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    1
    Apr
    2013
    8:41pm, EDT

    Angelina Jolie opens all-girls school in Afghanistan

    By Melanie Bromley, E! Online

    AFP - Getty Images

    Angelina Jolie in Kigali, Rwanda, on March 26, 2013

    Angelina Jolie's big heart has made an even bigger difference: The UNHCR Goodwill ambassador exclusively confirms to E! News that she has opened a school in Afghanistan. Jolie chose to fund the girls-only primary school in an area just outside of Kabul, a region that traditionally favors boys' education over girls'.

    Angelina picked the village as the site of the school due to its high refugee population — regional fighting caused many locals to flee when their homes were destroyed, but since the collapse of the Taliban regime, families are slowly starting to return to the once-devastated area.)

    More from E!: Angelina Jolie visits Congo rescue camp—see the Oscar winner in action

    The school itself currently educates between 200 and 300 girls and has already proven to have a huge impact on the local community.

    Meanwhile, Jolie's not stopping there, and already has plans to open other similar institutions, vowing that this will be just the first of many. As for how Brad Pitt's fiancée is bankrolling her goodwill gesture, Jolie is releasing her personally designed jewelry collection, the Style of Jolie, to retail stores for the first time. She will use the profits from the line's no doubt hefty sales to build even more schools around the world.

    UNHCR

    "Beyond enjoying the artistic satisfaction of designing these jewels, we are inspired by knowing our work is also serving the mutual goal of providing for children in need," Jolie told E! News exclusively.

    And how can you get your hands on the Jolie-designed range? The newly expanded collection will go on sale this week. And 100 (yes, 100) percent of the profits will go towards Jolie's new foundation, The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.


    Follow @TODAY_ent

    More from E!: Angelina Jolie sets the record straight on those rumors she secretly married Brad Pitt

    Jolie and her long-term jewelry designer, Robert Procop, have spent years collaborating on the collection.

    "We launched this collaborative collection with the intent that 100 percent of the profits will go to charity," Procop said. "The intention was to create something beautiful but more importantly to provide children an opportunity to have an education.

    "The beauty of these creations is matched by the beauty of spirit behind Angelina's most heartfelt mission—to empower children in crisis. The first funds from our collaboration together have been dedicated to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict and we have recently completed a school in Afghanistan.

    More from E!: Angelina Jolie is one of many celebs who've given back—check out these other big-hearted stars

    "For me it's an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of creating this line with Angie, as we both believe every child has a right to an education."

    Many of the pieces in the collection are based on a unique design Jolie created for a necklace she gifted to Pitt—a historic tablet shape. As for the rest of the line, Angelina spent countless hours exploring coloring, gemstones and different shapes she was drawn to.

    More from E!: Angelina Jolie touches down in L.A. See the golden ring that sparked a million rumors!

    "These designs are timeless; they reflect her chic sense of style and also feminine strength," Kam Heskin, the spokesman for the Robert Procop Design Studio, told E! News. "There are so many pieces that make this collection beautiful and unique."

    The Style of Jolie will be available exclusively in Tivol, a Kansas City jeweler. Tivol will be holding a special event to launch the collection this Wednesday.

    "Tivol, with their historic reputation and dedication to family values is a wonderful retail partner to launch our collection in the U.S.," Jolie told E! News.

    "Tivol is a quality company known for carrying high-end jewelry brands that has been family-owned for several generations," Procop added. "The Tivol family has been so gracious and instrumental in planning this event."

    Related content:

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  • 6
    Jan
    2013
    6:53pm, EST

    French actor Depardieu meets Putin, picks up Russian passport

    By Reuters

    French film star Gerard Depardieu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea town of Sochi and obtained his Russian passport, the Kremlin said on Sunday, after he left his homeland to avoid a new tax rate for millionaires. 

    Putin signed a decree on Thursday granting Russian citizenship to Depardieu, who objected to French Socialist president Francois Hollande's plan to impose the 75 percent tax rate. His decision to quit France had prompted accusations of national betrayal. 

    The Russian president and Depardieu were shown on state-run Channel One shaking hands and hugging each other early on Sunday during what the Kremlin said was a private visit by the actor to Russia. 

    "A brief meeting between the president and Depardieu took place," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "On the occasion of his visit to Russia, he was handed a Russian passport." 

    Peskov did not say whether Putin personally gave Depardieu the passport or if he picked it up through standard procedures. He said the actor also told Putin about his career plans. 


    Follow @ TODAY_ent

    Depardieu, star of the movies "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Green Card", is a popular figure in Russia, where he has appeared in many advertising campaigns, including for ketchup. He also worked there in 2011 on a film about the eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin. 

    Putin asked Depardieu whether he was pleased with his work in the movie, TV footage of their meeting showed, with the French actor saying he had already sent Putin some excerpts from it. 

    Depardieu bought a house in Belgium last year to avoid the French income tax increase. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Depardieu's decision to seek Belgian residency "pathetic" and unpatriotic, prompting an angry response from the actor. 

    Putin said last month that Depardieu would be welcome in Russia, which has a flat income tax rate of 13 percent, compared to the 75 percent on income over 1 million euros ($1.30 million) that Hollande wants to levy in France. 

    He offered Depardieu a Russian passport, saying he had a close, special relationship with France and had developed warm ties with the actor, even though they had rarely met. 

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    Explore related topics: celebrities, gerard-depardieu, featured

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