Barbra Streisand: first time on compilation album; Sinead O'Connor: singing hymn from funeral service. The Princess Diana tribute album released yesterday by 36 of the world's most popular singers, is expected to raise up to £50 million for her favourite charities. The album boasts tracks by stars from Michael Jackson to Luciano Pavarotti.
Elton John's Candle in the Wind, which he sang at Diana's funeral, became the world's biggest-selling single within a month of its release. Combined sales from the single and the album could top £100 million - twice what Bob Geldof earned with his 1985 concert for African famine relief.
Barbra Streisand donated a track for the first time to a compilation album, while Sinead O'Connor sings the hymn Make me a Channel of Your Peace which was sung by the Westminster Abbey choir at Diana's funeral.
Michael Flatley has been forced to cancel the remainder of his tour dates in Australia and New Zealand after suffering a chest infection. He was admitted to hospital after collapsing backstage at his Lord of the Dance troupe's opening night in Brisbane last week.
The cancellation could cost him up to £4.5 million.
Police are searching for international conman Peter Foster after he failed to appear at a Brisbane court yesterday to face an extradition hearing over fraud charges in Britain. Foster (34), a former boyfriend of model-actress Samantha Fox, first gained notoriety in Australia with claims of discovering a revolutionary diet tea. He has been jailed in three countries - Australia, Britain and the United States. Foster has argued that he was too frightened to return to jail in Britain, fearing reprisals because of his role in an undercover police operation to catch corrupt prison officers.
Richard Branson has flown 100 tonnes of equipment and a team of a dozen people to Morocco to prepare for his new bid to circle the world by balloon. His last attempt, in January of this year, ended in near disaster when his balloon plummeted to the ground in Bechar, Algeria, after 20 hours. No date has been set for lift-off, as scheduling will depend on weather and on plans by the team's four US competitors for the record.