Nicki Minaj is coming to Dubai

Also, Top Gear petition hits one million, HBO and Snoop Dogg working on TV drama, James Mc Nair's children to get settlement from Wal-Mart, Pharrell Williams urges children to take care of the environment, Obama's close aide buys 'Robin's Nest' from Magnum P I, Harrison Ford to narrate documentary on the history of aviation, Drake sued for disassociating with his upcoming film, Chris Brown off probation, AJ Pero no more, and Mario Knight collapses in court,

Nicki Minaj. Oli Scarff / AFP Photo

Rapper Nicki Minaj – also a somewhat underrated singer – looks set to perform in Dubai soon. She dropped a big hint of an upcoming UAE gig on Twitter when she posted: "Yes. I'm cming back to Dubai", in response to a fan who had asked why Dubai hadn't been mentioned as a stop on for her tour. Details of the concert have yet to be announced, but it is possible that Minaj will stop off in Dubai in mid-April after the conclusion of her ­European tour, or, more unlikely, pay a visit towards the end of the year. Her latest tour follows the release of her third album, The Pinkprint, which came out last year and featured the hit singles Anaconda and Pills n Potions. – The National staff

Top Gear petition hits one million

An online petition to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson as the host of the hit BBC programme Top Gear reached a million signatures on Friday, as the controversial presenter hinted that he might be sacked by the corporation. In a stunt organised by the Guido Fawkes political blog, the petition was delivered to the BBC headquarters in London on a tank with a banner reading "Bring Back Clarkson". The presenter was suspended by the BBC this month over a "fracas" during which he allegedly punched one of the show's producers – later reported to be a spat over not being provided with a hot meal after a day's filming. The BBC has pulled the last three episodes of the series, which has more than 350 million viewers around the globe. A boorish bigot to some and a straight-talking maverick to others, the presenter was already on a final warning from the ­broadcaster after a string of scandals over apparently racist remarks. The results of an investigation by the BBC into the latest ­incident are expected next week, although, during an appearance at a charity event Clarkson appeared to say it would be a foregone ­conclusion in an ­expletive-laden tirade. – AFP

HBO and Snoop Dogg working on TV drama

Snoop Dogg is developing a television drama series for HBO. The rapper announced on Friday at the South by Southwest festival that he is working with Allen Hughes – a director whose films include Dead Presidents, Menace II Society and The Book of Eli – on a show about 1980s Los Angeles. "HBO is the number one network in the world as far as developing and having these types of shows come to life," he said. "This is a dream come true to be able to tell a story that's going to be told the right way on the right ­network." – AP

James McNair’s children to get settlement from Wal-Mart

The children of comedian James McNair, who was killed in the car crash that injured 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan, are getting a US$10 million settlement from Wal-Mart. Court documents also reveal that Jamel McNair, 26, and Denita McNair, 19, are putting part of the payment toward annuities that will pay them ever-increasing monthly amounts, starting at $3,000, for the rest of their lives. The payment was disclosed in documents filed in Surrogate’s Court in New York’s Westchester County, where James McNair lived until the June 7 accident, in which a Wal-Mart lorry hit a limo van in which him, Morgan and other friends were travelling home from a show in Delaware. Morgan suffered broken bones and what his lawyer, Benedict Morelli, described as a traumatic brain injury, from which he is still recovering. Morgan and two others injured in the crash have sued Wal-Mart. The lorry driver, Kevin Roper, has been charged with death by auto and other offences but has not yet been indicted. The McNair family lawyer, Daryl Zaslow, had announced in January that Wal-Mart had settled with the children but at that time the amount was said to be confidential. – AP

Pharrell Williams urges children to take care of the environment

Pop star Pharrell Williams – best known for his hit Happy – was mobbed by children when he addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday's "International Day of Happiness", as he spoke out about the dangers of climate change. After his address, Happy was played on the speakers of the normally solemn hall and dozens of teenagers and younger children ran toward him to take photos. Security guards rushed into the crowd, fearing a stampede as an official took the microphone to urge everyone to step back. Williams has been working with former US vice president Al Gore to organise global concerts in June to build public pressure for a UN-backed agreement on climate change at a conference this year in Paris. "You should know that happiness is your birthright," Williams told the hundreds of assembled children, whose placards all read "#happyplanet" instead of the usual names of UN member states. "If you don't take care of your home, you don't have a life, so we have to now transition from climate change to climate action." Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, grandson of legendary French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, joined the singer to warn that climate change's effects were looking even worse than initially feared. – AP

Obama’s close aide buys ‘Robin’s Nest’ from Magnum P.I.

A sprawling beachfront home used in the filming of the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I. has sold for US$8.7 million to a close friend of President Barack Obama. A lawyer for Marty Nesbitt said that his client had bought the 3-acre property in Waimanalo, next to the town of Kailua, where the Obama family has spent winter holidays in recent years. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that Obama had nothing to do with the purchase. Tom Selleck's character lived in the house on Magnum, P.I. It was known as "Robin's Nest" on the show and belonged to a never-seen millionaire friend called Robin Masters. Nesbitt is a Chicago businessman who was treasurer for Obama's first presidential run. He is the chairman of the Barack Obama Foundation, which will build the president's future library. – AP

Harrison Ford to narrate documentary on the history of aviation

Harrison Ford, who this month was injured when his vintage airplane crashed on a Los Angeles golf course, is back in the air already – on film at least. National Geographic Studios said that the Star Wars and Indiana Jones actor will narrate a documentary due out next month called Living in the Age of Airplanes. The Imax movie, filmed from the air over 18 countries, is a history of a century of aviation. It will premiere on April 8 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington and two days later will open on Imax and similar big screens. The announcement comes as Ford, a longtime pilot and aviation enthusiast, recovers from the March 5 crash-landing of a Second World War-era plane, the engine of which failed shortly after take-off. – AP

Drake sued for disassociating with his upcoming film

A film company that is bringing the rapper Drake to the big screen has filed a lawsuit against its own star over a tweet.

Ahead of the US release on Thursday of the movie Drake's Homecoming: The Lost Footage, the Canadian hip-hop artist wrote on social media that he had played no part in making the film. "I feel it is my responsibility to inform and protect my fans," Drake wrote to his 21.6 million Twitter followers and on his Facebook page, which is liked by more than 36 million people. SpectiCast, the company that made the film, on Thursday announced a lawsuit in a California court that accused Drake of libel. "Drake authorised the filming, he was paid for it, he still has a financial stake in the movie, and his current statements to the contrary are completely false," said Peter Haviland, a lawyer for SpectiCast. The company is seeking damages as well as a declaration that the film is authorised by Drake. – AFP

Chris Brown off probation

R&B star Chris Brown celebrated on Friday after a US judge released him from probation imposed for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.

The attack left the female pop singer battered and bruised on the eve of the Grammys.

“I’M OFF PROBATION!!!!!!! Thank the Lord!!!!!” Brown posted on his Twitter page shortly after the court hearing in Los Angeles, where he smiled as it was announced that he had fulfilled all of his probation conditions.

LA Superior Court Judge James Brandlin said the 25-year-old had completed about 1,000 hours of community labour, along with all other terms of his probation, including attending a domestic-violence treatment programme.

In June 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna, who suffered facial injuries and was forced to cancel an appearance at the Grammy Awards. Brown was sentenced to five years’ probation, a year-long domestic-violence programme and 180 days of community labour. – AFP

AJ Pero no more

A J Pero, the drummer for the heavy-metal band Twisted Sister, died Friday. He was 55. The band said Anthony Jude Pero died of an apparent heart attack while touring with Adrenaline Mob, a group with which he played in between performing with Twisted Sister. The band’s guitarist Jay Jay French said Pero was on a tour bus Friday morning when Adrenaline Mob band members could not wake him up. He was taken to a hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was declared dead shortly after 11am. . – AP

Marion Knight collapses in court

Former rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight collapsed in a courtroom on Friday shortly after a judge ordered him held on US$25 million bail in a murder case. Bailiffs cleared the courtroom and paramedics were seen going inside a few minutes later. Defence attorney Matthew Fletcher said Knight was unconscious when the lawyer left the courtroom and an update on his condition was not immediately available. Fletcher said his client, who is diabetic and has a blood clot, previously told him that he hadn’t received any medication since Thursday. Fletcher said Knight hit his head on a chair when he fell after the bail hearing. The collapse marked the fourth time that Knight has been taken by ambulance from a courthouse since he was charged with killing Terry Carter, 55, in February. Knight, the 49-year-old co-founder of Death Row Records, has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run charges. – AP