LONDON — Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson said she was "very sorry" for her lapse of judgment after she was recorded apparently offering to sell access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew in return for 500,000 pounds ($724,000).

The duchess said in a statement released yesterday that she had financial problems, but "that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened."

The tabloid News of the World posted video on its website that appears to show Ferguson discussing payment terms with an undercover reporter posing as a businessman. She is heard to say "500,000 pounds when you can, to me, open doors." Asked if she was referring to the prince, she said: "Yeah."

THAI FILM WINS TOP PRIZE AT CANNES

CANNES, France — The hypnotic Thai film "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" won the top honor at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, while Academy Award winners Juliette Binoche and Javier Bardem earned acting honors.

"Uncle Boonmee," directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, traces the dreamlike final days of a man dying of kidney failure as the ghost of his dead wife returns to tend him and his long-lost son comes home in the form of a furry jungle spirit.

'SHREK' SHREDS 'IRON MAN' AT BOX OFFICES

LOS ANGELES — "Shrek Forever After" roared its way to the top of the box office, making $71.3 million in its opening weekend.

This time, Shrek — voiced as always by Mike Myers — is experiencing a mid-life crisis, so he makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to live as a fearsome ogre again for one day. Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas return to the voice cast.

Last week's No. 1 movie, "Iron Man 2," dropped to second place with $26.6 million.

COUNTRY MUSIC PIONEERS HONORED

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ferlin Husky and Billy Sherrill are the Country Music Hall of Fame's newest members.

The country music pioneers were honored in a ceremony last night that drew dozens of Hall of Fame members and some of the genre's top stars.

Husky helped bring country music to a national audience after World War II. After pop success in the 1950s, he turned to television and film and was among the first country artists to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sherrill ranks as one of Nashville's greatest producers and was named songwriter of the century by BMI in 1999. He shaped the careers of Tammy Wynette, George Jones and dozens more.

PRODUCER SOUGHT IN MEXICO BACK IN L.A.

LOS ANGELES — A former "Survivor" producer wanted for questioning in Mexico about his wife's death has returned to Los Angeles, his lawyer said yesterday.

The attorney said Bruce Beresford-Redman, who has not been charged with a crime, had no legal obligation to remain in Mexico while authorities investigate the death of his wife, Monica, whose body was found in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun in April.

— Advertiser News Services