People in the news

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt new parents to girl – Shiloh

Los Angeles – The baby has arrived – and no, they didn’t name her Brangelina.

Thousands of miles from Hollywood but still within easy reach of celebrity hype, Angelina Jolie gave birth to Brad Pitt’s daughter Saturday in Africa, Pitt’s publicist announced.

“The night of May 27, 2006 in Namibia, Africa, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed their daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. No further information is being given,” publicist Cindy Guagenti said.

No photographs were being released, she added.

The baby’s arrival had been the subject of intense press speculation in recent months, prompting the superstar couple to decamp to Africa for privacy. It escalated Tuesday when an e-mail Pitt sent to the Cannes Film Festival said he was unable to attend because of the baby’s “imminent arrival.”

The birth came a little more than a month after another blockbuster delivery: a girl born to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Jolie and Pitt were linked romantically shortly after appearing together in the 2005 movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

Jolie, 30, is a frequent visitor to Africa and serves as goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Jolie has two adopted children: toddler Zahara, from Ethiopia, and 4-year-old Maddox, from Cambodia.

‘Nick News,’ Ellerbee celebrate 15 years of broadcasts today

Los Angeles – While the broadcast networks have been changing news anchors at lightning speed these days, one familiar face remains in her chair year in and year out – veteran newswoman Linda Ellerbee at the “Nick News.”

“Oh lord, I never thought I’d have a show go this long without cancellation,” Ellerbee told The Associated Press on the eve of the Nickelodeon children’s show’s 15th anniversary special today (7:30 p.m. CST). “I’m the luckiest journalist in television.”

The former correspondent for ABC and NBC was approached by the cable network about launching a weekly news show for children just as the United States was entering the Gulf War in 1991. It would be something informative but not frightening, a show that would put the week’s news in historical perspective for youngsters who were just beginning to follow current events.

Four Emmys and two Peabody awards later, the show endures, and today’s special will look back at the 15 “Nick News” stories Ellerbee considers the program’s most compelling.

After that, Ellerbee plans to get back to work on more shows. The 61-year-old journalist jokes that she doesn’t plan to stay in the game as long as her 88-year-old CBS colleague, Mike Wallace, did.

“But I’m not ready to go yet,” she added. “I’d like to see a 20th anniversary.”

Jackson makes first public appearance since acquittal

Tokyo – Michael Jackson made his first public appearance since being acquitted on child molestation charges, choking up as he thanked Japanese fans at an award ceremony Saturday.

“I’m honored to be in Japan again, and I’m very happy to be among the Japanese people because I love them very much,” Jackson said in a brief appearance at MTV Japan’s “Legend Award” ceremony at Yoyogi Olympic Stadium.

The pop star also planned to visit orphanages, tour Tokyo and meet with businessmen during his trip to Japan, said Broderick D. Morris, chief executive officer of Positive Productions Yokohama, an entertainment promotions company.