Bitter cold lingers as storm moves to Canada, strands hundreds

(CNN) -- Canadian police and military teams were working Tuesday afternoon to rescue about 300 people stranded after what a local official termed the most brutal storm to hit the Ontario region in 25 years.

Some people had been stuck in their vehicles for more than 24 hours following blinding snow that piled up so high it made it almost impossible to open vehicle doors.

"You really felt almost despair," said Brandon Junkin, who spent nearly 24 hours stranded before being rescued Tuesday afternoon after he heard a helicopter hovering over his immobilized truck. He had run out of gas and was without anything other than a blanket to help him through the ordeal.

Ontario Provincial Police initially reported about 360 vehicles and about 300 people had been stranded near Sarnia, Ontario, on Highway 402 -- a major thoroughfare linking the U.S.-Canada border to London, Ontario. CNN

Garment factory fire kills at least 12 in Bangladesh

(CNN) -- At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 others injured -- most of them critically -- in a fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh Tuesday, the country's national news agency reported.

The fire started just after 1 p.m. on the 10th floor of a 12-story building in an industrial area just outside the capital city, Dhaka, the report said. Investigators suspect an electric short-circuit sparked the blaze.

"Witnesses said a number of people were wounded as they were stampeded or leapt from the building ..." the news agency said, "while people at the bottom of the building tried to save them, spreading blankets or holding fishing nets".

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "expressed deep shock and sorrows at the loss of lives and properties," the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency said. The prime minister delivered a "message of condolence" and "prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls," the news agency said.

President Zillur Rahman also "expressed his deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives and assets," the news agency said. CNN

Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci 'trafficked in organs': report

Former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders are accused of serious human rights abuses, including organ and drug trafficking in a report from the human rights body, the Council of Europe.

A draft copy, seen by the BBC, names Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's current prime minister and wartime political leader of the KLA, 27 times in as many pages.

The Kosovo government has dismissed the draft as 'baseless and defamatory'.

The report is due to be published on Thursday.

'Organised crime'

The draft report is the result of a two yearlong investigation by the special rapporteur of the Council of Europe, Dick Marty.

The version seen by the BBC confirms many of the details of a special BBC investigation in April 2009.

That BBC report presented evidence of the cross-border transfer of both Serb and Albanian prisoners of the KLA from Kosovo to Albania.

The Drenica group within the KLA which was led by Mr Thaci is accused of involvement in organised crime, including drug trafficking and the trafficking of human organs.

Evidence is also presented of organised crime activities continuing up to the present day.

In its first reaction, the Kosovo government warned of legal and political steps against what it described as 'slanders'.

The report is due to be presented to the legal and human rights committee of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Thursday. BBC News

La Familia party leads Mexico police to Nazario Moreno

Mexican president Felipe Calderon says plans by a notorious drug cartel for an extravagant party led to the killing of its leader.

Nazario Moreno of the La Familia Michoacana cartel was killed in a gun battle with police last week.

Mr Calderon says police had learned of the cartel's plan to hold a party for hundreds of people and the gun fight broke out when they arrived to investigate.

They are still searching for his body.

The authorities say they believe members of the cartel have retreated into the mountains of Michoacan and have taken the body of Mr Moreno, known as "the Craziest One", with them.

President Calderon said the killing of Mr Moreno was the biggest blow the authorities had inflicted on the cartel in its history.

"With a certain amount of insolence, they organised a party, a gathering of hundreds of their people," he said.

He told Mexican radio that "everyone had found out about the party", prompting the authorities to send hundreds of police officers and soldiers to the town of Apatzingan, a stronghold of La Familia.

Police say five of their officers were killed during the massive operation, as well as three alleged members of the gang and three civilians. BBC News

Cuba launches its own online encyclopedia

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuba is launching its own version of Wikipedia Tuesday with an online encyclopedia that describes the United States as the "empire of our time".

The site EcuRed, at www.ecured.cu , already has nearly 20,000 entries. One of the longest is about former leader Fidel Castro, the founder of the Cuban Revolution.

EcuRed was up Monday and early Tuesday ahead of its official launch, but appeared to be down later in the day, apparently because of too much traffic.

According to the site, its goal "is the accumulation and development of knowledge with a non-profit, pro-democracy aim from a decolonizing point of view".

Users approved by EcuRed administrators will be able to update entries, and the site will be available to all Internet users in Cuba -- an estimated 1.6 million out of a population of 11.2 million.

EcuRed describes the United States, Cuba's Cold War foe, as "the empire of our time, which has historically taken territory and natural resources from other nations by force, to put at the service of its businesses and monopolies". CNN

Nepal's former crown prince arrested

Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- Nepal's former crown prince was arrested Tuesday on charges of firing a pistol in a public place and threatening others, authorities said.

Paras Shah allegedly fired several rounds at Rubel Chaudhary, a Bangladeshi national and the son-in-law of Nepal's deputy prime minister Sujata Koirala, after an argument Saturday in a wildlife resort in Chitwan, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Kathmandu, according to reports. No one was injured.

"The ex-prince took out a pistol and started to open fire, accusing the Koirala family of conspiring to abolish the monarchy in this country," Chaudhary said Monday, according to media reports.

Police spokesman Bigyan Raj Sharma told CNN the investigation is ongoing.

Koirala's Nepali Congress party, the nation's second-biggest political party, demanded Shah's arrest on Monday. He was arrested in the tourist resort of Pokhara, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Kathmandu, and police were questioning him, according to Ramesh Kharel, superintendent of police.

Shah, 39, traveled to Pokhara from Chitwan on Sunday following the incident.

Nepal abolished the monarchy in 2008, and members of the royal family became commoners. At the time, Koirala's father, Girija Prasad Koirala, was the prime minister.

The hard-partying Shah reportedly has a history of reckless behavior. There have been previous reports of his using firearms in public places in the past. He was also believed to have killed a popular singer, striking him with his car, about a decade ago, when Nepal's monarchy was in place.

However, Tuesday was the first time police have arrested Shah, who splits his time between Kathmandu and Singapore. CNN

La policía rescata a 50 personas a las que transportaban ilegalmente a EU

(CNNMéxico) — Desde el martes de la semana pasada, la policía rescató en dos operativos a 50 personas que eran transportadas a Estados Unidos ilegalmente, informó la Secretaría de Seguridad pública en un comunicado.

Nueve personas fueron interceptadas el sábado sobre un camino de terracería en Nogales, Sonora, con dirección a la frontera con Estados Unidos.

Ocho de los sujetos señalaron a Jesús Fernando Manjarrez Metzger, de 23 años, como el responsable de ayudarles a cruzar de manera ilegal al país vecino a cambio de altas cantidades de dinero.

Las líneas de investigación de la policía apuntan a que Manjarrez Metzger es un presunto traficante de personas, por lo que después de que el grupo recibió atención médica, fue puesto a disposición del Agente del Ministerio Público de la Federación en Nogales y los ocho individuos restantes quedaron en calidad de presentados a fin de continuar con la investigación.

El pasado 7 de diciembre, la policía federal detuvo también a un autobús con destino a la capital del estado de Chihuahua. El conductor presentó un documento que identificaba a los pasajeros del vehículo como jornaleros provenientes del estado de Chiapas contratados para la recogida de uva en Sonora.

Las 42 personas dentro del autobús, que eran de Guatemala, no pudieron comprobar que transitaban de manera legal por el país e identificaron al conductor y a sus acompañantes, entre ellas un ciudadano Guatemalteco, como los responsables de trasladarlos ilegalmente a los Estados Unidos.

Los mexicanos Moisés Echazarreta Montuy, Fernando Saúl Villalobos Castellanos, Jorge Luis Espinoza Guillén y el guatemalteco Javier Vázquez Domínguez fueron asegurados como presuntos traficantes de personas.

Los 42 indocumentados fueron remitidos a las instalaciones Instituto Nacional de Migración en Chihuahua, Chihuahua.

En México hay un millón 200,000 personas víctimas de la trata de personas, de acuerdo con la Coalición Regional contra el Tráfico de Mujeres y Niñas en América Latina. Esta cifra ubica a México en el quinto lugar en la región. CNN México

Gorbachov rechaza volver a la política en Rusia con un partido opositor

MOSCÚ (EFE) — El último dirigente de la Unión Soviética, Mijaíl Gorbachov, rechazó la invitación a entrar en el nuevo partido opositor al Kremlin llamado Por una Rusia sin abusos ni corrupción (PRAC).

"Sí, me llegó dicha invitación. Pero yo les deseo éxitos y nada más. Me mantengo en mis posiciones", señaló Gorbachov, que cumplirá en marzo próximo los 80 años de edad, a la agencia Interfax.

Gorbachov, que volvió en 2007 a la política activa tras varios años de labor intelectual al fundar la Unión de Socialdemócratas, considera "positivo cualquier intento de crear nuevos partidos democráticos".

Uno de los cuatro copresidentes de PRAC, Vladímir Rizhkov, aseguró que la nueva formación liberal entabló conversaciones con Gorbachov para que éste aceptara convertirse en uno de sus líderes.

"Consideramos que un socialdemócrata como quinto miembro de la coalición sería muy deseable", dijo en rueda de prensa Rizhkov, citado por las agencias rusas.

El PRAC, que acusa al primer ministro, Vladímir Putin, de crear un sistema corrupto y un Estado policial, tiene previsto participar en las elecciones parlamentarias de 2011 y en las presidenciales de 2012.

Sus líderes consideran que su granero electoral serían los 20 millones de rusos que apoyan la ideología liberal, los urbanitas y los más jóvenes, especialmente los blogueros, que en su gran mayoría "son contrarios a Putin", según Rizhkov.

El nuevo partido apoya las manifestaciones callejeras de la oposición más radical al Kremlin en defensa del artículo 31 de la Constitución que promueve la libertad de reunión.

Gorbachov, cuyo anterior proyecto, el Partido Social-Democrático, vio arrebatada su condición de formación política por el Supremo, al carecer del mínimo de militancia requerido, ha acusado al partido oficialistaRusia Unida de pervertir el sistema parlamentario.

En una entrevista concedida esta semana a la publicación quincenal Nóvaya Gazeta, denunció la involución democrática en Rusia, la rampante corrupción y la falta de voluntad del gobierno para acabar con la pobreza, aunque se resistió a criticar directamente a Putin por el retroceso de las libertades.

Lo que no ha aclarado es si tomará parte en los comicios legislativos del próximo año, que coincidirán con el 20 aniversario de la caída de la Unión Soviética, de la que aún le responsabilizan muchos rusos.

El Premio Nobel de la Paz 1990 encabeza en la actualidad una fundación que lleva su nombre, la cual se dedica a la investigación política, social y económica.

En su última participación electoral, en los comicios presidenciales de 1996, Gorbachov obtuvo el respaldo de apenas el 1% de los electores. CNN México

Michael Moore: 'Assange es el terror de los mentirosos y los señores de la guerra'

Michael Moore defiende con vehemencia a Julian Assange y ha decidido poner 20.000 dólares de su bolsillo para pagar la fianza del fundador de Wikileaks. 'Assange es el terror de los mentiros y de los señores de la guerra', asegura el director de 'Farenheit 9/11' en su propia web, ofreciéndose como testigo lejano en la vista judicial que se celebra en Londres.

'Apoyo a Julian Assange, a quien considero un pionero de la libertad de expresión, del gobierno independiente y de la revolución digital del periodismo', proclama Moore. 'Su compromiso para sacar a la luz las falacias del Gobierno y de las empresas ofrece a la sociedad la oportunidad para defenderse'.

"Imaginad lo distinto que sería el mundo si WikiLeaks hubiera existido hace diez años", escribe el cineasta. "Tal vez la próxima guerra no sea tan fácil porque hemos conseguido darle la vuelta a la mesa… Ahora somos nosotros quienes vigilamos al Gran Hermano".

Michael Moore fue de los primeros en romper una lanza por Assangecuando Wikileaks reveló los documentos de la guerra de Irak el verano pasado. El director de 'Farenheit 9/11' ha seguido mostrando su apoyo incondicional al australiano en medio del “linchamiento” encabezado por algunos medios norteamericanos, que la han rebautizado a Assange como el 'terrorista digital' o le han acusado de declarar la 'ciberguerra' a Estados Unidos.

"Le ofrezco personalmente la asistencia de mi web, de mis servidores y de mis dominios", agrega Moore. "Haré todo lo que pueda por mantener vivo Wikileaks y permitir que saque a la luz los delitos que permanecen en secreto y que son perpetrados en nuestro nombre y con nuestro dinero como contribuyentes".

En opinión del Moore, Wikileaks ha recogido el testigo del periodismo de investigación en la era digital y ha ocupado "el terreno abandonado" por los grandes medios.

"Imaginad si los hombres que planearon los crímenes de guerra contra Irak en el 2002 hubieran tenido que vérselas con WikiLeaks", advierte Moore. "Posiblemente no hubieran sido capaces de salir con la suya. La única razón por la que pensaron que podían seguir con sus planes era porque tenían la garantía del secreto. Esa garantía se la hemos arrebatado, y espero que no puedan ser capaces de operar en secreto otra vez". El Mundo

La economía de América Latina crecerá un 6% en 2010 y un 4,2% en 2011

La economía de América Latina y el Caribe retomó este año la senda del crecimiento con un incremento del 6%, tras la caída del 1,9% que experimentó el pasado año, aunque su expansión se moderará hasta el 4,2% en 2011, según un informe difundido este martes por la Cepal en Chile.

Las medidas contracíclicas aplicadas por los gobiernos de la región y la rápida recuperación de la economía internacional permitieron a la región salir del bache en que cayó en 2009, explicó la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (Cepal).

De acuerdo con el "Balance preliminar de las economías de la región en 2010", la subregión más dinámica ha sido América del Sur, con una expansión del 6,6%, mientras que México y Centroamérica cerrarán el año con un crecimiento del 4,9% y la zona del Caribe, de sólo el 0,5%.

La expansión regional del 6% está por encima de las previsiones de la Cepal, que en junio pronosticó un aumento del 4,5% para 2010, y permite dejar atrás la contracción de 2009 para retomar la dinámica expansiva que se prolongó entre 2002 y 2008.

Por países, Paraguay lidera el crecimiento en la región, con un 9,7%, seguido de Uruguay, con un 9%, y de Perú, con un 8,6%.

Detrás se sitúan Argentina (8,4%), Brasil (7,7%), República Dominicana (7%), Panamá (6,3%) y Chile y México, ambos con un 5,3%.

En el terreno positivo también se encuentran Costa Rica y Colombia (ambos con un 4%), Bolivia (3,8%), Ecuador (3,5%), Nicaragua (3%), Honduras y Guatemala (ambos con 2,5%), Cuba (1,9%) y El Salvador (1,5).

Las dos únicas economías que se contraerán en 2010 serán las de Venezuela, con un 1,6%, y la de Haití, que se desplomará un 7%.

El crecimiento económico regional se traducirá este año en un aumento del 4,8% en el producto interno bruto por habitante, que en 2009 cayó un 2,9%, así como en una caída de la tasa de desempleo, que pasará del 8,2% en 2009 al 7,6% en 2010.

La reactivación estuvo acompañada de un ligero aumento de la tasa de inflación, que pasó del 4,7% en 2009 al 6,2% en 2010, debido al encarecimiento de los precios de algunos productos básicos, como los alimentos y los combustibles, indicó la Cepal.

Sin embargo, en el segundo semestre de 2010, el organismo regional de Naciones Unidas ha observado distintos factores que hacen prever un escenario menos optimista para 2011, cuando se prevé una moderación del crecimiento hasta una tasa del 4,2%.

Esto supondrá un alza del 3% del PIB per cápita y una nueva caída de la tasa de desempleo, que se situará en el 7,3%.

Todos los países registrarán tasas positivas de crecimiento, aunque la subregión más dinámica volverá a ser América del Sur, con un 4,5%, seguida por Centroamérica (3,6%) y el Caribe (2,2%).

Haití, cuya economía se contraerá este año un 7%, liderará en 2011 el crecimiento en la región con una expansión del 9% debido a la reconstrucción tras el terremoto de enero y a la ayuda exterior, explicó la secretaria ejecutiva de la Cepal, Alicia Bárcena.

Por detrás se situarán Panamá (7,5%), Perú y Chile (ambos con 6%), Uruguay y República Dominicana (ambos con 5%), Argentina (4,8%), Brasil (4,6%), Bolivia (4,5%), Paraguay y Colombia (ambos con 4%).

Entre los países con tasas de crecimiento más moderadas se encuentran México y Ecuador (ambos con 3,5%); Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica y Nicaragua (con 3%), y Venezuela, Honduras y El Salvador, con un 2%.

Entre los indicadores que auguran una moderación del crecimiento en 2011 destaca un menor impulso sobre la demanda proveniente de las políticas públicas y un agotamiento de la capacidad de producción excedente, así como la incertidumbre sobre la recuperación de las economías desarrolladas.

A esto se suma el aumento de la fortaleza relativa de los países emergentes, especialmente los de América Latina y el Caribe, lo que ha generado un mayor flujo de capitales hacia la región y una apreciación de sus monedas.

La Cepal advierte de que esta entrada de capitales, si bien no supone un peligro a corto plazo, sí puede tener efectos negativos a largo plazo, ya que la elevada liquidez mundial presionaría a la baja los tipos de cambio real y elevaría los precios de los productos básicos. El Mundo

El primer ministro de Kosovo lidera el crimen organizado en la región, según un informe

El primer ministro de Kosovo, el ex guerrillero Hashim Thaci, lidera un grupo mafioso albanokosovar responsable de tráfico de armas, drogas y órganos humanos en Europa del Este. Esta es la grave acusación desvelada este martes por The Guardian, que cita una investigación del Consejo Europeo sobre el crimen organizado que se presentará este jueves.

"Thaci y otros miembros del grupo de Drenica [facción del UCK, el ejército de liberación de Kosovo, del que Thaci era líder político] son nombrados como 'actores clave' en informes de inteligencia sobre las estructuras del crimen organizado de tipo mafioso en Kosovo. He examinado estos diversos y voluminosos informes con consternación y una sensación de indignación", dice el autor del informe, el experto en derechos humanos Dick Marty.

Asimismo, el primer ministro en funciones -que acaba de revalidar su cargo en las elecciones del pasado fin de semana, las primeras desde que declarara su independencia- había ejercido durante la última década un "violento control" sobre el tráfico de "heroína y otros narcóticos" en Europa del Este, según las informaciones de las agencias antidroga de al menos cinco países.

Una década de crímenes

La red comenzó a operar en los prolegómenos de la guerra de Kosovo, a finales de los años 90, dice el informe, una investigación realizaba durante dos años y que cita al FBI y otras fuentes de inteligencia.

De acuerdo con la investigación, la relación de Thaci con el crimen organizado comenzó cuando el grupo que él lideraba se convirtió en la facción dominante del UCK. Su supremacía les permitió entonces tomar el control de "la mayoría de las empresas criminales ilícitas" en las que los kosovares estaban implicados en la frontera con Albania, dice Marty.

Según el informe europeo, durante la guerra y al menos el año posterior, las fuerzas de Thaci se vengaron de los serbios, romaníes y los albaneses acusados de "colaborar" con el enemigo. Centrado en la limpieza étnica llevada a cabo por Milósevic, la comunidad internacional ignoró los crímenes de guerra del ejército kosovar, denuncia Marty.

Tráfico de órganos

El investigador considera que los líderes del grupo de Drenica (región del centro de Kosovo) "guardan la mayor responsabilidad" por la suerte de los presos serbios que fueron encerrados en seis centros de detención en el norte de Albania.

Un "puñado" de estos prisioneros fueron transferidos a una prisión provisional al norte de Tirana, donde fueron asesinados por sus riñones, según The Guardian.

"Cuando los cirujanos de transplantes confirmaban que estaban listos para operar, los prisioneros eran sacados de la 'casa segura' de uno en uno, ejecutados sumariamente por un pistolero del UCK y sus cuerpos transportados a rápidamente a la clínica", dice Marty, quien presentará su informe a diplomáticos europeos en una reunión en París este mismo jueves.

La grave acusación conecta con la insinuación que ya hizo en su día la fiscal para crímenes de guerra en la Haya, Carla Del Ponte, quien dijo que el ejército de liberación kosovar había traficado con prisioneros serbios, a quienes se les quitaron órganos en Albania. El Mundo

China to raise rare earth tariff exports in 2011

BEIJING -- China will raise export tariffs on certain rare earths in 2011, said a statement on the website of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Tuesday.

From January 1, 2011, China will adjust tariff rates on certain exports and imports and the changes have been approved by the State Council, or the Cabinet.

The statement, however, did not specify what types of rare earth products would be included in the readjustment.

China has honored all its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 2010 and will continue with the tariff rates for most-favored nations in 2011, the statement said.

China will levy relatively lower yearly temporary imports tariffs on about 600 resources-related products, basic raw materials and key parts in 2011 to boost energy-saving and environmental protection, it said.

Included for the first time in the lower yearly temporary imports tariffs are propane, butane, fatty acid and high-definition cameras, among others.

The statement added China will honor its commitments on free trade or preferential tariffs signed with other countries or regions in 2011.

Following agreements, some countries will enjoy tariffs lower than that of the most-favored tariffs in 2011, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Chile, Pakistan, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea and India.

According to the economic cooperation framework agreement signed between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, the mainland will levy agreed tariffs on about 500 products from Taiwan in 2011. China Daily

Senate on a collision course with lower house over theatre tax

The 75-seat senate has passed a motion calling on the cabinet to scrap plans to increase value added tax on theatre tickets from January 1. 

Senators from the two ruling parties plus the fundamentalist Christian SGP voted against.

Prime minister Mark Rutte said after the vote ministers will consider their options carefully at Friday’s cabinet meeting.

Rejection

The tax increase is part of the finance ministry’s tax plan for 2011. If the cabinet refuses to back down, the way will then be open for the senate to reject that legislation in its entirety.

According to the Telegraaf, some senators, notably from the orthodox ChristenUnie think that would be going too far.

The senate's main role is to scrutinise legislation but it can formally only accept or reject it. Amendments must be made by the lower house. Dutch News

Bulgarian Intelligentsia to Stage Another Rally

Bulgarian scientists, university professors, students and people working in theculture sector have gathered to stage yet another combined protest demanding the implementation of European priorities and policies in education, science, healthcare and culture on Wednesday.

The rally, entitled "Stop The War Against Bulgaria's Intelligentsia and Bulgaria's Moral Values" will kick off at 11:00 on the Tsar Osvoboditel square in downtown Sofia to end up in front of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers at 13:00.

The event will be supported by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgarian Doctors Union, the Bulgarian Filmmakers' Union, the Movement of Young Scientists "Cogito",university professors and others. Novinite

Peruvian Nobel Prize winner slams presidential candidate

(CNN) -- Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa is injecting his cachet as a newly minted Nobel Prize winner into the political sphere, in a strong criticism of the political aspirations of the daughter of a disgraced former president.

Keiko Fujimori, a congresswoman and daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, is one of the leading candidates in next year's presidential election, according to polls.

"If the daughter of the dictator who is condemned to prison for being a criminal and a thief has the possibility of becoming the president of Peru, I will be one of the Peruvians who will go out to try to impede it through all the legal channels available," Vargas Llosa said Monday.

"I think that would be a real catastrophe for our country," he added.

Vargas Llosa, who lost to Alberto Fujimori in a runoff in his previous presidential campaign, received the Nobel Prize for Literature last week at a ceremony in Norway.

According to various polls published in Peru, Keiko Fujimori is currently the leading or second-place contender in the race.

Her father was president of Peru from 1990 to 2000, a period that was highlighted by the defeat of terrorists who disrupted society, but stained by an authoritarian streak and human rights abuses.

Alberto Fujimori fled Peru in the midst of a scandal involving his spy chief, and was extradited years later back to his country to face trial. He was convicted in four separate trials for a litany of corruption and human rights abuse charges. Among the sentences he received was a 25-year prison term for authorizing the operation of a death squad responsible for killing civilians.

Representatives for Keiko Fujimori said she would respond to Vargas Llosa's comments Tuesday. CNN

'King's Speech' scores 7 Golden Globe nods

(CNN) -- The critically acclaimed film "The King's Speech" led the 68th Annual Golden Globe nominations Tuesday morning.

The film starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush scored seven nominations including best film -- drama, best performance by an actor in a motion picture -- drama for Firth, best supporting actress in a motion picture for Carter and best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture for Rush.

"I'm truly grateful to be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press for this film, and euphoric to be in the company of so many of my colleagues," Firth said.

"The Social Network" and "The Fighter" followed with six nominations each, including best film -- drama, joining "Inception" and "Black Swan".

Actors Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes and Blair Underwood joined Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk on Tuesday to announce the nominations.

As many critics predicted, Natalie Portman scored recognition for best actress in a motion picture -- drama for her work in "Black Swan." Other nominees for best actress include Halle Berry for "Frankie and Alice," Nicole Kidman for "Rabbit Hole," Jennifer Lawrence for "Winter's Bone" and Michelle Williams for "Blue Valentine".

Joining Firth in the best actor in a motion picture nominations were Jesse Eisenberg for "The Social Network," James Franco for "127 Hours," Ryan Gosling for "Blue Valentine" and Mark Wahlberg for "The Fighter".

On the small screen, familiar names such as "Glee," "30 Rock" and "Modern Family" snagged nominations in the best TV series -- comedy category, along with "The Big C," "Nurse Jackie" and "The Big Bang Theory".

Last year's winner for best actor in a comedy TV series, Alec Baldwin from "30 Rock" was again nominated along with Jim Parsons from "The Big Bang Theory," Steve Carell for "The Office," Thomas Jane for "Hung" and Matthew Morrison for "Glee".

Baldwin expressed his joy with the nominations.

"'30 Rock' is back, bigger and better than ever," he said. "We are very grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press".

This year's nominees for the best TV drama series include "Dexter," "The Good Wife" and "Mad Men" as well as newcomers "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Walking Dead".

Actor Johnny Depp pulled off a double nomination in the category for best actor in a motion picture -- comedy or musical for his role in both "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Tourist".

British comic Ricky Gervais will return to host the Globes award ceremony, which will air live January 16 on NBC.

Gervais said he will push the envelope even more than he did when he hosted the last show and took jabs at NBC and the Foreign Press Association.

"I don't think I was too bad," Gervais told reporters last week about his first turn hosting. "I don't think I went far enough".

The following is a full list of the nominees:

Best motion picture, drama

"Black Swan"

"The Fighter"

"Inception"

"The King's Speech"

"The Social Network"

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama

Halle Berry, "Frankie and Alice"

Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"

Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Hole"

Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama

Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"

Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"

James Franco, "127 Hours"

Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"

Mark Wahlberg, "The Fighter"

Best motion picture, comedy or musical

"Alice in Wonderland"

"Burlesque"

"The Kids Are All Right"

"Red"

"The Tourist"

Best actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical

Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"

Anne Hathaway, "Love and Other Drugs"

Angelina Jolie, "The Tourist"

Julianne Moore, "The Kids Are All Right"

Emma Stone, "Easy A"

Best actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical

Johnny Depp, "Alice in Wonderland"

Johnny Depp, "The Tourist"

Paul Giamatti, "Barney's Version"

Jake Gyllenhall, "Love and other Drugs"

Kevin Spacey, "Casino Jack"

Best animated feature film

"Despicable Me"

"How to Train Your Dragon"

"The Illusionist"

"Tangled"

"Toy Story 3"

Best foreign language film

Biutiful (Mexico/Spain)

The Concert (France)

The Edge (Russia)

I Am Love (Italy)

In a Better World (Denmark)

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture

Amy Adams, "The Fighter"

Helena Bonaham Carter, "The King's Speech"

Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"

Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"

Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture

Christian Bale, "The Fighter"

Michael Douglas, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"

Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network"

Jeremy Renner, "The Town"

Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"

Best director, motion picture

Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"

David Fincher, "The Social Network"

Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"

Christopher Nolan, "Inception"

David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

Best TV series, comedy

"30 Rock"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Big C"

"Glee"

"Modern Family"

"Nurse Jackie"

Best actress in a TV series, comedy or musical

Toni Collette, "United States of Tara"

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Laura Linney, "The Big C"

Lea Michele, "Glee"

Best actor in a TV series, comedy or musical

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Steve Carell, "The Office"

Thomas Jane, "Hung"

Matthew Morrison, "Glee"

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Best screenplay, motion picture

Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, "127 Hours"

Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, "The Kids Are All Right"

Christopher Nolan, "Inception"

David Seidler, "The King's Speech"

Aaron Sorkin, "The Social Network"

Best original score, motion picture

Alexandre Desplat, "The King's Speech"

Danny Elfman, "Alice in Wonderland"

A.R. Rahman, "127 Hours"

Trent Rezno and Atticus Ross, "The Social Network"

Hans Zimmer, "Inception"

Best original song -- motion picture

"Bound To U" from the film "Burlesque"

"Coming Home," from the film "Country Strong"

"I See the Light" from the film "Tangled"

"There's a Place for Us" from the film "Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of The Dawn Treader"

"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from the film "Burlesque"

Best TV movie or mini-series

"Carlos"

"The Pacific"

"Pillars of the Earth"

"Temple Grandin"

"You Don't Know Jack"

Best actress in a mini-series or TV movie

Hayley Atwell, "Pillars of the Earth"

Claire Danes, "Temple Grandin"

Judi Dench, "Return to Cranford"

Romola Garai, "Emma"

Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List

Best actor in a mini-series or TV movie

Idris Elba, "Luther"

Ian McShane, "Pillars of the Earth"

Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack"

Dennis Quaid, "The Special Relationship"

Edgar Ramirez, "Carlos"

Best TV series, drama

"Boardwalk Empire"

"Dexter"

"The Good Wife"

"Mad Men"

"The Walking Dead"

Best actress in a TV series, drama

Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Elizabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

Piper Pereabo, "Covert Affairs"

Katey Sagal, "Sons of Anarchy"

Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Best actor in a TV series, drama

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"

Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Hugh Laurie, "House"

Best supporting actress in a series, mini series or TV movie

Hope Davis, "The Special Relationship"

Jane Lynch, "Glee"

Kelly MacDonald, "Boardwalk Empire"

Julia Stiles, "Dexter"

Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Best supporting actor in a series, mini-series or TV movie

Scott Caan, "Hawaii Five-O"

Chris Colfer, "Glee"

Chris Noth, "The Good Wife"

Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

David Strathairn, "Temple Grandin" CNN