Icelandic pop singer Bjork received France's National Order of Merit as she kicked off her world tour in Paris.

French Education Minister Jack Lang said the award was "a sign of friendship toward an artist".

Mr Lang said he first saw Bjork in 1990 when he visited her Iceland on official business.

At the time she was an unknown singer but he confessed he has been a fan ever since.

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Bond car goes British

Super sleuth James Bond is to be reunited with his classic British car in the series' next outing, the makers of the spy movies have announced.

007 will get back behind the wheel of his sleek Aston Martin.

This comes after using a German BMW in the past three films, starting with GoldenEye back in 1995.

The British car was first seen 38 years ago in Goldfinger, complete with extras such as ejector seats.

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Penk 'adds listeners' to Virgin show

DJ Steve Penk has upped the ratings for Virgin Radio's breakfast show since the unceremonious departure of Chris Evans, according to unofficial figures.

The Sun reports listeners have been rising steadily since Penk moved from Capital Radio to Virgin at the end of July.

Evans was sacked from his presenting job after going off sick for five days and then caught on camera visiting pubs.

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Smith set for movie remake

Actor and rap star Will Smith is to produce a remake of the hit 1980 comedy film, Nine to Five, with his company, Overbrook Entertainment.

The original film starred Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin as three secretaries who turned the tables on their sexist, egotistical boss.

The remake will feature three black women at a black workplace - and may star Smith's actress wife Jada Pinkett.

Rob Edwards, who wrote The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is writing the script.

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Guy Ritchie angers animal campaigners

Madonna's husband Guy Ritchie is in the firing line of animal rights activists after shooting a wild boar in Florida.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) wrote to the Snatch director to suggest he go swimming with sharks instead of picking on "a small vegetarian animal".

Ritchie went hunting during a break in his wife's Drowned World Tour in Sunrise, Florida.

The 32-year-old had wanted to hunt alligators but after being told they were out of season he felled a wild boar.