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Actor Robert DeNiro arrives at AARP's 9th annual Movies for Grownups awards gala held in Beverly Hills, California on February 16, 2010. De Niro was honored with the organization's Life Achievement Award. UPI/Jim Ruymen
Actor Robert DeNiro arrives at AARP's 9th annual Movies for Grownups awards gala held in Beverly Hills, California on February 16, 2010. De Niro was honored with the organization's Life Achievement Award. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

ANNA NICOLE SMITH: A Los Angeles judge has overturned a jury's October conviction of lawyer Howard K. Stern, the former boyfriend of late model Anna Nicole Smith.

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Smith died in 2007 of an accidental prescription drug overdose. She was 39.

Stern was convicted of two counts of conspiracy for providing her with drugs obtained through alleged illegal prescriptions. He was found not guilty on seven other charges.

However, People.com said a judge ruled Thursday there is no evidence Stern intended fraud or deception when he secured drugs for Smith under fake names, and tossed out the conviction on the two conspiracy charges.


PRINCE WILLIAM: Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, British officials said.

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The couple announced their engagement in November after about eight years of dating.

The Daily Telegraph said Clarence House, the official residence of the British royal family, released more details regarding the April 29 royal wedding Wednesday.

After exchanging vows at Westminster Abbey, the couple will travel in a carriage procession past Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall to Buckingham Palace where the Queen will honor them with a reception, the Telegraph said.

Their wedding day will be observed as a national public holiday, Clarence House said.


ARETHA FRANKLIN: U.S. soul singer Aretha Franklin says the undisclosed health issue she was dealing with in recent months has been resolved.

She discussed in an interview with Jet magazine the surgery she had last month, but People.com said she did not confirm reports she is being treated for pancreatic cancer.

"I am not going to even deal with that," Franklin told Jet.

"I don't have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors," she said. "The problem has been resolved. ... I am not one to do a lot of talking about my personal health or business. ... There are a lot of people who will talk about anything, as long as there is somebody listening. That's not Aretha."

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The singer said "a very hard pain in my side" at a concert in Toronto last year alerted her something was amiss. She said she told her doctor about the pain and he immediately ordered tests.

"Thank God he said that because that unfolded everything, what the problem was and everything," she said.


ROBERT DE NIRO: Hollywood actor, director and producer Robert De Niro has been named president of the jury of France's 64th Festival de Cannes, organizers said.

The film festival is to run May 11-22.

"The Cannes Film Festival is a rare opportunity for me as it is one of the oldest and one of the best in the world," De Niro said in a statement posted on the festival's Web site Thursday.

The Oscar-winning actor's film credits include "Mean Streets," "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "The Untouchables," "The Godfather, Part II," "Goodfellas" and "Little Fockers."

Cannes organizers said they plan to honor De Niro as well for his work as co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has a sister festival in Doha, Qatar.

"As co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival I have an increased appreciation for the jury, who serve, undertaking an important role in choosing films that are represented in the world of film at its highest level, and these types of festivals help connect the international film community and have a lasting cultural impact," De Niro said. "Having served as President of the Jury in the 1980s twice, I know this isn't an easy task for me or my fellow jury members, but I'm very honored and happy to head the jury for this year's Cannes Film Festival."

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