China, Russia bid Bush farewell at trade summit

LIMA (AFP) — Leaders of the Pacific rim are set to meet to chart ways to boost trade despite turmoil in the global economy, as aspiring powers China and Russia bid farewell to US President George W. Bush.

Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific economies accounting for half of the world’s trade were due to huddle in Peru’s capital Lima on Saturday as the global economy showed little sign of returning to health.

A week after a 20-nation summit in Washington urged action to repair the crippled financial system itself, the Asia-Pacific summit was expected to focus on defending free trade as a way to kickstart slowing economies.

“There is a substantially advanced boutique industry called ‘gloom and doom’ that is all about people saying how bad it is,” Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

Michael Jackson’s former assistant says Bahraini sheik was a generous friend

LONDON – Michael Jackson’s former personal assistant told a British court Friday that a Bahraini sheik who is now suing the singer was a generous friend, eager to give Jackson money and other gifts.

Grace Rwaramba said Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa referred to Jackson as his brother and frequently offered the singer gifts and money.

“He would say, ‘What can I do for my brother?’ ‘What can I give the children?’ ” Rwaramba said. “Mr. Jackson had a back pain and he told me to get Tiger Balm for him.”

Rwaramba, who also was nanny to Jackson’s three children, said she considered the sheik’s behaviour “sweet.”