Month: March 2011

London, March 01: Veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor wants Nicole Kidman to portray her part in a biopic, her husband Prince Frederic Von Anhalt has said.

The 94-year-old actress, who has been in and out of hospital in recent months, is keen to see Kidman tackle her life story on the big screen.

“She wants me to talk to Nicole Kidman… because she wants her to play her in her life story,” contactmusic.com quoted Von Anhalt as saying.

Christchurch, March 01: New Zealand ground to a halt for two minutes today as Kiwis remembered those who lost their lives in the country’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

In Christchurch, Prime Minister John Key, wife Bronagh and a raft of other politicians joined thousands of Cantabrians in marking the city’s darkest day, the moment more than 200 people died and the CBD was destroyed.

Police have identified 154 bodies and say a further 50 people are unaccounted for, with the toll expect to rise as high as 240.

Washington, March 01: The United States has told Muammar Gaddafi he must “go now,” repositioning forces near Libya and raising the prospect of exile for its foe, as it cranked up pressure on his fragile regime.

Washington further stiffened its rhetoric today and said it was talking to Libyan opposition groups, apparently seeking to further destabilise Gaddafi after an uprising against his decades-long rule that has killed more than 1000 people.

Washington, March 01: International pressure began to mount on defiant Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to quit with the US issuing an ultimatum to him to surrender power “without delay” and the European Union imposing an arms embargo and other restrictions.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bluntly told the Libyan leader to surrender power “now, without further violence or delay”, the New York Times reported.

The prime ministers of France and Britain echoed Clinton’s call while Germany proposed a 60-day ban on financial transactions.

Rio de Janeiro, March 01: At least 16 people were killed and around 50 were injured when a power line fell during a pre-carnival celebration in Brazil, police said.

The accident occurred Sunday in the main plaza in Bandeira do Sul, a city with 6,000 people in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

The power line fell when a truck carrying large speakers hit it, knocking out power to the plaza, witnesses said.

Several people riding in the truck were thrown to the ground and many others – both in the truck and dancing in the street – were electrocuted by the power line.

London, March 01: Singer Kylie Minogue admits she gets annoyed when people accuse her of copying the style of Lady Gaga.

“Of course it annoys me when people say I copied Lady Gaga. I think she’s amazing, but she’s a totally different artist to me,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Minogue as saying.

“Back in the day, I was accused of copying Madonna – but my approach is very different to hers,” she added.

The 42-year-old singer also reveals she only ever wears sexy outfits when she is being “tongue in cheek”.

-Agencies

London, March 01: Singer Nicole Scherzinger wants to settle down and have children with her Formula One racing driver boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.

The 32-year-old singer has been dating the 25-year-old Hamilton since 2007, she has been dreaming about getting married and being the typical strict mother, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Do I see us getting married and having children? My head says yeah, but I’m really focused on my music now and I think that will come in time,” she said.

New Delhi, March 01: Two special Air India flights carrying around 600 Indians fleeing violence-torn Libya arrived at the the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi in the early hours Tuesday to an emotional homecoming.

Most Indians had harrowing tales to recount of being without food and water for days or their belongings snatched in Libya where thousands of anti-government protesters are demanding the ouster of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Tuesday’s flights were part of India’s Operation Safe Homecoming to bring back its citizens from the north African country.

Madrid, March 01: Rifles and handguns have been stolen from an army base in Spain’s southwestern city of Badajoz, military officials said.

The robbery took place after midnight Sunday at the General Menacho Base arsenal. The sounding of an alarm brought security personnel rushing to the scene, where they discovered that weapons were missing. No one was, however, found inside the facility.

Officials said the evidence indicates organised-crime groups were behind the robbery.

London, March 01: French food has become the fastest growing cuisine in Britain, new figures show.

In the past year, sales of French ready meals and desserts have grown by 16 percent, according to independent retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel, reports express.co.uk.

There has been 27 percent growth in sales of French food year-on-year.

Chicken chasseur is up in popularity by a whopping 226 percent, steak au poivre is up 37 percent and salmon en croute up 73 percent.

Washington, March 01: The Pentagon says it’s moving some armed forces in the region near Libya in case they’re needed, but is not saying what they might be needed for.

Defence Department spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan says Pentagon planners are working on various options and contingency plans as the violence aimed at overthrowing the government continues in the North African nation.

Lapan told reporters on Monday that as part of that planning, the Pentagon is repositioning some naval and air forces.