Earth Project Plans To ‘Simulate Everything‘ – An international group of scientists are aiming to create a simulator that can replicate everything happening on Earth – from global weather patterns and the spread of diseases to international financial transactions or congestion on Milton Keynes’ roads. Nicknamed the Living Earth Simulator (LES), the project aims to advance the scientific understanding of what is taking place on the planet, encapsulating the human actions that shape societies and the environmental forces that define the physical world. [bbc]

England Crush Australia, To Retain Ashes – England wrapped up a crushing innings and 157-run victory over Australia in the fourth Test to retain the Ashes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. It has been 24 years since England last won the Ashes Down Under when Mike Gatting’s team claimed the series 2-1. Australia’s humiliation was complete when Ben Hilfenhaus was the last man out before lunch on the fourth morning, caught behind off Tim Bresnan for a duck. [associated]

Clarity On Cape Liquor Law – City of Cape Town officials are seeking a legal opinion in a bid to clarify a liquor by-law that will come into operation on the stroke of New Year. The by-law sets the new “trading hours” for bars and clubs in business areas as 11am to 2am. However, there was some confusion at a city media briefing on Tuesday over whether this meant the clubs had to actually shut their doors at 2am, or merely stop selling liquor. Cheeky.. [timeslive]

Apple Gets Sued For Sending User Information To Advertisers – Apple Inc., maker of the iPhone and iPad, was accused in a lawsuit of allowing applications for those devices to transmit users’ personal information to advertising networks without customers’ consent. The suit claims Cupertino, California-based Apple’s iPhones and iPads are encoded with identifying devices that allow advertising networks to track what applications users download, how frequently they’re used and for how long. [bloomberg]

Notorious Soccer Prankster Nabbed After Facebook Update – Finally, the Falcon has been snared. For most of this year, a 23-year-old Italian soccer fan named Mario Ferri has been terrorizing stadium security and delighting fans on three continents with his antics (almost always involving Italian soccer) of running onto the field, either in the name of activism or for his own seemingly unending amusement. However, Ferri may have been grounded for good, thanks to his loose lips and flair for the dramatic. [wired]

No Staff For William And Kate – His father famously employs almost 150 staff to cater for his every need, but Prince William has insisted he and Kate Middleton have no intention of taking on butlers or household staff when they begin married life in April. The couple believe that sharing their home with servants would ruin the intimacy of their relationship. Although, either way, we do trust some things would be kept private. [telegraph]

Woman Fakes Kidnapping To Test Husband. Fails. – Spanish police have detained a woman who faked her own kidnapping to test whether her husband would pay ranson, sending him a photograph of herself with bound hands and feet. The man received the photo on his mobile phone from someone claiming to be one of the kidnappers along with a text message demanding a ransom of 20,000 euros for her release. The ransom request was repeated in later text messages, which he ignored. Beautiful! [associated]

Jay-Z Spends $350k At Hermes For Beyonce’s Christmas Gift – Beyonce and Jay-Z were the highest earning couple in show business last year, earning a combined £68 million. While Beyonce, 29, surprised her husband with a £1.3 million Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport for his birthday lately, the 99 Problems rapper is being reported to spend $350,000 on wife Beyonce’s Christmas gifts, which include several Birkin bags. [bornrich]

400 People Spend The Night On NY Train – It took hours for Christopher Mullen to get off a plane from sunny Cancun and on to a half-empty subway car, his only way home. It would be another eight hours and more – a night spent huddled under a thin blanket on the frigid, grungy car – before he could get off the A train.His feet soaked to the bone, with no foozzd, water and hardly any heat, Mullen and 400 others lived through a New York nightmare on an elevated subway track. [huffers]

Reese Witherspoon Is Engaged – Reese is engaged! The Oscar winner will marry boyfriend Jim Toth. “They are extremely happy,” her rep said. Toth — an agent in Hollywood — and Witherspoon have been dating for almost a year. This will be the second marriage for Reese, who has two children with her first husband, Ryan Phillippe. Witherspoon joins Shania Twain, Natalie Portman (aaarrrgh!!) , Lily Allen, Hugh Hefner and LeAnn Rimes in the club of recently engaged stars. [popeater]

live – every day – 1-click to tune in.