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Fine slapped on George MichaelBEVERLY HILLS: Pop star George Michael has been fined 810 US dollars, put on probation for two years and order...

Fine slapped on George Michael

BEVERLY HILLS: Pop star George Michael has been fined 810 US dollars, put on probation for two years and ordered to undergo sexual counselling after his lawyer pleaded no-contest on the singer8217;s behalf to a charge of lewd conduct in a public men8217;s room. Judge Charles Rubin also ordered Michael, who was arrested on April 7, to perform 80 hours of community service and banned him from the Will Rogers city park in Beverly Hills, where he was arrested. The British singer was not in court for the hearing on Thursday.Under California law a no-contest plea is equivalent to pleading guilty. The 34-year-old singer, whose hit song I want your sex was banned on many radio stations, did not have to appear in Beverly Hills municipal court because the charge was a misdemeanour.

Spice ties

LONDON: A second member of the British pop sensation, Spice Girls, was reported to have become engaged to be married on Friday. The Sun said quot;Scary Spicequot; Mel B, 22,had joined fellow band member quot;Posh Spicequot; Victoria Adams, 24, in announcing her engagement.

The paper said Mel B had quot;wept with joyquot; when band dancer Jimmy Gulzar, her lookalike quot;Spice Boyquot; recruited for the band8217;s current world tour, proposed in a bar in Paris. Onlookers in the bar applauded, said The Sun. Adams announced her engagement to Manchester United football player David Beckham in January.

Pianist collapses

TEXAS: Renowned pianist Van Cliburn collapsed on stage before a packed house on Thursday night. Witnesses at the bass performance hall said they were told Cliburn was conscious when he was taken off the stage by paramedics. He was taken to All Saints Episcopal hospital, where officials refused to comment on his condition.

Audrey Michaels, who was attending the concert, said Cliburn was starting the third movement of the Rachmaninoff piano concerto when he collapsed about 1 1/2 hours into the performance.

quot;All of a sudden he faltered at the piano and he just fell on thefloor, just as though he had been hit by a bolt of lightning,quot; Michaels said. quot;The audience was just paralyzed.quot;

Armyman8217;s grave

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ARLINGTON: The US military solemnly unearthed a grave at the tomb of the unknowns on Thursday for scientific tests that could identify the Vietnam war serviceman put to rest there 14 years ago. quot;We disturb this hallowed ground with profound reluctance,quot; said defence secretary William Cohen, standing in the sunshine beside the coffin that had been lifted from the tomb during the night.