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The Tata group has been particularly active in Italy of late, perhaps recognizing the country’s style. First Jaguar became involved with Italian rowing, and now, jazz singer and pianist Chiara Civello has been announced as the new ambassador for the Range Rover Evoque.
   Civello will use the Evoque during the Festival della canzone italiana (Festival of San Remo) this year, from February 14 to 18. She is competing at the festival.
   Land Rover sees a fit with Civello: she is young and becoming more famous and recognized, qualities that it associates with the Range Rover Evoque.
   ‘Chiara Civello conveys the free personality and dynamicity of the latest Range Rover model. But also its elegant and refined character, qualities Chiara’s music possesses,’ the company said in a release.

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In entertainment news today, Russell Brand and Katy Perry have parted in an amicable fashion, according to reports.
   Perry signed her divorce documents with her trade-mark smiley face, while Brand is not making any claim on his ex-wife’s fortune. The couple did not have a prenuptial agreement.
   Forbes had reported that between May 2010 and May 2011, Perry had made $44 million, while Brand made $7 million.
   The couple were married for 14 months.
   Meanwhile, So Solid Crew’s MC Harvey has backtracked over his claim in a Now interview that he had had a relationship with Britain’s sweetheart, Cheryl Cole.
   Cole then launched into a Twitter argument with Harvey after reading the interview.
   Since lawyers have been involved, Harvey has stated on Choice FM that the relationship was email-based but had never happened offline.
   He told DJ Max, ‘I will 100 per cent say that we had a communication relationship, but have I been out with her? No I haven’t.’
   Cole is now suing Now. A statement reads, ‘Cheryl Cole has today commenced legal proceedings in London against the publishers of Now magazine as a result of its two articles about her alleged “secret romance” with Michael Harvey.
   ‘Cheryl’s lawyers have asked to see Mr Harvey’s alleged emails which the magazine says are “proof” of the “romance” but it claims not to have them in its possession. Mr Harvey’s claims are denied by Cheryl and she looks forward to seeing both him and the magazine in Court at the very earliest opportunity.’

Once a year la Serenissima reverts to its true and elemental nature, as the ghosts come out and history can be felt on every narrow bridge and alleyway. Of course, I am talking about Carnivale, where the imagination soars, as masques and costumes, capes and mystery sweep by you at every corner. The city turns into a fantasy of colour and celebration, flavoured with the scent of decadence and opulence. It is an experience you must have at least once in your life.
   Our friends at the remarkable Luna Baglioni (just off San Marco, with its own arrival dock where your launch can drop you directly) offer a group of incredible ball deals, starting at a not-so-staggering supplement of €290 per person. Room nights additional. You can avail yourself of any of the following:

• Saturday, February 11, 2012: Moon Masquerade at the Luna Hotel Baglioni
• Friday, February 17, 2012: the Great Baglioni Party
• Saturday, February 18, 2012: Grand Carnival Gala at the Luna Hotel Baglioni (€320 per person)

   These offers exclude the room rate, but can include champagne, fancy dress parties, some held in the Marco Polo room dominated by huge School of Tiepolo frescoes, dinner—depending on the date—entertainment, and DJs until the wee hours of the morning. Period costumes can be purchased or rented. Be sure to avail yourself of the insider knowledge possessed by Antonio Massari, the Luna’s amazing concierge, perhaps the best in the world. Then, imagine yourself hidden behind mask and cloak, stealing down a romantic passagio, off for an intimate midnight rendezvous.
   For details, see www.baglionihotels.com/en/destinations/venice/luna-hotel-baglioni/packages/Special%20Venice%20Carnival.—Stanley Moss, Travel Editor

Life doesn’t stop for Nicole Scherzinger: right after finishing the US version of The X Factor, hair care brand Herbal Essences has announced that she is its new global ambassador.
   Commercials featuring the former Pussycat Dolls singer will break in July, in print and online formats. It is expected that some of her music will feature in them.
   Herbal Essences’ marketing director Kevin Crociata said in a release, ‘Nicole is such a beautiful, talented woman who lives every aspect of her life to the fullest. Her sense of self and her zest for life is a terrific fit with the spirit of the Herbal Essences brand.’
   Procter & Gamble’s Herbal Essences line features shampoos and conditioners, as well as styling products. The company says the brand is about innovative technology, performance ingredients and fragrance.
   In New Zealand, Herbal Essences Botanicals (RRP NZ$6·12) are available nationally. For more information, visit www.clairol.co.nz.

The première of Madonna’s new single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’’ in Piccadilly Circus did not go particularly well: not only was the video late, but it ran without sound.
   The music video, which features Nicki Minaj and MIA in cheerleaders’ outfits, was directed by Megaforce. It makes references to a lot of Madonna’s past work and is meant to be tongue in cheek.
   Despite the malfunction in London, fans were generally very positive toward the new video when it hit the internet.
   Less contentious is the news that Back to the Future might head to Broadway. Broadway has, in recent years, been very kind to film-to-stage adaptations, including The Producers and Xanadu, which arguably did better there than in the cinemas in 1980.
   Writer–director Robert Zemeckis is in negotiations to pen a new script for the stage, according to ITN.

Copyright ©2012 Danjaq, LLC, United Artists Corporation and Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

The first official image from Skyfall, the 23rd Eon Productions James Bond picture, has been released on the movie’s website at 007.com.
   The photograph sees Daniel Craig as James Bond, in a scene set in Shanghai.
   The film sees Craig joined by Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ben Chaplin, Albert Finney, and Ralph Fiennes. Sam Mendes directs.
   The plot is a closely guarded secret, but the official statement from Sony, released in January, read: ‘In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.’
   Regular scriptwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, with Gladiator’s John Logan, penned the script, which has no connection to an Ian Fleming novel.
   The James Bond films celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. In 1962, Dr No, the first big-screen Bond movie, was released, starring Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman.
   Skyfall will be released October 26 in the UK and Éire, and November 9 in North America.

Keira Knightley’s question: do the British like spanking?
   We already mentioned the sado-masochistic scenes in her new movie, A Dangerous Method, back in October. According to the actress, spanking was never mentioned after the original première, and only slightly at the Toronto Film Festival. But, now with A Dangerous Method having a gala première in London at the Mayfair Hotel yesterday, it’s being brought up regularly.
   ‘In England it’s got mentioned all the time. I don’t know what that says about us! We obviously like spanking, I don’t know!’ she said.
   The period drama, directed by David Cronenberg and based on the book A Most Dangerous Method by John Kerr and a stage adaptation by Christopher Hampton (who also penned the script), deals with the birth of psychoanalysis and stars Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud, with Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross.
   Knightley wore Burberry to the première, accessorized by jewellery from Chanel, and Christian Louboutin heels.

As reported elsewhere, Steve Jones has already confirmed on Twitter that he will not return for the second season of the US version of The X Factor as creator Simon Cowell tinkers with the show.
   The UK media, meanwhile, are speculating that Nicole Scherzinger will also get the boot, and there’s even a hint that Paula Abdul will be on her way out.
   One possibility is that Kelly Rowland will head to the US version after performing well on the original. Naturally, Cheryl Cole has been mentioned as another possibility, but that may well be down to wishful thinking and her undeniable support among Britons.
   Mariah Carey’s and Fergie’s names have also been mentioned.