The train carrying stars of The Da Vinci Code to its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival made it into the Guinness Book of World Records on Tuesday, after completing the longest non-stop international rail journey. The speedy Eurostar took Tom Hanks, Sir Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou and director Ron Howard from London's Waterloo station to Cannes, France. The high speed train, which usually carries passengers through the Channel Tunnel, covered the 1,421 kilometer journey, in just seven hours and 25 minutes. An official from the world famous Guinness Book of Records was on board to moderate the attempt. The top speed reached during the record-breaking journey was 299 kilometers-per-hour.

Rock legend Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills McCartney have split after nearly four of years of marriage. The former Beatle, 63, and charity campaigner Mills, 38, released a statement yesterday confirming their separation, citing "media intrusion" as the cause of their marital troubles. A joint statement reads, "Having tried exceptionally hard to make our relationship work given the daily pressures surrounding us, it is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways. We have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a normal relationship with constant intrusion into our private lives. Our parting is amicable and both of us still care about each other very much." Only last week, Mills denied reports of marital problems saying, "It's hilarious. Of course we are together. Paul and I are still very much together. Paul and I are together 100 percent." The couple met in 1999 - a year after McCartney's first wife Linda died from breast cancer - at a charity function for Mills, who has been an avid campaigner for anti-landmine charities after losing her leg in a motorbike accident in 1993. They married in a 17th century castle in County Monaghan, Ireland, in June 2002 and had baby daughter Beatrice in October 2003. McCartney has three children from his first marriage to Linda - Mary, Stella and James - as well as being the stepfather of Linda's daughter Heather from a previous relationship. Former model Mills was previously married to computer executive Alfie Karmal from 1989 until 1991.

Jessica Simpson has hit back at reports she fired her best friend and assistant Cacee Cobb because she was too close to estranged husband Nick Lachey. After two years, Cobb is moving on from her position as the star's assistant to pursue behind-the-scenes work in the entertainment industry. Simpson's spokesperson explains, "CaCee and Jessica will remain close friends. And CaCee will continue to assist Jess until the end of the month." Cobb has kept in close contact with Lachey throughout the couple's break-up. The pair were photographed chatting all night at a Las Vegas, Nevada club in April and were seen together again on May 1 at a nightclub in Los Angeles. A source tells American publication Us Weekly, "Insiders know she was fired." Another source adds, "Maintaining a friendship with Nick was important to CaCee. She was determined to do it, despite what Jess wanted."

Tom Cruise has lost his fight to stop an episode of South Park mocking his Scientology beliefs being shown in the UK. The Trapped in the Closet episode, which shows a cartoon version of Cruise being locked inside a cupboard, was shown at London's National Film Theatre on Monday. The show was originally taken off air by British TV network Channel 4 in January amid complaints. Organizers were thrilled the actor failed in his attempts to stop the free screening, which accompanied a talk given by creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, insisting it was a display of free speech. A spokesman said, "If we were charging there may have been legal problems, but it was a free event, so it should be fine." After the screening, free copies of "Trapped in the Closet" were handed out.

Actor Daniel Baldwin has been charged with two drug counts in California. The actor, who is the brother of Alec Baldwin, was arrested last month at a hotel in Santa Monica, after a woman called police claiming she had been threatened. When officers arrived they found cocaine on Baldwin, as well as another man. Both were arrested. The Santa Monica City Attorney has charged Baldwin with being under the influence of cocaine and drug paraphernalia possession - both counts are misdemeanors. According to Tmz.com, the actor will be arraigned on May 22.

Eighties supermodel Janice Dickinson has advice for pregnant pop star Britney Spears - dump her husband Kevin Federline. Federline has been unpopular with many Spears fans since their relationship began in April 2004, because he was still dating his then-pregnant ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson. His recent attempt at a rap career has been received coldly by music fans and the former dancer has failed to secure a record contract. Dickinson admits she is dismayed at Spears' personal appearance and wardrobe choices since she married Federline and is desperate to give her a makeover. She tells The Book Standard, "I never found him hot at all. But she's a hick anyway. She needs to get hot again. Stop clomping around in those Malibu flip-flops. I would tar and feather her first of all, tell her to dump that f**king hick husband of hers. She needs solid advice, and not from Hicksville."

Pop beauty Mariah Carey allegedly dined with a New York gangster during her marriage to ex-husband Tommy Mottola, a former FBI agent claims. Joaquin Manuel Garcia, who retired from the FBI in March, made the revelations as he testified in alleged mob boss Greg De Palma's racketeering trial in a Manhattan court room on Monday. Garcia claims De Palma, 74, brought him into the mob and he secretly recorded conversations during his time with the criminal gang. During a recorded conversation, De Palma claims he enjoyed a series of dinners with the singer and her music mogul husband in the mid-1990s. De Palma described Carey as "very nice, very quiet, reserved." When asked for comment by the New York Daily News, a spokesman for Mottola denied he had spent time with De Palma.

American actor Frankie Thomas died in a Los Angeles hospital last Thursday of respiratory failure. He was 85. Thomas cut his acting teeth on the Broadway, New York City, stage in the 1930s before making the move to Hollywood. He starred in a number of films including A Dog Of Flanders and The Major And The Minor, but he is best known for his lead role in 1950s US TV series Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. His co-star Jan Merlin says, "Frankie looked like the all-American boy. Everyone in the room knew immediately this was the guy we were going to get." Thomas turned his back on acting when the show closed in 1955 and pursued a career as a TV, radio and novel writer. He was buried on Tuesday dressed in his space cadet costume.

American singer Sheryl Crow made her live comeback on Tuesday after undergoing breast cancer surgery. The star was operated on in February and subsequently had appointments for radiation therapy. Crow took to the stage in New York City and performed three songs at a sales presentation to advertisers by My Network TV, which launches in September. The 44-year-old said, "This is the first time I've played in ages. I'm just happy to be here."

Soul singer Isaac Hayes is celebrating after his wife Adjowa gave birth to their first child together. The Shaft hitmaker's wife gave birth to an 8 pounds, 5 ounce son named Nana Kwadjo Hayes on April 10, but they only released the information yesterday. The Scientologist star, who quit as the voice of Chef in South Park earlier this year, has three other sons from previous marriages. Hayes and Adjowa married in May 2005.