Ben Affleck's new girlfriend Jennifer Garner is battling a viral infection as she prepares for this weekend's Elektra premiere in Las Vegas. The 13 Going On 30 actress has canceled her promotional duties for the film after falling ill just before New Year's Eve. Her publicist Nicole King says, "She's taking it day by day." In addition to all the publicity surrounding Elektra, Garner's television show Alias, in which she stars opposite ex-boyfriend Michael Vartan, is set to start its fourth season tonight.

Jude Law is engaged to marry Sienna Miller after the actress accepted his romantic Christmas Day proposal. Miller - who met Law on the set of Alfie soon after his bitter 2003 divorce from Sadie Frost - was overcome with emotion when the actor pulled out a diamond engagement ring and asked her to wed him. Following Miller's immediate acceptance, Law then informed his children Rafferty, Iris and Rudy of his martial plans the following day when he whisked them off for a sunny holiday in the Seychelles. A spokeswoman for the couple, Caira Parks, last night confirmed Law and Miller will tie the knot - although they're still working on a date for the big day. She said, "It's true they are engaged. Jude has bought Sienna a big cluster diamond ring. He asked Sienna to marry him on Christmas Day. They spent Christmas together in England. They then headed to the Indian ocean. They have told their families the news and they're thrilled, as are Jude's children. They love Sienna and can't wait for the wedding. No date has been set yet and it is not known whether it will be this year. The date will depend on their filming schedules. They are both very busy at the moment." The news comes just months after Law and Miller rubbished reports they were planning to marry.

Britney Spears has ventured behind the camera to co-direct her first pop video - in preparation for her assault on Hollywood. The "Toxic" beauty put her directorial skills into practice when she helped create the promo for her tune "Do Something" in New York last month. And Spears hopes the video will show studio heads she has the talent to score success as a movie-maker - especially since she's already devoting much of her spare time to writing scripts for big screen musicals. She says, "I made a cute video for 'Do Something.' We shot the entire thing in a record-breaking five hours. I even came up with all the choreography and styled the entire shoot myself. I've been working on writing and hopefully directing a musical that makes fun of Hollywood."

Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe is reportedly selling her wedding ring on website eBay. Rowe plans to hold the internet auction when the troubled superstar stands trial over child abuse allegations - in a bid to exacerbate his stress as she fights a custody battle over access to their children, Prince Michael, seven, and Paris, six. Jackson bought Rowe the 2.13-carat diamond round-cut in Sydney, Australia, and gave it to her on the day before their three-year marriage began on November 13, 1996. American gossip columnist Roger Friedman writes, "The decision to sell the ring came as Rowe's expenses continue to rise."

Comedy couple Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are being sued for letting a New Year's Eve party escalate out of control. Ivan Harnden, a guest at the pair's 2003 New Year's Eve bash, claims he suffered cuts to his face when a fellow reveler started dancing wildly in front of him, smashing a glass in his face. The plaintiff, who is also suing the dancer, insists the party's hosts DeVito and Perlman "had a duty to exercise due care in operating and managing the party and the dance floor".

American chat show host Jay Leno is to auction off a Harley Davidson motorbike signed by stars like Nicole Kidman and Matt LeBlanc to raise funds for the tsunami relief effort in Asia. The effort is the second time Leno has teamed up with Harley Davidson bosses to raise cash for charity - Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Sylvester Stallone were among the stars who signed a bike the TV star auctioned in 2001 to raise cash for the victims of September 11 and their families. Leno will ask all his upcoming guests to sign the bike before selling if off and handing over all profits to the Red Cross International Disaster Relief program.

Leonardo DiCaprio and David Beckham are to pay separate visits to the area left devastated by last month's Asian tsunami, in an effort to boost morale in the region. DiCaprio filmed his hit 2000 movie The Beach in Phuket, Thailand, which was hit hard by the catastrophic waves on December 26. Soccer player Beckham is a superstar in Asia and is planning a trip there in a bid to attract the vital tourism trade back to the area. The Real Madrid ace is also a representative for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). His spokesman says, "We are open to all offers. He will help as much as he can. David has a UNICEF role and that's where his efforts will be."

Practicing Buddhist Richard Gere has embarked on a political mission to persuade Palestinians to vote in the country's forthcoming presidential elections. The Primal Fear actor, who has made several visits to Israel and Palestine in recent years, has recorded a commercial for pro-peace group One Voice urging participation in the election - which seeks to replace late leader Yasser Arafat - on January 9. Gere says in the political promo, "Hi, I'm Richard Gere and I'm speaking for the entire world. We're with you during this election time. It's really important: Get out and vote." Gere is joined on the public service announcement by Islamic cleric Sheik Taissir Tamimi and Greek Orthodox Church official Atallah Hanah.

Benevolent movie icon Julie Andrews is spearheading an effort to fill an empty 747 cargo plane full of relief aid and fuel so that victims of the Asia tsunamis can get much-needed supplies. Plane company Atlas Aviation has donated the huge plane to Operation USA, for which Andrews is a board member, and all the charity has to do is fill it with aid and fuel. So the Mary Poppins star has called on pal Army Archerd, who pens a weekly column for trade paper Daily Variety, to help her spread the word, so those upset by the tragedy who are keen to help can donate the $100,000 needed to get the plane off the ground.

Troubled actress Winona Ryder is furious she's still being discriminated against for her shoplifting criminal record, despite serving 480 hours of community service. The Girl, Interrupted star was arrested in 2001 for stealing designer clothes worth more than $7,600 from New York department store, Saks Fifth Avenue. But she recently discovered the public still regards her as a felon, when she was banned from signing a letter encouraging President George W. Bush to sign the environmentally-friendly Kyoto agreement, because of her criminal record. She fumes, "I was all ready to sign, then this girl said, 'Hey, hold on, aren't you a convicted felon?' I said, 'Yes, so what?' and she told me I'm not eligible to sign official Senate petitions because of my criminal record, which was pretty embarrassing."