NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Ray Bradbury dies

LOS ANGELES

Ray Bradbury anticipated iPods, interactive television, electronic surveillance and live, sensational media events, including televised police pursuits — and not necessarily as good things.

The science fiction- fantasy master spent his life conjuring such visions from his childhood dreams and Cold War fears, spinning tales of telepathic Martians, lovesick sea monsters and, in uncanny detail, the high-tech, book-burning future of “Fahrenheit 451.”

All of them, in short stories, in the movie theater and on the television screen, would fire the imaginations of generations of children and adults across the world.

Years later, the sheer volume and quality of his work would surprise even him.

Bradbury, who died Tuesday night at age 91, was slowed in recent years by a stroke that meant he had to use a wheelchair.

But he remained active over the years, turning out new novels, plays, screenplays and a volume of poetry.

Miley Cyrus gets engaged to Hemsworth

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

It turns out “The Last Song” was only the beginning for Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth.

The couple who met on the set of that movie in 2009 announced their engagement Wednesday morning. Publicist Jeff Raymond confirms a People magazine report of the news.

Hemsworth, the 22-year-old Australian star of “The Hunger Games,” and Cyrus, the 19-year-old “Hannah Montana” star and singer, were engaged last Thursday.

Hemsworth proposed with a 3.5-carat diamond ring, People reports.

Guns N’ Roses singer is robbed

PARIS

Police say Guns N’ Roses front man Axl Rose was robbed of three gold-and-diamond necklaces worth some $200,000 after the hard-rock band’s concert in Paris.

A Paris police spokesman said Wednesday that the lead singer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band was fuming after the theft during a private gathering after the band’s show at Bercy stadium the previous night.

Judicial police have opened an investigation but the spokesman said it didn’t appear Rose was wearing the necklaces at the time.

The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because of office policy.

Vindicator wire reports