The bio-dad of the little girl Madonna is struggling to adopt had finally surfaced—just in time to get his 15 minutes in the spotlight.

According to AFP, James Kambewo, a Malawian man claiming to be the father of three-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James, has spoken out on the eve of a court hearing on Madonna’s appeal to legally adopt the child.

In a phone interview, Kambewo stated, “I want Mercy back. I am the biological father of Mercy,” adding that he wanted to “take care of her myself. I don’t have the money to pay a lawyer, but I am looking for one so that I can issue an injunction stopping Madonna from continuing to seek to adopt my daughter.”

So he doesn’t have the money to pay for a lawyer, but he wants to “take care” of a small child? A child he admits he’s never even met? The more I hear about little Mercy’s “family,” the more I think she’d be better off with Madonna.

Madonna took a nasty spill from a horse over the weekend, but that can’t keep the fabulously fit 50-year-old away from the gym!

Madonna’s personal trainer Tracy Anderson told Usmagazine.com that the singer’s OK. “She’s going to be fine. She fell on her butt, We’re going to train tomorrow.”

Well, that’s certainly getting back into the saddle. Anderson elaborated on her client’s regime. “We have our set training. She’s like a professional athlete. She can’t mess around with her training. I mean, she has to be able to perform in front of 70,000 people who are sucking the life out of her, and she’s singing and dancing. There are no shortcuts when you’re training in that way.”

Looks like Madonna won’t be retiring to her new NYC mansion anytime soon.

After months of looking, Madonna’s finally found the perfect NYC crib for her family—on the Upper East Side.

The NY Post says the pop superstar has purchased a four-story, Georgian-style townhouse on East 81st Street for about $40 million. The home boasts 13 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a two-car garage, a 3,000-square- foot garden, nine fireplaces, an elevator and a wine cellar with a grotto.

Sounds like Madonna will have lots of room for more kids—if she can find a country that will let her adopt them.

Madonna doesn’t give up easily. The African nation of Malawi rejected her petition to adopt little Mercy James, but she’s still trying.

The AP reports the superstar has taken her plea to a newspaper in Malawi. This weekend, Madonna told The Nation, “I want to provide Mercy with a home, a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible. And it’s my hope that she, like David, will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country.”

Madonna’s attorney has filed an appeal but not date has been set for another hearing.

She may have left Malawi empty-handed, but Madonna’s not giving up on adopting little Mercy James.

The UK Sun reports the superstar has plans to build a home in the African country in hopes of satisfying the 18-month residency requirement for adoption. A source told the Sun, “Madonna has a big, beautiful plot of land over there already. She’s planning to build a girl’s school in the Chinkhota village and those designs are well under way. But she’s gone back to the designers and asked if they could accommodate a family home on the plot or on adjacent land.”

Will this convince Malawi’s officials to allow her to adopt Mercy? When will she have time to spend 18 months in Africa?

Madonna may have failed in her attempt to adopt another child from Malawi, but now she has found another way to help others. 

The AP reports the star’s spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, says Madonna has pledged a “substantial amount” to aid victims of Monday’s devastating earthquake in central Italy which has killed at least 260 people.

This is a cause close to Madonna’s heart, since her paternal grandparents came from Pacentro, about 60 miles south of the quake’s epicenter.

The AP reports Madonna departed from Malawi aboard her private jet Sunday, still smarting from the rejection of her effort to adopt a second child from that country. The star and her entourage were bound for London’s Gatwick Airport.

Madonna is expected to appeal the court ruling that prevents her adoption of three-year-old orphan, Chifundo “Mercy” James, due too her failure to satisfy the nation’s residency requirements. So what will be her next move? I just don’t see someone as determined as Madonna giving up easily.

In a very surprising decision, the government of African nation Malawi has rejected Madonna’s application to adopt three-year-old Mercy James.

The AP reports Judge Esme Chombo agreed with critics who have complained that exceptions to the country’s regulations on adopting should not be set aside for the star. Residency rules had been waived in order to allow Madonna to adopt David Banda.

The judge stated, “It is necessary that we look beyond the petitioner … and consider the consequences of opening the doors too wide. By removing the very safeguard that is supposed to protect our children, the courts … could actually facilitate trafficking of children by some unscrupulous individuals.”

Madonna will appeal the rejection. Her lawyer, Alan Chinula, said later today that he has “filed notice for appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal.”

Not today, anyway. After a closed-door meeting with a Malawian judge today, Madonna’s application to adopt four-year-old Mercy James has been delayed until Friday.

The AP reports that child advocacy groups are concerned Madonna could be using her wealth and influence to circumvent a Malawian law requiring an 18- to 24-month assessment period before adoption. Undule Mwakusungura, chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, stated, “We feel Madonna is behaving like a bully. She has the money and the status to use her profile to manipulate, to fast-track the process.”

Also protesting the adoption is the girl’s grandmother Lucy Chekechiwa, who spoke to the UK Telegraph. “Why doesn’t this singer pick other children? It is stealing. I want to go to court, I won’t let her go.They told me when I visited her last month that they want to find a better education and home for Mercy. But I am sticking to the initial agreement that Mercy will return home to me after she reaches six years old.”

Could that be the cause of the delay? Why has grandma allowed this poor child to languish in an orphanage since her parents died? Why doesn’t she make a home for her? Could Granny be blocking the adoption of little Mercy until Madonna pays for her “cooperation?” 

An official at the ministry of Gender and Child Development told Reuters, “Her name is Mercy James from Mchinji Home of Hope orphanage. She has no father and mother, they both died… We finished the assessment yesterday in readiness for the courts next week.”

The only obstacle in Madonna’s path seems to be opposition from some Malawian officials to allowing a non-resident and single mother to adopt from the country. Madonna is expected to arrive in Malawi this weekend and be in court for adoption proceedings on Monday.

There  have been rumors for months that Madonna plans to adopt another child from Africa, but now it’s definite—and she may be adding to her brood within a few days!

The AP says sources in the African nation of Malawi report that Madonna has filed papers for adoption and will be there this weekend. A judge could hear her case as soon as Monday. A US official confirmed that the adoption is in progress. Madonna had previously adopted son David from Malawi.

But questions remain whether Madonna’s split from Guy Richie will pose a problem since Malawi does not approve adoptions for single or divorced parents. But rules have bee broken in the past, and as always, money talks.

Madonna wants to adopt another child from Africa—but faces opposition from officials due to her free-wheeling lifestyle. Her sexy flings with Brazilian boy-toy model Jesus Luz and Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez may prevent her from adding 3-year-old Mercy James to her brood.

The NY Daily News quoted a senior official from Malawi’s Ministry of Women and Child Welfare Development on the subject of Madonna’s chances of adopting again. “Our official policy is that we do not encourage our children to be sent into broken homes. The news she is linked to another woman’s husband and a young man less than half her age makes us question her morals.”

Well, people have been questioning Madonna’s morals for years. It’s certainly nothing new. But money talks and the Material Matron usually gets her way.

After a long search, Madonna has finally found a home worthy of her—a $38 million townhouse on the upper East Side of NYC. The NY Daily News reports the Material Matron is movin’ on up from her Central Park West crib.

Why the move? A source tattled, “Her current building is, frankly, beneath her. But she can’t get past the co-op boards of better buildings.” 

Ouch! So the folks in those “better buildings” think she’s beneath them? Can’t imagine why.

One major selling point for the new pad is a private garage, so Madonna can keep her comings and goings hush-hush—until she notifies the press herself.

Madonna seems to have a drawer full of those Ed Hardy tee shirts that were trendy two or three years ago. Now Elle reports she’s collaborating with Christian Audigier on her own line for Ed Hardy.

The Madonna line is expected to more include tattoo printed T-shirts and crystal encrusted bodices like the Ed hardy line has too many of already. Whoopee. I always wanted an overpriced tee shirt designed by a 50-year-old woman who thinks she’s 18.

PETA is at it again, using famous names to get attention for their already over-hyped “cause.” They’ve named their Worst-Dressed Celebrities of 2009, and the six “winners” are Madonna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kanye West, Elizabeth Hurley and PETA’s favorite objects of scorn, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Stealing their material from Mr. Blackwell, PETA said of the Material Matron, “When you see Madonna in fur, you realize why nobody has copied her style since 1984. We know that she’s on the prowl for a young cub, but someone needs to tell Madge that wearing fur doesn’t make you a cougar.”

As usual, their worst barbs were saved for the Olsens. “Since fur adds 20 years and 20 pounds, maybe Mary-Kate and Ashley think their matronly wardrobe will deflect the gossip about bulimia. Somewhere, someone is missing a matching pair of Bigfoot bobblehead dolls.”

Ouch! So when they’re not ragging on celebs, what does PETA actually do for animals? Their silly campaign to stop us from eating fish by naming them “Sea Kittens” just made me think, “Yum! Kittens of the Sea.”

Forget it, A-Rod. Madonna’s found a younger, hotter boytoy—and she’s picked Oscar night to show him off! The 50-year-old star has asked 22-year-old model Jesus Luz to be her arm candy for Hollywood’s biggest night. A source told OK magazine:

“Madonna and Jesus have spent all week planning their outfits for Oscar night. Madonna is planning on using the Vanity Fair party to introduce Jesus to the world as her new boyfriend, and she wants everything to be perfect!”


Oh, that outfit he wore in their W spread certainly got my attention. But he’ll probably wear something less interesting, like a designer tux. But doesn’t this smell like a mutually beneficial PR stunt rather than a romance?

Hey, Jesus
 

A 30-year-old photograph of a young Madonna sold for $37,500 at a NYC auction Thursday, a record sum for a photograph  the singer. The AP reports an unnamed European buyer purchased the full-frontal, lack-and-white nude photo.

This “unnamed buyer” must have a major crush on Madge or a lot of money sitting around. You can see most of her in the news issue of W for a lot less than $37,500.

Eat your hearts out, young pop tarts—Her Madgesty still rules the music business. Reuters reports that 50-year-old Madonna ranks as music’s top moneymaker for 2008 with a take of with $242.2 million.

Most of that came from her Sticky & Sweet tour, which took in $229.9 million at the box office, and from merchandising. With the sales of recorded music continuing to drop, touring is the major cash cow for artists.

Can she match that for 2009? Maybe, since her Sticky & Sweet tour continues this summer with 25 shows in the U.K. and Europe. Many of those shows are in stadiums and will gross several million dollars per night. Not bad for a night’s work.

Madonna has won the battle to bring her sons back to NYC.  The London Evening Standard reports that the newly-divorced singer has been given temporary permission to take her two sons by Guy Richie from his home in Britain, with permanent permission expected soon. 

Madonna reportedly wants to have all three of her children—Lourdes, Rocco and David—living with her in New York. She seems to be getting her wish.

Now that her holiday family-time is over, Madonna’s back in the city—and taking up where she left off with Yankee slugger Alex Rodriquez.

Page Six says Madonna spent a romantic weekend with A-Rod at the East Hampton home of pals Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld. No word on whether the newly-divorced pair is still shopping for a cozy love nest in NYC.