The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| ‘Chicago’ cast to join musical Oscars line-up Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:28 AM PST LOS ANGELES, Feb 12 — The stars of "Chicago" will reunite as presenters at this year's Oscars show, on the 10th anniversary of the film's Academy Award win for best picture, organisers said yesterday.  Renee Zellweger (R) and co-star US actor Richard Gere (L) after their win for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy for their roles in "Chicago" at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003. — AFP pic The 85th Academy Awards, the climax of Hollywood's annual awards season, have a musical theme this year, with highlights set to include Britain's Adele singing Oscar-nominated 007 theme tune "Skyfall." In addition, Dame Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand will sing at the ceremony on February 24. It will be Streisand's first Academy Awards performance since 1977 when she sang the winning song from "A Star Is Born." "We are very excited to reunite the stars of 'Chicago' to present on the Oscars, on the 10th anniversary of the movie's win for Best Picture," said the show's producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The four "Chicago" stars were all nominated for the 2002 film, although only Zeta-Jones won a prize, for best supporting actress, along with the best picture award and four other Oscars. Other presenters already announced include the four winners of the acting prizes at last year's Oscars: Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer. — AFP/Relaxnews |
| Uganda deports British theatre producer of gay play Posted: 12 Feb 2013 05:54 AM PST KAMPALA, Feb 12 — Uganda has deported a British theatre producer charged with staging a play about homosexuality, the British High Commission said today. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and further legislation on the issue, awaiting debate in parliament, has drawn criticism from donors including the United States. Producer David Cecil, 35, was deported from the east African country late yesterday aboard a KLM flight, and arrived in the UK today morning, British High Commission spokesperson Chris Ward said. A court threw out a case against Cecil last month. He had been charged with disobeying a public official last September after ignoring orders to cancel a theatre production with a gay leading character. Cecil, who denied being a gay rights activist, could have faced two to four years in jail in the religiously conservative country if convicted. "We are extremely disappointed and obviously concerned that David was being deported without being given an opportunity to challenge the deportation order which would be through the Ugandan courts," Ward told Reuters. He said he had not arranged a meeting with Ugandan officials yet "but we fully intend to do so. It's obviously key ... (for) the UK government to know that due process is being followed." Immigration officials were not available for comment after the deportation, but have told Reuters there was a direct ministerial order to deport Cecil. A spokesperson said the ministry would issue a statement later. Uganda's immigration act enables the deportation of any foreigner declared by the minister of internal affairs to be an "undesirable immigrant". Fridah Mutesi, one of Cecil's lawyers and a gay rights activist, said they still intended to challenge the validity of the deportation order by filing a case to the high court. Cecil's partner, Florence Kebirungi, said she last heard from him at about 6pm (0300 GMT) yesterday night. "He called me briefly when he was at the airport to say 'Can you call the lawyers' and then before I could reply, he hung up," she said. Uganda's latest legislative proposals include a charge of "promotion of homosexuality" which could mean up to seven years in prison for activists, artists, lawyers and even health workers convicted of "funding and sponsoring ... homosexuality and related activities." Uganda's Minister of Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo has already been enforcing that clause in recent months to clamp down on gay rights activism, and had promised a "fresh investigation" into Cecil after he was cleared last month. A previous bill, denounced as "odious" by US President Barack Obama, had proposed the death penalty for gays. — Reuters |
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