Iranian protesters seize 6 British embassy staff (Reuters)

TEHRAN (Reuters) ? Iranian protesters briefly took six British embassy staff hostage on Tuesday when they stormed two diplomatic compounds in Tehran, smashing windows, hurling petrol bombs and burning the British flag in a protest against sanctions imposed by Britain.

Britain said it was outraged by the attacks on its embassy compounds, but had no immediate comment on the seizure of its staff who, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said, were freed by police from a leafy residential complex in north Tehran.

The attacks come at a time of rising diplomatic tension between Iran and Western nations who last week imposed fresh sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program which they believe is aimed at achieving the capability of making an atomic bomb.

Iran, the world's fifth biggest oil exporter, says it only wants nuclear plants to generate electricity.

The embassy storming is also a clear sign of deepening political infighting within Iran's ruling hardline elites with the conservative-led parliament attempting to force the hand of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and expel the British ambassador.

Several dozen protesters broke away from a crowd of a few hundred outside the main embassy compound in downtown Tehran, scaled the gates, broke the locks and went inside.

Protesters pulled down the British flag, burned it, and put up the Iranian flag, Iranian news agencies and news pictures showed. Inside, the demonstrators threw stones and petrol bombs. One waved a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth, state TV showed.

Others carried the royal crest out through the embassy gate as police stood by, pictures carried by the Fars news agency showed. Demonstrators waved flags symbolizing martyrdom and held portraits of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Another group of protesters broke into a second British Embassy compound at Qolhak in north Tehran, the IRNA state news agency said. Once the embassy's summer quarters, the sprawling, tree-lined compound is now used to house diplomatic staff.

Six embassy staff were taken hostage there, but were later freed by police, Fars news agency reported.

"Police freed the six people working for the British embassy in Qolhak garden," Fars said.

A German school next to the Qolhak compound was also damaged, the German government said.

Police appeared to have cleared the demonstrators in front of the main downtown embassy compound, but later clashed with hardline protesters and fired tear gas to attempt to disperse them, Fars said.

Protesters nevertheless again entered the compound, Fars said.

The British Foreign Office said it was outraged.

"There has been an incursion by a significant number of demonstrators into our Embassy premises, including vandalism to our property," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "This is a fluid situation and details are still emerging. We are outraged by this. It is utterly unacceptable and we condemn it."

Britain said the Iranian government had a duty under international law to protect diplomats and urged Iranian authorities to act with "utmost urgency" to bring the situation under control.

IRAN PARLIAMENT WANTS UK AMBASSADOR OUT

There have been regular protests outside the British embassy over the years since the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, but never have any been so violent.

The attacks and hostage-taking was reminiscent of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran carried out by radical students who held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The United States and Iran have cut diplomatic ties ever since.

An Iranian official told Reuters the storming of two British compounds on Tuesday was not planned by the government.

"It was not an organized measure. The establishment had no role in it. It was not planned," said the official, who declined to be identified. Iran's Foreign Ministry said it regretted the attacks and was committed to ensuring the safety of diplomats.

The attacks followed the rapid approval by Iran's Guardian Council of a parliamentary bill compelling the government to expel the British ambassador in retaliation for the sanctions. A lawmaker had also warned on Sunday that angry Iranians could storm the British embassy as they did the U.S. mission in 1979.

Ahmadinejad's government, often at odds with conservatives who control the parliament, has five days to expel Britain's ambassador, the speaker of parliament said.

"Parliament officially notified the president over a bill regarding degrading the ties with Britain, obliging the government to implement it within five days," Fars news agency quoted speaker Ali Larijani as saying.

"Radicals in Iran and in the West are always in favor of crisis ... Such radical hardliners in Iran will use the crisis to unite people and also to blame the crisis for the fading economy," said political analyst Hasan Sedghi.

The incident followed Britain's imposition of new sanctions on the Islamic state last week over its nuclear program.

London banned all British financial institutions from doing business with their Iranian counterparts, including the Central Bank of Iran, as part of a new wave of sanctions by Western countries.

In London, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain expected other countries to follow its lead in imposing financial sanctions on Iran and will take "robust" action if Tehran reduces their diplomatic relations.

Hague was speaking in a parliamentary debate just as news broke of the incident in Tehran and he made no comment on it.

(Additional reporting by Hossein Jaseb and Hashem Kalantari in Tehran, Parisa Hafezi in Istanbul, and William Maclean and Adrian Croft in London; Writing by Jon Hemming; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111129/wl_nm/us_iran_britain_embassy

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NBA teams may host player workouts again (AP)

MIAMI ? NBA arenas are about to be unlocked.

For the first time since the lockout began on July 1, NBA players are going to be welcomed back to their team facilities, said league spokesman Tim Frank. The league sent a memo to clubs Tuesday announcing the move, plus giving teams permission to begin speaking with agents at 9 a.m. Wednesday ? though deals cannot yet be offered, and no contracts can be signed before Dec. 9.

Teams may host "voluntary player workouts" and physicals. Training camps will not open until Dec. 9, and the regular season is expected to begin Christmas Day with marquee matchups, including a Miami-Dallas rematch of last season's NBA finals.

A person familiar with the league's Christmas schedule told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the NBA will feature five games this year on Dec. 25 instead of the originally planned three. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NBA does not plan to announce the Christmas lineup until later this week. The decision for the league to schedule five Christmas games was first reported by The New York Times.

It's not quite business-as-usual yet, but getting facilities open again is a huge boost for both teams and players.

The league also said owners, general managers, and coaches are now free to comment publicly about things such as contracts, plans for future free agent signings, the team's prospects for the upcoming season, and other comments on typical topics. Teams have not been allowed to do that during the lockout and clubs were allowed to make contact with players only with league preapproval.

And they still can't talk about the league's collective bargaining agreement. At least, not yet.

Since the NBA and its players reached a tentative agreement on how to end the lockout early Saturday morning, neither side has known if workouts would be permitted before camps begin. Such informal workouts are customary, typically beginning 2-3 weeks before camp as players begin getting themselves into the best possible condition.

When NFL camps opened after that league's lockout earlier this year, a number of players ? it seemed more than usual, anyway ? were either injured in the preseason or rehabilitated from offseason surgeries at a slower pace than first anticipated.

One of the byproducts of the lockout is that it kept players from meeting with team physicians and trainers, as many had been used to for years, and teams tried to find the right balance between conditioning and protecting players from risking injury by doing too much too soon.

By opening at least a week before training camps formally begin, the NBA may be able to minimize those problems somewhat.

While most of the league's players have been working out on their own or in small groups for weeks anyway, many have said that little can replicate the experience of being at a true NBA facility, replete with training rooms, whirlpools, ice tubs and things of that nature.

Some players, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, spent time earlier this month at a makeshift training camp in Oregon in an effort to replicate the NBA workout environment.

"Anything you can do to get your body ready before training camp will help," Wade said at the time, before the tentative settlement was reached.

Allowing teams and agents to resume dialogue is also significant, since there are dozens of players who had contracts expire when last season ended and will try to either re-sign with their most recent teams or find new clubs.

Most NBA teams need to make several roster moves just to have enough players under contract for training camp, so having agents and club executives speaking now will clearly speed up that process.

Among the notable free agents available: Nene, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford, David West, Shane Battier, Caron Butler, Grant Hill, Josh Howard and Samuel Dalembert.

The players and owners eventually came to agreement on the framework of a new 10-year collective bargaining deal, which either side may opt out of after six years. It leaves the NBA with its second shortened season (the first was the 50-game 1998-99 season), with the hope of getting in 66 games instead of a full 82-game schedule.

___

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111130/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_nba_facilities_open

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Deadline passes for Occupy Philly, looms for LA

By msnbc.com wire reports

This story was upated at 7:28 p.m. ET

A deadline set by the city for Occupy Philadelphia to leave the plaza it has occupied for some two months came and went sans scuffles and arrests as police watched nearly 50 demonstrators lock arms and sit at the entrance of Dilworth Plaza.

The scene was far different from other, previous encampments in cities elsewhere where pepper spray, tear gas and police action resulted in the decampment of long-situated demonstrators, but Occupy Philadelphia has managed to avoid the mass arrests and conflict that has arisen at other sites nationwide.

Sunday night, there was hope that Philadelphia would continue to be largely violence-free.

---

"Right now, we have a peaceful demonstration," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan, nearly 45 minutes after the 5 p.m. deadline had come and passed.

Along the steps leading into Dilworth Plaza, nearly 50 people sat in lines, their arms linked, refusing to leave. A police presence was unchanged and no orders to leave had been issued.

"We can definitely claim a victory," said Mike Yaroschuk, who was in the process of dismantling his tent. "We've opened a lot of minds, hearts and eyes."

Yaroschuk said he was leaving the plaza not because of the city-issued deadline but because of a request by unions whose workers will be involved in the long-planned construction project there in the coming weeks. He said it made more sense to pick and choose when it comes to Occupy and its efforts to draw attention to the 99 percent.

"This place is not a key battle for me ... This is a marathon, not a sprint," he said.

Diane Ackerman, a member of the group's legal collective, said the movement itself will remain strong regardless of what happens. Occupy Philadelphia has been largely peaceful since it began. Despite a few dozen arrests, there have been no violent confrontations with police.

Philadelphia's eviction notice is unique in that protesters are being asked to move to make way for a construction project.

The movement has another deadline Sunday. Protesters in Occupy Los Angeles faced an eviction deadline of midnight Pacific.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said on Friday that the Occupy LA protesters would be given until 12:01 a.m. on Monday to dismantle their tents, pack up their belongings and clear out -- or face forcible removal.

The Los Angeles encampment is among the oldest and largest on the West Coast, aligned with a two-month-old national Occupy Wall Street movement protesting economic inequality, high unemployment and excesses of the U.S. financial system.

"We're assuming they're going to raid us Monday morning," said Tim Trepanier, 43, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, volunteering at the Los Angeles camp's welcome tent.

Staking its place since October 1 on the grounds surrounding City Hall, the compound has grown to roughly 400 tents and 700 to 800 people, organizers and municipal officials said. At least a third are believed to be homeless people.

An activity sign posted at the entrance to the camp's media tent listed a final round of workshops on Saturday, with sessions titled: "Know your rights," "LAPD spying and surveillance" and "Nonviolent tactical training."

For Sunday, in large, red lettering, the sign read: "EVICTION CONCERT," above the words, "Party until the power gives out!"

Los Angeles has been relatively accommodating to its Occupy group compared to other major cities, with Villaraigosa at one point providing rain ponchos to campers during bad weather.

But after the collapse of negotiations aimed at persuading protesters to relocate, the mayor said it was time "to close the park and repair the grounds so that we can restore public access."

Villaraigosa has ordered police to enforce an eviction if necessary but said he hoped to avoid violence that has erupted in other cities when officers used night sticks and tear gas to drive protesters from camps or to keep them from returning.

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/27/9053619-deadlines-loom-for-occupy-philly-los-angeles

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Ivory Coast's Gbagbo en route to Hague (AP)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast ? Ivory Coast's former strongman, who refused to accept his loss in last year's election and nearly dragged the country into civil war in a bid to retain power, has boarded a plane and is en route to the International Criminal Court following the issue of an arrest warrant, according to his spokesman and a government official.

Ex-President Laurent Gbagbo has been under house arrest in the tiny village of Korhogo over 300 miles (500 kilometers) north of Abidjan since being ousted by internationally backed forces seven months ago.

In Abidjan, Gbagbo's spokesman Kone Katinan confirmed that the former ruler had left the small locality in a special flight headed to The Hague. "He's in the plane," Katinan said. His departure was confirmed by a senior advisor to the country's new president, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

In Paris, Gbagbo's lawyer Emmanuel Altit said he had filed an appeal to stop an international arrest warrant issued Tuesday through Ivory Coast state prosecutors. He said he expected that if the appeal isn't granted, the ex-president would be transferred overnight.

The development, which comes almost exactly a year to the day after Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election, was applauded by victims of Gbagbo's regime and by rights groups because of the signal it sends against impunity.

Once he arrives in The Hague, Gbagbo will become the first former head of state to be taken into custody by the tribunal since its founding in 2002. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted, though he refuses to surrender, while former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor and Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic have been tried there by special ad hoc tribunals, rather than the world court.

The move could further stoke tension in Ivory Coast, however, because it gives the appearance of victor's justice, since grave abuses were also committed by forces loyal to the country's democratically elected leader, Alassane Ouattara, who enlisted the help of a former rebel group in order to force Gbagbo from office.

In the Abidjan neighborhoods that voted in large numbers for Gbagbo, the frustration was palpable. Retired insurance salesman Jack Koutouan, 67, called the move "an abuse of the law."

Leaders of Gbagbo's party, whose members are either under house arrest or else in exile, called the pending extradition an "injustice."

"It's an injustice to judge him alone without judging (Guillaume) Soro," said party spokesman Augustin Guehoun, naming the country's defense minister who headed the armed group that invaded the country in order to install Ouattara.

The United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented how the advancing army set fire to villages that voted for Gbagbo, and executed those that could not run away, including the elderly and the disabled, by rolling them inside mattresses and then setting them on fire.

"He is not the only one responsible (for the human rights abuses committed during the post election period)," said 30-year-old Kossonou Agingra. "There were partisans of Alassane (Ouattara) who killed ? and partisans of Gbagbo who killed."

The 66-year-old Gbagbo, a history professor, came to power in a flawed election in 2000. He then failed to hold elections when his first five-year term expired in 2005, and rescheduled the vote a half-dozen times before it finally went ahead in 2010. Among conditions set by the international community, which Gbagbo accepted, were that the results would be certified by the United Nations in order to prevent his regime from rigging the vote.

But as soon as it became clear that Ouattara was leading in the polls, Gbagbo's presidential guard surrounded the election commission, preventing the results from being announced.

The killings began as soon as the United Nations declared Ouattara the winner, and for the next four months morgues overflowed as the military under Gbagbo's control executed opponents, gunned down protesters and shelled neighborhoods.

The turning point came in March when thousands of unarmed women led a demonstration demanding Gbagbo's departure. Tanks opened fire with 50-caliber bullets and the horrific scene that followed was caught on camera phones, and led to condemnation by governments around the world, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The United Nations helped by French forces began air strikes soon after, clearing the path for Ouattara's soldiers to enter the city, where they seized Gbagbo inside his bunker.

"Today is a big day for the victims of crimes committed during Ivory Coast's horrific postelection violence," said Elise Keppler, senior counsel to Human Rights Watch in an email.

"While the Gbagbo camp fueled the violence through its refusal to relinquish power and its incitement, forces on both sides have been repeatedly implicated in grave crimes," she said. "The many victims of abuse meted out by forces loyal to President Ouattara also deserve to see justice done."

Spokesman for Ouattara's government Kone Bruno said he did not believe the pending indictment could destabilize the nation, which is still plagued by pockets of violence between the two camps. He added that the international court will likely be more impartial than an Ivory Coast court. "If a judgment were made in Ivory Coast, it wouldn't be objective," he said.

In the Netherlands, Gbagbo is likely to be better treated than he has been at home. He is currently confined to two rooms, and prohibited from going outside. His lawyers told reporters after they had met with him that he was not even allowed to shave himself, and has had no contact with his family.

A confidential United Nations document leaked to The Associated Press on Tuesday states that Gbagbo's health "seems to be deteriorating." He was having "trouble standing up," as of Nov. 23.

In The Hague, Gbagbo will likely be held in the same North Sea-facing complex that also houses ex-Liberian warlord Charles Taylor and Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba. Inmates have TVs, access to the internet and a choice of books to read, as well as regular contact with their attorneys.

___

Callimachi contributed to this report from Kinshasa, Congo. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Paris and Mike Corder at The Hague also contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111129/ap_on_re_eu/international_criminal_court_gbagbo

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Televangelist Joel Osteen: Obama ???has reached out to us??? [VIDEO] (Daily Caller)

Televangelist and senior pastor of Houston?s Lakewood Church Joel Osteen explained on Fox News Channel?s ?Huckabee? over the weekend that President Barack?Obama reached out to Osteen and Lakewood.

?He has reached out to us,? Osteen said. ?And we have done some of the leadership things there at the White House with him and been able to pray with him ? just simple things like that. And he?s been very kind and friendly to our ministry.?

A number of Americans still have questions about Obama?s religious beliefs. Whether it is due to his 20 year?attendance?at the Rev. Jeremiah Wright?s Trinity United Church, polls indicating that?12 percent?of Americans still believe that he is a Muslim, or the first family?s decision to not regularly attend church, the president?s Christian faith has not been an easy issue for the White House.

Earlier in the segment, host Mike Huckabee delved into Osteen?s thoughts on if Obama should attend church more regularly. Osteen was forgiving.

?You know I think it would be great. You know, I am probably too full of mercy and to say, you know, maybe all the things that come with the presidency, the security and all that ? maybe that plays into it,? Osteen said. ?But I believe he loves the Lord and things. I don?t know. But in the ideal world, yes [he would attend regularly].?

Obama explained in 2010 that he will not be joining a church while president because it is too disruptive.

In 2010, Osteen attended Obama?s Easter breakfast at the White House.

Known for trying to stay out of partisan politics, Osteen has also spoken highly of ? and hosted?? a number of Republicans at his Lakewood church, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Watch:

PwnDev Team releases Ac1dSn0w jailbreak tool for iOS 5.0 and 5.0.1

It’s been a big day for the jailbreak community with a possible iPhone 4S unlock and the new crash reporting tool released by the Chronic Dev Team. Now the PwnDev Team has released a new jailbreak utility for iOS 5 and 5.0.1.

I?m pleased to announce

...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Dq2BADvznfw/story01.htm

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The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: Kandi Burruss' Birthday Blues

The Real Housewives of Atlanta had another party this week, this time for Kandi's 35th birthday. Unfortunately, a surprise guest upsets Momma and THG is here to take you through all the drama in our +/- recap!

First we get to recap last week's drama when Peter and Apollo nearly came to blows at Kim's baby shower. Kim's ticked and rightfully so. Next time she'll remember to "keep the ex-cons and a$$holes off the guest list."

But Phaedra steps up and earns a big Plus 10 showing up to Kim's with a gift basket and an apology. She may not have been able to stop the men at the time but at least she did the right thing coming forward and saying she was sorry.

Neither Cynthia or Peter bothered. Heck, they were five hours late and didn't even send a gift. Minus 15 because that's just beyond rude.

Speaking of Cynthia, try as she might to mend fences they just seem to burn. She calls her sister over to talk to Peter about the incident at her wedding a year ago. Who could have guessed this wouldn't go well? Minus 10.

You can't force people to make up and nothing got accomplished here except for dredging up bad memories that won't soon be forgotten.

Later, Cynthia and her sister argue about Peter's new bushiness venture. Unfortunately, Cynthia doesn't know her sister is right.

Bar One is in financial trouble before it's even begun and Peter's going to look to his wife to bail him out. Minus 9 because that's just going to widen the divide between Cynthia, Peter and her family.

Kim's getting prepared for the big event. No, not another party.

She talks to Phaedra about what it was like when she had her son. Phaedra says she had an epidural, morphine and was "crazy as a vampire in sunlight." Plus 5 for being honest but let's hope Kim has an easier time.

Having had only girls, Kim's concerned about having a boy and takes some lessons on diapering a circumcised baby. She's nervous about what to do with a penis. Plus 7 to Kroy who already seems to be a pro with the diaper detail. 

Surprisingly Kim's not the only one wondering what to do with the penis in the room. Thanks to Phaedra, Kandi's 35th birthday went from an elegant rooftop affair to a strip show and masturbation tutorial. 

Before we go there, I have to ask if anyone else thought NeNe was going to fall out of that dress. I know the cleavage was plentiful at this party but something about NeNe's outfit had me worried about a wardrobe malfunction. Minus 6.

Kandi, Phaedra and some of the other guests enjoyed the stripper but NeNe and Kandi's mom ran out of the room. Minus 8 because this really wasn't the venue for such a spectacle and although it was ridiculous, NeNe and momma overreacted.

And poor Kandi was left feeling like a scolded five year old on her 35th birthday. Minus 10. Better luck with birthday number 36.

EPISODE TOTAL: -36. SEASON TOTAL: -25.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/11/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta-recap-kandi-burruss-birthday-blue/

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Anna Watson Carl: Budget Bubblies: A User-Friendly Guide

Thanksgiving is over, and like it or not we have officially entered the season of holiday parties. Personally, I love this time of year. Not only because of the decorations and festivities and gift-giving, but because from now until New Year's Day, everyone will be breaking out the bubbly.

I admit it: I am a total sucker for Champagne. I love the bubbles, the crisp, dry taste, the elegant flutes. It's fun, it's festive, and it makes any moment better. Of course, opening a bottle of true Champagne can set you back $50 or more. Which is why I've become somewhat of an expert on budget bubblies -- lovely, dry sparklers that are sophisticated and celebratory without breaking the bank.

There are such a wide array of sparkling wines available these days, that it's hard to make sense of what is what. To break down a few of the terms you will encounter, here is my little bubbly cheat sheet:

Brut - This means "dry" and is found on the labels of many sparkling wines.
Cava - Spanish sparkling wine made using the Methode Champenoise. It is usually the driest of the sparkling wines.
Champagne - French sparkling wine made only in the region of Champagne. These tend to be the most expensive and have some of the most widely recognized labels (Mumm, Krug, Veuve Clicquot, Cristal, Dom Perignon), as well as smaller independent grower-producers. Champagne is tightly regulated and can only be made from three grapes (either blended or solo): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Its flavors can be quite complex, with yeasty, toasty aromas and a golden color (which gets darker as it ages).
Cremant - French sparkling wine from other regions, such as Cremant d'Alsace, Cremant de Bourgogne and Cremant de Loire. These have much lower price-points than Champagne, but often have wonderfully aromatic flavors from grapes like Chenin Blanc or Vouvray.
Demi-Sec - A sweet, dessert style sparkling wine.
Extra-Dry - Contrary to what you might think, extra-dry is actually sweeter than brut, usually served as an aperatif. It's perfect for someone who wants a bit of sweetness, without going as sweet as a demi-sec.
Methode Champenoise/Traditional Method - A sparkling wine made in the traditional Champagne method, i.e. the second fermentation (which creates the bubbles) takes place in the bottle. This is slightly more expensive than the Prosecco method, and usually creates more complex wines.
N.V. - This stands for non-vintage and is often found on the labels of sparkling wines. This simply means that the wine is not from a certain year, but rather a blend of wines from several years to make sure the quality is consistent from year-to-year.
Prosecco - Italian sparkling wine, made using a method where the wine undergoes a second fermentation in large tanks and is bottled under pressure. Prosecco tends to have finer bubbles than Champagne and can be a bit on the sweeter side.

I've worked at a few wine shops over the years, which has given me ample opportunity to taste a variety of bubblies -- both on the pricey end and the budget side of things. This list is by no means definitive (you'll notice there's not a Prosecco on the list, which I happen to love), but it does give several fabulous, under-$20 options to take to a party, or pop open tonight! Personally, I'd recommend the latter...

La Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire, $17.99

1?of?6

Crisp, aromatic sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley. Delicious as an aperatif or served with shellfish. La Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire, $17.99

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La Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire, $17.99

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Looking for an easy recipe to pair with a bottle of budget bubbly? Try this super-easy Tuna & Avocado Poke. It's a perfect healthy dinner or festive party appetizer.

?

Follow Anna Watson Carl on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@theyellowtable

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-watson-carl/budget-sparkling-wine_b_1116594.html

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Palestinian PM: Israeli sanctions starting to bite

RAMALLAH, West Bank?? Palestinian officials said Sunday they won't be able to pay upcoming public-sector salaries that support nearly one-third of Palestinian families in the in the West Bank and Gaza, the clearest sign yet that Israeli economic sanctions are starting to bite.

Israel last month stopped the transfer of tax revenues and other funds it collects on behalf of the Palestinians, retaliation for the Palestinians' successful bid for admission to the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO, which was part of a larger effort to gain admission as a state in the world body.

Israel says a Palestinian state should be established through negotiations, and it accuses the Palestinians of acting unilaterally to bypass peace talks.

The monthly transfers of about $100 million, along with hundreds of millions of dollars a year in foreign aid, are crucial for keeping the government of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas afloat.

Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, said Sunday that he won't be able to pay upcoming salaries, which are due in the first week of December.

He said the continued suspension of the tax transfers "has both an immediate impact on the lives of all employees and their dependents, some 1 million people ... (and) has a devastating indirect impact throughout the whole economy."

The Palestinian Authority is the biggest employer in the Palestinian areas, with tens of thousands of civil servants and security forces.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tony Blair, envoy of the Quartet of Mideast mediators have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume the transfers.

An Israeli official said Sunday that Israel suspended the transfers temporarily to express its concern over the conduct of Abbas and his government, mainly his quest for recognition of Palestine.

The Israeli official said Israeli might make decision to withhold the money permanent if Abbas sets up a unity government with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with reporters.

A reconciliation agreement between Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal calls for an interim unity government that would prepare for May elections, but it appears unlikely it will be formed because of disagreements over who should lead it. Hamas strongly opposes Abbas' candidate for the job, the West Bank-based Fayyad, who is popular with Western donors.

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A senior Hamas figure said Abbas and Mashaal quietly agreed in a meeting last week to keep their separate governments in place until elections. Abbas told Mashaal that the two-government status quo was "convenient for both sides and any change might be costly," according to the Hamas figure. who spoke on condition of anonymity because the leaders did not make their decision public.

Abbas envoy Azzam al-Ahmed denied there was a quiet agreement on shelving the interim unity government and insisted there is "no possibility of holding elections without a unity government."

Keeping the existing governments in place would help Abbas avoid a Western backlash and continue the flow of international aid to his government. Western powers fear a unity government, even one composed of technocrats without clear political affiliations, would be heavily influenced by Hamas, which is not internationally recognized.

Top Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said that it was at least possible to skip an interim government and head straight to elections. The Hamas statements suggested that a solution was being finessed to get around the disagreement over keeping Fayyad.

Also Sunday, Gaza farmers began the seasonal export of produce to Europe.

Israel has banned most exports from Gaza since Hamas seized the territory, but has permitted seasonal shipments of strawberries, cut flowers and other agricultural goods.

A truckload of strawberries left Gaza to launch the season, which is to run through May.

The number of exports is well above last year's levels.

Before the Hamas takeover, 85 percent of Gaza's outgoing goods were sold in Israel and the West Bank, according to Gisha, an Israeli human rights group that lobbies on behalf of easing Palestinian travel restrictions.

According to Gisha's statistics, about 83 percent of Gaza's factories are idle or operating at 50 percent or less capacity. Unemployment is officially listed at 28 percent.

___

Associated Press writer Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City contributed reporting.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45452772/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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Palko's 4 turnovers doom Chiefs in 13-9 loss (AP)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ? Tyler Palko wasn't even sure how many interceptions he threw Sunday night. At first he guessed it was four, and it might well have felt like it. In reality it was only three.

Perhaps he was counting his fumbled snap, too.

Whatever the case, the journeyman quarterback was responsible for four turnovers that the Steelers managed to capitalize on just enough to eke out a 13-9 victory, which doomed Kansas City to its fourth consecutive loss and kept Pittsburgh in a tie for the AFC North lead.

"When you turn the ball over four times and you're responsible for it, it stings a lot," said Palko, who tossed three picks in his first NFL start last week at New England.

Pressed into duty in place of Matt Cassel, who is out for the year after hurting his throwing hand, Palko may have tossed away his chance to be the starter the rest of the season ? tossed it right to the guys wearing white jerseys on a frigid, blustery night at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs marched across midfield to the Pittsburgh 37 in the closing minutes when Palko dropped back to pass. He was looking for Dwayne Bowe but threw it high and behind him, and Keenan Lewis hauled in the interception with 29 seconds left to seal the outcome.

"I just read the quarterback. I knew I had help underneath, so I could stay back and protect deep," Lewis said. "When the ball came out of the quarterback's hand, I saw that Bowe had already made his move. That's when I knew I could make a play."

The Chiefs claimed former Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton off waivers Wednesday with the intention of having him compete with Palko for the starting job. Orton didn't arrive in town until Friday, though, and he was inactive Sunday night after participating in only one practice.

"He'll have a much better chance this week to compete," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said, "and like I said, Tyler is the starter, but whatever position we say, if someone gives us a better chance to win, that's the guideline we generally follow."

Ben Roethlisberger was 21 of 31 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Steelers (8-3), whose defense lost All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu to a head injury in the first quarter yet still kept the bumbling Chiefs (4-7) from scoring a touchdown.

Kansas City hasn't reached the end zone since the third quarter against Denver on Nov. 13.

Kansas City led 3-0 in the second quarter when Palko's first interception, which Taylor returned to the Chiefs 8, resulted in a 21-yard field goal by the Steelers' Shaun Suisham.

The second pick was returned by Mundy, who had taken over at safety for Polamalu, to the Kansas City 24. The defense appeared to hold Pittsburgh when Tamba Hali sacked Roethlisberger on third-and-7, but safety Jon McGraw was called for defensive holding to give the Steelers a first down.

Three plays later, Roethlisberger found Saunders in the back of the end zone.

"When you turn the ball over four times, you generally don't have a chance to win," Haley said.

Ryan Succop added a 49-yard field goal later in the second quarter for Kansas City, his second of the game, but Suisham answered with his own 49-yarder on the final play of the first half.

Succop made a 40-yard field goal with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter.

"We're moving the ball and when we get in the red zone we've got to score touchdowns and not just field goals," wide receiver Steve Breaston said, "especially against a team like this."

Polamalu left the game in the first quarter when he tackled 290-pound Chiefs offensive tackle Steve Maneri, who had caught a pass in the flat after lining up in the backfield.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year's head hit Maneri's knee and he crumpled to the turf, where he lay while trainers came out to check on him. Polamalu was a bit wobbly when he stood up and the team said he was questionable to return with a "blow to the head."

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey also left in the first half with an illness.

Roethlisberger showed little evidence of the broken thumb that caused him to be somewhat limited in practice, hitting 10 different receivers. He got some help from Rashard Mendenhall, who ran for 57 yards, and a defense that kept giving the Pittsburgh offense prime field position.

"It was a hard-fought game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We're excited about winning ? and winning on the road ? and making the necessary plays, particularly defensively down the stretch."

The Steelers squandered a promising opportunity in the first quarter, driving inside the Chiefs 10-yard line. But backup running back Mewelde Moore had the ball poked out by Hali and it was recovered by Javier Arenas in the end zone for a touchback.

Kansas City gave the ball right back when Palko fumbled the snap moments later.

Pittsburgh also had a decent drive end midway through the scoreless third when Roethlisberger underthrew Antonio Brown down the sideline. Kansas City safety Travis Daniels swooped in to make the interception, but the Chiefs' bumbling offense couldn't capitalize.

That wound up being the story of the game.

"No time to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves," Palko said. "All the interceptions are on me, the fumbled snap was on me as well. Any time you have the ball in your hand, you're responsible for it, and I take full responsibility for all four turnovers."

Notes: Kansas native Martina McBride sang the national anthem. Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet, who attended Kansas State, threw the ceremonial first pass. ... Polamalu was experiencing "concussion-like symptoms" and will continue to be evaluated, Tomlin said. ... The Chiefs finished with 252 yards of total offense. ... Thomas Jones had 13 carries for 37 yards for Kansas City.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111128/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_chiefs

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