Madonna: World needs peace in Middle East
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 1 (UPI) -- U.S. pop icon Madonna issued a call for peace in the Middle East during her concert at Israel's Ramat Gan Stadium.
"If there is peace in the Middle East then there can be peace in the whole world," the Jerusalem Post quoted the singer as saying at Thursday night's show.
"I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason," she said. "All the conflicts that occur here [in the Middle East] and have been occurring here for thousands of years; they have to stop."
The Post said Madonna also spoke about her decision to give free tickets to left-wing members of Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental groups.
"There are several brave and important NGOs that are represented, both Palestine and Israel [here] together. You cannot be a fan of mine and not want peace in the world. We are all on different paths but we are all sons and daughters of the universe," Madonna said.
"We are all human beings. We all want to love and be loved. It is easy to say I want peace in the world. But it is another thing to do it. If we can all rise above our egos and our titles and the names of our countries and our religions. If we can rise above all of that and treat everyone around us -- every human being -- with dignity and respect, then we are on the road to peace."
The newspaper said Madonna gave a nod to her own Catholic upbringing, appearing at one point in what looked like a confessional booth while reciting the Act of Contrition, then later dancing along with performers dressed as priests and nuns. She also was seen pretending to shoot a man as she sat underneath a large cross and sang her song "Gang Bang."
Other songs she performed included "Express Yourself," "Like a Virgin" and "Like a Prayer."
Justin Bieber gets concussion, passes out
PARIS, June 1 (UPI) -- Canadian pop star Justin Bieber passed out shortly after hitting his head by walking into a glass wall backstage at a Paris concert, TMZ reported.
The 18-year-old recording star told the celebrity news Web site he was disoriented but went back on stage and finished his set after Thursday's mishap.
When the show was over, he walked to his dressing room and fell unconscious for about 15 seconds, he said.
TMZ quoted doctors as saying Bieber suffered a concussion but is expected to be fine.
"Just smacked my head and needed some water. All good," the recording artist said via Twitter Thursday. "I'm Canadian. We are tough. LOL. It's all good. Just gotta take it easy the rest of the night. Back at it again for you guys tomorrow. Thanks."
Brandon Jenner, Leah Felder wed in Hawaii
LOS ANGELES, June 1 (UPI) -- Music producers Brandon Jenner and Leah Felder have married in Hawaii in an intimate sunset ceremony, People.com reported Friday.
Jenner's father, Olympian Bruce Jenner, and his wife, Kris, attended Thursday's ceremony at the St. Regis Princeville Resort.
His step-sisters -- Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian -- were not there, however.
Brandon's brother, Brody, served as best man at the ceremony, while his sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner were Felder's bridesmaids.
Felder's father, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, also was among the 36 guests at the wedding, People.com said.
"Brandon and Leah are the most beautiful reflection of each other," the groom's mom, Linda Thompson, told the celebrity news magazine. "They not only bring the best out in each other, they believe the best about each other."
Green Lantern is gay in new comic book
NEW YORK, June 1 (UPI) -- American superhero Green Lantern will be revealed as gay in the next edition of "Earth 2," DC Comics announced Thursday.
The character, whose alter ego Alan Scott was originally conceived as a married father of two, first appeared in comic books in 1940.
However, Green Lantern is gay and has a boyfriend in the next issue of "Earth 2," which is part of DC Comics' The New 52, a reboot of the franchise set it in a parallel universe to previous superhero stories.
"A team leader with a Type-A personality and an appetite for justice, Alan also happens to be homosexual," DC Comics said on its Web site. "And while his origins won't be shown in full detail until issue No. 3, we can tease that a traumatic event will serve as the catalyst for him assuming his superhero identity as The Green Lantern. ...
"In 'Earth 2,' he is getting an update for contemporary times to reflect the world we live in. He is younger, has an updated costume and is being introduced to DC Comics' The New 52 for the very first time. It is also important to note that while Alan is a gay man, his sexuality is merely only one part of his multi-layered character."
"I'm very proud to be introducing Alan Scott into DC Comics' The New 52," said series writer James Robinson. "He was my favorite Golden Age character and one I'm very familiar with so I'm really excited to be updating him for a contemporary readership. However, I think old-time readers will be pleasantly surprised by how, in some ways, I'm trying to show the 'classic' Alan Scott at the same time. He's still the same dynamic, heroic guy he was."
