Angelina issues plea

In an article for the Washington Post, Angelina Jolie has issued an urgent call for relief funds on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. After a tour of refugee camps close to the Sudanese border, Jolie warned that the UNHCR and NGO aid agencies are in "a race against time before the rainy season comes" later this month. "There has been a groundswell of public support for action," the actress writes. "People may disagree on how to intervene - airstrikes, sending troops, sanctions, divestment - but we all should agree that the slaughter must be stopped and the perpetrators brought to justice... It has become clear to me that there will be no enduring peace without justice. History shows that there will be another Darfur, another exodus, in a vicious cycle of bloodshed and retribution. But an international court finally exists. It will be as strong as the support we give it. This might be the moment we stop the cycle of violence and end our tolerance for crimes against humanity... What the worst people in the world fear is justice. That's what we should deliver." Read the full article here.

Marky-Mark passed on Brokeback role

Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix were offered the Brokeback Mountain roles eventually portrayed by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Wahlberg admits he was relieved not to get the part because he was uncomfortable with the sex scenes. "I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out," the Departed actor said. "It was very graphic, descriptive - the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, 'I like you, you're a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more...' Thankfully, he didn't." The former underwear model hasn't actually seen the finished film, and says, "I didn't rush to see Brokeback, it's just not my deal... Obviously, it was done in taste - look how it was received."

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Royal welcome for the Queen

Helen Mirren received another standing ovation for her Oscar-winning performance in The Queen - this time at London's Heathrow Airport. "I've just had the most incredible welcome to my country. It's very, very sweet," Mirren said after spending twenty minutes signing autographs in the baggage claim area. Applause followed the actress even as she left the terminal and climbed into her car.

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Another driving infraction for Paris

Paris Hilton is in trouble with the police again after being stopped for speeding and driving without her headlights late yesterday. The socialite was nabbed leaving the West Hollywood Virgin Megastore last night and cited for driving with a suspended license. Hilton's rep said his client was leaving a parking garage that "is brightly lit so she had not noticed that her headlights were not activated." Though police say the heiress was driving too fast, Hilton says she was not told she was speeding and was not aware of her license being suspended. "When she called me, she asked if her license was suspended," said her rep. "If that's the case, she and I are unaware of it."

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Out and about

(click on thumbnails for larger images)

Ryan Phillippe out with Ava and Deacon


A blond Victoria Beckham leaving Fred Segal


Mandy Moore at Vancouver airport


Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham leaving Spago


Tara Reid at the premiere of Wild Hogs


Jake Gyllenhaal in NYC's Meatpacking District


Gwyneth Paltrow in LA


Reese Witherspoon in Santa Monica


Lindsay Lohan on the set of I Know Who Killed Me

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Diddy investigated for Oscar-night punch-up

New daddy Diddy is the subject of an investigation by the LAPD for allegedly assaulting a man at an Oscar party on Sunday night. 27-year-old Gerard Rechnitzer was on his way to the parking lot at the Roosevelt Hotel at around 2 a.m. and stopped off to use the bathroom. He emerged to find his fiancee surrounded by Diddy and five other men, and approached to get his fiancee to leave with him. Diddy reportedly invited Rechnitzer's fiancee to a party he was having and when Rechnitzer asked his date to leave again, Diddy allegedly punched him in the jaw. Rechnitzer called 911, but by the time the LAPD arrived on scene Diddy had left. The LAPD are said to be looking into the matter.

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Madonna puts in overtime at the gym

Madonna works hard to keep up her fit form - and rarely takes a day off from exercising. "I mix it up - Pilates, gyrotonics, yoga," says the pop superstar. "I do it six days a week, with Sundays off... Actually Sunday is a day of horse riding. There's no such thing as a day off." She does admit, however, to spoiling her diet once in a while by having "fat days." "I run longer on the treadmill and don't eat as much the next day, so then it evens out, but I'm sure it's all in my head."

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