Bill and Hillary Clinton help open Democratic party convention in Boston

Brando leaves $21.6m estate


LOS ANGELES: Enigmatic Hollywood icon Marlon Brando left a $21.6 million (BD8.16m) estate when he died last week, but made no provision in his will for an adopted daughter and an orphaned grandson, the will showed.

Surprising in death as in life, the intensely private Brando's last wishes raised fresh questions about his family ties, as he appeared to cut at least two heirs out of his will and revealed the names of two previously unknown children among his 10 surviving offspring.

But his testament, filed on Friday, did resolve one major question: The double Oscar-winning legend, who a biographer said was nearly destitute and $20m (BD7.56m) in debt when he died, was far from broke.

He retained a sizeable fortune and an income of $500,000 (BD189,000) a year, the probate petition filed along with his will showed.

"We have estimated the value of Marlon Brando's estate at $21.6m," attorney David Seeley said after filing Brando's will.

The star of A Streetcar named Desire (1951) and On the Waterfront (1954) died of lung failure in Los Angeles on July 1 aged 80.

The core of Brando's financial assets consist of a hilltop estate on Los Angeles' Mulholland Drive, reportedly worth up to $10m (BD3.78m), and his Tahitian atoll, Tetiaroa, his private retreat.

Brando ordered his assets, including around $18.6m (BD7.03m) in real estate and three million in other property - said to include paintings, sketches and rare scripts - to be transferred to a "living trust."

The will did not state how the fortune would be split, apart from "certain monthly payments" to two named female friends. But it referred to the terms of the trust, which under California law can remain secret.

Brando did however stipulate in the August 28, 2002 document that he was cutting a 32-year-old adopted daughter and the son of his dead daughter Cheyenne Brando out of his will and his trust.

Russian teenage sensation wins Wimbledon singles title

LONDON, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian teenage sensation Maria Sharapova lifted her first Grand Slam crown on July 3 by pulling off a convincing two-set victory over title holding American Serena Williams.

The 17-year-old Russian, already second youngest Wimbledon finalist in the Open era behind Swiss Martina Hingis, out hit Williams 6-1 and 6-4 to become the second Russian woman to win a Grand Slams title.

Anastasia Myskina was the first Russian woman to ever win a Grand Slam title after beating fellow Russian Elena Dementieva in the all-Russian final of this year's French Open.

Having realized her victory over Williams, Sharapova knelt down on the court with hands covering her face in disbelief, before running up to the stand to meet his father for the great joy.


 

 


 

 

 

Legends of the pratfall: `Pink Panther' set to shoot
By Stephen Schaefer

NEW YORK- Steve Martin is updating Inspector Clouseau for the 21st century in a new ``Pink Panther'' film that begins shooting Monday and will co-star Kevin Kline and Beyonce.
At a press conference yesterday, Martin said he began writing his script as he was finishing up ``Cheaper by the Dozen'' and successfully pitched it to ``Cheaper'' director Shawn Levy.
``I grew up with the `Pink Panther' movies and (remember) just laughing and laughing,'' Martin said. ``And the thought of having other people have those 20-year movie memories is what I do it for.
``And the money.''
But how to update a series that has had little success since its star, Peter Sellers, died in 1980?
``Basically, by being filthy,'' Martin joked, adding, ``The idea of Clouseau is timeless and classic.''
``Clouseau is still this absurdist, bumbling character, but he's also at the mercy of today's technology,'' Levy said. ``There are a lot of new playthings for Clouseau to screw up. The sense of humor is loyal to the frothy originals, but with Steve's screenwriting, there's a level of wit and sharp observations of the way the world is now, and with Clouseau stumbling through that world, it just feels fresh.''
Beyonce will play a singer - no stretch there - named Xania and will co-write two songs. The cast includes Kline as the put-upon Chief Inspector Dreyfus, Kristen Chenoweth, Emily Mortimer (``Young Adam'') and Jean Reno (``The Professional'').
Levy gave Beyonce one of her first professional acting jobs, she said yesterday, in a 1998 episode of the kid series ``The Famous Jett Jackson.''
Martin told a group of reporters and photographers, ``I was thinking, they have different James Bonds,'' and was greeted by silence.
``No response,'' Martin said, as if subtitling the press conference. ``I was expecting a standing ovation.''
The stars all discussed the training necessary for the physical comedy.
Martin said, ``I've been doing a lot of yoga and walking and biking. You do need to be in shape to do it.''
AddedBeyonce, ``I just got off tour. That's a huge workout every day.''
Kline said, ``Just the usual: It's high calorie, high carbohydrate, high fat, low energy. But I just, I don't want to give anything anyway. I just do a lot of falling down, and that's the best exercise so far. I fall out of the shower and fall into the press conference and fall out of the movie and thank you very much.''

The ex-wife, daughter and granddaughter of legendary crooner Elvis Presley appear on cover of U.S. 'Vogue'

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Japan's Crown Princess Masako suffering adjustment disorder

Absent from public life for nearly eight months, Japan's Crown Princess Masako has been diagnosed as suffering from "adjustment disorder", the Imperial Household Agency has announced.

In the first medical explanation of Masako's condition, the Imperial Household Agency confirmed Crown Prince Naruhito's wife is undergoing treatment for the illness, characterised by an abnormal and excessive reaction to stress.

Masako has received therapy and medication, but is still showing signs of anxiety and "depressive feelings", said a representative. The mother-of-one's stress is caused by "her special status as crown princess, problems relating to her pregnancy and miscarriage, and her busy life, in which she has difficulties drawing a line between the public and the private," said the Agency.

Royal watchers have long speculated that Masako, 40, was having trouble adapting to the strict lifestyle required by Imperial Household Agency as well as the mounting pressure to produce a male heir following the birth of daughter Aiko in 2001. She retreated from the spotlight in December, 2003, amidst rumours of her declining mental health.

The Imperial Household Agency, who says Masako needs more time to rest, is apparently examining what the future will hold for the princess, stating: "We will consider revamping her official duties."

 

Charlotte of Monaco

With her translucent skin and luminous eyes, Charlotte has grown into a stunningly beautiful young woman blessed with model-quality looks

Frederic of Denmark and his wife


The princess flashes her famous grin as she receives a kiss on the cheek from Prince Frederik during the four-day jaunt around Denmark


French singer Sacha Distel has died after a long illness at the age of 71.


Distel, best known for a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, started out in music as a professional jazz guitarist at the age of 16.

He went on to become a household name across the world during a career which peaked with his cover version of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.

He died on Thursday in Rayol-Canadel in the region of Var, the AFP news agency reported.

Distel scored his first hit with Scoubidou in 1958 and went on to record more than 200 songs.

He worked alongside some of the music greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones.

Considered a heart-throb around the world, he also appeared in a number of French films and television programmes.

He even had his own TV show in the US, where he was also hugely popular.

Distel made his British theatre debut as smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn in the London West End production of the Bob Fosse musical Chicago in 2001.

Distel had a high-profile relationship with Brigitte Bardot, but wed championship skier Francine Breaud in 1963.

Distel will be buried at a private funeral in France in line with his last wishes, his record company said on the singer's website.