Kesha Told She Can't Sing At Billboard Awards

Kesha has been told she can no longer perform at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards after Dr Luke's label appeared to change its mind about granting permission.

The singer initially accepted an invitation to sing at the event and "received written approval from Dr Luke's record label, Kemosabe Records".

But the label "rescinded its approval following a media report on Wednesday May 11th," a statement from dick clark productions, which organises the event, said.

Producer Dr Luke and Kesha have been at war since she accused of him of drugging, sexually abusing and emotionally tormenting her.

She is signed to his record label and they co-wrote many of her hits together, including Tik Tok and We R Who We R.

Producer Dr Luke

In a statement on her Instagram page Kesha denied reports she was planning to reference the dispute with Dr Luke during her performance.

She said: "I'm very sad and sorry to say I won't be allowed to do this.

"I just wanted to make very clear that this performance was about me honoring one of my favorite songwriters of all time and has never had anything at all to do with Dr Luke.

"I was never going to use a picture of him, speak of him or allude to my legal situation in any way. I simply wanted to sing a song I love to honor an artist I have always looked up to. thank u all for the continued support."

She revealed she was planning to sing a tribute to Bob Dylan with a cover of It Ain't Me Babe.

The Billboard Awards, hosted by Ludacris and Ciara, are being held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In a decision which has sparked some online criticism and a Change.org petition, Madonna will honour Prince's legacy at the show.

Other performers include Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, Pink and Meghan Trainor.

Nominees for top artist include Bieber, Taylor Swift, Drake, the Weeknd and Adele, who won't attend the show because of her tour but will debut a new music video at the event.

Panda Picture Proves 'Dead' Bear Is Alive

A Taiwanese zoo has released a "proof of life" photo of one of its giant pandas to counter rumours it had died.

Tuan Tuan is pictured behind bars with newspapers laid out in front of him to prove what day it is.

Taipei Zoo said 11-year-old Tuan Tuan, his partner Yuan Yuan and their cub Tuan Zai were all fine.

"We welcome everyone to visit them at the zoo," said its director Chin Shih-chien.

China's official Communist Party paper, Global Times, had reported that Tuan Tuan had died of canine distemper.

The story soon spread like fast-growing bamboo across the Chinese-speaking internet.

Tuan Tuan arrived in Taipei in December 2008

The paper later retracted its story and apologised for not checking its facts.

The death of the politically sensitive panda, a present to Taiwan from China, may have had deep diplomatic implications. 

Beijing has often used gifts of giant pandas, which only exist in China, to make political statements.

China claims that Taiwan, which is quasi-independent and self-governing, is part of its territory.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were sent to Taiwan in December 2008 following the election of China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou as the island's leader.

Their combined names - Tuan Yuan - mean "Reunion". 

Rumours of Tuan Tuan's death emerged days before the inauguration of Mr Ma's successor, Tsai Ing-wen, whose party supports Taiwan's formal independence from China. 

Trump Ready To Meet Kim Jong-Un Over Nukes

Donald Trump has said he would be prepared to meet Kim Jong-Un and speak to him about scaling back North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," he told the Reuters news agency

Asked whether he would try to talk some sense into the North Korean leader, Mr Trump replied: "Absolutely."

North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Trump's remarks.

In a separate interview with Fox News presenter Megyn Kelly, Mr Trump also admitted he has "regrets" and could have used "different language in a couple of instances" during his controversial White House campaign.

The presumptive nominee defended his combative style, calling himself a "counter-puncher" and insisting that if he had been less aggressive then he would not have been so successful.

It was the first time that Kelly and Mr Trump had faced each other since a feisty exchange in a television debate back in August 2015, when Kelly challenged Trump about some of the offensive words he had used to describe women he didn't like.

The property tycoon implied she was treating him badly, tweeting later that she was a "bimbo" and a "lightweight", and then in a phone interview infamously commenting that the journalist asked him tough questions because she had "blood coming out of her wherever".

In this latest interview, Kelly asked him about why he had re-tweeted some of the offensive messages his fans had posted about her.

A boyish, slightly embarrassed Trump emerged.

Trump Ready To Meet Kim Jong-Un Over Nukes

Donald Trump has said he would be prepared to meet Kim Jong-Un and speak to him about scaling back North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," he told the Reuters news agency

Asked whether he would try to talk some sense into the North Korean leader, Mr Trump replied: "Absolutely."

North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Trump's remarks.

In a separate interview with Fox News presenter Megyn Kelly, Mr Trump also admitted he has "regrets" and could have used "different language in a couple of instances" during his controversial White House campaign.

The presumptive nominee defended his combative style, calling himself a "counter-puncher" and insisting that if he had been less aggressive then he would not have been so successful.

It was the first time that Kelly and Mr Trump had faced each other since a feisty exchange in a television debate back in August 2015, when Kelly challenged Trump about some of the offensive words he had used to describe women he didn't like.

The property tycoon implied she was treating him badly, tweeting later that she was a "bimbo" and a "lightweight", and then in a phone interview infamously commenting that the journalist asked him tough questions because she had "blood coming out of her wherever".

In this latest interview, Kelly asked him about why he had re-tweeted some of the offensive messages his fans had posted about her.

A boyish, slightly embarrassed Trump emerged.

First Kidnapped Chibok Girl Reportedly Found

The first of 219 girls kidnapped by terror group Boko Haram in 2014 has been found alive, according to reports in Nigeria.

Amina Ali Nkeki was apparently discovered by civilian vigilantes in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old's uncle, Yakubu Nkeki, said she was pregnant and traumatized, but otherwise unharmed. 

She was initially taken to Chibok to verify her identity and be reunited with her mother.  

He father died while she was held captive, Mr Nkeki said. 

Amina Ali Nkeki was apparently found in the Sambisa Forest

The secretary of the missing girls' parents' association, Lawan Zannah, said he had seen Amina sitting in a military vehicle at the area commander's residence in Chibok.

He said he had only been allowed to exchange brief greetings with her in their local language, Kibaku. 

She is now thought to be travelling to the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. 

Its governor, Kashim Shettima, told reporters: "I haven't got any details... I learned the girl is on her way now." 

A community leader, Pogu Bitrus, said other girls from the group may also have been rescued after soldiers closed in on Boko Haram militants on Tuesday night. 

There was international outrage when the girls were abducted from their school in April 2014.

High-profile figures including American first lady Michelle Obama joined a campaign with the hashtag: #BringBackOurGirls. 

Boko Haram militants have killed an estimated 15,000 people and kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children during a six-year campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in northeastern Nigeria. 

Interpol: 800,000 Migrants Ready To Head To EU

An estimated 800,000 migrants are waiting in Libya to cross into Europe and there is an increased possibility that terrorists will try to cross with them, a report by Interpol and Europol says.

The conclusions of the international policing groups have been seized on by Leave campaigners who want the UK to quit the EU.

The report states: "While a systematic link between migrant smuggling and terrorism is not proven, there is an increased risk that foreign terrorist fighters may use migratory flows to (re)enter the EU."

The report adds that the closures of some border in response to the migration crisis will lead to more widespread and sophisticated people smuggling operations.

It says: "It is expected that, in 2016, more than 90% of the migrants moving towards the EU will be facilitated by smugglers.

"Key migratory routes identified as main corridors for migrant smuggling are fluid and influenced by external factors like border controls.

"Migrant smuggling is a multinational business, with suspects originating from more than 100 countries."

UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, who wants the UK to leave the EU, said the report's findings confirmed the security fears of former-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove who says Britain would be safer outside the EU.

He said: "This joint report from Interpol and Europol demonstrates that 800,000 Libyans are queuing up to enter the EU.

"Intelligence says that it is only a matter of time before another terrorist attack occurs in Europe.

"Unless we vote to leave, we will be putting our national security at risk."

The report comes as another group, Human Rights Watch, said Islamic State has been carrying out widespread atrocities in Libya, including beheadings of dozens of residents accused by militants of being spies.

IS is thought to have between 2,000 and 6,000 fighters in Libya, after gaining a foothold amid the chaos that has engulfed the country over the past few years.

The report by the New York-based watchdog, which has spoken to dozens of people who have fled the country, recounts instances of "crucifixions" and floggings of men for acts such as smoking or listening to music.

Senior terrorism and counterterrorism researcher at HRW Letta Tayler, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group, said: "While the world's attention is focused on atrocities in Syria and Iraq, ISIS is also getting away with murder in Libya."

Senate Passes 9/11 Bill Despite Saudi Threats

The US Senate has passed legislation that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

The measure, which must still be voted on by the House of Representatives, was approved despite fierce objections from the US ally and the Obama administration.

Of the 19 hijackers, 15 were from Saudi Arabia, with the others from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon.

Riyadh, which denies responsibility for the 2001 attacks, has reportedly threatened to sell up to $750bn in US assets if the bill becomes law.

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act gives victims' families the right to sue in US court for any role that elements of the Saudi government could have played in 9/11.

Relatives have been calling on the Obama administration to declassify 28 pages of a US intelligence report, which are said to discuss possible Saudi involvement.

The bill would remove sovereign immunity - which shields governments from lawsuits - for countries found to be involved in terrorist attacks on US soil.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said earlier this month such a move would "turn the world for international law into the law of the jungle".

New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill, said: "Today the Senate has spoken loudly and unanimously that the families of victims of terrorist attacks should be able to hold the perpetrators, even if it's a country, a nation, accountable."

Senate Democrats firmly supported the legislation, putting them at odds with the Obama administration, which has threatened a veto.

The White House has said the bill could expose Americans overseas to legal risks.

"Given the concerns that we've expressed, it's difficult to imagine the president signing this legislation," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

But Senator Schumer said the Senate had the two-thirds vote the chamber needs to override a presidential veto.