Gerard Mortier, new general manager and artistic director of City Opera, who had joined two years ago with great fanfare, and had promised to revolutionize and revitalize opera in New York, has announced his resignation over deep financial problems at the company, saying it is not possible for him to run the company in the current economic climate.  Departing barely after two years, the French born impresario brought impressive credentials to the job, including a successful run at the Paris Opera.

London, Nov 8 : A Brit policeman has been jailed for having sex while on duty with a woman he first met after answering a 999 call.

Pc Gary Bayldon, 48, who was married at that time, regularly visited Donna Cacutt for sex at her home on the Isle of Wight when he was supposed to be on the beat.

It has also been reported that he kept his police radio on throughout so he could "perform his duties" at the same time.

"They started seeing each other on a regular basis but never when he was off duty, always when he was on duty on late shifts. She would make him dinner at her house and they would often have sex afterwards,” The Telegraph quoted prosecutor Barry Gregory, as saying.

Washington, Nov 8 : Popstar Britney Spears left Los Angeles on Friday along with her two kids morning to make an early holiday pilgrimage to her hometown Kentwood.

After losing kids’ custody to Federline, it was the first time that the ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ hitmaker was allowed to take Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, out of California.

Spears made the trip the day after her mini reunion with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake at a Madonna concert in L. A. Spears traveled with her father, Jamie, who has legal control of her affairs.

Melbourne, November 8 : Rihanna, who is trotting the Australian continent with fellow singer and beau Chris Brown, sparked health concerns after she was seen rushing off stage during a performance.

The 20-year-old was speculated to have collapsed while performing her hit track ‘Umbrella’ with Brown at a Sydney concert as part of her world tour.

A YouTube video showed a part of the incident and the paramedics were said to have been called for.

However, the singer’s spokesman denied any possible cause of worry blaming her rush to a hot Sydney night and dehydration.

Port-au-Prince  - Between 30 and 50 students died when a school building collapsed Friday in the Petion Ville suburb of Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, while more than 100 were injured.

The Evangelical Promise school in the area of Nerette collapsed at around 10 am (1500 GMT) Friday, with some 700 students inside, Haitian Radio Metropole reported. The three-storey school educated students from kindergarten to high school.

Washington, November 8 : Pop star Christina Aguilera has said that she does not like to pass judgement on Britney Spears’ life.

The 27-year-old, who jumpstarted her musical career around the same time as Britney did on The Mickey Mouse Club, said it was not like her to be judgemental.

"I don''t pass any judgment on what she does. I always wish her all the best,” People magazine quoted her as telling Britain’s Daily Mail.