Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10:03

Husband And Wife Die At Suicide Clinic

A British couple have died together at an assisted suicide clinic after travelling to Switzerland to end their lives.
 
Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes died together.
Conductor Sir Edward Downes, 85, was almost blind and had hearing difficulties while his 74-year-old wife Lady Downes was believed to be suffering from cancer.

The pair went to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich and died together on July 10 rather than struggling on with health problems, their family said.

Sir Edward, who was born in Birmingham, had a long career in music, working with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Opera House.

A statement from their son and daughter, Caractacus and Boudicca, said: "After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems.

"They died peacefully, and under circumstances of their own choosing, with the help of the Swiss organisation Dignitas, in Zurich.

"Our father, who was 85 years old, almost blind and increasingly deaf, had a long, vigorous and distinguished career as a conductor.

"Our mother, who was 74, started her career as a ballet dancer and subsequently worked as a choreographer and TV producer, before dedicating the last years of her life to working as our father's personal assistant.

"They both lived life to the full and considered themselves to be extremely lucky to have lived such rewarding lives, both professionally and personally."

Sir Edward was with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for 40 years and in 1952 joined the Royal Opera House, where he remained a company member for 17 years.
He became the music director of the Australian Opera in 1970 and conducted the first performance in the Sydney Opera House.

Sir Edward received a CBE in 1986 and was knighted in 1991. (www.skynews.com)

Mandela calls for action!

SEE FURTHER INFO ABOUT MANDELA DAY HERE!

Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela on Tuesday called on people to dedicate their time and effort to serving their communities, as his life is celebrated on July 18.

"We are humbled by the call for an annual Mandela Day in our honour. Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort. Mandela Day is no different," said Mandela in a video message recorded for Mandela Day on Saturday.

"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it."

Mandela Day will not be a holiday but a day devoted to community service.

"It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own communities. We thank you for participating in Mandela Day," he said.

Nelson Mandela Day was instituted at the urging of the Nelson Mandela Foundation to celebrate his 67 years in politics, from his pivotal role in the anti-apartheid struggle, to his presidency and finally his work as mediator in peace talks and as an Aids activist.

Plans of government

President Jacob Zuma outlined plans to commemorate the political life of the Nobel Prize laureate in his State of the Nation address earlier this year.

His call was for all South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes of their time in service of others on Mandela's birthday. Each minute represents a year of Mandela's life spent fighting for freedom and justice in South Africa.

"We can best honour our icon, Madiba, through attempting in our own small ways to do what he would be proud of. Nothing would please him more than to see all South Africans, black and white, active in the service of humanity," Zuma said.

"Madiba contributed his entire adult life to this country and its people. This is the least we can do to honour him and take forward his legacy," said Zuma.

The president will be spending his 67 minutes with the elderly in Ivory Park. Ministers and ANC MPs will also devote 67 minutes to community service on July 18 to mark the first Nelson Mandela Day. (www.skynews.com)

Jackson's ex-wife Rowe denies pay-off rumours

Reports that Michael Jackson's ex-wife has struck a $4 million deal to give up parental rights to their two children have been denied.

Debbie Rowe's lawyer Eric George wrote an angry letter to the New York Post saying she "has not and will not" give up her rights contrary to reports in the newspaper.

The paper alleged Rowe, a former dermatologist's nurse, said "Hell no" when discussing with her friend Rebecca White via email whether she wanted custody of the youngsters.
The Post claimed that messages from Rowe said there was going to be a "secret deal" by July 14 involving Jackson's 79-year-old mother Katherine

Rowe was married to Jackson from 1996 to 1999 and is the mother of his two oldest children, Prince Michael Jr, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11. In 2001, she sought to give up parental rights but later went to court to contest this and it never went into effect.

Katherine was granted temporary guardianship of the King of Pop's three children on June 29. Jackson had a third child named Prince Michael II, 7. The boy's surrogate mother has never been identified.

George's letter also states Rowe will not take any money beyond what was agreed with her ex-husband years ago.

Following 50-year-old Jackson's death on June 25, after the star suffered cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles mansion, it emerged that his will has "intentionally omitted" to provide for Rowe.

George's letter also states that no agreement has been reached between Rowe and the Jackson family on custody or visitation rights. He asked the newspaper to publish a retraction. (www.yahoo.com)

Coroners seek Jacko medical records

A US county coroner's official visited the office of Michael Jackson's dermatologist to follow up on a subpoena seeking additional medical records.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said outside the Beverly Hills office of Arnold Klein that the doctor had been co-operating in the investigation.

Mr Klein's attorney, Richard Charnley, said in a statement that his client will provide the documents on Wednesday.

Craig Harvey, the coroner's chief of operations, would not specify what records were being sought.

Investigators have focused on the role drugs may have played in Jackson's death.
In recent TV interviews, Mr Klein said he had sedated Jackson for past medical procedures.

He denied ever giving the pop star an unnecessary dose of drugs. (www.yahoo.com)

Kim Cattrall splits from toyboy

Kim Cattrall has split from her younger boyfriend chef Alan Wyse, the actress's representative has confirmed.

The 52-year-old Sex And The City star had been seeing Alan, twenty years her junior, for five years, but the pair have now decided to go their separate ways.

Jill Fritzo, Kim's publicist, told E! News that the pair split "a while ago" but "remain good friends".

It follows persistent reports that the couple were experiencing relationship difficulties.
Kim will have work to take her mind off things over the next few months. Filming is due to commence for the next SATC film.

The sequel is set to be released in May 2010. (www.yahoo.com)

Arquette and Cox to Scream again!

David Arquette has confirmed that both he and wife Courtney Cox will reprise their Scream roles.

Speaking to E!, the actor said that he was looking forward to playing dopey cop Dewey again in the horror franchise.

The film series has a special place in David's heart - it was on set in the first Scream that he first fell for his wife.

He will again star against Courtney, who looks set to reappear as sassy but hardnosed TV reporter Gale Weathers.

David told E! "We are going to be doing Scream 4. Kevin Williamson is writing the script at this moment, and hopefully Wes Craven is going to direct."

He added: "I fell in love with my wife on Scream, so the opportunity to bring (Dewey) back to life and for my wife to play that really bitchy character again, it's just going to be really fun."

Responding to reports that Scream original Neve Campbell has turned down an offer to appear in the forthcoming film, David said: "I hope Neve does it. I really hope so." (www.yahoo.com)

Sandra Bullock gets naked!

The Proposal star is delighted by the success of the new romantic comedy in which she gets naked, and told GMTV she now plans to get naked in every film she appears in.

Sandra, 44, joked: "Come on, can you imagine me at 70, walking naked in whose film? Zac Efron's?"

She added: "Zac Efron doing a big film - there I am, running naked in the background. Just back and forth until someone notices. Big box office - they're all going to want me in their film!

"I'm going to be naked in every single film! I'm going to be 70 years old - everything like hanging down... and I'm just going to walk by in random people's films."

The actress went on to reveal the key to 'bringing in the money' is not filming steamy sex scenes - but by being naked and funny.

She said: "If you're naked and you're trying to be sexy - you don't really make as much money as if you're naked and you're funny. And Will Ferrell has been onto that for quite some time. Have you noticed how he drops his trousers in every single film? I'm going to do that from now on. Action film - all naked!"

The Proposal, starring Sandra and Ryan Reynolds topped the US box office. (www.yahoo.com)

Molly ringwald gives birth to twins...

Molly Ringwald is celebrating double joy with the arrival of twins. Skip related content
The Pretty In Pink actress gave birth to Roman Stylianos and Adele Georgiana on Friday.
Last month she spoke of her joy at finding out she was to have a boy and a girl, describing it as "the best of both worlds".

Molly and husband, Greek-American writer Panio Gianopoulos, already have one child, five-year-old Mathilda Ereni.

Molly's pregnancy led to writers of her current TV venture, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, having to adapt their script to fit in with real life events. (www.yahoo.com)

Megan Fox has 'most enviable body'

Megan Fox has the body most envied by women, according to a new poll.
The Transformers actress, who is praised for her classic hourglass figure, has been voted No 1 in Heat magazine's Body Envy Survey 2009.

But despite having the most desired body, Megan apparently has a phobia of looking at herself, telling Film.com: "I usually don't watch myself, I don't watch playback, I don't look at still photos, I have a phobia of it."

She added: "But I forced myself to sit down for Transformers 2. I basically shot an entire glass of champagne so that I could get through the sitting of it."

Girls Aloud's Cheryl Cole came second in Heat's Body Envy Survey, followed by curvy Kelly Brook in third place and bootylicious Beyonce in fourth place.

Angelina Jolie was voted fifth, just ahead of Brad Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston. Jessica Alba was placed seventh in the poll, Jennifer Lopez was eighth and Katie Price, aka Jordan, was considered to have the ninth most enviable body.

Rihanna rounded of the top ten list.

Heat editor Julian Linley said: "It's really refreshing to see Cheryl Cole beating curvy bikini goddess Kelly Brook to second place, and for the Brits to make the top ten, alongside Jennifer, Angelina, Beyonce and co." (www.yahoo.com)

NO ONE could say BRITNEY SPEARS is lazy.

She’s still on her whopping world tour yet already thinking about her next assault on the charts.

The Pop Princess has clearly been paying close attention to what her rivals are doing and wants to get in on the act. She has charged Aussie songwriting twins OLIVIA and MIRIAM NERVO with the task of writing her a No1 single.

The models turned hitmakers are behind KELLY ROWLAND and DAVID GUETTA’s June chart-topper When Love Takes Over. A source said: “Britney previously worked with Olivia and Miriam for her Blackout album though the tracks didn’t make the cut.

“But their success with Kelly has caught her attention again and she wants to give it another go to see what they can come up with.”

The Circus star has also made the most of a date in Stockholm, by spending time in the studio with leading producer MAX MARTIN. He’s the fella behind KATY PERRY hits I Kissed A Girl and Hot N Cold.

Brit is certainly lining up the best in the business for the next album.

It’s going to be a cracker. (www.thesun.co.uk)

Timberlake's golf course ready

Millington - Justin Timberlake's Mirimichi golf course is set to open on July 25 in suburban Memphis after a $16m renovation aimed at making it environmentally friendly.

The Commercial Appeal reported that Timberlake invested in reconstruction of the former Big Creek Golf Course after buying it late in 2007.

Mirimichi director of golf Greg King said Timberlake played the few holes that were ready in the early spring and King is eager for the celebrity owner to play the completed project, according to the Commercial Appeal newspaper.

Timberlake bought the golf course to save it from commercial development, and the project was designed to be the first eco-friendly course to be certified by the Audubon Classic Sanctuary Programme.
- AP (www.news24.com)

HANDS up who thinks the Oscars should have a Best Nude Actress category!

Us too! So we've come up with a list of girls who just might have won a special sort of Oscar last night had that gong existed.

We've shortlisted beauties including Penélope Cruz, above, who stripped off as Carolyn in Elogy.

Kate Winslet could have added to her trophy cabinet going nude in The Reader.
And the O.C's Mischa Barton would also have been in with a shout for Closing the Ring.
These scenes might be more red light that red carpet but they still take some skill.
Bras are hard enough to undo at the best of times, let alone on camera.

Plus these beauties have to remember their lines if they have any.

And perfect the art of blurting out ooohs and ahhhs in the right places.
Click on each of the pics above to reveal our would-be naughty nominees.
Who knows - maybe next year the Oscars bosses will listen to our call and bring in an official prize.

Have your say: Should there be a best nude at the Oscars???