Beyonce marks Ethiopia millennium

Pop star Beyonce has joined millennium celebrations in Ethiopia with a concert for 5,000 fans.

The concert was part of the country's year-long celebration of its 2,000th birthday according to its ancient calendar.

The star gave a two-hour performance in Addis Ababa, singing songs from her new album, B'Day.

Beyonce told screaming fans that they had been one of the best audiences of her lifetime.

However reaction to Beyonce's opening act, multi-platinum-selling rapper Ludacris, was lukewarm from a crowd that tends to be loyal to music in its national language, Amharic.

"Rap music doesn't suit Ethiopia," said local music promoter Michael Melake.

"Ethiopians need a melody. It's all about the black American experience, and we don't relate to that." he said.

In September, at the start of the year 2000, Ethiopia's capital hosted another concert by Black Eyed Peas, but reception for the hip-hop group was also stilted.

Beyonce, who began her world tour in Moscow last week, will continue on to Romania, Turkey, India, Thailand, Indonesia and China.

BBC News

Britney fingerprinted by police

Britney Spears has visited a Los Angeles police station to be photographed and fingerprinted ahead of her hit-and-run court case.

The 25-year-old singer spent about 30 minutes at the station on Monday evening, after a judge ordered her to submit to the procedures.

Ms Spears was charged last month for allegedly crashing into a parked car while driving without a valid licence.

She could face up to six months in jail for the 6 August incident.

A conviction will also carry a fine of $1,000 (£490).

Ms Spears' first court appearance is scheduled for 25 October.

Personal life

Officer Mike Lopez said Ms Spears, who applied for a California licence earlier this month, was fingerprinted and photographed before leaving, about 45 minutes after having turned herself in.

"She was fine, cooperative, Lopez said. "She did her business and came out."

Ms Spears' career and personal life has recently been beset by a series of incidents.

Last week, a judge granted her permission to spend one night a week with her two young after the singer lost full-time custody to former husband Kevin Federline.

Ms Spears and Mr Federline must appear at a further hearing on 26 October.

Last month, a judge said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

She was then ordered to complete random drug and alcohol tests twice a week, as well as meeting weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

But she later lost custody after failing to produce her driving licence and missing a test for drugs and alcohol.

BBC News

Charlize Theron crowned Sexiest Woman by Esquire

Charlize Theron seems to have it all: beauty, brains, a high-earning Hollywood career and an Oscar in her hands. Now, the actress has added another coveted description: Sexiest Woman Alive.

Men's magazine Esquire on Wednesday bestowed its annual honor on the South African actress who is currently starring in war film "In the Valley of Elah."

"She combines unbelievable beauty with a smart mind and this attitude like she's almost one of the guys -- like you could hang out and have a beer with -- and all of that adds up to sexy," said Esquire articles editor Ryan D'Agostino.

In its November issue, which hits newsstands on October 16, Theron, 32, talks about her new movie, politics, being from South Africa and her feelings about the United States, where she recently earned dual citizenship.

The long-legged, blonde beauty also shows a penchant for drinking, cussing and smoking, and she tears up when talking about the recent death of her dog.

The issue annually is one of Esquire's most widely read, and it generates debate among readers, D'Agostino said.

He added that every year the Sexiest Woman exudes some sense of individuality, and that there is no set of criteria or rules by which the magazine's editors, writers and other contributors pick the titleholder.

D'Agostino did say the magazine likes to choose someone based on how current they are in pop culture. After taking time off following 2005 film "North Country," Theron is back with two movies, "Elah" and "Battle in Seattle," this year and has several others set for release next year and beyond.

Theron follows a long line of actresses and others claiming the Sexiest Woman title at the 74 year-old magazine. Last year's titleholder was Scarlett Johansson and the year before her, Jessica Biel.

Unlike the others Theron has won the Oscar, the world's top film award, for her role playing a lesbian serial killer in 2003 film, "Monster."

She has also shown a range of talent, working in serious dramas like "The Cider House Rules," thrillers such as "The Italian Job" and special-effects filled "AEon Flux."

Beyond work, the actress is involved in charitable causes working in her home country, for instance, to put mobile health clinics in rural areas where access to care is limited.

And sorry men, this year's Sexiest Woman is taken. Theron's boyfriend is actor Stuart Townsend.

Reuters/Nielsen

Minogue prepares TV spectacular

Pop star Kylie Minogue is to celebrate her musical comeback with an hour-long special on ITV1.

The Kylie Show will feature new songs from her forthcoming album, X, mixed with classics from her 20-year career.

Producers promise a unique "visual experience" to accompany every track, in contrast to ITV's concert-style Audience With Kylie Minogue in 2001.

Minogue picked up Q magazine's icon award on Monday. Her new single, 2 Hearts, has just had its first airing.

The glam rock-tinged song, which is not out until 12 November, is produced by London electro band Kish Mauve.

In the video, which also premiered on Wednesday, Minogue sings into a microphone capped with a diamond-encrusted skull - much like the Damien Hirst creation which recently sold for £50m.

'Surprises'

The star has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide

The single and album mark Minogue's return to music following her diagnosis with breast cancer in May 2005.

She had surgery in Australia two days later and finished her chemotherapy in December 2005.

She returned to the stage in late 2006, performing a string of concerts in Australia and the UK before starting recording sessions for X, her tenth studio album.

Although she worked with famous names like Mylo and Scissor Sisters, the 39-year-old has revealed that none of their collaborations made the final cut.

Speaking about the ITV show, Minogue said: "My creative team and I are preparing a fabulous evening with a mixture of old songs, new songs and lots of surprises thrown into the mix as well."

In a statement, ITV said the programme's producers were "pushing the boundaries to create an original and visually breathtaking piece of entertainment".

It is due to air later this year.

BBC News

Timberlake continues awards run

Singer Justin Timberlake is poised to expand his trophy collection after receiving three nominations for this year's American Music Awards.

The star, who picked up prizes at this year's Grammys, Brits and MTV awards, is up for best R&B album, best pop album and male pop artist of the year.

Other acts with three nominations are Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry.

Fellow nominees Rihanna and Fergie will perform at the ceremony in Los Angeles on 18 November.

Timberlake goes up against his producer Timbaland and hip-hop star Akon in the male pop artist category.

Beyonce leads the nominations in the female pop artist and R&B album of the year, for B'Day.

The former Destiny's Child singer is also up for best female R&B singer, facing competition from Rihanna and former American Idol contestant Fantasia Barrino.

Public vote

Other American Idol graduates on the shortlist include Carrie Underwood, who picks up two nominations in the country section, and Chis Daughtry - whose band, Daughtry, are in the running for three awards.

Rockers Linkin Park compete in the best pop album, best pop group and alternative rock categories.

Nominees were initially chosen based on record sales. Ballots were then sent to 15,000 people to select the top three acts in each category.

For the first time, members of the public will be able to vote for nominated artists online. Winners were previously selected by a US survey of 20,000 people.

Last year, hip-hop quartet Black Eyed Peas went home with three trophies, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J Blige and Rascal Flatts took two awards each.

Mariah Carey, who was nominated for three awards in 2006, missed out completely this year.

BBC News

Lindsay Lohan 'is out of rehab'

Actress Lindsay Lohan has checked out of rehab after two months of treatment, according to reports in the US media.

Celebrity magazine People says the 21-year-old has left the exclusive clinic in Utah where she has been staying since August.

"I'm proud of her," said the star's mother, Dina. "Things were getting out of control. She took action."

In August, Lohan admitted her life had become "unmanageable" because she was "addicted to alcohol and drugs".

She entered rehab in the weeks following her arrest for drink-driving in July.

The incident came shortly after a separate arrest in May when she lost control of her car and hit a kerb in Beverly Hills, California.

In both cases, she was found to be in possession of cocaine.

The actress was sentenced to one day in jail after pleading guilty to drink driving and drug charges as part of a plea bargain in August.

She was also put on three years' probation, and ordered to perform community service and complete a drug treatment programme.

In a statement, Lohan said the arrests had followed a "relapse" and that she was "ashamed" of her actions.

"No matter what I said when I was under the influence, I am not blaming anyone else for my conduct other than myself. I thank God I did not injure others, I easily could have," she added.

During her stay in rehab, Lohan was pictured bicycling and white water rafting. She was also visited by her father, from whom she has been estranged for several years.

The actress hit the big time aged 11 in The Parent Trap. She has also starred in films like Freaky Friday, Mean Girls and A Prairie Home Companion.


BBC News

Spice Girls to release new single

Reformed girl band the Spice Girls are to release their first single in seven years, Geri Halliwell has revealed.

The 35-year-old, who originally left the group in 1998, told GMTV the track was a "big love song" called Headlines.

"It's a Spice Girl classic. We are so proud of it," she said. "We started putting words down before we even had the finalised 'yes' from everyone."

The group are going on a world tour, releasing their album in the UK on 12 November and the single a week later.

Halliwell said it was hard to "juggle that balance" between work and friendship.

"It's fantastic hanging with girls you really like but there are pressures of work to go with it so it's about finding that balance," she said.

"It's so amazing. It is like waking up and you get a second chance to be something that is so enjoyable," she added.

The group's worldwide comeback tour, which starts in Canada on 2 December, will be the first time Halliwell has performed with the group since she walked out.

Fans will be given a second chance to get their hands on tickets for the London leg on Saturday, when tickets go on sale for two new dates.

The Headlines single will also be the official song for this year's BBC Children in Need charity fundraising appeal.

BBC News

Britney's new lap dancing video!

The long-awaited video to Britney Spears' panned danced track 'Gimme More', has finally hit the web for all and sundry to have a dig at.

To her credit, the video is slightly less disappointing than her mimed performance of the track at the Video Music Awards last month but it is still smeared with the same smutty hallmarks.

The video kicks off with a blonde prissy Brit sat at a bar sipping cocktails with her girlie friends.

Suddenly she is distracted by 'bad' Britney who emerges swinging round a pole on cue to the lyrics 'It's Britney bitch.'

The video is saturated from this point on with Britney as we know her today – fish nets, bum cheeks, hot pants and plenty of lesbian inferences.

She even chucks in an ogling David Beckham look-a-like for further titillation.

Don't get us wrong though – we are rooting for her all the way. Watch it below and tell us what you think?

The video was on YouTube momentarily but has now been removed.

Metro

Bedingfield win at digital awards

Singer Natasha Bedingfield has won best pop artist at the BT Digital Music Awards 2007 in London.

Rock group Muse won best band at the event, which was held at Camden's legendary Roundhouse, and Lemar walked away with best urban act.

The Chemical Brothers took home the gong for best electronic artist and BBC 6 Music was named best radio station.

A panel of experts chose seven award winners and the public voted online for the remaining 13 gongs.

DJ Steve Lamacq accepted the award on behalf of his station 6 Music.

"It's so reassuring and quite inspiring that there are people who sort of believe in you," he said.

'Cutting-edge'

More than 90% of single sales in the UK are now in digital formats such as MP3s and ring tones. The awards are intended to recognise artists who contribute to this growing market.

Rock band Funeral for a Friend beat Razorlight, Rihanna and Bloc Party to the artist of the year award.

Other winners included Ludacris for best mobile campaign and Keane took the gong for best official website.

As well as winning an award Bedingfield performed her latest single, Say It Again, at the ceremony.

Others who took to the stage included rock group The Rakes, former Sugababe Mutya Buena, The Hoosiers, Newton Faulkner and Amy MacDonald.

Gavin Patterson from BT said the ceremony "continues to recognise the artists and those in the industry, both established and up-and-coming, who are delivering the best in cutting-edge digital music entertainment".

Channel 4 will broadcast the show on 5 October at 0040 BST.

BBC News

Britney loses custody of kids

Britney Spears has lost custody of her children

A judge has ordered the troubled singer to turn over her two children to former husband Kevin Federline until further court order.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Scott M Gordon has ruled that Mr Federline will take custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, beginning Wednesday 'until further order of the court.'

Representatives for Spears and Federline were not immediately available for comment.

It is the same judge who earlier this month ordered Ms Spears, 25, to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week in her child custody dispute with former her husband.

Judge Gordon said Ms Spears showed 'a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol'.

He also ordered Ms Spears and 29-year-old Mr Federline - who is seeking increased custody of their two young sons - to complete a parenting class.

Mr Federline, 29, is seeking increased custody of their two young sons.

Two weeks ago Ms Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

She is accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park on 6 August, a spokesman for the city's attorney's office said.

She could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted of the misdemeanour charges.

It was also reported on Monday that the star may have been driving illegally for years.

Reports in the US claim the singer does not have a valid California driver's licence.

A Department of Motor Vehicles official told the website TMZ.com: 'At this point, Britney Spears does not have a valid California driver's license. She has an application pending that she never completed.'

The website said she has never had a California license during the years that she has lived in LA.

Ms Spears, whose new album is set for release on 13 November, has also been dropped by her management firm, and her recent performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards was widely panned.

In February she was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic after being photographed shaving her head, following the collapse of her marriage to Mr Federline.

Ms Spears married Mr Federline in October 2004 and filed for divorce last November. The divorce was finalised on 30 July.

Metro