Create your own free news widgets.

Cricket goes to BollywoodThe Times, South Africa - 3 hours agoTWENTY-ONE international cricket players, including South Africa?s captain, Graeme Smith, and Makhaya Ntini, star in a new Bollywood release, Victory, ...

Oscar nominated actress Penelope Cruz is getting more recognition at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival -- and another Oscar nominee is also spotted at the event.Cruz is being honored as The Outstanding Performer of the Year at Santa Barbara's 24th Annual International Film Festival for her performances in 'Elegy' and Woody Allen's film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona.' "It's more than I ever dreamt about," Cruz says of her career. Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Kate Winslet also attended the festival and said she was "touched" to be invited.

Film Reviews: A potent argument for the Obama administration's move from isolationism to diplomacy, Pamela Yates' 'The Reckoning' chronicles the controversial first years of the Intl. Criminal Court.

TV News: Annual gala is set for Feb. 21 -- The Visual Effects Society is packaging its annual awards show for the international TV marketplace.

International News: European production operations streamlined -- Sony Pictures Television Intl. has streamlined its European production operations following June's acquisition of the Netherlands-based 2waytraffic.

International News: Cineplex, CTV to present stage show -- Inspired by the Metropolitan Opera's success with filmed versions of its stage productions, Canada's Cineplex has joined forces with CTV and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival to present the fest's hit 2008 staging of 'Caesar and Cleopatra,' starring Christopher Plummer, on 80 screens across Canada.

International News: Baraem is first in Arab world aimed at ages 3 to 6 -- Doha-based Al-Jazeera, known for its often heated coverage of Middle Eastern politics and conflicts, has launched the first pan-Arabic channel for preschool children.

Artistic Director Robert Falls announces an unprecedented creative partnership with Austria's 'Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture,' advancing his focus on international programming for Goodman Theatre. The Goodman and 'Linz09'?a year-long festival devoted to projects in all cultural disciplines?will share Joan Dark, created and directed by emerging Bosnian director Aida Karic with Goodman Literary Manager Tanya Palmer. A new adaptation of the story of Joan of Arc involving live music and movement, Joan Dark originates in Austria in a one-week June 17-20 engagement at 'Linz09' and makes its U.S. premiere at Goodman Theatre September 11 ? November 11, 2009.

Finally, after six years as editor of the Sun and three at the helm of News of the World, Rebekah talked. But what possessed the famously silent editor, whose reticence is matched only by her paper's influence, to give her first public speech and break what she herself calls her code of omertà?For the same reason she has remained silent for so long: Rupert Murdoch. It was Murdoch, the chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, the parent company of Sun publisher News International, who has an extraordinarily close relationship with his daily UK tabloid editor, and who instituted the paternalistic ban on Wade giving interviews or speeches. This was a ban that suited Wade, who has an aversion to speaking in public, just fine.And it was Murdoch who lifted it after a request from Lady Cudlipp, the widow of the legendary Mirror Group chairman Sir Hugh Cudlipp, after whom the annual lecture is named.Thus Wade found herself facing socialist students protesting about Page 3 girls as she

International News: 'Slumdog' shows strong legs -- Military thriller "Valkyrie" opened with a spring in its step in selected territories and Oscar hopeful "Slumdog Millionaire" continued to sizzle in holdover biz this weekend at the European box office.