Protests have erupted across New York and in US cities from Georgia to California after a white police officer was cleared over the chokehold death of an unarmed black man.

Relatives said goodbye yesterday to the 18-year-old unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a police officer, remembering him as a "gentle soul" with a deep and growing faith in Christianity and ambitions that one day "the world would know his name".

The mourners filled an enormous church to remember Michael Brown – a “gentle giant,” aspiring rapper and recent high school graduate on his way to a technical college but the funeral that unfolded today was about much more than the black 18-year-old who lay in the closed coffin after being shot to death by a white police officer.

Hundreds of people have lined up in sweltering heat to say goodbye to the 18-year-old US man shot dead by a police officer in an incident that sparked almost two weeks of street protests.

Police arrested seven protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, early yesterday as they imposed a curfew aimed at quelling days of violence that erupted after an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a white police officer

There was vandalism after thousands of people attended a vigil for an unarmed black US teenager who was shot and killed by a police officer.

Vigils and rallies will be held in 100 US cities this weekend to press for federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman over the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin.

Outrage over the acquittal of George Zimmerman over the shooting of an unarmed black teenager poured from street demonstrations and church pulpits as protesters called for justice for the victim.

Cleared by a Florida jury, George Zimmerman walked free from criminal charges in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin but was still under fire from civil rights leaders and critics who were dismayed by the verdict.

A prosecutor has told jurors that George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin “because he wanted to,” not because he had to, while the neighbourhood watch volunteer’s attorney said the deadly shooting of the Miami-area teen was carried out in self-defence.

Former New York mayor Ed Koch, the combative politician who rescued the city from near-financial ruin during three City Hall terms, has died aged 88.

A judge has appointed the son of Tito Jackson to serve as temporary guardian of Michael Jackson's children in the absence of the family matriarch and in the midst a feud over the pop superstar's estate.

Turmoil in Michael Jackson’s family continued yesterday as a family feud that has engulfed the singer’s mother and children continued to play out online, on cable TV and in a videotaped driveway confrontation that authorities continue to investigate.

Rodney King has been remembered in Los Angeles as a forgiving man who bore the scars of his infamous beating with dignity.

Neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has made his first court appearance on a second-degree murder charge following the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The parents of a shot Florida teenager have accused police of leaking information about their son being suspended for marijuana and details about the fight in which he died that portrayed him as the aggressor.

The parents of an unarmed black teenager shot dead by a neighbourhood watch helper in Florida are leading a rally in protest at the lack of an arrest.

The US police chief who has been bitterly criticised for not arresting a neighbourhood watch volunteer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager and the county prosecutor both left the case, with the chief saying that he is temporarily stepping down to let passions cool.

The US Justice Department is to investigate the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a neighbourhood watch guard following a day of protests over the incident.

Rhythm & blues legend Etta James was remembered at a service attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans as a woman who triumphed against all odds to break down cultural and musical barriers in a style that was unfailingly honest.

Rhythm & blues legend Etta James has been remembered at a service attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans as a woman who triumphed against all odds to break down cultural and musical barriers in a style that was unfailingly honest.

Dr Conrad Murray should get a lenient sentence in relation to Michael Jackson's death because he has never drunk alcohol or smoked, according to his mother.

Thousands of people have gathered in Washington to give the new Martin Luther King Memorial a proper dedication on the National Mall after its opening in August.

PARIS JACKSON wept as she stepped into the mausoleum where her father, Michael, was to be entombed. Katherine Jackson, overcome by sorrow, turned back when she was faced with her son’s final resting place.

Michael Jackson took centre stage for the final time today at a funeral service at which friends and family were given the opportunity to grieve in private.

Snoop Dogg is to appear on ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S daughter fought back tears to pay tribute to the “best father” imaginable last night as an estimated audience of more than a billion tuned in to bid farewell to the King of Pop.

The city of Los Angeles today asked Michael Jackson’s family for financial help with the cost of coping with the singer’s memorial tomorrow.

Michael Jackson’s mother won temporary custody of his three children today.

Investigations have begun into the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Jackson.

Reaction to the news of Jackson’s death has been swift.

The New York Post apologised today for a cartoon said by some to compare President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police.

The US Supreme Court gave a reprieve to a Georgia inmate less than two hours before he was to be executed for the 1989 killing of an off-duty police officer.

IT IS politics but like nothing witnessed before.

Americans remembered Martin Luther King’s dream of social justice on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s assassination today.

Thousands of chanting demonstrators filled the streets of the little Louisiana town of Jena in America's Deep South today in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

James Brown's family has marked the late Godfather Of Soul's 74th birthday with an attack on the music industry.

New York city anxiously awaited a decision by a jury over whether or not to charge five police officers who unleashed the 50-shot barrage that killed an unarmed man on his wedding day.

Moviemaker Spike Lee is hunting for the perfect James Brown, so he can make a start on a planned biopic of the soul legend.

A day after thousands bade a rousing farewell to singer James Brown at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in New York, friends and relatives gathered tonight for a more humble memorial service near the place the Godfather of Soul called home.

The Rev. Al Sharpton promised a “royal day in Harlem” as he raced through the night in a van to make sure the late US singer James Brown did not miss his last date at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York.

A public funeral service for “Godfather of Soul” James Brown at an 8,500-seat US arena bearing his name in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, has been set for Saturday.

GODFATHER of Soul James Brown remained the hardest-working man in show business to the end, telling friends from his hospital bed that he’d be in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, even though he had pneumonia.

New York’s mayor today admitted it appeared “excessive force” was used when a young groom was gunned down by police in a hail of bullets on his wedding day.