‘Borat’ may be kept out of theaters in Russia

Moscow – “Borat” may be banned in Russia.

A government agency said it would refuse to grant permission for Sacha Baron Cohen’s controversial comedy “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” to be shown in theaters in neighboring Russia, its distributor here said Thursday.

The Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography said the film could offend some viewers and contained material that “might seem disparaging in relation to certain ethnic groups and religions,” according to Vadim Ivanov, theatrical sales director at Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S.

Ivanov said he hoped the agency would relent and that the film would premiere in Russia as scheduled on Nov. 30. “Borat” was the top movie in the United States in its debut last weekend, pulling in $26.5 million.

Russia has close political ties with Kazakhstan, whose officials – and citizens – have seethed at the depiction of their country.

Police: Daniel Baldwin held in suspected SUV theft

Santa Monica, Calif. – Daniel Baldwin has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a sport utility vehicle.

Baldwin was stopped Wednesday by officers in Santa Monica who saw him in a white GMC Yukon reported stolen in neighboring Orange County, authorities said.

The actor was taken to jail and booked for investigation of grand theft auto. Bail was set at $20,000.

“The car belongs to an acquaintance of Mr. Baldwin, but he had no permission to take it,” said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County sheriff’s department.

The 46-year-old actor made news in July when he drove a rented car at more than 80 mph through Los Angeles traffic and crashed into two parked vehicles. In April, he was arrested for investigation of cocaine possession, although prosecutors declined to file felony charges.

Baldwin, brother of actors Alec, Stephen and William, has appeared in the television series “Homicide: Life on the Street” and the movie “Car 54, Where Are You?”

Denise Richards takes out paparazzi laptops on set

Richmond, British Columbia – A spokeswoman for Denise Richards blamed aggressive paparazzi for a run-in that prompted the Hollywood actress to toss a pair of laptops from a balcony, causing minor injuries to two elderly women.

Howard Blank, a spokesman for the River Rock casino resort in the Vancouver suburb, confirmed an incident took place Wednesday evening.

Global TV reported Richards was filming a scene for the movie “Blonde and Blonder” when she allegedly confronted a photographer trying to take her picture. Richards threw the laptop computers off a balcony, hitting two elderly women sitting in the lobby below. The women were not seriously injured.

A statement from “Blonde and Blonder” producer Dean Bornstein indicated that a “number of unauthorized persons” got onto the set and began “harassing members of the cast.”