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London, July 1 (IANS) Late Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine is planning to produce a number of movies on her son’s life.

Katherine has reportedly teamed up with her new business partner Howard Mann, who collaborated on her recently-released coffee table book, for a series of films about the King of Pop.

Mann has allegedly paid millions of dollars to Jackson’s former business partner Marc Schaffel for 26 hours of footage of the singer from his childhood to use in the movies.

The clips, along with Katherine’s extensive home-video collection, will form the basis of the big-screen ventures, reports contactmusic.com.

Katherine and Mann are also said to be negotiating record deals to release 273 unheard songs by the late singer.

Zaragoza (Spain), July 1 (IANS/EFE) Robots with the ability to dance like Michael Jackson, defuse bomb and perform household works were displayed at a technology conference in this Spanish city.

Some 300 robotic researchers from 25 countries took part in the “Robotics: Science and Systems” conference held at the Zaragoza Auditorium.

The event, which was attended by the representatives from US space agency NASA and top notch technology firms like Google and Microsoft, was held to discuss the future generation of robots, said Professor Jose Neira, president of the organising committee.

Predicting about future robots is difficult, though Neira said movies and television in many ways decide what the advances in the sector are going to be.

For example, auto giant Volkswagen is working to develop a car based on the model of an ultramodern vehicle shown in a television series “Knight Rider”, he said.

The US firm Willow Garage presented its android PR2, demonstrating how it can help people with their domestic chores, including folding a pile of clothes and storing them.

While Nao, a 58-centimetre-tall creation of the French firm Aldebaran Robotics, can copy the difficult dance moves from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, the small robot will have a successor in Romeo, a prototype 1.5 metre-tall that the firm will have ready in October 2011 to help people with disabilities.

Besides, the exhibition had the most advanced robotic hand, produced by the US firm Barrett Technology, which can pick up an egg without breaking it, and Summit, developed by Spanish firm Robotnik with the ability to defuse explosives.

Demonstration with volunteers controlling the robots’ movement wearing electrode caps were also part of the event at the University of Zaragoza.

–IANS/EFE

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London, June 27 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s father has failed in his bid to file a wrongful death lawsuit against his son’s doctor on the anniversary of the King of Pop’s death – because of a mistake in the paperwork.

According to TMZ.com, Joe Jackson’s lawyer Brian Oxman filed documents against Dr. Conrad Murray in federal court on Friday (25Jun10), seeking unspecified damages in connection with his son’s death.

But the suit was returned because or an error and it will now have to be refilled, reports the Daily Star.

In the complaint, Joe alleges Murray withheld vital information from the doctors and emergency service operatives who were trying to save Michael’s life. (ANI)

Washington, June 27 (ANI): The US Embassy in Islamabad is having a tough time countering the continuous anti-American campaign being carried out by the Pakistani media.

Embassy officials have been engaged in a herculean task of countering every major attack on US strategy in the country, as the Obama administration views Pakistan as a crucial partner in the fight against Islamist terrorism.

In the past eight months, Embassy officials have described Pakistani media reports against the US’ policies as “false and malicious”.

Officials said that nowhere else in the world U.S. policies face such disdain and misrepresentation, The Washington Post reports.

“The United States, which is expanding its footprint here, often features as an all-powerful schemer, a depiction embassy officials complain is exacerbated when Pakistani journalists do not seek the American side of the story,” the paper added.

However, it is hard to determine whether the counter statements issued by the US embassy succeed in what they actually intend to do.

Pakistani journalists also believe that the official embassy denials carry little weight.

“Our government does not have a history of giving out information. If the U.S. pulls another Pakistan on the Pakistani media . . . it’s only natural they would be hostile. The hostility stems from this space where secrecy is the norm,” said media analyst Adnan Rehmat.

Officials mainly concentrate on reports published in English dailies, but the market for English-language newspapers is small.

Television, where 70 percent of Pakistanis get their news and anti-Western venom flows, is the biggest arbiter of public opinion, and the embassy rarely issues corrections about television reports, which are too numerous to monitor, the paper said.

Rehmat pointed out that the embassy, instead of corrections, should focus on getting more American scholars, scientists, artists and athletes into Pakistan to mingle with journalists.

“For us, America is either Obama or Bush, or it’s 50 Cent and Michael Jackson.We’re missing all the other amazing spectrum,” he said.

Huma Yusuf, a columnist for Dawn newspaper, highlighted that the generation of journalists, in their bid to earn publicity for them and their organisation, mint sensational stories, and its nothing better than lashing out the US in a country where only 8 percent of people have faith in President Obama’s policies.

“If you can take even the slightest thing and turn it into a story that proves the U.S. is the evil demon . . . it’s going to sell papers,” Yusuf added. (ANI)

Melbourne, June 26 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s 12-year-old daughter Paris is struggling the most with her father’s death, it has emerged.

‘She has pictures of Michael plastered over all her walls and is really attached to all his memorabilia,’ News.com.au quoted a family insider as telling Foxnews.com.

‘In time, it’s very much expected that they will go into the entertainment industry to some capacity,’ added the insider. ‘Could be music or acting — it was really embedded in them from day one,’ the insider added.

Although MJ died a year ago, it’s only now the biological mum of Prince and Paris, Debbie Rowe, has been in contact with the children.

MJ’s three children have also infact thrived in having the opportunity to interact with their cousins.

‘Katherine is really carrying the torch as a mom and hasn’t missed a beat,’ said an old Jackson family friend and biographer, Stacy Brown.

‘But she has a lot of things in common with Joe – Katherine is a strong, stern disciplinarian. They wouldn’t want to misbehave,’ she added. (ANI)

London, June 27 (ANI): While Michael Jackson’s mum Katherine has decided to send the singer’s kids to school, the King of Pop’s sister Latoya is against the idea.

Jackson’s mother Katherine who was named the youngsters’ guardian has agreed to their request to start school in September (10).

However, Latoya wishes her brother’s children would ‘wait a bit longer’ before starting school – because the trio will find the experience completely ‘foreign’.

‘It is going to be difficult (starting school). It’s a private school and we know the school very well because all of my nieces and nephews basically went there,” the Daily Star quoted La Toya Jackson as telling GMTV.

“Actually, they (Jackson’s kids) wanted to go, so my mother said yes to them. I wish that they’d maybe wait a little bit longer before because this is something… it’s a territory that’s very foreign to them. They have never been amongst other children at school,’ she added. (ANI)

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Composer Bappi Lahiri has released two singles – “Don’t say goodbye” and “Michael O’ Michael” to pay tribute to Michael Jackson on his first death anniversary Friday.

“I felt I should give something as respect to Michael Jackson from India. That’s why I have recorded these two songs. It’s my privilege and heartfelt respect to MJ as I have seen him personally and have met the whole Jackson family,” Bappi told reporters here.

“I have really done this with my heart,” he added.

The composer announced the worldwide digital release of the tracks in association with MusicBizPro.

He has decided to donate the royalty of the songs to the Maharashtra government for the welfare of poor children.

Recalling Michael’s 1996 visit to India for a concert, he said: “I had met MJ personally when he had come for the performance. He really liked my chains especially the one with Ganpati. He told me that he had heard my song ‘I am a disco dancer’ and he loved it.”

Jackson died following cardiac arrest June 25 last year at his Los Angeles home.

Nevada (US), June 25 (ANI): MusicBizPro today announced the worldwide digital release of two singles composed by India’s very own “Disco King” Bappi Lahiri, dedicated in the honor of King of Pop, late Michael Jackson.

The tracks, which feature vocals from Michael Jackson’s very own backup singers Ricky Nelson, Terry Young and Glenda, are titled ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ and ‘Michael O’ Michael’ (a remix).

Planet M, Phoenix Mills, Mumbai hosted a launch party late evening for the release, which featured a live performance by Bappi Lahiri.

‘Michael O’ Michael’ has an infectious groove which makes you want to shake a leg. But that’s not all – Bappi Lahiri has even rendered his own version of Michael Jackson’s trademark squeal.

“The soulful rendition on ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ is sure to touch the hearts of millions of Jackson fans across the world. A perfect example of East meets West, this track melts R&B and Soul with Classical Indian overtones. Not only that, Bappi sings the chorus in Hindi which re-emphasizes the impact Michael created on all of us, world over,” said Neli Kools, CEO, MusicBizPro, on the occasion of the launch.

Michael Jackson’s millions of Indian fans across the world will be able to instantly relate to Bappi’s inimitable voice and composition along with the mesmerizing recitals from international yoga teacher, Rajashree Chaudhary featured in the tracks. (ANI)

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Bollywood’s singing legend Lata Mangeshkar has expressed her regrets over not being able to meet late King of Pop Michael Jackson.

Remembering the “Thriller” hitmaker on his first death anniversary Friday, Lata wrote on her Twitter page: “My humble tribute to one of the greatest pop artists ever, Michael Jackson…may his soul rest in peace… I never got opportunity to meet him… I’ll always have this regret in my heart…”

Jackson died after cardiac arrest June 25, 2009 at his Los Angeles home.

Los Angeles, June 25 (IANS) As many as 600 single-stemmed sunflowers were delivered Friday to Michael Jackson’s mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Sunflowerguy.com delivered the flowers with individual messages attached to them along with 100 individual sunflower bouquets and 4,000 roses to mark the King of Pop’s first death anniversary June 25.

The sunflowers, which were Michael’s favourite, were dropped 100 yards from the mausoleum because of construction on the grounds, reports tmz.com.

Jason Levin from Sunflowerguy.com feels Jackson deserves more than the few bouquets, candles and gifts that currently surround his tomb.

Los Angeles, June 23 (IANS) Singers Christina Aguilera and Smokey Robinson will perform at a special show Friday to mark the first death anniversary of pop legend Michael Jackson.

The two are set to take the stage on the US channel CBS for a special programme titled “The King of Pop: One Year Later”. They will perform on Jackson’s hit single “Man in the Mirror”, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“Music wouldn’t be what it is without someone like Michael Jackson. I remember going to my high school talent show singing ‘The way you make me feel’ and being a huge fan of his album ‘Bad’. I know all my dancers wouldn’t be behind me dancing if it weren’t for that,” said Aguilera.

Rapper LL Cool, singers Marc Anthony and James Morrison will join them.

“A Michael Jackson comes around literally once in a lifetime. They break the mould and I think there are people who just sacrifice their life, their personal life all for the art. That’s what Michael did – he sacrificed his life for the art,” said Anthony.

London, June 22 (IANS) Pop legend Michael Jackson’s spiritual advisor Reverend June Gatlin has claimed that the singer used to fake the childlike high pitched voice in his songs and during stage performances.

Gatlin has revealed this in a documentary on the singer’s life titled “Gone Too Soon”, reports express.co.uk. “His voice was not high pitched. It was deep (like) a real man’s voice,” he said.

Ian Halperin, who directed the two-hour documentary, said: “He (Jackson) wanted to act like a boy. He felt it was a way for the public to love him more.”

Jackson, who died June 25 last year, had also approached Gatlin for spiritual cleansing to help him to open up, be himself and speak in his normal voice.

“She (Gatlin) tried to get him to just be Michael,” said Halperin.

London, June 22 (ANI): Late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s ex-bodyguard has dropped his High Court libel action against Channel 4 over its 2008 documentary, ‘The Jacksons Are Coming.’

The documentary showcased the journey of the Jackson’s family, including Michael’s older brother Tito, as they planned to move to Devon.

Matthew Fiddes, a Martial arts expert, had earlier alleged that the show fabricated the recording and forged his statements.

‘The claimant has today discontinued his claim for libel that he brought in relation to the programme,’ the BBC quoted Adrienne Page QC, Fiddes’ lawyer, as saying.

Fiddes, of Swindon, was not in court because he had been caught in traffic. (ANI)

London, June 21 (ANI): Legendary pop singer Michael Jackson’s children will attend school for the first time.

Jackson’s three children—Prince, Paris and Blanket—will go to school in 2010, for the first time.

Their grandmother Katherine Jackson said she wants to give them a more conventional upbringing after years being indoors and away from the world.

“I’d say I’m a little less strict but I’ve tried to follow the way Michael was raising them,” the Telegraph quoted Katherine as saying.

“But they don’t have friends. They don’t go to school. They have private lessons at home. They’ll be going to a private school in September for the first time,” she added. (ANI)

New York, June 21 (ANI): Late King of Pop Michael Jackson has been revealed by his spiritual adviser to having a deep voice in his private life, and that his famous high-pitched falsetto was fake.

According to a documentary on Jackson, “Gone Too Soon”, made by author and director Ian Halperin, Rev. June Gatlin, a self-proclaimed “seer” based in Los Angeles, has revealed that the star’s voice was deep.

“His voice was not high pitch. It was deep, a real man’s voice,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.

Gatlin also claimed that Jackson came to her for spiritual “cleansing”, which included Scripture reading, meditation and journal writing to get him to open up, be himself and speak in his “normal” voice.

“He wanted to act like a boy. Also, he felt it was a way for the public to love him more,” Halperin said of Jackson’s high-pitched voice.

“She tried to get him to just be Michael,” Halperin added. (ANI)

London, June 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A memorial to Michael Jackson will be unveiled at a theatre in London June 24, on the eve of the first death anniversary of the pop star, a media report said.

The Lyric Theatre in London will be a first permanent Jackson memorial in the city, where his fans came after his death June 25, and created a shrine of candles, tributes, flowers and books of condolence, the BBC reported.

The unveiling ceremony will be attended by Britain’s Got Talent 2009 winners and other prominent performers.

Jackson died at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and going into a coma. In February, coroners released a complete report of his autopsy, which said his death was a homicide.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

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Los Angeles, June 20 (IANS) Michael Jackson’s mother says she will send her late son’s children to a private school in September.

“I’d say I’m a little less strict but I’ve tried to follow the way Michael was raising them. But they don’t have friends. They don’t go to school. They have private lessons at home. They’ll be going to a private school in September for the first time,” imdb.com quoted Jackson’s mother Katherine as saying.

She also revealed that Michael’s daughter Paris, 12, has made a shrine to her late father in her bedroom.

“So she goes to bed looking at him and wakes up looking at him. Paris has that lovely way like Michael, and I see his talent in her. Whatever she does, she is very good at it. She is a good artist and plays the piano. She wants to be an actress,” said Katherine.

London, June 18 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s father Joe’s lawyers have filed an official complaint against the King of Pop’s London concert promoters.

Jackson has accused AEG bosses of failing to provide medical equipment that was requested by Michael’s doctor.

Jackson’s personal physician, doctor Conrad Murray, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drug that ultimately led to the singer’s death.

Joe has now taken the anger of his son’s untimely death to the California Medical Board by complaining against executives of the concert promotion company.

According to the complaint, Murray contacted AEG just days before Jackson’s death and had asked for a heart resuscitation machine and a nurse, but AEG never granted his request, reports The Daily Star.

Joe’s complaint accused AEG bosses of ‘unlawful practice of corporate medicine’, according to TMZ.com. (ANI)

London, June 16(ANI): Late King of Pop Michael Jackson will be captured in a new video game to be launched soon, say developers Ubisoft.

The game, which has not been titled yet, will judge players’ ability to ‘shake a leg’ like the singer.

It will be one of its kinds, as it will use motion detection technology. It will be rolled out on various consoles by the end of this year.

The game’s launch and the release of an album containing some unreleased Jackson tracks are expected to happen together, probably November.

‘Your goal is to dance like Michael. Do what the guy on the screen is doing and you’re there. It’ll score you based on the quality of your performance,’ the BBC quoted Tony Key of Ubisoft as saying in Los Angeles. (ANI)

Washington, May 24 (ANI): A four-year-old Chinese boy, who has been making waves across the world with his dance moves, has been hailed as the ‘spirit of Michael Jackson’.

Wang Yiming, who is known as Xiao Bao or ‘little treasure’, became an international star by mimicking the King of Pop’s dance moves.

Dancing since he was two years old, he has now mastered the moonwalk and other signature Jackson moves, performing them to hits such as ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Dangerous’.

The boy has appeared on US television show ‘Ellen’ and performed at the World Expo 2010, which opened in Shanghai this month.

Xiao Bao draws curious crowds whenever he breaks into a dance routine, which his mother Bian Aiqing says happens almost every time he hears music.

‘When he was young, we just started playing music to him and he started moving around like this. But we didn’t think that he had such a strong feeling for music,’ the Telegraph quoted Bian as saying. (ANI)