Mexican singer El Shaka killed after denying his murder

Mexican singer Sergio Vega, 40, has been shot dead only hours after he had denied reports he had been murdered.

The singer, known as El Shaka, told an internet site he had increased security measures after a growing number of Mexican musicians were killed.

Musicians performing narcocorridos, songs celebrating the lives of drug barons, often become the targets of rival drug gangs.

Gunmen opened fire on Mr Vega on his way to a concert in Sinaloa state.

Mexican media reported Mr Vega was driving his red Cadillac on Saturday night when a truck started following him.

Shortly afterwards, shots were fired at the car, injuring Mr Vega and making him lose control of the vehicle and crashing it, his passenger told El Debate newspaper.
Deadly rumours

The gunmen then “finished Mr Vega off” with shots to the head and chest, El Debate reported the passenger as saying.

Police confirmed they found spent bullet shells next to the driver’s door.
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Charlie Sheen to stay on US show Two and a Half Men

Actor Charlie Sheen is to star in US sitcom Two and a Half Men for another two seasons, it has been announced.

“I’m looking forward to returning to my CBS home on Monday nights,” the 44-year-old said in a statement.

Sheen threatened to leave the show amid reports that he was demanding up to $1m (£690,000) per episode. Details of the new agreement have not been released.

The actor is also facing trial in July over domestic violence charges, which he has denied.
Production demands

He pleaded not guilty to menacing, criminal mischief and assault in a pre-trial hearing in March.

The charges stem from an alleged altercation with his wife, Brooke Mueller Sheen, on Christmas Day 2009.

At the time, she told police Sheen had put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. She has since said she wants the charges dropped.
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Heavy rock singer Ronnie James Dio dies at 67

American heavy rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 67, his wife and manager have said.

Dio had been suffering from stomach cancer.

Before joining Black Sabbath he sang in Rainbow – formed when Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple – and later in Heaven & Hell and the self-titled band Dio.

Dio’s wife Wendy paid a loving tribute to her husband on his website, saying: “Today my heart is broken.”

She said her husband had passed away on Sunday morning.

‘Live on forever’

“Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away,” she wrote.

“Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”
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‘RapeLay’ video game goes viral amid outrage

Tokyo, Japan (CNN) — The game begins with a teenage girl on a subway platform. She notices you are looking at her and asks, “Can I help you with something?”

That is when you, the player, can choose your method of assault.

With the click of your mouse, you can grope her and lift her skirt. Then you can follow her aboard the train, assaulting her sister and her mother.

As you continue to play, “friends” join in and in a series of graphic, interactive scenes, you can corner the women, rape them again and again.

The game allows you to even impregnate a girl and urge her to have an abortion. The reason behind your assault, explains the game, is that the teenage girl has accused you of molesting her on the train. The motive is revenge.
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Michael Jackson’s doctor denies manslaughter charge

Michael Jackson’s former doctor has denied a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death, at a court in Los Angeles.

Dr Conrad Murray was bailed for $75,000 (£48,000) after pleading not guilty to “unlawfully, and without malice, killing Michael Joseph Jackson”.

A judge must decide whether to proceed to trial. A conviction could bring a jail term of up to four years.

Jackson died at his home on 25 June last year at the age of 50.

His death was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by the anaesthetic Propofol.

‘Not enough’

A cocktail of drugs – including sedatives Midazolam and Diazepam, the painkiller Lidocaine and the stimulant Ephedrine – were also detected in his body, a coroner confirmed.
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Oscars could see David vs. Goliath battle

(CNN) — “Avatar,” watch your back. You too, Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.

Though Oscar watchers say there were few surprises among the nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards, some of the selections indicate a growing respect among Oscar voters for certain films and nominees, making them odds-on favorites (or at least galloping dark horses) when the winners are announced March 7.

Chief among them is “The Blind Side,” the film about a homeless African-American teen taken in by an upscale white family. Sandra Bullock’s nomination for best actress was expected — she’s already won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance — but the film’s inclusion among the best picture nominees was not, said longtime Oscar pundit Tom O’Neil, writer for the Los Angeles Times’ TheEnvelope.com.

“The only real shockeroo in the nominations was the inclusion of ‘The Blind Side’ for best picture,” he said. “That literally blindsided the pundits, who thought that would go to ‘Invictus’ or ‘The Hangover’ or ‘Star Trek.’ ”
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Avatar overtakes Titanic as top-grossing film ever

Sci-fi spectacular Avatar has surpassed Titanic to become the highest grossing movie of all time, figures from distributor 20th Century Fox show.

Avatar’s worldwide takings in just six weeks stand at $1.859bn (£1.15bn), versus Titanic’s $1.843bn (£1.14bn).

The figures are not adjusted for inflation or the higher cost of Avatar’s 3D film tickets.

Director James Cameron holds the remarkable distinction of directing both the world’s top grossing movies.

Titanic, which starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, set a new box office record during its release in 1997-1998.

It also won Cameron an Oscar for best director.

Avatar – Cameron’s latest epic – won two Golden Globes last week, and is expected to garner an Oscar nomination next month.

Earlier this month, it became the fastest movie ever to achieve $1bn (£623m) in ticket sales around the world, and took over second place from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
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Brittany Murphy autopsy conducted

Los Angeles, California (CNN) — An autopsy on the body of actress Brittany Murphy was conducted Monday, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said.

Authorities have said the 32-year-old appeared to have died Sunday of natural causes, and there was no sign of foul play or trauma.

“Naturally occurring diseases could be found in any person that could lead to death,” said Capt. John Kades of the coroner’s office.

The office is looking into Murphy’s medical history. A final report could take up to eight weeks. The cause of death will not be released until the toxicology report is concluded, said the coroner’s office. That process can take weeks.

Police also are conducting an investigation, which includes robbery and homicide detectives looking at what was in her home, said Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Norma Eisenman.

Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. PT (1:04 p.m. ET) Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart said.
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Actress Brittany Murphy dead at 32

Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Brittany Murphy, the bubbly, free-spirited actress who appeared in such films as “Clueless” and “8 Mile,” died Sunday, apparently of natural causes, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said. She was 32.

Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. PT Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart told CNN Radio.

An autopsy had not been scheduled as of Sunday night, but Captain John Kades, a spokesman for the coroner’s office, told CNN that there was no sign of foul play or trauma. He added that it’s not unusual for a younger person to die of natural causes.

The coroner’s office is looking into Murphy’s medical history. A final report could take up to eight weeks.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death, and robbery and homicide detectives will be at her home, LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said.
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Singer Susan Boyle’s new album makes UK chart history

Singer Susan Boyle’s album is number one after it became the best-selling debut in UK chart history.

Boyle, a runner-up in ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, has so far sold 410,000 copies of her album, I Dreamed a Dream.

Pop mogul Simon Cowell said he was proud of Boyle and added that the success could not have happened to a nicer person.

Boyle, 48, said the news was “fantastic”. Her album is also expected to be a hit in the US.

Cowell said: “She did it her way and made a dream come true.

“In Britain’s Got Talent she opened her mouth and the world fell in love with her, which is why her album has been the fastest selling of any woman making her debut.”

Martin Talbot, of the Official Charts Company, described Boyle’s achievement as “phenomenal”.

Boyle’s spokeswoman added that the singer was outselling Rihanna, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent in the US.
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