UN envoy worried after talks with Syria's Assad

The international envoy to Syria said after talks with the country's leader Monday that the situation was "worrying" and gave no indication of progress toward a negotiated solution for the civil war. Lakhdar Brahimi's mission came as activists reported intense fighting in the central province of Hama, where anti-government gunmen entered the predominantly Alawite town of Maan. Assad's regime is dominated by members of his minority Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam, while most of the rebels are Sunni Muslims. Brahimi said he and President Bashar Assad exchanged views on the crisis and discussed possible steps forward, which he did not disclose. He spoke briefly to reporters after meeting the Syrian leader at the presidential palace in Damascus. "The situation in Syria is still worrying and we hope that all the parties will go toward the solution that the Syrian people are hoping for and look forward to," Brahimi said. Syria's state news agency quoted Assad as saying his government supports "any effort in the interest of the Syrian people which preserves the homeland's sovereignty and independence." Brahimi has apparently made little progress toward brokering an end to the conflict since starting his job in September, primarily because both sides adamantly refuse to talk to each other. The government describes the rebels as foreign-backed terrorists set on destroying the country. The opposition says that forces under Assad's command have killed too many people for him to be part of any solution. Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. Brahimi's two-day visit was to end later Monday. It is his third to Damascus as an envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League. The security situation in Damascus and elsewhere in the country has declined since Brahimi's previous visits. Instead of flying in to the Damascus International Airport as he did on earlier visits, Brahimi drove to Damascus over land from the Lebanese capital Beirut because of fighting near the Damascus airport. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted activists in the central city of Homs as saying that six rebels died in two neighborhoods Sunday night after inhaling white smoke that came out of shells fired on the area. "We demand that an international team be sent to the area to investigate the type" of the shells used, said Observatory chief Rami Abdul-Rahman. Amateur videos released by activists showed men in hospital beds suffering breathing problems as doctors placed oxygen masks on their faces. Some of them coughed strongly as they tried to breath. "At first, the smell was strong. Then little by little, it got weaker," a man who was identified as a rebel in the area said in the video. "The smell was like hydrochloric acid, and people started choking and I wasn't able to breath." He added. "My eyes hurt and burned, my head started hurting, I wasn't able to breathe. I just want to breathe clean air," said the man who closed his eyes and said he was having difficulty seeing because of the attack. The videos appeared genuine and corresponded to other AP reporting on the events depicted. In nearby Hama province, where rebels launched an offensive against army checkpoints and posts last week, opposition gunmen entered Maan and raised the opposition flag over the main police station, Hama activist Mousab Alhamadee said via Skype. The Observatory said the rebels included members of Jabhat al-Nusra, which has been branded a terrorist organization by the U.S. and is affiliated with al-Qaida. The Observatory and Alhamadee said the rebels shot down a Syrian government MiG warplane that was attacking rebel positions in and around Maan. The Observatory said at least 20 soldiers and 11 rebels were killed in Monday's fighting. The Observatory also said Syrian army helicopters bombed the town of Talbiseh in central Homs province, killing at least 14 people, five of them under age 18. The Local Coordination Committees said the attacks targeted a makeshift hospital and a bakery. Reports by anti-regime activists about a government airstrike Sunday in the rebel-held central town of Halfaya that killed scores of people also cast pall over Brahimi's visit. Some activists said the strike had targeted a bakery. Amateur videos posted online showed the bodies of many dead and wounded scattered in a street. The videos appeared to be genuine and corresponded with other AP reporting. The Observatory said it had collected the names of 40 men and three women killed in Halfaya. The group also reported seeing photos of the dead bodies of 15 more unknown men. On Sunday, it reported 60 dead. Abdul-Rahman, the group's head, said he could not confirm that the attack was an airstrike or that it had targeted a bakery. Syria's state news service blamed the attack on "an armed terrorist group" — its shorthand for the rebels — accusing them of filming the aftermath to "frame the Syrian army." In the videos, armed rebels are clearly among those tending to the dead and wounded. In a statement, a U.S. State Department spokesman condemned "the latest vicious attacks by the Syrian regime against civilians" and expressed support for Brahimi's work. "We urge the regime to capitalize on the Joint Special Representative's efforts in order to transition to a new government and end the brutal repression of the Syrian people," the spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, said.

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Japan's policy veteran Motegi likely to serve as trade minister: media

Incoming Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to pick policy veteran Toshimitsu Motegi as trade minister, who will also take charge of energy and other key economic policies, media reported on Tuesday. Motegi, 57, a former policy affairs chief for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will tackle energy problems after last year's Fukushima nuclear crisis, as well as issues such as the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact, public broadcaster NHK said. Motegi was a leading member of the LDP's panel tasked with drafting an economic revival plan aimed at tackling the strong yen, deflation and preventing Japanese firms from shifting overseas. The LDP returned to power in the December 16 election for the lower house, calling for radical monetary easing and big spending on public works. First elected to parliament in 1993 as a member of a small opposition party, Motegi joined the LDP shortly thereafter and has served posts including parliamentary vice-minister for the trade ministry and senior vice-minister for foreign affairs. Motegi's formal appointment is likely to be made on December 26, when Abe is expected to be elected as prime minister in parliament and form a new cabinet.

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Hundreds honor Ravi Shankar in California

Hundreds of friends and family have paid tribute to sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar at a public memorial service near his San Diego-area home. The musician was remembered Thursday as an unfailingly generous teacher with a gentle spirit and sense of humor whose music fostered understanding between East and West. Conductor Zubin Mehta said he felt like a "little crumb" listening to Shankar play. Olivia Harrison said Shankar helped a young George Harrison achieve a more meaningful life. Shankar's daughters, singer Norah Jones and Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar, were in the audience at the Self-Realization Fellowship center in Encinitas, the oceanfront suburb where the musician lived for the last two decades.

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Rapper 'Fat Joe' admits tax evasion in NJ court

The rap artist "Fat Joe" pleaded guilty Thursday to failing to pay taxes on nearly $3 million in income he earned over two years for performances and music royalties. The platinum-selling artist, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, was once a Billboard chart topper with hits like the duet "What's Luv" with the R&B singer Ashanti. Cartagena entered the plea in federal court in Newark because some of the companies he earned money from are incorporated in New Jersey. The 42-year-old Miami Beach, Fla., resident entered pleas to two counts covering years 2007 and 2008. His sentencing will take into consideration the government's initial allegation that he failed to pay income taxes for years 2007 through 2010. Federal prosecutors said the total tax loss to the government for those four years was $718,038. Wearing a navy suit, Cartagena looked fit and considerably slimmer than the former size that had earned him his rapper nickname. He has been very public about his efforts to shed weight after fellow rap stars died from obesity-related issues and was recently in Newark to speak to schoolchildren about health and fitness. In federal court Thursday, when asked by U.S. Magistrate Cathy Waldor if he understood the charges he was facing, he replied, "I super-understand it." Cartagena's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said outside federal court that his client "had already taken steps to resolve this situation" before he had been charged. He said the rapper hoped to pay back the taxes by the time of his sentencing April 3. Cartagena owned the Somerville-based Terror Squad Production Inc. and Miramar Music Touring Inc., according to court papers. He also earned income from FJTS Corp., during the time in question. The judge set bail at $250,000 and released Cartagena until his sentencing. He could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000, plus penalties from the Internal Revenue Service.

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Twitter post offers clue to The Civil Wars' future

While there still remain questions about the future of The Civil Wars, there's new music on the way. Joy Williams, one half of the Grammy Award-winning duo with John Paul White, said Thursday during a Twitter chat that she was in the studio listening to new Civil Wars songs. It's a tantalizing clue to the future of the group, which appeared in doubt when a European tour unraveled last month due to "irreconcilable differences." At the time, the duo said it hoped to release an album in 2013. It's not clear if Williams was referring Thursday to music for a new album or for a documentary score they have composed with T Bone Burnett. They're also set to release an "Unplugged" session on iTunes on Jan. 15. Nate Yetton, the group's manager and Williams' husband, had no comment — though he has supplied a few hints of his own by posting pictures of recording sessions on his Instagram account recently. The duo announced last summer it would be working with Charlie Peacock, who produced its gold-selling debut "Barton Hollow." The photos do not show Williams or White, but one includes violin player Odessa Rose. Rose says in an Instagram post: "Playing on the new Civil Wars record... Beautiful sounds." Even with its future in doubt, the duo continues to gather accolades. Williams and White are up for a Golden Globe on Jan. 13, and two Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, for their "The Hunger Games" soundtrack collaboration "Safe & Sound" with Taylor Swift. Williams' comments came during an installment of an artist interview series with Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy sponsored by The Recording Academy.

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Hundreds honor Ravi Shankar at California memorial

Hundreds of friends and family on Thursday remembered sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar as an unfailingly generous teacher with a gentle spirit and sense of humor whose music fostered understanding between East and West. Olivia Harrison said Shankar helped her late husband George Harrison achieve a more meaningful life when he was a young Beatle. "They were like father and son as well as brothers," Harrison said on an outdoor stage decorated with garlands of white flowers at the Self Realization Fellowship center in Encinitas, the oceanfront suburb north of San Diego where Shankar lived for the last two decades. Conductor Zubin Mehta said he felt like a "little crumb" listening to Shankar play and credited his close friend with introducing India to the world. Shankar died last week in San Diego at age 92. His wife, Sukanya Rajan, and daughters — singer Norah Jones and Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar — sat in the front row as speakers paid tribute. The audience listened to clips of Shankar's music and recorded voice. "Music is the only language I really know," Shankar said in one clip. Under blue skies on a warm Southern California morning, a family friend read messages from political and cultural luminaries including musicians Phillip Glass and Peter Gabriel, who thanked him for teaching them. The audience heard excerpts from newspaper stories that trumpeted Shankar's enormous influence. Labeled "the godfather of world music" by Harrison, Shankar helped millions of Westerners — classical, jazz and rock lovers — discover the centuries-old traditions of Indian music. From Harrison to John Coltrane, from Yehudi Menuhin to Andre Previn, he bridged the musical gap between East and West. Pirashanna Thevarajah, one of his students, said Shankar was the reason he pursued a music career and that his teacher sometimes believed more in him than he believed in himself. He called Shankar "a very simple soul with a wonderful sense of humor." Thevarajah said Shankar followed his puns with the line, "That's why the call me a pundit." Film director Joe Wright, Shankar's son-in-law, recalled a risky medical operation that Shankar's family was unsure he would survive. Though he made it through, Wright thought he might never again see Shankar alive as he was rolled into the operating room. Wright saw Shankar's fingers moving as he was wheeled away.

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New Miss Universe says win shows confidence is all

The 20-year-old Rhode Islander who brought the Miss Universe crown back to the U.S. for the first time in 15 years is hoping that her quick rise through the beauty contest ranks and an onstage stumble will show women that anything is possible. Perched high above the Las Vegas Strip in the Planet Hollywood winner's suite Thursday, Olivia Culpo told The Associated Press that her yearlong transformation from Boston University sophomore to pageant winner proves that women can accomplish anything to which they set their minds. "My first pageant was a year ago and already I'm Miss Universe. It's kind of incredible," she said. She pointed to the fact that she stumbled on her red velvet evening dress Wednesday night before beating out beauty queens from 88 countries as proof that confidence and poise matter more than perfect performance. "I like the fact that I tripped last night in my evening gown. I think that that's cool," she said. "And you learn from it: Don't step on your dress," she added with a laugh. The former Miss USA spent the first day of her reign surrounded by stylists and handlers, wearing a scarlet mini-dress with cutout cap sleeves and sky-high silver heels. Plates of cupcakes and croissants went untouched as she sipped from a water bottle with a straw. For the past six months, Culpo has shared a New York City apartment with outgoing Miss Universe, Leila Lopes of Angola. The two titleholders traditionally room together. Her coronation ended a long losing spell for the U.S. in the competition. An American had not won the Miss Universe title since Miss Hawaii, Brook Lee, won in 1997. A middle child of five, Culpo was studying theater and communications at Boston University when she decided to enroll in the Miss Rhode Island pageant last year to improve her stage presence. The petite brunette ended up winning that contest in a rented $20 dress with a hole in the back. She claimed the Miss USA crown in the spring, despite losing an earring during the interview portion. Culpo said she studied world events, prepared for interview questions and memorized proper walking and posing techniques using stacks of flashcards. The aspiring actress took a year off from Boston University to fulfill the travel and charity obligations that come along with the Miss USA crown, and now says she will not return to her former college. "I do want to finish my education," she said. "I just don't think that Boston has a big enough market for what I want to do." As Miss Universe, Culpo will advocate for HIV prevention, the official platform of the title holder, but does not intend to speak out on other issues. She did have a word for the "pageant moms" who have caught the nation's attention on reality television shows such as TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras." "If you think that your child is going to be really sensitive to the fact that they might not win — which they probably won't — you shouldn't do it because it's not healthy if they get the feeling that they're not good enough or they're not worthy," she said. Culpo's mother, a professional viola player, discouraged her from entering the world of beauty competitions last year. "I didn't see the point; I thought it was silly and a waste of time," Susan Culpo said. But she changed her mind when she saw the joy her daughter brought to hometown fans. On Thursday, the mayor of Culpo's home town of Cranston, R.I., called her win an inspiration for the city, state and nation. Asked moments before the Miss Universe show why pageants remain relevant, Donald Trump, who co-owns the competition with NBC, responded that everyone likes beautiful women. His winner had a different take: "It really comes down to being able to inspire others by being comfortable with yourself. You have to show girls that everyone is different, everyone has things they don't like, but they work it and walk the runway," Culpo said. "There is no ideal body. It's just taking what you have and working it.

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