Continuing along with her stay in Brazil, Madonna was spotted offering up a smile as she left the children’s charity Casa do Saber in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

According to a source on the scene, as the Material Girl exited the venue, a team from a well-known tropical comedy TV show tried to play a prank on her involving a T-shirt with a laughable slogan thrown in her direction.

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Keeping her health up to par, Madonna was spotted paying a visit to a medical center earlier today in New York City.

All bundled up in a coat, scarf and hat, the “Material Girl” singer braved the chilly NYC weather as she headed into the wellness facility.

Just last night, Madonna and boy toy, Jesus Luz, were spotted leaving the Standard Hotel in high spirits after the “Valentino: The Last Emperor” DVD launch celebration.

And in recent news, the charitable 51-year-old has promised electricity to a village in Malawi – where Madonna frequents – and is currently leading the building efforts of an all girls school.

Though she’s usually known for stirring up controversy, Madonna gave a heartwarming tribute to Michael Jackson at the opening of tonight’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

The “Like a Virgin” kicked off the show with a monologue explaining the similarities between herself and the late King of Pop, lamenting his poor treatment at the hands of the public.

Dressed in a very fashionable black ensemble, Madge put to words the pain that so many have felt since Jackson’s passing this past June 25th.

Following Madonna’s address, Janet Jackson highlighted a dance-infused set of some of Jackson’s best-loved songs.

Queen of Pop Madonna has been blamed for a boating accident that claimed 15 lives on September 5 in Bulgaria.

Church officials, who insisted that Madge’s decision to perform on a holy day brought them bad luck, were outraged with her plans of staging her Sticky and Sweet gig in the capital Sofia on August 29, the day Orthodox Christians mark the beheading of Saint John the Baptist with a fast.

But, even after protests, she refused to reschedule the date, and religious leaders are now convinced her defiance of their sacred customs led to the disaster on Macedonia’s Lake Ohrid.

“The catastrophe in Macedonia in which 15 Bulgarian citizens died was a sign from heaven,” the Daily Express quoted church leader Nikolay, in the city of Plovdiv, close to Sofia, as having told Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

“The Orthodox Church had called for people not to enjoy themselves on the day marking the execution of John. We should not allow the young to have fun on a day that should be dedicated to spiritual reflection,” he added.

The news comes after the country’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, last week criticised sports officials for letting the gig take place at the Vasil Levski Stadium, insisting the concert damaged the venue’s grass pitch.

Madonna has given daughter Lourdes a dancing role in the video for her new Celebration single.

The 12-year-old shows off some break dancing moves towards the end of the four minute video and appears to have inherited her mother’s talents.

Dressed in leggings and a multi-colored top, she is cheered on by Madonna’s troupe of backing dancers as she struts her stuff.

In other scenes, Madonna, 51, kisses her toyboy lover Jesus Luz, 22, the male model with whom she recently spent her birthday celebrations in Portofino. Proving that she is always at the forefront of fashion, the Material Girl wears a crystal and diamante-studded Balmain jacket and thigh-high Christian Louboutin boots.

Still one of the biggest draws in the world, Madonna gave her only concert in Poland during her “Sticky & Sweet” tour at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw on Saturday night (August 15) – just one day ahead of her 51st birthday.

With 80,000 fans on-hand for the show, the Material Girl was treated to “May you live a hundred years,” a traditional Polish birthday song, during a night which also saw protests from a group of angered Catholic fans – as the show fell on the same day as the Roman Catholic holiday celebrating the heavenly assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Nonetheless, Madge took it all in stride as she rocked the Polish capital city before heading straight to the airport for a flight to Genova, Italy.

According to a Gossip Center insider, Madonna and son David Banda landed in Italy in the wee hours of the morning to spend the day in Portofino for her birthday.

In total shock over the tragic events of late, Madonna arrived in Marseille with Lourdes Leon and Mercy James on Sunday (July 19).

Dressed in black, the Material Girl walked along with heavy security as Lourdes followed while a helping hand took care of Madge’s newly adopted daughter.

Speaking about the deaths and injuries resulting from stage work in the French city, Madonna said, "My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news."

Reports tell that a lighting technician named Charles Criscenzo died immediately onstage, while Charles Prow died shortly after at a hospital.

In the wake of the tragedy, Madonna’s concert in Marseille was canceled, with plans of picking back up in Barcelona on July 21.

A publicist for pop star Madonna has released a statement responding to that early morning reports claiming African courts have decided to allow the singer to adopt Mercy James, a four-year-old orphan from Malawi.

“Madonna has not been informed that a ruling has been made,” says her rep.

Madonna has hired a top-tier European DJ to teach her toy boy lover Jesus Luz how to spin the decks.

The Material Sugar Mama has enlisted the services of Eric Jao, a.k.a DJ Enferno, to train the Brazilian model, 22, according to Britain’s The Sun.

“She spares no expense with Jesus – he’s really spoiled. She hopes he’ll get into old-school hip hop but he’s into techno.”

The father of the girl Madonna is trying to adopt wants her back.

James Kambewa claims he had no idea four-year-old Mercy James was still alive until he heard the singer – who saw her adoption application rejected by a Malawian court on Friday (April 3, 2009) – was trying give her a home, but now wants to be part of her life.

Security guard James – who fathered Mercy with now-deceased 15-year-old Mwandida Maunde – told People magazine: "Now that I know Mercy is alive I am willing to support her."

"Mwandida’s parents were furious that I had messed up their daughter. They caused hell for me so I left town."

"I am afraid to approach her family because of what I did to their daughter, but I will see what I can do."

However, Mercy’s surviving relatives – who have approved her adoption by the American pop superstar – are furious with his reappearance.

Her uncle Peter Baneti said: "Where was he all this time? He wasn’t there when his girlfriend was pregnant, he didn’t even attend Mwandida’s funeral when she died eight days after giving birth to Mercy. We don’t think he even knew she had a baby."

Another uncle, John Ngalande, added: "If he cared he should have attempted to find out the fate of his daughter. We can’t accept him coming into Mercy’s life simply because she is now famous. We are angry with this boy."

Madonna – who flew back to England yesterday (April 6, 2009) – has reportedly instructed lawyers to fight the adoption decision, which was rejected due to the 50-year-old star not living in the African country for 18 months.

She reportedly said: "Do whatever you can to get me my Mercy, I can’t imagine her going back to the orphanage."

Mercy’s family initially opposed Madonna’s bid to adopt the girl but relented after negotiations with government officials and the "Miles Away" singer’s Raising Malawi charity.

Peter says he is "sad and surprised" at seeing Mercy’s chance for a better life taken away and welcomes an appeal against the court ruling.

He said: "I’m just very surprised that this has happened. And I’m so sad for Mercy. This was her chance for a better life and I think this has been taken away from her now."

Madonna has also been boosted by the support of ex-husband Guy Ritchie – with whom she adopted another Malawian child
, David, now three.

The British film director – who also has a son, eight-year-old Rocco, with Madonna and helped raise the singer’s 12-year-old daughter Lourdes – released a statement after the hearing on Friday praising his former wife’s parenting skills.

He said: "Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother who cares deeply about her own children, and children who may need additional help and support."