Millions of people around the world switch off their lights to mark Earth Hour between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. in their local times on the last Saturday of March each year. In 2013, Earth Hour occurs one week earlier, on March 23.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is a global WWF (formerly known as World Wildlife Fund) climate change initiative. It is an event that aims to create awareness of people taking responsibility towards a sustainable future by turning the lights off.
What do people do for Earth Hour?
Millions of people turn off their lights for Earth Hour between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. in their local times on the last Saturday of March. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas have stood in darkness during previous Earth Hours. Some people enjoy Earth Hour with a candle-lit dinner or a candle-lit bath, while others host large events or parties, either in darkness or with candles, to celebrate Earth Hour.
Businesses and government organizations, as well as community and political leaders also take part in Earth Hour. It’s about giving people a voice on the planet’s future and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for planet earth.
Millions of people around the world switch off their lights for an hour to mark Earth Hour on the last Saturday of March each year
Earth Hour background
Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. This event saw 2.2 million homes and businesses turn their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change that year. Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating in 2008. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness for Earth Hour. In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour.
WWF, which organizes the annual Earth Hour event, aims to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment. It also focuses on building a future where people live in harmony with nature. The organization functions through a network of more than 90 offices in more than 40 countries worldwide. Its first office was founded in Morges, Switzerland, on September 11, 1961.
Pope Francis has met his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for a private lunch at Castel Gandolfo; the first time such a meeting has been possible for more than 600 years.
Pope Francis was flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo for the private lunch with Pope Emeritus Benedict.
Benedict has lived at the lakeside castle south of Rome since last month, when he became the first pope in six centuries to resign, citing ill health.
There is no public record of any previous meeting between a Pope and a former Pope, as the new head of the Catholic Church is usually elected after the death of his predecessor.
In 1294, former hermit Celestine V resigned after five months as Pope. Boniface VIII was elected days later, and had his predecessor imprisoned. Celestine was dead within a year.
In contrast, Pope Francis has spoken warmly of his predecessor.
Pope Francis was flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo for a private lunch with Pope Emeritus Benedict
One of his first acts as Pope was to call Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, where the former pontiff had been following proceedings on television.
Pope Emeritus Benedict is expected to stay on at the papal summer residence until new accommodation being prepared for him inside the walls of Vatican City is ready at the end of April.
For his part, Pope Francis will begin the Church’s most important liturgical season on Sunday with a Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square.
He will then lead six more liturgies during the week, culminating with the Easter Sunday Mass and Urbi et Orbi blessing.
Only 10 days into his pontificate, Pope Francis has made some subtle but significant changes in the lifestyle of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
He dresses very simply, preferring to wear plain black shoes under a simple white habit rather than the red leather loafers and ermine-trimmed cape worn by his predecessor.
Pope Francis spurned a special car to take a bus with his cardinals after he was elected, and insisted on returning to his Rome hotel the next day to pay his own bill.
And he places himself on the same level as his guests, rather than greeting them from a throne on an elevated platform, which is seen as a powerful gesture after centuries of Vatican pomp.
Pope Francis has also started inviting guests to his early morning Mass – including Vatican gardeners, street sweepers, kitchen staff and maids working at the hotel where he is currently staying.
Beyonce lends her voice to the character of Queen Tara in the upcoming animated film Epic.
In a newly released poster, Queen Tara is seen with her tresses tied up in an elegant high ponytail style, which twists at the front, revealing the high neck of her lime green gown featuring cut out detail around the bust.
The colors in the picture are reminiscent of Beyonce’s look at the BET Awards in July 2012 where she wore a similar hue dress.
From the creators of Ice Age and Rio, Epic tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it.
Beyonce lends her voice to the character of Queen Tara in the upcoming animated film Epic
When a teenage girl (Amanda Seyfried) finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world…and ours.
Meanwhile, much life her Sasha Fierce stage alter ego, Beyonce’s character is beautiful, agile and strong, “the life force of the forest, which she presides over with respect, compassion and humor” according to the movie’s website.
When Queen Tara finds herself in danger, her unique connection with nature gives her powerful allies. And when all hope seems lost, she summons help from the most surprising of places.
Epic stars Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson and Christoph Waltz.
Beyonce has appeared in many films since 2001’s Carmen: A Hip Hopera, is her first animated flick.
Other notable parts include her characters Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers inGoldmember and Deena Jones in Dream Girls.
President Barack Obama is ending his Middle East tour with a trip to the famous ruins of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.
The diplomatic part of his visit ended on Friday when he met King Abdullah and pledged an additional $200 million to help Syrian refugees in Jordan.
Correspondents say Barack Obama’s four-day visit has yielded mixed results.
The US president brokered an Israeli rapprochement with Turkey but there was little progress on the Palestinian issue.
Barack Obama’s Marine One helicopter touched down near Petra after an hour-long flight from the Jordanian capital, Amman.
The site of the ancient city, which is carved into rose-red stone, dates back 2,000 years and is Jordan’s top tourist attraction, drawing more than half a million visitors each year.
President Barack Obama is ending his Middle East tour with a trip to the famous ruins of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan
Most of Barack Obama’s time in the Middle East was spent in Israel where he held several meetings with PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
A highlight of the visit came when Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for “any errors that could have led to loss of life” during the 2010 commando raid on an aid flotilla that tried to breach the Gaza blockade.
Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed to compensate the families of the nine Turkish activists who were killed.
Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said he had accepted the apology, “in the name of the Turkish people”.
Barack Obama also briefly visited Ramallah in the West Bank to meet Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority.
The US president urged Palestinians to drop their demands for a freeze in Israeli settlement-building as a precondition for peace talks.
However, a spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian leader had told Barack Obama the precondition remained in place.
Speaking to an audience of young Israelis in Jerusalem, Barack Obama praised Jewish nationhood before turning the argument around by stressing the need for Palestinians to share these same values of self-determination and justice.
“It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own living their entire lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements of her parents every single day,” Barack Obama said.
President Barack Obama is due to return to Washington later on Saturday.
Jazzman Bebo Valdes, a central figure in the golden era of Cuban big band music, has died in Sweden at the age of 94.
Bebo Valdes started his career in the nightclubs of the Cuban capital, Havana, in the 1940s.
A pianist, Bebo Valdes also composed and arranged songs, and led two big bands, as well as creating his own rhythm, the batanga.
He died in Sweden, where he had lived since the 1960s.
Bebo Valdes came to fame as the musical director of the Tropicana club in Havana. From 1948 to 1957, he worked as singer Rita Montaner’s pianist, also arranging many of her songs.
During his time at the Tropicana, Bebo Valdes also performed with Nat “King” Cole and Sarah Vaughan.
Bebo Valdes, a central figure in the golden era of Cuban big band music, has died in Sweden at the age of 94
Following the 1959 Cuban revolution, Bebo Valdes left Cuba for Mexico.
In 1963, Bebo Valdes toured Europe with the Lecuano Cuban Boys orchestra and, while playing in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, fell in love with a woman in the audience.
Bebo Valdes stayed in Stockholm and got married six months later.
Shortly after the wedding, he stopped touring, choosing to settle down with his wife instead.
While he continued to play in hotel piano bars and restaurants, it was not until 1994 that he would record another album, Bebo Rides Again.
The collaboration with Cuban saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera revived his musical fortune.
Calle 54, a 2000 documentary about Latin jazz by Spanish director Fernando Trueba, further helped to bring Bebo Valdes’s music to a wider audience.
The film featured Bebo Valdes performing together with his son from his first marriage, Chucho Valdes, who is also a pianist and band leader.
The cause of Bebo Valdes’s death has not yet been made public.
Liam Hemsworth and his fiancée Miley Cyrus have reportedly been “very happy” since they reunited in Los Angeles this week.
Liam Hemsworth, 23, had looked grim when he arrived in California on Wednesday, but it seems his downcast demeanor was not a sign of things to come.
An insider told Us Weekly: “Things are going well. They are happy.”
It is certainly quite the turnaround given how bleak things looked just a week ago, following a trip back home to Australia amid rumors they were set to call time on their relationship.
Liam Hemsworth and his fiancée Miley Cyrus have reportedly been “very happy” since they reunited in Los Angeles this week
When Liam Hemsworth finally arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday, just a day after his Miley Cyrus started wearing her engagement ring again, he did not exactly look in high spirits.
The actor tried to keep a low profile, wearing oversized sunglasses over his eyes and pulling the hood on his top over his head.
Just a day before Liam Hemsworth arrived back in the US, Miley Cyrus was once again wearing her massive wedding ring.
Cyprus parliament has voted to restructure the island’s banks, set up a “national solidarity fund”, and establish capital controls to prevent a bank run.
Efforts continue to reach consensus on other key issues such as levies on bank deposits.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades is to hold talks in Brussels with the EU before Cyprus’s parliament reconvenes.
Cyprus needs to raise 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion) to qualify for a 10 billion-euro bailout.
On Friday, the Cypriot parliament passed a total of nine bills, covering three main elements of the rescue plan including:
Restructuring of the banking sector, starting with the most troubled bank of all – Laiki (Popular) Bank, the country’s second largest
The creation of a solidarity fund: nationalizing pension funds and other state assets
The approval of capital controls to prevent large fund withdrawals out of Cyprus
Cyprus parliament has voted to restructure the island’s banks
The bank levy issue may come before parliament later in the weekend. A levy, possibly of around 15%, on all deposits over 100,000 euros, has been suggested.
The “solidarity fund” would allow the pooling of state assets for an emergency bond issue, reports the Reuters news agency.
These include future gas revenues and some pension funds – an idea that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly condemned.
Under the bank restructuring, Cyprus’ troubled lenders will be split into so-called good and bad banks.
Before the series of much-delayed votes in an emergency session of parliament, the European Union, Germany and leading bankers all urged MPs to speedily pass the reforms.
Eurozone finance ministers have called a meeting on Sunday to discuss the Cyprus crisis.
The European Central Bank has given Cyprus until Monday to raise the bailout money, or it says it will cut off funds to the banks, meaning they would collapse, possibly pushing the country out of the eurozone.
The EU has postponed next week’s summit to discuss free trade with Japan, so European leaders can concentrate on trying to solve the Cyprus crisis.
Cyprus banks have been closed since Monday and many businesses are only taking payment in cash.
Pope Francis has stunned the owners of a Buenos Aires newspaper kiosk, by phoning directly to cancel his order.
Luis Del Regno and his son Daniel delivered papers to former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s residence every weekday.
Daniel Del Regno said he thought it was a prank when a caller earlier this week introduced himself as “Cardinal Jorge”.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Latin American Pope when he was elected on March 13 after the shock resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
He chose the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi – the 13th century Italian saint who spurned a life of luxury to work with the poor.
Each Sunday, the archbishop of Buenos Aires would come and pick up the paper himself at 05:30 before catching a bus to distribute tea to sick people in the suburb of Lugano, said Luis Del Regno.
When Daniel Del Regno answered the phone on Monday, he could not believe it was the newly-elected Pope, the Catholic News Agency reported.
“Seriously, it’s Jorge Bergoglio, I’m calling you from Rome,” Pope Francis had told Daniel Del Regno.
“I was in shock, I broke down in tears and didn’t know what to say,” Daniel Del Regno told Argentine daily La Nacion.
“He thanked me for delivering the paper all this time and sent best wishes to my family.”
“I asked him if there would ever be the chance to see him here again. He said that for the time being that would be very difficult, but that he would always be with us.”
Pope Francis has stunned the owners of a Buenos Aires newspaper kiosk, by phoning directly to cancel his order
Daniel Del Regno said he had asked Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he left for Rome if he thought he would be elected in the secret conclave.
“He answered me: <<That is too hot to touch. See you in 20 days, keep delivering the paper>>. And the rest is, well, history,” he said.
The former cardinal had booked a return ticket to Buenos Aires where he was expecting to lead Easter services next weekend.
Instead, as Pope Francis, will celebrate Mass on Holy Thursday in St Peter’s Basilica, and will wash the feet of prisoners in a youth detention centre in Rome, continuing a pre-Easter practice he began while archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Normally feet-washing Masses before Easter are held in the Vatican or a Rome basilica.
Luis Del Regno said he had “thousands of stories” about the new Pope, including the fact that he used to collect all the rubber bands that were wrapped around his newspapers.
“At the end of the month, he always brought them back to me,” said Luis Del Regno.
“All 30 of them!”
Pope Francis has already stamped his humble style on the papacy – spurning a special car to take a bus with his cardinals after he was elected, and insisting on returning to his Rome hotel the next day to pay his own bill.
The new Pope has called for the Roman Catholic Church to be closer to ordinary people, especially the poor and disadvantaged.
Amanda Bynes’ family is reportedly concerned for the actress’ well-being as she’s behaving a little strangely.
A source told E! News that Amanda Bynes’ weird behavior – including raunchy tweets, cheek piercing, random solo outings – coupled with the myriad driving mishaps that came before, has her family concerned for her welfare.
According to the source, Amanda Bynes’ family wants her to return to Los Angeles so that they can keep a closer eye on her, but she refuses.
The source added that Amanda Bynes’ family is hopeful that everything is going to be fine, but they’re ready to step in if needed.
Amanda Bynes’ family is reportedly concerned for the actress’ well-being as she’s behaving a little strangely
Ohio authorities have issued an “indictment” against Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog famed for predicting spring’s arrival, after he got it wrong this year.
The groundhog forecast an early spring when he did not see his shadow as he emerged from hibernation on February 2.
Prosecutors in Ohio’s Butler County accuse the rodent of deliberately misleading the public.
They say such a felony should be punished by death.
“Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early,” wrote Mike Gmoser, Butler County prosecutor, in an official-looking paper.
Mike Gmoser added the wrong prediction amounted to a felony “against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio”.
But Bill Deeley, president of the club that organizes Groundhog Day, said Phil has a lawyer and would fight attempted extradition by the Ohio authorities.
Punxsutawney Phil forecast an early spring for 2013 when he did not see his shadow as he emerged from hibernation on February 2
He added the death penalty would be a “very harsh” punishment for the much-loved rodent.
“We’ll have to plead our case one way or the other, but I think we can beat the rap,” Bill Deeley said.
There has been much chatter on social media about Punxsutawney Phil’s incorrect prediction that spring would come early.
Temperatures in the region remain low, with a storm due on Sunday that could bring several inches of snow with it.
Each year thousands of people visit the tiny western Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney, depicted in the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, to witness Phil’s prognostication.
Australian Warren Rodwell, who was kidnapped 15 months ago by al-Qaeda-linked group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, has been released.
Warren Rodwell was freed on Saturday near Pagadian city in the southern Philippines, police said.
He was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in 2011, and had last been shown alive in a video posted on social media websites in December.
Abu Sayyaf is considered the smallest and most radical of the extremist movements in the southern Philippines.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr welcomed the news, saying the release had been the result of a joint effort by authorities in both countries.
“The Philippines government had the lead role in this case and deserve congratulations for their tireless efforts on Mr. Rodwell’s behalf,” said Bob Carr.
Warren Rodwell was freed on Saturday near Pagadian city in the southern Philippines
Bob Carr added that Warren Rodwell was being moved to a safe location and that the focus now was on his recovery.
Warren Rodwell – who runs a shop with his wife in the Philippines’ seaside town of Ipil, close to Zamboanga in south-western Mindanao – was abducted in December 2011.
A number of foreigners have been kidnapped for ransom in the southern Philippines. The Australian government has a longstanding policy of refusing to pay ransom for its citizens.
Areas within the region are used as bases by Islamist militants and rebel groups.
Abu Sayyaf militants remain a security threat in the impoverished region, where minority Muslims have been fighting for self-rule for decades.
The main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, last year signed a peace accord with the government in exchange for broad autonomy.
But Abu Sayyaf were among the rebel groups who refused to sign up to the peace deal.
Miley Cyrus spoke excitedly about her “twerking” video that went viral this week during her interview on KIIS FM’s On Air With Ryan Seacrest on Friday morning.
“I can’t believe how many people think I’m good at twerking – which is dope -like my life goal has been accomplished,” Miley Cyrus told the radio host.
“I thought it was so weird, but I’m glad that everyone understands my humor.”
Miley Cyrus, 20, was referring to a video that she shared of herself on Wednesday dancing to J Dash’s track Wop while wearing a unicorn onesie.
The dance style, known as “twerking, requires a lot of rump shaking and squatting”, something which Miley Cyrus performed with ease.
Miley Cyrus shared a video of herself dancing to J Dash’s track Wop while wearing a unicorn onesie
“You can’t really explain [twerking]” Miley Cyrus said during the interview.
“It’s something that comes naturally…It’s a lot of booty action.”
Miley Cyrus explained how the video – which has received more than 6 million hits – came about.
“I had a photo shoot earlier that day and so I didn’t really want to get dressed, so I wore the unicorn onesie and my friend was like, <<Everyone is gone, we have the backdrop and the lighting>>. So I started dancing and said, <<Here’s my phone will you record it real quick>>,” she said.
However, the star admitted she wasn’t totally unprepared.
“I’ve been practicing probably for the past two years, in my own time in my living room,” the singer said.
Miley Cyrus posted a picture of herself at Ryan Seacrest’s studio in a cheeky squat next to a poster with her trending hashtag: “#MCTWERKTEAM”
She was also there to support Ryan Seacrest at the debut of his new multimedia broadcast center Seacrest Studios.
President Barack Obama and Miss Israel Yityish Aynaw, an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant, dined together at an official state dinner in Jerusalem, where the White House had requested her presence.
Barack Obama was in Jerusalem as part of a four-day trip to Middle East, visiting Israel, Jordan and the West Bank.
Yityish Aynaw, who goes by “Titi”, made history last month by becoming the first black Miss Israel.
After the dinner, Yityish Aynaw gushed about meeting President Barack Obama in an interview with the Israeli publication Yediot Aharonot.
“He’s an exciting man, a world-class hunk, charming and an extraordinary gentleman,” she said.
Yityish Aynaw and Barack Obama were introduced by Israeli President Shimon Peres
Yityish Aynaw and Barack Obama were introduced by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
“You are very beautiful,” Barack Obama told her, according Israeli media.
“And Michelle would have been very happy to be as tall as you are.”
Yityish Aynaw, 22, said she recalled learning about Barack Obama in high school.
“I did a research project about him in high school and I know he is a very powerful man, charismatic, and he achieved a lot on his own by virtue of the fact that he believed in himself and this stuck with me,” Yityish Aynaw told CNN.
She was working as a sales clerk when a friend entered her name into Israel’s beauty pageant.
Yityish Aynaw has lived in Israel since she was 10, when she was orphaned and went to live with her grandparents.
She recalled going to an Israeli boarding school without knowing a word of Hebrew and said some of the kids there made fun of her Ethiopian name.
“What is <<Yitayish>>? This is my name. But it sounds weird,” she told reporter Daniel Estrin in an interview.
“There were times they’d call me <<Tayish>>. In Hebrew that’s a kind of animal. You know?”
More than a quarter of all Israeli TV viewers watched Yityish Aynaw, who became an army officer after graduation, win her crown a couple weeks ago.
“It’s time that someone from my community, someone with my skin color, who is Israeli just like everyone else, represent the country,” Yityish Aynaw said.
“I feel like I made history, that I blazed a trail.”
Ashley Greene’s apartment in West Hollywood burst into flames on Friday morning as the actress slept.
Ashley Greene, her unnamed boyfriend and brother were woken by the fire, which broke out on the living room sofa, according to TMZ.
Three people were treated for minor injuries, with other reports of two people suffering burns and receiving hospital treatment, although identities have not been confirmed at this stage.
It is unclear if Ashley Greene’s unnamed boyfriend is Reese Witherspoon’s ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 38. The pair became the subject of romance rumors this week after being photographed leaving Hollywood’s Vignette Lounge on Wednesday.
One of Ashley Greene’s two fox terrier dogs perished in the blaze and was found dead under the bed, according to a resident who spoke to TMZ. A second dog was taken by Animal Control to be checked out.
Ashley Greene, who plays vampire Alice Cullen in the Twilight franchise, fled the apartment with her brother and boyfriend after being woken by the fire. The two men apparently tried to go back to save the dogs after realizing they were still inside but were unable to re-enter.
The 26 year-old actress was later spotted at the scene covered in soot and pictures of the inconsolable actress cradling her dead pet, wrapped in a blanket, have since been published on TMZ.
Several residents tried to tackle the blaze with fire extinguishers before at least 10 fire trucks screeched to the scene of the historic A-list complex, which was once lived in by Marilyn Monroe.
The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished just after 10 a.m. following a 9.50 a.m. emergency call.
Ashley Greene’s apartment in West Hollywood burst into flames on Friday morning as the actress slept
A spokesman for Ashley Greene told People.com that the cause of the fire is “undetermined” although a firefighter at the scene told TMZ the blaze started on the sofa.
The apartment is located in the Granville Towers complex on Crescent Heights Boulevard in the West Hollywood, which has been home to many celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Rourke and Portia de Rossi.
One-bedroom suites alone command monthly rentals of between $3,000 and $4,000 at the luxurious 1930s-era landmark building, situated yards away from spas, gyms, theatres and a glamorous night scene catering for the rich and famous.
Friday’s incident triggered a huge emergency response, with 55 firefighters working at the scene and 10 ambulances parked down the street.
Los Angeles Fire Department Inspector Johnson confirmed crews were dispatched at 9:50 a.m.
“We made an aggressive fire attack. Our team saw smoke and fire coming from the third floor,” he told RadarOnline.
He added: “We have reports of two patrons that were burned, so they were treated by the paramedics and sent to the hospital.”
Kate Upton visited Arnold Palmer at his club in Orlando, Florida, during the first round of this year’s Bay Hill PGA Tour on Thursday.
According to Associated Press golf writer Doug Ferguson, Kate Upton’s manager has family links to Arnold Palmer, and the 20-year-old popped along to meet him and see the work he’s doing with two children’s hospitals.
Arnold Palmer, 83, is hosting his own tournament on the PGA Tour for the 34th time.
Upon learning Kate Upton was on her way to visit, Arnold Palmer is reported to have held up a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with Upton on the cover and said: “Did you see this? She’s coming here. Did you know that?”
And on her arrival, Arnold Palmer took his chance and moved in for a kiss.
Kate Upton visited Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill PGA Tour event
Cyprus parliament has approved a “national solidarity fund” to ease the banking crisis, which has hit confidence across the eurozone.
MPs also imposed capital controls to prevent a run on the island’s troubled banks.
These are the first of a series of laws intended to raise the 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion) Cyprus needs to qualify for a 10 billion-euro bailout.
MPs are still to decide whether to impose a levy on large bank deposits.
The fund would allow the pooling of state assets for an emergency bond issue, reports the Reuters news agency.
Parliament on Tuesday rejected a levy on all deposits to raise the money.
Before the series of much-delayed votes in an emergency session of parliament, the European Union, Germany and leading bankers all urged MPs to speedily pass the reforms.
Cyprus parliament has approved a “national solidarity fund” to ease the banking crisis
The European Central Bank has given Cyprus until Monday to find a solution, or it says it will stop transferring money to its undercapitalized banks.
The EU has postponed next week’s summit to discuss free trade with Japan, so European leaders can concentrate on trying to solve the Cyprus crisis.
Banks on the island have been closed since Monday and many businesses are only taking payment in cash.
There were protests outside parliament on Friday.
Before the parliamentary session began, government spokesman Christos Stylianides said the authorities were engaged in “hard negotiations with the troika”, referring to the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the AFP news agency reports.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Cyprus not to “exhaust the patience of its eurozone partners”, reports say.
Isabella Cruise has unveiled her choice of hair color for the month of March is green as she debuted orange hair in January, and a purple pixie cut in February.
Isabella Cruise, 20, tweeted a picture of herself on Thursday sporting newly dyed blue-green hair as she held out her fingers in a peace sign.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s adopted daughter is most recognizable with short dark hair, but has experimented with different styles over the last few years.
In the latest snap, Isabella Cruise is shown sticking her tongue out to the side while complementing her new hair color with a green top.
“Silly squash selfie,” she wrote.
Isabella Cruise was clearly proud of her new look, showing off her popular but edgy haircut.
Isabella Cruise has unveiled her choice of hair color for the month of March is green
Princess Caroline of Monaco has become a grandmother after Andrea Casiraghi’s fiancée, Colombian heiress Tatiana Santo Domingo gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday.
The family are yet to announce the newborn’s name.
Andrea Casiraghi, 28, is the oldest son of Princess Caroline and the nephew of Monaco’s ruling sovereign, Prince Albert II.
Prince Albert II is the son of late actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
The Monaco palace said Princess Caroline is overjoyed by the newest addition to the jet set royal family.
According to Hello magazine, the new baby will be third in line to the Monaco throne, behind Andrea Casiraghi (who currently has no title) and Princess Caroline, who is first.
This line of succession would change if reigning monarch Prince Albert and his wife Charlene were to welcome a child before Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo marry.
A royal birth is usually greeted with fanfare in Monaco, and will certainly be baptized.
Andrea Casiraghi has become a father after Tatiana Santo Domingo gave birth to a baby boy
Andrea Casiraghi’s sister, Charlotte has been tipped to be godmother.
The fact that Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo, 29, were expecting was never officially announced, though rumors were confirmed in November when Tatiana was spotted with a sizeable bump.
Tatiana Santo Domingo and Andrea Casiraghi, who announced their engagement in July last year, are relatively publicity-shy.
Andrea Casiraghi’s fiancée is the daughter of the late Julio Santo Domingo, named by Forbes in 2011 as the second richest man in Colombia, and Vera Rechulski, a former Brazilian socialite from Sao Paolo currently living in Paris.
They have known each other for eight years and met while studying at the same school in Paris.
No date has been fixed for the royal wedding but it is understood it will take place this year.
Andrea Casiraghi is the son of the late Stefano Casiraghi, the second husband of Princess Caroline, who died in a boating accident off Monte Carlo in 1990.
President Barack Obama has pledged to Jordan an additional $200 million to help deal with the growing number of Syrian refugees in the country.
After talks in Amman, Barack Obama said the funds – if backed by Congress – would help provide more humanitarian aid.
Some 450,000 Syrians have fled to neighboring Jordan since the unrest began in 2011, putting huge pressure on the Jordanian authorities.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s King Abdullah ruled out closing Jordan’s border with Syria.
Barack Obama said he would ask Congress to provide additional funds as “budget support” to help the Syrian refugees.
He said this would help improve basic services at refugee camps along the Jordan-Syria border.
President Barack Obama has pledged to Jordan an additional $200 million to help deal with the growing number of Syrian refugees in the country
The US is already the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees.
The number of Syrians who have fled the country to escape the conflict between the government and rebel forces reached one million earlier this month, according to the UN High Commission for Refugees.
The UN says half of those leaving Syria are children, most of them under 11 and often traumatized by their experiences.
Along with Jordan, the many Syrians are seeking shelter in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
Lebanon’s PM Najib Mikati has announced the resignation of his entire cabinet.
The move comes after the deeply divided cabinet failed to approve a commission to oversee elections planned for June.
The Lebanese government was also unable to agree on the extension of the term of office of the internal security chief, who is otherwise obliged to retire next month.
Lebanon has been gripped by a political crisis linked to the unrest in neighboring Syria.
Lebanon’s PM Najib Mikati has announced the resignation of his entire cabinet
Najib Mikati said he hoped his departure would be “an impetus for leaders to shoulder their responsibilities”.
He also urged political parties to “come together to bring Lebanon out of the unknown”.
President Michel Suleiman has so far made no comment on whether he will accept Najib Mikati’s resignation.
Najib Mikati took the post in 2011 after the Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah and its allies brought down the unity government of Saad Hariri.
Germany and EU leading bankers have urged the Cypriot parliament to quickly find a way of raising the 5.8 billion euros needed to qualify for an international bailout.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Cyprus not to “exhaust the patience of its eurozone partners”, reports say.
The head of one of Cyprus’ biggest banks urged MPs to accept a levy on bank deposits.
This was rejected on Tuesday, sparking a fresh eurozone confidence crisis.
A much-delayed emergency session of parliament is due to vote on a new package of measures to raise the 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion) needed to qualify for the 10 billion-euro bailout.
Averof Neophytou, deputy leader of the governing Democratic Rally party, said political leaders were nearing a compromise and a breakthrough was possible on Friday.
Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said the authorities were engaged in “hard negotiations with the troika”, referring to the EU, the European Central Bank and the IMF, the AFP news agency reports.
Banks have been closed since Monday and many businesses are only taking payment in cash.
The details of the latest proposals are not clear and our correspondent says the eurozone will want to examine the figures carefully.
Cypriot Finance Minister Michael Sarris has returned from Moscow, where he failed to garner Russian support for alternative funding methods.
He said a levy “of some sorts” remains “on the table” despite widespread fury among both ordinary savers and large-scale foreign investors, many of them Russian.
One suggestion was to use pension funds to rescue Cyprus’ banking system – an idea condemned by Angela Merkel.
One of Angela Merkel’s allies in parliament, Volker Kauder, said this was “playing with fire”.
He said it couldn’t happen because it would hurt what he described as “the pensioners, the small people”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Cyprus not to exhaust the patience of its eurozone partners
Correspondents say Germany is saying that Cyprus cannot expect any more help from Berlin, or Brussels, than what has already been offered.
The European Central Bank has given Cyprus until Monday to find a solution, or it says it will stop transferring money to the troubled Cypriot banks.
Some help has been forthcoming, with the announcement that Greece’s Piraeus Bank would take over the local units of Cypriot banks. This would safeguard all the deposits of Greek citizens in Cypriot banks.
Earlier, Christos Stylianides urged the country’s MPs to “take the big decisions” to prevent a financial meltdown.
“We must all assume our share of the responsibility,” he said in a televised statement.
Leading Cypriot bankers have urged parliament to accept a levy on bank deposits, as originally proposed under the bailout, but with smaller depositors exempted.
The plan overwhelmingly rejected on Tuesday said small savers would pay a 6.75% levy, while larger investors would pay 9.9%.
Bank of Cyprus chairman Andreas Artemis said: “It should be understood by everyone… especially from the 56 members of parliament… there should not be any further delay in the adoption of the eurogroup proposal to impose a levy on deposits more than 100,000 [euros] to save our banking system.”
If ordinary savers are exempt, then larger investors, many of them Russian, would have to pay an even higher rate, if a levy does remain part of the scheme.
The government fears this would prompt foreign investors to withdraw their money, destroying one of the island’s biggest industries.
With no end in sight to the crisis, businesses in Cyprus have been insisting on payment in cash, rejecting card and cheque transactions.
“We have pressure from our suppliers who want only cash,” Demos Strouthos, manager of a restaurant in central Nicosia, told AFP news agency.
Eurozone partners are saying Cyprus has got to change its banking system, over-reliant on foreign depositors, and the money it needs has to come out of that system, one way or another.
Earlier, talks in Moscow on possible new financial aid from Russia, a key investor in Cyprus, have failed.
Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, speaking after talks with his Michael Sarris, said Russian investors were not interested in Cyprus’ offshore gas reserves.
Russia gave Cyprus an emergency loan of 2.5 billion euros in 2011. Anton Siluanov said that no new Russian loan had been on the table with Michael Sarris because of limits imposed by the EU on Cypriot borrowing.
However, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev later said Moscow had not “closed the door” on possible future assistance.
Cypriot leaders must first reach agreement with their fellow members of the EU, he added.
Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano has asked centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani has been to try to form a new government, following inconclusive elections.
Pier Luigi Bersani’s Democratic Party (PD) won control of the lower house of parliament in February’s poll, but fell short of a majority in the Senate.
He has ruled out a coalition with Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition, which finished second.
If no solution is found, Italy could face fresh elections.
President Giorgio Napolitano announced that he had asked Pier Luigi Bersani to form the new government during their meeting at the presidential palace in Rome on Friday.
Giorgio Napolitano said that Pier Luigi Bersani was best positioned to be given the task under “the most difficult circumstances”.
“He will refer back to me as soon as possible,” added the president, who earlier this week held two days of consultations with political leaders.
Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano has asked centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani has been to try to form a new government, following inconclusive elections
Pier Luigi Bersani said he accepted the task and would try to “find balance” between changes sought by Italian voters and reforms needed to lead Italy out of the economic crisis.
However, it remains unclear how the centre-left would achieve a majority in the Senate.
Beppe Grillo, whose Five Star Movement won 25% of the vote, has insisted he will not support the PD or any established political party.
Pier Luigi Bersani, 69, is a former Communist who has more recently earned a reputation as an economic reformer.
But he has come under increasing pressure within his own party after failing to convert a poll lead into a clear election victory.
The political uncertainty has increased pressure on Italy’s stagnant economy, as well as feeding into concerns about the stability of the eurozone.
Tori Spelling appears to have been on a drastic slim-down just weeks after denying claims of marital trouble.
The former Beverly Hills 90210 star was pictured out in her Beverly Hills stomping ground looking suddenly trim.
Tori Spelling, 39, gave birth to her fourth child, Finn, seven months ago.
And while she initially appeared to be taking her time in losing the baby weight, Tori Spelling has now miraculously slender again.
Tori Spelling was pictured out in her Beverly Hills stomping ground looking suddenly trim
The actress was recently forced to deny hurtful tabloid claims her marriage to Dean McDermott was on the brink of collapse.
According to the Star, Dean Mcdermott, 46, had been taunting Tori spelling about her weight, while she also had trust issues and feared he was being unfaithful.
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott are parents to Liam, 6, Stella, 4, Hattie, 16 months, and Finn, 7 months.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Turkey for “any errors that could have led to loss of life” during the 2010 commando raid on an aid flotilla that tried to breach the Gaza blockade.
Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed with Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to compensate the families of the nine activists who were killed.
Israel’s prime minister had previously only expressed regret for the deaths.
The deal was brokered by US President Barack Obama during his visit to Israel.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said he had accepted the apology, “in the name of the Turkish people”.
In the past, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always given two conditions for restoring bilateral relations with Israel – an apology and compensation for victims’ families.
Nine people were killed on board the Turkish aid ship, Mavi Marmara, when it was boarded by Israeli commandos while trying to transport aid supplies to Gaza in May 2010 in spite of an Israeli naval blockade.
The Israeli government admitted mistakes were made in intelligence-gathering and planning, but insisted its commandos used lethal force because activists had attacked them.
The activists said the troops had opened fire as soon as they boarded the vessel, which was in international waters at the time.
The incident provoked an international outcry and led to a major deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Turkey for “any errors that could have led to loss of life” during the 2010 commando raid on an aid flotilla that tried to breach the Gaza blockade
Before departing for Jordan on Friday afternoon, Barack Obama revealed that Benjamin Netanyahu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan had just spoken by telephone.
“The United States deeply values our close partnerships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them in order to advance regional peace and security,” President Barack Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
A statement issued by Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that in the telephone conversation with Recep Tayyip Erdogan he had expressed regret over the deterioration in bilateral ties and noted his “commitment to working out the disagreements in order to advance peace and regional stability”.
“The prime minister made it clear that the tragic results regarding the Mavi Marmara were unintentional and that Israel expresses regret over injuries and loss of life,” it added.
“In light of the Israeli investigation into the incident, which pointed out several operational errors, Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to the Turkish people for any errors that could have led to loss of life and agreed to complete the agreement on compensation.”
The two leaders had also agreed to continue to work on improving the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Territories, the statement said.
A statement from Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said the two prime ministers had agreed on making arrangements for compensation for families of the dead activists.
“Erdogan told Benjamin Netanyahu that he valued centuries-long strong friendship and co-operation between the Turkish and Jewish nations,” it added.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s change of heart is a clear indication of the diplomatic clout that the US still wields with its two key allies in a turbulent region.
The prime minister’s call to his Turkish counterpart was apparently made from a trailer at Tel Aviv airport while Air Force One sat on the ground waiting to depart.
The unglamorous setting and the last-minute nature of the call suggests the deal may not have been easy to broker.
Israeli officials said the apology had become possible after Recep Tayyip Erdogan qualified earlier comments about Zionism in an interview with a Danish newspaper.
Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “appreciation” for the comments, his office said.
Former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the decision to apologize a “serious error”, Israeli news site Walla reported.
George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio have sparked record sales for diet supplement Meratol, with men making up nearly 75% of buyers for the first time.
Meratol has sold a staggering 25,000 bottles of its diet pill in the UK in the last two months since it was revealed that George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio were among celebrity fans.
For the first time in Meratol 6-year history, there are more male purchasers than women, who account for 74% of total sales.
Meratol, made from a cocktail of herbal ingredients including cactus leaves, prickly pear and seaweed, claim to speed up metabolism to burn fat while suppressing appetite.
Female celebrity fans include actress Eva Longoria and the diet supplement has been promoted by Lauren Goodger.
It is the Clooney Effect which is believed to have sparked the sudden sales surge to men recently as they look to shed those post-Christmas pounds.
A Meratol spokesman said: “We usually see a ration of around 55:45 women to men purchasing our slimming aids.
“For the first time in six years we can report a significant change in buying patterns with male customers being our primary customer.
“It has been reported recently that two thirds of British men are overweight so there is an increased awareness among them in actively taking action to lose weight.
“Women are already aware of such products but when you get fans like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, it helps raise their profile to a whole new audience of men.”
Meratol, made from a cocktail of herbal ingredients including cactus leaves, prickly pear and seaweed, claim to speed up metabolism to burn fat while suppressing appetite
Meratol claims to help shift between 3 and 5 pounds a week and was used by Lauren Goodger to shed her excess weight.
Lauren Goodger said: “I’ve taken a lot of herbal diet tablets and some can make you feel a bit shaky but on Meratol I don’t feel any different. It helps you burn fat and suppresses your appetite.”
Dubbed a “turbo weight loss” supplement, each Meratol tub contains 60 pills, enough for a month’s use, and is available from the website, meratol.com.
