Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have split after almost four years together, People magazine is reporting.
The couple – who reportedly broke up briefly in December after Kristen Stewart’s summer fling with married director Rupert Sanders was revealed – are believed to have now called time on their relationship.
However, just like the last time, their split may not be over for good.
Sources insisted to the magazine it may just be a temporary split for the Twilight Saga co-stars.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have split after almost four years together
On Monday, it appeared Kristen Stewart had left her Los Feliz, California, home that she shares with the English actor.
Despite it being Robert Pattinson’s 27th birthday, Kristen Stewart stayed at a friend’s house just down the road from her own home.
The actress was seen driving with a friend around the area – and even appeared to be tearing up at one point.
The pair was expected to attend Cannes Film Festival in France together this week, however neither star has been photographed at the festival.
Speculation over their rocky romance had subsided lately, as they have been putting on a show of solidarity, but now sources claim they have chosen to go their separate ways even though Robert Pattinson had put Kristen Stewart’s affair behind them.
Robert Pattinson initially struggled to cope with Kristen Stewart’s “momentary indiscretion” with friends revealing their relationship was strained for months after the fling.
Following the affair, which was caught on film by a cameraman, 23-year-old Kristen Stewart issued a public apology for the hurt she had caused and finally acknowledged publicly her relationship with her co-star.
Director Rupert Sanders did not fare as well.
His wife model Liberty Ross – with whom he has two children – filed for divorce.
Rupert Sanders was also dumped as director of Snow White And The Huntsman sequel – as during filming of the original the pair begun their affair.
Starting with 2014, the European Commission will ban the use of refillable bottles and dipping bowls of olive oil at restaurant tables.
From 1 January 2014, restaurants may only serve olive oil in tamper-proof packaging, labeled to EU standards.
The Commission, the EU’s executive branch, says the move will protect consumers and improve hygiene.
Starting with 2014, the European Commission will ban the use of refillable bottles and dipping bowls of olive oil at restaurant tables
But critics have accused the EU of unwarranted meddling at a time of economic crisis.
A Pew Research Center pollreleased on May 13 showed positive views of the EU are at or near their low point in most of the eight countries surveyed.
European Commission spokesman Oliver Bailly said the olive oil regulation would benefit consumers.
“We are just making clear that when you want to have olive oil of a certain quality in a restaurant, you get exactly the one you are paying for,” he told a news briefing in Brussels.
Olive oil is a frequent target of food fraud, with cheaper oils being sold in its place to unwitting consumers.
The EU’s largest producers of olive oil – Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy – are among those hardest hit by the economic downturn.
Denmark has won 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Swedish city of Malmo.
Danish Emmelie de Forest had been the overwhelming favorite among the 26 entries, with her song Only Teardrops.
Danish Emmelie de Forest had been the overwhelming favorite among the 26 entries, with her song Only Teardrops.
There was disappointment for Ireland’s Ryan Dolan as he finished in last place with just 5 points.
Emmelie de Forest won with 281 points and Azerbaijan’s Farid Mammadov finished 47 points behind, followed by Ukraine in third and Norway in fourth.
Denmark, which will now have the job of hosting the 59th contest next year, had previously won in 1963 and 2000.
Emmelie de Forest sang her up-tempo tune barefoot, saying before she performed: “It makes me feel closer to the ground, the earth and makes me feel more relaxed.”
At the post-event news conference, she told reporters: “It has been quite stressful but it’s also a wonderful thing that has happened to me. It’s amazing.
“It was crazy when they put the butterfly [of the winning country’s flag] on the dress. I didn’t understand we had won at that point.”
She added: “Of course I believed in the song, but that’s the exciting thing about Eurovision you don’t know what’s going to happen. So I was surprised and shocked when it happened.”
TV viewers across Europe were treated to the mix of high-energy pop and power ballads that have become synonymous with the contest, as well as some outlandish stage performances.
One of the more eccentric acts was Romania’s Cezar, who mixed his operatic voice with a disco beat. He managed a respectable 13th position.
The UK’s veteran Bonnie Tyler came 19th, an improvement on last year when Engelbert Humperdinck came second from last.
Bonnie Tyler, 61, who is best known for her 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, had high hopes for her chances.
But the Welsh singer scored just 23 points for her performance of Believe In Me.
Senior Pakistani politician Zahra Shahid Hussain has been shot dead in the southern port city of Karachi.
Zahra Shahid Hussain was the senior vice-president of Pakistan’s Movement for Justice party (PTI), led by former international cricketer Imran Khan.
She was killed by gunmen on a motorcycle outside her home in the city’s upmarket Defence neighborhood.
Her murder comes on the eve of a highly-contested partial re-run of last Saturday’s general election.
The reason for the shooting is unclear.
Imran Khan has blamed the city’s dominant MQM party for her murder, a claim the party has denied.
Senior Pakistani politician Zahra Shahid Hussain has been shot dead in the southern port city of Karachi
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, citing police, said the shooting happened during an attempted robbery.
Our correspondent says that reports of Zahra Shahid Hussain being shot twice in the head raise suspicions that it was a targeted killing made to look like a robbery.
Local PTI leader Firdous Shamim told AFP news agency that Zahra Shahid Hussain “was leaving her home for work when three gunmen attacked her. She thought they wanted to snatch her purse and handed it over to them but they killed her”.
Zahra Shahid Hussain was reportedly rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries on the way.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the murder, describing it as a “tragic incident”.
Sunday’s partial re-run of the vote in Karachi was ordered after Imran Khan’s party accused the MQM of widespread vote-rigging and intimidation.
The MQM – which took most of the seats in Karachi – denies any irregularities.
Karachi is torn by regular violence – much of it politically motivated.
Duck Commander Phil Robertson and his wife Miss Kay, the stars of Duck Dynasty, sliced some sweet potato pie and filled their audience in about Clayton Homes.
“What do I know about Clayton Homes?” Phil Robertson asked.
“I know they’re built right here in America.”
“And they know the difference between a house and a home,” Miss Kay added.
So starts the first of what Clayton Homes President and CEO Kevin Clayton said will likely be many commercials that the popular reality TV stars will do for the Maryville-based manufactured home company.
“The kind of people who build our homes and who are our customers are exactly the kind of people they relate to,” Kevin Clayton said.
Clayton Homes has signed an agreement with Phil, Kay and Si Robertson from the popular A&E show.
The deal includes production of a 30-second TV spot that was run in seven markets, a contest in connection with the commercial in which seven winners got to visit the Robertsons in West Monroe, Louisiana, and an appearance by the three stars at the Tunica Manufactured Housing Show in Tunica, Mississippi.
“We have some other stuff in the works, but nothing we can talk about yet,” said Brian McNew, head of the creative team at JAOPRO, the Knoxville-based advertising company that produced the commercial.
Phil Robertson and his wife Miss Kay sliced some sweet potato pie and filled their audience in about Clayton Homes
Kevin Clayton said the commercial was a test shot that aired in Raleigh, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky, Charleston, South Carolina, and other markets but not in Knoxville.
Duck Dynasty, which premiered on A&E in 2012, was the network’s most-watched show at its season finale in April. According to the network, the finale drew 9.6 million viewers, breaking ratings records.
The show follows the Robertson family, who built a home-based operation making duck calls into a multi-million-dollar sporting business. The family consists of: Phil Robertson, the patriarch who developed the Duck Commander duck call in 1973; his wife, Kay, the matriarch known for her cooking talents from banana pudding to crawfish pie; his son Willie, who is now CEO of the company; and Willie’s wife, Korie; Willie’s brother Jase; and Phil’s brother Si, who is a bit of a loose cannon in the family operation.
The Clayton Homes arrangement is not with the producers of the Duck Dynasty show, but only with the three cast members, Kevin Clayton said. He declined to say how much the company is investing in its contract with the stars, but believes it will be well worth the price.
“We ran the first commercial in seven markets and the results were off the charts,” he said.
“And we do believe we will receive double-digit results on what we have invested.”
Rogan P. Oliver, director of marketing for JAOPRO, saw two key advantages to a company like Clayton Homes linking its advertising to a reality show like Duck Dynasty.
One is simply the immense popularity of the program. According to network figures, Duck Dynasty Season 3 finale reached 5.6 million people in the 25-54 age demographic, 5.5 million in the 18-49 demographic and 2.6 million people in the 18-34 demographic.
The wide range of viewers gives Clayton Homes a chance to reach people outside its normal market, but Kevin Clayton and Rogan P. Oliver both said the other key advantage is the close match between the demographics of the show and those of Clayton Homes customers.
Duck Dynasty features a close-knit, backwoods family full of colorful characters who get into conflicts, but there are no scandalous situations and no bad language. Members of the show make no bones about the importance of God and family. Each episode ends with the family at the dining table, bowing their heads in prayer.
“The whole thing is the content of the show. It’s just a clean program. You can sit down with your child or your grandparents and you don’t have to worry about the language or anything,” Rogan P. Oliver said.
Kevin Clayton said the values expressed in the program are shared by his company and its customers.
He noted that cast members received a very warm reception when they visited Clayton Homes’ building facility in Savannah, Tennessee, recently.
The employees thought they were getting a visit from Kevin Clayton to mark the completion of their 15,000th home, but were surprised to see Phil Robertson, Miss Kay and Uncle Si as well.
“Phil sat at one end of the table with about 200 of our team members and gave the blessing, just like on the show,” Kevin Clayton said.
The reality stars – who worked hard to build a business and who value family – share much with his customers, too, he said.
“Our customers are hardworking Americans and many live from paycheck to paycheck, but we know what they have accomplished and how hard they work, and we know how important faith and family is to them.”
Men’s grooming is one of the fastest growing sectors in the beauty business with men now spending an estimated $10 billion on grooming products and beauty treatments every year.
And now they have their own anti-ageing arsenal on the high street thanks to popular brands like Dermalogica, Yves Saint Laurent, Nip+Fab and L’Oreal developing men-only beauty ranges.
One such product is the Manotox from Nip+Fab’s Nip+Man range, a plumping, firming moisturizer that claims to give “amazing anti-ageing results without surgery”.
According to the company, the secret of the new product’s success is an ingredient called “liftonin”, which is believed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Also in the mix is another new substance called gransil, which claims to help to smoothe the skin, and includes a cocktail of sea minerals to give the complexion a fresher look.
Manotox from Nip+Fab’s Nip+Man range is a plumping, firming moisturizer that claims to give amazing anti-ageing results without surgery
According to a survey conducted by OnePoll, 25% of men now have beauty treatments such as facials, massages and manicures more than once a fortnight, while the average man now spends between 40 and 60 minutes getting ready to go out.
The phenomenon has also led to a rise in waxing, with a third of men admitting to “manscaping” – removing hair from their groin area.
Escentual founder and male grooming expert, Rakesh Aggarwal, said: “Men are definitely more aware of how to look after their skin and appearance than they were even five years ago.
“Women aren’t the only ones that want to copy their favorite celebrities – with men like Matthew McConaughey, Josh Hartnett and Justin Timberlake having fronted male beauty campaigns, men are feeling the pressure to look groomed and it is now acceptable to admit to making an effort to look good.”
The male beauty boom has also spread into the surgery sector, with more men than ever now willing to go under the knife in a quest for the perfect face and body.
According to the American Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, men had almost 800,000 cosmetic procedures in 2012, or 9% of the total.
Particularly popular among male clients are procedures to provide them with the square jaws seen on macho A-listers such as Jon Hamm, Michal Fassbender and Daniel Craig.
“There’s less of a desire now for a conventionally beautiful white-bread face,” Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, an associate professor of plastic surgery at UCLA School of Medicine, told Details magazine.
“People are embracing strong features like ethnic, nontraditional noses.”
The Eurovision Song Contest has been running since 1956 and in that time, acts from around Europe have been singing their hearts out in the hope of winning the trophy.
There have been 57 Eurovision winners to date but what has become of those acts that hit the dizzy heights of Euro fame?
Some have gone on to be international stars, while others have faded into obscurity.
Here we take a look at some of the winners over the years and what they have been up to since.
1950 – 1959
1956 – Lys Assia (Switzerland)
Lys Assia was the very first Eurovision winner when it was held in Lugano, Switzerland. She won with her song Refrain and went on to compete in the contest for the next two years, finishing eighth and second respectively. She entered a song into the Swiss national selection for the 2012 contest, but didn’t qualify.
She continued with her singing career and released her last album in 2008. She is considered Eurovision royalty and regularly appears at the contest as a guest of honor.
1959 – Teddy Scholten (The Netherlands)
Teddy won the contest for the Netherlands for the second time in four years with the song Een Beetje.
She had a career in both television and music and released dozens of records through to the 1960s. But she gave up showbiz to work as a public relations officer for the Dutch Red Cross. She died in 2012, aged 83.
1960 – 1969
1960 – Jacqueline Boyer (France)
Jacqueline Boyer gave France its second Eurovision win with her song, Tom Pillibi. As well as being a singer, she also became an actress and appeared in several films and TV series, enjoying a career in Germany as well as France. She continues to record music today.
1964 – Gigliola Cinquetti (Italy)
Italy scored its first win with Gigliola Cinquetti’s Non Ho L’eta (I’m Not Old Enough) aged 16. The song became a European hit.
She competed again in 1974 with her song, Go (Before You Break My Heart), and finished second, losing out to Abba’s Waterloo. She went on to co-host the contest in 1991 when it was staged in Rome.
In the 1990s she quit the music industry and became a journalist. She currently hosts the current affairs programme Italia Rai.
1967 – Sandie Shaw (UK)
Sandie Shaw gave the UK its first Eurovision victory with her famous barefoot rendition of Puppet On A String. With a number of hits to her name before the contest, she was an ideal choice having recorded many of her songs in French, Spanish, German and Italian.
As one of the most successful British singers of the 1960s, she was absent from the music scene in the 1970s and returned to the spotlight with a cover of The Smiths’ song Hand In Glove.
She disappeared again until 2010, when she announced she had started recording music again. However, in April 2013, in an interview with The Telegraph, she said she was retiring for good.
1970 – 1979
1970 – Dana (Ireland)
Dana’s All Kinds of Everything was a hit around the world after becoming Ireland’s first winner. She went on to release more than 30 albums, many with a strong Christian focus.
She also pursued a political career, coming third in the Irish presidential election in 1997. In 1999, she was elected to the European Parliament but lost her seat in 2004.
Showbiz came calling again however, and in recent years she has appeared on celebrity dance show Celebrity Jigs ‘n’ Reels and been a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show.
1972 – Vicky Leandros (Luxembourg)
Greek singer Vicky won for Luxembourg with Apres Toi after coming fourth for the country in 1967. The song gave her success in Europe, North America and Asia.
More recently, she was elected a councilor in Piraeus in Greece and subsequently became the deputy mayor. She resigned in 2008 and has continued with her music career performing all over Europe. Her career as a Eurovision singer has also continued, taking part in the 2006 German final with the song, Don’t Break My Heart. She is still recording and touring today.
Probably Eurovision’s most famous and successful winners, Abba have sold millions of records thanks to their hit Waterloo
1974 – ABBA (Sweden)
Probably Eurovision’s most famous and successful winners, Abba have sold millions of records thanks to their hit Waterloo.
They topped the charts until the early 1980s when they split up, with hits including Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Money Money Money.
Members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus continued to work and record together, including writing the musical Chess. Anni-Frid Lyngstad embarked on a solo career and Agnetha Faltskog’ shied away from the spotlight, although she has recently returned to the music scene with a new album.
A musical based on their hits, a successful box office film and a museum dedicated to the group have cemented them firmly in Eurovision history.
1980 – 1989
1981 – Bucks Fizz (UK)
Possibly the UK’s most popular Eurovision entry, Bucks Fizz beat Germany by four points with Making Your Mind Up. Famous for its dance routine which included ripping the skirts off Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston, the song was a hit around Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
They scored several more chart hits following the contest, but tragedy struck the band in 1984 when their coach crashed while on tour, badly injuring them.
After several line-up changes and legal disputes over ownership of the group’s name, there are now two versions of the group – one which features Bobby G, and the other with Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston – both of which are currently still performing and touring.
1988 – Celine Dion (Switzerland)
Celine Dion has gone on to become one of the most successful female singers in the world since winning Eurovision for Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.
It wasn’t until 1991 that she found more international fame with the theme to Disney film Beauty and the Beast and then power ballads The Power Of Love, Think Twice and the mega-selling theme to Titanic, My Heart Will Go On followed.
She took a short career break to start a family and came back with a five-year residency in Las Vegas.
She has sold in excess of 200 million albums worldwide.
1990 – 1999
1995 – Secret Garden (Norway)
Irish-Norwegian duo Rolf Lovland and violinist Fionnuala Sherry scored a win for Norway after a period of being the butt of “nul points” jokes. Originally planned as an instrumental, a few lines of lyrics were later added.
The group has had global success with their first album, spending two years in the US Billboard New Age chart from 1996-1997.
Rolf Lovland is most famous for composing one of the world’s most covered songs – You Raise Me Up – made famous by the likes of Josh Groban, Westlife and Il Divo.
1998 – Dana International (Israel)
Dana International caused controversy as Israel’s Eurovision entry. As a transsexual, conservatives tried to block her involvement, but she beat the UK’s Imaani by six points to win with her song, Diva.
Already a success in her native country with three albums to her name, Eurovision propelled her to international stardom. The following year’s contest, she famously fell over on stage after the Swedish entry stepped on the back of her dress.
She released more albums and even composed Israel’s Eurovision entry in 2008 which finished ninth.
After disappearing from showbiz for a few years, she came back in 2009 as a judge on the Israeli version of Pop Idol. She released a new single in April 2013.
2000 – 2009
2003 – Sertab Erener (Turkey)
It was third time lucky for Sertab Erener, who had previously tried out twice to represent her country in 1989 and 1990. Everyway That I Can was Turkey’s first entry sung entirely in English and gave the nation its first victory after 25 attempts.
The song topped the charts in Turkey, Greece and Sweden as well as charting in nearly 10 other European countries.
Sertab Erener was already one of Turkey’s most successful female singers before the contest and had released five albums.
She has since released another five records in both Turkish and English.
2006 – Lordi (Finland)
Finland finally won the Eurovision Song Contest thanks to monster act Lordi. Hard Rock, Hallelujah stormed to the top with a huge 292 points – the highest score ever at the time – and won by almost a 30 point margin.
Led by Tomi Putaansuu (otherwise known as Mr. Lordi) and inspired by the rock group Kiss, the group never take off their masks and costumes.
Eurovision helped boost their success and their song charted over most of Western Europe, while their album charted over in the USA and Japan too.
They tour extensively and have performed at numerous festivals, including on the main stage at Ozzfest in 2007.
They released their seventh studio album, To Beast or Not To Beast, in March.
A green lipstick that appears clear when applied changes “magically” into different shades of pink, according to the wearer’s body chemistry.
The green lipstick – variations of which are sold by Dior, Smashbox and Mood Magic – reportedly contains a dye called Red 27, which reacts to the pH balance and temperature of the wearer’s lips, causing the color change.
Be warned that a mirror is necessary when applying it; unlike typical lipsticks, this one temporarily stains and can remain on the lips for hours.
Many of today’s variations on the lipstick, which has apparently been available in Morocco and countries in Asia for decades, are advertised as “mood” lipsticks that change according to your emotions.
While the shade of pink produced by the lipstick actually has nothing to do with mood, it can be affected by someone’s diet and stress level, both of which have an impact on pH levels in the skin.
Some wearers have lauded the product, which ranges in price from $3.19 to $30, as “magical” for customizing the perfect hue for their skin tone.
Green lipstick contains a dye called Red 27, which reacts to the pH balance and temperature of the wearer’s lips, causing the color change
ManRepeller blogger Leandra Medine got her hands on a Magic Moroccan Hare Color-Changing Lipstick and decided to give it a try, documenting the results in a series of before-and-after photos.
She said when she looked into the mirror after applying the product, “the color had grown deeper, darker and far more suitable to augment but simultaneously endorse the state of my lips’ innate color”.
Indeed, the photos show her lips transforming from their natural, paler color, to a darker rosy hue.
“I’m still not quite sure how the glorified, semi-permanent lip tattoo knows how to ink me in a way that seems so precisely aware of that which <<works>> on me,” wrote Leandra Medine.
There is, however, no science to back up the claims that these products magically transform into the hue that best suits the wearer.
In fact, when Examiner writer Lindsay Carbone tried on $30 Dior Addict Lip Glow, a similar lipstick, “a toxic hot pink color set in and was quite bright and unsuitable to my skin stone”, she wrote.
“In other words, it wasn’t flattering at all.”
And wearers should be warned that the lipstick’s dying properties mean that it can be particularly difficult to remove.
“We used to get these in Mexico as kids to play make-up,” wrote one ManRepeller commenter.
“They really are a pain to take [off] later on.”
Other similar products include Smashbox O-Gloss, which costs $23 on Sephora.com, and Mood Magic Perfect Pink, which can be purchased for $3.19 at K-Mart or on the Mood Magic website.
Miranda Kerr is allowing mere mortals to try and emulate her impeccable look by unveiling KORA Organics, an organic beauty range that she created using her closely guarded skincare secrets.
The former Victoria’s Secret angel is selling her organic skincare line on net-a-porter.com.
Speaking about her beauty brainchild, Miranda Kerr said: “KORA Organics is a reflection of my passion for living a healthy, balanced organic lifestyle that I want to share.”
Miranda Kerr set about creating her range because she was unable to find organic skincare anywhere in the beauty market.
Containing key ingredients such as lavender, aloe vera and rosehip oil, Miranda Kerr has ensured that everything is as organic as possible.
The range also includes Miranda Kerr’s secret beauty weapon: Noni.
Miranda Kerr unveils KORA Organics skincare line featuring Noni fruit
Noni is a fruit native to the South Pacific Islands and a powerful antioxidant containing more than 170 vitamins and minerals that Miranda Kerr has been drinking since the age of twelve.
She has long credited Tahitian Noni Juice, a drink made from the noni plant, and coconut oil for giving her a supermodel glow.
The obscure noni juice derives from the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia tree found in South-east Asia.
Miranda Kerr told Australia’s Cosmopolitan magazine: “I’ve been drinking it since I was 14, and when I’ve got a long day ahead of me, it’s the one thing I can’t live without.”
Manufactures claim the liquid “supports your immune system, delivers superior antioxidants, increases energy, and allows greater physical performance levels”.
Bottles of the drink are not exactly cheap, retailing at around $38 for a litre of juice.
Miranda Kerr said: “I wanted to develop a range of products that bring together the very best in skincare ingredients that are designed to nourish, replenish and hydrate the skin.
“The KORA Organics range is exactly what I wanted for myself but was unable to find anywhere in the world.
“The products represent my healthy/balanced lifestyle, my beliefs and love of organics.”
Miranda Kerr has ensured that her fans can afford her range as she is offering an Energizing Citrus Mist for £32 ($50) and Enriched Body Lotion for £38 ($60).
2013 Eurovision Song Contest is under way in the Swedish city of Malmö as 26 countries compete in front of millions of TV viewers.
Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest is the favorite to win with Only Teardrops.
Veteran singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, performed the UK entry Believe in Me half way through the contest.
France’s Amandine Bourgeois was the first act to take the stage.
Also among favorites is Cezar, who is representing Romania and is considered as one of the most talented contratenors of his generation, due to his ambitious and special vocal techniques. Cezar’s unmistakable sound led his fans add The Voice to his name. He represents Romania in Eurovision Song Contest 2013, in Malmö, with the song It’s My Life, music and lyrics by Cristian Faur.
Cezar is considered as one of the most talented contratenors of his generation and represents Romania in Eurovision Song Contest 2013, in Malmö, with the song It’s My Life
Bonnie Tyler claims she has “a fighting chance” of becoming the first British winner in 16 years, but bookmakers William Hill revealed her current odds stand at 50/1.
Denmark has odds of 4/6 to win the contest, with its closest competition coming from Norway and Ukraine.
“Emmelie looks very hard to beat and she could spark the biggest payout in the Eurovision’s long and distinguished history,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
“Normally we see a patriotic punt on the Eurovision, but it looks like the public have given up on our chances and Bonnie is simply friendless,” he added.
Welsh star Bonnie Tyler, 61, performed in 15th place, midway through the show – giving her a clear advantage over Engelbert Humperdinck, who opened the contest last year in Azerbaijan, and ultimately finished in penultimate place.
Newcomer Ryan Dolan performs Ireland’s entry, Only Love Survives, in the coveted final slot, after qualifying from the semi-finals in Malmö earlier in the week.
The UK is one of the “big five” countries along with Germany, France, Spain and Italy, which automatically qualify for the final.
The remaining 21 spots were filled by the highest scoring countries from two semi-final heats held this week.
A number of countries have withdrawn from the competition citing financial woes. Bosnia-Hercegovina, Portugal and Slovakia pulled out over money, while Turkey withdrew after complaining about the automatic inclusion of the big five.
Thousands of protesters, led by trade unionists, have rallied in Rome against the policies of Italy’s new coalition government.
Wielding red flags and placards, they urged the centre-left prime minister, Enrico Letta, to scrap austerity measures and focus on job creation.
Public trust in his fragile coalition with the centre-right is dropping, opinion polls suggest.
Italy is experiencing its longest recession in more than 40 years.
National debt is now about 127% of annual economic output, second only to Greece in the eurozone.
Unemployment is at a record high of 11.5% – 38% for the under-25s.
Before taking office, Enrico Letta vowed to make job creation his priority, but critics are unhappy that he has focused on property tax reform.
The issues of social justice and poverty came up when German Chancellor Angela Merkel had talks with the new Pope, Francis, at the Vatican on Saturday.
Organized by the metalworkers’ union FIOM and the CGIL union, Saturday’s peaceful march and rally drew supporters from across Italy. The turnout was unclear but 50,000 people had been expected to attend.
“We ask the government to change [former Prime Minister Mario] Monti’s and [former Prime Minister Mario Silvio] Berlusconi’s politics,” said Maurizio Landini, leader of the FIOM.
“If they don’t change, as the country asked for with its vote, we are going nowhere.”
A controversial poster depicted Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is seen as typifying austerity
One of the protesters, Enzo Bernardis, told Reuters news agency: “We hope that this government will finally start listening to us because we are losing our patience.”
Soon after being appointed, Enrico Letta met other eurozone leaders to convey growing public unrest over austerity measures in Italy.
But the new prime minister has to maintain a delicate balance between the policies of his own supporters and those of the centre-right, led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Italy’s coalition was only formed after two months of post-election deadlock.
Among the demonstrators in Rome were radical leftists.
A controversial poster depicted Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is seen as typifying austerity, in mock-Nazi uniform.
On Thursday, Pope Francis said in a speech that the global economic crisis had made life worse for millions in rich and poor countries.
Speaking after her private meeting with the pontiff, Angela Merkel told reporters: “Crises have blown up because the rules of the social market have not been observed…
“It is true that economies are there to serve people and that has by no means always been the case in recent years.”
Angela Merkel said she and Pope Francis had spoken mainly about globalization, the European Union and the role of Europe in the world.
“Pope Francis made it clear that we need a strong, fair Europe and I found the message very encouraging,” she added.
While she is not a Catholic herself, Angela Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran minister, leads a party with a strong Catholic component.
Michelle Obama debuted her new longer hairdo on Friday during her commencement address at Bowie State University.
The First Lady, who admitted last month that her bangs were “getting a little irritating”, seems to have finally had enough of her five-month old haircut.
Her bangs, which she cut for her 49th birthday in January because of a “midlife crisis”, were grown out and parted to the side with her wavy hair slightly longer, touching her shoulders.
“This is my midlife crisis, the bangs. I couldn’t get a sports car,” Michelle Obama told talk show host Rachael Ray at the time.
“They won’t let me bungee jump. So instead, I cut my bangs.”
Michelle Obama debuted her new longer hairdo on Friday during her commencement address at Bowie State University
She recently admitted that she was already tired of the bangs, which she cut just in time for President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
The First Lady said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight last month: “Bangs are a day-by-day proposition. They’re starting to grow out, get a little irritating.”
The first indication that her hairstyle was becoming a burden came in April, when Malia, 14, was spotted adjusting her mother’s hair during the White House Easter Egg Roll.
The high school freshman gently smoothed her mother’s hair for the cameras, then leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
Michelle Obama’s blunt chop made headlines when it was first debuted in January, even managing to overshadow the President’s inauguration weekend.
Barack Obama jokingly announced at the start of the festivities: “To address the most significant event of the weekend, I love her bangs.”
“The bangs are fun but you know, I’m like a girl, what’s next?”
The hairstyle became such a talking point that one fan even created a Twitter account called MichellesBangs.
Two dogs found by police at Ariel Castro’s home and another one in his car could have served as pets for his three captives and were apparently in better condition than the women he imprisoned.
A Chihuahua was found in the car with Ariel Castro the night he was arrested for allegedly holding three women captive for a decade, while two terrier poodle mixes were found in his Cleveland home.
Ohio-based reporter Ed Gallek spoke with Piers Morgan about the animals, and said there was “some talk” among officers that may have been pets for Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus.
“I am told that the dogs were in reasonably good health,” he said on CNN, adding that the only concerns about their upkeep was that they had matted hair from not enough grooming.
Ed Gallek said the role of the dogs was unclear but that an “R.I.P” message found scrawled on the wall of the basement is believed to have referred to a pet.
Ariel Castro’s dogs could have served as pets for his three captives and were apparently in better condition than the women he imprisoned
He added: “There’s some talk in law enforcement circles in recent days about the dogs being pets for the women… That is something that we’re still looking into, but that is another possibility.”
Piers Morgan added that perhaps the animals had been used as “noise shields” for what was going on inside the house.
The animals have now been taken to animal rescue kennels in Cleveland but police are waiting to see if any of the victims want to keep them before they are put up for adoption.
If they do not, the three dogs will be placed in foster homes, Ed Gallek said.
They were seized following Ariel Castro’s arrest on kidnapping and rape charges. He is accused of chaining Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus up in his home and assaulting them for years.
The good health of the dogs came despite the horrendous treatment the three women allegedly endured at the hands of Ariel Castro after they were snatched from the streets.
Michelle Knight, now 32, was subjected to numerous beatings and treated like “a punching bag”, a family friend of one of the victims has told CNN.
Adriana De Moura was rumored to have already wed her fiancé Frederic Marq five years ago, but TheReal Housewives of Miami’s star walked down the aisle with the interior designer at Coral Gables Congregational Church in Miami Friday.
Around 50 of the Brazilian bombshell’s closest family and friends watched her marry the older Frenchman, whose net worth is $15 million.
Adriana De Moura’s co-stars Lisa Hochstein, Alexia Echevarria, and Marysol Patton escorted her to the church and served as bridesmaids for the lavish affair.
“I’m excited and overwhelmed!” the Bravo star told Life & Style.
“There were butterflies in my stomach but I finally had my dream wedding with my French amour de ma vie!”
For her big day, Adriana De Moura wore a grey rhinestone-embroidered one-sleeve princess gown with a tulle skirt so poofy she had physical trouble fitting into the marital mobile.
According to Adrian De Moura and Frederic Marq’s wedding invitation, the couple required all guests “arrive in elegant, all white, royal ascot-inspired” attire.
Adriana De Moura wore a grey rhinestone-embroidered one-sleeve princess gown with a tulle skirt
And for their reception at the Biltmore Hotel, event coordinator Rick Campbell instructed guests to don “beautiful Art Deco gowns and tuxedos from Downton Abbey or The Great Gatsby”.
Every moment of the entire intimate soiree was captured by numerous cameramen for the upcoming third season of RHOM.
It was not Adriana De Moura’s first marriage.
In the first season, audiences learned about her “traumatic” divorce which followed after a phone call from a 17-year-old girl claiming to be her then-husband Roberto’s wife, who said she had a three-month-old baby with him.
Adriana De Moura’s ex-husband had apparently set the girl up with a house, maid, and driver but they were not actually legally married.
Speaking of which, the gorgeous mother-of-one was accused of the opposite by her co-star Joanna Krupa who allegedly tried to get Adriana De Moura fired.
“She’s already married, she’s trying to make herself look good,” the 34-year-old model told OK! Magazine on April 16.
“She lied for five years that she’s been married. You can look up Adriana; she’s been married since 2008, to Frederic obviously. She [just] wanted a story line for the show.”
Polish-born Joanna Krupa also plans to wed her fiancé of six years, Romain Zago, owner of Mynt Lounge, in Los Angeles for season three.
Adriana de Moura’s publicist reportedly defended her saying that the wedding license was nullified due to her maiden name being misspelled.
Adriana De Moura is an art dealer who studied French Art & Civilization at the Sorbonne University in Paris, as well as Italian Art in Florence, Italy.
She resides on Miami’s exclusive Hibiscus Island with Frederic Marq and her 13-year-old son Alexandre, a burgeoning concert pianist.
The third season of The Real Housewives of Miami will premiere in August on Bravo.
Beyoncé was obviously frustrated with the pregnancy rumors as she posted a sharply worded note to Instagram appearing to address the gossip head-on.
The defensive marginalia was peppered with criticism and was obviously uploaded with a tinge of bitterness for having her personal life under such close scrutiny.
Beyoncé is clearly not happy about the pregnancy buzz in the press
Beyoncé, 31, seemed on the verge of resigning herself to the pregnancy talk but couldn’t help but get a few words in edgewise before vacating the conversation.
The note stated: “I can’t stop the rumors from starting, and I can’t really change people’s minds who believe them, all I can do is sit back and laugh at these low life people who have nothing better to do than talk about me.”
The message has since been removed from Beyoncé’s Instagram account.
A US Airways flight operated by Piedmont Airlines with 34 people aboard made a belly landing at Newark International Airport last night after its landing gear failed to lower.
Terrified passengers managed to escape the plane unharmed after the plane’s pilot – named by witnesses as Edward Powers – performed a heroic emergency landing.
Video footage of the turboprop twin-engine plane coming down on the runway showed a dramatic shower of sparks flying from its underbelly as it scraped across the tarmac, however, miraculously no fire was started.
Emergency workers on the ground doused the plane in foam as a precaution but it became clear that the actions of the quick-thinking pilot had saved US Airways Express Flight 4560.
Problems emerged as the Dash 8-100 plane operated by Piedmont Airlines, which was carrying 31 passengers and three crew members, came in to Newark around 1 a.m. having left Philadelphia two hours earlier.
Pilot Edward Powers was unable to fully lower the plane’s landing gear.
US Airways pilot makes belly landing at Newark airport as 34 terrified passengers escape alive after gear failed
Circling in the air several times the pilot repeatedly tried to lower the gear but to no avail.
The pilot then realized it would be necessary to raise the gear completely and make a belly landing which would give the plane a good chance to come down safely and lower its chances of veering off the runway.
He then continued to circle – dumping fuel to lower the risk of a fire.
On their safe arrival the passengers were evacuated to the terminal by bus.
The relieved pilot and his two crew members posed for a picture alongside the foam covered aircraft.
A spokesman for US Airways said they are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board which is investigating the incident.
He also paid tribute to the work of Edward Powers.
There has been no reported disruption at the airport although one runway remains closed as investigations continue.
Rihanna says she will sue Topshop after claiming they sold T-shirts with her face on it without asking permission.
Rihanna’s team is said to have told the British high street clothing chain run by billionaire Sir Philip Green to stop selling them, and is reported to be asking for $5 million in compensation at the High Court.
The legal threat comes despite Rihanna having dined with Sir Philip Green and music mogul Simon Cowell while on her Christmas break to Barbados in 2010.
Rihanna, who last year signed a deal worth a rumored $1,250,000 to design a range with High Street rival River Island, tweeted about the Boxing Day meal they had together, saying: “Just had dinner w/ Simon Cowell Philip Green @ Sandy Lane! Great night!”
The singer has also spent time with Sir Philip Green’s daughter Chloe while holidaying at the same time in the Caribbean two years ago.
It was even rumored Rihanna, 25, might follow in the footsteps of Kate Moss and design a range for Topshop, but the two parties could now face each other in court.
Last year Topshop released a T-shirt featuring a picture of Rihanna from her We Found Love music video, which sold out quickly afterwards
Last year Topshop released a T-shirt featuring a picture of Rihanna from her We Found Love music video, which sold out quickly afterwards.
It is understood this is the garment at the centre of the row.
In Britain companies could argue that by buying the image from the photographer, they do not have to pay licensing fees to the star pictured.
A source close to Rihana said she was offered a small sum of cash and Topshop told her management “we do what we want”, according to Page Six.
“Rihanna’s management asked Topshop a number of times to stop selling her image,” the source said.
“What is most offensive for Rihanna is that they basically told her, <<Go to hell. We don’t care; we are going to continue selling you>>.
“Even though the UK laws don’t protect the artist, she has decided to move forward and sue Topshop. She has spent almost $1 million in litigation at this point. She says it’s the principle, and wants to make a statement about it. They are taking advantage of artists. It is just exploitation. What they are doing is wrong.”
Topshop is a British retail powerhouse which is trying to expand in America, setting up stores in New York.
A company source said: “This issue is related to a T-shirt provided to Topshop by a third party supplier.
“We have been informed that the claimants documents do not mention any specific level of financial damages so any numbers referenced are fictitious.”
Raha Moharrak is the first Saudi woman who has made history by reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Raha Moharrak, 25, not only became the first Saudi woman to attempt the climb but also the youngest Arab to make it to the top of Everest.
She is part of a four-person expedition that also includes the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man attempting to reach the summit.
Raha Moharrak is the first Saudi woman who has made history by reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain
They are trying to raise $1 million for education projects in Nepal.
Originally from Jeddah, Raha Moharrak is a university graduate currently based in Dubai.
Coming from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia – a conservative Muslim country where women’s rights are very restricted – she had to break a lot of barriers to achieve her goal, her climb team said.
A biography on the expedition website said convincing Raha Moharrak’s family to agree to her climb “was as great a challenge as the mountain itself”, though they fully support her now.
“I really don’t care about being the first,” she is quoted as saying.
“So long as it inspires someone else to be second.”
DSM-5, an update to one of the most important manuals in mental health – known as the bible of psychiatry – is to be published later.
Controversy and criticism has surrounded work on the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Some say the rulebook will turn normal behavior, like grief or childhood temper tantrums, into mental illness.
The manual is used mainly in the US, but is influential around the world.
This is the first update to the volume since 1994. Experts in mental health have been taking account of the latest scientific developments to update ways of diagnosing mental disorders.
The exact changes will be presented at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
There will be new categories including binge eating disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and hoarding disorder. Meanwhile Asperger’s syndrome will become part of autism spectrum disorders rather than having a section of its own.
The publication will have no effect on how people are diagnosed in countries which use guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Controversy and criticism has surrounded work on the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Prof. Peter Kinderman, head of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, said: “[DSM-5] will lower many diagnostic thresholds and increase the number of people in the general population seen as having a mental illness.”
He said “normal grief” would now be classed as a major depressive disorder and childhood temper tantrums would be a symptom of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
Also: “A wide range of unfortunate human behaviors, the subject of many new year’s resolutions, will become mental illnesses – excessive eating will become <<binge eating disorder>>, and the category of <<behavioral addictions>> will widen significantly to include such <<disorders>> as <<internet addiction>> and <<s** addiction>>.”
There is also criticism of the way DSM classifies diseases based on symptoms. There are efforts to harness advances in genetics and neuroscience to diagnose people based on the cause rather than the symptoms of the illness.
The director of the US government’s National Institute of Mental Health said DSM had a “lack of validity”.
Dr. Thomas Insel posted a blog saying: “Unlike our definitions of ischemic heart disease, lymphoma, or AIDS, the DSM diagnoses are based on a consensus about clusters of clinical symptoms, not any objective laboratory measure.
“In the rest of medicine, this would be equivalent to creating diagnostic systems based on the nature of chest pain or the quality of fever.”
In some areas the distinction between disorders is narrowing. Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia are all classed as separate disorders based on their symptoms.
However, research published in the Lancet medical journal in February showed all five disorders shared several genetic risk factors.
Dr. David Kupfer, the chair of the DSM-5 task force, said: “The changes to the manual will help clinicians more precisely identify mental disorders and improve diagnosis while maintaining the continuity of care.
“We expect these changes to help clinicians better serve patients and to deepen our understanding of these disorders based on new research.”
North Korea has launched three short-range missiles from its east coast, South Korea’s defence ministry said.
Two missiles were fired on Saturday morning and one in the afternoon, the South Korean ministry said in a statement.
Officials at the ministry said they were “monitoring the situation and remain on alert”.
The launches come at a time of stalemate between the two neighbors following weeks of high tension earlier this year.
Saturday’s missiles were fired in a north-east direction, and did not pose the same threat as the intermediate-range missiles Pyongyang was believed to have deployed along its coastline last month.
It removed them from the launch site early in May, indicating a lowering of tension on the peninsula, a US official said.
North Korea has launched three short-range missiles from its east coast
Such launches are routinely carried out by North Korea.
Tensions were high last month amid threats from North Korea to attack Japanese, South Korean and US military targets in the region and restart a mothballed nuclear reactor that produced plutonium for its weapons programme.
Pyongyang also shut down an emergency military hotline with South Korea, and withdrew some 53,000 workers from the Kaesong factory zone on its border with South Korea.
The threats followed tough new UN sanctions imposed on North Korea in March after its third nuclear test, as well as annual US-South Korea military drills that saw nuclear-capable B2 and B52 bombers flown over the Korean peninsula.
Divided Korea’s fragile peace:
Korea was occupied by the Allies after WWII ending decades of rule by Japan
Soviets occupied the north and the US the south, but as allies became Cold War rivals, unification talks failed and separate regimes evolved
In 1950, the Korean War saw Mao’s China back communist North Korea, while the US helped South Korea, fearing Asia would turn communist
A 1953 armistice created a fragile peace, and border tensions have lasted ever since
Mushroom-rich diet followed by Katy Perry, Kelly Osbourne and Roxanne Pallett can help women lose weight without shrinking their bust.
The mushroom plan is being touted as the latest weapon for savvy celeb dieters who want to shed pounds quickly but still keep some of their curves.
Mushroom and Spinach Omelette:
– cooking spray/oil
– 250g two chicks free range liquid egg white
– 50g spinach
– 1/2 medium red onion finely diced
– 5 breakfast mushrooms finely sliced
– mixed herbs
– salt & pepper to taste
Mushroom-rich diet followed by Katy Perry, Kelly Osbourne and Roxanne Pallett can help women lose weight without shrinking their bust
1. Coat a non-stick frying pan with oil or cooking spray.
2. Fry the onion over a medium heat until softened.
3. Add the mushrooms followed by the spinach, mixed herbs and salt & pepper and sauté.
4. Remove from the frying pan and keep warm.
5. Add some more oil or cooking spray to the same frying pan and warm over a medium heat.
6. Add a pinch of mixed herbs/chives/salt & pepper to the two chicks free range liquid egg white and mix thoroughly.
7. Pour the egg white into the frying pan.
8. Cook until almost set, and then spoon the vegetable mixture onto one side of the omelette.
9. Fold the other half over.
10. Slide onto a serving plate.
Garnish with fresh chives or herbs of your choice.
The mushroom plan is being touted as the latest weapon for savvy celeb dieters who want to shed pounds quickly but still keep some of their curves.
Dubbed the “M-Plan”, the new diet based on mushrooms promises to help women lose weight from their tums, bums, thighs and upper arms, but still keep their bust intact.
The “M-Plan” is a favorite among celebrities like Emmerdale‘s Roxanne Pallett who to want to drop a dress size quickly in time for red carpet events such as Soap Awards.
The diet promises to help women lose weight from the stubborn areas over a 14-day period by replacing just one regular lunchtime snack or dinner with a mushroom inspired dish.
Women’s nutritionist and health broadcaster, Jeannette Jackson, explains: “If we eat more mushrooms, it’s likely that less high calorie foods will be consumed throughout the day over all because of the vegetable’s powerful nutritional values.
“The dietary fibre in mushrooms helps promote good bowel function leaving you feeling more satisfied, so you won’t be hungry again as quickly, preventing you from snacking.
“Mushrooms are also extremely rich in protein – an ideal nutritional food source yet the vegetable is low in calories which is important where weight loss is considered.
“There’s a myth that the waist is the last area of the body where women lose weight. In fact, it’s one of the areas of the body that we move the most along with bums, thighs and upper arms.
The mushroom plan is being touted as the latest weapon for savvy celeb dieters who want to shed pounds quickly but still keep some of their curves
“Not only do mushrooms help with weight loss – the super vegetable can help improve your looks too given that mushrooms are high in B vitamins, iron and zinc, all of which are needed to make your skin, hair and nails strong, healthy and shiny.”
Avid fans include celebrities such as Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star, Roxanne Pallett, plus Kelly Osbourne, who both claim to have lost dress sizes from eating raw mushrooms regularly.
Katy Perry also eats a diet heavy in mushrooms to keep her sexy slender figure.
Jeannette Jackson added: “We all know that feeling of losing weight everywhere but where we want, particularly if you’re a typical British pear-shape.
“But the mushroom diet, just like the fungi itself, means you keep the weight where you want it up top and shed pounds where you don’t down below!
“It’ll be of no surprise that female celebrities will be looking more svelte than normal and I can exclusively reveal that mushrooms are the reason celebrities can look so good at the very last minute.”
Lucy Wyndham-Read, the USA Pro fitness and nutrition expert, said: “Well there is no denying that mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutritional benefits and one of their greatest assets is that they are super Low GI.
“Plus, the fact that they are so very low in calories means, as part of a diet, they can help in weight loss. Plus mushrooms are super cheap, so this is a way to save pounds and drop the pounds.
“But it’s untrue that mushrooms have the power to lose fat from everywhere except the bust! I carefully advise women not to expect this to happen and too much of a good thing is actually never a good thing.
“The fact is – if we eat a healthy, well-balanced, clean, natural diet and exercise regularly, we can all lose weight.”
George Michael was involved in a crash in his Range Rover during rush hour on the M1 motorway near St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK, on Thursday.
George Michael, 49, was recovering last night after being airlifted to hospital with a head injury following the accident.
An ambulance crew was so concerned at the singer’s condition that a helicopter was summoned, and the motorway was closed for half an hour while it landed to take George Michael away.
Although the ambulance service said he suffered a head injury, George Michael was well enough to be discharged from hospital last night.
No other vehicle was involved in the incident, which happened just before 6 p.m. near the junction with the M25.
George Michael’s spokesman Connie Filippello said: “George Michael was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a traffic accident, no third party was involved. He is being treated for superficial cuts and bruises but is fine. We have no further comment at this time.”
George Michael was involved in a crash in his Range Rover during rush hour on the M1 motorway near St Albans, Hertfordshire
The singer, who has enjoyed a successful solo career since finding fame in the 1980s duo Wham!, is banned from driving.
In 2010, George Michael he was jailed for eight weeks for crashing a Range Rover into a shop in north London while under the influence of drugs.
He was also disqualified from driving for five years, having served a two-year ban imposed in 2006 when he was convicted of driving while on drugs after being found slumped in his Mercedes.
Speaking at the singer’s home in Highgate, North London, last night, George Michael’s boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, 39, said: “He is perfectly fine. Of course I was worried, but I have spoken to him and he is good.
“He suffered a few bruises but there is nothing to worry about. I have no idea what happened, I wasn’t there.”
Hertfordshire Police said: “The exact circumstances of what happened are unclear at this time, and until further investigations have been carried out it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said that a 49-year-old man “sustained a head injury and following treatment, stabilization and immobilization by land and air ambulance crews, he was flown to hospital for further care”.
Only 18 months ago, George Michael – real name Georgios Panayiotou – spent a month fighting for his life in an Austrian hospital after a severe bout of pneumonia. George Michael fell ill while preparing for a concert in Vienna, and needed a tracheotomy to keep him breathing when he slipped into a coma.
The US has criticized Russia for what it calls an “unfortunate decision” to deliver missiles to the Syrian government.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said the shipment “will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering” that has killed 80,000.
The sophisticated anti-ship missiles could be used to counter any future foreign military intervention, US officials told The New York Times.
Some 1.5 million people have fled the conflict, says the UN refugee agency.
Most have fled to Jordan and Lebanon, but not all have been registered yet, meaning the true total is likely to be far higher, according to the UNHCR.
Meanwhile, Syria’s national production has dropped by 40% and the number of people living below the poverty line has risen from two million to five million in just two years, according to the man in charge of the UN’s plans for reconstructing Syria after the conflict.
Abdullah al-Dardari, a former deputy prime minister in President Bashar al-Assad’s administration, said the rebuilding what has been destroyed would cost up to $80 billion.
The US has criticized Russia for what it calls an “unfortunate decision” to deliver missiles to the Syrian government
Gen. Martin Dempsey’s description of Moscow’s decision to send missiles to Syria as “ill-timed and very unfortunate” comes amid growing alarm that chemical weapons may have been used in the country, something President Barack Obama has said would be “a red line”.
Russia is one of Syria’s few remaining allies and a long-term arms supplier to the Assad regime. Over the years, in contracts worth billions of dollars, it has sold thousands of tanks, artillery units, aircraft, helicopters and defense systems to Damascus.
In 2007, the two countries signed a deal on the supply of Yakhont missiles which, with a range of 300 km (200 miles), could prove a threat to warships in the Mediterranean.
Although there have been growing calls for arms to be channeled to the rebel fighters in Syria, there has so far been very limited enthusiasm in the West for outright military intervention.
But there is concern that the presence of sophisticated Russian-supplied weaponry will make it much harder to agree and carry out such intervention, implement a blockade or conduct targeted airstrikes in the future.
Without confirming reports of the missile shipment, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the supply of missiles did not break any international rules.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on Friday to discuss plans for an international conference to try to find a way of ending the Syrian conflict, which would aim to bring together the Syrian opposition and members of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The UN estimates that 80,000 people have died in the uprising, and that some 4.25 million people have been displaced within the country.
The simmering conflict has raised tensions on Syria’s borders: On Friday, Turkish state media reported at least 10 people were killed when a fuel tank exploded in the southern town of Altinozu in Hatay province, where car bombs killed 50 people last week.
The fuel tank was set alight by smugglers during a raid by police, officials said.
Frustrated by the lack of international consensus on Syria, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had talks this week with President Barack Obama in Washington where he was expected to call for a more assertive stance.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday the UN should discuss imposing a no-fly zone inside Syria at the international conference being mooted.
“With respect to a no-fly zone… it is not a decision that could be taken between the United States and Turkey. It is something that would have to come through the UN Security Council,” he said.
Syria’s Russian-made military:
Nearly 5,000 tanks; 2,500 infantry fighting vehicles; 2,500 self-propelled or towed artillery units
325 Tactical aircraft; 143 helicopters
Nearly 2,000 air defense pieces
295,000 active personnel; 314,000 reserve personnel
At least 60 people have been injured, five critically, after a head-on, rush-hour collision between two commuter trains near New York City, officials say.
Some 250 people were on the trains involved in Friday evening’s crash. No fatalities have been reported.
Officials said a train that left New York City’s Grand Central station en route to New Haven, Connecticut, derailed then was hit by another train.
Amtrak has suspended its service between New York and Boston.
Metro-North Railroad described it as a “major derailment”, just outside Bridgeport, Connecticut.
A train that left New York City’s Grand Central station en route to New Haven, Connecticut, derailed then was hit by another train
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said the front of one of the trains had been extensively damaged and its wheels were “sticking into the other train”.
One of the five people with the most serious injuries was described as being in a “very critical” condition.
Investigators are trying to find out what caused the crash, which came shortly after 18:00 local time.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said he had no reason to believe it was anything other than an accident.
Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph Gaudett said most of those hurt were walking wounded.
“Everybody seemed pretty calm,” he told the Associated Press.
“Everybody was thankful they didn’t get seriously hurt. They were anxious to get home to their families.”
But Canadian passenger Alex Cohen told NBC Connecticut that “people were screaming… they had to smash a window to get us out”.
One witness, Brian Alvarez, told CNN: “I saw this one car and it was completely destroyed and they were pulling people out of the car. They were all bloody.”
