Latest News

Tiara Campbell is 5 months Pregnant

2010-01-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Tiara Campbell sister of Tisha Campbell impregnated by Pretty Ricky Baby Blue. Tiara Campbell, Tisha Campbell’s sister impregnated by Pretty Ricky’s baby Blue. Tisha Campbell’s little sister was seeing Baby Blue of Pretty Ricky for the last five years and now she is pregnant.

But now Baby Blue has made a statment on Tiara Campbell's pregnancy and it's quite different from what Duane Martin had to say. In a phone call Baby Blue had this to say about Tiara Campbell:

"I don't know. I did hit her, but I didn't hit her raw, I strapped up. One thing is though, if it is my baby, I'ma be a good daddy. I got a good daddy, so, I'ma take care of mine. "

He then goes on to call Tiara Campbell a 'jumpoff' so he seems to have little to no respect for her

John Edwards Admits He's The Father

2010-01-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has come forward to admit that he is the father of a child born to a videographer he hired before his second White House bid. In a statement to The Associated Press, Edwards said the child is is.

The baby was conceived with former campaign worker Rielle Hunter just two months after his wife Elizabeth learned she had incurable cancer in March 2007.

It was also five months after Mr Edwards had sworn to his wife and campaign aides that his affair with the woman was over.

His admission that he was the father of two-year-old Frances Quinn Hunter comes just two weeks before the publication of a book by a former aide.

Andrew Young, who claimed paternity of the child, is due to release a book on Mr Edwards' affair in early February.

He will detail his role in covering up the scandal that is expected to finish the political career of Mr Edwards and produced a wave of sympathy for his wife Elizabeth.

The well-groomed former senator from North Carolina, was among early front-runners in the Democratic field in the race eventually won by Barack Obama.

Yesterday, he said in a statement: "I am Quinn's father. I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves."

Tiger Woods Enters Sex Rehab at Mississippi Clinic

2010-01-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Golfer Tiger Woods is being treated for sex addiction at a clinic in Mississippi. The report said Woods is at Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Miss., according to Benoit Denizet-Lewis, a recovering sex addict, who has a source with knowledge of the golfer's treatment. Officials at the clinic would not confirm Woods' arrival, the report said.

Benoit Denizet-Lewis, a recovering sex addict, said a source with knowledge of the golfer's treatment has confirmed Woods is at Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Among Woods' first lessons, Denizet-Lewis said, will be that the oft-questioned addiction to sex is very real.

"We mock or it we say it's not a real addiction," said the journalist, who regularly contributes to the New York Times magazine. "But it's very much the real deal."

The world's No. 1 golfer will not have an easy time of it as he tries to conquer the demons that led him to repeatedly cheat on his stunning wife with multiple women, Denizet-Lewis said. "He's not going to be allowed to go out and golf in the morning," said Denizet-Lewis, author of "America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life," and his new book, "American Voyeur."

"He'll do like everyone else - get up early, eat the same food and go through the same emotions. ... It's a really intense experience," he said.

Golden Globes 2010 Winners List

2010-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a full list of the winners:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo-Nique, Precious
Best Actress in TV Series Comedy: Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Mini-Series: John Lithgow, Dexter
Best Animated Feature Film: Up
Best Actor in a TV Series Drama: Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Best Actress in a TV Series Drama: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Best Original Song for Motion Picture: "The Weary King," Crazy Heart
Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino, Up
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Grey Gardens
Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical: Meryl Streep, Julia & Julia
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Best Screenplay Motion Picture: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Best Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon, Germany
Best TV Series-Drama: Mad Men
Best Supporting Actress TV-Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie: Chloe Sevigny, Big Love
Best Supporting Actor-Motion Picture: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Cecil B. DeMille Award: Martin Scorsese
Best Director-Motion Picture: James Cameron, Avatar
Best TV Series-Comedy or Musical: Glee
Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: The Hangover
Best Actress in a Drama: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Motion Picture-Drama: Avatar

Waitress Jamie Grubbs had an Affair with Tiger Woods

2009-12-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

A cocktail waitress from Los Angeles, Jaimee Grubbs has claimed that she and Tiger Woods had a 31-month affair, and also said she has pictures and many “racy” SMS’s to prove it.

Grubbs is best known as the girlfriend of Shawn Southern, one of the oafish contestants on VH1’s shows, “Tool Academy.”

Grubbs says she was just 21 when she first hooked up with Tiger Woods in April 2007.

Grubbs also said they had sex about 20 times and that Tiger Woods frequently complained that “his life is overwhelming.”

Grubbs, 24, said Woods told her to keep quiet before the National Enquirer broke the story about Uchitel.

“Hey, it’s Tiger,” Woods reportedly said in a Nov. 24 voice mail. “I need you to do me a huge favor.”

Tiger Woods Apologizes, Admits 'Transgressions'

2009-12-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Golf star Tiger Woods has apologised to his family, amid continuing speculation about his private life following a car crash last week. Woods, engulfed in media speculation over his private life after a car accident in the middle of the night, apologized on Wednesday for "transgressions" while stating that he had "not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves".

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," he said in a statement, without elaborating further.

"I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves."

Woods was found bleeding and semi-conscious after his car hit a tree and fire hydrant outside his Florida home.

He was found guilty of careless driving and fined $164 (£98).

The golfer denied rumours that physical violence played any role in the incident, saying they were "utterly false and malicious".

The time of the accident and Woods' refusal to meet with police to answer questions about it triggered a storm of media speculation, during which some outlets reported that he had extra-marital relationships with at least two women.

One of the world's most recognizable figures, Woods has lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Nike and AT&T.

"I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone," Woods said in his statement.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi Shocked and Devastated

2009-12-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

The Virginia couple who breezed into last week’s Washington state dinner without an invitation said today that they were “shocked and devastated” at having been branded White House party crashers.

Looking more aggrieved than contrite, Michaele and Tareq Salahi broke a week’s public silence to insist that they were in fact invited to the dinner and that the American public would be “extremely surprised” when details to support the claim emerged.

Those details are thought to consist of an e-mail exchange between the Salahis and Michele Jones, a Pentagon liaison with the White House whom they approached to ask for an invitation to the event in honour of the Indian Prime Minister.

Ms Jones, the first woman sergeant major of the US Army Reserve, issued a statement through the White House saying that she was told specifically that the Salahis did not have tickets to any part of the evening’s activities and that in any case she “did not have the authority to authorise attendance, admittance or access”.

Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said today that there was no misunderstanding that might have allowed the Salahis in without deception. “You don’t show up at the White House as a misunderstanding,” he said.

Mrs Salahi told the Today Show on NBC: “We were invited. Not crashers. There isn’t anyone who would have the audacity or the poor behaviour to do that.” Asked directly who invited them, Mr Salahi deferred to the investigation now under way into their actions.

“We’re working with the Secret Service. We’re respecting their timeline and everything they are doing,” he said.

The Salahis denied that they had been ejected from another exclusive Washington soiree last month. According to reports, they gained entrance to the Congressional Black Caucus dinner, also attended by Mr Obama, but were thrown out when a guest complained that they did not belong at his table.

Mrs Salahi is hoping for a role on a forthcoming reality TV series, Real Housewives of Washington DC, produced by a subsidiary of NBC, which broadcast today's interview. She and her husband denied receiving any payment for the interview and said of the past week: “Our lives have really been destroyed.”

Tiger Woods ex-Girlfriend Joanna Jagoda Speaks

2009-12-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods “friend” Joanna told to Britain’s Daily Mail that “Elin is exactly what Tiger needs to get stability in his life. She is mature for her age, humble, and has both feet on the ground.”

Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren, who reportedly lashed the golfer, is being called a stable, humble person and a perfect wife for a high-profile professional athlete.

In the mean time, Rachel Uchitel, director of VIP services for Pink Elephant has been in the news these days for her alleged relation with golfer Tiger Woods.

Rachel however has denied the matter strongly and was even ready to go for a polygraph test to prove it.

The lady is said to be a party animal and like to swing in different arms. She has worked at many places like Trendy Tao in Las Vegas and New York, Marquee and the Stanton Social in Manhattan.

She also has worked at the Meatpacking District club Griffin, but due to the less payment she had a clash with owner and then left the job.

Rachel Uchitel Denies Affair with Tiger Woods

2009-12-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Rachel Uchitel, the woman at the center of an alleged affair with golf great Tiger Woods has come out swinging in her own defense.

She told the New York Post, "There was no evidence. It's just their word against mine, and Tiger's. My statement is, I work in clubs and I am a businesswoman. I do not have sex with celebrities and I have not had an affair with Tiger Woods."

Uchitel first made headlines after the Sept. 11 attacks when she learned her fiancé Andy O'Grady died in the South Tower.

Uchitel told CBS News, "When I think of Andy I no longer cry. I smile and I laugh. I'm at that point now. I can go on everyday knowing that somebody like him chose me to love."

Uchitel eventually moved to Las Vegas and began her club career.

Lewis, of BlackBook magazine, said, "Rachel is one of the premier VIP service people in the industry. She brings big bucks to big clubs."

Uchitel has been seen with David Boreanaz, the married star of the Fox network drama "Bones." However, both Boreanaz and Uchitel have adamantly denied any romantic relationship.

Uchitel says the Enquirer is out to destroy her reputation.

Uchitel told the New York Post, "I knew they were going to slant it that I was this home wrecker, this club girl who was jetting round with Tiger Woods."

Uchitel says her reputation is now tainted and it will destroy any chance she has at love, adding she can't imagine what it must be like for Tiger Wood's wife to read these lies.

Amy Winehouse is Under a Doctor's Care Again

2009-10-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

Amy Winehouse went to the hospital after a breast lift surgery left her in terrible pain. Winehouse went under the knife in an attempt to sexify her look while performing on British TV contest Strictly Come Dancing. Winehouse sang back-up vocals for her 13-year-old goddaughter Dionne Bromfield, whom she started a record label, Lioness Records, for. Winehouse was in pain during the taping and demanded to see a doctor after filming was over.

A source tells the Daily Mirror, "Amy started shouting, 'I need to see someone, my boobs are fucking killing me.'"

Amy Winehouse had a £35,000 boob job ahead of her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing this evening, it's been reported.

The 26-year-old singer apparently had the operation at London's exclusive Harley Street Clinic to restore her 'voluptuous curves' and is now up to a 32D.

A 'clinic insider' told The Sun: "She looks amazing, like a new woman. Amy told us she wanted a new look - it's all part of her fresh start for her big comeback.

"We all feared she'd fallen off the wagon when she came in. Then we saw her bouncing around with these huge boobs which stand out as she's so tiny and skinny."

The paper claims that Wino has missed rehearsals in recent weeks while she recovers from the op.

Wino will provide backing vocals to her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on the BBC1 show tonight.

Michael Jackson - A Tribute to a True Legend

2009-06-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Who is it -Michael Jackson Dangerous

Michael Jackson Dangerous

Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone

Michael Jackson-In the closet

Michael Jackson - Beat It

Michael Jackson - Scream

Michael Jackson - Earth

50-Year-Old Pop Star Michael Jackson Died in Los Angeles

2009-06-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson's sudden death on Thursday was perhaps the most shocking celebrity demise since his friend Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in 1997. Michael Jackson's death Thursday in Los Angeles prompted broadcasters from Sydney to Seoul - where the news came early Friday - to interrupt morning programs, while fans worldwide remembered a "tortured genius" whose squeals and moonwalks captivated a generation and sparked global trends in music, dance and fashion.

As unconfirmed reports of his fatal cardiac arrest spread on the Web, disbelieving fans kept hoping for several hours that it was some sort of mistake until his death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Coroner about 4:30 p.m.

"Don't panic ppl! We don't know what happened! And there is not official news! These are just rumors so we can't know for sure what happened! Me or others will post as soon as I will find out anything," wrote the administrator of a Jackson fan Web site.

Some cynics initially thought that news of his hospitalization was a ploy to get out of his 50-show comeback concert series in London, scheduled to begin next month.

In a prelude to the mass gatherings that will likely happen around the world for the next few days -- recalling the outpouring of grief that greeted the passing of such icons as Princess Diana, John Lennon and Elvis Presley -- hundreds of fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center in west Los Angeles, where Jackson was rushed from his nearby rental home.

Some fans were crying and hugging each other, and others were climbing atop fences to get a better look at a microphone stand.

"I hope he's gone to God, and I hope that he's free of all the troubles he's been plagued with," Tonya Blazer, 50, who said she has been a fan going back to the Jackson 5.

"I just feel like I'm paying tribute to him," said Dawn Burgess, 42, a fan who said she had posters of Michael pinned to her bedroom wall when she was a child.

"To us he was a pop star. He was that to everyone. It's rude to make fun of him," said Jakquelyn Sullivan, 29, who works in the hospital's chemistry department.

Producer Quincy Jones, who worked with Jackson on his "Off The Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" albums, said he was "absolutely devastated" by the death. "I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him," Jones said.

"His passing will be grieved far beyond that of any other singer, composer, producer, dancer and choreographer, in the history of the world," added Don Cornelius, the creator of the "Soul Train" TV show.

Carrie Prejean Stripped of her Miss California Title

2009-06-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

"The Miss California USA Organization, in conjunction with the Miss Universe Organization and with the blessing of its owner, Mr. Donald J. Trump, announced today the termination of Carrie Prejean as Miss California USA 2009, citing continued breach of contract issues," the Miss California Organization said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

The group kicked the controversial beauty queen from her post due to "contract violations including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," the pageant's Executive Director, Keith Lewis, said in a statement.

Last month, Trump decided that Prejean would be allowed to keep her crown despite racy photos of the 22-year-old surfacing on the Internet. But Lewis claims that in the weeks that followed, the beauty queen did not step up to the plate.

Southern California's Porn Actress Tested Positive for HIV

2009-06-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

An actress who works in Southern California's pornography industry has tested positive for HIV, renewing county and state health officials' concerns that the adult entertainment industry lacks sufficient safety measures to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The new case was confirmed to The Times and pornography industry websites Wednesday by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, a San Fernando Valley-based clinic that serves adult-film stars in Sherman Oaks and Granada Hills. Public health officials, however, said no official report had been made at the state or county level.

The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation said Wednesday that initial HIV tests of the woman's partners have come up negative, but they are not being allowed to perform and are being encouraged to test again in two weeks.

The case is the first publicly confirmed HIV infection in the industry in Southern California since 2004 when an HIV outbreak shut down porn production for a month.

County Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding says his office received no reports about the incident by Wednesday afternoon but would launch an investigation.

David Carradine Died at the Age of 72

2009-06-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

David Carradine, the star of the 1970s television series “Kung Fu” and the title villain of the “Kill Bill” movies, has died in Thailand, The Associated Press reported. The United States Embassy in Bangkok told The A.P. that Mr. Carradine had been found dead in his hotel suite in Bangkok, where he was working on a movie. He was 72.

The BBC reports that Thai police are saying the 72-year-old was found by a hotel maid sitting in a wardrobe with a rope around his neck and body. Carradine was best known for starring in the '70s TV show Kung Fu and in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies. He won a Best Actor award from the National Board of Review for his performance in the 1976 film Bound for Glory.

Mr. Carradine was part of an acting family that included his father, John; his brother, Bruce, and half-brothers Keith and Robert; and his nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

After a short run as the title character in the 1966 television adaptation of the Western “Shane,” he found fame in the 1972 series “Kung Fu” as Kwai Chang Caine, a wanderer raised by Shaolin monks to be a martial arts master. He enjoyed a career resurgence in recent years when he was cast by Quentin Tarantino in the action movies “Kill Bill: Vol. 1″ and “Vol. 2.”

Sania Mirza Got Engaged to Sohrab Mirza

2009-05-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

Leading Indian player Sania Mirza has become engaged to a business scholar from her hometown of Hyderabad but has no plans to retire from competitive tennis, domestic media reported on Friday.

The 22-year-old Mirza is a youth icon in a nation starved for sporting success after she became the first Indian to win a WTA tour title and break into the world's top 50 in 2005 but has struggled to live up to early expectations.

The pair were unlikely to tie the knot in the near future, however, as her 23-year-old fiance Sohrab Mirza planned to pursue higher studies, reports quoted family members as saying.

Mirza has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons but has continued playing despite being frustrated by a series of court petitions attributed mostly to people trying to grab media attention.

She also had to fend off the ire of Muslim clerics opposed to her playing in normal tennis attire.

Kavya Shivashankar Wins 2009 National Spelling Bee Competition

2009-05-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

It was a dream come true for Kavya Shivashankar as she made history by lifting the Scripps National Spelling Bee trophy to bring a third back-to-back victory of the prestigious championship to an Indian American kid. In her fourth appearance at the annual spelling marathon, a supremely-confident Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, breezed through to win the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, after going toe-to-to with her pre-school friend Aishwarya Pastapur, 13, of Chatham, Illinois and Tim Ruitter of Centreville, Virginia.

Tears welled up in the eyes of Kavya, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, as she finally won the glittering gold trophy and a cash prize of $30,000, along with several other prizes worth $11,000.

The word that brought Kavya the coveted title and huge hugs from her father, mother and little sister at Thursday night's final telecast at prime time by ABC was 'Laodicean', indifferent or lukewarm especially in matters of religion or politics.

However, unlike last year when the second spot too was taken by an Indian American kid with Sameer Mishra emerging as the top speller, 12-year-old Tim Ruiter of Centreville, Virginia, the only non-teenager in the finals finished runner-up. He misspelled 'maecenas', which means a cultural benefactor.

Aishwarya Eshwar Pastapur, 13, from Springfield, Illinois, who loved to pump her arm and exclaim 'Yes!' after getting a word correct, finished third after flubbing 'menhir', a type of monolith found widely distributed across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Last year's runner up Siddarth Chand, 13, of Beverly Hills, Michigan the only boy among seven Indian American finalists, was the second to be eliminated as he slipped on 'apodyterium', the primary entry in the public baths in ancient Rome.

Before him Neetu Chandak of Seneca Falls, New York, was floored by 'derriengue', a disease of cattle in South America.

Then 'Herniorrhaphy', a surgical procedure for correcting hernia, felled Tussah Heera of Las Vegas, Nevada.

'Amorevole', Italian for loving, affectionate, fond, claimed Ramya Auropren of San Jose, California. Anamika Veeramni of Parma Heights, Ohio, had no clue about 'Fackeltanz', German for a 'Torch dance' at a wedding or similar celebration.

Earlier, seven Indian American kids coming from a community that is less than one percent of the total US population breezed into the finals making about two thirds of the 11 top spellers.

Way back in 1985, Balu Natarajan, today a physician specialising in sports medicine, was the first Indian American to win the title, and thereafter including last year's winner Mishra, eight Indian American have won the championship.

Among them, back-to-back title winners were Nupur Lala and George Abraham Thampy in 1999 and 2000 respectively and Pratyush Buddiga and Sai R. Gunturi in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Other winners were Ragashree Ramachandran in 1988 and Anurag Kashyap in 2005.

Mike Tyson's Four-year-Old Daughter Died

2009-05-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Mike Tyson's four-year-old daughter died May 26 of injuries sustained in a freak home accident. The champion boxer immediately flew to Arizona.

Exodus Tyson was found Monday morning hanged from a cord that was connected to a treadmill in the family’s activity room in their Phoenix, Arizona home. She was discovered when her mother, who was cleaning in another room, sent the girl’s seven-year-old brother in to check on her.

Police say Exodus was playing on the exercise machine at the time of the mishap. Her 7-year-old brother discovered her and called for his mother, who was cleaning in a separate room at the moment of the accident. She called 911, and the child was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. (Police have not released the mother's name.)

Tyson, 42, was in Las Vegas at the time, but has since arrived in Phoenix to be by his daughter's side.

“Mike was very dedicated to that baby,'' said Sig Rogish, a longtime friend of Tyson and his former agent. “I think every parent's greatest fear is that they live beyond their children. I know Mike has had his troubles in his life, but he's always been a good father.”

Miss USA 2009 is Miss Carolina Kristen Dalton

2009-04-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Miss North Carolina USA crowned Miss USA 2009

Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday, beating out 50 other beauty queens in the live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old aspiring motivational speaker and entertainer from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

The pageant featured musical performances; Kevin Rudolf performing his chart-topping single “Let It Rock” during the swimsuit competition and The Veronicas performing their hit single “Untouched” during the evening gown competition.

Miss USA 2009 Top 5 Swimsuits Kristen Dalton

Miss USA 2009 Swimsuit Photo Shoot

Miss USA 2009 - Crowning Moment

Slumdog Millionaire Actress Rubina Ali 'Not for Sale'

2009-04-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

The father of the adorable child actress in "Slumdog Millionaire" denies a shocking report that he tried to sell his 9-year-old daughter for nearly $300,000.

The News of the World claims that Rafiq Qureshi and his second wife put young Rubina Ali, who starred as little Latika in the Oscar-winning film, on the shopping block. Qureshi reportedly said he "got nothing" from the film, which followed a Mumbai orphan’s rags-to-riches story. Staffers at the British tabloid posing as a wealthy Arab Sheikh couple said they wanted to adopt Rubina and take her to live in Dubai. Qureshi demanded 200,000 pounds, roughly $296,000 — which the dad’s brother said was a bargain because Ali is not an ordinary girl, but "an Oscar child."

Following the shocking News of the World report, Qureshi spoke with the BBC News website on Monday and said, "my daughter is not for sale."

Qureshi, in a lengthy interview, said he had been trapped into a situation of "great temptation," but he firmly denied accepting any deal to sell his daughter or give her up for adoption. Rubina and her father reportedly met three times with two people posing as a wealthy Arab couple from Thursday to Saturday.
After meeting with the couple twice at a Mumbai hotel, both parties met a final time in Qureshi’s hut. It was there when Qureshi says he denied their generous offer. "At this time they went to the memsaab and came back to us with an offer of 500,000 rupees as an advance. We refused, but they kept saying if we accepted the offer the money can be arranged in five minutes."

He also tells the BBC that he now feels deceived by the media.

"They played dirty with us, but we didn’t accept any money from them. My daughter is not for sale."

While Qureshi says he felt the couple pitied him and their poor situation, according to reports published in February, Rubina and her young co-star Azharuddin Ismail, 10, were both given homes by the Indian government for bringing "laurels to the country."

Ethiopia's Deriba Merga Win the Boston Marathon 2009

2009-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia's Deriba Merga overcame the disappointment of his Olympic fade to win the Boston Marathon on Monday, and Kenya's Salina Kosgei won the closest women's race in the 113-year history of the event while Americans took third in both races for the best U.S. finish since 1985.

Merga, who was passed in the last quarter-mile and finished fourth in Beijing, pulled away before Heartbreak Hill and won in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 42 seconds — almost a full minute ahead of Kenya's Daniel Rono and American Ryan Hall.

Kosgei won a sprint with defending champion Dire Tune, trading the lead several times in the final blocks of Boylston Street before hitting the tape less than a stride ahead of the Ethiopian in 2:32:16. American Kara Goucher led the three as they crossed the MassPike into Kenmore Square with one mile to go, but she was outkicked down the stretch and finished 9 seconds back.

The winners will take home $150,000, but Merga had to wait for his traditional laurel wreath: The women's pace was so slow and the men finished so fast that he crossed the finish line before Kosgei had a chance to climb the champion's podium.

Kosgei said the weather conditions made for a difficult finish.

"The wind was a bit stronger. ... So, it was very hard," Kosgei said. "I decided I must try. So, I tried."

No American has won in Boston since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach in 1985, when the U.S. women swept the top three and the men came in second and third. The 2009 race was the slowest since then, a pace that had the men's leaders passing the female stragglers and approaching the final mile as the women were hitting the tape.

Goucher burst into tears and was consoled by her husband, and Tune fell to the pavement for several minutes after the final sprint. Race spokesman Jack Fleming said Tune would not be available because she was receiving medical attention; he did not elaborate.

Goucher's voice cracked repeatedly in the postrace news conference.

"I just wanted it for everybody that wanted it for me," she said. "I'm proud of how I did. I just wanted to be the one that won for everybody."

Kal Penn leaving "House" for "White House"

2009-04-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

Kal Penn is leaving the show "House" to work in the White House (or at least, in the Old Executive Office building next door). The actor, best known for his role in "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," tells Entertainment Weekly.

I understand it was your decision to leave House. True? KAL PENN: Yes. I was incredibly honored a couple of months ago to get the opportunity to go work in the White House. I got to know the President and some of the staff during the campaign and had expressed interest in working there, so I'm going to be the associate director in the White House office of public liaison. They do outreach with the American public and with different organizations. They're basically the front door of the White House. They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House. It's similar to what I was doing on the campaign.

Will you actually be working in the White House?
PENN: This particular office is in the executive building. The White House has two buildings: the actual White House and an old Navy building called the Old Executive Office.

Are you there as long as Obama's in office?
PENN: A lot of that stuff is up in the air. This is a relatively recent development.

Safe to say you're taking a huge pay cut?
PENN: Oh, yeah. There's not a lot of financial reward in these jobs. But, obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor.

How long has this been in the works?
PENN: I've been thinking about [moving into politics] for a while. I love what I do as an actor. I couldn't love it more. But probably from the time I was a kid, I really enjoyed that balance between the arts and public service. I went to a performing arts high school, but I still took a bunch of those dorky political science classes. It's probably because of the value system my grandparents instilled in me. They marched with Gandhi in the Indian independence movement, and that was always in the back of my head. So the past couple of years I thought about it a little more. And in '06 I started this international studies program at Stanford, where they actually let you do most of the course work online. So it was something I could do while I was acting. And I thought this might be the right time to go off and do something else.

Penn's character on "House" committed suicide. Read the rest of the interview here.

Penn urged two undeclared college superdelegates to support Obama in an open letter published on The Huffington Post in May. He was a floor whip at the Democratic National Convention, and starred in a pro-Obama online ad:

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Musical Set for 2010

2009-02-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

A musical based on the Marvel comic book hero Spider-Man will open on Broadway in 2010.

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will include the story of the superhero's origins and will feature music and lyrics by U2 members Bono and The Edge.

It will be directed by Julie Taymor, the creative force behind Disney's long-running Lion King.

The musical will open in February 2010 at the Hilton Theatre with preview performances beginning in January.

The show is reportedly the most expensive Broadway production ever, costing $40m (£27.6m).

The Hilton Theatre as it is the only venue big enough to allow the superhero room to spin his way around the sprawling skyscraper sets.

Details on casting, or which villains will appear, have yet to be announced.

Tobey Maguire has starred as Spider-Man in three big-screen versions of the comic book franchise. He is expected to return for a fourth instalment, to be released in 2011.

"Octo-Mom" Nadya Suleman Offered $1 Million to Make a Pornographic Video

2009-02-25T10:58:00.000-08:00

Vivid Entertainment has made a $1 million offer to Nadya Suleman to make a pornographic video.

In an offer letter obtained by TMZ.com, the president of the pornography studio and distributor Steven Hirsch says the company would release the film under their "Vivid-Celeb imprint, which has released titles starring such personalities as Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, and most recently, former Miss USA Kelli MCarty."

The site also reports that the company is offering her family dental and health care if she agrees to star in a series of films.

Suleman, 33, known as "Octo-Mom" after giving birth to octuplets earlier this year, has reportedly not replied to the request.

Explicit Sex and Violence Banned on Jamaican Radio

2009-02-24T02:01:00.000-08:00

All explicit references to sex and violence have been banned from the airwaves of Jamaica. The Jamaican government has cracked down on certain songs played on Radio there. According to the Associated Press via Google News, "The new rules from the island's broadcast commission ban any song or music video that depicts sexual acts or glorifies gun violence, murder, rape or arson."

The new rules come on the heels of a ban earlier in the month on "dancehall tunes" that depict "daggering" or dirty dancing. Dancehall is highly popular in Jamaica.

Jamaican regulators announced the ban this weekend, which targets largely songs or music videos that depict sexual acts or glorify gun violence, murder, rape or arson.

The airwaves ban comes on the heels of the Feb. 6th ban on dancehall dance style, `daggering,` which places emphasis on sexual simulation in dance. `Daggering,` was released last June by Mr Vegas and the video shows the Jamaican singer offering dance classes out of his home.

2009 Academy Awards (Oscars) - Best and Worst Dressed

2009-02-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

2009 Academy Awards Top Three Best Dressed Celebrities

#1 Best Dressed Celebrity at the 2009 Academy Awards - Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei looked great in her white Versace gown. Accentuated with a number of folds, the one shoulder of the gown helped show off her toned body and the pleats of the dress further complimented her red carpet look!

#2 Best Dressed Celebrity at the 2009 Academy Awards - Sara Jessica Parker

Sara Jessica Parker always leaves us waiting to see what she's going to wear down the red carpet at the Oscars and this year was no different! She brought in her 2009 Academy Award appearance wearing a Dior Haute Couture gown that showed off her toned body in only a way she could.

#3 Best Dressed Celebrity at the 2009 Academy Awards - Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep showed us that elegance still counts at the red carpet! She looked absolutely great in her taupe gown and overcome past year's that she made the worst dressed lists!

2009 Academy Awards Top Three Worst Dressed Celebrities

#1 Worst Dressed Star at the 2009 Academy Awards - Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman's purple and pink Rodarte dress with her criss-cross straps on the dress bodice just looked way too boring for this year's Oscars. The dress was definitely colorful, but just didn't fit her style or body.

#2 Worst Dressed Star at the 2009 Academy Awards - Marion Cotillard

81st Academy Awards (Oscar) Winners

2009-02-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at the winners for the 81st Academy Awards, at a glance:

Best Motion Picture

Slumdog Millionaire: Winner

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Milk

Best Director

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire: Winner

Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant – Milk

Best Performance by an Actor

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn – Milk: Winner

Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Performance by an Actress

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kate Winslet - The Reader: Winner

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role

Amy Adams – Doubt

Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Winner

Viola Davis – Doubt
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight: Winner

Best Foreign Language Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)

Departures (Japan): Winner

Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Animated Feature Film Of The Year

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda

Wall-E: Winner

Original Screenplay

Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh

Milk - Dustin Lance Black: Winner

Wall-E - Andrew Stanton

Adapted Screenplay

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth
Doubt -John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan

Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy : Winner

The Reader - David Hare

Best Animated Short Film

La Maison en Petits Cubes: Winner

Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Best Art Director

Changeling - James J. Murakami

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Donald Graham Burt: Winner

The Dark Knight
The Duchess - Michael Carlin
Revolutionary Road - Kristi Zea

Best Costume Design

Australia - Catherine Martin
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Jacqueline West

The Duchess - Michael O'Connor: Winner

Milk - Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road - Albert Wolsky

Best Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Greg Cannom: Winner

The Dark Knight - John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Best Cinematography

Changeling - Tom Stern
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight - Wally Pfister
The Reader - Chris Menges and Roger Deakins

Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle: Winner

Best Film Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
The Dark Knight - Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
Frost/Nixon - Wally Pfister
Milk - Elliot Graham

Slumdog Millionaire - Chris Dickens: Winner

Best Live Action Short Film

Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt

New Boy: Winner

The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Best Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman

Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman: Winner

Wall-E - Thomas Newman

Best Original Song

Down to Earth - Wall-E - Music by Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire - Music by AR Rahman; Lyric by Gulzar : Winner

O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire - Music and Lyric by AR Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam

Best Documentary Feature

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon): Winner

Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Best Documentary Short

The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch

Smile Pinki: Winner

The Witness

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron: Winner

The Dark Knight - Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
Iron Man - John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan

Best Sound Editing

The Dark Knight - Richard King: Winner

Iron Man - Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes
Slumdog Millionaire - Glenn Freemantle, Tom Sayers
Wall-E - Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
Wanted - Wylie Stateman

Best Sound Mixing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
The Dark Knight - Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Slumdog Millionaire - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty: Winner

Wall-E - Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
Wanted - Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Tiger Woods and his Wife Elin Welcomed Son Charlie Axel Woods

2009-02-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin, are “thrilled” to welcome the newest addition to their family – son Charlie Axel Woods.

Little Charlie now joins sister Sam, who was born in 2007.

A statement released on Woods’ website says that everyone is healthy and happy, and that the family will “introduce Charlie…at the appropriate time.”

The couple's first child, Sam Alexis, was born in July 2007.

Woods and his wife Elin, a former Swedish model, met in 2001. They were introduced during The Open Championship in 2001 by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who had employed her as an au pair.

Woods is currently the world’s #1 golfer and is arguably the best to have ever played the game. He has more career major wins, including 14 major golf championships, than any other active golfer.

Indian Premier League Auction Price List

2009-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Player Franchise Price (US $) Price (INR)

List A

Kevin Pietersen - Bangalore Royal Challengers - 1.55 million - 7.5 crore
Andrew Flintoff - Chennai Super Kings - 1.55 million - 7.5 crore
JP Duminy - Mumbai Indians - 950, 000 - 4.65 crore
Shaun Tait - Rajasthan Royals - 375, 000 - 1.83 crore

List B

Fidel Edwards - Deccan Chargers - 150, 000 - 75.3 lakh
Owais Shah - Delhi Daredevils - 275, 000 - 1.34 crore
Paul Collingwood - Delhi Daredevils - 275,000 - 1.34 crore
Stuart Clark - Unsold
Brad Haddin - Unsold
Chamara Kapugedera - Unsold

List C

Tyron Henderson - Rajasthan Royals - 650, 000 - 3.18 crore
Ravi Bopara - King's XI Punjab - 450, 000 - 2.20 crore
Thilan Thushara - Chennai Super Kings - 140, 000 - 68.6 lakh
Jesse Ryder - Bangalore Royal Challengers - 160, 000 - 78.4 lakh
Kyle Mills - Mumbai Indians - 150, 000 - 73.5 lakh
Nuwan Kulasekara - Unsold
Luke Wright - Unsold
Phil Jaques - Unsold
Ashwell Prince - Unsold
Andre Nel - Unsold

List D

Jerome Taylor - King's XI Punjab - 150,000 - 73.5 lakh
Dwayne Smith - Deccan Chargers - 100, 000 - 49 lakh
Mohammad Ashraful - 75,000
Shakib Al Hasan - Unsold
Morne van Wyk - Unsold
Steven Smith - Unsold
Ashley Noffke - Unsold
Gulam Bodi - Unsold
Samit Patel - Unsold
Darren Powell - Unsold

List E

Tamim Iqbal - Unsold
Jonathan Moss - Unsold
Bryce McGain - Unsold
James Franklin - Unsold
Aiden Blizzard - Unsold
R Sarwan - Unsold
Michael Klinger - Unsold
K Weeraratne - Unsold
Dominic Thornely - Unsold
P Jayawardene - Unsold

List F

M Mortaza - Kolkata Knight Riders - 600, 000 - 2.94 crore
George Bailey - Chennai Super Kings - 50, 000 - 24.5 lakh
Yusuf Abdullah - Unsold
Daniel Harris - Unsold
Kemar Roach - Unsold
Aaron Bird - Unsold
Michael Dighton - Unsold
Michael Hill - Unsold
Brett Geeves - Unsold

Kevin Pietersen & Andrew Flintoff - The IPL Jackpot Winner

2009-02-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

The England stars Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen added a dimension to that concept by making money in their sleep on Friday. Former England cricket captains Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff won record contracts of $1.55 million each in the second round of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 auction held in Goa today.

“I was prepared to pay up to $2 million for Kevin Pietersen,” Vijay Mallya, owner of the Bangalore team, said in Goa today. “It was a conscious decision and we wanted him.”

Australia paceman Shaun Tait was the first player auctioned, going to defending champions Rajasthan Royals for $US375,000 ($A574,448), where he will join former Australia teammate Shane Warne.

Teams will be allowed 10 overseas players this season, up from eight in the league’s first edition. The clubs could spend as much as $2 million and choose 17 from among the 43 available players. Australia’s Michael Clarke opted out, citing a busy schedule.

“With the inclusion of these new players, we are better equipped to be a match-winner,” N. Srinivasan, managing director of India Cements Ltd. and owner of the Chennai team. “Last year, we were plain unlucky.”

English and Australians Dominate the Indian Premier League Auction List

2009-01-30T10:42:00.000-08:00

Kevin Pietersen, who has been valued at more than £1million, will be one of 20 English cricketers involved in the Indian Premier League's player auction on February 6.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were confirmed as 'category A' players on Thursday and will fetch at least $1.35 million (£950,000) and $950,000 (£665,000) respectively when sold at a hotel in Goa on Feb 6.

Flintoff has a minimum price of £950,000, with Harmison and Collingwood priced at £250,000, Bell at £200,000 and Prior at £150,000.

"This [the price] is based upon the 14 league games and not including the semi-final or final," said Modi. "If they play 10 of the 14 games they get paid according to ratio. If they play seven they get half. Everybody is very much looking forward to having England players coming out here. The players are happy they are all able to participate. They are all very good players and I think it will be very good for the second edition of the IPL."

Modi added: "Everybody is very much looking forward to having England players coming out here. The players are happy they are all able to participate. They are all very good players and I think it will be very good for the second edition of the IPL."

112 Overseas Players to be Auctioned in IPL Season 2

2009-01-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction to see 112 Overseas Players

Australia
Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg, Beau Casson, Mark Cameron, Peter Forrest, Lee Carseldine, Doug Bollinger, Michael Dighton, Jason Krejza, Nathan Reardon, Chris Hartley, Shaun Tait, Ashley Noffke, Bryce McGain, George Bailey, Michael Hill, Travis Birt, Chris Swan, Michael Klinger, Ben Edmondson, Aiden Blizzard, Mark Cosgrove, Adam Voges, Shane Harwood.

Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Rajin Saleh, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Junaid Siddique, Ziaur Rahman, Mahumudullah Riyad, Nadif Chowdhury, Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Raqibul Hasan.

England
Ravi Bopara, Monty Panesar, Robert Key, James Foster, Tyron Henderson, Sajid Mahmood, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah, Shaun Udal, Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swan, Luke Wright, Kevin Peterson, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Ed Joyce, Dominic Cork.

New Zealand
Mark Gillespie, Tim Southee, Jesse Ryder, Jeetan Patel, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, James Franklin.

Pakistan
Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Mohd. Hafeez, Yasir Arafat.

South Africa
Gulam Bodi, Rory Kleinveld, Charles Langeveldt, Ashwell Prince, J P Duminy, Martin Van Jaarsveld, Roelof Van der Merwe, Andre Nel, Neil Mckanzee, Yusuf Abdullah, Paul Harris, Johan Botha, Morne Van Wyk.

Sri Lanka
Thilina Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Mahela Udawatte, Dammika Prasad, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushalya Weereratne, Jehan Mubarak, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Malinga Bandara, Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort, Prassanna Jayawardane, Upal Tharanga, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Kaushal Lokuarachchi

West Indies
Sylvester Joseph, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Andre Fletcher, Kieron Powell, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Smith, Kemar Roach.

Zimbabwe
Vusi Sibanda

Second Set of Octuplets Born in California

2009-01-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

A woman gave birth to eight babies in Southern California, the world’s second live-born set of octuplets. The mother, who was not identified, gave birth to six boys and two girls weighing 1 pound 8 ounces to 3 pounds 4 ounces, doctors at Kaiser Permanente hospital told KCAL-TV. “Eight newborns are in stable condition, and they’re doing quite well,” Dr. Karen Maples said. Myra Suarez, a Kaiser spokeswoman, said she could not release any information about the mother, including whether she used fertility drugs. The first live-born octuplets were born in Houston in 1998, and one baby died about a week later.

After she gave birth to seven babies, a California woman -- and the massive 46-person team of doctors that was assisting the birth -- thought she was done.

But one last baby, perhaps hiding behind the others, had other ideas.

When the baby popped out Monday at 10:48 a.m., the woman, whose name the hospital did not release, became the second ever to give birth to surviving octuplets -- six boys and two girls. The last baby came five minutes after the first was born, the LA Times reported.

"It was a shock, especially finding the eighth baby," Dr. Karen Maples of California's Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center said. "My eyes were wide."

The babies were born by Caesarean section nine weeks premature and ranged from 1 pound, 8 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The woman was carrying 24 pounds of baby.

The hospital's delivery team, which was spread out in four delivery rooms, ran each baby from the mother into another room and then ran back for the next in a bizarre relay race that successfully brought eight new lives into the world.

Oscars 2009 Nominees - The Complete List

2009-01-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Gus Van Sant, Milk

BEST ACTOR

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin, Milk
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Frozen River , Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh
In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
Milk, Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan
The Reader, David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

BEST ART DIRECTION

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306

BEST EDITING

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

BEST MAKEUP

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat
Defiance, James Newton Howard
Milk, Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
WALL-E, Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

''Down to Earth,'' (WALL-E)
''Jai Ho,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)
''O Saya,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)

BEST SOUND EDITING

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST SOUND MIXING

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Figure Skater Ekatarina Rubleva's Wardrobe Malfunction

2009-01-22T03:07:00.000-08:00

During her routine with partner Ivan Shefer, Rubleva's dress was inadvertently lowered, revealing her right breast and making life difficult for the rest of their performance.

Consummate professionals, the pair continued with their dance with 23-year-old Rubleva even managing to keep smiling throughout.

The extent to which it helped, or impaired, their score with the judges can't be known but with a score of 29.04 they skated away with 12th place.

Ex US President's at Barack Obama's Oath Ceremony

2009-01-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Former President George H W Bush and wife, Barbara.

Former President Jimmy Carter and wife, Rosalynn

Secretary of State nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton and husband, former president Bill Clinton

One Stumble...One Stumble…and Obama is President

2009-01-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the US on Tuesday, but not before two stumbles on the way.

As Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. asked Obama if he was ready to take the oath, the president-elect replied in the affirmative.

But then he stumbled twice – beginning with the very first part of the oath, "I, Barak Hussein Obama, do swear…"

There was then a slightly longer pause, as Obama waited for Roberts to repeat the words, “I will faithfully executive the office of President of the United States….”

“Faithfully,” repeated Roberts helpfully.

And Obama then reeled off the line with the ease of the speaker that he is known to be.

Barack Hussain Obama is 44th US President

2009-01-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

Forty-six years after the late iconic civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King--who was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi-- delivered his 'I have a dream' speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Barack Hussain Obama, whose campaign theme was 'Yes, we can," was sworn in at 11.56 am on January 20 as the nation's 44th president.

Obama thus became the first-ever African-American chief executive on the steps of the west front of the Capitol in the presence of over an unprecedented crowd of over two million.

Placing his right hand on President Lincoln's Bible, Obama,47, was administered the oath of office by Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, 53, who was administering his first presidential oath of office after being appointed to the bench three years ago by outgoing President George W Bush [Images].

Interestingly, both Obama and Vice-President Joseph Biden, who was administered the oath of office at 11.46 arm by Justice John Paul Stevens, 88, had both voted against the confirmnation of Roberts while they were both US Senators.

Immediately, preceding the presidential swearing-in were performances by Yo Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, and Itzhak Perlman, and just before Obama began his inuaugural address, the US Marine Corps Ban played 'Hail to the Chief,' amidst a 21-gun salute.

By some stroke of luck this correspondent was assigned a great seat with the periodical press in the green section on the West Front on the Capitol, just at the base of the Capitol Hill steps where the oath was administered.

Looking down at the almost mile and a half down the National Mall were a sea of people the likes of which I had never since ever in my life in Washington,DC in my more than two decades of covering Washington and only three years ago during a pilgrimage of Hajj at Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia where the crowd was in excess of three million people.

Security was unprecedented and each person was methodically checked by going through the magnetometers but we journalists were permitted to carry our laptops, two bottles of water, a couple of energy bars, a note-book and a small camera if we needed to bring one. Also, our cell phones, but with the traffic being so happy with the throngs of people, talking to each other, taking pictures,etc. most often the signal would fade away or die altogether.

But save for the photographers of the major mainstream newspapers and agencies and the leading networks, who were assigned vantage spots, most photographers were assigned National Mall credentials and were amidst the sea of people and obviously constrained to shoot the West Front of the Capitol. And, among them were my two colleagues Paresh Gandhi and Jay Mandal and Paresh had called me to say that my request to him to also snap as many pictures of Indian Americans and South Asian who may be among the throngs were difficult, because everyone was covered from head to toe in layers of clothing to brave the freezing temperatures brought on by the wind chills.

All of us had to leave at about 4 am by the metro trains to make it to the National Mall and the Capitol by 8 a.m when the gates opened. And getting down to DC took more than three hours as the metro as well as the stations were packed and the lines several miles long and then the same story was repeated at the gates were security was stringent though surprisingly brisk.

But the euphoria was palpable and permeating and many of the people I spoke to while waiting in line both at the metro station and downtown clearly acknowledged that they may not even get a glimpse of Obama being sworn in but didn't care because they wanted to just place their feet on the grounds and be 'a part of living history.' Many of them even had their young kids in tow, even though they were aware they would have to be standing for hours and after the ceremony would probably have to walk back miles to a station and a train that could take them back home.

There was clearly a unprecedented number of African Americans and the numbers clearly outnumbered the Million Man March organized nearly a decade ago by Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan.

Many of them sported T-shirts that read 'The Dream Realized,' while there were also some unique one with the faces of 43 white men and the final face, an African American.

44th President Barack Obama's Historic Speech

2009-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

History is made, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the

People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Photographer suspended over shots of half-naked skier at Vail

2009-01-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

The tricks skiers can do on the snow these days are amazing, but one who ended up upside down and pantless on a ski-lift had no intention of ending up that way.

The skier and a child tried to get on a high-speed lift at Vail's Blue Sky Basin in Colorado. But since the chairlift's seat wasn't in the right position, the man partially fell through the seat, and was left dangling upside down. Somehow his pants fell down. The lift was stopped, and the man was not hurt.

Vail Resorts says the guy was "suspended for approximately seven minutes," according to The Smoking Gun.

The guy's pride pride might be damaged a bit. Fellow skiers snapped shots of his bare butt.

"We all know what that means," Odom told the Vail Daily News. "I guess it embarrassed Vail Resorts, and they called (my) shop."

The incident happened about 10:30 a.m. on January 1, the man was suspended for seven minutes, then was rescued, said a statement from Vail Resorts. He suffered no injuries.

FBI To Hire 2,100 People

2009-01-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

The FBI wants you. It's looking to hire agents, language specialists, computer experts, intelligence analysts and finance experts.

FBI Special Agent Scott Wilson of the Cleveland field office says the FBI needs to fill 2,100 professional staff vacancies and hire 850 additional special agents. The FBI said on Monday it had launched one of the largest hiring blitzes in its 100-year history involving 2,100 professional staff vacancies and 850 special agents aimed at filling its most critical vacancies.

Wanted by the FBI: agents, language specialists, computer experts, intelligence analysts and finance experts.

Wilson said the two FBI sites can tell you which jobs are available where. He noted that job requirements are listed for the specific jobs.

Special agents have a mandatory retirement age of 57 but there is no age limit for other job classifications. Wilson said special agents are hired between the ages of 23 and 36.

Wilson said the FBI hirings apply not only to the headquarters in Washington D.C. but to nearly all of the 56 field offices, like the one in Cleveland.

"We're also looking for professionals in a wide variety of fields who have a deep desire to help protect our nation from terrorists, spies, and others who wish us harm," Raucci said.

He said the FBI, which has been investigating corporate wrongdoing in connection with the current financial crisis, also needs finance and accounting experts, along with those skilled in physical surveillance and various other employees.

The hiring initiative for FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., and for its field offices would replace departed staff and add some employees, officials said. (Reporting by James Vicini, Editing by Jackie Frank)

John Travolta’s Teenage Son Jett Travolta Dies

2009-01-03T00:49:00.000-08:00

John Travolta's teenage son, Jett, died in the Bahamas after falling ill and hitting his head at his family's vacation home, police said Friday. A house caretaker found Jett, 16, unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to a Freeport hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from chief police superintendent Basil Rahming. The family of Oscar-nominated Hollywood superstar John Travolta took a devastating emotional blow when his teenage son died after a seizure while on a family vacation in the Bahamas, US media reported.

Jett Travolta, 16, had a history of seizures and suffered one on Friday "at around 10 am this morning," John Travolta's attorney, Michael Ossi, told CNN. "All attempts to revive him were unsuccessful." The teenager had last been seen going into the bathroom on Thursday and had a history of seizures, according to the statement. Police said they are planning an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Young Jett Travolta was the only son of the 54-year-old Hollywood star -- also a trained jet pilot -- and actress Kelly Preston, 46. They have a daughter, Ella, aged eight.

Jett's death "was completely out of the blue," Ossi said on the news network's website. "This is the worst day of John's life."

The precise cause of death was not known, Ossi said. After an autopsy the body will be buried in Ocala, Florida, he said. The family has a home in Ocala as well as in California.

According to past reports, Jett was autistic, a claim his actor father has denied, saying he suffered from Kawasaki Syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease, show business news site TMZ.com reported.

Kawasaki Syndrome, also known as lymph node syndrome, affects many organs, including the skin and mucous membranes, lymph nodes, blood vessel walls, and the heart. It was first described in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki in Japan. The condition mostly affects children under the age of five.

A Bahamian police report cited by TMZ said Jett Travolta was last seen on Monday going into the family's residence. He was found lying unconscious on the bathroom floor by the caretaker around 10:00 am on Tuesday.

The report said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death.

The teen had a life complicated by health woes from a very young age.

"Preston, who also said Jett suffered from asthma, blamed household cleaners, fertilizers and pesticides for sparking (his health) condition and lobbied for more detailed labeling on chemical products," People magazine said in its online edition.

"She credited a detoxification program based on the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard with helping to improve Jett's health," People reported.

Travolta, famous for roles on television and in films such as "Grease," "Pulp Fiction" (1994) and "True Colors" (1991), received Academy Award nominations for the gritty disco epic "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) and grittier "Pulp Fiction."

"The Travolta family has become like family to us at Old Bahama Bay and we extend our deepest sympathies to them," said Robert Gidel, president of Ginn Resorts, the property's owner.

Kim Kardashian - The Most GOOGLED Celebrity of 2008

2009-01-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Actor, socialite, and scandal prone Kim Kardashian is the most googled celebrity of year 2008. The bombshell knocked off pop diva Britney Spears from the top slot of the most searched celebrities on Internet.

Petite beauty Lindsay Lohan has grabbed the second position. Lindsay was in news in 2008 more for her lesbian affair with DJ Samantha Ronson.

Kim became famous after the amteur sex tape scandel. She has also posed nude for several magazines has also participated in a reality show.

Other celebs in the top ten include Britney Spears, Arianna Huffington, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Tila Tequila, Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus.

Microsoft Corp.'s Zune Portable Music Player Hit With Glitch

2008-12-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Corp.'s Zune portable music player is suffering from a glitch that may have frozen thousands of units, in the latest setback for the world's biggest software company. For many people who own the Zune digital media player, New Year's Eve is the day the music died.

It would appear that a Microsoft software bug has put the world's 30GB Zune population on the verge of extinction.

On Wednesday, Zune owners flooded blogs and Internet chat sites to complain that they couldn't listen to music on the 30 gigabyte version of the Zune, an early version of the device, because it wouldn't start up properly. The postings noted that the digital music players get stuck on the Zune logo screen when the machine's software is loading.

The company's Zune Web site said the company was aware of the problem and was working to correct it. It is unclear how many versions of the device are affected.

"We are aware that customers with Zune 30GB devices are experiencing issues with their Zune device," a Microsoft spokesman, in a separate statement, said.

"We are actively working now to isolate the issue and develop a plan to address it. We will keep customers informed on next steps via the support page on zune.net."

Recently, the software giant introduced new versions of the Zune that included additional storage and new features, including the ability to identify and buy songs heard on the radio and receive customized play lists.

Bristol Palin Gave Birth to a Baby Boy

2008-12-30T01:45:00.000-08:00

18-year-old Bristol Palin gave birth to a son who will carry on the Palin tradition of strange names. Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston was born Sunday at 7 pounds, 4 ounces, People says. Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother, told the magazine that "the baby is fine and Bristol is doing well."

The baby's arrival is probably welcomed good news after three bad months for the Palin and Johnston families. When it was announced shortly after Gov. Palin was named John McCain's running mate that her teenage daughter was expecting, it triggered national debates on teen pregnancy and marriage, abstinence education, the VP vetting process, the privacy of political families and, well, just about everything.

Bristol Palin is 18, as is her boyfriend of three years, Levi Johnston, a former high school hockey player. Both have dropped out of high school -- she to complete her diploma through correspondence courses, People reports, and he to become an apprentice electrician, he told the AP this fall. They have said they plan to marry in 2009.

Greet 2009 With The Sarah Palin Calendar

2008-12-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

You won’t be able to get it delivered in time for Christmas, but here’s the perfect New Year’s gift for the Sarah Palin fan in your life.

A 2009 calendar of the former Republican vice-presidential candidate is currently the top item on the Web site’s list of “Office Products and Supplies.” (Palin beat out “Fiskars DuraSharp DeskWorks Preferred Scissors” and “Brother PT-80 P-touch Electronic Labeling System” for the distinction.)

Washington Wire reported in October that the calendar was the product of former Wasilla deputy mayor and friend-of-Sarah Judy Patrick, an Anchorage-based photographer who culled from her professional and personal photos of the governor and her family to create the calendar.

For only $15.95 (plus $5.50 shipping and handling) you can get a coveted Sarah Palin 2009 wall calendar!

The 13-month calendar has more than 50 photos of Palin and her family – including, we are told “never before seen photos” of the woman picked by John McCain to be his running mate. On the cover is a picture of Palin in a jaunty pose with a shotgun casually slung over her left shoulder.

It is, of course, produced and printed in the United States of America.

The photos were taken by Judy Patrick who is described as “a long time resident of Wasilla, Alaska” – the town where Palin first burst into politics as mayor before advancing to governor.

It’s just what every Sarah fan needs to keep her close until the 2012 presidential campaign.

Celebrity Big Brother Stars Revealed

2008-12-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

The names of the female celebrities who will be entering the BIG BROTHER house in January have been revealed.

According to the Daily Star, former Liberty X singer MICHELLE HEATON, model LUCY PINDER, SHAMELESS star TINA MALONE and ex-SUGABABE MUTYA BUENA will all appear on the reality show.

The publication also asserts that SHERRIE HEWSON and PAULA HAMILTON will star.

CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER was cancelled in January 2008 due to the race row caused by the 2007 series, however it will return to the small screen on January 2nd 2009.

DAVINA MCCALL will once again helm the reality show, with GEORGE LAMB taking on BIG BROTHER'S LITTLE BROTHER.

The new series of BIG BROTHER is not going to be a 24 hour show, with bosses hoping to avoid any issues such as the JADE GOODY racism row.

However some critics have suggested this will leave fans "short changed", with a source telling the Sun that it is now an entertainment show rather than a reality one.

Former Sugababes singer Mutya Buena, glamour model Lucy Pinder and former 'Emmerdale' actress Sherrie Hewson are rumoured to be part of the latest 'Celebrity Big Brother' line-up.

Those believed to be joining them in the house include 'Shameless' actress Tina Malone, former Liberty X band member Michelle Heaton and 1980s supermodel Paula Hamilton.

'Austin Powers' "mini me" actor Verne Troyer, politician Tommy Sheridan, US rapper Coolio and former footballer Ian Wright are also being touted as the latest celebrity housemates.

Other names being thrown in to the mix, include Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik and singer Whitney Houston.

Confirmation of the house guests won't be made until the controversial Channel 4 show returns on Friday January 2.

It will be hosted by 'Big Brother' veteran Davina McCall. George Lamb will present 'Big Brother's Little Brother' on E4, while comedian Jack Whitehall is set to host the debate show 'Celebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth'.

Next year's 'Celebrity Big Brother' is to be sponsored by Dreams, the bed retailer, in a deal thought to be worth around £800,000. The previous sponsor, Carphone Warehouse, pulled out of its partnership following the Shilpa Shetty racism row in 'Celebrity Big Brother' 2007.

Channel 4 chose not to run the show this year after the row and instead broadcast a different version called 'Big Brother Celebrity Hijack' on E4 last January.

The original format is set to return in January next year, however Channel 4 is reportedly planning to censor footage and scrap 24-hour coverage.

US President George W. Bush Caught in Shoe Attack

2008-12-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

An Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at the US President George W. Bush during Bush's joint press conference with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday.

The correspondent of the Cairo-based Al-Baghdadiya TV Muntadar al-Zaidi hurled one of his shoes at Bush saying, "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog", as quoted by the BBC.

Throwing his second shoe at the US President immediately after that al-Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq".

Both throws were near misses as George W. Bush leaned to avoid them. In Arab culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of disdain.

The Iraqi TV correspondent was wrestled down immediately after the throws, and is presently being interrogated.

The US President joked after the incident that the shoes thrown at him were size 10 (43,25 European, 9 UK), as cited by the BBC.

During his surprise farewell visit to Iraq George W. Bush declared that the war in the country was not over, and that a lot of work remained to be done. After Iraq, George W. Bush flew to Afghanistan on his last visit there as the US Commander-in-Chief.

Miss India Parvathy Omanakuttan 1st Runner Up

2008-12-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Miss India Parvathy Omanakuttan finished as the first runner up and Miss Trinidad and Tobago Gabrielle Walcott was the second runner-up.

Who is Parvathy?

Twenty-one-year-old Parvathy stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches and hails from Kerala. India had high hopes on her to win the crown that last came to the country in 2000.

Parvathy's crucial answer

Parvathy impressed the jury with her looks and quick wit and was one the five finalists out of the 109 contestants at the Sandton Convention Center.

Exuding charm in her white gown, Parvathy cat-walked confidently on the stage to answer her question in the final round. She was asked what being in South Africa meant for her. To this she compared the "similarity in the cultures" of India and South Africa and thanked the locals for their hospitality. She also compared legends Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi and how inextricably linked the two countries' fates have been.

Earlier, a collective cheer went up in the audience when Paravathy’s name was announced at the end of a 15-name long list of semi finalists.

Other semi-finalists included Ms Trinidad and Tobago, Ms US, Ms Guatemala, Ms Venezuela, Ms Ukraine, Ms Croatia, Ms Brazil, Ms Angola, Ms Kazakhstan, Ms Puerto Rico, Ms Spain, Ms Russia and Ms South Africa.

Miss World 2008 Results

2008-12-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2008 has turned out to be a most lucky day for Miss Russia, despite the number 13, widely considered unlucky in many parts of the world. If indeed luck is where fortune meets preparation then turning the number 13 into "lucky 13" were the 15 semi-finalists:

- Second Runner Up, Miss Trinidad and Tobago Gabrielle Walcott (below with Julia Morley)

- Miss Russia Kseniya Sukhinova (left)

- Miss Mexico Ana Gabriela Espinoza Marroquin

- Miss Iceland Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir

-Miss Barbados Natalie, Olivia Griffith

- Miss Venezuela Hannely Zulami Quintero Ledezma

- Miss Ukraine Iryna Zhuravska

-Miss Croatia Josipa Kusic

-Miss Brazil Tamara Almeida Silva

- Miss Angola Brigite Santos

- Miss Kazakhstan Alfina Nassyrova

- Miss Puerto Rico Ivonne Orsini Lopex

- Miss Spain Patricia Yurena Rodriguez Alonjo

- Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee

- 1st Runner Up, Miss India Parvathy Omanakuttan

Russian Beauty is Miss World 2008

2008-12-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

Russia's Ksenya Sukhinova was on Saturday crowned Miss World 2008 after beating scores of international beauties, including India's Parvathy Omanakuttan who finished first runners up, at a glittering African extravaganza held here.

"Miss World 2008 is Russia," announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event.

The 21-year-old Parvathy, who hails from Kottayam in Kerala, narrowly missed out on joining five Indian glamour queens Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000) who had won the title.

The second runners up was Gabriel Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.

More than 100 international beauties participated in this year's Miss World pageant, hosted by South Africa.

66th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations Unveiled

2008-12-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

On Thursday morning, "Slumdog Millionaire" received a total of four nominations for the 66th annual Golden Globe Awards, including best film, best director for Danny Boyle, best screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and best score for A.R. Rahman.

It was also a good morning for Miley Cyrus and Brangelina. Cyrus, the 16-year-old recording phenom, earned a Golden Globe nomination for best original song for "I Thought I Lost You" from "Bolt," which also received a nomination for best animated feature. Cyrus penned the music and lyrics with Jeffrey Steele and is the voice for the character Penny in the hit Disney film.

Angelina Jolie was nominated for a Golden Globe on Thursday for best actress in a drama for her role as a devoted mother trying to find her missing son in "Changeling." Meanwhile, her significant other, Brad Pitt, was nominated in the category of best actor in a drama for his portrayal of a man who grows younger as he ages in the fable, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

"Benjamin Button," which opens Christmas Day, also received nominations for best film drama, best director for David Fincher, best screenplay for Eric Roth, and best score for Alexandre Desplat.

Also getting giggles was Tom Cruise's nomination for best supporting actor as a foul-mouthed movie producer in "Tropic Thunder." He's competing in that category with fellow cast member Robert Downey Jr., who plays a movie star who takes method acting to an extreme.

On a more serious note, "Milk," Gus Van Sant's drama about slain gay activist Harvey Milk, was overlooked for best film, though Sean Penn, who plays the lead, was nominated in the category of best dramatic actor.

Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed Batman adventure, "The Dark Knight," turned out to be one of the biggest box-office hits of the decade but only received a Globe nomination for the late Heath Ledger's seminal performance as the Joker.

Best director nominations also went to Stephen Daldry for "The Reader," Ron Howard for "Frost/Nixon" and Sam Mendes for "Revolutionary Road." Best motion picture, comedy or musical, nominations went to the Coen brothers' dark comedy, "Burn After Reading"; Mike Leigh's comedy about an optimistic young woman, "Happy-Go-Lucky"; "In Bruges," a grisly comedy about two hapless hitmen; the musical based on the music of Abba, "Mamma Mia!"; and Woody Allen's romantic farce, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

The Allen comedy also scored nominations for best performance by an actress and an actor in a comedy or musical for Rebecca Hall and Javier Bardem and supporting actress for Penelope Cruz. "In Bruges" also earned nominations for Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for best performance by an actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical.

Other best original score nominees, besides "Button," were "Changeling," "Defiance," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Frost/Nixon." For screenplay, in addition to "Button," there were also nominations for "The Reader," "Frost/Nixon" and "Doubt."

"Bolt," "Kung-Fu Panda" and "Wall-E" are the best animated feature nominees.
Nominations for best actress in a drama series on TV went to Field for "Brothers & Sisters," Hargitay for "Law & Order: SVU," January Jones for "Mad Men," Anna Paquin for "True Blood" and Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer." The nominees for best actor in a TV comedy series are: Baldwin for "30 Rock," Carell for "The Office," Kevin Connolly for "Entourage," David Duchovny for "Californication," and Shalhoub for "Monk."

Earning nominations for best television series, drama, were "Dexter," "House," "In Treatment," "Mad Men" and "True Blood." Nominations for best television series, comedy or musical, went to "30 Rock," "Californication," "Entourage," "The Office" and "Weeds."

Nominees for best actor in a TV series, drama, are Gabriel Byrne for "In Treatment," Michael C. Hall for "Dexter," Jon Hamm for "Mad Men," Hugh Laurie for "House," and Jonathan Rhys Meyers for "The Tudors."

Competing for best performance by an actress in a TV series, comedy or musical, are Christina Applegate for "Samantha Who?" America Ferrera for "Ugly Betty," Tina Fey for "30 Rock," Debra Messing for "The Starter Wife" and Mary-Louise Parker for "Weeds."

Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich Arrested, Charged

2008-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich today because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.

Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.

"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away....I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden."

Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said.

The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan.

Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.

"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."

Grant said he called Blagojevich about 6 a.m. and told the governor that two FBI agents were outside his door and that they had a warrant for his arrest.

After initially asking Grant "is this a joke," Grant said Blagojevich was "very cooperative."

Grant said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."

Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place.

"I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy" and bring charges," he said. "I think that would be irresponsible."

Fitzgerald thanked the Chicago Tribune, which had been reporting on the investigation, for honoring a rare request about eight weeks ago not to report on certain aspects of the investigation that he said could have been jeopardized.

In the criminal complaint, authorities allege that Blagojevich and Harris sought to pressure the Tribune to fire editorial writers that were critical of his administration. Tribune Co. had been negotiating with the Illinois Finance Authority to purchase Wrigley Field as part of the company's efforts to sell the Cubs baseball team.

Tribune editor Gerould Kern said today he never experienced any pressure over the Tribune editorials.

"There was never an instance where I was contacted or called, where any influence at all was placed against me. There were no instances of that."

Kern said he became editor on July 18 and since then there's "never been any hint of that. I was as surprised as everyone else when I saw that."

Kern said nobody from the Blagojevich administration ever contacted him about the editorials.

"I never got a complaint. I never got any contact whatsoever from Blagojevich, no complaint--nothing from inside Tribune company."

Kern pointed out there were no staff reductions in the editorial board. "The facts are what they are."

Barack Obama Admits he hasn’t Stopped Smoking

2008-12-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

Will President-elect Barack Obama keep the White House smoke-free?

That's true! Obama says he won't light-up in the White House, but that doesn't mean he hasn't given into the temptations of cigarettes. The future Prez was on Sunday's "Meet the Press," telling Tom Brokaw, "There are times where I've fallen off the wagon."

Obama said in an interview with Men's Health magazine that he bummed a cig or two during the campaign. "But I figure, seeing as I'm running for president, I need to cut myself a little slack."

“Well, fair enough,” he said. “What I would say is, is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier, and I think that you will not see any violations of these rules in the White House.”

Christie Hefner to Resign as Chairman and CEO of Playboy

2008-12-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

After 20 years at the helm of the firm founded by her father, Christie Hefner, the daughter of Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner, will step down as chairman and chief executive officer of the adult magazine company Playboy Enterprises Inc. next month, the adult entertainment company said Monday.

Before the start of trading, Playboy said that Hefner will stay on as CEO until Jan. 31 and remain on the board until a replacement is found. In the meantime, the company said it has appointed Jerome Kern, a long-time director, to be interim non-executive chairman.

In the announcement, Hefner said that "just as this country is embracing change in the form of new leadership, I have decided that now is the time to make changes in my own life as well" but gave no other specific reasons for her departure.
She leaves as the company remains mired in the loss column, stung by charges and dwindling revenue across almost all of its divisions.

Media companies have been hit hard in the current recession, and those like Playboy have not been exempted. Skittish advertisers often cut their ad budgets first, while consumers can find a plethora of free adult fare online and have become increasingly reluctant to pay for it.

The stock has also suffered, scraping to an all-time low of $1.03 just weeks ago after trading just shy of $10 at this time last year. On Monday, however, it jumped more than 11% to $1.95 in morning action.

Still, Kern said that during Hefner's time at the company, she oversaw its "transition from a domestic magazine publisher to a global lifestyle and multi-media company," directing its entry into TV, online and mobile offerings.
"Under her leadership, the licensing group grew from insignificance to become the company's most profitable business," Kern said.

For his part, Christie Hefner's father Hugh said he asked his daughter to "step up as president when the company faced serious financial difficulties more than two decades ago," and that as the result of her efforts, "the company today has more consumers and fans than at any time in our history."

Top 3 Exercises for Better Sex

2008-12-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Pelvic lifts : One of the most common and important exercises, it improves sexual performance by strengthening the pelvic area. It also helps in evoking powerful sexual feelings and enhancing your endurance. Vijaya Shetty, a clinical pathologist and a gym-ball trainer elucidates, "During any floor exercise, we train the core muscles and when a same thing is repeated again, it strengthens the body part being worked upon. As for sexual benefit, it's a fact that a strong body can sustain for long, so more the endurance of your pelvic muscles, the more you'll enjoy the prolonged act."

Technique : Lie on your back with your knees bent and slightly apart, feet flat on the floor and arms at your side. Inhale clenching in your stomach and hips and lift the pelvic from the floor until your back is straight. Hold this position for 10 seconds and exhale as you lower your body. Repeat this at least 4-5 times for desired results.

Another pelvic raise could be where you lie down on the bed and as you inhale, you raise your legs to a 90 degree angle. Then while exhaling, you pulse them towards the ceiling. For those, who can't take their legs up to this angle, they can just make an L-shape angle and push their legs upwards along with a proper breathing technique, thus making the abdomen and pelvic area very strong.

Kegel Exercise : Many might not know about the 'secret' muscles that are active during sex and by strengthening these, couples can enjoy intense sex. Kegels are very safe and simple and work on the entire pelvic floor area. Neesha Bukht Choksy, fitness trainer and a dietician confirms, "Kegel is basically a contraction of the internal muscles attached to the pelvic bones, so it tightens the vaginal muscles, helping women gain better control, prolong sex and reach orgasm more easily. It tightens the entrance of the uterus, which evidently enhances your gratification level during sex."

Technique : Contract your pelvic muscles and inhale as you squeeze (as though stopping urine), hold them for 5 seconds and release as you exhale. Start with just 10 or 20 squeezes. The best part is that you can do Kegel nearly anytime, anywhere. Try them while having your meals, sitting at your desk, talking to people or watching television, do at least 100-200 squeezes a day. It's very effective for women in their post delivery stage, as it tightens the loosened muscles."

Butterfly Stretch : Another important part that works actively during sex is the inner thigh area. During a butterfly stretch, the emphasis is on strengthening the inner thighs to make them flexible. Vijaya explains, "Apart from greater flexibility, as you stretch out your legs during this exercise, it's almost a similar position that you have during a sexual act."

Technique : Sit on the floor with your feet together, as the souls touch each other and the knees are kept apart. Try and take your feet as close as you can to your hips and use your elbow to push down your knees below, so that your inner thighs are under pressure.

Kim Kardashian is United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to South Africa

2008-12-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Stop the presses!! We hear that reality star Kim Kardashian might be named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to South Africa. Ahlawd...Could it be true??

Kardashian, 28, attended the Empowerment of Africa dinner in New York on Dec. 1. The event was headlined by music mogul Russell Simmons and his Diamond Empowerment Fund, which supports educational initiatives to empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.

According to Bossip.com, Kim was asked if she would be interested in becoming an ambassador because the "U.N. is looking for more influential pop culture celebs to inspire younger generations to become more involved in international affairs."

Kim, who recently indicated that she was done posing nude, has long expressed admiration for superstar Angelina Jolie, who herself has been a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador since 2001. Over the years, Jolie, 33, has donated millions of dollars to charity as well as raised awareness of important social causes.

Kardashian, who used to party with Paris Hilton in her youth, became an overnight celebrity after her sex tape was leaked on the Internet in 2007. Since then, she has become a fixture of celebrity tabloids, thanks to her hit reality tv show and frequent partying.

But now that Kardashian is edging closer to 30, maybe she's thinking more seriously about her future and wants her legacy to be more than just a tacky sex tape. If so, we salute you, Kim. You go, girl!

Sex is THE Most Popular Free Pastime

2008-12-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

More than a third of Britons rank sexual activity at the top of their list of freetime activities, according to the YouGov survey conducted over the Internet.

That was more than the next three highest options combined - gossiping with friends (18 per cent), window shopping (9 per cent) and going to a museum (6 per cent). According to the poll, however, women preferred gossiping with friends, while men tended to rank sex as number one.

It also showed that passion levels may be tied to the cold weather, with 43 percent of Scots rating sex as their favourite freetime activity, compared to 35 percent of Londoners.

Lisa Power, head of policy at the Terrence Higgins Trust, the sexual health charity that commissioned the poll, urged couples to practise safe sex.

"Rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are on the up so when you snuggle down with a partner, make sure you do it safely," she said

Rebecca Findlay, from the Family Planning Association advised: "If anyone's having more sex at the moment whatever the reason, do think about your contraception, your condoms and any testing you might need for sexually transmitted infections.

"And you can get all of these for free on the NHS."

The YouGov survey interviewed 2,144 people over the Internet between November 21 and 23.

Brooke Burke Wins 'Dancing With the Stars' Competition

2008-11-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

Brooke Burke waltzed away with the mirror ball trophy on the "Dancing with the Stars" finale. Voters, judges put former footballer Warren Sapp in second place

The 37-year-old TV personality and mother of four dominated the seventh season of the popular ABC dancing competition and bested former NFL player Warren Sapp and former 'NSync member Lance Bass during the Tuesday night finale, in which she reprised an emotional Viennese waltz routine that earned her a perfect score from the show's panel of judges.

"Unbelievable," was all Burke could muster after winning amid a flurry a confetti.

From the outset, the slinky former host of E!'s "Wild On" and CBS' "Rock Star" commanded the ballroom this season, coming in first place eight out of 10 times and receiving a 10 — the judges' top score — 16 times. Burke was crowned the latest "Dancing with the Stars" champion after the judges' scores — 88 out of 90 — were combined with viewers' votes.

"I actually can't believe it," said Derek Hough, Burke's professional partner, who's never won the competition. "I really can't. I honestly can't. The journey's been so long. It's been tough. It's been wonderful. It's been everything I could ever hope for. Wow. I can't believe we actually did it, girl."

Burke maintained an eight point lead over Sapp, the charismatic 35-year-old fan favorite whose technique was consistently criticized by the judges. Sapp still managed to hustle his way into second place with professional partner Kym Johnson, despite receiving one point less from the judges than the third place finisher, 29-year-old singer Bass.

"From the moment you start, you make me smile," head judge Len Goodman told Sapp.

Bass and his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer, were upbeat about their loss. The pair danced away after their dismissal. And he's not hanging up his dancing shoes just yet. The former boybander will join professional dancers and other former contestants for the 38-city "Dancing with the Stars" tour, which is set to kick off Dec. 17 in San Diego.

"You never took the safe road once," judge Carrie Ann Inaba told Bass during the finale.

Previously dismissed celebrities — actor Cody Linley; sprinter Maurice Greene; actresses Susan Lucci and Cloris Leachman; chef Rocco DiSpirito; reality TV star Kim Kardashian; actor Ted McGinley; and comedian Jeffrey Ross — also returned for a last dance. Injured volleyball player Misty May-Treanor and singer Toni Braxton remained off their feet.

Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva Won the World Athlete of the Year

2008-11-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

The Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and the Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the World Athlete of the Year awards given by the I.A.A.F., track and field’s world governing body. Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva have been named male and female athletes of the year by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The Jamaican sprinter and Russian pole-vaulter took the awards as well as 67,000 US Dollars each at a ceremony held in Monaco for their superb display at the Beijing Olympics.

22-year-old Bolt became the first man in history to break world records in all three-sprint events at single Games.

Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the Beijing Olympics, and his third gold medal came as part of Jamaica’s 4x100-meter relay team, which also set a world record. He became the first man to win those three Olympic events in a Games since Carl Lewis in 1984.

"I have a motto that anything is possible, but this really is such an honour," said Bolt, who became Jamaica's first Olympic 100m champion.

"Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I'll try to do it year after year."

Isinbayeva successfully defended her Olympic title and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions. She cleared 16 feet 6 ¾ inches in Beijing, setting her 24th world record.

Victoria's Secret Launches Latest Lingerie Collection in Miami

2008-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

The annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show has become a night to remember. And this year’s show, at the fountainbleu Miami Beach Hotel, refurbished to its former Hollywood glory at a cost of a billion US dollars, was no exception.

The show featured Victoria’s Secret’s eight ‘Angels’ – Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, Selita Ebanks, Doutzen Kroes, Marisa Miller and Miranda Kerr – together with a supporting cast of 23 models.

The British stylist, Charlotte Stockdale, transformed the brand’s lingerie into a fairytale fantasy wonderland of glamour, accessorising with jewellery, stiletto heels, Swarovski crystals and, of course, the wings – which have become a feature of these shows – made, as ever, by Martin Izquierdo, in everything from neon lights to feathers to lace to vinyl.

The key fashion themes were Glamour Goddess, Dangerous, The Moderns, Pink Planet, Ballet des Fleurs and Black tie Holiday.

Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, Paris Hilton, Debbie Harry, Lenny Kravitz, Molly Simms, Robert Duvall and Kyle MacLachlan were just some of the celebrities who crowded into the front rows, along with the president of the $5.5 billion brand, Ed Razek.

When they could tear their eyes away from the angels and the models, there was also a performance by Usher.

Actress Julie Bowen Expecting Again

2008-11-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

Boston Legal actress Julie Bowen and her husband are expecting their second child this spring, her rep confirms exclusively to PEOPLE.

"She's thrilled," says the rep.

This will be the second child for the actress and her husband, real estate investor Scott Phillips. The couple welcomed son Oliver in April 2007.

Bowen, 38, and Phillips were married in 2004. He proposed the previous Thanksgiving, when Bowen was starring as schoolteacher Carol Vessey on TV's Ed.

Bowen, who plays attorney Denise Bauer on Boston Legal, has also appeared on Weeds and Lost.

Susan Lucci says Goodbye to Dancing With The Stars

2008-11-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Actress Susan Lucci, a star of the US soap 'All My Children', has become the latest contestant to be voted off 'Dancing with the Stars', the US version of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Lucci and her professional dance partner Tony Dovolani had received the lowest score from the judges for their Paso Doble.

When combined with viewers' votes, Lucci and Dovolani were still at the bottom of the board.

Commenting, Lucci said: "It was definitely worth it. I just have to say, I have had the most incredible experience here. I leave with a life experience, something I will never forget. I feel so, so much gratitude for the opportunity to have had this particular experience in my lifetime."

John McCain Casts his Vote at Phoenix, Arizona

2008-11-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his wife have cast their votes in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sarah Palin Votes in her Hometown Alaska

2008-11-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

After campaigning coast to coast on Monday, Sarah Palin caught a few winks on a red-eye flight to her home state, where fresh snow glistened in the early-morning moonlight as the temperature hovered around 14 degrees.

Palin voted early this morning inside the tiny City Hall building where just six years ago she presided as mayor of this once unknown frontier town outside Anchorage. Proudly donning her “I Voted Today” sticker, the Alaska governor delivered a short statement to reporters and took a few questions before she heads to Phoenix to find out whether she’ll become the first female vice president of the United States.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Palin, who has fallen under perhaps more scrutiny than any vice presidential candidate in the nation’s history. But as usual, she portrayed an almost mystifying sense of calm, considering all that she has been through in such a relatively short time.

“So we have a very optimistic, very confident view of what’s going to happen today, and again, so glad to get to be home in Wasilla to cast this vote,” she said. “Because forever I'm gonna be Sarah from Alaska. And it’s an honor to get to be here with my friends and family.”

Palin refused to divulge whom she voted for in the Alaska U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Stevens — who was recently convicted on seven felony corruption charges — and Democrat Mark Begich.

After the early morning vote, Palin stopped by “Mocha Moose,” one of her favorite drive-through espresso shops, which dot the strip malls around Wasilla.

A reporter asked Palin about what her future role in national politics will be, whether she wins or loses this election. The Alaska governor — who has delivered some of the most partisan barbs of this election cycle — gave an answer that was fitting to the setting, where many residents here know her as a non-ideological problem solver, rather than a socially conservative firebrand.

"You know, if there is a role in national politics it won’t be so much partisan,” Palin said. “My efforts have always been here in the state of Alaska to get everybody to unite and work together to progress this state … it certainly would be a uniter type of role.”

Barack Obama Votes in Chicago

2008-11-04T11:10:00.001-08:00

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has cast his ballot in his home city of Chicago with his young daughter Malia by his side.

In a historic vote that could make him the first black US president, the Hawaii-born Illinois Senator, joined by his wife Michelle Obama and his young daughters Sasha and Malia, was greeted at a Chicago polling station in a school gymnasium by dozens of reporters and photographers.

Obama, who is leading Republican John McCain in national polls, showed his daughter his ballot and smiled as he cast his vote.

Record Voter Turnout Expected in U.S. Presidential Elections

2008-11-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

U.S. Presidential Election 2008

Long lines and waiting hours outside polling stations across the United States early Tuesday, the official Election Day, and the number of people who have already cast their votes further indicate that voter turnout this year is expected to be fairly high.

"We opened the doors at 6 a.m (EST), but many people were already lining up outside," said Piere Lee at a fire station-turned-polling station in Arlington, Virginia, "It seems that Americans are fairly enthusiastic about voting this year."

Statistics show that voter registration numbers are up 7.3 percent from the last presidential election.

Democrats, in particular, saw their registration numbers increase by 12.2 percent, while Republicans saw their ranks grow by only 1.7 percent, according to a recent analysis by The Associated Press.

Extra ballots and additional touch-screen machines have reportedly been dispatched by voting officials across the country. Still, observers worry that those efforts are not enough.

Many experts had earlier predicted that voter turnout this year will be the highest in decades.

Some political observers predict early and absentee voters will make up about 30 percent of the total voters on Election Day -- which could approach a record 130 million to 140 million.

"We have a system that is traditionally set up for low turnout," Tova Wang of the government watchdog group Common Cause was cited by local media as saying.

Record numbers have already cast ballots in early voting. As of Monday, more than 24 million had cast their votes. Election experts predicted more than a third of the electorate would have voted before the polls opened on Election Day.

Obama Wins First Place to Vote

2008-11-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants exit polls results in the 2008 Presidential election, and the earlier the better. Well, Dixville Notch, NH, is traditionally the first (or one of) the first place to report results in every election and every primary. And the votes are in ...

Exit polls 2008 from Dixville Notch, NH: Obama wins 15 - 6. Yes, Dixville Notch is not exactly a megalopolis, but it continues the tradition, first started in 1960, til this day.

It should be noted that voting results from 2004 were decidedly different: Bush beat Kerry 19 - 7, and Dixville Notch has not voted for a Democrat since 1968!

At the same time, voting results are also in from neighboring Hart's Location, which reported 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain and two for write-in Ron Paul.

Yep, in 2008, who cares about exit polls when you have the actual results, right? Don't expect voting to go as smoothly, or without long lines, in the rest of the country.

Dixville Notch has a well organized voting process: all the eligible voters gather at midnight in the ballroom of The Balsams. Voters cast their ballots and the polls officially close one minute later.

Vote fast, or voting results won't include you, it seems.

Hart's Location halted its "competition" for the first vote in the 1964, but again started up early voting in 1996. It actually has an earlier tradition than Dixville Notch, beginning in 1948, but with the 1964 halt, Dixville Notch gets the majority of news nowadays, regarding early voting results.

So, exit polls of 2008 (or rather voting results 2008) from the two earliest "townships" show Obama in the lead. More to come, obviously, as the battleground states weigh in.

Actress Cloris Leachman Voted Off 'Dancing With The Stars'

2008-10-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Cloris Leachman's antics are over on "Dancing with the Stars."

The actress and her professional partner, Corky Ballas, were eliminated Tuesday from ABC's popular dancing competition. The pair received the judges' lowest score — 15 out of 30 — for their cha-cha routine Monday. Viewer votes and the judges' scores were combined, sending the outspoken performer out of the ballroom.

Celebrities remaining in the competition include TV personality Brooke Burke, singer Lance Bass, former NFL star Warren Sapp, Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, actor Cody Linley and actress Susan Lucci. Singer Toni Braxton, chef Rocco DiSpirito, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, actor Ted McGinley and comedian Jeffrey Ross were dismissed earlier.

Viswanathan Anand Crowned World Champion

2008-10-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

Viswanathan Anand kept the World title after a 24-move draw in the 11th and penultimate game of the 12-game World Chess Championship final in Bonn, on Wednesday.

The Indian, playing with white pieces against Russia's Kramnik, took an unbeatable 6.5-4.5 lead to retain his crown.

The game opened in a Sicilian Najdorf, as Anand was expected to go for a draw and Kramnik attempting to thwart all such attempts to try and force a victory to keep himself in the match and take it to the 12th game to force a tie-breaker.

The game ended in a draw as Kramnik failed to find a way for victory despite trying to complicate the game.

Even as Anand was celebrating his triumph and meeting the media, he received a message from Rajendra S Pawar, chairman NIIT [Get Quote], which has had a long-standing relationship with the Grandmaster for the last 10 years.

Pawar, in a message from Delhi, said, "We congratulate NIIT MindChampion, Vishy Anand on becoming the undisputed World Chess champion.

"Anand has displayed a grand strategy in 2008 by choosing the games that he wanted to win, foregoing an important tournament like Bilbao to focus on and win the ultimate match with Kramnik."

Anand earlier won three games, the third, fifth and sixth and lost the 10th in a match that looked one-sided till Kramnik brought back some life with a win in 10th game.

In the 11th game, Anand needing only a draw, managed that in a game that had a 1. e4 start and led to a Sicilian-Najdorf, which Kramnik rarely plays.

Kramnik went all out for a win and tried to create wild and unstable positions to throw Anand off-guard, but the Indian Grandmaster was up to the task.

In fact, as Kramnik overstretched in a do-or-die battle, he actually allowed Anand greater play and may well have lost.

According to the pre-match rules, the two players share the purse of 1.5 million Euros equally.

BBC Suspends Presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross

2008-10-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

The BBC said on Wednesday it has suspended Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross as the row grows over crude messages they left on the answerphone of actor Andrew Sachs during a radio show.

The Radio 2 presenters had joked on air that Brand had slept with the granddaughter of 78-year-old Sachs, who played Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic comedy series "Fawlty Towers", and said he might kill himself after hearing their messages.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined the voices condemning the presenters' actions while Georgina Baillie, Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, said they should be sacked. In the light of the furore, with more than 18,000 complaints received from the public, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said he had decided to take action.

"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken," he said in a statement.

"I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned."

Thompson said he wanted to add his own "personal and unreserved apology" to Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the "completely unacceptable broadcast". "It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view," he said.

Baillie told the Sun she had been a past lover of Brand but said she felt the presenters were "beyond contempt". "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life," she said. "They should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."

Politicians have voiced their disapproval and media watchdog Ofcom is to investigate the broadcast. "This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, as is now widely recognised," Brown said. "Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action."

Sachs himself said the presenters had sent him apologies but they had not expressed their remorse to Baillie. "I am very glad that people are taking a stand and putting it far more eloquently than I can," he told the Daily Mail. "It seems that things go too far on TV and radio, so I would certainly say that something needs to be done before the world goes to the dogs."

Ross, who also presents a television chat show, and Brand are among the best known names on BBC radio. Ross' current BBC contract is widely reported to be worth 18 million pounds over three years.

Skinheads Held over Barack Obama Plot

2008-10-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

In all, the two men whom officials describe as neo-Nazi skinheads planned to kill 88 people — 14 by beheading, according to documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.

The spree, which initially targeted an unidentified predominantly African-American school, was to end with the two men driving toward Obama, "shooting at him from the windows," the court documents show.

"Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the court complaint states. "Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."

An Obama spokeswoman traveling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.

Sheriffs' deputies in Crockett County, Tenn., arrested the two suspects — Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark. — Oct. 22 on unspecified charges. "Once we arrested the defendants and suspected they had violated federal law, we immediately contacted federal authorities," said Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce.

The two were charged by federal authorities Monday with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer, and threatening a candidate for president.

Cowart and Schlesselman are being held without bond. Agents seized a rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and three pistols from the men when they were arrested. Authorities alleged the two men were preparing to break into a gun shop to steal more.

You can watch the Video by clicking here

Indian Cricket League (ICL) Suspends Chris Cairns, Dinesh Mongia

2008-10-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

The ICL Executive Board on Monday decided to suspend Chandigarh Lions's skipper Chris Cairns and batsman Dinesh Mongia for the remaining season of the league.

While, no apparent reason was given for the move, former India wicketkeeper and league's executive board member Kiran More merely termed it as a breach of contract.

"They have been suspended as there has been a breach of contract on their part," said More without elaborating on the details.

However, there were reports that Chandigarh Lions captain Chris Cairns and middle order batsman Dinesh Mongia have been suspended by the Executive Board of the Indian Cricket League over match-fixing.

But the reports could not be confirmed and attempts by HT to reach the ICL offcials in this regard were unssuccessul.

Meanwhile, Andrew Hall has been named as the new skipper for Chandigarh Lion's team.

Incidentally, this is not an isolated event this season as earlier Dhaka Warriors' wicketkeeper batsman Dhiman Ghosh too was suspended for a match on disciplinary grounds.

Preity Zinta wins Best Actress at Chicago International Film Festival

2008-10-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

After Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta is the second Indian actress to ever win an award at the Chicago International Film Festival. After winning accolades at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, Preity's risk in taking on a role like Chand in Heaven on Earth has definitely payed off.

"I am so happy and excited. I'm going to have a blissfully debauched celebration this evening. It was my director Deepa Mehta who informed me on Saturday afternoon that I had won. Neither Deepa nor I could go to Chicago, I'm thrilled that I've done it without any lobbying," she excitedly told Subhash K. Jha.

Director Deepa Mehta is equally thrilled and describes Preity as 'luminous' in the film. Mehta is currently promoting her film in Canada as the film released this past Friday to great reviews.

Preity, on the other hand, is finally seeing her hard work pay off. After playing similar candyfloss roles in several films, Preity opted for a change with films like The Last Lear, Heaven on Earth and Heroes. For Heroes, Preity has been praised immensely as well.

"I'm walking on sunshine. Do you know everyone discouraged me from doing Heaven On Earth and Heroes? But I wanted a change," she adds.

Without a doubt, this is an honour well-deserved!

Sarah Palin - "They are not my Clothes"

2008-10-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

American vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin says the US$150,000 in clothes and accessories bought for her by the Republican Party don't belong to her.

She equated the high-priced wardrobe with the stage equipment at campaign rallies.

Dogged for days by the brouhaha over outfits from upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, the Alaska Governor yesterday hit back, saying she and her family lived frugally.

To emphasise her point, she wore jeans at an event in Asheville, North Carolina.

"This whole thing with the wardrobe, I try to ignore it because it's so ridiculous," Governor Palin told a Florida crowd earlier in the day.

"Those clothes, they are not my property, just like the lighting and the staging and everything else the Republican National Committee purchased," she said.

"I'm not taking them with me. I'm back to wearing my old clothes from my favourite [secondhand] shop in Anchorage, Alaska."

Governor Palin talked about her accessories - given to her by her husband's Yup'ik Eskimo mother, and "a US$35 wedding ring from Hawaii that I bought myself".

The expensive clothes are a contrast to the image being promoted of Governor Palin as an average "hockey mom."

In North Carolina, the candidate was joined by country artist Gretchen Wilson, who performed her song Redneck Woman.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain yesterday rejected suggestions that Governor Palin is hurting his campaign.

"I don't defend her. I praise her," he said. "She is exactly what Washington needs."

Senator McCain also dismissed criticism of the shopping spree.

"She lives a frugal life. She and her family are not wealthy. She and her family were thrust into this ... "

Tracey Schmitt, Governor Palin's campaign spokeswoman, said a third of the high-priced clothing had been returned after the Republican national convention in September, and "many of the remaining clothes have never been worn".

Five Simple Tips for your Halloween Costume

2008-10-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

1. Use clothes that you already have at home. If you must buy, then purchase something that you can wear again by mixing with other wearable items. For instance, if you want to go as Catwoman, look for a black miniskirt or pair of shorts and wear it with a tank top and high-heeled boots. Don’t have boots? Borrow from a fashion-savvy friend instead of buying. You can also unearth your prom gown and go as a Disney princess.

2. Play around with makeup and wigs. Nothing changes your look more than a drastic change of hair and makeup. Go all out by painting your face green ala Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty,” or try on a blond wig and go as Marilyn Monroe. Host a makeup party at home before you go out with your friends—you can help each other transform into a fearsome villain or bashful princess.

3. Go as a recognizable character. It isn’t a costume if you go as say, Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf-five years from now, you’ll wish that you did something more outrageous instead of planting a satin bow on your head. Not only will you catch everyone’s attention, you’ll also have a blast acting out your character the entire night.

4. Bring props. It’s easier to identify your chosen character if you bring props when you go to parties. Try to make them as close to the original as possible—especially if the character has an iconic prop, like Snow White’s apple.

5. If you’re going in a group, try to follow a theme. It makes for more hilarious planning sessions with your friends, and you’ll have great photos to boot. If you’re into couple costumes (it takes guts and the ability to withstand copious amounts of teasing), try going as a devil and angel.

Kerry Katona Strips - After Reducing her Mammoth GG Boobs.

2008-10-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

The reality TV star recently went under the knife for extensive liposuction and to reduce her mammoth GG boobs.

She's mightily pleased with the result.

Kerry told Zoo magazine: "I cried at first because I was so shocked. I love it.

"My waist has got smaller, my boobs have been healing.

"Now I can wear size 10 tops. I couldn't get my t*ts in them before!

"I feel sexier, my confidence has come back and everyone keeps telling me how amazing I look, which is really cool."

Kerry felt anything but sexy before her surgery, especially in regards to her boobs.

"When I split with Brian [McFadden] I lost so much weight that my boobs disappeared, so I had implants put in," added Kerry in OK! magazine.

"But, after Max and Heidi [her last two babies] they dropped and the implants stayed where they were, so it looked like I had two boobs on each side.

"I've had the implants taken out and they've been lifted. I can't stop feeling them and showing them off!"

Kerry also commented on her recent feud with a fellow glamour girl who has trouble fitting boobs into tops - JORDAN.

The pair have been trading blows ever since Jordan, real name Katie Price, criticised Kerry's fella MARK CROFT.

However Kerry has hinted she may be about to call a truce by refusing to add more bait to the battle.

"There was a story that I was going to write a book about her," explained Kerry.

"That’s hilarious – and bulls**t. I’ve only met her six times. What the hell could I write about her?"

Though Kerry couldn't resist adding a final home truth about her busty rival regarding her role as a bridesmaid at Jordan's wedding to PETER ANDRE.

Kerry added: "I think that was just because OK! offered her more money if she had celebrities there. I actually wish her all the best. But I just wish she’d stop playing up to the press."

Madonna and Husband Guy Ritchie are to Divorce

2008-10-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce, their PR representatives have confirmed. After nearly eight years of marriage, and countless denials of domestic trouble, the singer and director are calling it a day. Madonna's spokesman, Liz Rosenberg, confirmed the separation in a joint statment issued on behalf of the couple.

Relations between the couple are said to be still cordial, and it's likely they will agree a divorce settlement without airing their dirty laundry in a court room, Madonna's spokesperson Liz Rosenberg said.

The former couple announced their split with a short joint statement that read: "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven-and-a-half years of marriage.They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. The main concern for Madonna and Guy are their children - the security of their children in all senses of the word and the wellbeing of their children."

The Splitsville news comes after British tabloid The Sun reported yesterday that a divorce announcement was imminent. The tabloid quoted a "highly placed" source as saying the pair "can't bear to live with the pretence any longer," so decided to end the charade.

Predictably, tongues have already started wagging around the proverbial water cooler as to why the couple split. So far, fingers are pointing directly at both their careers as catalysts, and Madge's alleged fling with A-Rod.

Tommy Bowden is Out as Clemson's Football Coach.

2008-10-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Bowden and the school split Monday in the middle of his 10th season, which started with the Tigers ranked No. 9 and picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. But an opening 34-10 rout by Alabama and recent losses to Maryland and Wake Forest raised calls again for Bowden's ouster despite a recent contract extension.

The school appointed receivers coach Dabo Swinney the interim head coach. A news conference was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

"I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here," Bowden said in a statement released by the school. "I also want to thank all the players and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years. I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future."

He did not immediately return a message.

Clemson went 72-45 (43-32 ACC) and made eight bowl appearances under Bowden, who was honored as ACC coach of the year in 1999 and 2003. But the son of storied football coach Bobby Bowden seemed unable to meet expectations.

Bobby Bowden said Monday his son "felt like it was fixin' to happen; he felt like it was inevitable."

On Monday, Tommy Bowden had two meetings with athletic director Terry Don Phillips and "we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program," Bowden said in the statement.

An athletic department official told The Associated Press that Phillips first told Bowden that he expected the Tigers to play in the ACC title game, or changes would be made at the top of the football program. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity before the announcement, said Bowden met again with Phillips and told the athletic director that he should make the change now.

It was not immediately clear whether the school will have to buy out Bowden's contract. Under the extension Bowden signed this year, which tied him to the school until 2014, Clemson would have to pay him $4 million if he was fired.

The departure ends a season of harsh criticism for Bowden, who on Friday announced he was switching quarterbacks from Cullen Harper to Willy Korn. The displeasure of the Tiger faithful was familiar.

In 2000, the Tigers started 8-0 and rose to fifth in the country, only to lose three of their final four games. Four years later, Clemson followed its nine-win 2003 with a 1-4 start.

Two years ago, the Tigers looked like the class of ACC. They opened 7-1, only to go on a 1-4 closing slide that included an unexpected, 13-12 home loss to Maryland.

Clemson won nine games last season and, with experienced skill players on offense, figured to be the league's powerhouse this fall. Harper was picked this summer as favorite to win the ACC player of the year and the Tigers to win their first league crown since 1991.

"He's thankful for the experience he got there at Clemson," Bobby Bowden said. "He has no hard feelings towards them. This is just the nature of this game right now. He's disappointed but he's got his priorities in order in his life so he'll move on and won't lose a minute of sleep over it. At least I don't have to worry about him beating me again."

Kim Kardashian Denies Marriage Reports

2008-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Socialite Kim Kardashian is laughing off reports she has secretly wed football player Reggie Bush, revealing she referred to him as her "hubby" online as a joke.

Rumours about their marriage started spreading after Kardashian hinted in a recent post on her own website that she and New Orleans Saints star Bush had exchanged vows.

She says, "I said hubby as a joke. ... He said, 'Don't use boyfriend, it's so typical.' He said, 'Write hubby or baby.' Everyone thought I was married."

But Kardashian insists she and Bush will wed some day: "We definitely make it work. ... This is the first relationship I've been in with no trust issues."

Metallica Drummer Lars Ulrich to Sell $12 Million Basquiat Painting

2008-10-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

A painting by famed graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat will be auctioned next month as it comes to the market from an unlikely source -- Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.

Ulrich may be a heavy metal drummer by trade, but he's also a noted collector of fine art.

He bought the 1982 Basquiat painting "Untitled (Boxer)" in 1999, and is hoping it could generate bids of as much as $12 million when it goes under the hammer.

The painting goes on view at Christie's in London on Friday for a week, before it is sold at the auction house's Post-War and Contemporary Art Sale in New York on November 12.

"As a collector I view myself as a caretaker of works of art, rather than simply an owner," said Ulrich.

"I've been fortunate enough to have shared 10 great years with this truly iconic painting by Basquiat and it's time to put it back into circulation and let someone else enjoy it as much as I have over the last decade."

Ulrich's father was Danish tennis champion Torben Ulrich, who was part of Copenhagen's art and music scene in the 1950s and 1960s and at first the drummer was drawn to works by European avant garde artists such as Asger Jorn and Karen Appel.

Metallica's founding member, songwriter and drummer then started to collect graffiti artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Sam Francis and Basquiat.

"I have the best collection of Asger Jorn on this planet," Ulrich told Playboy magazine in 2001. "I have what is universally considered as one of the two greatest Basquiat paintings; I spent a year-and-a-half chasing it down.

Angelina Jolie: Brad Pitt Changed my Mind about Getting Pregnant

2008-10-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Getting pregnant was never a goal for mom of six Angelina Jolie, but she had a change of heart - with a little help from partner Brad Pitt.

"I think one of the life changing things that he did, one of many, is that I was absolutely never going to get pregnant. I never felt that it was the right thing to do," Jolie, 33, says in the November issue of W magazine. "Now I wouldn't trade that experience for the world."

After becoming the adoptive dad of Maddox, Zahara and Pax, "[Brad] stopped talking about having other kids in the other way," Jolie continues. "So I suppose in my heart, I realized that he was happy with them as his children, completely. I knew he would never see them as different, and that gave me a certain peace. Then I suppose I just looked at him and loved him and just felt open to [getting pregnant]."

In the stunningly intimate photo spread that accompanies the interview, Jolie gets up and close and personal with private snaps taken by partner Brad Pitt, including one of her breastfeeding on the cover of the mag.

"Angelina posed for Brad in one of the photos while breastfeeding. It's really beautiful and tastefully done," sources who have seen the photos told Life & Style magazine.

Another person who's seen the images says, "The photos are amazing."

Jolie reveals in Sunday's issue of Parade magazine that she and Pitt have a long road ahead.

"I don't want to spend my life pretending to be somebody else, and I don't want the person next to me to have to pretend ever, because we have a long life ahead of us," Jolie explains. "So you just want to be able to be who you are in every moment, and that's the only way you'll ever be truly happy."

Brad apparently shot the photos in mid-August at Chateau Miraval, the family's home in the South of France.

Kolkata Durga Puja 2008 - Jodhpur Park

2008-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

Jodhpur Park

Durga Puja 2008 - Kolkata Famous Puja Pandals Images

2008-10-05T23:34:00.001-07:00

Badamtala Ashar Sangha

Las Vegas Jury Finds O.J. Simpson Guilty in Robbery Trial

2008-10-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

A jury convicted O.J. Simpson of armed robbery and kidnapping late Friday night, 13 years to the day after he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles.

Simpson and his codefendant, Clarence Stewart, were both convicted on all 12 counts. As the court clerk read "guilty" 24 times shortly before 11 p.m., Simpson grimaced and then nodded slightly, quickly regaining his composure. From the gallery, his sister, Carmelita Durio, wept on a friend's shoulder.

Both defendants were handcuffed and taken into custody. Durio's weeping became wailing as marshals escorted Simpson from the courtroom.

The verdicts mean that Simpson, 61, faces a possible life sentence for a six-minute confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers last year at a down-market casino hotel. Sentencing will be Dec. 5.

The Las Vegas courtroom scene stood in marked contrast to the conclusion of Simpson's 1995 trial, when he smiled broadly and mouthed his thanks to the Los Angeles jury as the stunned families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman wept.

Jews Around the World Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

2008-09-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

Rosh Hashanah 2008

Rosh Hashanah 2008 is underway. Rosh Hashanah, which is considered along with Yom Kippur to be one of the most important Jewish holidays has begun. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the High Holy Days and marks the Jewish New Year 5769. For many Israelis, it is a time of repentance and prayer, leading up to the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

According to the Torah: "On the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a sacred assembly, a cessation from work, a day of commemoration proclaimed by the sound of the Shofar."

The seventh month referenced is based on the Jewish calendar. Here in the U.S., we use the Gregorian calendar, so you can understand how our New Year's day is quite different from Rosh Hashanah. Using the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first day of Tishrei, or the seventh month of the year.

US Actress Heather Locklear Arrested

2008-09-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

US actress Heather Locklear has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication in California, police say.

The former Dynasty star was pulled over in Santa Barbara following reports she was seen "driving erratically" when leaving a car park. Ms Locklear was taken to the police station where she was tested for alcohol and drugs. The 47-year-old actress was later released from custody. The California Highway Patrol officer noticed Ms Locklear's car was blocking a lane while parked on a highway in Montecito, a patrol spokesman said.

"In talking with her, [the officer] determines that she seems to be under the influence of something," he said. Earlier this year, Ms Locklear checked herself into a medical clinic to seek treatment for anxiety and depression.

Last year, she divorced Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora after 11 years of marriage. They have a 10-year-old daughter together, Ava Elizabeth. The actress first rose to fame as Sammy Jo Dean Carrington in the 1980s soap Dynasty.

She subsequently appeared on Melrose Place and the sitcom Spin City, for which she was twice nominated for a Golden Globe.

Yves Rossy Crosses English Channel Using a Single, Jet-Propelled Wing

2008-09-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Renowned Swiss birdman Yves Rossy has, after several weather-related setbacks, finally flown over the English Channel using his unique backpack jetplane. But hurtling at more than 125 mph the self-styled Fusionman soon became recognisable to the cheering crowd as he soared over the White Cliffs of Dover.

Less than 15 minutes after leaping from a plane 8,000 ft above Calais and cruising 22 miles across the English Channel, the Swiss adventurer parachuted to earth, securing his place in history.

Called Fusionman because he is half-man, half bird, he has become the first person to cross the English Channel using just a home made rocket powered wing strapped to his back. Yves Rossy, the 49-year-old airline pilot also known as Rocket Man, or more recently, Fusion Man, has become the first person to fly across the English Channel wearing jet-powered wings.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Rossy started his four miniature turbine engines, then dropped from a Pilatus chase plane over France just before 1 p.m. Friday, unfolded his fiberglass wings and blasted into the record books. "Everything was perfect," he told reporters on the ground in England. "I showed that it is possible to fly a little bit like a bird." Aided by a stiff tail wind, he crossed the iconic body of water in nine minutes, 32 seconds, about two minutes earlier than planned.

The abbreviated flight meant he had fuel left for some celebratory aerobatics over the crowd gathered to witness the feat. He then folded his wings and deployed his parachute before a somewhat ungraceful face plant on English soil. Rossy pioneered the strap-on wing concept three years ago and video of his flight over Switzerland has become a YouTube classic. Now, the enigmatic Swiss has his sights set on the western U.S. where he plans to fly over the Grand Canyon.

The flight was so smooth for the real-life rocketman he even had time to carry out a few loops over the British coastline before pulling the rip cord and parachuting to earth.

Rossy, 49, whose day job is an airline pilot, had to shelve his two previous attempts to enter the record books due to poor British weather but a blue autumn skies meant conditions were perfect.

Rossy landed near Dover in southern England after flying across the English Channel. He parachuted on to British soil near the South Foreland lighthouse.

Rossy, a former military pilot, traced the route of French aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in a plane 99 years ago.

A pilot with Swiss International Air Lines - overcame significant challenges, not least the container ships passing through the Channel.

He had never flown for longer than 10 minutes and his wing weight and measurements were precise, with even the addition of a tiny camera possibly affecting how long he could stay in the air.

One day he hopes his invention will become common place and hopes to form a Red Arrow's style display team.

Dancing with the Stars Eliminated their First Contestants Jeffrey Ross

2008-09-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" eliminated their first contestants on Tuesday as Jeffrey Ross and his partner Edyta Sliwinska were kicked off. This season the reality TV dance contest started off with 13 celebs, but Jeffrey Ross was the first to go last night.

The comedian says he's more "ha ha ha than cha cha cha."

Ross and his partner were also the low scorers on Monday's show. Ross had suffered a scratched cornea after his professional dance partner accidentally poked him during a rehearsal Monday.

Tonight, another celeb will be given the boot.

This season's contestants include chef Rocco DiSpirito, NFL star Warren Sapp, TV personalities Brooke Burke and Kim Kardashian and singers Lance Bass and Toni Braxton.

Ross and Sliwinska received a score of 14 out of 30 from the judges, which was the lowest of the night, for their cha cha cha routine.

Reality star Kim Kardshian and partner Mark Ballas joined Ross and Sliwinska as the only other dance couple that still remained on stage, but advanced to the competition's next performance round.

Brooke Burke dominated the competition for the second night in a row, scoring a 26 for a quickstep routine. Burke, the former host of E!'s "Wild On", and her partner, Derek Hough, also claimed the top score Monday. "Married With Children" actor Ted McGinley earned Monday's lowest score.

The remaining celebrities for "Dancing with the Stars" include chef Rocco DiSpirito; NFL star Warren Sapp; TV personalities Burke and Kardashian; singers Lance Bass and Toni Braxton; Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Maurice Greene; and actors McGinley, Cloris Leachman, Cody Linley and Susan Lucci.

Another contestant was to be eliminated Wednesday.

Pink Floyd Founding Member Richard Wright Dies at 65

2008-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Richard Wright, a founding member of the U.K. rock group Pink Floyd, whose keyboard lines were an integral part of its psychedelic sound, died Monday. He was 65. Pink Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. He says the band member's family did not want to give more details about his death.

While Richard Wright gets credit mostly for his work on the keyboard -- which he taught himself -- he also wrote songs and sang on Floyd classics such as ``Time'' and ``Echoes.''

Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.

The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was a hit.

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote songs and sang.

The band released a series of commercially and critically successful albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more than 40 million copies. Wright wrote "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them" for that album, and later worked on the group's epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother," ''Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."

But tensions grew between Waters, Wright and fellow band member David Gilmour. The tensions came to a head during the making of "The Wall" when Waters insisted Wright be fired. As a result, Wright was relegated to the status of session musician on the tour of "The Wall," and did not perform on Pink Floyd's 1983 album "The Final Cut."

Wright formed a new band Zee with Dave Harris, from the band Fashion, and released one album, "Identity," with Atlantic Records.

Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and Wright began recording with Mason and Gilmour again, releasing the albums "The Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" as Pink Floyd. Wright also released the solo albums "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996).

In July 2005, Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour reunited to perform at the "Live 8" charity concert in London — the first time in 25 years they had been onstage together.

Wright also worked on Gilmour's solo projects, most recently playing on the 2006 album "On An Island" and the accompanying world tour.

Here are four Pink Floyd songs featuring his work:

"Astronomy Domine": lead vocals sung by Richard Wright

"Us and Them": written by Wright

"The Great Gig in the Sky": written by Wright

"Fearless": from the album Meddle, believed to feature Wright's compositional skills

A TRIBUTE TO THE TRUE LEGEND

Astronomy Domine 2006

US Investment Bank Lehman Brothers Files for Bankruptcy

2008-09-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc today filed for bankruptcy protection, making it the largest casualty of the global credit crisis, and given its assets at the time of filing, Lehman surpassed WorldCom as the biggest U.S. Bankruptcy filing till date. The investment banker had close to $639 billion in assets at the time of filing, while WorldCom had about $107 billion when it did the same in 2002.

The Chapter 11 filing, however, did not include Lehman's broker-dealer operations and other units, such as asset management firm Neuberger Berman, and these will continue to operate, although Lehman is expected to liquidate them.

Lehman is among the biggest investment banks to collapse since 1990.

The Chapter 11 filing represented the end of a 158-year old company that survived world wars, the Asian financial crisis and the collapse of Long-Term Capital Management, though not the global credit crunch.

Financial institutions globally have recorded more than $500 billion of write-downs and credit losses as the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis has engulfed other markets.

Lehman had $600 billion of assets financed with just $30 billion of equity as of the end of August, which meant that a 5 percent decline in assets would wipe out the value of the company, which investors saw as a real risk thanks to the company's billions of dollars of mortgage securities.

The firm said that as of May 31, it owed about $110.5 billion on account of senior unsecured notes, about $12.6 billion on account of subordinated unsecured notes and about $5 billion on account of junior subordinated notes.

The company also disclosed that it owned stakes of 10 percent or more in a number of companies, including Imperial Sugar Co, Lpath Inc, Derma Services, Flagstone Reinsurance, GLG Partners, Ronco Corp, Pacific Energy Partners, Blount International, Pemstar Inc and Transmontaigne Inc.

The one time fourth-largest in the United States had expected to raise capital by selling off a stake in its investment unit, and use the amount as well as other funds to spin off some of its assets to shareholders.

But that plan did not satisfy investors, who pushed Lehman's share price to just a few dollars.

Lehman said the uncertainty, particularly among banks through which it clears securities trades, ultimately made it impossible for it to continue to operate.

The bankruptcy filing comes after plenty of heated negotiations among regulators and Wall Street firms about Lehman's fate. The U.S. government had refused to back Lehman's worst assets the way it did for Bear Stearns Cos Inc's sale to JPMorgan Chase.

Saina Nehwal Wins Chinese Taipei Open

2008-09-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

Saina Nehwal on Sunday capped her dream run in the Chinese Taipei Open by clinching the title to become the first Indian woman shuttler with two Grand Prix crowns under her belt.

The second-seeded Indian, who won the Philippines Open Grand Prix in May 2006, beat unseeded Malaysian Li Ya Lydia Cheah 21-8, 21-19 in the final of the GP Gold event in Taipei.

Saina, who reached the Olympic quarter-finals a couple of weeks back in Beijing, played to a plan and attacked her opponent from the word go.

The tactics paid off well for the world number 14 who gave no chance to her Malaysian rival, a slow mover on the court, to bridge the gap in the first game.

The second game, though, saw a determined Cheah fight back but the Indian was up to the task and ran away with the match after some anxious moments.

"I guess this is perhaps my best performance so far. Of course my show in Beijing Olympics gave me a lot of confidence but I think I played here really well," Saina said.

Asked if she would rate Sunday's win higher than her 2006 Philippines Open triumph, Saina said, "Philippines Open was a four-star event and this is five-star and it's unbelievable that I won this title."

Looking ahead, Saina said she must keep the momentum going.

"Next I play in Japan and China Open, both of which are Super Series events and I have to continue the good work there," said the 21-year-old Hyderabadi girl.

An elated Badminton Association of India President VK Verma termed Saina's stunning victory a great achievement for Indian shuttlers.

"I congratulate Saina for her outstanding victory. Her career has been on the up now. She won the Philippines Open Grand Prix in 2006, then she reached the quarter-finals in the Olympics and now she has won a Grand Prix Gold event," he said.

"It was a formidable victory winning the final in straight sets and 21-8 in the first game was truly amazing."

14 Bangladesh Players Ready to Join ICL

2008-09-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

Six current national players are among 14 Bangladeshi cricketers who will form a new team, named Dhaka Warriors, in this year's 'rebel' Indian Cricket League, media reports here said.

According to a report in 'Prothom Alo', former captain Habibul Bashar and retired spinner Mohammad Rafique are among the 14 cricketers who are slated to play in the unofficial league to be played in venues across India beginning on October 10.

"Players from the current squad -- Alok Kapali, Aftab Ahmed, Nizamuddin, Shariar Nafees, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh -- are likely to sign lucrative contracts," the newspaper reported.

These players were part of the team that were thrashed 0-3 in the three-match one-day series against Australia earlier this month.

"The players will soon submit a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board seeking permission to play in the ICL," the report added.

The newspaper also claimed that current captain Mohammad Ashraful was approached to lead the team but he turned down the offer.

Hurricane Ike Threatens Galveston, Texas

2008-09-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Galveston Island has already begun to feel the brute force of Hurricane Ike’s advances, and the center of the storm is still hundreds of miles from land. Hurricane Ike is over 12 hours away from Galveston, but roads are already being flooded. There's also damage to docks and boardwalks.

Officials have ordered residents to evacuate the entire island of Galveston before Hurricane Ike makes landfall later this week. Residents in parts of Texas were today told to evacuate their homes or face "certain death" from flooding caused by the oncoming hurricane Ike.

"Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called for mandatory evacuations of low-lying areas starting at noon today," the paper says, adding: "Emmett asked all other Harris County residents to prepare to shelter in place, saying residents whose homes could be inundated by storm surges needed time and room to get to safety."

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center says Ike "continues to grow in size but has not strengthened yet." It's described as a Category 2 storm that is likely to turn into a major hurricane before it hits the coastline.

Low-lying areas of this city, including some neighborhoods, have already begun flooding this morning as some now-panicked residents hurried out of of the path of Hurricane Ike.

High surf from the beach topped the seawall along Seawall Boulevard, flinging ocean debris — including water bottles and pieces of rotten wood — onto the street. Some adventurers brought digital cameras, snapping family photographs before leaving town.

Ethiopia Banned from 2010 World Cup Qualifying

2008-09-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

World soccer's governing body FIFA has thrown Ethiopia out of the World Cup following a long-running row over the leadership of the country's football federation with immediate effect. The decision was taken by the Bureau of the Organising Committee for the Fifa World Cup.

FIFA announced on Friday that Ethiopia had been removed from the World Cup's qualifying competition by the tournament's organising committee after refusing to honour an agreement reached with FIFA in February.

Before Friday's decision, Ethiopia had been third in their four-team qualifying group behind Rwanda and Morocco and ahead of Mauritania.

FIFA said the group table would now be amended with all the matches played by Ethiopia wiped from the standings.

Ethiopia were suspended from international competition in July after failing to reinstate the federation leaders officially recognised by FIFA.

The suspension led to the cancellation of the country's scheduled World Cup qualifier against Morocco five days ago.

Remembering 9/11 - Memorial Ceremony at New York's Ground Zero

2008-09-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Survivors mourned at New York's Ground Zero on Thursday as John McCain and Barack Obama suspended their rancorous White House campaign to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

A moment of silence began ceremonies at the side of the giant pit where the World Trade Centre towers once stood, followed by the reading of almost 3,000 victims' names.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said September 11, 2001, when al-Qaida-hijacked airliners demolished the Twin Towers and also crashed into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, was the day the United States "broke."

The anniversary, he said, was about "New Yorkers, Americans and global citizens remembering the innocent people from 95 nations and territories that lost their lives that day."

McCain and Obama, due to visit Ground Zero, after the official ceremonies, declared a truce and suspended advertising.

"There will be no speeches," Democrat Obama's spokeswoman Linda Douglass said. "This is going to be a moment when politics are set aside."

Victims' relatives, some choking on tears, read out names of the dead. A string quartet, alternating with a classical guitar and flute, played mournfully in the background as the litany unfolded.

Survivors, who wore white ribbons pinned to their chests, often broke off to add brief tributes. One fought to control himself as he condemned the "cowardly men" who killed his loved one.

A woman managed a smile as she called to her deceased husband Chuck, saying: "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hands."

At the Pentagon, thousands joined President George W. Bush and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to dedicate the first September 11 memorial.

A Marine Corps bugler played taps from the roof where fire-fighters had unfurled an American flag while the building burned after the attack.

The sombre patriotism provided a rare moment of unity in a country less than two months from the end of an increasingly divisive presidential race.

But Obama set the tone, saying Wednesday that 9/11 showed "that here in America, we all have a stake in each other; I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper; and we rise and fall as one nation."

Because of continued delays in erecting the World Trade Centre's replacement and a Ground Zero memorial, the memory of the attacks remains literally an open wound.

Just this week, the first steel beams for a planned Freedom Tower were put in place at what is still a huge hole surrounded by cranes.

"I'd like to hear them say they're going to get more involved regarding... the need to protect our cities from all types of chemical and biological and radiological attacks," she said.

Wednesday's World Cup Qualifier Results

2008-09-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

10/09/08 14:00	Port Vila	Vanuatu	2:1 (0:0)	Fiji
10/09/08 14:00	Chililabombwe	Zambia	1:0 (1:0)	Togo
10/09/08 16:30	Paramaribo	Suriname	0:2 (0:2)	El Salvador
10/09/08 17:00	Port-Au-Prince	Haiti	1:3 (1:1)	Costa Rica
10/09/08 17:30	Torshavn	Faroe Islands	0:1 (0:0)	Romania
10/09/08 17:40	Montevideo	Uruguay	0:0	Ecuador
10/09/08 18:30	Reykjavik	Iceland	1:2 (0:1)	Scotland
10/09/08 18:40	Santiago De Chile	Chile	4:0 (2:0)	Colombia
10/09/08 19:00	Moscow	Russia	2:1 (1:0)	Wales
10/09/08 19:00	Andorra La Vella	Andorra	1:3 (0:1)	Belarus
10/09/08 19:00	Podgorica	Montenegro	0:0	Ireland Republic
10/09/08 19:11	Bridgeview	USA	3:0 (2:0)	Trinidad and Tobago
10/09/08 19:30	San Pedro Sula	Honduras	2:0 (0:0)	Jamaica
10/09/08 19:35	Auckland	New Zealand	3:0 (0:0)	New Caledonia
10/09/08 19:45	Belfast	Northern Ireland	0:0	Czech Republic
10/09/08 20:00	Shanghai	Korea DPR	1:1 (0:0)	Korea Republic
10/09/08 20:00	Guatemala City	Guatemala	4:1 (1:1)	Cuba
10/09/08 20:00	Tuxtla Gutierrez	Mexico	2:1 (0:0)	Canada
10/09/08 20:15	Solna	Sweden	2:1 (0:0)	Hungary
10/09/08 20:15	Zenica	Bosnia-Herzegovina	7:0 (2:0)	Estonia
10/09/08 20:30	Chisinau	Moldova	1:2 (1:2)	Israel
10/09/08 20:30	Zürich	Switzerland	1:2 (1:1)	Luxembourg
10/09/08 20:30	Serravalle	San Marino	0:2 (0:1)	Poland
10/09/08 20:30	Tashkent	Uzbekistan	0:1 (0:1)	Australia
10/09/08 20:30	Skopje	Macedonia FYR	1:2 (0:0)	Netherlands
10/09/08 20:35	Helsinki	Finland	3:3 (2:2)	Germany
10/09/08 20:45	Lisbon	Portugal	2:3 (1:0)	Denmark
10/09/08 20:45	Tirana	Albania	3:0 (1:0)	Malta
10/09/08 20:45	Maribor	Slovenia	2:1 (1:0)	Slovakia
10/09/08 20:50	Udine	Italy	2:0 (1:0)	Georgia
10/09/08 21:00	Baku	Azerbaijan	0:0	Liechtenstein
10/09/08 21:00	Istanbul	Turkey	1:1 (0:1)	Belgium
10/09/08 21:00	Zagreb	Croatia	1:4 (0:1)	England
10/09/08 21:00	Saint-Denis	France	2:1 (0:0)	Serbia
10/09/08 21:15	Riga	Latvia	0:2 (0:1)	Greece
10/09/08 21:30	Lima	Peru	1:1 (0:0)	Argentina
10/09/08 21:30	Marijampole	Lithuania	2:0 (0:0)	Austria
10/09/08 21:50	Rio De Janeiro	Brazil	0:0	Bolivia
10/09/08 22:00	Albacete	Spain	4:0 (2:0)	Armenia
10/09/08 22:00	Almaty	Kazakhstan	1:3 (0:1)	Ukraine
10/09/08 22:00	Doha	Qatar	1:1 (1:0)	Bahrain
10/09/08 22:00	Cairo	Chad	1:3 (1:1)	Sudan
10/09/08 22:15	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	1:2 (1:0)	Saudi Arabia

England Defeated Croatia 4-1 in World Cup Qualifier

2008-09-11T03:34:00.000-07:00

England vs Croatia - World Cup Qualifier Lineups:

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Josip Simunic, Robert Kovac (Nikola Pokrivac, 62) Vedran Corluka, Danijel Pranic, Ivan Rakitic, Mladen Petric (Dario Knezevic, 55) Niko Kovac, Darijo Srna, Luka Modric, Ivica Olic (Mario Mandzukic, 73).

England: David James, Wes Brown, Ashley Cole, Gereth Barry, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry (Matthew Upson, 89), Theo Walcott (David Beckham, 84), Frank Lampard, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney, Joe Cole (Jermaine Jenas, 55).

Theo Walcott scored a hat trick and Wayne Rooney ended his international scoring drought as England beat Croatia 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, avenging two recent defeats against the Balkan nation.

"We played well, like a team and without problems," England coach Fabio Capello said. "But, this is only one victory, a good performance and nothing else."

Walcott gave England the lead in the 26th minute, taking advantage of a botched clearance from Danijel Pranjic that hit teammate Josip Simunic before falling to the Arsenal forward, who scored with a low shot from a tight angle.

"I decided to play Walcott because I saw him perform well against Andorra and during training," Capello said. "I saw that he is fantastic both physically and mentally."

He added his second in the 60th minute from a similar position after a perfect pass by Wayne Rooney.

"The first two goals were similar. I tend to cross those a lot but thought I'd be a bit more greedy this time," the 19-year old Walcott said. "For the second goal, it was a great ball by Wayne Rooney."

Rooney then made it 3-0 after taking a neat cross from Ashley Cole to beat Stipe Pletikosa with a crisp shot inside the far post in the 63rd minute.

It was only the sixth goal for England in four years for the Manchester United striker.

ICC Annual Awards 2008 Announced

2008-09-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

The glittering ceremony kicked off with the Emerging Player of the Year Award, which was handed to Sri Lanka's spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, who pipped fellow newcomers Ishant Sharma, StuartBroad and Morne Morkel.

India's one-day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Yuvraj Singh bagged top honours at the LG ICC Awards on Wednesday.

Dhoni was named the ICC's ODI Player of the Year, while Yuvraj was rewarded for his superb showing in the Twenty20 World Cup as he was awarded with the newly instituted International Twenty20 Performance of the Year.

The Indian one-day captain was named ahead of compatriot Sachin Tendulkar for the ODI honour.

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn was named the Test Cricketer of the Year for his outstanding showing in the longer version of the game, while West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul bagged the Cricketer of the Year Award after a scintillating season with the bat in both Tests and one-dayers.

Ryan ten Doeschate of The Netherlands was conferred with the Associate Player of the Year Award, while Simon Taufel picked up the Umpire of the Year Award.

Sri Lanka were also rewarded for their discipline on the field by receiving the ICC's Spirit of Cricket Award, while the cricket's world governing body also named star-studded ODI and Test teams of the year. Virender Sehwag was the only Indian name in the Test line-up, while Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh were named in the ODI side.

Emerging Player of the Year: Ajantha Mendis
Associate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate of Netherlands
Spirit of Cricket Award: Sri Lanka
Umpire of the Year: Simon Taufel
International T20 Performance of the Year: Yuvraj Singh
ICC Test Team of the Year: Greame Smith, Virender Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Ryan Sidebottom, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Stuart Clark.
ODI Player of the Year: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Test Player of the Year: Dale Steyn
Cricketer of the Year Award: Shivnarine Chanderpaul
ICC ODI Team of the Year: Hershelle Gibbs, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Younis Khan, Andrew Symonds, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Farveez Maharoof, Daniel Vettori, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, 12th man: Salman Butt.

Lance Armstrong Will Compete Again in Tour de France For 8th Tour Title

2008-09-10T01:25:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong is getting back on his bike, determined to win an eighth Tour de France. He is coming out of retirement in 2009 to raise awareness about cancer, the seven-times Tour de France winner said on Tuesday.

Armstrong's return from cancer to win the Tour a record seven consecutive times made him a hero to cancer patients worldwide and elevated cycling to an unprecedented level in America.

Armstrong, 36, told Vanity Fair in an exclusive interview posted on its Web site Tuesday that he was inspired to return after finishing second last month in the Leadville 100, a lung-searing 100-mile mountain-bike race through the Rocky Mountains.

"This kind of obscure bike race totally kick-started my engine," he told the magazine. "I'm going to try and win an eighth Tour de France."

Armstrong's comeback trail might bring him through the Bay Area.

The cycling journal VeloNews reported on its Web site that Armstrong will compete with the Astana team in the Tour de France and four other road races, including the Amgen Tour of California, which winds through the Bay Area in February. The other road races would be Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia and the Dauphine-Libere.

In a video statement on his foundation's Web site, Armstrong said details — such as a team and schedule — will be announced Sept. 24 at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

"I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden," Armstrong said in a statement released to the Associated Press. "This year alone, nearly 8 million people will die of cancer worldwide. ... It's now time to address cancer on a global level."

A survivor of testicular cancer, Armstrong will race in the Tour de France, the Amgen Tour of California, the Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia and the Dauphine-Libere, cycling journal Velonews reported, citing anonymous sources.

Armstrong did not reveal his plans and said he would unveil them on September 24 in New York City.