Reuters - Gay-pride season seems to be extending well beyond its official month of June. Gay marriage is now legal in California, stars are coming out of the closet (and woodwork) as never before, and NewFest -- the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Film Festival -- has kicked off the summer cycle of gay film festivals with its 20th anniversary run.

Reuters - Canadian rock band Hedley dominated a thunderstorm-plagued MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday in Toronto.

Reuters - NBC Sports is taking a further step into Olympic sports with the acquisition of World Championship Sports Network, a small television network and online site that televises year-round competitions.

Reuters - Metallica's new album will be titled "Death Magnetic" and is expected in September. The news was revealed over the weekend via the band's Web site ( http://www.metallica.com ).

Reuters - U.S. soldiers who killed a Reuters journalist in Iraq acted within military rules, but the Army's probe of the incident was tainted by its failure to preserve evidence, a Pentagon investigation said on Monday.

Reuters - Paramount Pictures International, which releases movies outside North America, said on Monday it has topped the $1 billion mark at overseas box offices behind hit films including "Iron Man" and the latest "Indiana Jones" saga.

Reuters - The Rolling Stones have played down a weekend report that the band planned to ditch long-term record company EMI to join concert promoter Live Nation.