MICHAEL JACKSON DIES: An autopsy is expected to be conducted Friday on international pop star
Michael Jackson, who died suddenly in Los Angeles at the age of 50.
Jackson was pronounced dead Thursday at the UCLA Medical Center after
suffering cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. He died more than two
months before his 51st birthday, and days before he was scheduled to
begin a series of comeback concerts in London. Tickets for his London
shows, offered in March, sold out in minutes.
MICHAEL JACKSON REACT: Celebrities and ordinary fans are paying tribute to international pop star Michael Jackson, who died Thursday at the age of 50.
Music legend Quincy Jones said Jackson "had it all -- talent, grace and
professionalism." Jones produced two of Jackson's biggest selling
albums, Off the Wall and Thriller. He called Jackson his little brother, and lamented that "part of my soul has gone with him"
Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson's ex-wife and the daughter of rock and roll
legend Elvis Presley, said she was heartbroken, "very sad and confused
with every emotion possible."
US - IRAN: The White House has rejected remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad who says U.S President Barack Obama should avoid
interfering in Iran's disputed election.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says Mr. Ahmadinejad is among those
trying to make Iran's post-election controversy about the United
States, and not Iran itself.
After taking a mostly measured approach to the Iranian situation,
President Obama on Tuesday delivered his strongest reaction yet, saying
he was "appalled and outraged" by the Iranian government's
post-election crackdown.
NORTH KOREA: Tens of thousands of North Koreans have rallied in Pyongyang in a show
of defiance against the United States on the 59th anniversary of the
outbreak of the Korean War.
An estimated 100,000 people packed into the North Korean capital's main
square Thursday, punching clenched fists into the air. A poster
displayed at the rally declared "let us smash U.S. attempts to provoke
nuclear war."
North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned of a "fire shower" of nuclear retaliation in the event of a U.S. attack.
BURMA - UN: The United Nations special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is on his
way to the administrative capital Naypyidaw to begin talks with the
country's ruling military officials.
Gambari set off by automobile for Naypyidaw hours after arriving in the main city, Rangoon.
The Nigerian envoy, making his eighth visit to Burma, will use the
visit to pave the way for a possible visit by U.N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon.
Earlier this week, Mr. Ban said he was looking at the appropriate
timing for a visit. Mr. Ban is scheduled to visit Japan from June 30 to
July 2 and could visit Burma afterwards.
SOMALIA - US: The United States says it is providing weapons to Somalia's government
to help it fight Islamist insurgents.
The State Department on Thursday confirmed reports that the U.S.
recently sent a shipment of arms and ammunition to Somalia.
A State Department spokesman said the supplies are to help
the Somali government face what he called an "onslaught" by Islamist
rebels. The Washington Post first reported the story earlier Thursday.
The paper quoted a U.S. official as saying a decision was made at the
"highest level" to ensure the Somali government does not fall.
NIGERIA - OIL - MILITANTS: Nigeria's main rebel group says it has attacked a Shell-operated oil
well in the Niger Delta, the night after the Nigerian president made a
fresh offer of amnesty.
In an emailed statement, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta told journalists the attack (on a well-head at the Afremo oil
fields) was in response to a "punitive" military operation against them
after the amnesty offer.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of a military offensive
or the attack.
Listen to our World News for details.
