Michael Jackson Moonwalk glove auctioned for $350,000

The glove worn by Michael Jackson
A rhinestone-encrusted glove worn by Michael Jackson the first time he performed the Moonwalk has been sold at auction for $350,000 (£212,000).

The glove, among 70 items belonging to the late singer which went on sale in New York, was sold for nine times the expected price.

A jacket worn by Jackson on his 1989 "Bad" tour was sold for $225,000 while a fedora hat went for $22,000.

The auction in New York attracted thousands of bidders around the world.

Auctioneer Darren Julien said the 1983 television appearance when Jackson first displayed the Moonwalk - wearing the glove - had been his "most historical performance".

The glove was bought by a Hong Kong businessman
Mr Julien said he had had no idea the sale would be so big.

Prices for Michael Jackson memorabilia now outstrip those for items belonging to Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe, he added.

"It's a tribute to his life and career - he's truly an amazing artist," said Mr Julien.

The glove was bought by Hong Kong businessman Hoffman Ma on behalf of a hotel in Macau China, where it will now go on display.

Including taxes and fees, the final amount paid was $420,000.

Michael Jackson died at his home in Los Angeles in June at the age of 50 after a drugs overdose.
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Miley Cyrus tour bus crash leaves one dead

An accident which involved singer Miley Cyrus's tour bus has killed one passenger, US police have confirmed.

Sergeant Thomas Molnar said the bus - which the teenage singer was not on at the time - overturned as it travelled on a main road in central Virginia.

One of the other nine passengers suffered minor injuries.

The 16-year-old's website said the Hannah Montana star is expected to perform Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Disney star is scheduled to play two dates in London next month.

Cyrus, who is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray, began her solo singing career in 2007 with her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus.
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five films vying to win the Oscar

Disney-Pixar's Up is a strong contender for the award
There will be five films vying to win the Oscar for best animated film next year after a record 20 movies were submitted for consideration.

Most years only see three nominations, as under Academy rules at least 16 eligible films must be submitted to expand the category to five runners.

Box office hit Up, Fantastic Mr Fox, Monsters vs Aliens and Coraline are all on the list of hopefuls.

The nominations will be announced on 2 February with the ceremony on 7 March.

Best picture

Also in the running include Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Since the best animated film category was introduced in 2002 - which was won by Shrek - there has only been one year where five films have been nominated for the award.

In 2003, 17 films qualified and Japanese film-maker Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy Spirited Away claimed the Oscar.

Films submitted in the animated feature film category can also run in other categories including best picture, but the only film ever to do so to date was Disney classic Beauty and the Beast in 1991.
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British Airways and Iberia agree merger plans

The merger has been a long time in the planning.
British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia have reached a preliminary agreement for a merger expected to be completed in late 2010.

The merger, which is expected to get regulatory backing, would create the world's third biggest airline.

Under its terms, Iberia would take a 45% stake and BA, which last week reported a six-month pre-tax loss of £292m, a 55% stake in the new company.

Iberia says it can pull out if BA fails to resolve its pension deficit problem.

'Growing dominance'
"The merger will create a strong European airline well able to compete in the 21st Century," said BA chief executive Willie Walsh.

"Both airlines will retain their brands and heritage while achieving significant synergies as a combined force."

The deal would create an airline with 419 aircraft flying to 205 separate destinations, and would save the two partners 400m euros ($594m; £358m) in costs a year, the two carriers said.

Iberia's chairman Antonio Vazquez will take the same role at the new company, while Mr Walsh will become its chief executive.

Aviation analyst Douglas McNeil of Astaire Securities said BA would be "relieved" to have finally got the merger deal in place.

"I think BA will be pleased with the deal they have got - the headquarters in London, led by Willie Walsh, and BA will be majority shareholder," he said.

Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, agreed that the planned merger was a good deal for BA.

"British Airways has come out of this pretty well, it will be the dominant partner," he said.

"Don't expect any great benefits [after the merger] if you are a passenger, but if you are a shareholder it could be a different story."

News of the deal did not go down well with Virgin Atlantic, one of BA's big competitors in the UK, which raised concerns about the new company's market share.

"The merger will increase BA's dominance at Heathrow with 44% of take-off and landing slots this winter. It is impossible for any other airline to replicate their scale," the airline said.

Big losses

Both BA and Iberia have been losing money during the downturn as businesses and individuals cut back on flying.

Mr Walsh has previously said a merger would help both firms cope with the recession.

The firms have considered a tie-up for a number of years and held talks on the issue in July 2008.

BA already owns 13.5% of Iberia and the two carriers have a code-sharing agreement under the One World grouping of airlines, which allows them to sell seats on each other's services.

If a merger is formalised, it would still require regulatory approval from the European Commission.

However, analysts say a deal is likely to be cleared, pointing to Air France's successful merger with Dutch airline KLM in 2004.

Financial woes
The agreement comes a week after BA said it would cut a further 1,200 jobs, as it reported a first-half loss for the first time.
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Michael Jackson's father seeks allowance

Court papers gave a list of Joe Jackson's expenses
Joe Jackson has requested an allowance from the estate of his late son Michael, saying the pop star supported him for years before his death.

In court papers filed in Los Angeles, the 81-year-old's lawyers said his monthly expenses are $20,000, but he receives only $1,700 from the state.

They added that the pop star's estate has earned an estimated $100m (£60.1m) since his sudden death on 25 June.

A hearing to assess the request is expected to take place early next year.

Michael Jackson's will omitted his father, but made provision for his mother and children.

Monthly payments to Katherine Jackson along with his daughter and two sons were approved by a judge last month.

They may be re-evaluated at the same time as the hearing to determine Joe Jackson's case.

Documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court state that Joe Jackson does not have a regular income and relied on payments from his son which came through his wife Katherine for many years.

Joe Jackson's lawyers went on to state that he has diabetes and suffered a stroke a decade ago.

His only source of income comes from social security payments, they added.

Howard Weitzman, a lawyer for the administrators of the pop star's estate, said it was "quite surprising to learn of the request".

He added: "Mr Jackson's petition will be considered as are all requests for money from Michael's estate."

Joe Jackson's outgoings were listed in the court papers and included rent for his Las Vegas home, meals out, air travel and hotel accommodation.
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