Bankim Thanki, the lawyer representing Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, told London’s High Court that his client had made several payments to Jackson from 2005 onwards, including $35,000 (23,400 pounds) to pay utility bills at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.

The court heard that the following month, in April 2005, Jackson asked for one million dollars through an assistant, the Press Association reported.

“Sheikh Abdullah made many more payments on his behalf or to others,” Thanki said.

“Sheikh Abdullah began to support Mr. Jackson financially after 2005 when it became clear that Mr. Jackson was in very serious financial difficulties, much to Sheikh Abdullah’s surprise,” Thanki added.

The early financial support coincided with Jackson’s 2005 trial on child molestation charges. Despite his acquittal, the case left the 50-year-old performer’s reputation and financial status in tatters.

Jackson spent time in Bahrain as a guest of the royal family following the trial, and in April 2006 a statement was released on behalf of Bahrain music label Two Seas Records announcing he would record a new album for release in 2007.

The sheikh is suing the pop legend for allegedly reneging on a $7 million “pay-back” agreement designed to repay money he advanced to Jackson during his financial troubles.

He said he and Jackson entered into a “combined rights agreement” under which the star was committed to a recording contract, an autobiography and a musical stage play.

But Jackson contests that there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh’s case was based on “mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence.”

In his pleaded defence, Jackson said the payments he received were “gifts” and that no project was ever finalized.

At the start of a court hearing set for up to 12 days, the judge heard that an application would be made for Jackson to give evidence via video link from Los Angeles.

(Writing by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved.

The change, which doesn’t affect cable and satellite TV users, requires the estimated 600,000 Michigan households that rely exclusively on antennas to watch TV buy a converter box to receive the digital signals by Feb. 17. That’s when stations stop broadcasting in analog and begin broadcasting fully in digital.

Yet, a recent poll by state government officials found that 44 percent of Michigan residents aren’t ready for the change. Many haven’t purchased a converter box, which are sold at many electronics stores.

With the switch quickly approaching, broadcasters are urging Michigan residents to prepare for the change and avoid waking up to a blank TV screen.

Purchasing and installing a converter box is the first step, said Larry Estlack, director of technology for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Digital television “is a new concept for many people,” he said. “It’s best to prepare early. Fire up your converter box and see what your reception is like and react to it.”

Converter boxes are available at many area electronic stores, including Best Buy Meijer and Wal-Mart, but a few stores said supplies were low.

Although most converter boxes sell for about $50, the government has made two $40 coupons available to every U.S. household to help ease the financial burden.

But a 90-day expiration date on the coupons has left some Michigan residents holding a worthless piece of paper with no converter box because they didn’t move earlier enough.

The government will not reissue coupons to those who have let theirs expire.

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters has recently received complaints from nearly 600 people with expired coupons and those who haven’t received coupons, according to Estlack.

Besides buying a converter box, reception could be an issue for a few residents who live in rural areas of Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo counties.

Under analog, viewers using rabbit ears often receive a snowy picture from some stations. With digital, picking up a signal, even with the converter box, could be difficult for some viewers who do not have a roof-mounted antenna, Estlack said.

Estlack calls it the “cliff effect.”

“As you move farther away, the picture begins to fall apart,” he said. “When stations are broadcasting on analog, you can get a snowy picture, but with digital, there’s no such thing.”

While receiving a signal shouldn’t be a problem for the vast majority of viewers, it could impact some, said Tom Cooper, a TV engineer at FOX 17 WXMI.

“The farther away from the transmitter, the better antenna you’re going to need,” Cooper said. “Sometimes you can work with rabbit ears, but they’re tricky to point.”

Since some TV stations revved up their marketing effort to prepare for the change earlier this year, they’ve received a number of calls from anxious residents.

One of those calls was from Lois Foster, a 77-year-old Hesperia resident, who recently became alarmed after she connected a digital transmitter to her TV and found many of her channels had stopped working.

“It was all static,” she said. “I could only get one or two channels.”

Michael Laemers, director of engineering at WOOD TV 8, said he’s told viewers like Foster that his station will begin working properly once the change takes place. That’s because another station is using the same digital frequency as his station. Once the change officially takes place on Feb. 17, WOOD will have the frequency to itself, eliminating such static.

“That should help our signal in the northern part of our viewing area,” Laemers said. “Our signal should be cleared up.”

If some viewers still are having trouble receiving the signal, Laemers said the station is considering increasing its digital strength by creating another digital receiver in Egelston Township.

“That could really help people in our northern viewing area who cant receive us without an antenna,” she said.

Jim Steffey, chief engineer at WWMT 3, is recommending that viewers who live in rural areas check the strength of their antenna.

He’s directed several to antennaweb.org, a Web site that helps viewers determine the strength of their antennas.

“If they are right at the edge of the coverage, they may have no picture because they’re right at the edge where the signal drops off,” said Jim Steffey, chief engineer at WWMT. “Those are the ones we have the potential to lose.”

CONVERTER BOX Q&A

Q: What is the digital television transition?

A: At midnight, Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting provides a clearer picture and more channels and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

Q: Will my television work after Feb. 17, 2009?

A: Analog television sets receiving free TV using an antenna will not work.
TV viewers with these sets that are not connected to a pay TV service will need to take action now. Most consumers who purchase a converter box today can connect it to their existing TV and begin enjoying the benefits of digital television immediately.

Q: What are my options so I can continue to get TV after Feb. 17, 2009?

A: Consumers have a variety of options:
• Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009;
• Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service;
• Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

Q: What is a TV converter box?

A: It is a new product that plugs into your analog TV and, in conjunction with your antenna, will keep your analog set working after Feb. 17. A TV converter box is a one-time purchase and usually costs between $40 and $70. A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.

Q: Where do I buy a converter box?

A: For a list of TV converter boxes that can be purchased with $40 government coupons, please visit www.DTV2009.gov. Your coupons will also come with a list of nearby retailers — as well as online and telephone retailers — that you should keep and use to find a converter box.

Q: What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program?

A: Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

Q: How do I get my coupons?

A: Consumers can apply now for up to two $40 coupons per household by going online at www.DTV2009.gov, calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), or by mailing their application to P.O. Bo 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Coupons will be mailed to eligible households and are good for 90 days from the date they are mailed. Since most stations are already transmitting digital broadcasts, consumers with older model televisions using an antenna to receive their free channels can connect the converter box and begin to enjoy the benefits of digital TV now.

Q: How do I know if I have an analog or a digital TV?

A: What you need to know is whether your TV set has something called a “digital tuner” already built in. If it does, your TV set will receive digital signals. The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual. If that’s not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer’s Web site. Or, you can take an up-close look at your TV set.

Q: Can I start using my TV converter box now?

A: Yes. Most TV stations already have made the switch to digital.

 Shiva Pro is truly one of the best looking themes in the Premium WordPress Theme market.

All five of Detroit’s starters scored in double figures as the Pistons downed the Lakers 106-95.

Wallace made 8-of-15 shots from the field, including four 3-pointers. He grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, earning his fifth double-double of the season.

Iverson made 11-of-12 free throws and added four steals while Tayshaun Prince scored 18 points with six assists and four rebounds.

Richard Hamilton scored 12 points and Kwame Brown added 10 with 10 rebounds for the Pistons.

The Pistons shot 56 percent in the first half and led by 11 points at the break. A burst late in the third quarter saw them lead 77-62 heading into the final period, a deficit the Lakers couldn’t overcome.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant had 29 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Lakers, who had outscored opponents by an average of 18 points in winning their first seven games of the season.

The Lakers’ 7-0 start was the third-best in franchise history, and they were the last unbeaten team in the league.

Iverson said ending the Lakers’ season-opening run of success was less important for the Pistons than building their own momentum.

“Eventually they were going to lose anyway,” Iverson said. “But a win is a win.”

Iverson was acquired by Detroit from the Denver Nuggets on November 3 and took a couple of games to settle in before helping the Pistons to back-to-back victories over Sacramento and Golden State heading into Friday’s contest.

The Pistons complete their Western road trip at Phoenix on Sunday.

Source: Google News

Pocatello, ID (PRWEB) November 12, 2008 — WordPress is the perfect platform for creating fully-functional web sites capable of being deployed in hours instead of weeks or months. Now site owners have the ability to roll out full-featured paid membership sites by simply adding the WP-Membership plug-in from Synergy Software Group and configuring a few settings.

“More and more Internet entrepreneurs are choosing WordPress as their preferred platform for developing robust web sites offering features far in excess of simple blogging,” according to Ben Ward, Synergy Software Group’s Lead Developer. “That’s because the availability of the WordPress plug-in interface makes it easy to extend WordPress’ features to provide options and functionality not included in the core package,” Ward went on to say.

Recognizing the rising demand for paid membership sites, as well as the popularity of the WordPress platform, Ward developed a plug-in offering the most-requested membership site requirements including the ability to process recurring subscription payments through multiple payment gateways/processors.

WP-Membership ships with a PayPal® payment module that interfaces directly with PayPal’s Instant Payment Notification (IPN) application interface. This provides the site owner with the ability to set up multiple subscription levels, with various length of subscription and pricing options, using the Internet’s most popular payment processor. Optional merchant/payment gateway add-ons are available for Authorize.net®, and YourPay℠, with support for additional payment gateways under development.

The WP-Membership plug-in is versatile. It provides the ability to offer free and paid trial options as well as full recurring membership registration that can be re-billed in a variety of time periods including days, weeks, months and years. In addition to recurring membership, WP-Membership also supports a one-off payment option.

WP-Membership is used to control access to the membership site either in its entirety, forcing everyone who wants to access site content to enroll as a member, or on a page-by-page basis. This provides the site owner with the ability to develop teaser content to attract visitors, while still being able to monetize the site by requiring membership to access the protected areas.

Like most WordPress plug-ins, WP-Membership is easily configured using built-in forms and settings. The site owner simply chooses from among the various membership settings, configures their payment processor, and goes live with a complete membership site.

WP-Membership is available for $29.97 for a single domain license from WP-Membership Lifetime free upgrades are included.

About Synergy Software Group, LLC

Based in Pocatello, ID, Synergy Software Group specializes in developing Internet, Desktop and Enterprise software applications for businesses of all sizes.

(CNN) – The global economy may be undergoing a significant downturn, but the White House’s dinner budget still appears flush with cash.

After all, world leaders who are in town to discuss the economic crisis are set to dine in style Friday night while sipping wine listed at nearly $500 a bottle.

According to the White House, tonight’s dinner to kick off the G-20 summit includes such dishes as “Fruitwood-smoked Quail,” “Thyme-roasted Rack of Lamb,” and “Tomato, Fennel and Eggplant Fondue Chanterelle Jus.”

To wash it all down, world leaders will be served Shafer Cabernet “Hillside Select” 2003, a wine that sells at $499 on Wine.com.

The exceedingly pricey wine may seem a bit peculiar given leaders are in Washington to discuss a possible world financial meltdown, but Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush, said it “was the most appropriate wine that we had in the White House wine cellar for such a gathering.

McDonough also said the White House purchased the wine at a “significantly lower price” than what it is listed at.

“Of course the White House gets its wine at wholesale prices,” she said. “Given the intimate size of the group, it was an appropriate time for The White House to use this stock.”

The leaders of the U.K., France, Russia, China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and 11 developing economies have all come to Washington at the behest of President Bush in an effort to express confidence in the fundamental underpinnings of the world’s economy.

– CNN’s Becky Brittain contributed to this report

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) — Asian stocks fell this week, ending a two-week rally, as companies lowered earnings forecasts amid mounting evidence economies are slowing.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 20 percent after saying bad loans may double and Australian business confidence fell to a record low. Citizen Holdings Co. dropped 9.7 percent after cutting its profit forecast. Hana Financial Group Inc. tumbled 36 percent after Fitch Ratings cut its outlook on South Korea banks. China’s CSI 300 Index posted the biggest weekly gain since April, led by steelmakers, after the government announced a $586 billion stimulus plan.

“Investors had expected corporate earnings and economic data to be bad, but the figures keep getting worse,” said Seo Jung Ho, who helps oversee $2.2 billion at UBS Hana Asset Management Co. in Seoul.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 4.7 percent to 82.10 this week, snapping a two-week rally. Financial and technology stocks had the biggest falls among the 10 industry groups.

Japan’s Nikkei 224 Stock Average lost 1.4 percent this week and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 7.5 percent. Most other markets in the region fell.

Asia Pacific equities retreated on mounting evidence economies are slowing. China’s industrial output missed estimates, while South Korea’s exports increased at the slowest pace in 13 months in October. In the U.S., the Treasury scrapped plans to buy mortgage assets to focus on supporting consumer credit.

Government Responses

Leaders from the Group of 20 nations began a summit in Washington yesterday to coordinate government responses to the worst financial crisis in 80 years.

The MSCI index for Asia Pacific has lost more than half its value since the peak in November 2007 in the rout triggered by a widening global credit crisis that originated in the U.S. subprime mortgage market. That left shares on the gauge valued at 10 times trailing earnings after last month falling to as low as 8.2 times. Prior to the current turmoil, it never dropped below 10, according to Bloomberg data dating back to 1995.

Commonwealth Bank declined 20 percent to A$32.10 this week. Australia’s biggest mortgage lender said bad debts may double this year due to lending to companies including Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Hana Financial fell 37 percent to 14,550 won. Woori Finance Holdings Co., which controls South Korea’s second- biggest bank, dropped 24 percent to 3,500 won.

Increased Costs

Fitch Ratings revised down its long-term foreign-currency issuer default ratings outlooks for South Korean financial institutions to “negative” from “stable,” citing the risk of higher credit costs.

Babcock & Brown Ltd. slumped 52 percent to a record low in Sydney on concern it may fail to repay loans.

Citizen, the world’s largest watchmaker, fell 9.7 percent to 457 yen, after lowering its annual forecast by a third. Alumina Ltd., which is partnering with Alcoa Inc., tumbled 39 percent to A$1.36, after the companies said they have suspended expansion work on the Wagerup refinery due to the global financial crisis.

Computer makers fell after Intel Corp., whose chips run more than three-quarters of the world’s computers, slashed its sales prediction by about $1 billion, citing “significantly weaker” demand. Lenovo Group Ltd., China’s biggest computer maker, sank 18 percent to HK$1.83.

In China, Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. jumped 22 percent to 5.57 yuan after the government announced a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) package to revive growth in the world’s fourth-largest economy. Changsha Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Development Co., a construction machinery maker, jumped 48 percent to 13.57 yuan.

Complete Spending

China plans to complete the spending by 2010 to support growth in its domestic economy as the rest of the world slows, the Beijing-based State Council said on its Web site Nov. 9. The funds are equivalent to almost a fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product.

“The plan is what the market would like to see most: Something concrete that will be good for the economy,” said Zheng Tuo, who manages $790 million at Bank of Communications Schroders Fund Management Co. in Shanghai.

Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks tumbled, capping a second straight weekly loss, as a record decrease in retail sales and weaker demand for mobile phones raised concern about the depth of the recession.

Sears Holdings Corp., Home Depot Inc. and Office Depot Inc. sank more than 7.6 percent on government data showing sales at retailers declined 2.8 percent last month. Qualcomm Inc., the biggest maker of mobile-phone chips, slid 5.4 percent and Motorola Inc. dropped 11 percent after Nokia Oyj predicted global shipments will shrink next year. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index erased about two-thirds of yesterday’s 6.9 percent rally and extended its weekly tumble to 6.2 percent.

“The retailers are just confirming what everybody already knows; the economy is in bad shape, people are not spending,” said Malcolm Polley, president of Stewart Capital Advisors in Indiana, Pennsylvania, which manages $1 billion. “We have too many retailers and some of them will go away.”

The S&P 500 lost 4.2 percent to 873.29 as all 10 main industry groups retreated at least 2.8 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 337.94 points, or 3.8 percent, to 8,497.31. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 5 percent to 1,516.85. Twelve stocks fell for each that rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

’08 Slump

The S&P 500 has slumped almost 41 percent in 2008, poised for its worst year since 1931, as credit-related losses and writedowns at banks, brokerages and insurers worldwide topped $950 billion in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, speaking at a panel discussion hosted by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, said policymakers “stand ready” to take additional actions to help the economy. The Fed and ECB last month led central banks in the broadest coordinated interest-rate cut in history.

About 1.5 billion shares changed hands on the floor of the NYSE, in line with the three-month daily average.

Home Depot, the biggest home-improvement retailer, lost 7.6 percent to $20.54. Sears, the largest U.S. department-store chain, tumbled $6.28 to $38.27. Office Depot, the second-biggest office-supplies retailer, slid 17 percent to $2.03.

`Halt in October’

The 2.8 percent decrease in retail sales was the fourth consecutive drop and the biggest since records began in 1992, the Commerce Department said. Purchases excluding automobiles also posted their worst performance.

“It reminds everyone how difficult the current environment is,” Mark Freeman, a money manager at Westwood Management Corp. in Dallas, which oversees $7 billion, said of the data and lowered forecasts from some chain stores. “Everyone should expect volatility to continue.”

Liz Claiborne Inc., the maker of apparel and Kate Spade handbags, fell 26 percent to $3.69 for the biggest drop in the S&P 500. Abercrombie & Fitch Co., the teen-apparel retailer, lost 21 percent to $17.79 after lowering its annual earnings forecast by a third. J.C. Penney Co., the third-largest U.S. department-store company, slid 10 percent to $17.27 after posting its fifth straight quarterly profit decline.

Qualcomm tumbled $1.88 to $32.94, while Motorola lost 50 cents to $4.08. Nokia, the world’s largest maker of mobile phones, said industrywide handset sales will be lower this year than previously anticipated, forcing the company to deepen cost cuts. Global shipments will be about 1.24 billion this year, down from a previous prediction of 1.26 billion phones, and will shrink next year, Finland-based Nokia said in a statement today. Its American depositary receipts lost 11 percent to $12.59.

Semis Slump

Semiconductor companies in the S&P 500 tumbled 7.4 percent collectively. Intel Corp., the largest chipmaker, fell 7.7 percent to $13.32, a six-year low, for the biggest drop in the Dow average.

Earnings dropped 17 percent on average at companies in the S&P 500 that have reported third-quarter results, according to Bloomberg data. Companies from Best Buy Co. to Intel have cut forecasts this week. Analysts expect an 8.5 percent decline in full-year profits, estimates compiled by Bloomberg show.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. helped lead declines in financial companies, falling 7.3 percent to $34.47. Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage-finance company seized by the U.S. two months ago, said in a regulatory filing it may prevent JPMorgan from retaining the servicing contracts of Washington Mutual Inc., whose assets and branches it acquired in September.

Freddie’s Request

Freddie Mac, which along with larger competitor Fannie Mae was removed from the S&P 500 in September after the companies lost more than 97 percent of their market value, today asked the Treasury Department for $13.8 billion after a record quarterly loss caused its net worth to fall below zero. Freddie Mac fell 8.2 percent to 67 cents.

Prologis sank 26 percent to $5.08, leading real-estate companies in the S&P 500 to a 10 percent drop. RBC Capital Markets lowered its price forecast for the world’s largest warehouse developer to $10 from $16.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. jumped 21 percent to $12.65. The insurer that lost 79 percent of its market value in the past two months said it’s buying a Florida bank for $10 million to become eligible for federal rescue funds. Hartford expects to qualify for $1.1 billion to $3.4 billion under Treasury Department guidelines.

`Level of Nervousness’

The S&P 500 turned positive for about 15 minutes in the final hour of trading today after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told CNBC the government’s $700 billion rescue package is enough to stem the financial crisis.

The S&P 500 jumped the most in two weeks yesterday, including a 6 percent rally in the final hour of trading, as investors snapped up the cheapest energy shares on record and real-estate companies gained after CB Richard Ellis Inc. raised cash in a share sale.

“You cannot read anything significant into that,” said London-based Justin Urquhart Stewart, director of 7 Investment Management. “It just shows the level of nervousness and that is going to continue for some time. The background noise is going to be very poor indeed,” he told Bloomberg Television.

Source: www.Bloomberg.com