ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

MUSIC/NEW HONOUR FOR TAMMY WYNETTE: Late country star Tammy Wynette is to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Wynette, who rose from beautician to ''the first lady of country music',' died in 1998 at the age of 55. Her 1968 top-seller, ''Stand by Your Man,'' which she co-wrote with her producer Billy Sherrill, became her signature song, with its advice to forgive one's mate because ''after all he's just a man.'' But her throbbing voice in other tunes, such as ''Till I Can Make It on My Own,'' expressed flashes of independence. Wynette, who dominated the country charts throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame shortly after her death.

THEATRE/BROADWAY HOSTING BEA ARTHUR MEMORIAL: 5 time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury, who co-starred with Beatrice Arthur in "Mame," will host a memorial for friends and family of the late Tony and Emmy Award winner September 14 at Broadway's Majestic Theatre. Directed by Mark Waldrop, "Celebrating Bea Arthur" will feature remembrances and performances from the late actress' family and friends, including Adrienne Barbeau ("Maude" co-star), Zoe Caldwell, Billy Goldenberg (Arthur's longtime accompanist), Sheldon Harnick ("Fiddler on the Roof" lyricist), Charlie Hauck ("Maude" head writer), Norman Lear ("Maude" producer), Clinton Leupp, Anne Meara, Rosie O'Donnell, Chita Rivera, Jerry Stiller and Rue McClanahan ("The Golden Girls"). The afternoon event will begin at 1:00pm; seating is open to the general public on a first-come, first-served admission basis. Bea Arthur passed away on April 25, 2009, at age 86. She is best remembered for the Broadway show "Mame," as well as the TV shows, "Maude" and "The Golden Girls".

THEATRE/"MILLION DOLLAR" MOVING TO BROADWAY: "Million Dollar Quartet, "the Chicago hit that played a commercial run at the Goodman Theatre before a transfer to the Apollo, will arrive on Broadway in spring 2010 at a theatre to be announced. Eric Schaeffer directs the new musical that was inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together 4 of the most legendary figures in the history of rock 'n' roll: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. "Million Dollar Quartet" features tunes from the aforementioned music legends, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Riders in the Sky," "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On." Musical director is Chuck Mead. Casting will be announced at a later date. A press release states: "On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the 'Father of Rock ’n’ Roll,' who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.

THEATRE/AN 11 O'CLOCK NUMBER FOR "DREAMGIRLS": Deena Jones may try to steal the spotlight in "Dreamgirls," but she will share her newly added 11 o'clock number "Listen," which was written for the film, with Effie White when the new production of the iconic Motown musical arrives at the Apollo Theatre in November. On the official website for the new production, actresses Moya Angela and Syesha Mercado, who will portray Effie and Deena, respectively, are seen performing a new lyric for "Listen." "Listen," which was added for the role of Deena (portrayed by Beyonce Knowles) in the 2006 film, has been re-imagined as a duet between Effie and Deena for the new "Dreamgirls" tour. In a recent interview, "Dreamgirls" director Robert Longbottom said: "The second act of "Dreamgirls" never had an 11 o'clock number. You have this fantastic moment where Effie and Deena face-off with each other. [Effie] says, 'I'm gonna stay and talk to the great Miss Jones.' And you think, OK, here it comes, we're finally gonna get this hair-pulling cat fight. It's a brand new lyric, and Deena offers a 'Didn't-he-do-the-same-thing-to-you?' kind of philosophy. The two of them break down and raise their voices together. It's a fantastic moment." "Dreamgirls" is booked to tour around the US after the Apollo engagement ends.

THEATRE/WORK BEGINS AGAIN ON "SPIDEY": The troubled Broadway musical, "Spider-man, Turn Off The Dark," is set to resume work on the show, which has been halted since early August due to what producers call a cash-flow problem. It's also rumored that the production isn't quite out of the financial woods yet. Not everyone who was working on "Spider-Man" has been called back to work, which some point to as an indication that while producers have gotten hold of some of the cash needed to capitalize the massive musical, not all of it has yet been secured. Capitalization costs are estimated at N of $35 million. "Spider-man" features direction by Tony winner Julie Taymor, music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge and a book by Taymor and Glen Berger. As of now, the musical remains scheduled to start previews on February 25 at the Hilton Theater, and then open in March.

MEDIA/CHARLIE GIBSON TO STEP DOWN: ABC's Charles Gibson will step down as anchor of "World News" at the end of this year, and Diane Sawyer will replace him. The announcement was made today from the president of ABC News. Gibson said that he was retiring from full-time employment at the news division. Westin said that Gibson "has an open door to continue to work with ABC News, but he's asked for a bit of time before he comes back to us." Sawyer, who has been hosting "Good Morning America," will leave that post when she assumes helm of "World News" in January. Gibson has been anchor of "World News" since 2006, when he succeeded Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas. Woodruff had been seriously injured by a roadside bomb while covering a story in Iraq, and Vargas had been on maternity leave. The duo had succeeded Peter Jennings, who died in 2005.

TV/HBO OK'S SCORCESE'S "BOARDWALK": HBO has given the series greenlight to the Martin Scorsese-produced period drama "Boardwalk Empire." HBO has ordered 11 episodes of the series, which revolves around the life of 1920s Atlantic City bigwig Nucky Thompson, who is described as "equal parts politician and gangster." Steve Buscemi stars as Thompson. Production is expected to begin in the fall in New York, with the premeire targeted for next year. Co-stars include Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Dabney Coleman and Stephen Graham. "Boardwalk Empire" will join David Simon's New Orleans-set "Treme" on HBO's slate of new dramas next year.

SPORTS/ IOC RELEASES 2016 BID REPORT

An International Olympic Committee released documents this morning, assessing the bids of the 4 cities vying for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The IOC noted several problems with Chicago's bid, however, problems also were found with Rio de Janeiro, considered by some the emotional favorite to win the Games. The committee also had concerns about the other 2 cities, Madrid and Tokyo. It cited organizational problems in Madrid's bid, and the low level of public support in Tokyo. While saying all 4 finalists could organize the 2016 Olympic Games, the IOC's evaluation commission report noted several flaws in the Chicago bid that could increase what the report called the "risks...inherent to each project.''The IOC will vote October 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark to determine the 2016 host. The full report can be found on the IOC website, as well as media sources from all 4 candidate cities.

US NEWS/ STATION FIRE BURNS 140K ACRES

The raging wildfire N of Los Angeles, which has displaced thousands of Californians, has burned 140,150 acres as of today. The Station Fire is 22% contained, and no further structures have been destroyed. Since the wildfire began a week ago, 62 houses and 3 commercial buildings have burned. The blaze has begun encroaching on the San Gabriel Wilderness Area in the Angeles National Forest the US Forest Service incident commander said early today. The San Gabriel area represents the eastern edge of the fire. Firefighters were focusing today on protecting communities in the Devil's Canyon area of the San Gabriel Wilderness. Firefighters were also monitoring Azusa, Duarte, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Pasadena and Arcadia. As of late yesterday, mandatory evacuation orders remained in place for 2000 homes in the communities of La Canada, La Crescenta and Acton. A fierce fight was waged yesterday to save a key communications complex and historic observatory atop Mount Wilson, where 7500 gallons of a fire-retardant gel were dropped. The collection of towers is vital for government communications and nearly 50 radio and TV stations. The fire retardant and firefighters clearing brush helped protect Mount Wilson. It is unclear what caused the fire, which charred an area that had not seen a major fire in more than 60 years, however authorities believe that it was started by humans. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday as a result of the Station Fire. He also proclaimed a state of emergency yesterday in San Bernardino County, E of Los Angeles, where the Oak Glen Fire had scorched more than 1000 acres. That fire is now about 60% contained. The Pendleton Fire, also in San Bernardino, had burned nearly 900 acres by late last night and was threatening 400 residences. The blaze is also about 60% contained.

WORLD NEWS/ JIMENA LASHES BAJA

A weakened Hurricane Jimena has made landfall early this afternoon near Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. The Category 2 Hurricane, which had been a Category 5 storm just 36 hours ago, has been lashing the Western Coast of Baja over the last 24 hours. Hurricane Warnings remain posted up and down the Western and Eastern Coast of the Peninsula. However, forecasters warn of continued strong winds, heavy rains, and strong rip tides in the region. Mexican officials expect to see major flooding, mudslides, and damage once the storm weakens. Hurricane Jimena was last located 30 miles N/NE of Cabo San Lazaro, and is moving N/NW at 12mph. Winds are at 95mph, with gusts to 120mph. Forecasters now expect Hurricane Jimena to stall and weaken over Baja, with the storm becoming a remnant low within 48 hours.

WORLD NEWS/ QUAKE ROCKS INDONESIA

A powerful earthquake has struck off the Indonesian island of Java, killing at least 33 people. More than 300 have been injured and it is feared the death toll will rise as many homes have reportedly been buried by a landslide triggered by the quake. About 40 people are still trapped under rocks and dirt in 1 village after the landslide on Java's southern coast. More than 700 houses were badly damaged by the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck around 3:00pm today, local time. Its epicentre was offshore, 70 miles SW of Tasikmalaya. Medical teams have been dispatched to the city, where damaged properties included the mayor's home and a mosque. The tremors were felt in the capital, Jakarta, 200km to the N, where hundreds fled into the streets from offices and shops. In Jakarta, 1 man he was on the 28th floor of an office block when the quake struck. "I went into the meeting room and took shelter under the table," he said. "It went on for about a minute I think - scary. It was like being in a boat on rough water, the building swaying from side to side. The doors were flapping, books fell off piles." At least 27 people were injured in the capital. The quake was also felt 500km away from its epicentre in Surabaya, Indonesia's 2nd largest city, and on the resort island of Bali. Seismologists recorded a slight rise in the sea level at Pelabuhan Ratu off the W of the island following the quake, indicating there had been a small tsunami. No damage or injuries were reported from the tsunami.

AVIATION/ STEEP APPROACH A318 DELIVERED

Airbus has delivered the 1st of 2 A318 aircraft equipped with "steep approach" capability to BRITISH AIRWAYS. The A318 is the largest commercial aircraft certified to land at steeper than usual gradients and has the potential to transform long haul travel between city centers, saving time and cost to the business traveller. The delivery makes the carrier a new operator of all 4 members of the A320 Family. The "Steep Approach" A318 is certified for a 5.5° approach slope. This compares to a nominal 3° slope for standard operations. During "Steep Approach" certification the aircraft has to demonstrate it can safely achieve a 7.5° angle, equivalent to the targeted angle plus a 2° safety margin. The A318's "steep approach" capability makes it ideal for operations out of mountainous or otherwise constrained locations such as urban area Airports where the aircraft also satisfies strict low noise regulations. Willie Walsh, British Airways' chief executive said: "The A318s were specially ordered for the twice-daily London City to JFK service because of their size, flexibility and steep approach capability. The A318 may be our smallest aircraft but it has a big role to play in bringing a new dimension of style and convenience to the London - New York route and shows our determination to invest in the future."

AVIATION/ SKYEUROPE CEASES ALL FLIGHTS

Slovakian based SKYEUROPE has ceased all operations after declaring bankruptcy, stranding thousands of passengers. The Bratislava-based Airline, which declared insolvency in June, announced that its court-appointed trustee had filed for the bankruptcy of SkyEurope Airlines "due to the lack of sufficient interim funding to finance ongoing operations." All flights were "suspended with immediate effect," the statement said. That left thousands of SkyEurope passengers stranded across Europe, according to an Airline spokesman. The carrier's hands were tied when it came to negotiating deals with other Airlines to fly those passengers back. "An Airline which has filed for bankruptcy can't negotiate any deals," he said, declining to estimate exactly how many people were affected. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES, which is itself being taken over by LUFTHANSA, said it would fly back stranded plassengers for 150 euros. The offer was for destinations that it served as well, namely Amsterdam, Athen, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Dubrovnik, Larnaka, Nice, Paris, Sofia and Split. There was no word from the UK, where SkyEurope flew out of Luton and Manchester, on what steps would be taken to get those passengers home. SkyEurope, with bases in Bratislava, Vienna, Prague and the eastern Slovak city of Kosice, never posted a profit in the 6 years of its existence.

AVIATION/ 2ND INCIDENT FOR QANTAS 747

A QANTAS Boeing 747-400, that was involved in a potentially catastrophic incident last July, was forced to land, after experiencing a fuel leak. A Qantas spokeswoman said there "was absolutely no link" between the 2 incidents and there was no danger to passengers in the latest incident. Qantas Flight 32 was on Scheduled International Service from Singapore to Sydney, Australia, with 290 passengers and crew onboard, when it was forced to divert to Perth, Australia, on Thursday, September 3. (NOTE: Australia is about 24 hours ahead of the US, thus the incident occurred on September 3, even though it still is September 2, here in the States). According to the Qantas spokeswoman, the fuel leak was detected about 4 hours after departure from Singapore. She went on to say that 1 of the 747s engines was shut down as a precaution when the leak was detected.

On July 28, 2008, the 747 with registration VH-OJK, was on Scheduled International Service as Qantas Flight 30 from Hong Kong to Melbourne, Australia. Flight 30, with 346 passengers and 19 crew members onboard, was inflight at 29000 feet, about 55 minutes after departure from Hong Kong, when 1 of the oxygen cylinders onboard exploded, ripping a hole in the fuselage. The crew declared "Mayday," and was diverted to Manila, The Philippines, where it landed without incident. Although the aircraft was repaired, investigators are still trying to determine why the cylinder exploded.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

AA AXES OVER 900 F/A'S: American Airlines announced that it is cutting 921 Flight Attendant positions as it deals with an ongoing downturn in traffic and lower revenue. AA said yesterday, that the cuts will take effect October 1 and reduce its Flight Attendant ranks by about 6%. American, the nation's 2nd largest Airline, said 228 employees will be furloughed, and the company will put 244 more on leave for 2 months. Another 449 will take voluntary options such as leave. Nearly 1/2 of the Flight Attendants to be furloughed are based at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The airline said it planned to cut 1200 Flight Attendant jobs but was able to reduce the number by adjusting staffing requirements for the winter. AA said in June that it would have to cut jobs as it reduced flights to meet lower travel demand. American's traffic plunged 10% in the 1st half of this year compared to the same period of 2008, as the recession grounded many travelers. The Airline's woes were compounded by a steep drop in high-paying business travelers. 2nd quarter revenue tumbled 21% from a year ago.

FAA APPROVES SW PARTS REPLACEMENT PLAN: The FAA approved a plan yesterday, that would require SOUTHWEST AIRLINES to replace unapproved parts installed on about 50 Boeing 737s, and for these aircraft to undergo inspections until fixes are made. The Airline already has replaced parts on 30 other planes. An FAA technical review had determined that the unapproved part would not prevent safe operation of the aircraft. Boeing made a similar determination. As a result, the FAA has determined that the Airline may continue to operate aircraft with the unapproved part until the parts can be replaced, on the condition that each plane must be physically inspected for wear and tear every 7 days and the affected parts must all be replaced with an approved part by December 24, 2009. The FAA has also directed Southwest to locate and dispose of any other unapproved parts made by the same vendor and to report on the results of its aircraft inspections to the FAA on a daily basis. The unapproved parts are associated with the hinge fittings for the exhaust gate assembly, which help protect the aircraft flaps from engine heat. As previously posted, the FAA determined earlier this month that the parts had been installed on a number of Southwest aircraft. The FAA has opened an investigation into this issue.

SMOKE ODOR FORCES ANZ 737 TO DIVERT: AIR NEW ZEALAND Flight 535 was on Scheduled Domestic Boeing 737 Service from Auckland to Christchurch, New Zealand, when it had to divert while enroute, earlier today. Flight 535, with 95 passengers and 5 crew members onboard, declared an emergency with the crew reporting the smell of smoke in the passenger cabin. The 737 was diverted to Wellington, New Zealand, where it landed without incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and possible repairs.

HYDRAULICS PROBLEMS ON SWISS A320: SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES Flight 1056 was on Scheduled International A320 Service from Zurich, Switzerland, to Hamburg, Germany, when it had to make an emergency landing in Hamburg, yesterday, September 1. Flight 1056 declared the emergency while on approach to Hamburg, with the crew reporting hydraulics problems. The crew was able to lower the landing gear, and the A320 landed without incident. The aircraft had to be towed to the gate, and then was inspected. Ground crew cleared the aircraft to return to service late yesterday.

BH AIR A320 SUFFERS TAIL STRIKE: BH BALKANS HOLIDAY AIR Flight 5379 was on Non-Scheduled International A320 Service from Verona, Italy, to Hurghuda, Egypt, with a stop in Rome, Italy, on behalf of AIR VALLEE, when it had to make an emergency return to Verona, yesterday, September 1. Flight 5379 suffered a tail strike on takeoff from Verona. The crew requested immediate return, and the A320 landed back at Verona without incident. The aircraft was then removed from service. According to local media reports, the A320 suffered substantial damages in the incident, and is undergoing a full assessment. In a brief statement on the incident, Italian National Agency for Aviation Safety (ANSV) said that due to the substantial damages, they have rated the incident as an accident, and have opened a full investigation.

INDIGO A320 DIVERTS OVER ENGINE: INDIGO Flight 122 was on Scheduled Domestic A320 Service from Bangalore to Delhi, India, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, September 1. Flight 122, with 99 passengers and 6 crew members onboard, declared an emergency reporting the the engine fire alert had activated, and the crew saw smoke coming from the engine. The A320 was diverted to Hyderabad, where it landed without incident, and all passengers and crew safely evacuated. According to local media, post flight inspection found no problems with the engine, and the alert was determined to be false. The aircraft was cleared to resume its flight to Delhi, where it landed without incident.

SMOKE FORCES JETBLUE ERJ RETURN: JETBLUE Flight 654 was on Scheduled Domestic ERJ190 Service from New York JFK to Rochester, New York, when it had to make an emergency return to JFK, on Monday, August 31. Flight 654 declared an emergency moments after takeoff, with the crew reporting smoke in the passenger cabin. After receiving vectors for return, the crew could no longer be heard on the radios, but was able to acknowledge instructions via the transponder ident. After the tower reissued the landing clearance, the Jetblue crew was able to regain full radio communication. The ERJ landed without incident, about 8 minutes after departure. The aircraft was stopped on the runway in order for Emergency Services to inspect the ERJ. Emergency Services reported that the smoke had dissipated. The aircraft was then removed from service for inspection and possible repairs.

AIR FRANCE 777 REJECTS TAKEOFF: AIR FRANCE Flight 674 was on Scheduled International Boeing 777 Service from Los Angeles, California, to Papeete, French Polynesia, when it had to reject takeoff from LAX, on Saturday, August 29. Flight 674 received a tech alert while on its takeoff roll. The crew was able to stop the aircraft on the runway, and taxi back to the Apron. In a brief statement, Air France said that the auto-thrust had failed to engage on the takeoff roll. That system was repaired, as well as a blown tire in the aborted takeoff, and the 777 departed LAX later the same day.

AC ERJ HAS SLAT PROBLEMS, AGAIN: AIR CANADA Flight 244 was on Scheduled Domestic ERJ190 Service from Vancouver to Edmonton, Canada, when it had to make an emergency landing in Edmonton, last Thursday, August 27. Flight 244, with 98 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency after receiving a Slats Fail message while on approach. The ERJ landed without incident in Edmonton. In a brief statement, the Canadian TSB stated that the right outboard skew sensor harness was replaced, and the ERJ returned to service. This is the 3rd incident in 6 weeks with this particular ERJ, registration C-FHIQ, which is pictured. The previous 2 incidents, on July 12 and August 8, both involved the right hand slats. The CTSB did not address this matter in its statement.

SNAPSHOTS

A CLOSE UP OF A HYACINTH MACAW'S EYE, SOUTH AMERICA'S LARGEST FLYING PARROT.

LUXE MEN

LUXE MEN

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/RECORD SUMMER AT THE BOX OFFICE: It's not even Labor Day weekend, but 2009 has already become the highest-grossing summer ever at the domestic box office. Through Sunday, summer B.O. revenues were $4.17 billion, compared to $4.16 billion for summer 2007, the previous record holder for best summer session. The Labor Day weekend should add another $100 million or more to the total tally, meaning the summer would be up at least 3% in grosses over 2007. 3 tentpoles lead the pack of top domestic performers: Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" ($399.4 million), Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" ($294.3 million) and Disney/Pixar's "Up" ($289.6 million). Films performing significantly better than expected include Warners' comedy "The Hangover," which has run up $270.2 million in domestic ticket sales, by far the best gross for an R-rated comedy. The film places #4 on the top 10 summer chart. Ticket buyers were also in love with Disney's Sandra Bullock-Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy "The Proposal," which earned $160.2 million to become the highest-grossing summer romantic comedy of all time. Film is #9 on the summer domestic roster. Several franchises got an infusion of fresh blood: Paramount's "Star Trek" grossed $256.7 million to come in 5th for the season, while Twentieth Century Fox's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" grossed $179 million to rank #7. Fox also took spots #6 and #8 with "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" ($193.3 million) and "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" ($176.5 million). Sony's sequel "Angels and Demons" rounds out the top 10 list at $133.4 million, although Paramount's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" will likely overtake "Angels." "G.I. Joe's" domestic total through Sunday was $132.2 million after grossing $7.7 million for the weekend.

FILM/VOTING CHANGE FOR BEST PIC: The voting system, which will determine the winner of the best picture at this year's Oscars is being changed. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said preferential voting will now be used to tally the final vote for the award. Voters will be asked to rank nominees in order of preference from 1 to 10. In all other categories, the victory goes to the performer who earns the most votes. The new system for tallying vote for best picture is the same preferential voting system that the Academy uses in its nominating process. However, this is the 1st time it has been introduced for best picture voting since 1945. The voting process has been adapted to accommodate the new picture shortlist, which has been increased to allow 10 films into the category, instead of 5. The decision to use the preferential system was made because a larger field meant a winner could emerge with just slightly more than 580 votes out of the potential voting pool of 5,800 members. The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on February 2, 2010.

FILM/"CRIME" TIME FOR KEANU: Keanu Reeves will star in and produce "Henry's Crime," a Malcolm Venville-directed romantic comedy that will begin production in November in Buffalo. The project is poised to become the 1st picture in production for Company Films, the company Reeves co-runs. The picture will be financed through private equity. No distribution has yet been set for the film. In the romantic comedy written by Sacha Gervasi, Reeves will play a bighearted man who is falsely accused of robbing a bank in Buffalo. Reeves most recently starred in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and plays a supporting role in the Rebecca Miller-directed "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," which stars Robin Wright Penn. "Henry's Crime" is Reeves' 1st comedy since 2003's "Something's Gotta Give."

PEOPLE/PREJEAN SUES OVER OUSTER: Ousted beauty queen Carrie Prejean sued California pageant officials yesterday for libel, slander and religious discrimination, alleging she was instructed to stop mentioning God even before her controversial remarks against gay marriage. The one-time Miss California was fired in June by pageant officials who said she missed scheduled appearances. Her attorney said that wasn't true, and Prejean was let go because of controversial remarks in April during the Miss USA pageant that marriage should be between a man and a woman. She was named 1st runner-up, and many believe she lost her shot at the Miss USA crown because of her answer. Prejean sued California pageant executive director Keith Lewis and actress and former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, who served as a co-director before resigning in protest of Prejean. The lawsuit claims Lewis and Moakler both told Prejean not to mention God on her Miss USA application or at public events at least two months before she gave her anti-gay marriage answer. The suit also claims Moakler and Lewis improperly revealed that Miss California USA had paid for Prejean's breast implants. California pageant officials and Moakler said her suit is without merit. The complaint does not state a specific dollar figure that Prejean is seeking. It claims she has been subject to public ridicule and humiliation and lost out on modeling work because she lost her crown. She has also suffered anxiety, depression and loss of sleep since her firing, the lawsuit states.

US NEWS/ CHANEL, A DACHSHUND, DIES AT 21

Chanel, a white dachshund who held the Guinness world record for oldest dog, died last Friday in Port Jefferson, New York. Chanel celebrated her 21st birthday in May, according to Guinness. That's 147 years old in human years. Earlier this year, the dog's owners said Chanel was still feisty and in good health despite her advanced age. She did, however, wear sunglasses for her cataracts. The coupled adopted the dog in 1988, and said that treats from dog food company Dogswell contributed to Chanel's longevity.

US NEWS/ GAY MARRIAGE BEGINS IN VERMONT

The legalisation of gay marriage in Vermont took effect at midnight last night. Vermont joins New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa to become the 5th American state to officially legalise gay marriage. The legalisation took place in April after the House voted 100-49, overriding a veto from Jim Douglas, the state governor. Last night, 1 couple took immediate advantage of the law taking effect by getting married just after midnight. However it is said that only a few couples had applied for marriage licences prior to Tuesday and most will take their time in planning their ceremonies. The state of Vermont has been a forerunner in the fight for same-sex equality for some years, with the introduction of civil unions in 2000 sparking an influx of gay couples wanting to formalise their partnerships. Although 5 US states have legalised gay marriage, it continues to be a contentious issue in many others, most notably in California where the legalisation of gay marriage was reversed. Members of Equality California are planning to get the issue back on the ballot in 2010, in an attempt to reverse the ban.

Ben & Jerry's is celebrating the legalisation of gay marriage in Vermont by renaming its ice cream Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby for one month.The dessert giant has teamed up with Freedom to Marry, an equal rights group, to launch the new branding. Hubby Hubby will be available across Vermont in Ben & Jerry's parlours but Chubby Hubby tubs will not be officially renamed across the US. If this were to take place, the process would take the company another 18 months to revise and finalise. A Ben and Jerry's wedding truck will cross Vermont, from which free Hubby Hubby will be handed out to the public. Speaking about the motive for the name change, the chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry's said: "At the core of Ben & Jerry's values we believe that social justice can and should be something that every human being is entitled to. From the very beginning of our 30-year history, we have supported equal rights for all people."

US NEWS/ STATION FIRE GROWS IN CALIFORNIA

Cooler temperatures this afternoon could help firefighters slow down a fast-moving, deadly wildfire that has charred nearly 122,000 acres in Southern California. The Largest fire, the Station Fire, is burning through steep and rugged terrain in the Angeles National Forest. This area N of Los Angeles has not seen a major fire in more than 60 years. It's the largest of at least 5 fires burning in the state.Temperatures will be in the 90s, but they will be lower than the triple-digit highs that, combined with low humidity, caused the fire to explode in size from at least 40,000 acres on Sunday to more than 100,000 acres yesterday. By this morning, the Station Fire had consumed 121,762 acres, or about 190 square miles, an increase of 16,000 acres since yesterday. More than 2500 firefighters are trying to get a handle on the blaze, which remains about 5% contained.

The fire began last Wednesday and has destroyed 53 structures so far. At least 10,000 homes, 500 businesses and 2000 other structures are threatened. At times, flames reached 100 feet into the sky, racing up hillsides just a stone's throw from some houses, destroying some buildings while leaving others unscathed. In some areas, the fire is scorching miles of land in a matter of hours. It could take another week for firefighters to control the blaze fully, authorities have said. The fire, which has sent thick smoke spiraling as much as 20,000 feet into the air, is creating its own wind patterns, officials said. As a result, it has become unpredictable. It continues to threaten Mount Wilson Observatory, a key communication point for city and emergency officials, but firefighters have kept the flames at bay. The Station Fire has consumed a massive amount of land, but it is still not close to the size of the 2003 Cedar Fire, the largest to burn in Southern California. That one scorched 280,278 acres or 438 square miles, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and killed 14 people, including 1 firefighter.

WORLD NEWS/ BAJA AWAITS JIMENA

The outer rain bands of the very dangerous Hurricane Jimena are spreading over Southern Baja this afternoon. Thus far, the storm is the most powerful Tropical system in the world for 2009. Jimena, which had reached Category 5 status overnight, has weakened slightly, but it still a very powerful Category 4 Hurricane. Forecasters expect the storm to weaken gradually, but still be a very powerful Hurricane when it makes landfall on the Western Coast of Baja, sometime tomorrow. All computer models agree that the storm should miss making a direct hit on the resort town of Cabo San Lucas. Winds are at 145mph, with gusts to 180mph. Jimena is currently moving N/NW at 11/12mph, and is located about 140 miles S/SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Mexican Government has extended Hurricane Warnings N, along both the Western and Eastern coasts of Baja. Jimena is of similar intensity and is following a similar track to Hurricane Juliette of 2001, which brought 17.7" of rain to Cabo San Lucas. Juliette weakened to a 45 mph Tropical Storm before hitting Baja, but the storm killed 7 people and caused $20 million in damage to Mexico, mostly due to flash flooding and mudslides from the heavy rains. Jimena will probably be one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Baja.

AVIATION/ BAAIU REPORTS ON BH AIR FL5553

The Bulgarian Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit (BAAIU) has released its final report into a serious incident involving a BH BALKANS HOLIDAY AIR A320 at Bourgas, Bulgaria, on August 3, 2008. On that date, BH Air Flight 5553 was on Scheduled International A320 Service from Bourgas to East Midlands, UK, with 169 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. On takeoff from bourgas, the aircraft struck a flock of birds immediately after liftoff of main gear at an altitude of about 7-10 feet, ingesting a number of the birds into both engines. The strike caused damage to the leading edge slats, to all hydraulics lines on the left main gear, and landing lights. Even though both engines were vibrating beyond operating limits, the crew managed to climb to a safe altitude, then turned around for an emergency landing on runway 22. The crew was able to stop the aircraft on the runway. No one onboard Flight 5553 was injured in the incident. The BAAIU reports states that the probable cause of the incident was: "A collision with birds causing damage to the aircraft and its engines requiring a forced landing at Bourgas and, inefficient wildlife control by Bourgas Airport. The report states that during rotation, the Captain saw a flock of about 50-60 birds. The First Officer said he saw about 75-120 herring gulls and heard many of them impacting the aircraft immediately after liftoff at around 160 KIAS, an unknown number being ingested in both engines, which reacted with an immediate brief reduction of engine speed followed by severe vibrations with the left hand engine's vibration indicator registering 6.9 and the right hand vibration indicator registering 9.9 units (maximum operating limit 6.5 units). Only after the bird impact was a positive rate of climb established and the gear retracted. The First Officer then declared "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday". At around 400 feet the Captain turned right, in order to initiate a procedure turn back to runway 22. After climbing to 2000 feet the captain levelled off and set the autothrust speed to 180 KIAS permitting the engines to reduce power and thus reducing vibrations significantly. The crew subsequently managed to turn back to runway 22 visually and land without incident. The damage assessment stated that the left hand engine received severe damage to 5 of 36 fan blades, the right hand engine received severe damage to 14 fan blades. A total of 32 fan blades needed to be replaced on both engines. In addition, the A320 received damage to the right hand outboard slats, nose gear landing lights and to the hydraulics hoses on the left hand main gear. The BAAIU report notes that 3 departments of Bourgas Airport carried out activities to control wildlife. As part of the bird control the tower had the possibility to scare birds away activating loudspeakers across the airfield. The BAAIU however found 2 of the 6 loudspeakers inoperative on the day of the incident. The BAAIU has issued 12 safety recommendations as result of the investigation. A copy of the full report can be found on the BAAIU website.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

AIRBUS DELIVERS 4000TH A320 FAMILY JET: Airbus has delivered its 4000th A320 Family aircraft to Brazilian flag carrier TAM from its Final Assembly Line in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft, an A319, was handed over to TAM in the presence of TAM and Airbus officials. On the A319's ferry flight from Hamburg to Brazil, TAM will transport goods for schools for handicapped children in the region. The equipment was donated by Aviation without Borders Germany and facilitated by the Airbus Foundation. In a statement, Airbus said: "The delivery of our 4000th A320 Family aircraft to TAM not only speaks for the tremendous success of the A320 program, but also for our strong relationship with TAM , the largest Airbus operator in the Southern Hemisphere." TAM became an Airbus A319 operator in 1998 with a historic combined order of 90 aircraft together with the airlines TACA and LAN. Today the Airline operates a fleet of 125 Airbus aircraft. More than 350 Airbus aircraft are in operation in Latin America with 22 carriers. This represents more than 40% of aircraft over 100 seats in service in Latin America.

LUFTHANSA & JETBLUE TO CODE SHARE: LUFTHANSA and JETBLUE signed a ticketing partnership yesterday, the 1st such commercial arrangement between the 2 since the German flag carrier bought a minority stake in the American low-fare Airline more than 18 months ago. The code share deal, which is still subject to approval by United States regulators, would allow Lufthansa to sell seats on JetBlue flights as if they were its own beginning in late September or early October, the Airlines said in separate statements. JetBlue would not directly market seats on Lufthansa flights, but online passengers would be redirected to the Lufthansa Web site when purchasing tickets from 12 American cities to destinations within Lufthansa’s network. Initially, the partnership will link 12 JetBlue destinations, including Austin, Tampa and San Juan, with Lufthansa’s network of 180 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the Airlines said. Connecting service will be offered via JFK in New York and Logan Airport in Boston. Lufthansa invested $300 million in JetBlue in early 2008, which represents a stake of just under 16%. Lufthansa is barred from a takeover of JetBlue under current American laws restricting foreign ownership of a domestic airline to 25%. Lufthansa last week obtained approval from EU regulators for the takeover of AUSTRIAN AIRLINES, which could further extend the reach of yesterday’s deal. Austrian makes 6 direct flights a week between Vienna and JFK.

CLICK MEXICANA FOKKER SLIDES OFF RUNWAY: CLICK MEXICANA Flight 7476 was on Scheduled Domestic Fokker 100 Service from Guadalajara to San Jose Cabo, Mexico, when it skidded off the runway at San Jose Cabo, yesterday, August 31. Flight 7476 burst a tire upon a landing, and ran off the runway. The crew was able to stop the aircraft without incident. No one onboard was injured and in a post flight inspection, no damage was reported to the Fokker. The aircraft resumed service later in the day, after the tire was replaced. According to local media, weather may have also played a role in the incident. The region was experiencing the first effects from approaching Hurricane Jimena at that time of the incident. Mexican aviation officials are investigating.

AIR CANADA A320 SUFFERS BIRD STRIKE: AIR CANADA Flight 134 was on Scheduled Domestic A320 Service from Calgary to Toronto, Canada, when it suffered a birdstrike at Calgary, on Sunday, August 30. Flight 134 had to reject takeoff from runway 16 at Calgary after suffering the bird strike. The crew was able to stop the A320 on the 12600ft runway. According to media reports, passengers said that Emergency Services deployed, and they were kept onboard for about 90 minutes while firefighters cooled the brakes. They were then offloaded on the taxiway, and taken to the terminal. In a statement, NAV Canada said the crew rejected takeoff AFTER rotation, due to the bird strike. In a statement, the Canadian TSB contradicted NAV Canada, and said the crew rejected takeoff BEFORE rotation. The CTSB also said that the aircraft was not damaged in the bird strike.

DELTA MD88 DAMAGED ON LANDING: DELTA AIRLINES Flight 1606 was on Scheduled Domestic MD88 Service from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it had to make an emergency landing at Charlotte, on Saturday, August 29. Flight 1606 declared an emergency on approach to Charlotte, with the crew reporting an unsafe gear indication. The crew abandoned their approach and performed a go-around. Emergency Services were deployed as the MD88 made its 2nd approach. On landing, both main gear doors were open, and scraped over the runway while the aricraft rolled out. The MD88 was able to stop on the runway, however it had to be towed off the runway to offload passengers. No one onboard the aircraft was injured, however the aircraft suffered substantial damages to the gear. The MD88 was removed from service for a full damage assessment. The FAA and the Airline are investigating the incident.

TECH FAULT FORCES US AIRWAYS 767 RETURN: US AIRWAYS Flight 728 was on Scheduled International Boeing 767 Service from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to London Heathrow, when it had to return to Philadelphia, last Friday, August 28. Flight 728 was inflight at 33000 feet near Moncton, NB, Canada, when the crew reported faulty gauges and requested return. The 767 landed back at Philadelphia without incident, about 3 hours after its initial departure. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repairs.

TURBULENCE INJURES 1 ON AIRTRAN 717: AIRTRAN Flight 163 was on Scheduled Domestic Boeing 717 Service from Tampa, Florida, to Atlanta, Georgia, when it encountered severe turbulence, last Thursday, August 27. According to the FAA, Flight 163 encountered the turbulence about 60 miles from Tampa. The 717 continued on to Atlanta, where it landed without incident. 1 Flight Attendant was transported to a local hospital with a broken ankle. The aircraft was not damaged in the incident. An investigation has been opened by the FAA.

KIROV AN24 RETURNS OVER FIRE ALERT: KIROV AIR ENTERPRISE Flight 107 was on Scheduled Domestic Antonov AN24 Service from Kirov to Naryan-Mar, Russia, when it had to make an emergency return to Kirov, last Tuesday, August 25. Flight 107, with 48 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency moments after takeoff with the crew reporting an engine fire alert. The AN24 landed back at Kirov without incident. A post flight inspection railed to find any trace of fire, and according to media reports, the alert was determined to be false. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and possible repair.