BBC breakfast for Bowen

Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's Middle East correspondent, is to present the new BBC breakfast news programme when it is launched in autumn 2000.

The programme will be simulcast on BBC One and BBC News 24 between 0600 and 0900, Monday to Friday.

Bowen's career has seen him report from more than 50 countries and he has covered conflicts in the Gulf, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Croatia, Bosnia, Chechnya, Somalia and Rwanda.

During the Kosovo crisis of 1999, he reported extensively from the region, often in dangerous conditions, which included being robbed at gunpoint by bandits while reporting from the Albanian border.

The BBC's head of television news, Roger Mosey, said: "Jeremy manages to combine on-screen charm with hard-headed news judgement. He's also terrific at dealing with breaking news stories.

"Jeremy will help make the new breakfast programme a must-see for all viewers starting their day."

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Dinosaur tramples Gladiator

Disney's latest animated feature film, Dinosaur, has knocked Gladiator off the top spot in the US box office - making it the best movie debut this year.

Studio estimates show the prehistoric tale made $38.6m (£24m) in its weekend opening, devouring Gladiator and Scream 3, which both premiered at $35m (£21m).

But critics predict Dinosaur's reign will be extinct by Wednesday, when Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 2 opens.

Dinosaur opens in the UK on 13 October.

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Women go for Britney

Britney Spears has been voted the world's sexiest woman by female readers of men's magazine FHM.

The singer, who recently topped the charts for the third time, beat Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez to the top slot.

"Britney is no superwaif and she has respect for her body," said FHM editor Anthony Noguera.

"That counts for a lot when a woman is casting her vote."

Last year, Britney came 16th, with the title going to Sarah Michelle Gellar.

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Billie back at the top

Teenage pop sensation Billie Piper has topped this week's charts, notching up her third number one and knocking Australian duo Madison Avenue off the top spot.

The new single, Day and Night, was released by the 17-year-old after a break of almost two years, in which she has relaunched herself with a new, more "mature" image.

The singer, who recently split from her boyfriend - Five's Ritchie Neville - first reached number one in July 1998, the youngest female to do so for 38 years.

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Lewis 'set for return'

Comedian Jerry Lewis is set to make a comeback at the age of 74 by directing a new film, Truffles, according to reports from the US.

The veteran performer will also have a small role in the film, which revolves around an American chef to the French president who uncovers a truffle trafficking scam.

Lewis made his acting and directing debut more than 40 years ago, and more recently has been executive producer on hits such as The Nutty Professor.

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Mission 3 not impossible

The director of the sequel to Mission: Impossible 2 has spoken about the possibility of a third film.

John Woo told reporters: "We've talked about it and Tom Cruise is open to it."

Tom Cruise is less forthcoming, saying: "I haven't thought about it. If it would be interesting and different for me, then I would do another sequel."

M:I 2, which was filmed in Sydney, opens in the United States this week.