Global automakers unveil local China brands

SHANGHAI (AP) -- Some of the new Chinese cars unveiled at this week's Shanghai Auto Show are affordable for millions of buyers - a happy development for Beijing that might prove costly for the global automakers producing them.

General Motors Co. unveiled the 630 sedan, the first model from its new Baojun badge developed with Chinese joint venture partners. The four-door is based on an older GM car and will have a sticker price of 70,000 to 100,000 yuan ($10,700 to $15,300).

Honda Motor Co. displayed the plain, compact four-door S1 at the auto show, the first from its new Everus line which went on sale this week. Nissan Motor Co. showed off an unnamed car it plans to sell under the Venucia brand next year.

Urgent UN rights meeting on Mideast unrest planned

GENEVA (AP) -- Several members of the U.N.'s top human rights body are pressing for an emergency meeting to examine the government crackdowns against popular protests that have swept the Middle East and North Africa, Western diplomats said Wednesday.

The countries, from Latin America, Europe, North America and Asia, are trying to collect 16 signatures necessary to force a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council next week, the diplomats said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, which was underlined by the innocuous title proposed for the meeting - "Promotion and protection of human rights in the context of recent peaceful protests."

Calif. GOP leader says email sender should resign

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) -- The head of Orange County's Republican Party is vowing to keep up the pressure on a local GOP official to resign for sending an offensive email about President Barack Obama.

"This issue will not go away until she has taken 100 percent responsibility for sending out a racist email that offended millions," Chairman Scott Baugh said.

He commented by telephone on Wednesday after Marilyn Davenport, speaking for the first time, said she will not resign and had no racist intentions when she sent the email.

Japan's auto parts makers struggle after disaster

ISHINOMAKI, Japan (AP) -- In the days after Japan's earthquake and tsunami, Masahiko Horio knew he had to get his factory back online quickly.

Customers were clamoring. The backlog of orders swelled.

The zinc and aluminum widgets made by his company, Horio Seisakusho Co., appear insignificant at first glance. But the tiny metal components represent a vital fraction of the thousands of parts used in a single car.

The global supply chain that feeds the giant automakers - Toyota, Honda and General Motors - begins at unassuming companies like Horio Seisakusho. Japan's recent disaster showed that one missing link can grind production lines around the world to a halt.

A Consumer's Guidebook to Health Care Modernize

The six-month day of remembrance] of the enactment of the health care overhaul, many of the law's provisions will be in effect. Most consumers, however, won't insure whatever changes until later Jan. 1, when their new health insurance plan year begins.

Meanwhile, employees will be coming fix for fall's "open enrollment" period, when they pick their health coverage for the adopting year. In addition, people who buy their have health insurance will be exploring their choices. Medicare benefactive roles will be able to alter their coverage after this year if they need.

Here's a deal how the law involves folks who get their coverage operant, purchase their own health insurance or are recruited in Medicare.

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EU Moves to Impose Added Sanctions on Libya

Diplomats say the European Union has agreed to impose additional sanctions on Libya.

The officials said Tuesday the measures will target the Libyan Investment Authority and other financial institutions linked to Moammar Gadhafi's government. The diplomats say the EU is expected to formally approve the new sanctions Friday.

In February, the 27-nation bloc announced sanctions against Libya that included an arms embargo, asset freezes and visa bans against the country's top officials.

Women’s Representation in World Parliaments Remains Low

A new survey released to coincide with International Women's Day shows women are making political gains, but their numbers in world parliaments remain low. The survey by the Inter-Parliamentary Union finds just over 19 percent of parliamentarians worldwide are women, compared to 16.3 percent in 2005.

As in previous years, the Nordic countries come out on top with an average of nearly 42 percent women in parliament. The survey finds Arab states are at the bottom of the world table for women in parliament; nevertheless the region is making progress, going up from 4.3 percent in 1995 to 11.7 percent last year.

Britney Spears Strips Down For V Magazine

source : Britney Spears Strips Down For V Magazine
Sultry and half-clothed on the cover of V Magazine, Britney Spears declares, "The b***h is back and better than ever!" The fierce pop singer, whose seventh studio album, 'Femme Fatale,' lands March 29, talks openly about her album, boys and fame, adding that she has moved past the media scrutiny that plagued parts of her career.

"I try to block it all out and not pay attention to anything they write about me in the magazines or online. I'm done with that," Spears told V Magazine. "I have learned to always ramain admitedly to myself and ne'er permit what others say about me switch who I am. It's a actually crucial lesson that took me a long time to learn."

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APNewsBreak: Footage shows explosion's aftermath

CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge has dropped three of 23 corruption charges against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. DETROIT (AP) -- Newly released audio and video recordings reveal chaos, calm and acts of charity in the aftermath of a suspected gas main explosion that leveled a Detroit-area furniture store, leaving two employees dead and critically injuring the owner.

The recordings obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request include 911 calls, police and fire radio traffic and images captured by cameras mounted to police cars and inside a nearby business.

The audio recordings reveal how police and fire officials scrambled to get to those inside William C. Franks Furniture in Wayne on Dec. 29, while keeping peace outside.

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When you are Selecting diamond engagement rings, select carefully as this ring is something that your future wife will hopefully wear for the rest of her life. Not whole diamond rings are engagement rings. Diamond engagement rings generally have one diamond larger than the rest or consist of a single diamond. These types of diamond engagement rings are called a solitaire.

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China Reacts Cautiously to Events in Egypt

China's authoritarian government has reacted with caution to the ousting of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak.

China's ruling Communist Party called Saturday for stability in Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak - saying foreign powers should not interfere.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu repeated in an online statement China's guarded response to events in Egypt since pro-democracy protest began 18 days ago.

He did not mention Mr. Mubarak's resignation or how he was toppled from power, instead he repeated the same words from a press conference held last Thursday.

Ladies in Red: Hollywood Stars Work the Carpet at the Heart Truth's Red Dress Fashion Show

To officially kick off Fashion Week in New York City, the Heart Truth's Red Dress Fashion show brings together some of Hollywood's biggest stars to work the runway to raise awareness for heart disease.

Wearing stunning red gowns designed by the industry's biggest names, stars like Denise Richards, Audrina Patridge, Patti LaBelle and Suzanne Somers all walked the catwalk in designs by Matthew Williamson, Badgley Mischka, Zang Toi and Ina Soltani.

The Heart Truth outs on the fashion show twice a year to raise awareness for women about heart disease. The Red Dress was introduced as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Pageant Officials Fire Back at Miss San Antonio 'Weight' Allegations

Pageant officials are firing back at allegations that they unfairly stripped a teenage Texas beauty queen of her title as Miss San Antonio.

Domonique Ramirez, a 17-year-old college student and winner of the 2010 Miss San Antonio pageant, says she is suing the Miss Bexar County Organization Inc. for unfairly firing her, claiming one board member told her she was "way too big."

On Wednesday, pageant board spokeswoman Linda Woods said the young woman's irresponsibility -- not her weight -- prompted the board to dethrone Ramirez and instead hand the crown to first runner-up Ashley Dixon.

Pakistanis Flee Renewed Fighting in Northwest

Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are fleeing their homes in the country's northwest, trying to escape a new outbreak of fighting between the government and Islamist militants.

The United Nations refugee agency said Friday about 25,000 people have left their homes in Pakistan's Mohmand agency, near the border with Afghanistan, in the past week. And UNHCR officials warn the number of displaced people could reach 90,000 by the end of the month.

Pakistani officials confirmed Friday there is an ongoing military campaign in the area targeting Pakistani Taliban fighters.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Waiting For Superman' Director Talks Backlash From Teachers' Unions

Filmmaker David Guggenheim unleashed a wealth of controversy last September with the release of his documentary "Waiting For Superman," which tackled the failures of the American public education system. But five months later, Guggenheim said the backlash against him from teachers' unions remains strong, and he blames them in large part for not allowing improvements to be implemented into the system.

"The hardest part (of making the film) was the unions and the teacher's union is one (part) of why we aren't going as fast as we can with the reforms," Guggenheim told FOX411's Pop Tarts at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards in Hollywood on Saturday night, where he was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Feature filmmaking. "And that was a difficult piece because I believe in unions - I'm a member of the Director's Guild, the union tonight. That's a difficult thing to sort of dissect that issue."

Barcelona revenge only defeat with win at Hercules

(CNN) -- Barcelona revenged their early season defeat to Hercules with a 3-0 win in their La Liga match in Alicante on Saturday night.

The victory leaves Barcelona seven points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish title race after a record equaling 15th straight league win.

Real Madrid will hope to cut the gap again when they travel to Osasuna Sunday with new loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor hoping to make his debut.

Hercules, shock 2-0 winners at the Camp Nou, Barca's only reverse in the league this season, might have gone ahead midway through the first half but former French international David Trezeguet missed with the goal gaping.

Glee: Justin Bieber Episode

An episode of Glee entirely focused on about Justin Bieber is in the acts, concording to TVLine.

Although not alot particulars of the episode have been {revealed|, the casting will binding many of Justin's songs and he will figure into the plot of Glee Justin Bieber episode.

The episode is presently scheduled to air on February 15th, but perhaps exchanged around.

No discussion yet on whether Justin will come out in the episode or not. Lea Michele lately told that she believed Justin would be "amazing" for the show.

Glee returns on February 6th following the Super Bowl and then will air a Valentine's Day episode two days later.

Petra Nemcova Engaged to Jamie Belman

Czech model Petra Nemcova is set to wed British actor Jamie Belman after just eight months of dating. The couple met last year after being introduced by mutual friends and the stars spent the holidays together with both of their families.

British Vogue magazine now reports Petra Nemcova Engaged to Jamie Belman after Belman recently proposed. In the past, Nemcova, 31, has been romantically associated to Oscar winner Sean Penn and singer James Blunt. She lost her previous fiance, Simon Atlee, in December 2004 when he was killed in the catastrophic Asian tsunami. The model was a survivor of the disaster.

Since the tragic event, Nemcova has dedicated herself to helping others affected by the tsunami, and is now President and Chairwoman of the euphoric Hearts Foundation which works with the children who survived the disaster. "When the tsunami happened, I wanted to help in any possible way," she said.

Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas Reunite for New Duet Track

Miley Cyrus is reportedly going to hook up with Nick Jonas again for a studio project (Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas Reunite). The "Hannah Montana" actress previously collaborated with him and his Jonas Brothers bandmate in 2009 song "Before the Storm" which appears among "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" materials.

"Returning to the studio w/ Miley Cyrus & Nick Jonas on 1/14," tweeted Shakur Green who once worked with Miley in her "The Time of Our Lives [Walmart EP]". He additionally wrote, "Can't release any additional information about the project other then it's going to be one of the top albums of 2011."

"We're only recording 7-10 records. She has other producers she working with besides myself!" the music producer went on spilling more beans on the joint record. "I will share this info: It's going to be a double disk duet album!"