Free Republic

Newly appointed French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal took France’s political and media spheres by surprise on Thursday as he named controversial politician Rachida Dati his culture minister. Her arrival in the new-look centrist cabinet was unexpected given that Dati was a spokesperson for center-right President Nicolas Sarkozy during his presidential campaign and was Minister of Justice from 2007 to 2009 under his presidency. The appointment was made as part of a government cabinet reshuffle rolled out by Attal just two days after he became France’s youngest-ever prime minister in a move by President Emmanuel Macron to reboot his presidency, which...

The 18-year-old beauty contestant who mesmerized the nation with her verbal "brilliance" at the Miss Teen USA pageant over the weekend actually entered beauty pageants to improve her personal communication skills, WND can reveal.

The New York state attorney general has levied a $12 million fine against Universal Music Group for payola. This is the largest fine so far in the war between Eliot Spitzer and the music industry, surpassing the $10 million that Sony had to pay and the $5 million for Warner Music Group. But Universal — home of many overnight stars including several rappers who’ve come and gone — would be the place for this. The company has had enormous success, but at the same time encountered lawsuits from middle-men distributors claiming inflated sales numbers — double dipping at the cash...

ALBEMARLE - "American Idol" finalist Kellie Pickler got a hometown welcome Saturday, one full of tearful twists and an anthem to independence. Pickler rode in a red 1968 Ford Mustang during a 20-minute parade, followed by speeches on a stage erected in the town center where thousands wore pink, purple, green and yellow Pickler T-shirts. "It looks like a bag of Skittles poured on Albemarle," said Pickler, 19. "I couldn't have come from a better hometown." Sharing the stage were her two grandfathers, Clyde Pickler and Ken Morton. Also there were her father, Clyde "Bo" Pickler Jr., and her half-brother,...

TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida teacher charged with having sex with a minor pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior as part of a plea deal. The deal provides that Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave, 25, will not serve time in jail in connection with multiple sex acts with a 14-year-old student unless she violates the terms of the plea agreement, which include seven years of probation. "I accept full responsibility for my actions," Lafave said during Tuesday's trial in Tampa. "To place an attractive young woman in that kind of hell hole is...

NEW YORK — The bathing suit Eva Longoria (search) wore at the MTV Video Music Awards (search) last month is up for sale. Longoria told "Live With Regis and Kelly" that she'll auction off the suit to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina (search). She didn't give any details. Longoria did reveal what'll be happening to Gabrielle when "Desperate Housewives" returns for a second season. Carlos will be in jail and still angry about her affair with the gardener. He demands a paternity test to see whose baby Gabrille is carrying.

The world just learned that "Catholic" actress Brooke Shields is the proud mother of a new baby girl. For a long time infertility problems made it impossible for her and her husband to conceive, and after many failed attempts to conceive naturally she resorted to the technological solution: in vitro fertilization (IVF). Now she is pictured on the covers of glamorous magazines with a smiling beautiful baby girl, but some have questioned her decision to use IVF. I am one of them. Was this star wrong to have a "test tube" baby? Yes. Dead wrong. While recognizing the pain of...

KIM BASINGER VS. ALEC BALDWIN: BEATINGS & BOOZE! Baldwin and Basinger More than three years after Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin ended their stormy marriage, their divorce battle has exploded again amid shocking new charges of beatings and boozing. And the clash could lead to a public trial over custody of their only child, 8-year-old Ireland. The issue that goes on sale Friday details the ongoing divorce fight, with Kim saying she suffered physical abuse, Alex accusing the actress of drinking herself into an alcoholic rage ... and more. Published on: January 2, 2004