Rowling, Warner Bros. sue over Potter book

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A book billed as an unofficial encyclopedic companion to the "Harry Potter" series infringes copyright and attempts to cash in on the successful brand, author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. said when they filed a lawsuit on Wednesday.

The 400-page book -- "The Harry Potter Lexicon" due to be released by RDR Books on November 28 in the United States -- had inappropriately referenced Rowling's fictional characters and universe, Rowling and Warner Bros. said.

RDR Books said the author of the reference book, Steve Vander Ark, based it on his fan Web site, www.hp-lexicon.org, that was used by 25 million visitors and had been called "a great site" by Rowling herself.

In a statement on Wednesday, Rowling said even though she loved fan sites, she hoped to write "the definitive Harry Potter encyclopedia, which will include all the material that never made it into the novels" and donate the proceeds to charity.

"I cannot, therefore, approve of 'companion books' or 'encyclopedias' that seek to pre-empt my definitive Potter reference book for their authors' own personal gain," she said. "The losers in such a situation would be the charities that I hope, eventually, to benefit."

The lawsuit names RDR Books, an independent publisher based in Michigan, and unidentified persons as defendants. It seeks damages for copyright and federal trademark infringement and any profits to be gained from the book.

"The infringing book is particularly troubling as it is in direct contravention to Ms. Rowling's repeatedly stated intention to publish her own companion books to the series," said the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan.

Roger Rapoport, the publisher and owner of RDR Books, said Vander Ark, a librarian, had spoken at Harry Potter academic conferences in Britain, Canada and the United States and that a timeline he created was used by Warner Bros. in DVD releases of the Harry Potter films.

The forthcoming book "only promotes the sale of J.K. Rowling's work and we intend to publish on schedule as planned," said Rapoport.

Spears says she tries to stay true to self

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In her first interview amid the media frenzy over her child custody hearings, Britney Spears told a radio station on Wednesday that the world can be cruel but she deals with it by staying true to herself.

"You just try to keep doing what you do and as long as you know what's up and you know what's true, that's all that really matters -- you know," Spears told celebrity disc jockey Ryan Seacrest on Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM.

Seacrest asked Spears, 25, if criticism of her parenting skills bothered her, and she lamented on how "sad, you know, how people ... how cruel our world can be."

"But at the end of the day, like I said, you know, you just got to know in your heart that, you know, you're doing the best that you can and, you know, that's basically it," Spears said.

The singer and ex-husband Kevin Federline, 29, have been embroiled for months in a custody battle over their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

In the most recent event on Tuesday, a Los Angeles court commissioner ruled Spears can visit her sons -- currently living with Federline -- three times a week with a monitor and she must continue random drug and alcohol testing.

The ruling followed a hearing last Friday at which a parenting coach testified that Spears "rarely engaged with the children in conversation or play" and the boys had no real schedule or routine, according to court documents.

Seacrest asked Spears if she was doing everything she could for her kids, and the singer replied, "Oh God, yes."

He asked how often she was seeing the boys, and she deferred to her lawyers.

"That's like all in the court, stuff like that. My lawyers know all that stuff," she said.

In addition to the ruling, Spears also saw the release of her new album, "Blackout," this week with the single, "Gimme More," winning a lot of radio play and Web downloads.

Seacrest asked Spears about the message she meant to convey in one of the album's songs, "Piece of Me."

Religion, culture cannot excuse female inequality: Cherie Blair

LONDON (AFP) - Religion and culture are no excuse for the suppression of women's rights, the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair said in a keynote speech Wednesday.

Cherie Blair, a leading human rights lawyer, singled out Egypt and some orthodox Jewish communities as well as nations in south Asia and Africa for particular criticism over their treatment of women.

But she steered clear of addressing women's rights in Saudi Arabia, whose King Abdullah has received a lavish welcome from Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Gordon Brown on a state visit to Britain this week.

The issue of gender equality is "a matter of simple justice or, to be unfashionably unapologetic about it, a matter of right and wrong", Blair told an audience at the Chatham House international affairs think-tank in London.

"I believe our shared humanity prescribes equality and that any limitation based on this equality is a direct insult to our dignity," she added.

"It's about something as fundamental as a universal ethic that cuts across all cultures and all religions.

"It's an imperative for all of our shared humanity. Simply put, it's the right thing to do."

She also said that in some countries, the "twin distortions of culture and religion" can perpetuate the view of women as "powerless beings dependent on men for protection, worth and status".

As examples, she listed separate divorce systems for men and women in Egypt, the situation in some orthodox Jewish communities where only men can initiate a divorce and the treatment of widows as "second class citizens or the bearers of bad luck to the community" in some south Asian and African countries.

Lil' Wayne Arraigned, Sued

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Lil' Wayne's legal problems are multiplying.

While the New Orleans hip-hopster was being arraigned on drug charges in Atlanta Wednesday, he was also targeted in a lawsuit by a Miami jewelry company for allegedly failing to pay for his bling.

First the serious stuff.

The 25-year-old rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, appeared for about 20 minutes of a three-hour preliminary hearing, enough time to plead not guilty to three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. The rapper was arrested in August 2006 after police, tipped off by a hotel employee, found marijuana and over 100 Xanax and hydrocodone pills in Wayne's room.

He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 20, at which time the judge is expected to rule on a series of motions filed by his lawyer, William Head, seeking to have the case dismissed.

One of those is a petition challenging the legality of the hotel search; another is a request to inspect the evidence, such as the seized pill bottles, and have them dusted for fingerprints.

"We asked to examine the evidence so we can prove it has no connection to him," Head told E! Online. "Let's see what the fingerprints are."

Asked why it took a year for his client to face the music, Head lashed out at Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

"You get more federal money by showing you have a huge crime problem and you just charge anybody who crossed the Fulton County system," the attorney said. "The first prosecutor who got it said, 'I'm not going to put that in front of a grand jury,' and she never did.

"Then later, [Howard's] office files an accusation which is just a piped-up accusation and mails a notice to the address that came off Lil' Wayne's driver's license...but nobody asks him for an updated address."

As it turned out, the case notice was sent to the rapper's address in New Orleans, which was wiped out in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Unaware of the charges, the rapper missed a couple of court hearings and an arrest warrant was issued, leading to his collar in Boise, Idaho, earlier this month.

Consequently, the entertainer now faces a charge of being a fugitive in Idaho—a count that will be separately adjudicated in a Boise courtroom.

If that wasn't bad enough, Wayne is also facing gun and pot charges in New York after he was arrested following a concert at Manhattan's Beacon Theater.

And then there's his new civil action. Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry filed suit in Florida's Miami-Dade Circuit Court, alleging Lil' Wayne failed to make good on a $146,000 bill for a diamond ring and necklace purchased earlier this month.

"I've been doing business with him for at least 10 years," said owner Jack Sutton. "He's always been wonderful with paying me. He spent a lot of money with me. I thought we have a really good relationship. I don't know what happened."

The Who's Your Caddy? star agreed to pony up the dough in monthly installments and initially did, Sutton says, sending one check on Oct. 12 for $24,000 and another dated January 2008. But Sutton felt forced to take legal action once those payments stopped.

The rapper's civil attorney, Ron Sweeney, blamed the billing dispute on a "misunderstanding." Sweeney said that if Sutton's claim are true, the performer will pay up.

Canadian Court Thaws on Kristy Swanson

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Kristy Swanson is no longer skating on thin ice.

Ontario prosecutors opted Wednesday to drop an assault charge against the actress stemming from her June run-in with boyfriend Lloyd Eisler's ex-wife.

"I am thrilled and excited that the charge has been dropped," Swanson, 37, said. "This never should have happened and our family can move on."

Swanson and Marcia O'Brien, Eisler's missus up until he met the original Buffy on the set of last year's Skating with Celebrities, filed dueling police reports the weekend of June 15 after a she-said, she-said encounter at O'Brien's home. Swanson had accompanied Eisler on a scheduled visit with his two young sons.

While Swanson claimed that O'Brien went postal on her, O'Brien—who was pregnant when she and Eisler split up—told authorities that the erstwhile Playboy poser had started the catfight, leaving her with bruises and scratches on her arms, knees and back.

Swanson turned herself in on the evening of June 16 and was booked in Toronto for misdemeanor assault. She posted $1,000 bail and was free to leave. No charges were ever filed against O'Brien.

But the verbal jabs continued a month later, with Eisler's rep calling O'Brien an "out of control crazy-maker," and O'Brien threatening legal action against her ex and Swanson for their public comments about the case, claiming that they were having an "alarming and detrimental effect" on her and her two children, then ages 3 and 19 months.

Eisler has maintained that he and O'Brien were separated before he ever met Swanson in 2005.

And now, thanks to the Ontario Court of Justice, Swanson, who got her platinum-blond on earlier this year playing an Anna Nicole Smith type on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, is free to focus on family life with Eisler and their eight-month-old son, Magnus Hart Swanson.

British princess visits Machu Picchu, Peru

LIMA (AFP) - Britain's Princess Beatrice visited Peru's ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu on Wednesday, the second day of her visit to the mountainous Andean nation, the British embassy here said.

Beatrice, 18, was due to stay until Thursday at the site of the pre-Columbian city, a spectacular terraced array of sanctuary buildings bound by soaring peaks and tropical forest.

The princess is fifth in line to the British throne as the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II's second son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and the Duchess, Sarah Ferguson.

She was accompanied on the trip by four people, including friends and guards.

Machu Picchu, labelled one of the seven wonders of the world, also received visits this year from the Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz and Microsoft tech tycoon Bill Gates. Beatrice's mother

'Don Vito' convicted on 2 sex counts

GOLDEN, Colo. - The man known as "Don Vito" on MTV's show "Viva La Bam" was convicted Wednesday of two counts of sexual assault on a child. Vincent Margera, 51, who was accused of groping three girls ages 12 to 14 during an autograph signing event last year at mall skate park in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, fell to the floor cursing and yelled, "Just kill me now."

He was acquitted of a third count of sex assault on a child. He faces a sentence of probation to six years in prison on each conviction. If he doesn't comply with sex offender treatment as part of the sentence, he could potentially spend life in prison, district attorney's spokeswoman Pam Russell said.

After Margera's courtroom outburst, deputies restrained him and took him to jail, where he was being held without bail until his sentencing hearing, set for Dec. 20.

Defense attorney Pamela Mackey had argued that when Margera appeared at the skate park, he took on the persona of the outrageous and profane Don Vito. Mackey had said that Margera, a car painter, learned that the crazier he acted, the more his fans loved it.

Lance Bass says he got hitched in Vegas

NEW YORK - Lance Bass, who is openly gay, says he once married a girlfriend in Las Vegas
People do stupid things in the heat of the moment," the 28-year-old singer told E! News in an article published Tuesday on its Web site. "I've been in Vegas where I've gotten married for like five minutes, but no one talks about it, though."

Bass, who was part of the boy band 'N Sync, says he got hitched in "1999 or 2000," and the bride was "just a friend."

"In fact, the only reason we did it is because we wanted to get free drinks all night ... and we didn't get one," he says. "We're like, `we just got married,' and they're like, `ah, whatever.'"

Bass, who has been promoting his new memoir, "Out of Sync," can now be seen on Broadway in the long-running musical "Hairspray." He stepped into the role of TV dance show host Corny Collins in August.

Renee Zellweger Relocates

Ever since Renee Zellweger won our hearts in “Jerry Maguire” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” she’s been the object of attention for the paparazzi. But she’s sick of always being followed around.

The “Cold Mountain” actress, who was seen at the New York City premiere of “Bee Movie” last night, says that she prefers not to live in Los Angeles anymore. Instead, she divides her time between NYC and Connecticut.

She told press, “I don’t need to be in the eye of the storm. I love acting, I really do love it, but I have a very hard time. It’s a strange thing to call a job.”

Renee says that the West Coast paps were a little too overbearing for her taste. “I wasn’t really into being followed around everywhere by six guys with two-way radios. There’s this whole network. You start to recognize them and it’s like, You’re not invited. I have a fitting, then I have to go meet this director to discuss the next project, then I have an interview, and I’m going to go for a run. And you’re not invited. But they’ll come with you all day.”

Her solution? Relocate! “I don’t want to feed the fishes. I also don’t want to be one of those people who are sour about it. So I decided I’d just leave.”

US top court lets Liz Taylor keep disputed Van Gogh

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit against actress Elizabeth Taylor for owning a Van Gogh painting that a Jewish woman lost before fleeing Nazi Germany to South Africa in 1939.

The lawsuit was filed by the Canadian and South African descendants of the original owner, Margarete Mauthner.

Taylor, 75, purchased Vincent Van Gogh's 1889 painting "View of the Asylum and Chapel at Saint-Remy" at a London auction in 1963 for 257,600 dollars. The painting is currently estimated at between 10 and 15 million dollars.

The suit alleged Taylor must have known when she bought the painting that it had been stolen by the Nazis, and accused her of negligence.

Taylor said the painting had been listed in Sotheby's 1963 auction catalogue as originally belonging to Mauthner, and then being sold twice to reputable art galleries before it was acquired by Jewish art collector Alfred Wolf.

Wolf fled Nazi Germany to South Africa in 1933.

A San Francisco court of appeals in May had already dismissed the lawsuit, but the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court, which upheld a lower court's February 2005 ruling dismissing the case.

Brosnan investigated in alleged assault

MALIBU, Calif. - Sheriff's officials are investigating Pierce Brosnan in an alleged assault in Malibu last week

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, said the incident allegedly occurred outside a Mexican restaurant Friday night.

He said the 54-year-old former James Bond star wasn't arrested or detained.

Messages left Tuesday for Brosnan's publicist, Jennifer Allen, weren't immediately returned.

Whitmore identified the alleged victim as Robert Rosen, but declined to give more details because the investigation is ongoing.

Designer says Jennifer Lopez is pregnant

NEW YORK - Roberto Cavalli has confirmed, perhaps inadvertently, that Jennifer Lopez is pregnant.

Asked what types of clothing he designs for celebrities, the fashion designer told People magazine: "Well Jennifer Lopez, at this moment, she requests something very special because she is waiting for the baby."

"It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger," Cavalli said in a story posted Tuesday on the magazine's Web site.

Cavalli, known for his attention-getting designs, created free-flowing outfits for Lopez, who has been on tour with her husband, Marc Anthony.

His comment came after weeks of speculation, tabloid baby-bump pictures and raised eyebrows. Lopez, 39, has declined comment.

A telephone message left Wednesday for her publicist, Nancy Ryder, wasn't immediately returned.

"The thing about Jennifer Lopez, she is a singer, she is a dancer," Cavalli said. "Most of the time when I prepare something for the tour, the performer, they want something very soft so they can dance and so they can move free."

___

Cruise did not persuade Becks

The LA Galaxy player has been speaking about his close friendship with the Hollywood hunk and wife Katie Holmes


Soccer ace David Beckham has denied claims that his pal Tom Cruise persuaded him and wife Victoria to join Scientology.

The LA Galaxy player has been speaking about his close friendship with the Hollywood hunk and wife Katie Holmes since the Beckham family made the move to the States and described them as "amazing people" who were "just so positive about life".

"We respect their religion. We respect everything they do and believe in. But they have never turned around to us and said, 'You have to be a part of this', because that's not what they're about. It's never been about that,” the Mirror quoted him, as saying.

"They are amazing people who are just so positive about life and they have been great to us.

Jessica Biel Signs Up For “Die A Little”

Gaining popularity by the minute, Jessica Biel continues lining up work, as she has just agreed to star in United Artists’ crime thriller Die a Little.

The movie, which is based on Megan Abbott’s novel, is about “a schoolteacher and her LAPD detective brother whose lives are turned upside down by a mysterious woman.”

According to Variety, “Though the novel is set in 1954, the movie will be based in the present day.”

United Artists has set up the movie with Richard Gladstein through his FilmColony banner and Biel’s Iron Ocean Films - meaning that Jessica gets to step into the producer role as well.

Elisha cuthbert's mystery man

She’s not the little high school girl we all loved in “Old School” anymore. Elisha Cuthbert is filling into her career as a Hollywood A-lister quite nicely, and everyone is taking notice.

The “24” actress has been a constant blip on the paparazzi radar screen, and this time they found her coming out of a club.

Hollywood’s Hyde Lounge was the location of choice for the “Girl Next Door” babe earlier this week. She was wearing a tan-colored speckled shirt with khaki capris with a matching handbag and black heels.

Elisha’s escort looked to be someone from the “ Jude Law Impersonating Society” as he donned a v-neck t-shirt underneath a blazer with a fedora accenting the ensemble.

Cuthbert just returned from the Connecticut set of “The Six Wives Of Henry LeFay,” a new movie with Andie MacDowell and Will Ferrell.

Gwyneth Paltrow Does Spain Sans Husband

It’s been four years since Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin got married. And two kids later, we rarely see the pair out together.

Earlier this week, Paltrow was spotted in Barcelona, Spain. She was hamming it up at El Corte Ingles department store on behalf of Estee Lauder’s Pleasures Fragrance. And Chris was nowhere to be found.

There have been increasing rumors that the couple are having serious marital problems. One source talked about Gwyn’s reluctance to speak of her hubby.

“It was like Gwyneth didn’t want to talk about him. It was very strange. They haven’t been out together for months.”

An insider speculated to press that the “Sliding Doors” actress and the “Yellow” singer are disagreeing on where they want to live. “Gwyneth has wanted to return to the States permanently for a long time but Chris has said no.”

But Paltrow’s publicist has slammed the assertions that her client is having marital problems. “Gwyneth and Chris as a policy do not talk about each other in the media, nor do they attend public functions together. They have not been apart all summer as you suggest and she does not want to move to America.”

Whether or not those are famous last words, only time will tell.

Lindsay Lohan: Hosting Bash For Cash

It’s a common misconception that all celebrities have endless bank accounts. But the reality is that it costs so much to live the fabulous life, sometimes Hollywood’s elite come up a bit short.

It seems that Lindsay Lohan is in a bit of financial trouble. She signed on to host a New Year’s party at Sin City hotspot LAX, despite her strivings for sobriety.

A source told press, “Lindsay doesn’t necessarily want to host, but she’s contractually obligated.” Apparently, she already took money for the birthday gig she was supposed to hold at Club Pure (owned by the same people as LAX) and therefore had to do this party to fulfill that deal. “She already took the money from the birthday gig and can’t afford to pay them back,” reported a source.

So what does the future hold for this troubled actress? She’s filming “Dare To Love Me” in Los Angeles, and plans on recording a new album. Hopefully then she’ll have the cheese to turn down deals like this one.

Lane Garrison's Sentencing Imminent

Los Angeles (E! Online) - With Lane Garrison scheduled to learn his fate tomorrow, a group of antifans are doing their utmost to ensure he doesn't catch a break on prison time.

A community coalition has gathered more than 3,400 signatures on petitions and will deliver them to Beverly Hills Superior Court Tuesday in an attempt to convince the judge to sentence the actor to the maximum penalty for the alcohol-fueled crash that left a high school student dead.

Garrison pleaded guilty in May to vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence in the December 2006 crash that killed 17-year-old Vahagn Setian and injured two 15-year-old girls.

Following his plea, Garrison was ordered in August to undergo a 90-day diagnostic stay at the California Institute for Men in Chino.

He completed the psychological evaluation last month and was turned over to Los Angeles County authorities. Since then, he has been incarcerated at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility while awaiting sentencing.

The former Prison Break player faces a maximum sentence of six years and eight months behind bars, which is exactly what the petitioners are urging the judge to impose.

However, depending on the recommendations of the prison staff and psychologists who examined Garrison at the Chino facility, Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox could decide to release him on probation at Wednesday's sentencing.

Setian's parents were expected to be present Tuesday for the delivery of the signatures to the courthouse.

In August, Setian's grieving father called Garrison "selfish," claiming the actor took no responsibility for the actions that killed his son.

"The meaning of our lives was taken away. He was our only child," Setian said on the stand.

"He took no responsibility. He could have come to us the next day and apologized, but he didn't."

Garrison claimed at the hearing that he had tried repeatedly to contact the family, but was unable to reach them.

"We can't bring him back, but I just want to apologize to everyone," he said from the stand in August.

"I'm sorry for my behavior that evening. It doesn't represent who I am usually."

In another bid to make amends, Garrison also filmed an emotional PSA discouraging others from making the same mistakes he did.

Indonesian president launches debut album

JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has found a new use for his presidential pen, composing an album of 10 heartfelt songs for release across the nation this week
"My Longing for You," a 50-minute album released on compact disc, features pop songs written by the president and performed by prominent Indonesian singers.

The cover shows Yudhoyono clutching an acoustic guitar, his solemn face looming over a line-up of musicians who perform songs such as "The Sun is Shining," "A Song Under the Moonlight," "The Power of God" and "Good Luck in Your Struggle."

The president is known to be an eager performer and does not shy away from the limelight when a microphone is at hand. He crooned in public during his campaign for the presidency in 2004.

A staff member at Jakarta's copyright office said the president had registered the 10 songs on the disc at a cost of 200,000 rupiah (22 dollars) each.

The copyright certificates were handed to the president at the launch on Monday evening and the songs will be protected for 50 years after his death.

How will madhuri fare?

For, marriage makes things difficult even for divas in the film industry. Stars like Karisma Kapur, Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre almost disappeared after marriage .

With her graceful moves and her new toned, slim look, the dhak-dhak girl is all set to sizzle on the screen. And if Madhuri Dixit Nene does, her success will be an exception, rather than the rule.

For, marriage makes things difficult even for divas in the film industry. Stars like Karisma Kapur, Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre almost disappeared after marriage. Kajol too couldn’t do much at the box office initially, until Fanaa happened.

With Madhuri’s Aaja Nachle and Aishwarya Bachchan’s Jodhaa Akbar slated for release, everyone is waiting to see whether they will be capable of the same magic as when they were single. “I’ll definitely see Madhuri’s film.

She’s looking ravishing and is a great actress,” says actress Lakshmi Gopalaswamy. She believes the break has been good for Madhuri and she’s re-emerged as an actress of these times.

There’s a tendency with the audience, specifically men, to lose interest in an actress after she gets married. But I believe that such stupendous talent like Madhuri’s supercedes everything,” adds filmmaker Indrajit.

He feels the mindset is slowly changing and marriage is no longer an issue. “It doesn’t matter whether the heroine is married if the role and script are sound. As a director, I don’t take the marital status of actresses into account. Marriage is a non-issue and talent is the bottom line,” he adds.

Model Carun Carumbaiah agrees, saying the common perception that the male audience doesn’t accept married heroines is wrong. “It doesn’t make a difference to me whether the actress is married or not.

Lindsay Lohan Shops It Up With Riley

With all the crazy allegations flying around about Lindsay Lohan stealing Riley Giles away from his fiancée, it’s good to see these two lovebirds out and about.

LiLo was spotted at the Grove in Los Angeles escorted by her snowboarder boyfriend.

The two met at the Cirque Lodge in Utah while seeking treatment for various substance abuse problems… and it looks like they found a new addiction-each other!

The “Mean Girls” actress has been in Los Angeles as of late to film her new movie “Dare to Love Me.”

Michael Douglas' new role: family man

SAVANNAH, Ga. - He's played everything from a Wall Street vulture to the president, but these days Michael Douglas is focusing on his favorite role — father and husband.

I've learned to kick back and be a family man," he says. "Since I married Catherine (Zeta-Jones), we've been raising a new family. I'm enjoying it immensely. And my priorities have changed enormously."

Since getting married in 2000, the two have had a son and daughter.

Douglas was in Savannah to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Savannah Film Festival.

The award made him "feel like I need to check with my doctor and see if everything's OK," the 63-year-old Academy Award winner joked in an interview Saturday with the Savannah Morning-News.

"I'm slowing down, but I'm not ready to call it quits yet," he said.

Douglas, a steady hitmaker in the 1980s and '90s with "Fatal Attraction," "Wall Street" and "Basic Instinct," has delivered some box-office duds lately: Secret Service thriller "The Sentinel," the action comedy "The In-Laws" and the domestic drama "It Runs in the Family," which co-stars his parents, Kirk and Diana Douglas, and his grown son, Cameron.

Lou Dobbs makes Spitzer nightly pinata

NEW YORK - Lou Dobbs is sorry about calling Gov. Eliot Spitzer an idiot.

Sincerely. As for ripping the New York Democrat as arrogant, spineless and "a spoiled rich kid brat," the host of CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" stands by those nationally broadcast broadsides.

Absolutely.

Dobbs has made Spitzer an almost daily target over his recent plan to ease restrictions on illegal immigrants seeking New York state driver's licenses, mixing vitriol with sarcasm while endlessly lambasting the governor's decision.

The lifelong Republican has taken on politicians of every stripe, as when he blasted the Bush administration over port security. But his nightly diatribe against Spitzer is notable for its intensity, and for elevating a state proposal onto the national stage.

"What he's doing is an outrageous, arrogant abuse of power," Dobbs said in an interview before a recent show. "He's pandering to a constituency aligned directly against the interests of U.S. and New York state citizens."

Dobbs's ire boiled over Tuesday night when he ripped Spitzer as an idiot — and then offered an on-air mea culpa.

"I'm the idiot," Dobbs said. "Governor, I apologize for calling you one. Your policies are idiotic. But I have to apologize for calling you an idiot."

Dobbs shouldn't hold his breath waiting for a bouquet of roses (the state flower) and a thank-you note from Spitzer.

"Mr. Dobbs has clearly demonstrated that he is not interested in a real debate on New York's driver's license policy change," said Jennifer Givner, a Spitzer spokeswoman. "He has repeatedly refused to offer balanced coverage of the issue."

Dobbs has turned the first-term governor into a verbal pinata over his September announcement that illegal immigrants with valid foreign passports could obtain a driver's license.

Spitzer has said the plan, set to go into effect this December, would make New York safer by bringing its 1 million illegal immigrants "out of the shadows."

On Saturday, Spitzer cut a deal with the Bush administration that would still allow the state to issue licenses to illegal immigrants — although the agreement required that their licenses would be clearly marked to indicate they are not valid federal ID.

While advocates on either side of the flap said Spitzer had backed down, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was still upset by the state's decision to license illegals.

The Spitzer decision reversed a 2002 order by former Gov. George Pataki issued after the 9/11 attacks, and placed Spitzer directly in Dobbs' cable crosshairs. But Dobbs, while perhaps the highest-profile critics of the plan, is not alone: a state poll showed 72 percent of New Yorkers opposed Spitzer on this issue, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also expressed skepticism.

Spitzer, in a speech last week, noted that "despite the hysteria this policy has created in some circles, it is simply a return to the policy we had for most of our state's history."

Dobbs is hardly swayed by the history lesson, complaining the relaxed license requirement could produce voter fraud and raise security issues. Spitzer has ignored repeated invitations to appear on the program, Dobbs said; the show has turned down guests supporting Spitzer, including former national counterterrorism adviser Richard A. Clarke, according to Givner.

Dobbs, who has made immigration one of his show's centerpiece issues, was criticized this week in a New York Times editorial for his Spitzer bashing.

"Mr. Dobbs has trained his biggest guns on Mr. Spitzer, branding him with puerile epithets like `spoiled rich-kid brat' and depicting his policy as some sort of sanctuary program for the 9/11 hijackers," the Times wrote. "Someday there may be a calm debate, in Albany and nationally, about immigrant drivers.

"With Mr. Dobbs at the megaphone, for now there is only histrionics and outrage."

Dobbs isn't expecting any apology from the Times. And he has few kind words for the newspaper.

"The New York Times is the house organ for Gov. Spitzer," Dobbs said. "They're wrong on this issue, as they are on many others."

Dobbs draws a nightly audience of roughly 800,000, making him second in CNN viewers to Larry King's nightly program. He has no intention of lightening up on Spitzer.

"Why should I?" Dobbs asked. "He's wrong. This issue is of vital importance to the state of New York and the nation. My job as an advocacy journalist is to confront directly abuses of power and wrongheaded politics."

And sure enough, 24 hours after his "idiot" apology, Dobbs was again taking shots at Spitzer.

Britney breaks down!

She was actually really looking forward to it
Britney Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline completed their first parenting session.

The singer, who lost custody of her two sons, Sean Preston, two, and 13-month-old Jayden James to Kevin earlier this month, and her former spouse arrived at the Beverly Hills Hotel for their first Parenting Without Conflict meeting. A source said, Britney wasn’t nervous about the parenting session.

She was actually really looking forward to it. Although Britney was initially excited about the meeting, she was seen crying hysterically in a hotel bathroom soon after arriving.

The former couple, who had only previously seen each other twice since separating last year, met with a parenting coach for the two-hour session, who encouraged them to take part in ‘polite requests’ drills. The coach also gave the pair advice on how a divorced couple should raise their children.

Shahid and katrina?

Shahid Kapur and Katrina Kaif have been paired in a film that Raj Kumar Santoshi plans to embark on after Halla Bol. Confirming the news, Rajkumar Santoshi says, “It is true that Shahid and Katrina are doing my next film. Though they have been signed, the dates for both the actors have to be worked out.”

He adds, “I have wanted to make a romantic comedy for a long time now. But I cannot divulge anything about the story of my film. I am excited about making a romantic comedy, a genre I have not explored before!”

But aren’t Shahid and Katrina a bit of an odd pair? What made him opt for them?

He replies, “I cast Katrina opposite Shahid as I thought they’d look fresh, besides they will be coming together for the first time. Also, when I read the script it was Shahid and Katrina who came to my mind. They are talented and I’ve wanted to work with them for some time now.”

My huppy saved me; amy winehouse.

The singer, who has been trying to beat her alcohol and drug demons, said that her hubby has been seeing her through her ordeals.

Singer Amy Winehouse has credited her hubby Blake Fielder-Civil for being her saviour during her drug overdose in August this year.

The singer, who has been trying to beat her alcohol and drug demons, said that her hubby has been seeing her through her ordeals.

“I really thought I was on the way out. My husband Blake saved my life, brought me into the hospital. Often I don’t know what I do. Then the next day the memory returns. Blake told me later what had happened and then I was engulfed in shame,” the Sun quoted her, as saying.

“Recently I saw a picture of when I came out of the hospital. I didn’t recognise myself.

“I believe I live through pain. If you suffer for something, it means to me that it is not unimportant,’ she added.

Winehouse also said that she began to take pills to counter depression in her teens.

“Since then I have taken pills for depression but they slowed me down. I believe there are lots of people who have these mood changes,” she said.

Bips' way to item numbers

She was glad that the songs became extremely popular
We all know why actress Bipasha Basu did the item gaana in No Smoking. It was all thanks to Vishal Bhardwaj, who requested her to. Apparently, Vishal and Bipasha bumped into each other at the airport, and Bipasha, apparently thanked Vishal profusely for her hit numbers in his film, Omkara, Beedi Jalaile and Namak.

She was glad that the songs became extremely popular and claimed that she made lots of moolah because of those numbers on shows abroad. Vishal took the opportunity and offered her yet another item number in No Smoking. And the generous Bips who has become many notes richer thanks to Bhardwaj, kindly offered to do it for free. Ironically, it’s pay back time for this beauty.

Singer Watson operated on for brain tumor

LONDON (Reuters) - Singer Russell Watson was in critical condition on Thursday after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor, hospital officials said.

The 40-year-old tenor, who has sold millions of records around the world, was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire after a scan found the tumor.

The father of two young daughters had a brain tumor removed a year ago at St George's Hospital in London.

"Russell is currently in intensive care and his condition remains critical," a hospital spokesman said after the emergency surgery had been carried out.

But his manager, Richard Thompson, said: "Russell is conscious. We've got him back."

The extent of the tumor's re-growth was uncovered by an MRI scan on Wednesday night. Watson fell ill as he finished making a new album.

A statement on Watson's Web site (www.russell-watson.com) said "All our hopes, prayers and wishes are with him."

Fans sent dozens of messages of support.

"Numb with shock at this devastating news," wrote Yve, from Hampshire. "We are all thinking of you and your family, and praying hard for your complete recovery."

The former factory worker from Salford, who is known as The Voice, has sold some five million albums since his first big break singing to the crowd before a football match in 1999.

His debut album "The Voice" was number one on the classical charts for a year and went on to win two Classical Brit awards.

Watson has performed for Britain's Queen Elizabeth, U.S. President George W. Bush and the late Pope John Paul.

He was the first British male artist to hold the number one spot in the classical charts on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time.

His follow-up albums mixed classical music with cover versions of popular songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "When I Fall in Love."

Foxy Brown gets isolation in New York jail

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rapper Foxy Brown received 76 days in isolation at a New York jail after getting into a shoving match with another inmate and refusing to do a drug test, authorities said on Wednesday.
Brown, 29, whose real name is Inga Marchand, has been isolated and confined to her cell for 23 hours each day, except to attend religious services, visit the law library and meet with visitors, said Stephen Morello, deputy commissioner for public information for the New York Department of Corrections.

Brown is serving a one-year sentence at Rikers Island jail for a parole violation stemming from an assault on two nail salon stylists over a $20 manicure.

In September, a judge sentenced Brown for violating her parole by failing to appear for court-ordered anger management classes and for again being arrested on assault charges.

Earlier this month, Brown pleaded not guilty to one of those charges -- assaulting a New York City woman with her BlackBerry. If convicted, Brown could face a seven-year sentence, prosecutors said.

On October 16, Brown was disciplined for fighting with another inmate, using abusive language when speaking to a corrections officer and refusing to provide a urine sample for a random drug test, said Morello.

He said neither woman was injured in the "shoving match."

Brown has been living in "relatively low-level protective custody" in a single cell and has had access to a day room and a communal cafeteria, Morello said.

A message left with Brown's lawyer was not immediately responded to. Brown has previously said that many of her legal problems have been a consequence of her celebrity.

Jessica Simpson Gets Back To Her Roots

Everybody knows that you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl. And Jessica Simpson is proving it with a new direction for her new album.

The “With You” singer is reportedly gearing up for recording a country album, and she’s been spending a lot of time in Nashville, Tennessee.

A source told press, “She’s prepping for her new album. She’s spending time there and figuring it out.” And part of the preparation process has involved lunching with Big & Rich’s John Rich as well as meeting with Sony BMG execs.

While in town, Jessica also got to meet Robert Plant, the legendary frontman of Led Zeppelin. She hung out with the singer while he was taping an episode of CMT’s Crossroads. Lucky girl!

MTV Video Music Awards Latin America Rock!

Last night, Mexico City was rocking a little harder than usual. The MTV Video Music Awards Latin America was awesome, and even hosted a little North American flavor as well.

Teen pop sensation Belinda (Cheetah Girls 2) was all over the nomination card. The 18-year-old Madrid, Spain native was the media darling of the night, winning “Video of the Year” as well as “Best Solo Artist.”

And punk-pop rocker Avril Lavigne was in the house to treat onlookers to some of her music. In addition, she took home the trophy for “Best International Artist” whereupon she tried out her Spanish skills. “Hola, Gracias, this is awesome!” she said as she accepted the award.

Hilary Duff walked away empty-handed, but not before wowing the Mexican audience with some of her own musical stylings.

Bipasha basu does item number for free

We all know why actress Bipasha Basu did the 'item gaana' in No Smoking . No, it wasn't thanks beau John Abraham who is a part of the film, but the credit of this ought to go to filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who is also a co-producer of No Smoking .

Apparently, Vishal and Bipasha bumped into each other at the airport, and in conversation Bipasha thanked Vishal profusely for her hit numbers in Omkara – Beedi Jalaile, Namak . She was glad that the songs became extremely popular and claimed that she made lots of moolah because of those numbers on shows abroad.

That instant, Vishal took the opportunity and offered her yet another 'item number' in No Smoking . And the generous Bips who has become many notes richer thanks to Bhardwaj and his Omkara , insisted that she'd do it for free.

DR Congo general to surrender men

DR Congo general to surrender men

A renegade general in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo says he will integrate 500 of his fighters into the army as a gesture of goodwill.

"I'm doing this to show that we want peace," Gen Laurent Nkunda, whose force is estimated to be between 6,000 and 8,000 men, told Reuters news agency.

But he told the BBC he still wanted DR Congo's minority Tutsi community to be protected from Rwandan Hutu rebels.

Gen Nkunda has refused to abide by a government deadline to disarm.

He accuses the Congolese army of receiving backing from Rwandan Hutus - the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - who fled into DR Congo after the genocide in 1994.

More than 370,000 villagers have been displaced by the fighting in the Kivus since the start of this year and an estimated 8,000 have crossed the border since the weekend.

Demands

The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman who is in eastern DR Congo says the general has promised to integrate his soldiers before but up to now has failed to do so.

"Today, I am ready to hand over 500 of my men to the Kirolirwe integration camp," Gen Nkunda told the BBC by telephone from his stronghold at Masisi in North Kivu province.

The UN mission in DR Congo (Monuc) says an integration camp has been prepared near the rebel base, but so far none of Gen Nkunda's men have arrived.

"We hope they will come very soon with no conditions," Monuc spokesperson Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg told the BBC.

Gen Nkunda said he still wanted the government to disarm Rwandan Hutu rebels as well as addressing the return of the Congolese Tutsis currently in refugee camps in Rwanda.

President Joseph Kabila had threatened an all-out military offensive in the Kivus to forcibly disarm Gen Nkunda's men, but has allowed the deadline to slip.

On Monday, the leader of the Mai Mai militia which is fighting Gen Nkunda also rejected a government ultimatum to disarm.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has warned that the worsening crisis in the east is developing into a Hutu-Tutsi war.

A five-year war in DR Congo ended in 2003, but the 17,600 UN peacekeepers in the country (4,300 of them in North Kivu alone) have struggled to keep a lid on instability since then.

Paris Hilton’s Search For A New Man

Paris Hilton was out on the town last night, hitting up Cabana shortly after arriving back in the States from a trip to Canada.

Wearing a small black dress and stockings with suspenders, the heiress looked to be back on the prowl now that she’s on the singles list once again.

Recent reports tell that the 26-year-old ended her relationship with her Swedish pizza boy boyfriend Alex Vaggo because he was too shy.

A source told The Sun, She loved his good looks, but she gets bored very quickly, and he was too shy and quiet for her. She likes bad boys.

Britney Spears Loses Visitation Rights

In breaking news, Britney Spears has lost visitation rights with her two sons, Jayden James and Sean Preston.

K-Fed’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, talked L.A. County Commissioner Scott Gordon into ruling on Wednesday: Petitioner’s (Britney’s) visitation with the minor children is suspended pending Petitioner’s compliance with the court orders.

Apparently, the troubled pop tart hasn’t been following all of her obligations to the court - so she will not be allowed time with the boys until her next court date on October 26th.

In other Britney news, more details concerning her new album are coming forth.

Apparently, Brit enlisted the help of megaproducer Pharrell Williams to pen a tender song called “Why Should I Be Sad. And the tune deals with her devastation over the demise of her marriage to Kevin Federline.

A source told press, “The song is definitely about Britney and Kevin’s relationship when they were married. Britney entertains the idea that she stayed home taking care of the kids while Kevin was out partying. The track ... will be very revealing for her fans.

Of Spears, Williams said,At the end of the day she is a sweet person. She’s just made a couple of decisions that none of us would necessarily agree with, but you try being that age and living under that kind of pressure. I wish her well. I pray for her. I hope she fares well throughout all of this craziness.

Sense of Humor’s The Key To Jessica Biel’s Heart

Some women want a buff guy with chiseled abs and arms of steel. But Jessica Biel would rather have a man who can be silly with her and make her laugh.

The 7th Heaven hottie confessed that too much “sexy” can be a turn off. A relationship with someone who is funny-sexy is way more fun.

Sexy-sexy can be sort of boring; I much prefer people who can make fun of themselves and not take themselves too seriously, someone who can be ridiculous. That’s the most attractive thing.

As for her career, she’s very picky when it comes to how sexy she’ll get onscreen or in the pages of a magazine. She told press, “I just think you do something for the right projects. (If) it is a magazine, it has to be classy, or it has to work for the type of movie. You make choices depending on the situation and project.

And the Summer Catch babe reveals that being a sexy model has never been her cup of tea. “I could never be model — it’s very difficult because you’re always standing like in a weird position. Your back hurts and you’re wearing heels. You’re almost always uncomfortable and you’re scratching over here — it’s never nearly as sexy as it appears.

Model or not, Jessica has been getting plenty of cover time in the tabloids. And she says it’s hard to constantly be under the microscope. “It’s definitely difficult to deal with, but you do really have to get into a place where you feel Zen about it. You just have to know that somebody is going to be taking your picture while you’re going to the laundry and picking up your dry cleaning, and you just go about your day and ignore them.

Macho Naman's here to stay

Naman too has realised this look suits him
Naman Shaw who looked like a kid when he first started doing TV shows has finally grown up.

His bearded look in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is being appreciated very much.

Naman too has realised this look suits him and is likely to stick to it. It makes him look tough rather than the simple soft boy-next-door.

Kiran Bawa hosts a do in mumbai.

What does one expect when a bunch of friends from the fairer sex come together for a health and beauty treatment? An afternoon well-spent in good company with wine, gossip and snacks doing the rounds – for that’s exactly what Kiran Bawa’s friends indulged in.

As usual, she was the bubbly and gracious hostess who made sure her guests got the best treatment.

Pooja Ghai did not go for any of the treatments but just chilled out with her pals, as she revealed, I have already done them before. Anu Ranjan seemed to be pre-occupied about getting back to office.

She was all excited about getting Sreesanth to be the first bowler in the cricket match organised by her the following Sunday.

But after Pooja Batra made an entry, she stayed back for some more time to catch up with her. The leggy Pooja was all giggles while undergoing pedicure, I am getting tickled,” she said. Later in the day, she made an appearance at a fashion do in the city. Talk about party hopping!

Bhavna Jasra, was seen telling everyone about reflexology. Being at a disadvantage where her height is concerned (she is very short), she was heard saying that the treatment has really helped her .I have to sport high heels that hurt most of the times. But after reflexology, I feel fine.

Maninnee Mishra admired a guest’s kantha sari and got nostalgic about her Bong antecedents. It was a chilled-out afternoon which extended to an equally fun-filled evening as the ladies continued to do their catching up.

Heidi Klum. seal for T V duet

Heidi may do a duet with Seal. She has a great voice and they sing at home all the time. It's looking like it's going to happen, Us magazine quoted a source, as saying.

Heidi Klum and hubby Seal might perform a duet on TV.

Going by the buzz the couple will be performing "Wedding Day, their duet from Seal’s upcoming album, on the CBS telecast.

Heidi may do a duet with Seal. She has a great voice and they sing at home all the time. It's looking like it's going to happen, Us magazine quoted a source, as saying.

Sources have said that duo would join performers Kanye West and the reunited Spice Girls for the annual event, which will air on December 4.

Seal's rep Liz Rosenberg was unable to make a comment on the developments

Irrfan's big role in a mighty heart!

Contrary to speculations about the limited screen time given to Irrfan Khan in the Angelina Jolie-starrer A Mighty Heart, we would like to inform you after watching the film at a special screening that Irrfan has a substantial role throughout the movie.

Irrfan's character has been named Captain and this led people to believe that the role would be limited to one or two scenes.

However Irrfan plays a major character in the film and is

responsible for taking the story forward.

Captain is introduced 20 minutes into the film after Marianne (Angelina Jolie) learns that her husband Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) has gone missing in Pakistan.

The Captain is the chief of the Pakistani intelligence agency and is introduced to Marianne via the American consulate in Pakistan. As the kidnapping of a Wall Street Journal journalist becomes a major problem for the country due to their close ties with America.

It is up to him to find Daniel, arrest the kidnappers and save Pakistan from international embarrassment.

Due to his past international credits such as The Warrior and The Namesake Irrfan Khan bagged the role even without auditioning.

In his interview given at the Cannes Film Festival Irrfan Khan said he viewed the role as giving something back to society while being in the generously rewarding (money, fame) profession of acting.

Unfortunately, Irrfan Khan wasn't able to meet the character due to his high profile. He was only able to have a chat with him over the phone once.

Irrfan was only able to meet Angelina Jolie once the shooting had begun. In fact even Angelina remarked about why they hadn't been introduced before, "Why aren't we being introduced? Is it for the reality of the moment?

Because of the hype surrounding her arrival, Irrfan admits that his perception of her was being influenced and this caused him to stop reading the newspapers outright so he wouldn't be judgmental of her.

Marie Osmond Felled by Dancing Curse

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Dancing with the Stars has featured an unusually large amount of drama this season, even by reality-s

how standards. Marie Osmond fainted on-camera Monday after her samba performance, joining the eerily growing list of celebrities who are literally suffering through this installment of the hit ABC series.

The 48-year-old singer and mother of eight appeared to be just fine by the time the show came back from commercial break, with host Tom Bergeron informing the audience that Osmond's first words upon awakening were, Oh, crap.

Once in a while that happens to me, when I get winded and I stop breathing," she explained backstage. "I'm so sorry.

Everyone who had just witnessed the incident was pretty relieved, as well.

In movies, swooning is so romantic, Bergeron said. "In real life, it scares the crap out of me.

As cohost Samantha Harris commented, however, fainting didn't inflate Osmond's score, which was a low-end 21.

An ABC spokeswoman said that Osmond will be checked out by a doctor, just to make sure all is truly well.

Osmond's tumble comes a day after Jennifer Lopez pretaped a performance that will air Tuesday. The singer, who was scheduled to appear on this week's results show, was forced to cancel due to a family emergency.

And Lopez's cancellation comes one week after Gloria Estefan had to bow out so that she could jet back to Miami to be with her mother, who had just undergone emergency surgery.

Jane Seymour missed the Oct. 2 results show so that she could travel to England to be with her family following the death of her 92-year-old mother, Mieke Frankenburg. The former Bond girl returned to the show the following week, saying that she would continue to dance in honor of her mum.

Halle Sorry for Jewish Joke

Los Angeles (E! Online) - When it comes to becoming the next Mel Gibson, Halle Berry may have missed it by a nose.
The Oscar-winning actress has issued a public mea culpa for a quip made on The Tonight Show Friday, in which she joked that a photograph making her nose look unusually large could pass for a picture of "my Jewish cousin."

While making the requisite small talk with host Jay Leno, Berry pulled out pictures she had taken of herself on her computer through Apple's Photo Booth software.

"The machine morphs your face to look like all these silly other people," she said. "Whenever I'm feeling really bad about the world I do this to crack myself up."

In introducing the first picture from the batch, in which her nose was vastly distorted, Berry said, "This one, I don't know, this is like my Jewish cousin."

The full remark never made it on air, however. The audience's silence at the attempted joke was covered with a laugh track and the word Jewish was muted out.

Leno's reaction, though, was not.

"I'm glad you said it and not me," he said.

Berry, however, appeared to realize her gaffe immediately.

"Oh, my God, have I just, like, ruined my whole career?" she asked, before going through the rest of her photo presentation.

The pregnant 41-year-old said Tuesday that the comment was not intended to be anti-Semitic and that she requested Leno have it removed from the show.

"I so didn't mean to offend anybody—and after the show I realized it could be seen as offensive, so I asked Jay to take it out, and he did," she said.

Berry also said one of her assistants, who happens to be Jewish, actually made the joke just before the actress went on.

"What happened was I was backstage before the show, and I have three girls who are Jewish who work for me. We were going through pictures to see which ones looked silly, and one of my Jewish friends said, 'That could be your Jewish cousin!' And I guess it was fresh in my mind, and it just came out of my mouth. But I didn't mean to offend anybody. I didn't mean any harm.

Foxy Brown put in punitive segregation

NEW YORK - Rapper Foxy Brown has received 76 days in punitive segregation after she scuffled with another inmate at Rikers Island jail, authorities said Tuesday.

Brown was separated from other inmates on Oct. 16, said Stephen Morello, deputy commissioner for public information for the city's correction department.

Brown, 28, and another inmate got into a shoving match earlier this month, said Morello, adding he didn't know why the two were fighting. Neither inmate was injured.

Following that incident, Morello said Brown was abusive toward correction guards and then refused to take a random drug test.

The combined violations, Morello said, earned Brown more than two months in punitive segregation, where an inmate can spend up to 23 hours a day in isolation.

A message left with Brown's lawyer was not immediately returned.

Brown is serving a year at Rikers for violating her probation in a case stemming from a Manhattan fight she had with manicurists in a nail salon.

Authorities said Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, skipped her required anger management classes and traveled out of the city without permission.

Brown also refused to attend court in Brooklyn Oct. 12 after she was accused of throwing a cell phone at a neighbor who complained about the volume of her car radio in August. Four days later, she appeared in court and was arraigned on charges of assault, attempted assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon — the cell phone. She has pleaded not guilty

Kristen Bell’s Single, Scared To Mingle

Gossip Girl narrator and recent addition to the cast of Heroes Kristen Bell spent last evening at the opening of Elie Tahari Boutique, chumming it up with Desperate Housewives actress Marcia Cross.

Kristen recently spoke to People magazine, telling that she has split up with her boyfriend Kevin Mann, and that she’s scared of dating.

In the interview, Bell said, “Dating is scary. When you are single, you have got to be accountable. You wake up in the morning and go to bed at night thinking about who you really are. It’s good. But dating is scary.”

Despite her fears, the former Veronica Mars star feels lucky to have the new group of castmates from Heroes to help her through the idle times.

Of her new co-stars, Kristen said, “We went bowling two weekends ago. Jack Coleman organized a big bowling extravaganza. They are just a really nice group of normal people, and I love them. I couldn’t have imagined a warmer welcome.”

Celebrities in Bikini

Models pose in lingerie at the Victoria's Secret fashion show Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 in New York. From left to right are: unidentified model, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, unidentified model.

Missile shield is 'urgent' - Bush

Missile shield is 'urgent' - Bush

US President George W Bush has said there is a "real and urgent" need for a missile defence system in Europe.

Mr Bush said the missile threat was from the Middle East, not Russia, which strongly opposes sites for the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

He warned that Iran could have a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe or the US by 2015.

Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the shield could be delayed while Russian concerns were tackled.

Iran threat

In a speech at the National Defence University in Washington, Mr Bush said: "The need for missile defence in Europe is real and I believe it's urgent."

We would consider tying together activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat

Robert Gates,
US defence secretary


Q&A: US missile defences

He said the planned system was not designed to tackle missiles from Russia as it would be easily overwhelmed by Moscow's arsenal.

"The Cold War is over. Russia is not our enemy," he said.

Mr Bush said the US had invited Russia to "join us against an emerging threat that affects us all... we ought to respond to this threat together".

The president said if "rogue states" had less confidence their missiles would strike, they would be "less likely to engage in acts of aggression in the first place".

Mr Bush also attacked the US Congress for reducing funding to missile shield systems.

Earlier, Mr Gates had said activation of the European shield could be delayed until there was "definitive proof" of a missile threat from states such as Iran.

He said after meeting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in Prague: "We would consider tying together activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat - in other words, Iranian missile testing and so on."



Map of US missile defence systems
The missile shield system would see a radar site set up in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor base in Poland.

Russia has vehemently opposed bases on the territories of its former Warsaw Pact allies.

Mr Gates and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received a frosty reception when they tried to sell the plan in Moscow this month.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow saw the shield as a "potential threat" to its security and wanted to "neutralise" it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin widened the debate by also threatening to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty.

He said it would be difficult to remain part of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty unless it was expanded to include more countries than just the US and Russia.

The Li'L Big Bombs Set to Explode

Sagarika Ghatge: Also known as Preeti Subberwal of 'Chak De India', she got a good break with Shah Rukh Khan in her debut movie. Promising and confident.

Tarini jindal's chic do.

A long red carpet led you to an all lit-up and restored heritage building on Sunday, leading you to young Tarini Jindal’s chic and slick do. The flash and dash of fashion from the fashion capitals of the world caught your eye as you swept across three levels with different genres of live music in the air.

Enjoying the experience were Chhaya Momaya, Gayatri Khanna, Bijal Meswani and art afficionados Priyasari Patodia (dressed in BRIGHT red, a big red flower to match!), Kalpana Shah and Sarayu Doshi.

Not-seen-too-often couple Adar and Natasha Poonawala were present too as were Alex Kuruvilla and his wife Namita. Tarini’s mother Sangita Jindal was also there but she preferred to let her darling daughter shine in the spotlight.