Bono challenges U.S. leaders to spend more on poor

Washington – Quoting from Islamic, Jewish and Christian texts, rock star Bono challenged the U.S. government Thursday to give an additional 1 percent of the federal budget to the world’s poor.

Speaking to President Bush and members of Congress at the National Prayer Breakfast, the U2 front man said it’s unjust to keep poor people from selling their goods while singing the virtues of the free market, to hold children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents and to withhold medicines that would save lives.

“God will not accept that,” he said. “Mine won’t. Will yours?”

Bono thanked the president for helping to fight the spread of malaria and AIDS. Bush, in markedly lighter remarks than the singer, praised him as “a doer” but didn’t comment on his proposal.

“The thing about this good citizen of the world is he’s used his position to get things done,” Bush said. “You’re an amazing guy, Bono. God bless you.”

Bono said the United States spends less than 1 percent of its budget on the world’s poor. One percent of last year’s budget would have been about $26 billion.

Love on the rocks: Locklear seeks divorce from Sambora

Los Angeles – After 11 years of marriage, actress Heather Locklear has filed for divorce from rocker Richie Sambora, her publicist said Thursday.

Locklear, 44, first gained fame in 1981 as sexy Sammy Jo Dean Carrington on the TV series “Dynasty.”

In the 1990s, she took on the role of cold-hearted Amanda Woodward on TV’s “Melrose Place” and played mayoral love interest Caitlin Moore on “Spin City.”

Sambora, 45, is a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Bon Jovi. He also has released two solo albums.

Locklear was previously married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.

Grammy opening goes virtual with Madonna, Gorillaz

New York – The Grammy Awards will open with a meeting of the Material Girl and the virtual world.

Madonna and Gorillaz will perform together for the first time at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The 47-year-old pop star will sing with the Gorillaz, who will be appearing in 3-D animated color. The brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, Gorillaz are a melding of rock and hip-hop that represents band members as cartoon alter-egos created by animator Jamie Hewlett.

Paul McCartney has been added to the list of performers, who also include Mariah Carey, John Legend, Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, Sugarland and Jamie Foxx.

The Grammys will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.