David Beckham takes a starring role in the new advert for his latest fragrance, Classic, and gives fans a glimpse of his famously honed form in the process.
David Beckham, 38, posted the promo on his YouTube channel with the message: “Hope you all like it.”
The clip opens with David Beckham walking into his dressing room dressed casually in a t-shirt.
David Beckham then reveals his tattooed torso.
David Beckham reveals his athletic torso in ad for his new fragrance Classic
The star maintains a serious expression as he examines his reflection in the mirror, before pulling on a crisp white shirt and fastening his cuff links.
A butler then helps David Beckham into a crisp suit jacket, asking: “Can I be of further assistance sir?”
David Beckham replies: “I have all I need,” as he adds the final finishing touch – a spritz of his new Classic fragrance.
As the star makes for the door, the promo advises the viewer to “revise your classics”.
Classic is the latest in a string of fragrances for David Beckham, who has previously put his name to scents including Homme and Instinct.
David Beckham also previously teamed up with wife Victoria to release his and hers fragrances Intimately Beckham.
Victoria and David Beckham starred together in the advert for the scents.
Kylie Minogue shared a swimsuit photo on her Instagram page.
Alongside the picture, in which 45-year-old Kylie Minogue was seen wearing a cutaway leopard-print swimsuit, she wrote: “Ready to go…. into the blue.”
Kylie Minogue shared a swimsuit photo on her Instagram page
Since sporting the gold hotpants, which her stylist famously picked up for 50p in a charity shop, in her 2000 Spinning Around video, Kylie Minogue has well and truly cemented her status as having the celebrity world’s best bottom.
But speaking previously about the attention her behind attracts, Kylie Minogue mused: “I don’t know how it happened. Okay, so yes, I put them in gold hot pants, but really I don’t know.”
Kylie Minogue is currently on holiday in Portofino, Italy, and was seen out on Wednesday looking stunning in a red and white striped T-shirt and black pencil skirt.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have named their baby son George Alexander Louis.
When the baby rules the kingdom, perhaps not for half a century or more, he will be King George VII. Until then, he will be known formally as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
Prince William and Kate Middleton came to a relatively quick decision yesterday about the hugely anticipated name. George had long been the favorite, with bookmakers shortening the odds in recent days.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have named their baby son George Alexander Louis
While there will be much speculation as to the inspiration behind the names, the Kensington Palace officials were quick to insist it was simply “because they liked them – no more no less”.
According to reports, Prince William and Kate Middleton had already decided by the time they introduced the Queen to her heir – and third great-grandchild – at Kensington Palace yesterday morning.
There is no royal protocol which dictates the sovereign must be given approval, but it is believed the couple discussed their choice with the Queen during their 30-minute meeting.
They then told other members of their immediate family before making the news public at 6.15 p.m.
A statement issued by their office at Kensington Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis.
“The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.”
It took only two days for the name to be released, compared with seven when Prince William was born in 1982.
At least 77 people died and more than 100 are injured following train derailment near Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain, officials in the Galicia region say.
All eight carriages of the Madrid to Ferrol train carrying 218 passengers came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela.
Media reports say the train may have been travelling at more than twice the speed limit around a curve.
Officials have not commented on the cause. Analysts say it is the worst train accident in Spain in 40 years.
Spain generally has a relatively good record in terms of rail safety.
This is a country which has invested huge amounts of money in its rail network.
Spain’s last major rail disaster was in 1972 when 77 people were killed in a derailment in Andalusia in the south.
Railway firm Renfe said the train came off the tracks on a bend about 2-2.5 miles from Santiago de Compostela station at 20:41 local time.
It was on the express route between Madrid and the ship-building city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.
Renfe says it and the track operating company Adif are collaborating with a judge appointed to investigate the accident.
At least 77 people died and more than 100 are injured following train derailment near Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain
Government officials said they believed the crash was an accident, but that no statement would be made regarding the cause without a proper investigation.
“We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack,” one unnamed official said.
Rescue workers have continued to search for survivors in the wreckage.
They have so far recovered 73 bodies from the accident site, while four more people died in hospital, a spokeswoman for Galicia’s supreme court said on Thursday. Judges are responsible for registering deaths in Spain.
It is not known how many Renfe employees were on board the train.
Images from the site showed bodies covered with blankets next to the tracks, as emergency crews searched the wreckage.
More than 140 passengers were receiving treatment for a range of light to more serious injuries, a health official told reporters on Thursday morning.
Residents flocked to hospitals in the area to donate blood in response to an appeal.
Meanwhile, 320 Spanish police officers were deployed to help out the rescue operation.
The leader of the regional government Alberto Nunez Feijoo described it as “a Dante-esque scene”, in comments to Radio Cadena Ser.
One witness, Ricardo Montesco, described how the train carriages “piled on top of one another” after the train hit a curve.
“A lot of people were squashed on the bottom. We tried to squeeze out of the bottom of the wagons to get out and we realized the train was burning…I was in the second wagon and there was fire. I saw corpses,” he told Spanish Cadena Ser radio station.
Several eyewitnesses described the train travelling very fast before it derailed.
The derailment happened on the eve of Santiago de Compostela’s main annual festival where thousands of Christian pilgrims were expected to flock to the city in honor of Saint James.
The city’s tourism board said all festivities planned for Thursday have been cancelled.
Local journalist Francisco Camino said the region was in shock.
“This is a tiny place and nothing happens here, nothing important or tragic,” he said.
“We were preparing for the celebrations and now this could turn out to be the worst train crash in many years.”
PM Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, convened an emergency ministerial meeting late on Wednesday. He is due to visit the scene of the accident on Thursday.
“I want to express my affection and solidarity with the victims of the terrible train accident in Santiago,” Mariano Rajoy said.
The US House of Representatives has rejected the Amash amendment, voting to continue collecting data on phone calls, in the first legislative move on the programme.
In a 205-217 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort to restrict the National Security Agency’s (NSA) ability to collect electronic information.
The NSA’s chief had lobbied strongly against the proposed measure.
The vote saw an unusual coalition of conservatives and liberal Democrats join forces against the programme.
The details of the NSA dragnet were made public by Edward Snowden, a former contractor for America’s electronic spying agency. He is now a fugitive, seeking asylum in Moscow.
The rejected amendment would have blocked funding for the NSA programme which gathers details of every call made by or to a US phone, unless the records were part of a specific investigation.
The amendment was introduced by Michigan Republican Justin Amash, who warned during Wednesday’s debate that the proposal’s critics would “use the same tactic every government throughout history has used to justify its violation of rights: fear”.
The US House of Representatives has rejected the Amash amendment, voting to continue collecting data on phone calls
“They’ll tell you that the government must violate the rights of the American people to protect us against those who hate our freedom.”
Despite the White House’s lobbying against the amendment, a majority of House Democrats – 111 – voted for it. Eighty-three Democrats voted against.
Among Republicans, 94 voted for the Amash amendment and 134 against.
Before Wednesday’s vote there were fierce exchanges on the House floor during what was the first sustained legislative debate on the NSA’s reach since Edward Snowden’s revelations.
“We’ve really gone overboard on the security side,” said Democratic Representative Peter Welch of the surveillance, which is part of a classified $30 billion intelligence budget.
But others said the practice was essential in America’s efforts against terrorism.
“Have 12 years gone by and our memories faded so badly that we forgot what happened on September 11?” said Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee.
Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann, not usually noted for her support of President Barack Obama, also backed the administration’s stance.
“Let us not deal in false narratives,” she said.
“Let’s deal in facts that will keep Americans safe.”
But Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, one of the original authors of the Bush-era Patriot Act, said “the time has come” to stop harvesting phone records.
On the eve of the vote, in a rare statement against a legislative amendment, the White House called the Amash proposal a “blunt approach” that would hamper US anti-terrorism efforts.
NSA director General Keith Alexander held separate, closed-door sessions with Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday to lobby them against the bill.
Another NSA surveillance programme, PRISM, allows the agency to sweep up global internet usage data through nine major US-based providers.
The programmes’ supporters say such surveillance has helped thwart at least 50 terror plots in 20 countries, including up to a dozen directed at the US.
Divided opinion in the US about the snooping was highlighted by a CBS News poll on Wednesday.
The survey found that 67% of Americans opposed the government’s collection of phone records, but 52% said it was necessary to counter terrorism.
Former President George H.W. Bush has shaved his head to show support for a boy who has leukaemia.
A Secret Service agent in his security detail has a two-year-old son who is losing his hair as a side-effect of treatment for the cancer.
George H.W. Bush has shaved his head to show support for a boy who has leukaemia
George H.W. Bush, 89, lost his greying locks earlier this week at his coastal home in the state of Maine, said a spokesman on Wednesday.
The former president acted after he saw other agents in his detail had shaved their heads.
A spokesman for George H.W. Bush identified the toddler only as Patrick.
George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, lost their second child, four-year-old Robin, to leukaemia almost 60 years ago.
The security detail have launched a website to help pay for Patrick’s medical treatment.
Republican George H.W. Bush, whose son is former President George W. Bush, was only himself released from hospital in January, two months after his admission for a bronchitis-related cough.
George H.W. Bush was the 41st US president, and served one term in office, from 1989-1993.
Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been charged with bribery, corruption and abuse of power, state media say.
Bo Xilai, formerly the Communist Party chief of Chongqing, was expelled from the party after a scandal surrounding the murder of a British businessman.
His wife Gu Kailai was jailed in August for the killing of the Briton, Neil Heywood.
Bo Xilai was charged by prosecutors on Thursday in Jinan in Shandong province, state media said.
The Bo Xilai scandal, which exposed corruption claims and infighting at the top of the Communist Party, was one of the biggest to rock China in years.
Bo Xilai had taken advantage of his office to accept an “extremely large amount” of money and properties, state-run news agency Xinhua said, citing the indictment paper.
He is also charged with embezzling public money, Xinhua said.
The sending of the formal indictment to a court in the city of Jinan suggests the trial is now imminent.
Bo Xilai has been charged with bribery, corruption and abuse of power
However, no trial date has been announced yet.
Bo Xilai was previously considered a rising star in the Communist Party, and one of the country’s most powerful officials.
However, he came under criticism after his former police chief, Wang Lijun, fled to the US consulate in Chengdu in February 2012, spending a day there.
Wang Lijun made allegations about British businessman Neil Heywood’s death while at the consulate, reports said.
Neil Heywood had died in Chongqing the previous year. The Wang Lijun incident prompted an investigation into his death.
Bo Xilai was suspected of trying to cover up the murder, and was stripped of his party positions.
His wife Gu Kailai was charged with Neil Heywood’s murder, and given a suspended death sentence, which is usually commuted to life imprisonment in China.
Wang Lijun, meanwhile, was jailed for 15 years for defection, power abuse and bribe taking.
Bo Xilai was popular in his role as party chief in Chongqing.
He was known for two high-profile campaigns: a large-scale crackdown on crime, and a drive to promote China’s old communist values.
Despite his charisma, his penchant for the limelight set him apart from other Chinese politicians.
According to analysts, Bo Xilai’s ambition and flamboyant style earned him enemies and was considered controversial by party leaders.
Bo Xilai’s populist brand of Maoist nostalgia, such as his encouragement of the public singing of old communist songs, was seen as dangerous by China’s more reform-minded leaders.
Pope Francis has warned against drug legalization plans in Latin America during the inauguration of a clinic for drug addicts in Rio de Janeiro.
The roots of drug abuse should be tackled, he said on the third day of his visit to Brazil.
Uruguay is close to allowing the legal sale of marijuana, with other countries pondering similar liberalization.
Earlier, the Argentine-born pontiff celebrated the first Mass of his trip, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.
He warned tens of thousands of faithful against the “passing idols” of money, power and pleasure.
After the visit to Aparecida, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, the pope flew back to Rio de Janeiro.
At the inauguration of a drug rehabilitation clinic at the Sao Francisco hospital, he hugged former addicts and heard their stories.
Pope Francis has warned against drug legalization plans in Latin America during the inauguration of a clinic for drug addicts in Rio de Janeiro
“It is necessary to tackle the problems which are at the root of drug abuse, promoting more justice, educating the youth with the values that live in society, standing by those who face hardship and giving them hope for the future,” Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis also warned against plans to legalize drugs in Latin America and condemned drug-traffickers.
“How many dealers of death there are that follow the logic of power and money at any cost! The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favors violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, requires of society as a whole an act of courage,” he said.
Leaders in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and others have spoken for softer stances on drugs policy.
In Uruguay, a project decriminalizing marijuana sale is set to be voted in Congress next week.
President Jose Mujica says its main goal is combating drug trafficking.
On Monday Pope Francis faced chaotic scenes as he arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
The pontiff is in Brazil to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day festival. It is his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church in March.
The highlight of the five-day festival will be a prayer service on Rio’s iconic Copacabana Beach on Thursday.
Lady Gaga’s former best friend Brendan Jay Sullivan is preparing to release his tell-all book, Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, The Lower East Side and the Prime of Our Live.
Due to hit bookshelves on August 27, Brendan Jay Sullivan’s book lifts the lid on his days living in New York with the then struggling Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga’s former best friend Brendan Jay Sullivan is preparing to release his tell-all book, Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, The Lower East Side and the Prime of Our Live
Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, used to spend her days and nights partying with friends at her Lower East side apartment, with Brendan Jay Sullivan revealing drugs were never far away.
Ahead of the book’s release, Radar Online have reported several excerpts, including Brendan Jay Sullivan recalling watching Lady Gaga rub a white powder out of her carpet and onto her gums.
Future superstar Lady Gaga then allegedly went on to tell Brendan Jay Sullivan: “I used to do bags and bags of it. Mostly when I was getting ready to go out, while I was putting on my makeup.”
Kate Middleton and Prince William have named their son George Alexander Louis, Kensington Palace has said.
The third in line to the throne, who was born on Monday at 16:24 BST, will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
It is thought the Queen was told of Prince George’s name when she met him for the first time on Wednesday.
The family are at the Middletons home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, after spending a night at Kensington Palace.
George was the bookmakers’ favorite for the first name of the prince.
Kate Middleton and Prince William had been expected to pick a traditional royal name for their son, who was born at St Mary’s Hospital in London, weighing 8lbs 6oz.
Royal infants usually have historical names which are passed down through the generations.
Kate Middleton and Prince William have named their son George Alexander Louis
There have been six King Georges up to now, most recently the Queen’s father, although his first name was Albert and he was known to his family as Bertie.
The name Louis is Prince William’s fourth name and is likely to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle and the last British Viceroy of India before independence in 1947.
Lord Louis Mountbatten and Prince William’s father the Prince of Wales were very close. Known by the Royal Family as Uncle Dickie, he was assassinated by the IRA in August 1979.
According to reports, Alexander was said to be a favorite of Kate Middleton’s.
The Queen’s middle name is Alexandra and it is assumed the baby has been named after the Queen’s father.
Prince George does not have to be King George if he accedes to the throne – he can choose another name, as the Queen’s father did.
Charles Mosley, author of Blood Royal, said he knew it would be George.
“It was the name of the sovereigns under whom this country became a world player – in the 19th Century, defeating Napoleon, and in the 20th Century, winning two world wars.
“Louis is a nod in the direction of the Mountbatten element in the Royal Family. And indeed the surname of the royal family is still Mountbatten. His [Prince George’s] birth certificate and marriage certificate will say Mountbatten-Windsor.”
As well as being an established regal name, George is also a saint’s name. St George was an early Christian martyr and is the patron saint of England.
Lea Michele talks of her happiness with boyfriend Cory Monteith in a newly released interview with Marie Claire Mexico – which she gave just weeks before his tragic death.
Lea Michele, 26, reveals the support and encouragement she gets from Cory Monteith as she tells Marie Claire how thankful she is that they met.
“He is the best person I know, he has made my life so incredible, and I am so thankful for him and not only to have him as a partner but also as a co-worker,” she told the magazine.
“It is important to have someone that supports you and encourage you, someone that makes you feel that you are unstoppable, that you can do anything in the world because you have him.”
Lea Michele added of her fellow Glee star: “It’s more interesting having a relationship with someone you work with because we get more attention because we play boyfriend and girlfriend on the show and we are also in real life.”
Cory Monteith was found dead on July 13 after a heroin and alcohol overdose.
Lea Michele talks of her happiness with boyfriend Cory Monteith in a newly released interview with Marie Claire Mexico
Lea Michele gave her interview on June 7, with her boyfriend visiting her on the set of the photo shoot so they could have lunch together.
Marie Claire Mexico’s editor in chief Ariadne Grant said that he “showed up in great spirits”.
In a statement Ariadne Grant added that the Glee couple were “very nice and obviously happy and in love”.
“We are very disrupted by the unfortunate and untimely events. Our thoughts are with Lea.”
Lea Michele, who apparently learned of her boyfriend’s death during a girl’s night, graces the cover of the magazine’s August issue and the stunning image has now been released.
She smoulders in just a black blazer and matching underwear.
The gorgeous brunette looks strong and powerful with lashings of eyeliner in the image.
During the shoot last month Lea Michele shared a snapshot of her nutritious meal and wrote alongside it: “Today’s healthy lunch! #Tofu #Greens #MyboyfriendsEatingpizza #yum lol.”
Lea Michele clearly had a great day and tweeted later: “What an awesome shoot today! Such a pleasure gracing the cover of one of my fav mags! So excited for you guys to see! Xo.”
In her interview Lea Michele also revealed her style icons.
“I think that is one of the hardest questions because they are so many, but I have always looked up to Penelope Cruz,” she said.
“She always looks beautiful, classy and sophisticated. I probably would say that she is one of the most beautiful women in the world.”
Lea Michele went on to describe her own personal style as “very relaxed and simple: jeans, flats and a leather jacket”.
“Lately, I have mixed the Californian style with the dark side of New York. I would wear black every day if I could. For red carpets I love experimenting.”
The royal baby was taken to see his grandparents on his first afternoon out today as it was revealed the Queen and Prince Harry have now met Baby Cambridge for the first time.
Kate Middleton and Prince William smiled broadly and waved from their car as they were driven away from Kensington Palace by security, where they had spent their first night together as a family.
The royal couple looked happy and fresh-faced, with Prince William sitting in the front passenger seat and Kate Middleton in the back with their child in his baby seat.
The royal baby was taken to see his grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton on his first afternoon out
They left their west London home shortly after the Queen had visited her new great-grandson and potentially discussed names with the parents, as the guessing game over what he will be called continues.
Kensington Palace officials would not confirm where the young family were going this afternoon, but their black Land Rover was later seen arriving at grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton’s mansion in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
The Queen, who will travel to Balmoral for her summer holiday on Friday, spent 30 minutes with the Duke, Duchess and Baby Cambridge from 11am.
It has also emerged that Prince Harry, who is said to be thrilled to have become an uncle, may have been there last night after the trio left hospital, having raced back to London from Wattisham airbase in Suffolk where he is on duty with the RAF.
It is understood that James Middleton and Pippa Middleton were also at Kensington Palace yesterday evening.
Prince Philip has yet to meet the child, but he and the Queen will be heading to Balmoral on Friday and it is understood that Kate Middleton and Prince William may take the royal baby there for a long weekend this summer.
Pope Francis has arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo to hold the first Mass of his trip to Latin America.
The pontiff traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida by plane and helicopter.
On Monday Pope Francis faced chaotic scenes when crowds mobbed his car as he arrived in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
He is in Brazil to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day festival. It is his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church in March.
The highlight of the five-day festival will be a prayer service led by Pope Francis on Rio’s iconic Copacabana Beach on Thursday.
The pontiff’s visit is taking place under tight security, after weeks of protests against the government and corruption.
Thousands of pilgrims arrived in the rural town of Aparecida ahead of Wednesday’s Mass, scheduled to take place at 10:30 local time at the basilica holding the shrine.
A homemade explosive device was discovered there on Sunday, but authorities said it was “of low power” and not near the area where the Pope and pilgrims will visit.
Pope Francis has arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo to hold the first Mass of his trip to Latin America
The Vatican later insisted that the discovery was no cause for concern.
Pope Francis is expected to fly back to Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday afternoon to visit a hospital and address young people taking part in a drug rehabilitation program.
On Tuesday, around 400,000 Roman Catholics joined a ceremony on Copacabana Beach to mark the opening of World Youth Day.
There was transport chaos shortly before the event when the Rio metro system was brought to a standstill for two hours by a power cut.
Crowds of people hoping to attend the Mass were left stranded, while others crammed onto buses and taxis heading to the beach.
Travel chaos also ensued on Monday when the pontiff’s car became stuck in one of Rio’s infamous traffic jams, after his driver reportedly took the wrong turn and missed lanes that had been cleared by the security services.
Correspondents said Brazil was reviewing security around the pontiff following the incident.
Pope Francis, who is from neighboring Argentina, was officially welcomed at the state governor’s palace by Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff on Monday.
However, police later fired tear gas to disperse people who were demonstrating outside. They were protesting against the government and also against the cost of the papal visit.
More than a million young Catholics are expected to gather in Rio for World Youth Day, which takes place every two years, and is a celebration of the Catholic faith.
Some 30,000 army and police are on duty throughout the Pope’s visit.
The US National Security Agency (NSA) began collecting Americans’ phone records in 2001, as part of far-reaching surveillance programmes launched by then-President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
However, the scope of the practice, continued under President Barack Obama, only became apparent in June when ex-CIA contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified US surveillance files.
A US secret court had ordered phone company Verizon to hand over to the NSA the phone records of tens of millions of American customers
It emerged that a US secret court had ordered phone company Verizon to hand over to the NSA the phone records of tens of millions of American customers.
This information, known as metadata, includes the numbers of the originating and receiving phone, the call’s duration, time, date and location – for mobiles, determined by which mobile signal towers relayed the call or text.
The contents of the conversation itself, however, are not covered. The surveillance applies to calls placed within the US, and calls between the US and abroad.
The European Union’s plans to cut transaction fees on debit and credit cards have been published – but there is disagreement over the potential impact.
The European Commission estimates that the EU payment market is worth 130 billion euros but is “fragmented and expensive”.
It wants to cap “interchange fees” to a maximum of 0.3% of a transaction.
The fees involved are paid by shops and businesses to banks, every time a consumer uses his or her card.
Retailers say customers could ultimately benefit from lower prices in the shops as a result of the proposals, which could take years to implement.
But banks argue that consumers will instead end up paying higher charges to use debit and credit cards.
Shops and businesses pay different interchange rates to the banks, depending on the size of the retailer, and whether the customer has used a debit card or a credit card.
On average, debit card transactions cost the retailer 0.2% of the bill.
The EU’s plans to cut transaction fees on debit and credit cards have been published
Credit card transactions typically cost much more, at around 0.9%.
Under the plans, debit card interchange fees would be capped at 0.2%, and credit card fees at 0.3%.
In other words, many debit card fees would not be affected by the changes, but charges for credit cards would, on average, be reduced by two-thirds.
In the first instance, these caps would only be applied to cross-border transactions.
But the caps could later be applied within each of the member states.
“The proposed changes to interchange fees will remove an important barrier between national payment markets and finally put an end to the unjustified high level of these fees,” said EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier.
European Commission competition chief Joaquin Almunia said: “The interchange fees paid by retailers end up on consumers’ bills. Not only are consumers generally unaware of this, they are even encouraged through reward systems to use the cards that provide their banks with the highest revenues.”
The banks argue that the present fees accurately reflect the costs of processing the transactions involved.
If the plans are approved, they warn that consumers will end up paying more for the cards themselves.
The proposals are part of a series of measures aimed at tightening up the payments market across the EU.
Queen Elizabeth II has paid a visit to her new great-grandson, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The half-hour visit to Kensington Palace came after Prince William, Kate Middleton and the royal baby spent their first night at home.
They left St Mary’s Hospital in west London on Tuesday evening, where Prince William told reporters they were yet to name the third in line to the throne.
The Queen visited without her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he continues to recover from abdominal surgery.
She made the short journey from Buckingham Palace in a dark green Bentley.
The private meeting comes as the monarch prepares to leave for Balmoral in Scotland on Friday, where she has her traditional summer break.
The Queen had said she was “thrilled” at the arrival of her third great-grandchild during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.
Louise Butt, a guest at the event for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, said the monarch had also described the baby as a “big boy” and had said that “the first born is very special”.
There has been no word yet from the duke, who is expected to take about two months to convalesce following exploratory abdominal surgery last month.
The Queen was not the first to meet the royal baby prince.
Queen Elizabeth II has paid a visit to her new great-grandson, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Prince Charles and Camilla, and Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, paid visits to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Later that day, Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, accompanied by boyfriend Nico Jackson, went to Kensington Palace to meet her day-old nephew.
Prince Charles said the baby was “marvelous” while Carole Middleton said he was “absolutely beautiful”.
Prince William was at the hospital for the birth at 16:24 BST on Monday, and stayed with his wife and son, who weighed 8lb 6oz (3.8kg), overnight.
They left at 19:15 BST on Tuesday – just under 27 hours after the baby’s arrival.
Kate Middleton and Prince William described becoming parents as “very emotional”.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said on Wednesday it was “now private and quiet time for them to get to know their son”.
Although the couple have yet to decide on a name it is known that the newest royal will be known as HRH Prince (name) of Cambridge.
George is the bookmakers’ favorite for the first name of the prince, who is destined to be king one day. James and Alexander are among other names on a short price.
Royal fans waited seven days before the name of a newborn Prince William was announced in 1982, and there was a wait of a month following the Prince Charles’s birth in 1948.
All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, regardless of parentage, must be registered within 42 days at the hospital or a local register office.
Brody Jenner and his strained relationship with stepmother Kris Jenner may have reached a new low point as he wants his father Bruce Jenner to divorce the momager of the Kardashian clan, according to new reports.
The tenuous relationship between Brody Jenner, 29, and Kris Jenner, 57, was apparent during a recent episode of Keeping Up With Kardashians in which the whole family went on a Greek vacation.
Now insiders claim relations between Brody Jenner and his stepmother have soured to the extent he want his father to divorce her, RadarOnlinereports.
In Sunday’s episode, the Kardashian matriarch initially upset her stepson by failing to invite him on the Mykonos trip – saying he never responded to invitations – but later booked him a flight at Bruce Jenner’s request.
Brody Jenner has a strained relationship with stepmother Kris Jenner
A source told RadarOnline that Brody Jenner has grown used to being snubbed.
“Brody has had a lifetime of this and he holds Kris responsible for Bruce not being a bigger part of his life when he was a child,” a source toldin an article published on Tuesday.
Brody Jenner “wishes his dad would just divorce Kris. Bruce and Kris are leading separate lives and don’t even share a bedroom together anymore”, the insider said.
“He has been spending a lot of time at his Malibu rental without Kris. Brody wants to be closer to his dad, but it’s very hard with Kris in the picture, because she always has to make everything about her,” the source added.
Elsewhere during Sunday’s episode, Kris Jenner told Brody during an awkward dinner at their ocean-view villa: “I’ve been trying to reach out to you and you don’t even respond.”
“I’ve got to give you my right info then,” Brody Jenner replied, claiming she must have the wrong number.
“I wouldn’t blatantly ignore you.”
Brody Jenner also expressed concerns over his father’s living arrangements as brother Brandon told him they no longer slept in the same room.
Pondering the sleeping arrangements at their Greek villa, Brandon Jenner said: “I wonder if Dad and Kris are going to share a room. They don’t share a room at home anymore.”
Brandon Jenner and his wife Leah explained that Bruce got a separate place to have his own space because he only had limited space at the family mansion.
“That sounds like a nightmare. Poor guy,” Brody Jenner replied.
Brody and Brandon are Bruce Jenner’s two sons from his former relationship with Linda Thompson.
For her first public appearance as a mother, Kate Middleton chose an elegant pale blue polka dot dress made specially for her by Jenny Packham, one of her favorite designers.
Last night the Jenny Packham website appeared to have crashed after the word got out that Kate Middleton had worn the empire-line crepe de chine design.
Demand for Kate Middleton’s blue polka dot dress crashed Jenny Packham’s website
Initial reports on Twitter had suggested the dress was from Jenny Packham’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection, leading many shoppers to believe it might available to buy online.
Last night a spokesman for the British designer confirmed that the dress was a one-off creation for Kate Middleton’s long-awaited appearance on the steps of the Lindo Wing.
Asked whether there had also been a pink version made in case the royal baby turned out to be a girl Jenny Packham said: “I couldn’t possibly comment.”
The White House is urging Congress to reject an attempt to stop the NSA collecting Americans’ phone records.
With a key vote coming up, President Barack Obama’s spokesman said curbs on the NSA would “hastily dismantle” a vital counter-terrorism tool.
NSA chief General Keith Alexander spent Tuesday lobbying Congressmen to vote against the proposed measure.
Critics say NSA phone data collection is an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
The details of the programme were made public by Edward Snowden, who had worked for the NSA and is now a fugitive, awaiting a decision on his asylum application in Moscow.
House of Representatives Republican Congressman Justin Amash has introduced an amendment to a defense spending bill, which would block funding for the NSA’s programme to collect details of every call made by or to a US phone.
Justin Amash said: “My amendment blocks funding of NSA’s collection of personal data if that data does not pertain to a person under investigation.”
A vote on the amendment will take place on Wednesday.
Republican Congressman Justin Amash has introduced an amendment to a defense spending bill, which would block funding for the NSA’s programme to collect details of every call made by or to a US phone
Even if it passes the House, the measure is seen as unlikely to become law, as Barack Obama’s Democratic Party controls the Senate.
House Democrats John Conyers and Jared Polis supported the move, which they said “makes sure that innocent Americans’ information isn’t needlessly swept up into a government database”.
However, the White House said the measure would deprive the intelligence agencies of a key tool in preventing terror attacks.
“This blunt approach is not the product of an informed, open or deliberative process,” said spokesman Jay Carney.
“We urge the House to reject the Amash amendment, and instead move forward with an approach that appropriately takes into account the need for a reasoned review of what tools can best secure the nation.”
NSA head Gen. Keith Alexander held separate, closed-door sessions with Republicans and Democrats on the eve of the vote in an attempt to persuade them to vote against.
Afterwards he told CNN: “What you can see is that everybody wants to ensure we protect civil liberties and privacy and defend this country.
“We have that responsibility, and the issue is, how do we do that? How do we take care of our people and protect our civil liberties and privacy? This is a tough issue.”
The issue has split the main parties, with Democrats and Republicans lining up on both sides of the debate.
Meanwhile it is thought possible that Russia will announce whether Edward Snowden has been successful in his application for temporary asylum in the country.
Edward Snowden has been in limbo in a Moscow airport for weeks, but his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena says Wednesday is the deadline for the Federal Migration Service to rule on his request.
A number of Latin American states say they are willing to offer the former intelligence systems analyst asylum, but the lawyer says Edward Snowden first needs Russian asylum in order to be able to travel, since the US has cancelled his passport.
The US has charged Edward Snowden with leaking classified information.
President Vladimir Putin has refused to hand him to US authorities, but says he can only stay in Russia if he stops leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes.
For the mothers watching around the world as Kate Middleton walked out on to the steps of the Lindo Wing to present the royal baby yesterday, the real delight was her “mummy tummy”.
That neat bump was the only thing which gave away the fact Kate Middleton had given birth to an 8lb 6oz boy just a day earlier.
And the glowing duchess clearly felt no need to hide it, a decision praised immediately by mothers’ groups.
Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said Kate Middleton had dispelled the “myth that all mothers should be perfect postpartum”.
“In a couple of minutes on the steps of the Lindo Wing Kate has done more for new mums’ self-esteem than any other role model,” she said.
“Sadly, too many celebrities often have ultra-fast tummy tucks or strap themselves down to emerge in tiny size six jeans, leaving everyone else feeling inadequate.
“Kate shows what a real mum looks like – and natural is beautiful.”
She continued: “Undoubtedly over the coming weeks the duchess will work hard to regain her figure, but tonight she’s proved herself a healthy role model for real mums around the world.”
Many mothers took to Mumsnet to share their delight, describing Kate Middleton as a “role model” for showing off her mummy tummy.
One user wrote: “Oh just so lovely … I think she is fantastically brave to not hide her post birth shape. What a great role model she is.”
That neat bump was the only thing which gave away the fact Kate Middleton had given birth to an 8lb 6oz boy just a day earlier
A second wrote: “I loved that Kate didn’t hide her remaining bump. That is what a postnatal woman looks like folks!”
Another added: “They both looked fab, and I was also impressed that she didn’t hide the belly, good for her!”
Twitter was also dominated by women praising Kate Middleton for refusing to hide her figure.
Stacey Cook said: “Nice to see Kate still has a mummy tummy! Not like these skinny celebs who come out stick thin.”
Ju Lincoln wrote: “Beautiful royal baby and lovely to see that Kate still has a mummy tummy like all us normal women … I’m still trying to lose mine!”
Kate Middleton, whose style over the last nine months has already become a by-word for pregnancy chic, did not disappoint with her choice of dress. Her bespoke blue polka-dot Jenny Packham frock looked cool and chic, its empire line cut perfectly displaying her “mummy tummy”.
Her choice of print seemed to be a nod to the dress worn by Princess Diana on the day she left hospital with Prince William in 1982.
Diana posed on the same steps with her first-born son, wearing a green polka dot dress.
But where Princess Diana appeared nervous and bewildered by the attention – and was said to have burst into tears as soon as she got in the car – the radiant duchess smiled broadly and spoke assuredly to the ranks of camera crews.
While Prince Charles wore a formal pinstripe suit and tie, Prince William opted for a casual shirt, the blue perfectly matching his wife’s dress.
And, naturally for this very hands-on new father, the sleeves were rolled up.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has appealed for calm after weeks-long protests escalated into a blockade of parliament and clashes with police.
Rosen Plevneliev urged both protesters and police to remain “peaceful and civilized”.
More than 100 politicians, journalists and staff were trapped inside the building overnight, until escorted out by police at about 05:00.
PM Plamen Oresharski has so far resisted protesters’ calls to resign.
The unrest fell on the 40th straight day of anti-government protests against corruption and mismanagement in the capital, Sofia.
Crowds surrounded the Bulgarian parliament building on Tuesday evening as MPs took part in an unusual late sitting to discuss a controversial budget update
Crowds surrounded the parliament building on Tuesday evening as MPs took part in an unusual late sitting to discuss a controversial budget update that would increase the budget deficit and government borrowing limit.
The protesters shouted “Mafia!” and “Resign!”
At around 22:00 local time, riot police attempted to move some of the MPs, including three government ministers, out of parliament on a heavily guarded bus.
But protesters prevented the bus from leaving. Skirmishes broke out in which at least seven protesters and two officers were injured.
The crowd reinforced their blockade with rubbish bins, street signs and paving stones.
Eventually, riot police reinforcements helped clear a path and the building was evacuated by 05:00 on Wednesday morning.
A reporter for the AFP news agency said the barricades were completely dismantled and the crowd dispersed.
Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev said: “There are lightly injured people and policemen and there have been arrests… No lawmakers have been hurt.”
President Rosen Plevneliev said: “For the first time since the start of the protests we have now witnessed tension and attempts for provocation.”
“We all live here, this is our country and we are responsible towards it. I urge for calm and order,” he said.
Parliamentary speaker Mihail Mikov condemned the violence, calling for a cancellation of Wednesday’s parliamentary session.
“Order must be guaranteed. Lawmakers cannot be turned into targets; their life and health cannot be put in danger,” he told state BNT TV.
Bulgaria – the poorest EU member state – has been in political turmoil for months.
The current coalition government took office after a snap election in May, which followed extended protests.
Renewed protests began nearly six weeks ago, over the controversial appointment of a young media mogul, Delyan Peevski, as head of the national security agency.
Protesters saw it as example of the influence of powerful “oligarchs” and the corruption of politicians.
The appointment has been reversed, but the crowds have not been appeased and other controversial decisions have fuelled their anger.
PM Plamen Oresharski, who heads the Socialist-led coalition, has refused to resign, saying it would only deepen the crisis.
Earlier on Tuesday, the EU’s visiting Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said she backed the protesters.
Viviane Reding, who was in the country for a live question and answer session, said on Twitter: “Here in Sofia today, my sympathy is with the Bulgarian citizens who are protesting against corruption.”
“We can’t replace your government, but we have a responsibility to see that things are going well,” Viviane Reding told the forum.
Anthony Weiner, the Democrat New York mayoral candidate, has admitted sending messages to a woman, two years after he left Congress over a similar affair.
An unnamed woman told website The Dirty she had an online relationship with Anthony Weiner last year.
Anthony Weiner, 48, who has been leading polls of Democratic mayoral candidates, said he was “very sorry”.
In 2011, Anthony Weiner said his Twitter account was hacked, but then admitted sending photos to young women.
Flanked by his wife, Huma Abedin, at a press conference on Tuesday in New York, Anthony Weiner apologized while reading from a prepared statement.
He also said he would not drop out of the city’s mayoral race, which will be decided by voters in November. Three of his rivals immediately called on him to stand aside.
Anthony Weiner told reporters: “This behavior is behind me. I’ve apologized to my wife, Huma, and I’m grateful that she has worked through these issues with me and that I’ve had her forgiveness.
“I want to again say how very sorry I am to anyone who was on the receiving end of these messages and the disruption that this has caused.”
He said some of the latest reports were inaccurate, but refused to go into detail.
Anthony Weiner has admitted sending messages to a woman, two years after he left Congress over a similar affair
Huma Abedin then took to the podium and said: “Our marriage, like many others, has had its ups and its downs. It took a lot of work and a whole lot of therapy to get to a place where I could forgive Anthony.”
She continued: “Anthony’s made some horrible mistakes, both before he resigned from Congress and after. But I do very strongly believe that it’s between us and our marriage.”
“I love him, I have forgiven him, I believe in him,” she added.
Briefly taking questions after the statements, Anthony Weiner admitted that some of the online activity in question had taken place as late as summer last year.
The woman at the centre of the latest allegations has said they began exchanging messages in July 2012 and continued for six months.
She said she was 22 years old when they made contact on the social networking website Formspring.
The woman claimed Anthony Weiner had used the alias “Carlos Danger” for their exchanges.
“I was young and dumb,”The Dirty quoted her as saying.
“I just want people to really know he’s lying when he acts like he has changed.”
Anthony Weiner has previously said he should not have denied posting photos on Twitter in 2011.
He said he only did so because he wanted to keep the truth from his then-pregnant wife, who is a former adviser to Hillary Clinton.
She gave birth to the couple’s son, Jordan, later that year.
Anthony Weiner will find out how damaging his latest conduct has been in September’s primary elections, when Democratic voters decide if he or one of his rivals should represent their party in the mayoral race.
Lady Gaga looks unrecognizable in a make-up free snap she posted to a fan website.
Along with the dramatic picture Lady Gaga wrote: “ARTPOP as they pry the single from my bleeding fingers. it’s a scary thing to revisit those things underneath, the pain in your past. but all I found was raw passion. I thought I was destroyed inside. I’m just ready to fight. start the music.”
Lady Gaga looks unrecognizable in a make-up free snap she posted to a fan website
In the picture Lady Gaga sports a pale complexion and her eyebrows are barely there.
Lady Gaga, who is no stranger to changing her appearance, posted the snap to a fan site Littlemonsters.com.
She looks trimmer than she has in recent months, with a pronounced collar bone on display.
Lady Gaga, who has failed to comment on reports that she has had a nose job in recent weeks, was named as the top earning celebrity under 30 years old by Forbes magazine.
The singer made an estimated $80 million in the last 12 months, despite being forced to cancel part of her tour after having hip surgery.
Last year Lady Gaga was ranked at number four, while Taylor Swift, who topped the poll in 2012, has dropped to third place with $55 million.
