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Rapper T.I. hopes his friend CHRIS BROWN will eventually make peace with his girlfriend RIHANNA after an alleged fight between the pair earlier this month (Feb09).
Brown is currently facing charges of making criminal threats after allegedly attacking the pop star following a pre-Grammy Awards party on 8 February (09).
T.I. spoke out about his pal following the incident, calling Brown "cool" and a "great guy" in the days following the incident. He subsequently withdrew his comments, calling his words at the time "insensitive." The hip-hop star has once again talked about his friends, admitting he hopes that in time the pair will be able to move on from the incident.
He says, "I’ve been blessed and fortunate enough to spend time around them and Rihanna is outstanding. She’s the sweetest girl…
"(I’ve) made an attempt to contact Rihanna, but understandably, she’s not able to be reached.
"Chris, he’s a great guy…I can’t speak on the event that took place. I don’t know the details…It’s not my business, but I know through all adversity comes strength and everyone goes through things for a reason. I want to see them both rise above it, move beyond it and get back to being great."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

CHRIS BROWN’s day in court over his alleged fight with girlfriend RIHANNA could be postponed while police gather more evidence, according to the Los Angeles district attorney.
The Kiss, Kiss hitmaker was arrested and charged following an alleged attack on the Umbrella hitmaker after a pre-Grammys party on 8 February (09).
Brown was freed on bail following the incident and is facing charges of making criminal threats. He is due in court in L.A. on 5 March (09) for an arraignment hearing.
But that date may have to be pushed back, while cops strengthen their case against the star.
A statement from Los Angeles district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison reads, "We don�t have the evidence yet. (Los Angeles police detectives) are still investigating. If (detectives) determine they need more time they�ll set a new date for him (Brown) to come into court.
"He only has to come back if and when we file charges." Rihanna was thought to have fled to her native Barbados to avoid press attention following the alleged attack - but it has now been revealed that the singer has been enjoying a sunshine break in a private beachside villa in Punta Mita, Mexico, according to the New York Daily News.

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SAMUEL L. JACKSON is set to become a comic book icon - he has reportedly signed to play superspy NICK FURY in an unprecedented nine-movie deal with Marvel.
The actor started a buzz in comic book circles when he made a cameo appearance at the end of 2008 blockbuster Iron Man, and quickly confirmed his appearance in the movie’s forthcoming sequel.
However, the future of Jackson’s role as the World War II superhero was thrown into turmoil, after the actor claimed negotiations between his representatives and the Marvel studio had broken down due to the current economic crisis.
But the Pulp Fiction’s star has managed to cut a deal with Marvel bosses - he is confirmed as a recurring star of the studio’s upcoming big screen comic adaptations, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Jackson’s nine-picture deal include appearances in Iron Man 2, Captain America, The Avengers and its subsequent sequels, and possibly as the lead in a S.H.I.E.L.D movie - the fictional espionage agency the Fury character heads.

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JENNIFER LOPEZ and husband MARC ANTHONY are suing a British pram company for $5 million (£3.47 million) for allegedly using the couple’s image to promote their range.
The pair filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in a Los Angeles district court on Wednesday (25Feb09), claiming executives at Silver Cross had used a snap of them with their one year old twins, Max and Emme, in their strollers without prior permission.
The suit accuses the British manufacturing firm of using the photograph of the famous family online and in advertisements, thereby deceiving the public into "believing that Lopez and Anthony endorse and sponsor" the brand.
Lopez and Anthony are seeking at least $5 million (£3.47 million) in damages, a permanent injunction against any further use of their names or images in the company’s advertising, and any money that may have been made by allegedly using the couple as unwitting spokesmodels.

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BEN STILLER’s impersonation of JOAQUIN PHOENIX at the Oscars was a last minute addition to the show - because the TROPIC THUNDER star refused to stick to official script.
Stiller appeared alongside Natalie Portman to introduce the nominees for the Best Cinematography award at Sunday’s (22Feb09) Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
And Stiller shocked the star-studded crowd by wearing a scruffy fake beard and wandering aimlessly around the stage, mocking Phoenix’ recent string of bizarre public appearances since the Gladiator star ‘quit acting’ to focus on his rap career.
But the gag only made the cut because Stiller had "a meltdown" at rehearsals on Saturday (21Feb09), "because he was unhappy with the script and decided he could do better," according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.
A source tells the publication, "Ben refused to tell them what he planned until he arrived at the Kodak Theatre, and then he did that Joaquin Phoenix bit."

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Scottish DJ CALVIN HARRIS has been forced to re-edit his new music video - after broadcasting authorities ordered him to omit scenes featuring him holding a knife.
The Acceptable in the Eighties hitmaker will not be able to show his promo for I’m Not Alone on U.K. TV until he changes the footage to comply with rules set by watchdog Ofcom, which oversees broadcasting standards.
U.K. broadcasting laws state that weapons cannot be featured in music videos for fear of encouraging knife crime.
Officials at Harris’ Columbia Records label have confirmed the news but insist authorities have misinterpreted the nature of the promo.
A representative for the company says, "Calvin doesn’t actually use the knife in the video but we need to cut the scene for any TV programme that wants to show that video. Rules are stricter and a lot of artist videos get edited for TV nowadays." Last year (08) pop star Katy Perry was at the centre of controversy after promotional pictures showing her holding a blade were heavily criticised by British anti-violence campaigners.

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The battle has begun over the merger of music industry giants Live Nation and Ticketmaster - with officials at both companies facing a committee hearing over competition regulations.
Executives at the concert promoter announced plans earlier their this month (Feb09) to join forces with the ticketing firm to create an industry superforce in an estimated $575 million (£396 million) deal.
A string of celebrities including Seal, Shakira and Eddie Van Halen have backed the agreement, insisting the proposed merger would benefit both artists and fans.
But before the deal can go ahead, company bosses will be forced to justify the merger to the U.S.’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. The hearing opened on Tuesday (24Feb09) with the city of Chicago, Illinois being used as an example by rival promoters who claim Live Nation already have an unfair advantage over the competition.
Jerry Mickelson, of Chicago-based concert company Jam Productions, insists the merger will give Live Nation bosses unprecedented control of where band’s play, because they already own most of the venues in town.
He told the hearing, "U2 doesn�t call us. Shakira doesn�t call us. Coldplay doesn�t call us. They (Live Nation) dominate the arena level. They control and have all of the outdoor amphitheatres� and with House of Blues, they are taking over the lower-level theater business as well. (This case is) the poster child for why the country has and needs antitrust law." Mickelson also claimed that Live Nation controlled 161 of the top 200 U.S. tours in 2001.
However, representatives of Live Nation and Ticketmaster claim the merger will benefit local areas with towns being given a major economic boost by the concerts held there.

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Irish rockers U2 have come under fire from protesters who accuse the band of depriving the country of millions of dollars in tax revenue by allegedly storing their wealth in bank accounts abroad.
Activists from campaign group the Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (DDCI) gathered outside the Irish Department of Finance in Dublin on Wednesday (25Feb09) to voice their concerns about the band’s finances.
The organisers claim the group, including vocal human rights activist Bono, have been denying the Irish government the chance to help impoverished nations by hoarding their wages in the Netherlands.
U2, who are all based in Ireland, moved their publishing arm to the Netherlands in 2006 after the Government changed the rules over the country’s tax-free status for artist royalties. The ruling capped tax-free earnings for artists at â�¬250,000 ($320,000/£281,000).
DDCI representative, Nessa Ni Chasaide, says, ""We wanted to raise our concern that while Bono has championed the cause of fighting poverty and injustice in the impoverished world, the fact is that his band has moved part of its business to a tax shelter in the Netherlands.
"U2 is just one part of the problem. This is a much wider and systemic problem in our global financial system. Every company and individual has the responsibility to pay the right amount of tax." Representatives for U2 were unavailable for comment as WENN went to press.

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British actress BRENDA BLETHYN opened a new library in her hometown - then paid a fine for a book she borrowed 50 years ago.
The Oscar-nominated star officially launched the new building in Ramsgate, Kent before revealing she had failed to return a book from the old library in 1959.
And she vowed to make amends by paying back the overdue fine to library owners Kent County Council.
Blethyn says, "I used to come to the old library as a child. It is wonderful to see the library open with such style and all this space for chatting, which you couldn�t do in my day.
"I was worried about a library book which was overdue and my dad said: �here�s three pence, go take it back.� On the bus I got a bit peckish so I spent the money on a (biscuit) Wagon Wheel instead. Based on a penny fine a week I have a cheque for the library for £26."

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KATE BOSWORTH is set to step behind the camera - the actress has landed a producer role on a new movie project.
The Superman Returns star is gearing up to make a big screen adaption of a Catherine Hanrahan novel - and she’s throwing herself enthusiastically into her debut production.
She tells the New York Daily News, "I bought the rights to a book called Lost Girls and Love Hotels, and I’ve just had a wonderful writer adapt it.
"Now we’re in the stage of finding a director and building it up from the ground up. It’s a lot of work but we’re going to do it." The movie is slated to hit theatres in 2010.

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Beloved U.S. funnyman JERRY SEINFELD is returning to TV after 11 years - as a marriage counsellor.
The comic, who wrote and starred in longrunning sitcom Seinfeld, is planning a new show for America’s NBC network entitled The Marriage Ref.
The series, co-created with Oprah Winfrey’s executive producer Ellen Rakieten, will feature celebrities talking about the highs and lows of married life, according to Variety.
But Seinfeld is adamant the show will focus on the amusing aspects of being husband and wife.
He tells the publication, "This is not a therapy show, it’s a comedy show. After nine years of marriage, I have discovered that the comedic potential of this subject is quite rich."

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The child stars of Oscar-winning movie SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE returned to their native India on Thursday (26Feb09) with a police escort - because of the massive crowd which gathered to honour their achievements.
The four young actors were whisked off to Hollywood for the glitzy Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (22Feb09), where they saw the film pick up eight prizes including Best Picture.
The kids, Rubina Ali, nine, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, eight and Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, both 10, were greeted by hundreds of locals as they arrived at the Mumbai airport.
Local authorities were forced to deploy dozens of armed police around the area in a bid to stop the crowds of well-wishers surging out of control.
The movie’s two Indian Oscar winners, composer A. R. Rahman and sound engineer Resul Pookutty, were also met by cheering crowds, who showered them in flower petals as they arrived back home.
Rahman, who won Oscars for Best Musical Score and Best Song was overwhelmed by the welcome, saying, "They (the fans) almost killed me with their love." Pookutty adds, "I never expected something like this. This is history being made."

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Veteran actor LORD RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH is still recovering in hospital after suffering a knock to the head in December (08).
The 85-year-old Oscar winner was admitted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, West London on 18 December after he fell and slipped into a coma.
He regained consciousness and was kept under observation by concerned medics throughout the Christmas period.
It was initially thought that the Ghandi filmmaker had been released - with recent reports suggesting doctors had deemed him well enough to return home.
But a representative for the star confirms Attenborough remains in the medical facility, two months after the accident - but is slowly getting better.
A spokeswoman for Lord Attenborough tells WENN, "He is still in the hospital but he is fine. It’s just where he is staying for the time being. But he is very steady and is making good progress."

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Hollywood legend CLINT EASTWOOD laments the loss of old-fashioned humour in today’s society - insisting he should be able to tell harmless jokes about nationality without fear of people branding him a "racist".
The Dirty Harry star, 79, is adamant that modern culture has become humourless, and accuses younger generations of spending too much time trying to avoid being offensive.
He says, "People have lost their sense of humour. In former times we constantly made jokes about different races. You can only tell them today with one hand over your mouth or you will be insulted as a racist.
"I find that ridiculous. In those earlier days every friendly clique had a ‘Sam the Jew’ or ‘Jose the Mexican’ - but we didn’t think anything of it or have a racist thought. It was just normal that we made jokes based on our nationality or ethnicity. That was never a problem. I don’t want to be politically correct. We’re all spending too much time and energy trying to be politically correct about everything."

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A Hollywood adaptation of Shakespearean tragedy KING LEAR has been cancelled after reportedly falling victim to the current global economic crisis.
The film was due to star Sir Anthony Hopkins in the title role alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Keira Knightly and Naomi Watts as the monarch’s three daughters.
The $36 million (£25 million) production was announced at last year’s (08) Cannes Film Festival in France but has now been scrapped.
The decision was reportedly made after movie bosses found it difficult to secure the required investment.
A spokeswoman for Ruby Films, the production company behind the film, says, "Ruby are no longer doing it - the film will no longer go ahead. It has not really been announced." The move now clears the way for a rival production from director Michael Radford, starring Al Pacino, which will still go ahead.
The movie industry has seen more than a dozen adaptations of Shakespeare’s famous work, most notably a 1983 version starring Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Diana Rigg.

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Soul man STEVIE WONDER was honoured with America’s highest award for pop music by President BARACK OBAMA on Wednesday (25Feb09).
The Superstition singer was handed the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at a ceremony at the White House.
And Obama, who used Wonder’s classics Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours and Higher Ground as theme songs on his campaign trail, paid tribute to the star.
He said, "Stevie has always drawn on the incredible range of traditions in his music and, from that, he’s created a style that’s at once uniquely American, uniquely his own, and yet somehow universal.
"Indeed, this could be called the American tradition - artists demonstrating the courage, the talent to find new harmonies in the rich and dissonant sounds of the American experience." The Gershwin Prize honours composers George and Ira Gershwin and is given for lifetime achievement in popular music. Paul Simon was the recipient of the first prize in 2007.

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JOHN MAYER and AMERICAN IDOL winner JORDIN SPARKS are to duet at an upcoming benefit concert.
The duo will headline One Splendid Evening, a concert to raise funds for VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, onboard cruise ship Carnival Splendor, docked at the Port of San Pedro in Los Angeles.
Gavin Rossdale and Sara Bareilles have also been lined up to perform.
Proceeds from the show will help restore instrumental music education in America�s public schools.
The morning after the floating gig, Mayer will set off on his second annual Mayercraft cruise.

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AMY WINEHOUSE is reportedly set to return to the U.K. from her Caribbean hideaway in a bid to save her marriage to estranged husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL.
The Rehab hitmaker has been enjoying an extended break in St. Lucia since December (08), while Fielder-Civil has been serving time in jail for breaking the terms of his probation.
But Winehouse is now planning to return to London in an attempt to salvage their relationship since Fielder-Civil’s release on Wednesday (25Feb09) - despite his filing for divorce from the star in January (09), according to British newspaper The Sun.
A source tells the publication, �Hearing Blake was out brought lots of emotions back for Amy. She feels like she was the last to know he was getting released and that hurt. She is desperate to see him again and wants to work things out. She still loves him.� Fielder-Civil was originally sentenced to 27 months behind bars last July (08) after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. The charges relate to a 2007 assault on a pub landlord.
He was granted an early release deal in November (08) - on the condition he underwent regular drug testing - but was sent back to jail in December (08) after failing to stay clean.
But he finally walked free from Edmunds Hill Prison in Suffolk, south east England, on Wednesday (25Feb09) morning.

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