Globe and Mail US banks agree to $25 billion in homeowner helpReutersBy Aruna Viswanatha | WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Five big US banks accused of abusive mortgage practices have agreed to a $25 billion government settlement that may help roughly one million borrowers but is no magic bullet for the ailing housing market.Left wary of Obama's [...]

E! Online 'American Idol' Fall Girl Symone Black: Relax, She's Fine!ReutersBy Tim Kenneally at TheWrap Symone Black might have fallen, but she got back up. The nation's heart skipped a beat toward the end of "American Idol" on Wednesday night, as they watched 16-year-old "Idol" auditioner Black tumble from the stage after …'American Idol' ousts [...]

Globe and Mail Naomi Watts Starring as Princess Diana in 'Caught in Flight'ReutersBy Brent Lang at TheWrap Naomi Watts will star as Princess Diana in "Caught in Flight," Ecosse Films said on Thursday. The announcement is a surprise as early reports had "The Help" actress Jessica Chastain playing "Shy Di" in the biopic.Princess Diana Movie: [...]

The Guardian US bank regulators roll fines into mortgage pactReutersBy Dave Clarke (Reuters) – US banking regulators are using the agreement announced on Thursday between large US banks and state and federal agencies over foreclosure abuses as a vehicle for levying their own fines on banks for problems in their …States Negotiate $26 Billion Agreement [...]

USA TODAY Iran payment for India rice to unlock itself-secretaryReuters AfricaNEW DELHI Feb 9 (Reuters) – A payment problem over Indian rice exports to Iran will "unlock itself" once the trade settlement mechanism gets sorted out, India's trade secretary Rahul Khullar said on Thursday.Dwindling time, rising tension make Iran top fearSan Francisco ChronicleIndia tea exports [...]

Stuff.co.nz 'House' to End After Current SeasonReutersBy Tim Kenneally at TheWrap Fox's medical drama "House MD" will end its run after its current eighth season. In a joint announcement, executive producers David Shore and Katie Jacobs and series star Hugh Laurie said, "After much deliberation, …Fox's 'House' is calling it quitsUSA TODAYFox's 'House' will end [...]

E! Online CNN Suspends Roland Martin Over Super Bowl TweetsReutersBy Tim Molloy at TheWrap CNN has suspended commentator Roland Martin over tweets during the Super Bowl that GLAAD and others blasted as homophobic. Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being." Also read: Tracy Morgan Mocks Gay Rant …CNN anchor suspended [...]

National Post "Downton Abbey" brings cool TV crowd to America's PBSReutersBy Jill Serjeant | LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Move over, "Mad Men" and Kim Kardashian. There's a new darling in US pop culture, with a much posher accent and even fancier clothes. British World War One-era drama "Downton Abbey" and its colorful cast of …PBS's [...]

Times LIVE Ellen breaks silence on furor over JC Penney gigReuters| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres said she was "proud and happy" that retail store JC Penney had stood by her in the face of a conservative anti-gay campaign, and said there was no such thing as a "pro-gay bandwagon.Ellen DeGeneres [...]

The Daily Star Simon Cowell Calls Beyonce 'X Factor' Rumors 'Complete Nonsense'ReutersBy Tim Kenneally at TheWrap Time will tell who will fill the recently vacated judge's chairs on "The X Factor," but one thing's for sure — it won't be Beyonce Knowles. At least, if Simon Cowell is to be believed. Fox's recently minted competition [...]