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Polanski set to attend Zurich film fest

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Roman Polanski is to attend Switzerland's Zurich Film Festival for the first time since his sensational arrest at the 2009 edition of the event.

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The Hollywood Reporter said Polanski will be on hand to accept a lifetime achievement award he was scheduled to receive two years ago. He was arrested on an outstanding 1977 sexual assault charge before the honor could be presented.

The French-born writer-director pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to unlawful sex with a minor decades ago but fled the United States before he could be sentenced and has been living in Europe since.

He was accused of drugging and raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer, who as an adult in recent years has asked prosecutors to drop the matter so she could move on with her life. She accepted a settlement from Polanski in a civil lawsuit but is not permitted to discuss the terms.

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The Oscar-winning filmmaker was under house arrest in Switzerland for several months after his arrest but eventually was released. Officials have said they will not extradite Polanski to the United States to face the charge; a Los Angeles judge said he will not consider dropping the charge unless Polanski appears in person before him, and Polanski has vowed not to return to the United States unless the charge is dismissed.

The Hollywood Reporter said Polanski does not intend to give any interviews while in Zurich, and festival organizers have declined to discuss the filmmaker's legal troubles.

His films include "Rosemary's Baby," "Chinatown," "The Pianist," "The Ghost Writer" and the forthcoming "Carnage."


Todd Palin rips author about book on Sarah

WASILLA, Alaska, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Todd Palin, husband of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, ripped a new book about his wife, saying it was replete with "disgusting lies, innuendo and smears."

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, has said she will decide by the end of September whether she will enter an already crowded field seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

"The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," by Joe McGinniss, has a Sept. 20 release date.

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Todd Palin, in a statement released Wednesday, said, "This is a man who has been relentlessly stalking my family to the point of moving in right next door to us to harass us and spy on us to satisfy his creepy obsession with my wife. His book is full of disgusting lies, innuendo, and smears," USA Today reported Thursday.

The National Enquirer reported Wednesday that, among other things, the book alleges Sarah Palin had a tryst with basketball player Glen Rice in 1987 before her marriage, and confirms a 2008 Enquirer story that she an extramarital affair with a business partner of her husband.

Todd Palin's statement was released through Sarah PAC, his wife's political action committee, USA Today reported. A check of Sarah Palin's Facebook and Twitter pages Thursday did not show a response from Palin, now a political commentator for Fox News.

McGinniss moved to Alaska last year to conduct research for his book, renting a house next door to the Palins, who later built a privacy fence.


Nude Johansson photos spark legal threats

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Scarlett Johansson's attorney, Martin Singer, is threatening to sue Web sites that don't remove stolen, private nude photos of the Hollywood actress.

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E! News said Singer sent a cease-and-desist letter to numerous gossip outlets that posted the sexy self-portraits, which were apparently hacked from the star's cellphone and leaked online.

Singer demanded in the letter the Web sites remove the "stolen, copyright-protected private photographs" immediately or face a lawsuit.

"The highly personal and private photographs at issue capture our client self-posing in her own home in a state of undress and/or topless," Singer said in the letter. "If you fail to comply, you will be acting at your own peril. Please govern yourselves accordingly."

E! News said the FBI is investigating whether the "Lost in Translation," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" actress is the target of a hacking ring that has been stealing pictures and videos and leaking them on the Internet.

Miley Cyrus, Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Hudgens and Demi Lovato allegedly also have been victims of photo-theft schemes.


'Moves Like Jagger' tops U.S. record chart

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" featuring Christina Aguilera is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart, Billboard.com reported Thursday.

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Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Adele's "Someone Like You," followed by Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" at No. 3, LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock at No. 4 and Bad Meets Evil's "Lighters" featuring Bruno Mars at No. 5.

Rounding out the top tier are Gym Class Heroes' "Stereo Hearts" featuring Adam Levine at No. 6, Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" at No. 7, Lady Gaga's "You and I" at No. 8, Lil Wayne's "How to Love" at No. 9 and Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink to That)" at No. 10.

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