yoga in Marbella

• • 
    Joanne O'Connor
  • The Observer, Sunday 22 January 2012
  • Article history

Shanti-Som, Marbella's new health resort. Photograph: Huib Nederhof

Take me there: yoga in Marbella

Marbella may not seem an obvious destination to go in search of enlightenment and the ancient healing therapies of the Far East, but a new health resort is bringing a flavour of Bali to Spain – without the jetlag. Just a 40-minute drive from the Costa del Sol, Shanti-Som takes its inspiration from Asian destination spas with Buddha statues, tropical gardens, Asian-Med fusion cuisine, eastern therapies and a programme of detox, meditation and yoga. Destination Yoga (            0845 458 0723      ,destinationyoga.co.uk) will be running a retreat here in March. A seven-night yoga retreat from £945, excluding flights, departs 18 March.

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Princess Diana is rumoured to be just one of the many young ladies the king, now 74, pursued in a romantic career

On the face of things, it looks like a happy family snap. 

King Juan Carlos of Spain sits with the small Prince William, while a radiant Princess Diana, a protective arm round toddler Prince Harry, leans in to share a pleasantry with the good-looking monarch.

But look again. At the other end of the couch, Prince Charles seems scarcely part of the same holiday party in 1986. He is staring glumly straight ahead like the proverbial gooseberry.

Princess Diana is rumoured to be just one of the many young ladies the king, now 74, pursued in a romantic career in which — like his namesake, the seducer Don Juan — he is said to have bedded more than 1,500 women.

Distant: Prince Charles stares into the distance in this 1986 photograph showing him, Diana and the young Princes William and Harry with Queen Sofia and King Carlos of Spain

The explosive claim is made in a new book by Barcelona-based author Pilar Eyre, who has already written six volumes about the Spanish royal family.

 

 

Imperious and suave, Juan Carlos looks every inch the old-style monarch . . . with the autocratic manners to go with it. He loves hunting bears, skiing and boating — and bedding the opposite sex.

Apparently, it is an open secret in his circles that he is such a keen womaniser that the only woman he does not spend much time with is his wife, Greek-born Queen Sofia.  According to Eyre, the two have not shared a bed for 35 years.

In fact, the book says, following an operation on a benign lung tumour at a Barcelona hospital in 2010, the woman who spent most of the time consoling him during his convalescence was a 25-year-old German interpreter called Corinne.

Another shot of the princess during the 1986 holiday. She allegedly told her bodyguard that the king fancied her

But can it really be true that our very own Princess Diana was one of Juan Carlos’s most significant conquests? And that it was the relationship between her and the then 48-year-old king, in the prime of his romantic life, that finally put paid to any chance of reviving his marriage?

It is certainly the case that the Princess, together with Prince Charles and their young children, holidayed in Majorca with the Spanish royal family several times during the Eighties.

Charles never felt at ease on the sunshine island and much preferred visiting the Duke of Wellington’s estate near Granada on the mainland where the shooting was good.

But Diana, who loved lounging about on yachts in stylish bathing suits, was right at home on the shores of the Mediterranean where she could show off her figure. And the king, who appreciated displays of female beauty, seems to have acted on an impulse to get closer to her.

After her first trip to Majorca in 1986, Eyre alleges Diana told her bodyguard Ken Wharfe that Juan Carlos fancied her. Apparently, the king made all sorts of excuses to get tactile with her and used to love bending down with her and inviting her to stroke his old German shepherd dog, Archie.

Another royal biographer, Lady Colin Campbell, has long insisted that the Princess and the king embarked on an affair while on a cruise with their spouses in August 1986, and that they took up with each other again the following summer.

‘Diana did it to make Charles jealous, but it didn’t work,’ says Lady Colin. ‘Charles couldn’t have cared less.’

According to Eyre, rumours of the affair intensified later over the curious case of some photos of Diana in a state of undress. These were touted around the world’s publications, only to be taken off the market when someone in Spain paid $45,000 (£29,000) for them. That someone is rumoured to have been Juan Carlos, who wanted to protect the Princess’s reputation.

But why rake all this up now? Diana is long since dead, while Juan Carlos, though he retains an eye for a pretty woman, has made it quite plain that he would never divorce his wife, with whom he has three children and eight grandchildren.

Eyre says she has revealed it for Queen Sofia’s sake. ‘In a macho country like Spain, the king’s womanising image makes him very popular,’ she says. ‘Even the women don’t reproach him. On the contrary, they love him because he has such a seductive manner with them. But they don’t feel the same about poor Queen Sofia.

Loveable rogue: Barcelona-based author Pilar Eyre claims that in macho Spain, the King's womanising makes him very popular

‘She is seen as a cold, aloof foreigner. I wanted to show what she has had to put up with.’

Eyre says she tried hard to find out whether the Queen might also have had lovers in her time, but could come up with nothing. Though as a young woman she had caught the eye of the  Duke of Kent — first cousin to our Queen — the Duke then fell in love with the Englishwoman he married, Kathleen Worsley.

Sofia dutifully entered into an arranged marriage in 1962, having met the highly eligible Juan Carlos on a cruise specially convened to introduce Europe’s young royals to each other.

By 1968, they had produced two daughters and Crown Prince Felipe. But though Sofia had fallen deeply in love with her husband, Eyre says Juan Carlos was still playing the field.

And by 1975, when he finally came to the Spanish throne after the death of the dictator General Franco, the new Queen was nursing a great sadness. For by then the royal couple were more or less estranged as a result of the king’s persistent womanising.

According to the book, one of Sofia’s greatest humiliations happened a couple of months after Juan Carlos became king. All of a sudden he sent for a new barber and underwent such a transformation Sofia was convinced he was sprucing himself up for a lover.

Notorious womaniser: The king is rumoured not to have shared a bed with his wife for 35 years

A few days later he packed his suitcase and said he was going hunting near Toledo. ‘It’s an all-male outing; you’d be bored,’ he told his wife. Unwisely, she decided to surprise him by arriving at the estate in the middle of the night with their children, the eldest of whom was 12.

She burst through the door, brushed past the servants and, taking the stairs two at a time, discovered her husband in flagrante with an unknown woman. But even being caught by his entire family did not encourage the king to mend his ways.

Eyre says that throughout her reign, Sofia has consequently been forced to content herself with a life of duty in Madrid, leavened by shopping trips with her daughters and occasional visits to England to visit her brother Constantine, the ex-King of Greece, who has lived in London since he was booted off the throne in 1973.

Lately she has taken solace in religion. She goes to Roman Catholic Mass every Sunday in the palace and attends Madrid’s Greek Orthodox church as well. Her devotions seem to annoy Juan Carlos even more.

The king raised his voice to his mother-in-law, Queen Federica of Greece, when he heard her telling her daughter how the Virgin Mary had appeared before her in a vision in a church near Madrid.

‘There was an intense light and peace!’ said Federica, at which point the king shouted: ‘Shut up, you! Don’t fill her head with this nonsense, she will believe it all.’

The tragedy is that despite his behaviour, the Queen appears to be as captivated by her husband as she was when they married 40 years ago.

At a recent family funeral she was seen holding tight to him and sobbing on his shoulder as if they were still the closest of companions.

Whether the book will rehabilitate Sofia in the eyes of the Spaniards or merely add to the prestige of Juan Carlos remains to be seen.

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Beckham meets Ross

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder."And the kids are seven years old and he sent the kid off. And I was like, ‘Come on, he’s seven-years-old, referee, you can’t send him off.’ And he looked at me and was like, ‘Yes, I can.’ And I was like, ‘Ok, well, you can’t, he’s seven years old.’

"And he came over and gave me a red card. He told me to get out of the park. For real. The gate was only 20 yards away and I waited and went back in when my son’s game was on.”

Lads' night: Beckham meets Ross

Beckham, who has re-signed for LA Galaxy for next season, is desperate to be picked for the Olympics football tournament later this summer.

He said: “It being in the East End of London, and me being from the East End, and being British, of course, it’d be an amazing moment if I was selected. I had a call to say I’d been selected at that point…selected for the selection process. If I’m fit and healthy, then, hopefully I’ll be selected.

“I still feel great. I still feel fit, I still feel healthy. And while I still feel like I do, I want to continue to play, you know, I don’t want to finish playing yet, I love playing the game. If I didn’t enjoy it as much as did when I was 21 now, then I’d know it was time to stop.

“If I’m not there playing, I’ll be there as an ambassador or as a fan, so, of course I’ll be here. I mean, it’s the East End of London.

“Of course there are going to be benefits, of course it’s also costing a fortune, but there will be benefits and you won’t see those straight away, you’ll see them in years to come."

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I've taken it upon myself to explore some of London's finest barbers.

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Thank God 'designer stubble' has meant that I can put off shaving for as long as I possibly can. I know I'm not alone in this – skin irritation, time and impatience are all factors which make shaving a dreaded ritual for the modern man. There does exist, however, if not an antidote, then at least an alternative – the traditional wet shave. In fact, going to your barbers for the hot towel treatment and a bit of 'me' time is becoming ever more popular, and with our capital being a city famous for grooming traditions I've taken it upon myself to explore some of London's finest barbers.

My first port of call is the renowned Pall Mall Barbers, a charming place tucked just off of Trafalgar Square. The shop has been cutting hair and trimming gents' beards since the reign of Queen Victoria, offering, as they put it, “traditional service in a modern manner”.

Adrian, my barber for the morning, sits me down and talks me through each stage of the process, from the skin cleansing to the oils which are gently rubbed in to the bristles to soften them up; already it's taken longer than I'd normally give myself for the entire shave. After I'm smothered with hot towels and treated with more of Pall Mall's in-house products, manager Daniel explains to me the advantages of having someone else do the hard work: “Shaving at home is a necessary chore and is normally done when trying to rush out the door,” he says. “But when you go to your barbers you get a much closer and irritation-free shave, and you’re relaxed and refreshed by the experience.”

People often cite the price of a wet shave as being prohibitive, and it's undeniably true that in a time of austerity these kind of luxuries are the first things to go. Daniel argues however that while once upon a time people might treat their loved ones to an impromptu trip to Paris, a traditional shave is a gift which won't break the bank – a very masculine sort of pampering which won't get sniggering comments in the pub the way a mudpack facial and manicure would.

 

A week later and my skin has noticeably benefited from some respite from my graceless hand. My next stop is Murdock. Having opened their first shop in 2006, Murdock are a fresh new face in the barbering world, who position themselves as “a primary destination for the new gent-about-town.” Despite the youth of the business and its employees, there is still something warmly traditional about the Murdock experience. I'm greeted with a pleasant, musky smell from the moment I step in off the cobbled Covent Garden street. The oak furniture is stacked with books, skincare products, bowties and travel accessories, which are all for sale. Nothing is forced upon me by pushy staff or loud music; it's all very welcoming.

My barber is Daniel Sturgeon, a smartly dressed Brummie who, at 29, is the eldest member of staff. I'm interested to know how a parvenu like Murdock has found life in an industry steeped in tradition. “People don't always want to go to the same place as their Dad or Granddad,” he tells me. “It's nice to have something of your own, to say, 'this is my barbers'”. Here lies the demographic which Murdock have expertly tapped into – the young, smart, “new gent-about-town”, who teeters on the cutting edge of style with one eye firmly on heritage. There's nothing fake about their brand, they're unapologetically current and effortlessly stylish, providing expert grooming for “our generation”, as he puts it.

David talks me through my shave with enlightened detail, from the wonderfully soft badger hair shaving brush (nothing else will do, apparently) to the almond oil used to prepare the skin for the blade. I learn that shaving foam is used to lock moisture into the hairs, before finally the familiar steel of the blade touches my face and I lie back and think of England.

My third and final trip is by way of appointment to Geo F Trumper, one of London's oldest barbers and a byword for luxury grooming. Nestled in the heart of St James's, Trumper's is a cornerstone in an area renowned for classic British style, overseen by the critical eye of Beau Brummel whose statue could be nowhere more appropriate in London.

Downstairs is a picturesque arrangement of glass cabinets housing cut-throat razors, walking sticks, shaving brushes – inspiration for a lifetime's worth of Father's Day gifts. Shaving here is done in a smart upstairs room, complete with heavy wooden fittings decorated with 19th century cartoons. All the films or walking tours in the book couldn't recreate the essence of old London more effectively than is done here. I'm left in the capable hands of Phillip, who informs me of his upbringing at his uncle's barber shop in North London and is full of anecdotes and shaving tips. He explains the importance of learning the contours of your face and the direction in which your stubble grows, “each is as individual as a fingerprint,” he tells me.

The most common mistake most men make, he says, is to forcibly shave against the grain in order to achieve a smoother result, which in fact irritates the skin and causes ingrowing hairs. It's a misconception encouraged by razor companies in order to sell more products, which I was completely taken in by until I spoke to those in the trade.

After the full treatment and a perfect shave from an obviously highly skilled craftsman, I'm sprayed with the famous GFT house cologne, as mentioned in Ian Fleming's Casino Royale. It sums up the entire wet shaving experience really, and a great deal of the attraction – why settle for the Lynx effect when you can smell like James Bond? 

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In the high-class homes of Notting Hill, London, the mansions of Connecticut and luxury towers of Hong Kong, investment bankers are eagerly waiting for their bonus cheques.

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.It's like Christmas all over again - for a lucky handful at least.

In the high-class homes of Notting Hill, London, the mansions of Connecticut and luxury towers of Hong Kong, investment bankers are eagerly waiting for their bonus cheques.

The latest round of bumper payouts could not come at a more incendiary time. The credit crisis that began almost five years ago is showing little sign of abating, unemployment is rising and pay for most workers is flatlining. Unsurprisingly, public anger about bonuses is growing.

Politicians have piled into the debate in a week that saw Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hester hand back his bonus and his widely vilified predecessor, Fred Goodwin, stripped of his knighthood.

They were headline-grabbing gestures, but have done little to upset the status quo. Banks say bonus pools have shrunk and payouts are being capped, but outside the glitzy world of investment banking, those used to drawing just an annual salary are baffled by a system of hefty incentives on top of already high pay.

To put the disparities into context, the average wage bill for one top banker would pay for almost 70 nurses.

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Demand for the best houses in London does not seem to be affected by the economic crisis, as there has been a three-month on month increas

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.Demand for the best houses in London does not seem to be affected by the economic crisis, as there has been a three-month on month increase with growth of 2.7 per cent, the highest level since July last year. According to the Prime Central London index published by the residential agent Knight Frank, demand for top homes in the capital rose by 0.9 per cent overall in January.

The annual growth in prime house prices has also reached 11.9 per cent, which has increased values by 42 per cent since their post-Lehman Brothers low in March 2009. Areas that have particularly benefited from this increase over the course of 2011 were Chelsea (16.6%), Hyde Park (14%), Kensington (13.9%) and St. John’s Wood (13.35), according to the index.

Liam Bailey, the head of residential research for Knight Frank, showed a positive prediction for this year, looking at the last figures. “As 2012 begins, our view is that the prime central London market will see slower but still positive price growth”, he said in the report.

Figures were positive in terms of new buyers’ applicant volumes, which grew by 10 per cent in last year, compared with the volumes of new homes for sale, which rose by 6 per cent. In this sense, the ratio between the number of buyers registering to purchase homes in Central London and the available offers had risen to hit 4.1 in the past three months. Knight Frank considers that the £5 million plus range, where applications were higher by 65 per cent year-on-year, was the moment with a higher imbalance between offer and demand.

Mr. Bailey pointed out that “the Eurozone crisis, which appeared to reach something of a crescendo in the pre-Christmas period, had little impact on the prime London property market. Ironically, economic and even political turmoil have provided the impetus for growth, with a sharp growth in investors looking for a safe-haven location for at least part of their wealth portfolio”.

In addition, there has been an increase of interest in property purchases from abroad. In a survey carried out by the residential agent between several estate agents, “there was a consensus that buyers from Russia and the former CIS states would become even more important to the London marketplace. Demand from Chinese nationals, which was negligible until 2010 was expected to continue its recent rapid growth, followed by Indian and Middle Eastern demand”, Mr. Bailey added.

According to the report, European buyers have also put their eyes on the central London property market, who describe the importance, value and privacy in an urban environment as the main factors taken in account when they buy a house. In terms of market, “one of the UK’s real attractions for international investors and residents has always been its reputation [London property market] for stability in legal, political and tax affairs”, Mr. Bailey commented. 

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The developer of the One Hyde Park luxury-home complex in London’s Knightsbridge district is seeking to sell a store on the ground floor for at least 21 million pounds ($33 million).

Project Grande (Guernsey) Ltd. is offering the space rented by the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the developer said in an e-mail yesterday. It’s the bank’s first branch in the U.K., according to Project Grande.

“You can’t buy a shop on Bond Street or Oxford Street at the moment because they’re not available,” Paul Cockburn, a Savills Plc director who’s handling the sale, said by telephone. “London retail is very inaccessible and Knightsbridge is no exception.”

One Hyde Park was developed by a venture between Christian Candy’s CPC Group and Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jaber al Thani’s closely held Waterknights. Candy conceived the 86-apartment complex with his brother, Nick.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has a 14-year lease on the site and is one of three stores in the building, Project Grande said. The bank leases the property for 800,000 pounds a year, giving its landlord an initial yield of 3.6 percent at a 21 million-pound purchase price, according to the developer.

Russian Buyer

Grigory Guselnikov, a Russian entrepreneur, bought a store rented by Rolex at One Hyde Park for more than 13 million pounds in August, Savills said. Two months later, the space housing a McLaren sports-car dealership sold for more than 11 million pounds, two people with knowledge of the deal said at the time.

More than 1.5 billion pounds of sales have been completed at One Hyde Park, Project Grande said in the e-mail.

A five-bedroom apartment with almost 9,000 square feet (840 square meters) of space at One Hyde Park sold for 60 million pounds last week, the developer said. The building, which overlooks Hyde Park and is attached to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, is 300 meters (980 feet) from Harrods department store.

Luxury-home prices in central London gained for the 15th consecutive month in January as overseas investors turned to the city’s real estate amid political, economic and financial turmoil at home, according to Knight Frank LLP report yesterday.:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

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Man stabbed to death in Marbella in the early hours

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.33 year old Ecuadorian man has been stabbed to death in Marbella following an argument with two individuals who then made their escape.

Police sources said the body of the victim was found on the N-340 at 1.20am today, near the cambio de sentido at Cabopino, after a call to the police from a hotel worker reporting that a man had been injured and was bleeding badly.

National and local police and health workers rushed to the scene but could do nothing to save the victim’s life. The police say the victim and the two other men were arguing in an establishment, and then continued their discussion in the street. 

The police continue to investigate and are still to identify the other two men involved.

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Sierranía de Ronda was affected by fire over the weekend.

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.500 hectares in five municipalities of the Sierranía de Ronda was affected by fire over the weekend. It started on Saturday in Pujerra, Málaga, and was not brought under control until Sunday.

The Junta de Andalucía has said that cork oaks, pines and shrub were all affected and the UME, Military Emergency Unit was called into assist INFOCA. 

The strong winds in the area, upto 40kms/hour on Saturday, complicated the control of the fire, and the fire-fighters continued their work on Saturday night despite temperatures of -4ºC.

More than 240 people took part in fighting the fire, using four helicopters and five amphibious planes. There were no injuries and nobody had to be moved from their homes.

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THE lawyer of a trumpeter claims the body of a Spanish nobleman exhumed for DNA testing which ruled out his client being a heir to his wealthy dynasty may not have belonged to him at all.

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Marbella trumpeter Jose Collado, 62, claims to be the son of Jose Antonio Larios Franco the fourth Marquis de Larios, whose father founded the famous Larios gin brand in the 20s.

There are now suspicions, according to the lawyer, that the remains of the fourth Marques who died in 1954, aged 53, may have been transferred for a chapel in Malaga in 1999 from their location on a property in Albacete, meaning that the DNA tests, which ruled out Collado being a descendant of Larios, are worhtless.

Collado’s lawyer explained that a man who worked on property in Albacete since 1974 was witness to the remains being moved.

He also said that a crime may have been committed if the nobleman’s heir were aware that the analysed remains did not belong to the Marquis, something which they deny, and insist that they were never moved.

Collado’s mother, Emilia, told him that in the 40s, when she worked as a cook for the Larios family, she had an illicit relationship with the marquis, who had no other children.

She was in love with the marquis, but had to flee to Jaen because of his wife’s jealousy. Emilia left her son at a Malaga orphanage nine months after his birth on July 31, 1948.

She died in 2002, having signed her confession before a notary in Jaen at the request of her son.

The trumpeter says that although he might be entitled to a share in the family gin company and the vast Dehesa de los Llanos estate, he is not after money or titles, but the truth about who his father is.

He says if he did inherit anything he would use it to provide care for orphans and abandoned children.

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David Beckham is known for having wild boys nights out with any array of his famous male friends.

But last night dynamic duo Beckham and Prince Harry were forced to their cancel boys night to rub shoulders with a stunning Katerine Jenkins.

All three were out on the town partying at the Arts Club in Mayfair and despite the snow warnings the trio stayed in the London venue until after 3am, walking out in the freezing cold.

Looking dapper: David Beckham parties rubs shoulders with Katherine Jenkins, a known family friend 

Father-of-four Beckham looked dapper in a dark suit, white shirt and gold tie while singer Jenkins, 31, opted for classical chic in a simple strapless dress with black jacket.

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Half of Spain “Addicted” to the Internet

 

Nearly half of all Spaniards (45%) claim to “be addicted” to the internet, amongst them, the majority are women and youngsters between 18 and 34. The figures come from the “Nestea Study about the Internet and Social Networks”, carried out by the Sondea Institute. 2,618 people were interviewed throughout Spain. According to the study, the autonomous communities with the most “addicted” to the internet are people living in Navarra (65%), Balearic Islands (58%), Cantabria and the Basque country (both 50%). The least “addicted” are in Asturias (35%), Galicia (36%), La Rioja (38%), and Murcia (41%). The study reveals that 43% of all Spaniards spend between four and ten hours per day, actively connected to the internet, while 5% are connected more than ten hours per day. Over 90% of those who took part in the survey confirmed that they had a profile on a social networking site, mainly Facebook (85%), Twitter (35%), Tuenti (27%), and LinkedIn (17%).

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Snoop Dogg brands Kim Kardashian 'cold-blooded' in crude attack

 

Snoop Dogg launched an foul-mouthed attack on Kim Kardashian in a new web video. The 40-year-old rapper, who uses his Nemo pseudonym in the clip, calls the 31-year-old 'cold blooded' and uses a series of misogynist terms to describe her. In the video, which is running on the Hollywood Reporter, he claims to be giving 'advice' to her ex husband Kris Humphries, telling him he’s just one of many men who have be burnt by the reality TV star.

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'X Factor' Exorcism: Paula Abdul & Nicole Scherzinger Out

 

The "X Factor" news came fast and furious on Monday night -- first, that host Steve Jones would not be returning, then that judge Nicole Scherzinger was exiting and finally that Paula Abdul also would be shown the door. Now The Hollywood Reporter has learned that all of these major show decisions are coming from one key confab being held in the U.K.   According to a show source, a series of X" Factor" season 2 offsite meetings are currently taking place wherein show creator Simon Cowell has assembled his team and creative brain-trust for a postmortem. The purpose: detailing what went wrong and what was done right on season 1 of the Fox singing competition.   Among the brash verdicts, says the source: that Abdul's role was seen as "irrelevant to the mix," in part through no fault of her own (as mentor to the groups, her contestants were picked off early in the competition).   Still, Abdul was not without her controversies on the show. Many blamed her for the dismissal of show favorite Rachel Crow, precipitated by advice Abdul gave to Scherzinger to let the decision be made by the public vote. America then sent the 13-year-old packing.   As for Jones and Scherzinger, another show insider says the "X Factor" host was notified by a show producer around 7:30pm on Monday evening that his option was not being picked up. (Cowell did not call Jones personally to deliver the news.) Soon after, Scherzinger was informed that her contract also would not be renewed. The host and judge did not receive an explanation for the decision, but a source close to the show says Cowell has decided that the show needs a bigger celebrity on the panel next season.   A source says LA Reid, the fourth judge on the "X Factor" panel, has not been informed of any change to his status as judge.   Representatives for Fox, Abdul and Fremantle have not responded to THR's request for confirmation of the shake-up on the show.

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Queen strips disgraced Fred the Shred of his knighthood for biggest corporate disaster in British history

 

Disgraced former RBS boss Fred Goodwin was told this afternoon that his knighthood is being removed by order of the Queen. The unprecedented step was taken on the recommendation of a secretive Whitehall body which is responsible for ensuring the honours system does not fall into disrepute. The forfeiture committee, made up of senior civil servants and Government lawyers, met to consider the case after the Daily Mail highlighted growing cross-party pressure for Mr Goodwin’s knighthood to be rescinded. Mr Goodwin was telephoned by Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the home civil service, at 3pm to be given the shattering news. There is no right to appeal. It is a humiliation for the former head of the Royal Bank of Scotland, who has never spoken publicly about his role in the biggest corporate disaster in British history which cost the taxpayer £45bn, and whose lawyers succeeded in getting some direct criticism of him removed from an official report into the collapse of RBS. Honours are very rarely revoked, and it took years of campaigning for hated Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe to lose his knighthood. The most recent high profile case was that of Jean Else, a Manchester superhead who was made a Dame on the recommendation of Labour but was later accused of mismanagement and nepotism at her school. She was stripped of her damehood after a ruling by the forfeiture committee.

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David Hasselhoff proposes to Hayley Roberts on Sydney Harbour Bridge

 

He may have already popped the question twice to girlfriend Hayley Roberts, but her snubs didn't put David Hasselhoff off asking the pretty blonde again - this time on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And it seems the Baywatch actor's toygirl may have said yes, judging by the picture the Baywatch actor posted on his Twitter page. Hasselhoff was seen on bended knee as he asked Hayley, 32, to marry him, before kissing the Welsh beauty in a passionate embrace.

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Keira Knightley: Spanking? Only after vodka

 

Screen nudity and explicit love scenes have never been a problem for Keira Knightley. She filmed her first nude scene when she was only 15 in The Hole and since then has appeared topless, naked and in various stages of undress in Silk, Atonement, Domino and The Edge of Love. Yet the 26-year-old actress balked at what director David Cronenberg wanted her to do for her latest film, A Dangerous Method, because she thought the scenes were too outrageously explicit. But then, she says, after talking at length with Cronenberg and her co-star Michael Fassbender, she changed her mind and went through with them, helped by inhibition-easing shots of vodka. In the fact-based film she portrays a hysterical, tic-ravaged mental patient with masochistic tendencies who becomes sexually involved with her psychoanalyst, Dr Carl Jung, played by Fassbender. As well as some explicit sex scenes, the script also called for her to enjoy being tied to a bed and spanked with her breasts exposed. “When I first read it I loved the script and really wanted to play the character, but I didn’t want to do those scenes, and I phoned David Cronenberg and said I was going to have to turn the role down,” she recalls. “He said he really wanted me to play the part so he would take the scenes out but I said, 'Whoa!’ because I knew they were incredibly important to the story. “He said he didn’t want the scenes to be sexy or voyeuristic; he wanted them to be clinical and a complete exploration of what she was feeling. So we kind of came to an agreement with Michael as well because he had questions about the scenes, too. I wanted it to be as shocking as possible without going over the top.

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Spanish airline Spanair ceases operations after running out of funds

 

Spanair ceased operations late Friday after a regional government in Spain announced it could no longer fund the airline, officials said. Spanair’s financial woes were exacerbated by a 2008 crash that killed 154 people. Eighteen people survived what was Spain’s worst aviation disaster in 25 years. In a statement, the airline said its “last commercial flight will land at” 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Jan. 27. 0 Comments Weigh InCorrections? inShare ( Manu Fernandez / Associated Press ) - Passengers wait at a Spanair check-in desk of El Prat airport in Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. The Spanish air carrier Spanair announced on January 27, 2012 the cessation of the company and the suspension of flights. The regional government of northeastern Catalonia, which had been investing in the country’s No. 4 airline since its 2008 purchase from SAS Scandinavian Airlines System International, said in a statement that it could no longer bankroll Spanair. The Catalan government said the “current economic climate” and “European legislation concerning competition” made it impossible for it to continue financing the small carrier, whose hub was Barcelona airport. Spain’s Development Ministry also published a statement requiring Spanair to “fulfill its obligations with passengers.” The airline advised passengers who had booked flights with it to consult its website where it said “full information” would be displayed. However, from just before 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) the website read only “Website access not available.” Spanair said it had communicated its decision to Spain’s air authorities and had been coordinating its demise with AENA, the country’s airport authority, and with the Development Ministry, which is responsible for civil aviation. Spanair has a fleet of 36 mainly aging aircraft and flew to 19 domestic and 24 international destinations, which included Algeria and Poland. The airline, which also ran a commuter service between Madrid and Barcelona, was in trouble financially before Spanair Flight JK5022 — an MD-82 jet — crashed on takeoff on Aug. 20, 2008 as it tried to leave Madrid bound for the Canary Islands. In December 2008, SAS sold the airline to tourism group Consorci de Turisme de Barcelona and Catalana d’Iniciatives, a private equity group.

Spanish airline Spanair ceases operations after running out of funds - The Washington Post

Spanair ceased operations late Friday after a regional government in Spain announced it could no longer fund the airline, officials said. Spanair’s financial woes were exacerbated by a 2008 crash that killed 154 people. Eighteen people survived what was Spain’s worst aviation disaster in 25 years. In a statement, the airline said its “last commercial flight will land at” 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Jan. 27. 0 Comments Weigh InCorrections? inShare ( Manu Fernandez / Associated Press ) - Passengers wait at a Spanair check-in desk of El Prat airport in Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. The Spanish air carrier Spanair announced on January 27, 2012 the cessation of the company and the suspension of flights. The regional government of northeastern Catalonia, which had been investing in the country’s No. 4 airline since its 2008 purchase from SAS Scandinavian Airlines System International, said in a statement that it could no longer bankroll Spanair. The Catalan government said the “current economic climate” and “European legislation concerning competition” made it impossible for it to continue financing the small carrier, whose hub was Barcelona airport. Spain’s Development Ministry also published a statement requiring Spanair to “fulfill its obligations with passengers.” The airline advised passengers who had booked flights with it to consult its website where it said “full information” would be displayed. However, from just before 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) the website read only “Website access not available.” Spanair said it had communicated its decision to Spain’s air authorities and had been coordinating its demise with AENA, the country’s airport authority, and with the Development Ministry, which is responsible for civil aviation. Spanair has a fleet of 36 mainly aging aircraft and flew to 19 domestic and 24 international destinations, which included Algeria and Poland. The airline, which also ran a commuter service between Madrid and Barcelona, was in trouble financially before Spanair Flight JK5022 — an MD-82 jet — crashed on takeoff on Aug. 20, 2008 as it tried to leave Madrid bound for the Canary Islands. In December 2008, SAS sold the airline to tourism group Consorci de Turisme de Barcelona and Catalana d’Iniciatives, a private equity group.

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Nicanor Rodriquez: The Spanish Bandit

Nicanor Rodriquez is one of the characters that created many of the exciting bandit stories that dot the West and filtered into the Pioche area. Nicanor, generally referred as Nicanora, was the son of a high government official in Spain who came to the United States and settled in Missouri. At the young age of 16, Nicanora left home and headed West for California, more than likely looking to get rich in the gold fi elds, but where he ended up joining a band of stage robbers. He was in the process of robbing a stagecoach when he was captured and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After serving a few months, he was released because of his tender young age but he continued his life of crime. For the next few years he wandered around California and, for a time, it is believed he rode with the famous outlaw Joaquin Murietta. Located off state Route 322, this canyon is about two miles northeast of Eagle Valley Resort near the entrance to Spring Valley State Park. As a now wealthy man he made his way into the Nevada gold fields settling in the Virginia City area. He lived a double life, robbing stages and also passing as an affluent mining man. He was handsome and attractive and would entertain important people with his charm and wit at lavish dinners. He came to be known as the Spanish King. With his fertile brain, he would set up daring robberies and he would rifle the quartz mines. One robbery placed him in the presence of the infamous Baldy Green as he was loading three large gold bricks onto a stage. Nicanora joined the driver up top as a passenger. When Baldy stopped to water the horses, Nicanora threw off the gold bricks. Remembering the spot, he later returned for the gold. He took it to an assay office to be melted down but never returned for the gold, probably fearing an arrest. This led Nicanora to flee to the Ely area in Eastern Nevada and eventually to Pioche where he resumed his smaller robberies of stage coaches and payroll coins. Pioche was booming and Mexicans had been imported to work in the mines. Feeding the growing town became a problem and the price of beef soared. This need led to the rustling of cattle ranches in the Spring Valley area and also from across the Utah border. Nicanora formed his first gang of Mexican bandits. He also ran with a gang of robbers, Al Wing, Nate Hanson and Idaho Bill, who terrorized the Stateline and Desert Springs, Utah area. However, his luck ran out when he robbed a stage of $2,000 worth of payroll and passenger jewelry. He was arrested but acquitted with the alibi his gang was able to provide for him. At this point Nicanora fled to the mountains, possibly living in a cave along with his group of bandits. History tells us that he negotiated a deal with the Wells Fargo Co. to pay him $2,000 a month and he wouldn’t bother them again. As new owners took over, the money ceased and holdups resumed. Nicanora was again arrested. His name appears on the jailer’s record of the Million Dollar Courthouse in June of 1874. Somehow with the help of two other prisoners he struck a guard as he made his rounds, fled the jail and vanished on a stolen horse, supposedly heading for Utah. The history books tell us that Nicanora did venture into Utah robbing one more stagecoach, killing the driver and stealing some horses. He then headed for Mexico to spend the remainder of his life on a sprawling ranch and lived out his life in elaborate luxury. I’ll bet you thought that was the end of the story. Well, not so, at least for those of us who know and believe the local legend that continues to exist about this notorious character. Into this saga enters an early pioneer of Spring Valley by the name of Althie Meeks. He homesteaded a 200-acre ranch in the Spring Valley area and raised cattle and milk cows and he also freighted. He would sell his cattle in California and Utah. He became a prime target for Nicanora and his gang of outlaws. As Meeks and his daughter made their way through the Spring Valley Canyon by buckboard, Nicanora and his pal Al Wing had hidden in a canyon behind some brush waiting for a potential holdup. When Meeks reached that spot, action started and shooting began. Meeks was wounded but played possum and when Nicanora and Wing approached the wagon, Meeks opened fire, killing Nicanora and wounding Wing, who was able to escape. Meeks’ daughter remained in the wagon and was unhurt. Thus ended the life of Nicanora Rodriquez. Of him they always said no jail could hold him, no wealth could satisfy him, and no life had value. Many Nevadans say that every mill in Nevada was looted at one time or another by Rodriquez. For a while he was the most famous bandit in the Silver State. As for Meeks, he feared retaliation from the remaining members of Nicanora’s gang of bandits and made up his mind he did not want anymore shooting scrapes. He sold his ranch and moved back to Utah where he hoped things would be more peaceful. According to history, the cattle rustling and bandit activity continued to plague the area for many more years. Horsethief Gulch is the main campground at Spring Valley State Park and got its name because it was a favorite corridor for the rustlers to drive their stolen cattle through. Nicanora Canyon is not marked on any map nor is there a sign pointing to its entrance. It lies midway between Ursine and Eagle Valley Reservoir and it has become a campground and picnic area maintained by the BLM. Many of us are aware of the tragedy that happened in that tiny little canyon but are glad that the days of cattle rustlers and bushwhackers are gone. The legend and name of the canyon lives only within the minds and hearts of those of us who are aware of the history. We can now enjoy the sweet and beautiful spot with peace and contentment knowing we live in a safer time and place.

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Gibraltar “joke time over” Spanish minister tells Foreign Secretary Hague

In an interview with Antenna 3 this week Garcia-Margallo said that “now that I am Foreign Minister I have not forgotten the claim over Gibraltar. We are going to change the policy towards Gibraltar.” The remarks are likely to be discussed by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo when he meets in London for the first time since the General election with Europe Minister David Lidington. “Up to 2002 there was the tripartite forum where UK, Spain and Gibraltar sat. And Gibraltar tried to talk about sovereignty, about jurisdiction, about things that are the preserve of the main countries. I told the minister (Hague) that on sovereignty and jurisdiction the interlocutors are UK and Spain” Garcia-Margallo said in the interview. The Spanish minister said that he had added that if they were going to talk about co-operation “which seems good to me as it favours both sides of the fence (reja) then Spain, UK, the Junta de Andalucía and Gibraltar will be present. That should be the symmetry.” But he added that “we will progress on that as we progress on sovereignty matters. We are not going to be talking permanently of co-operation if we do not advance on the fundamental issue of sovereignty”.

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