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Anything
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January/February
2005
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Rare Hepburn stamps 'go missing'
Around 30 extremely rare postage stamps of the late film star and United Nations Children Ambassador, Audrey Hepburn, appear to have gone missing from the German Finance Ministry. The stamps, picturing Miss Hepburn in a large hat, were part of a series commemorating Hollywood stars. They were supposed to appear in Germany in October 2001, but they were ordered to be destroyed after one of Miss Hepburn's sons withdrew the rights to their publication. All proof copies were recalled but one set, given to the German Finance Ministry, has not been traced. Now a spokesman for the Federation of German Stamp Collectors, has told the BBC that a collector from southern Germany is in possession of one of the stamps, with a postmark dating from the autumn of this year. The German Finance Ministry says it cannot be certain that all the stamps were destroyed. In the hands of a collector, the stamps could be worth around $27,000 (19,839 euros or £13,976) each.
Audrey Hepburn tops beauty poll
They had to choose their top 10 beautiful women from a list of 100 compiled by water company Evian. US film star Liv Tyler and Australian actress Cate Blanchett were voted second and third. Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie and the actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly completed the top five, while Princess Diana was placed 12th.
The women were chosen for their "embodiment of natural beauty, healthy living, beautiful on the inside and out, with great skin and a natural glow to their personality, as well as their complexion", Evian said. "Audrey Hepburn is the personification of natural beauty," said Elle beauty director Rosie Green. "She has a rare charm and inner beauty that radiates when she smiles. Her skin looks fresh in all her films and her personality really shines through as someone warm and lively." Hepburn was included in the top 10 by more than three-quarters of the beauty experts surveyed. Aussie trio Almost half of the icons placed in the
number one spot by panel members were brunettes, a third blondes, and
about a fifth redheads. Australia scored a hat-trick in the top ten,
with singer Natalie Imbruglia, Blanchett and model Elle MacPherson appearing.
"People who are confident without a scrap
of make-up and look healthy, happy and glowing, seem like natural beauties
to me," Eleonore Crompton, of Heat magazine. The First Lady with some of the 41 Christmas trees that have been erected in her home
The silver screen diva and statuesque Nicole, who wore a simple brown cocktail dress, showed that the straightforward comments made by Lauren earlier this summer are now just a memory. During a Venice Film Festival press conference, Ms Bacall cut short a journalist who dubbed co-star Nicole a "legend". "She's not a legend," corrected the 79-year-old star, famous for her no-nonsense demeanour. "She's a beginner. What is this 'legend'? She can't be a legend at whatever age she is." While the remark was interpreted by many as tension between the two, Nicole, 37, has always insisted that she agrees with the seasoned actress – and actually appreciated the opinion. "I was thrilled that she dismissed the legend stuff," she said later. "To put me into a category I don't belong, burdens me with responsibility I don't want. "I telephoned Lauren and thanked her for saying that. She always calls it like it is and that's a reality check I adore."
Pope John Paul II meets with Puerto Rican 'three Wise Men' during general audience
Prime Minister Tony Blair makes surprise visit to Baghdad
Robin Williams visits U.S. soldiers at a military base in Baghdad
Prince Albert and his sister Caroline get busy with their traditional Christmas giveaway. Their father Prince Rainier was unable to make it along to the traditional event
Star concert honours Nobel winner
The 64-year-old Kenyan received the Nobel
Prize for her environmental work saving trees in Africa and promoting
ecological, social and economic reforms. It is estimated her dedication
has seen up to 30 million trees planted across Africa. She
was the first African women to receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
Teenager Joss Stone was among the performers "When our resources get scarce, we go to war over them. In managing our resources, and in sustainable development, we plant the seeds of peace." Cruise added that he was "exceptionally proud" to be hosting a tribute to the environmentalist. Winfrey struggled to hold back tears as she was joined on stage by Prof Maathai, who wore traditional dress for the occasion. Other performances on the night came from Cyndi Lauper and Tony Bennett, who all appeared for free at the concert which will be broadcast in more than 100 countries.
Rome's
jewish community celebrates Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights
Opera singer Renata Tebaldi dies
Penelope took home the people's choice award for best European actress
David Blunkett quits as home
secretary over allegations that he abused his position
Paris' skating rink in the sky
Miss Peru wins world beauty title
Tsar's rare vintages sell badly
Some of the finest and rarest Russian wines ever to go on sale failed to sell well when they went under the hammer at auction house Sotheby's on Friday. The vintages come from the Imperial winery at Massandra, near Yalta, on the southern coast of Crimea. About 150 fortified and dessert wines made a total of £149,391 - less than half the £500,000 estimate. They were blended to the tastes of Tsar Nicholas II and later Joseph Stalin, who added to the vast cellars.
Romeos to come unstuck in Verona
Lovers will be urged to post their notes
by text or online - to be flashed on a screen being erected instead.
"It seemed the best solution to us," said a tourism official,
adding it would appeal to young people. Tourists in the northern Italian
city of Verona make a point of visiting Juliet's house, in reality a
former inn. The tiny marble balcony and courtyard has become the place
where, in William Shakespeare's 16th century play, Romeo declares his
love for Juliet. The 32-year-old royal accompanied her husband crown Prince Frederik for an evening of classical music
Jordan's King Abdullah has relieved his half-brother, Prince Hamzah, of his title as crown prince.
The Jordanian monarch (left) says his half-brother, Hamzah (right), will now be free to play a more significant role in Jordan's political life Speaking in a televised address on Sunday, Abdullah said the move would allow his sibling to play a more meaningful part in the country's political life. "I chose you five years ago to be crown prince, rather than my other brothers who are older than you," he said. "Your presence in this symbolic post restricts your freedom and restricts our ability to assign you some responsibilities, as its symbolic nature bars you from shouldering some responsibilities you are capable of conducting in the best possible way." It is not the first time the issue of succession has provoked surprise in Jordan. Just days before his death in 1999, the previous monarch, King Hussein, unexpectedly withdrew the title of crown prince from his brother Hassan, granting it instead to Abdullah. Soon after acceding to the throne, the new ruler elevated Hamzah to the position of crown prince. It is well known that King Hussein had
a special affection for Hamzah, whom he described as "the delight
of my eye". The 24-year-old, who is currently studying politics
at an American university, has earned a reputation for his progressive
views. In the past he has delivered speeches calling for reform in Muslim
thinking, but the role of crown prince involves no political duties. Maria Callas' jewllery on auction!
A dazzling collection of jewels once owned by the late American opera singer Maria Callas went under the hammer at a Sotheby's sale in Geneva on Thursday. The assortment of diamond, ruby and emerald earrings, necklaces, and rings fetched over $1.87 million - triple the estimates set by auctioneers. An eclectic mix, the fine jewellery demonstrated what a discerning collector Maria was. It included a 18-carat gold and diamond evening bag by Van Cleef and Arpels, a serpentine ruby and diamond collar and, the most expensive piece, a marquise-cut 11.7-carat diamond ring. Maria was given most of the jewellery in the 1950s by her then-husband, the wealthy Italian industrialist and opera lover Giovanni Battista Meneghini. Their marriage came to an end in 1959 when Maria became embroiled in a stormy affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. After losing her voice in the early Seventies, the diva became a recluse in Paris, where she died in 1977 aged 53. The jewels, which belonged to an anonymous collector, had previously been on display in Paris and were the highlight of Sotheby's autumn jewellery sale in the Swiss city. Other celebrity items up for grabs included a pair of Cartier ruby and diamond ear-clips, once owned by the Duchess of Windsor.
Count Lennart Bernadotte, who renounced Swedish throne when he married without royal consent in 1932, has died aged 95
Prince Bernhard of
the netherlands - husband of Juliana and father to Queen Beatrix - has
died aged 93
---------------------------------------- Some of the information/pictures have been taken from Hello Magazine www.hellomagazine.com |
