Box Office: Breaking Dawn Takes Top Spot for Third Straight Week (omg!)

With no competition from new releases, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 ruled the box office for the third straight week, Box Office Mojo reports.

The fourth Twilight film grossed an estimated $16.9 million in its third week of release, bringing its total to $247.3 million. The Muppets took second place again with $11.2 million.

The Muppets come back big but can't catch Breaking Dawn

Hugo rose from fifth to third place in its second week, grabbing $7.6 million. Arthur Christmas drew $7.3 million to hold onto the No. 4 spot. Happy Feet Two followed at No. 5 with $6 million.

Jack and Jill stayed in sixth place for a second week, laughing up $5.5 million. The Descendants took in $5.2 million and moved up from ninth place to seventh place.

Rounding out the top 10: Immortals (No. 8, $4.3 million), Tower Heist (No. 9, $4.1 million) and Puss in Boots (No. 10, $3 million, for a total of $139.5 million).

Related Articles on TVGuide.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_box_office_breaking_dawn_takes_top_spot_third234200692/43804022/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/box-office-breaking-dawn-takes-top-spot-third-234200692.html

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In Turkey, Biden touts political freedoms (AP)

ISTANBUL ? A free political climate is essential to economic innovation, and countries that try to censor the Internet are pursuing a "dead end," U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told a group of young entrepreneurs gathered in Istanbul on Saturday.

The international forum, which drew hundreds of attendees, followed up on a meeting in Washington last year aimed at deepening ties between the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

Biden said a political system based on freedom of speech and religion also is the "truest shield" against sectarian strife that has afflicted the Middle East, as well as western Europe in past centuries.

"Democratic revolutions like the ones in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and the ones still unfolding in Syria and Yemen, are imbued, literally imbued, with entrepreneurial spirit, a spirit that requires risk and initiative, steadfast determination, and a unifying idea," Biden said.

He stressed the importance of a "free political climate in which ideas and innovation can flourish," adding that governments should not try to close the Internet to free expression.

"Those countries will find that that approach is a dead end," he said.

"They may try to build walls between these different activities, but there isn't a separate economic Internet, a political Internet and a social Internet. There is simply an Internet and it must remain free and open," Biden said.

America has a history of innovation, Biden said, noting the success of companies such as Apple and Google, as well as breakthroughs in medical technology such as mobile phone apps that can help diagnose malaria.

He praised Turkey, noting that the Muslim ally's economy has tripled in size over the last decade.

Turkey's deputy prime minister, Ali Babacan, said Turkey was an example for the region of how Islam and democracy can coexist peacefully.

"International theories are OK, but a living example is much more convincing," Babacan said. He referred to a "problem of political leadership" in some European countries, an apparent reference to the continent's economic turmoil as well as Turkey's frustration over its stalled bid to join the European Union.

The U.S. leader arrived in Turkey late Thursday and has been meeting with top officials here. He has urged Turkey to impose new sanctions on Iran, while praising Ankara for its role in pressuring Syria to stop its deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Also Saturday, Biden visited the Istanbul home of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is recovering from a surgery. The meeting lasted about two hours. In a picture distributed by Erdogan's office, the prime minister was seen standing next to Biden as the two leaders smiled. Erdogan was wearing a shirt and jacket but no tie.

In the meeting, Erdogan asked Biden about U.S. intentions in Iraq, and the vice president said the U.S. military pullout there did not entail American disengagement because robust civilian initiatives will continue, a senior U.S. administration official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

Biden also stressed the U.S. commitment to assisting Turkey in its fight against autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels, according to the official. The U.S. has deployed four Predator drones to Turkey from Iraq and also agreed to sell three helicopter gunships to help fight the rebels, who stage attacks on Turkish targets from their bases in northern Iraq.

Biden also expressed hope to Erdogan that Turkey and Israel, U.S. allies whose ties have deteriorated sharply, would seek opportunities to repair their relationship, the U.S. official said. The American vice president also said he hoped Turkey would reopen a seminary that trained generations of Greek Orthodox patriarchs.

The Halki Theological School on Heybeliada Island, near Istanbul, was closed to new students in 1971 under a law that put religious and military training under state control. The school closed its doors in 1985, when the last five students graduated.

Biden later traveled in his motorcade to meet Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, at his headquarters in Istanbul.

In August, Turkey's government said it was returning hundreds of properties confiscated from the country's Christian and Jewish minorities over the past 75 years in a gesture to religious groups who complain of discrimination.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111203/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_biden

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Italian PM briefs politicians on austerity plan

In this picture taken Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, Italian Premier Mario Monti talks to journalistas at Chigi Palace, Premier's office, in Rome. Monti briefed political leaders Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, on his package of austerity and economic growth measures ahead of a critical week of Italian and European decision-making to confront the continent's debt crisis. Politicians gave few details about the individual measures Monti outlined, but described them as "severe'' but necessary since Italy had put off tough economic reforms for too long. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, LaPresse) ITALY OUT

In this picture taken Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, Italian Premier Mario Monti talks to journalistas at Chigi Palace, Premier's office, in Rome. Monti briefed political leaders Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, on his package of austerity and economic growth measures ahead of a critical week of Italian and European decision-making to confront the continent's debt crisis. Politicians gave few details about the individual measures Monti outlined, but described them as "severe'' but necessary since Italy had put off tough economic reforms for too long. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, LaPresse) ITALY OUT

From left, Future and Liberty, FLI, lawmaker Benedetto Della Vedova, Union of the Center, UDC, party leader Pier Ferdinando Casini and Alliance for Italy, API, party leader Francesco Ruteli meet journalists at Chigi Palace, the Premier's office, in Rome, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Italian Premier Mario Monti briefed political leaders Saturday on his package of austerity and economic growth measures ahead of a critical week of Italian and European decision-making to confront the continent's debt crisis. Politicians gave few details about the individual measures Monti outlined, but described them as "severe'' but necessary since Italy had put off tough economic reforms for too long. (AP Photo/Roberto Monaldo, LaPresse) ITALY OUT

People of Freedom party secretary Angelino Alfano talks to journalists at Chigi Palace, Premier's office, in Rome, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Italian Premier Mario Monti briefed political leaders Saturday on his package of austerity and economic growth measures ahead of a critical week of Italian and European decision-making to confront the continent's debt crisis. Politicians gave few details about the individual measures Monti outlined, but described them as "severe'' but necessary since Italy had put off tough economic reforms for too long. (AP Photo/Roberto Monaldo, LaPresse) ITALY OUT

ROME (AP) ? Premier Mario Monti briefed political leaders Saturday on his package of austerity and economic growth measures ahead of a critical week of Italian and European decision-making to confront the continent's debt crisis.

Politicians gave few details about the individual measures Monti outlined, but described them as "severe" but necessary since Italy had put off tough economic reforms for too long.

"Let's be clear: Doctors rarely prescribe medicine that tastes good," said Pierferdinando Casini, head of a small but influential Christian Democrat party. "Medicine is always bitter, but sometimes it's necessary to prevent the patient from dying."

Monti is under enormous pressure to reassure markets that he can push the package of reforms through Parliament to heal Italy's broken public finances: Italy's euro1.9 trillion ($2.5 trillion) in debt is 120 percent of its gross domestic product.

Unlike Greece, Portugal and Ireland, which got bailouts after their borrowing rates skyrocketed, the eurozone's third-largest economy is considered to be too big to be bailed out. An Italian default would be disastrous for the 17-member eurozone and reverberate throughout the global economy.

Monti was installed Nov. 26 after markets lost confidence that then-Premier Silvio Berlusconi ? battered by sex scandals, legal problems and defections from his party ? had the political wherewithal to push through the reforms needed to rein in the debt.

Monti hasn't disclosed details of his rescue plan, but he has said it includes both austerity cuts and measures to boost growth in Italy's anemic economy. He has promised it would be socially equitable, and that it would go after those who hadn't paid their share of taxes before.

Politicians, union and business leaders have said the package likely includes reinstating an unpopular home property tax abolished by Berlusconi, raising the sales tax and the income tax at the highest brackets by a few percentage points, and requiring Italians to work two or three years more than the 40 years now needed for eligibility to draw a pension.

The minimum retirement age of women in the private sector is expected to be raised from 60 to 62 or 63 starting next year, building on a Berlusconi government strategy.

Officials of Italy's powerful unions and some center-left parties have voiced concern over pension reforms. Berlusconi's party has opposed restoring the property tax and a rumored wealth tax.

Monti met with Angelino Alfano, secretary of Berlusconi's party, as well as Casini and other members of centrist parties Saturday. Later Saturday he meets with the center-left politicians, and on Sunday he briefs unions, business groups and consumer lobbies.

The consultations come ahead of a critical Cabinet meeting Monday during which the measures are to be approved. Monday afternoon he introduces them to Parliament, where the Senate has pledged to vote on them by Christmas.

At the same time, Monti is gearing up for the critical summit meeting this week of eurozone leaders aimed at saving the euro.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-03-EU-Italy-Financial-Crisis/id-b65432e6421d44eea1f4911ed363edcf

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8.6 Unemployment Rate Less Than Meets the Eye for America, Obama (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The latest unemployment numbers for November are in and, on the surface, they constitute good news for the nation and for President Barack Obama. Bu there is less to the sudden drop to 8.6 percent than meets the eye.

According to a story in CNBC, the drop from 9.0 percent to 8.6 percent can be explained by two figures. First, 120,000 new jobs were created in November. The rest of the drop can be explained by 315,000 people simply dropping out of the work force, having given up ever finding a job for the foreseeable future.

In another bit of bad news, 402,000 people signed up for unemployment in the previous week, also according to CNBC.

While any drop in the unemployment statistics, no matter what the cause, will derive some political benefit for President Obama, or at least bragging rights, it has not pointed to an overall improvement in the economy. The turmoil in Europe is still a threat. Obama administration policies still inhibit job growth.

According to Rea Hederman of the Heritage Foundation, writing for National Review, the news is merely good and not great, but with some anomalies that are of concern. A lot of the drop in employment participation is in adult women. This is a prime constituency for the Democratic Party and for President Obama. Unemployed people who are too despairing to look for work tend to take their frustrations out on the party in power.

The upshot is that Obama and his people will boast about the statistic, albeit in a muted fashion, with qualifiers, and exhortations that more must be done. Obama's opponents will counter that any job growth that is happening in anemic, inhibited by Obama's policies, and could be easily reversed by bad economic news that can come at any time.

Thus, the political wrangle over how to grow the economy will continue, including whether or not to increase taxes on "the rich" and on regulations and spending.

A couple of other statistics for Obama and his men to chew over, courtesy of Data360. The unemployment rate for Oct, 1980 was 7.5 percent, the month before Ronald Reagan defeated President Carter for reelection, In Oct 1992, it was 7.3 percent, the month before Bill Clinton toppled President Bush the Elder. Both are over a percentage point lower than the current number.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111202/pl_ac/10581923_86_unemployment_rate_less_than_meets_the_eye_for_america_obama

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Lung Cancer's Hidden Victims: Those Who Never Smoked (HealthDay)

FRIDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Opera legend Beverly Sills never smoked. Neither did actress and health advocate Dana Reeve, wife of the late actor Christopher Reeve.

And yet in 2007 and 2006, respectively, both joined the ranks of about 32,000 Americans each year who never touch a cigarette but die of lung cancer anyway.

In fact, experts say, one in every five cases of the leading cancer killer occurs in nonsmokers. The annual death toll among this group now approaches that of breast cancer (about 40,000 per year) and is roughly equal to that of prostate cancer (32,000). Many never-smoking women may also be unaware that they are more than twice as likely to die of lung cancer as they are of ovarian cancer (14,000 deaths per year).

Numbers like those have experts calling for a shift in the public's thinking on lung cancer, away from its label of "the smoker's disease."

"We say, 'If you have a lung, you can get lung cancer,'" said Linda Wenger, executive director of Uniting Against Lung Cancer (UALC), a nonprofit advocacy group aimed at reaching a better understanding of lung cancer. The group was founded after the death in 2001 of Joan Scarangello, an ABC and NBC journalist and lifelong nonsmoker who fell victim at age 47 to lung cancer.

"She was very healthy, she was a runner," Wenger said, but the disease claimed Scarangello as it has many never-smokers. "We need to look at lung cancer as being a cancer like any other," Wenger added.

Many experts believe that the stigma around smoking that accompanies lung cancer -- that its victims somehow "brought it on themselves" -- has dampened public sympathy for patients and hindered funding for research.

"The lung cancer research field is definitely the stepchild in the [cancer research] family, and we're sure a lot of that has to do with stigma," said Holli Kawadler, UALC's scientific program director. She noted that, in terms of funding received from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, "the numbers are $27,000 in research per cancer death for breast cancer, compared to only about $1,400 per cancer death for lung cancer."

"It's very disheartening for the whole field," Wenger said. "We have a partner out there, his wife has lung cancer but she never smoked. And she has the attitude that 'I never smoked, but cigarettes are going to kill me' because the money is not there for research, because of the smoking stigma."

Lung cancer's lethal nature may also be hindering efforts to boost awareness and funding for research, experts add.

"Unlike other cancers where there is better funding, lung cancer patients aren't well enough to really advocate for themselves," explained Dr. James Dougherty, medical and scientific advisor for the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF), based in New York City. "When they get the diagnosis they often get sick pretty quickly, so they aren't about to publicly take on the role of saying 'Look, I have a problem, I need help.'"

Still, even with limited funding, scientists are slowly uncovering clues to the origins and distinct nature of lung cancer in never-smokers. One obvious starting point is the fact that women are affected far more often than men.

"Among never-smokers with lung cancer, women outnumber men two-to-one," Wenger said. The reasons for the disparity aren't clear, but early research is suggesting that, much like breast tumors, lung tumor aggressiveness in women appears linked to estrogen. Other factors, as yet unknown, may also be at play.

"We're also learning much more about the differences in the biology of [lung cancer in] smokers and nonsmokers," Dougherty added. He pointed to LCRF-funded research under way at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, "specifically looking at some new potential markers on the [tumor] cells of people who have never smoked. Hopefully that will lead to the identification of better treatment options for nonsmokers."

Determining risk factors that might place certain never-smokers at especially high risk for lung cancer is another focus of research. The dream, experts said, is to somehow devise an accurate "panel" of biological and other factors that could serve as a basis in pinpointing at-risk individuals who may need closer monitoring.

All of these research advances will depend on much better funding, however. In the meantime, the stigma of smoking that overshadows never-smokers newly diagnosed with lung cancer continues.

"We hear a lot from people that the first thing they are asked after diagnosis is, 'Did you smoke?'" said Kawadler. "That's very tough."

More information

Find out more about ongoing efforts to fight lung cancer at the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/cancer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20111202/hl_hsn/lungcancershiddenvictimsthosewhoneversmoked

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UN scientist: fighting climate change saves costs (AP)

DURBAN, South Africa ? The U.N.'s top climate scientist cautioned climate negotiators Wednesday that global warming is leading to human dangers and soaring financial costs, but containing carbon emissions will have a host of benefits.

Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Nobel-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, summarized a litany of potential disasters at a U.N. climate conference in the South African city of Durban. Although he gave no explicit deadlines, the implication was that time is running out for greenhouse gas emissions to level off and begin to decline.

Heat waves currently experienced once every 20 years will happen every other year by the end of this century, he said.

Coastal areas and islands are threatened with inundation by global warming, rain-reliant agriculture in Africa will shrink by half and many species will disappear. Within a decade, up to 250 million more people will face the stress of scarce water.

Increasingly frequent weather disasters have imposed heavy financial burdens, with some poor countries running up 90 percent of their national debt to deal with the aftermath of storms, droughts and floods, he said.

But the Indian scientist said "many impacts can be avoided, reduced or delayed" by reducing emissions.

To stabilize carbon concentrations in the atmosphere would slow economic growth by 0.12 percent per year, he said, but those costs would be offset by improved health, greater energy security and more secure food supplies.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111130/ap_on_bi_ge/af_climate_conference

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NE-2012 Senate 47% Nelson (D), 45% Bruning (R) (Nelson 11/5-10)

Hickman Analytics (D) for Ben Nelson
11/5-10/11; 1,300 likely voters, 2.7% margin of error
Mode: Live telephone interviews
Hickman release

Nebraska

2012 Senate
47% Nelson (D), 45% Bruning (R)
49% Nelson (D), 43% Stenberg (R)
50% Nelson (D), 37% Fischer (R)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/28/ne-2012-senate-47-nelson-_n_1117467.html

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