Russian presidential hopeful Alexander Lebed paid homage to Gen Charles de Gaulle yesterday with a symbolic pilgrimage to the French wartime leader's final resting place.
In a clear sign of his admiration for forceful French military leaders, Lebed had also hoped to visit Napoleon's tomb in Paris but was forced to cancel due to a painful ingrown toenail.
South African Presidents Nelson Mandela (78) yesterday rekindled talk that he might remarry. He appeared hand-in-hand with his sweetheart Graca Machel (51) to meet King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden in Cape Town.
Mandela last year confirmed his romance with Machel, widow of former Mozambican president Samora Machel, and said they would try to spend two weeks a month together.
Priyanka Gandhi (26), daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was married yesterday to Robert Vadra, a businessman, at a private ceremony.
Around 120 guests, including Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and President Shankar Dayal Sharma were invited. A family spokesman said the low-key marriage was conducted at the Gandhi family home in New Delhi.
Sir Harry Secombe, June Whitfield and Barbara Windsor were among a celebrity gathering yesterday at a memorial service in London for Beryl Reid, who died in October, aged 76.
"She was a brilliant comedienne, a brilliant light entertainer and a superb actress," said Eileen Atkins, her co-star in The Killing of Sister George.