This Beat Goes - Exec John C. Atterberry Dies from Gunshot Wounds, Dec 15, 2011

"Former Death Row Records VP John C. Atterberry died on December 12th after he was fatally wounded on Friday, December 9th when a gunman opened fire on motorists in Hollywood. Atterberry was running an errand to the bank when his Mercedes-Benz coupe came under fire.
Police identified the shooter as 26-year-old Tyler Brehm who reportedly opened fire on motorists with a .40-caliber handgun near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street. He was approached by plain clothes detectives and an off-duty officer who appeared first on the scene, but refused to surrender and turned his weapon on the police while screaming that he wanted to die. The officers shot and killed Brehm when he refused to drop his weapon. Police have not yet ascertained the motive behind the rampage, although Brehm had recently broken up with his girlfriend and began taking a pharmaceutical drug."

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The Washington Post - George Whitman, owner of Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company, dies at 98, Dec 15, 2011

"George Whitman, the owner of Shakespeare and Company, a bookshop that became the center of English-language literary life in Paris and might be the most famous and beloved bookstore in the world, died Dec. 14 in his apartment above the store. He died two days after his 98th birthday.

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WKM - Country singer Billie Jo Spears dies at 73, Dec 15, 2011

"VIDOR, Texas (AP) - Billie Jo Spears, whose performance of "Blanket on the Ground" went No. 1 on the country charts in 1975, has died at age 73.
Carl Willis of R.S. Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas, which is handling funeral arrangements, confirmed her death. He had no details, but The Orange Leader reported that she died Wednesday morning at her home in the Southeast Texas town of Vidor (VYE'-dur), 85 miles northeast of Houston. No cause of death was stated."

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AHLAN LIVE - Most Expensive Celebrity DivorcesDec 15, 2011

"First Kim Kardashian shocked the world by announcing her separation from Kris Humphries after just 72 days, then Demi Moore filed for divorce after six years of marriage with Ashton Kutcher. While both of these ladies made sure they signed prenups, Ahlan! uncovers who got what in other celeb cases."

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NZ HERALD - Madeleine McCann: Police 'looking at eight important new leads', Dec 15, 2011

"Scotland Yard detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are examining eight "important" new leads, it was claimed yesterday.
Spanish private investigators have handed over 30 boxes of documents which could yield a breakthrough.
On Tuesday, four British officers visited the Barcelona HQ of Metodo 3, the detective agency employed to look for Madeleine by her parents Kate and Gerry for six months after she vanished at the age of three in 2007.
The agency's director, Francisco Marco, said there were "six, seven or eight very important leads" within the files.
But sources close to the British investigation played down the significance of the material yesterday."

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NZ HERALD - Legal firm manager stole funds for Thai prostitute, Dec 15, 2011

"A manager at a legal firm stole $374,000 from the company to pay for the upkeep of a Thai prostitute who called him "Daddy", a court has heard.
Peter James McClintock, a 63 year-old churchgoer, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of false accounting and seven of accessing a computer for a dishonest purpose.
He was sentenced to 12 months home detention and 300 hours community work when he appeared at the Auckland District Court today, supported by his wife, brother and adult children."

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MATANGI Tonga - Tonga's 2nd Contingent returns from Afghanistan, Dec 15, 2011

"TONGA'S second contingent of 55 soldiers returned safely to Tonga after six-months duty in Afghanistan and were greeted by happy families at the Fua'amotu International Airport, on December 9.
The contingent led by Commander Sione Fifita arrived on a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft at 3:30pm and were formally welcomed by Lord Ma'afu and the Commander of the Tonga Defence Services, Brigadier General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu. "

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FIJI LIVE - 'Protester' named Time's person of year, Dec 15, 2011

"TIME magazine named the collective "protester" around the world as its person of the year Wednesday, citing the change brought by street demonstrations from Arab countries to New York.
The shared honor for protesters beat the traditional individual contenders, who included Admiral William McCraven, commander of the US mission to kill Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.
"There's this contagion of protest," managing editor Richard Stengel said on NBC television.
"These are folks who are changing history already and they will change history in the future."

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FIJI LIVE - Australian PM gets 31% pay rise, Dec 15, 2011

"Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was Thursday recommended for a 31 percent pay rise to take her salary to Aus$481,000 (US$476,000) -- more than US President Barack Obama.
Gillard, whose support in opinion polls is near rock bottom, was handed the early Christmas present by the independent Remuneration Tribunal, which recommended pay hikes for most politicians and public servants.
Parliament needs to approve the changes before the new pay scale comes into effect.
Federal MPs will also get more money, with the base salary for even the most junior parliamentarian jumping from Aus$140,000 to Aus$185,000."

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FIJI LIVE Sports - Suva included in Champions League, Dec 15, 2011

"Suva has been included in the Champions League which kicks start Fiji Football Association's 2012 season.

The Whites which makes up the fourth team in the competition was the given the chance by the Fiji FA Board Of Control (BOC) which earlier rejected the request by the Capital City for it to be included in the Pillay Garments sponsored event.
Fiji FA chief executive officer Bob Kumar confirmed the decision in a statement this afternoon."

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FIJI LIVE - British royals unveil world tour, Dec 15, 2011

"Britain's royal family will tour the globe next year to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee marking 60 years on the throne, Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday.
Prince William and his wife Catherine will travel to the Asia-Pacific region, while heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit countries including Australia and Canada, it said.
The queen, 85, and her husband Prince Philip, 90, will remain in Britain but will travel as widely as possible throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the palace said."

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SAMOA News - Annual Territorial Christmas program opens tonight, Dec 15, 2011

"Gov. Togiola Tulafono will deliver his annual Territorial Christmas Address at tonight’s opening of the ASG sponsored Territorial Christmas Program, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the Malaeoletalu Fagatogo Pavilion and will be broadcast live on KVZK-TV.
A special part of the opening program will include a Gold Star Families Recognition — in honor of the families who lost a member of their family in a combat zone. The mission of Gold Star Family is to see that all 50 states and U.S. territories honor their Fallen Warriors with a Gold Star Family license plate."

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SAMOA News - Obama marking end of Iraq war, Dec 15, 2011

"FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) -- President Barack Obama saluted troops returning from Iraq Wednesday, declaring that the nearly nine-year conflict is ending honorably, "not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home."
Marking the conclusion of the war at this military base that's seen more than 200 deaths over nearly nine years of fighting in Iraq, Obama never tried to declare victory. It was a war that he opposed from the start, inherited as president and is now bringing to a close, leaving behind an Iraq still struggling."

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HAWAII Reporter - Videos, Dec 15, 2011

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Elizabeth Taylor's iconic jewels coming to auction, Dec 14, 2011

"NEW YORK – Elizabeth Taylor dazzled the world with her luminous beauty, lavish lifestyle — and an unquenchable passion for diamonds and jewels that was fueled by the great loves of her life.
The late Hollywood star amassed one of the foremost jewelry collections in the world, including a 33.19-carat diamond ring and a 16th century pear-shaped pearl from one of her seven husbands, Richard Burton.
The Associated Press recently viewed about two dozen of her most iconic pieces at Christie's auction house, which is selling her complete jewelry collection, valued at $30 million, in New York on Dec. 13-14.
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Iconic hollywood memoirs to go on sale at Debbie Reynolds Auction, Dec 14, 2011

"Debbie Reynolds Auction, which is known for the sale of authentic historical memorabilia, is slated to put on sale several such iconic and historical items, on the June 18th this year. Carrying the energy, and a strong legacy, these costumes are bound to be on the wishlist of a number of bidders.

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ENTERTAINMENT Gather - Chelsea Clinton: NBC's 'Rock Center with Brian..., Dec 14, 2011

"Chelsea Clinton made her début as a NBC correspondent anticipating leading a "purposeful public life". Daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea has remained out of the limelight for the most part.
Now she has changed her mind and decided to become a part of the public eye. Her first report was on Rock Center with Brian Williams on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. She profiled an Arkansas woman who courageously helps needy, neglected children. Her delivery was exactly what would be expected. Sweet and well stated she paid homage to the woman she spoke of.

Other members of the journalistic community think otherwise. Her delivery was "pleasing and plummy, but monochromatic," Newsday's Verne Gay stated. Another factor against Chelsea is the poor ratings the television show receives. New York Times critic Alessandra Stanleystated "it's a noble sentiment, but it doesn't make a lot of sense—because of her last name, there are plenty of ways to do good works and publicize worthy causes besides becoming a television newscaster."Her newly chosen role is being questioned by many, as Chelsea Clinton has decided to tell feel-good stories to fulfill her need to live a "purposeful public life". The New York Times states, Clinton was encouraged to do so by her maternal grandmother, Hillary Rodham Clinton's mother, Dorothy Rodham."

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Black bear gets new home in Squamish area after downtown Vancouver foray, Dec 14, 2011

"NORTH VANCOUVER -- The adventurous dumpster-diving black bear who was discovered in downtown Vancouver Monday afternoon has been given a new home in Squamish.
After spending the night in a steel bear trap at a BC Parks compound on Mount Seymour, the bear was towed in the trap behind the conservation truck Tuesday up the Squamish Valley Road, where it was released.
"There's salmon running in the streams right now so there's lots of food and there's good denning sites nearby. It will give the bear the best chance of survival," said conservation officer Alexandre Desjardins, who tranquilized the bear Monday and helped transport it."

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LA TIMES - Bert Schneider obituary: 'Easy Rider' producer dies at 78, Dec 14, 2011

"Bert Schneider, the iconoclastic producer behind a trio of influential movies — "Easy Rider," "Five Easy Pieces" and "The Last Picture Show" — that captured the rootlessness and discontent of the late 1960s and '70s and became symbols of a new era in Hollywood, has died. He was 78.
Schneider had been in failing health and died of natural causes Monday at Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his daughter, Audrey Simon."

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ABC News - Russian Space Designer Boris Chertok Dies at 99, Dec 14, 2011

"Boris Chertok, a Russian rocket designer who played a key role in engineering Soviet-era space programs, has died. He was 99.
The state-controlled RKK Energiya rocket builder where he worked as a top consultant said Chertok died in Moscow on Wednesday after contracting pneumonia.
For many years, Chertok served as a deputy to the father of the Soviet space program, Sergei Korolyov. He was closely involved in putting the world's first satellite in orbit on Oct. 4, 1957, and preparing the first human flight to space by Yuri Gagarin on April, 12 1961."

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