Did You Know...

In 2006 a new water bear species (Latin:Tardigrada), Echiniscus madonnae was named after Madonna. The paper with the description of E. madonnae was published in the international journal of animal taxonomy Zootaxa in March 2006 (Vol. 1154, pages: 1-36). The authors' justification for the name of the new species was:

"We take great pleasure in dedicating this species to one of the most significant artists of our times, Madonna Louise Veronica Ritchie".

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) number of the species is 711164.

Video of Madonna in India

We now bring you the first visuals of Madonna, who is India for a year-end week-long vacation with her family. The international pop star has been elusive for a long time, however, she couldn't evade The Madonna Times camera, which caught the singer enjoying every moment of her vacation in Rajasthan. The pop star was seen in riding breeches as against her designer wear.

Madonna, who reportedly has a fascination for horses, rode for over 30 kms. Madonna was accompanied by her husband -- Guy Ritchie -- her son and a few friends and reportedly spent Thursday night at Rohetgarh Fort Heritage hotel.

She is leaving for Sardarsamand on Friday (January 4), where the former ruler of Jodhpur -- Gaj Singh -- will host a lunch in her honour. She will spend Friday night at the Sardarsamand resort.

Just a few days ealier, Madonna was forced to cancel her trip to Jaisalmer, which was scheduled on Wednesday (January 2), to escape the paparazzi.

Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn Divorcing

Madonna's ex-husband, Sean Penn, and current wife Robin Wright Penn are divorcing, their rep, Mara Buxbaum, confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

No other details were immediately available. The couple, who've been married 11 years, have two children together, Hopper Jack, 14, and Dylan Frances, 16.

Penn, 47, and Wright, 41, began dating in the early '90s and married in 1996. They also have starred together in several films, including 1998's Hurlyburly and 1997's She's So Lovely, directed by Nick Cassavetes.

"Marriage ain't easy, but it's great most of the time," Penn told Entertainment Weekly in 1997. "I love Robin. I've always loved her."

In the same article, Cassavetes was asked about working with the couple. "The beginning and the end of every day is how Sean and Robin are getting along," he said. "If they have a bad morning, Sean's broken up about it."

Penn's most recent film, Into the Wild, which he directed, is drawing awards buzz, with four SAG Award nominations and two Golden Globe nods.

Filth and Wisdom To Premiere

A new press release issued by the Press Office of the Berlinale finally confirms Madonna's Filth And Wisdom having its World Premiere at the festival in Berlin next year:

Next to renowned directors like Laetitia Masson, Brad Anderson or Lucia Murat, newcomers like Javier Gutierrez from Spain or Ozgür Yildirim from Germany will present their works in the Panorama 2008. Music star Madonna will give her directorial debut alongside the works of underground star Bruce LaBruce and Teddy winner 2007, Zero Chou from Taiwan.

Thirteen films give a first lively glimpse of this year’s world cinema creations. From the start, it has been the mission of the Panorama to discover films for the cinema programme of the coming arthouse season and to provide the market with inspiration. In 2008, documentaries will again make a strong showing: from a total of 50 full-length films approximately one third will be documentaries.

During the Berlinale, more than 20,000 moviegoers will again participate in the Panorama Audience Awards, which are to be presented on February 17, 2008.
The Panorama Dokumente and the complete programme of feature films will be announced in January. So far the following films have been confirmed for the Main Programme and the Panorama Special:

Boy A by John Crowley, UK
Chiko by Ozgür Yildirim, Germany (World Premiere)
Coupable by Laetitia Masson, France (World Premiere)
Eskalofrio by Isidro Ortiz, Spain (World Premiere)
Filth And Wisdom by Madonna, UK (World Premiere)
with Stephen Graham, Richard E. Grant, Eugene Hutz
Jas Sum Od Titov Vesles (I am from Titov Veles ) by Teona Strugar Mitevska, Macedonia
Maré, Nossa história de amor (Mare, Our Love Story ) by Lucia Murat, Brasil
Megane by Naoko Ogigami, Japan
Otto or up with dead people by Bruce LaBruce, Germany/Canada (World Premiere)
Piao Lang Chi Ge (Drifting Flowers ) by Zero Chou, Taiwan (World Premiere)
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, Iceland (World Premiere)
Transsiberian by Brad Anderson, UK/Germany/Spain
Tres días (Before Fall ) by Javier Gutierrez, Spain (World Premiere)

Timbaland Plays New Madonna Track

Source: Philly.com

...The brief collaboration didn't produce sparks, but it improved notably on the beginning of Timbaland's set, which found him half-heartedly rapping along with the recorded versions of his Nelly Furtado duets, "Promiscuous" and "Give It To Me." On several occasions, his performance consisted of standing off to the side of the stage and nodding his head as his DJ unveiled some new production of his, including a forthcoming collaboration with Madonna and Justin Timberlake.

But if there was something odd about paying to watch a producer listen to his own records, it didn't seem to strike the audience that way. It didn't seem to matter who -- if anyone -- was performing, as long as the songs were good. They were as happy to dance to the music that came over the P.A. between sets as to watch anyone on stage.

Madonna Is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Madonna was announced as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee on Thursday along with John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.

A panel of 600 industry figures selected the five acts to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 10 in New York. To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.

Madonna Louise Ciccone signed with Sire Records in 1982 and became one of MTV’s first stars two years later with "Like A Virgin." She has constantly altered her image ever since, showing staying power that few ’80s stars could muster.

Indiana native Mellencamp became a voice of America’s heartland with hits like "Pink Houses"; and Cohen’s "Suzanne" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag" made him a folk rock icon in the late 1960s.

The Ventures defined instrumental guitar rock in the ’60s with surfer anthems like "Walk Don’t Run" and "Hawaii Five-O," and The Dave Clark Five were one of the most successful British invasion bands with "Glad All Over."

Madonna Files Suit

Madonna is burning up - and she's suing - because her ritzy upper West Side co-op allegedly won't let her expand her material world into a neighboring apartment.

The Material Girl has filed a summons in Manhattan Supreme Court against the board and management company at her Central Park West pad, a luxury building where she already owns a 6,000- square-foot duplex with its own gym and beauty salon.

The two-page summons accuses the co-op board and Midboro Management of breach of contract for allegedly holding up the sale of Julie Clark Thayer's seventh-floor apartment and orders the transfer of 868 co-op shares to the singer.

Thayer declined to comment.

Madonna moved into the building overlooking Central Park after she was rejected by the board at the San Remo in 1985.

False Reports

Sources close to Madonna have confirmed to us that Madonna's new album is NOT going to be titled "Licorice." This is a false story that originated with a fan's fake album cover design. Please make a note of it.