People: Britney Spears, Riyo Mori, Lindsay Lohan

Britney Spears says she "truly hit rock bottom" during a stint in rehabilitation this year but told fans she did not blame her behavior on alcohol or depression. "I was like a bad kid running around with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)," she wrote on her Web site, www.britneyspears.com. "I confess, I was so lost." Earlier this year, Spears, 25, split from her second husband, the aspiring rapper Kevin Federline, with whom she has two children. She is now trying to stage a comeback, performing for the first time in more than three years this month with a series of 15-minute nightclub shows and reportedly working on her fifth album. Spears said she hoped her letter would make people "think a little bit more of me and where I am coming from." (Reuters)

Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old dancer from Japan, was crowned Miss Universe 2007 this week in Mexico City, marking only the second time her country has won the world beauty title. Dressed in a black, red and purple Japanese-style gown, Mori beat out the first runner-up, Natália Guimarães of Brazil, to don a diamond-and-pearl-studded headpiece valued at $250,000. The last time Japan won the pageant was in 1959 when Akiko Kojima became the first Miss Universe from Asia. Also finishing in the top five were Ly Jonaitis of Venezuela, Honey Lee of Korea and Rachel Smith of the United States. (AP)

Also at the Miss Universe pageant, Miss Kazakhstan, Gauhkar Rakhmetalieva, said her country was preparing its own movie in response to "Borat," the hit comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen that portrayed the Central Asian nation as bigoted and backward. Rakhmetalieva said her government is filming the movie to show the nation's positive sides. But she said "Borat" brought much-needed publicity to Kazakhstan and there should be no hard feelings. "In the end we have to understand that it was only a joke," she said. "The advantage is that now our country is world famous." (AP)

Lindsay Lohan has returned to rehab after a weekend drunken-driving arrest, her publicist said, raising questions about whether she can start shooting her latest film. The entertainment trade paper Daily Variety reported this week that Lohan had just joined the cast of "Poor Things," a comedy starring Shirley MacLaine set to begin filming this week. The publicist wouldn't provide details, but several celebrity news outlets, including TMZ.com and Us Weekly magazine online, said Lohan checked in to the Promises treatment center in Malibu, California, the luxury facility where Britney Spears was recently a patient. Lohan, 20, underwent a stint in rehab earlier this year. (Reuters)

For "Mike Wallace: Some of My Favorite Stories," a retrospective to be broadcast this weekend on CBS, this (mostly) retired "60 Minutes" correspondent wanted to make news. And so on Friday Wallace plans to be in Coldwater, Michigan, to nab the first interview with Dr. Jack Kevorkian after he is paroled from a federal prison. Kevorkian, the advocate for assisted suicide who has served eight years for second-degree murder, was the subject of a piece by Wallace on "60 Minutes" in 1998. In that segment Kevorkian could be seen administering the lethal injection that resulted in the charges against him. That Wallace, 89, has not lost his zest for a big "get" was obvious in a phone interview this week, as he described securing the Kevorkian meeting through an intermediary and then plotting how to outwit others seeking the same interview. In the special Wallace will also be seen conducting a new interview with Vanessa Redgrave, whom he profiled on "60 Minutes" in 1979.

Today in Culture

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The French tenor Roberto Alagna has canceled three performances of "Il Trovatore" in Madrid to undergo surgery on his nose, The Associated Press reported, citing the Madrid Opera house and Alagna's manager. Ines Toston, a spokeswoman for the Teatro Royal, said, "Roberto Alagna is undergoing surgery between June 2 and 4, and after that he needs a recovery period of six weeks." In his first performances ever in Spain, Alagna had been scheduled to sing in "Il Trovatore" three times from June 7 to 29. He made headlines last year when he walked off the stage at La Scala in Milan after some members of the audience reacted with boos and whistles to his performance in a new production of "Aida."

Lindsay Lohan arrested

SILICON VALLEY: Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after she crashed her Mercedes convertible in Beverly Hills.

Police said investigators found what they believe is cocaine in the actress' car after the accident.

Witnesses said Lohan, 20, was in her Mercedes convertible when it crashed on Sunset Boulevard on Saturady morning. She suffered minor injuries in the accident and was taken to a Los Angeles hospital.

We received a call about the accident and 'tracked Lohan to the local hospital, where she was ultimately placed under arrest' for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said.

Lt. Mitch McCann of the Beverly Hills Police said it appeared as if Lohan was speeding when she lost control of the vehicle.

When police impounded her car, they searched it and found something else.

"It was a usable amount of illegal narcotics that was preliminarily identified as cocaine," McCann said.

Police said Lohan could face additional charges. Her tentative arraignment date is August 24, ABC News Radio reported.

The arrest is the latest chapter in Lohan's history of hard partying.

Saturday's was the third car accident she's had in the last two years. The actress recently announced she checked into rehabilitation centre for alcohol abuse in January, though paparazzi cameras have since caught her drinking.

Lohan's latest movie, 'Georgia Rule', is in theatres now. The actress' other screen credits include Mean Girls, Bobby, A Prairie Home Companion and Freaky Friday.

22 films compete for top prize at Cannes

CANNES, France - Which movie will win the Cannes Film Festival's top prize Sunday? Critical favorites include a small, socially conscious Romanian film about an illegal abortion and the Coen brothers' tale of a ruthless killer in Texas.

Director Stephen Frears ("The Queen") presides over the jury that has holed up debating the 22 movies competing for the top prize, the Palme d'Or. The lineup was among the strongest in recent years, with a host of moving films on serious topics such as death, aging and war.

"4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," by Cristian Mungiu, tells of a student in Communist Romania who endures horrors to ensure that her friend can have an illegal abortion, and features a wrenching performance by Anamaria Marinca, a contender for best actress.

The Coens' "No Country for Old Men" stars Javier Bardem as a ruthless killer wrecking havoc in west Texas, and Tommy Lee Jones as an aging lawman on his tracks.

Other strong contenders are "Persepolis," an original, moving animated feature by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, adapted from Satrapi's graphic novels of the same name; and Fatih Akin's German-Turkish cross-cultural tale "The Edge of Heaven."

Winning directors get a hint before the ceremony because Cannes organizers tell them to get on a plane and come back to the Riviera. For filmmakers, the Cannes competition experience is often nerve-racking.

"You're taking your baby out there," said director James Gray, who showed crime drama "We Own the Night," starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg and Eva Mendes. "You're saying, how do you feel about my baby? Is it ugly or is it beautiful? And a lot of people are going to let you know."

The movie that captures Cannes' top prize is, more often than not, one critics didn't expect. Before "Fahrenheit 9/11" won in 2004, many thought a documentary couldn't be a serious contender. Michael Moore's "Sicko" screened this year out of competition.

Last year's lineup had several inventive movies that went on to success, including "Babel," "Pan's Labyrinth," "Days of Glory" and "Volver." The winner was Ken Loach's somber Irish war drama "The Wind that Shakes the Barley."

Several directors in the running already have taken the top prize at Cannes. Quentin Tarantino, who showed his killer-on-wheels movie "Death Proof," won for "Pulp Fiction." The Coens took the Palme for "Barton Fink." Gus Van Sant, who showed "Paranoid Park," a film about a teenage skateboarder in crisis, won for "Elephant."

Bosnian director Emir Kusturica, who premiered "Promise Me This," has taken the Palme twice before, for "When Father Was Away on Business" and "Underground."

Lindsay Lohan booked on suspicion of DUI

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Lindsay Lohan was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Saturday after her convertible struck a curb, and investigators found what they believe is cocaine at the scene, police said.

Lohan, 20, and two other people were in her 2005 Mercedes SL-65 when it crashed on Sunset Boulevard around 5:30 a.m., Sgt. Mike Foxen said. It appeared the actress was speeding, Lt. Mitch McCann said at an afternoon news conference.

Officers at the scene found a "usable amount" of a drug tentatively identified as cocaine, McCann said. He declined to say where the drug was found other than to say Lohan was not carrying it.

Lohan, who spent time at a rehabilitation center earlier this year, was driven in another car to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, McCann said. The two other people in her car were not hurt.

Officers received a 911 call about the accident and arrested Lohan at the hospital for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, McCann said.

She was released from custody because she was admitted to the hospital, police said.

McCann declined to comment on Lohan's blood-alcohol level. He said the case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office where the actress could face more charges, including felonies. Her tentative arraignment date is Aug. 24.

The crash was Lohan's third accident in about two years. In October 2005, Lohan and a passenger received minor injuries when her convertible hit a van in West Hollywood. Authorities said the van driver, who also received minor injuries, was at fault.

Months earlier, Lohan collided with a minivan when she made a U-turn as the van, carrying paparazzi, followed her from a Los Angeles restaurant. A photographer was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon but prosecutors declined to charge him.

That crash was credited with prompting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a law that set steep financial penalties for paparazzi who commit assaults while trying to obtain celebrity photos.

Lohan publicist Leslie Sloane Zelnik did not immediately return an e-mail requesting comment.

Lohan said in January that she had checked into a rehabilitation center for substance abuse treatment. Her publicist confirmed in December that the actress was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Lohan told Allure magazine during an interview for its May issue that she decided to enter the secluded Wonderland Center at the suggestion of her therapist.

"It's so weird that I went to rehab. I always said I would die before I went to rehab," Lohan told the publication.

Lohan's latest movie, "Georgia Rule," is in theaters now. The actress' other screen credits include "Mean Girls," "Bobby," "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Freaky Friday."

Jordin Sparks crowned `American Idol'

LOS ANGELES - Jordin Sparks grew up on "American Idol," watching the show since she was 12 years old and telling her mother it was what she wanted to do."Now I'm actually doing it," the 17-year-old told reporters backstage after winning the competition in Wednesday's season finale.

The announcement that the Arizona teenager bested Blake Lewis, 25, the beat-boxer from Washington, came at the end of a two-hour extravaganza at the Kodak Theatre.

"I've just been trying to top myself each week," Sparks told The Associated Press. "I would sing my song and after I was done I was like, `OK, what am I going to do next week that's going to be ... either just as good or better."

Sparks, with a floor-length gown and movie-star hair, gushed like a teenager when her name was called.

"Thank you so much for everything," she told the crowd. "Mom, Dad, I love you. Nana, Papa, P.J., thank you guys."

Then she began "This Is My Now," the tune picked by viewers in a new online "American Idol" songwriting contest. Both she and Lewis performed the track Tuesday, and judge Simon Cowell reiterated Wednesday the song sold him on Sparks.

"If I'm going to call it, based on the last song, congratulations Jordin," Cowell said, before the winner was announced.

The contest came down to the stronger singer, Sparks, or the better entertainer, Lewis. Sparks delivered her songs simply and powerfully; Lewis' flourishes included beatboxing and sharp dance moves.

Lewis said backstage that he didn't mind coming in second.

"I picked Jordin Sparks at the top 24 as the American Idol winner," he said proudly. "I was actually going to try to wear a `Vote for Jordin Sparks' T-shirt last night but they wouldn't let me do it."

Lewis compared his sound to
Michael Jackson and Jamiroquai and said his forthcoming album will be "like electro pop, very danceable."

Sparks won a recording contract as part of her "Idol" prize, but Lewis hasn't yet secured a deal.

"Hopefully some creative minds would like to work with me," he said.

The finale pulled out the stops and the stars, with
Gwen Stefani,
Smokey Robinson,
Tony Bennett,
Bette Midler, and Green Day among the performers.

Stefani sang her new single, "4 in the Morning," via satellite from a tour stop in Massachusetts.

Midler took the stage as the show drew near its close, singing "The Wind Beneath My Wings."

Past "Idol" winners and this season's contestants got a hefty share of attention, starting with first-season winner
Kelly Clarkson. She performed her new single "Never Again," the gritty rock song matched by her black dress and thigh-high boots.

Carrie Underwood, the fourth-season idol, sang "I'll Stand by You" and was honored by legendary music mogul Clive Davis for reaching 6 million in sales for her debut album, "Some Hearts."

Taylor Hicks, last season's winner, also had his moment, as did
Ruben Studdard, the winner from year two.

Robinson, a Motown great, performed "Being with You" after the top six male contestants, including fan fave Sanjaya Malakar, sang "Ooh Baby Baby," a hit for Robinson and his group the Miracles.

"All the guys are very nice guys, wonderful young people" Robinson said of the Idol finalists backstage. Sparks deserved to win, he said.

"She is an awesome singer. She sings so good it's hard to believe she's 17," he said. "To sing like that, you would have to have lived for a long time. She's an old soul."

Blake, whose beat-boxing scored with viewers and brought a hip-hop element to "Idol," performed with veteran rapper Doug E. Fresh on his old hit, "The Show." It was a signature moment for a contest that has introduced young viewers to Gershwin and other standards.

"True originals," host Ryan Seacrest said of the duo.

Backstage, Fresh called Lewis "an incredibly talented, good guy."

"He just has such an incredible energy and he loves hip hop so much," Fresh said from behind aviator sunglasses.

Gladys Knight took the stage with the six female finalists, belting out "I Feel a Song" and "Midnight Train to Georgia." Bennett performed a mellow version of "For Once in My Life" that ended with a big finish.

"A true idol, Tony Bennett, ladies and gentlemen," gushed Seacrest.

Melinda Doolittle, arguably the best "Idol" contestant to miss out on the finale, returned to impress the crowd again as she sang "Hold Up the Line" with gospel stars BeBe and
CeCe Winans.

"She has proven in the last few months to be spectacular," BeBe Winans said backstage of Doolittle.

The show took a serious turn when Green Day performed "A Working Class Hero is Something to Be," a single from "Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur," a fundraising album for the embattled region.

Viewers cast more than 74 million votes in making Sparks the winner. Hundreds of "American Idol" fans lined Hollywood Boulevard leading up to the theater before the show.

On Tuesday, judges Cowell and Randy Jackson made it clear Sparks was their favorite. Diplomatic
Paula Abdul kept her counsel as usual, praising both singers. Although the judges didn't have a say in the decision, their opinions can sway voters.

Rain prevents play in Chittagong

First Test, Chittagong, day three (no play): India 384-6 v Bangladesh

India were denied the chance to build on their commanding first innings total against Bangladesh because of heavy rain in Chittagong.

India were set to start day three of the first Test on 384-6 but play was abandoned before a ball was bowled.

Mahindra Dhoni (36) and Anil Kumble (1) will hope for better weather on Monday, but the forecast is not promising.

Just 20 overs were possible on Saturday during which Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly completed centuries.

The first day's play was also reduced because of rain, and the third limited-overs match between Bangladesh and India was washed out on Tuesday.

India gets its act together in Cannes

Cannes, May 19 (PTI): If the audience response to screenings on the opening day of the India Focus programme at the Cannes Film Festival is any indication, the rub-off could prove to be quite significant in the long run for the world's largest movie industry.
The Tous les Cinemas du Monde section began this morning with the screening of "Saira", a Malayalam film directed by Dr Biju.

Also screened today were Mridul Toolsidas and Vinay Subramanian's "Missed Call", Rajkumar Hirani's "Lage Raho Munnabhai" and Vasantha Balan's Tamil-language "Veyil".

The directors of all four films were at hand to introduce them to the full house. Interestingly, an overwhelming majority of people who packed the auditorium were foreigners, film buyers and fans alike.

The two-day India Focus was preceded by the India Party hosted at the majestic Barriere Hotel beach jointly by the information and broadcasting ministry and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Friday night.

Hours later, the curtains went up on the India Focus in the Tous les Cinemas du Monde section this morning.

The wine-and-champagne party was a low-key but enjoyable affair. Present for the occasion were India's ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Asha Swarup, Joint Secretary V B Pyarelal, producer Bobby Bedi, chairman of CII's entertainment committee, and Amit Khanna of Reliance Entertainment.

Neither Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi nor Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob, both of whom were slated to attend, could make it to the party.

Among the guests spotted at the bash, which went on till the wee hours this morning, were Bollywood actresses Preity Zinta and Manisha Koirala, who landed in Cannes on Friday, and Masumi, filmmakers Mani Ratnam and Ketan Mehta and Paris-based writer-director Vijay Singh.

Kolkata filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, who was in town, stayed away from the seafront party.

Among those watching the country's films with keen interest are programmers who select Indian movies for major international festivals.

However, one American programmer who went into a market screening of Camera d'Or-winner Murali Nair's "Unni" returned disappointed.

Among other Indian films being screened in the Cannes Film Market are the Saregama Films-funded "Karma, Confessions and Holi", Kaushi Roy's "My Own Sky" and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's "Eklavya".

Seven movies are part of the India Focus programme. Over 20 Indian showbiz companies are exhibiting their projects and products at the India Pavilion and exhibition area Palais. More than 80 companies from India, including 40 independent filmmakers, are at Cannes and have over 150 movies, mainly for the market.

Catherine Demier of the Cannes Film Festival, who formally opened the India Focus, described the section as a "treasure trove of cultural diversity, democracy and modernity in the new India".

5 Killed in Mosque Explosion in India

HYDERABAD, India - A bomb ripped through a historic mosque as Friday prayers were ending in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, killing at least five people and wounding several others, officials said. Two other unexploded bombs were found and defused by police.

Minutes after the blast, Muslims angered by what they said was a lack of police protection began chanting slogans _ a situation that quickly devolved into mobs throwing stones at police, who responded with baton charges and tear gas.

The bombing and ensuing clash between worshippers and police raised fears of wider Hindu-Muslim violence in the city, which has long been plagued by communal tensions and occasional spasms of religious bloodletting.

Many of those injured in the explosion at the 17th-century Mecca Masjid were severely wounded, and the city's police chief, Balwinder Singh, warned the death toll could rise.

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state, where Hyderabad is located, appealed for calm between Hindus and Muslims.

Reddy called the bombing, which killed at least five people and wounded 25, an act of "intentional sabotage on the peace and tranquility in the country."

He told reporters in New Delhi, where he was meeting with federal officials on unrelated business, that one bomb went off around 1:30 p.m. and that police found and defused two other bombs soon after.

About 10,000 people usually attend Friday prayers at the mosque, which is located in a Muslim neighborhood of Hyderabad, and the blast sparked a panic.

"As soon as prayers ended, we were about to get up, there was a huge deafening blast sending bodies into the air," said Abdul Quader, a 30-year-old who sustained light injuries to his legs. "People stated running helter-skelter, there was such confusion. People were bleeding, running around in a very bad condition."

There was chaos outside the mosque following the attack. Throngs of people gathered in the streets, some chanting angry slogans and throwing rocks at police, who fired tear gas and tried to disperse the crowd with batons so ambulances could ferry the wounded to hospitals.

The explosion immediately drew comparisons to a Sept. 31 bombing of a mosque during a Muslim festival in Maleagaon, a city in western India.

That attack killed 31 people and was seen as an attempt it inflame tensions between India's Hindu majority and Muslim minority. There are an estimated 130 million Muslims in India, a country of 1.1 billion people.

India's worst religious violence in recent years was in 2002, in the western Gujarat state. More than 1,000 people, most of them Muslim, were killed by Hindu mobs in revenge attacks after a train fire killed 60 Hindus returning from a religious pilgrimage. Muslims were blamed for the train fire.

A series of terrorist bombings have hit India in the past year, including the July bombings of seven Mumbai commuter trains that killed more than 200 people. Most of the bombings have been blamed on Muslim militants based in neighboring Pakistan, India's longtime rival.

Spears thankful for fans' prayers

Singer Britney Spears has posted a message on her website thanking her fans for their prayers during this "trying time".
Spears, who was photographed in February shaving her head, said she was "blessed" that fans cared enough about her to be "concerned".

The 25-year-old recently performed on stage for the first time since she left a rehabilitation clinic.

In November she filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline.

"I am so blessed that you care enough about me to be concerned and will continue to live in this brighter state with all of you by myself during this trying time," she said on her site.

"We are all lights of the world and we all need to continuously inspire others and look to the higher power," she added.

Spears and Federline, 29, were married in a surprise ceremony in September 2004. The singer cited irreconcilable differences for the divorce.

Since the pair split up Spears - who has not released an album since 2003 - has made headlines with her partying lifestyle.

Madonna releases new song for charity

NEW YORK - Madonna, one of the headliners at this summer's "Live Earth" concerts, has released a new digital song for the musical event.

The global concert series, taking place July 7, is designed to raise awareness about climate issues. "Hey You," which Madonna produced with Pharrell Williams, doesn't specifically talk about Earth issues, but the ballad's lyrics refer to loving and saving each other.

Madonna is scheduled to perform the song during the show at Wembley Stadium in London. Other shows will take place in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.; Tokyo; Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Hamburg, Germany; and Istanbul, Turkey.

"Hey You" is available on MSN.com. The first million downloads are free, and Microsoft is pledging to donate 25 cents per download to the Alliance for Climate Protection.

Besides Madonna, other headliners slated for the London concert include the Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis and the Beastie Boys.

Life after marriage is wonderful: Aishwarya

NEW DELHI: Life after marriage is "wonderful" for the new Mrs Bachchan who is currently on a honeymoon with her actor-husband Abhishek and gets ready to return to work in a week's time.

"I am feeling wonderful. I am very happy. By the grace of God, everything is wonderful," Aishwarya Bachchan Rai told a news channel in Cannes where she is set to walk the red carpet with her husband at the film festival.

In perhaps her first interview after her marriage on April 19, the Bollywood actress said, "It's all things good. It's a blessing. And it's a wonderful family," she said, going on to describe Abhishek as "superlative and fantastic".

Aishwarya said she had found wonderful parents in her parents-in-law Amitabh and Jaya.

Asked if she had changed after marriage, she said, "No. I am just a normal girl in a wonderful time of my life, a very special time. It's fantastic. It's all things good."

Aishwarya said she was at the Cannes Film Festival for a day after which she would continue with her holiday that is at its fag end.

She said she was looking forward to working with husband Abhishek and father-in-law Amitabh in 'Sarkar II'.

"...which will be a kind of working with family as we are all related now. It's always a privilege to work with actors like Abhishek and an iconic legend like my father-in-law," Aishwarya said.

The Bachchans will also be seen together in Karan Johar's forthcoming project.

Indian court suspends warrant for Gere's arrest

India's supreme court today suspended a warrant for the arrest of Richard Gere, who had been accused of breaking public obscenity laws by kissing Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in New Delhi last month.
The court has suspended all legal proceedings against the pair, until the correct jurisdiction for the case is decided. The controversy, which created headlines around the world, began in April, when Gere kissed Shetty on the cheek and swung her in his arms during an Aids awareness campaign in New Delhi in what was reportedly intended to be a parody of a scene from his 2004 film Shall We Dance.

Spider-Man takes a fall but still hangs tough

Story Highlights• "Spider-Man 3" already named the year's top grossing film
• Fox Atomic's cannibal-themed horror film is No. 2
• Spidey has enjoyed two weekends of low competition
• "Shrek the Third" debuts Friday, likely to take No. 1 position
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LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Even when he takes a huge fall, Spider-Man comes out on top.

Sony's "Spider-Man 3" took in $60 million in its second weekend, a hefty 60 percent drop from its record debut a week earlier but good enough to easily outdistance the competition and remain the No. 1 movie, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"After a record-breaking opening weekend, to me this is an appropriate second-weekend drop," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "Any studio would be happy to have a movie opening with $60 million, let alone a second weekend with $60 million."

With $242.1 million domestically in just 10 days, "Spider-Man 3" continued to beat the box-office pace of its predecessors. After 10 days, 2002's "Spider-Man" had grossed $223 million, while 2004's "Spider-Man 2" had taken in $225 million.

"Spider-Man 3" quickly became the year's top-grossing film, hurtling past "300," the Warner Bros. battle epic that has taken in $208 million.

Second-weekend drops for successful studio films typically are well below 50 percent. But "Spider-Man 3" shattered records with $151.1 million in its first weekend, making a big decline virtually inevitable since so many people already had seen the film.

"When you're in that stratosphere, we had to assume we would be in the range of a 60 percent drop," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony.

The weekend's other new movies had fair to poor openings.

Debuting in second place with $10 million was Fox Atomic's horror sequel "28 Weeks Later," a follow up to "28 Days Later" that continues the story of a virus in Britain that turns people into raging, cannibalistic zombies.

Universal's "Georgia Rule," starring Lindsay Lohan, Jane Fonda and Felicity Huffman, opened at No. 3 with $5.9 million. Lohan plays a rebellious teen who's put under the charge of her no-nonsense grandma (Fonda). (Watch Jane Fonda and Felicity Huffman discuss the movie )

Lionsgate's "Delta Farce" premiered at No. 5 with $3.5 million. Larry the Cable Guy stars in the comedy about three weekend warriors mistakenly dumped in Mexico, where they take on a gang of bandits.

The Weinstein Co. and MGM's workplace comedy "The Ex" tanked with $1.4 million, coming in at No. 12. The movie stars Zach Braff as a husband dueling with a co-worker who also is his wife's ex-boyfriend.

"Spider-Man 3" made up for an otherwise soft crop of movies. The top-12 films took in $96.9 million, up 14 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Mission: Impossible 3" was No. 1 with $25 million and "Poseidon" debuted in second place with $22.2 million.

Overseas, "Spider-Man 3" pulled in an additional $85.5 million for the weekend, raising its international total to $380 million and worldwide total to $622 million. The previous "Spider-Man" movies each took in about $800 million worldwide, a number "Spider-Man 3" should easily beat.

"Spider-Man 3" has a shot at topping $1 billion worldwide, Bruer said. Only three other movies, "Titanic," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," have hit that mark.

After two weekends of light competition, "Spider-Man 3" faces the summer's next heavy-hitter Friday with the debut of DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third," the latest adventure of the cartoon ogre.

A week later, Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" sails into theaters, the Johnny Depp action comedy joining "Spider-Man 3" and "Shrek the Third" to set up what could be Hollywood's biggest Memorial Day weekend ever.

Britney's new album promises to be "fun"

Britney Spears' new album will be about "feeling good" and "celebrating womanhood".

According to Nate "Danja" Hills, who worked on tracks with the 25-year-old singer, Spears decided to avoid singing about the personal problems which have plagued her this year.

"It's fun, it's basic and there's nothing wrong with that. It's about feeling good, celebrating womanhood," Hills told MTV. "And if you don't dance to it, I really don't know what you're listening to.

"There was no, 'I need to let it all out'. She said she deals with that in another way. She didn't let none of her personal life into what she was doing... She wanted to stay away from being personal.

"As far as her work ethic, I haven't seen anybody come in like that. Boom, boom, boom, and get it done. So as an artist? She's ready to go."

Lopez 'beefs up security amid death threats'

Jennifer Lopez has beefed up her personal security amid a series of ugly death threats.

Worried J-Lo has been sent a string of horror letters from an animal rights extremist threatening to "kill her in public".

The sick threats have come about because J.Lo has stepped out in public wearing animal fur, the New York Daily News reports.


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Another shooting in united states

Fresno (California): The police on Tuesday arrested a college student suspected of opening fire at three people at a student rooming facility during a dispute over a video game console, killing one and injuring two.

The shooting occurred late on Monday night at the dormitory across the street from the California State University, Fresno, but the university remained open following the incident. Residents of the 460-room apartment complex were, however, evacuated to the campus cafeteria.

Police named the suspect as 19-year-old Jonquel Brooks, a criminology student, and said “the incident was sparked by an argument over a Playstation game console between Brooks and the victims, all of whom were residents of the dorm”.

Brooks finally surrendered after a series of intense phone negotiations with police, his parents and an attorney, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said. Earlier, the police and federal agency had launched a manhunt for him.

Investigators initially believed he was still inside the apartment complex where the shooting occurred, but then expanded the search to other parts of Fresno.

“The suspect had altered his appearance significantly,” Dyer said. “He shaved his head and also changed his clothing apparently in an attempt to avoid being recognised.”

The two who were wounded did not have life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The Fresno County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as a Brant Daniels, 19, who had moved from Los Angeles to attend Fresno State University, but was not a current student. Police identified the two wounded men as Fresno State student Roderick Buycks, 19, and Drew Pfeiff, 22, who is not enrolled at the university.

Fresno State students were never in danger because police were in contact with the gunman and knew he was not on campus, Dyer said. Police were searching for evidence, including the gun, at six apartments at University Village Apartments.

University and college campuses across the US are on high alert after a student shot and killed 33 fellow students at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, last month.

Rajnikanth fans start countdown

Superstar Rajnikant and Shriya in "Sivaji". The film is the 100th Tamil film for Rajni. Produced by AVM productions and directed by Shankar, the film is expected to be released soon.

Amid speculation about the date on which Sivaji - The Boss will hit theatres, Rajnikanth fans in Kochi are busy working out strategies to give a rousing welcome to the latest film of their star. They have only one wish: somehow manage a ticket for the first day, first show.

Kumar, an ardent fan, says: "I shall like to watch it on the first day of release. There is a chance that the exhibitors may cut some scenes from the second day. Moreover, the `premiere show' is like a festival. The drama on the other side of the screen, with cheering and hooting, is a treat to watch."

How can fans stop celebrating the arrival of yet another Rajni movie? The star was last seen in a film 20 months ago in Chandramukhi. It is still drawing crowds in small centres. Box-office records were broken. Rajnikanth has been tipped as the second highest paid actor in Asia, behind the all-time favourite Jackie Chan.

"Sivaji - The Boss will rewrite box-office history. A Rajni film is special, as the actor is so dear to all of us. His style remains unchallenged," says Shanmugam, a loyal fan.

Fans have lapped up everything related to the film. Three days after the audio release, retail music shops in South India are sold out. "The A.R. Rahman-Shankar-Rajni combine has clicked. Songs from the movie are top on charts. My favourite is Athiradi sung by Rahman. Balleilakka is another foot-tapping number," says Sasi, a Government employee.

Rajnikanth fans hope that the film will be released by the third week of May. Sivaji has been in the news for long, as it has some of the high-profile names in Tamil film industry. Made under the banner of AVM Productions, the movie is directed by Tamil's highly successful director Shankar, who is teaming up with Rajnikanth for the first time. The name of A.R. Rahman makes the team more power-packed.

The lyrics are penned by Valee, Vairamuthu, Pa Vijay, and Muthukumar. K.V. Anand cranks the camera. Sujatha provides the punchy dialogues for the star. Thotta Tharani, Kollywood's respected art director, has designed the expensive sets.

No show, court stays National Film Awards

New Delhi: The most prestigious and prominent film awards in India have run into controversy after allegations of favouritism surfaced against the jury. The Delhi High Court put a stay on Wednesday on the declaration of the 53rd National Film Awards directing the government to look into the allegations by one of the juries of the award committee.

Justice Kailash Gambhir directed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry not to declare the awards without getting clearance from the court.

'It is serious as the dissent comes by a jury member,'” Justice Gambhir said in a court order.

Director Sanjay Leela Banshali's Black nominated for the best film and best director's award is a strong contender. However, since the film is an adaptation of a 1962 English classic The Miracle of Worker, questions are being raised for its nomination.

“A film which is an adaptation of a foreign film should not be considered since the awards are meant for only original work,'' said Kolkata-based National Award jury member Shyamali Banerjee in her petition.

Shyamli Banerjee Deb alleged “those who have close proximity with the DFF officials were up on the bid for the National Awards while a number of promising directors were left out because they did not manage to build up connection with the authorities.”

“I feel a bit relaxed today since there are some chances of a review of the selection,” she added.

Shyamli Banerjee Deb has challenged the decision of Directorate of Film Festival to give away the award of best Film to Black, best debut director to Parineeta, best actress to Parzania, best screen play to Apaharan and best special effect to Tamil film Anniyan.

''In reality the DFF officials with ulterior motives decided the awards in their chambers and constituted a jury for the name sake and they tried to influence the members of the jury according to their suggestions,'' said Shyamli’s counsel Deepak Prakash.

“There was no democratic discussion by the jury. The jury was totally hijacked by a group of officials who took the entire decision in the back yard and announced the awards,” he added.

Dhoni kissed publicly by a female fan

Indian cricketer M.S. Dhoni was Sunday hugged and kissed publicly by a frenzied female fan in the Eden Gardens here on the last day of the five-day conditioning camp ahead of the Bangladesh tour.

With the Shilpa Shetty-Richard Gere kissing controversy still afresh, it was time for some more grit to the kissing mill as the stylish cricketer was grabbed and kissed by the young woman after she broke the security cordon and took all by surprise with her action.

Haseena Nasreeb Shiuli of Berhampore in Murshidabad along with friend Sweety had been almost camping in Eden Gardens since May 2 to cheer the Indian players.

Shiuli, a die-hard Dhoni fan and a first year student of Berhampore College, hugged and kissed Dhoni as he came down from the team bus to oblige for an autograph. The team was leaving in the bus after the morning practice session.

She had been cheering for Dhoni with a poster emblazoned 'I love you' for the past few days.

The girl broke into tears and went hysteric screaming 'Dhoni', 'Dhoni' as she was whisked away by the security men.

'I had come to see only Dhoni from Berhampore (about 250 km from Kolkata),' she said breaking down in tears.

'It is the most memorable day of my life. Dhoni advised me to go away because of the cops and said he is there for me,' Shiuli said as she kept waving at the team bus.

Spidey Shatters Records With $148M

Spider-Man caught just about everyone in his web. The superhero's latest adventure, "Spider-Man 3," smashed box-office records with $148 million in its first three days, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That put it ahead of the previous record debut of $135.6 million set last summer by "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

With $59.3 million on opening day Friday, Sony's "Spider-Man 3" broke the single-day box-office record, also held by "Dead Man's Chest" with $55.8 million in its first day.Since it began rolling out overseas on Tuesday, "Spider-Man 3" has taken in $227 million in foreign markets, bringing the film's worldwide total to $375 million. In just days, the movie has grossed $117 million more than its whopping $258 million production budget.

In just two days, it also nearly matched the $114.8 million opening weekend of 2002's "Spider-Man," which had held the debut record until "Dead Man's Chest" opened.

"Spider-Man 3" reunites director Sam Raimi, who also made the previous two installments, and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

"Sam Raimi is a genius," said Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures co-chairman. "I could have never envisioned this. What I was hoping was we would just break the `Spider-Man 1' record. This is beyond my wildest dream."

The overall box office soared from "Spider-Man 3," with the top-12 movies taking in $176.6 million, up 77 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "Mission: Impossible III" opened with $47.7 million.
"Spider-Man 3" outdid that movie by $100 million and grossed more in each of its first two days than "Mission: Impossible III" did over the full weekend.

Also among the records smashed by "Spider-Man 3" was a $4.8 million domestic gross at huge-screen IMAX theaters, topping the previous best of $3.6 million set by "300" in March.

Playing in a record 4,252 locations domestically, "Spider-Man 3" averaged a whopping $34,807 a theater.

Domestically, "Spider-Man 3" could enter its second weekend Friday with $200 million already in the bank. The film has the market largely to itself for the next week and a half, with no major competition arriving until DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third" arrives May 18.

With "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and an onslaught of other potential blockbusters following, studio executives predict this could be a record summer for modern Hollywood.

"Spider-Man 3" packed in enormous crowds that were captive audiences viewing trailers for those upcoming flicks.

"If you could imagine the best kickoff to what could be the biggest summer of all time, this is the scenario," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "This will have a ripple effect on audiences exposed to the marketing for all the other summer films."

The gap between "Spider-Man 3" and the No. 2 movie DreamWorks and Paramount's "Disturbia" at $5.7 million was larger than any other movie's debut. "Disturbia," which had been No. 1 for three-straight weekends, raised its total to $59.9 million.

The weekend's only other new wide release, the romantic drama "Lucky You" from Warner Bros., bombed with $2.5 million to come in at No. 6.

Directed by Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential"), "Lucky You" stars Drew Barrymore as a budding Las Vegas singer, Eric Bana as skilled gambler and Robert Duvall as his estranged father in a tale set against the World Series of Poker.

Two critically acclaimed films opened well in limited release.

Fox Searchlight's "Waitress," starring Keri Russell as a small-town woman whose flavorful pies are named after the hard knocks in her messy personal life, debuted with $91,470 in four theaters. "Waitress" was written and directed by co-star Adrienne Shelly, who was slain in her Manhattan apartment last fall.

Lionsgate's "Away From Her," the directing debut of actress Sarah Polley, premiered with $56,000 in four theaters. "Away From Her" stars Julie Christie as a woman losing her memory from Alzheimer's and Gordon Pinsent as the devoted husband agonizing over her loss.

Both films expand to more theaters throughout May.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Spider-Man 3," $148 million.

2. "Disturbia," $5.7 million.

3. "Fracture," $3.4 million.

4. "The Invisible," $3.1 million.

5. "Next," $2.8 million.

6. "Lucky You," $2.5 million.

7. "Meet the Robinsons," $2.46 million.

8. "Blades of Glory," $2.3 million.

9. "Hot Fuzz," $2.1 million.

10. "Are We Done Yet?", $1.7 million.

Dravid to miss rest of prep camp

After Sachin Tendulkar's twisted ankle, a nose injury to captain Rahul Dravid on Saturday was the last thing Team India needed before the all-important tour of Bangladesh.

Dravid collapsed on the ground after an RP Singh bouncer hit him on the face during Saturday morning's net session in Kolkata.

The ball hit the visor, which in turn hit Dravid on the nose.

It is a huge blow to the team just five days before India's first one-dayer against Bangladesh.

The 34-year-old had to be taken off the field immediately, bleeding profusely from the nose. However, the team management later clarified that there were no cuts or injuries.

"It is only a nose trauma, nothing else. That's what the doctors have told us. Rahul will take about 48 hours to recover, and the ENT specialist has already seen him. John Gloster will follow up from there," said Surendra Bhave, Administrative Manager, Indian Cricket Team.


Under observation

The Indian skipper will stay under observation for 48 hours. This means he'll miss the rest of the preparatory camp before the team leaves for Dhaka on Monday.

And though his initial X-ray hasn't revealed anything serious, Dravid has been advised an MRI scan.

"There is nothing in the X-ray that was conducted on him, but that was done at the CAB's medical unit. Later if it is done from a proper place, then we can see what happens," said Dr Debasis Sanyal, ENT Specialist.

Despite the injury, Dravid is expected to travel to Dhaka on May 7. But in case he does not, there will be a bit of a leadership vacuum.

The team does not have a vice captain and Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are not part of the one-day squad. This leaves just Virender Sehwag, with his own bagful of worries, to take over as the stand-in captain.

This is definitely not a good start for the Indian team. The biggest challenge for the team will be beating the heat and maintaining fitness levels in what will be a 23-day long tour.

Meanwhile, Sachin is expected to be back to full fitness in time for the Test series, which starts on May 18.

13.5 Kg Weight Quran-e-Karim Written by Indian Emperor

This Quran is hand-written by Emperor Aurangzeb (RA) nearly 400 years ago. It is 13.5 kg in weight, 39.5 CM long and 20 CM wide. It has Golden and silver colored graving. Every page has a different perfumery smell and to avoid fire accidents the pages are fire proofed.
Police captured the person, M.G. Sukumar (from Kerala), who was trying to sell it for 5 Crore Rupees.

Indian continent Kerala Police has arrested Mr. M.G. Sukumar (44) resident of Trichur, who is going to sell this Quran for 5 crores Indian Rupees (IRS.5,00,00,000) equal to 50 million $. And it has been sent to Hyderabad for verification of script.

This Holy Qura'n written by Mughal Emperor AURANGZEB in his own hand writing before 400 hundred years ago (During 1636-44 & 1653-58).

- It's weight measured as 13 KG.
- Size: Length 39.5I cm. and width 20 cm.
- The text was graving with Gold & Silver
- This Qura'n papers are made by fireproof material.
- It's every page giving different type of perfume smell.

Lohan plans big 21st-birthday bash

LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohan won't be satisfied with a cake and some candles when she turns 21. The raspy-voiced actress, who celebrates her big birthday on July 2, said Wednesday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" that she plans to "milk it" when she becomes old enough to legally go to clubs.

Lohan said turning 21 has "been a long time coming" for her friends who own clubs in Los Angeles. After she's legal, "they don't have to worry about getting into trouble," for letting her inside, she told host Ellen DeGeneres.

She'll celebrate by partying in Vegas, she said, and also with a dinner in Malibu, Calif., with family and friends.

Lohan, who stars opposite Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda in the upcoming Universal Pictures film "Georgia Rule," also showed off a white tattoo of the word "breathe" on the inside of her wrist.

"And it's `breathe' because?" asked DeGeneres.

"I forget to breathe sometimes," Lohan replied.

Sealed with a kiss

A seasoned traveller to India, Richard Gere might have known that it would come to this. The Hollywood star was last week ordered to appear before a court in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on a charge of public indecency. His alleged crime was grabbing and kissing a Bollywood actress, Shilpa Shetty, in front of 4,000 truckers in Delhi, at an event to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. The judge in Jaipur called this “highly sexually erotic” and an “obscene act”. He also ordered the arrest of Ms Shetty, a moderately successful actress who found fame in an execrable British reality TV show earlier this year.

Back in America, Mr Gere tried to brazen out the charge. He blamed it on right-wing opportunists, the self-proclaimed custodians of Indian morality. But as effigies of the star of “Shall we dance?”—a film Mr Gere acted in and claimed to be re-enacting with Ms Shetty—burst aflame in Mumbai, he apologised for causing offence. Poor Ms Shetty, caught between placating her compatriots and alienating a Hollywood A-lister, said Mr Gere’s clinch was a “little overboard”.

For Indians affronted by such behaviour, these are terrible times. In recent years Bollywood has taken a racy turn. For decades Indian films showed intimacy through symbols—for example, a close-up of two flowers touching. Now they show generous cleavage and an occasional full-lipped kiss.

India’s swelling urban middle-classes have tracked this licentious trend. In the new shopping malls of Mumbai and Delhi, couples hold hands and canoodle surreptitiously.

Illicit lovers also favour protected monuments and ruins, where an entrance fee can buy a little privacy. At Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial, a peerless example of British civic baroque architecture, this correspondent faced a surprising sight. Under the sombre gaze of Britain’s tubby empress, immortalised in bronze, scores of young couples lay writhing on the lawn.

But the moral police, typically Hindu nationalists, are fighting back. Two Bollywood A-listers, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, have been summoned to appear before a court in the northern state of Bihar on May 30th to answer for their three brief kisses in a movie called “Dhoom 2”. Last year politicians in Rajasthan called for the state’s chief minister to resign after she planted a friendly kiss on a businesswoman at an official function in Delhi. Public kisses, after all, warrant a $12 fine in India’s capital.

To outsiders and locals alike, India’s public mores are confusing. India, as is often remarked, is the source of the kama sutra, and the country’s ancient Hindu temples have wonderful carvings that depict group sex and bestiality. Indian films of the 1930s featured unabashed kissing. What, in fact, are the rules of public decency in India?

For Hindus, as well as Muslims, they are certainly more conservative than the erotic temples suggest. A decreasing, yet sizeable, majority of marriages are arranged between families—a custom that safeguards the caste system. For women especially, a reputation for chastity is crucial to a respectable match.

India’s freedom fighters—and subsequent nationalists—revered chastity. For them it was a defining Indian virtue, separating them from the more permissive West. According to Dipankar Gupta, a sociologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi: “Kissing went off-screen primarily because of our desire to capture the high moral ground against the British.” But thanks to globalisation, young Indians have become more like the louche Westerners the bigots deride. “We’re in a bit of a cleft,” says Mr Gupta.

He might as well be speaking of the Muslim world, where a similar confusion is being played out by obscurantist Islamists and pro-Western modernisers. On April 25th Bangladesh’s army-backed government banned ten foreign TV channels for violating laws on public morality. One of the channels, Fashion TV, which is based in France and features an endless reel of strutting models, had been banned in India for the same reason earlier this year.

In Pakistan, the situation is more grievous. On April 6th the mullah of a state-funded mosque issued a fatwa calling for the country’s tourism minister to be sacked. Her alleged crime was to have given a relieved hug to a French paraglider after the pair completed a glide together in Paris. The minister was in Paris to raise money for victims of an earthquake in 2005, but also to promote Pakistan as an ideal destination for European tourists.

McCartney Says New CD Is Retrospective

Paul McCartney says his upcoming album, "Memory Almost Full," looks back to the past. "In places it's a very personal record and a lot of it is retrospective, drawing from memory, like memories from being a kid, from Liverpool and from summers gone," the 64-year-old ex-Beatle said Monday in a statement.

"The album is evocative, emotional, rocking, but I can't really sum it up in one sentence," he said.

"Memory Almost Full," McCartney's 21st solo album, will be released June 5 in the United States. It is his first for Hear Music, Starbucks' new music label.

A medley of five songs on the 13-track disc is "purposely retrospective," said the legendary singer-songwriter. "I thought this might be because I'm at this point in my life, but then I think about the times I was writing with John (Lennon) and a lot of that was also looking back."

Film director Michel Gondry has directed a music video starring Natalie Portman for the opening track "Dance Tonight," but McCartney said he's "not going to give the plot away."

McCartney last released the acclaimed "Chaos And Creation In the Backyard," in 2005.