Austrian director Michael Haneke took top honors at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday for his drama, "The White Ribbon," the story of a German town on the eve of World War I.

Haneke's film eclipsed entries by Quentin Tarantino ("Inglourious Bas- terds") and Lars von Trier ("Antichrist") to take the Palme d'Or. But those films had their own triumphs: Christoph Waltz was named best actor for his portrayal of a homicidal Nazi colonel in "Inglourious Basterds," a World War II epic, and Charlotte Gainsbourg claimed best-actress honors for her role as a psychotic, abusive, self-mutilating wife in "Antichrist."

RAPPER T.I. GIVES PRE-PRISON CONCERT

ATLANTA — T.I. is taking the stage for his last concert before heading to prison.

The Grammy-winning rapper performed in Atlanta's Philips Arena last night, two days before he begins his prison time on a federal weapons conviction. His sentence is for a year and a day.

The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., was arrested after trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.

SUSAN BOYLE ADVANCES IN TALENT SHOW

LONDON — Surprise singing sensation Susan Boyle made a new television appearance, showcasing once again her soaring voice and refusing to compromise on the frumpy look that made her an Internet sensation.

Boyle gave a rousing, but occasionally nervous, performance on the "American Idol"-style show "Britain's Got Talent," with a version of the song "Memory" from the musical "Cats."

A telephone poll picked her as the best of eight performers who appeared yesterday, meaning she will sing again in the contest's final on Saturday.

EFFORTS TO AID 'SLUMDOG' STARS SPEED UP

Relatives of two impoverished child stars from the hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire" say the search for a new home for the youngsters has picked up speed after one of the children, 9-year-old Rubina Ali, was treated at a hospital Friday for a fever. Ali became ill two days after authorities in Mumbai, India, demolished the shanty where she lived to make way for a pedestrian overpass. Rubina's co-star, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, lost his home last week when it was torn down as part of a slum clearance.

'MUSEUM,' 'TERMINATOR' RULE BOX OFFICE

LOS ANGELES — Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum" sequel and Christian Bale's "Terminator Salvation" combined for a solid Memorial Day weekend.

"Night at the Museum" took in an estimated $53.5 million from Friday to yesterday. "Terminator Salvation" pulled in an estimated $43 million over the same period, plus $13.4 million on opening day Thursday.