US Military Vacates Pakistani Air Base
U.S. military vacated an air base in Pakistan's southwest Sunday, meeting a December 11 deadline set by Islamabad in response to NATO's November 26 air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The Pakistani military said it took over the Shamsi base in Baluchistan province shortly after the last U.S. personnel departed.
The Pakistani government ordered the move as part of several punitive measures reflecting Pakistani anger about the deadly incident. Islamabad also closed its border crossings to trucks delivering supplies to NATO forces in land-locked Afghanistan and boycotted an international conference in Bonn on Afghanistan's future.
There was no immediate confirmation of the base withdrawal from U.S. officials.
Pakistan accused NATO forces of deliberately targeting Pakistani soldiers during an operation against militants on the border with Afghanistan. The U.S. military and NATO deny the charge and have launched investigations of the incident.
U.S. intelligence experts say the withdrawal from the Shamsi air base is not likely to have a major impact on the drone war in the border region because the U.S. military can fly the unmanned planes out of air fields in Afghanistan.
In another development, two prominent Pakistani Taliban members have denied claims by the group's deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Mohammad that the militants are engaged in peace talks with Islamabad.
Mohammad had announced Saturday that negotiations with the government were progressing well and could soon lead to an agreement. The Pakistani government has not confirmed any negotiations with the militants but officials have spoken of a need for dialogue.
The United States has long pressured Pakistan, a major U.S. aid recipient, to fight the Islamist militants who use bases in Pakistani tribal regions to attack U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Also Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani denied reports that President Asif Ali Zardari suffered a stroke and offered to resign. Mr. Zardari flew to the United Arab Emirates Tuesday after falling ill. Medics say the president likely suffered a transient ischemic attack, which can produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage to the brain.
Mr. Gilani said the president was making good progress and needs to rest for two more weeks before returning home.
Russia’s Medvedev Orders Probe Into Alleged Election Fraud
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday ordered an investigation into the allegations of electoral fraud during last week's parliamentary vote.
The announcement came a day after tens of thousands of people rallied in Moscow and other cities to demand the December 4 polls won by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party be annulled and rerun.
In a post on the social media site Facebook, Mr. Medvedev said that “although he does not agree with any slogans or speeches made at the rallies, he has given instructions to check all information from polling station regarding compliance with the election laws.”
Within minutes of his statement, Mr. Medvedev had received over 1,000 comments on his Facebook site, most of them angry and some disrespectful. “Shame!” and “We do not believe you!” were the most common.
Neither the president nor Putin has appeared in public in recent days, as protest organizers sought to harness opposition to the outcome of the polls. Critics accuse Mr. Putin's ruling United Russia party of complicity in widespread vote rigging and other irregularities.
Saturday's rallies in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Far Eastern cities of Khabarovsk and Vladivostok were the largest to hit Russia since the tumultuous 1990s and were largely peaceful. However, protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg last week triggered a massive police presence and the arrests of hundreds of demonstrators.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on Sunday urged Russia's leaders “to hold a dialogue, to avoid violence, and to let the opposition demonstrate and learn the lessons for the organization of the next presidential elections.”
Juppe also criticized Putin's plan to return to the presidency by swapping places with Mr. Medvedev. He said people do not like it very much when one plays with the democratic process. “To say that I am prime minister and you can have the presidency — and vice-versa — that is something that ends up angering people,” Juppe added.
Last month, Mr. Putin formally accepted his party's nomination to return to the presidency — a post that analysts have said he is certain to win. He announced his intentions in September, confirming a deal under which he would appoint President Medvedev as his prime minister.
The planned job swap has angered many in Russia, who said it would strengthen authoritarian rule and clear the way for Mr. Putin to become Russia's longest-serving leader since communist times.
If he regains the presidency, the 59-year-old Mr. Putin could serve two more 6-year terms and remain in power until 2024. He was first elected president in 2000
Chinese fishermen 'stab South Korean coast guards'
A South Korean coast guard has been stabbed to death by Chinese fishermen after stopping their boat on suspicion of illegal fishing, officials say.
The Korean coast guard agency said another of its staff was injured in the fight, in the Yellow Sea off Incheon.
Some nine Chinese sailors have been detained over the clash. Beijing has not yet commented on the incident.
Chinese crews are regularly caught fishing in Korean waters. They are usually released after paying a fine.
The coast guard said it has seized about 430 Chinese ships for illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea so far this year, up from 370 last year.
Arrests
Previous attempts to intercept Chinese fishing boats have also ended in violence.
In October the coast guard said it had used tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue Chinese fishermen wielding clubs and shovels.
There have also been a number of incidents involving Chinese sailors and the authorities of other countries.
Last month, the crew of a Chinese fishing boat was briefly detained by Japan for entering its coastal waters.
Similar arrests last year in disputed waters sparked a major diplomatic confrontation between Japan and China.
And in the South China Sea, Chinese vessels have several times angered the authorities of other countries with apparent incursions.
Tom Cruise 'working on' Top Gun sequel
Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise has confirmed he is involved in the forthcoming Top Gun sequel.
Plans for a follow-up to the hit 1986 film were announced last year, but it was not known if and how much the star would be involved.
Speaking to MTV, Cruise said he was in talks with director Tony Scott and would go ahead provided they could "find a story that we all want to do".
"I hope we can figure this out to do it again," he said.
Scott directed Cruise in the first Top Gun film, which propelled him to fame as fighter pilot Maverick.
The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film, which also starred Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer, was nominated for four Oscars and won the best song Academy Award for Take My Breath Away.
Cruise said: "I said to Tony, I want to make another movie with him. He and I haven't made a film since Days Of Thunder."
"Tony and I and Jerry, we never thought that we would do it again. Then they started to come to us with these ideas and I thought, wow, that would be what we could do now.
"We all want to make a film that is in the same kind of tone as the other one and shoot it in the same way as we shot Top Gun," he added.
It had been rumoured that Cruise's character would return in the sequel as an instructor for a new class of Top Gun recruits.
But when asked what his role would be in a new film, the actor said: "I don't know - we're working on it."
Cruise will next be seen on screen in a fourth Mission: Impossible film, Ghost Protocol.
Prodigy Is Working On Collaboration Album With The Alchemist
Queens rap duo Mobb Deep have announced that Prodigy will be working on an untitled album with producer The Alchemist.
While the group offered little details about the album, reps for the rappers said The Alchemist would be responsible for all of the production, in addition to securing the guest releases.
The news of the collaboration with Mobb Deep and The Alchemist marks the start of a busy release schedule for the group’s label, Infamous Records.
The label is preparing a new album by Prodigy, in addition to Mobb Deep’s untitled 9th album.
Prodigy is also working on his second book since releasing his controversial memoirs “My Infamous Life.”
Prodigy’s album is due in stores before the Summer of 2012, while his untitled second book in early 2012.
Mobb Deep’s new EP Black Cocaine is in stores now.
LMFAO song Party Rock Anthem top track on iTunes UK
LMFAO track Party Rock Anthem was the best-selling song on the UK version of iTunes this year.
Adele's Someone Like You finished second with Maroon 5's Moves Like Jagger in third place.
Making up the top five are Jessie J with Price Tag and Pitbull with Give Me Everything.
Adele's album 21 was the most downloaded of the year after being named the biggest-selling album of the century earlier this week.
Her debut album 19 was also the 11th biggest seller of the year, almost three years after its release.
The British star, who is recovering from throat surgery, was also named artist of the year by the iTunes editorial team.
She said: "I'm thrilled to top the iTunes album chart of 2011 and to be iTunes artist of the year is just amazing."
Ed Sheeran was named new artist of the year.
American iTunes
There was more success for Adele in America after it was announced she had the top-selling single (Rolling in the Deep) and top-selling album of the year on the US version of iTunes.
She beat the likes of Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, LMFAO and Cee Lo Green to the singles title.
Foo Fighters' seventh studio album Wasting Light was named US album of the year, while rapper Nicki Minaj was given the breakthrough artist of the year prize.
LA indie rockers Foster The People were handed song of the year for Pumped Up Kicks.
Meanwhile, David Fincher's 2010 film The Social Network topped the best-selling film list, while Doctor Who was the top-selling television series.
Angry Birds was named top-selling paid app for the iPhone and iPad.
Biggest-selling iTunes singles of 2011 in the UK:
1. LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem (feat Lauren Bennett & GoonRock)
2. Adele - Someone Like You
3. Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
4. Jessie J - Price Tag (feat. B.o.B.)
5. Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo)
6. Bruno Mars - Grenade
7. Adele - Rolling In The Deep
8. Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
9. Drake - What's My Name?
10. Rihanna - We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)
Biggest-selling iTunes albums of 2011 in the UK:
1. Adele - 21
2. Rihanna - Loud
3. Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans
4. Ed Sheeran - + (Deluxe Version)
5. Chase & Status - No More Idols
6. Jessie J - Who You Are (Platinum Edition)
7. Lady Gaga - Born This Way
8. Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy
9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
10. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 79
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.