Gagapanda: Lady Gaga tries out a new style on Japanese TV yesterday


When visiting a foreign country it is of course polite to pay tribute to their culture.

But, despite naming Japan as one of her favourite places, Lady Gaga may have mixed up their native animals.

The singer appeared on Japanese television dressed as a panda - native animal of China.

Whether she thought she was paying tribute to Japan, or whether the 25-year-old just had a whim to become 'Gagapanda' is unclear.

The Born This Way singer arrived on the show in a black and white outfit with her hair in two buns and wearing sunglasses.

She kept the glasses on a for a minute to build suspense as the hosts complimented her on her outlandish ensemble, before dramatically removing them to reveal her heavy black eye make-up.


Animal instinct: The singer said she 'likes pandas and has been eating a lot of bamboo this week' as explanation for her outfit


'I really like pandas,' she declared. 'Pandas have paws, and I always tell my fans to put their paws up. I've been eating a lot of bamboo this week.'

Later in the program Gaga listed 'one day having panda babies' as one of her dreams.
She has also started referring to herself as Gagapanda on Twitter.

With the help of a translator, the hitmaker answered a round of questions from the excitable presenters, about her love of cooking, keeping her clothes after she wears them, and her fears (missing her family).


'You know pandas are Chinese right?' Gaga chats with the talk show presenters


While in Japan Gaga has slammed the claims that she profited from wristbands she sold through her website to aid tsunami victims in the country.

After raising money for the survivors of the earthquake by selling $5 wristbands, the singer faces a lawsuit over claims that she added an unnecessary sales tax and a $3.99 shipping charge to the red and white 'We Pray for Japan' bracelets.

But an spokesman for the star, who is currently touring Japan, today labelled the lawsuit 'misguided.'


Fighting back: The 25-year-old has slammed the claims that she profited from the sales of her charity wristbands to aid Japanese tsunami victims


'This misguided lawsuit is without merit and unfortunately takes attention away from the kind deeds of the fans around the world who are supporting the people of Japan,' said the singer's spokesman Holly Shakoor.

'The entire five dollar donation made with the purchase of each bracelet is going to support the disaster relief,' she added. 'No profit is being made on shipping costs. Sales tax charges were made in accordance with local legal requirements.

'Lady Gaga has personally pledged her own funds to this cause and continues to support the victims of the disaster.'


Hurtful: Gaga's representatives have said the lawsuit launched against her over the claims is 'without merit'


Gaga has been sued under her real name of Stefani Germanotta under charges normally used to fight racketeering.

Live Nation Merchandising, Universal Music and a number of Gaga’s business ventures have also been named too.

The lawsuit, filed at the U.S Federal Court in Detroit, states that they all used a ‘deceptive advertising campaign’ and a ‘pattern of racketeering’ to persuade the public to buy the wristband from Gaga’s official website.

The court papers state they ‘misrepresented to individuals and to the public at large...that ‘all proceeds’ derived from the wristbands would be donated to the (Japan) Relief Effort’.




source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

They're back: Eddie Kaye Thomas as Finch and Sean William Scott as Stiffler on set of American Pie four in Atlanta, Georgia, yesterday


Its brand of gross out humour, partying ways and sexual escapades made a splash with teenagers the world over back in 1999.

And now the American Pie gang are returning to wreak more havoc for a fourth helping of the movie franchise.

Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott and Eddie Kaye Thomas were among the actors yesterday filming the comedy in Atlanta Georgia.


Back in business: Jason Biggs is suited and booted as Jim on set


They reprise their roles as Jim, Finch and Stiffler in the new film, which sees the old gang return to East Great Falls for their 10-year high school reunion.

Yesterday, Biggs wore a smart shirt and tie, perhaps to reflect the grown up status of his character, Jim, who, along with wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) will have a two-year-old son in the new film.

Sean William Scott's bad boy character Stiffler will still have no luck with women and is working as an office temp, while Oz (Chris Klein) became a contestant on a TV show and now lives in a huge mansion.


Loud but proud: Scott wore a a striking black shirt covered in alcoholic drinks on the set yesterday


Producers will be hoping the new film can match the success of the first two movies, which grossed a combined $523.2 million at the worldwide box office, with the third American Pie: The Wedding raking in $231.4 million.

Also on set yesterday was Katrina Bowden, who plays Oz's girlfriend.

But there was no sign of rumoured stars Tara Reid and Mena Suvari or Hannigan, who has signed on for the sequel.


Purple lady: Katrina Bowden plays Oz's glamorous girlfriend in the new film


'With the first one, they had put some sort of sequel clause in my contract and I was like, "Ah, I wouldn’t be in a sequel,"' the actress recently told The Huffington Post.

'There’s no way. My character leaves at the end of the movie, so even if there was a sequel, I wouldn’t be in it.’ And here we are.'

However, the star is happy to be reunited with her cast mates, who have become friends over the years.


Success: The first American Pie film was a hit back in 1999


'It’s really true to how real life would be, where everybody has gone in different directions, but of course when you get back together again, it’s as if no time has passed,' she said.

'It’s my second day of shooting, but already it’s been such a blast and I can tell it’s going to be really, really funny.'

The film has been slated for release next spring in the U.S.

source: dailymail

By KATIE PRICE

Devoted: Katie Price with her son Harvey, who recently turned nine, says she would never swap him for an able-bodied child


My son, Harvey, turned nine last month, and we held a little party to celebrate.

The only guests were immediate family — too much activity causes Harvey stress and his behaviour can become disruptive — but he did have a big cake decorated with a picture of a frog.

Harvey loves cakes. He always enjoys blowing out the candles, and he adores frogs. They are his latest obsession. He draws them so carefully — the bulging eyes, the long back legs — and colours them in bright green.



Relentless: A scene from Katie: Standing Up For Harvey, shows the glamour model cradling her son Harvey


At the moment, every scrap of paper in the house is covered in leaping frogs.

The cake and the frog obsession explain a lot about Harvey. Most mothers of nine-year-olds might boast that their child is learning French or the violin. I’m just pleased and proud that Harvey can draw, observe and see colours.

Soon after he was born, I was told he had a serious problem with his sight. Later, I learned that he was blind. Actually, he has some residual vision, and he is brilliant at using it.

He recognises colours and shapes. He has even learned to turn them into pictures.


Vile slur: Frankie Boyle made comments about Katie's son Harvey on his Channel 4 show Tramadol Nights


He draws the same things obsessively, over and over again. First it was aeroplanes, then rainbows, now it’s frogs. That’s down to his autism. Like most children with the condition, he periodically gets fixated on one subject.

He is also compulsive about routines. Nothing must disturb Harvey’s ordered world, or there is hell to pay.

The cake is another matter. Harvey eats and eats, and if I did not stop him he would do so continually. He is prone to weight-gain, but he is not greedy.


The daddy: Former football Dwight Yorke, left, is Harvey's father. Harvey, right as a toddler, was born in 2002 in Brighton


He has a clinical condition — I’ll come to that later — which means he can’t control his appetite. The hormones that control his growth are also out of kilter. So he is bigger than most kids. But to the ignorant, Harvey is just a big, fat, blind kid — and he has been called that many times.

I’ve only skimmed the surface of the problems facing my much-loved eldest child, but by now you know enough about Harvey’s disabilities to understand the hurdles he leaps each day.

So you will understand the extent of my shock and anger when I learned that Frankie Boyle, the comedian — though he barely deserves the title — had singled my son out to be the butt of a vile ‘joke’.


Katie rubs some cream into her son's leg as he sits in his bed before sleeping. She calls looking after Harvey 'relentless'


To convey the full impact of what Boyle said on his Channel 4 ‘comedy’ show last December, I must, I’m afraid, repeat his offensive remarks in full.

To begin with, he said my ex-husband, Peter Andre, and I had been fighting over custody of Harvey. ‘Eventually one of them will lose and have to keep him,’ Boyle said.

That is the type of cruel offence we expect disabled people to accept. If you are disabled, you are a burden, and people want rid of you.

Then Boyle made a remark so offensive it has no place in civilised society.

Referring to my second marriage, to Alex Reid — we have since separated — he said: ‘I have a theory about the reason Jordan married a cage-fighter — she needed a man strong enough to stop Harvey from f***ing her.’

I can’t overstate the outrage and revulsion I felt when I heard this attack on my vulnerable, disabled son. I am used to defending myself against insults and, at times, justified criticism.


Happier times: Katie Price with her husband Peter Andre, with whom she had two children, Junior and Princess


I don’t deny there are aspects of my own life and past that have been controversial. I’ve made mistakes in equal measure to my success, but I can answer back — and I do. Harvey can’t.

Boyle’s remark is vile on so many levels. Sadly, I’ve grown used to insensitive jokes about Harvey’s size. When Heat magazine published a sticker with the words ‘Harvey wants to eat me!’ across it, I was appalled.

But at least the magazine apologised. Boyle and Channel 4 have done neither. Boyle’s disgusting suggestion slandered my innocent son and insulted every disabled person in Britain.


Care: Katie soothes Harvey while she has her hair done in a still from tonight's programme


Imagine if the reason Boyle gave for saying Harvey was capable of raping me was not because of his disability but because he is black. People would understand how discriminatory that is. It is just as discriminatory when the joke is based on someone’s disability.

That is why I have decided to talk openly, and in detail, about Harvey for the first time.

Tonight my television documentary about him, Katie: Standing Up For Harvey, introduces viewers to my campaign on behalf of every disabled child and adult in Britain.

I hope that, through the programme, Harvey’s disabilities will highlight the difficulties — and also the positives — faced by children with disabilities, and their families.


Katie: Standing Up For Harvey is on Sky Living tonight at 9pm.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


A bridge over misty waters: The immense £1billion structure which is supported by more than 5,000 pillars stretches for 24 miles along China's eastern port city of Qingdao to the offshore island Huangdao


China has opened the world's longest cross-sea bridge - which stretches five miles further than the distance between Dover and Calais.

The Jiaozhou Bay bridge is 26.4 miles long and links China's eastern port city of Qingdao to the offshore island Huangdao.

The road bridge, which is 110ft wide and is the longest of its kind, cost nearly £1billion to build.



Engineering feat: The vast bridge, the largest cross-ocean bridge in the world, cost £960million and took four years to build


Chinese TV reports said the bridge passed construction appraisals on Monday and it, along with an undersea tunnel, would be opened for traffic today.

It took four years to build the bridge, which is supported by more than 5,000 pillars across the bay, and it is almost three miles longer than the previous record-holder - the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana.



Lengthy: The bridge stretches into the distance further than the eye can see and right, the first few cars roll out across the surface




Open road: Drivers pass through the mist as they make some of the first passes over the 110ft wide bridge which is longer than any others of its kind



Flowers: The first vehicle runs into toll station to the applause of staff and passers-by after the bridge opened to traffic today



Musical mileage: A brass band plays on the sides of the road as flags and banners herald in the opening of the bridge



The start of things to come: Two cars edge through the toll gates that will raise revenue to maintain the £1billion bridge


That structure features two bridges running side by side and is 23.87 miles long.

The three-way Qingdao Haiwan bridge is 174 times longer than London's Tower Bridge, spanning the River Thames, but cuts only 19 miles off the drive from Qingdao to Huangdao.

Two separate groups of workers have been building it from different ends of the structure since 2006.

After linking the two ends of the bridge on December 22, one engineer said: 'The computer models and calculations are all very well but you can't relax until the two sides are bolted together.



Don't keep me hanging: The suspension beams form an imposing sight as the reach through the clouds and look down upon colourful flags marking the bridge's grand opening



The long road home: The two roads which run alongside each other wind across The Jiaozhou Bay


'Even a few centimetres out would have been a disaster.'

The engineering feat will only hold the record as the longest sea bridge for a few years - it will be beaten by another Chinese bridge in the next decade.

Last December officials announced workers had begun constructing a bridge to link southern Guangdong province with Hong Kong and Macau.

Set to be completed in 2016, officials said the £6.5billion bridge will span nearly 30 miles.



Record breaker: The Qingdao Jiaozhou bay bridge, spanning 26.4 miles between Qingdao and Huangdao, will open for traffic today



Impressive: Testing on the bridge was completed on Monday and it is expected to be opened to traffic for the first time today



A driver's dream: Twenty-four miles of fresh untouched tarmac stretch from Qingdao to Hungdao


It will be designed to cope with earthquakes up to magnitude 8.0, strong typhoons and the impact of a 300,000 tonne vessel.

But both structures will still be dwarfed by the longest bridge in the world, also in China.

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is an astonishing 102 miles in length.




source: dailymail

By MAYSA RAWI


Perfect match: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will land in Ottawa later today to start their ten-day tour in Canada and U.S


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proved they were in perfect sync as they boarded a plane to Canada today.

Wearing matching navy blue, the couple were pictured on the runway heading to the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft at London's Heathrow Airport.

They are expected to land in Ottawa at 2pm local time.

Kate was the picture of understated elegance on the runway in a blue shift dress and matching blazer with gold buttons.

She accessoried with blue court shoes and a £895 Mulberry handbag.



Jet set: Kate Middleton does understated chic as she prepares to board a plane to Canada at Heathrow airport today


William wore a suit of the same colour and a red tie.

With her hair freshly blow-dried, Kate's glossy mane will no doubt continue to look flawless throughout the trip as she is rumoured to be travelling with her hairdresser James Pryce.

Her wardrobe has been kept under wraps but potential outfits have been an endless source of speculation over the last few weeks.



Fresh-faced: Kate looked groomed to perfection, with freshly blow-dried hair while William looked elegant in a blue suit and red tie


Kate is said to have hired a personal shopper at London department store Selfridges.
But whether she will stick to her favourite High Street stores or mix and match with designer labels remains to be seen.

Either way, the couple are on a tight schedule.

William and Kate's arrival in the Commonwealth country is eagerly anticipated and their appearance later in the capital is expected to draw thousands on to the streets.



On duty: William talks to James Wright, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom


Some anti-royal protests are expected in the French-speaking province of Quebec, with small groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

The prince and Kate jet to Los Angeles on July 8 and will host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.

The southern California trip includes a $4,000 three-course meal and a charity polo match up close with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are formally known.



Private transport: The couple are travelling on the Royal Canadian Air Force plane


So far, about 1,000 VIP tickets have been sold to the polo match along with about 400 general admission passes, raising nearly $4.4 million for the July 9 event. William plans to play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the winning team.

William will be celebrating Canada's birthday on Friday, the same day his mother Diana would have turned 50.

He is due to say a few words at a number of stops. Kate is not scheduled to speak.
The couple will travel from the sub-Arctic to oil-rich Calgary, Alberta, from busy Montreal to bucolic Prince Edward Island of "Anne of Green Gables" fame.

They'll sit around a campfire with young people, dress casual for the Calgary rodeo, join a cookout in Quebec City and hand out flags to newly-minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony.

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

A man and his dog: This canine shows off his surveillance skills as he looks through binoculars next to an armed soldier


Soldiers are known for their black humour on the frontline as they see the funny side of life in the face of adversity.

But these military personnel have taken things a step beyond in these hilarious images from the battlefield.

These photographs, released by slightlywarped.com, celebrate the best humour from our soldiers, airmen and sailors.


Call the cavalry: Soldier aims fire on the back of a tiny donkey


Diversion: Soldier stands behind this roadblock marked with some wishful thinking


Bombs away: Soldier hangs strapped to the wing of an aircraft pretending to be a missile



A Knight's Tale: Soldiers joust on bicycles in front of a crowd of military personnel enjoying the revelry


Undercover: A soldier's camouflage uniform hides him in a slightly more domestic situation than it was intended


Mousetrap: A soldier tests out this homemade giant vermin catcher with a bottle of beer at an army base


Woman behind the wheel: A female pilot hangs her handbag on the controls of this military aircraft


In this collection you will find some great images of the men and women in uniform managing to raise a smile, even when their lives are on the line.

There are the two airmen, dressed in full pilot’s uniform including helmets, racing down the runway with model airplanes strapped around their waists.

Then there is the female pilot flying a jet with her handbag dangling from the airplane’s controls.

Look out for the giant mousetrap that has been made back at base, which is being tested by a soldier with a beer bottle.


Technology: This spoof photo shows off the U.S. government's next generation stealth fighter



Taking a break: This pilot enjoys a magazine while seated in the back of a military fighter jet


Read for take off: Two airmen in full pilot uniform race down the runway with two model aircraft around their waists


Hitching a lift: This soldier tries to get a ride back home to Florida from the frontline


Disguise: This photo shows a Coca-Cola lorry hidden by army camouflage


Bow and arrow: This soldier uses his gun in a slightly less conventional way


Suicidal teens welcome! A spoof sign hangs in the window of an army recruitment centre


There is also soldier taking some time out from his duties in full camouflage gear who is disguised by the garish sofa he is lying on.

Another picture shows a Coca-Cola lorry also in full camouflage.

A soldier is also pictured standing at a desert roadblock painted with ‘Car bombs must exit’.

The images were provided courtesy of slightlyawkward.com.


source :dailymail