U.S. actor George Clooney holds the 2007 Peace Summit Award which he and fellow actor Don Cheadle received during a ceremony at the city hall in Rome in this Dec. 13, 2007 file photo. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated American filmmaker and actor George Clooney as a UN Messenger of Peace. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated American filmmaker and actor George Clooney as a UN Messenger of Peace, the UN chief's spokeswoman said Friday.

    Clooney will join eight other internationally renowned individuals as messengers to raise global awareness of the world body's ideals and activities, with a special focus on UN peacekeeping efforts, Michele Montas said.

    "Recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues, Mr. Clooney joins eight other United Nations Messengers of Peace who advocate on behalf of the organization," Montas said.

    Clooney will visit the UN headquarters on Jan. 31 to receive the designation and meet with officials from countries contributing to UN peacekeeping efforts.

U.S. actor George Clooney (L) sits with his girlfriend Sarah Larson during the 2007 Peace Summit in Rome Dec. 13, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Messengers of Peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, film, literature, music and sports, help raise worldwide awareness of the UN's ideals and activities, the spokeswoman said.

    "Through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the United Nations helps to improve the lives of billions of people everywhere," she said.

    Current Messengers of Peace and their areas of focus are Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, for Millennium Development Goals and hunger; conductor Daniel Barenboim, for peace and tolerance; author Paulo Coelho, for intercultural dialogue; actor Michael Douglas, for disarmament and peace and security; primatologist Jane Goodall, for the environment; violinist Midori Goto, for Millennium Development Goals and youth; cellist Yo-Yo Ma, for youth; and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, for human rights and the Holocaust.

Fabio says should have "amortized" Clooney's face

    BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Fading Fabio -- the one-time romance novel cover boy -- says he has too much self-respect to appear on "Dancing With the Stars," "The Surreal Life" and "MTV Cribs," but continues to show no respect at all for George Clooney and little knowledge of English language idioms.

    He just can't seem to get over his lack of physical prowess during a Beverly Hills restaurant row with Clooney that happened last November. Clooney allegedly used the "B-word" to describe several of Fabio's female friends he mistakely assumed were taking his photo. Fabio asked for an apology and received a shove instead.  Full story

George Clooney admonishes the paparazzi

    BEIJING, Nov. 21 -- George Clooney says paparazzi should respect the rules of the road.

    The 46-year-old actor admonished photographers while riding his motorcycle in Los Angeles on Friday with his girlfriend, Sarah Larson, Clooney spokesman Stan Rosenfield told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Full story