Category: Life

France bows to stage director Patrice Chereau, dead at 68France bows to stage director Patrice Chereau, dead at 68

 France bows to stage director Patrice Chereau, dead at 68By Tom Heneghan PARIS (Reuters) – The French theatre, opera and film director Patrice Chereau, who mounted one of the most famous productions of Richard Wagner’s “Ring” cycle in Bayreuth in the 1970s, has died at the age of 68. Chereau, who was preparing a production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” when he succumbed to lung cancer, was a restless innovator who began directing at high school in Paris and never looked back. …

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Actor Tom Hanks says he has type 2 diabetesActor Tom Hanks says he has type 2 diabetes

 Actor Tom Hanks says he has type 2 diabetes(Reuters) – Actor Tom Hanks has said that he has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the metabolic disease. Hanks, 57, told late night talk show host David Letterman on Monday that he had been battling high blood sugar for some time. “I went to the doctor, and he said, ‘You know those high blood-sugar numbers you’ve been dealing with since you were 36? Well, you’ve graduated! You’ve got type 2 diabetes, young man,'” Hanks said on CBS network’s “Late Show with David Letterman. …

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Physician emerges as seller of Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery notesPhysician emerges as seller of Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery notes

By Eric Kelsey LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A Southern California plastic surgeon said on Wednesday he is behind the auction of a physician’s notes that shows actress Marilyn Monroe had undergone cosmetic surgery, and he will donate the proceeds to assist U.S. veterans with medical work. Norman Leaf, who had previously requested anonymity, told Reuters that interest in the auction of the notes along with a set of X-rays caused him to come forward. …

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Justin Bieber off the hook in alleged hit-and-runJustin Bieber off the hook in alleged hit-and-run

By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Justin Bieber can breathe easy – at least as far as a hit-and-run allegation against him goes. The Los Angeles Country District Attorney’s office has decided not to pursue a hit-and-run charge against “Boyfriend” singer Bieber, which stemmed from an incident involving a paparazzo outside of a Sunset Blvd. nightclub last month. The DA’s office has declined to pursue the charge due to “nsufficient evidence to prove that Bieber knowingly left the scene of collision in which someone was injured.” The incident occurred at 11:40 p.m. …

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Civil War general blindsided at pivotal Gettysburg battleCivil War general blindsided at pivotal Gettysburg battle

By Eric M. Johnson (Reuters) – Confederate General Robert E. Lee was “virtually blind” to the superior positions held by Union troops hidden by rolling hills and valleys, which contributed to his downfall at the pivotal battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War, researchers said on Friday. …

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Actress Amanda Bynes denies bong-throwing chargesActress Amanda Bynes denies bong-throwing charges

By Chris Francescani NEW YORK (Reuters) – American actress Amanda Bynes appeared in court on Friday and denied charges of possessing marijuana and tossing a bong out of the window of her 36th-floor Manhattan apartment. The former Nickelodeon child star, who appeared in court dressed in gray sweatpants, a long-sleeved black shirt and a disheveled platinum blonde wig, was released on her own recognizance after spending a night in jail after her arrest on Thursday. …

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Prince Harry to join expedition to the South PolePrince Harry to join expedition to the South Pole

LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Harry, Britain’s third in line to the throne, will take part in a race to the South Pole alongside wounded British servicemen and women, he announced on Friday. The 208-mile (335-km) trek to the South Pole will see Britain’s Royal compete against teams from the United States and Commonwealth countries. “As a member of the British team, I will have a brew (tea) on ready for you when you join us at the Pole,” he said in a speech, referring to participants from other countries. Harry took part in a 2011 expedition to the North Pole organized by the same charity. …

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Streep voices admiration for “Iron Lady” she played in filmStreep voices admiration for “Iron Lady” she played in film

LONDON (Reuters) – Actress Meryl Streep, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the 2011 film “The Iron Lady”, praised the former British prime minister on Monday as a pioneer for the role of women in politics. Britain’s first and only female political leader died on Monday, aged 87, after suffering a stroke. Streep, 63, described Thatcher as a trailblazer, “willingly or unwillingly”, for female political leaders. “To me she was a figure of awe for her personal strength and grit,” the American actress said in a statement. …

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New pope slips out of Vatican for morning prayer visitNew pope slips out of Vatican for morning prayer visit

By Keith Weir and Crispian Balmer VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Barely 12 hours after his election, Pope Francis quietly slipped out of the Vatican on Thursday to pray for guidance at one of Rome’s great basilicas as he prepared to usher in a new age of simplicity and humility in a Church mired in scandal. …

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Bieber “under the weather”, lunges at UK photographerBieber “under the weather”, lunges at UK photographer

LONDON (Reuters) – Canadian pop star Justin Bieber was filmed lunging and shouting abuse at a photographer on Friday during an ill-fated stay in London which has gone from bad to worse after he collapsed on stage the day before. The altercation, caught on camera and featured on popular celebrity news websites including TMZ, showed the 19-year-old get out of a van, try to move towards the unnamed member of the paparazzi and threaten him using several swear words. …

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