Taking Names

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By Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports

'Bruno' banned

Ukraine has banned the hit comedy "Bruno" on the grounds that its "unjustified" showing of genitals and homosexual sex could have a damaging effect on Ukrainians' moral health, Agence France-Presse reports.

The ban is not the first time "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen has run into trouble in the former Soviet Union. His previous creation, the Kazakh journalist Borat, caused controversy in the Central Asian state.

"Bruno," which stars Mr. Baron Cohen as a gay Austrian fashionista with a habit of making outrageous remarks, scored the top spot at the North American box office its opening weekend of July 11, earning more than $30 million. This weekend, though, the film dropped to fourth place and took in just $8.4 million, according to data released Sunday by Associated Press.

Scent-sational

Like many fashion watchers, InStyle magazine has been following Michelle Obama's style choices like hawks since she arrived at the White House. So naturally, they were curious to know what the first lady smells like, too.

According to Fashionweekdaily.com, Creed's Love in White is the scent of choice on Mrs. O's vanity. The eclectic fragrance is made up of orange zest from Spain, white jasmine from Italy, daffodils from France, magnolia from Guatemala and sandalwood from India -- an interesting and worldly mix, much like the jet-setting first lady herself.

'Roots' star in crash

Los Angeles police say actor LeVar Burton was involved in a five-car accident but wasn't seriously injured, Associated Press reports.

Detective Judy Acosta says Mr. Burton's 2006 Mercedes was on Beverly Boulevard in West Los Angeles at about 7:40 p.m. July 13 when a 74-year-old woman in a 2006 Scion turned left in front of him.

Detective Acosta says both drivers complained of pain, then were examined at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and released. Nobody was ticketed, AP said.

Mr. Burton, 52, was in the TV miniseries "Roots," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and was the longtime host of PBS' "Reading Rainbow."

Prince wows festival

The 43rd edition of the Montreux music festival came to a close Saturday with Prince treating a swaying crowd of 4,400 to tunes both familiar and novel.

Sporting a red suit, the diminutive rock star gave two concerts in the Stravinsky auditorium that sold out in less than eight minutes despite the global economic crisis and a ticket price of $450 per seat.

Overall, organizers said this year's festival was "crowned with success" both artistically and in terms of attendance, with 230,000 music lovers attending 95 ticketed concerts during two weeks - up 10,000 from last year, AFP reports.

Among those taking the stage at Montreux this year were Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, the Black Eyed Peas, Alice Cooper, Steve Winwood, Monty Alexander, Lily Allen, Wyclef Jean, Marianne Faithfull, John Fogerty, Grace Jones and B.B. King.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports.