New Zealand's postal service has scrapped plans for a special stamp issue to commemorate the first anniversary of Princess Diana's death, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported .
"The over-commercialisation of Princess Diana's death has influenced our decision," it quoted NZ Post's stamps general manager Russell Watson as saying. "We realise this may be a disappointment. However, we have not ruled out celebrating the Princess's life at a later date."
Caroline Aherne, better known as TV chat show hostess Mrs Merton, was rushed to hospital yesterday. An ambulance was called to an address in Notting Hill in London, shortly before 2 a.m. and the comedienne was taken to casualty.
A source close to the Mrs Merton Show said it was understood Aherne was treated after a suspected overdose.
French composer-performer Jean-Michel Jarre was given the go-ahead yesterday for a Bastille Day concert on July 14th, to be held along with Paris' traditional fireworks next to the Eiffel Tower.
Interior Minister Jean- Pierre Chevenement, who had withheld his agreement for the concert pending details on security arrangements from organisers at Paris Town Hall, finally gave the go-ahead.
But the minister insisted that 3,500 police be on hand for the show. More than 1.2 million people showed up for a Jarre concert on July 14th, 1995, a record turnout at the time for the city.
Several African presidents and US Muslim activist leader Louis Farrakhan have arrived in Libya to join special Islamic prayers led by Libyan leader Col Muammar Gadafy. However Gadafy suffered a minor hip fracture while exercising and had to welcome the delegates from his bed. The occasion was the el-Maulud, marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Veteran crooner Tony Bennett was among stars yesterday who gathered to pay tribute to actress Julie Andrews (62) - on the day her voice was heard on a British stage for the first time in 40 years.
Andrews was singing at a Royal Gala performance of new stage show Doctor Dolittle last night, and was honoured by the Variety Club of Great Britain.
Composer Leslie Bricusse pointed out that she had never relinquished her British passport and called her "England's greatest roving world ambassador".
Bricusse, who wrote Doctor Dolittle, said: "I would even go so far as to say if Her Majesty ever wanted to take a well-deserved year off she is someone who could stand in."
Andrews underwent surgery last year for a throat problem prompting speculation that she would never sing again. But at a Doctor Dolittle photocall last month she was named as the star voice of Polynesia The Parrot in the multi-million pound musical.