Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

Conflict in Iran - Riot police attacked hundreds of demonstrators with tear gas

and fired live bullets in the air to disperse a rally in central Tehran Monday,

carrying out a threat by the country's most powerful security force to crush any

further opposition protests over the disputed presidential election. Britain,

accused by Iran of fomenting post-election unrest, said it was evacuating the

families of diplomats and other officials based in Iran — the first country to do

so as Iran's worst internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution escalated.

Witnesses said helicopters hovered overhead as about 200 protesters gathered

at Haft-e-Tir Square. But hundreds of anti-riot police quickly put an end to the

demonstration and prevented any gathering, even small groups, at the scene.

President Barack Obama cited his own long struggle to quit the cigarettes he got

hooked on as a teenager as he signed the nation's strongest-ever anti-smoking

bill Monday and praised it for providing critically needed protections for kids.

"The decades-long effort to protect our children from the harmful effects of

tobacco has emerged victorious," Obama said at a signing ceremony in the

White House Rose Garden.

A former Boston medical student pleaded

not guilty Monday to charges he lured a

masseuse he met through Craigslist to a

Boston hotel, then bound her, beat her and

shot her to death with a gun authorities say

he later stashed in a hollowed-out medical

guilty" when asked how he pleaded to the

seven charges including kidnapping, armed

robbery and weapons violations, then stared

straight ahead as prosecutors outlined their

case during a brief arraignment in Suffolk

Superior Court.

One Metro transit train smashed into the rear

of another at the height of the capital city's

Monday evening rush hour, killing at least six

people and injuring scores of others as the

front end of the trailing train jackknifed violently into the air and fell atop the first.

Cars of both trains were ripped open and smashed together in the worst accident

in the Metrorail system's 33-year history. District of Columbia fire spokesman

Alan Etter said crews had to cut some people out of what he described as a

"mass casualty event." Rescue workers propped steel ladders up to the upper

train cars to help survivors scramble to safety.

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

The Dutch Defense Ministry says Somali pirates have released a hijacked cargo

ship aboard which one crew member was fatally shot. The ministry says Dutch

marines are escorting the MV Marathon to a safe port. It says one of the 19 crew

members died of a gun shot wound sustained when pirates seized the ship on

May 7. Another crew member was injured, but the ministry did not give details of

his condition. Dutch media say the crew members are Ukrainian.

North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map as

Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of

missiles in the coming days. Off China's coast, a U.S. destroyer was tailing a

North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Myanmar in what

could be the first test of U.N. sanctions passed to punish the nation for an

underground nuclear test last month. The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of

Nampo a week ago with the USS John S. McCain close behind. The ship,

accused of transporting banned goods in the past, is believed bound for

Myanmar, according to South Korean and U.S. officials.

A bombing at a bus station in a Shiite neighborhood in southwest Baghdad on

Thursday killed at least seven people and wounded 31 others, police said, the

latest in a series of deadly attacks ahead of a U.S. military withdrawal from cities

next week.

The woman with whom

her silence Sunday long

enough to say she wouldn't

discuss her relationship with

the now-embattled

governor.In a statement

released to Argentina's C5N

television network, Maria

Belen Chapur said her private

life "has already been made

too public during these last

days, bringing to me even

more pain." Gov. Sanford

admitted that he had an

extramarital affair with

Chapur, a former television

reporter. The 49-year-old governor's admission came after he disappeared from

the public eye for nearly a week, with aides telling reporters he had gone on a

hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail.

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

President Ahmadinejad accused Barack Obama of behaving like his predecessor

toward Iran and said there was not much point in talking to Washington unless

the U.S. president apologized. Obama said on Tuesday he was "appalled and

outraged" by a post-election crackdown and Washington withdrew invitations to

Iranian diplomats to attend U.S. Independence Day celebrations on July 4 --

stalling efforts to improve ties with Tehran.

Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations

from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report

is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements

carried on Iranian media.Riot police clashed with up to 3,000 protesters near a

mosque in north Tehran on Sunday, using tear gas and truncheons to break up

Iran's first post-election demonstration in five days, witnesses said.

sentenced to 150 years in prison Monday for a

fraud so extensive that the judge said he needed

to send a symbolic message to potential

imitators and to victims who demanded harsh

punishment.

Scattered applause and whoops broke out in the

crowded Manhattan courtroom after U.S. District

Judge Denny Chin issued the maximum

sentence to the 71-year-old defendant, who said

he lives “in a tormented state now, knowing all

the pain and suffering I’ve created.”

U.S. troops pulled out of Baghdad on Monday,

triggering jubilation among Iraqis hopeful that

foreign military occupation is ending six years

after the invasion to depose Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi soldiers paraded through the streets in their American-made vehicles

draped with Iraqi flags and flowers, chanting, dancing and calling the pullout a

"victory."

A person close to the proceedings says Michael Jackson's mother has moved to

take control of her son's estate, filing a second court action shortly after

petitioning for custody of the singer's three children.

According to the person, the court action was initiated by Katherine Jackson with

the intent to protect Jackson's legacy.

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

Four U.S. soldiers were killed in combat shortly before the American military

completed a withdrawal from Iraq's cities, and the prime minister assured Iraqis

that government forces taking control of urban areas on Tuesday were more than

capable of protecting the country.

Republican Norm Coleman has conceded to

Senate race, ending a nearly eight-month recount

and court fight.

Coleman announced his decision at a news

conference in St. Paul, hours after a unanimous

Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Franken, a

former "Saturday Night Live" comedian and liberal

commentator, should be certified the winner.

Technology -

Regional prepaid cell phone carrier MetroPCS

announced Wednesday a new plan that allows its

customers to make unlimited international calls to

over 100 different countries for only $5 extra a

month. To be eligible for the $5 unlimited

international calling plan, users must already be

signed up to an unlimited national calling plan that

costs $40, $45, or $50 a month. Making international phone calls from a cell

phone has typically been rather expensive with major carriers such as AT&T and

Verizon Wireless.

Microsoft on Wednesday announced retail pricing for Windows 7 that was at or

below comparable Windows Vista prices, while also offering a chance for people

to preorder the software at a substantial discount.

From Friday through July 11, consumers in the U.S. will be able to buy an

upgrade copy of Windows 7 Home premium for $49 or Windows 7 Professional

for $99. That offer is good for both XP and Windows Vista PCs, regardless of

whether someone has been trying out the pre-release version of the operating

system. That matches the details in a memo from Best Buy that leaked earlier

this month.

Ryan O’Neal says he and longtime love Farrah Fawcett are tying the knot.

"I've asked her to marry me, again, and she's agreed," O'Neal, 68, tells Barbara

Walters in an exclusive interview on ABC’s 20/20. O'Neal says the 62-year-old

Fawcett - who was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 - is now "fighting for her

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

life." But, he says they "will" wed "as soon as she can, say yes. ..

. Maybe we can

just nod her head." "I promise you, we will," he told Walters. "Absolutely."

Police have charged the tour manager of the Black Eyed Peas with assault after

he allegedly punched celebrity blogger Perez Hilton outside a Toronto nightclub.

Hilton said he got into an argument with band members Fegie and will.i.a.m at

the Cobra nightclub early Monday morning and was punched outside by Polo

Molina, the band's tour manager. They were at the club following a Sunday night

video awards show. Molina turned himself in and has been charged with

assaulting Hilton, Toronto Police Constable Tony Vella said. Molina is due in

court Aug. 5.

sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny

Carson with guffaws and a resounding "H-

e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, died

early Tuesday. He was 86. McMahon died

shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan

UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his

wife, Pam, and other family members, said

his publicist, Howard Bragman.

Perez Hilton isn't apologizing for using a

gay slur. The openly gay gossip blogger

said in a statement Tuesday that he would

continue to say things upsetting to gay and

straight people alike. The comments came

after the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against

Defamation called for Hilton to apologize

Monday for unleashing the word during an altercation at a nightclub with Black

Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am. "I wish none of it had happened," said Hilton,

whose real name is Mario Lavandeira. "I can't take it back. I did what I thought

was best at the moment to stand up for myself in a nonviolent yet still assertive

way. Clearly, I am not homophobic. Also, I am not nor have I ever claimed to be

a spokesperson for the gay community."

Phil Spector is hoping to get a few comforts of home in his new prison cell, and a

television, iPod and computer access are at the top of his list.

The music producer was transferred this week to the largest state prison in

California where he will serve his sentence of 19 years to life for the murder of

actress Lana Clarkson.

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

working on his debut album

with 19 Recordings/RCA

records, the small indie

label Hi Fi

Recordings/Wilshire

Records is digitally

releasing On With the

Show, an album containing

eight songs the label says

were copenned by Lambert

before his almost-winning

run on Idol.

Hi Fi CEO John Hecker claims that the music is not only incredible, it's

completely legal. Says Hecker: "We would never put anything out that wasn't fully

owned by the parties involved with all the rights secured. We were really careful."

The first single, "Want," streamed across websites this week, earning mixed fan

reaction. Responses ranged from the Adam-can-do-no-wrong variety to

complaints the track is "too pop" and not enough of the Glambert we grew to love

on AI.

Rosie O’Donnell, the former talk show queen will host a daily radio show for

Sirius XM Radio Inc. Launching this fall, "Rosie Radio" will feature the 47-year-

old comedian-actress discussing news and entertainment as well as chatting with

occasional guests. O'Donnell said she was approached by the company after she

appeared on Howard Stern’s

Sirius XM show earlier this year.

The estranged daughter of actor

Billy Bob Thornton has been

indicted on several charges in the

death of a 1-year-old girl she was

baby sitting in central Florida.

Amanda Brumfield, 29, was

booked at the Orange County Jail

on Wednesday. She faces

charges of first-degree murder,

aggravated child abuse and

aggravated manslaughter of a

child.

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

Jennifer Lopez - the singer-actress-designer is shutting down her Sweetface line,

according to Women’s Wear Daily. It had been in business since 2003. Jennifer

is the latest celebrity to recently pull the plug on a fashion line - Mandy Moore

and Lauren Conrad also recently announced they were putting their collections

on hiatus earlier this year.

Lou Diamond Phillips was crowned king of the jungle on NBC's "I'm A Celebrity...

Get Me Out Of Here!" on Wednesday night. The 47-year-old actor bested his

fellow stars to take home the title and win the lion's share of the donation money

for his chosen charity, Art Has Heart, a non-profit aimed at providing college

scholarships for needy high school students.

blinding smile helped redefine sex appeal in the

1970s as one of TV's “Charlie’s Angels" died

Thursday after battling cancer. She was 62. The

pop icon, who in the 1980s set aside the fantasy

girl image to tackle serious roles, died Thursday

shortly before 9:30 a.m. PDT in a Santa Monica

hospital, spokesman Paul Bloch said.

Pop icon Michael Jackson dies - and according

to TMZ - it could have been from an OD of

Demerol by his doctor. Jackson passed away

Friday afternoon. The news was unbelievable to

most people. Jackson will be remembered for

his incredible stage prescence and music. He

was rehearsing for comeback shows in Europe.

A Florida medical examiner says

television pitchman Billy Mays

likely died of a heart attack but further tests are needed. The burly,

bearded television pitchman whose boisterous hawking of

products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean made him a pop-

culture icon, has died. He was 50.

Top movies -

The Proposal

The Hangover

Up

Year One

The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3

Week of June 22 - June 31, 2009

Night At the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Star Trek

Land of the Lost

Imagine That

Terminator Salvation

Angels & Demons

Drag Me To Hell

Away We Go