The owner of the home where Rosie O’Donnell’s missing teenage daughter was found last week has been arrested for allegedly having inappropriate online communications with the 17-year-old. Steven Sheerer faces charges of child endangerment and distribution of obscenity to a minor. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office declined to identify the victim because of her age, but a spokeswoman for O’Donnell confirmed that the case involves the star’s daughter, Chelsea. “He was involved with a minor, and Rosie’s concern has been and always will be the health, safety and well-being of her daughter,” said Cindi Berger. Sheerer, 25, was arrested on Friday at his home in Barnegat, New Jersey. Chelsea O’Donnell was found there on Tuesday, hours after her mother posted a statement online saying the girl had left home on August 11. Sheerer’s arrest came after authorities obtained the girl’s mobile phone, with her mother’s consent, prosecutors said. They allegedly found “inappropriate communications” between Sheerer and the minor. Authorities seized a computer and other digital equipment at Sheerer’s home when they executed a search warrant, but did not disclose further details. Sheerer’s bail was set at US$40,000 (Dh146,926) and he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, authorities said. – AP
Emirates festival of literature extended
Next year's Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will run for almost two weeks. It will now run from March 1 to 12 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. Previously, the event was held over five days. The news comes as the next batch of authors who will be making their way to Dubai next year was revealed. Big names include House of Cards author Michael Dobbs and Tunisian novelist Shukri Al Mabkhout, winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction this year. Poetry lovers can look forward to the festival return of John Agard and Simon Armitage. On the regional front, Emirati author Maha Gargash will discuss her novel The Sand Fish, while Kuwaiti author and 2013 IPAF winner Saud Al Sanousi will shed light on his latest book, Mama Hissa's Mice. Festival director Isobel Abulhoul said the event was expanding to keep up with growing demand. "The response from authors this year has really been incredible, so we felt we had no alternative but to expand the event from its traditional five-day slot to cover a whole two weeks in order to accommodate the wealth of best-selling writers, thinkers and speakers who want to come to Dubai," she said. For the latest updates, visit www.emirateslitfest.com – The National
Stars celebrate Chiranjeevi’s 60th birthday
A host of Bollywood stars, including Sridevi, Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha, helped megastar Chiranjeevi celebrate his 60th birthday at a party on Saturday hosted by his son Ram Charan at the Park Hyatt in Hyderabad. “It was a lavish party,” said a source. “Chiranjeevi’s family had booked the hotel for the entire evening. All the guests took turns and spoke about their association with Chiranjeevi and his phenomenal rise to stardom.” Other Bollywood stars who turned up included Vivek Oberoi with his wife Priyanka, Boney Kapoor and Tabu. Chiranjeevi wore a specially designed blue sherwani for the occasion. His entire family was there, including his brother Pawan Kalyan, with whom he is said to share a strained relationship. “Actresses such as Sridevi, Jayapradha, Radha, Tabu, Kushboo and Suhasini took turns and reminisced about their working days with Chiranjeevi, who was accompanied by his wife Surekha,” the source added. Chiranjeevi’s mother Anjana Devi was also present. Telugu and southern movie stars and filmmakers also attended the party. – IANS
Boiled bones help keep Hayek looking young
Actress Salma Hayek says she isn’t a fan of cosmetic surgery and Botox and instead she drinks a broth made from the bones of cows to keep her youthful appearance. “Right now I am doing something that I’m really loving,” she said. “It is called bone broth. It’s sort of disgusting – you take a bunch of bones from a cow and slow-cook them for many hours.” The Mexican-born star said she adds a tablespoon of apple cider and drinks a cup of the bone-broth mixture each day. “It’s full of gelatin and fat and has bone marrow and I think it is very good to keep yourself young. If you do the right fat, I think that is the key.” Hayek also told people.com that she shuns conventional exercise routines and you won’t find her on a treadmill. “I don’t do cardio. I mean, I didn’t do it when I was young – I’m not going to start jumping now. But I do like yoga.” – IANS
Political battle set Grisham on writer’s path
Best-selling author John Grisham says ending up on the losing side of a Mississippi political battle left him plenty of time to write his first two legal thrillers, A Time to Kill and The Firm. The writer told guests at the first Mississippi Book Festival, held at the state Capitol, how as a young state representative in the building during the 1980s, he was left powerless after supporting a losing candidate for House speaker. So he listened and took notes as politicians drank coffee – or something stronger – and told tall tales. “There’s a storytelling tradition that goes hand-in-hand with our literary tradition,” Grisham said. More than 3,000 people attended the one-day book festival in the grounds of the state Capitol to celebrate the storytelling legacy of Mississippi, home state of William Faulkner and other literary greats. – AP
African-Americans honoured at awards show
A native son, a film director and a gospel giant were among the 2015 recipients of the McDonald's 365 Black Awards, which recognises African-Americans who excel in their fields and give back to their communities. Now in its 12th year, the event – hosted by actors Terrence J and Keke Palmer – aired last night on the cable channel Black Entertainment Television. "Any opportunity to shine a positive light on the achievements of our people, I fully support," Terrence J said. This year's honorees included Marc Morial, National Urban League president and former mayor of New Orleans, who received the company's Humanitarian Award; Ava DuVernay, the first African-American female film director to be nominated for a Golden Globe for the civil rights film Selma, received the Arts and Entertainment Award; and gospel recording artist and philanthropist Dr Marvin L Sapp received the Living Legend Award. McDonald's 365 Black Awards is held annually in New Orleans during the Essence Festival, which marked 21 years of celebrating African-American cultural, heritage and music. The fast-food company is one of the its major sponsors. – AP
