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People, Society, Events
Author sorry for 'borrowed' work
Photo: Harvard's Viswanathan published her debut novel, last month. A Harvard's student-novelist has apologized for similarities between her debut work and another writer's books. Harvard University student Kaavya Viswanathan said resemblances between her book and novels by Megan McCafferty were "unintentional and unconscious". She apologized to Ms McCafferty, saying she had been unaware that she had "internalized" the author's works. Ms. Viswanathan promised to change How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life in future print runs. Hollywood studio DreamWorks has already acquired the movie rights to the book. A newspaper claimed seven passages in Ms. Viswanathan's book closely resembled sections from Ms. McCafferty's work. Ms. Viswanathan's novel tells the story of a straight-A student from New Jersey, who is rejected from Harvard because she has no social life. The novels of former Cosmopolitan magazine editor Ms McCafferty follow a heroine from New Jersey who excels in high school but struggles with her identity and longs for a boyfriend. Ms. Viswanathan said she had "read and loved" two of Ms McCafferty's novels when she was younger and was "very surprised and upset" to learn of the similarities with her own novel. She added: "I am a huge fan of her work and can honestly say that any phrasing similarities between her works and mine were completely unintentional and unconscious." The student also apologized to anyone who felt "misled by these unintentional errors on my part". She signed her contract with publisher Little Brown at the age of 17, making her the youngest author signed by the publisher in decades.
Hollywood couple get privacy vow
Photo: Angelina Jolie is eight month's pregnant. Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will have their privacy protected during their stay in Namibia, the country's government has said.
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The couple are due to stay in the southern African country for two months, where pregnant Jolie is expected to give birth. A number of photographers have already been ordered by the Namibian government to leave the country or face arrest. The couple have also issued a statement asking the press to leave them alone. 'Beautiful country': Loini Katoma, the permanent secretary in Namibia's ministry of information and broadcasting, said: "The Namibian government feels constitutionally bound to not only protect the privacy of its own citizens, but also the privacy of visitors. "Since Mr. Pitt and Ms Jolie were forced over the past weekend to release a statement in which they asked the local and international media for privacy... the Namibian government feels compelled to take steps to protect their privacy." In a statement the couple, who are in Namibia with Jolie's adopted children Maddox and Zahara, thanked "local people who have been so kind and generous". It added: "We love Africa and to be here in Namibia with our family is very special for us. "As for the press, we kindly ask for privacy so that we can enjoy this beautiful country with our children." Blaine plans underwater challenge
Photo: Blaine has been in training in the Cayman Islands. Magician David Blaine has announced plans to spend seven days submerged in a water-filled container in New York.. The illusionist, who spent 44 days in a glass box for a starvation stunt in London in 2003, will use lines giving nutrition and air to stay alive. After one week, he will remove his air supply and attempt to break the world record for holding breath. Blaine, 33, endured a 62-hour stint sealed in an ice block in New York's Times Square in 2003. The magician will enter an 8ft (2.5m) high water-filled sphere on 1 May and remain submerged for a week. Organizers say they want fans and well-wishers "to visit, touch the sphere and offer words of support". Before climbing out of the tank, located at the
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Blaine will try to break the
record for holding breath, currently set at eight minutes 58 seconds.
Blaine's London stunt, in which he was suspended in a glass box by the
river Thames, saw him heckled by crowds. His box was also hit by
missiles including golf balls and eggs. Blaine's spokesman Pat Smith
said the magician did not expect to receive similar attacks in the
star's "home town". He said: "Anytime he's done anything in New York,
the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. "New Yorkers are cool
about this kind of thing." Blaine is to get a two-way audio link,
allowing the media to interview him during the challenge.
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