World post-Valentine’s Day

The world has been left reeling after a more than eventful Valentine’s Day, the internationally recognised day of romance, this year. Lovers in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square exchanged roses in an annual celebration of Valentine’s, however in some parts of the world, Islamists called for the renunciation of commemorating the originally Christian festival. The day started rather less romantically with news of the alleged murder of South African “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius’ girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius appeared in a Pretorian court today charged with murder, after his model girlfriend was shot four times with a gun registered in his name. The world-famous athlete is accused of killing blonde cover girl Reeva Steenkamp, who suffered fatal wounds to the head and hand in the shooting in the early hours of Thursday. The sprinter spent the night in custody after blood-alcohol and other tests delayed his appearance before a magistrate. Earlier police played down reports that Pistorius had shot his 29-year-old girlfriend after mistaking her for a burglar. Meanwhile in Thailand nine couples locked lips in the hope of setting a new record for the world's longest kiss, but the attempt proved too much for two septuagenarians who dropped out after just one hour. The participants, who must kiss for more than 50 hours, 25 minutes and one second to enter the Guinness World Records, were forbidden from sitting down and could only go to the bathroom after the first six hours. "They have to continue kissing while they go to the toilet and can only drink water or milk through straws," said an event spokesman. "They couldn't do this unless they love each other. The smell of their breath would probably be quite something." The current holders are a male couple who returned to try to beat their own record set last year. Official figures released by the US Census Bureau on Valentine’s Day meanwhile revealed that almost 20 percent of US adults have been married at least twice. The Bureau said 19.5 percent of US adults had been married at least twice as of 2011 while five percent had been married three or more times. For those still searching for love, the Census Bureau said there were 393 dating services in business as of 2007, pulling in $928m annually in profits.