Newsgab

Best motion picture - “The Departed”
Best foreign language film - “The Lives of Others”
Best documentary feature - “An Inconvenient Truth”
Best animated feature film - “Happy Feet”
Best Short Documentary - “The Blood of Yingzhou District”
Best Short Animated - “The Danish Poet”
Best Short Live Action - “West Bank Story”

Best actor in a leading role - Forest Whitaker for his role as Idi Aminfor the film “The Last King of Scotland”

Best actress in a leading role - Helen Mirren for her role as Queen Elizabeth for the film “The Queen”

Best supporting actor - Alan Arkin for his role as Grandpa for the film “Little Miss Sunshine”

Best supporting actress - Jennifer Hudson for her role as Effie White for the film “Dreamgirls”

The city of Boston was in a panic earlier today when several electronic devices were found near high traffic areas, bridges and even a subway. Bridges and roads were shut down and the subway service was temporarily suspended. Bomb squads were sent in before the police discovered the devices were apparently harmless.

The devices were simple magnetic lights that were being used as promotional material for the Cartoon Network’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” movie. The devices feature characters called the “Mooninites”. The characters, which closely resemble 1970s Atari style graphics, are portrayed on the sign giving the finger.

Turner Broadcasting who own the Cartoon Network issued an apology to the city of Boston. Turner chairman Phil Kent stated “We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger. We appreciate the gravity of this situation and, like any responsible company would, are putting all necessary resources toward understanding the facts surrounding it as quickly as possible.”

It has been announced that 8-year-old Bindi Irwin will star in her own wildlife series starting next year. “Bindi, The Jungle Girl” was already filming when Bindi’s father, Steve, died tragically at the beginning of last month.

The show will air on Discovery Kids in the United States and a publicist for the channel said initially the show was “going to be a father-daughter thing,” and that “Steve and Bindi were very enthusiastic about doing the show together.”

According to Steve Irwin’s manager and friend John Stainton, the Crocodile Hunter will appear in the show, as some scenes were already shot before he passed away.

Popularity: 4% [?]

An Italian satirical show has managed to hoodwink many if the country’s politicians into believing they were going to be appearing on a regular television show, and then stinging them.

They tested their “guests” for illegal drugs including cannabis and cocaine.

The make up artists used swabs and collected perspiration from their interviewees, by using swabs on their brow, and later had them analysed.

The show, Le Lene, which translates as the Hyenas is well known for exposing public figures to ridicule.

The drug results showed that 16 out of 50 lower house representatives tested positive for cocaine and cannabis, it appeared that a third of them had done so in the last thirty six hours.

Italy is debating proposals for the 2007 budget, and all the interviewees believed that they were to speak on this issue.

The Norwegians over the years have had many firsts, not least of which it has been the only country to score nil points in a Eurovision Song Contest.

Norwegian television is now going to show the world’s first televised gig from a gas platform. I have not actually checked my facts here, but is possibly the first performance from a gas rig.

Katie Melua, 22, currently the UK’s biggest-selling female artist, and her band plan to perform on Statoil Troll oil rig, more than 100m below the surface of the North Sea.

Melua has had to undergo extensive medical tests ahead of a concert which will be performed in front of an adjudicator for the Guinness Book of Records. They hope to chart through the water into the record book!
World Record for the world’s deepest underwater gig.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The BBC has initiated an enquiry into the accident which has left T.V. presenter Richard Hammond seriously ill in hospital.

His condition has been described as serious but stable as he made an improvement overnight.

When the accident occurred Hammond had been driving a jet powered dragster, which bears similarities to the vehicle Colin Fallows used to set the British land speed record at 300.3mph.

Primetime Land Speed Engineering, partially managed by Fallows have denied that Hammond was trying to break the British land speed record, before the near fatal accident.

“The vehicle, which Richard Hammond was driving all day yesterday, had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards,” said spokesman Malcolm Pittwood.

The BBC said in a statement that it had begun an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE.

One of the presenters of the popular BBC motoring show Top Gear, is in a critical condition after being involved in a car crash in York.

Richard Hammond, 36, is in a critical condition at the Leeds Royal Infirmary in the UK, after he crashed a jet powered car whilst filming the program.

He was unconscious when recovered from the vehicle at the scene and was airlifted to the Neurological section of the Leeds Hospital.

Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at the airfield north-east of York.

He said: “At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.

“The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds.”

Former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey talked openly to Oprah about his marriage and coming out. The interview was given to coincide with the release of his book, “The Confession.”

On the show, McGreevey says he hopes the new no holds barred book will lead to more of the public accepting the fact he has an openly gay lifestyle.

The 49-year-old former governor of New Jersey, told the how he is “stumbling and progressing” on a spiritual journey.

McGreevey: “What I didn’t understand was that being gay, as with everything else, is a grace from God, and that by accepting that grace and by accepting that reality, by embracing that truth, I could authentically be who I was.”

McGreevey is now in a relationship with Australian-born financier Mark O’Donnel.

It’s just four short weeks since Big Brother ended, but Pete Bennett and Nikki Grahame’s relationship is over already. The unlikely love affair between the Brighton scruffbag and the wannabe footballer’s wife gripped the nation and saw viewing figures soar – but as soon as those 24/7 cameras were turned off, it seems Pete was turned off Nikki too.

Heartbroken Nikki told the News of the World that she called Pete up to see what he thought of her new show Princess Nikki – only for him to admit he’d slept through the whole thing. He then called time on their relationship, telling her it was too hard being a couple in the spotlight and that he just wanted to be mates.

Nikki believes he found it hard to cope with her constant tantrums and dramas. “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life as I was with Pete,” she moaned. “But right now I’ve never felt so low.”

AUSTRALIAN Idol judge Kyle Sandilands has been slammed by the Victorian Government after he said a 17-year-old contestant needed to lose what he termed a “jelly belly”.

Radio shock-jock Sandilands attacked contestant Jessica Mauboy about her weight during the second elimination show last night.

Mauboy, who was wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and black jacket, appeared stunned by the advice that she “lose the jelly belly”.

Victoria’s Youth Affairs Minister Jacinta Allan said Mr Sandilands’ remark was humiliating and had the potential to do significant psychological damage to all the young people in the audience.

“Kyle sent a message to millions of young viewers dreaming of a career in the music industry, don’t bother if you’re not stick thin,” Ms Allan said.

She said mental and physical health issues relating to negative body shapes were already common among young people.