Famed San Francisco Sea Lions Leave In Droves

2 mysteries surround a huge herd of sea lions that were hanging out on a pier in San Francisco Bay: Why did so many shows up and why did so many leave at once?

Just last month, Pier 39, famous in San Francisco for its sea lions also the throngs of tourists they attract, was groaning below the weight of more than 1,500 of the animals. The record number delighted tourists also baffled experts. Marine experts suspect the sea lions came and stayed for the food, then gone mostly for the same reason.

"Most likely, they left chasing a food source," said Mr. Jeff Boehm, executive director of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, which runs an information center as well as gift shop at Pier 39. "It is probably what kept them here in the first place."

The animals start leaving in droves the day after Thanksgiving, almost as if someone had issued an order. But Jeff Boehm said the fact that so many sea lions stayed for so long is even stranger than their disappearance. "They do move off," Jeff Boehm said, adding that in the fall, older sea lions head to.

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NASA says collision improbable, as Russia considers asteroid mission

Russia's space chief is considering a space mission to knock away an approaching asteroid, though NASA officials don't consider the giant rock a threat to Earth.

As the 885-foot asteroid was discovered in 2004, astronomers gave it as much as a 1-in-37 possibility of hitting Earth in 2029. But scientists have been lowering their estimates since. Now, an astronomer from NASA says that space rock isn't "anything to worry about."

However, the Russian space chief tells Golos Rossii radio that he is heard the asteroid is getting closer to a possible impact in about 22 years. He also adds that, "People's lives are at stake."

He says Russia's space agency will hold a meeting on the topic soon. He also says that, if an asteroid deflection mission is finalized, NASA would be amongst those invited to join.

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Australian bushfires destroys nearly 40 homes

A major bushfire in the west Australian outback has destroyed nearly 40 homes, officials said on Wednesday, as firefighters finish a third month of fighting bushfires across the country.

Fire officials say the Australian summer might be one of the worst bushfire seasons, with a series of catastrophic warnings previously issued for big fires in at least 3 states. Australia's most deadly bushfires occurred last February, as the "Black Saturday" infernos killed 173 people and destroyed 1000s of homes in the southern Victoria state.

As a result of the "Black Saturday" fires, officials adopted a "catastrophic" caution which advises residents to vacate homes in the face of major bushfires. Until the west Australian fire this week, property losses had been few. No one has died in the fires this summer.

3 firefighters and a woman from the wheat-belt town of Toodyay, in Western Australian state, suffered slight injuries in the latest bushfire, which burned 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres).

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Dutch airport to employ full-body scan for US flights

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport will begin using full-body scanners within 3 weeks to scan people traveling to the US, after consultations with US authorities, the Dutch interior minister said on Wednesday.

The ministry also said ordinary security procedures were followed as it should be in the Christmas Day handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is accused of annoying to bomb a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Dutch interior minister Guusje Ter Horst told a news conference in The Hague there was no evidence that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had been to the Netherlands before the flight. The inquiry is continuing into whether Abdulmutallab had assistance in Amsterdam, the ministry said.

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UK hostage Peter Moore Inhale freedom air in Iraq

British hostage Mr. Peter Moore has been released alive from captivity in Iraq, the Foreign Office has said.

Mr. Peter Moore, an IT consultant from Lincoln, was detained at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in May 2007. Three fellow guards detained at the same time were later shot dead and their bodies flown back to UK.

Alan McMenemy, a security guard from Glasgow, is understood to remain a prisoner in Iraq. Peter Moore had been working for US management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq. The other men were security contractors employed to lookout him.

The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, also Jason Creswell, of Glasgow, were returned to the UK in June 2009, after that Alec MacLachlan, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, in September 2009.

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Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller' to be preserved in US film registry

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video, with that memorable graveyard dance, will rest amid the nation's treasures in the film archive in the Library of Congress.

The 1983 music video by John Landis is still the subject of lawsuits over profits. Now it is also 1 of 25 films to be selected Wednesday for preservation in the 2009 National Film Registry.

"Thriller" is the 1st music video named to the registry.

Joining the King of Pop will be the Muppets from 1979's "The Muppet Movie" the 1st time on the big screen for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy also the 1957 sci-fi classic "The Incredible Shrinking Man," amid other titles.

The library works with movie studios to make sure original prints are kept safe also acquire a copy for preservation in its own vaults. 

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Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid dies at 69

Indonesia - Former Indonesian President Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, who briefly ruled during the nation's 1st tumultuous years of democracy and sought peace in far-flung secessionist provinces, died Wednesday. Abdurrahman Wahid was 69.

Abdurrahman Wahid, known fondly by his nickname Gus Dur, was a proponent of moderate Islam and democratic reformer who ultimately was unable to execute his ambitious ideas in the huge island state of 235 million people.

During nearly 2 years in power, from October 1999 to July 2001, Wahid created a broad coalition of unity among political and financial chaos in the wake of the downfall of late Dictator Suharto in 1998 after 32 years.

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JPL space telescope will get its 1st glimpse at the sky

For the 1st time since NASA's Wide-field Infrared Satellite Explorer (WISE) blasted off 2 weeks ago, the space telescope will be getting its first glimpse of the sky.

The highly-sensitive infrared telescope aboard WISE is housed in a cryostat filled with solid hydrogen that works like a thermos. Until Tuesday, this thermos had a wrap that protected it from heat from the Earth and the sun until the satellite can be launched into orbit and get its bearings.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory-managed mission has to stay extremely cool - just a few degrees over absolute zero - so that it may observe the heat coming from dim objects that may otherwise fade into the darkness of space - similar to asteroids, brown dwarfs and distant ultraluminous galaxies.

But WISE isn't being on the clock just yet. It will take another 2 weeks to get the space telescope ready to start taking images of the sky. Once it begins scientists on the mission expect it to map the whole sky in 6 months – that is a breakneck pace in astronomical terms.

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Comeback Henin eyes victorious Australian Open

Belgium's Justine Henin Tuesday said a stun Australian Open win was "possible" after her short retirement, and warned she would be a better player when she returns to the circuit next week.

"I believe I can be a better player, I believe I can use my experience more than in the past," she said. "When you are 200 % you have no time to realize it.

"You are too involved all the time, and all this time off helped me to realize everything I achieved” she added. “What I can say is I know myself much better and that's the most important thing”.

Justine Henin will play her first WTA event at next week's Brisbane International and will also play in Sydney before the Australian Open, which starts on January 18, 2010.

Asked if she can pull off victory in Melbourne, she replied, "Anything is possible. Henin has won a total of 41 WTA Tour titles and held the number 1 spot for a total of 117 weeks.

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Malawi: Gay couple arrested after marriage

2 Malawian men were arrested and charged with public indecency, police said on Tuesday, after becoming the 1st gay couple to marry in the conservative southern African state where homosexuality is prohibited.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza in public wed in a symbolic, traditional ceremony on Saturday.

"We arrested them last night at their home and charged them with gross public indecency because the practice is against the law," police spokesman, Mr. Dave Chingwalu said.

Homosexuality is prohibited in Malawi and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

Reports out of Malawi state that the 2 men were likely to face further charges and would be held awaiting further investigations have taken place.

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Yemen says may harbor up to 300 al-Qaeda suspects

Yemen's Foreign Minister Mr. Abubakr al-Qirbi said on Tuesday there can be up to 300 al Qaeda militants in his country, some of whom might be planning attacks on Western targets.

"Of course there are a number of al Qaeda operatives in Yemen and a few of their leaders. We realize this danger," he told BBC radio.

"And they may actually plan for attacks like the one we have just had in Detroit."

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, has claimed liability for Friday's attempted terror campaign of a Delta Airlines plane as it approached Detroit.

Asked to specify the accurate number of al Qaeda operatives, Abubakr al-Qirbi replied: "I can't give you really an exact figure. There are maybe 100s of them: 200, 300 - I don't have real (hard) figures."

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Actor Charlie Sheen attacked wife after she asked for divorce

It has emerged that the incident, which led to actor Charlie Sheen being in detention on Christmas day, had been triggered by his spouse asking him for a divorce. Charlie Sheen, 44, was arrested on 2 felonies and 1 misdemeanour after Brooke Mueller called cops.

As said by Radar Online, the 2 had sober minders, individuals employed to assist others with alcohol problems stay away from booze, with them in Aspen. But in spite of the presence of the sober minders, Sheen and Mueller both consumed alcohol, and after they went out to feast with their minders, they returned home and kept partying.

Mueller is said to have consumed lots of alcohol than Sheen did and they began to argue. "Brooke said to Charlie, 'I want a divorce'," Radar Online quoted a source close to the situation as saying. "She said she was leaving him for good," the resource revealed.

The source said Sheen became angry after Mueller demanded a divorce, and that was when he attacked her. Mueller now has a restraining order against Sheen because of the charges he faces.

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Sex scandal governor resigns and goes to Delhi

The governor of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) has returned to the capital Delhi after resigning following an alleged sex scandal with 3 women.

ND Tiwari, who is also a leading Congress party member, resigned after a local channel aired footage of him allegedly in bed with 3 women. ND Tiwari's office has denied the allegation, saying that the video had been doctored.

The 86-year-old ND Tiwari has been a federal minister in past governments. He resigned on "health grounds" on Saturday evening, his office believed.

Opposition parties as well as women's right groups protested in the Andhra Pradesh capital, Hyderabad, after the footage allegedly showing ND Tiwari in bed with 3 women was broadcast.

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Chinese tell British drug-smuggler Akmal Shaikh will die tomorrow

A British man under arrest in China on drug smuggling charges was told Monday is to be executed 10.30am (0230 GMT) today.

Mr. Sally Rowen, the legal director of the anti-death penalty organization Reprieve, says Chinese authorities have told Akmal Shaikh is to die Tuesday after being convicted of smuggling heroin into the country, The Times of London reported.

"He has been told this morning that he is to be executed tomorrow morning," said Mr. Sally Rowan. "I don’t know what his reaction was but I just know that he has been told. The Chinese authorities had always said they would tell him 24 hours ahead."

The newspaper said Shaikh was in detention in the western Chinese city of Urumqi while in possession of 4 kilograms, or 8.8 pounds, of heroin. It said that if the execution is carried out as planned, Shaikh would become the 1st European national to be executed in China in 50 years.

His daughter, Leilla Horsnell, told that she was not optimistic her father would stay alive. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has repetitively asked China officials for mercy in Akmal Shaikh case, reiterating that Britain opposes the death penalty. 

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Suicide bomb attack at Pakistan Shiite procession kills 30

A suicide bombard attack that targeted a procession of Shiite Muslim worshippers in Pakistan's city of Karachi on Monday killed at least 30 people and wounded over 60, a senior official said.

"At least 30 people have been killed until now in the suicide attack and 63 others have been injured," said Saghir Ahmed, provincial health minister to AFP.

Officials had previously said that 25 people died in the blast.

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Over 120 whales died on New Zealand beaches, 43 saved

More than 120 beached whales have died in 2 separate incidents in New Zealand, officials have said.

21 pilot whales that were beached on the North Island of New Zealand have been buried. Around 40 other whales in the pod were helped back out to sea by volunteers and government conservation workers in the weekend.

A separate pod of 105 long-finned pilot whales died after being marooned in a nature reserve on the South Island.

Huge numbers of whales become stranded on New Zealand's beaches every summer as they pass over on their way to breeding grounds from Antarctic waters.

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Chilli pill cuts as many calories as 80 minutes walk

LONDON: Scientists claimed to have developed a slimming pill that can burn up as many calories as 80 minutes of walk or else a 25 minute jog, while you sit. The pill Capsiplex which is made from hot peppers and capsicum, utilizes the weight-loss potential of red-hot peppers.

Chilli and capsicum help accelerate the metabolism, thus, helping people lose weight more rapidly. But, consuming these chillies or their extract in large quantities causes irritation as these are terribly hot.

The scientists overcame this crisis while developing the capsule. The pill eats up the calories with no causing any irritation, the Daily Mail reported.

Trials of the pill conducted at University of Oklahoma in U.S. showed teenagers taking Capsiplex burned off 278 more calories before, in and after a bout of exercise than those on placebos.

The pill is previously in use in the U.S. Hollywood stars like Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt and Britney Spears are known to have used the pill.

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Polanski thanks followers for their solidarity

PARIS - Movie director Roman Polanski says letters from followers that he received in a Swiss prison and while under house arrest at his Alpine chalet has been "full of comfort and reason to hope."

Roman Polanski's first public comments since his arrest September 26 at Zurich airport are in a letter transmitted to French philosopher and pal Bernard-Henri Levy who put them online Sunday at the director's ask for.

Polanski says he is "deeply moved" by the sympathy all over the world and says the solidarity has been soothing.

The 76-year-old is waiting to learn whether he will be extradited to the Unites States where he is wanted in Los Angeles (LA) for sentencing for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

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Australians evacuated as fires rage

100s of residents of a town in southern Australia are reportedly fleeing a raging wildfire which is threatening their lives and homes.

Officials advised the residents of Port Lincoln to vacate the area on Wednesday, as several houses have been destroyed by the blaze.

"We have unconfirmed reports of losses of 5 to 6 residences. There are other residential and commercial structures under threat," a Country Fire Service spokeswoman told state radio.

Officials fear that soaring heat and strong winds can spread the fire. In the meantime, another bushfire is approaching the town of Kingston in the nearby state of Victoria.

Some 173 people lost their life in fires in the same region less than a year ago. 

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ACC chosen for NASA program

Austin Community College (AAC) was one of about 20 schools nationally and the only non-university selected to take part in a NASA simulated, zero-gravity program.

The Houston-based space center Tuesday selected 28 undergraduates to perform experiments in various levels of low and no gravity. The students from schools including Yale and Auburn universities will participate in 2 experimental programs beginning summer 2010.

1 team will propose, design and test various experiments aboard an aircraft modified to simulate a reduced-gravity environment. A 2nd group will help NASA scientists and researchers engineer projects that use a reduced gravity environment to check spaceflight hardware, components and spaceflight procedures.

"Today’s students will be the ones going to the moon and beyond to live, explore and work,” said Mr. Douglas Goforth, the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This project gives them a head start in preparing for those future ventures by allowing them to carry out hands-on research and engineering today in a unique reduced-gravity laboratory.”

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Passenger plane crashes in Jamaica injuring 40

40 passengers were injured when an American Airlines jet crashed late Tuesday at Kingston’s international airport, Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz told media.

American Airlines Flight 331, carrying 148 passengers and 6 crewmembers, was en route from Miami towards Kingston, the airline confirmed to media. The airplane overshot the runway, as said by local media reports.

“The injured passengers have been taken to the Kingston Public Hospital,” Daryl Vaz told media, adding that there were no reports of victims.

Local media said the Boeing 737 plane broke in 2 after landing in heavy rain at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport at about 10:00 pm (0300 GMT Wednesday). American Airlines “will not speculate on the cause of the incident,” airline spokesman Billy Sanez said in a recorded statement.

“The plane crashed and broke almost in front of me,” passenger Naomi Palmer told the media as emergency vehicles raced to the sight.

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Twitter buys Mixer Labs to map tweeting locations

SAN FRANCISCO – Twitter is buying a startup called Mixer Labs in an effort to pinpoint the locations of people posting small messages on its service. Financial terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed.

Mixer Labs, founded by a duo of former Google employees, developed a location-tracking tool called GeoAPI. The CEO of Twitter Mr. Evan Williams thinks GeoAPI can prove helpful by showing where people are as they share what they’re seeing or experiencing.

About 58 million people all over the world use Twitter, which accommodates messages not more than 140 characters. Twitter, based in San Francisco, has raised about $155 million from investors as its 2006 inception.

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Brazil needle boy has second operation

A 2-year-old Brazilian boy has undergone a second operation to remove sewing needles pushed into his body by his stepfather.

In a 3 hour operation, surgeons took out 14 needles piercing the boy's liver, bladder and intestines. 4 needles which had come perilously close to his heart and lungs were removed last week. One further operation is still required.

Stepfather Roberto Carlos Magalhaes said he had wanted to assassinate the boy.

He said he got the boy drunk on wine before inserting the needles, up to 3 times in a month, as a way of taking revenge on his wife. The latest operation comes after Mr Magalhaes, 30, and his lover Angelina Ribeiro dos Santos were formally charged with attempted murder.

X-rays exposed some 30 needles lodged all over the child's body. A few of them are considered harmless, but 2 needles close to the boy's spinal column will be taken out in a final operation next week, a hospital spokesperson said.

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Schumacher returning to F1

7 times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is coming out of retirement to drive for the Mercedes team in 2010.The team confirmed the arrival of the 40-year-old German on Wednesday in Berlin.

Schumacher won 2 F1 driving titles with Benetton, and then claimed 5 straight titles with Ferrari from 2000 - 2004. In his career, he won 91 races in 250 starts, was on the podium 154 times and earned 68 starts from the pole position.

Schumacher retired at the closing stages of the 2006 season, and has served as a consultant for Ferrari since then. He rarely raced a motorcycle, but hurt himself in a February 2009 crash. He was going to fill in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa partway throughout the 2009 season, but pain from his motorcycle crash halted that comeback attempt.

"I’ve no doubt about my ability. My old hunger for racing is back," Schumacher said Wednesday. "For me, the imagination to be back in a F1 car and to compete for the world championship is exciting and extremely inspiring. I think the duels on the race track will be electrifying," he added.

Schumacher's colleague with Mercedes for the 2010 season will be Nico Rosberg.

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Teresa Heinz Says She’s Fighting Breast Cancer

BOSTON -- Sen. John Kerry’s wife Teresa Heinz is being treated for breast cancer.

The 71-year-old said she was diagnosed in September after her annual mammogram. Heinz had lumpectomies on both breasts in October, and again at Massachusetts General Hospital in November.

Heinz is urging younger women to continue to get mammograms -- contrary to new guidelines that recommend less frequent testing for women fewer than 50.

Teresa Heinz said she will receive radiation treatments next month.

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Drugs found in Brittany Murphy’s bedroom

As many as ten prescription drugs were found in late actress Brittany Murphy’s bedroom.Thesun.co.uk reported that unfilled bottles of pills to treat depression and anxiety were found on her bedside table.

Brittany Murphy died Sunday of a heart attack in her Los Angeles. She was reportedly taking prescription drugs for “flu-like” symptoms.

A coroner’s office official revealed that medicines in the stash were for pain relief, diabetes, anti-seizure, preventing heart attacks, and to treat bi-polar disorder.

Simon Monjack, who get married Brittany in 2007, said the star suffered from mitral valve prolapse, a heart murmur that may cause tiredness, dizziness and irregular heartbeats. But he said that it was not life-threatening and did not need medication.

A post mortem was done by the LA County Coroner Monday, but toxicology reports will be revealed after 6 weeks.

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FBI assisted authorities in Jackson probes

LOS ANGELES – A Newly released documents shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assisted local authorities in U.S. and in Britain as they investigated Michael Jackson for child molestation.

According to documents released Tuesday through a Freedom of Information Act request from The Associated Press (AP) and other media, the FBI assisted local authorities on several occasions from 1993 to 2005.

The FBI's legal office in London assisted local authorities with a child molestation probe in 1993 also in 1995 U.S. customs officials asked the FBI to analyze a VHS cassette as part of a child pornography investigation.

The files also detail an investigation in Los Angeles into extortion threats against Michael Jackson and others in 1992. The subject of that investigation pled guilty and was sentenced to jail in 1993.

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Pakistan court orders ears and noses to be cut off

A Pakistani court has ordered that 2 men have their ears and noses cut off, as punishment for doing the same to a woman who refused to get married one of them.

The 2 brothers were found guilty of kidnapping 20-year-old Fazeelat Bibi, one of their cousins, in September.

The judge in Lahore also sentenced them to life in prison. Sentence was passed on Monday below a rarely invoked Islamic law dating from the 1980s. Formerly similar sentences have been revoked on appeal.

Government prosecutor Mr. Ehtisham Qadir said the punishment had been awarded in accordance with the Islamic principle of "an eye for an eye".

"They put a noose around her neck, and then cut off her ears and nose," Mr. Ehtisham Qadir told the BBC.

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Cyclone could reach NT border

Tropical cyclone Laurence has weakened as it tracks towards central Australia however residents are still being warned to be expecting flooding from heavy rain into Wednesday morning.

According to Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the gusts up to 100km/h from the downgraded category two cyclones can reach the Northern Territory and South Australian borders on Wednesday.

Heavy rain lashed the Pilbara region in northwest WA on Tuesday night, with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) caution of flash flooding.

"Very heavy rainfall has been reported in the Yarrie Station area and upstream due to Cyclone Laurence," a FESA statement said on Tuesday night.

"Heavy rainfall has continued in the catchment and more is expected all night above Warrawagine Station, including the Oakover River catchment." About 150mm of rain was expected to fall on the east Pilbara region, the BoM said.

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Arnold Stang, actor known for nerdy roles, dies

Arnold Stang, a radio, theater, film and television actor well-known for his nerdy looks and demeanor, has died.

David, son of Arnold Stang says he died of pneumonia Sunday at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. He was 91.

The New York City native started his career on the radio as a youngster. He played alongside Milton Berle in the 1950s, starred as Frank Sinatra's sidekick in the 1955 movie "The Man with the Golden Arm," and was an associate of the ensemble comedic cast of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" in the year 1963.

Arnold Stang voiced the lead character in the 1960s cartoon "Top Cat," and continued comedy and drama roles into his 80s.

Arnold Stang, who had lived in the Boston suburb of Needham for the past decade, is survived by his wife of 60 years, JoAnne; son, David; and daughter, Deborah.

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Barcelona’s Messi named World Player of the Year

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named the World Footballer for the Year 2009.

The Argentina international went one better than his runner-up placing in both 2007 and 2008 and managed to turn the tables on former Manchester United and present Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo who beat him to the title last season.

The 22-year old helped Barcelona to 6 trophies previous season including the UEFA Champions League and edged past Cristiano Ronaldo with teammate Xavi and Brazilian midfielder Kaka to take the award at a ceremony in Zurich.

Messi said: "I am extremely happy. We have just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we have won every competition we have played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It's amazing."

Messi adds the award to the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year also the Ballon d’Or among many others he has snared in 2009.

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Israel: First Jesus-era house found in Nazareth

NAZARETH, Israel- Days before Christmas, Israeli archaeologists say they have uncovered remains of the first dwelling in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus.

They say the find sheds a new light on what Nazareth could have been like in Jesus' time - maybe a small hamlet with about 50 houses populated by poor Jews.

Archaeologist Yardena Alexandre of the Israel Antiquities Authority says remains of a wall, a hideout as well as a cistern were found after builders dug up an old convent courtyard in the northern Israeli city.

Yardena Alexandre told reporters on Monday that archeologists also found clay and chalk vessels used by Galilean Jews of the time - an indication the home belongs to a "simple Jewish family."

She also says that it is likely Jesus and his childhood friends would have known the house.

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Philippines' Mayon Volcano to explode 'within days'

The warning comes after 1000s of people were evacuated from their homes in central Albay province. Reports said about 85 % of the area's populace were now living in emergency shelters. A no-go zone established around Mayon volcano has also been expanded to 6 miles from the base.

The Philippines' military was policing the danger zone to make sure no one was left behind and no one tries to return. Experts have raised the alert level to 4 - which means an explosion is expected within the next few days.

The country's chief vulcanologist, Renato Solidum, said above 450 volcanic tremors had been detected over a 12-hour period on Saturday. He added that rumbling sounds had been heard at the volcano's base.

"What we’re preparing for is a hazardous eruption and a quick descent of pyroclastic ashflow," Mr Solidum told reporters.Mayon has erupted 48 times in recorded history, with the previous happening in 2006.

Nobody was killed in the explosion, but ash that settled on the mountain turned to mud during a typhoon 3 months later. The resulting mudslide killed some 1,000 villagers.

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World's thinnest LCD just 2.6mm thick

SOUTH Korea's LG Display says it has developed the world's thinnest LCD television panel, measuring 2.6 mm (millimeters).

The company, the world's 2nd largest maker of liquid crystal displays (LCD), said the panel uses an ultra-slim, edge-lit light emitting diode backlight system along with proprietary optical film technology.

It said in a statement the 107cm panel weighs less than 4 kilograms, making it ideal for wall-mounted TVs.

LG Display said it will showcase the product at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas early next year.

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Death camp Auschwitz sign found, 5 charged

POLISH police have recovered the metal sign that hung above the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz and detained 5 men suspected of the theft that sparked worldwide condemnation, the state news channel said.

The sign, which reads "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work makes you free"), was cut into 3 pieces after being stolen on Friday, the broadcaster reported.

The motivation for the theft was not immediately known.

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Actress Brittany Murphy dies in LA at age 32

LOS ANGELES - The sudden death of 32-year-old Brittany Murphy, who gained fame in such movies as "8 Mile" and "Just Married," appeared to be from natural causes but police are investigating, officials said.

Murphy died about 10 a.m. Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, as said by the hospital.

She was taken to the medical center after the 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 actually collapsed in the bathroom, and authorities were looking into Murphy medical history.

Born November 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy grew up in New Jersey and later on moved with her mother to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

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NASA sets next shuttle launch date

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA on Friday scheduled the launch date for the next space shuttle mission.

The scheduled date for the explosion of Shuttle Endeavour is on February 7.

The shuttle will deliver the final module of the U.S. portion to the international space station.

Endeavour's flight will commence the final year of space shuttle operations.

5 shuttle missions are planned in 2010, with the final flight currently targeted for launch in September.

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Teen dies while scuba diving

Police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old boy after he apparently drowned at Tatapouri Beach close to Gisborne.

The youngster from Hastings had been scuba diving with a family member as the drowning occurred around 6pm last evening.

Police say the youngster was brought to shore in a boat and attended to by ambulance staff, but he had already died.

More details will be released once next of kin have been advised.

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Michael Phelps in 3 races for Duel in Pool finale

Micheal Phelps will compete in 3 events for the U.S. as it looks to complete its Duel in the Pool triumph over a European team.

The Americans won 11 out of 14 events Friday to lead the Europeans 89-33 at the halfway point of the short-course contest at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

Later Saturday, Michael Phelps will compete in the 200m freestyle, the 200m butterfly and the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Shunning the soon-to-be-banned high-tech suits, Phelps holds the victory in 100m butterfly and helped the U.S. medley relay team to break the world record on Friday. But he finished third in the 100m freestyle.

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All kids must read the Bible - federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says

BIBLE classes must be compulsory so children have a fundamental understanding of Christianity on leaving school, Tony Abbott says.

"I think each one should have some familiarity with the great texts that are at the core of our civilization," said Tony Abbott, the Federal Opposition leader. "That includes, most importantly, the Bible.” I think it would be impossible to have a good general education without at least some serious familiarity with the Bible and with the teachings of Christianity. "That doesn't mean that people have to be believers."

However ex- Howard government Islamic advisor Dr Ameer Ali, said Mr Abbott's remarks were "over the top". "It's one thing to say all children need a good knowledge of history and geography or science," Dr Ali said.

"But it’s something else to say all children should have knowledge of the Bible. That may hurt other people who have their own holy scriptures," he added. Australian Education Union's federal president, Angelo Gavrielatos, said that religion was not a priority for schools.

"There is a place for comparative studies of religion in the curriculum, but eventually we consider it a private matter for parents and their children," he added.

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Jackson's 'Captain EO' to return to Disneyland

LOS ANGELES – "Captain EO" is moonwalking back to Disneyland.

The theme park announced plans Friday to get back the 3-D sci-fi film starring Michael Jackson next February, above 23 years after the attraction debuted in Anaheim, Calif. The 17-minute film starred the late King of Pop as a singing-and-dancing intergalactic commander. This 17-minute film wad directed by Francis Ford Coppola and executive produced by George Lucas.

In the film, Michael Jackson leads a goofy alien and robot crew as they battle a wicked queen played by Anjelica Huston. "Captain EO" originally opened in Disneyland's Tommorrowland in the year 1986 and ran for more than a decade. Identical versions later opened at other Disney theme parks. They were all closed by 1998.

Michael Jackson died June 25 at age 50.

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'Tree Man' says growths returning

The Indonesian man known as 'Tree Man' is still combating the bark-like warts that cover his whole body. Dede Koswara underwent a surgery in August this year to remove the growths, which are believed to be an extreme case of the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV.

Surprising images of Koswara's body first emerged in 2007 - his hands and his feet was worst affected by the scaly warts. Doctors were puzzled by him but eventually pinpointed the problem - he has a rare genetic condition that prevents his body fighting HPV.

During surgery this year over 6 kilogram’s of warts were removed from his body, giving him a few chances at a normal life. Instead of being hampered by his unrecognizable 'tree' hands, he was able to hold small objects and even go fishing.

His mother still helps him to bathe and eat.” Those that were removed are growing yet again and started to reappear after I returned home," Dede Koswara said from his home in West Java.

While it seems Koswara will always suffer from the aggressive warts, doctors believe with 2 operations a year, he must enjoy a better quality of life.

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Second dengue strain prompts health fears

Health authorities are very much concerned about the outbreak of a second strain of dengue fever in north Queensland. Queensland Health (QH) says the dengue fever strains one and three are now circulating in Townsville.

That is of great fear to doctors who say people who have had dengue fever before are at a greater risk of developing potentially fatal complications from a second dose. Until now, 11 people have tested positive to locally-acquired dengue in Townsville.

Queensland Health says tests now show nine of those are dengue one whereas the remaining two are dengue three. Test results from more potential dengue cases are supposed to be known today.

Work is continuing to found if the dengue three strains now circulating is the same as the one that led to an epidemic earlier this year.

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Twitter briefly blocked by hackers

NEW YORK – Hackers briefly blocked access to the well-known Internet messaging service Twitter, steering traffic to another site where a group reportedly calling itself the "Iranian Cyber Army" claimed responsibility.

Users trying to reach Twitter early on Friday were redirected to a Web page that CNN reported had a picture of a green flag and a message that said, "This website has been hacked by the Iranian Cyber Army."

There was no evidence the hackers are actually linked to Iran. Web sites like Facebook and Twitter helped bring attention to the Iranian opposition in the country's crackdown after its June elections, with users posting minute-by-minute updates and amateur video.

Twitter later on Friday posted a message on its blog that said its Domain Name Systems' records "were temporarily compromised but have now been fixed." The site says it will update with more details "once we have investigated more fully."

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Suspected Somalia pirates freed by Dutch navy

A group of suspected Somali pirates seized on a Dutch warship has been released because no country has agreed to prosecute them.

According to a statement by the Dutch defence ministry the European Union had decided that the 13 detainees had to be freed as it was unfeasible to bring charges.

The suspects were detained in the Indian Ocean two weeks ago after allegedly attempting to attack a cargo ship.

They were put back on their own speedboat with some foodstuff and fuel.

They had been on board the Dutch warship Evertsen since early December after they were tracked down following the alleged attack on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo ship MV BBC Togo failed.

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RYAN GIGGS signed a fresh one-year contract with Manchester United.

The Old Trafford legend's present deal was due to end in the summer but Sir Alex Ferguson has rewarded the midfielder for various outstanding performances this term. Giggs in recent times named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and joked he would bring the trophy with him into the contract negotiations.

However, there was little doubt the 36-year-old would extend his distinguished stay with his only club as he continues to impress with his form and fitness.

"I am delighted that I have agreed one more year," said Giggs. "I’ am enjoying my football more than ever and I’ am looking forward to hopefully winning more trophies with Manchester United."

Ferguson feels the evergreen veteran can go on playing until 2012. "Ryan Giggs deserves a new contract and I’ am sure that he will play for another two years," said Ferguson.

"His form is incredible at the moment and he is playing some of his best football."

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Hackers steal South Korean-US military secrets

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea’s military says a suspected cyber attack that netted top secret defense plans may have been carried out by North Korea.

As said by a Defense Ministry spokesman, the suspected hacking occurred late last month. He says a South Korean officer failed to remove a USB device when he switched a military computer from a restricted-access intranet to the Internet. The USB device is said to have contained an outline of plans for military operations by South Korean and U.S. troops in case of war on the Korean peninsula.

Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said the stolen document was not a complete text of the operational plans, but an 11 page file used to brief military officials. He said it did not hold any critical information.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that Pyongyang may have used a Chinese IP address—the Web equivalent of a street address or phone number.

The most recent case comes months after hackers launched high-profile cyber attacks on prominent government-run sites in the U.S. and South Korea.

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