Philippines wants to ban Madonna

The Philippines said yesterday it was looking to ban American pop diva Madonna from performing in the country after she "disrespected" the Philippine flag during her concert in Manila last week.

Photos published in the local media showed the 57-year-old star draped in the flag. A 1998 law prescribes a one-year jail term, as well as a token fine, for wearing the Philippine flag "in whole or in part as a costume or uniform".

Yoko Ono fine after hospitalisation

Artist Yoko Ono, the 83-year-old widow of the late Beatle John Lennon, has been released from a New York City hospital after seeking treatment for the flu, her spokesman said last Saturday. Her son, Sean, wrote on Twitter: "She's home and running about as usual. Just the flu in the end."