Superstars sign up for New York gig

Mick Jagger, Elton John and Billy Joel are among the rock superstars who will perform in Paul McCartney's Concert for New York City on Saturday 20 October.

David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Bono, Janet Jackson and Bon Jovi will also appear alongside Hollywood stars including Meg Ryan, Jim Carrey and Susan Sarandon.

The show will be watched by 20,000 at Madison Square Gardens and broadcast to a worldwide audience of three billion.

Former Beatle McCartney hopes to raise £25m for New York's relief fund.

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Friends win ratings war with Survivor

A third edition of reality TV gameshow Survivor has pulled in large audiences in the US - but it was eclipsed by as gripping storyline from sitcom Friends.

The premiere of Survivor: Africa attracted 23.8m viewers - proving US audiences have not tired of the format.

But 29.2 million people tuned into Friends for the end of a three-episode story about one of the flatmates falling pregnant.

Survivor: Africa opened with 16 contestants vying to outlast each other on a wild game reserve in Kenya.

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Weaver may reprise Alien role

Actress Sigourney Weaver said she has been in talks with director Ridley Scott about making a fifth Alien movie.

The star could reprise her role as Ripley in the Alien films which have been huge hits since Oscar-winner Scott made his first in the late 70s.

There had been rumours among movie buffs that she could return in the role.

In an interview for a Channel 4 documentary Alien Evolution, Weaver said: "We'll have to see how the elements come together."

Anthrax dismisses name change

Thrash metal rock band Anthrax will not be changing their name in the wake of Florida's anthrax cases even though they admit it is now "not so cool".

The band say on their website that they hope "no further negative events will happen and it won't be necessary".

Anthrax chose their name 20 years ago because they thought it sounded "cool" and aggressive.

But following events in Florida they admit to being in a "strange and stressful" situation as their name symbolizes "fear, paranoia and death".