Newly-elected President Vladimir Putin today promised Russians a continuation of the stability and order that helped him win a landslide victory, and pledged to open up the political stage to divergent voices after a campaign criticised as unfair and one-sided.

Brushing off US criticism of a one-sided election campaign, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed victory early today after voters handed him an expected landslide win for a second four-year term.

A massive £35bn (€51.6bn) takeover bid for the Walt Disney company was launched in the US today by the country’s biggest cable TV company.

Justin Timberlake has signed a deal with a British publisher to reveal details about his private life in an autobiography.

FRENCH police are hunting a suspected al-Qaida operative who had booked on an Air France flight to the US on Christmas Eve but failed to turn up.

Whitney Houston's 82-year-old father says he will drop a £65m (€64.4m) lawsuit if she pays him money he claims he's owed.

Congressman Gary Condit has acknowledged he had a five-month relationship with missing US government intern Chandra Levy.