People
Tony Blair still won’t accept his Gold Medal
The news that Tony Blair (pictured) is to be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of America's highest civilian honours, has focused attention on his dogged
reluctance to collect another award given to him by his old chum George W. Bush, the Congressional Gold Medal. For while the former... [continued]
People: Tony Blair finally decides to ‘do’ God 
Bernie Madoff could have his bail revoked
Bernie Madoff's sons, Mark and Andrew, appear to have it in for him. It was they who first reported the disgraced financier to federal prosecutors after he confessed to them that his
$50bn investment scheme had collapsed. Now they have allegedly shopped him for violating a court-ordered asset freeze... [continued]
People: Madoff victim Penney scorned for sob stories
Philip Delves Broughton: Bonfire of the Vanities, 2008 edition
People: Madoff placed under house arrest
People: Button man Roth loses money with Madoff
Brad Pitt and Sean Penn movies tee up for Oscars
An early indication of the way the Oscar nominations are likely to go came today with the announcement of the shortlist for the Producers Guild of America (PGA) awards. Among those up for the best
picture award are three movies that have already been nominated for Golden Globes, The... [continued]
People: Penn’s love of Castro threatens his Oscar
People: Rourke calls Sean Penn a ‘homophobe’
People: Kate Winslet leads the Brits in Golden Globe nominations
People: Kiera Knightley will play Zelda in F Scott Fitzgerald biopic
Lester explains away black Doctor Who
The announcement that 26-year-old Matt Smith will take over from David Tennant as Doctor Who has not been greeted with enthusiasm in all quarters. There had been rumours that the BBC would, for the first time, choose a black actor to play the Time Lord, with Adrian Lester (pictured), the... [continued]
In brief: Paltrow offers health tips
Gwyneth Paltrow, keen to share her thoughts on post-Christmas detoxing, is guilty of offering too much information. In her weekly newsletter for her lifestyle site Goop , the Oscar-winning actress (pictured) writes: "If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by drinking half a cup of... [continued]
Kiera Knightley will play Zelda in F Scott Fitzgerald biopic
The rage for bringing anything connected with F Scott Fitzgerald to the screen – his short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, is being tipped to do well at this year's Oscars – is unabated. It was announced a... [continued]
Diana Athill wins Costa award at 91
Diana Athill, the revered British literary publisher, novelist and memoirist, has emerged triumphant in the Costa book awards, winning the biography category with Somewhere
Towards the End, which deals with the process of getting old, a subject of which the author (pictured) can claim intimate knowledge having celebrated her 91st... [continued]
The Big Book: Diana Athill reviews ‘Easeful Death’ for The First Post
Comic Al Franken wins seat in US Senate
Al Franken (pictured), an Emmy award-winning American comedian and one-time regular on NBC's Saturday Night Live, has won a seat in the US Senate. When he began his
fight for Minnesota last year, few thought he had much chance of success, believing the madcap excesses of SNL would prevent him... [continued]
American Transition: Latest news and comment
People: Tina Fey wins big for Palin impersonation
