LONDON — Madonna accepted damages yesterday from a British newspaper for publishing pictures of her wedding to Guy Ritchie that she said had been stolen from her home.

The singer was not in court, but her lawyer confirmed that she had accepted "substantial" damages from Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday.

The amount was not disclosed but her lawyer, John Kelly, said that she would donate the money to charity. Madonna, who was divorced from the filmmaker earlier this year, had sought damages in excess of $8 million.

TAYLOR TO UNDERGO HEART PROCEDURE

LOS ANGELES — Elizabeth Taylor says she's headed to the hospital for a heart procedure.

The 77-year-old actress told her followers on Twitter yesterday that she is to undergo a "very new" procedure to improve heart function that "involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device" rather than open-heart surgery.

"Any prayers you happen to have lying around I would dearly appreciate," Taylor wrote, adding that she plans to inform her 155,944 Twitter followers when the procedure is done. She did not say when or where she is having treatment.

SWITZERLAND DENIES RELEASE FOR POLANSKI

BERN, Switzerland — Roman Polanski lost the first round yesterday in his battle to avoid extradition to the U.S. for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

Already locked in a Zurich cell for the past dozen days, Polanski learned he will remain incarcerated for an extended period as the Swiss Justice Ministry rejected his plea to be released from custody.

Swiss authorities expressed fear he might flee the country if freed from prison. The director of "Rosemary's Baby" and "Chinatown" has been wanted by U.S. authorities since fleeing sentencing 31 years ago.

Polanski was arrested Sept. 26 as he arrived in Zurich.

Polanski and his victim, Samantha Geimer, reached a $500,000 settlement in October 1993, according to documents recently released in Los Angeles. Geimer, who now lives on Kaua'i, has since joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal and has forgiven him.

GIBSON'S DUI CHARGE WIPED FROM RECORD

LOS ANGELES — A judge has ruled that Mel Gibson's conviction stemming from his notorious 2006 drunken driving arrest is being expunged.

Yesterday's ruling came after his lawyer had requested the dismissal. The actor-director completed the terms of his three-year probation following the misdemeanor drunken driving arrest in which he made derogatory comments about Jews and women. As part of his no-contest plea, Gibson was sentenced to three years of probation, paid about $1,600 in fines and had to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and other meetings.