Half naked Schleck & Didier locked out of hotel room

Andy Schleck and Laurent Didier, both currently participating in the Tour of California, were surprised a few days ago to find themselves locked out of their hotel room.

Angelina Jolie reveals she had double mastectomy

Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday that she has undergone a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of contracting breast cancer.

Fewer Britons believe queen's role is for life

The number of Britons who believe Queen Elizabeth II should hand over to Prince Charles before her death has increased, although a majority still think she should reign for life, an opinion poll found on Sunday.

Ladies swoon as Prince Harry begins US tour

Britain's Prince Harry broke hearts in Washington's corridors of power Thursday, showing more interest in landmines than in the excited fans who greeted him at the start of a week-long US visit.

Former Italian PM Andreotti dies aged 94

Italy's Giulio Andreotti, a shadowy seven-time former prime minister who presided over the post-war political scene for decades, died Monday aged 94, Italian media reported.

Keira Knightley marries in south of France

British actress Keira Knightley married singer James Righton in a discreet ceremony in the southern French village of Mazan on Saturday, according to the mayor.

Dutch love their Queen Maxima despite father's junta past

Maxima, the Argentine-born queen of the Netherlands, has worked hard to win over Dutch hearts and is immensely popular despite her father's murky role in his country's military junta.

Jackson lawyers to launch case against tour promoter

Lawyers for Michael Jackson's mother will launch their case Monday for massive compensation from the promoter of his last doomed tour, at the trial over the late King of Pop's 2009 death.

Willem-Alexander: from 'Prince Pils' to Dutch king

Future Dutch king Willem-Alexander has undergone a remarkable transformation from his image as a boozing Casanova, ill-equipped for the throne, to a serious family man well-loved by his people.

Getting your hands dirty for your country

Woodstock star Richie Havens dies

Veteran US folk singer Richie Havens, who shot to stardom with his distinctive style at the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival, died on Monday, his agent said. He was 72.

Prince Harry to trek to South Pole with wounded troops

Britain's Prince Harry is to join a team of wounded war veterans in a race to the South Pole, he announced on Friday.

Reese Witherspoon arrested for disorderly conduct

Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon was arrested for disorderly conduct in the US state of Georgia after authorities detained her husband for drunk driving, US media reported Sunday.

Official song for new Dutch king pulled after protests

A Dutch-British composer who wrote a song officially chosen to celebrate the enthronement of the Netherlands' new king later this month has yanked the tune just days after its release following a storm of public criticism.

Psy's "Gentleman" video praised and banned

"Gangnam Style" star Psy was praised by South Korea's president and slammed by its state broadcaster all on the same day Thursday, as his new song "Gentleman" made more than just musical waves.

Benedict XVI marks 86th birthday in Castel Gandolfo

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Tuesday celebrates his 86th birthday as the first former pope in over 700 years at his temporary home of Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome.

Frail and lonely, Thatcher's last days at The Ritz

Frail, her memory failing her, and with few visitors for company, Margaret Thatcher's final months were a marked contrast to her zenith striding the global stage.

Test-tube baby pioneer Robert Edwards dies aged 87

British scientist Robert Edwards, who was awarded a Nobel prize for his pioneering work in developing in vitro fertilisation, died on Wednesday aged 87, his university announced.

Commission chief pays tribute to "Great Stateswoman"

The President of the European Commission has reacted to the death of Margaret Thatcher with sadness, calling the former British Prime Minister a “Great Stateswoman”.

Margaret Thatcher dies aged 87

Margaret Thatcher dies aged 87

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" who shaped a generation of British politics, died following a stroke on Monday at the age of 87, her spokesman said.

US lawmakers seek reason for Beyonce, Jay-Z Cuba trip

Two US Republican lawmakers want to know if popular American pop star Beyonce and her husband, rap singer Jay-Z, had the US government's permission to travel to Cuba despite an economic embargo.

Leno to bow out on US 'Tonight' show

Veteran US late-night TV host Jay Leno is bowing out after 22 years on the iconic "Tonight Show," clearing the way for young star Jimmy Fallon to take the show to New York, NBC announced Wednesday.

Busy shooting DSK film, Depardieu fails to turn up in court

Busy shooting a film about disgraced ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Gerard Depardieu failed to turn up at a Paris hearing Friday to face a drink-driving charge, the second time he has skipped court.

At 93, Red Army veteran searches for lost French love

At 93, Nikolai Vasenin, a former Red Army soldier and Gulag prisoner who fought for the French Resistance in World War II, is searching for the love he says he lost 60 years ago in France.

Scottish writer Iain Banks has terminal cancer

Scottish author Iain Banks revealed on Wednesday he has late-stage cancer and is unlikely to survive beyond a year.

Mandela feels 'much better' after week in hospital

Nelson Mandela is "much better" and responding satisfactorily to treatment after a week in hospital suffering from pneumonia, the South African presidency said Wednesday.

Norwegian schools reschedule exams amid Bieber fever

Norwegian schools have moved exams that clashed with Justin Bieber's concerts in the country, fearing some fans would rather cut class than miss out on an evening with the Canadian heart throb.

Psy's new song features 'Psy style' take on Korean dance

South Korean rapper Psy is promising a "Psy style" take on a traditional Korean dance to accompany the release next week of the highly-anticipated follow-up to his global hit "Gangnam Style".

Iconic music producer Phil Ramone dies at 72

Phil Ramone, the legendary US music producer behind hits by Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Barbra Streisand, died Saturday, a trade publication said. He was 72.

Freddie Mercury 'took Princess Diana to gay bar in drag'

Queen singer Freddie Mercury disguised the late Princess Diana as a male model and smuggled her into a notorious gay bar, according to a memoir serialised in Britain's Sunday Times.

Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies aged 65

British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for his roles as Harry Potter's uncle and in the cult film Withnail & I, has died aged 65, his agent said on Friday.

Prince William says 'no greater feeling' than saving lives

Prince William has admitted there is "no greater feeling" than saving someone's life while working as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, in an interview released on Thursday.

Prince Harry to keep his clothes on, jokes US governor

When Prince Harry visits the United States this May he'll have to keep his clothes on, at least while he's in New Jersey, the state's governor said.

Facebook chief Zuckerberg to enter the political arena

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg is helping form a group to lobby for US political reform in areas such as education and immigration policy, according to US media reports spreading online Tuesday.

Angelina Jolie visits DR Congo war zone rape victims

Angelina Jolie joined British Foreign Secretary William Hague on a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday in a bid to encourage world powers to do more to tackle rape and sexual assault in war zones.

Britain's Prince Harry to visit wounded troops in US tour

Britain's Prince Harry will tour the United States in May to champion the rehabilitation of wounded US and British troops and promote his own charities, his office said on Monday.

China's glamorous first lady steals the spotlight

China's glamorous first lady has become a media and Internet sensation as she accompanies husband President Xi Jinping on a state visit to Russia.

Monaco's Princess Caroline announces birth of grandson

Princess Caroline of Monaco on Friday announced the birth of her first grandchild - a boy born to her non-royal son Andrea Casiraghi and South American heiress Tatiana Santo Domingo.

Yoko Ono tweets her support for US gun control

A sobering image of John Lennon's bloodstained glasses ricocheted around the Internet on Thursday after his widow Yoko Ono posted them on Twitter in an appeal for tougher US guns laws.

Horror writer James Herbert dies aged 69

British author James Herbert, best known for penning classic horror novel "The Rats", has died aged 69, his publisher said Wednesday.

Tiger Woods and LindseyVonn reveal love interest

Tiger Woods, the 14-time major golf champion whose infamous sex scandal with multiple mistresses led to a 2010 divorce, is dating ski star Lindsey Vonn, the two US sports icons announced on Monday.

Depardieu denies he quit 'sad France' for tax reasons

Calling France a "sad" place led by an uninspired government where people are "fed up", actor Gerard Depardieu dealt his former country a healthy dose of criticism Saturday, but denied he left for tax reasons.

Carla takes her revenge on 'penguin' president

Carla Bruni has reportedly taken a swipe at French President Francois Hollande, depicting him as a bumbling buffoon with no manners in a song that features on the former first lady's new album.

People