Eagles co-writer Jackson Browne, and two fellow songwriters for the band, have settled a legal action over lost earnings from their bestselling album.

Browne, JD Souther and Jack Tempchin claimed that Warner Music owed them millions of dollars in royalties from the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits.

The three songwriters claimed lost royalties in excess of $10m (�6.3m).

The album was the first ever certified platinum and became one of the first albums to sell over 20 million in the US.

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Caine tipped for Oscar

Michael Caine has been tipped for a best actor Oscar for his role in the film The Quiet American.

The film, based on the 1955 Graham Greene novel, has been receiving rave reviews in the US.

It has also sparked controversy, as the film details the life of a British war correspondent in 1950s Vietnam, and tackles American-sponsored terrorism.

Time Magazine said his "subtle, bold performance should guarantee him an aisle seat on Oscar night".

Caine has never previously won an Oscar for best actor - though he has won twice for best supporting actor for Cider House Rules and Hannah And Her Sisters.

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Snoop offered Huggy role

Rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg has been offered the role of Huggy Bear in a big screen remake of classic 70s cop series Starsky & Hutch.

The rapper would join Ben Stiller and Own Wilson who would play the eponymous police detectives.

The character of Huggy Bear, a sometime pimp and hustler who helped the duo solve cases, was played in the TV series by Antonio Fargas.

Snoop Dogg - real name Calvin Broadas - has previously appeared in the thriller Training Day and the film Baby Boy.

Production of the film will begin next year.

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'Sexiest' honour for Affleck

Actor Ben Affleck has been named "sexiest man alive" by US magazine People, following in the footsteps of Tom Cruise, George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The 30-year old is the 16th man to receive the honour, and takes over from last year's winner Pierce Brosnan.

But fianc�e Jennifer Lopez was not so impressed with the news.

"I don't need them to tell me he's the sexiest man alive - the difference between me and People magazine is that he'll still be the sexiest man alive in my eyes when he's 100 years old."

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Gun lovers honour Heston

American National Rifle Association members paid for a statue of Charlton Heston to be put up at a cowboy museum in Oklahoma.

Heston, who has been the organisation's president since 1998, is depicted in his role in the 1968 western Will Penny.

It shows Heston holding a lasso in one hand and a rifle in the other.

"I'm enormously impressed," said the 79-year-old actor.

"I'm overwhelmed. I hardly know how to go on from here, and for an actor to not know how to go on from someplace is unbelievable."