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Jackson strikes deal over loans

Photo: Jackson recently closed the house on his Neverland ranch.

Jackson had been due to pay back $200m in loans in December, which were secured on the Beatles back catalogue, jointly owned with Sony. A statement issued in Bahrain by Jackson adviser Grahame Nelson said the singer "has restructured his finances with the assistance of Sony". He has lived in Bahrain since being cleared of child abuse charges in June. "Following negotiations with several leading financial institutions, Mr Jackson has concluded refinancing with affiliates of Fortress Investment Group, the lender that currently holds secured debts that were previously held by Bank of America," the statement added. Fortress was due to gain Jackson's share in Sony/ATV if he defaulted on the loans. Last month the house on Jackson's Neverland ranch in California was closed to cut costs, while during his child abuse trial prosecutors claimed he was a "spendaholic" with "a billionaire spending habit for only a millionaire's spending budget".

'Billion-dollar' catalogue

Photo: The Sony/ATV catalogue includes 200 Beatles songs.

No further details of the refinancing agreement were available, although the Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported that the deal would ultimately see Jackson sell half of his 50% share in the catalogue to Sony, leaving him with just 25% of it. The Sony/ATV catalogue is thought to be worth $1 billion (£571 million). As well as 200 Beatles songs, it includes songs such as Bob Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind and the works of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks. The Beatles rights passed to British showbiz mogul Lew Grade's ATV company in 1969 when it bought publisher Northern Songs. Ownership of ATV eventually passed to Australian tycoon Robert Holmes a Court, who sold it to Jackson in 1985 for $47.5m. Ten years later, Jackson cut his stake in the catalogue to 50% when it was merged with Sony's music publishing arm. Jackson also has a 50% stake in new songs added to the collection. The Beatles rights are now thought to account for two-thirds of the collection's value.

Tori can wed Canuck fiancé: Star's divorce will be final later this month

Photo: Tori Spelling and her fiancé Dean McDermott.

Tori Spelling will be free to marry her Canadian fiance before the end of the month. The star's marriage to Charlie Shanian will be dissolved on April 20th, allowing Spelling to tie the knot with Toronto actor Dean McDermott. Shanian filed for divorce last October after a little more than a year of marriage. Spelling and McDermott fell in love while in Ottawa shooting the TV movie Mind Over Murder. They became engaged in December.

Holmes 'becomes a Scientologist'

Photo: Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are due to marry this year.

Actor Tom Cruise says his fiancee Katie Holmes has joined him as a follower of the Church of Scientology. The 43-year-old told US network ABC their baby, due soon, would not be baptised a Catholic, although Holmes, 27, was brought up in that faith. But he denied US media reports that he had bought a dummy to muffle the moans of his partner as she gave birth. He said Scientology's doctrine of "silent birth" had been misunderstood and exaggerated by the press. "It's basically just respecting the mother, and helping to be quiet," he told interviewer Diane Sawyer. "But the mother makes as much noise... she you know, she's going through it. She does what she's got to do." Asked whether their baby would be given a Catholic baptism, he said: "You can be Catholic and a Scientologist. You can be Jewish and be a Scientologist. But we're just Scientologists." "Katie, too?" Sawyer asked. "Katie, too," Cruise replied.

Cruise denied reports the couple's relationship had caused tension with Holmes' family, who are devout Catholics. Asked if they approved of her switch to Scientology, he said: "Absolutely, yes." The Church of Scientology was set up in the United States in 1954 and claims eight million members worldwide. The church offers self-improvement on the basis of the writings of the late science-fiction author L Ron Hubbard, who spelled out principles that he called Scientology and Dianetics. But critics claim it is a fake religion based on making money from its followers. Cruise is a passionate advocate of the church, and travelled to Germany in 2002 to try to persuade its government to lift its ban on the group. The baby will be the first for Holmes, while Cruise has two adopted children from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. Cruise told GQ magazine in a separate interview the couple planned to marry in late summer or early autumn. They have been engaged since June 2005.

Dianetics. But critics claim it is a fake religion based on making money from its followers. Cruise is a passionate advocate of the church, and travelled to Germany in 2002 to try to persuade its government to lift its ban on the group. The baby will be the first for Holmes, while Cruise has two adopted children from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. Cruise told GQ magazine in a separate interview the couple planned to marry in late summer or early autumn. They have been engaged since June 2005.

US TV fights 'indecency' rulings

Photo: NYPD Blue was one of the programs censured.

Four US TV networks have filed court challenges to a ruling which found several of their programs "indecent" because of the language used. ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, together with their affiliate stations, filed notices of appeals at courts across the US. The stations are protesting against the aggressive stance the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken in enforcing indecency laws. They say the rules are vague and inconsistently applied. The FCC made the rulings last month, condemning the use of language in Fox's coverage of the Billboard Music Awards in 2002 and 2003, various episodes of ABC's NYPD Blue in 2003, and CBS's The Early Show in 2004. None of the cases involved NBC, but the network filed a petition on behalf of the other stations. A petition was also filed by Hearst-Argyle Television, which runs a network of local stations around the US.

'Unconstitutional' rulings: A joint statement issued on behalf of the companies called the FCC's rulings unconstitutional. "In filing these court appeals we are seeking to overturn the FCC decisions that the broadcast of fleeting, isolated - and in some cases unintentional - words rendered these programs indecent," it said. Three of the cases involved live broadcasts. In the case of NYPD Blue, the FCC acted because the program was aired at 2100 in the Central and Mountain time zones. The show went out an hour later in the Eastern and Pacific time zones, and the FCC did not act in those cases. The networks and stations added the FCC had "overstepped its authority" and acted in an arbitrary manner, not giving the networks a clear indication of what was and what was not objectionable. The groups said they objected to "growing government control over what viewers should and shouldn't see on television", adding parents could use technology to block certain programs, such as the V-chip, which most new TV sets in the US must contain.

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Spears 'not facing' child probe

Photo: Spears and Federline married in 2004.

Singer Britney Spears and husband Kevin Federline will not be investigated after child protection officers visited their home, her lawyer has said. "They determined that the parents were not involved in any injury and nothing improper was done in the home," said Marty Singer on behalf of the couple. He added that the Department of Children and Family Services concluded that there was "no problem". Malibu police confirmed that Spears' home was visited on Saturday. Police visited Spears' in February after photos showing her driving with her baby son on her lap were published. The 24-year-old singer later said it was a "mistake", but insisted she was reacting against pursuing paparazzi photographers at the time. The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services and the sheriff's station declined to give details of Saturday afternoon's visit. "It's a very standard, routine patrol request," said Debra Glafkides, from the sheriff's department. "We just roll out with them. We stood by, we took no action, no report or anything."

Eminem's D12 bandmate shot dead

Photo: Proof's real name was Deshaun Holton.

A member of Eminem's rap collective D12 has been killed in a nightclub shooting in Detroit. Proof, whose real name was Deshaun Holton, was shot at a club on Eight Mile Road, made famous in Eminem's autobiographical film 8 Mile. He was a longtime friend of Eminem and had acted as his best man at his wedding in January. A publicist for D12's record label Interscope said arrangements were being made for a memorial service. Police said that two people had been shot in the head, one fatally, after an argument broke out at the CCC nightclub. Proof originally put forward the idea of forming D12 with friends he met at Detroit clothes store Hip-Hop Shop. Despite Eminem's huge solo success he continued to record the group, which released albums D12 World and Devil's Night. The group scored a number two hit in the UK with Purple Hills in 2001 - which had its name changed from Purple Pills to ensure radio play - and My Band in 2004. Proof made an appearance in the critically acclaimed 8 Mile and is credited on the award-winning soundtrack. His best man duties came at Eminem's second wedding to Kim Mathers. The pair have since announced they are to divorce again after less than three months of marriage. Obie Trice, who is signed to Eminem's label, was recently shot at while driving in Detroit. He was wounded in the attack, while his girlfriend remained unhurt.

Model Moss cast in bronze statue

Photo: The painted bronze statue of Kate Moss is entitled Sphinx.

Supermodel Kate Moss is depicted in a contorted yoga pose in a life-size bronze statue, due to go on display in the Netherlands. The sculpture, entitled Sphinx, sees Moss with her ankles and arms wrapped behind her ears. It is the first of five statues of Moss by Marc Quinn, who says the model share the Egyptian Sphinx's "mystery". His nude statue of pregnant disabled artist Alison Lapper is on a plinth in London's Trafalgar Square. A model posed for the yoga position, with Moss visiting Quinn's studio to have her hands and feet cast. The Moss statue will go on show at the Groninger Museum in Groningen later this month, before the full set is displayed in New York. A portrait of model Moss by artist Lucian Freud sold for £3.93m ($7.29m) at auction in February 2005. Police are continuing to investigate allegations that Moss used cocaine, following allegations published in a newspaper last September. Moss was announced as the star of a new ad campaign for Calvin Klein on Monday.

Spacey defends Old Vic management

Photo: Kevin Spacey (left) recruited Robert Altman to direct Resurrection Blues.

Kevin Spacey has defended the way he runs London's Old Vic, despite an early closure for its current production and a five-month gap until its next play. The Oscar-winning actor admitted Resurrection Blues, directed by Robert Altman, began poorly and "didn't go down as well as any of us had hoped". He said it was "not unusual for a show to come off early". He said that it was "not a disaster" the theatre would now lie empty all summer.

The Southwark-based Old Vic is one of the capital's oldest theatres, having opened in 1818. Spacey started running the Old Vic in 2003 and has a 10-year contract with the London theatre. "We never announced a production for the summer slot and therefore we haven't cancelled anything - we just haven't scheduled anything," he said. "We took a view that if we couldn't find the right production that we felt was financially right to produce, it was in our interest to put all of our resources and all of our efforts into the work that we're about to announce at the beginning of May," he said, referring to the Old Vic's next run of plays.

"It's not ideal," he said, "but at the same time we're trying to get a financially responsible position." Spacey said the first time he saw the production of Resurrection Blues, he "knew it was in trouble", resulting in several weeks of intensive work before it opened. "The unfortunate thing that happened on opening night is that the actors got hit with a case of the nerves and it kind of fell apart on that evening, and I think the reviews reflected that. "Everyone was completely open and honest about the fact the show wasn't where it should have gotten, but I can tell you that after the critics' night, that cast pulled themselves together. "They started to deliver that play in a way that I think audiences saw a much better production than those critics saw."

Photo: Spacey admits Resurrection Blues got off to a bad start.

"No apology': He denied press reports that actress Jane Adams - who played Emily - had stormed out of the play. "That's not true. There were artistic differences and there was a mutual decision that she should leave the production." Spacey added he was "more determined than ever" to complete his 10-year contract. "This the middle of our second season, it's very early going, nothing has put me off from our goal and our plan." He had no reason to say sorry, he said, because "I don't think that 18 months in, that anyone needs to apologise for having done a program that's brought 425,000 people into the theatre".

Fundraising: "That's nearly more than two times the number of people that came into the Old Vic in the previous two seasons," he said. "We must be doing something right even though 11 or 12 people who write for newspapers don't particularly like what we've done." Spacey, who has won Oscars for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, has said fell in love with the Old Vic after being taken there during a childhood holiday. He appeared on the Old Vic stage in 1998, and was heavily involved in fund-raising and running the theatre since becoming a trustee that year. The actor has invested more than £100,000 of his own money into the venue.

Moshe Wiener honored in New York

Photo: New York's most beloved Rabbi, Moshe Wiener.

Sure, a rabbi can make headlines. Moshe Wiener has been nominated by the World Jewish News Agency as the most respected and loved rabbi in New York. The New York Monthly Herald followed suit and devoted an entire column to rabbi Wiener. Why to fuss about it? Well, Wiener has devoted all his life to give a helping hand to the needy and underprivileged in Coney Island, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Insiders told the Globe Weekly News that rabbi who made it big time are those who are part of the political machine. Politics play a major role in bringing to light a religious figure.

Wiener is not a politician per se. However, he is very well connected to decision makers and council members in his area. But basically, the public recognition given to Wiener is solely based upon his numerous services to the community. Shoshanna Rosenstein from the New York Monthly Herald said :" Wiener is a great asset to our community." And Maximillien de Lafayette, head of the World Jewish News Agency added: "Rabbi Wiener is more than a blessing. This man is a rod, scholar, humanitarian and the kind of rabbi you love to have in your neighborhood." Dr. Ilil Arbel, a noted author, scholar and a frequent contributor to the Herald praised Wiener for his contributions to the Jewish communities in Brooklyn. She told the Globe:" Rabbi Wiener is needed in our community. He is a man with visions, devotion and leadership."