Amy Winehouse arrested on interference charge

Amy Winehouse arrested
on interference charge

LONDON — Amy Winehouse was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving her husband, according to several British media reports. Authorities said a 24-year-old was arrested during an appointment at a police station as part of an investigation into “perverting the course of justice,” an offense similar in American law to contempt of court or obstruction. Several British media outlets — including Sky News, Times Online and the Press Association news agency — reported that the woman was Winehouse. Police would not confirm the reports. Winehouse, 24, recently canceled all concerts and public appearances for the rest of the year on doctor’s orders. Her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was ordered held in custody in London last month on charges of perverting the course of justice stemming from a case in which he is accused of assaulting a male bartender in June. Fielder-Civil allegedly tried to interfere with a witness’ testimony, according to court documents.

Court doesn’t change
Britney’s custody order

LOS ANGELES — The custody fight between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline will go another round next year. A court commissioner made no changes to the couple’s custody arrangements after a 90-minute hearing behind closed doors Tuesday. He postponed a scheduled January hearing to February. Neither Federline nor Spears, 26, were in court while their attorneys argued the case. Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over the custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James. Federline, 29, has temporary custody because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders.

More Rachael Ray
on the Food Network

NEW YORK — The Food Network has ordered extra helpings of Rachael Ray. A new prime-time series, “Rachael’s Vacation,” will premiere Jan. 12, the network announced Monday. Viewers will follow Ray as she discovers cities, countries, foods and lifestyles around the world. Ray, 39, signed a two-year deal for the series, the network said. There will also be 60 new episodes per year of Ray’s daytime show, “30 Minute Meals,” said Food Network President Brooke Johnson. Ray also hosts a syndicated daytime talk show, “Rachael Ray.”

Police seize treasure
that was for sale on eBay

GENEVA — A 4,000-year-old clay tablet authorities suspect was smuggled illegally from Iraq was pulled from eBay just minutes before the close of the online auction, authorities said Tuesday. Criminal proceedings have been launched against the seller, identified only as a resident of Zurich, officials said. A German archaeologist had spotted the tablet bearing wedge-shaped cuneiform script on the online auctioneer’s Swiss Web site, www.eBay.ch, a government official said. The archaeologist alerted German authorities, who passed the tip onto their Swiss counterparts, said Yves Fischer, who directs the Swiss Federal Office of Culture’s department on commerce in cultural objects. EBay Inc. stopped the auction on Dec. 12 “a few minutes before the end” of its bidding deadline, Fischer said. The offering price listed on eBay was between $360 and $430, he said. Fischer said it was not clear if any bids had been made. Zurich police then confiscated the small tablet — about the size of a business card — from a storage facility. The tablet, which dates from around 2000 B.C., was “with great probability” smuggled out of Iraq illegally, government officials said in a statement. Fischer said the tablet had yet to be deciphered.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Cicely Tyson is 74. Actor Tim Reid is 63. Paleontologist Richard E. Leakey is 63. Rock singer Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) is 63. Musician John McEuen is 62. Actor Mike Lookinland is 47. Actress Jennifer Beals is 44. Magician Criss Angel is 40. Actress Alyssa Milano is 35. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is 27. Actress Marla Sokoloff is 27. Rapper Lady Sovereign is 22.