thestar.com: Canada doubles AIDS funding to $70M a year

Prime Minister Paul Martin got some priceless pre-election publicity today as rock star Bono hailed him for increasing AIDS funding to Africa.

The U2 frontman, sitting casually in Martin's office with his legs crossed and wearing his trademark dark wraparound sunglasses, said he's not in Ottawa to campaign for the prime minister.

"I'm not here to elect Paul Martin or the Liberal party," he said. "I'm here to elect our issue - the AIDS emergency. . . . I'm here to elect that to office, that's really it."

But some of his other comments could have been scripted by a Liberal speechwriter: "We've come to say thank you . . . We have to compliment the prime minister and his team. It's not just the easy money before an election . . there's some cleverness going into this money."

Bono told a news conference later that he is being used, but he's happy to be. "That's my job," he said, "is to provide applause when somebody does the right and courageous thing and to provide criticism, when they don't." [ more]

usatoday.com: There's a lot not to love about Howard Stern. Janet Jackson and U2's lead singer, Bono, may not be your favorites, either.

But because the government has decided to target them in a new, censorious war on live broadcasting, all three deserve enthusiastic support. If we let the government win, a dreary world of bleeped, canned and punch-pulling television and radio awaits.

The FCC found that Bono's spontaneous use of a single expletive during the live broadcast of last year's Golden Globes Awards was indecent and profane. "This is really, really, f——— brilliant!" is the exclamation by Bono that ultimately upset the FCC.

The Bono edict may be the most troubling of the post-Super Bowl developments. Previously, the FCC's indecency rules — dubious to start with — were enforced only in cases of "deliberate and repetitive" uses of expletives.

Now, the commission says that the isolated or fleeting use of taboo words can lead to the revocation of licenses. And it has broadened the definition of forbidden words to include those that are "as highly offensive as the 'F-word.' " Blasphemy, as well as "personally reviling epithets," terms that are vulgar, irreverent and "grossly offensive" will also raise red flags now. [ more]

cnews.canoe.ca: International rock star Bono once vowed to become a "pain in the ass" to Prime Minister Paul Martin, but at this pace he may end up instead on Liberal election posters.

The prime minister is set for his second meeting in six months with the U2 frontman, who warned in a speech at the Liberal leadership convention last November that he would constantly pester Martin to improve Canada's contribution to developing countries.

The Irish rocker and the Irish-Canadian politician meet again Wednesday in Ottawa. They will get together for a photo op in the prime minister's office and head out to an AIDS symposium where each is scheduled to speak later in the day. [ more]

atu2.com: People Magazine's reports that Bono celebrated his birthday by attending the Troy premiere and afterparty at New York City's Cipriani last night. Bono and Ali were accompanied by their daughter Jordan, who was also celebrating a birthday (her 15th).