Stockholm - The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Martti Ahtisaari, Friday shared some of his experiences on successful peace mediation at a seminar in Stockholm.

The former Finnish president arrived from Oslo where on Wednesday he received the coveted award in recognition of three decades of mediation efforts on several continents.

In addition to his role in negotiating Namibia's independence from then-apartheid South Africa, Ahtisaari has also been involved in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Indonesia.

Los Angeles  - Bettie Page, the 1950s pin-up icon whose saucy
poses first brought nudity into mainstream America, has died aged 85.

"With deep personal sadness I must announce that my dear friend and
client Bettie Page passed away at 6:41 pm PST (0241 GMT Friday) this
evening in a Los Angeles hospital," her agent said in a statement, late
Thursday.

"She died peacefully but had never regained consciousness after
suffering a heart attack nine days ago. She captured the imagination of
a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed
sensuality. She is the embodiment of beauty."

Page, defined by her shoulder-length hairdo and revealing photos, was a

London, Dec 12 : The lightsabre used by actor Mark Hamill’s character Luke Skywalker in the ‘Star Wars’ flick has fetched more than 130,000 pounds at Hollywood props auction.

The lightsabre made from an old photography flashgun, used in the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, was sold by Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz.

Other Hollywood props to be auctioned were an original section of the ‘Death Star’ from the first 1977 movie, which fetched 13,300 pounds, C-3PO''s helmet and robotic hands, which were worn by British actor Anthony Daniels in ‘Return of the Jedi’ sold for 86,444 pounds.

Washington, Dec 12: American writer and producer Marc Cherry has revealed that he is in talks with ABC to continue the hit drama ‘Desperate Housewives’ for another two seasons.

On viewing the ratings the show got, Cherry, 46, wanted to extend it further, and revealed his plans at a cake-cutting ceremony for the show''s 100th episode.

“I started recently talks with (ABC Entertainment president) Steve McPherson and (ABC Studios president) Mark Pedowitz about continuing the show for a ninth season,” the Hollywood Reporter quoted Cherry as saying.

“We''re going to find a way to make it work,” he stated.

New York, Dec 12 : Former child star Macaulay Culkin''s elder sister has died after being hit by a car in Los Angeles.

Dakota was taken to hospital with severe head injuries after she stepped into a street and was struck by the vehicle on Tuesday night, police said.

The 29-year-old died the following day from her injuries, reports the New York Daily News.

London, Dec 12: English singer songwriter Sir Cliff Richard has finally won the battle over music royalties after the Government agreed to change the law to extend copyright from 50 to 70 years.

The change is being seen as a victory for 68-year-old Richard, who spearheaded a campaign on the issue, ever since his songs from the 1950s lost their copyright protection.