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Monday, December 13, 2010

Hugh Jackman has already injured his eye while making a spectacular entrance to show Australian Oprah Winfrey.

Jackman gave a flying fox from the top of the Opera House sails before hitting a lighting rig on top of the stage, injuring his eye.

"It was fun until the end," he joked.

Winfrey asked a block of ice and paramedics rushed to the stage to take treat Jackman to his injury.

The star was taken off the stage for treatment, while Winfrey entertain the crowd.

Jackman, who returned to the stage shortly after with a small bandage on the eye, admitted the excitement caused him to slam on the brakes too late.

"I came down waving at everyone, looking over Sydney Harbour, I saw my father children and you went to pull the brake and then, boing," said Winfrey.

Jackman then gave Oprah a lesson about Vegemite, a spread on a biscuit SAO and offer it to the talk show queen.

"I like," she said, before eating some more and wash it with a glass of Penfold's Grange


Winfrey was named the new global ambassador of Australia, saying that his much-touted trip Down Under would bring great rewards to the country's image and coffers of tourism.

Winfrey was taping episodes outside the United States for the first time in 24 years history of their program.

"I called an unofficial ambassador to Australia and I have the biggest mouth in the world," she said before recording two episodes of his star-studded concert before thousands of fans outside of Sydney's iconic landmark, recently named of "Oprah House."

"I know there is much talk and concern in the country as to what this means for tourism in Australia," she told reporters of 6,000 fans waited Winfrey and guests like rapper Jay-Z and Bon Jovi to the stage.

"Let me tell you - that's the truth: It is unfathomable that a four-hour love fest on the country, broadcast in 145 countries around the world can do," she said, referring to his selling power of legend.

"You're not happy that I liked?"

Winfrey, whose endorsement of the books may trigger massive sales, said it had been his dream to visit Australia, and she brought 302 members of his loyal audience with the U.S. as a thank her last year of his show.

After years in the spotlight, she said she had never seen anything like the reception he received in Australia - thousands of cheering her in Melbourne, at a reception not seen since Princess Diana visited in 1980 for lighting "The 'up the Sydney Harbour Bridge during their stay.

Crowds thronged the Sydney Harbour is at dawn hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar, and many wore hats and shirts emblazoned with her name.

As Oprah hit the stage under a blazing sun of noon, some were in tears. "She's just an inspiration," said the 27-year-old Nicole Menzel traveled to Melbourne for the event.

Australia paid four to five million U.S. dollars to attract the talk-show diva Down Under, a government minister said Tuesday, but experts say the exposure may be worth more than ten times that amount.

Winfrey said the 302 members of the public with it, about 200 had never left the United States and for them a vacation can mean "go to the house of his brother-in-law is."

"What I know for sure what will happen is that people ... have never even thought about Australia, did not know where he was ... will have the seed planted in their hearts," she said.

The first show filmed Tuesday at a stage below the Opera has had a Brazilian flavor, with actor Russell Crowe and family of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin.

A second show was to be filmed on Tuesday by Harpo Productions Winfrey, who spent almost seven million U.S. dollars on the trip and took 200 of his own staff to make four episodes.

Winfrey, 56, said his show was a wonderful phenomenon, but the time to end it had arrived, and while there would be "ugly tears" in the final recording, she had no regrets.

"I really do not think he will leave a hole in my heart," she said.






It seems MLB teams are opening their checkbooks wider than ever this offseason, with the Washington Nationals deal with Jayson Werth shocking fans and analysts alike. But little did most know that with Werth’s 7-year, $126 million deal, things were just heating up.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford hit free agent status at the end of the 2010 season, and has been shopping around teams for sometime. Many credit Werth’s deal with the Nats for directly driving Crawford’s asking price up. Finally this week the Boston Red Sox who had been circling Crawford for some time, came to terms on a 7-year, $142 million contract, at $20.3 million a year, surpassing Werth’s $18 million average. The price tag might have been high, but Red Sox Manager Terry Francona finally got what he wanted, especially after praising Crawford last month saying:

“He’s that guy that can change a game defensively, offensively. When he gets on base, he gives you a headache.”

So two outstanding players, signed astronomically priced deals that many are criticizing. No team would think to best these deals would they? Well, the New York Yankees aren’t just any team when it comes to spending money.

Cliff Lee has been in the Yankees’ sights since before he joined the Phillies, and he’s kept a long going friendship with CC Sabathia since the two pitched for the Cleveland Indians. On Wednesday, the Yankees made it public that they extended a 6-year, $140 million deal to Lee. His reluctance to sign right away made them quickly turn around and in less than 24 hours, the Yankees delivered a 7-year, $160 million offer, just under the $161 million they extended to Sabathia in 2008. Lee is taking the weekend to mull over the terms, but holding off from immediately accepting makes it look like he’s either going to wait out for a larger sum, or isn’t too keen on pitching in the Bronx.

With the Red Sox and Yankees historically commanding high prices and healthy ticket sales, it’s hard to determine if Lee and Crawford will drive fan demand enough to bolster sales. We’ll continue to track the ticket movements throughout the Winter Meetings and the coming months.
Pitcher Cliff Lee, the most prominent name in the market for Major League Baseball free agent this winter, approached a decision about his Monday night future, weighing offers from the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers against a spirited late bid for his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies, sources told ESPN.com.

Lee, 32, is on the verge of Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals Jayson Werth as the third free agent to sign a contract of more than $ 100 million this offseason.

Both Rangers and the Yankees made serious runs at Lima in recent weeks, sending emissaries to his home in Little Rock, Arkansas, and going beyond their original packages for years and add dollars to their offers. The Yankees have presented Lee with an offer of seven years more than $ 140 million, while the best offer Texas reportedly topped out at six years and more than $ 20 million annually.

Baseball sources said the Phillies, who had been hiding in the suburbs, jumped into the process, with fervor, after the winter meetings in Florida last week.

The Phillies acquired before Lee of Cleveland, July non-waiver deadline in 2009, Lee posted a 7-4 record with a 3.39 ERA during the regular season before helping lead Philadelphia to a World Series appearance against the Yankees. Lee was 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA against New York, but the Phillies fell to the Yankees in six games.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Lee traded to Seattle last December in conjunction with the acquisition of the team of Roy Halladay of Toronto, but sources said that Lee developed a taste for his teammates and the city of Philadelphia, and would be interested in returning if the Phillies can come up with a package that is competitive with the Yankees and Rangers. If the Phillies were able to withdraw a signature Lee, he would join Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in a dream rotation for Philadelphia.

The Phillies' club policy normally precludes contracts longer than three years for pitchers, and held the line with Halladay for three years and $ 60 million, plus an option to purchase 20 million U.S. dollars for 2014. Given the extent of other offerings from Lee, the Phillies may have to break with tradition and offer a deal of at least five years to get him into the fold.

Lee has a career record of 102-61 with a 3.85 ERA in nine seasons with Cleveland, Philadelphia, Seattle and Texas. He is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA in the playoffs the past two years, and was undefeated in October, before suffering losses back-to-back to San Francisco in the World Series.

Jerry Crasnick is a senior writer for ESPN.com baseball.
SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV

Hubert Webb, son of a former senator and six others were acquitted in the case of the massacre vizconde on Tuesday.

In a vote of 7-4-4 on Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) reversed two lower courts found "that found him and eight others guilty of killing three family members vizconde nearly two decades ago.

While nine people may have been charged in the case, the court took action in only seven of them. This is because the other two, Artemio Ventura and Joey Filart remain at large today.

According to spokesman Jose Midas Marquez SC, the court acquitted seven "for the failure of the process of governing his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," said Marques.

"They are ordered released unless for other lawful cause," said Marques.

In addition to Webb, those acquitted were:
  •  Antonio lejano;
  •  Michael Gatchalian;
  •  Miguel Rodriguez;
  •  Hospice Fernandez;
  •  Pedro Road, and
  •  Ex-policeman Gerardo Biong.

The ministers who voted for acquittal were:
  •  Associate Justices Roberto Abad;
  • Conchita Carpio Morales ;
  • Diosdado Peralta ;
  •  Lucas Bersamin;
  •  Jose Perez, and
  •  Ma Lourdes Sereno.

Those who disagreed were:
  • Chief Justice Renato Corona;
  • Associate Justice Martin Villarama ;
  • Teresita Leonardo de Castro, and
  • Arturo Brion.

Those who did not participate in the deliberations were:
  •  Associate Justice Antonio Carpio;
  •  Mariano del Castillo;
  •  Eduardo Nachura, and
  •  Velasco Presbyter.

Webb was accused of raping vizconde Carmela, 18, who was killed in her family home in Parañaque June 30, 1991. His mother, Estrellita, 47, and sister, Jennifer, 7, were also killed.

Webb was one of nine people convicted of Paranaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274 Judge Amelita Tolentino in January 2000 for the murders. The Court of Appeals upheld the conviction in December 2005.

Tolentino is now a senior judge of the Court of Appeals.

Webb then elevated the case to the Supreme Court and asked for a DNA analysis is performed on a sample of semen or vaginal swabs taken from the victim's body vizconde Carmela.
Arsene Wenger will get up close and personal with the fans of Manchester United 
at Old Trafford once again tonight? Photo: Carl Recine Images / Action

2 min: Wojciech Szczesny early jitters, which is fluffs a clearance when rolling a teammate, a back-pass to give it a touch early in his debut Premier League. His first touch hoofed unable to take off and get Koscielny by surprise, but disaster is averted when Wayne Rooney, who was chasing a pass behind the original, is penalized for offside.

1 min: Manchester United kick off playing from left to right in his range of usual residence of red shirts, white shorts and black socks with red trim. the Arsenal players wear yellow shirts and socks with shorts maroony colored wine.

subtleties before the game: The teams file out of the tunnel down by the corner at the end Stretford, with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger after a few minutes later.
Not long now: Since he scored five goals in his last outing Premier League, Dimitar Berbatov could be forgiven for feeling a little upset to sit out tonight, but we can only assume that Sir Alex Ferguson decided to work more resolutely Protestant Park ethics will be necessary tonight.

That said ... When the holder of Arseblog played his usual excellent game Fifa 2011 warm up with today's expected line-ups, Arsenal emerged victorious 3-1 to Andrei Arshavin bagging a brace, Jack Wilshere and getting another mark for United Nani with a free. On a sour note for Gooners, your side had to play out the last 25 minutes with nine men after Cesc Fabregas and Wilshere was expelled.

An email: "The game has not even started and I have no nails left!" writers Michelle Peters-Jones, who is very, very nervous or being tortured by someone wielding a pair of pliers. "This is a really crucial game for us ... a victory will bring a lot of confidence in the Arsenal side, what we really need. That's the obvious but is not it? That said, I would gladly take a draw here on opposition to a repeat of the horrendous defeat at Chelsea. "My modest sum is a victory over Arsenal, which could suggest anything but guaranteed.

Rancor news: While there is no love lost between fans and players of the two great old clubs, their leaders seem to be maturing with each age. Having barely hide their contempt for each other in the past, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have said good things about themselves in preparation for this match, following a thaw in hostilities pantomime that first apparent during this pleasant chat to a charity of the League Managers Association last year, when Manchester United seemed to be in a state of extreme relaxation (clock 1min 29sec).

Without Berbatov Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Park.Subs: Kuszczak, Berbatov, Brown, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Obertan.

Arsenal without Fabregas: Szczesny, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Rosicky, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin.Subs: Fabianski, Fabregas, van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Djourou, Bendtner.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)


Good night. With neither team showing any great inclination to win the Premier League this season, tonight is set for potentially spicy at Old Trafford has as good chance as any for two of the main title contenders to grab a file by the neck and give them a good shake. Arsenal currently riding the Premier League but not so much like a colossus as the victim of a break-up point which is the entry into office of potato-peeling, after all his fellow recruits conspired to take a step back upon requested to "volunteer."

Ahead of Manchester City on goal difference with a game in hand, an Arsenal victory tonight would leave them three points ahead of a platoon of persecution. United must prevail, they are two points clear at the summit of the League, with an eminently winnable compromise-but-complicated, however, postponed on Bloomfield Road in handing title rivals.
tonight's game is the first United home from hammering nails in coffin seven newly fired Blackburn manager, Sam Allardyce, and the same eleven players who started the match are available for tonight Sir Alex Ferguson. However, Darren Fletcher could replace Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, while returns from injury and is fit to replace Anderson, a chief older, wiser and more experienced is required in central midfield.

For Arsenal, the reporter-the-minute nightmare Wojciech Szczesny can make his Premier League debut filling in for his countryman Lukasz Fabianski Polish, who is struggling with a leg injury, while Arsene Wenger will leave it late before deciding whether or not to risk his captain Cesc Fabregas, who continues to struggle with a hamstring injury. Sebastien Squillaci is likely to get the nod to partner Laurent Koscielny central defense in front of Johan Djourou, while Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky are set to replace Robin van Persie and Denilson and side Arsenal, who beat Partizan Belgrade, the League Champions last week.



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ISLAMABAD (SAMAA Tv: Staff Report): Differences emerged on Monday between the Presidency and the Prime Minister House over the issue of the possible removal of the Federal Religious Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi.

Sources told that PM Gilani had decided to sack Kazmi but President Zardari stopped him to take this step.

The sources from the presidency said that PM Gilani did not suggest the removal of Kazmi. The Prime Minister is the head of the government therefore he can remove the minister, sources added.

Meanwhile, the information minister avoided to comment on the issue. 

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Nelson Chenault/US Presswire
Malzahn, who was courted aggressively by Vanderbilt and offered a sweet financial package to be the Commodores' next head coach, has decided to stay.

It was a tough decision for Malzahn, who visited with Vanderbilt officials last week and was clearly their top target. They were serious about paying the kind of money that would have placed him in or near the upper echelon of the SEC in terms of total compensation. Vanderbilt wanted an offensive-minded coach, and Malzahn is one of the hottest commodities out there right now.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs had already made it clear that the Tigers were committed to doing whatever they could to keep Malzahn, which means we'll probably see another assistant coach in the SEC approach the $1 million mark in salary and possibly even go over $1 million.

The reality, though, is that Malzahn isn't going to be an assistant coach for a whole lot longer. His phone's going to continue to ring, and at some point, the right opportunity for him is going to come along.

What's this all mean for Vanderbilt?

School officials will re-huddle, but Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin would appear to be at the top of the list.


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When a massive storm dumped tons of heavy white stuff in Minneapolis over the weekend, Fox, who was in town to broadcast Sunday's game between the regular NFL Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, did something unusual: he trained a camera on the roof of the Metrodome stadium.

With the roof already leaking on Saturday night, the producer of the Fox NFL game lead, Richie Zyontz, said today its U.S. team knew what they were looking for. "This was specifically to the roof collapsing," he said.

According Zyontz, the video crew had heard of maintenance workers of the stadium roof was becoming a real problem and that collapses had occurred in the past. Cleverly, the Fox broadcast team decided to create a camera to visually monitor the roof during the night in the stadium. Mr. Zyontz: The Internet thanks you.

Fox was captured images of the roof collapsing on Sunday morning and showers of snow dumped on the field. Since nobody was injured, we can all enjoy the video for which is fantastic. The video embedded below has accumulated more than 1.8 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours, and the game was moved to Monday at Ford Field in Detroit.

 



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That certainly does not take long. The former number two at Wikileaks, Daniel 
 Domscheit-Berg, said it will launch the next generation of software leakage (I guess you call it software) in the coming months. " It's called Openleaks, and he will try to correct some of the problems associated with model Wikileaks, ie centralization.
Unlike Wikileaks, Openleaks be a "channel" of information instead of an editor (IT "aims to provide the technological means to organizations and other entities around the world to be able to accept anonymous contributions in the form of documents or other information, "said Domscheit-Berg. Wikileaks Considering that receives information, veterinarians, then launched on your website, simply Openleaks exist to pass on information. It will be up to other organizations such as NGOs and" other stakeholders, not "mention means traditional communications, to all the vet.
One of the great things that will end up with Openleaks any person to become synonymous with it. When you think of Wikileaks naturally you think of Julian Assange, which is not as Openleaks wants to do things. He does not want a "face" to the public that the ego is involved, nor whether any single point of failure noticeable.
That's why Domscheit-Berg and others originally left Wikileaks, which became a lot about yourself Wikileaks (and Assange, so to speak) than on the information that the site was publishing.
Openleaks will establish some kind of base in Germany to help build their legitimacy.
Wikileaks In other news, The Guardian, which is pretty much the go-to place for English-language news Wikileaks, has a long history about the people behind the denial of service attacks against companies like Amazon and MasterCard. Worth reading if you have a minute. (Lol And in The Guardian to use Colloquy for IRC real men use X-Chat).


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Washington (CNN) – A federal judge in Virginia has ruled parts of the sweeping health care reform effort led by President Obama to be unconstitutional.

This is the first federal court to strike down the law, contradicting other recent rulings the law was permissible. The key issue of contention was the "individual mandate" requirement that most Americans purchase health insurance by 2014.

The case is Virginia v. Sebelius.

See the ruling here.
This is not part of the novel by Dan Brown. Researcher Silvano Vinceti president of the Italian national commission for cultural heritage has had a secret code on the Mona Lisa, by scanning their eyes. A code that would reveal his mysterious identity:

    Leonardo made a point about the symbols and codes to get messages across, and he wanted us to know the identity of the model, using the eyes, which he believed to be the gateway to the soul and a means of communication.

    Invisible to the naked eye and painted in black on green-brown LV are the letters in his right pupil, Leonardo obviously early, but it is what is on your left pupil is much more interesting.
The other letters are B or S, although he points out that it could be C and E. These cards may offer a clue to finally find the true identity of the owner of a mystifying smile, which remained in a shroud of mystery for hundreds of years. Another tip secret discovered under a bridge in the background, under the right arch is a tiny number: Vinceti believe this is a 72 or L2.
Some believe that the Mona Lisa was Lisa Gherardini, wife married to a Florentine merchant. Vinceti says this is not true, pointing to another clue in the painting: the number 149, plus one digit off, he says indicates that Leonardo painted in the 1490s, during his stay at the Milanese court Duke Ludovico Sforza.
Now, the researcher has to use these secret codes to finally unravel the mystery, perhaps the most famous painting in the world. Before he is killed by agents of the Vatican.


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The Rule appeared in court today facing a gun charge from a 2007 arrest.

Cops says they found a loaded semiautomatic gun in a rear door of his chauffeured Maybach after it was stopped for a speeding violation, and also said the car had a suspended registration and no insurance.

Ja pleaded not guilty and his lawyer says the stop was unjustified. According to MTV News correspondent Jayson Rodriguez, he reached a plea deal this morning and will serve 2 years in prison. More information to follow.


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Anyone surprised that Kate Gosselin is not the outdoor type? 'Alaska Sarah Palin' On (Sun, 21:00 ET on TLC), Gosselin launches an attack during a camping trip with the Palins and, eventually, decide to pack it after a lack of comfort and cold temperature is best of it.
Things get off to a bad start as Gosselin grouses about the mere idea of camping. "Why do you pretend to be homeless?" She asks. "I just do not understand the concept."
So Gosselin complains about lack of paper towels, cleaning utensils and hands. Finally, she stated crying "chilled to the bone" and that the camp is over.
Sarah Palin, however, Gosselin says she and her family are staying, if for no other reason than to "do their training have to use."





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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked the foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

Early reports gave no reason for the decision.

This action comes as a surprise, says BBC correspondent James Reynolds Iran, as there is no indication Mottaki would lose his job.

News reports suggested that Ahmadinejad has appointed senior officials to replace the country's nuclear Mottaki.

State television reported the Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization chief and close ally to the president, will take over the management capacity.

"I appreciate the diligence and your service as secretary of state," Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Mr Mottaki, Mehr news agency reported.

Observers say the dismissal may be part of the game of political power between conservatives and liberals in Iran.

Mottaki has faced criticism in Iran of the international pressure on countries to halt its nuclear enrichment program.

A fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions imposed in June.

But recently concluded talks in Geneva ended with agreement to hold more talks in Istanbul next month.

Iran insists it only wants atomic energy but some Western countries suspect it is trying to build nuclear weapons.

Mottaki, who is currently in Senegal on an official visit, was appointed foreign minister in 2005.

A career diplomat, 57 years old, fluent in English, Urdu and Turkish, and obtained a post graduate degree in international relations from the University of Tehran in 1991.


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Former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg will launch a rival site to Julian Assange's.

Beware, WikiLeaks - there's a new complaint on the block.

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After a disagreement with Chief Julian Assange WikiLeaks, a former employee is ready to launch a new website on Monday offering an alternative for those with secrets to share.

The site will be Openleaks call, and will provide a platform for anonymous sources to send confidential information.

"Openleaks is a technology project that is intended to be a service to third parties who want to be able to accept material from anonymous sources," former spokesman Daniel Berg Domscheit WikiLeaks said in a documentary Swedish broadcaster SVT, obtained by The Associated Press.

The site was created with the same goal as WikiLeaks: providing a haven for whistleblowers, to disclose secret documents.

But there are significant differences.

On the one hand, Openleaks will not publish the leak itself.

"To limit the power of the site, we are dividing the presentation by the publication," Berg said Domscheit-Forbes. "No organization bears any responsibility or all of the workload."

Instead, the site will partner with the media - five newspapers in the first place - and allows users to choose which paper to present your information. These documents will then be able to review and fact checking the material before choosing to publish it or not.

If an outlet does not choose to publish the leaked material, Openleaks can send it to other media sources. "If a newspaper does not publish, it will be shared," said Domscheit-Berg. "They can not just put it in a drawer."

Domscheit-Berg, who used to go with the name Daniel Schmitt, the man was already Assange right hand.

They separated in the fall, after a tense confrontation over how the organization was run.

issues Domscheit-Berg Assange leadership style, the couple's disagreements over the type and frequency of leaks, and a dispute over the transparency within the organization led to his departure, triggered by a suspension of one month to the Assange called "bad behavior ".

A chat between the two men allegedly obtained by Wired.com shows the tension that preceded their separation.

"You do not have the king or god," wrote Domscheit-Berg. "And you're not fulfilling its role as a leader now. A leader communicates and cultivates trust in yourself. You are doing exactly the opposite. It behaves as a kind of emperor or slave trader."

Assange replied: "You're suspended for a month, effective immediately."

new venture will live Domscheit-Berg on Monday, according to Jesper Huor SVT reporter, and is headed by a board of directors based in Germany.

He is also working on a tell-all book about his experience working on WikiLeaks, entitled "Inside WikiLeaks: My time at most sites in the world is dangerous."

Assange, who is arrested in London on charges sexual crime against him in Sweden, is reportedly unconcerned about the new site.

When asked about Openleaks last month, he dimissed the idea that it would be a threat.

"The provision of leaks is very big," said Forbes. "It's useful for us to have more people in this industry. It is protective for us."

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin visited the cholera ravaged Haiti this weekend, accompanying a delegation from Franklin Graham's charity Samaritan's Purse, and accompanied by Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren. Although there has been some sniping definitely less than gracious about Palin's visit, which was the caption for this photo from the Associated Press, linked to a Free Republic blog, which led to Palin tweet "This takes the cake. Really?"

The legend says that Palin "has her hair done" during the visit, but another picture reveals that the "hairdresser" alleged it was really Bristol Palin. Yet while Palin may have a point about the coverage surrounding his trip, I think she is off base about the photo.

AP writers took pains to point out that Palin's visit was "well organized" and that it "prevent (ed) the crowds and the press," and she was accompanied by Greta Fox News' Van Susteren. Since they had little access to Palin, there was not much to report them, but Palin certainly could be forgiven for exception to the "stage management" characterization.

The AP also reported that while Palin had no doubts at a press conference, she did create "confusion."

At the press conference, Palin created some confusion when referring to a survey of potential U.S. aid to Haiti.
"I know there has been some discussion of U.S. aid, perhaps, be lifted from this area," she said. "Once again - not to be political - but if some politicians who come here and see the conditions, perhaps saw the need for, say, a military airlift to come and bring supplies that are so needed here."
It was unclear what she was referring to, and a Palin spokeswoman declined to elaborate.

This could be seen as a sort of "gotcha", I suppose, since the whole point of Palin here seems to be that those in power should see the situation first hand before making (possibly hypothetical) judgments. She seems to be trying to convey how deeply it has affected the visit.

MagazineOnline time focused on how fast trip was Palin, and took the fact that she had a crew of Fox News with her. The suggestion that Palin is nothing subtle is opportunistically exploiting the tragedy of Haiti to get some good press.

It seems to me that there are plenty of good reasons to criticize Sarah Palin but I fail to see how his visit to Haiti falls into that category. She seems to be trying to do something good, and if you can not bring themselves to praise, so you certainly should not mess with it for her. Even if all she does is stay a few more dollars going down to Haiti, which is more than most of us can do. If you do not like Franklin Graham (who became a somewhat controversial figure in the "debate" about Obama's religion), and you can not see the past, to donate to charity, then find one you like.

As for Palin's indignation over the photo, though, I think she picked the wrong battle to fight here. The legend should indeed be corrected, but I seriously doubt that the error was deliberate. For one thing, I left with a lot of photographers, and they are a bunch as apolitical as you'll never find. Shockingly so. The photographer, in this case, Chery-Dieu Nali, is a native of Haiti, and probably a freelancer. There's a good chance he did not recognize Bristol Palin, or that the picture was captioned by someone who forgot to cross-reference to other pictures to determine that it was Bristol.

Anyway, there are still plenty of trial to go around, and it is not pretty. Give her a chance to do some good.

Samaritan's Purse, has posted the following video of Palin's visit Haiti:



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A young armed took hostage several children in a daycare French police sources.

Initial reports said the youth, about 17 armed with knives or swords, involving 20 children in the eastern city of Besancon.

The mayor was later quoted saying that most children had been released and about five were still inside the nursery.

Armed police cordoned off the building and it is reported that at least one teacher is also inside.

The youth is reported to have been in the nursery not long after it opened on Monday morning.

Police have made phone contact with him and say they are trying to understand his motives.

One unconfirmed report said the hijacker was suffering from depression.

"About 14 children left, and right now there are five or six in there," Besancon mayor Jean-Louis Fousseret told France Info radio.
Gloucester Rugby Club owner and president and former head of the Formula 1 team Tom Walkinshaw, has died aged 64.

The former Benetton, Arrows and Ligier owner, who took the Kingsholm in 1997, had been suffering from cancer.

The Scot took the Formula Two and touring cars before launching his own team of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), who won twice at Le Mans.

He joined the Benetton team in 1991 and helped recruit designer Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher.

Walkinshaw won a European title touring car for Jaguar in 1984, and TWR Jaguar cars won at Le Mans in 1988 and 1990.

He ran alongside engineering Benetton until 1994, when Schumacher won the world title.

Walkinshaw moved to Ligier and Arrows run, where he persuaded the world champion Damon Hill to join the team in 1997, although financial problems saw the linen fold in 2002.

Walkinshaw took over as the owner of Kingsholm Gloucester in April 1997, after buying a majority stake.

He was chairman of Premier Rugby, the body of top-flight clubs' umbrella from 1998-2002 and helped establish stability after a chaotic period for the newly professional sport.

During his tenure of four years as president, introduced the Rugby Premiership salary cap and the average attendance increased by 33% in the Premiership.


Walkinshaw then led the club team for negotiations with Rugby Football Union over the release of players from England, whose details are set out in an eight-year contract.

Gloucester have never managed to win the Premiership title in Walkinshaw, but it was awfully close, finishing top of the table three times during the regular season only to lose in the play-offs.

In 2003, Gloucester finished 15 points ahead only to be beaten by Wasps in the first Premiership Grand Final.

The Cherry and Whites did win the 2005 European Challenge Cup, beating London Irish 36-34 after extra time in a thrilling final at The Stoop.

Bath former player Olly Barkley of Gloucester said on Twitter: "Very sorry to hear about the passing of Tom Walkinshaw Amazing man My thoughts are with his family and close friends ..."

Mark Foster, now Exeter, also posted his best wishes, saying. "Saddened by the news of the death of Tom Walkinshaw, a great man who did so much for Gloucester Rugby over the years will be much missed, my thoughts go out to his family .



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WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A South Korean fishing boat sank in the Antarctic Ocean's frigid waters Monday, with 22 sailors feared killed in the open sea where vessels trawl for deepwater fish, officials said.

Twenty survivors were rescued shortly after the 614-ton vessel went down some 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) south of New Zealand about halfway to Antarctica, South Korea's Foreign Ministry and coast guard said.

Anyone who fell into such waters would typically would be dead in 10 minutes without special suits or lifejackets, though nearby fishing boats launched a frantic search in hopes that some may have made it into a life raft, New Zealand's rescue coordination center said.

"We were fortunate that there were a number of vessels in the general area (where the boat sank), so they were able to provide for survivors was scaled down later Monday as it was "increasingly unlikely" further survivors would be found, Henderson said. Two New Zealand fishing boats were released from the effort but three Korean vessels searched on, he added.

Rescuers considered calling in aircraft from either New Zealand or from the U.S. Antarctic research station on McMurdo Sound, but Henderson said the plan was abandoned because neither plane could reach the remote area in time to find survivors.

The South Korean owned and operated No. 1 Insung sank about 1,100 miles (1,850 kilometers) north of Antarctica — a little more than halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica.

Many fishing vessels ply the remote seas to haul in deepwater fish such as the Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean sea bass, to sell to restaurants around the world. With world consumption of seafood increasing, commercial fleets have begun to operate farther offshore to meet demand.

The Korean boat had 42 people on board when it sunk: eight South Koreans, eight Chinese, 11 Indonesians, 11 Vietnamese, three Filipinos and one Russian, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The confirmed dead included two Indonesians, two South Koreans and one Vietnamese, a ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of office rules.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea said four Chinese sailors were missing while four others were rescued, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported told Xinhua.

It was unclear why the vessel sank in light winds and a relatively mild 3-foot (1-meter) swell.

Separately, South Korean media outlets reported that high waves that later developed in the area were hampering the rescue operation.

Officials at the South Korean-based company that owns the boat had no immediate comment.

___

Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea.



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BANGALORE (Reuters) – General Electric Co (GE.N) said on Monday it would buy British oilfield services company Wellstream Holdings Plc (WSML.L) for about 800 million pounds ($1.3 billion), in a deal that would expand the U.S. conglomerate's subsea equipment and services portfolio.

GE said as per the deal, Wellstream shareholders would receive 780 pence in cash and a special dividend of 6p per Wellstream share.

Shares of Wellstream closed at 747p on Friday on the London Stock Exchange.

The deal will also help enhance GE's ability to capitalize on growth in Brazil, Africa and Asia, the company said in a statement.

The Wellstream deal will further extend GE's reach into the floating production, storage and offloading offshore segment, the company said.

Wellstream reported a sales backlog of 250 million pounds ($398 million) as of November 16, GE said.

(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by David Holmes)


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