Mary McCartney/MPL Communications Ltd.Paul McCartney has once again spoken out in support of the jailed members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot after one of the imprisoned musicians, Maria Alyokhina, began a hunger strike Wednesday in protest of her treatment at a recent parole hearing.  According to The Guardian, Alyokhina started the protest after she was denied the right to attend her hearing in the Russian city of Berezniki.

Following Maria's announcement, McCartney sent handwritten letters to Russian officials asking that they consider granting parole to both Alyokhina and her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.

On behalf of Alyokhina, Sir Paul wrote, "My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world."  He added, "In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case."

With regard to Nadezhda, who was denied parole last month, McCartney wrote, "I have had a long relationship with the Russian people, and, with this in mind, I am making the following request in a spirit of friendship for my many Russian acquaintances who, like me, believe in treating people - all people, with compassion and kindness."

Alyokhina, Tolokonnikova and their band mate Yekaterina Samutsevich were arrested in March 2012 for hooliganism after Pussy Riot staged an unauthorized concert at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, described by authorities as "blasphemous."  Following the trio's arrest, McCartney was among the many artists who sent letters to the Russian authorities imploring them to release the musicians.  However, the three rockers were convicted in August and sentenced to two years in prison.  Samutsevich was released on probation in October 2012.

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The British LibraryAcclaimed Beatles biographer Hunter Davies has donated lyric sheets and letters written by John Lennon to the British Library in London as part of a new U.K. government initiative.  The Cultural Gifts Scheme, which was adopted by the British government in March, allows citizens or companies to donate historically significant items in exchange for having their tax liability lowered.

Davies officially handed over the documents, which include Lennon's handwritten lyrics to The Beatles songs "Strawberry Fields Forever," "She Said She Said" and "In My Life," during a ceremony held earlier on Thursday at the library.  The author had previously allowed the items to be temporarily displayed at the institution.

Prior to the event, the author said in a statement about his donation, "I want my Beatles collection to be kept together, in one place, and on public display, and the British Library is the perfect home for it.  I have always been pleased to see them in the Treasures Gallery, next to the Magna Carta, and works by Shakespeare and Beethoven, because that's where I honestly think they belong."

He added that he's been working on a new book focusing on The Beatles' lyrics, and explained that this inspired him to give the Fab Four-related collectibles to the library.

In response to Davies' donation, U.K. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said, "It's fantastic that the first treasures to be donated to the nation through the Cultural Gifts Scheme include the hand written lyrics to some of the world's best known songs, by one of the world's most loved artists.  Incredibly generous donations like these are testament to the strong culture of philanthropy that exists in Britain today."

According to the BBC, Lennon himself gave the documents to Davies, who became friends with the late Beatles legend during the 1960s.

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Rounder RecordsThe temporary restraining order Robert Plant recently obtained against a female fan has now been made permanent.  TMZ reports that Alysson Billings was ordered by a judge on Wednesday to stay at least 300 yards away from the former Led Zeppelin singer for the next three years.

According to the website's original report, Plant stated in court documents that the 40-something-year-old Billings believes she's in a relationship with the rock legend even though they've never met.  Plant claimed Billings has been sending flowers and leaving hotel keys for him and shows up at his concerts all over the world.

The veteran rocker also suggested that Billings' obsession with has taken a more ominous turn since he began dating his current girlfriend, singer/songwriter Patty Griffin.  In the court documents, Plant alleged that Billings had been sending him increasingly threatening messages like, "Your betrayal with another woman stabs my mind" and "This woman is literally evil for you...I cannot, will not, shall not live this way anymore."

Billings originally was required to stay 100 yards away from Plant, but the new ruling ups the distance threefold.

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