Our Nation population reaches 25.1 million: TEXAS

Texas zipped past the 25 million mark as it topped the national growth chart for the last decade by adding 4,293,741 residents, according to 2010 Census figures released Tuesday.
The Lone Star State's population swelled to 25,145,561, a 20.6 percent increase since 2000, Census Director Robert Groves announced at a news conference in Washington, D.C.
By comparison, the United States population grew to 308,745,538, up 9.7 percent since 2000, the slowest growth rate since the Great Depression, Groves said.
Texas' numbers add up to one word for Texas demographer Steve Murdock: "Phenomenal."
"I was a little bit surprised about how large the change was," said Murdock, a Rice University professor and former U.S. Census director. "I thought it would be about 25 million, but that 4.2 million increase is unprecedented in Texas history."
By percentage, Texas' growth was the fifth-highest, trailing Nevada (35.1 percent), Arizona (24.1 percent), Utah (23.8 percent) and Idaho (21.1 percent).
"That percentage growth is really surprising. It's striking because size typically brings down rates," said Karl Eschbach, director of population research at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

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Strongest storm yet could bring flooding in Southern California

Authorities and residents were bracing for flooding, thunderstorms, hail, tidal surges and even small tornadoes Wednesday as the worst of a seven-day series of storms was expected to sweep into Southern California.

Wednesday's storm was projected to be the most intense of the week, the result of a powerful, cold storm from the Gulf of Alaska colliding with a river of subtropical moisture from the western Pacific Ocean.



"When you get the very cold air mixing in with the very warm air, it can be quite volatile," said Bill Patzert, a climatologist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. Forecasters said the system could produce lightning and possibly waterspouts offshore and small tornadoes on land.

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Ranatunga said Sachin never treated the game as source of income

NEW DELHI: The glamour and glitz of Twenty20 has had its adverse affect on Test cricket and only someone of Sachin Tendulkar's stature can help restore the waning popularity of the traditional form of the game, feels former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

The Lankan captain lavished praise on Sachin for not treating the game as a source of income.

"Sachin is an iconic figure. We need cricketers like him to save Test cricket. As long as Sachin is playing,

I am sure Test cricket is safe," Rantunga said from Colombo while congratulating the champion batsman on his 50th Test century. 

"He has been playing for more than 20 years now. I think he is a rare cricketer who does not consider cricket as a source of income. This is the secret of his longevity and phenomenal success as well," the cricketer turned politician said.

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A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of Japan

Tokyo – A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of Japan Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Several nearby islands were also affected and people are ordered to evacuate as the earthquake caused tsunamis that are a foot high.

There were no reports of casualties or injuries after the quake hit the islands. It was not immediately clear also if there were property damages on the affected areas of the country.

Residents near the coast of the island, known as the Ogasawara islands among locals, were ordered to evacuate immediately and seek higher grounds as the United States Geological Survey warned of possible tsunamis to hit the archipelago.

Later however, local officials lowered the alert level and issued warnings of smaller waves in the island.

Twenty minutes after the major earthquake hit, it was then followed by two aftershocks. The first aftershock was 5.6-magnitude and the other was 5.4-magnitude. The aftershocks were about one minute apart.

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Universal Star Kamal Hassan promotes Manmadhan Ambu

South Indian superstar Kamal Hassan promoted Tamil film Manmadhan Ambu (cupid love) here over the weekend.

The film is written by Kamal Hassan and produced and directed by Udhayanidhi Stalin and K.S Ravikumar. Besides Kamal Hassan, the film stars R. Madhvan and Trisha Krishnan among others.

"Let's hope. I know you all have been kind to me. I am not asking you to be kinder, just maintain your kindness and we will try to do our level best every time we come to you," said Kamal Hassan.

Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100164119&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=74286&cp

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South Indian Tamil film industry lines up for Rahul Gandhi

 Chennai:  Rahul Gandhi is in Tamil Nadu for a two-day visit as the state starts prepping for elections - it votes early next year.

He met with Youth Congress workers this morning in Vanagram, about 45 minutes from Chennai.  The Congress General Secretary urged the gathering to help build the party from scratch and from "grass-root level" in the state. He also suggested, "In some years, we will have a Chief Minister from this gathering."

Several leading members of the Tamil Nadu film industry will meet with Gandhi at what's being described as an interaction with "intellectuals" later today.  Expected to attend the session at the Taj Hotel in Chennai: actors Revathi, Nasser, Jayam Ravi; movie producer Ramanarayanan; and social activists including Nithyanand Jayaraman.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tamil-film-industry-lines-up-for-rahul-gandhi-74157?cp

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Philadelphia Authorities are offering a $30,000 reward for informing Serial Killer

(CNN) -- DNA has linked the slayings of three women, Philadelphia police said Tuesday night in announcing they are looking for a serial killer.
Authorities are offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in recent homicides and assaults on women.
"We now know that this predator is responsible for three murders in this area," task force Capt. James Clark said at a news conference.
The reward offer comes as police and federal agents petition neighborhood residents for information in their joint investigation of the three killings and three other attacks on women in the Kensington area of Philadelphia.
The partially clothed body of the latest victim, Casey Mahoney, 27, was discovered December 15, according to police spokeswoman Jillian Russell. Mahoney had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
Police say Elaine Goldberg, 21, and Nicole Piacentini, 35, were killed in strangulation attacks in November.
Analysis showed the three were killed by the same assailant, Clark said.
Previously, DNA from the scene of the two earlier homicides was found to be from a single person, police spokesman Ray Evers said.


Authorities believe the attacker likely is still in the 10-block radius where the attacks occurred.
"We have detectives working day and night, following every tip," Clark said.
"It's time to bring this offender to justice," said Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey. "Help us stop this brutal violence from occurring in the future."
The location, the similar nature of the attacks and the descriptions of the attacker led police to suspect they are connected. The victims all were choked, police said

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Food-safety bill backed in the House

The House passed a measure to overhaul the nation's food-safety laws by a vote of 215 to 144 Tuesday afternoon, and President Obama is expected to sign it into law as soon as Wednesday.
The vote marked the final hurdle for a bill that cleared an unusual number of obstacles, despite enjoying bipartisan support and backing from a wide array of groups across the political spectrum, from the Consumers Union to the Chamber of Commerce.
"This is a big victory for consumers that finally brings food-safety laws into the 21st century," said Jean Halloran of Consumers Union. "This win is a powerful testament to the people across the country who came to Washington to tell their lawmakers how contaminated food had killed their loved ones or left them horribly sick. This win is for them and all Americans."
But some critics said the new legislation will expand the reach of the federal government without making food safer. "The federal food bureaucracy needs to get smarter and better coordinated, not more omnipotent," said Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.).
The proposal survived filibuster threats in the Senate, constitutional confusion and tensions between big agricultural companies and the burgeoning local food movement.
The setbacks repeatedly sent the bill back to both chambers, where new challenges arose. In the end, the House voted on it three times and the Senate twice.
The legislation will affect all whole and processed foods except meat, poultry and some egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
It is the first major change to the nation's food safety laws since 1938, and comes after a series of national outbreaks of food-borne illnesses linked to a wide varietyof foods, including spinach, peanuts and eggs.
"I beg you, the safety of your constituents is at stake," Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) said during debate on the House floor.

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lunar eclipse: Its Very Rare.

The moon offered a rare light show in the very early hours of Tuesday that was more spectacular than even the most elaborate holiday light displays.

A total eclipse of the moon occurred for 72 minutes starting at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday. A total eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays, which otherwise reflect off the moon's surface. The result was that an incredibly bright white moon slipped into shadow and cast a coppery-orange glow.

The eclipse was extra special because it happened on the winter solstice. The last time both happened on the same day was on Dec. 21, 1638, according to the Geoff Chester with the U.S. Naval Observatory. The solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the official start of the winter season.

The next time both will occur on the same day is Dec. 21, 2094. The next lunar eclipse will be in June but will not be visible in the Northern Hemispher


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Apple updates iPhoto '11 to 9.1.1

Apple this afternoon updated its photo-organizing and editing app iPhoto '11, part of the iLife '11 suite, to v9.1.1 -- adding new themes to its built-in e-mail options and restoring both a preference to allow photos to be e-mailed using external mail applications and the option to size photo attachments as Small, Medium or Large. The update also addresses a number of issues and improves overall stability.
While users could always email photos from iPhoto '11 by simply dragging a photo directly from iPhoto to a mail program's icon on the dock, the option to do so automatically was missing from preferences until now. Also missing was the ability for the user to pick from a preset of resolutions to avoid sending large photos when not necessary.

The update also addresses a number of issues with ratings, including having the scrolling overly now correctly display ratings when photos are sorted by ratings, and fixing the sort when a rating is changed and photos are sorted by rating. Other bugs addressed include preserving the sort order of Events after upgrading a library, Event titles in Photo view can now be edited, a fix for occasional duplicate photos when uploading to a MobileMe album, removing a bug in the calendar text editing controls and improving the reliability of upgrading a library from an earlier version of iPhoto.

The update is available now through Software Update for iPhoto '11 owners and is recommended for all users. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.3 or higher. The update comes in at around 65MB.

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Microsoft windows Phone 7 Needs to Keep Improving

News Analysis: Microsoft says its partners have shipped 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices. But a closer look at that number reveals why Microsoft’s mobile operating system isn’t really challenging Apple’s iOS or Google Android.

 

 

 

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Shipments Fail to Impress: 10 Reasons Why
( Page 1 of 2 )

  

Microsoft mobile device partners shipped 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 units to carriers during the first six weeks of its availability, according to Microsoft officials. At first glance, that might not seem like a figure to scoff at. After all, there are few products in the tech space that gain that level of popularity.

But a closer inspection of the numbers show why these early results are not as impressive as they look. For one, it doesn’t represent actual sales to consumers and enterprise customers. Moreover, it’s estimated that more than mobile carriers are activating 300,000 Google Android phones activated each and every single day. That means that in just five days, it can match a figure Microsoft took six weeks to reach. 

Simply put, Windows Phone 7 can’t compete. And here’s why: 

1. The sales aren’t impressive

  

First and foremost, Windows Phone 7 sales just aren’t all that impressive. Yes, Microsoft might be happy to see 1.5 million devices shipped to carriers, but its excitement seems rather premature. As noted, 300,000 Android phones are activated by customers each day. Until Microsoft can even come close to that figure, it will have extreme difficulty gaining ground on Google or Apple. 

2. Windows Mobile ruined everything

An important reason for Windows Phone 7’s inability to compete is its predecessor. As soon as Apple offered up the iPhone and Google came out with Android, it became clear that Microsoft didn’t have a single competitor that mattered. Windows Mobile looked old, and consumers and enterprise customers forgot about it. As the software company’s sales figures show now, it’s having trouble overcoming the disappointment consumers felt from its old OS. 

3. Android is more readily available 

Over time, it is possible that Microsoft might be able build up Windows Phone 7’s momentum. However, that will be extremely unlikely unless it can find a way to achieve the same level of ubiquity that Android enjoys in the mobile market. Right now, several Android devices are available on all major carriers. Consumers have nothing but options, and they appreciate that. Windows Phone 7 handset options are limited, to say the least. 

4. There isn’t an iPhone competitor 

Speaking of those options, it’s important to point out that, at least so far, there isn’t a single Windows Phone 7-based device that can compete on any level with Apple’s iPhone. That’s a significant problem for Microsoft. The iPhone sets the standard by which all other smartphones are judged. Until Microsoft’s vendor partners can come up with something that comes even close to the iPhone’s features, Windows Phone 7 will have a hard time appealing to consumers. 

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Ajith Kumar Next Movie is the Remake of Nagavalli Film?

Venkatesh latest movie Nagavalli that was released a couple of days ago has got mixed reviews but is doing good business at the box office. Although we can’t say whether it is a hit or not at this moment, the makers of Nagavalli are happy with the initial response at the ticket windows.

Meanwhile director P. Vasu is busily moving cards to do Tamil remake of this film. If the buzz is to be believed, Tamil actor Ajith Kumar is likely to do Tamil remake of Nagavalli which itself is a remake of Kannada hit Aptha Rakshaka. Nagavalli has chances to grab Tamil audience attention as it is a sequel to blockbuster Chandramukhi.

P. Vasu has reportedly arranged a special show of Nagavalli to Rajinikanth and the superstar is impressed with it. However, Rajinikanth is not willing to star in Tamil remake of Nagavalli for reasons best known to him.


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South Korea will hold its largest land and air winter drills

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea will hold its largest land and air winter drills Thursday in an area adjacent to North Korea, the South Korean army said Wednesday.
The drills are planned as tensions between the two countries remain high. But these drills were scheduled in 2009, well before the November shelling of a South Korean island by North Korea, army officials said.
More than 800 military personnel will take place in the exercise in Pocheon, roughly 15 miles away from North Korea, and it will begin at 2 p.m., a media officer from the South Korean army said. There will also be six fighter jets, anti-tank missiles, and will involve more than 100 types of weapons, the army said.
South Korea's navy also opened regular exercises in the East Sea on Wednesday that will run for four days.
South Korea also held live-fire military exercises earlier this week, a move that North Korea said could ignite a war.
Both Koreas have traded tough talk and conducted military drills in the weeks after the North shelling of the South Korean island.
The attack killed two marines and two civilians.
North Korea said through its state news agency KCNA that it will not respond to South Korea's naval drills around the island of Yeonpyeong held two days ago, but the military and the Seoul government have not ruled out the possibility of unforeseen provocations occurring in border areas and possibly on large civilian gatherings.
Despite the recent tensions, South Korean government never considered canceling the drills, according to South Korea's Office of the President.
South Korea frequently has drills, which are a part of South Korean life, the president's office said.

Canceling them could be seen as bending to North Korea's will, the office said.

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Europe airports Struggling with snow backlog

European airports are struggling to help thousands of passengers stranded after severe wintry weather paralysed parts of Europe's transport network.

Freezing temperatures, snow and ice has grounded flights, trapping travellers returning home for Christmas.

Airport operators defended their handling of the crisis amid criticism from the European Commission.

Officials at the worst-affected airport, London's Heathrow, rebuffed offers to bring in the UK Army to help.

Since Saturday, when 12.7cm (five inches) of snow fell in just one hour, Heathrow airport - the world's busiest - has cancelled hundreds of flights.

The airport operator BAA said that both runways were now open but warned: "Airlines are currently operating a significantly reduced schedule while they move diverted aircraft and crew back into position."

British Airways said that in line with a directive from BAA, it would operate only a third of its normal flight schedule at Heathrow until 0600GMT on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Delays at Heathrow also had a knock-on effect on other northern European airports.

In Ireland, the Dublin Airport Authority said the airport would be closed until at least 0800GMT on Wednesday, the The Irish Times reports.

'Unacceptable disruption'

In Germany, Frankfurt airport cancelled 550 of almost 1,300 flights on Tuesday because of the bad weather.

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Tamilnadu and Southern States alerted against LTTE attacks

Intelligence inputs have indicated that the Prime Minister could be attacked when he visits Tamil Nadu in the first week of January. Inputs also indicated that LTTE cadre could already be hiding in Tamil Nadu, collecting equipment or explosives to build up their capability to launch attacks.

The Centre has issued an alert to all southern States, particularly Tamil Nadu, following intelligence inputs that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was run over by the army in Sri Lanka, may be trying to regroup in India.

Fresh threats

Highly placed sources in the Union Home Ministry said on Thursday that intelligence agencies had warned of fresh threats from the LTTE to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai.

They said the inputs, emanating from different quarters, indicated a threat to Dr. Singh who is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu in the first week of January.

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The New Google Nexus One phone

I bought a Nexus One smartphone last January, and it's still my primary smartphone. I'm reconsidering now, having had the opportunity to play with a new Nexus S phone -- a device concocted by Google and Samsung, and designed to show off the latest and greatest features of Google's Android mobile-device operating system.
The Nexus S hits the American shelves at Best Buy today, and it's one of the best Android phones on the market right now -- it definitely boasts the best version of Android, since it's the only phone with that version at the moment. But I'm not sure if I want to buy it, which is a bit surprising given that I'm the kind of gadget hound who always feels compelled to get the latest and greatest. I'm ambivalent because A) the Nexus S has some annoying design flaws, including lack of support for the fastest current data networks; B) it'll be surpassed quickly by even better hardware, albeit devices that customers will have to hack in order to get to all the potential; and C) the Nexus One is still pretty useful.
The Nexus S is noteworthy for many reasons, however, and most of them have to do with the history of Android. The operating system has been a huge hit with mobile phone makers and telecom companies. They like the fact that Android comes at no charge, and they love the fact that it's open-source, which is to say open to tinkering.

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Google launched the latest Google Body Browser with HTML5

Google has just soft-launched its latest browser experiment, the Google Body Browser, which is basically Google Earth for the human body.
Think of it as a three-dimensional, multi-layered browser version of those Visible Man/Woman model kits. Or a virtualized version of Slim Goodbody, if you will.
Google showed off the app at the WebGL Camp. WebGL is a cross-platform low-level 3D graphics API that is designed to bring plugin-free 3D to the web. It uses the HTML5 Canvas element and does not require Flash, Java or other graphical plugins to run.
If you visit bodybrowser.googlelabs.com in a supported web browser, you'll get a three-dimensional layered model of the human anatomy that you can zoom in on, rotate and search. WebGL support hasn't hit mainstream browsers, but the beta versions of Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox all support it.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks free on bail in London

(Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, fighting extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, walked free on bail from a British jail on Thursday protesting his innocence and pledging to continue exposing official secrets.
Assange spoke to a crowd of journalists and supporters waiting in outside the High Court in London five hours after a judge said he could be released on 200,000 pounds ($312,000) bail under stringent conditions.
"It's great to smell fresh air of London again," Assange, illuminated by a blizzard of photographers' flashes, said.
WikiLeaks has angered U.S. authorities by publishing hundreds of a trove of 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables, including details of overseas installations that Washington regards as vital to its security.
Assange, wearing a dark suit and open-necked white shirt, brandished court papers titled "Swedish Judicial Authority vs Julian Paul Assange." He was then driven away in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The 39-year-old Australian later arrived at Ellingham Hall, in Suffolk eastern England, where he must live as a condition of his bail. He spoke to reporters at the mansion that belongs to a former army officer and Assange supporter, Vaughan Smith.

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Punjab farmer cheated TN in land deal for about 25L

CHANDIGARH: In a primarily agrarian society, where landholdings are shrinking everyday, lure of cheap land would be enough to pull a Punjab farmer to distant Tamil Nadu. But such deals may not always turn out to be fair and square, as Ludhiana-based Malkiat Singh learnt to his dismay two years ago.

Two years after he was allegedly cheated of Rs 25 lakh in a land deal, the crime branch of Madurai police registered an FIR on December 10 against property dealer Rajinder Singh, his son Balwant Singh and six others including the revenue officials concerned, for cheating, fraud, forgery, conspiracy and criminal intimidation.

The 30-acre land at Ramanathapuram village in Madurai district was claimed to be encumbrance-free and fertile by the property dealer, Rajinder Singh, Malkiat alleged in his complaint. But when he reached the village to take possession, he found part of the land to be the property of a temple, while the rest of the deal was declared fake, he said.

Confirming the development, Madurai district crime branch SP M Manohar said one person has been arrested in the case and investigations are on.

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Google Going to Launches Chrome OS

In the personal-computer industry, where things change fast, one fact has been a constant for years: There are two major, mainstream operating systems for consumers. One, Microsoft Windows, runs on many brands of hardware and dominates sales. The other, Apple's Mac OS X, runs only on its maker's Macintosh computers, and has had a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Other contenders, such as various versions of Linux, have remained on the fringes.

 

Google's new Chrome OS aims to do everything online, turning the entire PC into a giant browser. There are advantages, Walt Mossberg says, as well as disadvantages. For example, a Chrome OS computer can't do much when it's not connected to the Internet.

Next summer, however, Google hopes to add a third broad-based computer-operating system to challenge the duopoly. It's called Chrome OS, and is based on Google's Chrome Web browser. With Chrome, Google isn't just aiming to elbow its way into the OS business. It's hoping to change the entire paradigm. Instead of storing most programs and files on your computer itself, the Chrome OS will mainly run programs from, and require you to keep your data in, the cloud—remote servers located on the Internet. In effect, it turns your entire computer into a giant Web browser, instead of treating the browser as just one among many local programs.

The Chrome OS isn't finished, and isn't ready for broad public testing. Google readily concedes it has lots of bugs and rough edges. But the company has designed a small test laptop with the new operating system installed and distributed "a few thousand" of them to outsiders to try.
I have been using this machine, called the Cr-48, for about a week, and have some explanations and first impressions to share. This isn't a formal review; that will have to wait till the product is finished and is on commercial computers.

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UK authorities said,Julian Assange bail decision made not Sweden

Supporters of Julian Assange outside Westminster magistrates court. Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder reacted with shock to the news that it was Britain that had made the decision to oppose bail, and not Sweden. Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

The decision to have Julian Assange sent to a London jail and kept there was taken by the British authorities and not by prosecutors in Sweden, as previously thought, the Guardian has learned.
The Crown Prosecution Service will go to the high court tomorrow to seek the reversal of a decision to free the WikiLeaks founder on bail, made yesterday by a judge at City of Westminster magistrates court.
It had been widely thought Sweden had made the decision to oppose bail, with the CPS acting merely as its representative. But today the Swedish prosecutor's office told the Guardian it had "not got a view at all on bail" and that Britain had made the decision to oppose bail.

Lawyers for Assange reacted to the news with shock and said CPS officials had told them this week it was Sweden which had asked them to ensure he was kept in prison.
Karin Rosander, director of communications for Sweden's prosecutor's office, told the Guardian: "The decision was made by the British prosecutor. I got it confirmed by the CPS this morning that the decision to appeal the granting of bail was entirely a matter for the CPS. The Swedish prosecutors are not entitled to make decisions within Britain. It is entirely up to the British authorities to handle it."
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PM and CM(tamil nadu)on LTTE hit list?

NEW DELHI: The banned outfit, LTTE, may have lost a majority of its cadre during the Sri Lankan army operations, but has been trying to regroup through new recruitments from Tamil refugees and reportedly plans to launch spectacular strikes on high-profile targets like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, home minister P Chidambaram and Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.

Referring to intelligence inputs, sources said, some LTTE cadres, who escaped the wrath of the Lankan army during the all-out operations in the island nation earlier this year, were trying to regroup in India and planning attacks on top political leaders, especially when they travel in Tamil Nadu. 

Though there is no "specific intelligence" of such attack, the security agencies have taken these inputs seriously as former PM Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE suicide squad members in the southern state in 1991.
Besides, PM Singh is also likely to visit Tamil Nadu in January to attend some public functions. "Though LTTE is now a weak force and all top leaders were killed during the Sri Lankan army's assault, attempts to regroup by some cadres is a disturbing report," an official said.

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John Christopher and Pradeep are the pillars of strength for Tamil Nadu to fight with Kerala

Is the Tamil Nadu men's team the best we have seen in the ongoing Velammal Silver Jubilee 59th Senior National volleyball championship, as some suggest? Though it's too early to hazard a definite statement, it could be safe to venture as far as saying that it's the most balanced team among the elite groups.

Playing against Kerala in its third and final match on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu handled the tough questions posed by its southern counterpart with aplomb and emerged unscathed to top Group ‘A' and justify its top billing.

The 25-15, 20-25, 26-24, 25-16 victory, however, was no cakewalk. In fact, it was by far the toughest match for the host. But the positive aspect was that TN showed its fighting spirit and proved that it is game for a hard-fought battle.

Earlier, Railways battled past Karnataka 27-25, 25-18, 30-28 in a Group ‘B' contest to finish second behind Uttarakhand.

Naveen Raja Jacob, John Christopher and Pradeep are the pillars of strength for Tamil Nadu. However, it was a mixed day for all three.

Naveen and John were superb at the net, attacking extremely well, but they erred badly in service. Pradeep, despite his finish being above par, couldn't perform the job of blocking with distinction.

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Ex.Minister RAJA forced a farmer to sell the land?

erambalur (Tamil Nadu):  Seems like A Raja is the new controversy's child. Even as the heat over the 2G spectrum scam refuses to die, down South in Tamil Nadu's Perambalur, Raja has landed in some more trouble. Villagers of from his hometown are accusing Raja and his aides of land grabbing and threatening them.

It is for a new factory by MRF, Green House promoters, in which former Telecom Minister A Raja's wife was a director. It is believed that Raja acquired more than 400 acres of land by allegedly threatening villagers to sell or face acquisition by the Government. Later, he sold the land to the tyre company for a hefty sum of money.

Senthil, a farmer and believed to be one of the victims, claims that when he refused to part with his three acre land he was put behind the bars on false charges.

"They paid us  Rs. 65000 to three lakh per acre but they sold it to MRF at a price range of 15 to 18 lakh per acre," said Senthil.

Chandigarh-Sri Lanka peace forum launched: Times of india

NEGAMBO (SRI LANKA): Representatives of Chandigarh were part of an initiative to foster better understanding between India and Sri Lanka following the three-decade violence by Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

An MOU to set up a forum was signed between a city-based youth and Gandhian organization Yuvsatta and Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) at Don Bosco Technical Centre at this city, 40 km from Colombo.

Yuvsatta and SUNFO signed a logo bearing flags of India and Pakistan and logos of the two civil society organizations.

Among the signatories were children orphaned by Tsunami and Tamil Eelam violence. The children, both Tamils and Sinhalese wanted to bring about peace between two warring ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.

One of the speakers said, "The first link between Sri Lanka and India was created by the Adam's bridge (Ram Setu) and the new link will be the Gandhian bridge to bring peace in the country working on rehabilitating the

people displaced by a war between the Sri Lankan army and LTTE. The forum has come about only few days after Indian external affairs minister SM Krishna visited the country amidst reports of China coaxing the island nation after already having displaced Japan as the top trading power of the country on Indias southern tip.

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National Secuirty: Wikileaks is Threat

I have been giving this a lot of thought lately. What to do and how to classify Wikileaks? I have come to the conclusion that Wikileaks is as terrorism is to warfare. It is asymmetrical and it uses modern technology to the fullest. But first let me preface everything I am fixing to say with this,”Wikileaks and Assange are not friends of the United States and I do not believe that they want the best for the United States. We should examin our laws to see what appropriate actions we can take against them.”
What do I mean that Wikileaks is asymmetrical? By saying this I am stating that Wikileaks, its founders, and its locations can’t be tied down to one specific place. Wikileaks is a website that can be hosted on internet servers anywhere in the world. If one place shuts it out of its servers all that Wikileaks has to do to go back online is look and find a place that will host the site. To shut it down would mean that the world would have to gather to shut down Wikileaks and any subsequent manifestation of it. To gain worldwide agreement on an issue is nigh impossible, and it is impossible to keep others from creating more Wikileaks in other guises. Also it is possible to host websites in one country and live anywhere in the world. All of this adds up to give Wikileaks its aysmmetrical attributes.
Wikileaks is also like terrorism because it can be seen as a “freedom fighter” or an insurgent whose intent is to destroy the fabric of society and countries.

There is a strong case to be made that Wikileaks is nothing more than an internet site that reports the news and wants governments and corporations to be as open to the public as possible. There is also a case to possibly be made that Wikileaks engages in espionage. It could be shown that they encourage and aid those that steal secret and sensative documents from governments and corporations. At the very least, it is true, that Wikileaks has shown some poor judgment in information that it has released because it has put more people lives in danger than otherwise would have been.
As for how I would classify Wikileaks, it is still up in the air. I first would be looking for and prosecuting all those responsible for the leaks to Wikileaks and then I would be looking to see if Wikileaks played any part in the espionage. But one this is for sure, if I was the government of the United States, other governments, or large corporations, I would look to improve my information security, security protocals, and I would revamp and who and how I gave classified information to people.
These leaks were far too large and far too grave.
Bart Wallace
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Ryan and Scarlett split

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are breaking up. The two entertainers said in a joint statement yesterday that “after long and careful consideration’’ they have decided to end their two-year marriage.

Girl’s family sues A&E

The family of a 7-year-old girl killed in a Detroit police raid is suing A&E Television Networks over the videotaping of the raid. The lawsuit says the network and a production crew filming for “The First 48’’ cable television series were responsible for the May 16 death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones, who was shot in the head by an officer’s bullet.

Clinton seeks damages 

Funk pioneer George Clinton is suing the Black Eyed Peas, claiming the group used elements of his 1979 song “(Not Just) Knee Deep’’ in remixes of the song “Shut Up.’’ Clinton says he never granted permission for the use of his music, and he is seeking copyright infringement damages. His lawsuit also names as defendants will.i.am and Fergie, the two highest-profile members of the Black Eyed Peas, as well as the group’s label, Universal Music Group.

Good luck

“My goal in 2010 is to win a Grammy.” — Justin Bieber, who’s nominated for best new artist and best pop vocal album for “My World 2.0”iv>

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Lankan minister not a proclaimed offender says HC

CHENNAI: Sri Lankan Minister Anandan alias Douglas Devananda is not a proclaimed offender, the Madras High Court has held.The trial court, the IV Additional Sessions Court in Chennai, on April 30, 1994 had declared him only as an absconding accused.The order stipulated a time limit for his surrender. The accused did not appear before the trial court before the stipulated period.But the trial court did not pass any final order declaring him as proclaimed offender after the expiry of the time limit, Justice GM Akbar Ali pointed out on Wednesday. Therefore, he could not be treated as a proclaimed offender, the judge said while disposing of a criminal original petition from Devananda seeking to quash the April 30, 1994 proceedings pending before the trial court.As the bail granted to Devananda had already been cancelled, he was to be treated as absconding and, therefore, the proceedings pending before the trial court need not be quashed, but suitable directions might be issued to meet the ends of justice, the judge said.The judge granted the liberty to Devananda to approach the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.He also directed Devananda to approach the trial court to recall the non-bailable warrant (NBW) pending against him by showing cause for his nonappearance and, on filing such application, the trial court should consider the application and pass suitable orders, the judge said.According to Aminjikarai police, there was a shootout in which one person was killed in Tiruvalluvarpuram on November 1, 1986. Ten persons including Devananda, all belonging to the EPRLF, were arrested. A case was registered for various offences including 302(murder) of the IPC and the Indian Arms Act. They were, however, granted bail by the High Court subsequently. And they absconded after appearing before the trial court.

Are Energy Drinks Unregulated and Out of Control?

Monster. Rock Star. Red Bull. Full Throttle. Go to any convenience store, and these are the names of several energy drinks that you’ll find staring back at you through the cooler’s glass doors. They are also the same drinks that have become wildly popular among young adults. But the concern is that these drinks are also gaining popularity with teens and young kids, which is a trend that has both health officials and parents concerned – and for good reason.
A recent study from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston showed that a typical energy drink has as much caffeine as one cup of coffee and contains a quarter-cup of sugar. Now, a regular cup of coffee and four tablespoons of sugar may not sound too shocking to some people, but when mixed with other ingredients such as alcohol, the combination can be dangerous, if not lethal.
Excessive caffeine consumption in children can cause elevated heart rates, hypertension, anxiety, headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. But what has the medical community most concerned, are the unregulated herbal stimulants and natural blends often not mentioned on the labels. I’m talking about ingredients like taurine, guarana, creatine and B-vitamins.
To be fair, most of these herbs and vitamins have been studied and are used in both traditional and integrative medicine, but their effects when combined with high concentrations of caffeine are still widely unknown. And because many energy drinks are marketed as dietary supplements, the limit that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires on the caffeine content of soft drinks – 71 milligrams per 12-ounce can – does not apply to them, so they often contain amounts that can be dangerous for children and adults with certain medical conditions.
Here’s a closer look at some of these herbs and vitamins:
Taurine: A natural amino acid produced by the body that supports neurological development and helps regulate heart beat and muscle contractions. It’s found naturally in meat, fish and breast milk, but it can also be found in supplement form. Some studies suggest it can enhance athletic performance, but little is known about the long-term effects of taurine supplementation.
Ginseng: A root thought to have several medicinal properties, including reducing stress, boosting energy levels and libido, improving memory and concentration.
B-vitamins: Include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), folic acid and biotin. These vitamins help to convert sugar to energy and improve muscle tone.
Guarana: The fruit of a small shrub native to Brazil, guarana seeds contain twice the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans.
Carnitine: An amino acid that helps the body convert fat into energy. It’s produced by the body in the liver and kidneys and stored in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain and sperm.
Citicoline: A brain chemical that occurs naturally in the body. Citicoline supplements are thought to increase phosphatidylcholine, which is important for brain function. It may also help decrease tissue damage when the brain is injured.
Creatine: An organic acid that helps supply energy for muscle contractions.
Inositol: A member of the vitamin B complex (but not a vitamin itself) that helps relay messages within cells.
Ginkgo biloba: Has been extensively studied and used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory.

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10 Reasons Why Microsoft Should Buy Facebook:

when it announced its messaging platform, which combines the functionality of e-mail with the quick communication possibilities afforded in SMS and IM. The goal is not necessarily to make Facebook Messages a direct e-mail competitor to services such as Gmail. But the company believes its social platform can supplant the existing services with its quick communications alternatives. 
With that announcement, Facebook has proved that it has big plans for the Internet. And it wants to be a Web platform that does more than help people find out what their high school buddies are up to. By doing so, it has also made itself far more attractive. The company has massive potential going forward. And with the possibility of more than 500 million active users employing its messaging platform, the future could be extremely bright.
That's precisely why Microsoft should consider buying Facebook. Yes, it might seem improbable and the chances of it happening could be slim. But Microsoft has boatloads of cash and investments on its books—over $44 billion as of the third quarter—and can legitimately get its hands on Facebook if it wants to. There are sound reasons why it should want to. Read on to find out why: 
1. The size is obvious 
Perhaps the best reason for Microsoft to acquire Facebook is that the social network is the world's top destination in the world. It has more than 500 million active users who share over 30 billion pieces of content every single month. It's huge and it's growing. It would only make sense for Microsoft to want to capitalize on that growth and find a way to generate serious revenue off of it. 
2. They're already working closely 
Microsoft is already working its way into Facebook. Bing is a key partner with Facebook, powering the company's Web results in its Search. The social network also announced Oct. 13 that when folks search for content on Bing (or Facebook's Search), they will see their friends' "faces next to Web pages they've liked." It's an interesting implementation. And it makes it all the more reason for Microsoft to get its hands on Facebook. 
3. It owns a part of Facebook 
Microsoft currently owns a small part of Facebook. Back in 2007, Microsoft doled out $240 million to Facebook in return for a 1.6 percent stake in the company. That might not be much, but Microsoft has its foot in the door, and it's a good basis from which to start negotiations if the software giant were to ever go through with it. 
4. Microsoft has the financial security to do it 
When it comes to financial security, Microsoft has it. The company currently has more than $44 billion in cash and short-term investments on its books. During the last quarter, it generated a profit of more than $5.4 billion. With that in mind, it can acquire Facebook using both cash and some stock and not have to worry about the long-term financial impact it might have. After all, if it continues to generate such a profit, it won't be long before its coffers are filled back up again.
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French paedophile arrested in Chennai

53-year-old Eric Martin alias Jack Fernandes had gained entry into India through Nepal and was staying in Madhavaram in Chennai. He had been on the run ever since he was convicted in France and was on Interpol's Wanted list.

Martin was produced at the home of a district Magistrate in Saidapet on Wednesday morning and has been remanded to Puzhal prison for 15 days.

The Interpol in Delhi has also been informed and they are expected take action in 3-4 days.

Meanwhile, Chennai CB CID is probing charges of his illegal entry into India. The investigating officers are also talking to Nepal and Sri Lankan High Command as Martin held extended visas in both countries.

They will submit a separate report on whether there is enough evidence to file a case of cognizable offense against Martin in India.

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Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/french-paedophile-arrested-in-chennai-66880?cp

iTunes Beatles storm charts on first day of sale

More than 40 years after the Beatles broke up, their entire catalogue is finally available to download, song by song, through iTunes. And which tracks are most popular with Fab Four fans in the UK? Not Yesterday, I Want to Hold Your Hand or even Strawberry Fields. British music-lovers are double-clicking their love for Hey Jude, Twist and Shout, and Let It Be.
At the time of writing, Beatles songs have been available as legitimate paid downloads for just under a day. And already the Fab Four occupy 15% of iTunes UK's top 200. Although their highest entry, Hey Jude, is at No 40 they have 31 appearances in the charts. A few of these are doubles because some tracks are available on both albums and compilations – Twist and Shout appears at 59 and 79, for instance, and Let It Be at 65 and 147 – but it's clear that people aren't just buying Beatles songs by the album, or as a £125 set. Forget Abbey Road's medley – the public wants Here Comes the Sun and Come Together. Nevermind Yesterday – I Saw Her Standing There and Eleanor Rigby are in hotter demand.
The sentimental Blackbird is the Beatles' fifth-highest entry, but it's encouraging to see lesser-known tracks such as Hey Bulldog and You've Got to Hide Your Love Away appearing above The Long and Winding Road. Phil Spector will be rolling in his prison cell.
Despite this mop-top cheerleading, it's not just the Beatles who have appeared in the iTunes charts. The Rolling Stones are there too. Whether it's nostalgia or coincidence, Gimme Shelter is at No 81. The song isn't new, reissued or the subject of a major Apple announcement. People just like it a lot. And this, in the long run, matters more than any press release.
The Beatles in iTunes UK's top 200:
40 Hey Jude
59 Twist and Shout
65 Let It Be
77 Here Comes the Sun
79 Twist and Shout
97 Blackbird
98 In My Life
99 I Saw Her Standing There
101 Come Together
109 A Day in the Life
123 Hey Jude
125 Help!
128 Eleanor Rigby
146 I Am the Walrus
147 Let It Be
154 Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
155 A Hard Day's Night
158 Yesterday
160 Hey Bulldog
163 While My Guitar Gently Weeps
171 Yesterday
172 You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
176 Strawberry Fields Forever
183 Strawberry Fields Forever
184 With a Little Help From My Friends
185 In My Life
190 Norwegian Wood
192 Penny Lane
194 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
197 The Long and Winding Road
198 Here Comes the Sun

Harry Potter's Emma Watson is moving on: After 10 years of having her life consumed by Harry Potter, new adventures lie ahead

Poised and self-assured, Emma Watson is the essence of her Hermione Granger character -- minus the long hair and the magic spells.
At a Claridge's hotel suite in London, Watson, sporting her new pixie haircut, fields Harry Potter questions with a wit and charm beyond her 20 years. But she's always been ahead of the curve, even as a child thespian.
She only had school plays on her resume when she first took on the demanding role of Hermione in 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the debut movie of the popular J.K. Rowling fantasy series.
Seven films later, Watson's a veteran of a record-setting franchise about to wind up with the much-anticipated release of The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on Friday and Part 2 set to open July 15.
Directed by David Yates from a Steve Kloves screenplay, Part 1 has Harry, Hermione and Ron escaping from the compromised Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the Death Eaters gain control.
The trio's goal is to destroy the Horcrux devices and locate a weapon that will defeat the menacing Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who is determined to eliminate Harry.
The latest adventure just might be the most thrilling yet, and definitely the most demanding acting exercise for Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson.
As it is, Watson has already decided on her post-Potter phase. Unlike her mates, she's taking a break from the film industry to garner a post-secondary education at the Ivy league Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
But that doesn't mean she's giving up acting. It's more like taking a well-deserved break after a decade of growing up on sets.
The daughter of British lawyers Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson, Watson moved from Paris to Oxfordshire, England, with her mother following her parents' divorce.
She enrolled in the Oxford branch of the Stagecoach Theatre arts program, where she excelled at singing, dancing and acting. She had performed in many amateur productions, but never anticipated the success that would follow.
Watson discusses that and more during an easygoing chat:
Q: How have you managed to keep the media exposure in perspective?
A: It's experience. I'm 20 now and I was nine or 10 when I went into my first press conference. You learn that it takes too much emotional energy to get upset every time something is said you don't like.
Q: Do you get hassled by the American media at Brown University?
A: I'm much more anonymous in the States. I just needed a change. I needed a fresh start, somewhere I could go and feel like I could reinvent myself.
Q: Will you stay on in the U.S.?
A: I could very easily see myself splitting my time between New York and London.
Q: In Deathly Hallows, you are outside of the Hogwarts' domain. Was that odd?
A: You know what? It was so nice not having that whole infrastructure. It can become quite stilted. It was nice for it to be the three of us.
Q: How difficult was the sequence showing Hermione getting Mudblood written on her with Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) by her side?

A: It was very weirdly affecting and quite horrible. I think even Helena didn't like it.
Q: But rumour has it that you came up with the idea. True?
A: It was something Helena and I came up with. We thought it would be more powerful to physically see the pain than do a spell.
Q: And Harry and Hermione kiss in one dream sequence. Radcliffe claims you are quite the fiery kisser. Is he right?
A: The vision had to disturb Ron, so it had to be passionate. But I think he (Daniel) called me an animal in an interview. (Smiling.) I guess I should take it as a compliment.
Q: The dance sequence featuring Hermione and Harry is less intense. Could Radcliffe manage the choreography?
A: As much as I love Dan (Radcliffe), he's not a naturally gifted dancer. But it was perfect for the scene. It was meant to look silly and spontaneous.
Q: The opening sequence recalling Hermione's parents seemed emotionally raw. Was it?
A: I don't want to get too heavy, but being from a family that's been split up, I know what it's like. I guess I used some of that.
Q Was it difficult to wrap the films last summer?
A: I feel like I've answered this question a million times and it never gets easier. I still don't really know how I feel about it. I'm still processing.
Q: Do you have mixed emotions?
A: I feel very sad and I have days where I'm so excited.
Q: Excited?
A: My life revolved around Harry Potter. That was the focal point of my existence, and it's exciting now that I have this time to think and accept other things.
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HARRY POTTER WEEK
We have Pottermania!
Follow our spellbinding series counting down to Friday's release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Friday: The dawning of Deathly Hallows; Stars come out for London premiere.
Saturday: New book looks inside the world of Harry Potter; Douglas Todd on Harry Potter and the church.
Monday: How Potter fans have grown up with the series.
Today: Emma Watson interview.
Wednesday: Rupert Grint interview.
Thursday: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 review; Daniel Radcliffe interview.
Friday: Harry Potter cast reveal their favourite moments.