Malaysian Court Acquits Anwar of Sodomy
Malaysia's high court has acquitted opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of charges of sodomy.
The judge ruled Monday that the DNA used by prosecutors as evidence was unreliable. The judge also said there was not enough corroborating evidence proving that Anwar had sex with a former male aide.
Homosexuality is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia. If he had been convicted, Anwar could have faced 20 years in prison.
Anwar is a former deputy prime minister who was forced to resign in 1998 after his conviction on an earlier sodomy charge. The Supreme Court later threw out that verdict.
Anwar has denied all the sodomy charges, saying his chief political rival, Prime Minister Najib Razak, concocted them. The prime minister denies the allegation.
Anwar is considered to be a leading opposition candidate in this year's general elections.
Republican debate: Mitt Romney under fire
US Republican front-runner Mitt Romney has come under fire from fellow contenders ahead of Tuesday's primary vote in the state of New Hampshire.
At a nationally televised debate on Sunday, the former Massachusetts governor's economic programme was called "timid" and his conservative credentials were also questioned.
Mr Romney has a lead over his rivals since his narrow win in Iowa last week.
The winner will challenge President Barack Obama in November's election.
Six candidates remain in the race for the Republican nomination.
Primaries and caucuses will take place in every US state over the next few months before the eventual Republican candidate is crowned at the party convention in August.
But votes in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida this month could well shape the race for the nomination.
'Pious baloney'
Sunday's debate was the second in less than 24 hours. It was co-hosted by NBC's Meet the Press, the New Hampshire Union Leader and Facebook - with questions being sent over the social networking site.
Former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich accused Mr Romney of "pious baloney" for saying he was not a career politician.
"Just level with the American people," Mr Gingrich urged him.
To which Mr Romney quipped: "Politics is not my career. My life's passion has been my family, my faith, my country."
Mr Gingrich described Mr Romney as a "relatively timid Massachusetts moderate" - adding, "I think he'll have a very hard time getting elected."
But Mr Romney replied: "I'm very proud of my record and I think the one thing you can't fool the people of New Hampshire about is the record of a governor next door."
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who lost the Iowa caucus by just eight votes, questioned why Mr Romney had not sought a second term as Massachussetts governor.
"Why did you bail out? And the bottom line is, I go fight the fight," Mr Santorum said.
Mr Romney adopted the same tactic as during Saturday's debate, largely refraining from making digs at his opponents - though he pointed to Jon Huntsman's period as ambassador to China under Mr Obama.
Mr Hunstsman replied on Sunday: "I was criticised last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first. He criticised me while he was out raising money. I want to be very clear. I will always put my country first."
Mr Romney's three main rivals - Mr Santorum, Mr Gingrich and Texas congressman Ron Paul - attacked each other again.
Mr Santorum said Mr Paul had "never really passed anything of any importance".
"One of the reasons people like Congressman Paul is his economic plan. He's never been able to accomplish any of that, has no track record of being able to work together. He's been out there on the margins and has really been unsuccessful in working together with anybody to do anything."
And when asked about President Obama's patriotic credentials, Rick Perry said: "We have a president that's a socialist. I don't think our founding fathers wanted to make our country as socialist country."
South Korean President to Visit China
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrives in Beijing Monday for an official visit that will focus on the North Korean leadership transition following the death last month of longtime President Kim Jong-Il.
During his three-day stay, Mr. Lee is due to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabo, and other high-ranking officials.
In a statement Sunday, Mr. Lee's office said “the two presidents are to discuss ways to further develop a bilateral strategic partnership and cooperative measures for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.” They will also exchange views on Asian and global issues.
Both countries are closely watching the situation in North Korea amid fears that a power struggle could destabilize the nuclear-armed country.
Little is known about Kim's chosen successor, his son Kim Jong-un, who was made a four star general last year.
Kim Jong-un had accompanied his father on several trips across North Korea recently and has reportedly involved himself in the country's foreign and domestic policy.
Ahmadinejad Begins Visit to Latin America
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has started a five-day Latin American tour that U.S. officials have called a sign of desperation for the country heavily sanctioned over its controversial nuclear program.
Mr. Ahmadinejad arrived Sunday evening in Venezuela, and was met at the airport by that country's Vice President Elias Juau. He smiled and waved to the crowd, but did not make any remarks before driving away. He is scheduled to meet Monday with his longtime ally, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez.
The Iranian president also will make stops in Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador.
In recent years, the Iranian president has courted leftist, populist and anti-American Latin American leaders, particularly Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, much to Washington's dismay.
On Friday, U.S. officials urged Latin American countries not to deepen their ties with Iran. A State Department spokeswoman accused the Iranian government of being “desperate for friends” and of,what she called “flailing around” to find new allies.
While on his trip, Mr. Ahmadinejad also will attend the inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
The United States is expelling a Venezuelan diplomat amid reports that she discussed possible cyber-attacks on U.S. soil while she was stationed at her country's embassy in Mexico.
The State Department said Sunday it had declared Livia Acosta Noguera persona non grata and given her until Tuesday to leave the country.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government.
Protests, Repression to Continue in Middle East in 2012
The international human rights group Amnesty International has warned of another year of protests and government repression in the Middle East and North Africa, if the region's rulers do not ensure democratic and human rights for their people.
In a report released in London Monday, the group described how governments across the region were willing in 2011 to deploy extreme violence in an attempt to resist unprecedented calls for fundamental reform. But it said the protest movements have “shown that they will not be fooled by reforms that make little difference.”
Mass uprisings sparked by the self-immolation of a Tunisian vegetable vendor that swept the Arab world last year led to the downfall of presidents Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Libya's Moammar Gadhafi. Amnesty called on those countries to make sure the past abuses are not repeated.
The report highlighted the policies of governments elsewhere, notably in Syria, that remained “grimly determined” to cling to power “at any cost in human lives and dignity.”
Amnesty said international and regional bodies such as the African Union, Arab League and EU have been “inconsistent” in their response, and have “failed to grasp the depth of the challenge.”
Despite this, Amnesty said, the refusal of ordinary people “to be deterred from their struggle for dignity and justice is what gives us hope for 2012.”
Fraudster donor Michael Brown held in Caribbean
A fraudster and Lib Dem donor who went on the run has been arrested in the Dominican Republic, police have said.
Michael Brown was sentenced in his absence to seven years in jail in 2008 for stealing £36m from clients including nearly £8m from Manchester United's ex-chairman Martin Edwards.
He posed as a bond dealer and claimed royal connections to steal the money, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Brown gave some £2.4m to the Lib Dems ahead of the 2005 general election.
City of London Police said they were "pleased" to hear he had been detained and were establishing contact with authorities in the Caribbean country, which has no extradition treaty with Britain.
'Buffer zone'
"Clearly, at some stage we will look for his return to the United Kingdom, so he can serve the sentence for the fraud offences for which he has been convicted in this country," a spokesman said.
The British Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports of his arrest.
Brown used investors' money to fund the money he gave to the Lib Dems' election war chest - its largest ever donation.
Charles Kennedy, who was leader at the time it was made, said in September his party went the "extra mile" to check Brown out before accepting his money.
"We were very careful, we always were in the Lib Dems, to keep a distance, a buffer zone, over donations," he said.
The Electoral Commission ruled in 2009 the party could keep the money.
A Lib Dem spokesman said: "The Electoral Commission inquiry in 2009 found that the party accepted the donation in good faith, and were in no way at fault.
"It cleared the party of all wrongdoing and accepted that at the time of the donation, Michael Brown was a permitted donor.
"There is no indication that the Electoral Commission will revise its opinion in this matter but any arrest abroad should lead to his extradition to the UK."
Jamaica to break links with Queen, says Prime Minister Simpson Miller
Jamaica's new Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has said she intends to make the island a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as the head of state.
In her inaugural address, Ms Simpson Miller said the time had come for Jamaica to break with the British monarchy and have its own president.
The announcement comes ahead of celebrations to mark 50 years of Jamaican independence from Britain.
The Queen's grandson, Prince Harry, is due to the visit the island this year.
'Time come'
"I love the Queen, she is a beautiful lady, and apart from being a beautiful lady she is a wise lady and a wonderful lady," Ms Simpson Miller said after swearing the oath of office.
"But I think time come".
"As we celebrate our achievements as an independent nation, we now need to complete the circle of independence," the prime minister added.
In response, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said "the issue of the Jamaican head of state was entirely a matter for the Jamaican government and people".
Ms Simpson Miller, 66, became prime minister for the second time after her People's National Party won a big election victory on 29 December.
Her inaugural address mostly focused on her plans to revive Jamaica's economy.
The Caribbean island has widespread poverty, high unemployment and huge debts.
Ms Simpson Miller is not the first Jamaican leader to promise to move towards a republic.
In the early 1990s, then-Prime Minister PJ Patterson also said it was time for the island to have its own head of state, and set 2007 as the deadline.
Nick Cannon in 'Stable Condition' After Kidney Failure
Mariah Carey shared good news on Twitter this afternoon: her husband, Nick Cannon, is in stable condition after his recent episode of mild kidney failure. Carey tweeted, "Nick is in stable condition with a good prognosis, hopefully he'll be discharged within 2 days. As always he's laughing and in good spirits."
Ever the optimist, Carey also posted a photo of herself kissing the America's Got Talent host as he reclined in his hospital bed, surrounded by balloons and flowers.
Yesterday Cannon, 31,was transferred from a medical facility in Aspen, Colorado, to one in the couple's hometown of Los Angeles. He was hospitalized while vacationing with his family for what Carey disclosed as "mild kidney failure," the cause of which has not been disclosed. He took to his own Twitter account to say, "Currently being [transferred] to a hospital in LA. Thank you all for all your love, prayers and concern. You know me . . . I will be a'ight." A few hours later, he was clearly feeling better – he posted a photo of his haircut and also a party plug for his friend (and Tom Cruise's son), DJ Connor Cruise.
Nicki Takes Over Twitter
Rapper Nicki Minaj continues her run of success, this time in the world of social networking.
The popular rapper is now the most followed Hip-Hop artist on twitter, with a following of 8,194,350 followers as of press time. The previous record was held by Eminem, who was announced as the most followed person on Twitter in July of 2011.
As of press time, the race to be the top rapper on Twitter is very close, with Eminem at 8,177,381.
Chris Brown quits giving interviews
CHRIS BROWN has reportedly said that he will decline all interview requests this year.
The controversial singer will instead focus on recording and performing, his manager, Tina Davis, told gossip website Nicole Bitchie.
"We're not trying to be rude, selfish, or disrespectful in any way. If people are going to judge anything, judge him for his talent," Davis said.
During a promotional interview on Good Morning America to promote his album FAME last year, the Look At Me Now star flew into a violent rage on air after he was probed about his assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.
Following the incident, ABC News released a statement that read: "As always, we ask questions that are relevant and newsworthy, and that's what we did in this interview with Mr Brown."