London - Former British prime minister and special Middle East envoy Tony Blair said Tuesday he remained optimistic that current international efforts to end the fighting in Gaza could be successful.

"If we want to resolve this, we can," Blair, who is the special envoy of the so-called Middle East Quartet, said in a BBC interview from Jerusalem.

There could be an immediate stop to the fighting if "clear action" was taken to stop the supply of arms and money to Hamas, said Blair, indicating that the issue was at the centre of Egyptian-led talks with the militant Palestinian group.

London, Jan 6: Mills & Boon, the world's most prolific romance publisher, has teamed up with Rugby Football Union to create a series of rugby themed romance novels.

The books will feature handsome rugby heroes and their glamorous love interests.

"Our mission statement is to do for rugby what Jilly Cooper did for polo - to give it an air of sexiness and glitz and glamour," said Guardian. co. uk quoted series editor Jenny Hutton as saying.

London, January 6: Amy Winehouse reportedly shelled out 32,000 pounds to fly friends to soak up the sun with her in the Caribbean.

The `Rehab' singer was said to have spent the staggering amount to have five more friends from North London join her in St Lucia.

The pop star, who vowed to make a fresh start for 2009 and give up her unhealthy habits including drug and alcohol addiction, reportedly dug into her savings to bear the first class all-expenses-paid trip.

London, January 6 : Amy Winehouse, who has been soaking up the Caribbean sun, has reportedly found herself a new beau - a posh former rugby player.

The `Rehab' singer, who recently parted ways with jailbird hubby Blake Fielder-Civil, was said to have paired up with `hunky' Josh Bowman after meeting in St Lucia, reports the Sun.

Josh said of Amy: "She's a cool girl, very nice, and we're just very friendly. She's a good laugh."

London, Januar

London, Jan. 6: UK fashion retailer Marks and Spencer will announce the sacking of 1,000 employees tomorrow after experiencing dire Christmas trading.

Several hundred more from the head office and support functions are also to be sacked.

Debenhams and Next are also expected today to unveil their worst Christmas performances in recent history.

The fashion chains Principles, Oasis, Karen Millen and Warehouse - all owned by Mosaic - have had an emergency restructuring team sent in from Deloitte.

According to The Times, these stores employ about 5,000 staff whose jobs will be at risk unless a new lender is found to refinance the business.