A bit about Britney Spears…(background story)

From 1993 to 1994 she was a “little star” on The New Mickey Mouse Club. In 1999, with Jive Records, she released her debut album …Baby One More Time which established her as a pop icon

Her personal life began to gain substantial media attention after she married Kevin Federline in 2004. After two years, they had a quite difficult divorce that result in an ongoing custody battle over their two children Sean and Jayden James

Even though Britney Spears is ranked as the eight best-selling female recording artist in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America, she experienced a total “nervous breakdown” from 2006 to 2007

“A hell of a year”

2006 is here. The star appeared on the Will & Grace Episode “Buy, Buy Baby” as a closet lesbian. She, after, announced her second pregnancy in May 2006 during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.

She then explained the pictures of her driving with her baby on he lap like this: “I see a bunch of photographers and I’m scared and I want to get out of the situation… They’re coming up on the sides of the car which is a scary situation for me… so I get my baby out of the car and I go home.”

Then, she posed nude for the August 2006 Rolling Stone’s cover and gave birth to her second son on September 12 in Los Angeles.

Throughout 2007, Spears’s behaviour received a lot of media attention, including attacking a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella. In September 2007, Spears and Federline continued to share custody of their two sons. A few days later, she was officially charged with misdemeanor, hit and run and driving without a license.

Spears lost physical custody of her children to her ex husband on October 1, with the court ruling that Federline will keep full custody of the children

On January 21, 2007 Spears lost her aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, from an ovarian cancer.

She went to “Drug rehabilitation” for less than 24 hours on February 16. The following night, is when she made what really made people talk a lot about her in a controversial way. She shaved her head with electric clippers.  at a hair salon in Tarzana, California”

 It was too late. All the gossip part of this world got what they wanted: Britney hitting the bottom

Britney has been through a lot that year. Maybe she was looking for it, maybe she just lost herself and needed some time for her as she said in For The Record.

Everyone must have his own opinion on the subject, but one thing is sure, she is not the only one to blame.

 Britney’s father, took control of her life earlier this year and will remain her “guardian” until the end of it, as decided by Reva_Goetz the judge of the Court of Los Angeles.

But at the end, didn’t Britney have what a lot of ordinary people” have: depression

 

Journalists and activists arrested on 45th Independece day celebrations

Radio journalist being arrested during Independence Day celebrations.

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki forced to end his Independence Day speech after a crowd heckled him when a protester was arrested, says BBC .

The protestors were angered by the refusal of MPs to pay taxes and a new media bill, which critics say will gag the press. Police say more than 20 other people were arrested over the protests, BBC reports.

In the field and newsrooms, journalists ensured the 45th Jamhuri Day events did not obscure their cry for freedom and justice.

Protestors including civil rights activists and journalists wore black T-shirts with slogans printed on them.

The slogans read ‘No taxes for MPs, no taxes for us, uta do?’ (what will you do?)’, You tube reports.

Thousands of people who attended Kenya’s 45th Independence Day, celebrations shouted in protest against rising food prices, says Standard.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the activists were arrested for trying to disrupt a national day, BBC reports.

Bill sails through easily

Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio, reintroduced the Bill this year, President Kibaki having refused to sign the bill into law last year.

Mr. Poghisio has been in talks with the MOA, the Kenya Editors Guild and the Correspondents Association. In the past three weeks, media owners have held five high-level meetings with Government officials over the Bill, says Standard.

The proposal was to defer the debate to allow more consultations.

The media had made frantic efforts to intercept the Bill before it got to the floor of the House.

But MPs, angered by a parallel campaign to have their allowances taxed, saw in this Bill a weapon to hit back and punish the media.

Without minding the consequences, it took only 25 out of the 222 MPs to pass it this week, Standard reports.

Contents of the bill

The bill gives the Internal Security Minister power to raid media houses in a state of emergency, ordered by the President and control broadcast content.

It also gives the government the mandate to set the standards, manner and time of programmes to be broadcast.

The Freedom of Information Bill repeals the Official Secrets Act so that Government officials can disclose vital information to the public.

Click here for background.

Overseas Students Fight against Culture Difference

Multiculturalism characterizes most of London’s universities, and the University of Westminster’s Harrow campus is no exception.

International students from every continent contribute to this vibrancy and diversity.

However, before they can blend into campus life, many find studying in the UK challenging. Some have to go through a difficult process of personal, emotional and practical upheavals.

Culture Difference A Big Headache

Shen, a pregnant Chinese student on the MA in Mass Communication course reveals: “I was so tired that I would just sleep in my dorm all day.

Harrow Campus University of Westminster Picture by Lei Yang

Besides, the food here is expensive and barely edible.” Pointing to the apples on her desk, she says: “That’s all I eat in these days.”

She came to the UK and presumed that she could handle everything on her own.

But things didn’t go according to plan: after a week, she dropped the course and flew back to China.

Not all students, however, choose to escape from the harsh reality of university life.

Li Qianqian, a student enrolled on the Communication Policy course, decided to carry on even after a month of feeling lost in lectures.

“It will take us an entire lifetime to understand the UK’s cultural and political system.

For instance, for a word like ’spin doctor’, I had to look it up in the dictionary first, because there is no such concept in our political system.”

Adjusting to the teaching methods is her biggest challenge.

Talk May Be A Solution

Jane, an International Journalism student, said: “In the first month, I struggled so much. I would burst into tears in the middle of the night because of the stress from assignments and classes.”

Brought up in the US, Jane found that people in the UK are not as sociable and outgoing as Americans.

Drawn to All Soul’s Church in central London, she made friends from different ethnic backgrounds. “People talked to me, which was what I really missed.”

After visiting the church on three occasions, Jane said she felt more like herself now.

Sadly, some international students find it difficult coping with depression, loneliness and homesickness.

However, all is not lost.

Don’t forget there are flat mates and friends around. Turning to the International Student Adviser can also be an option. Just knock on their doors and talk to them.

It’s up to you to make yourself happy.

please click here for background story