Jay-Z kept Def Jam staff happy with alcoholic rewards

October 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Michael Jackson was often influenced and controlled by others as he was "very meek", his sister has revealed. La Toya, the sister of the late pop icon, broke down as she disclosed Jackson's staff had "controlled" him, reports the China Daily.

October 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - American talk show host David Letterman has publicly apologised to his wife Regina Lasko after his sexual affairs were exposed in an alleged extortion plot against him. The TV host issued the apology during a taping of his "Late Show with David Letterman", his first appearance since the revelations.

October 5th, 2009 LONDON - Singer Cheryl Cole says that she restrains from alcohol because she is scared of ending up like her alcoholic granddad. The 'Girls Alound' member revealed that her granddad had died due to alcohol.

September 30th, 2009 Woman admits embezzling from Danielle SteelSAN FRANCISCO — A former employee of Danielle Steel who embezzled more than $400,000 from the romance novelist has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion. Forty-seven-year-old Kristy Watts, also known as Kristy Siegrist, entered the plea last week in San Francisco federal court.

September 20th, 2009 Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' takes top variety awardLOS ANGELES — Jon Stewart and his writing staff are owners of new Emmy Awards. Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" was named the best comedy or variety show in the annual Emmy Awards.

September 15th, 2009 Rapper JAY-Z endeared himself to employees as president of Def Jam Records by treating them to drinking sessions every week. The Big Pimpin' hitmaker was in charge of the label for three years but stepped down in January 2008 after signing chart-topping acts such as Rihanna and Ne-Yo during his tenure.

September 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Rewards have been found to be much more successful in promoting public cooperation rather than punishment, suggests a new study. According to researchers, rewards robustly build compliance and cooperation and could help in developing solutions for thorny problems requiring the cooperation of large numbers of people to achieve a greater good.

August 25th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Suri Cruise, who has already proved that she is the most fashionable tot around the globe, also seems to be health conscious. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes's daughter prefers snacking on fat-free edamame beans - which are soybeans that have been boiled and salted.

August 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Cosmetic retailers, who think that employing an attractive salesgirl on the shelf would boost up their sales, need a reality check, for a new research has revealed that young women do not like to buy their make-up from better looking women. The research has debunked the myth that female shoppers will want to be like her and buy what she wears or uses.

July 20th, 2009 LONDON - A Scottish brand has attracted controversy after adding some punch to the classic ginger beer. Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer, which contains four percent alcohol, has been launched as an adult version of ginger beer.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Staff at the luxury Caribbean resort have banned troubled singer Amy Winehouse from swimming in their pool, as she does so after marathon boozing sessions. Bosses at the Cotton Bay complex in St Lucia were worried about the 25-year-old star's habit of swimming after drinking, and feared that she might drown in the pool.

June 23rd, 2009 LONDON - Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey is surely a generous boss. The talk show host has shelled out more than 750,000 dollars to take her staff and their families on an all expenses paid cruise around the Mediterranean.

June 9th, 2009 LONDON - Myleene Klass reportedly landed in trouble after the English TV presenter got glued to her bed. Klass, who hosts the American version of I'm A Celebrity, had apparently sprayed herself with insect repellant that reacted with varnish on the bedposts gluing her to the frame.

June 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Fall Out Boy star Pete Wentz's New York bar has been temporarily shut down after allegations surfaced that the staff served alcohol to minors. Wentz, 29, and members of Gym Class Heroes and Cobra Starship are co-owners of the Angels and Kings venue in Manhattan, which had been opened in 2007, reports Contactmusic.

May 20th, 2009 LONDON - It seems Hollywood socialite Jordan aka Katie Price is still fuming over being dumped by her estranged husband Peter Andre, for she has asked her housekeepers to get rid of all his stuff before she returns from Maldives. Jordan, who is currently holidaying in Maldives with her kids, has ordered her house staff to not even leave Peter's toothbrush in the mansion and remove all his belongings as soon as possible.