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The murder trial of Sopranos actor Lillo

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Brancato Jr is scheduled to begin just days after his co-defendant is sentenced.

A Nov. 17 trial date was set Friday for Brancato. He is charged in the December 2005 slaying of off-duty New York City police Officer Daniel Enchautegui.

Co-defendant Steven Armento, who shot the officer, was convicted of first-degree murder on Oct. 30. He faces life in prison without parole at his sentencing on Friday.

Authorities say Enchautegui confronted Armento and Brancato when the two broke into an apartment to steal prescription drugs.

Brancato has said he didn’t know Armento had a gun.

The 32-year-old actor played an aspiring mobster in HBO’s The Sopranos.

Britney and Justin still share one bond: Madonna.

In separate appearances, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed Thursday night during Madonna’s show at Dodger Stadium.

The former pop power couple did not take the stage together.

Rumors of the guest appearances swirled Thursday, making it a can’t-miss event for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars: Elizabeth Banks, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and Lucy Liu were among those in the first few rows.

Madonna took a moment from her turn onstage to lament the passage of a gay-marriage ban in California.

“I am the luckiest girl in the world,’’ Madonna said, “but am sad because African-Americans are equal finally, but gay marriage is not.’’

Faked photographs of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cavorting naked on a sofa with US Senator Hillary Clinton, a giant Styrofoam throne and pins in rubber erasers are vying for Russia’s top modern art award. The display of heavily politicized art by finalists competing for the Kandinsky Prize is considered a knock against Western critics who say freedom of expression has been curtailed by the Kremlin, though Russia’s deputy minister for culture, Pavel Khoroshilov, sits on the prize’s council of trustees.

The BBC broadcast an apology Saturday for lewd phone messages left by two radio presenters on an actor’s voicemail.

The publicly funded broadcaster said it apologized unreservedly for the “grossly offensive and unacceptable’’ prank.

The BBC was forced to defend its editorial standards after comedian Russell Brand and fellow presenter Jonathan Ross left sexually explicit messages on the phone of 78-year old actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.

The calls were played on Brand’s radio show on Oct. 18. and initially drew few complaints. But media coverage and the posting of the calls on the Internet fueled a furor that saw more than 40,000 people complain. Even Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the prank.

Obamamania met Beatlemania Thursday, as Liverpool hosted an MTV Europe Music Awards show energized by the city’s musical heritage and the US presidential election.

Pink and Kanye West took home prizes — Spears won two — and stars on the stage included Beyonce, Kid Rock and former Beatle Paul McCartney.

But the absent president-elect was given star status, too.

Singer Katy Perry, who hosted the show and also was named best new act, appeared in a dress emblazoned with Obama’s face and quipped that “maybe Europeans will love us again now.’’

Her co-host, 30 Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto, wore an Obama T-shirt and urged the 10,000-strong crowd at Liverpool’s Echo Arena to yell “Congrats, Barack.’’

Hometown pride was also on display in the Beatles’ birthplace, with McCartney receiving an “ultimate legend’’ award from U2 singer Bono.

Beyonce, The Killers, Pink and Kanye West all performed, West alongside British singer Estelle on their hit American Boy.

It was West’s second onstage appearance at the European awards — but the first time by invitation. The rapper stormed the stage at the 2006 show in Copenhagen after he failed to win the Best Video prize, telling the crowd that “if I don’t win, the awards show loses credibility.’’

The winners of the awards, which are presented in a different European country each year, are selected by fans across the continent. They are broadcast on 21 channels in 40 European countries.

The MTV Europe Music Awards were held on Thursday.



The MTV Europe Music Awards winners:

Album of the Year — Britney Spears

(Blackout)

Headliner — Tokio Hotel

Most Addictive Track — Pink

(So What)

New Act — Katy Perry

Act of 2008 — Britney Spears

Ultimate Urban — Kanye West

Rock Out — 30 Seconds to Mars

Best Act Ever — Rick Astley

Europe’s Favorite Act — Emre Aydin

Video Star — 30 Seconds to Mars

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