When a ‘Chosen’ Tibetan Lama Says No Thanks

“For the last time, I’m not your messiah,” groans the title character in the 1979 comedy The Life of Brian. There’s an echo of Brian’s panicked renunciation in a shakeup currently underway in Tibetan Buddhism — in this case, nobody’s laughing, although the ending will, no doubt, be happier

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Wolfsburg win first German league title

Wolfsburg sparked wild celebrations when they clinched their first German Bundesliga crown after thrashing beaten UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen 5-1 on Saturday. The game was effectively settled after 26 minutes when Sebastian Proedl’s own goal put the hosts 3-0 up after strikes from Zvejezdan Misimovic after six minutes and Grafite on 15.

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Federer stuns weary Nadal in Madrid final

Second seed Roger Federer won his first title of 2009 after stunning world number one and clay-court king Rafael Nadal in straight sets in front of his own fans in the final of the Madrid Masters on Sunday. Swiss ace Federer, who had won 57 career titles but was without a tournament victory since winning on home soil in Basle last October, took the honors 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes. The win also ended a remarkable run of success on clay for world number one Nadal, who was unable to repeat his heroics from Saturday’s epic semifinal against Novak Djokovic when he fought back from the brink to win a gruelling battle 3-6 7-6 7-6 in four hours and three minutes, saving three match points along the way.

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Inter secure fourth consecutive Scudetto

Inter Milan claimed their fourth successive Scudetto on Saturday night without kicking a ball, after AC Milan were beaten 2-1 by Udinese. The Rossoneri began the day seven points behind the Serie A leaders and needed at least a draw to keep alive their slims hopes of taking the trophy from their city rivals. But Udinese proved too strong at their Stadio Friuli and defeat means Carlo Ancelotti’s men can no longer catch Inter at the top of the table

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Why Video Games Are an Excellent Economic Indicator

In a stunning result, the winner of the third annual TIME 100 poll and new owner of the title World’s Most Influential Person is moot. The 21-year-old college student and founder of the online community 4chan.org, whose real name is Christopher Poole, received 16,794,368 votes and an average influence rating of 90 to handily beat the likes of Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and Oprah Winfrey. To put the magnitude of the upset in perspective, it’s worth noting that everyone moot beat out actually has a job.

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Formula One title to be decided on wins

Governing body the FIA have agreed to award the Formula One world drivers’ championship to the driver with the most race wins from this season onwards. The body’s World Motor Sport Council has agreed to the proposal from Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management to award the championship to the driver with most race wins, although there is no provision to award medals.

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