International financier George Soros plans to spend up to $500 million in the next three years in Russia to improve health care, expand educational opportunities and retrain military workers for civilian jobs, the New York Times reported yesterday.
Soros, a Hungarian-US billionaire and philanthropist, said he spent two weeks recently touring Russia and the initiative reflected needs he identified during his trip.
An auction of Muhammad Ali memorabilia has made more than $1.3 million, even though the former world champion said some of the items sold had been stolen from him. World Healing Project, Ali's charity, was to have received some of the proceeds of the sale, but declined to be involved in the event. A Christie's spokesman said the auction house had title to all items sold.
Author Frederick Forsyth confirmed yesterday he had written his last novel. Forsyth, whose writing career included blockbusters such as The Day of the Jackal and The Dogs of War, said last year he was planning to quit at the end of a two-book contract. Now that has finished and with the publication of his 10th novel, Icon, Forsyth confirmed it would take "exceptional circumstances" to persuade him to return to writing any more political thrillers.
The makers of TV quiz, They Think It's All Over, have given up trying to lure Paul Gascoigne on to the show because they do not believe he will turn up. The Rangers football star has been invited on the programme three times and each time failed to appear. Producers used his friend, Jimmy "Five Bellies" Gardner, instead.
Yachtswoman Tracy Ed- wards (35) set sail yesterday in an attempt to break the record for sailing 1,787 miles round Britain and Ireland.
Tracy and her all-female crew left The Needles, off the Isle of Wight, on the 92ft catamaran, Royal & Sun Alliance, aiming for a time under five days, 21 hours, 5 minutes and 27 seconds to beat the record.
Pop singer Gina G has spoken for the first time about her collapse on board an aircraft. She denies taking illegal drugs and says she drank alcohol on top of antibiotics.