Jackson spectacle likely a world event

Will Michael Jackson stop the world? Thousands are expected to swamp Los Angeles, California, to mourn him Tuesday at the Staples Center, and the accompanying media crush will be enormous. The tribute to the King of Pop at Harlem’s Apollo Theater earlier this week drew coverage from all over the world, along with a public turnout in the thousands.

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Sexual assaults on the high seas come under scrutiny

It’s the midst of peak cruising season, and millions of travelers are eagerly embarking on exotic vacations without thinking they could ever fall victim to a crime at sea. But sexual and physical assaults were the leading crimes committed onboard cruise ships in recent years, the FBI says. In March, a 42-year-old female passenger aboard the Coral Princess says a Portuguese crew member sexually assaulted her during a cruise, according to an FBI affidavit

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Jolie jumps past Oprah to nab top spot on Forbes celebrity list

Media maven Oprah Winfrey earned 10 times more than Angelina Jolie last year, but the actress bumped the talk show host from the top spot on Forbes’ 2009 Celebrity 100 list just released by the business magazine. Jolie’s fame, evidenced by magazine covers and TV, radio, newspaper and Web stories, outweighed Winfrey’s, giving her the edge as “the most powerful celebrity in the world” based on Forbes’ formula, Forbes Senior Editor Matthew Miller said.

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Joan Rivers becomes Trump’s new ‘Apprentice’

She’s been a comedian, talk-show host and feared red carpet fashion critic. Now you can add winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" to Joan Rivers’ lengthy resume. After weeks of competition, the 75-year-old dynamo beat out 15 other contestants, including Dennis Rodman, Tom Green and Brian McKnight, to take the top spot in this season’s edition of the reality show hosted by Donald Trump

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Only thing burning at Cher’s house is desire

When emergency crews scramble to a celebrity’s home and it turns out to be a false alarm, journalists don’t usually write about it. When the celebrity is Cher and her publicist issues an entertaining response to a reporter’s call, some entertainment writers can’t resist

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Obama’s aunt gets reprieve in asylum case

A federal immigration judge says President Obama’s aunt, who has stayed in the United States illegally for years, will be allowed to remain in the country until at least next year. U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that delegates at the London summit needed to act with urgency and in unison to address the financial crisis.

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