U.S. moves to suspend aid for Madagascar

The United States is moving to suspend all non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar because it considers this week’s forced departure of its president "tantamount to a coup d’etat," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Friday. Earlier in the day, the African Union announced it had suspended Madagascar’s membership after its 15-member Peace and Security Council decided the transfer of government was unconstitutional, AU spokesman El Ghassim Wane told CNN. “We ask the de facto authorities to return the country to constitutional rule, and should they fail to do so, the Peace and Security Council may incur sanctions,” he said.

Share

Michael Jackson’s London Concerts: The ‘Final Curtain Call’

For days rumors have circulated that Michael Jackson was startin’ somethin’. And Thursday afternoon, before a couple of thousand screaming fans at London’s 02 arena, the King of Pop revealed what has been referred to as “the worst kept secret in the world”

Share

50 Cent seeks revenge in new video game

Most fans picturing rapper 50 Cent operating a joystick would probably envision the hip-hop star blasting away opponents in his latest video game release, "Blood on the Sand." Those same fans might be surprised to learn the hardcore rapper also has a soft spot for old-school throwbacks like “Tetris,” “Pac-Man” and the venerable “Super Mario Brothers.” 50 Cent plays “Super Mario Brothers” Really “Yeah,” said the rapper, as well known for surviving nine bullet wounds as he is for his platinum-selling albums.

Share

As the Crisis Bites, Splits Open Up in Europe

Meeting in Brussels for a long Sunday lunch, European Union leaders were supposed to clear the air after weeks of jibes, sneers and slurs over who is to blame for the economic crisis. But after a three-hour meal of goat cheese, beef stew and apple crumble, they emerged as ratty as ever, barely concealing their long-standing gripes and graphically revealing how far the E.U. is from any coordinated response to the downturn

Share

Facebook invites users to help set policy

In keeping with the democratic nature of user-generated media, Facebook is inviting its 150 million users to help decide how the online gathering place is run. A week after a policy-change blunder sparked widespread protests, the Web’s most popular social-networking site announced a new approach Thursday to give users more control over future Facebook rules and practices

Share