Washington, Mar 13 : A new study on 300 married, working couples has found that the ongoing economic crisis is taking its toll on families and companies across the US.

Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Management at Florida State University''s College of Business, has revealed just how deeply the crunch is being felt.

He sought to find out how the financial crisis is affecting people both at work and in their personal lives.

His findings show that in the workplace, large numbers of people are feeling more stress, more pressure from management, and more concern about their job security.

They are also witnessing more incivility, says the researcher.

Washington, Mar 13 : British singer Sir Elton John is set to speak at an upcoming convention of international scientists.

John, 61, will be addressing 20,000 people at the Biotechnology Industry Organisation's annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in May this year.

The singer will be discussing the importance of Aids prevention, a cause his charity, the Elton John Aids Foundation, has been working on.

Washington, Mar 13 : American singer Cyndi Lauper has defended queen of pop Madonna's relationship with Brazilian model Jesus Luz, after their 28 years difference was criticised.

Madge, 50, has been seen with 22-year-old Luz at different locations, and in compromising positions.

But 55-year-old Lauper insists that it is not fair to point fingers at Madge for having a younger boyfriend, especially since it is not unusual for a man to be seen with a woman half his age.

Washington, Mar. 13 : US President Barack Obama's Indian American White House chief information officer, Vivek Kundra, has gone on leave until the FBI completes its investigation into the Washington city office he once headed.

Kundra went on leave after federal agents arrested an Indian-American businessman and a Washington DC government official on corruption charges on Thursday and searched the offices of the capital city''s chief technology officer as part of a corruption probe.

Washington, Mar 13 : Pop star Lily Allen was recently photographed attacking a paparazzo.

The paparazzo following her all through London reportedly drove into the back of her car, which made Allen lose her cool, after which she got out of her car threw a water bottle at him and started kicking him.

The `Not Big' hitmaker failed to notice that while she was beating the paparazzo, others were busy clicking her, reports Contactmusic.

However, it is not known whether the paparazzo in question filed charges against Allen.

Washington, Mar 13 : Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere tried to talk down reports claiming that she lashed out at a journalist in Hawaii, saying that they were blown out of proportion.

Hayden reportedly shouted angrily at a reporter, who tapped her shoulder at a fundraiser gala in Hawai.

Hayden shouted: "You all make my life miserable."

However, Hayden maintains that she has a great deal of respect for the media, and she suddenly shouted at the paparazzo because he scared her by suddenly grabbing her from behind.