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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Beyonce wins MTV Europe Music Awards

Singer Beyonce has landed a trio of trophies at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin.

The singer fought off rivals including Leona Lewis to win best female, plus best song for Halo and best video for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).

She dedicated her best video award to rapper husband Jay-Z, saying: "There's only one person I want to thank and that is Jay for putting a ring on it."

Singer Katy Perry hosted the ceremony for the second year in a row.

The singer - who is dating comedian Russell Brand - performed a medley of the five best song contenders, including Halo and and Kings of Leon's Use Somebody.

She set the tone for the evening by asking the crowd: "Are you feeling sexy, Berlin?" and managed to squeeze into seven separate costumes during the ceremony.

'Great deal'

The ceremony was held in the city to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

U2, who won best live act, played a free open-air concert at the Brandenburg Gate to coincide with the event.

As well as performing One - inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall - the band played Sunday, Bloody Sunday, on which they were joined by Jay-Z.

Their concert had run into controversy - after organisers built a two-metre barrier around the venue.

But MTV insisted the fence was part of a "comprehensive security plan" to ensure safety.

Singer Bono said: "Live is where this band lives. It's all that counts ... If you have given us this award I guess that's what you're thinking and it means a great deal to us."

Jay-Z won the best urban award, but told the crowd: "I go to the studio just like the Jonas Brothers, just like Green Day, and we're all just artists at the end of the day."

German band Tokio Hotel were named best group, while Eminem won best male, fending off Robbie Williams and Mika.

Best world stage performance was won by Linkin Park, while Pixie Lott was pronounced the inaugural MTV push artist.

Lott said, via video: "It has been a very amazing, crazy year so I want to say thank you to everyone who has voted for me."

Former X Factor winner Leona Lewis, who had been nominated for best female, performed Happy.

The show was broadcast to more than 500 million homes around the world.
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Rihanna warning over Chris Brown attack

Singer Rihanna has spoken on US TV for the first time about being assaulted by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, warning that "it could happen to anybody".

The 21-year-old, who was interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America programme, also called her brief reconciliation with Brown "embarrassing".

"I realised that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed," she added.

Chris Brown was sentenced to five years' probation after February's assault.

'I didn't do it'

The singer, who has since apologised to fans for his actions, was also given a community service order.

MTV is due to air an interview with Brown on Friday.

Rihanna, who is due to release her new album Rated R on 23 November, told interviewer Diane Sawyer: "I am strong. This happened to me. I didn't cause this. I didn't do it."

The singer added of her decision to reconcile with Brown after the assault: "So far in love, so unconditional, that I went back. That's not what I want to teach people."

The Barbadian-born star admitted that the blaze of publicity that surrounded the attack had been hard to deal with.

"There are a lot of women who have experienced this, but not in public. That made it really difficult. I thought 'there goes my little bit of privacy.'

"It's something that nobody wants anybody to know. So here I am, the whole world knowing," she said.

Rihanna offered advice to women tempted to go back to their partner after an incidence of domestic violence: "Don't react off of love."

Further extracts of ABC's interview with the singer will be screened on Friday in the US.
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Michael Jackson film tops US box office

The film opened simultaneously around the world
Michael Jackson film This Is It has topped the North American box office in its first weekend of release.

The film, which was released worldwide on 28 October, took $21.3m (£13m) over the weekend, taking its five-day haul to $101m (£61.5m).

Columbia Pictures said it now plans to extend the film's two-week limited run in North America until 29 November.

Low-budget horror Paranormal Activity slipped from first-place to number two with $16.5m (£10m).

The sleeper-hit has now taken $84.8m (£51.8m) in its sixth week of release.

US BOX OFFICE TOP FIVE
- This Is It - $21.3m
- Paranormal Activity - $16.5m
- Law Abiding Citizen - $7.3m
- Couples Retreat - $6.1m
- Saw VI - $5.6m

Gerard Butler action film Law Abiding Citizen and romantic comedy Couples Retreat both rose one place to four and five respectively.

Horror sequel Saw VI and Spike Jonze film Where The Wild Things Are both fell three spots to five and six.

There were no other new releases in the chart as film companies shied away from competing with the Halloween weekend.
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out candy at the White House

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Washington, on Halloween.
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday doled out presidential M&Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families.

Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., and lined up on the orange-lit White House driveway.

Standing outside the White House front door, the Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses. Kids also received a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book.

Mrs. Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned top. Obama said the kids looked adorable, as well as his wife, "a very nice looking Catwoman."

A big, stuffed, black spider dangled in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns.

Meanwhile, an odd cast of figures wondered around the North Lawn, including skeletons playing musical instruments, walking trees and "Star Wars" characters. The night's arrangements took a month or two to prepare, the White House said.

The loot handed out was just part of the treat for the visiting kids, who were chosen with help from the Education Department.

"He touched my hand," said a beaming Tiera Thomas, 11, of Washington, D.C., after she picked up her candy from President Obama.

The Obamas spent about a half hour passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, ages 6 to 14.

Then they headed inside to the East Room, where the first couple attended a reception for military families and for the moms and dads who work at the White House, along with their kids.

Obama thanked the military members and their families. "We are so grateful to you," he said. "Especially now, a lot of the times, you guys are separated. It's tough. The spouses who are at home are serving just as much as folks who are deployed. So we are just so thrilled that you guys could be here."

The president, dressed in casual clothes, was one of the few not in costume. Even Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, was dressed as Darth Vader, the "Star Wars" villain.

It was also the first White House Halloween for the Obamas' daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia.

But the White House would not say what Sasha and Malia were wearing, even though hundreds of other children their ages were in costume in full view of the media. The White House referred back to the first lady's comment to Jay Leno, that finding out what Sasha and Malia were wearing would require "security clearance."

Over the years, the winter holidays have been the ones to get the full treatment at the White House, with Christmas trees and tinsel all around.

The Obamas are not the first, though, to show Halloween spirit.

President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush hosted 500 children on Halloween in 1989, loading them up with fun loot but also teaching them about the dangers of drugs. The kids came decked out in costumes; some Secret Service agents came dressed as clowns.

In the Clintons' first year in the White House, the Great Pumpkin returned. A huge orange jack-o'-lantern was formed around the front entrance to the White House, with the front door to the mansion serving as the middle tooth. The first couple's daughter, Chelsea, was 13 at the time and the house was stuffed with pumpkins.
Photo by: AP
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