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MICHAEL JACKSON’s Neverland Ranch is to be recreated on an island off the coast of Shanghai, China in honour of the late King of Pop.
A group of Chinese developers are planning to spend $15 million (£10 million) on the project, which they hope to have completed on Chongming island by next year’s (10) Expo in Shanghai trade show.
One investor, Qiu Xuefan, says, "We want to pay tribute to Michael Jackson and, at the same time, offer the Chinese people an outlet for expressing their love toward him." Jackson’s Neverland home in Santa Barbara County, California was once the site of an amusement park and petting zoo. The King of Pop moved out of the home following his child molestation trial in 2005, but still maintained a share of the property at the time of his death last month (25Jun09).

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REVEREND JESSE JACKSON paid tribute to Gary, Indiana during the city’s memorial for MICHAEL JACKSON - telling a mass of fans the singer’s birthplace sculpted him into the King of Pop.
Over 6,000 devotees flocked to the Jackson clan’s hometown to pay tribute to Indiana’s most famous son, with many fans queueing for hours to try and secure free tickets to the homage at the city’s Steelyard Stadium.
The superstar family’s close friends, civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton, led the proceedings with Jackson taking to the stage to address the Thriller hitmaker’s most loyal followers.
He took the opportunity to thank the small, working class town for shaping the future of Michael Jackson - insisting Gary, Indiana was the catalyst for the singer’s phenomenal success.
He told the fans, "This is the origin of it all. This is where Michael learned to dance, where he learned to sing, where he learned to sacrifice." And Jesse Jackson insisted that young Gary citizens could also fulfil their wildest dreams if they just followed their idol’s lead.
He added, "I want young people in Gary not just to dance like Michael … but to study like Michael, to be disciplined like Michael, to make the most of their abilities like Michael." However, the superstar’s father Joe Jackson caused controversy again - after he reportedly turned up two hours late for the memorial, and failed to speak to his son’s fans.
The Jackson patriarch was heavily criticised in the days following his son’s death last month (25Jun09) for seemingly plugging his new record label during interviews about the star’s untimely demise.

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The custody hearing for MICHAEL JACKSON’s three children has been postponed while the singer’s mother KATHERINE and ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE try and come to an agreement over the kids’ future.
Jackson clan matriarch Katherine was made temporary guardian of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, after her superstar son died last month (25Jun09).
A hearing was scheduled for Monday (13Jun09) in Los Angeles, but court officials have confirmed that it has now been put back until 20 July (09), at the request of Katherine Jackson and Rowe - who is the biological mother of Jackson’s two eldest children.
A statement from the L.A. courthouse says, "(The) guardianship hearing originally scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2009 will be continued to July 20, 2009.
"All prior orders remain in full force and effect, with Katherine Jackson as temporary guardian of the children." It is not known for sure if Rowe will attempt to gain custody of her children with Jackson, as well as Blanket, who was born to an unknown surrogate.
According to her lawyer, Eric George, Rowe has "not reached a final decision concerning the pending custody proceedings".
Rowe relinquished her rights over the children in 2001, handing them over to Jackson full-time. She challenged the order in 2004 when she stated concern over publicity garnered from the singer’s child molestation charges, for which he was acquitted in 2005.
Rowe and Jackson later settled the case, with the star keeping full custody of the kids.

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Troubled singer AMY WINEHOUSE has outstayed her welcome in St. Lucia and is heading back to her native Britain, according to U.K. reports.
The Back to Black hitmaker has been on an extended break in the Caribbean since December (08) in a bid to battle her drink and drug addictions.
Her record company reportedly spent big bucks for her to stay on the island to finish recording her third album, but the singer has failed to stay focused and has been regularly snapped drunk and out of control.
Although the island’s locals initially welcomed Winehouse, they have soon tired of her bad behaviour, according to Britain’s the Daily Mirror.
A source tells the publication, "It seems she is starting to overstay her welcome. She’s been banned from hotels, the bars don’t want her there and locals see her as a nuisance when she’s drunk." And even the singer’s closest pals and family are getting sick of her wayward behaviour.
The source says, "She’s lonely and wants to get back to what she knows. But she has to knuckle down. She’s on a very fine line with the label and has pushed them almost as far as they will go."

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Glamour model KATIE PRICE has revealed she miscarried her fourth child just weeks before she was dumped by estranged Aussie pop star husband PETER ANDRE.
The celebrity couple, who documented their every move with reality shows in the U.K., split in May (09) after Andre had had enough of the sexy Brit’s wild ways.
Price has since insisted the break-up was purely down to Andre and that she never wanted to head to the divorce courts.
Now, in a one-off interview with America’s Got Talent judge Pierce Morgan, Price reveals she lost a child just ten-weeks into the pregnancy - a month before Andre walked out.
She tells Morgan in the interview, set to be televised in the U.K. on Saturday (11Jul09), "We had the scan and…(the doctor) was poking the thing around on my belly and it was moving, and he said that he can’t see a heartbeat but he said: ‘Let me check, so let me do some blood tests.’ "I went in thinking, ‘He’s going to be great, he’s going to see a heartbeat.’ And it was on the screen and you know they poke the thing around, he said, ‘No it’s, it’s died, it’s gone.’ "I was confused… I said to him, ‘But the HGC (hormone) levels have gone up, so surely that means there is a pregnancy?’ And inside I’m thinking, ‘If I wait will it form, will a heartbeat come?’ "All this goes through your head. And obviously it didn’t. I said, ‘Well, what am I going to do?… And he said, ‘Well, we can terminate it tonight.’ "So I had to be there, I had to be put to sleep and have it terminated." And Price admits that the last few months have been some of the hardest of her life: "Emotionally for any woman, whether you’re in the media or not, to have a baby died… and then your husband wants a divorce, split up. That’s a lot for someone to take in." She has reportedly hired Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer to help her fight Andre in court for custody of their two children, as well as Price’s disabled son Harvey with soccer player Dwight Yorke.

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EVA LONGORIA PARKER has signed on to be the new spokesmodel for Dutch beer giant Heineken.
The Desperate Housewives star appears in a new TV ad campaign for Heineken Light.
In the commercial, two fans are upgraded to courtside seats alongside Longoria at a basketball game.
The actress is an avid fan of the sport and married to San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker.
Longoria Parker says of the commercial, "It’s always nice to get upgraded. I hope sitting next to me is an upgrade!"

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SIENNA MILLER was so overcome with joy when she passed her driving test - she hugged her examiner.
According to British newspaper The Daily Mirror, the Factory Girl star completed a European test five months ago, but has just got round to completing the U.K. version this week (beg06Jul09).
The blonde beauty was snapped looking deep in concentration as she manoeuvred her car through West London, with her hard work paying off as she was awarded a pass by the examiner.
After hugging him, she leaped out of her car into the arms of her driving instructor, also giving him a squeeze with excitement.
A friend tells the paper, "Sienna had been so nervous before. She’s an accomplished driver but was desperate to be able to drive here. She is thrilled to pieces to be on the road."

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PARIS HILTON took to the stand in a Miami, Florida court on Friday (10Jul09) - hitting out at allegations she failed to fully promote her 2006 movie flop PLEDGE THIS!.
The hotel heiress is being sued for breach of contract by bosses at Worldwide Entertainment Group Inc., who claim she neglected to honour promotion and publicity agreements for the film and owes investors a massive $8.3 million (£5.5 million).
The movie executives claim Hilton was paid $1 million (£666,670) for her acting services and for "reasonable promotion and publicity" for the film, which featured the socialite/actress as the president of an exclusive sorority.
After the socialite’s legal team failed to get the lawsuit dismissed in May (09), Hilton was forced to attend the trial to defend herself against the claims.
In true Hilton style, the hotel heiress attended court in a black dress and high stilettos, and even gave the judge a cheeky wave.
She told the courtroom that the film’s failure had nothing to do with her - insisting she takes promotional work for her ventures very seriously.
She told Judge Federico Moreno, "If I have my name attached to something, I want it to be as big as it can be." Hilton went on to admit that by the time it was expected for her to promote the DVD release of the film, she was already booked up for rehearsals for her next film, The Hottie & The Nottie in 2008.
The trial continues.

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Cinemagoers watching a late night New York screening of outrageous new comedy BRUNO got more than they bargained for - when the character’s mastermind SACHA BARON COHEN gatecrashed the movie.
Film fans were stunned as Cohen, in the role of his gay Austrian fashionista creation, stormed into Times Square’s AMC Empire cinema dressed in a silver uniform and revealing red thong.
Running down the aisles, Cohen high-fived revellers and knocked glasses off people’s faces before jumping on to a podium and treating the audience to an x-rated pole dance.
And in true Bruno form, Cohen didn’t hold back with his comments.
According to New York Gossip Column Page Six, Cohen shouted, "Let’s hope that this film realises its full global potential! Let’s hope it doesn’t have like a really promising start and then peter out like swine flu did! Let’s hope that, like herpes, this film continues to infect all of you." And Cohen couldn’t help but try and offend the ticket-holders who had turned out to watch his latest cringe-inducing movie.
He added, "It’s like a Benetton ad in here. New York City, the cultural melting pot. You’ve even got black guys here. I’m a chocoholic."

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RYAN REYNOLDS has beaten off competition from JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and BRADLEY COOPER to play superhero the GREEN LANTERN, according to industry reports.
Reynolds, fast becoming an action-hero following roles in the Blade trilogy and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has been chosen to take on the comic creation, reports Daily Variety.
The Green Lantern tells the tale of a group of protagonists who can control the physical world with an all-powerful ring.
It will be the first time an actor has appeared in films by rival comic giants DC and Marvel.

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DJ FATBOY SLIM’s year has just got better - he is expecting his second child with his British TV presenter wife ZOE BALL.
The star, real name Norman Cook, has faced a tough 2009 after spending time in rehab to battle an addiction to alcohol.
But things are looking up for the dance music legend, with his wife used her BBC radio show to announce the happy news.
She told listeners, "I’ve got some lovely news for you all actually. I’m having a baby." The pair wed in 1999 and have an eight-year-old son, Woody.

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THE KINGS OF LEON paid tribute to the locals at Scottish music festival T In The Park on Friday (10Jul09) - by complimenting the country’s notorious drinking heritage.
The Sex on Fire rockers took to the stage as the headlining act at the annual music event, and thrilled revellers by insisting the bash was one of their favourite gigs to play.
Frontman Caleb Followill shouted to the crowd, "This is one of the festivals that we look forward to the most. We’re home, right? We love you guys very much. We love you because you guys have made us…Kings Of Leon. And guess what - we’re gonna be here forever." And the singer made it clear why he was such a fan of the Kinross-based bash - because the Scots are famous for enjoying a drink.
He told the packed audience, "If there’s anywhere where it isn’t frowned upon to drink, its here, right?" And the bandmembers proved their musical worth by channelling late legend Jimi Hendrix - with guitarist Matthew Followill playing his instrument with his teeth.
The event carries on over the weekend (11/12Jul09) with headliners The Killers, Blur and Snow Patrol all set to take to the stage.

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NOEL GALLAGHER has no plans to release a solo album - despite having a bank of songs he’s written that aren’t right for OASIS.
The British rocker is currently on tour with Oasis following the release of the band’s seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, in October (08), and the only plans he has when the tour ends in August (09) is to take a well earned break.
He says, "Some might say they’re all solo albums but they’ve just got the band’s name on the front. There are no plans to do anything after this tour but go on holiday. I’ve got lots of songs that wouldn’t really (suit Oasis)." Although he has no immediate plans to release the songs himself, the Wonderwall hitmaker is reluctant to give his songs to other artists, in particular Welsh pop star Duffy.
He says, "I’d rather trap my finger in a door (than give her a song)."

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LAUREN CONRAD has no regrets about leaving hit U.S. reality show THE HILLS - after her debut novel topped the the New York Times Best Seller list.
The 22 year old decided to quit the show earlier this year (09) after living her life out in front of the cameras for five years.
She was instantly bombarded with job offers, first launching her own clothing line, then landing a three-book deal for a series of young adult fiction novels.
And it seems Conrad has found her niche - her first novel, L.A. Candy, has topped the prestigious book chart for the second week in a row.
She says, "If someone said to me five years ago when this all started that I would one day make the New York Times Best Seller list I wouldn’t have believed it. I am so honoured that it is now a reality."

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s father JOE wants to share custody of the King of Pop’s three children with his estranged wife KATHERINE, and raise them to become superstar’s just like their dad.
Katherine Jackson has temporary guardianship of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, until a full hearing takes place next week (13Jul09), and, despite living apart from his wife, Joe Jackson insists the pair should be allowed to raise the kids together.
He says, "We should keep them all together and make them happy. And feed them like they’re supposed to be fed. And let them get rest… and grow up to be strong Jacksons." Jackson Sr, who masterminded his kids’ early careers, adds that at least two of the kids have the potential to follow in their father, uncles and aunts’ footsteps: "I keep watching Paris. She wants to do something… (and) Blanket can really dance."

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Gary, Indiana Mayor RUDY CLAY has launched the city’s memorial to favourite son MICHAEL JACKSON by declaring the King of Pop made "citizens proud".
The official joined Jackson’s father Joe and civil rights leaders Revd. Jesse Jackson and Revd. Al Sharpton to pay tribute to the late pop superstar at a hastily-arranged memorial in the city where the Thriller star grew up.
Mayor Clay told thousands of fans, who had spent much of Friday (10Jul09) queueing for free tickets to the Steelyard Stadium show, "Michael Jackson put Gary, Indiana on the global map and made Gary citizens proud. His name is a household name anywhere in the world. We will never say goodbye." City press secretary and memorial host Lalosa Burns told WENN the event had been "a logistic challenge," but she hoped the tribute, featuring performances from Gary native Deniece Williams and soul group the Chi-Lites, would be "a celebration fit for a king".
The Gary memorial began with the U.S. National Anthem and a jet flyover before Mayor Clay took the stage and called Jackson "the greatest entertainer in the world" and "our favourite son".
Former Miss Indiana Kelly Patterson began the tribute performances by singing Jackson’s Gone Too Soon.
Jackson’s first music teacher, Anita Hill, recalled teaching the future King of Pop to sing Climb Every Mountain and neighbour Jackie Stanton remembered Michael’s fascination with her jewellery.
And the principal of his Gary middle school joked about an early Jackson 5 concert, where kids paid just 10 cents to see the pop group perform.
The four-hour memorial follows the official tribute, which took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday (07Jul09). That show featured performances from Stevie Wonder, Usher, Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie and speeches from Sharpton and Brooke Shields.
As well as tributes to Jackson, who died last month (25Jun09), the Gary event will also feature a minute’s silence to honour another city native, Karl Malden, who passed away on 1 July (09), aged 97.

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Generous JENNIFER ANISTON made sure the recent Independence Day weekend was a blast for the crew of her new movie THE BOUNTY by paying them to have a day off.
The star opted to shut down the movie a day early on 2 July (09), so staff on the set could start their Fourth of July weekend celebrations early - and she paid everyone’s one-day wages so they weren’t left out of pocket.
One crew member tells People.com, "How many people in this world would pay for an entire movie set to have the day off…? We’re talking big bucks."

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MORGAN FREEMAN’s publicist has dismissed new reports the movie star is to wed his step-granddaughter.
U.S. tabloid the National Enquirer claims the Shawshank Redemption star, 72, is romancing 27-year-old E’Dena Hines, and the couple is planning to wed once the actor’s divorce from his second wife Myrna Colley-Lee is final.
But Freeman’s spokesman, Dave Falkenstein, insists the story is, "complete garbage."

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