Britany Morphy Died at 32

LOS ANGELES - Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit "Clueless" and rose to stardom in "8 Mile" before her movie roles declined in recent years, died Sunday in Los Angeles of what appeared to be natural causes, a Los Angeles County coroner's official said. She was 32. Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart said. Murphy was transported to the hospital after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 a.m. at the home she shared with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, in the Hollywood Hills. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Murphy apparently collapsed in the bathroom, and authorities were looking into her medical history. An official cause of death may not be determined for some time, since toxicology tests will be required, but "it appears to be natural," Winter said. He said an autopsy was planned for Monday or Tuesday. Winter said Murphy's family was cooperating with the coroner's investigation. Funeral arrangements have not been announced, he said.

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Spectacle and Sensory Overload, "Avatar" movie

For maybe the third time in his career, the immodest Canadian has made "the most expensive movie ever," confident that showmanship never goes out of style. He was right about "Terminator 2," and he was right about "Titanic," and at this stage it looks more than likely he'll be proved right about "Avatar," too. Already it feels like an epochal movie, a landmark fantasy film on par with "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings." Like those (very different) movies, "Avatar" stretches the bounds of the cinematic imagination. It shows us something we've never seen before: an entire alien world, a new and complex ecosystem rendered in three dimensions with dazzling fluidity and detail

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Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

The news blindsided even his biggest champions: Barack Obama had joined Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Dalai Lama as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Former Polish President Lech Walesa, himself a Noble laureate, echoed many when he responded, "So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far." Even the Nobel Prize committee acknowledged the award honored Obama's "efforts" to advance global harmony rather than his concrete achievements to date. Many hoped the award would boost Obama's standing to address world conflicts, but his political opponents wasted no time calling foul, noting that three prominent Democrats have won the honor in the past seven years. Said Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele: "It is unfortunate that the President's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights." Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929415_1929418,00.html#ixzz0Zu1JRhQB

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"Nine" Premiere Online

New York – The star-studded cast and crew of "Nine" had plenty to celebrate at the glittery premiere held Tuesday, Dec. 15, in New York, for their flashy musical had just received five Golden Globe nominations that morning, and ten Critics' Choice nods the day before. So what better way to enjoy the moment than to bring the family along for the fun? Leading man Daniel Day-Lewis flew solo, as did his co-stars and fellow Globe nominees Marion Cotillard and Penelope Cruz. Nicole Kidman's man, Keith Urban was in Australia playing a country concert, so she brought her best friend Naomi Watts along to see the show. Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson, who gives a sexy, sultry performance as an Italian prostitute in the story of famous Italian director Guido Contini and the women in his life, clutched her mother Terri Jackson on one arm and husband Josh Duhamel on the other. Dame Judi Dench also has a key role in the movie, so she brought her daughter Finty Williams to check it out; and Kate Hudson, whose "Cinema Italiano" number is the most exciting moment in the film, closely hugged her mother, Oscar-winning actress Goldie Hawn.

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The Scandals of Billy Corgan

Sure, we all get a little nostalgic when we hear "Today" and think back to those hazy grunge rock days of leaning against lockers, buying Manic Panic and rocking flannel shirts. But we're still reeling from the news that Jessica Simpson might be dating former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. A source told E! News, "She has fallen hard and is smitten," and confirmed that they are "officially dating." What's with the dark and mysterious man of no hair and his string of gorgeous lady friends? Here's a look back at the many loves of Billy Corgan. Corgan married his on-and-off-again girlfriend, artist and museum book restorer Chris Fabian, in 1993. They were married at Corgan's house in Wrigleyville, IL. They separated in 1995 and divorced in 1997, but Corgan famously refuses to talk about it. "There is not and will not be any public record on my marriage—that's one thing I have to draw lines around." So much for the dirty details. Courtney Love dated Corgan before she started dating Kurt Cobain. There were rumors that they hooked up after Cobain's death, during Lollapalooza in 1994, when Corgan was still married. They reunited in 2006 to collaborate on Courtney's music. Corgan moved into Love's mansion with Courtney and Frances Bean, but he reportedly had his own wing. Courtney blew up at him when he canceled on playing Frances Bean's 16th birthday in favor of going on an anniversary tour.

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The Most Awaited Miss World Pageant

Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino waves after being crowned Miss World during the Miss World finals in Midrand, outside Johannesburg, December 12, 2009.

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Which Grey's Anatomy Regular Gets ...

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Oprah's First Interview with President & Mrs. Obama

ET has your sneak peek at Oprah Winfrey's first interview with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Looking festive, Oprah and the Obamas pose in front of a Christmas tree at the White House. "Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special" airs December 13 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

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Twilight Saga: Eclipse' for release

Summit Entertainment has unveiled the teaser poster for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third instalment in the popular vampire romance franchise. The movie, opening in July 2010, finds Bella (Kristen Stewart) facing a choice between her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

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Duggar, Expecting 19th child, Rushed to Hospital With Gallbladder Problems

Michelle Duggar, star of the TLC reality show "18 Kids and Counting," who is expecting her 19th child, is resting fine after she was rushed to a hospital over the weekend. "Over the weekend, Michelle Duggar was admitted to an Arkansas hospital with symptoms unrelated to her pregnancy," a TLC spokeswoman told ABCNews.com. "At this time, Michelle and her unborn baby are both stable and resting. Mrs. Duggar is in good spirits and feeling much better." People magazine reported Monday that Duggar had been airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock because of gallbladder problems. The pain from a gallstone was causing contractions. Duggar's baby is not due until spring, and there was concern that she might deliver early and would need to be close to a neonatal intensive care unit, according to People. Those concerns appear to have eased for now. The physician attending Duggar, Dr. Curtis Lowery of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, told People: "We have every reason at present to expect that mother and baby will proceed with a healthy pregnancy. Mrs. Duggar is in good spirits and feeling much better." For now, Duggar's husband, Jim Bob, and 18 children will have to get along without her. "Doctors want to observe Michelle in the hospital for the next couple of days," a rep for TLC told People, "but it would appear that the pain medication they have given her for the gallstone has worked, and there is no need for immediate surgery. The hope is that any necessary surgery can be delayed until after she delivers."

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Stress makes Cancer more Likely and Deadly

Work in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science shows social isolation tips the odds in favour of aggressive cancer growth. Rodents kept alone developed more tumours - and tumours of a more deadly type - than rats living as a group. The researchers put it down to stress and say the same may well be true in humans. Cancer experts say more work is needed to prove such a link in people. Lead investigator Gretchen Hermes, of Yale University, said: "There is growing interest in relationships between the environment, emotion and disease. "This study offers insight into how the social world gets under the skin." Stress Doctors already know that cancer patients who are depressed tend to fare worse in terms of survival. And previous research has suggested that social support can improve health outcomes for patients with breast cancer. In the latest study, the researchers found that isolation and stress trebled the risk of breast cancer in the naturally sociable Norway rats. Outcast rodents developed 84 times the amount of tumours as those living in tight-knit social groups, and the tumours also proved to be more aggressive. The isolated mammals also had higher levels of the stress hormone corticosterone and took longer to recover from a stressful situation than fellow Norway rats. The researchers ultimately hope their work will help cancer patients. Lifestyle Co-researcher Martha McClintock, a psychologist at the University of Chicago, said: "We need to use these findings to identify potential targets for intervention to reduce cancer." Ed Yong, of Cancer Research UK, said: "This study was done in rats. "Overall, research in humans does not suggest there is a direct link between stress and breast cancer. "But it's possible that stressful situations could indirectly affect the risk of cancer by making people more likely to take up unhealthy behaviours that increase their risk, such as overeating, heavy drinking, or smoking."

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Tiger Woods scandal

 It is an around-the-clock affair for news organizations hoping to break the latest information in the Tiger Woods scandal. With more than one alleged mistress in the spotlight, gossip and celebrity magazines and Web sites are fielding a flood of news tips a day from women desperate to be a part of this media maelstrom. "What happens in cases like this is once there is one allegation then there are always 10 more," said Bonnie Fuller, editor in chief of HollywoodLife.com and former head of magazines Us Weekly and Star. "You have the real women who actually have had a relationship with a celebrity come forward, and then you have people creating these stories because they are seeking their own fame and fortune and attention." Supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer first reported that Woods allegedly had an affair with nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel.y Woods? Uchitel denied the allegations and hired celebrity attorney Gloria Allred to represent her. The two women were scheduled to hold a press conference Thursday in Los Angeles, California, to discuss Uchitel's relationship with Woods, but canceled Thursday morning. Quoting what it call an "insider," Life & Style magazine has reported that Kalika Moquin, a marketing manager for The Bank nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada, allegedly spent time with Tiger at his Las Vegas hotel during the weekend of October 23. The magazine says when they contacted Moquin, she would neither confirm nor deny their report. In the most damaging allegation yet, Us Weekly magazine reported in this week's issue that Jaimee Grubbs, 24, told them that she had a 31-month affair with Woods. The magazine, which identified her as a cocktail waitress, also published on its Web site what it said was a voice-mail message from Woods to Grubbs. "Hey, it's Tiger," a man says in the recording. "I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you." CNN could not independently confirm that the voice on the recording was Woods. Woods posted a statement on his Web site Wednesday that did not admit an affair but apologized for "transgressions" that let his family down. Us Weekly said it began digging into Woods' personal life before last week's car crash outside his Florida home that left him with facial lacer

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TIGER Woods has been accused of offering his alleged lover $1 million to stay silent - and his wife a $55 million deal to save their marriage.

TIGER Woods has been accused of offering his alleged lover $1 million to stay silent - and his wife a $55 million deal to save their marriage. Details of the bombshell deals being offered by 33-year-old golfing billionaire Woods’ representatives to put a firm lid on his private life scandal have emerged today. The key aspects are that the first woman alleged to have been Woods’ lover, New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel, was about to do a dramatic U-turn and reveal publicly in the US her earlier claims not to have been his mistress were lies. Uchitel was scheduled to hold a press conference to tell all, including details of their love trysts Down Under when Woods was staying at Melbourne’s Crown Casino during the Australian Masters. But Uchitel abruptly canceled the press conference after getting calls from the golfer's representatives, according to a new report . "The Daily Beast has learned the details of what it’s costing Tiger to keep his marriage intact. A lawyer familiar with the hastily conducted negotiations of the past 72 hours said that as of Wednesday evening Elin has been offered a $5 million payment immediately if she agrees to stay and her prenuptial agreement is being revised to give her up to an additional $55 million. "When the couple married on Oct. 5, 2004, at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados, Elin signed a prenuptial agreement reportedly worth $20 million after 10 years of marriage, not considered a large payout for someone who was already as successful as Tiger by then.

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Beyoncé topped the list with 10 Grammy Nominations

During a live broadcast on CBS on Wednesday night, Beyoncé topped the list with 10 nominations, followed by Taylor Swift with eight and the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West and Maxwell with six apiece. The three most prestigious categories — album, record (for a single song) and song of the year (for songwriters) — are dominated by only a handful of repeat nominees, and pit three of the most popular — and most critically admired — young women in pop music today in a face-off: Beyoncé vs. Ms. Swift vs. Lady Gaga, the recipient of five nominations. The Dave Matthews Band also got its first nomination for album of the year, for “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King” (RCA), competing against Beyoncé, Ms. Swift, Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas.

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New Victoria's Secret “angel” is getting her wings after an online vote

A new Victoria's Secret "angel" is getting her wings after an online vote. Kylie Bisutti of Simi Valley, California, was the winner of a reality show-style contest to choose a model for the lingerie runway show's CBS broadcast on Tuesday. The 19-year-old beat out another finalist from California, Jamie Lee Darley. Ten finalists were picked from four national casting calls and whittled down to two through online votes. Both finalists walked the runway when the show was taped, but only one appeared in the Tuesday broadcast: Bisutti. Bisutti is a newlywed who said her mother-in-law encouraged her to audition.

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Tiger Woods Accident Case Closed Without Criminal Charges

Bill Sharpe, an attorney for the neighbors, said Woods’ injuries were “consistent with a car wreck and inconsistent with him being beat up. The scratches on his face were consistent with someone who maybe was in a minor car accident and hit his head on the windshield. … None of his injuries looked like he was beat up by his wife.” “Mrs. Woods's attitude was consistent with her being concerned about her injured husband”, Sharpe said. Mrs. Woods was trying to help him. Mrs. Woods was worried about her husband. She was concerned.” Woods faces a $164 fine and four points against his driver’s license, not close to enough to have it suspended. The citation closes the investigation of last week’s crash. The patrol “is not pursuing criminal charges in this matter nor is there any testimony or other evidence to support any additional charges of any kind other than the charge of careless driving,” Sgt. Kim Montes said. According to an accident report, Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:25 a.m. Friday. The airbags did not deploy and Woods’ wife told Windermere police she used a golf club to smash the back windows to help him out. Woods withdrew Monday from his own golf tournament, citing injuries from the crash. An attorney for the neighbors who dialed 911 after the crash said Woods did not appear to be driving under the influence and showed no signs of having been in a fight. There were no claims of domestic violence and insufficient evidence to subpoena any medical information.

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Who is Elin Nordegren Woods, anyway?

Elin is totally devoted to her husband's career. She is low-key, accustomed to celebrity. And the big question now a days is, why did she smash a window in Tiger's Escalade? Why did she change her story to police? Is she responsible for his injuries? Some facts about Elin Nordegren: She grew up in Stockholm, and while she did some modeling in her teens, the idea that she was a "Swedish supermodel" is one of those urban legends that grows in the retelling. "She wasn't a high-profile model," as the Beast quotes a source from a New York modeling agency, and, to be fair, she didn't seem to be particularly interested in modeling as a career. She was around the world of golf long before she met Woods, serving as nanny to golfer Jesper Parnevik. And then she met Tiger at the 2001 British Open, and it wasn't exactly a romantic introduction for the ages. And this brings up the question of obligation. Is Elin Woods obligated to share anything about herself with the world just because of the man she married? Of course not. Their private life is just that: private. Anything that goes on behind closed doors is their business, and theirs alone ... as long as no crimes have been committed. Without speculating on the Woods case, any time there is a reasonable suspicion of domestic violence, it does indeed become a public matter. What's definitive is that some of the events of recent days haven't been behind closed doors, they've taken place on public streets. And because Tiger Woods is a worldwide celebrity, anything he does in public, from hitting a golf ball to hitting a fire hydrant, draws worldwide notice. Combine the events of Friday morning with the allegations published last Wednesday that Woods had been pursuing an affair with another woman, and you've got a case that police simply cannot ignore. In the world of celebrity culture, curiosity fills in the gaps in a vacuum of information. Was it the wisest idea for Elin Woods to share absolutely nothing about herself for all these years? Perhaps, perhaps not; that's a decision everyone watching this case has to make for themselves. What's certain is that the Woods camp would love a mulligan on many elements of this case, and the image that's been created -- or, more accurately, not created -- of Elin up until Nov. 27 may very well be at the top of that list.

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Tiger Woods break his Silence and Admit that the Accident was his Fault

Tiger Woods finally gave his side of the story Sunday — on his Web site, not to police—and took the blame for an “embarrassing” car crash that gave him cuts, bruises and public scrutiny like never before. His statement failed to clear up any questions about the middle-of-the-night accident outside his Isleworth estate in which his wife told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac SUV to help him out. “This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” Woods said on his Web site. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.” The statement was posted around 2 p.m. Sunday, about an hour after Woods’ attorney told the Florida Highway Patrol that for the third straight day golf’s No. 1 player would be unavailable to talk to troopers. This time, the meeting was not rescheduled. Even so, Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods’ $2.4 million estate anyway, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods’ driver’s license, registration and insurance as required by law for such accidents. Woods said the crash was a private matter, and he intended to keep it that way. “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible,” he said. “The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.” Woods is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge, which starts Thursday in California, although his tournament director did not know Woods’ status for the tournament—whether he would play or even attend. Even with his first public comments on the 2:25 a.m. Friday accident, Woods left several questions. — Where he was going at that time of the night? — How did he lose control of his SUV at such a speed that the air bags didn’t deploy? — Why were both rear windows of the Cadillac Escalade smashed? — If it was a careless mistake, why not speak to state troopers trying to wrap the investigation? “We have been informed by the Florida Highway Patrol that further discussion with them is both voluntary and optional,” Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG, said in an e-mail. “Although Tiger realizes that there is a great deal of public curiosity, it has been conveyed to FHP that he simply has nothing more to add and wishes to protect the privacy of his family.” Woods’ wife turned troopers away from their home in the exclusive gated community outside Orlando on Friday, the day of the accident, because she said he was sleeping. Steinberg called troopers en route to Woods’ house on Saturday and postponed the meeting until Sunday. “We’re just continuing our traffic crash investigation,” Montes said. “If we have somebody who we feel is pertinent to the investigation, then we will interview them.” She said the 911 caller was interviewed Saturday, and investigators might speak with other people who were at the scene as well. The FHP released the 911 call from an unidentified neighbor on Sunday. “I have a neighbor, he hit the tree. And we came out here just to see what was going on. I see him and he’s laying down,” the neighbor told dispatchers without ever identifying the victim as Woods. Asked if the victim was unconscious, the neighbor replied, “Yes.” Part of the call were inaudible because of a bad connection. At one point, the voice of a woman is heard yelling, “What happened!” “We’re just trying to get the police here right now,” the neighbor says to the woman. “We don’t know what happened. We’re figuring that out right now. I’m on the phone with the police right now.” According to the FHP accident report, Woods had just pulled out of his driveway when he struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. Woods said he had cuts, bruising and “right now I’m a little sore.” Montes said the Woods’ car was towed for “safekeeping,” and authorities have already documented where the damage is on the vehicle and the point of impact. The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters. The woman, Rachel Uchitel, denied having an affair with Woods when contacted by The Associated Press. Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred confirmed she was representing Uchitel when she was reached by the AP on Sunday. “She is with me in L.A.,” Allred said later in an e-mail to the AP. “We plan to meet and then we’ll decide on the next step, which we do not plan to announce to the press.” Uchitel arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late Sunday morning, where she was met by Allred and escorted out of the baggage claim area and into a black car. Uchitel did not speak to reporters except to ask that she be left alone. Aside from occasional criticism of his temper inside the ropes, Woods has kept himself out of the news beyond his sport. In an October posting on his Facebook account, Woods wrote, “I’m asked why people don’t often see me and Elin in gossip magazines or tabloids. I think we’ve avoided a lot of media attention because we’re kind of boring. …” AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, and Associated Press writers Linda Deutsch in Los Angeles, and Sarah Larimer in Miami contributed to this report.

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Check This The Deadly and Brutal Attack in Maguindanao,Philippines: a lot of People Died

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Check this Oprah will be going to visit White House

Oprah Winfrey will interview President Obama and Michelle Obama, next month. This will be aired before Christmas, this was announced Wednesday. Oprah's website said the show entitled "Christmas at the White House:Oprah Primetime Special", this will air at 10 p.m Et December 13 on ABC. This will include a one-one-one conversation with the president, it includes an exclusive sit-down interview with the first couple. The special "will showcase behind-the-scenes preparations as the White House gets ready for the holiday season," the Web site said. Winfrey, who supported Obama in his presidential bid and this month interviewed defeated GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, recently said she will stop hosting her syndicated talk show in 2011 to focus on launching an Oprah Winfrey Network.

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Check this out a NUDE PHOTO of Filmmaker

NEW YORK – A nude photo of filmmaker Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate taken just months before her death will be sold at auction next month. The black and white photo by British photographer David Bailey will be sold by Christie's in New York on Dec. 7. It shows the topless couple embracing. Christie's is estimating that the 33-inch-by-33 1/4-inch print will sell for $8,000 to $12,000. Tate, Polanski's wife, was murdered in 1969 by followers of Charles Manson. In 1977, Polanski was accused of plying a 13-year-old girl with champagne and a Quaalude pill and then raping her. He fled the United States the day he was to be sentenced on a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. Polanski was arrested in Switzerland on Sept. 26.

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Watch This Married Between Human and Video Game Character

Anonymous Comment to this video: There is obviously a serious mental condition going on here. this is what happens when you let someone live in a virtual world. they become that world. he needs psychiatric help. this is extremely unhealthy and needs to be addressed not promoted. it shouldnt be allowed. i wouldnt be suprised to see a person with suicidal tendencies here. really if this is the world we are heading into check me out cause i dont want to be part of it.

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Taylor Swift collect the biggest honor in CMA

A 19 year old singer Taylor Swift has opened the show with a winning performance on the Country Music Association Awards telecast Wednesday night, and she collect the biggest honor:entertainer of the year. "I will never forget this moment because in this moment because in this moment everything I have ever wanted has just happened to me," she said. Taylor Swift-the youngest-ever winner of the CMA's top trophy. She took the stage of Nashville's Sommet Center and of course she called her band to join her onstage. She took home four awards in total, including album of the year for her smash hit Fearless and, in an upset female vocalist of the year, beating out the night's co-host, Carrie Underwood. This was a monumental night for Swift.

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Watch this Rihanna is a modern day version of Grace Jones

Her performance was very good and she seemed really happy to be performing again. I think she is a great performer and i like her voice no matter what anyone says she is different. A lot of people think pink and alanis and others with unique voices cant sing because they dont sound like conventional singers I like her style in singing fashion video concepts everything about her is kill. Keep up the good work missy u runnin shyt big time!

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Clinton: US will keep pushing Afghan govt reform

Associated Press Writer= KABUL (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stressed Wednesday that the United States will keep pressing the Afghan government to crack down on rampant corruption, saying the American military cannot defeat militancy without the help of a strong partner. Clinton arrived in the Afghan capital on the eve of President Hamid Karzai's inauguration, during which he will make a speech that many hope will outline concrete commitments to reform, helping the country move past a fraud-tainted election that undermined trust in the government. "We are concerned about corruption, and we obviously think it has an impact on the quality and capacity of governing," Clinton told reporters as she flew from Beijing to Kabul, her first trip to the country as secretary of state. "So we're going to be persistent, asking for the kinds of outcomes that we think reflect that they are serious about this." Karzai, who won the election by default after his main rival pulled out of a runoff saying it was impossible for the vote to be fair, has often bristled at the intense international pressure he has come under over corruption in his government. Although he acknowledges his administration faces problems, he has stressed that graft is also pervasive in the international contracting process in Afghanistan and that foreign aid is being wasted before it ever gets to the Afghan people. The Karzai government unveiled an anti-corruption and major crimes unit last week to signal that he was determined to tackle the issue as international pressure ramps up, including a warning that U.S. military and financial support will be tied to reform. In remarks to employees at the heavily secured U.S. Embassy compound in the capital shortly after her arrival, Clinton lauded the U.S. military, then went to meet with the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who has advocated sending tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops. "Nobody knows better than our military commanders that troops alone cannot meet our goals of defeating al-Qaida, of helping the Afghans get the capacity to defend themselves and provide governance that will result in positive changes for the people of this country," she said. "The military has performed brilliantly, time and time again, in confronting terrorism and protecting civilians and training security forces and defending borders, but this has got to be a common joint strategy that we look at from the beginning — not as an afterthought," said Clinton, who later dined with Karzai at the presidential palace on Wednesday evening. Clinton's trip to Kabul comes just days after U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, in leaked memos, questioned the wisdom of adding American troops at a time when the Afghan political situation is unstable and uncertain. Clinton, who has visited Afghanistan four times before, arrived from Beijing, where she was accompanying President Barack Obama on his trip to Asia. She is one of more than 40 dignitaries from the U.S., Europe and other countries scheduled to attend Thursday's ceremony. "There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a new compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they're going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people who live throughout this magnificent country," Clinton said.

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The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis lifted off its seaside launch pad on Monday, loaded with spare parts to keep the International Space Station flying after the shuttles are retired next year. NASA's fifth and final flight of the year began at 2:28 p.m. EST when Atlantis' twin booster rockets ignited, sending the 24-year-old ship through partly cloudy skies to begin its 31st journey into orbit. Docking at the space station was scheduled for Wednesday. The shuttle carries nearly 30,000 pounds (13,610 kg) of equipment, most of which is too big to be launched by the Russian, European and Japanese cargo ships expected to keep the station supplied after the shuttles are retired. Following the mission by Atlantis, which is scheduled to last 11 days, NASA plans five more flights to complete the station. The shuttle is being replaced by a capsule-style spacecraft called Orion that can travel to the moon and other places in the solar system in addition to the space station, which orbits about 225 miles above Earth. The station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, has been under construction for more than a decade. Atlantis' six-man crew includes commander Charles Hobaugh, pilot Barry Wilmore, flight engineer Randy Bresnik, lead spacewalker Michael Foreman and astronauts Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher. Wilmore, Bresnik and Satcher are making their first spaceflights. Joining the crew for the return flight home will be space station flight engineer Nicole Stott, the last station astronaut slated to fly on the shuttle.

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Leader of Islamic Group Killed

(CNN) -- The leader of a group of African-American converts to Islam was fatally shot Wednesday, federal authorities said.

Luquman Ameen Abdullah was one of 11 men charged Tuesday with conspiracy to commit federal crimes, including theft from interstate shipments, mail fraud to obtain the proceeds of arson, illegal possession and sale of firearms, and tampering with motor vehicle identification numbers, the FBI said in a news release.

He had been seeking to establish a separate Sharia-law state in the United States, the FBI said.

Eight of the men have been arrested. At one location, four of the suspects surrendered, but Ameen Abdullah fired his weapon instead, the release said. "An exchange of gunfire followed and Abdullah was killed," it said.

Also killed was an FBI dog.

In a 43-page criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan and unsealed Wednesday, authorities said the arrests were made based on information gleaned from confidential sources identified only as S-1, S-2 and S-3.

"S-1 heard Abdullah encourage his followers to 'pick up guns and do something' rather than try to achieve their goals through peaceful means," the complaint said.

S-2 recorded a conversation on December 12, 2007, in which Abdullah said, "I got some soldiers with me, so it's not like I, I don't have, you know, nothing. Brothers that I know would, you know, if I say 'Let's go, we going to go and do something,' they would do it," the complaint said.

S-3 said that, on March 21, 2008, Luqman Abdullah told him "that the FBI is the enemy of Islam," the complaint said. "Abdullah stated something to the effect, 'If they are coming to get me, I'll just strap a bomb on and blow up everybody.'"

The other men charged were identified as Mohammad Abdul Bassir, aka Franklin D. Roosevelt Williams; Muhammad Abdul Salaam; Abdul Saboor; Mujahid Carswell; Abdullah Beard; Mohammad Philistine; Yassir Ali Khan; Adam Hussain Ibraheem; Garry Laverne Porter; and Ali Abdul Raqib.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said hearings were scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET for Salaam, Saboor, Porter, Beard, Ibraheem a(CNN) -- The leader of a group of African-American converts to Islam was fatally shot Wednesday, federal authorities said.

Luquman Ameen Abdullah was one of 11 men charged Tuesday with conspiracy to commit federal crimes, including theft from interstate shipments, mail fraud to obtain the proceeds of arson, illegal possession and sale of firearms, and tampering with motor vehicle identification numbers, the FBI said in a news release.

He had been seeking to establish a separate Sharia-law state in the United States, the FBI said.

Eight of the men have been arrested. At one location, four of the suspects surrendered, but Ameen Abdullah fired his weapon instead, the release said. "An exchange of gunfire followed and Abdullah was killed," it said.

Also killed was an FBI dog.

In a 43-page criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan and unsealed Wednesday, authorities said the arrests were made based on information gleaned from confidential sources identified only as S-1, S-2 and S-3.

"S-1 heard Abdullah encourage his followers to 'pick up guns and do something' rather than try to achieve their goals through peaceful means," the complaint said.

S-2 recorded a conversation on December 12, 2007, in which Abdullah said, "I got some soldiers with me, so it's not like I, I don't have, you know, nothing. Brothers that I know would, you know, if I say 'Let's go, we going to go and do something,' they would do it," the complaint said.

S-3 said that, on March 21, 2008, Luqman Abdullah told him "that the FBI is the enemy of Islam," the complaint said. "Abdullah stated something to the effect, 'If they are coming to get me, I'll just strap a bomb on and blow up everybody.'"

The other men charged were identified as Mohammad Abdul Bassir, aka Franklin D. Roosevelt Williams; Muhammad Abdul Salaam; Abdul Saboor; Mujahid Carswell; Abdullah Beard; Mohammad Philistine; Yassir Ali Khan; Adam Hussain Ibraheem; Garry Laverne Porter; and Ali Abdul Raqib.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said hearings were scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET for Salaam, Saboor, Porter, Beard, Ibraheem and Raqib.

The defendants "are members of a group that is alleged to have engaged in violent activity over a period of many years, and known to be armed," the FBI said.

The complaint was filed by the FBI's counter-terrorism squad in the Eastern District of Michigan.nd Raqib.

The defendants "are members of a group that is alleged to have engaged in violent activity over a period of many years, and known to be armed," the FBI said.

The complaint was filed by the FBI's counter-terrorism squad in the Eastern District of Michigan.

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