Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed back Andrew Bynum, and sent the Denver Nuggets packing with another loss at Staples Centre. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points, Spain's Pau Gasol had 27 with a career-high 19 rebounds and the Lakers snapped the Nuggets' eight-game winning streak, 116-102 on Thursday night.

Though the Lakers one-two punch knocked out the Nuggets at Staples Centre for the 22nd time in the last 24 meetings, and moved one-half game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA, the night belonged to Bynum.

Los Angeles - Police in southern California Wednesday were investigating a brutal shooting spree in which one person was killed and three injured at a secluded retreat operated by a Korean-based Christian group.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the suspect in the late Tuesday killings was a 69-year-old man named John Chong who was known around the retreat centre as "Uncle". Police said that he first killed a woman and injured her husband in their bungalow and then went to another house on the property, where two residents succeeded in fighting him off.

Los Angeles  - After a sudden suicide in the hit US TV medical drama House MD, actor Kal Penn found a new role Wednesday in the White House where he will work as a liaison to several ethnic communities and the arts world.

Penn, 31, who also starred as an inveterate stoner in the hit Harold and Kumar film franchise, told CNN that he will "do outreach with the American public and with different organizations."

Los Angeles  - The US electric car maker Tesla has unveiled its Model S sedan and said the first models will be delivered to customers in the second half of 2011.

Featuring a coupe-like design, the Model S has electric engines fitted to the rear axle that are fed by lithium-ion batteries positioned in the floor. A four-wheel drive is an option.

Three different battery packs will be available giving the car a range of between 260 and 480 kilometres on a single charge lasting only 45 minutes. According to Tesla the batteries have a life span of five years.

Lost Angeles - A California woman said to be the world's oldest human being celebrated her 115th birthday this week amidst well wishes from the US president and California governor.

The party for Gertrude Baines was held in an old-age home near Los Angeles, where cake was served on Monday. She wore a red hat and laughed as celebrants gathered at her bedside, People. com reported.

Baines became the world's oldest person after the death in January of Maria de Jesus in Portugal, who was also 115 years old, Guinness World Records confirmed on its website.

Los Angeles - As a youngster, he never thought about it, but Michael Jordan soared into the Hall of Fame like one of his patented slam dunks.

Arguably the greatest to ever play the game, Jordan was elected Monday to the class of 2009.

"Growing up, I would never have envisioned myself at any point in time, being in any Hall of Fame," Jordan said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college and whatever happened after that happened."