Michael Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, has denied news reports that surfaced late last night suggesting the pop star was briefly in hospital for dehydration after leaving court in Santa Maria, California.

A former housekeeper at Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch told the singer’s child molestation trial today that the pop star had close friendships with several boys, aged 10 to 14, and that she saw children she believed to be intoxicated at the estate.

Prospective jurors in the Michael Jackson child abuse case were asked in a questionnaire released yesterday if they can fairly judge people of different races, have ever been diagnosed with cancer and have ever experienced or been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Wall Street posted its biggest decline in a month today as the United States and Britain submitted a new UN Security Council resolution authorising war against Iraq.