A coalition of human rights groups desperate to stop Madonna's adoption of Malawian baby David Banda has again had its case adjourned. An alliance of 67 groups is challenging the interim adoption order granted to the singer last month. Madonna denies she used her wealth and influence to speed up the adoption process. However, a judge in Lilongwe yesterday said he will decide next Monday if the coalition can take part in the adoption hearing. The alliance's Justin Dzondi says, "Basically what we are asking the court is that we want to be joined as a party to the assessment because we have a lot of legal issues we want to raise." Yohane Banda, the biological father of one-year-old David, was present at the first adjourned hearing on October 27 to protest moves to halt the adoption. He fears the groups' outrage may prompt Madonna and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie to return the child to Malawi, where he warns he'd die from lack of food and medicine.

Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie caused chaos on a train in India recently, after jumping onto a packed carriage while shooting new movie A Mighty Heart. The sultry actress bought a ticket from a south Mumbai (Bombay) commuter station and boarded a local train with four bodyguards, while the crew shot from outside. The impromptu shoot sparked safety fears when passengers crowded around the Tomb Raider star, but her bodyguards managed to bundle the actress out of the train before it got too dangerous. A Mighty Heart is based on a book by slain Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl's widow Mariane.

Brad Pitt has forced bosses at Madame Tussauds waxwork museum to pull the plug on a publicity stunt involving himself, girlfriend Angelina Jolie and a Las Vegas wedding. Tussauds' marketing brains in Sin City had arranged for Pitt's wax double to marry Jolie's new figure in a cheesy ceremony at the museum housed in The Venetian Resort on Wednesday. But Pitt has vetoed the quirky plans telling museum bosses he's "disappointed" with their approach to the unveiling of Jolie's new waxwork. Spokesman Jack Taylor says, "Calls were made and we have decided to honour the requests of Mr. Pitt's people. We're disappointed but we have an excellent relationship with celebrities and felt it best to cancel this event."

Movie star Tom Cruise flew his mother and kids to Rome, Italy yesterday, where he'll put the finishing touches to his wedding ceremony, scheduled for Saturday. Flashbulbs popped at Rome's Ciampino airport, when Mission: Impossible III actor Cruise and his small entourage flew in on a private jet from Los Angeles. The actor is set to wed Batman Begins star Katie Holmes at an undisclosed Italian location on Saturday, but speculation suggests it will be 15th-century Odescalchi Castle on Lake Bracciano. Details of Cruise's stay are top secret, but reports suggest the actor will be staying at top Rome hotel the Hassler as he finalizes the wedding

Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo and her boyfriend, record producer Chris Ivery, are engaged. Ivery proposed to the actress on Friday, which was also her 37th birthday, after breakfast at their home. According to Pompeo's representative, "She was surprised and thrilled." Ivery presented her with a 3.5-carat emerald-cut diamond in a platinum setting from jewelry designer Tacori. Pompeo and Ivery, 37, are both natives of Boston, Massachusetts and grew up minutes away from each other, but didn't meet until a pal introduced them in Los Angeles in 2003. The pair began dating six months after their initial meeting, after developing a close friendship. According to her representative, no wedding date has been set.

James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have threatened to stop filming the superspy franchise in Britain - because it's too expensive. Wilson has blamed rising costs in the British capital for his stance and blasts the British Government for failing to help. He says, "London is the most expensive city in the world right now. To bring talent here and put them up for long periods of time and the cost of doing business here is a factor." The move means Casino Royale could be the last Bond movie filmed at Pinewood Studios - but the UK Film council insists it will find a way to ensure the British secret agent stays at his natural home. A spokesperson for the Council says, "We will be doing all we can to ensure that every film that can shoot in the UK, including Bond, does."

Sir Elton John's bitter rant at how organized religion promotes hatred of homosexuals has upset a pro-gay church group. The singer, who married his longtime partner David Furnish in a civil ceremony in Britain last year, claimed organized religion only works to chastise homosexuality and convince people it's wrong. He said, "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays. I would ban religion completely. Organized religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate." But his outburst has saddened Reverend Giles Fraser from the Inclusive Church, a pro-gay group in the Church of England, who believes the singer's comments are a popular 'misconception' in the gay community. Fraser says, "I'm sad because it deepens the perception that the church is intrinsically homophobic. I don't believe it is homophobic, I believe that's a mistaken interpretation. And (Elton John's comments) don't help those struggling to change that perception."

Britney Spears faces legal action from an Irish newspaper after she sued it for suggesting her marriage to Kevin Federline was on the rocks. The Sunday Independent printed an interview with the singer earlier this year, in which it hinted the couple were heading for divorce. The fuming pop star immediately filed suit against the paper. Bosses at the Independent are now furious after the singer served Federline with divorce papers last week. The Sunday Independent's lawyer Simon McAleese says, "She's (Spears) trying to get money. It was plainly bloody obvious that her marriage was on the rocks when the interview took place. She is a Hollywood airhead. Why should my clients have to pay for her bubble headed rubbish? We're fed up. Her gaffe has been blown. It's a shame we're dealing with ludicrous drivel like this as it can be costly."

Oscar-nominated actress Toni Collette tried out her new role as a rocker on Monday night at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The Sixth Sense and Muriel's Wedding star performed songs from her debut album, Beautiful Awkward Pictures. The acclaimed Australian actress completed another step in her new musical career, performing with her band The Finish and filming a concert series for Australian cable network Foxtel. Collette confessed to the small crowd of approximately 50 people that she couldn't hide her inner rock chick when she took to the stage. She said, "People always asked what I'd be like on stage, and I said that I'd never grab my crotch like Chrissy Amphlett (from Australian rock group the Divinyls). That seems to be all I'm doing!"

Best-selling author Dan Brown is breathing a sigh of relief after the US Supreme Court threw out an appeal by another author claiming The Da Vinci Code was copied from his novel. Lewis Perdue was seeking $150 million in damages, insisting his 2000 book Daughter Of God forms the basis of Brown's hit novel-turned-movie. But justices in Washington refused to review a ruling by a US appeals court in New York that the two books are not substantially similar and that Brown's suspense novel does not infringe on the other book's copyright.