Socialite-turned-reality TV star Nicole Richie is free on $15,000 bail after her early morning driving under the influence arrest on Monday. The Simple Life star was booked for going the wrong way on a Los Angeles freeway, while allegedly under the influence of drugs. The 25-year-old was stopped by members of the California Highway Patrol in Burbank, California and briefly jailed in Glendale, California after reportedly visiting new boyfriend and Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden. According to police officer Todd Workman, "She was disoriented, she wasn't responsive to his questions and he had to assist her out of the car and help walk her over to the passenger side of the vehicle and set her in there." Chp officers say Richie failed two field sobriety tests and admitted she had taken prescription painkiller Vicodin and had smoked marijuana earlier in the evening. According to Tmz.com, the frail star - who was listed on her arrest record as being five foot one and a meager 85 pounds, has hired celebrity attorney Howard Weitzman to represent her. This is not her first brush with the law - in 2003, she pled guilty to heroin possession and had the charges dismissed after she completed the terms of her probation.

Clive Cussler, the author of adventure novel Sahara and film producer Philip Anschutz are embroiled in a bitter court battle regarding the book's movie adaptation. Cussler is suing the film's makers for breach of contract, while producer Anschutz is counter suing Cussler for alleged blackmail and sabotage attempts against the film prior to its 2005 release. The movie, which starred Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey, recorded losses of $105 million. Cussler believes his initial brief of "absolute control" over his book's big screen adaptation was compromised, which led to it becoming a box office flop. In a statement to a Los Angeles court, Cussler says, "They deceived me right from the beginning. They kept lying to me... and I just got fed up with it." However, Alan Rader, Anschutz's lawyer, believes Cussler's behavior was unacceptable and played a big part in the film's poor takings. He says, "It is the height of arrogance for Cussler to take $10 million to make a movie and then torpedo the franchise."

Courtney Love's legal slate was wiped clean in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday after a judge agreed to terminate the rocker's probation and drop all pending drug charges. The pre-Christmas treat came after the singer proved she had successfully completed her drug rehab programs. The 42-year-old found herself in trouble with the law over several drug cases and an assault charge, but now has put her legal dramas behind her. Love's attorney, Howard Weitzman, says, "All cases were dismissed and the record was expunged before Judge Rand Rubin, who made a point that was really cool. He said, 'You have done more than expected, and many times it doesn't happen that way.' And he said, 'I commend you.' He dismissed all the cases, terminated probation and (is) expunging (her) record." The rocker adds, "I'm so happy and excited. I'm relieved. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm happy helping people and helping myself. I just want to put all this stuff behind me. It's all so last year."

Forest Whitaker's portrayal of dictator Idi Amin in The Last King Of Scotland and Dame Helen Mirren's turn as The Queen have earned the two stars top honors from the fifth annual Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA). The US capital's top critics have also named 9/11 drama United 93 as the Best Film at their fifth annual awards. And Martin Scorsese has been honored with the Best Director prize for his hit film The Departed. The Washington critics also honored Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress and Breakthrough Performance of the Year) and Blood Diamond's Djimon Hounsou (Best Supporting Actor). Happy Feet claimed the critics' Animated Feature prize and Pan's Labyrinth was named Best Foreign Language Film.

Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone has angered the people of Norway after breaking with royal protocol and upstaging the country's King and Queen at a banquet. Stone may have wanted to make a grand entrance at Sunday's dinner honoring the Nobel Peace Prize winners in Oslo, but ended up making a royal faux pas by arriving late. Royal protocol in Europe dictates that when a King and Queen attend an event, everyone is required to be in their seats when the royal couple make their entrance, making them the last to arrive. Stone offended the Norwegian royal couple by waltzing into the room 10 minutes after the couple, which has been interpreted by Norwegians as the actress declaring herself more important than the King. This year's event was especially significant because it marked the first time that Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja were invited to the annual Nobel Banquet at Oslo's Grand Hotel. Stone's late arrival offended several guests, with former palace official Carl-Erik Grimstad calling it a "violation" of international custom. He tells Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, "When the king is invited to such an event, guests need to have a very good reason for arriving after he does. I'm sure that if she didn't have a good reason, she'll be sorry about it."

Film legend Kirk Douglas is calling on young people in America to help save the planet. The Spartacus star has written an open letter to the teenagers of America on his 90th birthday, urging them to "fix the world because the situation is intolerable." He says, "Let's face it. The world is in a mess. Generation Y, you are on the cusp. You are the group facing many problems: abject poverty, global warming, genocide, AIDS, and suicide bombers to name a few. These problems exist and the world is silent. We have done very little to solve these problems. Now, we leave it to you."

Former British royal Sarah Ferguson has been offered the chance to appear on Dancing With The Stars, after publicly announcing her desire to star on the US talent show. The Duchess Of York spends a lot of time in the United States and has become an avid fan of the ABC show, which is inspired by the original BBC program Strictly Come Dancing. Dancing With The Stars producer Conrad Green says, "Fergie will add a touch of class to the proceedings and the fans will be waiting to see if she falls for her dance partner. Everyone loves a royal romance and her presence will bring dazzling ratings. We like having a mixture and we've not had a duchess."

Actor Alec Baldwin is campaigning against the relicensing of a nuclear power plant in New Jersey, insisting its owners are more interested in "lining their pockets" than public health and safety. The Pearl Harbor star spoke out against the Oyster Creek plant on Friday during a community discussion. Local residents fear the move to extend the site's license by 20 years is a health hazard. Baldwin agreed, saying, "The people who are in favor of the license renewal are looking to line their pockets. We don't stand to make any money. Our goal is purely public health and safety." The 630-megawatt plant, which is owned by Chicago-based Exelon Corp, is the oldest commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. Its license is set to expire in 2009.

Gwyneth Paltrow has taken her New York home off the market after just a day - amid claims she made unpatriotic comments. The backtrack over Shallow Hal star Paltrow and husband Chris Martin's Manhattan pad - which they had listed for $13.75 million - coincides with an interview at a press event in Spain, where she is reported to have made "anti-American" comments. But the actress insists she was misquoted, saying, "I feel so proud to be American. I am a New York girl." And her representative insists if it was offered for sale, it was by mistake, telling the New York Daily News, "She just finished decorating most of the place."

The Faculty beauty Jordana Brewster is set to wed after finding love on the set of horror movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. The 26-year-old actress accepted filmmaker Andrew Form's proposal on November 4 after a year long romance. Form produced The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which starred Brewster as Chrissie. It will be the first marriage for both. Brewster previously dated Mark Wahlberg from 2000-2001.