George Clooney: Actor, ‘messenger of peace’

United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated George Clooney as a U.N. “messenger of peace” Friday to promote the world body’s activities, especially in its far-flung peacekeeping missions.

The 46-year-old actor has been campaigning for an end to the 4 1/2-year war in Darfur and for humanitarian aid for the millions caught up in the conflict. He will become the ninth U.N. peace envoy.

While many U.N. agencies have goodwill ambassadors to promote activities ranging from helping children and refugees to promoting human rights, “messengers of peace” are selected by the secretary-general to promote the broader work of the United Nations.

U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said Clooney was recognized “for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues.”

As a messenger of peace, he will have “a special focus on United Nations peacekeeping,” Montas said.

Clooney will receive his designation at U.N. headquarters Jan. 31.

He will also attend a meeting of countries that contribute troops to the 17 U.N. peacekeeping missions in countries from the Mideast and Africa to Haiti, Afghanistan and East Timor.

Steve Harvey tries to prove he’s ‘still fly’ at 51

New York – Steve Harvey wants men to know: “At 50, you are still fly.”

And to prove it, he shaved his head and began exercising.

In an interview in Jet magazine, the actor-comedian says he began his transformation after talking to a listener on his radio program, “The Steve Harvey Morning Show.”

“The girl said to me, ‘Steve, you’re 50 and you are over the hill,'” Harvey recalls. “I started thinking, ‘Wow, I am over the hill?’ I said ‘OK, I got to do something to stop this line of thinking. Because at 50, I should not be thought of as over the hill. At 50, a man ought to feel that he is on top of the hill.'”

He hired a personal trainer and now works out five days a week at his Atlanta home.

“I had a potbelly and love handles,” says Harvey, who’s lost 13 pounds. “I’ve been telling people you can be 50 and fly, but when I took my clothes off, I wasn’t looking fly.”

Harvey, who celebrated his 51st birthday Thursday, defines “fly” as looking great, but also being healthy and spiritually strong.

“Shaving my head was more of a spiritual thing for me. I wanted to be free,” he says.

Gary Collins released from jail after 4 days

Glendale, Calif. – Gary Collins was released from jail Friday after completing his four-day drunken driving sentence.

The 69-year-old TV personality and actor left the jail just after 6 a.m., Glendale police Officer John Balian said.

Kiefer Sutherland, who is serving a 48-day sentence for drunken driving, remained at the jail. Balian said the 41-year-old actor will be released Monday.

Balian said Collins was a good prisoner and “there were no problems” during his stay.

Collins pleaded no contest Dec. 6 to one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or more. He was cited after a traffic crash in Sherman Oaks.

Winehouse shouts ‘I love you’ to jailed husband

London – Amy Winehouse’s husband appeared in court Friday to face charges of assault and conspiracy, and the troubled singer blew him kisses and whispered, “I love you,” as he was led away.

Blake Fielder-Civil is accused of attacking a pub landlord – and then later conspiring with him to withdraw as a witness at the trial.

Fielder-Civil, 25, has pleaded innocent to the charge of assault, and is expected to plead Feb. 29 to a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The landlord, James King, denied the conspiracy charge Friday.

The 24-year-old British singer-songwriter – her newly platinum-blond hair looking bedraggled – came to her husband’s support at the hearing, blowing kisses before yelling out: “I love you handsome, gorgeous one.”

Then, addressing reporters: “I am not talking to you.”

Winehouse had been known for her black hair and massive beehive hairdo.

Lindsay Lohan to visit morgue, hospital ER

Los Angeles – Lindsay Lohan is about to see dead people.

The 21-year-old actress will visit a morgue as part of her punishment for misdemeanor drunken driving, her attorney, Blair Berk, told a judge Thursday.

She has also spent two months in rehabilitation and has done some community service, Berk said at a hearing on her progress toward fulfilling the terms of her plea bargain.

Her two four-hour days at the morgue are part of a court-ordered program to show drivers the real-life consequences of drinking and driving. She must also spend two days working in a hospital emergency room.

Lohan was arrested twice last year on DUI charges and pleaded guilty in August to misdemeanor drunken driving and cocaine charges.

She has already served 84 minutes in jail as part of the plea deal.

Lohan was not required to appear at Thursday’s hearing.