Maine man pleads not guilty to threatening Obama (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? A Maine man convicted of threatening the state's governor has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he threatened to kill President Barack Obama in a letter sent from prison last year, his attorney said on Tuesday.

Leroy Dunn, 30, of Hampden wrote in a letter to Obama last April that he planned to kill the president and "make your wife a widow," said Dunn's attorney, Stephen Smith.

The letter was sent from a prison in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where Dunn was serving a three-year sentence on drug charges and for threatening Maine Governor Paul LePage in a separate letter, he said.

Smith said his client, who is more than 7 feet tall, suffers from "significant mental health issues" as well as from Marfan syndrome, an inherited tissue disorder whose sufferers are prone to heart problems and are typically unusually tall.

"It's our contention that the issues with President Obama resulted from some medication changes as opposed to any personal animus," he said, adding that Dunn had been in and out of prison his entire life. "We're having him evaluated by a private psychologist."

Dunn entered the plea on Monday in federal court in Bangor. He faces one count of threatening the president, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Daniel Lovering; Editing By Barbara Goldberg and Greg McCune)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120131/us_nm/us_crime_obama_maine

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Rick Santorum's Daughter Hospitalized; Duggar Family Fills in For Candidate on Campaign Trail

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum's daughter Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Trisomy 18, was hospitalized over the weekend.

Santorum left the presidential campaign trail in Florida to be with his three-year-old daughter Bella, the youngest of the former U.S. Senator's seven children.

Bella was admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Saturday but has since made a "miraculous turnaround," according to sources close to the candidate.

Rick Santorum’s 20-year-old daughter, Liz, appeared on his behalf in Sarasota, Fla., giving a brief speech to a crowd of about 250 at an airplane hangar.

"My dad wishes he could be here today," she said, according to The Palm Beach Post. "My dad today is exercising his most important role; being a dad."

Santorum also received some help from supporters Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, who spoke at campaign events on his behalf.

The Florida primary is tomorrow.

Rick, who is lagging in polls behind Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, "intends to return to Florida and resume the campaign schedule as soon as possible."

Santorum often has spoken about how he never expected Bella to live to her first birthday, which would not be a stretch for a child born with Trisomy 18.

Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder that kills about 90 percent of children before or during birth and those that do live past birth suffer serious symptoms.

Children with Trisomy 18 have an extra copy of chromosome 18, which causes symptoms like clenched hands, low birth weight and mental deficiency.

Here's wishing Bella, Rick, his wife Karen and all their children all the best in what has to be a tremendously difficult time for the Santorum family.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/daughter-of-rick-santorum-hospitalized-duggar-family-fills-in-on/

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Former Haiti dictator to receive judge's ruling (AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ? A Haitian judge says he has finished his investigation of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier but is not ready to publicly reveal his conclusion.

Magistrate Carves Jean says he must still notify the former leader known as "Baby Doc" of the results of his yearlong investigation into whether Duvalier can face trial on charges dating back to his 15-year rule in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jean's ruling must also be reviewed by the country's attorney general before it becomes public. He spoke to reporters outside court Monday.

Duvalier is accused of corruption and human rights violations before he was ousted in a popular uprising and forced into exile. His lawyers have argued that the statute of limitations has expired.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_duvalier

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Sumerian gold jar, other relics returned to Iraq (Reuters)

BAGHDAD (Reuters) ? A 6,500-year-old Sumerian gold jar, the head of a Sumerian battle axe and a stone from an Assyrian palace were among 45 relics returned to Iraq by Germany on Monday.

The items were among thousands stolen from Iraq's museums and archeological sites in the mayhem that followed the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The tiny gold jar, dating to 4,500 BC, the bronze axe head, clay tablets bearing cuneiform script, a metal amulet and other artifacts were seized by German police at public auctions and turned over to Iraqi officials in a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Alexander Schonfelder, deputy head of the German diplomatic mission in Iraq, said German law dictated that any artifacts taken from Iraq after 1990 should be returned.

"This means that the German government has the right to confiscate them and that is what we have done, and given them back to Iraq," Schonfelder said.

Some 15,000 artifacts were thought to have been looted from the Iraqi National Museum and thousands more from archeological sites since the start of the 2003 war.

Up to than 10,000 of the National Museum pieces are still missing, said Amira Eidan, general director of the museum.

Iraq, which the ancient Greeks called Mesopotamia or "land between two rivers" because of its Tigris and Euphrates, is regarded by archaeologists as the cradle of civilization.

Many believe it gave birth to such milestones of human development as agriculture, codified law and the wheel.

In recent years the Iraqi government has slowly reassembled some of the country's lost history.

Last September officials announced the recovery of the headless statue of a Sumerian king and more than 500 other pieces. Two weeks later the National Museum found 600 missing items stashed in a storeroom of the prime minister's office.

In December 2008, Iraqi authorities seized 228 artifacts that smugglers planned to take out of the country.

"We are heading in coming months to retrieve Iraqi artifacts from Britain, from the United States of America, and Canada ... we will follow Iraq's antiquities wherever they are," said Abbas al-Quraishi, head of Iraq's artifact retrieval department.

(Reporting by Aseel Kami; Editing by Jim Loney)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/stage_nm/us_iraq_artefacts

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Tiger Woods shoots 66 to share lead in Abu Dhabi

Tiger Woods from U.S., right, shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole after they finished the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S., right, shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole after they finished the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. plays a ball on the 16th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. plays a ball in sand on the 17th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. reacts on the 2nd hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Thorbjorn Olesen from Denmark tees off in front of a billboard of a camel caravan on the 15th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Tiger Woods put himself in position to win his second straight tournament Saturday, and this one would leave little doubt about which direction his game is going.

He finally won two months ago against an 18-man field in California.

On Saturday, against the strongest field golf has seen in at least three months, Woods shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Robert Rock going into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The topic suddenly shifts from the state of his swing and his health. Woods has a 55-8 record worldwide when he has at least a share of the lead going into the final round, and a win would be the first time since August 2009 that he has won consecutive starts.

More than being atop the leaderboard, it's how Woods got there.

"It's fun when I'm able to control the golf ball like I did," Woods said.

There wasn't a lot of fist-pumping from Woods, who traded drama for consistency, racking up six birdies in a bogey-free round. It was a memorable performance by the American, mostly for his ability to hit fairways, tame the par 5s and sink clutch putts ? including a 6-footer for birdie on the final hole.

"It just seemed like I didn't do a lot of things right but I didn't do a lot of things wrong today, it was just very consistent," Woods said. "You know, made a couple putts here and there. ... I stayed away from trouble and tried to keep the ball towards the fat side of some of these pins, and I think I did a pretty good job."

Woods finished at 11-under 205. Rock, at No. 117 in the world, birdied his final two holes to join Woods in the last group along with Peter Hanson, who had a 64 and was two shots behind.

Also two back at 9-under 207 were Rory McIlroy, who played with Woods for the third straight day and had a 68, keeping the No. 3 player very much in the picture.

Francesco Molinari (66) and Paul Lawrie (68) also were tied for third. George Coetzee (65), James Kingston (67), overnight leader Thorbjorn Olesen (71) and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (69) were another shot back.

The two-month break did little to slow Woods' progress. This was the first time in 20 months ? dating to The Players Championship in 2010 ? that he broke par in the opening three rounds of any tournament. It was his lowest score since a 66 in the second round of the Masters last year, and his first time atop the leaderboard in a full-field event since he won the Australian Masters in November 2009.

Woods was two shots back after the second round, but started climbing up the leaderboard Saturday with an opening birdie, followed by another on No. 7. He stepped up his game on the back nine and grabbed a share of the lead after he just missed an eagle putt on 10 and settled for a birdie. He briefly took the outright lead with a birdie on 14.

The crowd of several hundred cheered every birdie, with some yelling "Tiger's back."

Woods refused to talk about his chances of winning, saying there were too many players within striking distance.

"There's a ton of guys with a chance to win," Woods said. "I can't go out there and shoot even par and expect to win. I've got to go out there and go get it."

Rock, who got his first European Tour win last year in Italy in a playoff with Sergio Garcia, admitted he was star-struck at the prospect of teeing off alongside Woods, calling him "the best guy I've ever seen play golf."

Rock was just one of several players who challenged Woods for the lead after overnight leader Olesen fell back.

Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, showed some of the form he displayed when he finished second at the Dubai World Championship in December. He strung together birdies on 10 and 11 to tie Woods for the lead, fell back with bogeys on 14 and 17 and then recovered to birdie the 18th.

Molinari and Hanson also bounced back from opening round 74s to move into contention. Molinari had five birdies on his back nine, while the 47th-ranked Swede had eight birdies in his round ? including three on the last five holes ? in a bogey-free round to finish with the lowest score of the day.

U.S. Open champion McIlroy also is still in the mix, a day after he had two double bogeys, including on the 9th when he was penalized for brushing away sand in front of his ball. He only had one bogey to go with five birdies Saturday, but the 22-year-old Northern Irishman was forced to scramble several times to save par, including on the 18th when an errant drive went into nearby rocks and almost into a pond.

"I definitely felt today was a lot better than yesterday," McIlroy said. "So hopefully I can just keep that going tomorrow and maybe get off to a fast start and put pressure on the guys in front of me."

Top-ranked Luke Donald (73) is 11 shots behind Woods, with No. 2-ranked Lee Westwood (68) seven off the lead.

Any victory would bolster Woods' claims that work with coach Sean Foley has successfully revamped his swing with a better trajectory on his shots. The process sputtered early on but his body is now "remembering these positions, because this is what I used to be when I was a kid."

"And that's one of the things that Sean showed me, some video stuff when I was much younger, back in my teenage years," Woods said. "He was like, 'It's amazing, we need to get back there. That's where you play some pretty good golf.' I said, 'Yeah, you're right. I did'."

___

Follow Michael Casey on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mcasey1

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-28-GLF-Abu-Dhabi-Championship/id-c2ab2ef7f1ec4fad8b36958890fef975

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Getting Weird (talking-points-memo)

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Car makers support Calif.'s new 'clean car' regs

Map shows states that have adopted California clean car standards

Map shows states that have adopted California clean car standards

FILE - In this June 28, 2011 file photo, other autos are reflected in the curved bumper of a Toyota Prius hybrid auto bearing California DMV decals in Los Angeles. California is poised to vote on new rules that would require automakers to build cars and trucks by 2025 that emit about three-quarters less smog producing pollutants and also mandate that one of every seven new cars sold in the state be a zero emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle. The California Air Resources Board will begin hearing testimony Thursday, Jan. 26. 2012 in Los Angeles on its ?Advanced Clean Car? program, and is expected to continue on Friday. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

FILE - In this Thursday, May 26, 2011 file photo, a motorcyclist rides between lanes as traffic backs up on US highway 101 before the start of the Memorial Day weekend in Mill Valley, Calif. California is poised to vote on new rules that would require automakers to build cars and trucks by 2025 that emit about three-quarters less smog producing pollutants and also mandate that one of every seven new cars sold in the state be a zero emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle. The California Air Resources Board will begin hearing testimony Thursday, Jan. 26. 2012 in Los Angeles on its ?Advanced Clean Car? program, and is expected to continue on Friday. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

FILE - Traffic jams up on eastbound 91 freeway near Corona, Calif. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. California is poised to vote on new rules that would require automakers to build cars and trucks by 2025 that emit about three-quarters less smog producing pollutants and also mandate that one of every seven new cars sold in the state be a zero emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle. The California Air Resources Board will begin hearing testimony Thursday, Jan. 26. 2012 in Los Angeles on its ?Advanced Clean Car? program, and is expected to continue on Friday. (AP Photo/Orange County Register, Bruce Chambers) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Automakers expressed qualified support for California's proposed rules to require carmakers to build more electric and other less-polluting hybrid cars and trucks by 2025.

Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday in support of new emissions standards during a meeting of California Air Resources Board.

The board is scheduled to resume hearing testimony on the regulations ? which would require that vehicles emit about 75 percent less smog-producing pollutants ? on Friday morning in Los Angeles.

The new standards also include big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and would begin with new cars sold in 2015, and get increasingly more stringent until 2025. The rules also mandate that one of every seven new cars sold in 2025 in the state be a zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols said she hopes the rules lead "the nation and the world."

"We can't afford to wait. We have to act on these issues now," she said at the panel's meeting. "Our projections show continued growth in population and vehicle miles traveled, which will affect air quality for years to come."

The overall goal of the state is to have 1.4 million zero-emission and plug-in hybrids on California roads by 2025. But the program also looks ahead to 2050, laying groundwork for a goal of having 87 percent of the state's fleet of new vehicles fueled by electricity, hydrogen fuel cells or other clean technologies.

Yet the rules provide some flexibility for automakers by giving them the ability to claim credits toward the zero-emission mandates if the company's other models exceed the federal greenhouse gas emissions mandates. These credits could be applied toward those zero-emission vehicle mandates in 2018 through 2021.

However, this aspect of the plan was not supported by many of the U.S. car makers like Ford, Chrysler and GM, who said it could result in hundreds of thousands of mandated electric and other clean vehicles being taken off the road in that time period, hurting the emerging market.

"This greenhouse gas over-compliance provision runs counter to the goals of the zero-emission vehicle mandates," said Robert Babick, speaking on behalf of GM. "We don't see how this provision makes the program better."

Industry groups representing auto dealers worried that the new regulations will increase the costs of vehicles for consumers and stifle the industry's growth.

Other states often adopt California's smog emissions standards because they are stricter than federal ones.

Fourteen states, including Washington, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, have adopted the state's current emissions goals, which is why the new regulations could have a wide-ranging effect. Of those states, 10 also adopted the zero-emission vehicle standards.

But the California New Car Dealers Association and other industry groups representing those who sell cars said the board is overestimating consumer demand for electric vehicles and other so-called "zero-emission vehicles."

Some dealer groups have estimated that $3,200 would be added to the average cost of a car because of the required technological changes, and that consumers have been slow to adopt them.

Jonathan Morrison, of the state dealers' association, said car retailers are supportive of new technologies that are accepted by their customers, but said the acceptance of electric and other vehicles has been slow.

"Consumers do not make purchasing decisions based upon regulatory mandates," he said.

The board's research staff disputes those estimates and says increases in hybrid and other sales continue to rise as more cars hit the market. They argue that fuel cost savings will make up for any vehicle price increase.

"Our research shows a $1,400 to $1,900 car price increase. But over the life of the vehicles, the owners save $6,000 in reduced fuel and maintenance costs," board spokesman David Clegern said.

One of the nation's foremost consumer groups, the Consumers' Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, supports the regulations.

The rules will "protect consumers by encouraging the development of cleaner, more efficient cars that save families money, help reduce the American economy's vulnerability to oil price shocks and reduce harmful air pollution," according to a letter from the group.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-27-California%20Clean%20Car%20Standards/id-2aa0543e99a44fd5938da6184b829889

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Top Line: What the Gingrich/Romney dead heat means for the GOP race (The Ticket)

Above, watch ABC's Amy Walter and Rick Klein, and Yahoo! News' David Chalian weigh in on the critical Florida race.

Other popular Yahoo! News stories:

? New polls show Gingrich and Romney in dead heat in Florida

? Ron Paul action figures! The best, worst and weirdest swag of the 2012 campaign

? Republicans vow to protect high school dropouts from Barack Obama

Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add us on Tumblr.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20120126/el_yblog_theticket/top-line-what-the-gingrichromney-dead-heat-means-for-the-gop-race

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The Fink?s Royal Rumble Memories: 2008-2011

The Royal Rumble has been one of WWE?s most unusual and unpredictable events. From what I would call the ?best seat in the house,? I?ve witnessed - and on many occasions introduced - a number of defining occurrences through the years. Therefore, as we celebrate the 25th edition of this long-running WWE staple on Jan. 29, WWE.com revisits some of the magical moments that took place over the past 24 Royal Rumbles - some from the Royal Rumble Matches themselves, others?from clashes that took place in?the titularly named pay-per-view?event.

?

CENA'S TRIUMPHANT RETURN
1/25/08 ? New York, N.Y.
For a second consecutive year, the individual who drew entry No. 30 went right into the heat of battle and emerged as the winner of the Royal Rumble Match. To add further icing to the cake, John Cena was entrant No. 30, and made a successful return to action after recovering from a severe pectoral injury that forced him to relinquish his WWE Championship only months before.

SANTINO'S MOMENT ... LITERALLY
1/26/09 ? Detroit, Mich.
You have the opportunity of a lifetime in front of you. Enter the Royal Rumble Match, withstand the competition, win it, then go onto WrestleMania for either a WWE or World Championship Match. On this occasion, however, the popular Santino Marella found out that achieving this lifelong dream in such a match can also turn into a record-shattering, nightmarish instant.

FIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
1/27/10 - Atlanta, Ga.
A unique aspect of the Royal Rumble Match is the element of a surprise entrant. More times than none, when that individual enters the event, the word bearing follows. Such was the case in Gate City, as The Glamazon Beth Phoenix became the second Diva in WWE history to enter the fray ? and in the process eliminated The Great Khali!

?

THE EDGE GOES TO EDGE
1/28/11 ? Boston, Mass.
A very intense, personal issue building on Friday Night SmackDown set the stage for a one-on-one encounter between Edge and Dolph Ziggler. And in one of his final pay-per-view matches, The Rated-R Superstar would successfully defend his World Heavyweight Championship against the brash, cocky Ziggler and his personal Cougar, Vickie Guerrero.

?

MORE ROYAL RUMBLE MEMORIES: 1988-1992 | 1992-1997 | 1998-2002 | 2003-2007

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/2012/finkel-royal-rumble-21-24

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Oil above $100 as Fed vows to keep key rate low (AP)

BANGKOK ? Oil rose above $100 a barrel Thursday in Asia after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates at record lows at least until 2014 to help jump-start the world's biggest economy.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was up 71 cents at $100.11 a barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose by 45 cents to finish at $99.40 per barrel in New York on Wednesday. At one point it was as high as $100.40.

Brent crude for March delivery was up 88 cents at $110.69 a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange in London.

The U.S. central bank, which has kept its benchmark interest rate near zero for three years, said Wednesday that it doesn't plan to raise the rate before late 2014.

That caused the dollar to turn lower against major currencies, which makes dollar-priced oil less expensive for holders of other currencies.

"That would mean the U.S. dollar would continue to be cheap versus other currencies, and there is typically an inverse correlation between the value of the dollar and commodity pricing," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst at consultancy Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.

"So oil prices are supported by the Federal Reserve statement," he said.

But other analysts saw room for oil prices to fall.

Leaving rates low would encourage businesses and consumers to borrow money cheaply, boosting the economy and leading to higher oil demand. But the Fed also "telegraphed its concern regarding U.S. economic growth ... which is intuitively bearish for oil," said energy trader and consultant The Schork Group.

In other Nymex trading, heating oil rose 2.8 cents to $3.04 per gallon and gasoline futures gained 1.7 cents at $2.86 per gallon. Natural gas advanced 2.4 cents to $2.75 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices

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Newt's Make Or Break Moment In Florida (ABC News)

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Gaultier channels Winehouse, stars shop for Oscars (AP)

PARIS ? The final day of Paris's spring-summer haute couture week saw Jean Paul Gaultier serve up a cigarettes-and-all homage to late singer Amy Winehouse and Valentino show off the dazzling couture work of seamstresses who toiled for thousands of hours to create a lavish white collection.

Lebanese designer Elie Saab produced a fairy tale blockbuster, drawing in Hollywood stars sizing up dresses for Oscar season. But the show also highlighted the importance of the Middle East and Asia in couture finance: Bollywood actresses mixed alongside Arab and Chinese buyers at his show.

Wednesday marked the official debut for couture's first-ever Chinese-born designer: Yiqing Yin, in what was an accomplished and imaginative collection of shaved fur and asymmetrical draping. The couturier's presence on the highly restricted calendar might demonstrate the relaxing of couture rules ? for decades the realm of mainly the Europe-born. Since last year, couture collections have also been shown in Singapore.

With some Western countries facing renewed recession, the apparent opening up might seem business-minded. Many of Yin's clients are from China ? now the world's second economy.

ELIE SAAB

Elie Saab stole into the tower and gave Rapunzel a gift to dazzle any passing prince ? a new gown that shimmers royally.

Models with long rope-like ponytails in luminous shantung silk gowns blossomed at Wednesday's showing of the Lebanese designer's collection.

The show was made up almost exclusively of delicate ball gowns, painted with pastels. Some other collections were heavy on greens, but this time Saab gave the color a full-blown crowning. Sea and pale green full-length gowns danced regally with flower paillettes.

One sweeping sea green robe in tulle embroidered with sequins featured a plunging decollete and dramatic double skirts.

Judging by the front row turnout, you could guess the Oscars are around the corner, along with the quest for best gown.

The designer's lavish show was a natural choice for stars eyeing up potentials ? like Berenice Bejo, basking in the attention gained by her nomination for best supporting actress for "The Artist."

"I love Elie Saab. It's so beautiful," Bejo said of the fairy tale dresses. "I wear him all the time."

Shimmering green would be a good match with the Oscars red carpet.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

It was back to black for Jean Paul Gaultier whose collection Wednesday was an ode to the life, style and smoking-habits of late music star Amy Winehouse.

Like the British singer ? who died at age 27 last year ? the show's concept was hard-edged femininity, dressed up with Gaultier's signature touch of androgyny.

To a barbershop rendition of Winehouse's songs, the creations channeled her eccentric mix of floaty silhouettes, silk nightgowns and tight bustiers.

Yards of revealing lace, corsets, huge beehive hair and, of course, the iconic pointy bra, including one with inset crystals, dazzled spectators.

In the front row, French icon Catherine Deneuve, who appeared in lingerie in the film "Belle de Jour," seemed to enjoy it.

Bustiers in black and white with impossibly small waists and fitted short dresses in satin were combined with Teddy Boy jackets and dark masculine lapels. A floaty silhouette would be reined in by a rock-and-roll belt, waistcoats hung down over exposed bras, and lace covered reptile skin garments.

Gaultier confessed backstage that although he had never met the star, their "styles had always been similar."

But the designer still had his eye on the trends: one beautiful full circle dress in pink tulle and black lace ensured the show kept pace with the in-vogue 1950s shapes that have filled the catwalk this season.

In the finale, all the models filed past in sweeping black silk veils, a bittersweet statement for a show (and life) filled with fun.

YIQING YIN

She-wolves whimpered as designer Yiqing Yin introduced the svelte world of their more glamorous cousins, the she-foxes.

The pack of journalists ensured the heat was on for the Chinese-born couturier to impress in her first official haute couture showing.

And Yin didn't fail: introducing a new fascinating couture technique of fox fur shaving ? alongside a skilled demonstration of embroidery and her signature draping.

Patchy silver and blue frost fox fur was meshed onto tulle in several pieces, serving as a second skin next to sexily exposed bare flesh.

A raw elemental mood defined the show.

In one top, silk and metal gauze blurred the face of a fierce old man sculpted in sisal netting, as if tousled by wind.

Ice swept through another piece: a sparkling jacket, embroidered with Swarovski crystals.

At one point, the young designer had the audience gasping in delight, or perhaps for breath, when a model in a full body veil of powder blue silk with assorted skirts appeared like a giant air bubble.

The designer still has a lot to prove, but this collection might have blown her some of the way.

VALENTINO

Is life just a dream? It certainly seemed to be in the diaphanous, white and haunting spring-summer collection from Valentino that ended Paris' haute couture week.

Models in sparkling lace choker collars and long smocked taffeta dresses appeared like ghosts, floating through the show's neoclassical venue.

For fans of couture, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's creations were an instant hit. But they weren't the real stars of the show.

The program notes ensured that the "petites mains" ? the old Italian seamstresses, many of whom have been with the house for decades ? were credited.

One strapless gown with embroidered beads and adornments, it read, took 850 hours to make. Another 1,200 hours. Even without that detail, it didn't fail to astonish revelers as it swept past with its long train.

A full dress in soft-white invisible tulle was perfected with small lace gloves that wrapped around just two fingers.

The show's only downside was its dependence on white ? something that was broken up in the last spring-summer collection with flashes of scarlet.

"Yes, there is no red, and it was a complete accident," said Chiuri in a strong Italian accent. "I woke up this morning and realized: Oh dear, I forgot the red!"

Paris' ready-to-wear fall-winter collections begin on February 28.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_en_ot/eu_france_fashion_day3

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Factbox: Reactions from leading Oscar nominees (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards on Tuesday. The winners will be named at the annual Oscars ceremony in Hollywood on February 26.

Following is a list of reactions from nominees, received by Reuters in statements via e-mail, except as noted below.

-- "It's an honor to be nominated a second time, it is a personal accomplishment and triumph for women and women of color. I'm so glad the film has been recognized, it was a labor of love from the moment it was conceived and it is rewarding to see the impact it is having." -- Viola Davis, best actress nominee for "The Help."

-- "I am thrilled and shocked." -- Gary Oldman, best actor nominee for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." (By phone to Reuters)

-- "I am honored to be in company with such beautiful artists, and touched deeply by my fellow actors for their generosity in giving me this acknowledgment." -- Meryl Streep, best actress nominee for "The Iron Lady."

-- "This is an extraordinary honor. I am dizzy with joy... and caffeine. Considering both films, Moneyball and The Tree of Life, nearly didn't make it to the screen, this is especially sweet. And I'd like to thank all the artisans and craftsmen who gave their best to each film. I am especially over the moon for Jonah (and the other Moneyballers acknowledged today), Terry Malick and the tribute this is to Billy Beane and the Oakland A's organization. My congratulations to all the nominees ... pancakes for everyone." -- Brad Pitt, best actor nominee for "Moneyball."

-- "I am so grateful to be acknowledged by the Academy for my work, which was made possible by the support of our director Simon Curtis and the camaraderie of a terrific ensemble of actors - a special congratulations to Kenneth Branagh - and the fearless Harvey Weinstein. This role has been the challenge and privilege of a lifetime. I would like to think that the recognition our film has received by the Academy is a testament to Marilyn's legacy." -- Michelle Williams, best actress in a lead role nominee for "My Week With Marilyn."

-- "I am thrilled for Janet, I am thrilled for our incomparable hair and makeup team. It might be my sixth (nomination) but it feels like my first. Bravo team Nobbs." -- Glenn Close, best actress nominee for "Albert Nobbs."

-- "It's very hard to articulate what I'm feeling right now. I'm a little dazed, confused, excited, elated, all of the above...Minny is a woman of her era and I'm certainly a woman of my era. I learned a lot from her. I never thought that I was materialistic or ungrateful, but I realized in playing a character that has so little but who has such a great impact on her environment, which is huge, when you can have an impact on the microcosm of your world, that is huge, I realized that I needed to do a lot more." -- Octavia Spencer, best supporting actress nominee for "The Help." (Interview with Reuters TV)

-- "I'm overjoyed and filled with happiness. I can't believe that a year ago I was learning how to tap dance and today I am nominated for an Academy Award. It was a thrill to work on a project as ambitious as 'The Artist' and I am happy to share this moment with our visionary director, Michel Hazanavicius and our talented team of actors." Berenice Bejo, best supporting actress nominee for "The Artist."

-- "It was a rare honor to play Sir Laurence Olivier. To be recognized by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I'm absolutely thrilled." -- Kenneth Branagh, best supporting actor nominee for "My Week With Marilyn."

-- "I am so humbled, appreciative and in shock about this incredible honor. I'd like to thank the Academy, Sony Pictures , the cast and crew of Moneyball, Brad Pitt, and, most of all, our brilliant director Bennett Miller." -- Jonah Hill, best supporting actor nominee for "Moneyball."

-- "My sincere thanks to my colleagues at the Academy. It is wonderful. I don?t know what to say ?I am dumbfounded." -- Max von Sydow, best supporting actor nominee for "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."

-- "I am thrilled with our multiple nominations for "The Help" and "War Horse". It is the first time that I have experienced two Best Picture nominations in the same year. One is a high honor. Two is humbling but very exciting. It is a tribute to all those who joined with Stacey Snider and our DreamWorks Studios team to develop and make these two films with stories that we passionately felt we had to make." -- Steven Spielberg, multiple nominations for "The Help" and "War Horse."

-- "I am deeply honored to have been nominated by the Academy for my work on Hugo. Every picture is a challenge, and this one -- where I was working with 3D, HD and Sacha Baron Cohen for the first time -- was no exception. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you've been recognized by the people in your industry. I congratulate my fellow nominees. It's an impressive list, and I'm in excellent company." -- Martin Scorsese, best director nominee for "Hugo."

-- "I am so honored by this nomination. Filming 'The Artist' in Los Angeles was a dream come true, and to receive this recognition today is far beyond what any of us could have ever imagined. I could not have done this film without the incredible ensemble of actors and exceptional crew whose heart and souls were poured into this project." -- Michel Hazanavicius, best director nominee for "The Artist."

-- "I am very humbled by this morning's nominations. This must be how my father felt back in 1965 when he received his first Oscar nomination. 'The Artist' was a labor of love from writer/director Michel Hazanavicius to pay homage to Hollywood, and to see all the love that the Academy has given it this morning is overwhelming." -- Thomas Langmann (producer), best picture nominee for "The Artist."

-- "There's no denying that Oscar nominations for one's film are exciting, if only for the joy they give to everyone who worked so hard on the film. I'm particularly happy for the recognition of my long-time editor Kevin Tent. He really deserves it." -- Alexander Payne (writer/director/producer), best director, best adapted screenplay and best picture nominee for "The Descendants."

-- "I must say I am pleasantly shocked and incredibly grateful to the Academy for this honor. We are all so proud of The Tree of Life, but we knew too it was a very challenging film that pushed the envelope. The nominations this morning are thrilling endorsements of the film, Terry's vision, the incredible work of Chivo, and the great contributions of everyone involved. Many thanks to the Academy!" -- Bill Pohlad (producer), best picture nominee for "The Tree of Life."

-- "It is an incredible honor to be nominated this morning. We set out to do something different with RANGO, and this distinction is a testament to everyone who tirelessly dedicated themselves to creating our neurotic lizard. Rango was looking for an audience who shared his love of cinema and I'm humbled that he found one. It has been a remarkable journey, and one that I am grateful to share with our entire creative team, Paramount, and all of the virtuosos at Industrial, Light and Magic." -- Gore Verbinski (writer/director/producer), best animated feature film nominee for "Rango."

-- "I'm deeply honored that the Academy recognized Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as well as Max von Sydow. The entire team behind our film felt the enormous responsibility in taking on this project, and it is deeply humbling to have the Academy recognize it in this way." -- Stephen Daldry, best picture nominee for "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."

-- "We are thrilled for the nominations War Horse has received and most of all thankful to have been working under the leadership of Steven Spielberg whose moral clarity, vision and sensitive handling of the Great War might serve in some small way to raise awareness of war's pointlessness." -- Kathleen Kennedy (producer), best picture nominee for "War Horse."

-- "It's an honor to be recognized in the company of such terrific writers. Moneyball is a true testament to teamwork -- it's the commitment of the entire cast and crew that got us to the final game of the season." -- Aaron Sorkin, best adapted screenplay nominee (with Steve Zaillian and Stan Chervin) for 'Moneyball."

-- "This is cheerful news for me and for the family of cinema in Iran, especially the nomination for the best original screenplay. It seems that although people speak different languages around the world but there is one common universal language which everyone understands: The Language of Cinema." --Asghar Farhadi (writer/director/producer), best foreign language film nominee for "A Separation."

-- "It's been an incredible eight year journey from the first draft of the play until this moment. Working with George and Grant has been one of the most rewarding collaborations of my career, and I couldn't be more thrilled that our film is getting this kind of recognition." -- Beau Willimon (co-writer of screenplay with George Clooney and Grant Heslov, based on Beau's play Farragut North), nominee for best adapted screenplay for "Ides of March."

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant and Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/en_nm/us_oscar_reactions

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Mitch Daniels to say President Obama has divided America, stifled growth in GOP response (The Ticket)

Daniels (Darron Cummings/AP File Photo)

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, in the Republicans' official response to the president's State of the Union address Tuesday night, will accuse the president of obstructing the United States' growth and take aim at Obama for "efforts to divide" the American people, according to excerpts released of his prepared remarks.

"No feature of the Obama Presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others," Daniels, former budget director for George W. Bush, is set to say in a speech to be delivered moments after the conclusion of the president's address. "As in previous moments of national danger, we Americans are all in the same boat."

Daniels will also criticize Obama for rejecting the Keystone Pipeline project and other energy-related measures--cases of "extremism," he'll say, by the Obama administration.

The governor, who was heavily courted to run for president this cycle, is also planning to stand up for Republicans in Washington in his speech.

"It's not fair and it's not true for the President to attack Republicans in Congress as obstacles on these questions," Daniels will say. "They and they alone have passed bills to reduce borrowing, reform entitlements, and encourage new job creation, only to be shot down nearly time and again by the President and his Democrat Senate allies."

Other popular Yahoo! News stories:

? State of the Union preview with David Chalian

? Mitt Romney's tax returns show more than $42 million income over last two years

? Why Bloomberg Businessweek passed on 'bloody' Mitt Romney cover

Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add us on Tumblr.

Handy with a camera? Join our Election 2012 Flickr group to submit your photos of the campaign in action.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20120124/el_yblog_theticket/mitch-daniels-to-say-president-obama-has-divided-america-stifled-growth-in-gop-response

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Arianna Huffington: Bienvenue sur Le Huffington Post! (Huffington post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/190209080?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Pacers trip up cold-shooting Lakers (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? The Indiana Pacers took advantage of an ice-cold Los Angeles Lakers side with a 98-96 victory on Sunday, inflicting a third successive loss the home team.

Indiana overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter, beating the Lakers for the second straight time at the Staples Center after ending a 14-game skid there just last season.

Roy Hibbert played through a broken nose suffered in the first half and had 18 points and eight rebounds, knocking down six straight points in the final quarter to pull the Pacers within one with six minutes left.

Hibbert sustained the nose injury while fouling Kobe Bryant in the first quarter but returned in the second to lead the charge.

"Valiant effort by Hibbert. He really carried us in the second half," Pacers coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "This is what our team is all about, a balanced attack."

Danny Granger added 16 to help the Pacers (11-4) close strong and Indiana finished with six players in double figure scoring.

Los Angeles still led 94-91 in the final two minutes but Hibbert and Darren Collison scored consecutive field goals to put the visitors ahead.

The Lakers, struggling woefully on offense this season, missed four shots in a row, including a potential game-tying three-pointer from Kobe Bryant in the last seconds.

The Lakers (10-8) have scored 100 points just once this season and have become one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA.

Bryant, the league's leading scorer, had 33 points on 14-for-30 shooting but it was not enough to keep Los Angeles from falling a game behind the cross-town Clippers in the Pacific Division.

Andrew Bynum chipped in 16 and eight rebounds for Los Angeles.

The Lakers were coming off road losses to Miami and Orlando and were hoping to recover at home.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120123/sp_nm/us_nba_lakers

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Column: Manning no longer has to prove greatness (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO ? As if by design, the rain started swirling through Candlestick Park as it became clear that more than 60 minutes would be needed to find a proper opponent for the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Eli Manning had already thrown the ball 52 times, with mixed results in the NFC championship game Sunday. Now he put on his helmet and headed out for overtime against a San Francisco 49ers defense that had no intention of allowing him to do anything that would spoil their own magical ride through the playoffs.

Earlier in the season, he had proclaimed himself among the top quarterbacks in the league. If this were a script, he would have marched the New York Giants down the field for the game winning touchdown to prove himself a man of his word.

Didn't quite happen that way. There was no long drive. No quick touchdown strike.

Just the satisfaction of being in another Super Bowl, which was plenty by itself to put a wide grin on the face of a quarterback who no longer has to live in the shadow of his big brother.

"I think everyone knew we were going to get a break, get a chance to win this game," Manning said. "Something was going to happen."

What happened will be a sore spot for years among 49ers fans. It will hurt even longer than that for Kyle Williams, the backup punt returner who couldn't keep his hands on the football.

Manning's last play was an anticlimatic kneel to get Lawrence Tynes into position for the field goal that won the game 20-17. But it felt nearly as good as any touchdown pass he will ever throw.

"Just a hard fought game," Manning said. "I'm excited about this win, excited to have another chance to go to the Super Bowl."

Hopefully, excited about facing the Patriots again, too. They were the opponents the only other time Manning was in a Super Bowl, where he led the Giants to a late comeback against a heavily favored opponent enjoying a perfect season.

That won him respect. A second Super Bowl win in four years might someday put him in the Hall of Fame.

Not that any of it was on the mind of Manning and his teammates as they celebrated on a soggy field after Tynes's 31-yarder went through the uprights. They were just ready to celebrate, after yet another road win put them on the road to Indianapolis.

Hakeem Nicks gleefully held up a copy of a New York tabloid declaring his team Super Bowl-bound. Tynes hugged his crying wife, while his teammates were busy hugging each other.

Manning watched it all, with a smile that never left his face. When he went back to the locker room he had another reason to smile ? his brother had flown in unannounced.

"I got my own tickets. I didn't want him to have to handle tickets," Peyton Manning said. "I'm glad I was here to witness it. I look forward to watching him play in two weeks."

Eli Manning had gotten some tips about the 49ers defense a few days earlier from his brother. Though helpful, this was a game more about perservance than figuring out schemes, more about battling to the end than figuring out how to run a screen play.

It wasn't like Manning didn't have a decent day. He completed 32 of 58 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that were more than serviceable under the conditions.

But this was a defensive battle that was more about field position than quick strikes. And this was a 49er defense that clamped down in the second half to make life awfully difficult in the pocket for Manning.

His 17-yard pass midway through the fourth quarter to Mario Manningham off a turnover by Williams gave the Giants new hope when they were struggling. Manning was so excited about the spark that he pumped his fist in celebration and spun around to give high fives when Manningham caught the ball.

And when Williams made yet another miscue in overtime, all Manning really had to do was make sure Tynes got a chance to win it.

"There wasn't much variety in what we were doing," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Our screens didn't seem to work especially well but Eli just hung in there, hung in there, hung in there and made plays when we needed him to make them and displayed the kind of leadership he's shown all year long."

The kind of leadership that Giants fans once questioned from the former No. 1 pick. The kind of leadership that they won't question anymore.

Not after Manning led the Giants to two final regular-season wins in games they desperately needed. Not after he guided them through three playoff wins to get into the Super Bowl.

"He stood in there loud and proud today, even when times were tough," center David Baas said. "We had some difficulties up front protecting him with some stunts and picking up stuff. We should have done a much better job."

As they did four years ago, the Giants are peaking at the right time. They're playing with the confidence of favorites even when they're underdogs, which they will be again against the Patriots ? by 3 1/2 points.

Unlike four years ago, they have an undisputed leader to take them to Indianapolis. Eli Manning will have a chance to do something Peyton Manning hasn't been able to do ? win two Super Bowl rings.

He won't have to declare himself among the elite of the game anymore. Other people will do that for him, after a late season run almost as improbable as the one four years ago.

The Super Bowl is all that remains. And anyone betting against Manning and the Giants will be doing it at their own risk.

____

Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or follow at http://twitter.com/timdahlberg

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_nfc_championship_tim_dahlberg012212

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US Internet piracy case brings New Zealand arrests

Megaupload.com employees Bram van der Kolk, also known as Bramos, left, Finn Batato,second from left, Mathias Ortmann and founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.com Kim Dotcom (also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor), right, appear in North Shore District Court in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The four appeared in court in relation to arrests made to Megaupload.com, which is linked to a U.S. investigation into international copyright infringement and money laundering. (AP Photo/Greg Bowker, New Zealand Herald) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

Megaupload.com employees Bram van der Kolk, also known as Bramos, left, Finn Batato,second from left, Mathias Ortmann and founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.com Kim Dotcom (also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor), right, appear in North Shore District Court in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The four appeared in court in relation to arrests made to Megaupload.com, which is linked to a U.S. investigation into international copyright infringement and money laundering. (AP Photo/Greg Bowker, New Zealand Herald) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

This undated image obtained by The Associated Press shows the homepage of the website Megaupload.com. Federal prosecutors in Virginia have shut down one of the world's largest file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, and charged its founder and others with violating piracy laws. (AP Photo)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) ? With 150 million registered users, about 50 million hits daily and endorsements from music superstars, Megaupload.com was among the world's biggest file-sharing sites. Big enough, according to a U.S. indictment, that it earned founder Kim Dotcom $42 million last year alone.

The movie industry howled that the site was making money off pirated material. Though the company is based in Hong Kong and Dotcom was living in New Zealand, some of the alleged pirated content was hosted on leased servers in Virginia, and that was enough for U.S. prosecutors to act.

The site was shut down Thursday, and Dotcom and three Megaupload employees were arrested in New Zealand on U.S. accusations that they facilitated millions of illegal downloads of films, music and other content, costing copyright holders at least $500 million in lost revenue.

New Zealand Police also seized guns, artwork, more than $8 million in cash and luxury cars valued at nearly $5 million after serving 10 search warrants at several businesses and homes around the city of Auckland.

News of the shutdown seemed to bring retaliation from hackers who claimed credit for attacking the Justice Department's website. Federal officials confirmed it was down for hours Thursday evening and that the disruption was being "treated as a malicious act."

A loose affiliation of hackers known as "Anonymous" claimed credit for the attack. Also hacked was the site for the Motion Picture Association of America.

On Friday, New Zealand's Fairfax Media reported that the four defendants stood together in an Auckland courtroom in the first step of extradition proceedings that could last a year or more.

Dotcom's lawyer raised objections to a media request to take photographs and video, but then Dotcom spoke out from the dock, saying he didn't mind photos or video "because we have nothing to hide." The judge granted the media access, and ruled that the four would remain in custody until a second hearing Monday.

Dotcom, Megaupload's former CEO and current chief innovation officer, is a resident of Hong Kong and New Zealand and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany who had his name legally changed. The 37-year-old was previously known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor.

Two other German citizens and one Dutch citizen also were arrested and three other defendants ? another German, a Slovakian and an Estonian ? remain at large.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which defends free speech and digital rights online, said in a statement that the arrests set "a terrifying precedent. If the United States can seize a Dutch citizen in New Zealand over a copyright claim, what is next?"

The indictment was unsealed one day after websites including Wikipedia and Craigslist shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to make it easier for authorities to go after sites with pirated material, especially those with overseas headquarters and servers.

Before Megaupload was taken down, the company posted a statement saying allegations that it facilitated massive breaches of copyright laws were "grotesquely overblown."

"The fact is that the vast majority of Mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue. We have some good ideas. Please get in touch," the statement said.

Several sister sites were also shut down, including one dedicated to sharing pornography files.

The $8 million in cash seized had been invested in various New Zealand financial institutions, and has been placed in a trust pending the outcome of the cases.

Police spokesman Grant Ogilvie said the seized cars include a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe worth more than $400,000. Two short-barreled shotguns and a number of valuable artworks were also confiscated, he added.

According to the indictment, Megaupload was estimated at one point to be the 13th most frequently visited website on the Internet. Current estimates by companies that monitor Web traffic place it in the top 100.

Megaupload is considered a "cyberlocker," in which users can upload and transfer files that are too large to send by email. Such sites can have perfectly legitimate uses. But the Motion Picture Association of America, which has campaigned for a crackdown on piracy, estimated that the vast majority of content being shared on Megaupload was in violation of copyright laws.

The website allowed users to download some content for free, but made money by charging subscriptions to people who wanted access to faster download speeds or extra content. The website also sold advertising.

Megaupload was unique not only because of its massive size and the volume of downloaded content, but also because it had high-profile support from celebrities, musicians and other content producers who are most often the victims of copyright infringement and piracy. Before the website was taken down, it contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West, among others.

The company listed Swizz Beatz, a musician who married Keys in 2010, as its CEO. He was not named in the indictment and declined to comment through a representative.

The five-count indictment, which alleges copyright infringement as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering and racketeering, described a site designed specifically to reward users who uploaded pirated content for sharing, and turned a blind eye to requests from copyright holders to remove copyright-protected files.

For instance, users received cash bonuses if they uploaded content popular enough to generate massive numbers of downloads, according to the indictment. Such content was almost always copyright protected, the indictment said.

The Justice Department said it was illegal for anyone to download pirated content, but their investigation focused on the leaders of the company, not end users who may have downloaded a few movies for personal viewing.

A lawyer who represented the company in a lawsuit last year declined to comment Thursday. Efforts to reach an attorney representing Dotcom were unsuccessful.

Although Megaupload is based in Hong Kong, the size of its operation in the southern Chinese city was unclear. The administrative contact listed in its domain registration, Bonnie Lam, did not respond immediately for a request for comment sent to a fax number and email address listed.

The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia, which claimed jurisdiction in part because some of the alleged pirated materials were hosted on leased servers in Ashburn, Virginia. Prosecutors there have pursued multiple piracy investigations.

The Justice Department also was investigating the "significant increase in activity" that disrupted its website. It said in a statement that it was working to "investigate the origins of this activity, which is being treated as a malicious act until we can fully identify the root cause."

The site appeared to be working again late Thursday. A spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America said in an emailed statement that the group's site also had been hacked, but it too appeared to be working later in the evening.

"The motion picture and television industry has always been a strong supporter of free speech," the spokesman said. "We strongly condemn any attempts to silence any groups or individuals."

____

Matthew Barakat reported from McLean, Virginia.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-20-Internet-Piracy-Indictment/id-8bffdc71b52a40fab1ac9723869de3d8

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Karzai says he met with Afghan insurgent faction (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan ? Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says he has personally met with a delegation from the insurgent faction Hizb-i-Islami for peace negotiations that he hopes "will have good results."

Karzai's Saturday announcement to parliament appears to assert his own standing in any future peace process by showing his ability to bring militant factions other than the Taliban to the negotiating table. He did not specify when the meeting took place.

The U.S. has been pushing for talks with the Taliban outside the country. Special American representative Marc Grossman is to meet Karzai on Saturday to discuss progress and plans.

Hizb-i-Islami is a radical Islamist militia that controls territory in Afghanistan's northeast. Its leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is a former U.S. ally now listed as a terrorist by Washington.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says he has personally met with a delegation from the insurgent faction Hizb-i-Islami for peace negotiations that he hopes "will have good results."

Karzai's Saturday announcement to parliament appears to assert his own standing in any future peace process by showing his ability to bring militant factions other than the Taliban to the negotiating table. He did not specify when the meeting took place.

The U.S. has been pushing for talks with the Taliban outside the country. Special American representative Marc Grossman is to meet Karzai on Saturday to discuss progress and plans.

Hizb-i-Islami is a radical Islamist militia that controls territory in Afghanistan's northeast. Its leader, Gulbiddin Hekmatyar, is a former U.S. ally now listed as a terrorist by Washington.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

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Sail boats face piracy threats, head to safe haven

MALE, Maldives (AP) ? Boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race were transported onboard an armed ship again to the safe haven of the Maldives capital because of the threat of pirates along the east coast of Africa.

Dutch ship Happy Diamond was protected by barbed wire when it delivered the six-strong fleet safely to Male.

"It has been a very tense and difficult time for us, and obviously we did not want to have to take this measure," Race CEO Knut Frostad said. "But we had no option but to take our security experts' advice. Now we're just looking forward to getting back to racing."

In an unprecedented move the 38-year history of the race, boats in the race were transported in late December on an armed ship through the Indian Ocean. They completed the leg with a short sprint into Abu Dhabi in the first week of January.

More than four months ago, only team and race officials knew of the decision to use the Maldives as a safe haven. They were required to sign non-disclosure documents.

The race, which started in late October from Alicante, Spain, has already had its share of drama. The boats were forced to suspend racing four times because of broken rigging and a holed hull.

The third leg promises to be just as hazardous with the fleet racing more than 3,000 nautical miles across the Indian Ocean, through the Malacca Strait and into the South China Sea.

The fleet will face monsoon winds and long stretches of upwind sailing through rough seas. They'll dodge container ships while picking their way through some of the busiest shipping lanes.

Team Telefonica of Spain, led by co-world sailors of the year Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, lead the overall standings. Camper (Spain/New Zealand) and French boat Groupama trail the leader.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-21-SAI-Volvo-Ocean-Race/id-48f7a1a9b2a046f8895d530b4e3e0a40

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