Natalie Imbruglia is dating American nightclub entrepreneur Chris Paciello, after they were set-up by Madonna.

The Torn hitmaker met Paciello at a private party last year, while she was still married to Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns.

And Madonna was keen to re-introduce the pair after Imbruglia’s four year marriage ended earlier this year. Imbruglia admits the couple have dated, but denies it is serious.

She says, “Chris and I were introduced through Kevin Spacey’s manager and we have been out a few times. We go out when I’m in LA. He’s sweet and funny, but I don’t want to say any more than that.”

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WENN

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are facing a challenge to their adoption of Malawian tot David Banda – the baby’s biological father wants to fight for visitation rights to the child.

The superstar couple’s adoption of the two-year-old was finalized at Malawi?s High Court in May – 20 months after being granted an ‘interim’ order allowing them to take the baby from a Malawian orphanage back to their London home.

David was left at the care home after his mother died in childbirth and his peasant farmer dad Yohane Banda was unable to provide for the then-seven-month-old baby.

But now Yohane claims government officials had promised him access his son every three to four years as part of the adoption arrangement and he is looking into his legal rights to see the child.

He says, “I love the boy and it was in his best interests to put him in the orphanage.”

“Because I support the adoption I would not want to put up a challenge that would reverse it, but I might challenge some aspects of the order.

“I am discussing with my family about following up on having access to the child. We will not leave things the way they are – we will do something about it.”

Madonna and director Ritchie’s adoption of little David has been marred by controversy ever since they brought him back to the U.K., with critics claiming the couple had been given special treatment to side-step the official adoption process.

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It’s official: Madonna’s dream of adopting David Banda from Malawi has come true.

The High Court in the Malawi capital Lilongwe granted the singer, 49, permanent adoption order for the 2-year-old toddler on Wednesday. In his one-hour ruling, Justice Andrew Nyirenda said he is satisfied that Madonna and her British filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie “are perfect parents” for the toddler.

“I have examined the two reports by the guardian and I am satisfied David has found a good home,” he said.

Nyirenda said by his ruling, David’s biological father, Yohane Banda, forfeits all rights to the toddler.

“I am glad this is over now. I am happy for David,” his father said Wednesday. Banda, 33, who ekes out a living growing maize, tomato and onions, said his family will meet and plan a celebration.

Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula said that Madonna was “over the moon” when he told her about the success of her adoption Wednesday.

“She told me she was anxiously waiting for the news,” he said. “She is relieved and thanks the people of Malawi for allowing them to be family.”

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She has homes in the US and Britain and now it seems the Queen of Pop has a new land. Malawi is said to be making Madonna an honorary citizen in recognition of her work there.

As well as adopting her son David from the African country, the Four Minutes singer funds several orphanages in the land, feeding and educating thousands of youngsters. Caring Madonna is also setting up a girls’ school near the capital to help the underprivileged.

“We are proud as a country to be associated with such a megastar,” Billy Kaunda, Malawi’s deputy tourism and culture minister, was reported as saying.

“She will have freedom of all cities here. She won’t be bothered with issues like visas and other limitations.”

Earlier this week, Madonna’s documentary on Malawi, I Am Because We Are, premiered in Cannes to great acclaim.

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The annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit kicked off in the hills high above Cannes yesterday. Last year, George Clooney auctioned off a kiss for $300,000, but this year Madonna’s alligator Chanel purse was the star of the show.

The black alligator bag with a clasp studded with 334 diamonds was the actual purse she carried to the event, and that’s not all. She even gave up everything in the haute couture bag including Shu Uemura blotting paper, lip gloss — “It actually touched my lips”, Madonna noted — lip balm, a magnifying mirror, and throat lozenges. The only thing she took out was her blackberry and phone, explaining “I’m not going to give up my blackberry and phone because that’s too expensive for you.”

The final winning bid? 300,000 euros — that’s over $471,000 — for AIDS research! Sorry George, looks like Madonna’s chic purse is worth more than your kiss. As Madonna joked, “That’s cheap. Everyone’s kissed George Clooney.”

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Madonna is embracing the aging process, insisting she is only just reaching the peak of her attractiveness at 49.

The singer feels fitter, more toned and more attractive than she has ever been as she approaches her 50th birthday in August.

She explains, “I like the way I look better now. My thighs aren’t as chubby. I’m not kidding. I’m being perfectly honest.”

But Madonna insists she has never thought of herself as a natural beauty: “I see myself as practical and handsome, and useful. I don’t think of myself as a great beauty. But I think of myself as stylish.”

The Material Girl also reveals she never gets nostalgic and feels the need to look back at images of her past: “I don’t look at old pictures of myself. I don’t look at pictures of myself from last week. Once I’ve approved of them, they’re gone.”

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