Bale stunner ends Liverpool run

Gareth Bale scored a stunning free-kick and set up Aaron Lennon with a wonderful solo run to bring Liverpool's eight-match unbeaten run to an end at White Hart Lane in a 2-1 defeat.
The Welshman scored what has to be one of the most unlucky own goals in Premier League history to tarnish his evening slightly, but Tottenham still managed to come away with their second successive win despite an edgy second half in north London.
Bale tore West Ham apart at White Hart Lane on Sunday and he began the game in similarly devastating fashion, embarking on a 50-yard run before playing in Lennon for the opener after seven minutes.
The Welshman then smashed home a brilliant swirling free-kick to make it 2-0 after 16 minutes, the ball looping and dipping over the wall leaving Pepe Reina completely non-plussed.
The win, which moves Spurs above Arsenal and Everton into fifth, did not come easily - but it did remind the club's critics that in Bale they have a man capable of winning a match almost single-handedly.
Playing at the same high tempo that helped them to destroy West Ham on Sunday, Tottenham flew out of the blocks and stamped their authority on the game from the off on a bitterly cold night in north London.
 
Reina got a taste of things to come when he saw a swirling Bale free-kick fly at him from 30 yards in the fourth minute, punching nervously away.
Bale was key to Tottenham's quick start. The Welshman latched on to Jermain Defoe's pass after the England striker had pinched the ball off Steven Gerrard, but he could only shoot at Reina.
Tottenham's early pressure paid off as Spurs took the lead in style. Bale collected the ball on the half way line and breezed past four players before squaring to Lennon, who tapped home from close range.
Luis Suarez spearheaded the Liverpool fightback, testing Hugo Lloris with a low drive after Michael Dawson's tackle had knocked the ball in to the Uruguayan's path.
A mix-up between Lloris and Kyle Walker then almost gifted the visitors an equaliser. The Frenchman rushed out of his goal to clear Suarez's through-ball - but the defender took the ball away from his goalkeeper into the path of Jordan Henderson, who blazed wide of an open goal.
The Spurs fans mocked Henderson for his miss and the midfielder's evening took another turn for the worse moments later when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled Dempsey 30 yards out.
Bale took a five-yard run up and despatched a powerful drive which dipped and swerved over the wall, completely bamboozling Reina, who could only stand and watch the ball sail in to his right.
Liverpool thought they should have had a penalty in the 36th minute when Steven Gerrard went down under pressure from Mousa Dembele, but Phil Dowd waved play on. The danger was not over for Spurs though, as Dawson dribbled in to the path of Suarez, whose shot was cleared off the line by Walker.
Liverpool continued to push for an equaliser after the break, but they almost conceded a third when Martin Skrtel's poor clearance set Defoe free but Dempsey selfishly muscled his team-mate off the ball and shot wide.
Spurs were struggling to get on the ball and their best threat came from set plays. Bale fizzed another long-range bender just wide in the 68th minute.
Two minutes later the former Southampton man unwittingly put Liverpool back in the game.
Lennon was well-placed on the line to clear Gerrard's header, but unfortunately for Spurs, the winger's clearance cracked Bale square in the face and flew in to the home net.
Bale was then jeered by the away fans after being booked for diving, although replays showed Daniel Agger did make contact with the winger's trailing leg as he charged at the Reds defence.
With 10 minutes to go Agger hooked the ball back for Suarez, but the striker snatched at the ball and his volley flew over.
Jonjo Shelvey chipped just wide and Suarez thought he should have had a penalty in a nervous final few minutes, but Tottenham held on until the final whistle, which Villas-Boas greeted with a huge double fist-pump.
From ESPN

The World’s Highest-Paid Musicians Of 2012

By Zack O'Malley Greenburg, Forbes | Stop The Presses!

 

Justin Bieber ties with Toby Keith in 10th place, with $55 million [photo: George Pimentel/Wireimage]

 Though he's only 18 years old, Justin Bieber has had a year for the ages. The Canadian crooner released his third studio album, launched a world tour and continued investing in startups, adding to a portfolio that includes stakes in Spotify, Tinychat and others. All in all, he earned $55 million in 12 months.

"I do calls every week with my business manager and my lawyer," Bieber told FORBES this spring as part of a cover story on his budding venture capital career. "Each week I'm learning something about my business and what I need to know for my career."
But when it comes to the world's highest-paid musicians, Bieber is a relative pauper, barely breaking the top ten.

 
Dr. Dre tops the list, with $110 million [photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]

Hip-hop superproducer Dr. Dre leads the pack this year with $110 million, thanks largely to his Beats headphone line. He collected $100 million pretax when handset maker HTC paid $300 million for a 51% stake in the company last year, at the beginning of our scoring period; he and his partners later bought back half of what they sold.
"The brands are so aligned, Dre and Beats, it's just who he is," says Kevin Liles, former president of Def Jam Recordings, who now manages acts ranging from Young Jeezy to Trey Songz. "If you look at the biggest earners, the guys have been doing it for 20 years … what's happening now is people are really telling their truth."
Dr. Dre leads a pack of pop stars, rock icons, rap moguls and country crooners, many of whom bank the bulk of their bucks outside the recording studio. Though some artists—Jay-Z and Diddy, for example—owe their success partly to business ventures like Dre's, most of this year's top 25 are on the list because of touring.
"The concert business had another solid year as both artists and concert promoters used more caution in trying to achieve their touring objectives," says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert data purveyor Pollstar. "The good seats for major artists continue to be priced at a premium."
This year's list has a distinctly international flavor. Among the top five, only Dr. Dre hails from the United States. Pink Floyd rocker Roger Waters ranks second with $88 million, nearly all of it coming from his The Wall Live tour. According to Pollstar, he grossed $158 million on 63 shows in the first six months of 2012. Fellow Brit Elton John claims the third spot with $80 million, culled from over 100 shows in our scoring period.
Ireland's U2 ranks fourth, pulling in $78 million on the tail end of the group's record-breaking 360 tour—which grossed $736 million over three years. British boy band Take That rounds out the top five with $69 million, thanks to a wildly-popular reunion tour. The group grossed $61 million for eight dates at London's Wembley Stadium alone, the biggest single-stadium stand recorded to that point, cashing in on dozens of additional dates around Europe as well.
 
British boy band Take That comes in fifth, with $69 million [photo: Paul Gilham/Getty Images]"

The enormous level of business Take That did in the U.K. and Europe was truly mind-boggling," says Bongiovanni. "That's especially true when you consider that in the U.S. they would only be a theater-level act."
Our estimates are based on total earnings from May 2011 to May 2012—the amount of money an act makes from record sales, touring, endorsements, merchandise sales and other ventures before subtracting management fees, legal costs and taxes (which can gobble up the bulk of a big payday). The totals were compiled with the help of data from Pollstar, RIAA and others, as well as interviews with industry insiders including concert promoters, lawyers, managers, agents and, in some cases, the musicians themselves.
Other highlights on the list include Toby Keith, who tied Bieber for tenth with $55 million. With his Ford sponsorship now on its second decade and his I Love This Bar And Grill restaurant chain booming, Keith was the top earner among all country artists—unless you count crossover star Taylor Swift, who earned $57 million, same as Paul McCartney. Coldplay and Adele continue the British trend, claiming the 21st and 22nd slots with $37 million and $35 million, respectively. Eight of the top 25 acts hail from England or Ireland.
That success extends to Anglophiles as well: Jay-Z and Beyoncé, both close friends of Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, combined to earn $78 million. The former Destiny's Child diva is one of just eight ladies on the list, but Beyoncé's song "Run The World (Girls)" still rings true—despite welcoming baby Blue Ivy earlier this year, she still out-earned her husband by $2 million.

Winning Powerball Tickets for Jackpot Sold in Ariz., Mo

By ALAN FARNHAM and ANTHONY CASTELLANO | Good Morning America 

Winning tickets for the record Powerball jackpot worth more than $587 million were purchased in Arizona and Missouri.

Missouri Lottery official Susan Goedde confirmed to ABC News this morning that one of the winning tickets was purchased in the state, but they would not be announcing a town until later this morning.

Arizona lottery officials said they had no information on that state's winner or winners but would announce where it was sold during a news conference later in the day.

The winning numbers for the jackpot were 5, 23, 16, 22 and 29. The Powerball was 6.
The jackpot swelled to $587.5 million, according to Lottery official Sue Dooley. The two winners will split the jackpot each getting $293.75 million.

An additional 8,924,123 players won smaller prizes, according to Powerball's website.

"There were 58 winners of $1 million and there were eight winners of $2 million. So a total of $74 million," said Chuck Strutt, Director of the Multi-State Lottery Association.

Hopeful players bought tickets at the rate of 131,000 every minute up until an hour before the deadline of 11 p.m. ET, according to lottery officials.

The jackpot had already rolled over 16 consecutive times without a winner. That fact, plus the doubling in price of a Powerball ticket, accounted for the unprecedented richness of the pot.

"Back in January, we moved Powerball from being a $1 game to $2," said Mary Neubauer, a spokeswoman at the game's headquarters in Iowa. "We thought at the time that this would mean bigger and faster-growing jackpots."

That proved true. The total, she said, began taking "huge jumps -- another $100 million since Saturday." It then jumped another $50 million.

The biggest Powerball pot on record until now -- $365 million -- was won in 2006 by eight Lincoln, Neb., co-workers. As the latest pot swelled, lottery officials said they began getting phone calls from all around the world.

"When it gets this big," said Neubauer, "we get inquiries from Canada and Europe from people wanting to know if they can buy a ticket. They ask if they can FedEx us the money."

The answer she has to give them, she said, is: "Sorry, no. You have to buy a ticket in a member state from a licensed retail location."

About 80 percent of players don't choose their own Powerball number, opting instead for a computer-generated one. Asked if there's anything a player can do to improve his or her odds of winning, Neubauer said there isn't -- apart from buying a ticket, of course.

Lottery officials put the odds of winning this Powerball pot at one in 175 million, meaning you'd have been 25 times more likely to win an Academy Award.

Skip Garibaldi, a professor of mathematics at Emory University in Atlanta, provided additional perspective: You are three times more likely to die from a falling coconut, he said; seven times more likely to die from fireworks, "and way more likely to die from flesh-eating bacteria" (115 fatalities a year) than you are to win the Powerball lottery.

Segueing, then, from death to life, Garibaldi noted that even the best physicians, equipped with the most up-to-date equipment, can't predict the timing of a child's birth with much accuracy.

"But let's suppose," he said, "that your doctor managed to predict the day, the hour, the minute and the second your baby would be born."

The doctor's uncanny prediction would be "at least 100 times" more likely than your winning.

Even though he knows the odds all too well, Garibaldi said he usually plays the lottery.

When it gets this big, I'll buy a couple of tickets," he said. "It's kind of exciting. You get this feeling of anticipation. You get to think about the fantasy."

So, did he buy two tickets this time?

"I couldn't," he told ABC News. "I'm in California" -- one of eight states that doesn't offer Powerball.
In case you were wondering, this Saturday's Powerball jackpot is starting at $40 million.

ABC News Radio contributed to this report.

Snoop Lion wants to invest in Celtic because they beat Barcelona

By Brooks Peck | Dirty Tackle

Snoop at a FIFA 13 launch party with his best friends in that moment. (Getty)

Inspired by the Celtic Champions League group-stage upset against Barcelona that made Rod Stewart cry, Snoop Dogg (now Snoop Lion) has decided that he wants to invest in the Scottish champions. Even though he didn't really watch the match.
Said Snoop to the Daily Record:

"I got a lot of interest in soccer. It's not a new thing for hip-hop stars to invest in sports teams, but it is a new thing for hip-hop stars to invest in soccer teams.
"I didn't catch the whole Barcelona game, but I watched the highlights. I know Barcelona are a big deal, and it shows Celtic are a big deal as well.
"I see how passionate Celtic fans are about their team, and I could see myself making an investment if any of the board wanted to sell.
"I haven't really thought how much. I don't need to run a soccer club but enough of a percentage to get me on the board so I can be heard.
"I want to bring a bit of Snoop to things.

But before you start thinking Snoop is rushing into this decision, know that he was pictured wearing a Celtic shirt in 2005, and he's already asked his friend David Beckham about the club, who confirmed that "teams don't come much bigger," according to Snoop. The rapper-turned-reggae act then added that one of his first orders of business as a member of the Celtic board would be to sign Beckham "for a season," but he knows that will be difficult since the L.A. Galaxy midfielder is happy in Los Angeles with his family.
And just to prove that he knows the club and has an eye for talent, Snoop added that Georgios Samaras -- yes, Georgios Samaras -- is his favorite player.

"I like Samaras a lot. He looks like a proper athlete and is a pretty dangerous player. If we are to go far in Europe, he needs to play well."

Here's Georgios Samaras looking taken aback by that statement...

 

(Getty)

To his credit, Snoop has become a fan of the sport in recent years and he's played a few games of FIFA 13. For his last European tour, he did a series of promotional YouTube videos wearing the shirts of clubs in various cities he stopped in, so he knows that pandering to football fans can be fruitful. But the prospect, no matter how slim, of Snoop and Rod Stewart sharing a tearful embrace at Celtic's next historic win is an exciting one.

David Petraeus: Broadwell affair was 'colossal mistake'

Steve Boylan said the former spymaster knows he has made a "colossal mistake"

Former CIA director David Petraeus has acknowledged his extramarital affair was a "colossal mistake", his former spokesman has told ABC News.

Retired Army Col Steve Boylan said Gen Petraeus' wife Holly was "not exactly pleased" by the revelation, adding that "furious would be an understatement".
The former general resigned over a relationship with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and a former army officer.
It was discovered after a second woman, Jill Kelley, reported harassing emails.
Mrs Kelley, 37, told the FBI that she had received anonymous emails, prompting an investigation into Mrs Broadwell, a married mother of two.
In his interview with ABC News, Col Boylan said Gen Petraeus' affair with Mrs Broadwell, 40, began after the four-star general retired from the army.
"This was poor judgement on his part," Col Boylan said. "It was a colossal mistake, he knows that, he's acknowledged that."

 

Jill Kelley (l) and Holly Petraeus were friends for years

He added: "They're a strong family. They'll get through this."
The relationship began about two months after Gen Petraeus, 60, took up his post as director of the CIA in September 2011, Col Boylan said. He also said it ended about four months ago.
Adultery is illegal under military law, and correspondents say Gen Petraeus could face military prosecution if evidence is found to challenge his claims that the affair began after he left the army.
The former general joined the CIA in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan.
He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, and was widely credited for his role in running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.
'Lightning bolt' Mrs Broadwell, a West Point graduate, co-authored a biography titled All In: The Education of General David Petraeus, which was published in January.
In the preface, she said she met Mr Petraeus in 2006 while she was a Harvard post-graduate student and that she researched the book while following him on trips to Afghanistan.

Investigation timeline

• Early summer - Jill Kelley complains to FBI friend of harassing emails - government official
• Late summer - FBI establish emails come from Paula Broadwell, and that she has had an affair with David Petraeus - government official
• 21 Oct - FBI interview Ms Broadwell - government official
• Oct 22-29 - FBI interview Gen Petraeus - FBI official
• 6 Nov - FBI inform James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, of Petraeus affair. Mr Clapper speaks to Gen Petraeus
• 7 Nov - Mr Clapper informs White House
• 8 Nov - White House informs President Obama. He speaks to Gen Petraeus
• 9 Nov - President Obama accepts Gen Petraeus' resignation. Congressional Committees informed

Gen Petraeus' resignation on Friday sent shockwaves through Washington, coming just days after President Barack Obama won a second term in office and pre-empting any reshuffle of his national security team.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, head of the Senate intelligence committee, said the news came as a "lightning bolt", in an appearance on Fox News on Sunday.
US lawmakers have begun asking whether national security may have been compromised by the affair, and why they were not told sooner.
On 26 October Mrs Broadwell publicly discussed otherwise unreported information about an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which saw four Americans killed on 11 September, including Ambassador Chris Stephens.
In a speech at the University of Denver, Mrs Broadwell suggested the attack might actually have been an attempt to recover "Libyan militia members" who were being held by the CIA.
Her comments have stoked speculation as to whether there could be more to uncover about Gen Petraeus and any role he had in the Benghazi aftermath.
The intelligence agency denied the allegations, saying: "Any suggestion that the agency is still in the detention business is uninformed and baseless."
Classified debate Gen Petraeus stepped down on Friday, acknowledging in his resignation letter that he had shown "extremely poor judgment".
He was due to testify about the Benghazi attack on Thursday before a closed-door congressional committee meeting, but acting Director Michael Morrell will now take his place. Gen Petraeus could be called to give evidence at a later date.

 

Paula Broadwell graduated from the same West Point academy as Gen Petraeus

The FBI probe sparked by Mrs Kelley showed the harassing emails had come from Mrs Broadwell, and further inquiry revealed evidence of her affair with Gen Petraeus.
It is thought that Mr Petraeus and Mrs Broadwell were careful to avoid leaving an email-traffic trail, law enforcement officials told AP news agency.
They said the pair would leave emails in a draft folder, instead of sending them, on a personal account that both of them were able to access in order to read the messages.
In a statement, Mrs Kelley and her husband acknowledged their friendship with Gen Petraeus and asked for privacy.
"We and our family have been friends with Gen Petraeus and his family for over five years," she said.
"We respect his and his family's privacy and want the same for us and our three children."
Reports suggest that senior FBI and justice department officials learned about the affair over the summer, but it is not clear whether FBI Director Robert Mueller or Attorney General Eric Holder were informed.
In the autumn, classified documents were found on Mrs Broadwell's computer after she admitted the affair and allowed it to be searched.
Later, Gen Petraeus acknowledged he had been having an affair but told investigators he had not given Mrs Broadwell the classified information, reports say.
He told associates that they were probably given to her on her reporting trips to Afghanistan by commanders she visited there, reports AP.

US election: Unhappy Americans ask to secede from US

 

The petitions were filed after President Barack Obama's re-election

More than 100,000 Americans have petitioned the White House to allow their states to secede from the US, after President Barack Obama's re-election.

The appeals were filed on the White House's We the People website.
Most of the 20 states with petitions voted for Republican Mitt Romney.
The US constitution contains no clause allowing states to leave the union. By Monday night the White House had not responded.
In total, more than 20 petitions have been filed. One for Texas has reached the 25,000-signature threshold at which the White House promises a response.
'Blatant abuses' The last time states officially seceded, the US Civil War followed.
Most of the petitions merely quote the opening line of America's Declaration of Independence from Britain, in which America's founders stated their right to "dissolve the political bands" and form a new nation.
Currently, the most popular petition is from Texas, which voted for Mr Romney by some 15 percentage points more than it did for the Democratic incumbent.
The text complains of "blatant abuses" of Americans' rights.
It cites the Transportation Security Administration, whose staff have been accused of intrusive screening at airports.

CIA director David Petraeus resigns over affair

 

David Petraeus retired from 37 years in the military to become CIA director

CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from his post, admitting he had an extra-marital affair.

In a statement, Mr Petraeus said he had submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, and that he had shown "extremely poor judgement".
He described his behaviour as "unacceptable" for the leader of the nation's main intelligence agency.
Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq, then in Afghanistan.
He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.
'Great patriot' Mr Petraeus' resignation came just three days after President Barack Obama's re-election, and prompted a flurry of statements from the White House, intelligence community and Mr Petraeus himself.
Announcing his decision to stand down, the former general was full of contrition.

"By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger”

             Barack Obama US President

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," Mr Petraeus said in a statement.

"Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation."
Mr Obama's statement said Mr Petraeus had "provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades", citing both his time as CIA director and service to the military.
"By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger."
"Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work."
James Clapper, director of national intelligence, thanked Mr Petraeus for his decades of service: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants,"

David Petraeus: Career highlights

• Graduated from West Point in 1974
• Commander of Multinational Force Iraq, Feb 2007 to Sept 2008
• Commander of International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, July 2010 to July 2011
• Became CIA director in Sept 2011 after being confirmed by the senate 94-0

"I have spent more than five decades serving our country - in uniform and out - and of all the exceptional men and women I have worked with over the years, I can honestly say that Dave Petraeus stands out as one of our nation's great patriots."

CIA deputy director Michael Morell will serve as acting director of the agency, the White House confirmed. Eventually Mr Obama must nominate a new director to head the agency, who will then need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Mr Morell, who is well respected at both the White House and on Capitol Hill, also served as acting director following the departure of former CIA chief Leon Panetta.
The CIA faces a potential period of instability after Mr Petraeus' resignation, as it also deals with a budget plateau and questions over its response to a deadly attack at a US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Barack Obama closes in on Florida vote victory

 

Voters wait in West Palm Beach on Sunday after an the election office extended early voting

President Barack Obama appears close to victory in Florida, the only state yet to declare a result from Tuesday's US presidential election.

Vote counting continues, but the head of Florida's Democratic Party issued a statement congratulating Mr Obama.
Aides to Mitt Romney were also quoted appearing to concede defeat.
Florida's vote cannot change the overall result, but the slow count has brought back memories of the bitterly contested recount in 2000.
The Sunshine State's famous "hanging chads" sparked a crisis in that year's Bush-Gore election, eventually leading to a Supreme Court ruling that installed George W Bush in the White House.
Ground game praise As of Thursday evening Mr Obama had a 0.7% lead in Florida - totalling more than 50,000 votes - but some ballots have yet to be counted.
The final result is expected by midday on Saturday, after three counties - Broward, Palm Beach and Duval - finish their tallies.
If the final difference in the number of votes for President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney is below 0.5%, a recount would be automatically triggered.

"The big picture is that we have done this to ourselves”

          John Rodstrom Broward County mayor

But whatever the outcome, it matters little since the Democratic incumbent decisively won the national vote in the electoral college.

As the counting edged towards its end, party operatives in Florida began to concede the race would go to Mr Obama.
"On behalf of Florida Democrats, I wish President Barack Obama congratulations on his re-election and on winning Florida's 29 electoral votes," Florida Democratic Chair Rod Smith said.
"Florida Democrats ran the strongest, largest ground game this state has ever seen," he said, describing it as "appalling" that the state had been unable to report results two days after the election.
Republican officials also said they expected Mr Obama to eventually be declared the winner.
"We thought based on our polling and range of organisation that we had done what we needed to win," Brett Doster, a Florida adviser for Mr Romney, told the Miami Herald.

"Obviously, we didn't, and for that I and every other operative in Florida has a sick feeling that we left something on the table. I can assure you this won't happen again."
Florida Republican spokesman Brian Burgess told the Associated Press that "given the wave that we saw all over the country, we're glad that we gave them enough of a fight in Florida to prolong the battle here as long as we did".
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina told reporters: "We feel we will be the official winner in Florida later today."
Counties must send preliminary results to the state by midday on Saturday.
Voting problems Long queues were reported across the fourth most populous US state on Tuesday.
Some voters waited to cast ballots until 01:30 local time the next morning, after Mr Romney had already delivered his concession speech.
Tens of thousands of absentee ballots also arrived on election day.
In Broward County, Democratic Mayor John Rodstrom told the Miami Herald: "The big picture is that we have done this to ourselves," blaming a combination of all sorts of municipal, state and federal elections on one ballot.
"We have these tremendously long ballots now," he said.

Navy SEAL Team Six Members Disciplined

By Luis Martinez | ABC OTUS News 

• 
  Associated Press/Electronic Arts - This product image released by Electronic Arts shows action from the video game "Medal of Honor: Warfighter." Seven members of the secretive Navy SEAL Team 6, including one …more 

Seven current members of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six, including one involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, have received non-judicial punishments for having served as paid consultants for the video game "Medal of Honor: Warfighter." Four other SEALs who previously belonged to the unit remain under investigation.
The newly released game by Electronic Arts features special operations forces, including SEALs, in combat situations. Promotional materials for the game mention the fact that, to make the game as realistic as possible, input came from special operators, including Navy SEALS.
A Navy official says 11 active duty SEALS worked as consultants on the game over two days earlier this year. At the time all of them were members of SEAL Team Six.
A senior Navy official told ABC News that one of the seven SEALs was involved in the May 1, 2011, raid in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden.
The SEALs were punished for having violated their nondisclosure agreements and for having revealed tactics, techniques and procedures. Non-judicial punishments allow commanders to discipline service members administratively instead of pursuing a legal process that could lead to a court martial.
The news that active duty SEALS had been punished for their involvement with the video game was first reported by CBS News.
The official confirmed that on Thursday morning seven senior enlisted sailors, who are still part of the unit, had received letters of reprimand and been fined two months' pay. Letters of reprimand are seen as career-enders because they typically prevent further promotions. The investigation continues into the four West Coast based SEALs who were part of the unit at the time that they served as consultants.
A Defense official said that in an unusual move, the punishments were read out loud to the seven SEALs in front of their peers to send the message that this kind of activity would not be tolerated.
In a statement, Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli, deputy commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, said his command "takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and conducts investigations to determine the facts. We likewise take seriously the Non-Disclosure Agreements signed by Sailors and adherence to the articles of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)."
The Navy first became aware of the SEALs' involvement following the release of the book "No Easy Day," written by the pseudonym Mark Owen, a former SEAL Team Six member who detailed his role in the bin Laden raid.

Owen was investigated by the Pentagon for having violated his non-disclosure agreements and for not having his book vetted by the Pentagon. He too served as a consultant on the Medal of Honor video game.

The Navy official said the participation by the 11 SEALs was discovered following a review prompted by the publication of Owen's book. The official said after the book came out, it was decided that a review should be made of what "outside engagements" current SEALs might have been involved with for which they may have received compensation.

President Barack Obama defeats Romney to win re-election

Barack Obama: "I have never been more hopeful"

President Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

America's first black president secured more than the 270 votes in the electoral college needed to win.
In his victory speech before supporters in Chicago, Mr Obama said he would talk to Mr Romney about "where we can work together to move this country forward".
Mr Obama prevailed despite lingering dissatisfaction with the economy and a hard-fought challenge by Mr Romney.
His Democrats also retained their majority in the Senate, which they have held since 2007.

The Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives, which analysts say will likely result in more of the gridlock that characterised Mr Obama's first term, with the House and the president at loggerheads on most legislation.

In his address, the president challenged his opponents, asking them to work with him.
With only Florida's 29 electoral votes still undecided, Mr Obama won 303 electoral votes to Mr Romney's 206.
The popular vote, which is symbolically and politically important but not decisive in the race, remains very close.

"In 2008, they built a coalition forged in the white heat of passion. In 2012, they carefully constructed it, patiently persuading supporters to become voters. Both candidates said this was a choice of two visions, America has chosen. ”

Mark Mardell North America editor

'One nation' speech

Mr Obama congratulated Mr Romney and Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan on their hard-fought campaign.

"We have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come," he said.
Mr Obama said he was returning to the White House "more determined, and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do, and the future that lies ahead".
He pledged to work with Republican leaders in Congress to reduce the government's budget deficit, fix the tax code and reform the immigration system.
"We are an American family and we rise and fall together as one nation," he said.
In Boston, where his campaign was based, Mr Romney congratulated the president and said he and Mr Ryan had "left everything on the field" and had given their all in the campaign.

US media reaction

Thomas L Friedman of the New York Times writes: "No one can know for sure what complex emotional chemistry tipped this election Obama's way… it came down to a majority of Americans believing that whatever his faults, Obama was trying his hardest to fix what ails the country."
Dan Balz of the Washington Post says: "Tuesday's election produced an uncertain mandate, although Obama will attempt to claim one. Obama offered a plan, but not one that deals directly with some of the problems he will have to confront immediately."
A Wall Street Journal opinion piece read: "[Obama] said little during the campaign about his first term and even less about his plans for a second. Instead his strategy was to portray Mitt Romney as a plutocrat… it worked with brutal efficiency - the definition of winning ugly."
Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times writes: "If we're lucky, we will find that we elected a different Obama from the one who won four years ago - not just a grayer Obama but a wiser one too."

Referring to the struggling economy, Mr Romney said now was not the time for "partisan bickering and political posturing", and that Republicans and Democrats must "put people before politics".

"I so wish that I had been able to fulfil your hopes to lead the country in a different direction but the nation chose another leader and so I join with you to earnestly pray for [Mr Obama] and for this great nation," he said.
Under the US constitution, each state is given a number of electoral votes in rough proportion to its population. The candidate who wins 270 electoral votes - by prevailing in the mostly winner-takes-all state contests - becomes president.
On Tuesday, the president held the White House by assembling solid Democratic states and a number of important swing states such as Colorado, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin. His narrow victory in Ohio, a critical Mid-Western swing state, sealed the victory.
In other key ballots:

• Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington state approved same-sex marriage in local referendums
• Colorado and Washington state voted to legalise recreational use of marijuana
• California voters rejected a proposal to abolish the death penalty
• Puerto Ricans voted in a referendum on whether to maintain their status as a US "free associated state". Early results suggest a majority answered "No", voting in favour of becoming the 51st US state, if Congress approves the move.

Billions spent Mr Romney won North Carolina and Indiana, both of which Mr Obama won in 2008, as well as the solid Republican states.

But he was unable to win in Ohio or other states needed to breach the 270 threshold.

Also on Tuesday's ballot were 11 state governorships, a third of the seats in the 100-member US Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
Mr Obama's victory came despite lingering high unemployment - 7.9% on election day - and tepid economic growth.
But voters gave him credit for his 2009 rescue of the US car industry among other policy accomplishments, and rewarded him for ordering the commando mission that killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan last year.
He and Mr Romney, as well as their respective allies, have spent more than $2bn (£1.25bn) - largely on adverts in swing states.
From BBC

Ferguson row spells end for Nani at UnitedBy Miguel Delaney

Nani's days at Manchester United appear to be numbered as the winger's relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson has reached breaking point.

PA PhotosFerguson blamed Nani for an error which led to League Cup defeat at Chelsea

ESPN understands that assistant manager Mike Phelan had to mediate and calm the Portuguese following last Wednesday's 5-4 Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea, after Ferguson had criticised Nani for his wasteful use of the ball that led to Eden Hazard's late penalty in 90 minutes.
For his part, sources close to Nani say that he is feeling "victimised" and blamed for any bad result, but has become increasingly vocal about that in the dressing room. He has also had angry words with United coach Rene Meulensteen.
Ferguson's frustration with the winger's performances grew towards the end of last season, and it is understood he would have sold the Portuguese in the summer, with Lucas Moura intended to serve as a direct squad replacement. United ended up being gazumped by Paris Saint-Germain for the Brazilian.
While Nani's natural talent is hugely respected at Old Trafford, many of the coaching staff are believed to question his focus.
As it is, United will attempt to find a buyer in January, with Ferguson also prepared to spend to fill the place he hopes will be vacated.

Barack Obama wins election for second term as president

By Liz Goodwin, Yahoo! News | The Ticket

President Barack Obama handily defeated Gov. Mitt Romney and won himself a second term on Tuesday after a bitter and historically expensive race that was primarily fought in just a handful of battleground states. Obama beat Romney after nabbing almost every one of the 12 crucial battleground states.

The Romney campaign's last-ditch attempt to put blue-leaning Midwestern swing states in play failed as Obama's Midwestern firewall sent the president back to the White House for four more years. Obama picked up the swing states of New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico, Iowa, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio. Of the swing states, Romney picked up only North Carolina. Florida is still too close to call, but even if Romney wins the state, Obama still beat him in the Electoral College vote. The popular vote will most likely be narrower than the president's decisive Electoral College victory.

In a sweeping victory speech early Wednesday morning, Obama thanked every American who voted, and vowed to work with leaders from both parties to tackle the country's challenges.

"Our economy is recovering, a decade of war is ending, a long campaign is now over," he told a crowd of cheering supporters in Chicago. "And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you and you have made me a better president." Obama added he has "never been more hopeful about America. ... We're not as divided as our politics suggest. We remain more than a collection of blue states and red states."

In his speech, he offered clues to the policy goals of his second term, which included a deficit reduction plan that combines tax increases with spending cuts, a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's federal immigration laws and tax reform. He called on Republicans to join him in achieving those goals.

The battle for the White House between Obama and Romney divided the nation, causing, at times, bitter disputes between the parties. Obama urged his supporters to look beyond the fight of the past several months and defended the process of choosing a president.

"I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even  silly," Obama said. "And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us  that politics is nothing more than a contest of evils or the domain of  special interests. If you ever get the chance to talk to folks who  turned out to our rallies and along the rope lines of high school gyms,  or saw folks working late at campaign office or some tiny county a long way from home, you'll discover something else."

Romney conceded in Boston in a speech around 1 a.m. ET. "Like so many of you, Paul [Ryan] and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign," Romney said. "I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead your country in another direction. But the nation chose another leader." Romney congratulated the president and his campaign on their victory.
The Obama victory marks an end to a years-long campaign that saw historic advertisement spending levels, countless rallies and speeches, and three much-watched debates.

1. 1 hr 50 mins ago
   

   U.S. President Barack Obama hugs his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2L) as First lady Michelle Obama looks on during his election night victory rally in Chicago, November 7, 2012. REUTERS/Larry

   
   The Romney campaign cast the election as a referendum on Obama's economic policies, frequently comparing him to former President Jimmy Carter and asking voters the Reagan-esque question of whether they are better off than they were four years ago. But the Obama campaign pushed back, blanketing key states such as Ohio early on with ads painting him as a multimillionaire more concerned with profits than people. The Obama campaign also aggressively attacked Romney on reproductive rights issues, tying Romney to a handful of Republican candidates who made controversial comments about rape and abortion.

   The ads were one reason Romney faced a steep likeability problem for most of the race, until his expert performance at the first presidential debate in Denver in October. After that debate, and a near universal panning of Obama's performance, Romney caught up with Obama in national polls, and almost closed his favorability gap with the president. In polls, voters consistently gave him an edge over Obama on who would handle the economy better and create more jobs, even as they rated Obama higher on caring about the middle class.

   But the president's Midwestern firewall—and the campaign's impressive grassroots operation—carried him through. Ohio tends to vote a bit more Republican than the nation as a whole, but Obama was able to stave off that trend and hold an edge there over Romney, perhaps due to the president's support of the auto bailout three years ago. Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, all but moved to Ohio in the last weeks of the campaign, trying and ultimately failing to erase Obama's lead there.
   

   A shrinking electoral battleground this year meant that only 12 states were really seen as in play, and both candidates spent most of their time and money there. Though national polls showed the two candidates in a dead heat, Obama consistently held a lead in the states that mattered. That, and his campaign's much-touted get-out-the-vote efforts and overall ground game, may be what pushed Obama over the finish line.

   Now, Obama heads back to office facing what will most likely be bitterly partisan negotiations over whether the Bush tax cuts should expire. The House will still be majority Republican, with Democrats maintaining their majority in the Senate.
   

   The loss may provoke some soul searching in the Republican Party. This election was seen as a prime opportunity to unseat Obama, as polls showed Americans were unhappy with a sluggish economy, sky-high unemployment and a health care reform bill that remained widely unpopular. Romney took hardline positions on immigration, federal spending and taxes during the long Republican primary when he faced multiple challenges from the right. He later shifted to the center in tone on many of those issues, but it's possible the primary painted him into a too-conservative corner to appeal to moderates during the general election. The candidate also at times seemed unable to effectively counter Democratic attacks on his business experience and personal wealth.

   "In the coming weeks and months I am looking forward to reaching out to leaders of both parties," Obama said.

   He won't have much time to fulfill that promise. With tax hikes looming and a sequestration deal that will make enormous , automatic cuts in government funding, Congress and the White House must move quickly to find a compromise and put Obama's high-minded rhetoric into action.

   Chris Moody contributed reporting from Chicago.

Syria conflict: Rebels 'attack key airbase at Taftanaz'

BBC's Peter Biles: "The rebel offensive began at first light"

Rebels in Syria say they are locked in a fierce battle with government forces to take control of a key airbase.

Video posted on the internet showed fighters attacking the strategically important Taftanaz base in the north, located between Syria's two biggest cities, Aleppo and Damascus.
The attack comes a day before a crucial opposition meeting in Doha, Qatar.
It also follows the apparent murder of a number of Syrian troops by rebels, which drew international condemnation.
Separately, Israel said three Syrian tanks had entered the demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights to tackle rebel fighters, prompting an Israeli complaint to the UN forces overseeing a truce in the area.
New leadership The attack on Taftanaz took place as dawn broke, with as many as five different units of rebel fighters reportedly opening fire with multiple rocket launchers, mortars and other weaponry.
Activists said the fighting was continuing into the evening, although state media said government forces had repelled the assault, killing a large number of rebels and destroying their vehicles.
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent Richard Spencer, close to the base, says the attack represents a change of tactics by the rebels.
"They've been making very slow progress in grinding the regime down in the big cities like Aleppo and Damascus, so they've started attacking the supply lines," he told the BBC.
"The rebels are short on weapons. They have Kalashnikovs, they have rocket-propelled grenades, they are thought now to have a few shoulder-mounted missiles, but that doesn't really go a long way against tanks, against helicopters in the air particularly, and MIG fighter jets."

In recent months, the government forces have been making increasing use of air power to strike areas held by the rebels, who lack anti-aircraft weapons to deter the attacks.
Rebel forces are reported to have taken control of the main roads in much of the area south-west of Aleppo.
The video said the rebel groups involved included several brigades of the Free Syrian Army, but also the radical Islamist al-Nusra Front.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says that although nothing certain has been established, al-Nusra has been named in connection with the killing of captured army soldiers two days ago at Saraqeb, just 15km (10 miles) from where this latest attack is taking place.
The UN has said the video that appears to show the murder of the soldiers or pro-government militiamen could be evidence of a war crime.

Video allegedly showing the shooting of Syrian troops drew international condemnation

The footage shows gunmen beating and shooting a group of prisoners who were cowering on the floor.
On Friday, the US said it "condemned human rights violations by any party in Syria".
State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said: "There is no justification for that kind of behaviour ever. Anyone committing atrocities should be held to account."
The question of apparent brutality by some rebel units has become a serious concern ahead of the major opposition meeting being held in Qatar this weekend.

"At the most basic level, Western governments who oppose the Assad regime need a single address for their diplomatic contacts”

Jonathan Marcus BBC diplomatic correspondent

The US is hoping a new leadership will help unify the disparate opposition elements and bring a successful conclusion to an uprising that has killed more than 36,000 people since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011.

Divisions have arisen not just between Islamist and secularist groups, but also between those operating inside Syria and opposition figures working abroad.
Ms Nuland said there was a need for cohesion of rebel forces within Syria and a strong organisation outside the country that could work with the international community.
A previous opposition meeting in Cairo in July accepted that the Assad government must fall but failed to appoint a committee to act for the opposition internationally.
The US this week signalled the opposition needed to be expanded from the main overseas grouping, the Syrian National Council, to take in more of those operating inside Syria.
Representatives at Doha will include various other religious and secular groupings, plus Kurdish figures and dissident members of Mr Assad's Alawite sect.

Pardew: Rodgers will succeed at RedsBy ESPN Staff

By ESPN Staff
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has backed his old student Brendan Rodgers to make a success of his spell as Liverpool manager.

PA PhotosBrendan Rodger has been giving Liverpool's youngsters a chance

Pardew handed Rodgers his chance as a coach during his days as Reading manager, and he has been delighted by the progress his former understudy has made as he has risen up the coaching ladder.
Now Pardew is preparing to go head-to-head with Rodgers at Anfield on Sunday and he has been gushing in his praise of the youthful Irishman.
"I always thought he would make a great coach and there were a couple of clubs that would have liked to have taken him but, by then, he had moved on and found himself good jobs," stated the Newcastle boss.
"He's someone I've always thought would do well. He has the right attributes to be a teacher-type coach-manager, which is what he is.
"What he has is this vision about how he would like to play. You need to have all the tools for that and I have got to be honest, I don't think he has them, for whatever reason.
"In the last window, if I'm honest, I didn't think he got all the tools he needs at that level and I think everyone can see that, that they need a couple of extra players in that team."
Pardew suggests his old pal is under more pressure to deliver success at Liverpool than he is at Newcastle, even though he has succeeded in raising expectation among the Tyneside faithful in his 23 months in charge at St James' Park.
"There's more pressure at Liverpool because of the stature and the trophies they've won down the years," added the Newcastle boss. "You have to say that Liverpool, historically, are a step ahead of Newcastle, but the moment, they are team evolving and Brendan should be given time to get them moving forward.
"That said, they still have some fantastic players. Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez are two of the best players in the Premier League, so we must make sure we are on top of our game.
"What we see on Sunday is two top teams with great histories and we have to make sure we don't get lost in the emotion of this game. They way Liverpool build a game up in the moments before kick-off, you have to make sure that doesn't distract you.
"I think it's good for English football for Liverpool and Newcastle to be doing well. We are still striving to be a top six team at the moment and to do that, we have to go to places like Anfield and do well."

Rodgers: Suarez critics are hypocrites

By ESPN Staff

Brendan Rodgers has leapt to the defence of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez once more, warning other managers that they should control their own players before accusing others of diving.

GettyImagesLuis Suarez pulled a goal back for Liverpool against Swansea

Suarez, 25, was most recently criticised by Everton manager David Moyes ahead of last week's Merseyside derby, with Moyes claiming that the Uruguayan's antics turn fans away from the game.
But Rodgers believes Suarez has been unjustly used as a scapegoat for a problem that is much bigger than one player.
"I believe this will be the ongoing debate, and now people will see that diving is an issue which is at every club - it is widespread within the game," Rodgers said. "It is ridiculous to single out one man, because every single club has an issue."
Three Premier League players received bookings for simulation last weekend - Angel Rangel, Phil Neville and Fernando Torres - prompting suggestions from Rodgers that Suarez should no longer be the topic of debate.
"Just look at last weekend, and two players you would deem to be great professionals - Angel Rangel and Neville - almost above criticism," he said. "Rangel was booked against Manchester City for diving but I worked with him for two years at Swansea and he's one of the most honest, genuine people I've come across in my life. But he got booked for diving.
"Neville is 35 and over the years you would consider him to be a really honest guy, an impeccable professional. But then he gets booked for diving after his manager has read the riot act to his players by all accounts. Then you have Fernando Torres booked for diving.
"So managers have made a criticism of Luis, but I can guarantee you they will have players who are criticised for diving. Hopefully people won't continue to vilify Luis just because he was the easy target before, and look beyond themselves and their own players to see it's part of the game.
"Of course we don't like it when it's blatant and personally I believe we must continue to fight to eradicate that. But it is nonsense to suggest it's just a problem with Luis Suarez."
Suarez received close attention from the Everton defence during the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, but Rodgers insists he will not be recriprocating any mind games forced on by opposition players.
"I honestly don't think you can wind Luis up, by having a go at him for diving or anything else," Rodgers said. "Others have tried to use it as a psychological tool to put him off and affect referees but it makes him stronger.
"Looking at his performance levels, consistency and goals he's scored, they'd be better off saying nothing. He'll always divide opinion. If he's on your team people will love him but if he isn't he'll get a bit of stick, but that's because he's world class.
"When I was at Swansea and we played Liverpool, I told the players: 'This guy is a nuisance but for the right reasons because he's a top player'. He's a real threat in and around the box so you have to be careful. If people criticise him, they are wrong, and I guarantee if they do, the support he gets from me will grow stronger because of how genuine I see he is."

Fabrice Muamba accepts his future

By Press Association Fabrice Muamba says he has come to terms with the fact that he will never play professional soccer again.
Muamba earned plaudits from leading figures within the game for his determination to return to action following an on-pitch cardiac arrest in Bolton's FA Cup tie at Tottenham in March.

GettyImagesFabrice Muamba says he has accepted that his future will not involve playing soccer again.

The 24-year-old had a pacemaker fitted to help ease the pressure on his heart, but he retired in August upon doctors' advice.
Muamba admits quitting the game was hard, but the former Bolton man, who has gained huge notoriety since his collapse, concedes he has accepted the fact that he will never kick a ball in anger again.
"I've already adjusted myself to the idea that I'm never going to be able to kick a ball again but life brings different challenges," Muamba told Football Focus. "When I first came to the country football was the only thing I ever knew. I'm sure I'm not the only professional who won't be playing football for a very long time who has to adjust in their life after football.
"You just have be able to make sure you enjoy the game but you also have to able to accept the fact your time is up and move forward to a different direction."
Muamba, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo but represented England's Under-21 side 33 times, spent a month in London's Chest Hospital after being rushed there immediately after collapsing on the turf off the ball at Spurs' north London home.
The pacemaker, and the treatment he received at the hospital, have enabled him to make a good recovery.
"I still have a bit of damage on my left ventricle but I'm getting better every single day," Muamba said.
"The pacemaker now and again kicks in just to make sure the heart rate for me is normal and hopefully it gets better every single day."
Since he retired Muamba has flown across the world in his attempt to publicise heart problems in young men.
He has also got married and has written an autobiography, which is out next week.
His collapse caused an outpouring of sympathy from leading figures within the game and he is grateful for all the support he has received since that day in March.
"I'm just grateful for all the professional people that have come up against me have supported me," Muamba said.
"It just shows when football gets together you can produce this sort of response."

Manchester united vs Arsenal.

POOR SHOWING BY ARSENAL
The game is still going on with about seventeen minutes left. Arsenal has now been reduced to 10 men with Jack Wilshire being shown a red card while trailing United by 2 goals. Arsenal has not shown any sign of life in this game at all, its clear there is no coming back for them. What's left for Arsenal here today is just damage control to avoid the repeat of last year's 8 goals score line.
(The game finished 2:1 with Arsenal scoring with the last kick of the game)
Sent via the HTC Vivid™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

Freddie Starr arrested in Jimmy Savile abuse inquiry

Police carried out a search of Freddie Starr's house while he was being questioned

Entertainer Freddie Starr has been arrested in the police inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

Mr Starr was arrested in Warwickshire by Operation Yewtree officers on suspicion of sexual offences and bailed after a number of hours of questioning.
He has denied claims he groped a girl of 14 while in a room with Savile.
Meanwhile, an independent review into BBC Newsnight's dropping of a programme about the allegations against Savile will report later this month.
Operation Yewtree is a Scotland Yard criminal inquiry into sexual abuse claims.
The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man in his 60s, from Warwickshire, at 17:45 GMT in connection with the investigation.
Police said the individual fell under the strand of the investigation termed "Savile and others".
Mr Starr was released on bail between 01:00 and 01:30 GMT on Friday. Scotland Yard has not said when he was bailed until.
On Sunday, ex-pop star Gary Glitter was arrested and bailed after being questioned as part of the inquiry.
Glitter, 68, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested at home and questioned at a London police station before being released on bail until mid-December.
Editorial decision The independent review by ex-Sky News boss Nick Pollard will seek to establish whether there were any "failings" in the decision to drop the Newsnight investigation.
The Pollard Review, will also look at the BBC's handling of material which might have been of interest to the police, which will report to the BBC Executive Board.
There has been speculation that the programme was dropped because the BBC was already planning to run more favourable programmes in tribute to the former BBC presenter, who died in October 2011. The BBC has repeatedly denied such claims.

Jimmy Savile inquiries

• Operation Yewtree: Scotland Yard criminal investigation into sexual abuse claims
• BBC investigation into management failures over the dropping of Savile Newsnight report
• BBC investigation into culture and practices during Savile's career and current policies
• BBC investigation into handling of past sexual harassment claims
• Department of Health investigation into Savile's appointment to Broadmoor "taskforce" and his activities at Broadmoor, Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary
• Director of Public Prosecutions review into decisions not to prosecute Savile in 2009

BBC director general George Entwistle said he was launching the inquiry to shake off the "clouds of suspicion".

Outlining terms of reference on Thursday, a statement on behalf of the review said: "It will establish whether there were any failings in the BBC management of the Newsnight investigation relating to allegations of sexual abuse of children by Jimmy Savile, including the broadcast of tribute programmes on the BBC.
"This will encompass the BBC's handling of material derived from the investigation that could have been of interest to the police or relevant authorities and whether any inappropriate managerial pressure or consideration may have influenced the decision of the editor of Newsnight."
It said the review will examine the editorial decision on the Newsnight investigation and a blog dated 2 October posted by the programme's editor which was changed by the BBC on 22 October 2012.
In the original blog, Newsnight editor Peter Rippon explained the editorial reasons behind his decision to axe the report. He said it was "totally untrue" he had been ordered to do it by bosses as part of a BBC cover-up.
In a correction to the blog, the BBC called it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects".
Mr Rippon has stepped aside from his role for the duration of the inquiry.
The review's statement said interviews with relevant people will be conducted with support of a barrister, and interviewees are allowed a lawyer.
The review has asked BBC staff for documents and was electronically searching archived documents from relevant people.
Participation in the review, which has already begun, is voluntary.
Police believe Savile could have abused as many as 300 people over a 40-year-period.

Bodies of Two Boys Washed Away By Sandy Found

By Christina Ng | ABC News Blogs 

 
The bodies of two young boys who were washed away by Sandy's floodwaters as their horrified mother watched were found today in a marshy area, according to police.

The 2-year-old and 4-year-old boys disappeared on the New York City borough of Staten Island Monday night when waves caused by storm surges crashed into the family's SUV while they were driving, according to ABC News' New York station WABC.

The boys were pulled into powerful waters after their mom put them on the roof of her car when rushing waters caused the car to stall, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, according to the AP. The family had been on their way to a shelter.

"She put the two boys on the roof of the car to avoid the water, and then another large wave came, and it apparently washed them away," Kelly said. "Of course, the mother was totally, completely distraught. She started looking for them herself, asking people to help her look."

The search continued until the bodies were found at the end of a dead-end street.

"Terrible, absolutely terrible," Kelly said. "It just compounds all the tragic aspects of this horrific event."

The parents of the missing children were at the scene where the bodies were discovered, according to WABC.

Superstorm Sandy killed at least 80 people in the United States, according to the Associated Press. The storm resulted in massive flooding, power outages and widespread destruction on the East Coast.

Errant Gingrich Email: 'Obama Is Going to Win'

By SARAH PARNASS | ABC News

• 
  ABC News - Errant Gingrich Email: 'Obama Is Going to Win' (ABC News)

An email message mistakenly sent to Newt Gingrich's list serve this morning told subscribers that President Obama would no doubt win in 2012 and that they should be more worried about Obama's winning in 2016.

That's right, despite the 22nd Amendment, which limits any one person to two presidential terms, the email that went out to Gingrich's supporters suggests President Obama would be running again in 2016, and possibly serve through 2020.

The email, titled "What's really at stake this Tuesday ..." came from Gingrich Marketplace and went out to people who'd given their contact information to the Gingrich campaign when the former speaker of the House was still in the presidential race. Bygone candidates, such as Gingrich and Herman Cain, regularly rent out their email address lists to advertisers.

"The truth is, the next election has already been decided. Obama is going to win. It's nearly impossible to beat an incumbent president," advertiser Porter Stansberry wrote in the email to Gingrich supporters. "What's actually at stake right now is whether or not he will have a third-term."

Conservative news group Human Events manages the Gingrich Marketplace emails, but Gingrich has a say over which advertisers can have their messages go out to the list. And according to Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond, Stansberry & Associates should have been on the blacklist.

"We do not rent to the entity in question," Hammond said, speaking by phone Thursday. "In fact, we go to lengths to vet where we rent."

Human Events Vice President Joe Guerriero said the email was "a mistake."

"It was actually scheduled to run on another of our lists," Guerriero said. His team has been investigating how the Stansberry message went out to the Gingrich group.

Stansberry & Associates is run by Porter Stansberry, who in 2003 was the subject ofan SEC lawsuit in which the court found he participated in an online newsletter scheme that defrauded investors out of $1 million. Stansberry was ordered to pay $120,000 in damages.

Here's the catch to the email. To learn how Obama would circumvent the 22nd Amendment, Gingrich subscribers were asked to click on a link to Stanberry's site and watch a video presentation. We won't bore you with those details. We're skeptical, to say the least, of the argument.

Gingrich endorsed Republican rival Mitt Romney when Gingrich left the race last May. At the top and bottom of his emails, there is a disclaimer for readers, in part saying, "the following message reflects the opinions and representations of our advertiser alone."