Country bans former rock star

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Former British rock star Gary Glitter has been permanently barred from entering Cambodia after his recent arrest and deportation.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, was convicted in Britain in 1999 for possessing child pornography and served half of a four-month sentence before being released.

He’d lived quietly in Cambodia until police caught him living without proper registration in April.

A subsequent media frenzy and public outcry forced him to leave the Southeast Asian country, but he later returned to Cambodia and was living in an unknown location before police detained him.

His expulsion was ordered on Dec. 28.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak did not know where Glitter was headed. He declined to discuss details of the arrest, saying only that Glitter “had violated Cambodian laws.” No charges have been filed.

Glitter rose to fame in the 1970s with a glam-rock act and hits including “Do You Wanna Touch.”

Spike Lee, Julius Erving honored

Atlanta — NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving and film director Spike Lee were among the honorees at the 2003 Trumpet Awards, which recognize black leaders in entertainment, sports, politics and journalism.

The R&B trio Destiny’s Child and actress Pam Grier also received awards Monday night at the Georgia World Congress Center.

TBS will broadcast the awards on Feb. 22. Turner Broadcasting System started the awards in 1993.

Carter pushes Georgia tourism

Plains, Ga. — Former President Jimmy Carter said Georgia needed to be more competitive in attracting tourists to its mountains, beaches and historic towns such as Plains, the small farming community where he grew up.

Carter, Georgia’s governor from 1971 to 1975, said he has been distressed since leaving office at the amounts the Legislature budgets for tourism.

“When I was governor, Florida was No. 1 and Georgia was second,” Carter said Tuesday. “Now we are at the bottom of all the Southeastern states.”

Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner for humanitarian efforts around the world, said he had asked the incoming governor, Republican Sonny Perdue, to improve funding for tourism — the state’s second-leading industry behind agriculture.

“He responded favorably,” said Carter, who spoke at the introduction of the state’s new 192-page tourism guide.

Stewart out, Dion in for car ads

Detroit — DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group has decided not to extend an advertising agreement with Martha Stewart’s media company and will enlist singer Celine Dion to help the automaker sell vehicles.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Stewart lied to congressional investigators about her sale of nearly 4,000 shares in ImClone Systems Inc. on Dec. 27, 2001.

The home decorating entrepreneur, who has not been charged, has denied wrongdoing.