They're the $1 million photographs generating headlines around the world: Angelina Jolie, her son Maddox and Brad Pitt, all together on a beach in Africa.

The pictures started a major bidding war, eventually won by Us Weekly, which will publish the photos worldwide this Wednesday.

We spoke with New York Daily News columnist Ben Widdicombe about the pics.

"The photos don't show Brad and Angelina actually touching," Widdicombe told us. "They're on vacation. Angelina's three-year-old son, Maddox, is also with them."

Widdicombe also said there are new reports about how the photographer was able to track down the stars: "On Monday came rumors that Angelina Jolie herself may have tipped off the photographer in exchange for not publishing the pictures until they had left Africa."

So far, Brad and Angelina's camps have said nothing about the latest pictures.

The "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-stars have been the subject of speculation for months, and the two have looked very cozy at times. But why the trip to Africa? We've learned both stars were on the continent doing charitable work. Brad is on a humanitarian mission to promote AIDS awareness. He's also shooting a new movie in Morocco with Cate Blanchett called "Babel."

Meanwhile, back on the West Coast, Brad's ex, Jennifer Aniston, is looking forward to the December release of her new movie with Kevin Costner, "Rumor Has It."

Don't miss Monday's "Extra" for shots from the set of "Babel" and of Jennifer on the set of her current movie, "Friends With Money."