Mount St Helens has vented a new column of steam, a lazy plume that rose out of the crater of the snow-dusted volcano.

MOUNT St Helens belched more steam yesterday following several days of tremors and low-level earthquakes that have raised fears that the mountain might blow at any moment.

Michael Jackson has put long-rumoured financial worries behind him as he prepares to battle child sex abuse allegations in court, it emerged today.