Tuesday, June 30, 2009 LONDON: The organisers of Michael Jackson's comeback tour dates in London announced Tuesday they would offer full ticket refunds following his death last week. "AEG Live (UK) Ltd, concert promoters, announced that full refunds will be available to fans who purchased tickets through authorised agents for any of the 50 Michael Jackson 'This Is It' concerts which were to take place at The O2 Arena in London," AEG Live announced in a statement. Jackson's fans from around the world had rushed to snap up tickets for the performances, which were due to start on July 13. British media reports said about 50 million pounds (59 million euros, 83 million dollars) has been spent on 750,000 tickets. Fans had also queued for hours to watch the reclusive star's final public appearance when he unveiled the gigs here in March, promising to play his classic tunes. "The world lost a kind soul who just happened to be the greatest entertainer the world has ever known," said Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live. "Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death." AEG Live said the refunds would include all ticket service charges. Fans who would prefer to keep the ticket as a piece of memorabilia will have the option to be sent the actual piece of paper, which AEG said had been "inspired and designed by Michael Jackson". Trading website eBay, where tickets had fetched prices of up to 1,300 pounds, has already said that fans who had bought seats for the shows through its website would receive a refund.
Friday, August 14, 2009 MUMBAI: A 26-year-old woman died Thursday of H1N1 swine flu in the southern city of Bangalore, raising India's death toll from the virus to 20, authorities said.The death was the first reported in India's information technology capital, the Press Trust of India reported.Meanwhile in Pune, the worst-affected in India, two more victims of the virus died Thursday, raising the death toll in that western city near Mumbai to 12, the report said. The victims were an 11-month-old boy and a 75-year-old old woman.US media reported movie halls, schools and colleges were ordered closed Thursday for three days to a week in Mumbai, the commercial and financial capital of the country, as fear of the pandemic spread.Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said similar orders were issued in Pune, which is also located in the state.The woman who died in Bangalore was identified only as Roopa, a teacher in...
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