The transformations of Michael Jackson

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Obama’s oratory is not enough: Khamenei

Iran‘s ultimate leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that he sees no change in U.S. policy toward Iran in spite of the U.S. promise of a “new beginning.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran would change its policy when the U.S. did so as well.

Khamenei said a change in oratory is not enough, and Washington must practice what it preaches.

He also promised that Iran will change its policy if the United States does so as well.

Khamenei’s comments, which he made in a televised address to mark the start of the Iranian New Year on Friday, come a day after U.S. President Barack Obama reached out to Iran in a videotaped message.

A spokesman for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad strongly disapproved U.S. foreign policy Friday in response to the video.

Obama’s message spoke of “new beginnings” with the promise of a new year.

“My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to follow constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community,” the president said.

Obama said the United States seeks commitment with Iran that is “honest and grounded in mutual respect.”

The president’s message is part of a dramatic shift in tone from that of the Bush administration, which branded Iran as part of an “axis of evil” along with North Korea and Iraq. It also echoes Obama’s introductory speech in which he told the Muslim world, “We seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”

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Jade Goody is no longer with us

British reality star Jade goody has lost the  battle with cervical cancer.

The mom of two, 27, who recently married boyfriend Jack Tweed, passed away in her sleep at her home in Essex, southeast England.

Goody was detected with cancer in 2008 but the disease spread to her liver, groin and bowel and she was told it was fatal in February.

She was being treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London but wanted to die at home with her family, new husband and sons, Bobby, five, and Freddy, four.

Goody became famous after appearing on the Channel 4 show Big Brother.

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IPL to be held in South Africa or England

With the government playing tough on sparing forces for security, the Indian Premier League was on Sunday shifted to another country among assumption that England or South Africa would be the venue for the second edition of the IPL.

The decision to shift the Twenty20 tournament out of the country was taken at the BCCI’s Working Committee meeting in Mumbai to take a final call on the cash-rich event which had run into rough weather because of security fear.

“Because of the attitude of the government that they are not ready to spare security forces for the IPL… we are forced to take the decision to move the event out of India,” BCCI president Shashank Manohar told a press conference.

“So the Board has decided to take the tournament out of the country. We are in discussion with other Boards who are willing to host the event. I express regret to the people of India for moving the tournament out,” Manohar said.

“But we’re going ahead with the event so that they can at least watch the event on television,” Mahohar added.

“We are in discussion with other boards and will decide the venue in next 2-3 days,” he said.

IPL Commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi, who was also at the press conference, said the number of matches, format and timing of the event will remain unchanged and the organisers would not alter with the “integrity of the tournament”.

“Dates and timings of the matches will remain the same. The Indian spectators can watch the matches at 4 pm and 8 pm IST as they did in the inaugural season,” Modi said.

“Revenue cannot be an issue; the 59-match tournament will remain as 59-match tournament. The issue is the honesty of the tournament.

“We want to ensure the quality which we deliver and it cannot be compromised. We have to deliver the world standard event,” he said.

Manohar also expressed his annoyance at the state governments’ attitude, saying Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra Government changed there attitude at the last moment.

“The Andhra Pradesh government canceled its earlier permission… and Maharashtra Chief Minister wrote a letter that we can’t host matches in that state until May 13. We had scheduled 18 matches for Maharashtra,” he said.

Asked if owners were also taken into the confidence before taking the decision, Manohar said “the franchise would want the tournament to go ahead”.

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