Smoochers break world record
Mexico City puckered up to set a new record Saturday as nearly 40,000 people locked lips in the city center for the world’s largest group kiss.
Carlos Martinez of Guinness World Records verified the record of 39,897 people who entered the gated kissing area of the city’s Zocalo main square on Valentine’s Day.
“We did it! Long live Mexico,” said Mexican singer-actress Susana Zavaleta, who serenaded the crowd before the kiss with the classic Mexican ballad, “Besame Mucho,” or “Kiss Me a Lot” – also the name of the event.
Rome
Finance ministers pledge unity
Rejecting protectionism, the Group of Seven finance ministers pledged Saturday to work together to support growth and employment and to strengthen the banking system so the world can overcome its worst financial crisis in 50 years.
But the bad news continues. The final statement on their two-day meeting in Rome also predicts a gloomy forecast, with the severe economic downturn continuing through most of 2009.
The G-7 ministers warned that any protectionist measures to boost national economies would only undermine global prosperity.
“The stabilization of the global economy and financial markets remains our highest priority,” the statement said.
Los Angeles
Mom’s PR agents get death threats
The public relations group that has represented octuplets mother Nadya Suleman is stepping down because of death threats, its president said Saturday.
Joann Killeen also said the mother now has an agent: Wes Yoder, the same man who arranged book and music deals for the McCaughey septuplets a decade ago and publicity for controversial pastor Rick Warren.
The Killeen Furtney Group was ending its free representation after receiving at least 100 graphic e-mailed threats and swarms of nasty voicemails that went to the Los Angeles agency and even to some of its other clients, Killeen said.
Word that the 33-year-old single unemployed mother is receiving public assistance to care for the 14 children she conceived through in vitro fertilization has stoked furor among many people.
Police are investigating the threats.