HONG KONG (AP) – Action star Chow Yun-fat is suing a tabloid magazine over a story claiming he sought treatment for an injury, newspapers reported Sunday.

Chow, who starred in Oscar-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Anna and the King,” filed the defamation lawsuit against Easy Finder on Saturday, the South China Morning Post reported.

The Chinese-language magazine article claimed that Chow injured himself during filming, according to Ming Pao, a Chinese-language daily.

The lawsuit says Chow is healthy and has “suffered loss and damage to his professional career as an actor and in particular an action movie star,” as a result of the Jan. 28 article, according to the Post.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to stop further publication of the claims, the report said.

Easy Finder’s editor-in-chief could not immediately be reached for comment. Easy Finder has refused to publish an apology, despite a demand from Chow’s lawyers.

McCartney to play at Rock in Rio

LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney will open this year’s Rock in Rio, joining more than 70 performers for the six-day event that starts May 28 in Lisbon, organizers said.

McCartney’s appearance will kick off his 13-city “04 Summer Tour.”

Sting, Britney Spears and Guns N’ Roses also will perform at the festival scheduled for the last weekend of May and the first of June.

King croons for Kerry campaign

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Singer Carole King crooned “You’ve Got a Friend” in Athens as part of a two-day tour of Georgia for friend John Kerry.

The singer-songwriter sang the praises of the Massachusetts senator during visits to Athens, Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah. She performed and answered questions from the audience about Kerry during stops.

“We are part of a movement,” King told about 200 people Saturday at a downtown Athens coffeehouse. “Everywhere I go I see a light in people’s eyes. It is the light of hope.”

King touted the Democratic front-runner for his integrity and his experience and contacts on Capitol Hill. “He’s smart,” she said. “He has a plan.”

King performed and answered questions from the audience about Kerry during her stops.

Schaech portrays Judas in film

RADNOR, Pa. (AP) – The task given to Johnathon Schaech wasn’t the easiest: Present a well-balanced portrayal of one of the most demonized figures in religion.

Although Schaech said his lead role in the upcoming ABC biopic “Judas” has been a challenge, it has also taught him a thing or two.

“A lot of religious individuals won’t accept him as anything more than just a betrayer of Christ,” Schaech told TV Guide. “When you give him a heart and say he’s misunderstood, they don’t want to hear that.”

The television movie, scheduled to air March 8, tells the story of betrayal from Judas’ point of view.

“We were trying to construct a psychological profile so you could see why he was doing what he was doing,” said the Rev. Frank Desiderio, a Catholic priest who was the film’s executive producer. “I hope it reveals Judas’ humanity.”

The movie should also benefit from being televised shortly after the release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” in theaters.

Cronkite to receive Turman award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Journalist Walter Cronkite will receive the 2004 Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award.

Cronkite, who was the anchorman and managing editor of the CBS Evening News for nearly 20 years, was selected “because of his lifelong commitment and dedication to the high ideas of truth in broadcasting,” said Karl Zobrist, president of the award foundation.

The award is meant to honor people in public life who have improved the community and the country through citizenship, patriotism, self-reliance and service.

Copy the Story Link