Queen of Hearts

Suchitra Sen was one of the most celebrated actresses of Bengal. Her films with another famed actor Uttam Kumar brought the Uttam-Suchitra pairing a legendary status in the history of Bengall cinema. She started in many critically acclaimed films and also acted in many Hindi block -busters during her long film career. She was the first Bengall actress to achieve international recognition for acting. After retirement Sen successfully avoided any public appearance for 30 long years. On January 17 2014 Suchitra Sen died of prolonged illness. Suchitra Sen was born on the April, 1927 in Pabna district of Bangladesh(then East Bengal) Her actual name was Roma das Gupta and she was third among her five siblings. She was married industrialissst Dibanath sen who influenced her to work in the budding Bengali film industry.    

News

Men who were in Zika areas should use condoms

 A municipal worker gestures during an operation to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Brazil's health minister Marcelo Castro… NEW YORK — U.S. health officials on Friday said men who have been to a Zika outbreak region should use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman — for the entire duration of the pregnancy.
The guidance also said the men might consider abstaining or using condoms even during sex with a woman who isn't pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed that the Zika (ZEE'-kuh) virus is still mainly spread by mosquitoes. In most people, it causes mild or no symptoms. But it has become a concern because of a possible link with a birth defect in Brazil.
The CDC has recommended that pregnant women postpone trips to countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. All travelers are advised to use insect repellent and take other steps to avoid mosquito bites.
The health agency also on Friday updated its guidelines for testing and monitoring pregnant women who have traveled to Zika areas. In the U.S., there have been about 50 cases of travelers diagnosed with the virus, including three pregnant women.

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Health

 Kidney Stones                              

Some diseases date back to the beginning of civilisation. Kidney or renal stones were first identified in an Egyptian mummy from about 4500 BC. It is one of the most common diseases of the urinary tract. Around two or three percent of the world's population suffers from Kidney stones. People who belong to the age group of 30 to 40 years are more prone to Kidney stones. The incidence is more in males than females.Kidney stones are usually harmless unless they start showing symptoms. Most of them are small in size and easily pass with urine.

                          Vitamin A 

Vitamin A is found only in yellow animal fats, in egg-york, milk and cheese. It is particularly plentiful in fish- liver oils, hence fish-liver oils are used for preventing and curing illness caused by lack of vitamin A. In a well-fed, healthy human being the liver can store up sufficient vitamin A to meet the body's requirements for six months.

Today

 

Welcome 2015! New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world

Ontario, Canada

Fireworks light up Celebration Square in front of the City Hall in Mississauga.

Celebrations to mark the start of 2015 have taken place around the world, with firework displays in a host of major cities.

New Zealand led the way, with Sydney Harbour providing a spectacular backdrop to Australia's display.

There was shock in Asia as a crush in Shanghai, China saw 35 people die marking the start of 2015.

The Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai aimed to break the world record for the largest LED-illuminated facade.

It launched its spectacular display centred on the world's tallest building.

Thousands of people celebrated in New York's Times Square for the city's annual New Year's Eve festivities, but this year security was tight as a protest took place nearby against police use of force and the state of race relations in the country.

The Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai aimed to break the world record for the largest LED-illuminated facade

Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco were among the last major cities to see in the new year.

Thousands thronged the streets of New York to see in the new year

The world renowned strip in Las Vegas saw a spectacular display of fireworks

In London the celebrations were centred around the London Eye by the River Thames

In France revellers gathered near the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris

 Grandfather Frost - the Russian equivalent of Father Christmas - and his granddaughter joined Kyrgyzstan's new year parade in Bishkek

In Italy people welcomed the new year on the Piazza Venezia in Rom

A firework display was held in central Prague

Europe's celebrations began in Moscow with fireworks over St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin.

In Berlin a huge open air concert was held in front of the Brandenburg Gate, while in Paris the Champs-Elysees was closed to traffic so that pedestrians could witness a visual spectacle projected onto the Arc de Triomphe 15 minutes before the start of the new year.

The arrival of 2015 was also significant for Lithuania as it became the 19th country to join the euro currency.

In Spain, millions of revellers converged around Madrid's Puerta del Sol, while in Barcelona huge fireworks displays or street parties were held. Similar events took place in the UK cities of London and Edinburgh.

Up to 1.5m people lined the shores of Sydney harbour to see the city's famous firework display.

The city's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the recent hostage crisis in the city had focussed the minds of Sydney residents.

Sydney's Harbour Bridge was the centrepiece of the city's new year fireworks

Celebration plans were muted in Indonesia in the wake of the recent AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash.

But across the rest of Asia there were lavish parties, with a sound and light show at Beijing's Olympic stadium and an eight-minute firework display in Hong Kong.

"I think a more peaceful year would be good for everyone," Louis Ho, 65, told AFP news agency, as the territory bade farewell to a year that saw widespread street protests.

Moscow's display led the way in Europe, with President Vladimir Putin describing the 2014 annexation of Crimea as "a historic landmark" for Russia.

Moscow's skyline lit up as fireworks flared over the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral

Mr Putin also sent messages to several world leaders, telling US President Barack Obama that the US and Russia had a shared interest in "maintaining peace and international stability".

In Brazil, more than one million people gathered on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, while the Pacific Islands just to the west of the international date line were the first places to herald the new year.

Musician Elton John for the first time performed in New York City on New Year's Eve

Revellers celebrated as fireworks exploded during new year festivities on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour was lit up by fireworks as the clock hit midnight

Students at China's Shenyang Agriculture University found their own way of marking the start of 2015

Students at China's Shenyang Agriculture University found their own way of marking the start of 2015

It was a similar picture from students in Ahmadabad, India

A woman prays during new year celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea

2015 is the "Year of the Sheep" in China, as illustrated by this student in eastern Shandong province

Winter storm freezes much of US

A man walks dogs wearing winter coats in New York, January 7, 2015.

  Oregon's Carrington, Ford benched after positive drug tests            

           

Hong/AP Photo Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington scores under pressure by Florida State defensive back Trey Marshall Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. The Ducks won 59-30.

DALLAS (AP) -- Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington and running back Ayele Forde will not play in Monday's national championship game after positive NCAA drug tests, coach Mark Helfrich said Saturday.
Carrington did not travel with the team to Dallas after testing positive for marijuana. The results of Forde's test were not immediately clear.
Helfrich said the team has faced many issues during the season, including injuries. But he insisted that the team is not distracted heading into the first College Football Playoff title game.
"How you manage those things is what matters most. And our guys have managed all those situations very, very well," Helfrich said.
Not having Carrington leaves the Ducks down two key wide receivers against Ohio State. Carrington, a 6-foot-2, 191-pound redshirt freshman, had seven catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon's Rose Bowl victory over Florida State.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota said the team was disappointed. He hadn't been able to talk to Carrington.
"But at the same time I think a lot of guys feel guilty like they should have helped, including myself," Mariota said. "It's tough. But we'll have to be ready for the next one, whoever the next guy is to step up."
Last week Oregon lost redshirt freshman receiver Devon Allen on the opening kickoff with a knee injury. Allen had 41 catches for 684 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Ducks have also been playing for the last four games without star tight end Pharoah Brown, who went down with a season-ending leg injury against Utah.
And before the season started, junior receiver Bralon Addison tore a ligament in his left knee. Although Addison said Saturday at the team's media availability in Dallas that he could play in the championship game, Oregon's coaches don't want to burn his redshirt year.
"We've had stuff happen all year long where a guys missed and the next guy has jumped in there and done a great job," receivers coach Matt Lubick said. "Our guys are going to be fine."
Carrington's absence leaves Oregon, which regularly uses three- and four-receiver formations, with Byron Marshall (66 catches for 834 yards), Dwayne Stafford (39 for 578), Keanon Lowe (25 for 359) and freshman Charles Nelson (11 for 101) to rely on.
"We all know as receivers that we're going to have to step up. It's the last game of the season. We're going to have to make plays and play basically our best game ever," Nelson said. "But losing him, losing a great receiver and a great kid with a great talent, it's sad."
Forde, a running back who is a contributor on special teams, played in all 14 games this season, with three carries for 17 yards. He had a carry for five yards in the Pac-12 championship against Arizona.
The NCAA does random drug testing for championship events and bowl games. Those tests can be done before or after an event and the school is given no notice about which players will be tested or how many players.
A failed test for recreational drugs results in the NCAA requiring the school to declare the player ineligible. The penalty for a failed test is 50 percent of a season, which means Carrington and Forde could miss up to five games next season.
Oregon can appeal the NCAA ruling and ask that a player be reinstated.
"I think anytime you put something in your body that doesn't belong there it's a bad decision," Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said.
In November, voters in Oregon approved Measure 91, which legalizes marijuana for recreational purposes. However, the law does not take effect until July 1.
----
Associated Press College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo and AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

Whether winter blues or cabin fever, depression in winter months is real in Pittsburgh, nationwide

© Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette As seen from Beechwood Boulevard, snow blankets a Squirrel Hill residential development overlooking the Monongahela River on Jan. 7.
When Karen Jardine moved from Virginia to Washington County, more than just her address changed.
It was January 1978 and the Northeast was gripped in what is now called the Great Blizzard with record snowfall and bitter cold temperatures. Pittsburgh had 27 inches of snow on the ground — surrounding rural areas had more — and some of it remained for 64 days in a row.
“I never saw so much snow,” Ms. Jardine, now 58, recalled.
She was used to sunshine and warmer weather, but she and her husband, Jamie, who moved to Amwell to take a job in a glass plant, began adjusting to life here.
Yet, there was something the young musician just couldn’t shake -- not homesickness, exactly, but bouts of depression-like symptoms.
Still, she loved the music scene in Pittsburgh and, before long, was raising three children. But every winter, around February, Ms. Jardine slipped back into the abyss, some days finding it nearly impossible to pass up a bed without curling up in the covers.
“I wanted to sleep more. I was depressed and I turned to comfort food,” she remembered. “I never felt like that in my life.”
Looking back, Ms. Jardine now thinks she was suffering the initial stages of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Similar to so-called cabin fever or the winter blues, the disorder is a type of depression that is related to changing seasons.
Winter-onset SAD is the most common, though sufferers can experience symptoms any time of year.
Those symptoms, which can include low energy, trouble concentrating, feelings of hopelessness and a craving for high-carbohydrate foods, are usually triggered by the shorter daylight hours and decreased sunshine that occur at the same time each year.
The disorder is thought to be caused by disruptions to circadian rhythms — our biological clock. A drop in serotonin, the brain chemical that affects mood, might play a role in SAD, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The change in season also can increase the level of melatonin in the body, making a person want to sleep more.
To be sure, Pittsburgh can be gray during the winter months, with an average of just three sunny days each in December, January and February. March isn’t much better, with an average of four bright days.
Pittsburgh has an average of 59 days of sunny weather each year, according to the National Climatic Data Center — one more than Seattle. Compare that to Yuma, Ariz., which has 242 sunny days.
While subjective, most climatologists consider a day sunny if 30 percent or less of the sky is cloudy.
“I think Pittsburgh actually has some of the worst changes in the light,” said Allegheny Health Network psychiatrist Alicia Kaplan, who sees many new patients suffering from the disorder, especially at this time of year. “I see a lot of worsening psychosocial stress and expectations over the holidays that can aggravate depression, especially if someone has an anxiety disorder.”
Psychosocial means the condition relates to a person’s psychological development in, and interaction with, a social environment.
Most of Dr. Kaplan’s SAD patients are women, which, she said, is to be expected because clinical depression is twice as common in women as in men.
“Definitely women are more sufferers, that’s for sure,” Dr. Kaplan said.
Nationwide, 3 out of 4 SAD sufferers are women. About 5 percent of the American population suffers from SAD, but that number rises to 10 percent in northern latitudes, according to a study from the University of California at Berkeley.
Registered nurse Deborah Maguire doesn’t need a calendar to know that autumn has arrived.
Her symptoms, including a craving for comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and soup, begin every October.
“Once the season changes, it’s almost like my energy level totally disappears. I would come home from work and go straight to bed,” she said. “It’s like being hungry for light.”
Ms. Maguire, 59, of Jefferson Hills, began noticing SAD symptoms about 20 years ago. In those days, the largely unrecognized disorder carried a stigma.
“People just thought I was tired,” she recalled. “Now that there has been so much more attention brought to it, it has been accepted as a true condition.”
Ms. Maguire began seeking professional help for the disorder about 10 years ago, as her symptoms became worse.
Among the treatments that have helped her are dietary charges, exercise and light therapy.
“I eat lots of protein and vegetables, drink a lot of water, and I move,” she said. “I walk every night right after work and I try to get outside during lunchtime if the sun is out.”
Ms. Maguire doesn’t wear sunglasses in cold weather unless she is driving because sunlight must reach the retina of the eye to affect the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls circadian rhythms. That doesn’t mean people should stare into the sun or bright lights.
“Getting outside and exposure to light is important,” Dr. Kaplan said, along with a healthy diet, rest and exercise.
“Schedule a time to meet with friends,” Dr. Kaplan suggested. “That social component is important. Schedule something you used to like to do for fun and keep busy. Force yourself to get out there.”
Ms. Jardine said she plans activities for each February, which she knows from experience will be her toughest month.
“I plan activities like decoupage,” she said. “I know it’s coming and I have to make a plan.” In addition, she usually plans a vacation in a sunny location near the equator.
She also gets an extra boost from writing music, wearing bright colors and replacing the lights around her — including fluorescent lights at work — with bulbs that mimic natural light. She also uses a full-spectrum desktop light each day.
In light-starved Scandinavia, a European energy company installed phototherapy lights in bus shelters, and the town of Rjukan in Norway placed giant mirrors to reflect sunlight onto the town’s main square to help combat winter blues.
Closer to home, a Portland, Ore., entrepreneur recognized the importance of sunlight on mood by building a “Lightbar” where people can sip coffee and listen to relaxing music while bathing in light with an intensity of 10,000 lux, the recommended dose for SAD sufferers.
Antidepressant medication, personal light boxes and cognitive behavioral therapy also can be helpful for some severe cases of SAD, Dr. Kaplan said.
She said it’s important for those who think they need professional help to get it.
People should seek help, she said, “if they are really having trouble coping and they’ve talked to loved ones or a friend and they really aren’t seeing much of a change or if they are isolating more.”
“Sometimes people don’t know they can ask their family doctor for a referral,” Dr. Kaplan said. “Also, just understand that it’s important to be assessed by a mental health professional, and people should know they are not alone.”

Britain has a new princess - and eagerly awaits her name

LONDON (AP) — From Prince Charles to the bettors at the corner store, everyone in Britain was hoping for a girl.
The Duchess of Cambridge delighted her nation and royal enthusiasts around the world Saturday by delivering one such princess. The royal birth was greeted with cheers and elated cries of "Hip, hip, hooray!" outside St. Mary's Hospital in London, where fans and the world's media have waited for days.
The baby — Prince William and Kate's second child — was born Saturday morning and weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces (3.7 kilograms), officials said. She is fourth in line to the throne and the fifth great-grandchild of 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. Britain hasn't welcomed a princess born this high up the line of succession for decades.
It may be a day or two before the world knows what to call her. When Prince George, her older brother, was born in 2013, royal officials waited two days before announcing his name.
Speculation about the new royal's name has been frenetic, and all the top bets for the baby's name have been for girls: Alice and Charlotte are the clear favorites, followed by Elizabeth, Victoria and Diana — all names with strong royal connections. Royal children are usually given several names — the baby's brother was christened George Alexander Louis — so the princess's name could incorporate more than one of those guesses.
Anticipation had been building for weeks after Kate, 33, told a well-wisher she was due around late April. Still, journalists were caught slightly off guard when she delivered barely three hours after checking into the hospital at dawn Saturday. William, 32, was present at the birth.
The couple later emerged on the hospital steps with the infant to briefly pose for photographers before leaving for their home at nearby Kensington Palace. Kate, who wore a yellow-and-white floral shift dress by British designer Jenny Packham, held the sleeping baby wrapped in a white shawl.
The couple looked relaxed but didn't answer any questions. William earlier told reporters he was "very happy" as he brought young George to the hospital to meet his baby sister. George, looking slightly alarmed by all the cameras, waved dutifully at the adoring crowds.

Superfans prepare to welcome Kate and William's second child The queen and senior royals were "delighted with the news," officials said. The queen marked the occasion by wearing a pink ensemble while carrying out an official engagement in North Yorkshire, 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of London.
Cheers and chants of "Princess! Princess!" rang out from the hundreds of well-wishers and tourists gathered outside the palace and the hospital as soon as the news was announced. One fan who had camped out outside the hospital for days danced with joy.
"I'm top of the world," said royal camper Terry Hutt, 80, decked out in patriotic Union Jack gear. He did not expect the birth to happen as soon as it did but said: "Babies come when they're ready."
"If Diana was here, she'd be very, very proud," he added, referring to the late Princess Diana, William's mother.

 Alastair Grant/AP Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn baby princess, pose for the media as they leave St. Mary's Hospital's exclusive Lindo Wing, London. Alastair Grant/AP The news was announced on social media sites like Twitter as well as by a traditional bulletin on a gilded easel in front of Buckingham Palace — a practice that dates to 1837.
A town crier in an elaborate costume — with no official connection to the royal family — shouted out the news at the hospital's door, clanging his bell to welcome the new royal.
"May our princess be long-lived, happy and glorious," said Tony Appleton, reading from a scroll in a booming voice.
Britain's political leaders — facing a hard-fought general election in just five days — rushed to congratulate the couple on the baby. Goodwill also poured in from the rest of the world: President Barack Obama said he wished the family "much joy and happiness," while Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper said the British royal family held a "very special place in our country."
At 21 months, George is third in line to the throne, after his grandfather Prince Charles and his dad William. The newborn princess becomes the fourth in line, bumping Uncle Harry to fifth.
The last princess born so close to the throne was Princess Anne, the queen's second child, in 1950. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were fifth and sixth in line at the time of their birth.
Thanks to a recent change in the law, the new princess will hold her place in the line of succession that for centuries had put boys ahead of their sisters. That means no younger brother will be able to overtake the new princess in the order of preference to inherit the throne.

 John Stillwell Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, holds her baby daughter outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, in London, Britain May 2, 2015. The Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, gave birth to a girl on Saturday, the couple's second child and a sister to one-year-old Prince George. Nonetheless, the princess probably doesn't have to worry about one day becoming queen, since royal succession rules dictate that the throne always passes to the eldest child. Younger siblings only step up to the job in rare circumstances — in case of an illness, death, or an abdication.
The birth of their second child marks a new phase for William and Kate, who were wed in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
The royal couple is expected to spend more time in their country digs, a 10-room brick-faced mansion known as Anmer Hall on the queen's estate in Sandringham, 120 miles (190 kilometers) north of London. Their apartment at Kensington Palace in central London, where much of their staff is based, will still remain their official home, officials said.
Anmer Hall is also better located for William's new role as a pilot for Bond Air Services, a helicopter operator that works with the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. He will work with doctors responding to emergencies ranging from road accidents to heart attacks.__

Britain's royal line of succession

Entertaintment

Week in Celebrity Photos

Sarah Hyland attends the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and In Style celebrate The 2015 Golden Globe Award Season in Los Angeles

Katy Perry, Drake and more AMA nominee TwitPics

Ever wonder what stars do leading up to a big awards show like the upcoming AMAs on Nov. 23? Take Katy Perry, who posted a pic getting some R&R on a luxe boat before Sunday. She joked: "G2G my whip is here." Keep clicking to find out what other American Music Awards nominees have been doing before the big night.

Teresa Giudice losing her weight and appetite with prison sentence looming

Teresa Giudice seems to be having a hard time stomaching her prison sentence.

A friend of the reality-TV star told Us Weekly that Teresa's diet and appetite have changed drastically since she was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to several counts of fraud.

"She's skipping meals and surviving on coffee, a few nibbles and wine," the source said, adding that Teresa is down 11 pounds and has been "shaking from all the caffeine."

"She looks frail," the insider continues. "Her family is worried as she continues to obsess about prison and waste away."

A mother of four, the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star is due to report to FCI Danbury in Connecticut in just over six weeks on Jan. 4, 2015. Her husband, Joe, will serve a 41-month term once Teresa is released.

Miss/Mr. Golden Globe.Sosie Bacon, Rumer Willis, John Clark Gable and more

Greer Grammer was announced to be Miss Golden Globe for the 72nd Golden Globes awards show. Miss Golden Globe is an honor bestowed each year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, typically to a daughter (or son) of celebrity parents. The winner assists on- and off-stage during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Click on to see other former Miss and Mister Golden Globes.

The Golden Globes Awards will air on Jan. 11 on NBC.

Dianna Agron attends the American Museum of Natural History's 2014 Museum Gala in New York on Nov. 20, 2014.

Celeb tattoos of 2014

Celebrities just love getting inked! Some opt for tattoos that are a cinch to tuck away, while others pick easy-to-spot places. But whether their ink is simple to hide or glaring and flashy, stars -- and their tattoo artists -- love taking to social media to show off their fresh art. In 2014 Miley Cyrus tatted her lip, Kelly Osbourne inked her scalp and Selena Gomez got a quote on her back, which tattoo artist Bang Bang McCurdy gave her in the privacy of her own home this summer. It reads in Arabic: "Love Yourself First." Sweet message! Keep clicking to check out more of the body art celebs had inked in 2014.

Ho ho ho! Getting into the Christmas spirit isn't just for people. Celebs like Paris Hilton love to dress up their pets in festive costumes too. She posted this adorable pic with her mini Pomeranian with the caption: "Santa's Little Helper." Click through to check out more famous furry friends dressed up for the holidays on social media.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! In honor of Christmas 2014, check out stars like Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and more stars rocking ugly Christmas sweaters, starting with the "Shake It Off" singer, who donned a Santa sweater back in December 2008.

 The Associated Press Iggy AzaleaWell this is one way to get an apology.A mysterious Twitter handle named @TheAnonMessage has threatened to release still images from an alleged sex tape involving Iggy Azalea unless she publicly apologizes to Azealia Banks and the protesters of the #BlackLivesMatter movement."MESSAGE: @IGGYAZALEA, you have exactly 48 hours from now to release a statement apologizing to @AzealiaBanks and the protesters in NYC..." one of the tweets captured by Vulture read. "You are guilty of misappropriating black culture, insulting peaceful protesters, and making light of Eric Garner's death. @IGGYAZALEA"Another tweet read, "There's an X rated tape of you, we bet you'd certainly don't want public, are we right? @IGGYAZALEA....and this is nothing. Comply or else." The account has since been suspended by Twitter.For the record, Azalea has consistently denied ever having a sex tape. She also claimed the media frenzy surround the speculation "makes me sick." A rep for the rapper declined to comment for the story.Although the "Fancy" crooner hasn't commented on Banks ever since the hacker's tweets surfaced, Azalea wasn't so quiet when the singer went after her during a recent radio interview.  "I feel like in this country, whenever it comes to our things, like black issues or black politics or black music or whatever, there's always this undercurrent of kinda like a 'f--k you," Banks proclaimed on Hot 97. "That Iggy Azalea s--t isn't better than any f--king black girl that's rapping today...The Grammys are supposed to be accolades of artistic excellence. Iggy Azalea is not excellent."As you can imagine, that didn't exactly sit well with Azalea who fired back on Twitter."There are many black artists succeeding in all genres," Azalea wrote in response to the interview. "The reason you haven't is because of your piss poor attitude...Your inability to be responsible for your own mistakes, bullying others, the inability to be humble or have self control. It's YOU!"Although there doesn't seem to be a chance at a reconciliation anytime soon, Azalea remains focused on her upcoming tour with Nick Jonas.In fact, the 24-year-old can't stop smiling when she sees her devoted fans purchasing tickets."Seeing everyone tweet me what dates they are going to on the tour makes me way too excited for next year," 

Hackers Threaten to Release Iggy Azalea's Alleged Sex Tape If She Doesn't Apologize to Azealia Banks

Hottest Celeb Couples of 2014

From unexpected new pairings to old favorites, Hollywood's sexiest couples kept things hot year-round. And there was one couple who had everyone talking: Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello. Talk about caliente times two! After meeting in May at the White House Correspondents' Dinner (when the "Modern Family" star was still engaged to Nick Loeb), the "Magic Mike" hunk and Vergara began stepping out together in July. Since then, they've been spotted getting cozy and romantic everywhere from restaurants to Justin Timberlake concerts. Keep clicking to seeother famous couples who turned up the heat in 2014! 

Week in Celebrity Photos: Dec. 29-Jan. 2|

Queen Latifah enjoys the new year with some friends at the beach in Miami on Jan. 1, 2015

Celebrity news for Jan. 7, 2015

Blake Lively gives her first interview since becoming a mom

Just a few days after welcoming her first child -- a girl, reportedly named Violet -- with Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively is opening up to People about the experience of becoming a mom. "I don't feel like it's a massive change," Lively says. "I do want to just enjoy this moment. But I also feel like my first child is going to be the oldest sibling to the next kid, and that may change with each and every year." The 27-year-old "Gossip Girl" alum has four siblings herself, and has frequently said she wants lots of kids. "I'm looking forward to how one baby influences the other, and to my family as a whole, to every single chapter," she tells People, adding that her parents and siblings helped inspire her new lifestyle website, Preserve. "This is the happiest time in my life, and I could say that every day," says Lively. "I often feel like, 'I can't believe I'm experiencing this.'"

Russell Crowe recently told The Weekly that female actresses who complain about a lack of roles for women their age are simply not looking for age-appropriate parts: "... the woman who is saying that (the roles have dried up) is the woman who at 40, 45, 48, still wants to play the ingénue, and can't understand why she's not being cast as the 21-year-old," said Crowe. He went on to offer Meryl Streep as an example of someone who's managed to keep working as she ages. And while Streep later agreed with Crowe in an interview with the Telegraph ("it's good to live in the place where you are," she said), Jessica Chastain suggested in another new interview that Crowe would do well to spend less time jamming his foot in his mouth and more time visiting his local cinema. "I think Russell keeps getting his foot stuck in his mouth. There are some incredible actresses in their 50s and 60s that are not getting opportunities in films," Chastain told Cosmopolitan, "and for someone to say there are plenty of roles for women that age ... [that] is not someone who's going to the movie theater." Jezebel points out that despite Streep's agreement, she "was appalled" upon turning 40, "to be offered three separate roles as witches." She declined all three roles.© Erik Pendzich/Rex USA

Celebs at ELLE Women in TV Event

 Nina Dobrev attends ELLE's Annual Women in Television Celebration in West Hollywood, Cali., on Jan. 13, 2015

Best cinematic swimsuit moments

  

Are you currently freezing your posterior off and wishing you could jet off to a tropical locale? Then warm up by checking out our roundup of the best cinematic swimsuit moments. Sunblock and umbrella drink optional ...

Bobbi Kristina Brown Turns 22: Sweet Moments With Whitney and Bobby

 

 A one-year-old Bobbi Kristina is shown with her father Bobby at the Soul Train Music Awards in 1994.

Celebrity news for March 3, 2015

Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter hit Tahiti for their honeymoon

With awards season behind them and a baby on the way, Benedict Cumberbatch and his new wife, Sophie Hunter, finally got some R&R in Tahiti, where the couple enjoyed 10 days at a water bungalow resort on the beach. "They really seemed in love and like perfect partners," a spy tells E! News. "He was doting on her and rubbing her back and her pregnant belly. She was making sure he had sunscreen on and always re-applying it on his back. They had a lot of time alone and really enjoyed the slow pace of life and not having to do much." 

Week in Celebrity Photos: March 2-6

Zoe Kravitz rocked a mismatched bikini as she went for a swim in the ocean with friends at the beach in Miami Beach, Fla., on March 7, 2015.

Stars attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards

Taylor Swift arrives at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2015.

7 Memorable 'MTV Movie Awards' Moments

MTV Movie Awards

The 2015 MTV Movie Awards go down this Sunday April 12, with the hilarious Amy Schumer taking on hosting duty this time around. The show promises "roof raising performances," Shailene Woodley's acceptance of a trailblazer award, and appearances by stars like Reese Witherspoon, Vin Diesel, and Kevin Hart.

If you need a reason to tune in (isn't Amy Schumer enough?), just remember that MTV awards shows are typically a bit more out there and unpredictable than others. Here are seven memorable moments in Golden Popcorn history to refresh your memory.