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U2 frontman BONO’s philanthropic efforts have been laughed off in a new book after its authors branded the rocker’s credit card campaign bogus.
The star launched his global RED brand in 2006, partnering huge retail companies including Gap, American Express and Converse who share profits to help fight AIDS in Africa.
But authors Steve Lowe, Alan McArthur and Brendan Hay insist the musician’s partnership with the credit giant is just a gimmick.
In Is It Just Me or Is Everything S**t - Insanely Annoying Modern Things, they write: "Certainly, if you get one of Bono/American Express’ Red Cards (where a tiny percentage of your capricious spending is forwarded on to the poor starving African babies) and you spend, spend, spend enough with it - you know, really absolutely totally ruining yourself - you could end famine. All of this while living in a cool contemporary apartment drinking crisp white wine." (JMA/PYN/LR) WENN - FIFTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 27 OCTOBER 2008

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French rapper DOC GYNECO has been sentenced to a 10-month suspended jail term for tax fraud.
The reggae/rap artist - real name Bruno Beausir - was charged with failing to pay more than $444,000 (GBP284,142) to the French government between 1999 and 2000.
Beausir reportedly told the court he was "badly informed" about the country’s tax rules, though he made no comment following the trial in Versailles, France on Monday (27Oct08).
The hip-hop star - whose latest album was produced by the son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 22-year-old Pierre - has since reimbursed the sum in full in addition to a financial penalty of more than 100 per cent.

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Former DIRTY PRETTY THINGS star CARL BARAT is recovering from a bout of pneumonia.
The singer, previously of The Libertines, was hospitalised earlier this month (Oct08) and diagnosed with the deadly lung disease.
He is now recovering at home.
He tells British publication the London Paper, "I was in hospital for five days. There were so many needles in me I looked like a pin cushion." Barat - who disbanded Dirty Pretty Things on 1 October (08) - was previously stricken by acute pancreatitis which saw him rushed to hospital in June (08).

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SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS’ pop band DANITY KANE has lost its third member in less than a month after singer SHANNON BEX reportedly quit.
The group, put together by Combs for his reality TV series Making The Band, has only two remaining members after singers Aubrey O’day and D. Woods’ were fired by the mogul in the finale of Making the Band 4 earlier this month (Oct08).
According to New York’s Z100 radio host Elvis Duran, Bex announced her departure after tiring of disputes between the remaining members and their Bad Boy boss.
A spokesperson for the band has yet to comment on the reports.

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Rapper KANYE WEST is furious after a track from his new album leaked on the internet, and denies he was responsible for the song’s release.
The hip-hop star’s new LP, 808s & Heartbreak, is set to hit shops next month (Nov08).
But fans can already hear one of his new tracks, Robocop, after it recently found its way onto the internet.
Despite rumours he deliberately released the tune early, West isn’t happy about the song’s premature debut on the web - insisting the track isn’t finished.
He writes on his official blog, "I did not leak Robocop!!! That’s not even the finished version. I’m pretty upset about it, but that’s the way life is sometimes!"

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The eldest daughter of U2 star BONO is at the centre of a security lapse which has seen her personal details posted online.
Jordan Hewson, 19, is currently studying politics and history at a prestigious university in the U.S. and the institution has come under fire for revealing her home address, telephone number and personal email address on the web.
The details have now been removed from the university’s website, according to Irish newspaper the Sunday World.
The blunder comes a year after it was revealed that the rocker’s daughter was once the target of a foiled kidnap plot.
Martin ‘The General’ Cahill’s daughter alleged in her book that Hewson was the target of a gang who hoped to extract a multi-million dollar ransom from her famous father in 1994. Frances Cahill claimed Martin help stopped the alleged plot.

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Soccer ace DAVID BECKHAM has denied he is planning to launch a career as a movie star - insisting it will "never" happen.
The sports star has been rumoured to be eyeing a career in Hollywood, with help from his close pal Tom Cruise.
But Beckham is adamant there is no truth to the reports.
He tells British magazine GQ, "What film career? I haven’t got one. Never say never, except about that! And that’s the way it’s going to stay."

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JOHN TRAVOLTA has decided not to reprise his role as EDNA TURNBLAD in an upcoming sequel to movie musical HAIRSPRAY.
The Hollywood actor caused a sensation with his critically acclaimed portrayal, cross-dressing and donning a fat-suit for the role.
But Travolta is adamant that he won’t be returning for a second installment because he is not a fan of movie sequels.
He tells Moviehole.net, "I think once is enough. I did it and I did it well but I’m not a big sequel guy".

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HEIDI KLUM is under pressure to find another home for her hit U.S. reality TV show PROJECT RUNWAY after its former network replaced the programme with another fashion contest.
Bosses at NBC station Bravo issued a court order to block the show’s $150 million (£96million) sale to Lifetime network last summer (08).
The suit is scheduled for court next month (Nov08), but network executives have reportedly scrapped plans to hold off on replacing the show until litigation is settled.
TV bosses at Bravo have announced auditions for the new show - tentatively called Fashion House - in four U.S. cities starting next Sunday (26Oct08).
Earlier this month (Oct08), Klum said of her show’s forthcoming season: "We don’t know what will happen, so we’re kind of waiting to hear what the bigwigs have to say on what’s gonna happen with this battle. I just hope we air."

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LINDSAY LOHAN’s father MICHAEL regrets launching a scathing attack on his daughter’s girlfriend SAMANTHA RONSON - insisting he is sorry for the things he said.
Michael Lohan recently rallied against Lindsay’s relationship with the British DJ, describing Ronson as "dark, hideous and a disgusting representation of humanity".
The Mean Girls star hit back, calling her father a "bully" and a "coward".
Lohan now admits that he feels ashamed of his outburst and has apologised for his harsh words.
He tells UsWeekly.com, "I definitely regret all the things I said about Samantha. I’m a Christian. I should not pass judgment on anyone."

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U.S. 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 (07) after state officials discovered motorists were using its bathrooms for x-rated romps.
The portable toilets installed outside the pit stop have reportedly failed to put an end to customers’ lewd behaviour - prompting officials to block off the entire parking area.
But state officials are blaming the nation’s economic recession on the closure.
A spokesperson for the New Jersey Transportation office tells the New York Post: "Unfortunately, it’s a sign of the economic times. The cost of maintaining it was too much."

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Rock band ORANGE JUICE are to reform - just three years after frontman EDWYN COLLINS almost died from a brain haemorrhage.
The group will reunite to play a one-off gig for the Nordoff-Robbins charity in their native Scotland next month (Nov08).
They enjoyed a huge hit with Rip It Up in 1983 but split in 1985 after describing their career as a "rollercoaster ride".
Collins launched a successful solo career, soaring up the charts in the 1990s with the song A Girl Like You.
Drummer Steven Daly became a Vanity Fair journalist in New York, and bassist David McClymont moved to Melbourne, Australia where he occasionally played bass for Kylie Minogue.
In 2005, Collins was admitted to hospital and placed in intensive care after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Following surgery, he recovered but experienced side effects which limited his movement. He returned to the stage in 2007, and in June (08) he played at Britain’s legendary Glastonbury Festival.

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Actress ELIZABETH BANKS has a high-flying hobby - she’s addicted to swinging on a trapeze.
The Spider-Man star loves performing the circus stunt in her spare time, and has mastered a series of impressive acrobatics.
And she likens swinging on the high bars to a drug, insisting it’s easy to get hooked on the thrill.
The star’s favourite move is the "split catch" - when the performer hangs upside down and does the splits in mid-air.
Banks tells USA Today newspaper, "The first time it’s like no feeling in the world, like no drug
. They say on the website you don’t have to worry about being afraid of it, you have to worry about getting addicted." But the actress admits there is a down side to swinging on a trapeze, adding: "My legs are banged up a bit, but it’s ok
. They’re war wounds."

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ANTONIO ‘L.A.’ REID has come to the defence of Welsh singer DUFFY - insisting she won’t follow the same path as troubled star AMY WINEHOUSE.
The Def Jam Records chairman admits the two have often been compared for their smoky, sultry voices.
But Reid is convinced Duffy will avoid the personal and professional turmoil that has dogged Winehouse as she struggles with legal woes and drug addiction.
He tells the New York Daily News: "I don’t think she drinks and smokes and curses the way (Winehouse) does. Duffy is very promising. She’s a real songwriter."

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KISS star GENE SIMMONS has criticised celebrities who use their popularity to sway the forthcoming U.S. presidential election.
America is set to go to the polls on 4 November (08) 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.
But Simmons insists that Americans should be free to make up their own minds.
He tells Blabbermouth.net, "Everyone is so touchy about the forthcoming election. And for the record, I don’t believe any celebrity should be using their bully pulpit to coerce their fans to vote either way. I refuse to tell anyone what my political leanings are. I agree with both parties on certain issues and strongly disagree with both candidates on other issues. Vote for either candidate, but vote."

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Rapper PHIFE DAWG has undergone a successful kidney transplant operation.
The A Tribe Called Quest star - real name Malik Taylor - was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990 and his condition worsened over the following ten years, leading to him requiring regular dialysis treatment.
Taylor was on a waiting list for a new kidney for two years before he finally underwent the operation.
And his bandmate Q-Tip insists he is making a good recovery.
He tells Allhiphop.com, "He’s doing great! He just had a successful kidney transplant so shouts out to Phife diggity dog! That’s my n***a right there.”

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LATEST: JENNIFER HUDSON is "distraught" after police investigating the disappearance of her nephew found the body of a child.
Seven-year-old Julian King went missing on Friday (24Oct08) following the murder of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson and her brother Jason Hudson at their home in Chicago, Illinois.
The child, son of Hudson’s sister Julia, was staying with his grandmother when the shooting took place, and he has not been seen since.
The Dreamgirls star offered a $100,000 (£64,100) cash reward for the youngster’s safe return and authorities issued an Amber Alert in the search for the missing boy, launching a statewide campaign to find him.
But now the body of an African-American child has been discovered inside a 1994 white Chevy Suburban car in Chicago - believed to be owned by Jason Hudson - leading to fears that Julian King may already be dead.
Hudson’s personal assistant, identified only as Jay, called Fox News shortly after the discovery was announced, insisting that the singer/actress is devastated by the possibility that her young nephew may have perished, saying: "She is so distraught she cannot talk." The car was found on Monday (27Oct08) and has now been removed from the scene in Chicago by authorities
. The body had not been identified as WENN went to press.
The vehicle is said to have been reported missing on Friday (24Oct08) and neighbours in the area where it was found reportedly told police it had been parked there since Saturday.
The gruesome find was just a few miles from where Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, was arrested by police, according to TMZ.com
. He is currently being quizzed by cops over the slayings, and authorities have described him as "a person of interest"
.

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Police investigating the disappearance of JENNIFER HUDSON’s nephew have found the body of a child.
Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew Julian King disappeared on Friday (24Oct08) following the murder of her mother Darnell Donnerson and her brother Jason Hudson at their home in Chicago, Illinois.
Seven-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson’s sister Julia, was staying with his grandmother when the shooting took place, and he has not been seen since.
The Dreamgirls star offered a $100,000 (£64,100) cash reward for the youngster’s safe return and authorities issued an Amber Alert in the search for the missing boy, launching a statewide campaign to find the child.
But now the body of an African-American child has been discovered inside a 1994 white Chevy Suburban car in Chicago - believed to be owned by Jason Hudson - leading to fears that Julian King may already be dead. The car was found on Monday (27Oct08) and has now been removed from the scene in Chicago by authorities. The body had not been identified as WENN went to press.
The gruesome find was discovered just a few miles from where Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, was arrested by police, according to TMZ.com. He is currently being quizzed by cops over the slayings.
(LR/WNWCZM/LJ) WENN - BREAKING NEWS - 27 OCTOBER 2008 ————————————————————————–

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