Oscars music role for Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer
Singer and producer Pharrell Williams and film composer Hans Zimmer will be the music consultants for the 84th annual Academy Awards.
Oscars producers Don Mischer and Brian Grazer hailed "an exciting and prestigious collaboration".
Zimmer, 54, won an Oscar for the original score for 1994 film The Lion King with a further eight nods for films including Gladiator and Rain Man.
Williams, whose hits include Frontin', has won three Grammy Awards.
"Hans is one of the most accomplished and creative film composers of our time and Pharrell is a phenomenal songwriter with an amazing list of credits," Mischer and Grazer said in a statement.
It was a collaboration that promised "to take the audience on a musical journey," they added.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Billy Crystal, takes place on Sunday 26 February.
Jamaican production company Master One extends services to Caribbean artistes
Jamaican record label and artiste management company Master One Productions has expanded its range of services.
The company is known for its work with dancehall artiste Denno and the production of the First Born rhythm project a few years ago. Master One Productions will now be taking hands on approach to the business.
According to CEO and producer Jyorken Kennedy, the label will be offering artiste management on a broader scale, public relations services, compact disc duplication, replication and mastering, music video duplication, street promotions and bookings.
“We wanted to cater to a wider spectrum of the entertainment industry in Jamaica and as a result of this we have decided to expand on what we have already been doing internally.
The company is offering these services to entertainers from across the Caribbean who want to get that major break in Jamaica as far as radio and street promotions, music video servicing and bookings.
Master One Productions has offices in Florida, USA and in Jamaica. The company can be found on face book and also on twitter.
El Salvador sorry for El Mozote massacre in 1981
El Salvador's government has apologised for the 1981 massacre of more than 1,000 people in the town of El Mozote.
The victims - nearly half of them children - were executed by soldiers of a now banned battalion, the Atlacatl.
They were accused of collaborating with leftist guerrillas and killed in cold blood near the border with Honduras.
At a ceremony in the town, Salvadorean Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez asked forgiveness for what he called the "blindness of state violence".
"This event seeks to honour the memory of hundreds of innocent people who were murdered 30 years ago here in El Mozote and in nearby towns," said Mr Martinez.
Amnesty
The killings were committed by Salvadorean troops fighting left-wing guerrillas. But those responsible were never put on trial as the authorities agreed a general amnesty in 1992, as part of negotiations to end the civil war.
Activists say they are still waiting for justice, and hope the case will be taken up next year by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
More than 70,000 people died during El Salvador's civil war from 1980 to 1992.
The country is now governed by the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMNLR), a coalition of former guerrilla groups that won the country's election in 2009.
Peru PM Salomon Lerner in surprise resignation
Peru's prime minister Salomon Lerner has unexpectedly resigned.
The decision brings down the government as, under Peruvian law, the entire cabinet must follow suit and step down.
President Ollanta Humala will now have to shuffle his cabinet for the first time since he came to power in July.
Last Sunday, President Humala declared a state of emergency in parts of the country's north after more than a week of protests against plans for a huge, open-cast gold and copper mine.
Reports say Mr Lerner, who had been President Ollanta Humala's campaign manager, has been replaced by the interior minister, Oscar Valdes, a retired military man and President Humala's instructor in the army.
Mine controversy
The protests in the north have stalled Peru's biggest foreign investment project, the $4.8bn (£3.1bn) Conga gold mine.
President Humala said the protesters had shown no interest in reaching an agreement over the mine, despite days of talks led by Mr Lerner.
The president has said the project, by US-based company Newmont, would benefit the whole country.
Its gold deposits are estimated to be worth around $15bn (£9.6bn) at current prices.
But many residents in the Cajamarca region are against its construction.
They fear it would cause pollution and destroy water supplies.
PM: Castro accepted apology for Hilton snub
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said she personally offered an apology to Cuban President Raul Castro after her Government was forced to relocate the Fourth Caricom/Cuba Summit.
“When I met His Excellency, President Castro, I said to him that I’m sorry about what had happened. I told him that to his face. He said he understands and it’s not the first time he has faced a blockade from the US and they have been living under that for many, many years,” Persad-Bissessar told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Children’s Christmas Treat at Skinner Park, San Fernando.
Persad-Bissessar said when she apologised to Castro, the Cuban leader assured her he had not been offended by the decision to relocate the Summit, reiterating that his country had been blockaded for the past 50 years.
“So he was very happy to be here. His visit was very beneficial for us and I do believe for Cuba as well.”
Persad-Bissessar’s comment came hours after former prime minister, Patrick Manning, had called on the PP Government to formally apologise to Castro for the situation, saying one of the country’s key allies had been embarrassed.(See page 20)
Government was forced to hold the two-day summit, which concluded on Thursday, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), when it did not get permission to use the initially selected venue, Hilton Trinidad, after its proprietors in the United States intervened.
Persad-Bissessar also commented on the threat by the trade union movement to engage in a national shutdown, saying she did not believe the nation would be brought to a complete halt by the labour movement.
“I heard people threatening to shut down the country. It has not shut down yet. I am not of the view that the country will be shut down, but the unions are entitled to act within the law to further their interests,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar also said the country’s economy was performing “very well”, in spite of the global economic crisis which had crippled several countries.
NEWSDAY
Pope Benedict XVI plans visit to Cuba and Mexico in 2012
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Cuba next year, Vatican officials have announced.
It will be the second visit of a pope to the Communist-run island, following a trip there by John Paul II in 1998.
The Vatican said it would announce the exact dates of his visit on Monday. A Cuban Church leader said the pope would meet government officials.
The Cuban church has played an important role in negotiating the release of dozens of political prisoners in recent years.
Officials said that Pope Benedict was also considering visiting Mexico as part of the same trip.
The head of the Cuban Bishops Conference, Monsignor Jose Felix Perez, said the pontiff had "a special affection toward the people of Cuba for the social conditions in our country".
During his 1998 visit, John Paul II called on "Cuba to open to the world, and the world to open to Cuba" at a packed Mass in Revolution Square in Havana.
Monsignor Perez said Benedict would meet members of President Raul Castro's government.
But he stressed that the primary purpose of the pope's visit would be to honour the patron of Cuba, the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre.
Howard requested trade to Nets
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has requested a trade to New Jersey, a source close to the situation confirmed to SI.com.
Magic general manager Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday afternoon that Howard had requested a trade, and Yahoo! Sports first reported that his destination of choice was the Nets. It was the latest twist in what was already a surreal story, as Howard's alleged meeting with Nets officials on Thursday had sparked an investigation by the Magic as they considered filing tampering charges against New Jersey. Howard's agent Dan Fegan told reporters on Friday night that he had been given permission to explore trades with the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers, and the question now becomes how Smith will proceed with the future of the franchise.
The Magic are determined not to be devastated by the loss of a superstar center like they were when Shaquille O'Neal left for the Lakers as a free agent in 1996, and sources close to the team said there will be no rush to judgment on Howard's fate, no matter how uncomfortable the relationship might get leading up to the March trade deadline. When Howard requested a trade earlier this week, the source said he was told the Magic wouldn't succumb to the mounting pressure and that Howard should be prepared to play for the Magic for the foreseeable future. And considering the team's decision to continue to pursue tampering charges against the Nets, the dynamics involved to get a deal done with New Jersey would appear to be quite complex at the moment.
"They did not have permission to talk to him," Magic CEO Alex Martins said regarding the Nets' alleged visit with Howard in Miami that was first reported by SI.com and said to include New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov. "We're continuing to gather the information based on the stories, and we'll evaluate whether we're going to take any action once we have all of our information."
According to ESPN.com, the Nets are prepared to offer center Brook Lopez and two future first-round draft picks while agreeing to take back small forward Hedo Turkoglu (three years and a combined $35.1 million remaining) in a possible deal. Howard is set to become a free agent next summer, and his possible pairing with Nets point guard and fellow 2012 free agent Deron Williams could create the league's latest star-studded squad just as the team moves to Brooklyn next season.
But there were no guarantees that proposal would be enough even before the turmoil began, let alone now that the Nets could be facing significant fines from the league and the possible loss of draft picks should Orlando proceed with its case. Meanwhile, the Nets this week offered free agent center Nene a four-year, $60 million deal, which the New York Daily News reported has since been increased.
Any possibility of Howard joining the Lakers are on hold as they attempt to finalize a deal with the Rockets and Hornets that would send point guard Chris Paul to L.A. The original three-team proposal involving Paul would have allowed the Lakers to retain center Andrew Bynum, whom they could possibly use in a future deal for Howard. Since the league vetoed the initial proposal and the teams have submitted a revised one to the NBA, it's unclear if L.A. will still have the ability to make such a play.
The Mavericks are exploring their big man options as well after Tyson Chandler jumped to New York. The Mavs' latest pursuit is a possible sign-and-trade with Sacramento that would give them free agent center Samuel Dalembert.
Premier League/ Man Utd 4 - 1 Wolverhampton
Wayne Rooney and Nani both scored twice as Manchester United gave the perfect response to their Champions League exit with a commanding win over Wolves.
Nani cut inside from the left and blasted the opener into the corner before Rooney made it 2-0 with a low drive from the edge of the area.
Steven Fletcher gave Wolves a lifeline with a header just after half-time.
But United hit back with Antonio Valencia setting up Nani for a tap-in and crossing for Rooney to rifle home.
United put their miserable surrender in Basel behind them in a display brimming with positive intent and attacking verve.
And in the week when Rooney's three-match England ban was reduced to two by European football's governing body Uefa, the striker ended an eight-game Premier League goal drought with two authoritative finishes.
While Wolves boss Mick McCarthy's decision to field an attacking 4-4-2 formation merely played into United's hands, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics paid off, as he made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 in Switzerland.
Phil Jones produced a confident attacking performance alongside Michael Carrick in midfield and Valencia - brought in at Ashley Young's expense - proved a constant threat on the right wing.
The victory ensured United closed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to two points, with Roberto Mancini's side heading to Chelsea on Monday.
The game might have taken a different course had Fletcher not sliced wide after being teed up in space on the edge of the box in the first minute.
But United soon settled into their rhythm, with Valencia enjoying plenty of space down the right and crossing for Carrick, whose diving header flew just over the bar.
Carrick then played a ball inside right-back Ronald Zubar for Rooney, whose shot from a tight angle was sharply saved by Wayne Hennessey.
Moments later, Nani cut in from the left-hand side before unleashing a powerful shot into the corner from 20 yardsThe second goal arrived in similar fashion, with Rooney this time darting across the edge of the box and smashing a shot through a crowd of players past an unsighted Hennessey.
Wolves got themselves back in the game shortly after half-time as Matt Jarvis crossed from the left for Fletcher to head his 11th goal in 16 games into the roof of the net.
The goal only served to reawaken United, who re-established their two-goal lead when Jones threaded a pass to Valencia, who crossed low for Nani to convert from six yards.
Valencia rounded off a fine afternoon's work with the assist for the fourth goal as his cross picked out Rooney to beat Hennessey with a powerful low shot on the turn.
Another marauding run from Jones almost produced a fifth goal but Hennessey did well to foil Federico Macheda at the near post.
Wolves' sixth away league defeat in eight games leaves them just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Premier League results
10 Dec 2011 23:59 UK
- Arsenal 1-0 EvertonFT
- Bolton 1-2 Aston VillaFT
- Liverpool 1-0 QPRFT
- Man Utd 4-1 WolvesFT
- Norwich 4-2 NewcastleFT
- Swansea 2-0 FulhamFT
- West Brom 1-2 WiganFT
Premier League table snapshot
As it stood on 10 Dec 2011 23:59 UK
| Position | Team | P | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 14 | 35 | 38 |
| 2 | Man Utd | 15 | 21 | 36 |
| 3 | Tottenham | 13 | 13 | 31 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 15 | 8 | 29 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 15 | 5 | 26 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 15 | 2 | 26 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 15 | -1 | 19 |
| 9 | Norwich | 15 | -4 | 19 |
| 10 | Stoke | 14 | -9 | 18 |
| 11 | Swansea | 15 | -4 | 17 |
| 12 | Everton | 14 | -3 | 16 |
| 13 | QPR | 15 | -11 | 16 |
| 14 | Fulham | 15 | -2 | 15 |
| 15 | West Brom | 15 | -9 | 15 |
| 16 | Wolves | 15 | -12 | 14 |
| 17 | Wigan | 15 | -15 | 12 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 14 | -1 | 11 |
| 19 | Blackburn | 14 | -11 | 10 |
| 20 | Bolton | 15 | -16 | 9 |
Judge grants WIPA injunction extension
Trinidad and Tobago High Court Justice Ricky Rahim has granted an extension to an injunction filed by the West Indies Players Association.
The injunction prevents the West Indies Cricket Board from terminating the Memorandum of Understanding and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two sides.
WIPA Executive President Dinanath Ramnarine said his organisation was forced to seek an emergency judicial intervention from the T&T High Court.
Sources said that if current negotiations between WIPA and the regional governing body were not concluded by November 30, the WICB could terminate the current MOU and CBA and this could leave the players at the Board's mercy.
The T&T High Court heard WIPA's application on November 30 and ordered that the agreements and all terms of the MOU and the CBA should be treated as if in full force and effect and binding until determination of the application.
After hearing arguments from attorneys on both sides on Thursday, Justice Rahim ordered that the injunction continue and requested further submissions in writing in January.
This means that the terms of the current agreements remain in force until the matter comes up again on January 19, when the judge will decide whether to discharge the injunction or to grant a permanent injunction.
CMC
Gayle will miss Caribbean T20
Chris Gayle will be a non-starter for Jamaica in the Caribbean Twenty20 Champion-ship next month.
Media reports indicated that the estranged West Indies opener will not be released by the Sydney Thunders franchise during the Big Bash Twenty20 tournament, which will be contested in Australia at the same time the regional tournament is unfolding.
Gayle hinted that he would try to make himself available for Jamaica in a bid for them to complete a sweep of the major regional titles after leading the national side to victory in the Regional Super 50 tournament last October in Guyana.
new selection policy
His unavailability almost rules him out of the Twenty20 World Cup next September in Sri Lanka in light of the West Indies Cricket Board's new selection policy.
Players must now make themselves available to their regional territorial side in the format of the game for which they hope to be selected for West Indies during the ensuing year.
Gayle has not played for West Indies since the World Cup on the Asian subcontinent earlier this year, following a disagreement with the WICB over his contentious comments in an interview with a Jamaican radio station.
Efforts to resolve the matter have proved futile with the WICB demanding an apology from Gayle and the talismanic batsman openly refusing to budge.
Tamar Lambert, the regular captain of the national team in the regional first-class championship, has been overlooked for the second year in a row.
Out-of-favour West Indies duo of batsman Xavier Marshall and fast bowler Andrew Richardson, two other members of the side that won the RS50, have also missed out.
They are two of the four reserves named by the National Selection Panel, along with Simon Jackson and Damion Jacobs.
Former youth players Andre McCarthy and Kennar Lewis are both set to make their debuts, after they were included in the 14-member squad.
All-rounder Dave Bernard Jr missed the recent RS50 while recovering from knee surgery, but returns to the squad and will captain the side.
Marlon Samuels, Danza Hyatt and Andre Russell are now on West Indies duty in India and have been included, along with Windies wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr.
Jamaica have been slotted into Group-B, where their opponents will be the Netherlands, Sussex, Combined Campuses & Colleges, and co-hosts Barbados.
The CT20 opens on January 9.
Dave Bernard Jr (captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Nkrumah Bonner, Odean Brown, Sheldon Cotterrell, Shawn Findlay, Danza Hyatt, Kennar Lewis, Andre McCarthy, Horace Miller, Nikita Miller, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie
(CMC)