Thursday Pictures

* CLOONEY VISITS U.N. HEADQUARTERS Hollywood star GEORGE CLOONEY paid a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday (31Jan08) for the first time since he was appointed Messenger of Peace of the world organisation earlier this month (18Jan08). The Ocean's 13 actor was accompanied by his parents Nick and Nina Clooney as he arrived at the office on Thursday afternoon (31Jan08) to the delight of his adoring fans, who had gathered outside the building's entrance to catch a glimpse of the star. Clooney then met with U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, who presented him with the U.N. Messenger of Peace certificate and dove pin, the traditional tokens given to those newly-designated to the post. The presentation comes just days after he returned from a trip to Sudan's troubled Darfur region, his first posting as a U.N. ambassador. (PAW/WNWCAG/MT) George Clooney News conference marking George Clooney's designation as a UN Messenger of Peace by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations headquarters New York City, USA - 31.01.08

* T.I. ARRESTED AFTER UNDERCOVER MACHINE GUN DEAL Rapper T.I. has been arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, after attempting to purchase an arsenal of weapons from an undercover police officer. The Bring 'Em Out star - real name Clifford Harris, Jr. - was taken into custody on Saturday (13Oct07) after he sent his bodyguard to buy three machine guns and two silencers from the cop, posing as an arms dealer. The unnamed bodyguard was acting as a co-operating witness to the agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), when he was instructed by Harris to make the cash deal for the guns, worth $21,000 (£10,500). The employee claims he has purchased a total of nine guns for the rapper himself and a further 17 firearms for others on the star's behalf since he was hired in July (07). A police raid of Harris' home in College Park turned up another three machine guns and six other firearms hidden in a closet. The 27-year-old has been charged with felony possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Vanessa McLemore, Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Atlanta Division, tells AllHipHop.com, "This investigation developed very quickly. We learned only this Wednesday that the co-operating witness was allegedly buying the machine guns for Harris. The co-operating witness told Harris on Thursday that he had obtained the items, and on Friday Harris made it clear that he wanted them delivered to him today. "Harris then agreed to meet and took possession of the machine guns this afternoon. He now faces serious federal charges and a potentially long prison sentence." The arrest took place hours before T.I. was due to attend the B.E.T. Hip-Hop Awards, where he was scheduled to perform. The rapper - who has previous convictions for drug dealing, gun possession and probation violations - will be held in federal custody until Monday (15Oct07), when he will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman at the United States Courthouse in his hometown of Atlanta. (MT/WNWCAH&WNWCZM) Rapper, T.I. performing live at the Screamfest 2007 tour, held at the Gibson Amphitheatre Los Angeles, California - 01.09.07

* PAVAROTTI DEAD AT 71 Opera legend LUCIANO PAVAROTTI has died, his manager has announced. He was 71. The Italian tenor was said to be in a "very serious" condition on Wednesday (05Sep07) night, after falling unconscious. A local TV news station in Modena, northern Italy, reported Pavarotti was on his death bed after suffering kidney failure. Friends and family held a bedside vigil at the singer's home in Modena on Wednesday, but the star died in the early hours of Thursday morning (06Sep07). His death follows a recent spell of ill health - Pavarotti was admitted to hospital last month (Aug07) to undergo treatment for pancreatic cancer, and underwent surgery for cancer last year (06) and has since had at least five rounds of chemotherapy. He is survived by his survived by four daughters, three with first wife Adua and one with second wife Nicoletta Mantovani - who gave birth to Alice in January 2003 - and one granddaughter. (JC/WNWCCB/) Modena, Italy - 06.09.07 Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo (1999 TV fundraiser) Directed by Spike Lee Shown from left: Luciano Pavarotti, Mariah Carey