Bosnians euphoric over Kravitz concert

Bosnians euphoric over Kravitz concert

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Lenny Kravitz’s concert in Bosnia offered a rare glimpse of international glamour in a nation still struggling with the aftermath of a devastating ethnic war.

The rock star thanked his audience in the former Yugoslav republic Thursday for shelling out $21 for the cheap seats, a weighty sum in a country burdened by 40 percent unemployment and where the average salary is about $570 a month.

“I love and respect you for that,” he told the 6,000 fans who gathered at his two-hour show in the Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka, where he played such hits as “American Woman” and “Mama Said.” He also played Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” in tribute to the late superstar.

The turnout was remarkable for an event that wasn’t a political gathering or an economic protest. The country’s economy has never recovered from the 1992-95 war, which left thousands dead in a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” at the hands of the Bosnian Serbs.

Journalist quits job for Jon Gosselin

NEW YORK — A celebrity journalist who may have had a brief fling with “Jon & Kate” dad Jon Gosselin abruptly resigned her job Thursday, one day after joining him for a couples-only dinner in the Hamptons.

Kate Major, 26, a reporter for Star magazine, wrote on Wednesday that she’d gone to do a story on Gosselin, “and ended up falling for him.” “I didn’t mean it to happen. It just did,” she said.

Star magazine reported Thursday that Major had resigned her job after the “conflict of interest” became apparent.

On Thursday, Gosselin was telling pals he was distraught over Major’s public proclamation and that the duo were never romantically involved, according to Radar Online.

The evolving tale of lust and publicity began last weekend in Manhattan, where Gosselin, 32, and Major, 26, were first photographed together at the Accademia di Vino restaurant. At the time, Major claimed she was “just friends” with the newly separated reality TV star.

Jermaine Jackson honors Michael as humanitarian

VIENNA — Michael Jackson was a “wonderful humanitarian” who considered it important to reach out and help others, his brother said Friday.

Jermaine Jackson also said the King of Pop’s “whole existence” was to find the good in everyone and described his unexpected death June 25 at age 50 as a “tragic loss.”

“As much as my brother achieved in the music industry, he was a wonderful human being and a wonderful humanitarian,” Jackson said.

“My brother, he was well-versed in just knowing what was most important, and that’s giving back ... to make the world a much better place.”

Jackson spoke at a news conference in the Austrian capital just hours before he was to attend a gala paying tribute to Michael Jackson’s charity efforts.

Today’s birthdays

Bassist Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire is 58. Supermodel Iman is 54. Cartoonist Ray Billingsley (“Curtis”) is 52. Actress Illeana Douglas is 44. Actor Matt LeBlanc (“Joey,” “Friends”) is 42. Actor D.B. Woodside (”24”) is 40. Actor James Lafferty (“One Tree Hill”) is 24.