Bono and Microsoft magnate Bill Gates have developed such a close bond over their charity work, the U2 frontman stayed with the computer billionaire during a recent trip to Seattle, Washington.

The unlikely pals enjoyed dinner at Gates' home and chatted about their third world missions, following U2's Seattle concert, which was attended by the keyboard-tapping entrepreneur. Gates says, "I was one of 20,000 screaming fans."

The pair's shared belief in the importance of improving the quality of life for millions of impoverished men, women and children across the world has brought them close together. With an endowment of $28 billion, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world's biggest charitable organization, while Bono has played a major part in urging world leaders to offer debt relief to developing countries. Gates adds, "We're big believers that more needs to be done in developing countries. Let me tell you, Bono has had a huge impact."

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Mariah Carey regrets the fact she never acted on rapper Tupac Shakur's fondness for her.

The pop superstar was well aware of the compliments Shakur paid her and still thinks he could have been the love of her life if she'd only acted on instinct and dumped her husband Tommy Mottola to be with the late rap icon.

Carey even has a photo of the rapper taking a bubble bath hanging up in her New York home. She says, "Everybody always told me that he liked my music and I was always complimented by that."

Carey admits her heart still flutters when she remembers her only encounter with Tupac at a post-Grammys party. She recalls, "He was driving by in this white Rolls Royce -this was when I was still with Tommy - and he just stops and I see him, and he's like, `Hey, Mariah.' "I just said hi and then had to go back in... It could have been perfect."

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Rapper Lil' Kim has turned to her fans to help keep her out of jail.

The pint-sized pin-up was found guilty of perjury last month after lying about a shoot-out she was involved in at a New York radio station, and now faces a severe custodial sentence. But she's hoping letters from fans will help her win favour with the judge who will pass sentence on her.

Kim, has posted a note on her fan website, urging devotees to write to the authorities to plead her case for freedom. Her attorney Mel Sachs said, "She's most grateful that so many have shown such overwhelming support for her. "This judge is extraordinarily conscientious in sentencing and any of these letters will really give a picture of who Lil' Kim is. She's somebody who, from the heart, gives so much to so many."

Lil' Kim is also coaching her fans on what to write and what to avoid - urging fans not to criticise the judge or the justice system.

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Is romance blooming for Tara Reid and Jesse Metcalfe, the hunky gardener of Desperate Housewives?

The actors were holding hands at L.A. hot spot Prey on April 21. They met again April 23 at Silver Spoon's Dog & Baby Buffet, a merchandising fair and fund-raiser for animal-rescue efforts, two days later.

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Angelina Jolie may be set to leave the world of films.

She is said to have told friends the time is right to call it a day because she "doesn't need the money or the hassle".

The News Of The World says the 29-year-old is concerned about the effect the Hollywood lifestyle is having on her three-year-old son Maddox. A sources tells the paper: "She wants to do more work and spend time with her son so she'll at least take a long break."

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"Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman won the best actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday for "Transamerica," in which she plays a preoperative transsexual woman on a cross-country road trip.

The Chinese feature film "Stolen Life" and the documentary "El Perro Negro: Stories From the Spanish Civil War" were among the other top winners. Also honored at the awards ceremony were the best new filmmakers: Alicia Scherson, who won for the narrative feature "Play," and Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mochary for the documentary "Favela Rising."

Director Li Shaohong's film "Stolen Life" ("Sheng Si Jie") follows a young woman who leaves home for college, only to be deceived by the man she falls in love with. "El Perro Negro," from Hungarian director Peter Forgacs, is about Catalan industrialists who tell their own history through home movies. The winners in the top four film categories each receive $25,000 prizes.

In the best-actor category, Cees Geel won for "Simon" from the Netherlands, about a gay man and a straight man who rekindle their friendship after many years.

Among the judges in Tribeca's fourth year were Sheryl Crow, Whoopi Goldberg and actor Michael Imperioli. More than 250 films were shown during the 13-day festival, which ends Sunday.

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Willie Nelson's name is off the road again.

A state legislator had proposed naming a 49-mile stretch of Texas Highway 130 being built around Austin in honor of the Texas country music singer.

But two Republican senators, Steve Odgen of Bryan and Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, said they didn't want Nelson's name on the road that crosses their districts, citing the musician's fondness for drinking and smoking, and active campaigning for Democratic candidates.

"It's frustrating, and sad in a way, but at this point, there is no reason to make this an unpleasant experience for anyone, especially Willie, so I'll take no further action on the bill," said state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, an Austin Democrat and the bill's author. Barrientos said he wanted to honor Nelson "for so much good music and so many good works."

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Don Imus didn't like being called "a cantankerous old fool" by MSNBC's Contessa Brewer on PAGE SIX. Brewer, a former news reader on Imus' show, also said the I-man doesn't know how to relate to "beautiful women."

"With that fat ass she's got, she wouldn't be one of 'em," Imus said on the air Friday. "That skank has to spend three hours with makeup in the morning ... Who's she kidding? . . . Plus, she's dumber than dirt ... Oh, my God, what a pig. But I was willing to cut her some slack and not say anything, you know, until - in fact, I didn't say anything . . . That's why they have those big double-doors there at MSNBC, you know, so they can get her fat ass in makeup."

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