NEW YORK (AP) — Actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie said Thursday that the reinforcement of U.S. troops in Iraq has created an opportunity for humanitarian programs to boost assistance for Iraqi refugees.

In an op-ed piece published by the Washington Post, titled “A Reason to Stay in Iraq,” Jolie details the plight of refugees and says their conditions have not improved since she visited the country last August to urge governments to provide more support.

Jolie, who has been a U.N. goodwill ambassador since 2001, was in Baghdad earlier this month to again highlight the refugee problem. She talked with Gen. David Petraeus, the American military commander in Iraq, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the U.S. Embassy said.

Petraeus “told me he would support new efforts to address the humanitarian crisis” as much as possible, “which leaves me hopeful that more progress can be made,” the actress wrote.

She said she stressed to Iraqi officials there must be a coherent plan for helping some 2 million Iraqis who are taking advantage of the downturn in violence to begin trickling back to abandoned homes from havens elsewhere in the country. A similar number fled Iraq to escape the bloodshed.

“It will be quite a while before Iraq is ready to absorb more than 4 million refugees and displaced people,” Jolie wrote. “But it is not too early to start working on solutions.”

The actress, who works on behalf of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, urged America’s presidential candidates and congressional leaders to step up financing for aid to displaced Iraqis. UNHCR has asked for $261 million this year — “less than the U.S. spends each day to fight the war in Iraq,” she wrote.

Addressing the question of whether the “troop surge” has worked, Jolie said that “I can only state what I witnessed.”

“When I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq,” she wrote. “They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.”

Source: The Associated Press

According to The Sun, Angelina and Brad are expecting one child only, and it´s a girl. The report also says that the couple is moving to France to raise their children there in honour of Jolie´s late mother.

Angelina’s mum, actress MARCHELINE BERTRAND, died last year and the star wants to embrace her French heritage by bringing up her new tot over there.

After months of house-hunting Brad and Angelina — who revealed her bump in a tight black dress at the weekend — have bought a chateau in the south of France and plan to make it their family home.

When their newborn arrives this summer the couple will be parents to five kids.

There will then be three little girls in the French fortress, including adopted daughter ZAHARA and their baby girl SHILOH.

They and adopted sons MADDOX and PAX are being immersed in their new culture, learning the language.

Maddox is even enrolled at a French school in the States.

The source added: “Angelina is proud of her French roots and wants her latest addition to be born and raised there.”

Source: The Sun

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s representatives are still refusing to confirm or deny the actress’ reported pregnancy, which was the talk of the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday.The Hollywood couple arrived 10 minutes before the start of the ceremony in Santa Monica, California - where Jolie was nominated for a Best Female Lead prize.

Reports have suggested not only is Jolie pregnant with Pitt’s second natural child, but she’s expecting twins this time around.But the couple’s spokeswoman, Cindy Guagenti, offers a firm “no comment” on the rumours.

Source: IOL

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who have yet to officially acknowledge that Jolie is pregnant, with twins to boot, left little doubt in anyone’s mind that she is indeed pregnant when they attended the Film Independent’s Spirit Awards Saturday, February 23.

Jolie wore a black form fitting dress that showed a massive belly bump that could not be confused for anything other than a pregnancy.

We guess congratulations are in order.

Source: GossipGirls

BRAD Pitt has a live-in nurse looking after a reportedly pregnant Angelina Jolie who collapsed on a flight from Iraq - and the Oscars Night Before Party awaits.

From Iraq to the Oscars Night Before Party which the pair are supposed to be hosting with Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston.
Jen and Ange have avoided each other ever since left the marital bed to join Jolie on her “save-the-world” crusades.

Pitt and Aniston finalised their divorce in 2005.

With four children (three adopted), and another two on the way (the word is that she’s expecting twins this time), a party to host, your partner’s ex-wife to confront, and a wedding to plan, she’d have enough on her plate without Iraq.

Life and Style Weekly reports that Pitt is a wreck worrying about her.

The pair are said to have completed a $200m pre-nuptial agreement and are planning to wed later this year.

BANG! Showbiz quotes a source saying: “They know that, if God forbid, things don’t work out, they can make a clean break and go their separate ways with their separate assets.”

The pair, who are said to have also agreed custody arrangements for their children, are said to be planning to tie the knot in New Orleans at the Saint Louis Cathedral.

Angelina was previously married to British actor Jonny Lee Miller and Hollywood star Billy Bob Thornton.

Source: Courier Mail

Hollywood superstar couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have officially adopted 4-year-old Pax Thien from Vietnam.

A Los Angeles County Children’s Court judge finalized the couple’s adoption of Pax on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Jolie confirmed to People.com Friday.

The 4-year-old boy has lived with the couple and their three other children for nearly a year.

He is now a legally recognized member of the ever-growing family, which in addition to the celebrity parents includes fellow siblings Maddox, 6; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh, who turns 2 in May.

TMZ.com reported Thursday that the happy family held a mini celebration after the judge signed off on the paperwork at a courthouse in the Monterey Park area of L.A.

Jolie adopted Pax from an orphanage in Vietnam last year, saying at the time, “You can imagine what courage it takes to be in all new surroundings, with new people and a new language. He is very strong.”

While an official adoption ceremony did take place in Vietnam’s Department of Justice in March 2007, the U.S. had not, until now, formalized the addition.

Source: China Daily

 Before Angelina Jolie was changing the world, Mia Farrow was doing her part. A UNCIEF Goodwill Ambassador, the star has done extensive humanitarian work in Darfur over the years. Nowadays, the two do-gooders are often uttered in the same sentence when it comes to celebrity activism, which sits perfectly fine with Mia.

“I have nothing but admiration for Angelina Jolie,” Mia tells OK! at the Be Kind Rewind premiere. “But by all accounts, she’s just a wonderful woman. I’ve never met her, but I love her work and I love what she’s doing with her life.”

Mia also loves the way Angie and Brad Pitt conduct their relationship and take a stance for gay rights.

“I love when she was asked when she was going to get married, and she said ‘I’ll get married when everyone can marry.’ I just thought that was particularly eloquent.”

Source: OK Magazine

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have hammered out a $200 million pre-nuptial agreement ahead of a planned wedding later this year, it was claimed today.

Sources say the Hollywood couple have been working on a financial and custody agreement before they walk down the aisle.

But now they have settled - and hope to tie the knot before the year is out.

An insider revealed: “They have both been through divorces and are wise enough not to marry without a pre-nup in place.

“They know the score.

“They know that, if God forbid, things don’t work out, they can make a clean break and go their separate ways with their separate assets.”

The insider went on: “There are no joint bank accounts and there never will be.

“They keep their money separate and will continue to do so after they’re married.

(more…)

We’re so used to seeing them as red carpet sex symbols and big screen babes, but sometimes celebrity mothers have to drop all the pretense and take their children to see a kid flick. Just ask Angelina Jolie.

The “Tomb Raider” actress was spotted out yesterday with her six-year-old son Maddox on her way to see “The Spiderwick Chronicles.”

And the Cambodian boy looked thrilled to be taking his mommy to the movies, wearing some cargo pants, a black t-shirt and sneakers.

The “Girl Interrupted” actress kept it classy in a knee-length dress underneath a khaki trench coat-style jacket. After the movie, the mother-son pair was seen playing near a water fountain.

Source: GossipGirls

Angelina Jolie has confirmed reports that she is pregnant after requesting a maternity leave from her promotional duties. Jolie first sparked rumors that she and her partner Brad Pitt were expecting another child after she appeared at the SAG Awards wearing a maternity style gown.

Jolie has reportedly told producers and event organizers for her two new films, The Changeling and Kung Fu Panda, that she will be taking a maternity leave throughout the summer.

The couple already have one biological daughter and three adopted children. Sources claim the actress is pregnant with twins.

Source: TransWorldNews