Kidman 'spy bug' charges dropped

A photographer accused of planting a listening device outside the Sydney home of Nicole Kidman has had all charges against him dropped.

Police discovered the device in 2005 and suspected Jamie Fawcett of trying to listen in on conversations between Kidman's security guards.

Mr Fawcett said he felt that as a paparazzi photographer he had been unfairly targeted.

He had once been subject to a restraining order brought by Kidman.

Speaking outside court on Thursday, Mr Fawcett said: "It was a very narrow investigation that once again targeted the photographers at a scene and I felt that was perhaps unfair."

He added: "I am often asked about the feud between Miss Kidman and myself. In fact, I don't have any opinion whatsoever about Miss Kidman, other than to wish her all the best."

Out-of-court settlement

The New South Wales state Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) gave no reasons in court for withdrawing the charges.

Kidman's Australian agent, Wendy Day, said the actress had no comment to make on the case because she had not been involved with it.

"It has nothing to do with Nicole," she said.

"That was something to do between the DPP and Jamie Fawcett."

In 2005, Kidman won a temporary restraining order against Mr Fawcett and another paparazzi photographer, Ben McDonald, who she said made her feel like a prisoner in her own home.

The parties eventually came to an out-of-court agreement that the photographers would stay 500 metres away from her property, but could take pictures of her elsewhere.

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Spice Girls announce reunion tour

The Spice Girls have confirmed they will reform for a world tour to take place in December and January.

The full line-up has not performed on stage since Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell quit in May 1998.

The 11 dates announced include a London show on 15 December, eight days after the tour begins in Los Angeles.

"I think for us it was about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was the right time," said Halliwell.

The only British date is in London, with the venue not yet confirmed. The other European dates are in Cologne and Madrid.

'Fears and doubts'

Earlier this month Mel Chisholm, also known as Sporty Spice, told the BBC she had resisted reforming the group in the past because "it was amazing, it was magical. We could never recreate it".

Asked why she had gone back on her word she said: "A girl is allowed to change her mind and also this is something that we have only seriously started this year really.

"I think really all of us have had our fears and doubts but we feel that the time is right."

Halliwell added: "For us it's about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was kind of now or never."

Good-natured

All five women laughed and joked constantly with photographers and reporters, even good-naturedly booing one journalist.

There had been rumours they would perform at the Concert for Diana memorial show in London on Sunday, but with Emma Bunton currently pregnant they decided not to appear.

"We would have loved to have been there this weekend but the timing has been impossible for us," said Chisholm.

As the conference drew to a close, all five women left the stage holding hands as Brown shouted, "You have been spiced!"

Global success

The tour is being put together by Simon Fuller, whose 19 company masterminded the group's global success more than a decade ago.

Under his guidance, the five-piece notched up a string of hits - including Wannabe and 2 Become 1 - while also capitalising on their fame with a stream of sponsorship deals.

Emma Bunton, Mel Brown, Mel Chisholm, Victoria Adams and Geri Halliwell quickly became household names - although they were better known as Baby, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Ginger.

They sold more than 55 million records around the world, and even starred in a film, Spice World.

Halliwell quit in 1998 citing "differences", leaving them to complete a sold-out world tour as a foursome.

Since 2001 each member has since pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success, while Posh Spice has become better known as fashion icon Victoria Beckham.

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Paris Hilton released from jail

US heiress Paris Hilton has been released from jail in Los Angeles after serving 24 days for violating probation on a driving ban.

Hilton's parents Kathy and Rick arrived to pick her up shortly after 0800 BST.

Reporters were camped outside the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California since Monday.

The 26-year-old, sentenced to 45 days on 3 June, was released early due to crowded jail conditions and time off for good behaviour.

She is scheduled to appear on Larry King's CNN talk show on Wednesday.
The network has said she will not be paid for her appearance, which has replaced a planned interview with filmmaker Michael Moore.

Hilton was briefly freed on medical grounds earlier this month but was sent back to jail by a court.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had not revealed what time the reality TV star would be released.

Her West Hollywood neighbours, however, are reportedly bracing themselves for an influx of paparazzi and TV crews.

Hilton smiled and waved at the huge bank of photographers as she left the detention facility.

She was greeted with a hug from her mother Kathy and was driven away to an undisclosed location.

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Hilton: 'I'm so much more grateful'

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Jailed heiress Paris Hilton says she suffers from claustrophobia -- a fear of confinement in small places -- but that her time behind bars has renewed her appreciation for life's simple pleasures.

"I'm so much more grateful for everything that I have, even just to have a pillow at night or food," she told TV host Ryan Seacrest in a telephone interview Thursday for E! Entertainment Television.

Excerpts from his 10-minute interview with the millionaire socialite, who was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation in a drunken-driving case, were published by the cable channel's Internet affiliate, E! Online. (Watch for details on a report that NBC will pay Hilton $1 million for an interview Video)

E! is the network that carries Hilton's reality TV show, "The Simple Life."

"I just can't wait to see my family and have a nice meal and be in my own bed and appreciate all the things I took for granted," she was quoted as saying by Seacrest, best known as host of the hit talent show "American Idol."

The 26-year-old celebrity confirmed earlier reports she suffered extreme anxiety when confined to cramped quarters.

"I'm claustrophobic, and my cell is really small," she said. "I was going a little bit crazy in the beginning. I'm getting used to it now."

Hilton began her incarceration on the night of June 2 housed alone in a standard twin-bunk cell inside a sprawling county detention center for women near Los Angeles.

After she served just three full days behind bars, county Sheriff Lee Baca released her to house arrest under electronic monitoring, citing unspecified medical problems he later described as psychological.

The following day a judge ordered her back to jail.

Baca has said he expects Hilton to be freed for good after 23 days in custody -- roughly half her original sentence -- under a standard credit applied for time served on good behavior. Depending how the sheriff's department calculates her exact time served, Hilton is likely to be released Sunday or Monday.

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