NEWS BRIEFS: Malaysia Muffles Mariah

URGED: Mariah Carey will have to tone down her sexy act for her Feb. 22 concert in Malaysia, following complaints from Muslim opposition party leader Ahmad Sabki Yusof. "Everyone knows Mariah Carey presents herself in a sexy, unacceptable and almost vulgar manner," said Yusof, who wrote to that country's government demanding that the singer not be allowed to perform at the 50,000-seat stadium in Kuala Lampur, The New York Times reports. Carey, 33, has been granted permission, so long as she is dressed modestly, according to the BBC. Previously, rock group Linkin Park was allowed to perform in Malaysia so long as they weren't too loud and kept their shirts on.

WON: Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry emerged the surprise winner of the Iowa caucuses on Monday, advancing his run on the White House in the Democrats' race to replace incumbent President George W. Bush. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina came in second, and Dr. Howard Dean a distant third. Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, of Missouri, who came in fourth, announced he would withdraw from the campaign, which was his second attempt to become president.

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QUOTED: "Alan White has been asked to leave Oasis by the other band members. There are no plans to replace Alan. The band's scheduled recording sessions remain unaffected." -- Oasis, headed by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, confirming on the band's Web site that they have fired drummer Alan White

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ENGAGED: Ben's younger brother, actor Casey Affleck, 28, and his girlfriend of four years, Summer Phoenix, 25, younger sister of actors Joaquin and the late River, are engaged, his publicist confirms to AP. The rep says the engagement occurred in New York over Christmas. No wedding date has been set, though the two are expecting their first child in May.

FIRED: Rosie O'Donnell's former magazine publisher, Gruner + Jahr chief executive Daniel Brewster, 48, is being ousted from the publishing firm, Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reports. An announcement is expected by the end of the week, pending a settlement of his contract, says the paper. Among the reasons given for his early exit is the ugly court battle with the former Queen of Nice, 41, which resulted in no monetary awards for either side and harsh revelations about G+J's circulation data.

ENTERED: Comedian Jamie Foxx, 36, and his younger sister, Deidra Dixon, pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged fight last April 26 with police officers and security guards at Harrah's New Orleans Casino, reports the Associated Press. Foxx and Dixon both attended the hearing, where a Feb. 3 trial date was set. Neither commented after entering their pleas.

NOMINATED: "The Simpsons," now in its 15th year on FOX, was nominated for three prestigious Writers Guild of America awards, more than any other comedy show, say reports. "Malcolm in the Middle" is up for two awards; "Frasier" and "Sex and the City" each have one. "Law and Order" leads in the drama category, with three nominations. Winners of the 56th annual WGA Awards will be announced Feb. 21 at ceremonies on both coasts. The guild has yet to announce its nominees for movies.

CAST: Britain's ITV announced Monday that former Sex Pistols singer and angry punk icon Johnny Rotten (now known by his real name, John Lydon, and whose age is uncertain because his birth certificate was reputedly destroyed) has agreed to appear on the hit reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!," which strands C-list celebrities in the Australian jungle, subjects them to a series of trials involving bugs and reptiles and then asks the public to vote them off. Rotten critics are crying that Lydon has sold out.