Under rules drawn up by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, up to 10 films can be shortlisted for its best picture prize when its nominations are announced on January 10, 2013.
These are the movies that are most likely to be up for the Academy’s top award, and assess their chances of recognition in other categories.
1. Argo
Ben Affleck won an Oscar in 1998 for the screenplay he co-penned with fellow actor Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting.
In the decade that followed, some dubious decisions saw his leading man status wane as his friend’s rocketed.
But in recent years Ben Affleck has cannily reinvented himself as a film-maker of promise and some distinction.
Argo, his third feature after Gone Baby Gone and The Town, is his most ambitious to date, dramatizing as it does a CIA attempt to spirit US diplomats out of Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979.
The fact this real-life, recently declassified rescue operation involved a phantom film production effectively casts Hollywood as the hero of the piece.
That, and Ben Affleck’s “comeback kid” story makes it a solid bet for best picture. Ben Affleck, who also appears in the film, is expected to receive another nomination in the director category.
On the acting front, Argo‘s best hopes of another citation lie with Alan Arkin for his entertaining turn as a cantankerous producer.
Having been named best supporting actor in 2007 for Little Miss Sunshine, however, the 78-year-old shouldn’t need to write an acceptance speech.
2. Django Unchained
Under normal circumstances, Quentin Tarantino’s slavery-era western would seem a sure-fire bet for Oscar consideration.
In the wake of the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, though, Django Unchained’s graphic mayhem has seen it attract censure in a reopened debate on movie violence.
The elderly, more conservative contingent of the Academy membership might balk at rewarding such a bloodily visceral film in this charged political climate.
So while it may get a decent amount of nominations, not least for Quentin Tarantino’s typically florid screenplay, its actors probably stand a better chance of accolades than the film they star in.
Three years ago Christoph Waltz won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role as an urbane Nazi in Quentin Tarantino’s previous feature, the World War II caper Inglourious Basterds.
The Austrian could be in line for the same prestigious award for his role in Django Unchained as a loquacious bounty hunter.
Yet the smarter money is on co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, whose atypical portrayal of a sadistic slave-owner could finally give the three-time Oscar nominee a reason to leave his seat.
3. Life of Pi
Were there an Oscar for best performance by a computer-generated 3D tiger, Ang Lee’s adaption of Yann Martel’s Booker prize-winner would be the runaway winner.
As it is, Life of Pi will probably have to content itself with a best picture nomination and a few more citations in the technical categories.
Its captivating use of CGI to realize Yann Martel’s fantastical tale of a young Indian sharing a lifeboat with various zoo animals makes it an obvious contender for the visual effects award.
Ang Lee, meanwhile, is likely to get a best director nomination. The Taiwanese film-maker previously won the award in 2006 for bringing another literary work, Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain, to the screen.
Under rules drawn up by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, up to 10 films can be shortlisted for its best picture prize when its nominations are announced on January 10, 2013
4. Lincoln
Argo‘s main competition for the best picture Oscar looks likely to come from Steven Spielberg’s respectful, hefty tribute to one of America’s most revered presidents.
Concentrating on the final few months of Honest Abe’s life and his fight to pass a bill abolishing slavery, it’s a big film about a big subject from one of Hollywood’s biggest directors.
Daniel Day-Lewis already has two Oscars, for 1989’s My Left Foot and 2007’s There Will Be Blood.
Yet there seems to be little resistance to the idea of giving him another for a dignified portrayal of Lincoln that has seen him showered with superlatives.
Sally Field’s performance as Abe’s devoted wife and Tommy Lee Jones’ turn as a wily political contemporary are likely to be included in the best supporting actor and supporting actress categories.
Steven Spielberg, meanwhile, will not be denied a seventh nomination for best achievement in directing.
5. The Master
Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama about a cult leader and his troubled chief acolyte has the weight of producer Harvey Weinstein behind it.
Even with this Hollywood powerhouse fighting its corner, though, a best picture nod is by no means certain.
Joaquin Phoenix’s public pooh-poohing of the awards race earlier this year will have undoubtedly damaged both his chances and those of the film.
The Academy has recognized his co-stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams in previous years, however, and will likely do so again for their supporting performances.
6. Les Miserables
Musicals used to be the toast of Oscar night. But it has been a decade since one of that ilk – 2002’s Chicago – was named best picture.
The producers of Les Miserables, the long-awaited film adaptation of the international stage sensation, will be hoping it bucks that trend.
Tom Hooper’s film has been well-received critically and is nominated for four Golden Globes.
That should be enough to secure it a number of Oscar nods, including one for best film.
Hugh Jackman, who hosted the Oscar telecast in 2009, should expect to receive a best actor nomination for his sturdy turn as the heroic Jean Valjean.
Anne Hathaway, meanwhile – another former Oscar presenter – is widely considered a best supporting actress shoo-in for her tear-jerking turn as the tragic Fantine.
7. Silver Linings Playbook
Romantic comedies tend to get overshadowed at Oscar time by meatier dramatic fare. Yet David O Russell’s follow-up to 2010’s The Fighter could be the exception.
It is a film voters may take to their hearts, especially in a year where lighter offerings have been thin on the ground.
Its ace in the hole is Jennifer Lawrence, a rising star who has combined roles in critically acclaimed awards bait with eye-catching performances in lucrative movie franchises – notably this year’s The Hunger Games.
Glamour, smarts and talent are a potent mix and could see the 22-year-old rewarded with a best actress Oscar.
Robert De Niro, too, could receive a supporting actor nod for his quirky role as an incorrigible gambler. If this happens, it would be the seventh nomination of his career.
8. Zero Dark Thirty
A relative late-comer to this year’s awards race, Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker may have some catching up to do.
This dramatization of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden also arrives trailing controversy for its depiction of terrorist suspects being interrogated and tortured.
If the Academy wanted to make itself appear relevant and contemporary, though, it could do worse than honoring a film that draws so vividly on recent events.
Kathryn Bigelow should get a best director nomination for her daring, while her leading lady Jessica Chastain is probably Lawrence’s most formidable rival for the best actress trophy.
The film’s title, incidentally, is a military term for half past midnight, the local time at which Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was raided by US Navy Seals.
The 85th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on February 24, 2013.
British researchers suggest that eating meals as a family improves children’s eating habits – even if it only happens once or twice a week.
It is recommended children eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day – about 400g.
The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health study found those who always ate together achieved this – but those who only did sometimes came close.
Watching parents and siblings eat teaches good habits, experts said.
This study looked at just under 2,400 children at 52 primary schools in south London.
Parents and fieldworkers compiled food diaries at school and at home, ticking off all the foods and drinks a child had in one 24-hour period.
Parents were also asked questions about their attitudes to fruit and vegetables, such as “On average, how many nights a week does your family eat at a table?” and “Do you cut up fruit and vegetables for your child to eat?”
The study found 656 families said they always ate meals together at a table, 768 sometimes did, while 92 families never did so.
Children in the “always” group ate five portions of fruit and vegetables, compared with 4.6 in the “sometimes” group and 3.3 in the “never”.
That equates to the always group eating 125g more fruit and veg, and the sometimes group eating 95g more a day than the
never group.
Eating meals as a family improves children’s eating habits, even if it only happens once or twice a week
Seeing parents eat fruit and vegetables – and cutting up portions for children both boosted their intake.
The researchers say that, while this study gives a picture of eating habits on one day, it was able to investigate the diets of a large, diverse population.
Meaghan Christian, who conducted the study as part of her PhD, said: “Modern life often prevents the whole family from sitting round the dinner table, but this research shows that even just Sunday lunch round the table can help improve the diets of our families.”
She added: “We spend a lot of time looking at interventions at school. But this is showing how important parents are in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption.”
And Prof. Janet Cade, of the University of Leeds’ school of food science and nutrition, who supervised the study, said: “Watching the way their parents or siblings eat and the different types of food they eat is pivotal in creating children’s own food habits and preferences.”
She added: “Since dietary habits are established in childhood, the importance of promoting the family meal needs to be more prominent in public health campaigns.”
Azmina Govindji, of the British Dietetic Association, said: “Eating habits developed in childhood die hard, and eating at a table with the family instead of in front of the TV helps reduce chances of mindless eating, which can increase the likelihood of obesity.
“This study reinforces the view that children learn more from what we do than what we say, so it’s the role modelling that helps shape their future habits.”
Azmina Govindji, a practicing dietitian, added: “If children are eating better in childhood, they are more likely to make healthier choices in adult life – and since food directly impacts risks of conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, eating together as a family seems like a small price to pay.”
With this easy decorating tip, you and your kids can turn a batch of homemade or store-bought cupcakes into a festive treat.
What you’ll need
Cooled cupcakes (baked from your favorite recipe)
White icing
Grated coconut
Green gumdrops
Sugar, for sprinkling gumdrop leaves
Red candy for holly berries (M&Ms work well)
Christmas Cupcakes
How to make it
Frost the cupcakes with snowy white icing and top with grated coconut.
Then use a rolling pin to flatten green gumdrops on a piece of waxed paper sprinkled with sugar. Use an aspic cutter or butter knife to cut out holly leaf shapes.
Arrange two or three leaves and a few red candy “berries” on top of each cupcake, pressing them into the rosting just enough to hold them in place.
Egypt’s vice-president Mahmoud Mekki has announced his resignation on the day the country completed its voting in a controversial referendum on a draft constitution.
Mahmoud Mekki, a former judge who was appointed vice-president in August, said the “nature of politics” did not suit his professional background.
Polls have now closed in the second leg of the referendum, which is widely expected to approve the draft.
However, opponents say this will not end the country’s unrest.
They say the constitution favors Islamists and betrays the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak last year.
President Mohamed Morsi and his supporters say the document will secure democracy.
Late on Saturday, state television announced that the central bank governor, Farouq al-Uqdah, had also resigned from his post. However, a cabinet official later denied the report.
Mahmoud Mekki announced his resignation just hours before the end of voting in the second round of the referendum.
He said, in a statement read on television: “I realized a while ago that the nature of politics does not suit my professional background as a judge.”
Mahmoud Mekki, 58, said he had tried to resign on 7 November but that circumstances had forced him to remain.
The Israeli conflict in Gaza and President Mohamed Morsi’s controversial decree on November 22 granting himself sweeping new powers delayed his decision.
Mahmoud Mekki’s resignation statement indicated he had no prior knowledge of the decree, which stripped the judiciary of powers to question the president’s decisions.
He appeared to be giving the impression that he was unhappy with not being consulted on key decisions.
If, as expected, the draft constitution is passed, there may have been no role for Mahmoud Mekki as the document does not require the president to appoint a vice-president.
Egypt’s vice-president Mahmoud Mekki has announced his resignation on the day the country completed its voting in a controversial referendum on a draft constitution
Seven of Mohamed Morsi’s leading advisers have resigned over the past month, many indicating they had not been consulted over the president’s moves.
After an outcry, the president revoked much of the November 22 decree, but he refused to back down on the draft constitution.
The text was rushed through by a constituent assembly dominated by Islamists and boycotted by liberal and left-wing members, and facing a threat of dissolution by the country’s top court.
Egypt has seen mass demonstrations on both sides ever since.
However, voting in the second stage of the referendum appears to have gone relatively smoothly.
Some 250,000 security personnel were deployed nationwide to keep order.
Polling stations had been scheduled to close at 19:00 but remained open until 23:00. Voting was also extended in the first leg.
Ballots were cast in the 17 provinces that did not vote in the first round on 15 December.
Unofficial results are expected to come in over the next few hours.
Turnout was reported to be just above 30% in the first round, with unofficial counts suggesting some 56% of those who cast ballots voted in favor of the draft.
Official results are not expected until Monday, after appeals are heard. If the constitution passes, parliamentary elections must take place within three months.
Analysts suggest the document will be passed.
Egyptians casting votes in favor of the charter said they were voting for stability.
In the town of Fayoum, “yes” voter Hanaa Zaki told the Associated Press news agency: “I have a son who hasn’t got paid for the past six months. We have been in this crisis for so long and we are fed up.”
Opponents of the draft say it fails to protect the freedoms and human rights they sought in the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Some have also complained about the role given to Islamic clerics and what they say is a lack of a clear commitment to equality between men and women.
“I’m voting <<no>> because Egypt can’t be ruled by one faction,” Karim Nahas, a 35-year-old stock market broker voting early on Saturday in Giza, told Reuters news agency.
Opposition activists say there will be more unrest whatever the outcome.
One voter in Ikhsas village, Marianna Abdel-Messieh, agreed.
“Whether this constitution passes or not, there will be trouble,” she told AP.
Pope Benedict XVI has decided to pardon his former butler, Paolo Gabriele, who is serving an 18-month jail sentence for stealing confidential papers.
The Pope visited Paolo Gabriele in prison to personally inform him of the decision, the Vatican said in a statement.
In October the former butler was found guilty of stealing and copying the Pope’s documents and leaking them to an Italian journalist.
Paolo Gabriele said he acted out of love for the Church.
“This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI visited Paolo Gabriele in prison in order to confirm his forgiveness and to inform him personally of his acceptance of Mr. Gabriele’s request for pardon,” the Vatican statement said.
Pope Benedict XVI has decided to pardon his former butler, Paolo Gabriele, who is serving an 18-month jail sentence for stealing confidential papers
Following Paolo Gabriele’s conviction by a Vatican court, officials said he was likely to be pardoned by the pontiff.
In November the court convicted a computer expert, Claudio Sciarpelletti, of helping leak the papal documents.
Claudio Sciarpelletti was given a suspended sentence of two months.
Paolo Gabriele’s trial heard that he had taken advantage of his access to the pontiff to photocopy thousands of confidential documents.
He later passed some to journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, who this year released a best-selling book detailing scandals and infighting within the Vatican.
Paolo Gabriele confessed to taking the papers, but said he believed the Pope was being manipulated and hoped to reveal alleged corruption at the Holy See.
A giant pink neon heart now adorns the European Parliament building in Brussels in memory of the late dissident playwright and Czech president Vaclav Havel, who died last year.
Vaclav Havel’s Czech fans are encouraging people to roll up their trouser legs in a comic gesture to honor Havel.
As Czech president, Vaclav Havel wore trousers which were “noticeably short”, the trouser campaign website says.
Vaclav Havel was widely admired for his long struggle against communist repression.
The trouser gesture is “humorous, non-violent but significant and perhaps even very Czech-like”, the campaign group says.
A giant pink neon heart now adorns the European Parliament building in Brussels in memory of the late dissident playwright and Czech president Vaclav Havel
The neon heart in Brussels, measuring 15 m by 17 m (50 ft x 56 ft), adorned the facade of Prague Castle before the end of Havel´s second presidential term in December 2002.
Its creator, Jiri David, was inspired by a small, hand-written heart which Vaclav Havel used to place after his signature, a statement from MEPs in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group says.
It is described as a symbol of Vaclav Havel’s commitment to human rights, peace and democracy.
Vaclav Havel died at the age of 75, having guided Czechs and Slovaks through the turbulent 1989 Velvet Revolution and democratic transformation. He was elected Czechoslovak president in December 1989, then led the Czech Republic after the split with Slovakia.
Supporters of the late Ahmed Shah Masood, a resistance fighter who led opposition to the Afghan Taliban, plan to transport the neon heart to Kabul next September to honor Masood, who was assassinated on 9 September 2001. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban were blamed for the bomb blast which killed him.
Italian parliament has been dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano following caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti’s resignation.
The move paves the way for elections, now confirmed for 24-25 February.
Mario Monti, brought in last year to form a technocratic government, stepped down on Friday after MPs passed his budget.
It followed the withdrawal of support from former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s party. Silvio Berlusconi is to run again. Mario Monti has not unveiled his plans.
After meeting political leaders, President Giorgio Napolitano told reporters: “I have just signed the decree for the dissolution of parliament.”
He called for a “measured and constructive electoral campaign”.
Soon after, the cabinet announced that the election would be held over two days, on 24-25 February.
Mario Monti, who remains head of an interim administration until the elections, is expected to announce on Sunday whether he will run again.
Italian parliament has been dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano following Prime Minister Mario Monti’s resignation
Although the economist and former European commissioner cannot stand for election himself as he is already a senator for life, there is speculation that he could become the unofficial leader of a centrist coalition and return as a minister.
Since taking office in November 2011, Mario Monti and his non-party team of ministers have implemented economic austerity measures in the form of spending cuts and tax hikes.
In his last speech before his resignation, Mario Monti said the last 13 months had been “difficult but fascinating”.
“The work we did… has made the country more trustworthy… more competitive and attractive to foreign investors,” he told foreign diplomats in Rome.
The election was triggered after Silvio Berlusconi’s party withdrew its support from Mario Monti’s government, accusing it of following policies that “were too German-centric”.
The three-times prime minister has said he intends to campaign on an anti-austerity platform, pledging to cut taxes and create jobs.
But the polls show Silvio Berlusconi is trailing a centre-left alliance led by Pier Luigi Bersani, which broadly supports a continuation of Mario Monti’s economic programme while pledging to ease some of the pressure on the poorest members of society.
According to 56-year-old model Yasmina Rossi, the secret of looking good over 50 is cheaper – and easier – than any of us realized.
All that’s needed, says the Miami-based M&S campaign star, is a healthy diet, minimal exercise and plenty of rapeseed oil for your hair and skin.
“There is no big secret,” Yasmina Rossi told the Sunday Times’ Style magazine.
“All I have ever done is to eat organic food – long before it became trendy.
“I take oil and use it on my skin: I put rapeseed oil on my hair. I scrub my skin once a week with olive oil and fine sugar. I eat an avocado a day and good organic meat and fish.”
The grey-haired French-born model is currently starring in the M&S Christmas ad campaign and has previously worked for YSL, Hermes, Jil Sander and Macy’s.
According to 56-year-old model Yasmina Rossi, the secret of looking good over 50 is cheaper and easier than any of us realized
Unusually, Yasmina Rossi began modelling in her late twenties – the age at which most models retire – after 10 years as a stay-at-home mother.
A mother of two with two grandchildren, Yasmina Rossi’s career took off at the age of 45, when she relocated to New York.
There, Yasmina Rossi starred in ad campaigns for Macy’s, AT&T and Mastercard, before landing the M&S job back in Europe.
Despite working in a looks and youth obsessed industry, Yasimina Rossi says she’s happier with her looks now than she was in her twenties.
“I like the way I look now more than how I looked 20 years ago,” she revealed.
“My body is nicer and I feel happier than when I was 20.”
Holding back the years, Yasmina Rossi continued, is easy when you eat a good diet and don’t overdo the exercise.
“This is very important. And don’t take medicine if possible. Go with nature instead of fighting it – this is the rule for everything.”
Five-year-old Sarah Redden has secured a burgeoning fan base after releasing a rap tribute to NFL star Colin Kaepernick.
Sarah Redden from Dayton, Ohio, posted a YouTube video titled Kaepernicking on December 14 and to date it has scored more than 300,000 hits.
In the recording the blonde youngster is seen imitating the San Francisco 49ers quarterback dressed in a number 7 shirt with faux tattoos covering her upper arms.
“Wearing No 7 like Colin Kaep, talking Super Bowl wins, he’s bringing them back,” Sarah Redden raps.
Talking about what inspired the song, she told CBS13: “I just like singing and I just like making songs.
“The 49ers and the Steelers have always been my favorite teams.”
According to Sarah Redden, she wrote the lyrics and produced the video with the help of her brother.
She cites the U.S. rapper Wiz Khalifa as one of her musical inspirations.
Five-year-old Sarah Redden has secured a burgeoning fan base after releasing a rap tribute to NFL star Colin Kaepernick
After watching Sarah Redden’s Kaepernicking recording, one viewer wrote: “This little girl is a STAR! The backward hat, tats, spittin rhymes. So cute!”
While another added: “Oh my gosh this is like the most cutest thing ever! I can’t help but just smile all the way through. She knows more about football than I do.”
NFL Fox also gave the rap song its seal of approval, and Sarah Redden revealed today via Twitter that the TV network will be including it in the 49ers pregame show on December 23.
This week Colin Kaepernick was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, after becoming the third quarterback in history to throw four touchdown passes in a game.
Sarah Redden said she thinks “he’s a great football player”, and she enjoys watching him on TV.
Sarah Redden’s next rap video Niner Nation is set to come out in January.
Mariacarla Boscono’s four-month-old daughter Marialucas has made her modelling debut for Givenchy, becoming the fashion house’s youngest model.
In a black and white campaign shot bright-eyed Marialucas is seen tucked firmly under her mother’s arm, looking away from the camera.
Commenting on the shot Mariacarla Boscono, 32, told Style.com: “When I look at this photo, I feel blessed with all the magic that surrounds me – my loves, my affections.”
The image was captured by photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld styled the shoot.
Mariacarla Boscono’s four-month-old daughter Marialucas has made her modelling debut for Givenchy, becoming the fashion house’s youngest model
Givenchy’s creative director Riccardo Tisci, who has known Mariacarla Boscono for more than 15 years, said he wanted to focus on family and “real people”.
“They are people I love and who love me, it’s about family – something that is difficult to find in today’s world, it’s about real people, only taking the best of their personalities, with no effort,” he explained.
Kate Moss, Francisco Peralta, artists Marina Abramovic and Jared Buckhiester and Spanish matador Jose Maria Manzanares also appear in the spring / summer 2013 campaign.
Italian-born Mariacarla Boscono sparked attention earlier this year when she posed nude with her eight-month baby bump for Love magazine.
Shortly after the image was released she gave birth.
Mariacarla Boscono told Style.com that the love she feels for her daughter is “so special and overwhelming that words would not be enough” to describe.
Marialucas is Mariacarla Boscono’s first child with her husband Andreas Patti.
As well as being Givenchy’s longtime muse, 5ft 10in Mariacarla Boscono has starred in dozens of campaigns for brands including Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Lanvin.
Ronnie Wood and Sally Humphreys married on Friday in a secret ceremony.
The bride wore her mother’s simple wedding dress. For the groom, the only nod to his wild side was his bright pink socks.
The Rolling Stones guitarist, 65, made the 34-year-old theatre producer his third wife in a brief ceremony in the eighth-floor penthouse suite at the Dorchester hotel in central London.
Sally Humphreys looked every inch the blushing bride as she arrived at her wedding reception at The Dorchester on Friday in a traditional white gown with new husband Ronnie grinning in his navy suit clutching a packet of cigarettes.
The bride accessorized her three-quarter length sleeved off-white dress with a ruby red heart necklace and bright lipstick.
Her layered taffeta gown complimented her slim figure while Ronnie Wood looked dapper in his tailored suit with checked detail.
The low-key ceremony was attended by close family and friends and in a secret location.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the couple was spotted leaving the ceremony looking blissfully happy together.
Ronnie Wood picked his former Faces bandmate Rod Stewart as his best man at the private celebration for family and friends.
Rod Stewart was accompanied by his wife Penny Lancaster, while Leah Wood, 34, Ronnie Wood’s daughter by second wife Jo was also in attendance.
Eldest son Jesse, 36, was joined by his pregnant Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton while younger son Tyrone, 29, was also there to watch his dad tie the knot.
Ronnie Wood and Sally Humphreys married on Friday in a secret ceremony
Famous guests included Sir Paul McCartney accompanied by wife Nancy Shevell, who looked stunning in a green and fuchsia wrap around dress.
The pair left their reception around 8:30 p.m. with the bride looking demure in a salmon pink dress and tailored coat, the newlyweds treated onlookers to their first public kiss as man and wife.
After knowing Ronnie Wood for several years, Sally Humphreys has previously gushed about her romance with the Start Me Up performer.
But the pair kept everyone on their toes after telling fans they would marry in early 2013.
Sally Humphreys said: “Ronnie was married and then Ronnie wasn’t married. I have had boyfriends, then I didn’t have a boyfriend. It had to wait until everyone was clear. But I definitely feel like I have ended up in the right place.”
Ronnie Wood has been married twice before, firstly to Krissy Findlay – the mother of his son Jesse – from 1971 to 1978.
He split from his second wife Jo, 57, in 2008 after an alcohol-soaked affair with 21-year-old cocktail waitress Katia Ivanova.
Following that there was a liaison with Brazilian model Ana Araujo, with whom he split after growing tired of her obsession with fame and a short-lived fling with promotions girl Nicola Sargent, 25.
Ronnie Wood’s divorce from Jo, to whom he was married for 24 years, was finalized last year.
In the candid interview with the Evening Standard earlier this year, Sally Humphreys admitted that she’s not really a fan of the age difference between her and her husband-to-be.
She said: “There is an age gap. I would prefer it if there wasn’t but there is but maybe I’m a bit older and he’s a bit younger at heart.”
And putting the negative criticism from their naysayers to rest, Sally Humphreys said that she believes the gap of three decades will serve them well.
PSY’s Gangnam Style has been the hit of the year and also one of the most parodied thanks to its accompanying video, but this one is performed by suburban housewives.
A group of British wives and mothers from Buckinghamshire got together to perform their own version of the song by South Korean musician PSY, complete with their own lyrics.
The women sing “mop! mop! mop! We’ve got housewife style!” as they are filmed dancing in skimpy outfits in their kitchens and rapping around Waitrose.
Their lyrics include the lines: “We don’t know, why you would go for less, older woman they are by far the best, we’ve got housewife style!” and “load the dirty dishes, feed the hungry cat, we’re supersonic women and sexy too at that”.
The tongue-in-cheek footage shows that the women can juggle cooking, cleaning and reading Fifty Shades of Grey around running “six people’s lives” – and still being sexy.
The video, which you can view below, was produced and directed by Lizzie Allen who enlisted her friends to take part to raise money for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. As well as being filmed at their homes in Bucks, they also shot scenes around the county in affluent areas including Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross and the Waitrose store in Chesham.
A spokesman for the supermarket said they “were thrilled that these glamorous ladies had lots of fun filming the hilarious video outside our shop”.
Housewives Gangnam Style was produced and directed by Lizzie Allen who enlisted her friends to take part to raise money for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer
And while the scenes of them gyrating with their mops and posing in a hot tub may make their children cringe, it’s certainly working at raising money for the good cause.
So far, £1,499 ($2,300) has been raised via their Just Giving page and they hope to raise much more as the video gains in views.
“We’ve joined together to raise money for breast cancer research through Breakthrough Breast Cancer. We have no fundraising target – we would just like to make as much money as possible! Your donation can really help to prevent and treat this horrible disease that affects so many of us,” Lizzie Allen writes on the page.
Ice-T and Coco Austin’s seemingly unbreakable bond has been rocked by a scandal after photos hit the internet showing Coco cuddling up with AP.9.
But Ice-T appeared to have forgiven his wife and the pair put on a united front on a Las Vegas outing on Friday.
It seems rapper Ice-T may have travelled to the Nevada city to be by his wife’s side – and perhaps keep an eye on her – after she was snapped getting cosy with AP.9 earlier this month.
The trouble in paradise appeared to be behind the pair, however, as they enjoyed a workout followed by a shopping trip.
Ice-T and Coco Austin’s seemingly unbreakable bond has been rocked by a scandal after photos hit the internet showing Coco cuddling up with AP.9
The couple looked like they were getting on great as they shared a giggle while pumping iron in the fitness centre at the Planet Hollywood hotel.
Curvaceous Coco, whose real name is Nicole Austin, was dressed in a tank top with the word “dramatic” splashed across it and monochrome striped lycra shorts.
Meanwhile Ice-T was wearing a red top and black shorts, and kept to the same colour palette when he changed later on, then sporting a red T-shirt, black jeans and a matching leather jacket.
Coco Austin decided to show her wild side to get stuck into some retail therapy with her other half, and wore animal print trousers with a black top, studded boots and a leather jacket to coordinate with her husband.
After a busy day during which he attended a funeral, nominated his new Secretary of State and stared over the “fiscal cliff”, US President Barack Obama packed his family off to Hawaii for Christmas.
Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama departed for Hawaii on Friday evening, shortly after the president had delivered a statement on extended the last Bush administration’s tax cuts.
Barack Obama had told reporters “see you next week” at the end of his appearance in the briefing room, but the White House did not specify when the president would return to Washington. The Obama family have traditionally spent their Christmas holidays in Honolulu.
Earlier in the day President Obama had urged lawmakers to reach agreement on averting tax hikes on the middle class, saying he was ready and willing to do what it takes to get a deal by January 1st.
Barack Obama said he had spoken with Republican House Speaker John Boehner and met with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid about the fiscal cliff. The president said he was an optimist and believed a deal could be hammered out.
Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama headed to Hawaii for Christmas, shortly after the president had delivered a statement on extended the last Bush administration’s tax cuts
One day after House anti-tax rebels torpedoed Republican legislation because it would raise rates on million-dollar-earners, Barack Obama said he still wants a bill that requires the well-to-do to pay more.
Barack Obama also nominated Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, one of Washington’s most respected voices on foreign policy, as his next secretary of state.
The move is the first in an expected overhaul of Barack Obama’s national security team heading into his second term.
As the nation’s top diplomat, John Kerry will not only be tasked with executing the president’s foreign policy objectives, but will also have a hand in shaping them.
A man from Ayrshire, UK, had to be hospitalized after eating too many Brussels sprouts last Christmas, it has emerged.
The traditional Christmas vegetable contain lots of vitamin K which promotes blood clotting.
However, this counteracted the effect of anticoagulants the man was taking because he had a mechanical heart.
Doctors at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank eventually realized too many sprouts were to blame.
A man from Ayrshire, UK, had to be hospitalized after eating too many Brussels sprouts last Christmas
The case was reported in a festive edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.
It outlines how the man’s condition stabilized after the diagnosis.
Consultant cardiologist Dr. Roy Gardner said: “Patients who are taking anticoagulants are generally advised not to eat too many green leafy vegetables, as they are full of vitamin K, which antagonise the action of this vital medication.”
Jill Young, chief executive of the Golden Jubilee Hospital, added: “Whilst we think this is possibly the first-ever festive admission to hospital caused by the consumption of Brussels sprouts, we were delighted that we were able to stabilize his levels.”
China has banned elaborate state-funded banquets for its top military officials, state media has reported.
The move comes after a diktat from central government earlier this month that aimed to curb extravagance and tackle corruption.
Xinhua news agency says receptions for high-ranking officers will no longer feature luxury banquets or alcohol.
The diktat, passed on December 4, has also now sparked similar rules for civilian officials in Beijing.
The Communist Party’s Central Committee, which includes civilian and military personnel, dictated eight ways that officials needed to change their working practices.
In line with the diktat, the military has now ruled out welcome banners, red carpets, floral arrangements, and souvenirs.
China has banned elaborate state-funded banquets for its top military officials
Officials will also no longer be allowed to stay in luxury hotels during inspection tours and vehicles will not be allowed to make excessive use of sirens.
“Military Commission officials are also required to discipline their spouses, children and subordinates and make sure they do not take bribes,” the Xinhua report said.
In a separate report, Xinhua said the Beijing Municipality had become the first local authority to introduce the rules for its civilian staff.
Beijing officials on business will now have simple buffets, rather than banquets.
China’s new leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly warned of unrest if corruption and perceived privilege within the Communist Party are not tackled.
The country’s political leadership has been rocked by a scandal involving Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party leader once seen as a candidate for top office.
Bo Xilai’s wife, Gu Kailai, has been jailed for murdering British businessman Neil Heywood and he awaits trial on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
The UK ambassador to Argentina has been summoned to explain to officials in Buenos Aires why part of Antarctica has been renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth.
John Freeman was handed a formal protest note “strongly rejecting” the UK’s claim to a piece of land known as the British Antarctic Territory.
The southern section was named Queen Elizabeth Land by Foreign Secretary William Hague on Tuesday.
The note claimed the area was part of the Argentine Antarctic sector.
It stated that the Argentine government “strongly rejected” Britain’s right to rename the area.
Queen Elizabeth Land – which at 169,000 sq miles is almost twice the size of the UK – was previously unnamed, according to the British Foreign Office.
The UK ambassador to Argentina has been summoned to explain to officials in Buenos Aires why part of Antarctica has been renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth
The UK first staked claim to the British Antarctic Territory in 1908. However, both Argentina and Chile insist they have prior claims to large areas of the same land.
The British Antarctic Survey has three scientific research bases in the territory and the Royal Navy’s ice patrol vessel HMS Protector is stationed in the area for part of the year.
The 1959 Antarctic Treaty between 12 nations including Britain and Argentina, outlawed the establishment of new territorial claims in the Antarctic, but stated that it did not reject existing claims.
The Foreign Office said on Tuesday there was a precedent for naming parts of the continent after members of the British royal family.
East Antarctica is home to Princess Elizabeth Land, named after the Queen before she took the throne, and in 2006 an unnamed mountain range in the Antarctic peninsula was named the Princess Royal Range in tribute to the Queen’s daughter.
Egypt begins voting in a second stage of a constitutional referendum that has sparked weeks of unrest in the country’s main cities.
Opponents of President Mohamed Morsi have held protests against the draft, saying it favors the Islamists now in power and betrays the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak last year.
Mohamed Morsi’s supporters say the constitution will secure democracy.
Some 250,000 security personnel have been deployed nationwide to try to keep order during the referendum.
Tension over the document has helped to fuel weeks of violence, including clashes in Alexandria on Friday.
Turnout was reported to be just above 30% in the first round, with unofficial counts suggesting some 56% of those who cast ballots voted in favor of the draft.
Official results are not expected until Monday, after appeals are heard. If the constitution passes, parliamentary elections must take place within three months.
Ballots are being cast in the 17 provinces which did not vote in a first round on December 15.
The areas are seen as more conservative and sympathetic to Mohamed Morsi’s Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Analysts suggest this will favor a “Yes” vote.
“I’m voting <<No>> because Egypt can’t be ruled by one faction,” Karim Nahas, a 35-year-old stock market broker voting early on Saturday in Giza, told Reuters news agency.
Egyptians casting votes in favor of the charter said they were voting for stability.
Opponents of the draft say it fails to protect the freedoms and human rights that they sought in the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
Human Rights Watch says the draft provides for basic protections against arbitrary detention and torture, but fails to end military trials of civilians or to protect freedom of expression and religion.
Ahead of the second round, opposition politicians said they thought further violence was likely.
“I see more unrest,” said Ahmed Said, head of the liberal Free Egyptians Party and a member of the opposition coalition.
He said there had been “serious violations” on the first day of voting and that anger towards the president was growing.
Opposition figurehead Mohammed ElBaradei has urged people to vote against the charter.
“We know that if this constitution is passed, there will be no stability,” he said late on Thursday.
Egypt’s latest crisis began on November 22, when Mohamed Morsi issued a decree granting himself broad powers.
The decree stripped the judiciary of any power to challenge his decisions.
After an outcry, the president revoked much of the decree, but he refused to back down on the draft constitution.
The text was rushed through by a constituent assembly dominated by Islamists and boycotted by liberal and left-wing members, as it faced a threat of dissolution by the country’s top court.
Egypt has seen mass demonstrations on both sides ever since.
On Friday, Islamists clashed with secular rivals in Alexandria, hurling stones at each other outside a mosque.
Police formed lines and fired tear gas to keep the two groups apart.
The state news agency Mena quoted the health ministry as saying that 32 people had been injured.
Carnivorous plants, livestock, and “a whole box of doctor gloves” are just some of the requests found in a hilarious collection of children’s letters to Father Christmas.
But among the pleas for toys, games and pigs, there are a number of queries from inquisitive youngsters who are keen to use their missive to Santa to pick his brain.
One child asks for a cat, dog and a pig for Christmas, while another wants a big horse and a box of doctor’s gloves among other things.
One cheeky child tries their luck requesting Santa brings all the presents early, and another wants the whole picture, demanding to know what other children are getting before he makes his demands.
Concerned about his friend Carter, Cullen wishes to know whether or not his buddy made the “nice list”.
Carnivorous plants, livestock, and a whole box of doctor gloves are just some of the requests found in a hilarious collection of children’s letters to Father Christmas
Another excited child asks for a real Venus Flytrap and Lightsaber, while one poor mite admits it is not necessary to bring him anything at all, because he has been “somewhat bad” this year.
Promising they’ve been good this year, a couple of the children attempt to butter up the delivery man, telling Father Christmas they love him and that he is their “best pal”.
There are also several questions about the existence of Rudolph and his famous red nose, while one young man wishes to ascertain facts about the largest cookie Santa has ever eaten.
One inquisitive youngster asks a series of questions, including: “What are you getting for my sisters?”; “How tall is the average elf?” and “Did you stick the gifts in the basement because there was no room in the sleigh?”.
According to new research, staying youthful for longer could be within your reach thanks to a daily vitamin pill – Imedeen’sTime Perfection.
Lots of the most beautiful celebrities already credit their perfect skin to Imedeen’sTime Perfection youth pills including models Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen and Laura Bailey, actress Jessica Biel and Danni Minogue.
And women looking for an anti-ageing solution don’t have to take their word for it, a new study conducted in Brazil has revealed that daily use of the supplements can help slow down the ageing process by as much as 48%.
The study, undertaken by Brazilian cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Adilson Costa – head of the Dermatology Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in São Paolo – followed a test group of women taking the daily pill aged between 35 and 60 over a period of 12 months.
The results revealed a 30% reduction in fine lines and a similar decrease in wrinkles. Radiance and smoothness were also boosted by a huge 42%.
According to new research, staying youthful for longer could be within your reach thanks to daily vitamin pill Imedeen’s Time Perfection
Ingredients in the Time Perfection supplement include a mega dose of anti-oxidant vitamin C, zinc and a substance called lycopene, which is extracted from the skin of tomatoes.
The latter was the subject of a study by L’Oreal a few years ago, which found that it had a marked effect on ageing.
A-list fans such as Jessica Biel have talked of their love for the supplements in the past, which they describe as the reason for their preternaturally youthful skin.
The new Mrs. Timberlake revealed that she believes skin is a ‘reflection of your inner health’ in a recent interview with website, Yahoo.
Jessica Biel is famed for her glowing complexion and credits a combination of facials, skincare and supplements for keeping it in good shape.
“Your skin is a reflection of your inner health, so I try to eat well, stay hydrated and get regular exercise,” she explained.
“I also have monthly facials, which are a combination of natural fruit peels and massage. Plus I take Imedeen skin supplements.”
Model Naomi Campbell also spoke of her faith in Imedeen’s anti-ageing prowess.
“My beauty secret [is that] I use Creme de la Mer and I take Imedeen so my skin always has an air of good health,” she revealed.
Meanwhile, 42-year-old supermodel Helena Christensen has admitted to using another beauty pill in preparation for time on the beach.
Imedeen’s Tan Optimizer pill is part of the brand’s anti-ageing range and helps protect skin from sun damage.
“I tan easily and as everyone, I wish to preserve my suntan as long as possible,” said the Danish model.
At least 83 people have died in Ukraine from a cold spell that has been gripping the country, officials say.
Temperatures as low as -23C (-9F) and heavy snowfall this month have left the capital Kiev and most of the country under a thick frozen layer.
In western areas, vehicles were trapped in a three-day traffic jam stretching at one point about 20 km (12 miles).
The severe weather is also affecting neighboring Bulgaria and Romania, where six people have reportedly died.
Meteorologists warn that the cold snap in the region could continue and temperatures may drop even further.
On Friday, a senior official from Ukraine’s health ministry said that 83 people were now known to have died from the cold. Most of the victims had been found on the streets.
Volodymyr Yurchenko also said that more than 500 people were still being treated in hospitals across the country.
Nearly 100 towns and villages across the country remain without electricity, and emergency crews are continuing their work to try to restore power.
Army units have also been deployed to help clear the snow on major motorways.
Thousands of “heating shelters” have been set up where those in need – particularly the homeless and the elderly – can receive a hot meal and a warm place to sleep.
But the authorities have been criticized for being slow to react to the adverse weather.
Not everyone is taken care of, critics say, and a number of homeless people know nothing about the emergencies shelters.
“I sleep in the cellar of an abandoned building. I have a roof over my head and nothing else,” said Dima, a homeless man in Kiev.
Last winter, more than 100 people died from the cold in Ukraine.
UK’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is recovering in hospital after having a growth removed from her bladder.
Margaret Thatcher, 87, is understood to have undergone a minor operation to remove the growth.
The former prime minister’s spokeswoman said Baroness Margaret Thatcher is doing “absolutely fine”.
Margaret Thatcher, who has suffered from ill health in recent years, was admitted on Thursday and is expected to be kept in hospital overnight.
Friends of the former Conservative prime minister said they expect her to remain in hospital for a number of days.
Lord Tim Bell, a friend and former adviser, said the former prime minister had undergone “minimally invasive” surgery.
“The operation was a complete success and her condition is satisfactory. She’ll stay in hospital for a few more days and then she’ll go home,” he said.
“She’s very tough. The doctors are perfectly happy. They say the operation has been completely satisfactory.”
Margaret Thatcher is recovering in hospital after having a growth removed from her bladder
Baroness Margaret Thatcher was the UK’s first female prime minister and served three terms in that post, between 1979 and 1990.
She had a series of minor strokes in 2002 and was advised by doctors to stop making public speeches.
Margaret Thatcher’s daughter, Carol Thatcher, has previously spoken of her mother’s struggle with dementia.
The former prime minister was not well enough to join the Queen for a lunch with former and serving prime ministers as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
And two years ago she was unable to attend an 85th birthday party for her hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
However, in October Margaret Thatcher was sufficiently well to mark her 87th birthday with lunch at a London restaurant with her son Mark and his wife.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has resigned today, keeping a promise to step down after the passing of his budget by parliament.
MPs earlier passed the 2013 budget drawn up by his government with 309 votes in favor and 55 against.
An announcement on whether Mario Monti will take part in elections – expected in February – will probably be made at a news conference on Sunday.
Mario Monti was brought in to form a technocratic government last year.
However, the conservative People of Freedom party of his predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, withdrew its support for his cabinet this month.
Silvio Berlusconi, a three-time prime minister already, is fighting his sixth election campaign.
The new political uncertainty in Italy, the third-biggest economy in the eurozone, has unsettled investors.
Mario Monti travelled to the presidential palace after a cabinet meeting late on Friday to hand in his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano.
President Giorgio Napolitano accepted the resignation and called on Mario Monti to remain as head of an interim administration until the elections, which analysts say will most probably be held on February 24.
The date will be determined after President Giorgio Napolitano consults with political leaders on Saturday and dissolves the two chambers.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has resigned today, keeping a promise to step down after the passing of his budget by parliament
In his last speech before his resignation, Mario Monti said his 13 months in office had been “difficult but fascinating”.
“The work we did… has made the country more trustworthy… more competitive and attractive to foreign investors,” Mario Monti told foreign diplomats in Rome.
Opinion polls suggest the centre-left Democratic Party, under Pierluigi Bersani, will win the largest share of the vote in the election.
Since taking office with his non-party team of ministers, Mario Monti has been implementing economic austerity measures and argues that his spending cuts and tax hikes have staved off disaster.
The economist and former European commissioner cannot stand for election himself as he is already a senator for life but he could theoretically return as a minister, perhaps as unofficial leader of a centrist coalition.
“Those closest to him say he has not yet decided and do not rule out a surprise decision,” the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera said.
“Slowly, as the hours pass, the largest parties which supported Monti begin to see him as a potential adversary.”
On Thursday, Mario Monti, 69, defended the “bitter medicine” of budgetary discipline, in what appeared to be a response to attacks by Silvio Berlusconi on austerity policies.
Mario Monti told workers at the Fiat factory that it would be “irresponsible to waste all the sacrifices that Italians [had] made”.
On Friday, he joked that the impending end of his technocratic government was “not the fault of the Mayan prophecy”, referring to a prediction that the world would end on Friday.
Giant planemaker Boeing used an unusual substitute for passengers to test its in-flight wi-fi system – potatoes.
Passenger seats on a decommissioned plane were loaded with huge sacks of the tubers for several days as signal strengths were checked.
Boeing’s researchers say that potatoes “interact” with electronic signals in a similar way to humans.
The technique also took advantage of the fact that spuds – unlike humans – never get bored.
Boeing’s engineers did a number of tests to ensure that passengers would get the strongest possible wi-fi signal while in the air, all while meeting safety standards that protect against interference with an aircraft’s electrical systems.
Wireless signals fluctuate randomly in the enclosed space of an aeroplane cabin as people move about.
This means that signal distribution is uneven throughout the cabin, with weaker and stronger connectivity in different seats.
Boeing used potatoes as substitute for passengers to test its in-flight Wi-Fi system
“You want your laptop to work anywhere it’s located on your seat, [but] there can be significant signal changes just due to the location of the laptop,” said Boeing engineer Dennis Lewis.
To test the signal distribution, the firm turned to spuds instead of human test subjects, filling the seats with 20,000 lbs (9,000 kg) of potatoes in sacks.
According to Boeing, potatoes’ “interactions” with electronic signals mimic those of a human body, making them “the perfect stand-in for people who would otherwise have had to sit motionless for days while the data was gathered”.
The UK Potato Council said many people underestimated the humble potato’s alternative uses.
“[The examples are] in paper and ink manufacturing, potato starch is used in clothing to strengthen the fibres so they don’t break during weaving, and for sweetening – glucose can be extracted from potato starch,” said the council’s spokeswoman.
“For beauty and sores – potatoes have calming, decongestant and astringent properties and raw potatoes can calm tired eyes, potato as alcohol, and potatoes can produce electricity.”
Frederic Rosseneu of the European Potato Trade Association Europatat said the organization was “looking forward to other experiments in which spuds can help to make our lives more convenient”.
