Luciano Pavarotti will be rooting for Italy in today's World Cup qualifying match with England. He has invited his Italian friends to watch the game on television at his apartment in New York. Pavarotti is currently performing Puccini's opera Turandot, which features, Nessun Dorma - the theme tune of the 1990 World Cup.
The Spice Girls have made it to stardom in toyland.
Britain's Character company, which bought rights for the Spice Girl dolls from US firm, Galoob Toys, is hoping to sell half a million of the dolls - variously known as Posh, Ginger, Sporty, Scary and Baby - by February.
Meanwhile, the fab five are in Turkey for two live concerts. They are to perform for 22,000 fans tomorrow and Monday in Istanbul.
Baron Steven Bentinck went to the High Court in London yesterday in an attempt to have gossip columnist Nigel Dempster jailed for allegedly repeating a libellous claim that he failed to make proper financial provision for his ex-wife. Bentinck is also seeking to sequester the assets of Associated Newspapers, the pub lishers of the Daily Mail.
Bill Gates, who moved with his wife, Melinda, and their one-year-old daughter, Jenni- fer, into his luxurious lakeside mansion last month, after seven years of building work, now faces a hefty tax bill. Officials valued the house and outbuildings at $53.4 million, meaning he will get a tax bill of more than $600,000.
Princess Margaret was guest of honour at a ballet which features scenes of homosexual sex involving a king of England. The Birmingham Royal Ballet production is thought to be Britain's first X-rated ballet. The princess was advised of its content, but chose to attend the performance of Edward II.
Love songs from opera and musicals will be sung for Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh next month at a concert in the Royal Festival Hall, to celebrate their Golden Wedding.