Zimbabwe Fine Art

Van Halen Working on New Album

Van Halen is working on their first new studio album since 1998.  Guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex announced that David Lee Roth is back as the group's lead singer.  He hasn't recorded a studio album with Van Halen in 26 years.  Van Halen is expected to perform a concert tour following the album's release in 2011.

Taylor Swift Lights Up Billboard Hot 100 Chart

<!--IMAGE-->

Taylor Swift's new single, "Mine," debuts at Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.  That makes her the second female artist in the history of the Hot 100 to have multiple Top 5 entries in a single year.  This past February, Taylor debuted at Number 2 with "Today Was A Fairytale."  Mariah Carey had two entries in the Top 5 during a calendar year in 1995.  She debuted at Number One with "Fantasy" and her duet with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day."  "Mine" is the lead single from Taylor Swift's upcoming album Speak Now, which will be released on October 25.

Lady GaGa's Remix Makes Billboard's Top 10 Albums List

<!--IMAGE-->

There are four new albums in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.  Canadian rock group Arcade Fire lands on the list at Number One with The Suburbs.  Trill O.G. by rapper Bun B enters at Number 4.  Lady Gaga comes in at Number 6 with The Remix.  And, All Night Long by Buckcherry debuts at Number 10.

Brian Wilson Says New Album is 'Labor of Love'

Beach Boy Brian Wilson refers to his new album as "a labor of love."  Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin features his versions of 10 George Gershwin classics, including "Summertime," "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "I've Got Rhythm."  He told USA Today, "I chose the ones that I thought I could do justice to.  And, I tried to sing them the way I thought he'd want me to, if he were alive."  The album also contains two new songs that Wilson co-wrote.  "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" drops August 17.

'American Idol' Jordin Sparks Makes Broadway Debut

<!--IMAGE-->

On August 19, American Idol's 2007 winner Jordin Sparks will make her Broadway debut in In The Heights.  She'll play the role of Nina Rosario in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning show.  Sparks said, "I'm beyond excited.  It's going to be a whole new challenge for me.  I'm going to do something I'm familiar with, which is singing, but I'll be doing it in a whole different way, which is fun.  I like to keep challenging myself and growing and learning new things, so this is going to be a really cool experience for me."  Sparks' 12-week run ends on November 14.

New Album Releases August 17:

"No Better Than This" by John Mellencamp
"Cowboy's Back In Town" by Trace Adkins
"Carmen: Duets and Arias" by Andrea Bocelli
"The Final Frontier" by Iron Maiden
"Foundling" by David Gray
"Intimacy" by Kem
"25: The Collection" by A-Ha
"The Trouble With Angels" by Filter

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

<!--IMAGE-->

Brad Paisley will headline the 7th annual New England Country Music Festival, which will be held at Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts on August 21.  Also on the bill are Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans and Easton Corbin.  More than 50,000 Country fans will attend the sold-out festival.

The U.K.'s 15th anniversary V Festival will take place August 21 and 22 at Hylands Park Chelmsford in Essex and at Weston Park in Staffordshire.  Headliners include American rock group Kings of Leon and the U.K.'s Kasabian.  The sold-out festival will also feature performances by Stereophonics, the Pet Shop Boys, David Guetta, Paolo Nutini, Cheryl Cole and the Prodigy, among others.

Look Who's Going On Tour!

On August 15, David Gray and Ray LaMontagne kicked off a North American co-headlining tour in Columbia, Maryland.  Gray is supporting his eighth studio album, Draw the Line.  LaMontagne's new album, God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise, drops August 17.  The 22-date tour wraps up on September 12 in Redmond, Washington.

Boy meets girl and they fall in love. It's a plot that Hollywood loves to revisit, but the new film by director Rob Reiner takes a nostalgic journey back to the pangs, pains and joys of first love. Here's a  look at the coming-of-age comedy Flipped.



"Julie Baker? You hate her."

"That's what's so weird. I don't think I do. I can't stop thinking about her."

"You've got it bad, man."

It has finally dawned on teenager Bryce Loski that he really cares for the girl who has lived across the street for most of his young life. Of course, he should have realized there was something special when they first met - as seven-year-olds - the day his family moved in to the neighborhood.

"I couldn't believe it. There I was holding hands with this strange girl. How did I get into this mess?"

From Julie's point of view, that moment changed her life.

"The first day I met Bryce Loski I flipped. It was those eyes …something in those dazzling eyes."

As the kids grow up to become teens, Flipped flips back and forth, showing key moments in their relationship from both points of view. It's a device director and co-writer Rob Reiner takes directly from the popular novel by Wendelin Van Draanen that he adapted for the screenplay.

"I read it with my son (Nick) who was 11 years old …in the fifth grade when he was assigned it by his teachers," Reiner explains. " We read it together and that's when I first became of aware of it. I was completely knocked out by how insightful the writing was. It was clearly written not just for kids but for adults. I got as much, probably more, out of it than even Nick did because I could look back and think about those first feelings that I had. Nick said to me 'Dad, I think this could be a great movie,' and I thought he was absolutely right."

<!--IMAGE-->

Reiner makes one significant change, moving the story from the book's 1980's setting to the more innocent 1960's. It's the same era in which he put his 1986 hit Stand By Me and Reiner sees Flipped as an ideal companion piece to that nostalgic look at friendships.

"Stand By Me is about those first very powerful feelings of love and connection with your buddies and this is about those first powerful, confusing feelings of falling in love, so it's a boy-girl story," explains Reiner. "That's kind of why I set it back in that period …a couple of reasons. One is that's when I was 12 going on 13, in the late '50's and early '60's, but also because I wanted to focus just on those feelings which, to me, are timeless and universal. Nowadays with texting and Facebook and all of that stuff, it kind of clouds a lot of those feelings that are going on between kids; but they are the same. They are the same now as they were when I was a kid and I wanted to kind of strip all that away, make it very pure and focus on just what they are going through."

<!--IMAGE-->

The emotions may be timeless, but the 1963 setting puts the story in a narrow window of apparent innocence when the tensions of the Cuban missile crisis had gone and Americans were not yet shattered by President Kennedy's assassination. On the horizon were the civil rights movement, the rise of feminism and the Vietnam War. Rebecca DeMornay, who plays the teenage boy's mother, says the Loski family …and her character in particular …struggle with the changing times.

"The character was a very, very repressed woman who really was trying to keep a perfect façade together and convince herself that everything was good if she just looked good and the house looked good and her children's grades were good and the car looked good," Demornay says. "Everyone in the movie learns something and she learns that it really wasn't actually all worth it."

<!--IMAGE-->

Australian newcomer Callan McAuliffe, 15, co-stars as love-struck Bryce; the object of his unexpected affections, Julie, is played by 14-year-old Madeline Carroll, who thinks today's teens will "get it".

"I think it will be cool for them to be able to see how it was back then," Carroll says. "Kids are so obnoxious nowadays. I really didn't realize until I read this script …and it wasn't just a script; people actually lived in those days. They were so much nicer and pleasant to be around. I think it will be cool for them to watch, just to see how it was back then."

"I went to bed that night thinking of the kiss that might have been. I mean it was clear he had feelings for me, but he was just too shy to show them. My mother said boys were like that."

Flipped was filmed in a tree-lined suburban neighborhood of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The cast includes Penelope Ann Miller and Aidan Quinn as Julie's struggling parents; Anthony Edwards is Bryce's conservative father at odds with John Mahoney as the widowed grandfather who has moved in with the family. Director Rob Reiner weaves popular music of the time throughout Flipped, as he did almost 25 years ago in Stand By Me.

During the past four months, Bret Michaels, lead singer of rock band Poison, underwent an emergency appendectomy and suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage.  But, those health problems didn't keep him down for long. 



Bret Michael's ties to Nashville are evident on his new album, Custom Built.  Its first single, "Nothing To Lose," was recorded in several different styles.  The Country version is a duet with Miley Cyrus.

Bret also included a Country version of the Poison classic, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", with Country singers Chris Cagle and Mark Wills, and Brad Arnold of the rock band 3 Doors Down.

Custom Built also includes many hard rock songs that will appeal to fans who have followed Bret's career with Poison since the 1980s.  

<!--IMAGE-->

Bret was appearing on season three of the reality television show Celebrity Apprentice when he was struck with a life-threatening brain hemorrhage.  He spent weeks in the hospital's intensive care unit before moving to a physical rehabilitation center to improve his walking and speech.  Upon his release, Bret had a mild stroke, which required additional hospital care.  Doctors also found a hole in his heart, which will require surgery later this year.  

Bret recovered in time to appear on the finale of Celebrity Apprentice.  He won the competition and its $250,000 prize, which he donated to the American Diabetes Association.  Bret was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of six.   

Since winning Celebrity Apprentice, Bret has been busier than ever.  He's currently performing a U.S. tour in support of his new album.  Concerts run through the end of October.  Later this year, he'll launch a new television reality show.  "Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It" will give fans an inside look at the private life he shares with his long-time girlfriend, Kristi Lynn Gibson, and their two young daughters.  His new album contains the show's theme song, "Riding Against The Wind."

Elvis Items Go On Auction

On August 14, 270 Elvis Presley items will be auctioned at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.  They include his white grand piano, which is expected to fetch more than $1 million.  Other memorabilia up for sale are the 1957 purchase agreement for his Graceland mansion, a four-page love letter he wrote in 1958 to his then-girlfriend Anita Wood, his personal address and phone book and Presley's gun.

Streisand Named MusiCares Person of the Year

<!--IMAGE-->

The MusiCares Foundation has chosen Barbra Streisand as its 2011 Person of the Year.  A reception, silent auction, dinner and tribute concert for the eight-time Grammy winner will take place on February 11, 2011 in Los Angeles.  Paul Caine, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board, says, "Barbra is synonymous with artistic excellence.  What is truly remarkable is that an artist of her stature also gives back with such open arms.  As part of her wide philanthropy, over $21 million was directed to causes she supports from her two most recent concert tours."  Barbra released a statement that said, "For me, being able to create is both a gift and a responsibility, and I have seen firsthand the power of philanthropy to make the world a safer, healthier and more peaceful place.  It is an honor to be recognized as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year.  I have so much respect for the work they do to create a lifeline of resources - whether it's emergency financial assistance or access to addiction recovery resources - for music people in times of need."  Proceeds from the event will go the the MusiCares Foundation.

Rock Band's New Album Debuts at No. 1

Rock band Avenged Sevenfold debuts at Number One on this week's Billboard 200 with its fifth album, Nightmare.  First-week sales totaled 163,000 copies.  This marks the first Number One album for Avenged Sevenfold.  It's the only new entry in this week's Top 10 (week ending August 14).

Wyclef to Run For President of Haiti

<!--IMAGE-->

Haitian hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean has announced he'll run for president of Haiti.  He told People magazine, "The suffering of the people of Haiti, the youth of Haiti - which is the majority of the population - can't take another five years of the corruption that's been going on for the past 200 years.  This is why I'm running."  Elections will be held in November.

McGraw Outdoes Music Artists on Airplay

Country star Tim McGraw had the most airplay of any artist in all genres during the past decade.  According to Nielsen BDS, which tracks and reports all airplay of songs on radio, television and the Internet, says McGraw's songs were played 7,965,000 times from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2009.  Tim is currently on tour in support of his Southern Voice album.  His upcoming film, Country Song, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, will hit theaters in December.

Fanklin Falls, Cancels Concerts

Aretha Franklin canceled two free concerts in New York that were scheduled to take place this week.  On August 1, the 68-year-old "Queen of Soul" fell and fractured some ribs.  She also complained of abdominal pain, so doctors advised her to undergo tests.  The shows were set for August 9 and 12 in Brooklyn.  Franklin hopes to make them up in late August.

New Album Releases August 10:

"31 Minutes To Takeoff" by Mike Posner
"All About Tonight" by Blake Shelton
"Emily West" by Emily West
"Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam" by various artists
"Greatly Blessed" by the Gaither Vocal Band
"Déjà vu" by George Duke
"Lost Tracks 1929-1959" (box set) by Judy Garland.

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

Country singer Michael Martin Murphey's WESTFEST 2010 will take place August 12-15 in Rifle, Colorado.  Also on the bill are Patty Loveless, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Trailer Choir and bluegrass legend Peter Rowan, among others.  Murphey founded WESTFEST in 1986 as a way to preserve memories and images of the Old West.  He says, "I wanted to present the West to people who might otherwise perceive it only through a movie director's tunnel vision.  I want to show the Real American West!"  Murphey's hits include "Carolina In The Pines," "Wildfire" and "What's Forever For."

Colorado's Mile High Music Festival begins on August 14 in Denver.  More than 40 bands will perform at the two-day music and arts event.  Headliners include the Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Weezer, Train, Keane and Nas & Damian Marley.  


Lady GaGa Leads VMA Nominations

<!--IMAGE-->

Lady Gaga leads this year's MTV Video Music Award (VMA) nominees.  The pop star received a record-breaking 13 nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, Best Female Video and Best Dance Video for "Bad Romance."  Other top contenders include Eminem, B.o.B. and Ke$ha.  Justin Bieber's "Baby" brought him his first VMA nomination for Best New Artist.  The 2010 MTV VMA's will be presented in Los Angeles on September 12.  (Complete list of nominees at www.mtv.com.)


Look Who's Going On Tour!

<!--IMAGE-->

On August 11, Sheryl Crow will kick off a 30-date North American tour in Rama, Ontario.  She'll be supporting her new album, 100 Miles From Memphis. After wrapping up shows on October 1, Crow will head to Europe for seven shows in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Denmark.

Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest will begin on August 14 in San Bernardino, California.  The six-city amphitheater tour is also scheduled to stop in Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hartford, Connecticut; Camden, New Jersey and Boston, Massachusetts.  In addition to Osbourne, main stage acts include Motley Crue, Rob Halford, Devil Driver and Nonpoint.

In the shadow of London's British Museum, is a bit of South Africa's desert.

The museum, working with Kew Botanical Gardens, shipped two refrigerated containers full of South African flowers, shrubs and trees for a six-month exhibit.

"They came from Cape Town in the summer to sort of Britain in the winter through 14 days of darkness," said Steve Ruddy, of Kew Gardens.

A time lapse photography shows how the landscape was put together.

Clearing the soil, arranging tons of sand colored rocks and then planting everything took nearly a month.  

Because it was April, there was still a danger of frost, or even snow, so some of the trees were wrapped up to protect them. Months later, the plants are thriving in an uncommonly hot British summer.

"It's called the Quiver Tree and the large branches are hollowed out to keep arrows in," Steve Ruddy explained.

Visitors like Mary, who left South Africa as a child, say they love it.

"It's always thrilling to see the flowers that you were brought up with and that you have seen all tame and domesticated in European gardens and here they are en masse and more as you knew them," she said.

"You look at that quiver tree, it's just amazing how it was brought here," said Bob, an American tourist who did not expect to see anything like this in London.  "But, we're glad that we did. Now we don't have to go to South Africa."

<!--IMAGE-->

It's not a walk on the wild side, but there are animals here, sort of.

"This is a rhino, a wonderful rhino from South Africa, a very important animal," said Chris Springer, The British Museum's Africa curator.

The stone carvings are replicas of ones found in South Africa. They were made by the San people who have lived in South Africa for 20,000 years.

Springer, says they connect to a mystic past.

"These animals may not necessarily be replicas of real animals," he said. "They may be kind of dream animals and the San, the spirit healers amongst the San people today, one of their main roles is to hunt these rain animals in their dreams in a trance state."

<!--IMAGE-->

One corner of the garden is devoted to South African plants under threat from agriculture, housing and invasive plant species. The importance of the country's flora and fauna was one reason for this exhibit.

"South Africa has two percent of the world's land mass but has 10 percent of the world's flora," says Steve Ruddy. "It's a biodiversity hotspot."

About three million people will have a chance to visit the desert landscape on their way to or from the Museum.

American Actress Mia Farrow has testified at the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.  She told the court at The Hague that in 1997 supermodel Naomi Campbell claimed to have been given a large diamond by Mr. Taylor after a dinner party hosted by Nelson Mandela.  Campbell's former agent Carole White also testified.  Farrow's and White's testimonies contradict Campbell's statements given last week.



What Farrow told the court

Actress Mia Farrow was questioned by the court about the events surrounding a dinner party hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997.

Farrow said during breakfast the following morning, fellow guest Naomi Campbell told her that Charles Taylor had sent her a diamond during the night.

"She [Naomi Campbell] said that in the night she had been awakened, some men were knocking at the door, and they had been sent by Charles Taylor, and they had given her a huge diamond."

What White told the court

Campbell's former agent Carole White also testified Monday.  She said Charles Taylor had told Campbell over dinner that he would give her a diamond.  

Both testimonies contradict what Naomi Campbell told the court last week.

<!--IMAGE-->

What Campbell said

Campbell said she had been given a "few dirty pebbles" in the middle of the night.  But she stopped short of saying she had known they were from Mr. Taylor.

Taylor denies having given diamonds to the supermodel.

Accusations against Taylor

Charles Taylor is on trial for his alleged role in Sierra Leone's decade long civil war.

The prosecution says that Mr. Taylor - then president of Liberia -- controlled rebel forces in Sierra Leone who raped, murdered, and mutilated thousands of civilians.

Diamonds are central to the case.  The prosecution says Mr. Taylor traded diamonds mined in Sierra Leone for weapons, which he smuggled into the country.

Prosecutors say the gift that Mr. Taylor allegedly gave to Campbell links him to so-called "blood diamonds".

Conflicting testimony

Although the three witnesses have varying accounts of the events 13 years ago, police in South Africa say the stones given to Campbell are diamonds.  

Campbell had given the stones to then head of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Jeremy Ratcliffe, who recently handed them to police.  

"Yes, they are real diamonds.  We cannot tell whether they are 'blood diamonds' or not," said police spokesperson Musa Zondi. "That will be part of the investigation because you still need people to say "Yes, I know these diamonds; these are diamonds which were given to me."

Celebrity central

The appearance at The Hague of international celebrities has turned the world's attention to Mr. Taylor's trial.

Campaigners say it has helped to shine a spotlight on the violent consequences of the trade in illicit diamonds - a spotlight they hope will remain even after the celebrities have left.

Charles Taylor has been charged by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone with 11 war crimes charges, including murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers.  He has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

More than 100,000 people were left dead after Sierra Leone's Civil War, which ended in 2002.

Norman Rockwell is one of the best-known American artists of the 20th century.

His illustrations appeared in advertisements, on calendars and most notably on magazine covers. <!--IMAGE-->

Rockwell died in 1978. Many Americans collect his art, including two of Hollywood's leading filmmakers. A new exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum showcases works from their collections.

Visual storytelling

The man in the soft felt hat, kneeling by the reclining woman and supporting her with an arm wrapped around her shoulders bears a striking resemblance to a certain fictional archaeologist.

Perhaps the creator of Indiana Jones was inspired by what he saw in the painting.  Peach Crop belongs to producer and director George Lucas. It is one of more than 30 works from his collection in the exhibition "Telling Stories." Other works on display belong to director Steven Spielberg.  

"Both Lucas and Spielberg see Rockwell ultimately not just as an illustrator, not just as a maker of pictures, but a teller of visual stories," says Virginia Mecklenburg, curator of the exhibition.

She says Lucas told her that he felt comfortable from his earliest days in the movie business, because "he already knew how to tell a story visually from having looked at Norman Rockwell's covers."

Rockwell did covers for the Saturday Evening Post for nearly 50 years. <!--IMAGE-->

Some of his pictures illustrated stories inside magazines. But even those that didn't do seem to tell a story:  a family laden with packages arrives for Christmas at grandma and grandpa's; a little girl in the beauty shop gets her first haircut; a girl balances on one leg, holding her foot and glowering at a blushing boy, while another young couple dance in the background.

"One of the things that George Lucas loves about Rockwell is what Rockwell tells us about our culture, about our society, and about who we are as people," Mecklenburg says.  She adds that many of the things he sees in Rockwell's pictures remind him of his own childhood in Modesto, California.

"He said that he grew up in the Norman Rockwell world.  Everything you see in Norman Rockwell pictures, he grew up doing and it was part of his life." <!--IMAGE-->

Rockwell's moral core

Steven Spielberg owns several pictures of Boy Scouts, in part, because he made his first film as a Boy Scout project.  But the curator says, he is also interested in what she calls "the moral core" that can be seen in many of Rockwell's images.  "He also really admires the pictures of the American military.

Spielberg has also collected pictures that remind him of himself, most notably, one titled "And Daniel Boone Comes to Life on the Underwood Portable."  It shows a man at a typewriter and above his head, taking up more than half of the canvas and appearing in a purple cloud, is frontiersman Daniel Boone, wearing his coonskin cap and carrying his long rifle. <!--IMAGE-->

"When he is starting to write a movie, [Spielberg] says he just sits there at the typewriter waiting for a thought bubble to emerge over his head that will finally get his fingers dancing across the keys," Meckelenburg says.  "I think it is also a wonderful demonstration of Rockwell's early fascination with the way movies look.  The whole idea looks like a movie screen.  It looks like a film playing out over the writer's head."

Rockwell in Hollywood

Rockwell spent some time in Hollywood in the 1930s. He painted would-be starlets and movie stars like Gary Cooper.<!--IMAGE-->

When it came to creating his illustrations, Mecklenburg says, Rockwell approached the job much like a filmmaker.

"When he selected his models, he had them audition to make sure they could do the facial expressions he wanted, that they could act out the body language he wanted for a particular picture," she says.  He also selected props and costumes, staged the scene lit it and photographed it.  He used the photographs later to create his illustrations

Rockwell's attention to detail created images that still tell stories, decades after they were created, much like the films of two of his biggest fans.  The largest collection of Rockwell images is at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has testified in the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor.  She told the court she received "dirty looking stones" after a dinner with Mr. Taylor in 1997, but she said they had not been given to her by the former president himself, and she could not be sure if the stones were diamonds.  

Naomi Campbell was called to The Hague to answer questions about an evening in South Africa 13 years ago.  Campbell's former agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow have said Campbell was given an uncut diamond by Charles Taylor after a dinner party hosted by Nelson Mandela.

Her version of events

In court, Campbell recounted her version of what happened.

"When I was sleeping I heard a knock at my door, and I opened my door and two men were there and gave me a pouch and said, 'A gift for you.'" Campbell said.

She told the court she did not open the pouch until the next morning.  When she looked inside, she found what she described as a few "small dirty looking stones."

The prosecutor asked Campbell if she knew who the gift was from.

"No.  The next morning at breakfast I told Ms. Farrow and Ms. White what had happened, and one of the two said, 'Well that's obviously Charles Taylor.'  And I just said, 'Yeah, I guess it was correct,'" she said.

Campbell said she gave the stones to a friend who was then director of Nelson Mandela's children's charity. The friend, Jeremy Ractliffe, said Friday he has handed over the diamonds to South African police. In a statement, he said he had kept the stones since Campbell gave them to him in 1997.

Why she tried to avoid testifying

Campbell is one of the world's highest paid models.  She fought to avoid testifying because she said she was concerned about the safety of her family.

But the prosecution had hoped her evidence would show that Mr. Taylor received so called "blood diamonds" from rebels in Sierra Leone during the country's decade-long civil war.

Prosecutors say Mr. Taylor - then president of West African Liberia - exchanged the diamonds for weapons, which he smuggled into Sierra Leone.

He is accused of arming and commanding rebels who raped, murdered, and mutilated thousands of civilians.

Why her testimony was important

Elly Harrowell is from the natural resources watchdog Global Witness.  She says Naomi Campbell's appearance at the trial is important.

"I think in such an important trial, it's very important that every piece of evidence is considered.  I also wonder whether if it's a good way of focusing the world's attention on the issue of blood diamonds and on this very important trial by getting such a high-profile figure involved with it," she said.

She says the media attention given to Campbell's testimony is a boon for the fight against conflict diamonds.

"I think it's very important to bring to people's attention that the issue of blood diamonds is a very important one; it's something that is still going on.  We have got cases of conflict diamonds in Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa and also in Zimbabwe where hundreds of people were murdered in the Marange diamond fields recently," said Harrowell.

What's next?

Campbell's testimony is now done, but her part in the former president's trial is not over.  Carole White and Mia Farrow, who each have their own account of that evening 13 years ago, are due to appear in court next week.

Charles Taylor faces 11 war crimes charges, including for murder, rape, and recruiting child soldiers.  He says he is innocent on all counts.  

Life as a blues musician is often a balancing act between touring, recording or working odd jobs just to make ends meet.   One such musician's days of driving trucks and selling firewood are far behind him.



It's been years since singer, songwriter and guitarist Watermelon Slim had to drive a truck for a living.  These days, you can find him in the recording studio working on a new album, on tour overseas or playing at a club near his home in Mississippi.

Slim, whose real name is Bill Homans, has come a long way from his job as a heavy equipment operator for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.  His follow-up stint as a watermelon farmer in Oklahoma earned him the nickname Watermelon Slim, a name he also gives to his own special brand of music.    

"I'm in the business of recombining and putting together genres, and making it come out as Watermelon Slim music," he explains.  "I don't just write country, and I don't just write blues, and I don't just write rhythm and blues, and I don't just write rock and roll.  You can find all kinds of influences, [and] if you look hard enough you probably even hear the classical influences I had as a little, little boy."

Country, blues and rock dominate Watermelon Slim's latest release, Ringers.  Slim composed 12 songs for the album, and co-wrote two more with seasoned Nashville songwriter Gary Nicholson.

Slim recorded his most recent albums in Nashville, where, according to Slim, co-writing is a common, everyday practice.

"That's the way they do it down in Nashville.  At first, I kind of balked at it.  I said, 'Well, listen.  I've got two degrees in this," he says. "I can write as good as anybody down there.'  And they said, 'Yeah, we know.'  But, this is the way they do it in Nashville.  Everybody co-writes."

Watermelon Slim teams up with Gary Nicholson on "I Appreciate That."

Since 2004, Slim has been nominated for 17 Blues Music Awards.  In 2008, he won his first two awards with his band, The Workers, for Best Blues Album of the Year and Best Blues Band of the Year.

Slim enjoys being in the spotlight every once in awhile, but he says true happiness comes from making music day in and day out.

"Back before there were any awards of any kind for this kind of music, the reward for a blues man was a pocket full of change [coins], some bills [money] at the end of the night, and the knowledge that you've got a place to sleep out of the rain and the wind.  And, most of all, if you've got another gig [performance] the next day, you're making a living," he says.

Slim is currently performing on his "No Paid Holidays" tour across the U.S., Canada and Europe.  He's already at work on his next album, due out in October.  

One of the most influential figures in American popular music has died. Mitch Miller was 99 years old.

Miller's family announced that he died Saturday in a New York City hospital after a short illness.  He was a musician, singer, conductor, record producer and television show host.

To many people, he also is considered to have inspired modern-day karaoke.

Mitch Miller began his musical career as an accomplished oboe and English horn player.  While still a young man, he recorded some highly regarded classical record albums.

In the pre-rock 'n' roll era of the 1940s and 50s, Mitch Miller was an executive at Columbia Records.  He produced hits for popular singers Tony Bennett, Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney and Johnny Mathis, among others.

Miller and a chorus of singers had a number one hit of their own in 1955 with the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas."  That led to the sing-along records for which he would become famous, and would inspire today's karaoke.

In 1961, the NBC television network signed Miller to do a show called "Sing Along With Mitch," a musical variety program that would make his a household name.  The show was a huge ratings success, and featured Miller conducting a male chorale performing various musical standards.  At home, the television audience could follow along as a bouncing ball superimposed on their TV screen highlighted each word of the song.  The show lasted until 1964.

Miller's career took a downturn as rock music soared in popularity.  But he would carry on his sing-along tradition, making personal appearances and leading crowds in song.  He also appeared frequently as a guest conductor for many top American orchestras.

In 2000, Mitch Miller won a special Grammy award for lifetime achievement.

American bluegrass music originated with immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales beginning in the early 1600s. Those early settlers made their homes in the Appalachian Mountains in what's now eastern United States.

Through their music, they told stories about their struggles and daily life.  Americans living today in a section of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Blue Ridge Mountains continue that musical heritage.  

Bluegrass festival

On a recent Saturday, traditional American bluegrass music resonated in a park in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

People of all ages danced to tunes at the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition.  It is one of the biggest events in rural Grayson County in southwest Virginia.

"Well, to all of us it's very important.," says Becky Ward, president of the festival. "We have about 2,000 people in attendance each year. It's very important to Wayne to continue on the traditional Appalachian style music in this area."

The annual event started 16 years ago to honor Wayne C. Henderson, a master guitar maker and musician who has spent all his 63 years in the region. <!--IMAGE-->

In recent years, the purpose of the festival has evolved into raising scholarship money to help young musicians in the region.

"We give scholarships for up to 21 years old," says Ward, the festival president . "We also give to local groups, but we only take scholarship applications from local Appalachian region children or groups that are trying to promote traditional music." 

Passing the tradition on

Besides the festival, the community has a program to connect children to their musical heritage.  It is called Junior Appalachian Musicians or JAM.

Helen White, a former school counselor, founded the after-school program 10 years ago.

"I know a lot of very sad stories of many mountain children," says White. "And I also knew how important music was in my own life, and how much fun, and what a sense of community the music of the mountains brings."

"I really love the music and you make a lot of friends by it," says Danielle Yochter, 11, a participant in the JAM program. "And you get to play with people like Wayne Henderson." <!--IMAGE-->

The festival features some of the region's best musicians, as well as outside entertainers like Kandra Walker, part of a seven-member family band called, The Red Head Express.

"We originally left Alaska on tour to learn the old music and bluegrass and we got to meet Wayne Henderson. And he invited us to the festival and one thing lead to another.  It's an honor to be here."

The festival also benefits local tourism and people come from across the country.

"Oh, it's a great festival.  We try to come every year and enjoy the hospitality of the folks here," says Dale Mossis, resident of a neighboring county. "And it's like a family reunion. You get together and see folks you've not seen maybe in several months or a year."

The villagers say the music is a big part of their lives and they take pride in keeping the deep-rooted musical tradition in the area.

Following the news that Simon Cowell won't be returning as a judge on the upcoming 10th season of American Idol, another judge is making an exit.  Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is leaving the show halfway through her two-year contract.  She released a statement that says, "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.  I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."  TMZ is reporting that songwriter Kara DioGuardi has been fired from her seat on the judge's panel.  There are also unconfirmed reports that Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler and Latin pop singer Jennifer Lopez will join the only remaining original judge, Randy Jackson.

7 Doctors, Nurse Cleared of Wrongdoing in Jackson Death

Seven doctors and one nurse investigated in the death of Michael Jackson will not be charged for criminal wrongdoing.  One other doctor who prescribed medication to Jackson is still under investigation.  "After reviewing hundreds of pages of records and documents obtained from the medical practitioners, the attorney general's office has referred one doctor, who wrote prescriptions to an alias known to have been used by Jackson, to the California medical board for further review," said California Attorney General Jerry Brown's spokeswoman, Christine Gasparac.   Earlier this year, Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.  He's scheduled to be in court to face the charges on August 23.

Black Eyed Peas Set New Digital Download Record

<!--IMAGE-->

The Black Eyed Peas have set a new record for most digital downloads.  Their 2009 hit "I Gotta Feeling," which spent 14 weeks at Number One, has sold six million digital copies.  In a recent phone interview with the Associated Press, the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am said, "We came out in (19)98 and our career, if you would look at it on chart, there's no dips in it.  For our career to still be healthy and vibrant and doing things like six million downloads, it's pretty significant."  When asked about the song's popularity, he added, "It's a positive, feel-good song at the time where there's question marks and uncertainty.  People want to be reminded that it's going to be all right."

Rihanna to Make Film Debut

<!--IMAGE-->

22-year-old singer Rihanna will make her film debut in the upcoming movie "Battleship."  She's been cast as the female lead alongside Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgard.  The film, which is based on the naval combat game, is scheduled to be out in May 2012.

Rapper Common Lands Role in Western TV Drama

Rapper and actor Common has been cast in the pilot of the new AMC cable television Western drama "Hell On Wheels."  In his first leading television role, he'll play Elam, a freed slave who tries to find work on the railroad.  Production is scheduled to begin this month in Alberta, Canada.  

New Album Releases August 3:

"All Night Long" by Buckcherry
"The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire
"The Remix" and "The Cherrytree Sessions" (EP) by Lady Gaga
"Tin Can Trust" by Los Lobos
Croweology" by Black Crowes
"Mulennium" by Gov't Mule
"Tribal" by Dr. John The Lower 911 and Derek Trucks

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

<!--IMAGE-->

The 2010 Lollapalooza Festival will take place August 6-8 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.  Headliners include Lady Gaga, Soundgarden, Green Day, the Strokes and Arcade Fire.  More than 100 acts are scheduled to perform on eight stages during the three-day event.  According to Billboard Boxscore, last year's Lollapalooza Festival was attended by 225,000 music fans.  It brought in over $14 million to become the third highest-grossing music festival of the year.

Music Awards

Nominations for the 2010 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards were recently announced.  Leading the contenders is Gord Bamford with six nominations, including Album of the Year for "Day Job," Male Artist of the Year and the Fans' Choice Award.  Following close behind with five nods are Dean Brody, Doc Walker, Corb Lund and Johnny Reid.  Other multiple nominees include Victoria Banks, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Jessie Farrell, The Higgins and One More Girl.  The 2010 CCMA Awards will be handed out on September 12 in Edmonton, Alberta.  (Complete list of nominations at www.ccma.org)

Look Who's Going On Tour!

<!--IMAGE-->

On August 5, British singer VV Brown will begin a four-week North American tour in Clarkston, Michigan.  She'll be opening shows for California rock band Maroon 5.  Brown's debut album, "Travelling Like the Light," was released this past February.  Its track "Shark In the Water" was a hit in Europe and the U.S.

The Jonas Brothers will kick off a tour of North and South America on August 7 in Tinley Park, Illinois.  They'll be supporting their latest album, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" and the "Camp Rock" movie soundtracks.  The 44-date trek wraps up on November 9 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.  Joe Jonas's former girlfriend, pop singer Demi Lovato, will open shows on the tour.

A New Exhibit at Cairo's Opera House highlights the work of Egyptian Saad Romany Mikhaiel. The 52-year-old uses miniature pieces of glass, stone and other materials to create intricately detailed mosaics that he hopes will inspire both the public and other artists.

Saad Romany Mikhaiel peers through a large magnifying glass in his studio.  With the focus and patience of a surgeon, the bearded Egyptian artist delicately places a small piece of stained glass in the face of one of his portraits.

Staring through the magnifying glass, Mikhaiel makes sure that all of the pieces - called tessarae - are exactly where they are supposed to be.  The result is a powerful portrait of a bearded man in formal Arabic dress.

After graduating with a degree in fine arts, Mikhaiel worked as a jeweler and interior designer for several years.  He used that experience to combine jewelry design and traditional mosaic techniques to create stunning portraits.

His works, called micro mosaics, include portraits of actor Omar Sharif, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Egyptian Novelist Naguib Mahfouz, American television host Oprah Winfrey, and Cleopatra.  Mikhaiel has also done a version of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night.

Mikhaiel has created 39 works for this exhibit.  The artist says he hopes his work will inspire others who are interested in mosaics. "I would like to send a message to all people who love this art," he said.  "I am offering all of my efforts to build a base for all people who are interested in this art, and for artists who can work in this art field."

Some of the best mosaics in Egypt date to ancient Rome, but the art form was used in the jewelry set of the Pharoah Tutankhamun. Examples from the Byzantine Empire are considered the best of their kind.

The art form reached its height during the Renaissance, when micro-mosaics were created for St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City because traditional altar paintings were decaying from humidity and other environmental factors.

Though he could sell his works - Mikhaiel has not done so, for now. The artist says he doesn't want them hidden from the public.

"As I said before, my main goal is to send out a message," he said.  "I don't want any of my works to be bought by a collector and be put in a house or in a palace and disappear as mere possessions.  

Fayza Abdel Monem is the general manager of the Opera House museums and Exhibitions.  She says she is proud that the first micro-mosaic exhibit in Cairo features an Egyptian artist.

"As an Egyptian, I'm very proud to find an Egyptian artist doing art work like this, working with this integrity and perseverance. I'm very proud of him, and the Opera house is very pleased with this exhibition," she said. "I can see in the visitors' eyes how impressed they are with Saad Romany. I salute him and wish him all the best."

The exhibition is only the first of Mikhaiel's efforts to highlight the art form.  He is scheduled to give a lecture on micro mosaics in London in October.

(Inquiries about the artist can be directed to gisela@giselagibbon.co.uk.)

The daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to marry Saturday in a lavish affair that is making headlines across the country.

<!--IMAGE-->

Thirty-year-old Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, who is 32, have kept their wedding details quiet.  But speculation is swirling that the nuptials, due to take place at a 20-hectare riverside estate in a small town north of New York City, are to cost at least $2 million.

Security in the tiny town of Rhinebeck is expected to be very tight, with the Federal Aviation Administration closing local airspace for 12 hours starting Saturday afternoon.  

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey, film director Steven Spielberg and singer Barbra Streisand are rumored to be among the 500 invited guests.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

Oscar winner Robert Duvall could be up for that top film award again for his portrayal of a crusty recluse in a quirky drama set in the American south during the Great Economic Depression of the 1930s. Here's a look at Get Low.



With his wildly overgrown beard and driving his mule-drawn wagon, Felix Bush is certainly noticed when, for the first time in decades, he comes to town and books a date at the local funeral parlor.

"You want to be at your funeral party alive?"

"Yes sir."

"But you can't have a funeral if you're not deceased."

"Hold on now. It's a detail. We can look at it."

<!--IMAGE-->

The subject of much gossip and many whispered secrets, he has lived a solitary life on his farm; now, sensing he may soon Get Low (a old expression for dying), he wants to hear some of those legends before he reveals the true story.

"I want everybody to come who has got a story to tell about me."

"That probably covers about four counties."

"Then I want four counties' worth of people at the party."

"It's like a mystery in the town. People all have a different opinion of him," explains Robert Duvall, who stars as the mysterious hermit. The 79-year-old actor admits the character got under his skin.

"I like him a lot. You've got to like the people you play," he notes, "[and] I like Felix Bush. He's an interesting man and I thought about it a lot. I worked on it by thinking about it… ruminating, daydreaming - day and night - about him. Usually I just forget something when it's over, but it really stayed with me."

<!--IMAGE-->

Bill Murray plays the funeral director anxious to keep the cantankerous customer satisfied. Well known for his broad comedy, Murray says this character's wry humor and somewhat shady past lets him give audiences something unexpected.

"You always want to try to surprise people with your rhythm," explains Murray,  "so you speak a certain way and then when people think something is going to happen you leave them enough time to become available for an answer that may not be the one they're expecting."

<!--IMAGE-->

The cast also features Oscar winner Sissy Spacek as a woman from Felix's past.

"Oh for heaven's sake! A thousand years ago he was the most interesting man I'd ever met."

"There is a lot in the details in this movie," Spacek says. "It's about not so much what people are doing, but how they are doing it and their behavior."

<!--IMAGE-->

Those details come from the seven-year effort that it took director Aaron Schneider to get his feature film debut before the cameras - a project that began with a true story from Tennessee.

"What actually did occur is this hermit in the mid-1930s rode into town on his mule - his only companion - and put together a funeral party while he was still alive," explains Schneider. "We did a little research. I actually went out to Tennessee and started asking questions like 'Why? Why do you think he would do this?' Just about everyone asked really didn't know. They ventured guesses, but nobody really knew: maybe vanity, maybe he had some secret… but nobody knew. So it started to become a mystery. The biggest part of development was the question why… why would somebody do something like this… and that is what we built the fiction on."

Get Low is the kind of smaller scale, independent film often described as "character-driven" (as opposed to the action-packed spectacles that dominate the box office charts). Schneider says the emphasis on character made the casting of screen veterans like Spacek and Duvall essential.

<!--IMAGE-->

"It's a gentle page-turner," he says. "I like to call it the kind of story your grandfather would tell you around the fire or something and you have to cozy up to it. Before you can cozy up to any movie, you have to really feel for the people on screen. You have to get to know them as people. They have to be fully fleshed-out characters that are interesting to watch. So that's what we strived to create in the development of the screenplay. Then it was about making sure that we had actors that could do that, because not all of them can."

"It sounded like you said you want me to preach at your funeral party with you sitting there."

"Yes, sir."

"I've talked to God a lot about you over the years. He said he broke the mold when he made you. He said you sure are entertaining to watch, but way too much trouble."

Get Low also features character actor Bill Cobbs as a minister and life-long friend of the old recluse; and Lucas Black plays the young funeral home assistant who becomes personally involved in the search for the true story. The film was shot on location in rural Georgia, outside of Atlanta.

During the past two years, Danny Gokey has gone from working as a commercial truck driver to signing with a major Nashville record company.  The 2009 "American Idol" Top 5 finalist recently released his debut album, "My Best Days."

Danny Gokey's new album gave him the best first-week sales by a debut Country male artist in 18 years.  It also set a new record for highest first-week digital album sales ever by a debut Country act.

Danny credits his late wife, Sophia, with inspiring him to pursue his musical dreams.  Her death, following surgery for a heart condition, came just weeks before Danny's 2008 "American Idol" audition.  The Milwaukee native placed third in the competition.  The day after finishing last year's "American Idols Live" tour, Danny moved to Nashville, and began work on his debut album.

During his time on "American Idol," Danny showed the versatility of his voice by performing songs by The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Queen and Rascal Flatts, among others.  His decision to pursue a career in Country music was encouraged by Randy Travis.

Danny says, "Randy Travis was a mentor for American Idol, and he asked me, 'Have you thought about Country?  You really should because people would love you and the amount of soul that you could bring to Country.  You bring a uniqueness to it.'"  

Danny is spending most of the year performing concerts throughout the United States.  Many of the dates are with the popular Country duo Sugarland.  He's also running Sophia's Heart, a charitable foundation for disadvantaged children, which Danny created to keep his late wife's legacy alive.

Danny says his new single, "I Will Not Say Goodbye," represents exactly how he felt after Sophia passed away. 

Haitian-born musician and humanitarian Wyclef Jean is considering running for president of Haiti.

Jean's family released a statement Tuesday, saying that the Grammy Award-winning musician is "committed to his homeland," but he has not formally announced an intent to run for president of the earthquake-shattered nation.

In an interview with CNN, Jean, who grew up in the United States, said he has filled out the necessary paperwork in case he does decide to move forward with a candidacy.  Presidential candidates have until August 7 to register.  

Jean is the founder of the Yele Haiti Foundation, a charity for Haiti that has been active in rebuilding efforts following the devastating earthquake in January.

Current Haitian President René Preval is ineligible to run for a third term.  

Mr. Preval has set the country's presidential and legislative elections for November 28.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

Grammy-winning singer Al Jarreau was admitted to a hospital in France on July 23 due to respiratory problems.  The 70-year-old is in intensive care, but is reported to be conscious and breathing without assistance.  Maurice Marchetti, deputy director of the hospital, said doctors are unsure what caused Jarreau's problems, but they suspect fatigue and the altitude of the French Alps could be to blame.

Franklin, Rice Team Up for Concert

On July 27, Aretha Franklin and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will perform a concert together at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Rice will play piano for Franklin on some of her classic hits and also perform a classical set with the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Proceeds will benefit programs for inner city children and the Mann Center's education initiatives.

Billboard's 200 Chart Features New Albums

Six new albums debut in the Top 10 on this week's Billboard 200 chart.  Korn enters at Number 2 with "Korn III: Remember Who You Are," the Newsboys' "Born Again" comes in at Number 4, Sting debuts at Number 6 with "Symphonicities," Jerrod Neimann lands on the list at Number 7 with "Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury," Hellyeah's "Stampede" enters at Number 8 and M.I.A. debuts at Number 9 with "Maya."

Eminem Dominates Billboard Album Chart

<!--IMAGE-->

In other chart news, Eminem continues to rule the Billboard 200 with "Recovery."  The album spends its fourth week at the top by selling another 195,000 copies, which brings its four-week sales total to 1,482,000.  And, Country newcomer Jerrod Niemann's debut album, "Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury," enters Billboard's Country Albums chart this week at Number One.  That position has been held for the past six months by Lady Antebellum and their "Need You Now" album.  Jerrod becomes the first male solo artist to score a Number One Country album since October 2009, when Tim McGraw landed in the top spot with "Southern Voice."

Festival Honors Hollywood Walk of Fame

On July 25, the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame was marked with a day-long festival.  The "King of Swing" Louis Prima received a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday.  The late jazz trumpeter's son, Louis Prima Jr, performed at the event.  Also this week, actor Mark Wahlberg will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  His ceremony takes place on July 29.

Natalie Cole to Publish Memoir

<!--IMAGE-->

Singer Natalie Cole is working on a memoir that will be published in November.  The book, titled "Love Brought Me Back: A Journey of Loss and Gain," will include memories of her father Nat "King" Cole, and details about her 2009 kidney transplant surgery and the death of her adopted sister, actress Carole "Cookie" Cole.



New Album Releases July 27

"The Dark Side" by Fat Joe
"Indrupendence Day" by Dru Hill
"Give It To Me" by (2008 "American Idol" Top 10 finalist) Michael Sarver
"Without Regret" by Kimberly Caldwell
"Couldn't Stand the Weather" by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
"Praise & Blame" by Tom Jones
"Transatlantic RPM" by Incognito
"Dio" by Jorn
"Cookin' In Mobile" by The Robert Cray Band

Look Who's Going On Tour!

On July 26, Creed kicked off its "Creed 2010 Tour" in Nashville, Tennessee.  The concerts will likely be the most affordable of the year.  Ticket prices are set at $10 for lawn seats and $20 for reserved seats.  And, the first 2,010 ticket buyers will not be charged a service fee.

Pollstar recently released a list of the top-grossing tours in the first half of 2010.  Bon Jovi leads all touring acts by bringing in $52.8 million.   James Taylor and Carole King's "Troubadour Reunion" tour ranks at Number 2 with $41 million.  Rounding out the Top 5 are Taylor Swift ($34.2 million), Paul McCartney ($31.6 million) and George Strait ($29.8 million).

The chariot of one of Egypt's most famous ancient pharaohs is heading to New York City this week to join the Discovery Times Square Exposition exhibit of the boy ruler.

Egyptian antiquities official, Zahi Hawass said Monday the trip will be the first time the chariot of King Tutankhamun has traveled outside of Egypt.

King Tut's chariot was found in his tomb when Howard Carter discovered it in 1922.  Officials say the chariot's extremely worn wheels could indicate it was used for hunting.

An antiquities official suggests that King Tut may have fallen off this chariot during a hunting trip, in an accident that could ultimately have led to his early death.

The chariot was originally slated to join the exhibit in April but was delayed by travel complications.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

Angelina Jolie stars in a new fast-paced espionage thriller about a top CIA operative accused of being a 'mole' - a Russian agent planted in America's intelligence network. Here's a look at the action-drama Salt.



"Do you think everyone is who they say they are?"

Evelyn Salt travels the world as an oil company executive. In reality she is a versatile spy, working undercover for the Central Intelligence Agency; but that changes when a Russian defector shows up at her Washington office claiming to have information about a 'mole' poised to commit an assassination.

"The name of the Russian agent is Salt. Evelyn Salt."
"My name is Evelyn Salt."
"Then you are a Russian spy."

In an instant "Salt" goes from trusted colleague to suspected traitor and, using skills honed in trouble spots around the globe, she escapes in a desperate attempt to clear her name.

"Somebody is setting me up."
"Don't make me put you down …I've got to bring you in, Salt. It's over. Face down. There's nowhere to run. Quit now."

The chase is on, pursued by the people who trained her, while  the clock is ticking on the planned assassination.

<!--IMAGE-->

Angelina Jolie stars as Salt and calls the role a unique combination of daredevil action and realistic drama.

"I've been so fortunate in my career that I've been able to balance both and audiences have accepted me in dramas," Jolie says,  "and they've let me do big action movies and accepted me there.

"This time in Salt is the first time I've been able to really combine both. It's the first time I've been able to do an action movie based in reality and have a really nice depth of back-story and play with characters and accents and voices and all that …and also just jump of things and play."

The Salt character was originally written for a man (Tom Cruise was supposed to play the role); but Jolie is pleased that the gender change did not turn on the character's sexiness.

"We made a point not to use her sexuality or her femininity in the film in ways that is usually done in films, especially in this kind of genre," explains Jolie.  "I don't think the film is lacking in any way for it. That was a conscious choice we made to not let it become anything other than a really good spy movie with a tough spy …who happens to be a woman."

<!--IMAGE-->

English actor Chewitel Ejiofor plays the counter-intelligence expert chasing after Jolie's Salt.

"What I liked about this character was that he was smart. He always seemed to me to be a good pursuer," Eljiofor says. "There was an in-built drama and tension in somebody who was so determined. It felt like that propels an audience along in the drama as well. With Angelina's character being so good at evading it felt like it needed both elements to push the drama and the tension of it."

Liev Schreiber co-stars as "Salt's" boss at the CIA and he calls the spy movie genre one of his favorites.

<!--IMAGE-->

"I think they are so compelling to people because I think we all have this incredibly private persona that no one knows or will ever know," Schreiber says. "You're married for 20 years or work at the same place for 20 years and do the same thing every Thursday with your friends and yet you still feel like no one really knows you. I think that characters like Salt appeal to that interior, private place in people. 'You have no idea what I am capable of. You have no idea who I really am.' "

But what about when the real world intersects with the Hollywood version? Star Jolie says the recent arrests of Russian 'sleeper' agents living secret lives in America (exactly what her character is accused of in Salt) adds a twist the filmmakers never expected.

"There are obviously two feelings. One is our relationship with Russia as a country has improved and there are many, many things that are hinging on our relationship becoming more and more close and working together," notes Jolie. "So the political side or citizen in me wants to hope that it doesn't adjust anything relating to that. The side of me that makes a film about this situation thinks "my God, what timing. This is just bizarre." It's just strange. It feels like we're walking in some kind of odd reality."

Salt also features Polish actors Daniel Olbrychski as the mysterious defector who sets the plot in motion and Oleg Krupa as the Russian leader who is the assassin's target. The screenplay is by American writer Kurt Wimmer; and Australian Phillip Noyce directs the adventure that races through locations ranging from North Korea to Washington D.C. and New York City.