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JULIA ROBERTS has been appointed a global ambassador for a United Nations Foundation campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of deadly smoke from inefficient cookstoves.
The Hollywood actress first learned about the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves organisation earlier this year (11) when she sat down to interview U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her TV special Extraordinary Moms. The politician helped to launch the Alliance last year (10).
Roberts, a mother of three, has now joined forces with Clinton to bring attention to the need for modern, clean and safe stoves in the developing world, where many families rely on kitchen appliances or open fires fuelled by wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste to cook, which can cause potentially fatal health affects.
She says, "Nearly two million people around the world - mostly women and children - die each year from an activity that many of us take for granted: cooking for our families.
"I am proud to stand with Secretary Clinton to work to reduce the senseless and preventable deaths from unsafe cooking conditions in developing countries and I look forward to contributing to the important work of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves." Extraordinary Moms will air in the U.S. on the Oprah Winfrey Network on Saturday (07May11), on the eve of America’s Mothers Day (08May11).

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SIR PAUL McCARTNEY is engaged to wed girlfriend NANCY SHEVELL, his publicist has confirmed.
The Beatles legend, 68, began dating American heiress Shevell, 51, in 2007, a year after ending his marriage to former model-turned-activist Heather Mills.
They have kept their relationship relatively low-key, although they stepped out together on Monday (02May11) to attend the annual MET Gala at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A report on People.com early on Friday (06May11) suggested the couple is ready to exchange vows and now McCartney’s publicist has confirmed the happy news.
Representative Stuart Bell tells the Associated Press, "We’re all thrilled for him." It will be McCartney’s third trip to the altar. He lost his beloved first wife, Linda, to breast cancer in 1998 and was married to Mills for four years before their bitter split in 2006, which saw the star hand over $38.9 million (£24.3 million) to settle the divorce.
Shevell has been married once before.

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BOYZONE star KEITH DUFFY is competing in an extreme triathlon in Ireland to raise money for an autism charity in honour of his young daughter who has the condition.
The singer is training for the Ironman endurance race in September (11) - Duffy will first swim 1.1 miles (1.9 kilometres), then tackle a 56 mile (90 kilometres) cycle ride before ending with a run through the city of Galway.
Duffy is taking part in the challenge to benefit the Irish Autism Action organisation, of which he is a patron, after the help they gave him when his daughter Mia, 11, was diagnosed with the condition at 16 months old.
In a post on his fundraising page, he writes, "As you know, Irish Autism Action is a charity very close to my heart as my daughter Mia has autism. I have been Patron of Irish Autism Action for the last 9 years and have seen first hand the difference the charity can make to the lives of those affected by autism. I would very much appreciate your support.
"I’m taking part in this year’s Ironman down in Galway in September to raise much needed funds for the charity. In fact, I’ll have a load of people joining me on ‘Team Duffy’ to compete in Ironman on the day to try to raise as much funds as possible. Many thanks in advance for your support!"

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A screenplay written by slain rapper TUPAC SHAKUR has been given the green light to be made into a movie.
Live 2 Tell, which the hip-hop star wrote while he was in jail on weapons charges, centres around a teenage drug lord who tries to turn his back on a life of crime.
The script has been purchased by executives at NStar Studios, who have set the budget at $11 million (£6.9 million) and plan to begin production early next year (12).
Ivan Juzang, of NStar Studios, tells Variety, "This kid was a genius, and the net of it is, he was from this community, he knew the struggles these young people were dealing with. And he’s able to talk to young people in 2011, 2012, the same way he was able to talk to young people in 1995." It’s not the only Shakur-related project in the works - studio bosses at Morgan Creek Productions are making a film about his life.
The hip-hop hero was shot dead in Las Vegas in 1996.

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TAYLOR SWIFT is turning her last tour rehearsal into a benefit to raise funds for tornado victims in the U.S. before she heads out on a new trek around the globe.
Nearly 300 lives were lost when severe storms swept across America last week (beg25Apr11) and the Love Story hitmaker has vowed to help by inviting more than 12,000 fans to join her for a show in Tennessee on 21 May (11).
The event, called Speak Now… Help Now, will give fans a glimpse of the superstar’s new world tour before it officially kicks off in Nebraska on 27 May (11).
Swift tells the Associated Press, "I was watching the coverage of the tornadoes backstage at rehearsals, and I wanted to do something for the families affected by the damage. I’ve never opened a rehearsal to the public before, but I felt that inviting my fans to the last rehearsal for the Speak Now tour would be a great way to raise money.
"We will probably still be doing some fine-tuning to the show that night, since this will be a true rehearsal, but I feel like it is so important for me and my fans to help if we can."

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Comedienne TINA FEY resorts to making up her own songs for her hit U.S. comedy show 30 ROCK to avoid costly royalty fees.
Fey, the star and creator of the series, admits she and her castmates often take creative liberty with the music in order to keep production costs low.
She says, "We started making our own songs because it’s just free. We had this scene where it was like (we needed) this really crunchy lady music. And so we wanted to play Joni Mitchell and we couldn’t pay for it. So I was like, ‘We’ll just make it up.’" But Fey wasn’t exactly prepared when it was time to shoot the scene.
She adds, "It’s so bad. I forgot to write it so I had to improvise it. If you have to improvise Joni Mitchell you just have to sing really high with a Canadian accent. So I kept naming places in Canada like, ‘Oh, Medicine Hat.’"

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JUSTIN BIEBER’s record label bosses have struck a plea deal with prosecutors over charges stemming from the pop star’s chaotic appearance at a New York shopping mall in 2009.
The Baby hitmaker was forced to cancel a signing appearance in a Long Island mall after thousands of fans descended on the venue - overwhelming security teams and police, and sending one young girl to hospital.
After the incident, Bieber claimed he and several associates had been threatened with arrest unless he sent out a message to fans via his Twitter.com page, informing them the event had been cancelled and urging them to go home.
Bieber’s manager, Scott ‘Scooter’ Braun, reportedly refused to oblige to authorities’ request and subsequently surrendered to police to answer misdemeanour charges of reckless endangerment and criminal nuisance.
However, Braun is no longer in trouble with the law - bosses at Bieber’s record label, Island Def Jam, will take responsibility for the incident. Executives will plead guilty to violating a county fire ordinance and pay $8,000 (£5,000) for the cost of extra personnel needed to control the crowd that day, according to TMZ.com.
As part of the deal, Bieber, who stood by his manager during the furore, must also record another public service announcement to advocate against cyber-bullying.

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Actress GINNIFER GOODWIN endured a nightmare journey when she decided to move to New York - she broke down in tears after getting lost on her way to the city.
The Walk the Line star always had big hopes of making the trip the day after she graduated from theatre school, but she admits the confusing solo car ride from Boston, Massachusetts to the Big Apple in 2001 sent her into a fit of tears.
Describing the journey during an appearance on U.S. TV’s Live With Regis and Kelly on Friday (06May11), she says, "I saw the skyscrapers in the distance and I was driving back and forth and I called my mother crying. It was before we had navigation systems and iPhones. And I couldn’t drive and look at the map.
"So I called my mum crying and I said, ‘I know I had this lofty dream of moving to New York City the day after I graduated, but I can’t figure out how to get there. (But) I can see it.’ There were bridges and tears. My sweet mother was like, ‘I’m putting you up in a hotel and you’ll figure it out tomorrow.’"

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TV mogul ANTHONY ZUIKER is heading for a bitter court battle with his estranged wife after challenging her bid for sole custody of their three children.
The brains behind the CSI dramas wed Jennifer in 1999; she filed for divorce last week (ends29Apr11), citing irreconcilable differences.
Jennifer also asked for full custody of their sons, but Zuiker hit back at the request in legal papers of his own this week (begs02May11).
He is demanding joint legal and physical custody of the boys, reports TMZ.com.

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Oscar nominated actor JAMES CROMWELL has written an open letter to the president of America’s Jockey Club, calling on the sporting boss to pledge his support to a PETA campaign to care for retired racehorses.
Organisers at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have proposed the Thoroughbred 360 Lifecycle Retirement Fund, which raises money to help look after racehorses no longer in their prime and save them from slaughter.
And, on the eve (06May11) of the U.S. Kentucky Derby, one of the industry’s most anticipated races, Cromwell is urging The Jockey Club president James Gagliano to give his backing to the cause.
In the letter, issued to WENN, Cromwell writes, "These magnificent animals should not end up on a meat hook after a terrifying journey to a terrifying death.
"I urge the Jockey Club, as the only official body that deals with every thoroughbred owner in every racing state, to implement PETA’s Thoroughbred 360 Lifecycle Retirement Fund without delay."

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JAVIER BARDEM has urged government and technology companies around the world to stop using minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo in laptops and cell phones in a bid to combat rape in the African region.
The Vicky Cristina Barcelona star is backing the Raise Hope for the Congo organisation’s campaign The Enough Project, which highlights how sex attacks on women are common during an ongoing turf war to control the area’s minerals.
These minerals are subsequently used in several gadgets, including phones and computers, and Bardem wants technology bosses to take a stand against them.
He says, "The most dangerous place for being a mother and a daughter is Congo, in the entire world. Rape as a weapon is something that happens in Congo and it’s incredible to think about that. It’s happening in order for us to get the best materials for our cellphones, our laptops.
"I have a phone and a laptop and a computer… all of them, they have these materials coming straight from the Congo which create this misery. In other words (it) is to say that our wealthy life is based on the misery of others… We really need to demand to the companies and to the governments, free conflict minerals for laptops, for cell phones. Rape free minerals." Bardem is also hoping the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who has previously visited the region, will throw her support behind the drive ahead of America’s Mother’s Day on Sunday (08May11).
He adds, "Mother’s Day, the mother-in-chief, Hillary Clinton… we ask Hillary Clinton to help us do that. As a mother, she will understand what it means to be a mother and the circumstances for many mothers out there. A Mother’s Day for any of us who has a laptop or a cell phone, lets give the mothers and daughters of Congo a chance for peace."

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Pregnant star MELANIE BROWN is working on her pop comeback - because she has so much "downtime" now she’s expecting a baby.
The former Spice Girl, who has two daughters from previous relationships, is set to welcome her first child with husband Stephen Belafonte this summer (11).
But Brown is refusing to put her feet up now she’s pregnant - she’s working on tracks in her home studio and hopes to release a follow-up to 2005’s L.A. State of Mind before the end of the year (11).
She says, "I’ve had a studio built in my house, so hopefully I’ll get something out this year. Being pregnant means I have a lot of downtime. I come from a pop background so that’s what I’d like to do."

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Actress SOPHIA BUSH is baffled by criticisms of U.S. President BARACK OBAMA for allowing terrorist leader OSAMA BIN LADEN to be shot dead - insisting the world should "rejoice".
The One Tree Hill star was quick to take to her Twitter.com page after it was announced the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks had died at the hands of the U.S. military at the weekend (30Apr11-01May11), telling her followers, "Watching Americans, and visitors from around the world, chanting ‘USA!’ together outside the White House is bringing tears to my eyes. Today is a great day for all of us." Differing reports about the circumstances around bin Laden’s death, and whether or not he was armed, have emerged since the weekend, with some critics slamming Obama for allowing him to be killed instead of captured.
But Bush is fully supportive of Obama and is hopeful the al-Qaeda leader’s death will be "the end of his influence" as "the world is a better place with him gone".
On her Twitter page, she writes, "We found one of the world’s most evil terrorists. We should all rejoice his capture… the number of people responding saying ‘a murder should never be celebrated,’ really? There is NO ONE celebrating a death. In any case, death is terrible.
"However ANY criminal, in any situation, who resists arrest with a firearm is going to get shot. Period. And this particular man, guilty of murdering thousands of people, in a number of countries around the world, is no different. I’m sure the military would have loved to take him alive. The wealth of information he could have given us would have been incredible. But he didn’t surrender. Nor did he give that chance, of life, of escaping a tragic death, to the thousands of people he mercilessly killed over the years.
"So before you judge the people celebrating, think. It’s not his death they are cheering. It’s the end of his influence, his vitriol, his psychotic propaganda. The world is a better place with him gone. And I for one am proud of the US military for providing all of us with such security."

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HUGH GRANT, SALMA HAYEK and JEREMY PIVEN are leading the star-studded cast of a new animated 3D pirate movie.
Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Imelda Staunton, Russell Tovey and Ashley Jensen have also signed up to voice characters in The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists.
Grant will play a captain who battles it out with his bitter high-seas rivals, voiced by Piven and Hayek, to win the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award in the film, which is set for release next year (12).
Producer Peter Lord says, "I’m so grateful to the entire cast for their talent and energy. The characters that they’ve created fill the screen with life and fun. As the Pirate Captain, Hugh Grant has given a stand-out performance… only Hugh could anchor this story of love, loyalty, greed, and nautical high-jinks."

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GEORGE MICHAEL is set to hit the road for a new tour, just three years after he quit performing live.
The Faith hitmaker played two London concerts, dubbed The Final Two, in 2008 and announced the shows would mark the end of his career on the stage.
He recently released a new track called True Faith, as well as recording a cover of Stevie Wonder’s You & I in honour of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding last month (29Apr11) - and now he’s preparing to sing the songs to his fans during a string of arena shows.
In a series of posts on his Twitter.com page on Friday (06May11), he writes, "Ok, get ready people, TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! This tour will be very different from 25 Live tour." He then jokes, "For a start, having lost 15 pounds since then, I’m thinking of doing it naked… Just to show off my youthful physique." Michael adds, "You will probably be happy to hear that I changed my mind and decided to play arenas after all… There was no other way to make sure you all get a chance to see the show." And when asked by a follower if he’d perform his rendition of You & I, he replied, "Yes, definitely."

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WILL FERRELL is convinced his 2006 movie STRANGER THAN FICTION would have been a hit if RUSSELL CROWE had tackled his role, insisting there is an "absolute bias" on comedians who attempt to make dramas.
The funnyman stunned fans after signing up to play a lonely office worker alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal in the movie, and admits he loved the experience despite the film’s lukewarm reception.
But Ferrell is adamant it would have been more popular had a more serious star signed up for the lead role.
He tells the Wall Street Journal, "I did Stranger Than Fiction and it wasn’t like the floodgates opened and I got sent a bunch of serious dramatic roles. I don’t think I got sent any…
"I liked that movie a lot, and people recognised it as a nice piece of work. That having been said, what disappoints me is that there’s still a stigma attached to the fact that a comedic actor did that role.
"If it was a dramatic actor, I think that movie would have been put on more of a pedestal. I say to Marc Forster, had you cast Russell Crowe you might have gotten more credit as a director. There’s an absolute bias."

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KELLY OSBOURNE has whisked her mum SHARON to Las Vegas to celebrate America’s Mother’s Day on Sunday (08May11) - and has vowed to donate any money she wins from gambling to charity.
Kelly and her mum have always been close, and they jetted off to Sin City on Thursday (05May11) to spend a girly weekend together.
In a post on her Twitter.com page, Kelly writes, "On the way to vegas with my Mumma… to spend Mothers day with her. I have the best mum in the world." Updating her fans once they’d settled in, Kelly declared she’d already won cash on the slot machines - and, after using the money to buy a gift for Sharon, planned to give all her other winnings to her mother’s charity, the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program.
Kelly adds, "Just won $120 on a 1 cent slot machine! I never win anything. The money I won is going towards my mums mothers day gift! But if I win any more money from the slots it’s all going to my mum’s colon cancer charity! On my way back down to test my luck!"

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A spokesperson for NOEL GALLAGHER has warned fans not to be fooled by a fake Twitter.com page announcing false information about the rocker’s solo plans.
A prankster created an "official" page on the microblogging site under the name NoelDGGallagher and sent followers into a frenzy after promising a single from the star in August (11) and his debut solo album in September (11).
But a representative has moved swiftly to clear up swirling rumours, telling Spinnermusic.co.uk, "It’s not official. None of the information on it is correct." Gallagher walked away from Oasis in 2009 following a bust-up with his brother Liam.

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