| Sideshow | Madonna ends 6-day Malawi visit
Madonna jetted out of Malawi yesterday after a six-day visit to the impoverished homeland of the toddler she wants to adopt, David Banda. Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, took custody of Banda last October after finding him in an orphanage. Critics said the star used her celebrity status to circumvent Malawian adoption laws - allegations she denies. The 20-month-old toddler waved to the bodyguards and driver who had escorted him during the visit. Madonna, wearing a straw hat, did not look back as she disappeared into the jet with her daughter Lourdes, 9. The star and her entourage spent their time visiting orphanages, projects for street children, and agricultural development programs, as well as opening a day-care center financed by her charity, Raising Malawi.
Prices jump at mammoth auction in Paris
PARIS: The skeleton of a 15,000-year-old Siberian mammoth was snapped up at auction in Paris on Monday for over one-and-a-half times the estimated price. Dubbed "The President", the 3.8-metre-high tusked mammoth was sold for 260,000 euros ($NZ475,231) to an unknown bidder by Christie's in Paris, compared to a 150,000-180,000 euros guide price. The skeleton of a woolly rhinoceros dating back some 10,000 years also beat its estimated price to sell for 100,000 euros, while rare bird and fish fossils went under the hammer along with a meteorite. The widespread media coverage of the auction has caused mixed feelings among some scientists. Pascal Picq, a palaeontologist at the College of France, told France Info radio the risk of a commercialization of fossils could cause their decline.
Newcomers to hold gala art auction
On Saturday, May 19 the Wilton Newcomers Club will host a gala art auction with all proceeds going to the Woodcock Nature Center's education programs. The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. at the Trackside Teen Center, Station Road, with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live music. Guests will be able to purchase high-quality, framed artwork at an incredibly reduced rate. With many styles and genres to choose from, this is an event you won't want to miss. The Wilton Bank is the generous sponsor of the event. In addition, numerous local merchants have donated food and raffle items. The Woodcock Nature Center has been a private non-profit source of nature and environmental education in Southwestern Connecticut since 1972. Its full-time staff works with the local protected wildlife to serve as a resource for educating the community about our natural surroundings through public outreach, school field trips and visits, on-site birthday parties, and summer camps.
Midlands Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction
The Midlands Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction in New Zealand is an annual event that raises money for the Hawke's Bay's Cranford Hospice. Each year, New Zealand's winemakers create a variety of lots including oversized bottles and tasting dinners and other unique lots such as the Alpha Domus winery offering which includes a six liter Methuzela Aviator En Premieur and the chance to be a winemaker for the day and blend your own Aviator wine from the 2007 vintage. The auction will also feature a 12 liter bottle of Esk Valley's red wine, The Terraces, 1991 vintage that has been bought and sold at the auction several times. The 16th annual auction will be held in the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings on June 3. Tickets to the auction are $140 and a tasting will also be held here on June 1 for $40 per person.
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