Celebrity and politics collide

Celebrity is playing an unprecedented role in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. For both Republicans and Democrats, Hollywood "star" power has become a key factor in the race for the White House.

Democratic nominee Barack Obama, whose celebrity-style persona has come under attack, has taken heat for his Hollywood dinner party, with a plate price of more than 28,000 dollars.

Republican nominee John McCain has used ads featuring Britney Spears and Paris Hilton: creating a Hilton backlash and an ensuing media frenzy.

So how do the real Hollywood celebs feel about their politicians being judged on personality?

SOUNDBITE: Kate Hudson, actress, saying (English):

"Hopefully we don't get distracted by the things that I think we're being distracted by right now, and we just stick to the issues."

SOUNDBITE: Billy Bob Thornton, actor, saying (English):

"You have to have people running for office these days, which is sad, that either look good or appear appealing in some sense on television. If you're not good on TV, you're not gonna win."

And what about the Republican's new media darling, Alaskan governor and nominee for Vice President Sarah Palin? Actor John Cusack says she's just another example of the Hollywood connection.

SOUNDBITE: John Cusack, actor, saying (English):

"Let's get this new celebrity, you know, Sarah Barracuda, and we'll make her like a Roseanne Barr, fighting for the little guy, but with lots of sex. And she'll be the perfect new celebrity to attack Barack Obama for being a celebrity."

How far celebrity and personality will actually influence the American voters is hard to say, but with a tight election drawing closer, be prepared for the Hollywood-political connection to grow even bigger.

backlash reaction
ensuing - following immediately and as a result of what went before; "ensuing events confirmed the prediction"
distracted showing a lack of attention or care
stick adhere

Women's skirts soccer ban

Sexy football it isn't...but the decision of FC de Rakt's ladies soccer team to play the game in skirts and tight tops has fired women's football into the headlines.

Since the amateur team from Uden in southern Holland changed their kit the club's website has racked up hundreds of thousands of hits every week.

21-year-old team captain Rinske Temming denied the new feminine strip was a publicity stunt.

(SOUDNBITE) (English), RINSKE TEMMING, TEAM CAPTAIN, SAYING:

"We think they are far more elegant than the traditional shorts and furthermore they are more comfortable because the shorts are made for men"

The amateur team's new clothing initially faced a ban due to strict equipment rules but upon closer inspection the Dutch football association said it was acceptable after all as the women were still playing in shorts, albeit with a skirt over them.

The club's chairman, Jan van den Elzen says 'moving the goalposts' on what's still perceived to be a male sport is long overdue.

(SOUNDBITE) (English), JAN VAN DEN ELZEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCCER CLUB "DE RAKT", SAYING:

"Many girls would like to play in skirts but they didn't think it was possible."

No doubt Fifa president Sepp Blatter would approve of FC de Rakt's new look.

The world soccer chief scored an own goal four years ago after famously urging women footballers to wear skimpier kits to boost the popularity of the women's game.

Helen Long, Reuters

rack up Informal

To accumulate or score: rack up points.

stunt 1. an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme

2. anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
albeit Even though; although; notwithstanding: clear albeit cold weather.

overdue late, tardy; payable, due; past due

skimpy adj. barely adequate, scanty, sparing, meager

Leaders back Bolivia's Morales

It's a sight which would warm the heart of any President.

A march by supporters backing his policies.

But Bolivia's President Evo Morales is particularly in need of shoring up right now.

In eastern Bolivia regional leaders have called for autonomy and a greater share of wealth from natural gas.

Morales is trying to formalize rights for the country's Indian majority and redistribute land to poor peasant farmers.

The clash in views is de-stabilizing Bolivia with violent outbreaks between pro autonomy activists and Morales supporters last week leaving at least 16 dead.

South American leaders threw their support behind Morales after an emergency meeting in Chilean capital Santiago.

They fear a civil coup being forced through by leaders in Bolivia's regions.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet made clear such a leadership would not be recognised.

SOUNDBITE: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Saying: (Spanish)

"We energetically reject and will not recognise any situation that implies a civil coup, a break in institutional order, or anything that compromises the territorial integrity of the Republic of Bolivia."

There is widespread suspicion that America is backing the breakaway regional leaders.

Morales and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez expelled the U.S. ambassadors in their countries last week.

But there are few signs of the situation stabilizing soon.

Martial law has been declared in one province after a suspected massacre by opposition supporters in which officials say between 16 and 28 people died.

Penny Tweedie, Reuters.

shoring up supporting
peasant farmer, agriculturalist; rustic, person who lives in a rural area; hillbilly, ignorant person
clash sound of objects banging together; confrontation, conflict
coup sudden successful stroke; revolution, takeover, overthrow

Pope's first France visit

It's his first visit to France as Pope and the Elysee Palace was his first stop.

He discussed the role of religion in a secular society with President Nicolas Sarkozy - a leader who rarely attends mass but considers himself a "cultural Catholic."

France maintains a strict separation of church and state - the mere mention of your personal faith has traditionally been taboo for politicians.

But religion has returned to the public life in recent years and the French leader says he welcomes that.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SAYING:

"I call once again for a positive secularism. A secularism that respects and brings people together and that promotes dialogue - not one that excludes or denounces. In this era a positive secularism allows us to go beyond our faiths and rituals in order to discuss the sense that we want to give to our existence."

The 81-year-old Pontiff was equally keen to persuade the French people that religion can contribute to a modern secular society.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) POPE BENEDICT SAYING:

"At this moment in history, when cultures continue to cross paths more frequently, I am firmly convinced that a new reflection on the true meaning and importance of secularism is now necessary. In fact, it is fundamental, on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the State towards them.

The German-born Pope knows France well.

He speaks fluent French and will deliver an address on faith and culture to 700 intellectuals and artists.

He'll also celebrate open-air mass in Paris and visit Lourdes - the popular Catholic pilgrimage site.

It's celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary there.

The Pope will no doubt hope to avoid controversy on this trip.

It's exactly two years since he made the Regensburg speech that angered Muslims.

denounce To condemn openly as being evil or reprehensible.
realm A field, sphere, or province: the realm of science.

Zimbabwe power sharing deal

Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement For Democratic Change (Mdc) Leader saying (English):

"I just want to say that President Mbeki is going to give a press statement but I can say that we got a deal".

Those words from Morgan Tsvangirai confirming Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling ZANU-PF have at last reached a deal to share power.

The two parties have been locked in talks for four days with South Africa's President, Thabo Mbeki, acting as mediator.

SOUNDBITE: South African President Thabo Mbeki saying (English):

"The government of Zimbabwe with the support of the region and the African continent, will from then onwards work very hard to mobilise support from the region, from the African continent and the rest of the world, necessary support that is needed to assist the people of Zimbabwe."

The Movement for Democratic change won an initial election in March but failed to secure an outright victory.

Tsvangirai pulled out of the presidential run-off three months later citing election rigging.

Since then the two sides have been unable to agree on power sharing.

There's been no comment from Mugabe so far.

It's thought he'll remain President but in a more cermonial role while Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister.

Mebeki said a formal signing ceremony was expected on Monday.

The agreement opens the way for the international community to step in and help revive Zimbabwe's economy.

Hayley Platt Reuters.

onwards Moving or tending forward.
rig manipulate in a fraudulent manner

step in

1. To enter into an activity or a situation.

2. To intervene.

080909-New President for Pakistan

New President for Pakistan

His election was no surprise but what happens now Asif Ali Zardari is President isn't so easy to predict.
At his swearing in ceremony he made welcome promises.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ASIF ALI ZARDARI, PAKISTAN PRESIDENT, SAYING:

"I will not allow my personal interests to influence my official conduct or my official decisions."
The widower of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto replaces Pervez Musharraf.
After accepting the Presidency he sat alongside his Afghan counter part and also accepted the difficult task ahead.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ASIF ALI ZARDARI, PAKISTAN PRESIDENT, SAYING:

"We know we have problems, we know we've had problems in the past and we know we will have problems in the future but one thing I can assure you we will stand with our neighbours we will stand with the people of Pakistan and look at the problems in the eyes and tell the world we are bigger than the problems are."
Zardari has two main priorities - tackling rising extremism and a failing economy.
Inflation is running at almost 25 per cent and many Pakistanis doubt his ability to deliver.

(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MISUL KHAN, SAYING:
 
"We voted for this government; the poor public voted for them and what are they giving us in return? They have increased prices, they have shut off our electricity, they have put an end to employment. The poor man is miserable and unhappy."

Zardari has also vowed to defeat the Taliban but many say his support for the US-led campaign is the cause of the problem.
The day before the swearing in ceremony US planes killed 16 people in a religious school on the Afghan border.

(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) DR. ABDUL WAHAB, DOCTOR FROM BAJAUR TRIBAL REGION, SAYING:

"Even now, westerners are coming into our region and attacking us. NATO planes are taking pictures there, and bombing the area. The Pakistani government says 'we are doing it,' but actually it is the Americans who are doing it. I have seen it myself."
Zardari must walk a political tight rope - he must satisfy the Americans without upsetting his own people.
And there'll be no shortage of people waiting for him to fall.
 
Sonia Legg, Reuters.

080908-Sarkozy brokers Georgia deal

Sarkozy brokers Georgia deal

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso arrive at Meiendorf Castle near Moscow for talks with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on the crisis in Georgia.

Their mission was to persuade Russia to honour a deal to pull its troops out of Georgian territory.
And their meeting appears to have been a success.

Medvedev pledged to pull troops out of core Georgian regions.
He said he had received a guarantee from the EU that Georgia would not use force again.
He also said agreement had been reached in principle for the deployment of a 200 strong EU monitoring contingent.

Medvedev has agreed to pull out troops from the South Ossetia buffer zone if an international force was in place.
Sarkozy said Russian troops would leave Georgia's heartland within one month and checkpoints around Georgia's port city of Poti would be removed within a week.

He added if the deal with Russia was implemented there was no reason for EU-Russia partnership talks not to take place in October.
 
Penny Tweedie, Reuters.

deployment - the distribution of forces in preparation for battle or work