Celebs slam G-8

Bono, Bob Geldof, and other celebrities pressed the world's wealthiest countries yesterday to come through with more pledged financial aid for Africa. The Irish rock stars-turned-activists presented a report that found the Group of Eight countries have collectively donated a fraction of the $22 billion they pledged in 2005 to be paid by 2010. "What this big, long, exact, cold, and brutal analysis shows us is that halfway to this historic date of 2010 - halfway - these wealthy countries . . . have delivered 14 percent," Geldof told reporters in Paris. "What a failure for all of us." The report by Data, an advocacy group aimed at wiping out extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa, says aid is working but countries are falling behind in their commitments. Bono, Geldof, singer Angelique Kidjo, tennis star-turned-singer Yannick Noah, and aid workers laid out the findings in Paris, partly to put pressure on France near the July 1 start of its presidency of the European Union. (AP)

They may not know how famous she is, but the students at a Staten Island, N.Y., elementary school for autistic children still enjoyed a visit by Jennifer Lopez. The Bronx-born singer and actress visited P.S. 37 on Tuesday for the graduation ceremony of a group of 10- and 11-year-olds. Teacher Kathy Amati says the children "really like her singing and dancing." Amati and a paraprofessional had shown the video for "Let's Get Loud" to the students. They loved it so much they wanted to watch it every day - and learned the lyrics and dance moves. With their teacher's encouragement, they wrote Lopez, hoping for pictures or an autograph. Instead, J.Lo asked to go to their graduation. (AP)

Queen Latifah (inset) yesterday sued a small film production company that helped finance the movie "The Perfect Holiday," saying she had not been paid any money for the film. Lawyers for the Oscar-nominated actress and Grammy-winning singer, whose real name is Dana Owens, said in the lawsuit that Perfect Christmas Productions had breached her contract and owed her $275,000. (Reuters)

Javier Bardem has won Spain's 2008 national film award, an honor given annually by the Culture Ministry. Bardem was selected for the $46,500 prize for "goals achieved throughout a long career." He also won this year's best supporting actor Oscar for "No Country for Old Men." (AP)