The final installment of smash hit movie franchise "The Hunger Games," based on a trilogy by author Suzanne Collins, is to be split into two films, its producers have announced.

US President Barack Obama can expect rapturous praise for backing gay marriage Thursday, as George Clooney hosts a star-studded event promising a campaign windfall of up to $15 million.

George Clooney, who hosts a star-studded fundraiser for Barack Obama Thursday, is a Hollywood A-lister turned activist for causes like Sudan, Haiti -- and now the US leader's re-election.

DETROIT (Reuters) - With his presidential hopes riding on a win in Michigan's pivotal Republican primary on Tuesday, Rick Santorum is taking a page from the playbook of influential conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh.

0510 GMT: So, that's it for another year, an Oscars of few surprises where things went mostly according to prediction.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards on Tuesday. The winners will be named at the annual Oscars ceremony in Hollywood on February 26.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards on Tuesday. The winners will be named at the annual Oscars ceremony in Hollywood on February 26.

Prize-heavy silent movie "The Artist" hopes for yet more good news on Tuesday, as nominations are announced for the Oscars, the climax to Hollywood's annual awards season.

Silent movie "The Artist" topped the winners at the Golden Globes awards late Sunday, adding three gongs to its growing haul of prizes in the run-up to the all-important Oscars next month.

0440 GMT: "The Artist", which entered the race with a leading six nominations, was the night's big winner receiving three Globes - best comedy or musical, best actor in a comedy or drama and best score.

Britons including Kate Winslet were among the early winners at the Golden Globes, as British comic Ricky Gervais again took mocking aim at Hollywood at its main pre-Oscars awards show.

Hollywood stars hit the red carpet Sunday for the annual Golden Globes show, with silent film "The Artist" hoping to add to its awards success in the run-up to the all-important Oscars.

Hollywood held its breath Sunday ahead of the Golden Globes, as silent film "The Artist" bids to add to its pre-Oscars bonanza, while up against veterans like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.

Silent French-directed film "The Artist" hopes to make a lot of noise at the Golden Globes on Sunday, aiming to add to a string of awards and nominations ahead of the all-important Oscars.

French-directed silent film "The Artist," a tribute to the pre-"talkies" era, has won six Golden Globe nominations to lead the field as Hollywood gears up for its annual awards season.

BEVERLY HILLS, California (Reuters) - Silent movie "The Artist" painted a pretty picture at the Golden Globe nominations Thursday, leading all movies with six nods, including best film comedy or musical in the race to Hollywood's Oscars.

BEVERLY HILLS, California (Reuters) - Silent movie "The Artist" painted a pretty picture at the Golden Globe nominations Thursday, leading all movies with six nods, including best film comedy or musical in the race to Hollywood's Oscars.

BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - Silent movie "The Artist" painted a pretty picture at the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, leading all movies with six nods overall including best film comedy or musical in the race to Hollywood's Oscars.

BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - Silent movie "The Artist" painted a pretty picture at the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, leading all movies with six nods overall including best film comedy or musical in the race to Hollywood's Oscars.

BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - Silent movie "The Artist" painted a pretty picture at the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, leading all movies with six nods overall including best film comedy or musical.