welcome

huhu

Thomson-Reuters merger challenges Bloomber

LONDON (AP) — Reuters agreed Tuesday to a $17.2 billion takeover by Thomson that would vault the combined entity ahead of Bloomberg to become the world's largest financial data and news provider.

The combined company will be headed by Tom Glocer, 47, chief executive of Reuters, and he will be responsible for finding the $500 million in savings the companies are promising to deliver by the third year.

Reuters trustees, who could have vetoed any takeover, endorsed the deal, which is still subject to approval by shareholders and regulators.

"We believe that the formation of Thomson-Reuters marks a watershed in the global information business, and will underpin the strength, integrity and sustainability of Reuters as a global leader in news and financial information for many years to come," said Pehr Gyllenhammar, chairman of the trustees.

Holders of each Reuters Group share traded in London will be paid the equivalent of about $7 in cash and 0.16 shares of Thomson's Toronto-listed stock.

The value of the deal is calculated based on Thomson's closing share price of 48.46 Canadian dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange on May 3, the day before the companies announced they were exploring a combination.

Shareholders of Thomson, whose operational head office is in Stamford, Conn., would control more than three quarters of the shares in the new company, Thomson-Reuters.

Woodbridge, the Thomson family holding company which controls roughly 70% of Thomson, will own approximately 53% of the combined business. Other Thomson shareholders will have 23% and Reuters shareholders 24%, the companies said.

Reuters and Thomson compete with Bloomberg, founded by New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, in providing financial data terminals to the world's major banks and brokerages. Reuters was the market leader for years before steadily losing ground to Bloomberg.

An April report from Inside Market Data Reference said Bloomberg has a 33% share of the market, with Reuters holding 23% and Thomson 11%.

"For Thomson, it is a defining moment in our journey to become the information provider of choice for the world's business and professional markets," said Richard J. Harrington, Thomson's president and chief executive. Harrington, 60, will step down when the merger is completed.

London-based Reuters was born in 1851 when Paul Julius Reuter started sending stock market quotations between London and Paris via the new Calais-Dover cable.

The merged companies will have a dual-listed structure.

The renamed Thomson-Reuters will retain current listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange. It also will apply for its ordinary shares to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and intends to apply for its American Depositary Shares to be listed on Nasdaq.

"The companies will be separate legal entities but will be managed and operated as if they were a single economic enterprise," the announcement said. "The boards of the two companies will be identical and the combined business will be managed by a single senior executive management team."

The combined Thomson Financial unit and Reuters financial and media businesses will be called Reuters.

Thomson's professional businesses — legal, tax and accounting, scientific and health care — will be branded as Thomson-Reuters Professional.

(from usatoday.com)

Suns' late run helps top Spurs in Game 4

Fouled hard by Robert Horry with 18 seconds to play, Steve Nash jumped to his feet and decided he had to stand up for himself. His teammate Raja Bell was already doing that for him.The hit by Horry was one of several bad plays by the San Antonio Spurs.The Spurs led 97-92 with 2:23 to play on a rebound basket by Tim Duncan, their last field goal of the game.

Nash and Amare Stoudemire connected on a couple of behind-the back passes for layups that gave the Suns the lead for good, the first with 53 seconds left, the second with 32 seconds to go that made it 100-97.

A series that had featured harsh words and tough fouls in the first three games, took on a whole new look with 18 seconds to play when Horry hit Nash with a forearm and knocked him into the scorer's table.

"I know you have to roll with the punches literally a lot of the time," Nash said. "I felt like that was uncalled for. It's hard to always take the high road."

Bell, who was several steps ahead of Nash on his way to confront Horry, was called for a technical foul. He said he did nothing.

"It was a tough foul," Bell said. "It was a hockey foul."

Horry was given a flagrant foul and was ejected. A free throw by each team made it 101-98. The Suns kept possession and Nash added another free throw with 16 seconds to go.

Shawn Marion added two free throws with 7.4 seconds left.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Phoenix and it's possible there could be suspensions from the league for players leaving the bench after Horry fouled Nash.

Stoudemire was caught on replays well off the bench but he said he was on his way to the scorer's table to check in when the incident happened. He said he's "just a little" worried about a possible suspension.

"I was just doing what the coach told me. He told me to check in," Stoudemire said. "I just got to say my prayers tonight."

The Spurs led by as many as 11 points. They missed nine of their last 10 shots, including the last six during Phoenix' closing run.

"We've been in this situation before. We did a good job to get the lead. Late in the game we didn't do a good job," Spurs guard Bruce Bowen said. "We have to do a better job of tightening up more than anything else."

Stoudemire led the Suns with 26 points, while Nash had 24 points and 15 assists.

"Today we did it. We have to do it two more times," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Tonight, we played a little bit better and a little more desperate. We got over the hump. They're a great team."

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points and Tim Duncan had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The increasingly hostile series has been marked by bumps, bruises and harsh words. A gash across Nash's nose required six stitches after a collision with Parker in Game 1 and Ginobili got a bloodied and bruised eye in Game 3 on a drive to the basket.

Last week, Stoudemire called the Spurs a "dirty team" and targeted Bowen and Ginobili in particular. He said Bowen purposely kicked him in the Suns' Game 2 win.

And Bowen gave his critics ammunition when in Game 3 on Saturday he kneed Nash in the groin area. Nash said Monday before the game that Bowen told him on the court that the move was unintentional. The foul originally called on the play was upgraded to a "flagrant foul 1."

"The league will take care of that," Bowen said of Monday's incident. "That's not for us as players to worry about. These situations, emotions get really high. It's intense."

The Spurs entered the fourth quarter leading 80-72.

Marion's dunk with 1:31 to go brought the Suns within one, and Stoudemire's first layup put the Suns up 98-97. It was their first lead since 3:38 left in the second quarter, when they were up 38-37.

Marion was largely absent offensively early on, scoring just three points heading into the final quarter. His 3 with 8:33 to go, followed by another basket, brought the Suns within 85-80 with 7:51 to play. Marion finished with 12 points, nine in the fourth, and 12 rebounds. Kurt Thomas had 14 points and Bell 12.

"The guy was all over the place," D'Antoni said of Marion. "He came up with some good buckets. Didn't score a lot, but got 12 rebounds. He was just everywhere, everywhere."

Stoudemire, who sat much of the second half of Saturday's Game 3 with foul trouble, picked up his fourth and fifth fouls just four seconds apart in the fourth quarter. He went to the bench with 6:54 left in the game.

Michael Finley had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, for San Antonio, Brent Barry added 12 and Ginobili had 10 points.

The Suns led 20-12 in the first quarter as Nash, who was scoreless in the first half of Game 3, made his first three shots. Phoenix was up 24-22 heading into the second quarter but Nash cooled, missing three of four shots. He also picked up his first foul, and complained about it, when Bowen fell to the court as the two ran down the floor on a break.

Stoudemire played just 49 seconds in the second quarter when he picked up his second foul with 11:11 to play.

The Suns, who held the Spurs to just 81 points in their Game 2 win, outrebounded the Spurs 23-17 in the first half and 42-32 in the game.

Notes:@ Many Spurs fans were wearing a dab of black under their left eyes in support of Ginobili. The display mimicked Game 2, when a local radio station passed out bandages for Suns fans to wear over their noses in support of Nash after his injury. ... The Spurs' bench outscored the Suns' reserves 28-16.

(from yahoo.com)

Monsoon brings sorrow for India's tsunami victims

By Sanjib Kumar Roy

PORT BLAIR, India (Reuters) - The early onset of the monsoon in India has brought misery for thousands of tsunami victims in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, struggling to keep rain water out of their temporary shelters.

The Indian Ocean archipelago was badly hit by the December 26, 2004 tsunami with more than 3,500 people killed and nearly 40,000 displaced.

The government built temporary shelters for victims made of corrugated metal sheets, and initially promised to move them into new, permanent homes in early 2007.

But work is moving at a snail's pace.

In the meantime, monsoon rains have begun entering the temporary homes through holes in the roofs and collecting because of poor drainage, residents said.

"Rain water is leaving a sea of water inside the shelters. Heavy spells are adding to our misery," said Martin Luther, a spokesman for the Tribal Council on the Nicobar islands.

Monsoon rains arrived over the South Andaman Sea on May 10, more than a week ahead of schedule.

Some shelters were badly constructed by temporary labourers while some lack windows, residents said.

"It means bad news as most shelters are faulty and easily causing water to seep inside," John Steven, a teacher in Mus village in Car Nicobar island, said by telephone.

"We have no idea when we will get our homes."

Tribal leaders had complained bitterly about the design of the shelters since they were first unveiled, arguing that local materials should have been used instead of corrugated iron, which makes the shelters unbearably hot in the summer.

The government said it was doing its best to repair defects in shelters that were leaking.

"There have been some cases where people have complained that temporary shelters were damaged and we replaced them and we will do so again," said Ankita Mishra, a senior island administration official.

The government has set a new deadline of the end of this year to finish the permanent shelters but aid groups are sceptical this target will be met.

"The administration has admitted slippages and they will struggle to finish building permanent homes by 2008," Subhasis Roy of Healthy Environment and Less Pollution told Reuters in Port Blair, capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The archipelago, which lies more than 1,200 km off India's eastern coast, is famous for its sparkling sand beaches and coral reefs, lapped by the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean.

(from yahoo.com)

Eminem Donates To Hip Hop 4 Habitat, Plus Britney, Mary J., Gwen, Yung Joc, Cee-Lo, Panic & More

May 14, 2007

Eminem made an undisclosed donation to Hip Hop 4 Habitat on Thursday to help launch the project through his Marshall Mathers Foundation, The Detroit News reports. The program, which helps families in need of homes, is seeking to raise $75,000 to build a house in the city's East Side in October. Local rapper Trick Trick is also involved — he'll play a concert for volunteers once the home is constructed. ... In case her recent surprise concert wasn't enough indication, Britney Spears isn't in hiding anymore. The singer showed up with her cousin Alli at the Equinox gym on West Hollywood, California's Sunset Strip on Thursday evening for a quick workout and to check out a spin class, according to "Access Hollywood." She reportedly wore a wig with a trucker hat and a tank top that read "Malibu." ... Mary J. Blige recently filmed a guest spot for "Entourage," and she told us that she got to know her character intimately. "I play Mary J. Blige!" she laughed, discussing the cameo as she accompanied her children to the "Shrek the Third" premiere in Los Angeles. "It was fun working with Jeremy [Piven]. ... Other than that, I'm back in the studio, which is also fun." The R&B icon is a longtime admirer of the Adrian Grenier-starring program and has joked that she knows a thing or two about keeping an entourage herself. An HBO rep said Mary J.'s episode will air next year during the show's fourth season. ... Gwen Stefani, Yung Joc, Jagged Edge and Big Boi came out Thursday night in Atlanta for two shindigs christening Cee-Lo's new record label, Radiculture Records. At the first event, held at the Lambert Place reception hall, video screens showed different excerpts of Cee-Lo's career, from the Goodie Mob to Gnarls Barkley. Partygoers walked down a yellow brick road and were greeted by actors dressed as Beetlejuice and Lurch from "The Addams Family." An afterparty was held at the Lotus Lounge and had a Cirque de Soleil motif. Dancing went on there until 3 a.m. ... Panic at the Disco! are hard at work on the follow-up to their smash 2005 debut, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, according to their manager. The Vegas dandies have written eight songs so far for the yet-untitled album and are slated to start tracking the new tunes June 1. No release date has been set yet for the LP. ... What on earth does Snoop Dogg have in common with Holocaust denier and widely discredited historian David Irving? Australian Prime Minister John Howard made the bizarre comparison once again on Thursday, saying the federal government's blocking of Snoop from entering the country last month due to recent convictions on gun and drugs charges is similar to Australia's refusal to allow Irving into Australia in 1994, according to The Daily Telegraph. The prime minister told a student at a school in Canberra that Snoop is a man of poor character and that "we have to take a stand on those issues." Howard previously made the comparison when the rapper was denied a visa to visit the country for the MTV Australia Music Video Awards. ... Sheryl Crow has adopted a boy and named him Wyatt Steven, the singer/songwriter announced on her Web site Friday (May 11). "We are enjoying some very private family time. Just wanted to let you know," read the post. The boy, who Crow said was born two weeks ago, is her first. ...On Friday, Boston prosecutors dropped criminal charges against the two men behind the infamous "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" guerrilla-marketing campaign that led to a series of bomb scares in January, The Boston Globe reports. Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens completed their community service, creating a mural for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and helping maintain its sailing docks on the Charles River. The men apologized for the incident in court. ... Mel Gibson won praise from a judge in Malibu, California, on Friday for adhering to his court-mandated alcoholism treatment after being arrested for drunk driving in July, according to The Associated Press. The director/actor did not attend the hearing, but Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira said he wanted to see him in court at some point "to ensure we are all on the same page." Gibson's lawyer Blair Berk said she filed a report with the court claiming he was complying with his rehab program. ... Jason Wahler has been charged with misdemeanor counts of assault, criminal trespass and a minor exhibiting the effects of alcohol stemming from an incident last month in Seattle, TMZ.com reports. The Seattle city attorney wants the "Laguna Beach" star to serve 10 days in jail, pay a $4,500 fine and enter a rehab program. Wahler, who has been arrested three times since September, had been caught passed out drunk in a hallway after punching a hotel security guard. He was 20 when he was arrested in April. ... Linkin Park and Maroon 5 are getting the last laughs. The hard-rockers will perform on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" episode, which is being hosted by alumna Molly Shannon, while Adam Levine's crew will sidle up to Zach Braff for the season's final program on May 19. ... PBS' "Soundstage" series has lined up performers for its fifth season. Expect to see Macy Gray (July 5), Dashboard Confessional (July 12) and Jewel (July 19 and 26). ... Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard has a new "Office" mate, apparently. John Krasinski — who stars as Jim Halpert on the TV show — made a brief onstage appearance with Gibbard Thursday night at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 club, USA Today's "Pop Candy" blog reports. The two briefly dabbled with a Wilco song, according to fan accounts — Gibbard has a role in Krasinski's upcoming film "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men." ... The Decemberists have made a name for themselves by delving into everything from prog-folk to klezmer sounds and beyond. But how about classical music? The group will appear with an orchestral accompaniment at five shows this summer, which will feature the band's songs with new arrangements. The dates begin July 7 at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, then proceed to Atlanta's Chastain Park Amphitheater (July 13); Baltimore's Merriweather Post Pavilion (July 14); Philadelphia's Mann Center (July 15); and Chicago's Millennium Park (July 18). ... What do Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child and the Spice Girls have in common with underground artists like Will Oldham, Superchunk and Jim O'Rourke? Something, finally: The latter artists cover the former ones on the unusual compilation Guilt by Association, due August 28. Also featured on the set is Devendra Banhart covering Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger," Mooney Suzuki's version of the Cher song "Just Like Jesse James," Mike Watt tackling Blue Öyster Cult's "Burning for You," as well as renditions of Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Goin Down," System of a Down's "Chop Suey" and "Breaking Free" from "High School Musical." ... An expanded deluxe edition of Sonic Youth's 1988 masterpiece, Daydream Nation, will be reissued June 12 as a two-CD set. The revamped set packs the original album onto one CD and adds a "Live Daydream" disc — with concert cuts of each album track, plus covers of Beatles, Mudhoney, Neil Young and Captain Beefheart tunes — as a bonus. ... Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid are featured on Queen V's Death or Glory, due June 19. Morello, who invited Queen V to perform on his Axis of Justice Tour after seeing her play in Los Angeles, handles guitar on the track "My Machine," while Reid contributes a solo to "One and Only." ... Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and Billy Bob Thornton are among the artists featured on Anchored In Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash, due June 19. A biography written by her only son with Johnny Cash, John Carter Cash, hits shelves the same day. ... Pearl Jam will issue a box set of the band's performances at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Titled Live at the Gorge, the set is a compilation of three different concerts, spread across seven CDs, and will hit stores June 26. ... The reunited Luscious Jackson are busy working on a new LP — a children's album, no less — but co-founder Gabby Glaser is still finding time to step out with her own solo debut. Her fuzzy garage-rock effort Gimme Splash is due June 26 on Latchkey. ... Michael Moore is lashing out at the Bush administration over a U.S. Treasury Department investigation that is scrutinizing a trip he took to Cuba earlier this year. The controversial Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker took ailing 9/11 rescue workers to the country for treatment and plans to include a segment on the trip in his upcoming health-care exposé, "Sicko." "I understand why the Bush administration is coming after me — I have tried to help the very people they refuse to help, but until George W. Bush outlaws helping your fellow man, I have broken no laws and I have nothing to hide," Moore said in a post on liberal Web site DailyKos.com. "For five and a half years, the Bush administration has ignored and neglected the heroes of the 9/11 community. These heroic first responders have been left to fend for themselves, without coverage and without care." According to AP, Treasury officials would not comment on the letter. 05.10.2007 Mariah Carey will be honored for her dedication to VH1's Save the Music Foundation at the group's 10th anniversary gala, to be held September 20 at New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Jon Bon Jovi has also been added to the event — he will perform as part of a tribute to founder John Sykes — which will be co-headlined by John Mayer. ... Justin Timberlake recently revealed to MTV News that he had written and produced a new song for Reba McEntire, but he didn't let us know that he'll be singing with the country crooner as well on the yet-unnamed track. Kelly Clarkson joins McEntire on "Because of You," the first single from Reba Duets, due September 18. ... Speaking of Clarkson, we already knew she was going to be hitting the road hard this summer in support of her upcoming third album My December (due July 24), but now she's finally revealed the venues for the outing. After an appearance at the U.S. portion of the July 7 Live Earth event — which will take place at New Jersey's Giants Stadium — the 36-date tour will kick off July 11 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, and take her to cities including Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dallas and Los Angeles in August before wrapping up at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on September 28. ... Paris Hilton might not have to serve her full 45-day sentence due to jail overcrowding and a state requirement that grants inmates time off for good behavior, The Associated Press reported Thursday (May 10). "It's possible that it could be 21 days, 23 days," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the news service. "It's a complicated formula that the state sets down. It's possible that she could do less time." He said the amount of time the heiress will spend in jail will be determined when she is booked into the county system. ... Amy Winehouse stopped by New York's Aer on Thursday night to celebrate the U.S. gold certification of her Back to Black album. The Bombay Sapphire-sponsored bash included appearances by Mos Def, Talib Kweli and L.A. Reid. ... Meanwhile, producer Nate "Danjahandz" Hills was honored Thursday night at a dinner held at Manhattan's Gin Lane. The Timbaland protégé was recognized for his contributions to multiple hit singles and presented with his two Grammy Awards. ... "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" hasn't even opened yet, but Johnny Depp is already saying he's open to the idea of starring in a fourth installment, according to an Entertainment Weekly interview, Reuters reports. "As long as you're doing it for the right reasons, why not?" he says in the magazine, which hits newsstands Friday. "If we came up with a story where we could explore something absurd or funny or totally insane." ... According to Little Rock, Arkansas, radio station KHTV, Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee got married over the weekend to her therapist/fiancee Josh Hartzler — the same weekend news of guitarist John LeCompt's firing and drummer Rocky Gray's resignation went public. A spokesperson for Lee would not confirm the nuptials on Wednesday, but John Lee — Amy's dad — confirmed to EvanescenceFan.net that his daughter tied the knot Sunday during a very private ceremony. ... Korn frontman Jonathan Davis and wife, Deven, welcomed their second son, Zeppelin, two weeks ago, according to various reports. The child joins the couple's other son, Pirate, as the newest member of the Davis kith. ... As expected, Static-X have been added to the bill for this summer's Ozzfest, alongside headliner Ozzy Osbourne, Lamb of God, Lordi and others. Of course, this year's fest will be free for fans, and the news comes just days before the distribution of ticket codes begins Saturday. Ozzfest launches July 12 in Seattle. ... English rockers New Order are no more, according to bassist Peter Hook. In a post on Hook's MySpace page, he wrote that revealing the band's demise was a relief and that he hated keeping the split a secret. Hook appears on the debut LP from Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, Ultra Payloaded, which hits stores on May 29. He has also formed a new band, Freebass, with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Stone Roses/ Primal Scream member Mani. ... This year's Austin City Limits (September 14-16) festival is packed with major talent. The Texas fest will feature White Stripes, the Killers, Björk, Amy Winehouse, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Arctic Monkeys, Joss Stone, Spoon, Heartless Bastards, Yo La Tengo, Joseph Arthur, Peter Bjorn & John, the Decemberists, Paolo Nutini, Regina Spektor, M.I.A., Butch Walker, Ben Kweller, Kaiser Chiefs, LCD Soundsystem and about 100 other acts ranging from bluegrass to jam band, techno, country and gospel. ... Hot Hot Heat's forthcoming LP, Happiness, LTD, has been slated for a September 11 release. The album was produced by the band, along with Rob Cavallo (My Chemical Romance, Green Day), Butch Walker (Pink, Avril Lavigne) and Tim Palmer (Ozzy Osbourne, H.I.M.). ... Tool have added several new dates to their touring schedule. The band will make stops in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (June 16); Evansville, Indiana (June 17); Sioux City, Iowa (June 25); Cincinnati (June 29); Youngstown, Ohio (July 1); Grand Rapids, Michigan (July 5); Huntington, West Virginia (July 7); and Mansfield, Massachusetts (July 12). ... Chevelle have been forced to postpone their current tour until further notice following the theft of the band's equipment trailer. Containing all the band's gear, the trailer was stolen Wednesday from the Clarion Dallas Park Central Hotel in Dallas. Most of the stolen goods were labeled "Chevelle," and the band has asked that anyone who notices the gear being sold on eBay report the matter to police. ... Tim Roth is bulking up the cast of "The Incredible Hulk." The actor, who will play the green-eyed monster Abomination in the summer 2008 flick, joins Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/ the Hulk and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. ... "The Terminator" is returning, but Arnold won't be back — and neither will director James Cameron, Variety reports. Halcyon Co. has bought out the franchise for an undisclosed sum from feuding producers Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar and is targeting "Terminator 4" for a summer 2009 release. Castmembers and a director have not been hired yet, but "Terminator: Rise of the Machines" scribes John Brancato and Michael Ferris have already penned a script. "T3" executive producer Moritz Borman will produce the fourth installment as well. ... No thanks for smoking: The Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday that smoking will be factored into movie ratings, the Los Angeles Times reports. "There is broad awareness of smoking as a unique public-health concern due to nicotine's highly addictive nature, and no parent wants their child to take up the habit," MPAA Chief Executive Dan Glickman stated. Depictions that glamorize smoking may receive a higher rating, according to the organization. ... During Wednesday night's "American Idol" results show, host Ryan Seacrest announced an upcoming spinoff contest that will seek the best band in the land. Groups of all ages and styles hoping to vie for that title were encouraged to send in their demo tapes for the tentatively titled "The Search for the Next Great American Band," with information on submissions available on the official "Idol" Web site. No airdate for the show has been announced. ... Sculptor Daniel Edwards, who famously made a life-size nude of Britney Spears giving birth, now has Paris Hilton in his sights. According to Reuters, he has crafted a sculpture of the heiress dead, naked and holding a cell phone in one hand. "It's really kind of a wakeup call for anybody who really pays attention to Paris Hilton close enough that they might end up emulating her," Edwards said of the piece, which is called "The Paris Hilton Autopsy." ... The New York Dolls will play a full set for their fallen comrade at the seventh annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, to be held May 19 at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Slinky Vagabond, featuring members of the Sex Pistols, Blondie and David Bowie's touring band, will also perform. ... Brad Pitt's green building project in New Orleans began construction Thursday, AP reports. An environmentally friendly house, based on the winning design in a competition Pitt staged, is expected to be finished in August and is intended to serve as a model for redevelopment in the area. "I'm crying out for one of our leaders to really make this a priority," Pitt, who is in Prague, said in a statement. ... Jason Wahler has checked into rehab, according to People. The "Laguna Beach" star was sentenced to 60 days in county jail and 36 months' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor-battery charges in March. ... Michael Moore, who has been unabashed in his disdain for the Bush White House, is facing an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department over his latest film, the health-care exposé, "Sicko." AP reports that the Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker is under scrutiny for taking ailing 9/11 rescue workers to Cuba for treatment earlier this year, allegedly without the proper clearance from the government. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control notified Moore in a May 2 letter that it was conducting a civil investigation for possible violations of the U.S. trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba, AP reports. "Sicko" premieres May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival and hits U.S. theaters on June 29. -- MTV News staff (MTV.com)

Flintoff's ankle concerns England

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff has given England cause for concern ahead of the first Test after reporting discomfort in his left ankle.

Flintoff said his ankle was sore following Lancashire's County Championship match against Hampshire.

He has had a scan and the results will be reviewed on Monday.

"When a player is having a scan three days before the start of the first Test, it is a concern for us," an ECB spokesman told the BBC Sport website.

"We await the results of the scan and the medical team's assessment before being able to make any further comment.

"To say Andrew could miss the entire match or only be able to bat is pure speculation at this stage."

Flintoff, 29, was named in England's 12-man squad on Sunday, although Lancashire team-mate James Anderson was put on standby.

His injury will be re-assessed by team medics ahead of net practice at Lord's on Tuesday, with the Test against West Indies starting on Thursday.

Flintoff has twice had surgery on his left ankle in the last three years.

He missed the second half of last summer with it and he only just finished his rehabilitation in time to lead England into the Champions Trophy and the Ashes.

England are already without captain Michael Vaughan for the first Test of the four-match series, with opener Andrew Strauss taking over the captaincy instead of Flintoff.

And Kevin Pietersen is also a doubt having pulled out of Hampshire's match with Lancashire with a calf muscle tear.

(from BBC.com)

UK Palestinians in Johnston plea

Leading members of Britain's Palestinian community are calling for the immediate release of kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The main Palestinian representative in the UK, Manuel Hassassian, is taking part in a day of solidarity in London for the reporter.

Mr Johnston was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on his way home on 12 March, nine weeks ago today.

A tape allegedly made by his kidnappers was released last week.

Issued by a group calling itself the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), the tape showed the 44-year-old's BBC ID card, and also demanded the release of Muslim prisoners in British jails.

'He works for us'

The solidarity event is being held at a Palestinian restaurant in west London.

It aims to "send a clear message to his kidnappers that the Palestinian community... are appalled by this act", organisers said.

Restaurant owner Mohammed Zomlot, who is from Gaza, said the Palestinian community in the UK wanted to support Mr Johnston.

"I feel that we are the people who really should care about Gaza, and who should care about Alan," he said.

"Because Alan, at the end of the day, he's one of the people who cares about us and he works for us, and that's why we have a responsibility to protect him, and we have to ask for his immediate release."

The abduction of Mr Johnston, the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza, has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world.

Leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have called for him to be freed.

On Sunday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman condemned the kidnapping in the first official comments from Tehran since it happened.

Last week, Alan Johnston was named broadcast journalist of the year by the London Press Club for his work reporting from the Gaza Strip.

(from BBC.com