Los Angeles  - Al Jefferson's season appears to be over after an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test on Monday confirmed that the Minnesota Timberwolves' centre has a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the club announced on its website.

Jefferson, averaging team-highs of 23.1 points and 11 rebounds per game, suffered the injury in Sunday's 101-97 loss to New Orleans, when he came down awkwardly on his right leg while trying to block Sean Marks' shot underneath the basket.

Wash

Washington  - A vaginal gel which can kill the HIV virus during sexual intercourse was hailed Monday for showing it was somewhat effective in preventing infection and for holding promise as another weapon in the arsenal against the deadly disease.

The gel, PRO2000 produced by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, was 30 per cent effective in reducing the incidence of AIDS during four years of trials in Africa and the United States, according to research revealed at an AIDS conference in Montreal, Canada.

Los Angeles  - As among the brightest and most successful young stars in the US music industry, Chris Brown and Rihanna were a match made in publicists' heaven. But just as they were set to send their relationship into hyperdrive with a joint appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, the fairy-tale romance turned sour and very ugly.

Brown, just 19, stands accused of making criminal threats against Rihanna, 20, and police say that prosecutors could charge him with more - or less - depending on their investigation.

Los Angeles  - Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Studios has signed a long-term distribution deal with Walt Disney Studios, the companies confirmed Monday.

The deal comes after Spielberg signed a huge financing deal last year with Indian media conglomerate Reliance, and after a previous distribution deal with Universal Studios fell through because of the credit crisis.

Washington - The family of world number one golfer Tiger Woods has grown with the birth of the sportsman's second child and first son, the player said on his website Monday.

Charlie Axel Woods was born Sunday. He is the brother of Sam Alexis, who was born in June 2007.

Woods said he was "thrilled" over the birth of his son, and noted that both the baby and his wife, Elin, "are doing great."