SA’s Charlene Wittstock set to become Princess Charlene of Monaco

Charlene Wittstock Talks Royal Life – South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, who is engaged to Prince Albert of Monaco, has revealed that Giorgio Armani will be designing her wedding dress. Wittstock made the announcement during an interview with Talk Radio702 and said that Armani is the designer that knows her the best. She also admitted that in the beginning, it was very difficult for her to adapt to Monaco’s culture, food and people, especially since she is a vegetarian. [channel24]

Apple App Store To Offer Subscriptions – After an extended period when we knew they were coming but had no insight into how they’d work, subscription powers have hit Apple’s App Store, ready to support digital magazines and newspapers. E-publishing may never be the same. The driving force behind the change to a long-standing App Store no-subscriptions policy is exposed in Apple’s press release: Noting that subscriptions are for publishers of “content-based apps on the App Store” like “magazines, newspapers, video, music” and so on, the text highlights that “this is the same innovative digital subscription billing service that Apple recently launched with News Corp.’s ‘The Daily’ app.” [fastcompany]

Richard Hammond To Front Online TV Show – Richard Hammond has bounced back from his Mexican gaffe to make his first foray into web television this week with a new series that looks at technology topics such as “what weirdos did before the internet”. The new 20-part series, called Richard Hammond’s Tech Head, marks the Top Gear co-presenter’s first crack at online TV. To date his shows, which include Blast Lab and Total Wipeout, have all been TV productions for the BBC. [guardian]

Madoff Prison Interview: “Banks Had To Know” Of Fraud – Bernard L. Madoff said he never thought the collapse of his Ponzi scheme would cause the sort of destruction that has befallen his family. In his first interview for publication since his arrest in December 2008, Mr. Madoff — looking noticeably thinner and rumpled in khaki prison garb — maintained that family members knew nothing about his crimes. But during a private two-hour interview in a visitor room here on Tuesday, and in earlier e-mail exchanges, he asserted that unidentified banks and hedge funds were somehow “complicit” in his elaborate fraud, an about-face from earlier claims that he was the only person involved. [newyorktimes]

Carla Bruni Flops In French First Lady Poll – If France’s presidential election outcome depends on the popularity of the would-be first ladies, Nicolas Sarkozy and his ex-supermodel wife will be no match for his heavy-hitter rivals, the Strauss-Kahn couple, a poll shows. Carla Bruni, who married Sarkozy after his election victory of 2007 and turns 44 in December, was trounced in the popularity poll contest versus Anne Sinclair, 62-year-old wife of Socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who polls also tip as the man who could thrash Sarkozy if the two face off in 2012. [torontosun]

Teenagers To Play For Stormers – Teenage props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe could be in the running to make the Stormers squad ahead of more experienced campaigners for their Super Rugby kick-off against the Lions on 26 February. Wicus Blaauw, JC Kritzinger and JD Moller were all part of the Western Province squad that conducted a coaching clinic at Schotsche Kloof Primary School in the Bo Kaap on Tuesday. Kritzinger has only just recovered from a knee injury and is expected to be called up as a versatile prop option by the Stormers once he is match-fit. [sport24]

Coal Miner’s Daughter Makes Cover Of US Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue – Irina Shayk, the newest Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl, is a coal miner’s daughter. And she’s the biggest – and hand’s down the prettiest – thing to come out of podunk Russian town called Yemanzhelinsk. Now she’s a New Yorker whose exercise routine includes regular jogs up and down the West Side Highway. But the green-eyed goddess hasn’t forgotten where she’s come from. [nydailynews]

Church of Scientology Slammed In Massive New Yorker Exposé – It’s not often that the New Yorker magazine devotes 26 pages to a single story, so when it does it must be assumed that editor David Remnick had a good reason. A full-scale investigation into allegations of human trafficking, abuse and illegal child labour at the Church of Scientology seems to be all the reason he needs. [dailymaverick]

Vladimir Putin ‘Has £600 million Italianate Palace’ – Vladimir Putin has had a lavish £600 million Italianate palace built for himself near a Black Sea resort with the proceeds of “corruption, bribery and theft”, a Russian businessman has alleged. The claim, made in a letter to Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, was boosted on Monday after the Novaya Gazeta newspaper obtained what it said was an authenticated copy of the original contract for the palace signed in 2005 by Vladimir Kozhin, the Russian presidential property manager. Mr Putin, now prime minister, was president at the time. Oh, and it’s 8 million square feet.. [telegraph]

Silvio Berlusconi To Face Sex Trial In Underage Sex Case – Silvio Berlusconi is to go on trial on 6 April, charged with paying an underage prostitute and then trying to cover up the alleged offence by abusing his position as Italy’s prime minister. All three judges named for the trial are women. Berlusconi heard the news while in Sicily, where he made no comment, but immediately cancelled a scheduled press conference and flew back to Rome for an underage sex party held in his honour. [guardian]

Tutu ‘Love-Child’ Drama – Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah might be forced to foot the bill if it is proved that their son, Trevor, cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of his 12-year-old son. Yesterday Trevor Tutu, 55, appeared in the Randburg Maintenance Court, into which he was hauled by a woman said to be a former lover. The woman, a medical doctor from Zimbabwe who now lives in Canada, took Tutu to court to force him to pay maintenance of 759 Canadian dollars (about R5544) a month. [timeslive]

Charlie Sheen Talks Drugs – How much trouble is Charlie Sheen worth? It’s a question that CBS can’t escape lately, as the star of the network’s most-watched sitcom racks up legal issues and personal scandals. On Monday, Sheen gave CBS a fresh reason to worry. During a highly erratic interview on the syndicated sports talk radio program “The Dan Patrick Show,” the 45-year-old actor, who’s on hiatus from his show “Two and a Half Men” until he completes an in-home rehab, told host Dan Patrick that he was ready to work. [latimes]

OJ Simpson Beaten Unconscious In Prison – The Enquirer reports that O.J. Simpson, 63, who’s doing nine years in Nevada’s Locelock Correction Center for armed robbery, was beaten senseless in the prison yard by a white supremacist. The incident started when a group of skinheads overheard O.J. bragging about nailing beautiful white women and you know how much skinheads hate that. [theblemish]

MWEB Giving Away A Netbook On Thursday – Stay tuned right here and on 2oceansvibe Radio on Thursday people, as we give away the second of four netbooks. Make sure you’ve got a Twitter account and make sure you’re looking alive around 09h30 on Thursday morning! [2ov.fm]

My Buddy’s Kid Has Been Diagnosed With Leukeamia – They’ve put together a website and are simply asking for loving support. What’s more, it’s fun and easy to do. Check out their website – all they need is a picture of your feet, submerged in water. I went with The Muse to Camps Bay beach and took a pic of our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. I’m sure you can come up with something cool as well. Just spare a moment and think of Charley-Rose before you do it. Get in involved, gang. [charley-rose]

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