Fresh off Bastille Day celebrations back home, France's first couple was in the Big Apple this weekend for a relatively social engagement. After a quick discussion of some global issues at the UN, French President Nicholas Sarkozy took some time to jog around the Central Park Reservoir. The Daily News says that Sarkozy "wore skimpy shorts" showing off the "chiseled stems" he needs in order to "keep up with his supermodel wife, Carla Bruni." The trip had been prompted by Bruni's performance at Radio City Music Hall last night's tribute concert to Nelson Mandela on the South African leader's 91st birthday. The French first lady took the stage in her American debut alongside Eurythmic Dave Stewart. Before her first ballad, Bruni told the crowd, "This one's not good for dancing. But it's good for dreaming." The concert also featured pop stars such as Josh Groban, Jesse McCartney and Li'l Kim, who said of the anti-apartheid icon, "He was very instrumental in my experience in prison." more ›

Notorious is on the big screen, and everyone in the shadow of the late rapper is starting to speak out. Well, at least Lil Kim is—who allegedly hasn't even seen the movie (but read an early script). She said in a statement: "The film studio and producers involved were more concerned about painting me as a 'character' to create a more interesting story line. Regardless of the many lies in the movie and false portrayal of me to help carry a story line through, I will still continue to carry his legacy through my hard work and music." She also said in an interview that she "believed Big's wife, Faith Evans, and his mother, Voletta Wallace, were behind the snub." In return, Biggie's mom declared: "This is not a Lil Kim movie. This is a Christopher Wallace movie. It has nothing to do with Lil Kim. If she's disappointed and upset, that is her problem." The AP has video from the film, and talks to some of the people involved. more ›

Looks like trouble is following Lil' Kim into her 33rd year, or at least the headlines are: A 24-year-old woman, Ingrid Rivera, was found dead last night in a rooftop utility closet of midtown club Spotlight Live, where she attended the rapper's birthday party on Sunday. more ›

The NY Sun reports that Jones received a $40K advance for her booked titled, "Untitled Novel" and Marchand received $75K for hers, called "Broken Silence" -- the former is four years late, and the latter is two years overdue. C'mon ladies, even 50 Cent turned in a manuscript for the publishing house! However, maybe they should be cut some slack since they each did some jail time when they (or a ghost writer) could have been laying down some ink about their lives. And besides, Kim was busy writing her other book, The Price of Loyalty, due out later this year through St. Martin's Press. more ›

The repo man says business is booming in a Channel 11 news report about the rise and tide of auto repossession -- the segment even features a cameo by Lil' Kim! Seems the rapper fell behind on at least four payments and when she refused to give up the keys to the $250K car, it was loaded onto a flatbed truck. She gave the repo men (who say the car is "not hers") about the same respect she gave the reporters on her doorstep, who she told to "get the f--- outta here. You are so f---ing ridiculous." more ›