Malawi education authorities on Thursday challenged a claim by American pop queen Madonna that her charity last year built 10 new schools in the poor southern African nation.

"The schools Raising Malawi claims to have constructed were already in existence," Education Minister Eunice Kazembe said.

Written by Anthony Sargon

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is quite an unconventional movie. It's a modern-day American fantasy helmed by first-time director Benh Zeitlin, and it takes place in a Louisiana bayou about to be fully submerged under water due to melting ice caps. It's all a little absurd, but "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is a unique and poetic feature film, one bolstered by a fine central performance by a very talented little lady.

Cirque du Soleil announced Wednesday up to 400 layoffs -- nine percent of its workforce -- citing rising production costs for cutting deeply into profits, despite record ticket sales and revenue.

"The Cirque is not facing a crisis. Things are actually going well," Renee-Claude Menard, public relations director for the Canadian entertainment firm, told a press conference.

Sex, the Internet and good old fashioned rock-and-roll will dominate the 29th Sundance Film Festival, the top showcase of independent U.S. cinema that opens Thursday in the snowy mountains of Utah.

Founded by Robert Redford, the annual festival in Park City aims to nurture independent filmmakers who might otherwise be eclipsed by output from the major studios -- while Hollywood uses it to scout new up-and-coming talent.

Tokyo-based French designer Julien David made his men's catwalk debut Wednesday at the Paris menswear shows with a casual but elegant streetwear-inspired collection, while Mugler reinvented uniforms in a blaze of acid colors.

Up-and-coming David, 34, who has lived in Japan since 2006 and skateboards to relax, said the collection was all about subtle combinations.

Iran's announcement that it will make its own film to counter the "distorted" thriller "Argo" is fueling a debate about Hollywood and historical accuracy, sparked by Ben Affleck's Oscar-tipped movie.

The film, which won the top two Golden Globes last weekend and is nominated for seven prizes at next month's Academy Awards, tells the story of a bold CIA operation to rescue six U.S. diplomats trapped by the 1979 hostage crisis.

Prince Albert of Monaco and his sisters have denounced a new biographical film starring Nicole Kidman as their mother Grace Kelly as "glamorized" and "pure fiction."

In a statement, Prince Albert II and Princesses Caroline and Stephanie said the film's script did not accurately portray events involving their mother, the Hollywood actress who married Monaco's Prince Rainier III in 1956.

Elton John and David Furnish say they have become parents for a second time.

The couple say they are "overwhelmed with happiness" at the birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John.

The troubled American actress Lindsay Lohan pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three misdemeanor charges stemming from an auto accident in a case that could send her to prison.

Lohan did not attend the hearing in Santa Monica, west of Los Angeles, and did not have to do so. The judge convened the next hearing for January 30.

Malaysia has been rated the world's top Muslim-friendly holiday destination in a survey released Wednesday that listed Egypt, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore as runners-up.

The study by Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy Crescentrating ranked countries on how well they cater to the growing number of Muslim holidaymakers seeking halal -- or Islam-compliant -- food and services.