Madonna plans massive Malawi fundraiser

London, July 25 – Pop diva Madonna is planning a global fundraiser to benefit Malawi.

The pop superstar, who has adopted two children from the impoverished African nation, has poured money into the region through her Raising Malawi Foundation and is said to be organising a new charity concert to boost donations, reports mirror.co.uk.

Madonna has reportedly recruited U2 frontman Bono to perform at the Walk Out of Poverty event, which will take place in September this year.

‘Plans are in place to make this the biggest fundraiser the world has ever seen. Madonna is throwing everything into it. She knows the bigger the event, the more money will be raised,’ said a source.

The publication claims 60,000 fans will be given free tickets to the stadium concert in Blantyre, Malawi.

Halle Berry in cameo on ‘The Simpsons’

London, July 25 – Hollywood actress Halle Berry is set for a cameo appearance in an Oscar-inspired episode of ‘The Simpsons’.

The actress will play herself in a story which see her present an Academy Award to both Bart Simpson and his dad Homer, reports imdb.com.

‘It’s a bit of a satire of the different Oscar acceptances where two people clearly race to the stage to get there first, and Homer and Bart are fighting to be the one that accepts,’ said producer Al Jean.

The episode is scheduled to air in early 2011.

Kate Winslet going around with younger model?

London, July 25 – Oscar-award winning actress Kate Winslet is reportedly moving on following her split from director Sam Mendes, as she has been linked to a younger male model.

The ‘Titanic’ star is said to have met Louis Dowler through mutual friends after ending her relationship with the ‘American Beauty’ director earlier this year, and the pair has since become inseparable, reports imdb.com.

‘Louis has been spending a lot of time with Kate recently and they were in New York together while he was shooting an advert. They’ve been on lots of dates and get on really well. It’s early days for them but they enjoy each other’s company,’ said a source.

‘They have been desperate to keep the relationship under wraps so they’ve been a bit low-key so far. Louis has a good sense of humour and really is a lovely guy. They are trying to plan their diaries to make sure they can spend as much time together as they can. They hope to visit Cornwall together in the summer for a holiday,’ the source added.

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Elton John has a candle room!

London, July 25 – ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer Elton John actully has a candle room!

The singer, who lives in a lavish mansion in the US with his husband David Furnish, adores the mood lightings so much he has an entire cupboard filled with them for him to use whenever he wants, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

‘My favourite part was his candle room… it was like a big cupboard thing and he had candles in every room, and it smelled amazing. So clean,’ said British pop rock band McFly singer Danny Jones, who recently visited the music legend’s house with his bandmates.

While he clearly loves candles, Elton also collects vases, and has so many there is hardly a clear surface in his entire home.

‘His place is full of art, it’s like a museum. Vases! He collects vases and there’s not enough room on the table to put your drink down,’ said McFly.

Danny’s bandmate Dougie Poynter, who appears in the band alongside Harry Judd and Tom Fletcher, had a great time looking around the lavish home, but was terrified he’d end up breaking something.

‘He had a statue that was from 200 BC or something, you know, the really old Greek-style things? The people from ‘The Lion King’ bought one to say thank you for all the songs. I could quite easily just have knocked it over,’ said Poynter.

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Williams to slim down for Take That reunion

London, July 25 – British singer Robbie Williams is planning to slim down for his Take That comeback by signing up for a gruelling triathlon.

The pop star has rejoined the group and is set to embark on a tour, 15 years after he quit to pursue a solo career. The singer admits he is desperate to hit the road with the toned body he sported in the boyband’s heyday and has embarked on a strict diet and exercise routine to lose weight, reports contactmusic.com.

‘I’ve been having these set meals with 1,800 calories a day. But the problem is then I get really hungry – even after 1,800 I’m still starving. So I’ve been supplementing them with lots of chocolate and cake,’ he said.

‘It’s getting tougher and tougher to get the weight off now that I’m getting older. But there’s a triathlon in Los Angeles coming up so I’m going to do it – I definitely need to do something,’ he added.

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Barton gives up bottle for career

New York, July 25 – Hollywood actress Mischa Barton is kicking off her career comeback with a healthy new lifestyle and has quit drinking to begin with.

The former ‘O.C.’ star admitted to hitting ‘rock bottom’ when she was placed on involuntary psychiatric hold last summer following the cancellation of her TV series ‘The Beautiful Life’.

Hollywood.com reports that the meltdown, which Barton blamed on botched dental surgery, came two years after she was charged with driving under the influence stemming from a December 2007 arrest in Los Angeles.

But the actress is determined to turn her career around and clean up her act.

‘I’m being healthy and working hard. I have had lots of offers coming in and as well as reading through scripts, I’m also designing my own range of bags. I love England and I’ve been desperate to get here to see my friends and my boyfriend, but it’s been hard with the stuff going on in the States,’ she said.

‘I’m avoiding drinking, which is a shame as there’s nothing better than a glass of delicious English Pimm’s,’ she added.

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Jolie gets free time only in shower

London, July 25 – Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie claims that the only time she gets to be alone is in the bath.

The ‘Salt’ actress, who raises six children with partner Brad Pitt, struggles to get any peaceful moments away from her large family, even early in the mornings, reports askmen.com.

‘I wake up. I’ve got four kids in bed with me and Brad is on the phone and with the twins. I just don’t get any solitude – most people with kids don’t. Sometimes you get a bath or a shower but usually somebody is trying to get in. You get used to it,’ she said.

However, the 35-year-old explained that support from Pitt helped her to keep everything under control.

‘Brad and I take turns – like now, he’s working so I’m home with the kids and then in four months I’ll be itching to do something. It does balance itself out mainly because I have an extraordinary partner who gives me that time,’ she said.