New York - Creating hits like Hot Stuff, Bad Girls or She Works Hard for the Money, Donna Summer was the undisputed disco-queen of the 1970s and early 80s.

Summer's songs back then topped the charts and were played in clubs and discotheques all over the world, but her era has long since passed.

Yet, the striking black singer with the sexy voice, who turns 60 on December 31, is still every bit a pop queen.

Always self-confident, her latest album, titled Crayons, includes a track called The Queen is Back.

New York - Five new films - about dogs, children's magic, reverse ageing, a comic book character and Tom Cruise's Nazi epic - brought Hollywood its best Christmas four-day weekend box office ever, reports said Sunday.

Theatres in Canada and the US raked in 173 million dollars, with Marley and Me - the story of a family and their willful dog - opening at number one with 51.7 million dollars, far more than expected. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson play the parents in the neurotic dog's family.

New York - Five new films - about dogs, children's magic, reverse ageing, a comic book character and Tom Cruise's Nazi epic - brought Hollywood its best Christmas four-day weekend box office ever, reports said Sunday.

Theatres in Canada and the US raked in 173 million dollars, with Marley and Me - the story of a family and their willful dog - opening at number one with 51.7 million dollars, far more than expected. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson play the parents in the neurotic dog's family.

Bedtime Stories, a Disney comedy, claimed second place, with Adam Sandler playing a hotel handyman who tells stories to his niece and nephew. The children add fantastic touches which then come true.

New York, December 28 : Mariah Carey, who had previously cancelled a tour amid reports that she is expecting, "is definitely pregnant," according to sources.

The `I'll Be There' hitmaker had been spotted coming out from a famous gynaecologist's office on North Crescent Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The New York Post reported that the singer had been "clutching what looked like a sonogram and being greeted by her entourage with cheers."

New York, December 26: The family and friends of Brooklyn actor John Costelloe, who portrayed the gay-fireman lover Johnny Cakes on `The Sopranos', are shocked that he has killed himself.

The late actor's Sunset Park home still remains sealed with police stickers, more than a week after he ended his own life.

The former FDNY firefighter had shot himself in the head in his basement bedroom on December 16.

"It''s beyond me. This is too much for me to handle right now," the New York Post quoted the rugged actor's father Michael, 77, as saying.

Costelloe's friends are still finding it hard to believe that he has passed away.

New York, Dec 26: The life of Keith Richards, English guitarist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones, is being turned into a book.

The New York Post has learnt Jessica Pallington West has compiled the book "What Would Keith Richards Do? Daily Affirmations from a Rock ''n'' Roll Survivor."

West compiles such classic Richards reflections as, "I would rather be a legend than a dead legend," and "I've never had a problem with drugs, only with policemen."

The book will be out in May.