They were the two most famous African-Americans in the world: President Barack Obama and Michael Jackson.

The White House appeared to be putting deliberate distance between the Obama administration and the memorial events following Michael Jackson’s death.

But when millions of people paused this week to watch Jackson’s memorial service in Los Angeles, the president was about as far away as he could get.

That President Obama was in Moscow at a summit — negotiating weapons limits and other agreements — was obviously no sleight to the late entertainer.

But even before Obama left the country, the White House seemed to be keeping its distance.

There was no public gesture from the president’s office when Jackson died, no official tribute to one of the most remarkable Americans of our time.

The White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said Obama had “written to the family and has shared his feelings with the family privately.”

When the president was pressed by reporters for a public statement, there was careful nuance in his words.

“He became a core part of our culture,” the president said in a July 7 interview with CNN ahead of the Jackson memorial service. “His extraordinary talent and music mixed with big dose of tragedy and difficulty in his private life.” Did Barack Obama strike the right tone in his understated response to Michael Jackson’s death? Sound Off below

The “big dose of tragedy and difficulty” was a gentle phrase to address unproven allegations of child abuse, the odd changes Jackson made to his appearance and the still unexplained circumstances of his death.

Republican Congressman Peter King wasn’t as delicate about the deceased.

“This guy was a pervert, he was a child molester,” King said.

“I just think that we’re too politically correct, no one wants to stand up and say we don’t need Michael Jackson.”

But Jackson had his defenders. Democrat Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee praised him at his funeral and alluded to the problems in his past.

“As members of the United States Congress, we understand the Constitution, we understand laws, and we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise.”

Obama apparently didn’t want to be part of the debate.

He said a few words, offered his sympathies and left Michael Jackson to the people who wanted to mourn him.

Pakistan’s military has declared that not only is it in contact with Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar but that it can bring him and other commanders to the negotiating table with the United States.

Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Afghan Taliban leader, has been a fugitive from U.S.-led forces since 2001.

The acknowledgment of on-going communication with Taliban forces using sanctuary in Pakistan to launch military strikes against U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan is part of a new diplomatic overture to help the Obama administration find an end to the long-running conflict.

In a CNN exclusive interview, Pakistan military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said in return for any role as a broker between the United States and the Taliban, Pakistan wants concessions from Washington over Islamabad’s concerns with longtime rival India.

And senior U.S. officials have told CNN the Obama Administration is willing both to talk to top Taliban leaders and to raise some of Pakistan’s concerns with India.

With NATO’s Afghan force commanders conceding the military fight against the Taliban in key areas of Afghanistan is at a “stalemate” and that a recent influx of American combat troops is hoped to break the deadlock, the consensus among military and diplomatic figures in the region is that the United States cannot win the war in Afghanistan militarily.

Most believe a resolution to the conflict will ultimately be a political, and economic, one rather than a military victory that will necessitate negotiations with the Taliban. Such a resolution will have to be struck with the involvement of Pakistan, India, Iran and possibly Saudi Arabia, as well as NATO and the United States.

And with the Pakistan military, with its intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate (ISI), now going public with its offer to act as broker to help initiate talks, this could be the first opportunity for a breakthrough in ending the Afghan war that began with the U.S. invasion in 2001.

Abbas told CNN after its “very intense relationship” with militants during the fighters’ alliance with the United States during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Pakistan military is now still in contact with Taliban commanders such as Mullah Omar, Jalalladin Haqqani and Mullah Nazir and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the militant Hizb-e-Islami group.

“That’s right, the ISI was in the forefront of the whole struggle against the Soviets. Now, by maintaining the contacts with the organizations like [Mullah Omar's Taliban and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar] doesn’t mean that that state policy is [to be] providing them physical support or the funding or training,” Abbas said.

After the 9/11 attacks Pakistani policy to support the groups did a “U-turn”, he said.

“And the state followed, the army followed, the ISI followed. Having said that no intelligence organization in the world shuts its last door on any other organization. So therefore the contacts are there. The communication remains. But it doesn’t mean you endorse what they are doing in Afghanistan. You know you have nothing to do with it because your plate is full.”

And even further, Abbas said, the Pakistani military has the ability to get the Taliban to the table with the United States to broker a cease-fire by jump-starting a dialogue between the warring parties, Abbas said.

“That’s right. Dialogue,” Abbas said. “Eventually, one would have to return to the dialogue table. I think that can be worked out. That is possible.”

Retired Gen. Hamid Gul, a former head of the ISI, Pakistan’s equivalent of the CIA, is known as the “Godfather of the Taliban.” He, too, said talks can be arranged. In terms of U.S. interests in Afghanistan, he said, there is only one man who can make it happen.

“Mullah Omar, nobody else,” Gul said.

He insisted the Obama administration, through the Pakistan military, can access Mullah Omar. “Why not?” he said, “Is he a terrorist by any definition? Has he indulged in any act of terrorism?”

Gul added a stated Taliban condition to any discussions, the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan first, was not necessarily a fixed demand and, with concessions from Washington, could be softened and make way for negotiations to begin.

Australia’s fifth wicket pair of Michael Clarke and Marcus North lifted then into a formidable position at tea on the third day of the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Anderson celebrates as he claims the wicket of Katich for 122.

They had taken their unbeaten stand to 127 as they upped the scoring rate in the afternoon session with Australia on 458 for four wickets.

Clarke was unbeaten on 70 not out and North, playing his first Test in England had reached his half century.

It left Australia 23 runs ahead with six wickets remaining in reply to England’s 435 all out.

Earlier, England hit back by removing second day heroes Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich in the morning session.

Australia had resumed overnight on 248 for one wicket, just 186 runs adrift of England and looking to press home their advantage at Sophia Gardens.

But a superb new ball spell from England paceman James Anderson gave the home side renewed hope of victory in the first Test to be played in Wales.

Katich, who had doggedly supported his captain Ponting, was the first to go as Anderson struck with a full-pitched, swinging delivery which trapped the Aussie opener leg before wicket for 122.

Mike Hussey came to the wicket but was unsettled against Anderson and Andrew Flintoff from the start.

He had must just three when he edged Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Clarke and North took the Australians to the lunch break without further loss and pressed home their advantage as England toiled on a slow pitch offering little hope to the bowlers.

Australia, who hold the Ashes, are narrow favorites to retain cricket’s most coveted trophy, but are fielding a team inexperienced in English conditions.

Eight-time gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics and multiple world-record holder Michael Phelps warmed up for the Swimming World Championships in Rome by setting a new men’s world record in the 100 meters butterfly.

Michael Phelps attacks the pool in Indianapolis to set a new world mark in the 100m fly.

The 24-year-old American shaved 18-hundredths of a second from the previous mark set by compatriot Ian Crocker in 2005, with a time of 50.22 on the third day of competition at the U.S. National Championships in the Indianapolis.

“I was pretty happy with my swim. I really wanted to break 50 seconds, but that is something to shoot for,” Phelps told the event’s official Web site.

“Ian Crocker texted me after prelims. He wished me all the luck. That really meant a lot to me as a competitor and as a friend,” he added.

The new time takes Phelps’s personal tally of individual world records to five, to add to the three he can claim from relay events, and means he has qualified for three events at the upcoming World Championships in Rome thus far.

Places were booked with wins in the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly on Wednesday while a further slot could be confirmed via the 100m freestyle.

Phelps, who was banned for three months when he was pictured smoking drugs at a party after returning from Beijing, has been eager to regain his Olympic form after his enforced exile from the pool.

“This is something that I really, really wanted to accomplish,” Phelps told the LA Times. “Crock and I had a lot of great history, a lot of great races with one another. I’ve wanted that record ever since he took it in ‘03 worlds. . . . After the race, you could tell I was pretty fired up and excited.”

Elsewhere, twelve-time Olympic medallist Dara Torres qualified for the World Championships team in the 50m freestyle.

The American told the LA Times there was still work to do despite the result: “My coach was telling me I probably lost four or five tenths [of a second] on the start,” said Torres.

“The adrenaline kind of took over so I didn’t really feel (my knee injury). It’s a great feeling to be able to be out there and still race [at age 42], but that time won’t medal at the world championships,” Torres added.

The men’s 50m freestyle saw four Olympians battled for the gold, with Nathan Adrian beating his 2008 Olympic teammates Cullen Jones and Garrett Weber-Gale by 0.3 seconds.

The researchers stretch out large fibres to make thin threads

Clothes could one day take snaps of everything happening around whoever is wearing them.

US researchers have made smart fabric that can detect the wavelength and direction of light falling on it.

The research team has found a way to accurately place sensors in each fibre and co-ordinate the electrical signals they send when light falls on them.

The results were a step towards “ambient light imaging fabrics” said the researchers.

Led by Dr Yoel Fink from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the researchers have extended earlier work that placed sensors in relatively large polymer fibres.

Dr Fink and colleagues found a way to stretch the 25mm strands of polymer into much thinner fibres while maintaining the relative positions of the sensors.

This earlier work has led to the creation of very long and flexible light and temperature sensors that may find a role in smart fabrics for soldiers or those working in hostile environments.

In their latest work, described in a paper in Nano Letters, these thinner strands were woven into a 0.1m square section of fabric. The careful creation of the fibres and positioning of the light-sensitive elements meant that the team knew which signals were being sent by which sensors.

This enabled the team to reconstruct, albeit crudely, an image projected onto the small square of fabric. The researchers said their work was an “important step” towards finding ways to get many nanoscale devices working together.

The actors, and former co-stars, have both had experience behind the camera

Hollywood actor Mel Gibson is in talks to take the lead role in a film directed by Jodie Foster, reports say.

Trade magazine Variety said Foster will also co-star in The Beaver, about a depressed man who finds solace in his beaver hand-puppet.

The Oscar winners previously starred together in the 1994 comedy Maverick.

The film will mark Gibson’s second acting role since 2003. Foster has previously directed 1991’s Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays in 1995.

Producers Steve Golin and Keith Redmon are hoping to start filming in September in New York.

The Beaver previously attracted the attention of a number of high-profile names in Hollywood, including director Jay Roach and actors Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey.

Gibson’s defence

Gibson has focused on directing projects over the past five years, attracting critical attention with the controversial 2004 film The Passion of the Christ and 2006’s Apocalypto.

In July 2006, the star sparked outrage with he made anti-Semitic remarks during an arrest for drink-driving.

At the time, Foster spoke out in his defence, insisting Gibson was “absolutely not” an anti-Semite.

In May Gibson, 53, announced he is expecting a child with his Russian girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva - a month after his wife filed for divorce after 28 years of marriage.

The star’s acting credits include Braveheart - which he also directed - and the Lethal Weapon series.

Foster won the best actress Oscar in 1989, for The Accused, and 1992, for The Silence of the Lambs.

The play is scheduled to open on 29 September

Actors Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman are to star together on Broadway in a play about two Chicago policeman, it has been announced.

The Wolverine star and James Bond actor will appear in A Steady Rain, which recounts the story of a few days that changed the policemens’ lives.

Jackman, 40, has appeared on the New York stage before, but Craig, 41, will be making his Broadway debut.

Previews begin on 10 September at the Schoenfeld Theatre.

‘Sexy men’

Jackman won a Tony for his role in the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz in 2004. Craig has previously appeared on stage in London.

Scott Mallalieu, president of Broadway ticket agency Group Sales Box Office, told Bloomberg he expected the play to sell out very quickly.

“These are two very sexy men - and male theatregoers will be attracted by the fact that it’s a drama about two cops,” he said.

The pair are the latest Hollywood stars to hit the New York stage this year. Others have included Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon, comic actor Will Ferrell and Sopranos star James Gandolfini.

A Steady Rain, by Chicago playwright Keith Huff, was first produced off-Broadway in 2006.

The show is expected to open on 29 September and run for 12 weeks.

Merchandise for Jackson’s O2 residency has now gone on sale

The head of Los Angeles police has refused to rule out murder in the investigation into the death of singer Michael Jackson, two weeks ago.

Police Chief William Bratton told US news broadcaster CNN that police were awaiting toxicology results.

“Are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with accidental overdose… I don’t have that information.”

Meanwhile, Jackson’s father, Joe, 79, speaking about the death on ABC News, said: “I do believe it was foul play.”

Mr Jackson - who is due to attend a memorial service in the family’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, later - has previously said he had “a lot of concerns” over events surrounding his son’s death, and that the family “suspected foul play somewhere”.

The Los Angeles coroner has said that an autopsy the day after the singer’s death revealed no evidence of foul play and that toxicology test results could take weeks to come back.

A spokesman for the coroner’s office said Jackson had taken “some prescription medication”, without specifying which.

‘Comprehensive inquiries’

Mr Bratton, meanwhile, told CNN that detectives were investigating the singer’s history of using prescription drugs and had spoken to a number of doctors who had treated him over the years.

At the time of the death, with search warrants, we were able to seize a number of items from the residence where the death occurred and those will assist in the investigation Police Chief William Bratton

“We are still awaiting corroboration from the coroner’s office as to cause of death,” he said.

“That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back.

“And based on those, we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing [with].”

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“So as we are standing here speaking, I can tell you I don’t have that information,” he told reporters.

Mr Bratton said his department was being helped by other agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, on “a comprehensive set of inquiries”.

“At the time of the death, with search warrants, we were able to seize a number of items from the residence where the death occurred and those will assist in the investigation,” he added.

Meanwhile, guests including Jackson’s father and the Reverend Al Sharpton - who spoke at the Staples Center memorial in Los Angeles on Tuesday - are expected at the service in Gary on Friday evening.

The service will be held at the Steel Yard baseball park, a few miles from the singer’s childhood home.

The Jacksons moved from Gary, Indiana, in 1969

Mayor Rudy Clay said the event would be a celebration of the contribution of the Jackson family to the music industry.

The entire family moved from the town to California after The Jackson Five signed with Motown records in 1969.

The group, featuring Michael and his brothers, was formed by father Joe five years earlier.

“Michael Jackson put Gary, Indiana, on the global map and made Gary citizens proud,” Mr Clay said, in a statement.

Touring show

Jackson had been rehearsing for comeback shows at London’s O2 arena - due to begin on Monday - before his sudden death on 25 June, at the age of 50.

Shaheen Jafargholi, who sang at Tuesday’s memorial, appeared in Thriller Live

Promoters AEG have announced that official merchandise for the tour - including T-shirts, mugs, belt buckles and socks - is now available to pre-order.

Meanwhile, the makers of West End tribute show Thriller Live are taking the show on a year-long world tour.

The musical, which began as a touring show in 2006, has been appearing at London’s Lyric Theatre since January.

A new production of the show will be staged in Munich, Germany, on 21 July, before travelling across Europe and on to the US.

“Since the tragic news from Los Angeles broke, we have been amazed by the reaction of the fans around the globe, and inquiries for Thriller Live to appear worldwide have been overwhelming,” producer Paul Walden said.