Posts Tagged ‘Actor’

Drone doctrine of necessity

Illustration by Faraz Aamer Khan

Last week, President Obama’s chief counterterrorism advisor admitted that the US is operating a drone program in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many have commended the Obama administration for disclosing the existence of the drone program, while the president’s advisor, John Brennan, claimed that the program was “legal”, “necessary”, and “wise” under international law.  In many ways, his arguments mirrored the doctrine of necessity adopted by Pakistan’s Supreme Court justices in 1955, who claimed “that which is not legal, necessity can make legal.”  It took several generations of jurists to realise the fallacy of this doctrine, and it may take the United States just as long to realise the long-term negative implications of utilising the drone program as it currently stands.

Throughout Pakistan’s history, the Supreme Court has toyed with the doctrine of necessity, which is basically used to justify military coups. This doctrine was born out of the perception that the only institution capable of handling Pakistan’s complex problems is the military, and that the Army was a benevolent guardian of the state. What Pakistani jurists have come to understand over several decades is that the Constitution is the true guardian of the people, and the doctrine of necessity is an invalid violation of the democratic principles laid out in the Constitution.

While the Supreme Court has yet to declare the doctrine of necessity null and void, its practice will hopefully not return, considering its effects. By legally justifying coups and martial law under dictators, the doctrine of necessity showed the inability of the judiciary to confront the injustice of authoritarianism. Further, the doctrine allowed for the military to sabotage civilian ruling regimes in order to justify their unconstitutional coups, which has limited the stable democratic growth of the nation. Similarly, the use of drones threatens to limit the ability of the US to legally engage with the international community.

To begin any discussion on international law, one should recognise that the major powers control the application and interpretation of international law as they have funded and created all of its institutions and treaties. Therefore, it is no mistake that the international criminal court has exclusively prosecuted African leaders, with the exception of Yugoslavia, and failed to exercise its powers on any European or American wrongdoers.

Even still, with regards to Obama’s potential violation of international law through the drone program, one must understand that most international legal doctrines were created to maintain global peace and limit the use of force by states. It is no coincidence that the first line of the United Nation’s charter is that the purpose of the organisation is to “to maintain international peace and security,” it goes onto state later that “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

However, the international law does not bind the hands of nations facing attacks, whether by enemy-state actors or non-state actors, like terrorists.  Under the UN Charter Article 51, a nation is allowed to take measures to defend itself “if an armed attack occurs against” it. Several motions and resolutions passed by the UN identify al Qaeda and the Taliban as willful combatants engaged in armed hostilities against the US, which validates the use of force against them.

This legal reasoning allows for the US to utilise its drone program as a supplement to troops on the ground in areas like Afghanistan, but the international law has not developed a solid ruling on whether the same program can be used in Pakistan.  Pakistan does not have the same cooperation agreement with the US government as Afghanistan, and has not consented publically to the drone program, despite backdoor permission granted by General Kayani ,as revealed by Wikileaks,. Therefore, unilateral action by the US using drones to kill militants and civilians alike without any due process in Pakistan is not as acceptable under international law as Mr. Brennan would have us believe.

The analysis of self-defense under international law is far more complex than merely accepting that nations can use any type of force against their enemies, even if those enemies do not respect borders and are attempting to fight a global jihad. The Caroline case limited the power of nations to use force only by “measures which are proportional to the armed attack and necessary to respond to it.”

It is interesting to note the facts of the Caroline case which dates back to 1837, when British naval officers shot down an American civilian ship without any provocation on American waters.  The officers targeted the civilian ship to punish the Americans, who had been supporting revolutionaries in Canada that were attempting to secede from the British Crown. Like Pakistan, the US was a developing power at the time and was suspected of funding an insurgency across its border.

On the other hand, the British were a superpower much like the US today, who attempted to justify their blatant aggression as self-defense, claiming that anyone who supported Canadian secessionists deserved to be attacked by the British Crown. The US argued for a narrow interpretation of self-defense at that time but now adopts the same legal defense of drones as their former colonial tormentors – claiming that a terrorist anywhere is eligible to be killed by unilateral decision by the US.

Many have made arguments that the drone program fails to satisfy the requirements of “necessity and proportionality.” Under the necessity requirement, a nation can only utilise force when it is necessary to avoid an attack against their citizens or soldiers.  Therefore, there are many scenarios where the US drone program has legally targeted individuals who were in fact actively engaged in a plot to target American soldiers or citizens abroad.  However, the secretive nature of the program belies the transparency required for human rights monitors to analyze each case of drone attacks to assess its necessity.

This leads to the second requirement that the use of force by a state must be proportional to the threat it faces. Katherine M. Loyal and Saad Gul argued in a 2006 law review article that the use of drones was like a farmer “burning the farm to roast the pig.” Or rather, the use of drones is not solving the problem of international terrorism, but making it worst by allowing extremists to gain more sympathisers. Unlike in Afghanistan, where troops on the ground can offer on-the-ground intelligence and take supplemental means to avoid civilian deaths, the US does not have a ground presence in Pakistan where it wishes to use drones.

Therefore, as terrorists travel with their lackeys and families embedding themselves in civilian-populated areas, they ensure that the US will face a public backlash from using a drone on them, as it will likely cost civilian lives. Pragmatically, the US is stuck between a rock and a hard place as its drone attacks have incensed the Pakistani public, who could have been an ally in a war on terror which has plagued most of the Pakistani populace in one way or another.

The secret and blanket drone policy enacted by the US military in Pakistan is unacceptable under international law because it fails to satisfy the necessity and proportionality requirements set forth in the doctrine of self defense. However, like Pakistan’s doctrine of necessity, it may take the US several generations to realise the error in attempting to manipulate the law in order to justify illegal military oppression and brutality.

,,The writer holds a Juris Doctorate in the US and is a researcher on comparative law and international law issues.

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group

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Via DAWN.com

‘Avengers’ rings up $103 million in record weekend

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(L to R) Actors Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo are shown in a scene from “The Avengers”.

LOS ANGELES: Blockbuster action movie “The Avengers,” about a team of Marvel superheroes, dominated US and Canadian box office charts for a second straight weekend ringing up a record $103.2 million, studio estimates released on Sunday showed.

“Avengers” became the first film in Hollywood history to top $100 million of ticket sales in its second weekend. A week ago, the movie from Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios crushed box office records with a $207.4 million opening.

In second place for the weekend, horror comedy “Dark Shadows” pulled in $28.8 million. Romantic comedy “Think Like a Man” finished in third place with ticket sales of $6.3 million.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc, released “Dark Shadows.” “Think Like a Man” was distributed by Sony Corp’s Sony Pictures studio.

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Superheroes guard Obama at fundraiser

NEW YORK – At George Clooney’s celebrity-studded fundraiser for US President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, the joke of the night was that the Secret Service was backed up by Batman, Spider-Man and the Iron Man – or at least the actors who played them.
Karen Blutcher, who won a lottery to attend the fundraiser after contributing $14, described the dinner on Thursday night as the opportunity …

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Thor becomes dad of India

Chris Hemsworth has become a father for the first time. The ‘Thor’ actor’s wife Elsa Pataky gave birth to a little girl in London and, according to Us Weekly, the couple have named the tot India.
No further information has been released.
The couple – who married in December 2010 – announced the happy news earlier this year and Spanish actress Elsa said they were thrilled about their impending …

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Bond puts his life on the line

DANIEL Craig has put in a decent stint playing James Bond over the past few years.
But that doesn’t mean the actor is ready to play a real-life action hero any time soon.
The star did a few of his own stunts on the set of Skyfall this week, when he jumped off a moving container then hauled himself back on with only a couple of knee pads to protect him.
But a stunt double was on hand in …

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Johnny Depp says he is ‘alpha vampire’

Johnny Depp has joked about being the top vampire out of his blood-thirsty counterparts.
Depp can currently be seen in Dark Shadows, in which he plays Barnabas Collins, who was turned into a vampire after breaking the heart of a witch. The 48-year-old actor is one of the many stars to have portrayed vampires on the big screen recently, but said that he isn’t worried by his contemporaries, …

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More equal than others

At a leading toy store in one of Karachi’s commercial hubs, children walk in every few minutes escorted by their parents to fulfil their whims and fancies no matter how extravagant. Without much contemplation over its price or requirement, almost every wish is materialised in this realm of joy and fascination—all except for one child’s.

With a seemingly invisible existence, Shan a 10-year-old goes to this shop every day, not to buy toys, but to earn a living.

Instead of getting his hands on the latest games like the rest of the children who visit the shop, he dusts, organises, and hands over the toys to the customers.

Repressing all his natural desires as a child he finds joy in simply feasting his eyes on the new arrivals that he handles, and still manages to muster satisfaction for his job. “This is much better than my last job, where I had to stand the whole day washing dishes, peeling, cutting vegetables and frying pakoras and samosas under the scorching sun,” he adds with visible relief.

Shan’s father is a painter by profession, but he is unable to find work most of the time. Due to this, he along with his mother and sisters, who do odd jobs at people’s houses, are forced to work. Yet, after all these endeavours, their burdens still keep mounting, making it a gargantuan task to support a family of 12.

This scenario holds true for Pakistan, which is becoming more and more socially polarised: on one side are people whose lives are replete with opulence; with the best in food, health, education and entertainment, and at par with international standards.

Whereas, on the other side a significantly large section is deprived of even basic needs and is barely able to subsist. Shan and his family represent the latter section of this social divide and the dawn of each day seems to amplify their hardships.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s annual economic publication is a testament to this divide. The Asian Development Outlook 2012: Confronting Rising Inequality in Asia says that income divisions are rising noticeably in the region. “Evidence from the FY2011 Household integrated economic survey indicates a widening income gap between the rich and the poor, with income for the lowest quintiles (40 per cent of the population) growing more slowly than the average,” it states.

It also forecasts worsening conditions: “With low investment and economic growth below the pace needed to accommodate the predominately young population, the rich-poor income gap is set to widen further.”

According to experts, the prime culprit behind this gulf is the growing inflation. The soaring unemployment rate, declining value of money, increase in food and fuel prices and a decline in the growth rate are some of the factors due to which the have-nots are affected more than the haves. But with the prices of essential commodities increasing by 150 to 300 per cent, as we witnessed in the past four years, more and more people are coming under its wrap.

Mona Ahmed, who belongs to the upper middle class, says that these days in order to lead a comfortable life it has become crucial for both husband and wife to work, and this was why she decided to take up home-based work as well so that she could maintain a certain standard of life. Wise budgeting can also lead to better income management of the house as well, she says.

“We don’t cook excess food anymore — just the right amount required — and also try to focus more on nutrition than on indulging in delicacies and fine dining. We also try to accommodate more chores in one trip rather than going separately so as to conserve fuel,” she says.

Faisal Mehmood a 29-year-old dhobi residing in Taiser Town, Karachi, says that his income remains stagnant while the expenses keep escalating at regular intervals. “The prices of all the things that our business is run on, like electricity, gas, chemicals, surf and soda have increased exponentially within the past few years. Just the price of soda per sack of 50 kgs has increased by Rs200 per bag in the past six months. Even water, the most basic of need, has to be bought and one single water tanker costs Rs800 and lasts only one day,” he adds with exasperation.

Furthermore, the biggest challenge in this regard has been the government’s decision to charge commercial bills from home-based businesses like his. They have to compete head-to-head with laundries without being able to have the leverage of charging as much as the latter do. Thus, their living standard has started to decline sharply. “Now we mostly eat vegetarian food,” says Mehmood.

The irony of the entire matter is that even when the government does come up with economic developments, its main beneficiaries are only a select few; the already affluent people of the society, leaving behind the rest in a worse state than before.

They have to coexist with people who indulge in luxuries that would cost them a lifetime worth of wages to achieve. This environment of increasing inequality is like a ticking bomb, which requires immediate intervention.

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Via DAWN.com

The great divide

Joseph Stalin, the premier of erstwhile Soviet Union, said, “Mankind is divided into rich and poor, into property owners and exploited; and to abstract oneself from this fundamental division; and from the an tagonism between poor and rich means abstracting oneself from fundamental facts.”

Indeed, social stratification has existed ever since the world’s economy started progressing, the way for industrialised capitalism and creating two major classes: the upper class and the lower class. The upper class owned and controlled the means of production of society like industries, companies, transportation systems, lands etc., while the lower class comprised mainly labourers who earned their living through these means of production. Hence, the distinction has been laid since the beginning and still exists today. Soon a third class called the ‘middle class’ emerged, that took the burdens of growth on its shoulders and worked hard for development. Currently, it accounts for about 28 per cent of the global population.

Given the state of affairs, it is no surprise that in today’s world the gap between the rich and poor is continuously widening, making survival a challenge for the lower class, while the upper class indulges in extravagances. The rich are getting richer despite the recent recession-hit economy and, owing to numerous job-cuts and down-sizing, the living standards and incomes and of the middle and lower class citizens are declining. From the outset, what has become evident, is upscale shopping malls and restaurants vs ordinary bazaars. The former continue to prosper while catering to a small-size population, whereas the stakeholders of bazaars complain of a downward spiral in business, since their costumers now have to cut corners in order to make ends meet.

Are lay-offs the main reason to rampant disparity between the rich and poor? This can be true for a few of the world’s economic giants like America and Germany where long-term and high unemployment rates are playing havoc with the lives of the people.

But, for growing economies like Pakistan and India, there are many other factors that count while debating the differences between the haves and have-nots. So, what are these factors that deepen this crack?

One factor is reluctance in thinking out-of-the-box and working hard to accomplish a respectable status in society. Mrs Kiren Makhtoom, an educationist says, “The gap between the privileged and less-privileged is expanding because the destitute lack the spirit to stand up and do something about their situations. I see healthy beggars on the streets when they can easily get hired as labourers in factories. I have dealt with labourers who have refused to work at my home only because I bargained for a slightly cheaper rate. How can you possibly think the gap would be bridged? Blaming the government is easy, but reflecting on the nation’s attitude will reveal a lot.”

Pakistan is a growing economy and offers abundant entrepreneurial opportunities cashing on its biggest and chief resource — manpower. Those who know how to utilise these opportunities manage to improve their economic status while others remain oblivious to the profitable enterprises and depend solely on their jobs with meagre wages for life.

“People are afraid to undertake new ventures. They prefer sticking to their traditional source of income instead of exploring new opportunities. I understand security is important for them but if you want to succeed in life, you need to take calculated risks,” explains Mrs Sehar Ali, a middle-aged entrepreneur who has recently started a boutique. “Security was important for me too, but I had a burning desire to give my family a decent living, and provide my children with all the luxuries I was deprived of.

Hence, I took a chance. The outcome is wonderful. Ladies like and buy my outfits. Hard work always pays.”

Another important reason of this incessant distinction is the uncontrollable corruption and dishonesty that is constantly engulfing our country. From the topmost officials of a company to the junior staff, black money is something that speaks volumes in every industry. Be it electricity or gas, trying to name an organisation that is still pure is an impossible task.

Inflation is soaring high while the salaries are incompatible. “It’s frustration that is building inside people. They do not have the means to live lavish lives, hence they resort to crimes and corruption,” says Mrs Iram Ali, a headmistress and a mother of two.

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Via DAWN.com

State of inequality

Why do you think the rich-poor divide in Pakistan is growing so rapidly?

If we analyse in a non-emotional way, there is actually little evidence that inequality is increasing in Pakistan. The standard economic measure for measuring inequality—the Gini coefficient—in Pakistan shows that it has increased only marginally in the last two decades. Of course, there are problems with official data and there is reason to believe that distribution may have worsened in the last decade, but the important point to note is that we have been a highly unequal society from the beginning and only in the early 1970s did we see some reduction in inequality. But that was a short interregnum.

What are measures needed to close this gap?

There are two direct ways in which inequality has been reduced over the years. The more direct method has been of redistribution of assets. This is associated with socialist and communist countries and happened in the 20th century. So land reforms, nationalisation of industries and services was one way to create economic equity.

The other way — prevalent in capitalist societies — has been through redistribution of income from the rich to the poor. This is the ‘welfare state’ model and is based on progressive taxation. By taxing the rich more and spending those resources directly on the masses as well as on public good created a system of gradual but sustained reduction in income inequality.

Underpinning efforts at reducing economic inequality in both cases was a recognition that social equality through equal citizenship has to be created. This meant that equal citizenship was created across genders, religions, castes, ethnicities and regions through law. Those countries and societies may not have achieved social equality enshrined in law fully but that is the official benchmark they have established for themselves.

In Pakistan, unfortunately, we have been unable to do that. Tradition, backed up by bigoted interpretations of religion, has kept us from recognising the basic principle of equal citizenship in law and the constitution. Without social equality, there is no possibility of equality of opportunity and that is a structural bottleneck in Pakistan.

Another element that is critical to creating conditions for equality of opportunity is State spending on education and health.

Public expenditure in Pakistan on health and education is half of that of similarly placed developing countries and our defence expenditure is double that of similarly placed countries. That tells us what the priorities of the Pakistani state have been.

Would you agree that economic developments in Pakistan only benefit a small segment of the society leaving behind all the rest?

Economic development in Pakistan over time has benefited certain regions and certain classes a lot more than others. The urban middle classes have benefited a great deal from economic growth in Pakistan. Those working in the public sector and the formal manufacturing and service sectors are also much better off than they were say a generation ago. Informal workers in the rural as well as urban areas and those belonging to regions that have been deprived of infrastructure development have been left behind.

What measures can be taken at the government and private level to ensure even distribution of wealth?

In an age where market economics rules the roost and where political forces are still not strong enough to rationalise the defence budget, reallocation of resources towards targeted social protection programmes is the only instrument through which inequality can be reduced. A proper food subsidy and an employment programme for the poorest should be instituted. These programmes can be achieved with some additional taxation and reallocation of resources away from untargeted subsidies provided to the upper and middle classes.

For a nation that is high in philanthropy and donations, isn’t it ironic that the social divide keeps widening?

It is true that philanthropy is high in Pakistan and that is a positive aspect of our culture and social values. This is across sectors and regions. Without this level of philanthropy, imagine how much more poverty and misery there would have been. So in spite of philanthropy there is economic and social inequality which only goes to show that unless state policy does not address the issue, no amount of private effort is sufficient to substantively reduce inequality.

What is the single most important factor contributing to the extremely high inflation in Pakistan besides rising international fuel prices?

The most important factor in the last three years has been the passing on of electricity and gas subsidies to the consumer. In fact, the level of subsidisation is still very high which, in turn, is a major cause of high budget deficit. Further, inflationary expectations have built up in the economy that create a vicious cycle of price increases even when they are not warranted.—R.K.

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Robert de Niro to rock out with queen

LONDON (TS) ROBERT de Niro is attending the 10th anniversary of the musical We Will Rock You on Monday. He’s heading to the Dominion Theatre in central London for the special night as a guest of Queen and Ben Elton. It’s the only time you’re likely to see Bob and Corrie’s Curly Watts – actor Kevin Kennedy who appears in the show – in the same room.

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Pals Obama and Clooney shoot hoops in LA

George Clooney, center, attends the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner headlined by late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel, Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Washington. – AP Photo 

LOS ANGELES: A day after raking in $15 million at a fundraiser hosted by George Clooney, President Barack Obama’s thriving rapport with his Oscar-winning buddy took a new turn – on the basketball court.

The US commander-in-chief and the screen heartthrob cum activist dubbed the celebrity-in-chief enjoyed an early morning game of hoops in Los Angeles, before Obama headed to Nevada to cap a two-day west coast swing.

In a match-up of superheroes, Clooney, who once played Batman, was joined by Spiderman actor Tobey Maguire, and members of Obama’s traveling staff at a recreation center near the president’s Beverly Hills hotel, officials said.

Later, Obama was asked at a stop in Reno, Nevada how the game had gone.

“Of course, George and I won but we’re all winners because nobody got hurt,” he told reporters, no doubt remembering the 2010 pickup game in which a stray elbow from a fellow player gave him a fat lip.

Obama is a passionate basketball fan, and sometimes plays on weekends with cabinet members and friends in Washington.

He also famously used to shoot hoops as a good luck tradition early morning on key election days during his race for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton in 2008.

Clooney’s star-studded fundraiser, uniting Washington power and Hollywood glamour, was the most lucrative single day that Obama has spent piling up cash so far in his race to the November election against Republican foe Mitt Romney.

Around 150 guests paid $40,000 a ticket to get into the exclusive soiree, the latest in a string of big money events as Obama builds an expensive campaign machine for his re-election and buys top dollar advertising slots.

The guest list included A-listers from Barbra Streisand and Robert Downey Jr. to Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Maguire, Salma Hayek and fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg.

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US resumes Bahrain arms sales despite rights concerns

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Bahraini Shia Muslims hold a slogan which is read in Arabic as “No to dictatorship” during a demonstration. – AFP Photo

WASHINGTON: The United States will resume some military sales to Bahrain, a key Gulf ally facing Iran, despite human rights concerns linked to months of popular protests against the island kingdom’s rulers, the State Department said on Friday.

The Obama administration notified Congress that certain sales would be allowed for Bahrain’s defense force, coast guard and National Guard; although it would maintain a hold on TOW missiles, Humvees and some other items for now, the department said in a statement.

“We have made the decision to release additional items to Bahrain mindful of the fact that there are a number of serious unresolved human rights issues that the government of Bahrain needs to address,” the statement said.

The State Department did not give a total value for the items being released but emphasized that the equipment being approved was “not used for crowd control” as the majority Shia community continues to protest against the Sunni royal family following a crackdown last year.

US officials said among the sales now allowed to go forward would be harbor security vessels and upgrades to turbo-fan engines used in F-16 fighter aircraft as well as legislation which could pave the way for a future sale of a naval frigate.

Items still on hold, besides the missiles and the Humvees, include teargas, teargas launchers and stun grenades.

 Decision Criticised In Congress

The decision was criticized by Senator Patrick Leahy, who wrote a provision Congress passed last year requiring the administration to consult lawmakers before allowing sales of teargas and other crowd-control items to governments of countries undergoing democratic transition in the Middle East.

“While I am pleased that the administration is continuing to withhold tear gas, small arms and other crowd-control items from the Bahraini security forces, this arms sale sends the wrong message,” Leahy, a Democrat, said in a statement.

“The government of Bahrain has yet to respect the Bahraini people’s legitimate demands, or to hold accountable its own police and military officers for arresting, torturing and killing Bahraini protesters,” Leahy said.

The resumption of military sales follows a visit to Washington this week by Bahrain Crown Prince Salman Hamid al-Khalifa, who met Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

“The Vice President expressed concern about the recent escalation of street violence, including attacks against security forces,” the White House said. Biden also pressed on the importance of safeguarding human rights and of government accountability for past abuses, messages that were reinforced by Panetta, the Pentagon said.

In October, the Obama administration delayed $53 million in planned sales to Bahrain pending the outcome of a local investigation into alleged human rights abuses since an uprising began in February 2011.

Bahrain has been the host of US naval headquarters in the Gulf for more than 60 years and is seen as a central bulwark for US efforts to deter Iran.

Human rights advocates have criticized Washington for its muted response Bahrain’s crackdown contrasted with strong US public support for popular protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Syria.

The State Department said Bahrain’s government had taken steps to implement reforms but that “the country is becoming increasingly polarized and much work remains to be done.”

“We are concerned about excessive use of force and tear gas by police. At the same time, we are concerned by the almost daily use of violence by some protesters,” the statement said, urging both sides to refrain from incitement.

The Obama administration has been under pressure to stick by Bahrain’s ruling family, notably from Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in the face of protests by the country’s Shia’s.

The original $53 million sale proposal included 44 Humvee armored vehicles and several hundred TOW missiles along with associated equipment. Prime contractors would be privately held AM General and Raytheon Co.

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Via DAWN.com

Robert de Niro confirmed for ‘Last Vegas’

HOLLYWOOD (DS) Robert De Niro has been confirmed for Last Vegas. The veteran Raging Bull actor had previously been rumoured in connection to a role in the Michael Douglas-led ensemble comedy. De Niro will play party averse Paddy Connelly, who reluctantly joins his friends in on the trip to Las Vegas, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Olympic flame lit for London Games

ANCIENT OLYMPIA – The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece on Thursday, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year’s summer Games in London.
Actors in ancient Greek costume invoked the god Apollo in the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, using a concave mirror to harness the sun’s rays and …

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George Clooney, Obama’s celebrity activist-in-chief

George Clooney, center, attends the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner headlined by late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel, Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Washington. – AP Photo

LOS ANGELES: George Clooney, who hosts a star-studded fundraiser for Barack Obama Thursday, is a Hollywood A-lister turned activist for liberal causes like Sudan, Haiti – and now the US leader’s re-election.

The movie heartthrob’s $40,000-a-plate dinner is being tipped as possibly the biggest presidential fundraiser ever, bolstering Obama’s coffers to the tune of $12 million as he gears up for a fierce re-election fight.

Clooney will welcome at least 150 people at his 7,400-square foot home in Studio City, where catering and security preparations have been underway for days. Locals are bracing for snarled traffic when the celebrities descend on Clooney’s mansion.

The 51-year-old Oscar-winning actor has long been used to turning heads, but his stature has been further enhanced by his campaigning activities of recent years, arguably making him Obama’s celebrity activist-in-chief.

It is all a long way from the young actor who made his name as a doctor in TV medical drama “ER” in the 1990s.

Even though his first big-screen lead role, in 1997′s “Batman and Robin,”was widely panned, Clooney became an A-list star with role in the high-seas blockbuster “The Perfect Storm” in 2000.

In that year he formed his own production company with director Steven Soderbergh, Section Eight Productions, and together they turned out such hits as 2001′s “Ocean’s Eleven,” followed by sequels in 2004 and 2007.

But Clooney also broached more thoughtful fare like in the 2005 spy thriller “Syriana,” which earned him a best supporting actor Oscar, and the black-and-white film “Good Night, and Good Luck” about freedom of speech and governmental abuse of power.

His growing political interests also came to the fore in last year’s primary season thriller “Ides of March,” while Hawaiian-set family drama “The Descendants” won a best adapted screenplay Oscar.

Clooney’s rise has been matched by an increasing activism.

He has campaigned tirelessly to draw attention to the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. In 2010 he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in recognition of his work.

Also that year Clooney was one of the driving forces behind a star-studded telethon which raised more than $58 million for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

In March this year Clooney was handcuffed and arrested along with several members of the US Congress outside Sudan’s embassy in Washington DC, as they demanded an end to an offensive they fear will cause thousands to starve.

He was released three hours later after paying a $100 fine for crossing a police line.

In the same month Clooney visited the White House to brief the president on a clandestine visit he had made to war-torn Sudan. He also attended a state dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Obama appears to be keen on wooing wealthy donors in Hollywood and Silicon Valley, as money from Wall Street may be harder to come this election cycle as he gears up to take on likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney in November.

Tim Groeling, an associate professor at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), said Clooney’s fundraiser was important both for the cash raised and the impact of his celebrity endorsement.

“Most successful Hollywood entertainers are well-liked by the public, or else they wouldn’t have been successful in the first place,” said Groeling, UCLA’s head of communication studies and an expert on political communications.

“Although they are not always regarded as politically knowledgable, if someone you like endorses something or someone, that connection should be at least somewhat credible to you,” he told AFP.

Organization for Thursday’s dinner has been spearheaded by DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, the president’s major entertainment industry fundraiser, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The soiree is expected to make $5-6 million, while a further $6 million had been made by an online sweepstakes, in which the winner gets two seats at the head table with Obama and Clooney, the industry paper reported.

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Via DAWN.com

Beverly Hills Hotel marks 100 years of swank

In this April 25, 2012 photo, the entrance to the Beverly Hills Hotel is seen in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Beverly Hills Hotel is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. – AP Photo

BEVERLY HILLS, California: Stand on the Beverly Hills Hotel’s red carpet, leading into its chandeliered lobby, and you can’t help but visualize a century’s worth of celebrities, royalty, politicians, musicians and actors who have stayed there, from Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to Madonna, Reese Witherspoon and Katy Perry.

The luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard marks 100 years since it opened May 12, 1912, two years before the city of Beverly Hills itself was built around it. It remains one of the swankiest destinations in Southern California, home to Oscar and Grammy parties and star-filled lunches.

Its breezy, old Hollywood air comes from an incomparable list of superstar guests that has ranged over the decades from Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant and Clark Gable, to John Lennon and Jack Nicholson, to the androgynously elegant Marlene Dietrich, who convinced the hotel’s Polo Lounge restaurant to change its “no slacks for women” dress code in the 1940s.

In his new book “The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows — The First 100 Years,” Robert S. Anderson, the hotel’s official historian and great-grandson of its founder, tells the hotel’s story, from its beginnings amid acres of bean fields, to the present day, when celebs such as director Sofia Coppola think nothing of stopping by the coffee shop for a bite with friends.

Anderson’s great-grandmother Margaret Anderson — who managed a hotel on the site of what’s now the Hollywood & Highland Center, where the Academy Awards are held — built the Beverly Hills Hotel for $500,000 with architect Elmer Grey.

In this undated image released by Beverly Hills Collection, a historic view of The Beverly Hills Hotel is seen. The Beverly Hills Hotel is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in May. – AP Photo

“Elmer Grey designed the hotel in such a way so that every room got sunlight in one point of the day or another,” said Robert S. Anderson during lunch in late April in the Polo Lounge, beneath its green-and-white striped patio ceiling. “An acre of land was set aside for the guests to grow vegetables and flowers while staying here, so they would feel at home. That acre of land now is probably worth $25 million.”

Making its famous guests feel at home, and giving them privacy, have always been part of the hotel’s mission, beginning with silent film-era stars such as Chaplin and Buster Keaton, who shot movies at the hotel. The 1920s Hollywood power couple Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks met at the hotel, then renovated a palatial house above the property. Liz Taylor honeymooned in the hotel’s lavish bungalows with six of her husbands, including Richard Burton. Bungalow Five was one of their favorite hangouts.

Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes not only lived in the bungalows on and off for 30 years, but starting in 1942, he parked his Cadillac in front of the hotel for so long that plants started growing out of it. He also had hotel staff leave late-night meals, including roast beef sandwiches, in a nearby tree. Monroe stayed in bungalows 20 and 21 in 1960 while reportedly having an affair with her “Let’s Make Love” co-star Yves Montand.

In this image released by Beverly Hills Collection, actress Marilyn Monroe is seen at The Beverly Hills Hotel. The Beverly Hills Hotel is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in May. – AP Photo

Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in bed for a week in another bungalow. “She was well-behaved, and he wasn’t,” said Anderson, laughing. “Lennon would sing loud, Irish songs. One night Prince was up here singing to some girl in a suite upstairs, in the ’80s. People yelled to him, ‘Knock it off!’”

The hotel remains a place where celebrities can let down their hair, attracting the East Coast elite as well as Hollywood locals. But paparazzi, beware. “Stars felt safe here, as they do today,” said Anderson. “For example, even getting through the front door. If you’re wielding a heavy-duty camera, they ask you what the hell you’re doing.”

Four stories high, surrounded by acres of gardens and flowers, the hotel evokes a lush Mediterranean fantasy island, decorated with banana leaves, palm fronds and fuchsia azaleas. In the 1940s, African-American architect Paul Williams designed the hotel’s looping handwritten script logo and redesigned the Polo Lounge, which had previously been called El Jardin. Williams also designed the more casual Fountain Coffee Room below the lobby, which still has a curved dark counter and green banana leaf wallpaper. The hotel was nicknamed the “Pink Palace” after being painted a salmon hue in 1948 to reflect light shades of the sunset.

Some things have changed, of course. Gone are stables for guests’ horses; the school, movie theater, billiard room and bowling alley that were once downstairs; and fox hunts that were staged in nearby barren hills. There have also been financial ups and downs. The Great Depression forced the hotel to close in 1933 and reopen 10 months later under the ownership of Bank of America before being sold again later, according to Anderson’s book. The hotel was bought by the Brunei Investment Agency in 1987 and is now part of the agency’s Dorchester Collection of luxury hotel properties.

In 1992, the hotel closed for a $100 million restoration, reopening in 1995. Today it has more than 200 rooms and suites, including 23 private bungalows big enough to accommodate staffs and families. Five bungalows date to 1915, while new presidential bungalows unveiled last year include outdoor rain showers. Rooms, decorated with peachy marble bathroom floors and green granite countertops, now run upwards of $500 a night. Cocktails at the Polo Lounge, 15 cents in 1944, now start at $17. But spotting A-listers at the hotel remains a regular occurrence, whether in the Polo Lounge, the Cabana Cafe, Bar Nineteen12 overlooking the hotel’s citrus garden, or down a winding staircase to the enormous art deco Crystal Ballroom.

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In this 1938 image released by Beverly Hills Collection, pool at The Beverly Hills Hotel is seen upon completion. The Beverly Hills Hotel is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in May. – AP Photo

A celebration of the centennial is planned for June 15-17 to benefit the Motion Picture Television Fund, with a filmmaker panel, an evening party hosted by director Brett Ratner and a Polo Lounge brunch hosted by Warren Beatty and DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Regular folks who want a taste of the anniversary can try drinks from “These Walls Are Talking” cocktail menus featuring drinks such as “100 Year Sidecar,” ”The Rat Pack” and “The Norma Jean.”

In a new film timed to the anniversary celebration, directed by Chuck Workman, Michael Douglas mused about the hotel’s nostalgic appeal to both celebs and those without Hollywood ties.

“I’ve been going to the Beverly Hills Hotel for over half of its life. You feel timeless,” said the actor. “There’s a thoughtfulness that makes you feel like you’re coming home. It could be 50 years ago, except of course for the cell phones.

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Via DAWN.com

Brad Pitt new face of Chanel No.5 perfume

In this March 3, 2012 file photo, actor Brad Pitt arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of the play “8″ in Los Angeles. Chanel announced Wednesday, May 9, that Pitt will star in an upcoming ad campaign for its signature women’s scent. Previously the French-based house had used other famous names as its models, including Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman and Audrey Tautou. – AP Photo

Actor Brad Pitt is to be the new face of Chanel No.5 perfume, one of the most famous fragrances in the world, the French fashion house said on Wednesday.    

“Chanel has selected world renowned actor Brad Pitt to be the face of the upcoming advertising campaign for Chanel No.5,” Chanel said in a brief statement on its Twitter account.

Chanel gave no details but the deal is thought to mark the first time that the iconic perfume for women will be marketed by a man.

Pitt, 48, the star of movies like “Moneyball” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” joins the likes of Nicole Kidman and Catherine Deneuve who have represented the fragrance.

Chanel No. 5 was the first perfume launched by legendary French designer Coco Chanel in 1922. It became associated with Marilyn Monroe after the actress famously said the fragrance was all she wore to bed.

Pitt, regarded as one of the hottest celebrities in the world, proposed marriage in April to his long-time partner Angelina Jolie.

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