Kiss star Gene Simmons has criticised celebrities who use their popularity to sway the forthcoming US presidential election.

America is set to go to the polls on 4 November to decide whether Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain will win the race to the White House.

And the campaign has been littered with celebrity endorsements, with stars including Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and Jay-Z all publicly voicing their opinions on the candidates and urging the public to vote accordingly.

US government officials have denied an interstate highway rest stop named after radio shock jock Howard Stern was shut down after patrons began using its public restrooms for sex.

Howard Stern Rest Stop along I-295 in New Jersey - named after the raunchy satellite radio host in 1995 - was allegedly closed last year after state officials discovered motorists were using its bathrooms for x-rated romps.

Director David Cronenberg is taking a break from movie making to write his first novel.

The Fly filmmaker has already been inundated with offers of publishing deals for his first book - despite the fact he has only written 60 pages, and has yet to decide what direction his creation will take.

Cronenberg, whose last movie was 2007’s Eastern Promises, made the announcement at the Rome Film Festival in Italy last week.