ORLANDO BLOOM fears he and his PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN co-star JOHNNY DEPP won't be warmly welcomed back to St Vincent after a drunken meeting with the island's Prime Minister. The two pals had no idea RALPH GONSALVES would actually be meeting them at the airport when they landed in Depp's private jet and decided to toast their friendship with a red wine session during the flight. Bloom recalls, "We just got loaded on the plane. I mean we were wasted drunk. He (Depp) loves really good red wine. "We get off the plane and they rolled out the red carpet and the Prime Minister of St Vincent was there to meet us. "Johnny stumbles over to him and hugs him... and almost sticks his tongue down his throat, I'm, like, falling around picking up things. Nobody told us. It was just one of those moments."

Charlize Theron has picked up the 'Spirit of Independence' award at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

The Oscar-winning actress is only the second person to receive the prize, introduced last year to "recognise an individual for his or her commitment to artistic independence in film". George Clooney won it in 2005.

According to the BBC a spokesperson for Independent Film, the non-profit organisation behind the annual festival, said "What we love about her is she's made interesting choices."

Theron commented, "I think the biggest misconception about independent film-making is that if you do those movies, you'll always be thought of as that kind of actor.

"If anything, I hope to have that kind of career, where you can go back and forth and do different things."

Hugh Grant has sparked speculation about the uncertainty of his relationship with Jemima Khan yet again.

The Notting Hill star failed to escort Khan to Elton John's annual 'White Tie and Tiara' charity ball on Thursday night.

A source at the bash said: "A few eyebrows were raised when Jemima turned up alone. This is one social event that is always pencilled in Hugh's diary."

Hugh and Jemima have had an on-off romance and perhaps one of their biggest arguments came when he jokingly sucked Liz Hurley's finger at Elton's party 12 months ago.

Friends of Khan have also reportedly admitted that it is Hugh Grant's reluctance to settle down that is causing rifts in their relationship.

Former model Jerry Hall has had to call off the extravagant celebrations for her impending 50th birthday after injuring herself.

A source told the Mail on Sunday that the six foot tall star "collapsed in a heap" while dancing at a private party.

"She was at a friend's birthday party and was dancing when she slipped and twisted her leg. She landed on herself and seriously sprained her ankle. She could barely stand up, let alone walk," a friend revealed.

Hall was taken to hospital for an X-ray, but was apparently more distressed at having to cancel the event she planned to hold for 150 friends at a castle near Dublin.

"Jerry is devastated. She has been planning this party for months," the friend confirmed.

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage is donating $2m (£1.1m) to Amnesty International to help former child soldiers, the charity has announced.
The donation will help fund rehabilitation shelters, medical services and psychological and reintegration services.

Amnesty says an estimated 300,000 children, some as young as seven, are involved in armed conflicts worldwide.

Cage has been working with Amnesty International USA for two years.

The organisation revealed the pledge in New York, during the United Nations Review Conference on the Program of Action on Small Arms.

Family nightmare

In a video statement filmed by the actor, he said: "Think about the nine months it took for your child to be born; think about all the care you put into teaching him how to cross the street and look both ways, or to read a book, or to simply have good manners.

"Then imagine a warlord dropping a gun into his hand and forcing him to kill someone. He's eight years old. He hasn't kissed a girl yet or fallen in love, but he's killed a man. What does that do to a child's mind?

"Sounds like a nightmare? It's reality for some families."

Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director, praised Cage's "extremely generous contribution".

"Nicolas has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the horrors faced by child soldiers and other human rights tragedies," he added.

Amnesty International collaborated on the 2005 film Lord of War, in which Cage played an international arms dealer.

Toronto is to host the first North American V Festival in September, Virgin boss Richard Branson has said.
The music event, based on the UK's two-centre festival which has taken place since 1996, will feature Gnarls Barkley and The Flaming Lips.

There are also plans to stage a US concert in Baltimore later this year, along with two more Canadian cities and three as yet unannounced countries.

Around 50,000 music fans are expected to attend the Toronto festival.

The first event, to be held on 9-10 September in the city's Island Park, will not allow revellers to camp on the site.

Provisions are expected to be made for the second festival in 2007.

Sold out

Sir Richard, who announced the news after being lowered onto a restaurant patio in the city's waterfront by helicopter, said: "It's the biggest sort of social event on the calendar for a particular age group in the UK.

"There's a lot of very, very, very big bands," he added.

A number of Canadian acts are already lined up to play, including The Hidden Cameras and The Dears.

Vancouver and Montreal are the other Canadian cities being considered to host events.

In the UK, 150,000 tickets for August's V Festival sold out within three hours, breaking previous records.

Radiohead, Morrissey and Fatboy Slim are among the acts performing in Hylands Park, Essex, and Weston Park in Staffordshire.

Later this year Atlantic Records will release Present, the first solo album by Andrea Corr, the baby of the Corrs family, and for years the front woman of one of the most successful pop acts of the last ten years.

Stylorouge have been commissioned to produce a promotional film to accompany the release of the album which will intersperse Andrea's observations on the making of the album with live performances of some of the key tracks, just on voice and piano.

The album itself has been produced by Nellee Hooper, whose work includes classic tracks for Bjork, Soul ll Soul and U2 and countless chart-topping, dancefloor-filling remixes.

David Beckham has decided to step down as England captain after holding the role for six years.

But the Real Madrid star does want to continue his international career.

Beckham revealed his decision at England's final press conference in Germany in the wake of their World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

The 31-year-old midfielder said: "I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter a new era under new coach Steve McClaren."

It was England caretaker manager Peter Taylor who made Beckham captain in 2000.

And Beckham was keen to thank the now Crystal Palace manager when he read from his prepared statement in Baden Baden on Sunday.

With tears in his eyes, the former Manchester United player said: "On 15 November 2000 Peter Taylor gave me the greatest honour of my career in making me the captain of England, fulfilling my childhood dream.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can."

Beckham was forced to leave the pitch against Portugal in the 52nd minute with a leg injury. That England went on to lose the game on penalties made Beckham's announcement even more emotional.

He said: "I came to this decision some time ago but I had hoped to announce it on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly that wasn't to be.

"This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and those closest to me I feel the time is right.

"Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress further and both myself and all the players regret that and are hurt by that more than people realise.

"I wish to thank all the players for their support during my time as captain, as well as Peter Taylor, Sven and all the coaches.

"I would also like to thank the press and, of course, all the England supporters who have both been great to me and my team-mates. I want them to know for me it has been an absolute honour.

"Finally, I have lived the dream, I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will always be grateful."

Beckham was an important link between the players at this year's World Cup and manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

And he led by example against Greece in 2001 when his curling last-gasp free-kick sent England to the 2002 World Cup finals, where they were also beaten on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Eriksson said of Beckham's decision: "He's been a very good captain and very proud to do the job.

"I was a bit surprised when he told me but you have to respect his decision.

"It is now Steve McClaren's job to decide on Beckham's successor. He has a lot of choices that are more than capable of doing the job. It is very much up to him."

Former tennis ace John Mcenroe has reignited his feud with Serena Williams, claiming the sportswoman should stay away from fashion and films.

While Williams' sister Venus stays more focused on the sport, Serena indulges her passion for fashion with her clothes line Aneres and has appeared in episodes or E.R., LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT and MY WIFE AND KIDS.

McEnroe has often criticised the Williams sisters in the past, saying, "They are all as cold as ice," and, "Nor do I particularly want to have anything to do with them until they start to show people in the sport a little more respect."

McEnroe says, "I can't say that I'm getting on with them that well.

"Venus is respectful.

"It's a shame that Serena's priority seems to have been design clothes and act rather than play tennis."

Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have attended the premiere of the Beatles musical Love in Las Vegas.

The widows of bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison, Yoko Ono and Olivia Garrison, also watched the show.

"It was emotional because two of us aren't here. So it really comes home when you're watching this," Starr told the BBC.

“All this time when I was working on this show in the rehearsals, I thought, 'Oh, John should be here," added Ono. "That's the only thing that I regret, the fact that he's not here, because he would have enjoyed it so much.”

Chris Martin lost a £10,000 bet after backing Australia to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Germany.

The Coldplay frontman placed the bet after getting caught up with Australian enthusiasm for their national team whilst on tour down-under, and believes England could do with some Aussie passion.

"I lost the money because I gambled on Australia getting to the semi-finals," he told the Daily Mirror. "If you play with that much passion, you deserve to do well."

Although her rep denies it, according to Life & Style, friends say pop singer Pink is pregnant. Pink was recently spotted with an alleged bump out in LA.

Sources say Pink (nee Alecia Moore), 26, and hubby, 30-year-old motocross racer Carey Hart, will make an official announcement soon.

"This is a dream for her," a friend says. "She's always wanted to be a young mother."

Another friend added, " She knows they'll be great parents."

The couple married this past January.