing, but that changed in 2003 when he acknowledged his role and tried to make amends.


The eccentric leader, who amassed power and wealth by controlling the nation's oil industry, held the title of being the longest-serving leader in Africa and the Arab world.


Over the years, Gadhafi earned an international reputation for his outlandish apparel and much-ridiculed phobias and proclivities.


His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen.


Following his death, Libya's new leaders are expected to declare the country's "liberation". They face the challenge of healing divisions and holding credible elections in a country wracked by months of fighting.

Aaliyah Remembering - Ten Years Since She's Gone

Aaliyah

It's been ten years since a very talented and beautiful young lady has left us.
Ten years have been gone since the R&B singer, actress, model and dancer Aaliyah died in plane crash.


A decade after Aaliyah Dana Haughton's death her family, friends and fans still remeber, honor and respect the great person she was.


The princess of R&B was just 22 years old at the time of her death.
In August 2001 she was in the Bahamas, shooting the video for her song "Rock the boat". On her way back to the USA Aaliyah has been killed in a plane crash.


Watch "Rock the boat" video:



Aaliyah Dana Haughton was a successful singer and actress with a thriving career. In 2001, she'd just released her third, self-titled album and was preparing for a role in "The Matrix" sequels when everything came to a screeching halt.


After shooting a music video in the Bahamas for her single "Rock the Boat" Aaliyah got on a plane and tragedy struck. According to RollingStone, "...she boarded a ten-seat twin-engine Cessna 402B bound for Opa-Locka, Florida, with the pilot, Luis Morales III, and seven members of her crew." Less than a minute after take off, the plane crashed (due to 700 pounds of excess weight) a few hundred feet from the runway and Aaliyah along with several others, died on impact. It was then that she joined the sad group of young stars gone too soon.


By 22, Aaliyah had achieved more success in her career than most singers twice her age. She made her music debut in 1994 at 15 as the protege of hitmaker R. Kelly. Her first album "Age Aint Nothin' but a Number" sold three million copies and solidified her presence as an urban artist. But it was her 1997 follow up that put her and her vocal stylings on the map.


Aaliyah teamed up with producers Missy Elliot and Timbaland to create her chart topping classic "One in a Million". The album sold over eight million copies worldwide and produced hits such as "If Your Girl Only Knew" and "Hot like Fire". She used her new fame to parlay into acting with a lead role in "Romeo Must Die" opposite martial artist Jet-Li. The film was a cult success and featured a hit soundtrack led by the single "Try Again" which Aaliyah performed.


"Queen of the Damned", Aaliyah's final film was released February 22, 2002 - six months after her death. It marked the official end of her blossoming career. Unlike most twenty-somethings that populate the industry today, Aaliyah didn't depend on sex to sell. She had hypnotic beats, catchy lyrics and great dance moves that engaged audiences.


Parrish Johnson, an executive at her former record label Blackground, revealed, "She's the first artist I worked with who would not compromise her values to be famous. In this business, church girls become prostitutes because they want to be stars, but she would never let stardom interfere with who she was."


A month before her untimely death, Aaliyah granted MTV's show "Diary" behind-the-scenes access to her fast-paced life and said, "I am truly blessed to wake up every morning to do something that I love; there is nothing better than that."


She continued, "Everything is worth it -- the hard work, the times when you're tired, the times when you are a bit sad. In the end, it's all worth it because it really makes me happy. I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. I've got good friends, a beautiful family and I've got a career. I thank God for his blessings every single chance I get."


So, on August 25, blast Aaliyah's timeless music loud and remember her for being a trendsetting force in fashion and for helping to redefine and take R&B music to another level.


Watch a tribute video:

How Celebrities Reacted to Amy Winehouse's Death

Kelly Osbourne and Amy Winehouse

Fellow musicians, friends and fans have paid tribute to gifted british singer Amy Winehouse on Twitter, following her tragic death on Saturday, 23 July.


You can read our article dedicated to Amy Winehouse.


Celebrities flocked to Twitter Saturday, after news broke that Grammy award-winning singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her London house.
Famouse people, including her close friend Kelly Osbourne, Demi Moore, Ricky Martin, Lily Allen, Rihanna, Keri Hilson and many more mourned the late signer on the social network site.
Here are some of the tweet tributes to Amy.


Amy's close friend Kelly Osbourne tweeted: "i cant even breath right now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!"


Demi Lovato: "Amy Winehouse.. So sad. Unfortunately the world lost an incredibly talented woman to such a powerful disease... addiction #RIP"


Winehouse's friend and fan Lily Allen tweeted: "It's just beyond sad, there's nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace."


Singer Ricky Martin said: "I just found out. I feel pain. I feel anger. Rest beautiful girl rest. You are free! RIP Amy."


Actress Jessica Alba tweeted: "So sad about Amy Winehouse -she was so talented. Really tragic."


Demi Moore said: "Truly sad news about Amy Winehouse. My heart goes out to her family. May her troubled soul find peace."


Singer Boy George tweeted: "I cannot contain my saddness and my anger about Amy Winehouse. Rest in peace child, it's a deeply sad day for many reasons!"


Hitmaker-singer Rihanna tweeted: "Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now! #DearAmy"


British singer Jessie J said: "The way tears are streaming down my face. Such a loss. RIP Amy. Man... Something tells me that we'll be talking about Amy in 30 yrs time in the same way we tlk about other music legends who's lives ended early."


Singer Keri Hilson posted: "Amy Winehouse... SO tragic. I loved her. She inspired me! I kept hoping she'd find a happier place than her self destructive state...damn."


Eccentric singer Nicki Minaj also expressed her shock, saying: "Please tell me Amy Winehouse didn't die. Is this some sick joke?"


Amy Winehouse's spokesman Chris Goodman released a statement, saying: "Everyone who is involved with Amy is shocked and devastated. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. The family will issue a statement when ready."


Tributes countinue to pour in as news of Amy Winehouse's death spreads around the world, when she reached international fame and recognition as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time.


As Nicki Minaj, we also could not believe the tragic accident...
We sent our sincere condolences to her family! May Amy's soul rest in peace!




Let's watch a tribute video:

Singer Amy Winehouse Dead at Age of 27

Amy Winehouse

Tragic news... Talented british singer Amy Winehouse was found dead on Saturday (23 July), at her North London house.


Troubled, Grammy-winner signer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her North London home. She was 27 years old. The award-winning artist, famous for hit like "Rehab" from the critically acclaimed album "Back to Black" was discovered by the emergency services in the late arternoon, around 15:54pm. Her death was being treated as "unexplained", but sources said she had died of a drug overdose. 


Metropolitan police confirmed the death of the singer, notorious as her off-stage excesses as her music.
In a statement, the London Metropolitan police said: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."


A statement from Amy Winehouse's U.S. record label said: "We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."


Last mounth, Amy canceled her European tour after a performance in Serbia where she seemed completely out of it.


The singer was born Amy Jade Winehouse on 14th September 1983 in Southgate, London.
Winehouse has had a troubled life which has included various stints in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.
She's battaled drug addiciotn for years, having most recently checked back into rehabilitation in May.


Winehouse was last seen with her goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, earlier last week when the teenager performed at the iTunes festival.


Unfortunately, another great artist is gone... Rest in peace Amy Winehouse.
Our condolences to her family.


Watch Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black" video.

At Least 6 Killed in Pakistan

CNN - Militants in two vehicles fired a rocket and guns at people in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, leaving six dead and nine injured, a senior police official said.

The militants targeted a graveyard in Hazara area, said Muhammad Dawood Junejo, a Quetta police officer.
"Initially, they fired a rocket and then started firing on people in the graveyard" the officer said.
The officer said the incident seems to be an act of sectarian attack.

Quetta is the capital of the Balochistan province, which has had militant attacks in the past.

Last year, about 50 minority Shiites were killed when a suicide bomber struck an Al Quds rally in September.

Osama bin Laden is Dead!

CNN - Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, is dead - almost 10 years after the attacks that killed about 3,000 people.

The founder and leader of al Qaeda was killed by U.S. forces Monday in a mansion in Abbottabad, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Four others in the compound were also killed. One of them was bin Laden's adult son, and another was a woman being used as a shield by a male combatant.

Bin Laden's body was later buried at sea. Many Muslims adhere to the belief that bodies should be buried within one day.

In an address to the nation Sunday night, U.S. President Barack Obama called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda." Washington is nine hours behind Pakistan.

The killing of bin Laden was the culmination of years of intelligence work and months of following a specific lead, senior U.S. administration officials said.

Bin Laden eluded capture for years, once reportedly slipping out of a training camp in Afghanistan just hours before a barrage of U.S. cruise missiles destroyed it.
He had been implicated in a series of deadly, high-profile attacks that had grown in their intensity and success during the 1990s. They included a deadly firefight with U.S. soldiers in Somalia in October 1993, the bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa that killed 224 in August 1998, and an attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 sailors in October 2000.

Мany Americans were soaking up the historic moment.

Information about bin Laden's organisation - Al-Qaeda

Barack Obama speaking about Osama bin Laden's Death

At Least 61 Dead in Iraq Bombings

A wave of bombings targeting Shiites, a market in Baghdad and a neighborhood in Anbar province killed at least 61 people and wounded more than 100 others Friday, police said.

The strikes conjured memories of the bloodshed that once engulfed both the capital city and the vast province every day.

No one has claimed responsibility for the string of attacks, but authorities believe that such coordinated bombings bear the hallmarks of al Qaeda in Iraq.

The bombings come days after Iraqi and U.S. officials announced that they had killed the two most wanted al Qaeda leaders in the country. Although the deaths hurt the insurgents, military officials don't discount insurgents' continued ability to carry out attacks.

This week, Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, spokesman for the Baghdad Military Operations Command, boasted about the killings of insurgent leaders Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

He said security forces must capitalize on this "great victory" but cautioned about the possibility of reprisals.

Of the Iraqi-U.S. joint operation Sunday that killed the two leaders, Atta said, "We had information that they were planning attacks that would target churches, Shiite mosques and bridges, and the security forces took precautions and prepared security plans specifically for this."

Former Deputy Minister of Health and Sadrist politician Hakim al-Zamili said he thinks Friday's bombings could be retaliation for the killing of the al Qaeda in Iraq leaders.

"This political and government vacuum led to such bombings and will lead to many disasters for the Iraqi people" he said.

The strikes occur during the delay in the formation of a government, and many observers fear that a political vacuum could portend an increase in violence, such as the sectarian bloodshed that took place in early 2006 while the government was being formed.

Among the string of attacks:
• Two car bombs targeted worshipers in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, killing 39 and wounding 56 people. Also, a car bomb exploded outside one of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's offices there, wounding five people.

The attacks enraged Sadr City residents, who say the government is turning a blind eye to militants. Al-Sadr's office distributed a statement Friday afternoon calling for his followers to show restraint and called for three days of mourning. Al-Sadr has a political movement and a large grass-roots following.

• In southeastern Baghdad, eight people died and 23 were wounded when a car bomb and a roadside bomb detonated outside Muhsin al-Hakim mosque.

• In the northwestern Baghdad neighborhood of Hurriya, a car bomb explosion outside Hadi al-Chalabi mosque killed five people and wounded 10.

• A roadside bomb outside the Sadreen mosque in the Zafaraniya neighborhood in southeastern Baghdad killed two people and wounded seven.

• One person was killed and six people were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in an outdoor market in the southern Baghdad district of Dora.

• A car bomb exploded outside a Shiite mosque in the Ameen neighborhood in southeastern Baghdad, wounding two people.

• West of Baghdad, in the Anbar province town of Khaldiya, six people were killed and 10 were wounded when six roadside bombs exploded in a residential area where a police officer and a judge lived. Authorities imposed a curfew.

Kanye West's "Fame Kills" Tour Meets Swift Death.

Kanye West may be able to take time off to think about his life after all now that his concert tour has been canceled.

Kanye West has canceled his "Fame Kills" tour with Lady Gaga. It was announced two weeks ago.

Concert promoter Live Nation said Thursday that West's concert tour with Lady Gaga, titled "Fame Kills," has been canceled just two weeks after it was announced.

The reason for the cancellation was not revealed. West told NBC's Jay Leno last month, before the tour was officially announced, that he planned "to take some time off" in the aftermath of his MTV Awards show embarrassment.

The three-month, 34-show tour across the United States and Canada was to start next month. Tickets went on sale last week.

Live Nation said people who bought tickets could get refunds at the point of purchase. Tickets purchased online and on the phone will be refunded automatically, the promoter said.

West caused a ruckus at the MTV Awards last month when he put down his bottle of cognac, jumped on the MTV Music Video Awards stage and grabbed the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she was giving an acceptance speech.

West, who apologized the next day on "The Jay Leno Show," seemed to blame his erratic behavior on the lack of time he had to grieve his mother's death two years ago.

"I deal with hurt and, you know, so many, you know, celebrities, they never take the time off, and I've never taken the time off to really, you know, I just, music after music and tour after tour on tour" West told Leno.