David Banda

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Madonna Just Wants Poor Kids to Dance for Her: Malawi Prez

She loses VIP status in Malawi

(Newser) - Madonna no longer has VIP status in Malawi now that she's annoyed President Joyce Banda, the Telegraph reports. The brouhaha started when Malawi's education minister accused the Material Girl of exaggerating the charitable work she's done there; then Madonna's request to see Banda during her recent...

Madonna Starts Malawian Girls School

Star breaks ground on $15M project in children's homeland

(Newser) - Construction on a Malawian school for girls founded by Madonna began today. The singer has put up $15 million for the creation of the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, which is expected to be finished in 2 years, the BBC reports. "Growing up in a privileged life, I took...

Mercy's Dad Rips 'Scandalous' Madge

Dad who walked out on toddler's mom blasts Madonna for lacking 'good morals'

(Newser) - Madonna's battle to adopt a second Malawi child suffered a major blow yesterday when the toddler's father blasted the singer's loose morals and launched a battle for custody, reports the Daily Mail. James Kambewa is seeking to block the adoption because he wants to spare 3-year-old Mercy a life of...

Madonna Makes Plea for Malawian Adoption

Singer pledges to do right by 3-year-old Mercy

(Newser) - After failing to adopt a 3-year-old Malawian girl, Madonna is showing off her maternal side, Us reports. “I want to provide Mercy with a home, loving family environment and the best education and healthcare possible,” the pop star, who has already adopted one child from the country, told...

Madonna Devastated by Denial
 Madonna Devastated by Denial 

Madonna Devastated by Denial

(Newser) - Madonna returned to Britain “devastated and shaking” over being denied her bid to adopt another Malawian orphan, sources tell the Daily Mail. Madge reportedly told her lawyer—who called the court’s decision “incomprehensible”—“Do whatever you can to get me my Mercy.” She is...

Let Madge Adopt My Niece: Uncle

Family 'decided it's in her best interest'

(Newser) - The uncle of a 3-year-old Malawi girl whom Madonna had hoped to adopt has blasted a court ruling blocking the action, reports the Telegraph. "We as a family agreed that it's in the best interests of Mercy to have her adopted, so why should the judge stop this?" he...

Malawi Court Blocks Madonna Adoption

Judge cites requirement that prospective parents live in Malawi for 18 months

(Newser) - A Malawi court has rejected a bid by Madonna to adopt another local child, reports the Times of London. The judge cited a requirement that prospective adoptive parents live in Malawi at least 18 months, according to AP. The rule was waived when the singer adopted son David Banda. This...

Madonna Arrives in Malawi to Begin Adoption

Pop star tours village amid criticism of plans for Mercy James

(Newser) - Madonna is now in Malawi to get her adoption of a young girl named Mercy James rolling, the BBC reports. Spotted in the village of Chinkhota, Madge said it was “amazing” to be back in Malawi, where she adopted her son David Banda three years ago. Mercy James is...

Madge's Crazy Sex Life May Derail Adoption

'Relationships' may hurt planned adoption of Malawi toddler, says official

(Newser) - Madonna's hijinks with A-Rod and Brazilian boytoy Jesus Luz threaten to block her planned adoption of 3-year-old Mercy James from Malawi, reports the New York Daily News. "The news she is linked to another woman's husband and a man less than half her age makes us question her morals,...

Madonna Seeking New African Baby

Singer wants adopted Malawian son to have sibling from his homeland

(Newser) - Madonna wants to give the son she adopted from Malawi a sibling from his own country, despite the firestorm of controversy she faced the first time around, reports the New York Daily News. The singer—whom critics accused of using her fame to dodge laws in her adoption of David...

Madonna Will Move Kids to NYC

Singer wins cusody battle with Ritchie; things 'amicable'

(Newser) - After a battle over residency with ex-husband Guy Ritchie, Madonna has emerged victorious and will take her two sons to live in New York, the Sun reports. Rocco, 8, and David, 3, will join forces with their sister Lourdes, 12, in the Big Apple. It’s a temporary move but...

Madge's Family Xmas Includes A-Rod

Ritchie wants kids in London for holiday; singer counters by bringing Yankees star

(Newser) - Madonna agreed to her ex-hubby’s request that she bring the kids to Britain for Christmas—as long as Alex Rodriguez can come along, the Sun reports. Madge offered the Yankees star first-class airfare and a room in a top hotel in London because “she wants to treat him,...

Guess Where A-Rod's Spending Thanksgiving?

Wife blasts his decision to ditch kids

(Newser) - Alex Rodriguez will be spending the holiday with family—just not his own, the New York Post reports. The Yankee slugger’s wife told a friend, “My soul-less, soon-to-be ex-husband is abandoning his kids on Thanksgiving to be with Madonna.” Cynthia went on to describe the singer in...

Work Eases Madge's Tough Times

Music steadies Material Girl through divorce from Guy Ritchie

(Newser) - Madonna is saddened by her impending divorce, but work motivates her to soldier on, she tells the AP. Though her split with husband Guy Ritchie weighs heavily on her, touring and promoting a new movie “provides a distraction that keeps me going,” the star said. She recently made...

Madge Demands 'Kabbalah Water' for Boys During Ritchie Visit

Guy's reunited with sons amid custody fight

(Newser) - Guy Ritchie has been happily reunited with his sons David and Rocco but they've been accompanied by a dozen demands from Madonna, the Daily Mail reports. The singer issued a strict set of rules for the boys' visit, ordering Ritchie not to speak to them about the split, not to...

Madonna: Adopting as Hard as Childbirth

Singer describes 'birthing pains' in struggle over Malawi-born child

(Newser) - Madonna says her struggle to adopt a 3-year-old boy from Malawi is much like childbirth, AFP reports. “I sort of went through my own kind of birthing pains with dealing with the press on my front doorstep accusing me of kidnapping,” the singer said. “It was painful,...

Madonna's Gardener Directs Her AIDS Film

He caught her eye making 'amazing' home movies

(Newser) - Madonna tapped a director whose work she knew well for her new documentary about AIDS orphans in Malawi, People reports. Nathan Rissman "was my gardener. He was my carpenter," she said. And his home videos of her kids "were amazing."

Oh, Baby! Ten Tots With Clout
Oh, Baby! Ten Tots With Clout

Oh, Baby! Ten Tots With Clout

Brangelina's tots dominate list of 10 most influential celebrity babies

(Newser) - It's no surprise that many kids of celebrities attain star status, but sometimes the media attention can take on a life of its own: Consider the change in the tone of coverage of Tom Cruise after Suri came along. Forbes looked at web and press coverage for megastar kids under...

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