Madonna stage deaths investigated

Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation after a stage being built for a Madonna concert collapsed killing two people, a French official has said.

Eight other people were seriously injured in Thursday's accident at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille.

Assistant prosecutor Marc Cimamonti said an investigation for manslaughter and involuntary injuries in a work-related accident has been opened.

Madonna has said she is "devastated" by the news of the deaths.

'Tragic news'

Her concert, planned for Sunday, has been cancelled.

Charles Criscenzo, a 53-year-old French worker, was killed outright in the accident and Charles Prow, a 23-year-old from Headingley in Leeds, died in hospital.

Technicians had been setting up the stage at the city's Velodrome stadium when the partially-built roof fell in on Thursday, bringing down a crane.

The 60,000-seater Velodrome is France's second-biggest sports arena and home to the Olympique de Marseille football club.

The planned concert was part of Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour

About 50 people from a range of nationalities were working to set up the structure, city sports official Richard Miron said.

The roof "started shaking and collapsing" gradually, said Marseille city councillor Maurice Di Nocera.

"Since it did not collapse right away that allowed several people to get out," he said.

Madonna, who is performing on her Sticky and Sweet tour, was in Udine, Italy, when told of the incident.

"I am devastated to have just received this tragic news," she said in a statement released by Live Nation, the organisers of the concert.

"My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families, along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news."

Madonna paid tribute to the technicians at her concert in Italy on Thursday.

"I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and pay tribute to two people who lost their lives today," she told fans at the Fruili Stadium in Udine.

"It's a great tragedy to me," she continued, choking back tears. "I feel so devastated to be in any way associated with anyone's suffering.

"Let's all just take a moment to say a prayer for Charles Criscenzo and Charlie Prow. Our hearts go out to their family and loved ones."

Iraq's PM to meet Obama in US

Bombings continued to claim lives in Iraq ahead of Mr al-Maliki's US visit Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is beginning a four-day visit to the US, during which he will meet President Obama at the White House. The visit comes after American troops withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities three weeks ago. The talks with President Obama on Wednesday are expected to include Iraqi reconciliation efforts. They will also cover the role of US troops as they prepare for a complete departure from Iraq by the end of 2011. On Tuesday, at least 18 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Iraq, including the capital, Baghdad, and the cities of Ramadi and Baquba. Iraqi troops now take the lead security role in Iraq's urban areas, and analysts say the latest attacks are a sign that insurgents remain intent on destabilising the country. There has been a marked drop in violence in Iraq in recent months, though attacks increased in June in the run-up to the American pull-back. Reconciliation 'key' The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Baghdad, says Mr Obama and Mr Maliki will, on the face of it, want a swift and orderly exit of American troops from Iraqi soil. Mr Obama promised a withdrawal during his election campaign last year, and Mr Maliki faces a general election in Iraq in January in which he is staking his reputation on being the man who oversaw the transfer of military control from US to Iraqi hands. But our correspondent says that, behind the optimistic talk about withdrawal, reduced violence and the increased capabilities of Iraqi security forces, lie two facts - there are still around 130,000 American troops inside Iraq, and fatal attacks remain an everyday occurrence. He says the question is how to get American forces out of Iraq by the end of 2011 without the security situation getting any worse. Our correspondent says Iraqi reconciliation is key. Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish groups are divided on a number of issues, including how to share Iraq's oil wealth, the authority of the central government, and political power-sharing. None of this will be easy to resolve, our correspondent says, with the various parties jostling for position ahead of January's elections.

Royal tributes for oldest veteran Henry Allingham and the Queen Henry Allingham wanted people to remember the toll of war The Queen has led the trib

Royal tributes for oldest veteran

Henry Allingham wanted people to remember the toll of war

The Queen has led the tributes to Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and one of the last surviving World War I servicemen, who has died aged 113.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said, on her behalf, he was of a generation who "sacrificed so much for us all".

Mr Allingham served with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, later transferring to the Royal Air Force at the time of its creation.

Prince Charles and Gordon Brown have also paid tribute to the veteran.

'True gentleman'

Mr Allingham's military service took him to Ypres and the Battle of Jutland.

His life spanned three centuries and six monarchs and he had five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.

The prime minister, who had met him a number of times, called Mr Allingham a "tremendous character".

WORLD EVENTS SINCE 1896 1901 - Queen Victoria dies 1914 - WWI begins 1929 - The Wall Street Crash 1945 - First atomic bomb detonated 1953 - Everest scaled for first time 1963 - President Kennedy assassinated 1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on moon 1977 - Death of Elvis Presley 1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall 1990 - Nelson Mandela freed from prison after 27 years 2008 - US elects first black president

Prince Charles reiterated his mother's comments, saying Mr Allingham belonged to that "incredible generation who did so much for their country".

A Clarence House spokesman said: "We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for all he has done."

Mr Allingham's grandson, Tim Gray, described his grandfather as very sincere and someone who loved life.

The 53-year-old, from Michigan in the United States, said: "He was always telling all these stories about the war, he wanted people to remember it.

"But he thought the ones that should really be remembered were the ones that died, not himself."

He added that "the whole family" would be coming to the UK from Canada and the US for his funeral, which takes place at St Nicholas' Church in Brighton later this month.

Dennis Goodwin, founder of the First World War Veterans' Association and a friend of Mr Allingham, said: "Henry was truly a gentleman - his strength of character, his purpose.

"He left quite a legacy to the nation of memories of what it was like to have been in WWI," he said.

For decades, Mr Allingham buried his memories of the war, avoiding reunions and refusing to tell his family about his experiences.

But, in recent years, he started making public appearances to make sure new generations did not forget the toll of war and went on to tell his life story in a book which was published last year.

Henry Allingham dies aged 113

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said: "Henry will be remembered with great fondness for his strong sense of humour and joy of life, and he was an inspiration for all those serving in the Royal Navy."

And Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, said his passing was a "milestone in history".

"Henry was an inspiration to many and his thirst for life, cheery disposition and a desire to help others was his mark," he added.

The veteran's death has moved people across Britain.

At Lord's cricket ground in London, a minute's silence was held to mark his passing before play resumed on the third day of the second Ashes test.

There were condolences too from staff at his Brighton care home, who said he had been very active right up to his final days and would be missed by all.

Last month, the Royal Navy hosted a 113th birthday party on HMS President in London for his family, close friends and members of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

That was the last time his nephew Ronald Cator saw him.

Mr Cator said his uncle looked "very, very frail. He went downhill in the last few months."

"He used to sleep a lot at the end. He wanted to pass away, poor old boy."

His death means there are now only two British survivors of WWI - Harry Patch, 111, and Claude Choules, 108, now living in Australia.

Last month, Guinness World Records declared Mr Allingham, born in 1896, the world's oldest man following the death of another 113-year-old man in Japan.

Eks Istri & Ibu Jacko Buat Perjanjian Rahasia

Mantan istri Michael Jackson, Debbie Rowe dan ibunda Jacko, Katherine Jackson kabarnya membuat perjanjian rahasia seputar hak asuh ketiga anak Jacko. Mereka sepakat untuk menjauhkan anak-anak Jacko dari kakeknya, Joe Jackson
su yang mengatakan ayah jacko, Joe Jackson ingin menjadikan ketiga putra dari penyanyi yang dijuluki 'King of Pop' tersebut menjadi penyanyi sampai juga ke telinga mantan istri Jacko, Debbie Rowe. Dia sangat khawatir dengan kabar tersebut.

Debbie pun mengadakan pertemuan rahasia dengan Katherine Jackson. Debbie setuju mantan mertuanya itu mengasuh ketiga anak Jacko selama ayah Jacko tidak ikut campur dalam masalah pengasuhan ketiga anak pelantun 'Heal The World' tersebut.

"Dia ingin anak-anak jauh dari Joe untuk menghindari kehancuran seperti yang pernah dirasakan Jacko. Ketika dia masih terikat pernikahan dengan Jacko, Michael pernah bercerita padanya betapa dia tak suka dengan apa yang dilakukan ayahnya terhadap Michael," kata sumber seperti dikutip dari Hollyscoop, Selasa 14 Juli 2009.

Debbie ingin menjadi teman bagi anak-anaknya bukan sebagai ibu biologis dari Prince dan Paris. Dia juga meminta kesempatan untuk bisa bertemu dan mengunjungi buah hatinya tersebut

Perjanjian ini diperkirakan bisa berjalan dengan baik. Pasalnya, Katherine dan Joe sudah tak tinggal bersama walau mereka masih terikat dalam pernikahan.

Arnold Klein: Saya Bukan Ayah Anak Michael Jackson

Pertanyaan lama mengenai siapa ayah biologis ketiga anak Michael Jackson semakin sulit terjawab, setelah dr. Arnold Klein yang disebut-sebut ayah biologis mereka, memberi pengakuan mengejutkan dalam program televisi Good Morning America dan Larry King Live.

"Saya tidak mau ngomong apa-apa soal itu, namun setahu saya, saya bukan ayah dari anak-anak itu," kata Klein kepada Diane Sawyer, pengasuh acara Good Morning America seperti dikutip E! Online, Kamis.

"Saya tidak mau berbelit-belit. Saya tidak ingin turut dalam kegilaan yang sedang terjadi," tambahnya.

Klein mengungkapkan hal serupa kepada Larry King, pengasuh program acara CNN, Larry King Live. "Yang benar, sepengetahuan saya, saya bukanlah ayah mereka."

Klein kukuh mengaku bahwa dirinya memang telah menyumbangkan sperma ke bank sperma, tetapi bukan kepada Michael Jackson.

Sepanjang yang dia ketahui, Michael Jackson dan mantan istrinya Debbie Rowe yang adalah mantan suster Klein, telah menyempurnakan pernikahan mereka.

Apa yang Klein terangkan mengenai ketiga anak Michael, yang dua di antaranya lahir dari rahim Debbie Rowe, menegaskan pesan yang disampaikan puteri Michael, Paris, pada pidato yang tak dipersiapkannya.

"Saya kasih anda satu hal, mereka adalah anak-anak yang cemerlang dan saya ingin mereka tidak disakiti. Mereka adalah anak-anak hebat, menakjubkan dan luar biasa yang mencintai ayahnya begitu dalam," kata Klein.