Many stars from the world of pop will be absent from a concert in June in memory of Princess Diana, according to programme details released yesterday.
Earl Spencer, who is organising the event at Althorp House, said Elton John and Paul McCartney cannot appear due to previous engagements.
But Wet Wet Wet and singers Chris de Burgh and Andrea Bocelli will take part, as will Cliff Richard, Jimmy Nail and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.
One of Nelson Mandela's favourite groups, the Soweto String Quartet, will also appear. An estimated 15,000 people are expected to attend and profits will go to Diana's memorial fund.
A South Korean ski resort company said yesterday its talks with Michael Jackson on plans to build an entertainment theme park in the country were proceeding "in depth". Ssangbangwool Development Co, which owns a ski resort in the south-western town of Muju, said Jackson also planned to invest about $100 million in the company.
The US-Russian crew on the space station, Mir, 240 miles above Earth, missed the recent celestial event.
The solar eclipse was blocked from their view by the Earth, US astronaut Andrew Thomas said.