Susan Boyle checks into London clinic suffering from 'emotional exhaustion'

The frumpy pop sensation Susan Boyle was checked into a London clinic Sunday suffering from "emotional exhaustion," British papers reported.

Boyle, 48, the Scottish church employee who became an international YouTube phenomenon, ranted "I hate this show" after her disappointing loss in a television talent show Saturday.

Paramedics and police were called to help the "spaced-out" star through a hotel lobby early Sunday, according to the Sun newspaper.

Newspapers said she was taken to the private Priory Clinic in London, but management would not confirm or deny that the star was being treated there.

A "Britain's Got Talent" spokeswoman said last night Boyle was "exhausted and emotionally drained" from Saturday's show. The newspapers reported that Boyle ran down a corridor shouting, "I hate this show," after her defeat and said she threw a cup of water on a floor manager who tried to calm her down.

Ticket machines on Tube upgraded with 17 languages

Ticket machines on the London Underground (LU) have been upgraded to operate in 17 different languages.

Some of the touch-screen machines were already available in six languages - English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

From today, all machines in every station will also have Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Polish, Punjabi, Tamil, and Turkish.

More than 300 languages are spoken in total in London.

Kulveer Ranger, Transport Director to the Mayor of London, said: "Boosting the number of languages on our ticket machines is just another step in making life easier for those who live in, or travel through, the capital.

It would give many people added confidence, help maintain London as a city that supports its cultural diversity and would also improve tourists' visits to the city."

Public Holidays 2009

Public Holiday Date

New Year's Day: January 1, 2009
Good Friday: April 10, 2009
Easter Monday: April 13, 2009
May Day Holiday: May 4, 2009
Memorial Day/Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, May 25, 2009
Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, August 31, 2009
Christmas Day: December 25, 2009
Boxing Day: December 28, 2009
New Year’s Day: January 1, 2010

Swine Flu Dilemma - To Travel or Not to Travel?

Fearing that their vacations could comprise of surf, sand and swine flu, potential travelers are turning to health organizations for guidance on whether to pack their bags or stay home. Contradictory advice from various sectors doesn't seem to make it any easier to decide whether to fly or not to fly.

The European Union's health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou told reporters in Luxembourg that she was "not worried at this stage" about a pandemic sweeping across Europe, but she urged travelers to avoid Mexico and the United States anyway. That prompted a swift rebuke from Richard Besser, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, who rejected her advisory as "quite premature."

On the other side, the CDC website "recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico." The World Health Organization, is calling on nations to keep their borders open and to avoid restricting international travel, and emphasizes that a pandemic is not inevitable. Despite the plea, Argentina and Cuba have suspended all flights from Mexico, and tour operators and airlines across the globe — including some based in Canada, Germany and the U.K. — have canceled flights and holiday packages to sunshine destinations like Cancún and Cozumel.

Geoffrey Lipman, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, says "We know from the past that restrictions don't actually serve to hold back the spread of this kind of virus. It's already out there around the world in different places."

What are they wearing on the London streets

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Museum of the odd, the unusual, the unbelievable located in London. Situated in the heart of the West End at 1 Piccadilly Circus, the attraction will feature over 500 authentic, original and unbelievable exhibits, from a four-metre long model of Tower Bridge made out of matchsticks and an upside-down tea party to the world's tallest man and a Mini Cooper encrusted with 1,000,000 Swarovski crystals. Ripley's Believe It or Not! presents a unique mixture of entertainment, education and fun for the entire family -appealing to anyone with a basic sense of curiosity.

The Crystal Car covered in 1 million Swarovski lead crystals, in the shape of 10 separate images of American Icons, including the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood Hills sign, Mt Rushmore. It was made by Ken and Annie Burkitt of Ontario, Canada.

Where Truth is Stranger than Fiction!
Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week, 365 days of the year10.00 - 00.00pm (last entry 22.30)
Prices Adult: £17.95
Senior/Student: £15.95
Child 4 - 15: £13.95
Under 4: Free

Address:The London Pavilion
1 Piccadilly Circus
LondonW1J 0DA
Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly CircusUse Exit 4 to Coventry Street

LONDON FOR FREE

You shouldn't need to break the bank to live it up in London.

• Travel Children under the age of 11 can travel on the Tube, trams and buses for free during off-peak times, so if tempers get frayed, you can always take them on a magical mystery tour.
• Appliance of Science The Science Museum is a seven-floor extravaganza of hands-on activities, featuring exhibits such as Stephenson's Rocket and the Apollo 10 command module.
• The common touch Wimbledon, Clapham, Primrose Hill, Hyde Park... all over the city there are vast green spaces perfect for kicking a ball about or having a picnic.
• Changing of the Guard Arrive at Buckingham Palace before 11.30am for this show of pomp and ceremony, but check the palace website (www.royal.gov.uk) first in case of changes.
• Celeb-spotting If you're lucky enough to be visiting on the night of a film première, get yourself off to Leicester Square and try to spot a star on the red carpet. See the City of Westminster website (www.westminster.gov.uk) to find out when the big names are next in town.
• Flight of fancy The RAF Museum has more than 100 aircraft, as well as aviation and wartime memorabilia on display, along with a Battle of Britain sound-and-light show and a Red Arrows flight simulator.
• Rock on At the O2 Arena in Greenwich, you can sing along to your favourite song and be superimposed into the video. The clip is then sent to you for free.
• Get wet The fountains at Somerset House with their 55 jets, are great fun for children to cool down after a day's activities. Entry to the 18th-century house is also free to under-18s.