Newman backs Kosovo appeal

Newman's last role was in Message in a Bottle (1999)

The actor Paul Newman is donating $250,00 to US charity Catholic Relief Services to help the refugees and others suffering in the crisis in Kosovo.

"It is our hope that by giving this donation to the Kosovo refugees, we will set an example that other corporations will follow to alleviate the plight of these unfortunate people," the actor said in a statement.

The 74-year-old Hollywood veteran and founder of Newman's Own food company is an ardent philanthropist and has raised over $100m in support of various charities.

Newman's enduring work has earnt him a collection of eight Oscars for films such as The Hustler, The Hudsucker Proxy, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and The Sting.

Meanwhile, the amount of money pledged by the British public for Kosovo after TV appeals by Jill Dando and Juliet Stevenson has now reached about £5m.

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Marti Pellow leaves clinic

Marti Pellow: "Feels great"

Wet Wet Wet star Marti Pellow has left a London clinic after three weeks of therapy, according to The Sun newspaper.

The 34-year-old star has apparently told friends he "feels great" and will join the rest of the band in the recording studio next week.

The pop star checked into the Priory clinic after collapsing at a London hotel in February.

The singer was barely out of his teens when the Scottish band's first album Popped In, Souled Out topped the charts in 1987.

The 10-year-old group's biggest selling single, Love is All Around, was featured in hit British film Four Weddings and a Funeral and was number one for 16 weeks.

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Arrest made in rap murder case

The Lost Boyz released Love, Peace and Nappiness in 1997

A New York man has been arrested in connection with the murder on 28 March of Lost Boyz rapper Freaky Tah.

A police spokesperson said Rasheem Fletcher, 22, was charged with second-degree murder of the hip-hop star - real name Raymond Rogers - outside a South Jamaica hotel.

"The investigation is still ongoing," she added.

Police have said the 25-year-old Rogers had a long-running feud with Fletcher.

The Lost Boyz are made up of boyhood friends who admitted being former small-time drug dealers.

They had a best-selling album in the US in 1996 called Legal Drug Money, which was followed up with Love, Peace and Nappiness in 1997.

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Celine postpones gigs to nurse husband

Celine Dion: Taking a break

Singer Celine Dion has postponed her forthcoming concerts in order to spend more time with her husband who is battling with skin cancer.

Rene Angelil, 56, has had surgery and will now undergo radiation therapy for six weeks.

His doctor, Robert Steckler, said: "His prognosis is excellent."

The couple have been married for five years.

Dion, 30, said recently she wants to take time off to have children with Angelil, who is also her manager.