Hezbollah won't back Hariri government in Lebanon
The leader of the militant organisation Hezbollah says his group and its allies will not back caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in forming a government.
Hassan Nasrallah was making his first public comments since the Lebanese government collapsed last week.
Talks on forming a government are expected to start on Monday.
Mr Nasrallah also said Hezbollah would defend itself against any indictments by a UN tribunal over the killing of Rafiq Hariri.
"The opposition unanimously will not name Hariri tomorrow," Mr Nasrallah said in a televised address.
He did not say who Hezbollah would support.
Mr Hariri's government fell over a dispute about how to respond if, as expected, a UN tribunal accuses Hezbollah members of being behind the murder in 2005 of his father, Rafiq Hariri, who was prime minister at the time.
Hezbollah - the powerful Shia social, political and militant group - had asked the government to disassociate itself from the tribunal and to state it would not arrest those it indicted.
When agreement proved impossible, Mr Nasrallah said on Sunday, Hezbollah decided to bring down the government using democratic means and had not taken to the streets.
After the government collapsed, President Michel Suleiman asked Mr Hariri to stay on as a caretaker prime minister.
The BBC's Owen Bennett Jones reports from Beirut that UN sources have confirmed rumours that the tribunal will soon be handing over indictments and supporting documentation to a pre-trial judge.
The judge will then take an estimated six to ten weeks to decide whether the accused should face trial.
The names of those indicted will remain secret, but press leaks suggest they will include members of Hezbollah, who came under suspicion because of mobile phone evidence, our correspondent says.
Rafiq Hariri and 22 others were killed in February 2005 when a huge bomb exploded next to his motorcade in Beirut.
Syria was initially blamed for the assassination, and eventually forced in its wake to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after 29 years. In the past year, however, members of Hezbollah have emerged as prime suspects.
On Sunday, Mr Narsrallah repeated his claim that Rafiq Hariri's murder was carried out by Israel.
Golden Globes to kick off race for Oscars
The Hollywood awards season kicks off later with the Golden Globes, where British film The King's Speech leads the pack with seven nominations.
The Social Network and The Fighter follow with six nominations apiece.
Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes are first major film awards of the year.
Comedian Ricky Gervais is to host the ceremony, beginning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 1700 LA time (0100GMT).
Television shows are also celebrated at the gala, where the prizes are divided between dramas and comedies or musicals.
High school comedy Glee has the most nominations for a TV show, having been shortlisted in five categories.
Colin Firth, who plays a monarch battling a stammer in The King's Speech, is widely expected to win the best actor in a drama prize.
The 50-year-old is one of four actors in his category nominated for playing real people.
Jesse Eisenberg is also in contention for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as is James Franco for playing climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours.
Wahlberg completes the quartet for his performance in The Fighter, a film about US boxer Micky Ward.
The biopic has additional acting nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, while its director David O Russell is also up for a prize.
In the best actress in a drama category, Natalie Portman has received a nod for her role in Darren Aronofsky's ballet-based Black Swan.
Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Williams are also in contention for that award.
Films up for best musical or comedy include Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids are All Right and The Tourist.
Johnny Depp has landed two nominations in the best actor in a comedy or musical category, for Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist.
Glee's competition for the best TV comedy or musical prize includes 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory amd Modern Family.
Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Good Wife and Mad Men vie for the best TV drama series award with zombie thriller The Walking Dead.
The Globes have traditionally been solid indicator as to which films and stars will be recognised at the Academy Awards.
Yet in the last six years, the only winner of a Globe for best drama that went on to Oscar success was 2008's Slumdog Millionaire.
Last year Avatar was feted at the Globes, only to be beaten at the Oscars by Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.
However, all four of last year's Oscar-winning actors - Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique - were also successful at the Globes.
Gervais's first stint as host in 2010 saw the British comedian take gentle jabs at the Hollywood glitterati.
Earlier this week, though, the Office and Extras star said he didn't think he "went far enough".
"So I'm going to do it again [and] do a proper job," he continued. "And I guarantee they will not invite me back."
MOST NOMINATED FILMS
- The King's Speech - 7
- The Fighter - 6
- The Social Network - 6
- Black Swan - 4
- Inception - 4
- The Kids are All Right - 4
This year's Bafta nominations are announced on Tuesday, with Oscar nominations to follow on 25 January.
Tunis gun battles erupt after Ben Ali aide arrested
Tunisian forces are exchanging fire near the presidential palace with members of deposed President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's guard, reports say.
Witnesses reported heavy gunfire in Carthage, north of the capital Tunis, where the palace is located.
It comes after the ex-head of presidential security, Ali Seriati, was arrested and accused of threatening state security by fomenting violence.
Meanwhile, political leaders are holding talks about a new government.
Interim leader Foued Mebazaa, who until Saturday was the speaker of parliament, has asked Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi to form a government of national unity.
In a national TV address, Mr Ghannouchi said an agreement between the political parties would be announced on Monday. He also pledged "zero tolerance" against anyone threatening the security of the country.
The announcement of Mr Seriati's arrest on Sunday came after the previous day saw widespread violence across Tunisia, including looting, arson and deadly jail riots.
'Intensive' gunfire
The BBC's Wyre Davies, in Tunis, says that while the Tunisian army does not appear to be interfering in the process of political reform, the motives of some members of the police and security services loyal to the ousted president may be more sinister.
Hours after Mr Seriati's arrest was announced, heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in the Carthage area.
The army has launched an assault on the palace... where elements of the presidential guard have taken refuge," AFP news agency quoted a Tunisian military source as saying.
An eyewitness quoted by Reuters news agency said: "There is firing from around the presidential palace, intensive and continuous."
There was also gunfire near the interior ministry and the headquarters of an opposition party. Two gunmen firing from a roof near the interior ministry were reportedly shot dead by the security forces.
In another development, a group of Westerners - apparently Swedish nationals who were in the country on a wild boar hunting trip - were attacked and badly beaten in Tunis amid reports that foreign nationals were among the presidential guard.
There have also been attacks targeting businesses and buildings connected with the former president and his family.
Janet Jackson’s Tour Begins in February
Janet Jackson is getting ready to get back on the road to being her international tour in February, starting with Singapore.
Although it’s been a year since her brother’s death, people are quite surprised she’s even performing.
“For the tour, Jackson will play each of her 35 number one hit singles in 35 different cities around the globe. Jackson says the tour will be ‘more intimate and more personal’ than anything she’s done before,” RTTNews reports.
Update…
No doubt about it. Janet is the hot ticket, so to speak. After tickets to her April 14 Los Angeles date at the Gibson Amphitheater went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday morning, they sold out in less than 10 minutes, according to a spokesman for Live Nation.
To try to keep up with the demand, Jackson and Live Nation have added an additional Gibson Amphitheatre performance for Friday, April 15.
Presales of tickets began January 14, 2011 at the official tour site.
USA Dates, cities and venues:
* Mar. 7, 2011 – Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)
* Mar. 8, 2011 – Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)
* Mar. 12, 2011 – Toronto, ON (Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
* Mar. 16, 2011 – Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena)
* Mar. 18, 2011 – New York, NY (Radio City Music Hall)
* Mar. 22, 2011 – Washington, DC (DAR Constitution Hall)
* Mar. 25, 2011 – Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa)
* Mar. 26, 2011 – Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa)
* Mar. 29, 2011 – Atlanta, GA (Fox Theatre)
* Mar. 31, 2011 – St. Louis, MO (Fabulous Fox Theatre)
* Apr. 2, 2011 – Grand Prairie, TX (Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie)
* Apr. 6, 2011 – Denver, CO (Wells Fargo Theatre)
* Apr. 8, 2011 – Phoenix, AZ (Comerica Theatre)
* Apr. 9, 2011 – Santa Barbara, CA (Santa Barbara Bowl)
* Apr. 14 & 15, 2011 – Universal City, CA (Gibson Aphitheatre at Universal CityWalk)
* Apr. 19, 2011 – San Francisco, CA (Bill Graham Civic Auditorium)
* Apr. 22, 2011 – Las Vegas, NV (Colosseum at Caesars Palace)
* Apr. 23, 2011 – Las Vegas, NV (Colosseum at Caesars Palace)
We have homes and lives torn apart,' Australian official says
Recovering from flooding in northeastern Australia will be a "reconstruction task of post-war proportions," a top official in Queensland state said Sunday.
"We have massive infrastructure damage that will take months and in some cases years to fully repair," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told reporters. "We have homes and lives torn apart, in some cases ... by an event of the most traumatic proportions. So we cannot underestimate what is happening."
Police in the flood-ravaged state said Sunday that the death toll from flooding had climbed to 18, and they urged residents to knock on their neighbors' doors as waters recede.
"Many people don't have friends and family to check on them, so it's up to the whole community to do their part and look out for their neighbors," acting Inspector Gareth Bosley said, according to a statement on the Queensland Police website.
Meanwhile, flood warnings were in place Sunday in Victoria state in southeastern Australia as authorities said heavy rains threatened homes there.
Police said 14 people are missing in Queensland, many of them in the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas.
The missing include people who were swept from cars or were in houses that collapsed.
"Credible and reliable information provided to police indicates that these people were caught up in the storm surge that swept the valley, and police hold grave fears for their well-being," Queensland Police Service said in a statement.
Among those who died were Llync-Chiann Clarke, 31, and her two children, ages 5 and 12, who were swept to their deaths as a rescue fire truck became inundated by floodwaters on a local road. Two other people escaped.
Robert John Kelly, 30, was found dead in an upside-down vehicle in a creek, authorities said. The body of Jean Gurr, 88, who was trapped by rising water, was found in her residence.
A teenager who was afraid of water drowned in the Queensland floods after begging rescuers to save his younger brother first.
Jordan Rice, 13, and his mother Donna, 43, were swept away as a wall of water hit the town of Toowoomba last week.
His family has hailed the youngster's selfless actions.
"Jordan can't swim and is terrified of water," his father, John Tyson, told local newspaper The Toowoomba Chronicle. "But when the man went to rescue him, he said, 'save my brother first.'"
Officials warned the cleanup would take months.
More than 20,000 homes were inundated after the normally subdued Brisbane River turned into a raging torrent as weeks of rain pushed it to more than 4 meters (13 feet) at high tide last week. Residents in Brisbane were urged not to enter floodwaters because of the risk of illness after sewage plants along the river were inundated.
Troops arrive as flooding deaths increase in Brazil
The death toll from devastating flooding in Brazil continued to rise Sunday, surpassing 600, the state-run Agencia Brasil news agency reported.
There were at least 626 deaths reported in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, northeast of the city of Rio.
Most of the deaths were reported in the cities of Nova Friburgo and Teresopolis, with 283 and 268 fatalities, respectively. In the nearby town of Petropolis there were 56 dead, and 19 in Sumidouro, the agency reported, citing health and defense officials.
Rescuers have not been able to reach some hard-hit areas and many more people are feared dead. The rain is predicted to continue for several days in areas already submerged in water or slathered with mud.
Members of the army entered parts of Teresopolis and were able to rescue 110 families.
Thousands of families are still living on mountain slopes or on riverbanks and face extreme risk of being washed away. One resident described the disaster as a tsunami that fell from the sky.
In a statement, Rio Gov. Sergio Cabral said he had a panic attack when he was traveling to Nova Friburgo and saw the devastated mountainside.
Outside a makeshift morgue in Teresopolis, a crowd of people waited for their turn to identify loved ones.
Marco Antonio Siqueira Costa said that a few days ago was the last time he saw his brother, sister-in-law and niece before mud buried their house.
"I think that last meeting was God's way of granting us a farewell," he said.
Residents in the city donned masks and helped clean streets or deliver first aid. Others combed the city, searching desperately for missing loved ones.
Red Cross volunteer Maria Helena de Jesus was helping with first aid.
"You have to almost have a heart of stone," she said. "It was very difficult."
Teresopolis Mayor Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his city a natural disaster area.
President Dilma Rousseff flew over flood-affected areas last week and landed in Friburgo, the agency said. The floods are her first test as president.
She trudged through mud to talk to residents in a neighborhood where four of seven firefighters trying to rescue people had been buried under mud. The other three were pulled out alive.
"We are going to take firm action" to help the devastated areas, said Rousseff.
Brazilian authorities have been criticized for a lack of disaster planning and allowing people to build homes in areas known to become treacherous in the rainy season.
They are under increasing pressure to show a strong response. Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics.
Rain has affected neighboring Sao Paulo as well, killing 24 people there, authorities said.
47 dead from flooding in the Philippines; 1.5 million affected
The death toll from flooding in the Philippines has climbed to 47, the country's national disaster agency said Sunday.
Parts of the Philippines have been dealing with the effects of heavy rainfall for weeks. A monsoon triggered rains, flooding and landslides affecting 25 provinces, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement.
More than 1.5 million people have been affected, the disaster agency said. Among 10 impacted regions, Caraga -- on the eastern island of Mindanao -- has the greatest number of people affected at more than 600,000.
Many of the 47 fatalities -- ranging from ages 1 to 80 -- died from drowning, landslides or electrocution, according to the disaster agency. At least four people remained missing Sunday.
In addition, 503 homes have been destroyed, and 1,914 have been damaged, the agency said.
An aircraft carrying a medical team and emergency medical supplies was scheduled to land in Siruma, Camarines Sur, on Sunday "to address the life-threatening condition" of about 450 households affected by diarrhea, the disaster agency said.
Tunisian protests: Tunis marchers urge Ben Ali to go
Thousands of people are staging an unprecedented protest in the Tunisian capital, calling on President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to quit immediately.
Police have fired tear gas at the crowds protesting outside the interior ministry in Tunis over corruption, unemployment and high food prices.
Doctors say that 13 people were killed in overnight clashes in the capital.
On Thursday night, Mr Ben Ali - who has governed Tunisia since 1987 - announced he would stand down in 2014.
Human rights groups say more than 60 people have died in recent weeks as unrest has swept the country and security forces have cracked down on the protests.
The demonstrators have called on Mr Ben Ali to go straight away, saying Tunisia cannot have true democracy while he remains in charge. Trade unions have called a general strike.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Tunis says there is now a public clamour for change that has become a tide which will be very difficult to hold back.
A BBC Arabic reporter, Mohamed Ballut, says demonstrations are reportedly taking place in other cities, including Sidi Bouzid in the south, where the protests began four weeks ago.
They started after an unemployed graduate set himself on fire when police tried to prevent him from selling vegetables without a permit. He died a few weeks later.
Mr Ben Ali, 74, is only Tunisia's second president since independence from France in 1956. He was last re-elected in 2009 with 89.62% of the vote.
Tourists going home
Meanwhile, UK tour operator Thomas Cook is pulling out all 1,800 of its customers currently on holiday in Tunisia.
Thomas Cook and another holiday company, Thomson First Choice, are cancelling departures to Tunisia scheduled for Sunday 16 January. However, Thomson are not bringing home visitors already in Tunisia.
Tourism is key to Tunisia's economy and an important source of jobs.
The UK, the US and France are among the countries advising against non-essential travel to Tunisia.
"The situation is unpredictable and there is the potential for violence to flare up, raising the risk of getting caught up in demonstrations," the UK Foreign Office said in its latest travel advisory.
In his speech on Thursday night, Mr Ben Ali said there was "no presidency for life" in Tunisia. He said he did not intend to amend the constitution to remove the upper age limit for presidential candidates, which would have allowed him to stand for a further term in 2014.
The president, who earlier this week had blamed the unrest on "terrorists", also said he felt "very, very deep and massive regret" over the deaths of civilians in the protests.
He said he had ordered troops to stop firing on protesters except in self-defence, and pledged to take action on food prices, which have gone up fourfold in recent weeks.
Afterwards, Mr Ben Ali's supporters took to the streets of Tunis, cheering and sounding car horns.
In a further overture, Foreign Minister Kamel Mourjane said it would be possible to form a government of national unity involving the opposition. Speaking to France's Europe 1 radio on Friday, he also held out the possibility of early parliamentary elections.
But human rights activist Mohamed Abbou said he believed President Ben Ali was "fooling the Tunisians with promises that have no tomorrow".
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Arab leaders they would face growing unrest unless they enacted real economic and political reform.
Mrs Clinton was speaking in Doha at the end of a four-nation visit to the Gulf.
Denver beat Miami Heat 130 to 102 in Denver
The Denver Nuggets are beginning to tear it up on the court just when they may be torn apart away from it.
With trade talks heating up lately, the end of Carmelo Anthony's time in Denver could very well be close at hand.
Reserve J.R. Smith scored 28 points and Anthony added 21, leading the Nuggets to a 130-102 win over a Miami Heat team missing LeBron James on Thursday night.
The Nuggets have now routed two straight opponent, beating Phoenix by 34 points two nights ago.
This is what the Nuggets could be like down the road, possibly even a threat come playoff time. That is, if Anthony doesn't get dealt and the team blown up.
"I'm definitely not happy about the situation," Smith said. "But what Melo has done for this city and for this team, this organization, has been so big, I think it's his time. Whatever he wants to do, I think it's his time."
Chris Bosh scored 24 points and Dwyane Wade added 16 for Miami, which lost two in a row for the first time since dropping three straight in late November.
However, the Nuggets know that to many around the nation this win will come with an asterisk.
After all, James sat out after spraining his left ankle the night before in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
And with one part of their Big Three missing from the court, the Heat simply weren't the same squad. Along with James went leadership and a 25.4-point scoring average.
"Now everybody is going to look at it and say, 'LeBron didn't play,'" Smith said. "As a competitor, you always want to play against the best players available."
The Nuggets led by 32 points in the third quarter and cruised from there. Both teams pulled their starters for the fourth quarter. It's the most points the Heat have allowed this season.
Not having James definitely threw off the team's rhythm. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game that James was "feeling a little better." He will likely try to play Saturday in Chicago.
"We had to adjust to him not playing and we haven't had a lot of time to do that," Wade explained. "We will move on and hopefully have him for our next game. If not, we will have more experience and know how to play without him."
Smith did most of his scoring from long range, hitting eight 3-pointers against a Miami team playing a lot of zone defense.
"When he's in that zone, it's pretty impressive stuff," Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Anthony has drawn frequent boos from the Pepsi Center crowd as trade rumors continue to swirl, especially since Denver native Chauncey Billups' name has been dragged into the ordeal.
But Anthony heard far more cheers than jeers against the Heat, hitting 8 of 17 shots from the field. His loudest ovation of the night came after a steal in the third quarter, followed by a dunk at the other end.
"Tonight, we came out played a hell of a game defensively, offensively," Anthony said. "We just want to keep it up."
Last summer, James dominated the news with "The Decision," leaving everyone wondering where he would take his game before announcing he would join fellow superstars Wade and Bosh in South Beach.
And now the winter has been dominated by Anthony's own version of the drama.
Anthony's future has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he spurned the Nuggets' three-year, $65 million contract extension over the summer. He also put his Denver mansion on the market.
The most recent talks have Billups and former Detroit teammate Richard Hamilton reuniting in New Jersey along with Anthony in a blockbuster deal that involves three teams and more than a dozen players.
But the likely stipulation of any team willing to trade for Anthony would be that he signs the extension, so he doesn't bolt next summer and become the headliner of the 2011 class.
Anthony has given no indication if he would agree to sign it and go to the Nets should a deal be consummated.
Bosh can sympathize with Anthony and the difficulty of staying focused in the midst of all the rumors and reports.
"You can't escape. People are asking you every minute of every day," Bosh said. "Mentally, whether you know it or not, it's going to take a toll. You might just be playing bad and you don't know why. You could be aware of it, you may not."
Anthony is definitely aware, to the point where the court has become his sanctuary.
"Coming here, it's therapeutic," Anthony said. "I try to stay strong for myself and I have to do what's best for me. Keeping a positive attitude for my teammates, and when they see that, when they see me come on the court, in the gym early, shooting after practice, laughing and joking, it wears off on them, too."
The Heat haven't won a game in Denver since Jan. 29, 2002. ... Despite the loss, Miami is 30-11 at the midpoint of the season, tying their best start in franchise history.
Lawrence Taylor Pleads Guilty in Sex Case; No Jail Time
Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges in court Thursday, stemming from a May 6 arrest for felony statutory rape. He will receive no jail time and is expected to be sentenced to six years probation.
Taylor pled guilty to one count of soliciting a prostitute and a second count of sexual misconduct in having sex with a woman without consent. Since the victim in the case was 16, by law she was not old enough to give consent.
In court, under oath, Taylor admitted that he had six with a 16-year-old and he said that he was aware that results of a DNA test identified him.
“She told me she was 19,” Taylor said in court.
On March 22, a hearing will be held to determine the level of his sex-offender status. There also was an order of protection against him that was renewed.
Taylor was arrested early in the morning of May 6 at a Holiday Inn in Montebello, N.Y. Police said they were led to his hotel room by a 16-year-old runaway who had allegedly been forced into prostitution by Rasheed Davis.
Davis pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, while Taylor pleaded not guilty to charges of third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute and endangering the welfare of a child. The rape charge carried a maximum of four years in jail.
Taylor has cooperated with authorities in their investigation of sex trafficking in the New York area.
At the time of the incident, Ramapo town supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence alleged that Taylor paid her $300 for sex. Taylor posted the $75,000 bail later that day.
Aidala on Dec. 8 asked Rockland County Judge William Kelly to dismiss the charges on grounds that Taylor’s fourth amendment rights were violated when the hotel room was searched upon his arrest. Physical evidence, including condoms, was recovered in the search. Kelly denied the request.
Rockland County prosecutor Arthur Ferraro said on Dec. 8 that Taylor had been offered a plea deal which included six months in jail and 10 years’ probation if he pled guilty to a felony, but he also would have needed to register as a sex offender. At the time, Aidala said the terms were unacceptable.