Womens Fashion By Joanne Louise

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As many as 400,000 people will not be paid as expected today because of a problem with an electronic banking system. The BACS system, which processes financial transactions, has been running slowly and has not sent out all payments in time, the payments association Apacs said. 

Spokeswoman Sandra Quinn said affected workers should be paid by Monday. She advised concerned customers to contact their back immediately. Banks are trying to ensure direct debits will be paid as usual. Such transactions can be refused if their payment means accounts will be overdrawn. 

Ms Quinn said there was no pattern to the glitch and any company that had been affected by the problem should have informed their employees. Employees would be refunded charges if their accounts were overdrawn or if they breached their overdraft limit as a result of the problem, she added. 

She advised people who needed cash for the weekend to withdraw it over the counter, as cash machines could refuse the withdrawal.  “The entire banking and payments industry is extremely sorry that this has happened and we are working to resolve the issue and limit the impact on individual customers,” she added. sexy tops

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Black Eyed Peas’ glamorous talisman Fergie performed an upbeat six-track dazzler of a session from her debut solo album The Dutchess. She’s serious and a little apprehensive about her solo work: “Solo success is scarier than success with Black Eyed Peas, because, with us, it’s like a big fraternity and I’m kind of like the little mascot girl,” she told us. “I definitely get nervous and it’s weird because [after] being on tour with the Peas for four years I’d call the stage ‘the office’”.  Fergie’s nerves weren’t apparent as she entertained the crew with note-perfect covers of 80s classics in between performances, or during the show, which was a full-on extravaganza complete with four fly-girl dancers, the Peas’ back-up band, Bucky Johnson and a last-minute addition of fellow Pea Will.I.Am who duetted with Fergie on two numbers. Born Stacey Ferguson in California, Fergie was encouraged by her parents to follow her ambitions, leading to a stint on the variety show ‘Kids Incorporated’ before fronting an angsty girl band in the 90s called Wild Orchid. After problems with debt and drugs, Fergie’s ascent to superstar status was finally realised in 2003 when she was asked to contribute backing vocals to the Peas’ Shut Up. Now a permanent fixture in the Black Eyed Peas’ lineup, Fergie’s been able to explore her dreams of recording her own solo album. The Dutchess is full of Fergie’s disparate musical influences, from Tina Turner to Guns ‘N’ Roses. “I’m like a gypsy,” she says, “you know, I’ve kind of grabbed from everything.”  From the stomping hip-hop attitude of Fergalicious and London Bridge to the vocal talents displayed on the more introspective Big Girls Don’t Cry, Fergie’s session really cements her worth as a solo artist in her own right. ‘The Dutchess’ herself is loving every moment “I feel like I’ve accomplished so much the rest is gravy now.”