Darkness star detained by police

Darkness star Justin Hawkins was detained by US police after he was mistaken for a criminal on the run.

The guitarist flew into New York's JFK airport earlier this week for a photo shoot, but was detained on arrival.

Hawkins shares his name with a wanted criminal in the US, to whom police claim he bears a resemblance.

He was released after two hours when his manager showed police his tour schedule proving Hawkins was in Britain when the alleged crime was committed.

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'French backing' for Foster film

French backing has been given to actress Jodie Foster's plans to direct a film about a circus freak's love for a penniless girl, according to reports.

Director Luc Besson's Europacorp will produce Flora Plum with Claire Danes and Ewan McGregor in the lead roles, French magazine Ecran Total reported.

Foster had planned to make the movie three years ago with Russell Crowe.

But a shoulder injury forced him to pull out and the film was shelved. Meryl Streep is also in the cast.

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Blow for Streisand in privacy row

A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that the privacy of singer Barbra Streisand was not violated when a picture of her Malibu estate was posted on a website.

Streisand filed a $10m (£5.8m) action against software entrepreneur Kenneth Adelman in May after he posted a photo of her home on his conservation site.

But her request for an injunction was denied by the judge and she was ordered to pay the defendant's legal fees.

Streisand's attorney John Gatti said she may appeal the decision.

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Annan pays tribute to Beatle

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has paid tribute to the late musician and humanitarian George Harrison.

At a dinner celebrating 50 years of celebrities serving as UN goodwill ambassadors, Annan praised the former Beatle's work on behalf of Bangladesh.

"George was the first to understand and use the power of rock music to motivate people to embrace causes," he said.

Harrison's 1971 Concert for Bangladesh is credited as being the first large scale benefit event of its kind.

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Singer Charles back after surgery

Veteran singer Ray Charles has announced he is ready to begin touring again after undergoing hip surgery.

Charles, 73, had cancelled planned US shows in August for the first time in 53 years because of hip pain.

The blind singer, who has performed 10,000 concerts during a 58-year career, had an operation a week ago and will play live again in March.

Charles, winner of 13 Grammys, is best known for hits such as Georgia On My Mind and I Can't Stop Loving You.

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Frog Chorus to be released on DVD

Sir Paul McCartney's Frog Chorus is to be released on DVD after the rights were snapped up by a film giant.

Rupert And The Frog Song, containing his hit The Frog Chorus, had long been seen as a low-point of the former Beatles' career.

The self-confessed Rupert fan wanted to make a whole film, but the animation lasted just 13 minutes.

Two other McCartney cartoons, Tropic Island Hum and Tuesday, are expected to be released in the Spring.

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Director Lee blasts 'gangsta' rap

Film-maker Spike Lee has attacked the content of some hip-hop music which he said portrayed black people negatively.

Lee told an audience of 400 US students that violent lyrics were halting the progress of African-American citizens.

"Some of this 'gangsta rap' stuff, it's not doing anybody any good. This stuff is really dangerous," he told students at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Lee, director of Malcolm X and Do The Right Thing, urged students to think about what they were supporting.

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Rock star's wife in purse snatch

A pickpocket targeted the wife of singer Phil Collins during a Christmas shopping trip in London.

Orianne Collins, 30, who lives with the former Genesis star in Switzerland, had her purse snatched while visiting Regent Street on Saturday.

Wardens for Westminster Council later found Mrs Collins' discarded purse by a litter bin and returned it to her.

The multi-millionaire couple thanked the wardens, Alan Auchterloine and Sabah Boulakhra, with a luxury hamper.