Presidential nomination

Vladimir Putin accepted his ruling United Russia party’s nomination on Sunday as its candidate in a March 4 presidential vote, paving the way for his return to the country’s top office after four years as prime minister.

Power transfer deal

Yemen’s president became the fourth Arab leader forced from power this year when he signed a deal last Wednesday aimed at ending his country’s months-long political crisis.

The deal, brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council and signed in Saudi Arabia, allows Ali Abdullah Saleh to retain the title of president for three months but requires him to hand over executive powers to Yemen’s vice president.

James Murdoch resigns

James Murdoch has resigned from the boards of the publishing units within News Corp.’s British newspaper arm, which had included the now-defunct News of the World tabloid at the center of the phone-hacking scandal.

Murdoch, son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and deputy chief operating officer of News Corp., remains chairman of News International — the News Corp. company that oversees its British newspapers — and a member of The Times editorial board.

Top HK post

The Hong Kong government’s former No. 2 announced on Saturday he would run for the office of Chief Executive in March. In September, Henry Tang, 59, resigned as the city chief secretary for administration, the second-highest government position.

An election will be held on March 25 next year to select the Chief Executive. The incumbent Chief Executive Donald Tsang has been barred from seeking a third term.

Beijing airport

Strong winds ripped off a large section of roof at Beijing International Airport Terminal 3 last Tuesday night, scattering debris across the airport and frightening passengers. Airport authorities said the incident posed no danger to flights.

The incident — the second time the terminal’s roof has “gone with the wind” in less than a year — prompted questions about the structural integrity of construction materials and raised concern from some experts about the design of the world’s second-largest airport.

(SD-Agencies)