The pop star Lady Gaga has become the first person with more than 20 million followers on Twitter.
A 20 millionth "Little Monster", as Lady Gaga calls her fans, signed up to follow her Twitter feed on Sunday. She had 20.15 million followers as of yesterday.
The teenage pop singer Justin Bieber was next with 18.13 million followers. Rounding out the top five were three other singers: Katy Perry with 15.77m, Shakira with 14.57m and Rihanna with 14.5m.
The US President Barack Obama was in eighth place with 12.85 million followers.
Nicholas Sparks in Dubai for literature festival
The bestselling American author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) arrived in Dubai on Monday night to attend the opening ceremony of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Dubai. The festival continues until Saturday with more than 100 renowned international writers. The ceremony kicked off with a traditional dancing spectacle representing a host of cultures.
"And that is how we introduce ourselves around the world. This is about identity," said the first speaker, Kate Adie.
David Nicholls, the author of One Day, also took to the stage to speak of the novel that changed his life – Great Expectations. "Thirty years later I was asked to adapt the book [for a movie]. I'm pleased to say I love it even more. Dickens was an entertainer," he said. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter and is in the editing process.
On Saturday Night Live, Lohan laughs at troubles
Lindsay Lohan poked fun at her troubled personal life in a Saturday Night Live hosting stint last weekend.
"Wait, so the alarm goes off if I leave the stage?" she quipped in her opening monologue, referring to her house arrests due to legal problems in recent years.
Entertainment Weekly wasn't fond of the performance, calling Lohan the show's worst host of the year.
"Lindsay's comeback train is stuck at the station," wrote the Los Angeles Times.
Lohan was also slammed on Twitter for her over-reliance on cue cards.
The episode, however, delivered the second-highest ratings of the season for SNL. The SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan told MTV News: "I think she really wanted to do a good job, and I think she pulled through."
Stefano Pilati bids adieu to Yves Saint Laurent
The Italian designer Stefano Pilati earned a standing ovation on Monday as he sent out his swansong collection for Yves Saint Laurent before a star-studded gathering at Paris Fashion Week.
The US Vogue editor Anna Wintour was joined front row by Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Rosario Dawson in cheering the collection.
Pilati's final look for YSL, which announced his departure last week, played heavily on blacks, with strong-shouldered jackets, trousers with leather highlights and fine metallic dresses.
The designer gave a brief bow at the show's end, raising one hand in a "V" for victory, signing off after an adventure with the house that began in 2004.
YSL has not yet named his successor, saying it will disclose the name of its new creative director in the coming weeks.
It is thought that Hedi Slimane, a former designer for Dior Homme, may take over at Yves Saint Laurent.
Bollywood's Sanjay Gupta faces court
A case has been filed against the filmmaker Sanjay Gupta after a publicity stunt that involved sending out invitations for his movie's premiere on a faked letterhead of Mumbai's police chief, reported Yahoo! News.
On Monday the court rejected Gupta's anticipatory bail plea, after the police questioned him for two hours.
"Gupta did not cooperate with us during the investigation. He kept misleading us," a senior police inspector told the Indo Asian News Service. Gupta sent out the invitations last month to promote his forthcoming film, Shootout at Wadala, starring Anil Kapoor.
Rihanna eyes next fashion collection
After teaming up with Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans to create her first fashion line last November, Rihanna is planning to do a follow-up collection, reported Vogue UK.
"Giorgio (Armani) and I have a pretty good relationship since we have been working together on the campaigns," says the 24-year-old, who endorses the two Armani brands. "He trusts my designs a little bit now, so I get to play."
Referring to a collection on the drawing board, Rihanna said: "I designed it with Giorgio. I wanted something a little bit Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface ... simple and a little gangster at the same time. We work really well together."
Frenchman exhibits Dubai skyline snaps
A collection of panoramic photographs showcasing Dubai is on show at the centre stage area of Dubai's Mercato Shopping Mall until Monday.
The Light and Day exhibition features images taken by the French photographer Gilles Delmotte of the city's ever-changing skyline, some of which were taken while he was suspended from a helicopter, as well as hung from an 85th-floor balcony.
Delmotte's works range from postcard size to large frames, with prices ranging from Dh20 to Dh4,000. He will donate a percentage of the exhibit's sales to the Maria Cristina Foundation, a Dubai-based charity that helps sponsor education initiatives in Bangladesh.
