Spitzer’s call girl Ashley Dupre walks runway at NY Fashion Week

Melbourne, September 17 (ANI): Ashley Dupre, the former high-class call girl at the centre of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, walked the runway during New York Fashion Week.

The 24-year-old made the appearance at Bahar Shahpar’s fashion show, according to Jill Fehrenbacher at Ecouterre.

“It’s a rare rare thing when the tabloid world crosses into the world of eco-fashion, and one that might bring a little more attention to Bahar’s already-provocative line than would normally have been the case,” the Courier Mail quoted Fehrenbacher as saying.

Dupre was dubbed as an ‘informant’ during the scandal that saw the politician patronising a prostitution service that subsequently led to his resignation from the post of New York Governor.

Eighteen months after the storm, Dupre has been recording pop songs and wooing a record deal. (ANI)

Spitzer call girl Ashley Dupre wants to make a comeback

New York, September 14 (ANI): Ashley Dupre, the former high-class call girl at the centre of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, is tired of hiding and wants a comeback.

The 24-year-old was dubbed as an ‘informant’ during the scandal that saw the politician patronising a prostitution service that subsequently led to his resignation from the post of New York Governor.

And eighteen months after the storm, Dupre, who is recording pop songs and wooing a record deal, is seeking to get her life back on track.

“Everyone likes an underdog story, and everyone likes a comeback. I’m the poster child for redemption,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.

Dupre, who is also working on a book she calls a “cautionary tale,” further laughed at the idea that she was after the limelight.

She added: “I didn’t ask for it, but now that I have it, it’s up to me to take advantage of this platform and do something amazing. I have a voice now.” (ANI)

Surge in Jacko’s music’s post-death sales to benefit Dutch pension fund

London, July 4 (ANI): The Dutch pension fund ABP is set to benefit from the surge in the sale of Michael Jackon’s music after his death.

ABP owns the rights to a number of the late King of Pop’s songs.

According to the website of Imagem Music Group, which manages the music assets for ABP, the firm bought two music catalogues last year, including the rights to songs like You Are Not Alone.

“There are always certain songs that for whatever reason, in this case tragic, suddenly become very popular. The last fact is a basis for the investment,” the Telegraph quoted an ABP spokesman as saying.

The ‘Thriller’ hitmaker’s solo album sales in the US increased from 10,000 copies in the week before his death to 422,000 in the week ended June 28, reports Nielsen SoundScan.

And the best-selling track was ‘Thriller’ with 167,000 copies being sold. (ANI)

Balbir Chotia popularising Punjabi folks songs

Abohar, April 29 (ANI): For centuries folk songs have treasured people who passed it on from one generation to another. People still feel enjoy listening to folk songs.

Balbir Chotia, a music teacher by profession in a government school, is keeping the joy of singing folk songs alive.

Balbir is not a mass singer. But his style of singing is a rage in the Malwa region of Punjab. He has been singing Punjabi folk songs since childhood and remains devoted to Punjabi culture.

His first audiocassette ‘Nindo da Badla’ – the revenge of Nindo, was a super hit. And since then Balbir never looked back.

Folk songs showcase the rich tradition of Punjab. And, the reason it could maintain its importance unfazed by changing times is because of individuals like Balbir Chotia, who are devoting their lives to the popularisation of folk culture here.

Balbir Chotia has been singing for 15 years and has dedicated himself completely to popularise Punjabi folk music.

“By taking up pop music. people are forgetting their rich culture. They are singing pop for the sake of money. People laugh once at a comedy but if we repeat it no one will laugh. Pop is like a comedy. But, the folk songs are evergreen and will remain so forever. Any of the pop songs can be heard on television. But they are soon forgotten by the people, said Balbir Chotia, the Punjabi folk singer.

“DJs show vulgarity. And only people can encourage or discourage such things. If they oppose pop and promote their folk songs – then only a change will come. A change is impossible if you try to bring it about forcibly. For example, if you use force to stop drug addition it will not work. Music is also like an addiction and only people can decide what they want to listen. But, one must never forget his or her roots.” By Avtar Gill (ANI)

Indonesian serial killer gets death sentence

Jakarta – An Indonesian man who confessed to murdering 11 people was sentenced to death on Monday.

The court in West Java’s Depok district, just south of Jakarta, found Verry Idham Hermansyah, better known as Ryan, guilty of murdering Hery Santoso, who was stabbed and bludgeoned to death before being dismembered.

The man was believed to be Ryan’s last murder victim.

Santoso’s body parts were discovered by the Jakarta city police in a bag at a roadside the southern Jakarta on July 11, 2008.

The panel of judges said in their verdict that Ryan had been convincingly and legally found guilty of committing a premeditated murder.

Prosecutors, who had demanded the death penalty, accused Ryan of committing sadistic and merciless crimes.

Ryan had previously confessed of murdering 10 other people and burying their bodies behind his parents’ home in East Java province. The series of killings took place within a two-year period.

While serving in detention, Ryan wrote an autobiography, telling stories from his childhood before he ended up in prison, his lawyer said.

Ryan has also told reporters that he planned to release an album of pop songs, saying he had been offered a recording contract by a producer.

His case received intense media coverage for weeks last year. Gay rights advocates have accused the media of an anti-homosexual hysteria by linking the murders to the suspect’s sexuality.

Police said the motive for the murders was money. The victims included a woman and her 3-year-old daughter whom police said were bludgeoned with a crowbar.

Accused Indonesian serial killer publishes book

Jakarta – An Indonesian man on trial for allegedly killing 11 people in a case that has captivated the country has published a book about his life, his attorney said Wednesday.

Kasman Sangaji – attorney for Verry Idham Henyansyah, better known as Ryan – said 20 copies of his client’s book have been printed and the publisher had agreed to print 5,000 more soon.

“The book is like an autobiography. It tells stories from his childhood until he ended up in prison,” Kasman said, adding that there was no law in Indonesia banning a criminal suspect from publishing a book.

Police arrested Ryan in July after finding the body of a man suspected of being his last murder victim in Jakarta.

The bodies of 10 people whose murders were also blamed on Ryan were later found buried behind his parents’ home in East Java province.

Ryan is facing a possible death sentence if found guilty of the murders, which took place within a two-year period.

Ryan’s book has triggered protests from the family of Ryan’s lover, Noval Andreas, who was jailed for 10 months in December for using money stolen from one of Ryan’s alleged victims because it contains a chapter on the men’s love affair.

Kasman dismissed the objections.

“Novel is a grown-up man, and he is responsible for his own actions,” the lawyer said.

Some of the proceeds from the book will be donated to charities, Kasman added.

Ryan has told reporters that he also planned to release an album of pop songs, saying he had been offered a recording contract by a producer.

His case received intense media coverage for weeks last year. Gay rights advocates have accused the media of anti-homosexual hysteria by linking the murders to the suspect’s sexuality.

Police said the motive for the murders was money. The victims included a woman and her 3-year-old daughter whom police said were hit by a crowbar. (dpa)