Singer diagnosed with cancer

Los Angeles — Pop singer Anastacia revealed Tuesday that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The cancer was discovered last week during a routine checkup, the 29-year-old said in a statement.

“I appreciate all who are concerned, but please don’t worry. Either way, I have no intention of letting this news get me down. I’m a fighter by nature and nothing will ever change that,” she said.

Chan has limits on stunts

Hong Kong — Renowned for performing his own daredevil stunts — and breaking bones in the process — action movie star Jackie Chan has started using body doubles, but only when necessary.

“I will use stunt doubles if you ask me to ride an F-16 jet fighter, or to jump over a series of hurdles with a crazy horse, or to perform two 720-degree somersaults,” Chan said Tuesday. “But one somersault, I’ll do it myself. I will do what I could do, and I won’t do anything that is out of my capability.”

Chan, 48, was responding to a reporter’s inquiry about a recent story in the South China Morning Post newspaper that said Chan used at least seven stunt doubles in his recent film, “The Tuxedo.”

Belafonte keeps up criticism

Chicago — Harry Belafonte is continuing his criticism of the Bush administration and some of its more prominent members.

The 75-year-old entertainer said he expects the Bush administration to try to wipe away affirmative action, eliminate abortion and pursue a war with Iraq “that makes absolutely no sense.”

Belafonte also took another shot at Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom, in October, he likened to a slave who sold his principles. Belafonte said Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice are hurting the cause of black America.

“In fact and practice … you are serving those who continue to design our oppression,” he said of Powell and Rice. “That is villainy, and I insist you look at it.”

Belafonte, who was a close friend and confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., spoke at a celebration Sunday at a Chicago church.

Fame in the balance

Chicago — Hollywood can be a tough balancing act, but actor John Cusack says it gets easier — once you’re famous.

Cusack’s latest film, “Max,” is a case in point. In it, the actor plays a Jewish art dealer who befriends an art student — Adolf Hitler.

“It’s a tough balancing act because you have to be in enough hit movies to be bankable enough to do the radical art project that you like,” he said.

Cusack’s interest in radical art doesn’t mean he’s above watching a little reality TV, however. When pressed to choose which among the two hot reality shows should take a hike — “The Osbournes” or “Joe Millionaire” — Cusack commented:

“I like Ozzy Osbourne. I haven’t seen ‘Joe Millionaire,’ but those women all seem to be gold diggers. I’m sure they’ll be properly humiliated on network television.”