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baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. barack obama and iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki on monday discussed a `` general time horizon '' for any american troop withdrawals from iraq , al-maliki 's office said . sen. barack obama rides in a helicopter monday with gen. david petraeus in baghdad , iraq . obama -- who has made ending the iraq war a cornerstone of his run for office -- engaged in what were described as productive talks with al-maliki during a trip to iraq . the iraqi government has been pushing for the united states to set a general timetable to spell out troop withdrawals . iraqi vice president tariq al-hashimi also met with obama monday and told reporters afterward they discussed the security agreement . `` i told sen. obama -lrb- that -rrb- iraqi and american negotiations regarding this are ongoing , and today new iraqi-american negotiations on this agreement have started with iraqi written proposals and have a timetable for the withdrawal of u.s. troops from iraq , '' he said . the bush administration has opposed timetables for troop withdrawals . but al-maliki and president bush last week agreed to a `` general time horizon for meeting aspirational goals '' on troop cuts . the prime minister reiterated that principle with obama , according to a statement from al-maliki 's office . `` developments of the situation and the circumstances is what will decide the presence of foreign troops in iraq , but without keeping open-ended dates , '' al-maliki said , according to a statement from his office . `` with the developments on the ground , we can set a vision and clear horizons regarding this issue , and this is a view both sides agree on in the ongoing negotiations . '' al-maliki 's office quoted obama as saying he is `` supportive and committed to preserving the gains achieved by the iraqi government '' under al-maliki 's leadership and that he admires the prime minister 's courage . obama has proposed withdrawing u.s. combat troops from iraq within 16 months of taking office . spokesman ali al-dabbagh said the iraqi government 's `` vision '' is that most u.s. combat troops would be out of iraq by 2010 . asked if that stance is part of the current negotiations , al-dabbagh said , `` no . this is the iraqi vision . '' ireport.com : tell us the most important thing the next president needs to know about iraq . a german magazine on saturday quoted al-maliki as saying he backed obama 's proposal , but al-dabbagh has said that his remarks `` were misunderstood , mistranslated and not conveyed accurately . '' in a statement sunday , the magazine , der spiegel , said it `` stands by its version of this interview . '' in the magazine interview , al-maliki did not indicate that he was endorsing obama over sen. john mccain , the presumptive republican nominee .<doc-sep>mccain does not think american troops should return to the united states until iraqi forces are capable of maintaining a safe , democratic state . he has been a strong advocate of the `` surge '' -- the 2007 escalation of u.s. troops -- and has said troops should stay in iraq as long as needed . louisiana gov. bobby jindal -- who 's been mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick for mccain -- on monday criticized obama 's push to remove troops in 16 months as an `` arbitrary timetable based on politics versus a plan based on the actual results on the ground . '' `` one of the reasons i 'm supporting -lsb- mccain -rsb- -- he has made it clear he would rather lose an election than lose a war . he 's made it very clear -- let 's listen to the commanders on the ground , '' jindal said on cnn 's `` american morning . '' mccain last week chided obama for laying out his plans for iraq and afghanistan before talking to gen. david petraeus , the head of u.s. troops in iraq . obama met with petraeus and ryan crocker , the u.s. ambassador to iraq , in baghdad on monday . he also met with tariq al-hashimi , a sunni arab who is one of iraq 's two vice presidents ; lt. gen. lloyd austin , commander of multi-national corps-iraq ; british maj. gen. barney white spunner , commander of multi-national division south east ; and maj. general abdul aziz , the iraqi army 's 14th division commander . obama 's stop in iraq marks his second visit to the country . the presumptive democratic presidential nominee 's trip abroad began in kuwait and afghanistan and will go on to jordan , israel , the west bank , germany , france and britain . the senator from illinois first visited iraq in 2006 . see the stops on obama 's trip '' obama arrived monday afternoon in the southern city of basra , according to u.s. embassy spokesman armand cucciniello . obama is traveling with sen. jack reed of rhode island , a leading democrat on the senate armed services committee , and sen. chuck hagel , a nebraska republican who serves on the foreign relations committee and is an outspoken critic of the iraq war . obama has said that if he 's elected , he would commit more troops to afghanistan and would order the military to end the war in iraq , which he has called a `` dangerous distraction '' from the afghan battle . obama spent saturday and sunday in afghanistan , where he met with u.s. troops at three bases and with afghan president hamid karzai -- a leader the democratic senator has criticized for doing too little to rebuild the war-torn nation . watch obama meet karzai , u.s. soldiers in afghanistan '' the fight in afghanistan recently has become a more pressing issue on the political radar . more coalition forces have died in afghanistan than in iraq in may , june and so far in july . last week , in a major address laying out his foreign policy position , obama said , `` as should have been apparent to president bush and sen. mccain , the central front in the war on terror is not iraq , and it never was . '' he said part of his strategy would be `` taking the fight to al qaeda in afghanistan and pakistan . '' cnn 's jomana karadsheh , frederik pleitgen and mohammed tawfeeq contributed to this report .<doc-sep>panetta 's book ruffled its first feathers two weeks ago when '60 minutes ' reported that he and the rest of obama 's national security team had urged the president in 2012 to arm moderate syrian rebel groups hostile to dictator bashar al-assad . obama , panetta wrote , overruled them all . more recently , with two additional years of civil war in the rear-view mirror , obama has secured $ 500 million from congress to ` train and equip ' the rebels . ' i think that would 've helped ' in 2012 , panetta told 60 minutes ' during a sept. 21 broadcast . ` and i think , in part , we pay the price for not doing that in what we see happening with isis . ' he also hinted at his belief that a less-complete troop pullout at the end of 2011 ` would 've given us greater leverage over iraq 's government .<doc-sep>former obama administration pentagon chief leon panetta said sunday that the president overruled nearly his entire national security team and decided not to arm moderate syrian rebel groups early on , a decision that helped the isis terror army gain power . panetta also said he favored leaving a residual force of u.s. troops behind in iraq instead of withdrawing them , another opinion obama ignored . panetta , who was obama 's cia director for two years before leading the pentagon for two more , told cbs news that entering the syria conflict earlier , and ensuring that moderate groups gained power instead of the most extreme jihadi elements , could have prevented isis from growing and prospering . ' i think that would 've helped , ' panetta said . ` and i think , in part , we pay the price for not doing that in what we see happening with isis . ' and a less complete troop pullout in iraq ` would 've given us greater leverage over iraq 's government , ' he emphasized . former defense secretary leon panetta was also previously the cia director under obama , and served as bill clinton 's white house chief of staff . nearly obama 's entire national security team recommended arming moderate syrian rebel groups who opposed dictator bashar al-assad .<doc-sep>hillary clinton suggested tuesday that president barack . obama bears no responsibility for his decision to pull american troops out of . iraq at the end of 2011 , a decision that created a power vacuum now filled by a . vicious islamist terror group . ` in retrospect , that was a mistake by the iraqi government , ' she said during a town hall on cnn . clinton was referring to the two governments ' failure to . sign a mutual status of forces agreement , a document that would have kept . american servicemen and women in iraq as a stabilizing force after 2011 . iraqi prime minister nouri al-maliki reportedly balked on a . u.s. proposal because it would have included legal immunity for american troops . who broke local laws . scroll down for video . not our fault ; clinton said the decision to yank american troops out of iraq , taken while she was secretary of state , belonged to iraq itself , not to the u.s. clinton , who is on the fence about running for president in 2016 , fielded questions moderated by cnn 's christiane amanpour while wearing a ralph lauren suit . isis has seized american-made tanks and weapons along its push toward baghdad -- materiel transferred to the iraqi army before obama ordered a troop pullout in 2011 . iraq has descended into chaos in recent weeks , with an al-qaeda-related islamist terror group calling itself the islamic state in iraq and syria -lrb- isis -rrb- seizing cities and presiding over mass executions of iraqi soldiers . the group , formerly called al-qaeda in iraq , aims to institute an islamic ` caliphate ' -- a nation that transcends the borders of existing countries -- held together by strict shariah law .<doc-sep>president obama , pictured beside vice president joe biden on sunday , is reportedly considering speeding up american troop withdrawal from afghanistan . the times reported that karzai accused the united states of trying to forge a separate peace with the taliban and its pakistani supporters in an arrangement that would expose karzai 's government to its enemies . obama is committed to wrapping up u.s. military involvement in afghanistan by the end of 2014 , but the united states has been talking with officials in afghanistan about keeping a small ` residual ' force there after next year . since the video conference , a full military pullout from afghanistan like the one from iraq has been transformed from a ` worst-case scenario ' to an option ` under serious consideration in washington and kabul , ' the times reported . the officials quoted by the times said no decisions have been made on the pace and scale of the withdrawal . president barack obama has reportedly become increasingly frustrated by his dealings with afghan president hamid karzai -lrb- pictured -rrb- . the united states also had planned on keeping a small force in iraq after the broad troop withdrawal from that country , but talks with iraqi leaders failed to yield such a deal . a senior obama administration official , speaking on condition of anonymity , told reuters : ` all options remain on the table but a decision is far from made . ' ` there 's always been a zero option , but it was not seen as the main option , ' the times quoted a senior western official in kabul as saying . ` it is now becoming one of them , and if you listen to some people in washington , it is maybe now being seen as a realistic path . ' the number of u.s. troops in afghanistan - now around 63,000 - already is set to decline to 34,000 by next february , the times noted . the white house has said the great majority of american forces would be out of afghanistan by the end of 2014 . | <t> new : sen. barack obama , iraqi prime minister reportedly hold `` productive '' talks . </t> <t> sens. jack reed and chuck hagel accompany obama on trip . </t> <t> obama has talks with afghan president hamid karzai on sunday . </t> <t> obama says part of his strategy is `` taking the fight to al qaeda in afghanistan '' </t> | iraq leader , obama discuss future troop pullout<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ghana international michael essien has followed goalkeeper petr cech in agreeing a new five-year contract with english premier league side chelsea . michael essien has made a big impression on new chelsea coach luiz felipe scolari . the midfielder , who is in china for the start of the club 's pre-season tour , is now tied to the london outfit until the summer of 2013 . the 25-year-old has made 143 appearances since moving to stamford bridge from french club lyon in a $ 49 million transfer in august 2005 , scoring 14 goals in total and helping chelsea win the league title that season . essien 's decision to commit his long-term future to the club is a boost for new manager luiz felipe scolari , who allowed veteran holding midfielder claude makelele to join paris st germain on monday .<doc-sep>`` i have not been here long but it is clear to me that michael essien is one of the best midfield players in the world , '' scolari said . `` i have always admired him and it is good news for me and for chelsea that he signs for so long . '' the accra-born essien , who started his career in france with bastia in 2000 before moving to lyon three years later , was also pleased with the deal . `` i am really pleased to have extended my career with chelsea , '' he said . `` i am very happy here . we have a great team and fantastic fans who have always made me welcome . `` with the addition of the new manager , i am feeling very positive about the season ahead . '' chelsea announced on monday that czech republic goalkeeper cech signed a new five-year deal , while england full-back wayne bridge committed himself to four more years last week .<doc-sep>scolari is still seeking to keep england midfielder frank lampard , who has ended talks over a new deal and now appears to be resigned to waiting until his contract runs out before joining inter milan following the upcoming season . the brazilian has so far added only portugal playmaker deco to his midfield ranks . his first match in charge will be wednesday 's friendly against guangzhou pharmaceutical , one of the three games the team will play in china . striker didier drogba , who has been linked with moves to ac milan and barcelona , is not among the touring squad due to a recurring knee problem . khalid boulahrouz , meanwhile , completed his transfer from chelsea to stuttgart on a four-year contract with the bundesliga club .<doc-sep>the netherlands central defender was released monday by chelsea and arrived in stuttgart 's training camp in austria shortly before midnight after passing a medical exam in stuttgart . the deal between stuttgart and chelsea was completed tuesday . details were not given . the dutchman played for hamburger sv for two seasons before going to chelsea in 2006 . he was loaned to fc sevilla last season . boulahrouz 's departure came a day after 35-year-old former france international claude makelele signed a two-year deal with paris-saint germain after joining from chelsea on a free transfer .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ghana international michael essien has followed goalkeeper petr cech in agreeing a new five-year contract with english premier league side chelsea . michael essien has made a big impression on new chelsea coach luiz felipe scolari . the midfielder , who is in china for the start of the club 's pre-season tour , is now tied to the london outfit until the summer of 2013 . the 25-year-old has made 143 appearances since moving to stamford bridge from french club lyon in a $ 49 million transfer in august 2005 , scoring 14 goals in total and helping chelsea win the league title that season . essien 's decision to commit his long-term future to the club is a boost for new manager luiz felipe scolari , who allowed veteran holding midfielder claude makelele to join paris st germain on monday . `` i have not been here long but it is clear to me that michael essien is one of the best midfield players in the world , '' scolari said . `` i have always admired him and it is good news for me and for chelsea that he signs for so long . '' the accra-born essien , who started his career in france with bastia in 2000 before moving to lyon three years later , was also pleased with the deal . `` i am really pleased to have extended my career with chelsea , '' he said . `` i am very happy here . we have a great team and fantastic fans who have always made me welcome . `` with the addition of the new manager , i am feeling very positive about the season ahead . '' chelsea announced on monday that czech republic goalkeeper cech signed a new five-year deal , while england full-back wayne bridge committed himself to four more years last week .<doc-sep>the ghana midfielder spent last season on loan with jose mourinho at real madrid , but has managed just three barclays premier league appearances this term . essien joined chelsea from lyon in 2005 , moving on to claim two premier league titles , four fa cups and the champions league . the 31-year-old has been omitted from chelsea 's champions league squad so far this season . open door : michael essien 's agent said he could leave chelsea in the transfer window , but only for a major club . outer : essien 's appeared just three times this season and was left out of the champions league line-up . agent fabian piveteau believes that could help pave the way for a move to another big european club during the january window . ` he could leave chelsea this winter , ' piveteau told french radio station rmc . ` several major european clubs playing in the champions league were informed and the situation should settle down within the next 10 days .<doc-sep>michael essien finds it hard to contemplate the thought -- next week frank lampard will , injury permitting , return to stamford bridge as a manchester city player . he might once again score a goal which could prove crucial in tipping the two-horse title race in city 's favour -- just as he did in scoring the equalising goal against chelsea in september . for essien , stalwart of jose mourinho 's greatest chelsea side , a champions league winner , and lampard 's long-time midfield partner , that would be unthinkable . frank lampard looking dejected as manchester city lost to middlesbrough in the fa cup on saturday . frank lampard came off the bench but could do nothing to prevent his side from losing 2-0 . michael essien has mobilised an army of footballers to help fight ebola in west africa . the ghanaian had to deny he was suffering from ebola after reports surfaced that he had contracted the virus -- but the incident has inspired him and his wife , akosua , to campaign against the stigma of the disease , which has claimed more than 8,000 lives since last year . rio ferdinand , samuel eto'o and fernando torres have all signed up . he has resisted the opportunity to return to the premier league preferring to stay at ac milan rather than play against chelsea . and he is unsure how lampard will be able to keep his emotion in check for a game which would be highly charged even in normal circumstances but which is also a critical game in the destination of the title . ` it will be difficult -- i do n't know how he 's going to do it , ' said essien . ` it will be a very strange situation . i can not see myself doing that against chelsea . ' of course , should ac milan return to the champions league , essien might one day face his former team . ` that would be a bit different , ' essien insists . ` but with a different team in england , going back to play your old club when you 've been there for so long ... wow ! it 's going to be difficult . but , at the end of the day it 's another game and he 's professional . ' michael essien played for chelsea from 2005 before joining ac milan at the start of this season . he and lampard formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the blues midfield for many years . essien alongside jose mourinho at his unveiling as a chelsea player in august 2005 . despite his own reservations of making the kind of switch lampard has , essien is confident that chelsea fans will receive his former team-mate warmly .<doc-sep>essien insists that manchester united are missing vidic 's leadership qualities at the back . chelsea won the premier league in essien 's first season , and look set to reclaim the title this term . ` i do keep watching the premier league . chelsea are playing really well and are at the top , it will be difficult to overtake them , ' he said . ` when i went there , we were very strong , and we won a lot of games and the title . i can see this team is as strong as when i first went to chelsea . they are playing very good football and have very good quality players there . ` i still keep in contact with jose . we talk a bit about football and i will tell him that i am watching and they are doing well . ' | <t> ghana international michael essien signs new five-year contract with chelsea . </t> <t> midfielder follows petr cech and wayne bridge in agreeing long-term deals . </t> <t> the 25-year-old has made 143 appearances since joining from lyon in 2005 . </t> <t> dutch defender khalid boulahrouz leaves chelsea for stuttgart on 4-year deal . </t> | essien commits long-term future to chelsea<T> |
kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- lawmakers in nepal will vote saturday to pick the country 's first president since it became a republic . nepal became a republic after the deposal of king gyanendra shah earlier this year . the country 's newly elected constituent assembly abolished a 239-year monarchy following elections in april . but with no one party winning a majority of the seats , it is unclear who may become president . the position is largely ceremonial . but a president will swear in whoever is picked as the new prime minister . the three main political parties continued to negotiate over whom to name president . the nepali congress wants outgoing prime minister and party president girija prasad koirala for the position . the communist party of nepal -lrb- united marxist-leninist -rrb- wants its leader . but the maoists -- which won the largest number of seats but fell short of a majority -- do not favor either of the two men . they want a non-political figure as president . journalist manesh shrestha contributed to this report .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- lawmakers in nepal will vote saturday to pick the country 's first president since it became a republic . nepal became a republic after the deposal of king gyanendra shah earlier this year . the country 's newly elected constituent assembly abolished a 239-year monarchy following elections in april . but with no one party winning a majority of the seats , it is unclear who may become president . the position is largely ceremonial . but a president will swear in whoever is picked as the new prime minister . the three main political parties continued to negotiate over whom to name president . the nepali congress wants outgoing prime minister and party president girija prasad koirala for the position . the communist party of nepal -lrb- united marxist-leninist -rrb- wants its leader . but the maoists -- which won the largest number of seats but fell short of a majority -- do not favor either of the two men . they want a non-political figure as president . journalist manesh shrestha contributed to this report .<doc-sep>nepal became a republic last month ending a 239-year-old monarchy but is still to get its first president . koirala 's resignation thursday follows a 22-point agreement wednesday among nepal 's ruling seven-party coalition to elect a president and prime minister through a simple majority of the constituent assembly . april 's elections , the declaration of a republic and the drafting of a new constitution , the main task of the constituent assembly , are parts of a peace process following 10 years of fighting between the maoists and the state which ended in november 2006 with a peace deal .<doc-sep>nepal 's interim constitution gives the president powers as supreme commander of the army and guardian of the constitution . `` the president took the step after 18 parties in parliament requested the president to intervene , '' presidential spokesman rajendra dahal told cnn sunday night . the decision to fire katawal touched off protests . supporters of both sides in the dispute took to the streets for demonstrations sunday . despite sporadic clashes between the two factions , there were no serious injuries reported . the coalition government led by the unified communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- -- better known as maoist -- leads a minority government for which its largest coalition partner , the communist party of nepal -lrb- unified marxist leninist -rrb- , has withdrawn support .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nepal 's first-ever president ram baran yadav took the oath of office wednesday , two days after his election . yadav , a physician in his 60s , was elected president on monday by nepal 's constituent assembly , almost two months after the country was declared a republic , putting an end to the 239-year-old monarchy . people lined the streets , which were emptied of vehicles , as the presidential motorcade drove about five miles -lrb- 8 km -rrb- from yadav 's home to the presidential offices . he was driven in the bulletproof vehicle previously used by nepal 's kings . yadav was administered the oath of office by chief justice kedar prasad giri . `` i represent all nepali people in this august office and in all my efforts and endeavors i will be committed to the benefit of the nepali people , '' yadav said after the swearing-in . | <t> lawmakers in nepal to to pick the country 's first president since it became a republic . </t> <t> unclear who may become president as no party had a majority in recent elections . </t> <t> maoists , who won most seats , want a non-political figure as president . </t> | nepal to select its first president<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. government thursday announced its highest penalty for coal mine safety violations , $ 1.85 million , for a collapse that killed six miners in utah last year . supervisory mining engineer joe zelanko on thursday describes the earth movements at crandall canyon mine . insufficient pillar support and activity in areas that should not have been mined caused the august crandall canyon mine collapse , federal investigators found . the government fined the mine operator , genwal resources , $ 1.34 million `` for violations that directly contributed to the deaths of six miners last year , '' plus nearly $ 300,000 for other violations . the government also levied a $ 220,000 fine against a mining consultant , agapito associates , `` for faulty analysis of the mine 's design . ''<doc-sep>the mine 's owner had insisted that earth movement detected at the time of the collapse had caused the disaster . but investigators found instead that the collapse caused the earth movement . `` it was not -- and i repeat , it was not -- a natural occurring earthquake , '' said the government 's top mine safety official , richard e. stickler . stickler , the acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health , said , `` pillars failed under excessive load and ejected coal very violently . '' stickler also said the mine 's operator `` was taking more coal than allowed from the barrier pillars and the floor . ''<doc-sep>`` this dangerously weakened the strength of the roof support , '' stickler said . in addition to the six miners killed in the initial cave-in august 6 in northwest emery county , three would-be rescuers died 10 days later in a subsequent collapse . the bodies of the six miners killed in the initial collapse were never recovered . richard gates , the lead investigator for the government , said the pillars in the mine `` simply were not large enough to support the load . '' that resulted in a `` catastrophic failure of pillars over a broad area , '' as large as half a mile , he said .<doc-sep>university of utah scientists said in june that the collapse was not the result of an earthquake . `` as seismologists , we 're as certain as we can be that the seismic event registered as a magnitude-3 .9 shock was due to the collapse of the mine and not a naturally occurring earthquake , '' said walter arabasz , director of the university 's utah seismograph stations , in a written statement . earlier this year , a labor department report criticized mine safety and health administration officials for approving plans for a risky mining technique , known as retreat mining , that was in use before the collapse . in the process , miners remove pillars of coal that support the roof of a chamber one by one , allowing the roof to collapse behind them . mine owner bob murray repeatedly denied in the days after the disaster that his company practiced retreat mining at crandall canyon . he later admitted that the practice had been used at the mine but said it was not being done at the time of the disaster .<doc-sep>by . associated press reporter . published : . 11:51 est , 23 march 2013 . | . updated : . 11:52 est , 23 march 2013 . one miner died and another was injured friday after they became trapped in a cave-in at a central utah coal mine , authorities said . the cave-in was reported earlier in the day at a mine in bear canyon , about 10 miles west of the small mining town of huntington , the emery county sheriff 's office said . rescuers freed one man but were unable to save the other miner , officials said . a rescue team recovered the body of the second miner . pretty dangerous : one man died and another was injured in a utah coal mine cave-in near huntington -lrb- pictured -rrb- friday . huntington mayor hilary gordon identified him as 28-year-old elam jones , whose mother is a huntington city councilwoman . the injured miner , who has not been identified , was treated and released from castleview hospital in price . the mine is part of the castle valley mining complex . preliminary information showed that a . roof fall occurred on a pillaring section of the mine after a large rock . fell , according to federal mine safety officials . the mine safety and . health administration was investigating , said spokesman jesse lawder . not again : the collapse occurred in a mine at bear canyon in emery county , utah , the same county where 9 died in 2007 's crandall canyon mine disaster . kentucky-based rhino resources bought the mining complex , which has 26.1 million tons of coal reserves , in august 2010 , according to its website . federal records show one injury was reported at the mine last year . such tragedies are familiar to those who live in the area , which depends largely on mining for its economy . the mine is in the same county where the crandall canyon mine collapsed in 2007 , killing nine people . the operator of that mine , genwal . resources inc. , an affiliate of ohio-based murray energy corp. , reached a . $ 949,351 settlement in 2012 with the mine safety and health . administration over safety violations . so sad : the 28-year-old who died was the son of a councilwoman from the small mining town of huntington -lrb- pictured here in 2007 -rrb- . gordon , who was mayor during the crandall canyon collapse , told ksl-tv and the deseret news that the latest mine collapse brought back memories of that disaster . ` whenever there 's a cave-in at any of the mines , you hold your breath , ' she said . ` coal is very powerful , and mother nature is very powerful . ' jones helped in the rescue of miners at crandall canyon and later spoke at a vigil for those who died and were injured there , according to the tribune . ` everybody who was up there put in 100 percent , ' said jones , 23 at the time . ` we did everything we possibly could . but the mountain wo n't let us do nothing else . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- who 's to blame for the mine collapse that trapped 33 workers underground for months in chile ? no one , according to prosecutors , who closed the case thursday after a lengthy investigation . nearly three years after the collapse at the san jose mine in copiapo , chile , prosecutors said , there 's not enough evidence to file criminal charges . the 2010 mining accident drew global attention as word spread that the workers had survived and rescuers worked for weeks to free them . for 17 days after the collapse , nobody knew if they were alive . the miners spent 69 days underground before they were rescued . `` this was a complicated case , which is why it took us so long to make this determination , '' regional prosecutor hector mella farias said . `` and i want to be clear in saying that everything to collect evidence that the law allows was done . '' authorities investigated the case for years , he said , compiling expert analysis and testimonies that totaled more than 20,000 pages . two outraged miners told cnn chile late thursday that they plan to appeal the regional prosecutor 's decision . the owners of the mine should be held responsible in a criminal case , they said , alleging that the company knew there was a risk of collapse and did n't do enough to protect workers . the miners have also filed a negligence lawsuit against the government , accusing the agency that oversees mining of failing to ensure safety measures . `` today we heard the decision , as did many of our colleagues , and many of them are extremely shocked , '' said luis urzua , the miners ' shift boss and the last man rescued from the mine . `` because this is something that places responsibility upon the mine owners , because they are the entity that must supervise what happens . as supervisors , they should have prevented it . they should have known what sectors were at risk of collapsing . '' the miners want future accidents to be prevented , he said , and they want the mine 's owners to be held accountable . `` we want for this never to happen again , '' he said . `` what happened to us was not a work of nature . this was done by a man , by the negligence of man . '' attorneys for the mine 's owners told cnn chile on thursday that the prosecutor 's decision indicated that natural causes sparked the accident , and the company 's owners are not responsible . `` this decision was n't made on a whim , '' said attorney catherine lathrop . `` it is part of a long investigative process . '' miner juan carlos aguilar said the miners are n't looking for money , but they do want justice . and comments like lathrop 's , he said , show that they have n't gotten that yet . `` she is laughing at what happened to us , '' he said . `` i think any miner is going to feel the same way . if they did nothing for us , when we were trapped for 70 days 700 meters underground , what is going to happen when there 's another incident ? ... any person can do anything in chile , and there is no justice . '' cnn 's samuel santamaria and rafael romo contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two coal miners lost their lives inside a mine in boone county , west virginia , a u.s. mine safety and health administration spokeswoman told cnn on tuesday . a coal or rock outburst occurred monday night at the brody mine no. 1 , owned by brody mining llc , msha spokeswoman amy louviere said . the two miners -- a continuous mining machine operator and a roof bolting machine operator -- were fatally injured , she said . the west virginia department of commerce identified the victims as eric d. legg , 48 , and gary p. hensley , 46 . gov. earl ray tomblin expressed his condolences and asked for `` all west virginians to continue praying for them during this very difficult time for our mining community . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the rescue of 33 trapped men in chile brings home vividly the hazards of mining . how do we defend this very blue-collar occupation , which claimed the life of my grandfather , some of his friends and almost killed me , when i was actually pinned between a rock and a hard place ? thousands of hard-working folks are killed and injured in mines worldwide each year . this eons-old industry is disparaged by many , but most of the people with close ties to it laud and defend the profession . the truth is this : mining is hazardous but essential to the lives we want . it 's an activity that produces wealth , provides raw materials for a myriad of products , lifts people out of poverty , develops economies and yes -- kills , maims and disables some of those who work at mining . miners , from the child coal miners of old who worked to remove `` boney '' from the breakers or carried water to the mining executives of today , should be thanked and appreciated for their contribution to civilization . let 's reconsider labeling mine operators as the exploiters of earth and humans . let us at least acknowledge their entrepreneurial spirit , courage and willingness to get into a business that is difficult by any standard . my father was a coal operator . but let 's also be fair . poorly managed mines exist . some operators still are sympathetic to the doctrines of `` assumption of risk '' or `` implied negligence , '' so often cited in days gone by as a management defense against the liability of accident loss . those who do n't study industrial health and safety or have n't worked in heavy industries such as mining often ask how catastrophes -- such as the april 2010 mine explosion in west virginia at massey 's upper big branch mine or the roof collapse at the san jose copper mine in chile -- can happen . mining exposes workers to lethal amounts of energy . the energies in underground mines are in states of motion or stored in moving shafts and gears ; electricity ; the mine roof , rib or sides of the tunnel ; hydraulic cylinders ; and more . an unexpected release of this energy can equal disaster . | <t> feds : violations by utah mine 's operator led to 2007 collapse that killed six . </t> <t> bad design , improper mining led to crandall canyon collapse , feds say . </t> <t> mine operator fined more than $ 1.5 million . </t> | feds blame mine operator for fatal collapse<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a 19-year-old girl whose hospitalization exposed a shocking austrian incest case has woken from her coma , a development that could shed new light on what occurred in the basement were she was held captive for decades . fritzl initially confessed to raping his daughter and having seven children with her . doctors placed kerstin fritzl in an artificial coma in april after she emerged for the first time from the cellar where she was held captive from birth by her father josef . kerstin , along with six other children , was born from josef fritzl 's incestuous relationship with his daughter elisabeth , now 43 , whom he raped repeatedly during the 24 years she was imprisoned beneath his home . police say fritzl , 73 , has confessed to holding his elisabeth captive and fathering seven children , six of whom survived . kerstin was admitted to hospital in amstetten , west of vienna , in an unconscious state after elisabeth persuaded fritzl that she needed medical attention . suspicious medics alerted police , who opened an investigation .<doc-sep>detectives began investigating the case after hospital officials started inquiring about the girl 's family history . kerstin and two of her brothers , aged 18 and 5 , had spent their entire lives trapped in the cellar with their mother , never seeing daylight , a television their only contact with the outside world . another three children fritzl fathered with elisabeth were taken to live above ground with fritzl and his wife , who says she had no idea that her daughter was being held captive . a seventh child died shortly after birth . elisabeth and her children have been treated at a secure medical unit since their release . officials at hospital in amstetten , austria , did not release any more information about kerstin fritzl 's condition . a news conference on the case is scheduled for wednesday .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- josef fritzl , the austrian accused of keeping his daughter in a cellar for decades and fathering her seven children , will plead guilty to rape and incest when his trial opens monday , fritzl 's lawyer told cnn . josef fritzl is expected to plead guilty to rape and incest on monday , his lawyer tells cnn . however , fritzl will deny other charge he faces : murder , enslavement and assault , attorney rudolph mayer said sunday . the 73-year-old expects to spend the rest of his life in prison , mayer added . fritzl faces six charges in a closed-door trial . the trial is scheduled to last five days , but mayer said it could be shorter . fritzl was charged in november with incest and the repeated rape of his daughter , elisabeth , over a 24-year period . but he was also charged with the murder of one of the children he fathered with her , an infant who died soon after birth . state prosecutor gerhard sedlacek said michael fritzl died from lack of medical care . in all , fritzl is charged with : murder , involvement in slave trade -lrb- slavery -rrb- , rape , incest , assault and deprivation of liberty , sedlacek 's office said . if convicted , he could face life in prison . austria does not have the death penalty . `` this man obviously led a double life for 24 years . he had a wife and had seven kids with her . and then he had another family with his daughter , fathered another seven children with her , '' said franz polzer , a police officer in amstetten , the town where fritzl lived , at the time of his arrest . the case first came to light in april 2008 when elisabeth 's daughter , kerstin , became seriously ill with convulsions . elisabeth persuaded her father to allow kerstin , then 19 , to be taken to a hospital for treatment . hospital staff became suspicious of the case and alerted police , who discovered the family members in the cellar . fritzl confessed to police that he raped his daughter , kept her and their children in captivity and burned the body of the dead infant in an oven in the house . elisabeth told police the infant was one of twins who died a few days after birth . when elisabeth gained her freedom , she told police her father began sexually abusing her at age 11 . on august 8 , 1984 , she told police , her father enticed her into the basement , where he drugged her , put her in handcuffs and locked her in a room . fritzl explained elisabeth 's disappearance in 1984 by saying the girl , who was then 18 , had run away from home . he backed up the story with letters he forced elisabeth to write . elisabeth fritzl and all but three of her children lived in the specially designed cellar beneath her father 's home in amstetten , austria , west of vienna . the other three children lived upstairs with fritzl and his wife ; fritzl had left them on his own doorstep , pretending the missing elisabeth had dropped them off . under austrian law , if fritzl is convicted on several offenses , he will be given the sentence linked to the worst crime . the charges he faces are : . • murder : the infant who died in 1996 died from a lack of medical care , the state prosecutor said . the charge carries a sentence of life in prison . • involvement in slave trade : from 1984 until 2008 , prosecutors allege , fritzl held his daughter , elisabeth , captive in a dungeon , abused her sexually and treated her as if she were his personal property -- in a situation similar to slavery . if he is convicted , the sentence could range from 10 to 20 years in prison . • rape : between august 30 , 1984 , and june 30 , 1989 , fritzl `` regularly sexually abused elisabeth , '' according to the prosecutor . the sentence could be from five to 15 years in prison . • incest : parallel to the rape charge . it carries a sentence of up to one year . • withdrawal of liberty : three of the children fritzl had with elisabeth were illegally held captive in a dungeon with no daylight or fresh air , according to prosecutors . that charge carries a sentence of one to 10 years . • assault : between august 28 , 1984 , and april 26 , 2006 , fritzl repeatedly threatened elisabeth and their three children with gas and booby traps as warnings in case they tried to escape , authorities allege . the sentence would range from six months to five years . cnn 's frederik pleitgen and melissa gray contributed to this report .<doc-sep>• murder : the infant who died in 1996 died from a lack of medical care , the state prosecutor said . the charge carries a sentence of life in prison . • involvement in slave trade : from 1984 until 2008 , prosecutors allege , fritzl held his daughter , elisabeth , captive in a dungeon , abused her sexually and treated her as if she were his personal property -- in a situation similar to slavery . if he is convicted , the sentence could range from 10 to 20 years in prison . • rape : between august 30 , 1984 , and june 30 , 1989 , fritzl `` regularly sexually abused elisabeth , '' according to the prosecutor . the sentence could be from five to 15 years in prison . • incest : parallel to the rape charge . it carries a sentence of up to one year . • withdrawal of liberty : three of the children fritzl had with elisabeth were illegally held captive in a dungeon with no daylight or fresh air , according to prosecutors . that charge carries a sentence of one to 10 years . • assault : between august 28 , 1984 , and april 26 , 2006 , fritzl repeatedly threatened elisabeth and their three children with gas and booby traps as warnings in case they tried to escape , authorities allege . the sentence would range from six months to five years . cnn 's diana magnay and frederik pleitgen in st. poelten and melissa gray in london contributed to this report .<doc-sep>under austrian law , if fritzl is convicted on several offenses , he will be given the sentence linked to the worst crime . the charges he faces are : . • murder : the infant who died in 1996 died from a lack of medical care , the state prosecutor said . the charge carries a sentence of life in prison . • involvement in slave trade : from 1984 until 2008 , prosecutors allege , fritzl held his daughter , elisabeth , captive in a dungeon , abused her sexually and treated her as if she were his personal property -- in a situation similar to slavery . if he is convicted , the sentence could range from 10 to 20 years in prison . • rape : between august 30 , 1984 , and june 30 , 1989 , fritzl `` regularly sexually abused elisabeth , '' according to the prosecutor . the sentence could be from five to 15 years in prison . • incest : parallel to the rape charge . it carries a sentence of up to one year . • withdrawal of liberty : three of the children fritzl had with elisabeth were illegally held captive in a dungeon with no daylight or fresh air , according to prosecutors . that charge carries a sentence of one to 10 years . • assault : between august 28 , 1984 , and april 26 , 2006 , fritzl repeatedly threatened elisabeth and their three children with gas and booby traps as warnings in case they tried to escape , authorities allege . the sentence would range from six months to five years . cnn 's frederik pleitgen and melissa gray contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . sara malm . and emma thomas . michael schumacher ` will not be schumacher ' if he wakes up from his coma , a leading neurosurgeon has claimed . doctors say the formula one star is no longer in a ` critical ' condition but richard greenwood , a consultant . neurologist at london 's homerton hospital , said the racing legend will . be a ` regular joe ' if he recovers , as a result of his severe brain . trauma . schumacher has been in a medically . induced coma for nearly three weeks after suffering significant brain . injuries in a skiing accident at the french alpine resort of meribel . | <t> daughter of austrian incest victim wakes from induced coma . </t> <t> kerstin fritzl , 19 , spent her entire life in cellar . </t> <t> the dungeon was uncovered after she was taken to hospital with illness . </t> | incest dungeon girl wakes from coma<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- italian newspapers , an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners expressed shock and revulsion on monday after photographs were published of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned roma girls were laid out on the sand . photographs of the dead roma girls on a beach caused outrage in italy . italian news agency ansa reported that the incident had occurred on saturday at the beach of torregaveta , west of naples , southern italy , where the two girls had earlier been swimming in the sea with two other roma girls . reports said they had gone to the beach to beg and sell trinkets . local news reports said the four girls found themselves in trouble amid fierce waves and strong currents . emergency services responded 10 minutes after a distress call was made from the beach and two lifeguards attended the girls upon hearing their screams . two of them were pulled to safety but rescuers failed to reach the other two in time to save them . watch why the photos have generated anger ''<doc-sep>the web site of the archbishop of naples said the girls were cousins named violetta and cristina , aged 12 and 13 . their bodies were eventually laid out on the sand under beach towels to await collection by police . photographs show sunbathers in bikinis and swimming trunks sitting close to where the girls ' feet can be seen poking out from under the towels concealing their bodies . a photographer who took photos at the scene told cnn the mood among sunbathers had been one of indifference . other photos show police officers lifting the bodies into coffins and carrying them away past bathers reclined on sun loungers . `` while the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand , there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few meters away , '' italian newspaper la repubblica reported .<doc-sep>corriere della sera said that a crowd of curious onlookers that had formed around the bodies quickly dispersed . `` few left the beach or abandoned their sunbathing . when the police from the mortuary arrived an hour later with coffins , the two girls were carried away between bathers stretched out in the sun . '' the incident also attracted condemnation from the archbishop of naples , cardinal crecenzio seppe . `` indifference is not an emotion for human beings , '' seppe wrote in his parish blog . `` to turn the other way or to mind your own business can sometimes be more devastating than the events that occur . '' recent weeks have seen heightened tensions between italian authorities and the country 's roma minority amid a crackdown by silvo berlusconi 's government targeting illegal immigrants and talk by government officials of a `` roma emergency '' that has seen the 150,000-strong migrant group blamed for rising street crime .<doc-sep>that has provided justification for police raids on roma camps and controversial government plans to fingerprint all roma -- an act condemned by the european parliament and united nations officials as a clear act of racial discrimination . popular resentment against romanies has also seen roma camps near naples attacked and set on fire with petrol bombs by local residents . in a statement published on its web site , the italian civil liberties group everyone said saturday 's drowning had occurred in an atmosphere of `` racism and horror '' and cast doubt on the reported version of events , suggesting that it appeared unusual for the four girls to wade into the sea , apparently casting modesty aside and despite being unable to swim . `` the most shocking aspect of all this is the attitude of the people on the beach , '' the statement said . `` no one appears the slightest upset at the sight and presence of the children 's dead bodies on the beach : they carry on swimming , sunbathing , sipping soft drinks and chatting . '' cnn 's jennifer eccleston contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- italian newspapers , an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners expressed shock and revulsion on monday after photographs were published of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned roma girls were laid out on the sand . photographs of the dead roma girls on a beach caused outrage in italy . italian news agency ansa reported that the incident had occurred on saturday at the beach of torregaveta , west of naples , southern italy , where the two girls had earlier been swimming in the sea with two other roma girls . reports said they had gone to the beach to beg and sell trinkets . local news reports said the four girls found themselves in trouble amid fierce waves and strong currents . emergency services responded 10 minutes after a distress call was made from the beach and two lifeguards attended the girls upon hearing their screams . two of them were pulled to safety but rescuers failed to reach the other two in time to save them . watch why the photos have generated anger '' the web site of the archbishop of naples said the girls were cousins named violetta and cristina , aged 12 and 13 . their bodies were eventually laid out on the sand under beach towels to await collection by police . photographs show sunbathers in bikinis and swimming trunks sitting close to where the girls ' feet can be seen poking out from under the towels concealing their bodies . a photographer who took photos at the scene told cnn the mood among sunbathers had been one of indifference . other photos show police officers lifting the bodies into coffins and carrying them away past bathers reclined on sun loungers . `` while the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand , there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few meters away , '' italian newspaper la repubblica reported . corriere della sera said that a crowd of curious onlookers that had formed around the bodies quickly dispersed . `` few left the beach or abandoned their sunbathing . when the police from the mortuary arrived an hour later with coffins , the two girls were carried away between bathers stretched out in the sun . '' the incident also attracted condemnation from the archbishop of naples , cardinal crecenzio seppe . `` indifference is not an emotion for human beings , '' seppe wrote in his parish blog . `` to turn the other way or to mind your own business can sometimes be more devastating than the events that occur . '' recent weeks have seen heightened tensions between italian authorities and the country 's roma minority amid a crackdown by silvo berlusconi 's government targeting illegal immigrants and talk by government officials of a `` roma emergency '' that has seen the 150,000-strong migrant group blamed for rising street crime . that has provided justification for police raids on roma camps and controversial government plans to fingerprint all roma -- an act condemned by the european parliament and united nations officials as a clear act of racial discrimination . popular resentment against romanies has also seen roma camps near naples attacked and set on fire with petrol bombs by local residents . in a statement published on its web site , the italian civil liberties group everyone said saturday 's drowning had occurred in an atmosphere of `` racism and horror '' and cast doubt on the reported version of events , suggesting that it appeared unusual for the four girls to wade into the sea , apparently casting modesty aside and despite being unable to swim . `` the most shocking aspect of all this is the attitude of the people on the beach , '' the statement said . `` no one appears the slightest upset at the sight and presence of the children 's dead bodies on the beach : they carry on swimming , sunbathing , sipping soft drinks and chatting . '' cnn 's jennifer eccleston contributed to this report .<doc-sep>rome . italy -- italy and roma striker francesco totti has threatened to quit the italian players association , in a row over the starting date of the next serie a season . roma striker totti has complained that the italian players are never listened to .<doc-sep>roma manager rudi garcia looks like the pressure could be getting to him after mocking photographers in his press conference ahead of hosting bayern munich on tuesday . the frenchman took a camera off a photographer to imitate the snapping of cameras , seemingly frustrated with the incessant level of noise whilst attempting to answer questions from journalists . garcia then refused to repeat one particular answer as he presumed , in a sarcastic manner , that the reporters could hear him speaking . roma manager rudi garcia takes hold of a camera in his press conference ahead of hosting bayern munich . the 50-year-old could be feeling the strain as his side host undefeated bundesliga leaders bayern munich in the champions league on tuesday . garcia has become a hit with the italian media since joining roma in 2013 , especially since he started dating francesca brienza who presents on the club 's in-house tv channel . roma , including former chelsea star ashley cole , defeated chievo 3-0 at the weekend in serie a to remain second and in touch with juventus at the top . garcia mimed the noise of a camera as he was seemingly frustrated with the level of photos being taken .<doc-sep>it takes two : rooney is dispossesed by two roma players in the first-half at mile high . sublime : mata took the ball down from rooney and lobbed over roma goalkeeper lukasz skorupski . united triumphed 3-2 over cole 's roma in an entertaining match which was most memorable for miralem pjanic 's 60-yard wonder strike for the italian side . | <t> italian outrage over photos of sunbathers at a beach where two roma girls drowned . </t> <t> photos showed girls ' bodies lying on sand covered in beach towels . </t> <t> newspapers report beach goers eating lunch , sun bathing as bodies carried away . </t> <t> incident occurred amid heightened tensions between authorities , roma minority . </t> | italian outrage over roma drowning photos<T> |
tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday .<doc-sep>the judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . the statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . matt blake . published : . 06:52 est , 27 march 2012 . | . updated : . 07:41 est , 27 march 2012 . the united states was the world 's fifth most prolific executioner and only western democracy to put a prisoner to death last year , new figures have revealed . forty three convicts died for their crimes in america in 2011 , ranking the world 's richest country fifth on the global execution league table . the figures , released by amnesty international , came as the rights group announced that 18,750 people are currently languishing on death row around the world . penalty : most executions in the us are carried out by lethal injection , in death chambers like this one . capital punishment has become a polemical issue in the united states in recent years . white house-race flop rick perry , who has signed the death warrants of 234 convicts in 10 years as texas governor , was cheered at a republican debate when he called it the ` ultimate justice ' . most recent : george rivas of . the texas seven crime speaks in the allan polunsky unit . prison in livingston , texas , two weeks before his execution on february 29 . texas accounted for 30 per cent of all executions in america with 13 people put to death in 2011 . the most recent was george rivas , though he is not included in the figures as he was put to death on february 29 this year . 1 . texas -lrb- 13 -rrb- . 2 . alabama -lrb- 6 -rrb- . 3 . ohio -lrb- 5 -rrb- . 4 . arizona -lrb- 4 -rrb- . = 4 . georgia -lrb- 4 -rrb- . 6 . florida -lrb- 2 -rrb- . = 6 . oklahoma -lrb- 2 -rrb- . = 6 . mississippi -lrb- 2 -rrb- . 9 . delaware -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . idaho -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . virginia -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . missouri -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . s. carolina -lrb- 1 -rrb- . the 41-year-old , leader of the notorious ` texas . seven ' , was killed by lethal injection for gunning down police . officer aubrey hawkins during a violent raid on a sports store on christmas eve 2010 . but there are signs that america is edging away from the death penalty . last year , illinois became the 16th state to abolish the practice , and a moratorium was announced in oregon . while amnesty said maryland and connecticut are close to abolition , 36 states still retain the death penalty . globally , there were more executions last year than in 2010 . a surge in iran , iraq , saudi arabia and yemen is the cause of the rise , amnesty international said . ` suzanne nossel , executive director of amnesty international usa , said : ` we do not believe that governments should be in the business of executing citizens . ` that 's an inappropriate role for the government to play , regardless of the circumstances . ' various countries subject a wide array of crimes to capital punishment . in iran , death can be the punishment for adultery , sodomy and religious offenses such as apostasy or ` treason against god ' . to death : a convicted murderer in iran awaits his execution . iran 's most usual form of execution is hanging . meanwhile , blasphemy in pakistan , ` sorcery ' in saudi arabia , trafficking in human bones in the republic of congo , and economic crimes in china such as selling fake drugs or tainted foods or soliciting deceptive organ transplantation carry the death penalty . china executes thousands of people annually , many more than the rest of the world put together . but figures are a state secret , amnesty international said , and it has stopped compiling them from public sources because those numbers lead to under-reporting and a gross underestimate of the true total . 1 . china -lrb- ~ 1,000 s -rrb- . 2 . iran -lrb- 360 -rrb- . 3 . saudi arabia -lrb- 82 -rrb- . 4 . iraq -lrb- 68 -rrb- . 5 . usa -lrb- 43 -rrb- . 6 . yemen -lrb- 41 -rrb- . 7 . north korea -lrb- 30 -rrb- . 8 . somalia -lrb- 10 -rrb- . 9 . sudan -lrb- 7 + -rrb- . 10 . bangladesh -lrb- 5 + -rrb- . amnesty international challenged beijing to publish figures on sentencing and executions ` to confirm their claims that various changes in law and practice have led to a significant reduction in the use of the death penalty over the last four years , ' the group said . the wave of executions in the middle east - a 50 per cent regional increase - pushed the global total higher for 2011 , with 149 executions more worldwide than in 2010 . iran executed at least 360 people , many of them under harsh new anti-drug laws introduced last year . iranian executions are usually conducted by hanging , sometimes in public from a construction crane , which amnesty said led the japanese construction equipment company tadano to cut off exports of cranes to iran last july . iraq executed 68 people while saddam hussein 's former foreign minister and deputy prime minister , tariq aziz , awaits his execution this year . saudi arabia executed at least 82 ; and yemen executed at least 41 . iran , iraq , saudi arabia and yemen accounted for 99 percent of the executions in the middle east and north africa , amnesty said . although all the mideast and north african nations had very different governments and political dynamics , the 50 per cent increase in executions came against the backdrop of the arab spring protests and upheaval . chaos in libya meant that amnesty was unable to account for any legal executions , though torture , detention and summary killings by pro-government loyalists and by opposition militias who ousted moammar gadhafi 's regime are widely reported . gadhafi himself appears to have been videotaped being shot to death by members of a crowd that apprehended him . amnesty recorded no executions by stoning anywhere in the world in 2011 . the rights group criticized iran , north korea , saudi arabia and somalia for staging public executions . japan , which also retains capital punishment , recorded no executions for the first time in 19 years , amnesty reported . india also conducted no executions for the seventh year in a row and pakistan none for a third year , amnesty said . sri lanka also had no executions in 2011 , but 362 people were on death row . sri lanka has sought to hire a hangman and received several applications for the job , amnesty quoted sri lanka 's treasury department as reporting .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday . the judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . the statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` if murder was proven , my client would have been executed and there would have been no need to stone her to death , '' kian wrote . `` based on islamic penal code , the punishments for murder and adultery should have been combined in one case and sentence and handled by branch 12 of the tabriz province court . whereas this was not the case . the branch has no records of sentencing my client to murder . '' last month , malek ajdar sharifi , who is the head of the judiciary of east azerbaijan province , said ashtiani 's crimes were `` numerous '' and said she was `` convicted of adultery and murder and was sentenced to death , '' according to the official news agency irna . `` because of morality and ethics , i can not go into the details of the crimes , but if the public knew , they would understand the criminal nature of them , '' he said , according to irna . `` but she killed her husband , brutally and gruesomely , and the detective on the scene said that if she had beheaded her husband it would have been better than what they actually saw . '' ashtiani , 43 , a mother of two , is being held in a tabriz prison . iran 's judiciary could reinstate her sentence of death by stoning , execute her by other means , or possibly even grant her a reprieve , according to human rights groups . mina ahadi , spokeswoman for the international committee against stoning , said if ashtiani is executed , `` it is entirely political . it has nothing to do with the case itself . '' `` now that iran is under this international pressure , they have brought the case up that convicts her of the murder of her husband , '' ahadi said saturday .<doc-sep>suspect in etan patz case arraigned on murder charge . california reinstated capital punishment in 1978 , and since then , 57 condemned inmates have died from natural causes , 20 have committed suicide , 13 have been executed in california , one was executed in missouri and six died from other causes , authorities said . california has 723 convicts on california 's death row . | <t> twenty-nine convicts were hanged , according to iranian state tv . </t> <t> convicts were found guilty of murder , rape , armed robbery and other charges . </t> <t> judiciary said hangings should serve as warning to those contemplating crimes . </t> | 29 convicts executed in iran<T> |
new delhi , india -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president george w. bush called india 's prime minister thursday to push a proposed nuclear partnership that sparked an unsuccessful no-confidence vote against the indian leader this week , a white house spokesman said . prime minister manmohan singh won a confidence vote despite opposition to the nuclear deal . `` both leaders expressed their desire to see the u.s.-india civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible , '' gordon johndroe said . the phone call took place two days after indian prime minister manmohan singh narrowly survived the no-confidence vote in the lower house of parliament . the vote was sparked by concerns from the opposition that india was kowtowing to the u.s. . the tentative deal was announced in 2006 and signed by bush and singh a year ago . under the agreement , which will need to be approved by the u.s. congress , india would have access to u.s. nuclear fuel and technology for its civilian nuclear power plants . that would happen even though new delhi , which tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 , has declined to join international non-proliferation agreements . in return , india has promised that it would not transfer the fuel and equipment to its weapons program , and it would allow the international atomic energy agency to inspect at least 14 of its 22 nuclear plants . the plan would also expand u.s.-indian cooperation in energy and satellite technology . the plan was approved by india 's cabinet last year , and does not have to be ratified by the parliament . the leaders of india 's two communist parties -- which hold about 60 seats in parliament -- have accused singh of surrendering india 's sovereignty to the united states with the deal . a no-confidence vote would have forced singh to resign , and required the government to hold early elections unless a new coalition could have been formed . the congress party-led coalition has governed india since 2004 . tuesday 's 275-256 vote was so crucial to the survival of singh 's government that five members of parliament serving prison sentences were freed to cast votes -- under the watchful eyes of their jailers . shortly after singh survived the vote , white house spokeswoman dana perino praised the deal as `` a good one for everybody . '' `` it 's good for india because it would help provide them a source for energy that they need , one that is nonpolluting and one that does n't emit greenhouse gas emissions , '' she said . `` and we think that we can move forward with this . if their legislature lets it move forward , then we can do the same here and then we 'll be able to get this wrapped up . ''<doc-sep>new delhi , india -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president george w. bush called india 's prime minister thursday to push a proposed nuclear partnership that sparked an unsuccessful no-confidence vote against the indian leader this week , a white house spokesman said . prime minister manmohan singh won a confidence vote despite opposition to the nuclear deal . `` both leaders expressed their desire to see the u.s.-india civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible , '' gordon johndroe said . the phone call took place two days after indian prime minister manmohan singh narrowly survived the no-confidence vote in the lower house of parliament . the vote was sparked by concerns from the opposition that india was kowtowing to the u.s. . the tentative deal was announced in 2006 and signed by bush and singh a year ago .<doc-sep>rouhani said the next step would be to `` pave the way for the opposition to sit around a table with the syrian government '' and for free and fair elections to be held . democracy : egypt 's beautiful dream in the wrong hands . opinion : will global elite listen to pope of poor ? can davos make a difference to global inequality ? opinion : tunisia 's leaders have failed the dignity revolution . iranian official on nuke deal : ` we did not agree to dismantle anything '<doc-sep>by . mark duell . last updated at 4:52 pm on 21st july 2011 . news corp has decided it 's time to build up the defences as worries mount over potential legal troubles in the u.s. . the media conglomerate is bracing itself for the phone-hacking scandal spreading to america as more calls are made for investigations . former manhattan u.s. attorney mary jo white and george w. bush-era attorney general michael mukasey have both been hired by directors .<doc-sep>by . tim shipman . published : . 21:02 est , 15 february 2013 . | . updated : . 21:02 est , 15 february 2013 . david cameron will attempt to steal a # 6billion indian defence contract from under the nose of francois hollande next week . the prime minister will use a trip to india to try to persuade the new delhi government to buy more than 100 eurofighter jets after the french president left empty-handed this week . french contractor dassault aviation was chosen last year as the preferred bidder for the contract to supply rafale jet fighters to the indian air force - a blow for the uk-german-spanish-italian consortium , which includes britain 's bae systems , which builds the eurofighter . amicable rivals : despite cordial relations with france 's president francois hollande , left , prime minister david cameron is hoping to secure an indian trade deal that france was eagerly pursuing . but mr hollande 's hopes of signing a final contract came to nothing this week - despite him squeezing in a visit before the prime minister . the french premier also failed to secure any major trade deals . that has sparked hopes in downing street that mr cameron can persuade the indian authorities to rethink the deal and buy the eurofighter instead . officials made clear that the prime minister wants to steal a march on mr hollande , who has repeatedly clashed with mr cameron . the pm angered the french by offering to put out a ` red carpet ' for entrepreneurs fleeing mr hollande 's new 75 per cent top rate of tax , while the french government retaliated with the same offer for british businessmen if the uk quits the eu in the referendum mr cameron has offered . a government source said : ` hollande was in india this week and a deal has not been signed so we will want to find out from the indians how their talks are progressing with the french , '' a government source said . a no 10 official added : ` we respect the fact that the indians have chosen their preferred bidder and are currently negotiating with the french . of course , we will continue to promote eurofighter as a great fast jet not just in india but around the world . ' on a previous trip : britain 's prime minister david cameron shakes hands with india 's prime minister manmohan singh . the pm will lead the largest ever . trade delegation of ministers and businessmen designed to strike . defence , energy and education deals with the emerging superpower . he will court controversy by going . in to bat for british supermarkets embroiled in the horsemeat scandal , . who want to set up shop in india . among the issues he is expected to . raise is improved access to indian markets for british retailers and . financial services providers . supermarket giant tesco , which . already has a large wholesale operation in the country , is among the . companies looking to expand into the retail sector . the issue is the . subject of legislation going through the indian parliament . eurofighter jets : david cameron is hoping to supply the indian airforce with jets as part of his trade delegation . officials stressed that there are no delegates from supermarket retailers on the trip and there are no meat retailers . mr cameron is expected to help . secure millions of pounds in arms sales - including cementing a deal to . sell howitzers -- and deals to build major infrastructure projects , . schools and hospitals . he will hope for a boost to the . defence industries as another deal with links to britain appeared to be . going sour last night amid claims of corruption . indian officials were reported to . be on the verge of scrapping a deal for agustawestland , based in yeovil . but owned by italian defence contractor finmeccanica , to provide 12 . helicopters to the indian government after a british middleman was . allegedly paid # 26million in order to secure the # 480 million contract . | <t> president bush calls india 's pm to push a proposed nuclear partnership . </t> <t> indian government won confidence vote in face of anger over u.s. nuclear deal . </t> <t> five members of parliament serving prison sentences were freed to vote . </t> | bush calls indian pm to push nuke deal<T> |
baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iraqi representatives will meet with the international olympic committee on monday to try to reach an agreement that would allow now-banned iraq to participate in next month 's games , an official said friday . iraq fans cheer during an olympic qualifying soccer match against australia in november . jassim m. jaffer , iraq 's minister of youth and sports , told cnn he is `` optimistic that we will participate . '' iraqi government spokesman ali al-dabbagh and the ministry 's adviser , basil abdul mahdi , are on their way to lausanne , switzerland , to meet with ioc officials , jaffer said . the ioc barred iraq from participating in the olympic summer games in beijing , china , citing what it said was government interference with iraq 's olympic movement . the ioc 's charter does not allow political interference . the ban stems from the iraqi government decision in may to suspend the country 's existing olympic committee and form a new entity . watch an official explain the decision '' but even as government representatives traveled to switzerland , jaffer said iraq was considering legal action against the ioc . `` we will revert to international courts with a complaint against the ioc ... to get iraq 's rights and the rights of the athletes , '' jaffer said . on friday , another iraqi government official said the country was doing what it could to reverse the ban , but acknowledged that `` chances are slim '' for a change . basam ridha al-husseini , an adviser to prime minister nuri al-maliki , told cnn the government has been in `` heavy negotiations '' with ioc officials through the asian olympic committee . `` the iraqi government will not give up on our participation , which is still needed by our people , '' he said in a phone interview from dubai . `` we are doing our best to stop the ban . ... the chances of that are slim , but we will persevere and hope it will happen . '' repeated attempts by cnn to reach the ioc press office in switzerland for comment were unsuccessful . but on thursday , ioc spokeswoman emmanuelle moreau said the ioc in june suspended iraq 's national olympic committee after the government removed elected officials and put in people not recognized by the ioc . she said the ioc had proposed to the iraqi government that officials come to the ioc headquarters in lausanne , switzerland , `` to discuss possible solutions . '' `` we 're extremely disappointed with the situation , '' moreau said . `` the athletes have been ill-served by the government in iraq . '' iraq missed a wednesday deadline for the entry of athletes to compete in archery , judo , rowing and weightlifting , moreau said .<doc-sep>she said there is a chance that track and field athletes could compete if the original committee is reinstated . the deadline for the track team to register is at the end of the month . jaffer , iraq 's sports minister , told cnn on friday that the ioc 's decision was `` unjust '' because it did not take into consideration the iraqi government 's reasons for the may suspension . the minister called on the ioc to come to iraq and talk to the sports federation to investigate the political interference accusations , and then act accordingly . `` looking at this from far away , without going into the details , not reading the iraqi government 's reports , not hearing iraq 's side of the story and accusing iraq of many things is really unfortunate , '' he said . several iraqi athletes were to travel to china for the games ' start in august . iraqi sprinter dana hussain cried for hours after hearing the news of the ban on thursday , which arrived in the form of a letter to iraqi officials . `` she has n't stopped . it 's like finding out that a close relative has died , '' said her coach , yousif abdul rahman . abdul rahman attempted to console hussain by assuring her that she could compete in the 2012 olympics . watch hussain react to the news '' `` in this horrible situation , '' she said , `` who can say i 'll even be alive in 2012 ? '' al-husseini said iraq had the right as a sovereign nation to suspend the olympic committee , which he accused of documented corruption . it was not clear where the committee 's funds were going and they `` could be ending up in the hands of terrorists , '' he said . `` we are satisfied with the decision ... stand by it and we are not going to change an order by -lsb- prime minister -rsb- al-maliki and the cabinet . ... never , '' he said . he was asked whether iraq would consider doing what yugoslavia did in the 1992 winter olympics when it was banned -- sending individual athletes and not raising the national flag . al-husseini said that would be an option , but al-maliki rejected it . al-husseini said that iraq had been banned from taking part in the 1990 olympics during the saddam hussein-era because of the invasion of kuwait . the 1990 ban , enacted by the olympic council of asia , actually was a ban on participation in the asian games , a regional olympics-related event . iraq participated in the 1992 olympics in barcelona , the first games held after the kuwait invasion . cnn 's jomana karadsheh and morgan neill contributed to this report .<doc-sep>he denied , however , that government security forces had seized ifa headquarters , saying the men were protection services personnel guarding the building . ali al-dabbagh , the iraqi government spokesman who has been delegated for months to deal with the international olympic committee , told cnn he will work on cooperating with fifa 's demands and holding transparent ifa elections . he said the suspension `` will not have a major effect '' on iraqi football because the national team has no international matches scheduled over the next six months . it is the second time fifa has suspended iraqi football . the first time was in may last year , after the iraqi government dissolved the national olympic committee and all national sports federations . fifa lifted the ban after the iraqi government excluded the ifa from dissolution . iraqi soccer has come a long way since the days of saddam hussein , when hussein 's son , uday , was president of the iraqi olympic committee and regularly threatened players with physical violence and torture if they played poorly . the national soccer team has continued playing , however , and has been viewed as something that has united iraqis across sectarian lines . although iraq has not qualified for next year 's world cup in south africa , the national team was able to celebrate becoming the asia champions in 2007 . in july , iraq played its first home game since 2002 , beating its palestinian opponents 4-0 . tens of thousands attended the match in the capital after fifa lifted its ban on international games in iraq . cnn 's jomana karadsheh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the iraqi olympic committee said saturday it stands by its decision to disband the country 's soccer association -- a move that led to the association 's suspension from international football . world governing body fifa said friday it had decided to suspend the iraqi football association -lrb- ifa -rrb- because of the iraqi olympic committee 's move to disband it . fifa described that as governmental interference . the suspension means iraqi soccer clubs and teams may not play in international matches or receive financial assistance , though fifa made an exception for iraqi female players to play in a weeklong under-16 regional football festival in jordan starting sunday . fifa said it learned monday that the iraqi olympic committee had disbanded the ifa and that governmental security forces had seized control of the ifa headquarters . fifa officials gave the committee 72 hours to revoke the decision and hand the headquarters back to the ifa . `` the deadline has expired without revocation of the decision by the iraqi olympic committee and the ifa has not been restored to its headquarters , '' fifa said in a statement friday . `` the fifa emergency committee has therefore decided to immediately suspend the ifa until the decision of the iraqi olympic committee is revoked and the ifa retakes possession of its offices . ''<doc-sep>baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the iraqi olympic committee said saturday it stands by its decision to disband the country 's soccer association -- a move that led to the association 's suspension from international football . world governing body fifa said friday it had decided to suspend the iraqi football association -lrb- ifa -rrb- because of the iraqi olympic committee 's move to disband it . fifa described that as governmental interference . the suspension means iraqi soccer clubs and teams may not play in international matches or receive financial assistance , though fifa made an exception for iraqi female players to play in a weeklong under-16 regional football festival in jordan starting sunday . fifa said it learned monday that the iraqi olympic committee had disbanded the ifa and that governmental security forces had seized control of the ifa headquarters . fifa officials gave the committee 72 hours to revoke the decision and hand the headquarters back to the ifa . `` the deadline has expired without revocation of the decision by the iraqi olympic committee and the ifa has not been restored to its headquarters , '' fifa said in a statement friday . `` the fifa emergency committee has therefore decided to immediately suspend the ifa until the decision of the iraqi olympic committee is revoked and the ifa retakes possession of its offices . '' the iraqi olympic committee 's actions are in `` total contradiction '' to fifa statutes , which require national teams to have full independence , fifa said . two top iraqi officials said saturday the decision to disband the ifa was based on financial and administrative irregularities and violations , and that they were not surprised by fifa 's decision and had expected it . samir al-moussawi , a senior member of the iraqi olympic committee , told cnn he was hopeful the issue could be resolved with fifa in the coming days , and that the olympic committee had international lawyers working on the issue .<doc-sep>baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a few months ago , it seemed liked nothing could stop iraqi sprinter dana hussain from representing her country in the upcoming summer olympics . iraqi sprinter dana hussain was devastated to learn she could not participate in the beijing summer olympics . then , the international olympic committee banned iraq from competing because of what it says is the government 's political interference in sports . hussain cried for hours after hearing the news , which arrived in the form of a letter to iraqi officials . `` she has n't stopped . it 's like finding out that a close relative has died , '' said her coach , yousif abdul rahman . abdul rahman attempted to console hussain by assuring her that she could compete in the 2012 olympics . watch hussain react to the news '' `` in this horrible situation , '' she said , `` who can say i 'll even be alive in 2012 ? '' cnn received a copy of the letter sent to jassim mohammed jaffer , iraqi minister of youth and sports , and ali mohsen ismail , acting secretary general of the iraqi general secretariat of the council of ministers . `` we deeply regret this outcome , which severely harms the iraqi olympic and sports movement and the iraqi athletes , but which is unfortunately imposed by the circumstances , '' said the letter , signed by two ioc officials . watch an official explain the decision '' the move stems from an iraqi government decision in may to suspend the nation 's olympic committee and form a temporary committee to handle its duties . the iraqi government thought the committee had not been operating properly and as a result undermined the sporting movement there . the government said the original committee held meetings without quorums and had officials serving in one-year posts for more than five years . many of the officials also lived outside iraq , the government said . ireport.com : see a cartoonist 's take on the decision . emmanuelle moreau , a spokeswoman for the international olympic committee , said it suspended iraq 's national olympic committee in june after the government removed elected officials and put in people the ioc did n't recognize . she said the ioc proposed to the iraqi government that officials come to the organization 's headquarters in lausanne , switzerland , `` to discuss possible solutions . '' but she said they did n't respond . `` we 're extremely disappointed with the situation . the athletes have been ill-served by the government in iraq , '' she said . moreau said iraq missed a wednesday deadline for the entry of athletes to compete in archery , judo , rowing and weightlifting . watch a historian discuss the olympics in iraq under saddam hussein '' she said there is a chance that track and field athletes could compete if the original committee is reinstated . the deadline for the track team to register is at the end of the month . the games begin august 8 . a former official from the disbanded iraq olympic committee said the ioc 's decision was justified because the government interfered with the national committee by suspending it . the former official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject . he said he believed that the government suspended the committee out of `` jealousy . '' the national committee was making great strides , and the government , namely the ministry of youth and sports , wanted control of it , he said . the seven iraqi athletes who were to travel to china for the games ' start in august are disappointed by the decision , officials said . they include an archer , a weightlifter , a judoka , two rowers and two sprinters , one of whom is dana hussain . her coach called the decision unfair and said he blames `` everyone '' : the iraqi government and the iraqi and international olympic committees . in the end , abdul rahman said , the athletes are paying the price . `` it 's a shame after all the efforts , ambitions , risks and dangers , '' he said . `` i wish from the bottom of my heart they would reconsider this unjust decision for the sake of the athletes . '' cnn 's mohammed tawfeeq and jomana karadsheh contributed to this report . | <t> iraqi officials head to switzerland to make case to international olympic committee . </t> <t> ioc said thursday iraq was banned from summer games , which start next month . </t> <t> ioc charged political interference , cited iraq 's suspension of its olympic committee . </t> <t> iraqi official says he 's `` optimistic '' iraq will be allowed to take part in games . </t> | iraq takes its case to international olympic committee<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the senate voted wednesday to move forward on a bill meant to crack down on oil speculators . democrats say speculation in oil futures is a significant reason why oil prices have risen this year . but republicans vowed to block the senate from taking up any other measure until the democratic leadership agrees to vote on other energy-related issues . republicans want to offer up to 28 amendments to the bill on a wide range of energy topics , including increasing domestic oil production . the democrats want to limit them to two amendments . `` this is not some arcane subject ; this is the biggest issue in the country , '' said senate minority leader mitch mcconnell , r-kentucky . `` it 's on the floor now . we say , let 's deal with it . we 're not afraid to vote on their amendments , they should n't be afraid to vote on ours . let the senate work its will on the no. 1 issue in the country . '' the republicans said they would not prevent the senate from taking up the housing bill passed earlier in the day by the house , although a final vote on that bill is not expected before the end of the week . democrats oppose republican measures to lift bans on offshore drilling and oil exploration in the arctic national wildlife reserve . see how gas prices have risen across the country '' republicans say the process would not be fair unless they can offer all of their amendments . sen. robert menendez , a new jersey democrat , accused the republicans of wanting to score political points rather than pass legislation . `` the problem with our republican colleagues is that they want to debate , not act . ... even when they are offered what they want , they say no . '' menendez suggested there was bipartisan support for measures meant to limit speculation , encourage conservation and provide tax credits for renewable energy . `` why would you not move forward on the items that you have consensus ? '' he asked . the disagreement between republicans and democrats could result in congress leaving washington for its monthlong recess in august without passing any measures to lower gas prices , which are averaging above $ 4 a gallon at the pump . experts have said lifting bans on drilling in the arctic national wildlife refuge and offshore would not affect the oil market for several years , but republicans have argued that the psychological effect of opening more areas for oil exploration would bring prices down . sen. byron dorgan , d-north dakota , one of the main sponsors of the bill , pleaded for republicans to help `` wring excessive speculation '' from the oil markets . he says speculation is responsible for 71 percent of the increase in a price of a barrel of oil this year . some analysts say speculation has added between $ 40 to $ 60 dollars to a barrel of oil . but other experts have questioned the extent to which speculators -- rather than basic market principles of supply and demand -- have driven up the price of oil . wednesday morning , a barrel of light , sweet crude was priced around $ 128 on the new york mercantile exchange , down from the $ 147 a barrel record set july 11 and the lowest price since june 5 . dorgan said ending speculation in the oil market would be a sensible first step toward lowering gas prices that both sides of the aisle could agree to . republicans `` have come up with a hundred excuses why they do n't want to do that , '' he said . but republicans say they want the opportunity to offer `` real '' solutions that will lower energy prices , which includes more drilling to expand domestic production . see what factors are driving up the price of oil '' `` the republicans know that american people want us to do something real , something big , something important about the price of gasoline , '' said sen. pete dominici , r-new mexico . `` and the only thing that we can do that is important is to release large quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are owned by american people and that have been locked up for 27 years in moratoria . '' dorgan , however , said the republicans are trying to suggest democrats are against additional domestic oil production , noting that there are millions of acres of federally controlled land and off-shore drilling sites that are open to exploration but have not been used by oil companies . `` it 's a false choice that the minority side says we should drill and that the majority side does n't , '' dorgan said . the bill in the senate would provide more resources and authority to the commodities futures trading commission to detect and punish speculation . it would help stop speculators from using foreign markets to manipulate the price of oil in the united states , require more transparency in oil markets and limit the trading of market players who do not intend to receive the oil they purchase . cnn 's ted barrett , debra krajnak and scott anderson contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the administration has pushed a `` green energy '' agenda nationally as a way to create jobs and lessen u.s. dependence on oil imports . that effort , however , has been sharply criticized by congressional republicans who have said certain high-profile projects are politically driven . they also have skewered certain energy department programs that extended millions in taxpayer loans and other aid to alternative energy companies or projects that faltered or did not meet expectations . the republican-led house oversight and government reform committee is investigating the political assertions around cape wind as part of a broader review of `` green energy '' projects supported by the administration . the panel 's chairman , california 's darrell issa , wrote president barack obama last week saying that white house interest in the massachusetts project is `` well known '' and that the faa had been under political pressure to approve it . candidates spar over energy future . a group opposing the project , the alliance to protect nantucket sound , also said in a statement to cnn that the faa disregarded safety and asserted the decision was politically driven .<doc-sep>obama said tuesday that the new measures he announced to limit speculation in oil markets will make amends to consumers for congressional republicans blocking an end to subsidies for oil corporations . `` a few weeks ago , congress had the chance to stand up for families already paying an extra premium at the pump , but congressional republicans voted to keep spending billions of americans ' hard-earned tax dollars on more unnecessary subsidies for big oil companies , '' obama said in his announcement in the rose garden . `` so here 's a chance to make amends . '' senate republicans three weeks ago blocked a democratic measure championed by obama to end tax breaks for the major oil companies , which he said are enjoying record profits . four democrats crossed party lines to vote against the bill , but even if it had passed the senate , it was given little chance in the republican-controlled house . obama 's proposal would require traders to put up more of their own money for transactions . it also would ask for more funding for market enforcement and monitoring , and increase penalties for manipulating markets . obama and republicans have drawn lines over oil prices since they started to rise to near-record levels earlier this year . republicans say obama has n't done enough to stem the rise and advocate opening up more areas for drilling and approving projects like the keystone xl pipeline , which would carry oil from canada to refineries in texas . but analysts say such measures would have little effect on the current price of oil and gasoline . most americans blame big oil for the spike in prices -- a recent cnn/orc international poll showed that the majority blamed the oil companies while 24 % blamed obama and 21 % blamed republican policies . cnn poll : gender gap and likeability keep obama over romney . obama 's announcement came a day after one of the elements of his tax policy was blocked by republicans in the senate . the so-called buffett rule -- named after billionaire warren buffett , who says the tax rate he pays should be no lower than that of his secretary -- failed to get the necessary 60 votes to go to the senate floor . the measure would have raised the minimum tax rate to 30 % for those making more than $ 1 million a year . republican presidential candidate mitt romney said that obama , by pushing the buffett rule , shows that the incumbent is `` out of ideas '' on the economy . speaking to the tax day tea summit in philadelphia on monday night , romney cited a calculation that the measure , which would have raised the minimum tax rate to 30 % for those making between $ 1 million and $ 2 million , would have paid for `` 11 hours of government . '' `` this is not exactly a grand idea , '' romney said . `` this is a man who is out of ideas , he 's out of excuses and in 2012 we 're going to make sure he gets put out of office . '' however , a cnn/orc poll released monday found that seven in 10 respondents said they favored the bill . romney 's wife , ann , was to be the guest of honor later tuesday at a birthday celebration/fundraiser being held for her by donald trump 's wife , melania , at the couple 's residence in trump tower in new york . trump spokesman michael cohen said about 400 people were invited to the event , which was expected to bring in `` well in excess '' of $ 600,000 . cohen said trump will stop by the fundraiser to wish ann romney , who turned 63 on monday , a happy birthday and he expects to host another fundraiser for the campaign at trump tower once romney officially clinches the nomination . first lady michelle obama will also be raising cash on tuesday . she will speak at a democratic national committee event in nashville , followed by two dnc fundraisers in pittsburgh . romney could cross paths with the first lady when he holds a midday campaign roundtable at a community center in the pittsburgh suburb of bethel park . pro-obama super pac to hit romney on taxes . cnnmoney 's steve hargreaves and cnn 's tom cohen , john helton , gabriella schwarz and shawna shepherd contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the house of representatives on tuesday night passed an energy bill clearing the way for more oil drilling off u.s. coasts , but not nearly as much as republican leaders wanted . the bill was passed by a vote of 236-189 . many republicans opposed the bill because it would allow new oil drilling only between 50 and 100 miles offshore . republicans generally want to allow new drilling starting 3 miles from shore . republicans also objected to provisions repealing tax cuts for the oil industry and what they said was a lack of incentive for states to allow drilling on their land . house speaker nancy pelosi , a california democrat , told reporters tuesday : `` the american taxpayers have been ripped off for years on offshore drilling . this bill changes that . ''<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the worst oil spill in u.s. history has heated up the debate about how to feed the nation with cleaner , safer energy . the argument over whether to `` drill baby drill '' -- the 2008 gop campaign mantra -- returned in april after a deadly oil rig blast spilled millions of gallons of oil into the gulf of mexico . the disaster threatened jobs in the nation 's seafood and tourism industries and hundreds of miles of sensitive wetlands , marshes and wildlife . the spill came as president obama was backing expanded offshore oil drilling and as congress considered wide-ranging energy legislation aimed at cutting pollution and u.s. dependency on foreign oil . before bp 's gulf oil disaster , obama 's late march proposal called for opening swaths of u.s. coastal waters in the atlantic ocean and the gulf of mexico to oil and natural gas drilling . after the spill , obama said offshore drilling is key to `` our energy future , '' but it can move forward only with assurances that the gulf disaster wo n't be repeated . the president halted drilling permits for new wells and ordered inspections of all deepwater operations . former gop vice presidential nominee and alaska gov. sarah palin -- who in 2008 called on the u.s. to `` drill baby drill '' in the protected arctic national wildlife refuge -- tweeted that obama should offset his drilling moratorium by `` correspondingly '' allowing `` more onshore drilling , including anwr reserves . domestic oil 's still required in us industry . '' will the spill change obama 's oil policy ? senate democrats gave up on their goal of passing a slimmed-down energy bill before august recess . senate majority leader harry reid blamed unified republican opposition to the proposal . `` it 's a sad day when you ca n't find a handful of republicans to support a bill that would create 70,000 clean-energy jobs , hold bp accountable , and look at a future as it relates to what bp did . '' republicans pointed at reid . `` sen. reid is predictably blaming republicans for standing in the way of a bill that he threw together in secret and without input from almost any other member of the senate , '' said sen. lisa murkowski of alaska , the top republican on the energy committee . `` process alone guaranteed its failure , although substance would have as well had sen. reid actually brought his bill up for debate or a vote . '' the democratic bill had been stripped of its most controversial components such as limits on carbon emissions . the remaining legislation would have eliminated a $ 75-million cap on economic damages that offshore oil drillers would be responsible for . it would have reformed federal government oversight of offshore drilling . it encouraged the use of natural gas engines in commercial trucks ; and it promoted high efficiency appliances in homes . republicans planned to offer an alternative bill that included lifting the obama administration 's blanket moratorium on deepwater drilling , setting up a bipartisan commission with subpoena power to investigate the gulf oil disaster and propose reforms , and allowing for revenue sharing for states that permit offshore drilling . an energy bill passed last year by the house of representatives included a controversial cap-and-trade system . the system would set a price for greenhouse gas emissions , such as carbon dioxide , and polluters would obtain and trade credits for emissions over a set threshold . republicans and oil and coal producers oppose such a plan . supporters say it 's the best way to begin reducing u.s. dependence on fossil fuels . would a nuclear power comeback be a good thing ? obama has been a key figure in energy talks among lawmakers . in late june , he met with a bipartisan group of senators at the white house to discuss passing an energy and climate change bill this year . the president had expressed hope that something could be done . `` there was agreement on the sense of urgency required to move forward with legislation , and the president is confident that we will be able to get something done this year , '' the white house said in a statement . obama told senators that he believed the best way to make a transition to a clean-energy economy is with a bill that `` makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for america 's businesses by putting a price on pollution , '' the statement said . cnn congressional producer ted barrett contributed to this report . | <t> bill would allow regulators to crack down on speculation in oil markets . </t> <t> gop wants to add 28 amendments to bill ; democrats want to allow two . </t> <t> republicans say americans want `` real '' answers , which includes more drilling . </t> | dems , republicans spar over oil speculation bill<T> |
tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thirty people convicted of drug and other criminal charges will be hanged on sunday , iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported saturday . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . the 30 had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them , iran 's judiciary said in a statement . the verdicts are final , and the sentences will be carried out sunday , according to fars .according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . the u.s. executed 42 people in 2007 , according to amnesty international . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of crimes including murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were among the charges . the statement said that 20 of the people were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms .<doc-sep>the judiciary said it will provide more details later as to the crimes committed by those condemned and added that the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes . others are awaiting trial , and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts , the judiciary said . the judiciary asked the public to notify the authorities if they have any information that might lead to arrest and convictions of criminals . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down .<doc-sep>police cracked down on drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the suspects and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday . the judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . the statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- gambia plans to execute all death row prisoners by september , the president said this week , sparking condemnation from human rights groups worldwide . the tiny west african nation last executed an inmate about 30 years ago . it is unclear what prompted the change in stance . by the end of last year , gambia had 44 people on death row , including two women , according to human rights activists . death row convicts will be executed by mid-september , president yahya jammeh said in a speech on state media sunday that was rebroadcast monday .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thirty people convicted of drug and other criminal charges will be hanged on sunday , iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported saturday . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . the 30 had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them , iran 's judiciary said in a statement . the verdicts are final , and the sentences will be carried out sunday , according to fars . | <t> the condemned include people convicted of drug and alcohol offenses . </t> <t> iran executed 317 people in 2007 , compared with 42 executions in u.s. </t> <t> iran 's government announced a crackdown on crime in march . </t> | iran to hang 30 convicts on sunday<T> |
phnom penh , cambodia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cambodia has sent a letter to the united nations security council to call attention to its continuing standoff with thailand over an ancient border temple on disputed land . cambodian soldiers stand guard near preah vihear temple , close to the thai border . the country is not asking for u.n. intervention , said information minister kheu kanharith . rather , the letter that cambodia 's permanent mission in new york submitted to the chairmen of the security council and the general assembly is meant to draw attention to a crisis that entered its sixth day sunday . the two countries agreed to meet monday to defuse tensions -- even as each side continued to amass more troops to the site of the preah vihear temple . both cambodia and thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple , which sits atop a cliff on cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the thai side . the international court of justice awarded the temple to cambodia in 1962 . thailand claims , however , that the 1.8 square mile -lrb- 4.6 sq. km -rrb- area around it was never fully demarcated . thailand further says that the dispute arose from the fact that the cambodian government used a map drawn during the french occupation of cambodia that places both the temple and the surrounding area in that country 's territory . earlier this month , the united nations approved cambodia 's application to have the temple listed as a world heritage site -- places the u.n. says have outstanding universal value . the decision re-ignited tensions , with some in thailand fearing it will make it difficult for their country to lay claim to disputed land around the temple .<doc-sep>opposition parties in thailand used the issue to attack the government , which initially backed the heritage listing . a thai court overturned the pact , prompting the resignation of thailand 's foreign minister , noppadon pattama . he had endorsed the application . cambodia , meanwhile , is preparing for general elections on july 27 . and prime minister hun sen , who has been in power since the mid-1980s , has portrayed the u.n. recognition as a national triumph . the current flare-up began tuesday , when cambodian guards briefly detained three thais who crossed into the area . once they were let go , the three refused to leave the territory . cambodia claims thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and gradually built up their numbers . thailand denies the charge , saying its troops are deployed in thai territory . each side has asked its troops to withhold fire unless they are fired upon . so far , the only casualty has been a thai soldier who was injured tuesday by a landmine -- possibly left over from the time the khmer rouge occupied the area . the khmer rouge , a radical communist movement that ruled cambodia from 1975 to 1979 , won power through a guerrilla war . it is remembered for the deaths of as many as 1.5 million cambodians . -- journalist soeum yin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>hor namhong wrote that thai artillery pieces fell as far as 21 kilometers -lrb- 13 miles -rrb- in its territory during what he called the fifth such attack since 2008 when the u.n. educational , scientific and cultural organization placed cambodia 's preah vihear temple on its world heritage list . thai foreign minister kasit piromya , meanwhile , said he 'd send off a `` protest letter '' of his own , the state-run mcot news agency reported saturday . he disputed reports that thai forces had used poisonous gas or flown over cambodian territory , except for helicopters trying to airlift out wounded soldiers . `` we protected our sovereignty , and our counterattack targeted the cambodian army base to limit the area of the clash , '' said kasit , who added that thailand still wanted to settle the issues diplomatically . thai deputy prime minister suthep thaugsuban told mcot on saturday that one recent clash began after cambodian troops fired into thai territory.earlier , thai army lt. col. siriya khuangsirikul accused cambodia of violating an agreement not to bring weapons or post troops in the disputed area . cambodian lt. gen. chhum socheat claimed thai troops shelled and damaged temples , and flew over cambodian territory with spy planes , cambodia 's state-run agence kampuchea presse reported .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thailand and cambodia have called for dialogue as tensions continued to escalate over an ancient border temple on disputed land . cambodian soldiers stand guard near preah vihear temple , close to the thai border . the countries agreed to meet monday even as each side deployed more troops to the site of the preah vihear temple , the national thai news agency reported thursday . both cambodia and thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple , which sits atop a cliff on cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the thai side . the international court of justice awarded the temple to cambodia in 1962 , but the 1.8 square mile -lrb- 4.6 sq. km -rrb- area around it was never fully demarcated . last week , the united nations approved cambodia 's application to have the temple listed as a world heritage site -- places the u.n. says have outstanding universal value .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thailand and cambodia have called for dialogue as tensions continued to escalate over an ancient border temple on disputed land . cambodian soldiers stand guard near preah vihear temple , close to the thai border . the countries agreed to meet monday even as each side deployed more troops to the site of the preah vihear temple , the national thai news agency reported thursday . both cambodia and thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple , which sits atop a cliff on cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the thai side . the international court of justice awarded the temple to cambodia in 1962 , but the 1.8 square mile -lrb- 4.6 sq. km -rrb- area around it was never fully demarcated . last week , the united nations approved cambodia 's application to have the temple listed as a world heritage site -- places the u.n. says have outstanding universal value . the decision re-ignited tensions , with some in thailand fearing it will make it difficult for their country to lay claim to disputed land around the temple . opposition parties in thailand used the issue to attack the government , which initially backed the heritage listing . watch thai villagers block anti-government demonstrators '' a thai court overturned the pact , prompting the resignation of thailand 's foreign minister , noppadon pattama . he had endorsed the application .<doc-sep>phnom penh , cambodia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cambodia has sent a letter to the united nations security council to call attention to its continuing standoff with thailand over an ancient border temple on disputed land . cambodian soldiers stand guard near preah vihear temple , close to the thai border . the country is not asking for u.n. intervention , said information minister kheu kanharith . rather , the letter that cambodia 's permanent mission in new york submitted to the chairmen of the security council and the general assembly is meant to draw attention to a crisis that entered its sixth day sunday . the two countries agreed to meet monday to defuse tensions -- even as each side continued to amass more troops to the site of the preah vihear temple . both cambodia and thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple , which sits atop a cliff on cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the thai side . | <t> cambodia : letter to security council meant to ` draw attention to crisis ' </t> <t> the two countries agreed to meet monday to defuse tensions . </t> <t> both cambodia and thailand lay claim to 11th century preah vihear temple . </t> <t> the international court of justice awarded the temple to cambodia in 1962 . </t> | cambodia reports thai incursions to u.n.<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- congress voted to halt planned cuts in medicare payments to doctors tuesday , overriding president bush 's veto in a battle that pitted health insurers against physicians . president bush says he objects to the bill because it takes choices `` away from seniors to pay physicians . '' the new law stops a 10.6 percent cut in medicare payments to doctors , part of a scheduled cost-saving formula that went into effect july 1 . the money for the doctors will be taken from the government-subsidized medicare advantage program , which the bush administration strongly supports . bush spiked the bill tuesday , telling lawmakers they would be `` taking choices away from seniors to pay physicians . '' `` i urge the congress to send me a bill that reduces the growth in medicare spending , increases competition and efficiency , implements principles of value-driven health care and appropriately offsets increases in physician spending , '' he said in his veto message . the senate voted 70-26 to enact the law over bush 's objections , the third time in his presidency that congress has overridden his veto . the margin in the house of representatives was a lopsided 383-41 , well beyond the two-thirds majority needed .<doc-sep>the american medical association lobbied heavily for the bill , warning that its members could be forced to curtail seeing medicare patients if the cuts went into effect . but insurers , which receive government subsidies to offer medicare advantage plans , warned that 2 million seniors could lose health benefits if it passed . a total of 21 senate republicans joined 47 democrats and two independents in the override vote . supporters broke a gop-led filibuster of the bill last week , aided by the dramatic return of sen. edward kennedy of massachusetts . kennedy 's vote came in his first appearance on the senate floor since surgery to remove a brain tumor in early june . though he did not vote tuesday , kennedy praised his colleagues for overriding the `` misguided '' veto . `` it 's a great vote , and a great day for america 's seniors , '' he said in a written statement . those republicans who opposed the bill argued that it would roll back many of the changes made to medicare in 2003 , when congress created privately run , government-subsidized prescription drug coverage and expanded the role of private insurers in other coverage . `` these are not pro-patient policies , '' said sen. jon kyl , r-arizona . `` rather , the bill reduces access , benefits and choices for medicare beneficiaries . ''<doc-sep>but critics of the 2003 reforms say medicare advantage subsidies end up costing more than the government would pay to cover the same people through regular medicare , the federal health insurance program for seniors . the congressional budget office estimates that the bill will reduce federal spending by $ 12.5 billion by 2013 , largely by reducing medicare advantage enrollment . sen. patty murray , d-washington , said the bill also made `` vital improvements '' by supporting rural health care and lowering fees for mental health care . `` today , we can stand up for medicare , '' she said . `` we did it last week , when we came together and voted for this measure by a veto-proof margin , and i believe we can do it today by overriding that veto . '' congress had passed only two bills over bush 's objections : a $ 23 billion water-project legislation that the president vetoed in 2007 and a $ 300 billion farm bill he spiked in may . the medicare system pays for the health care of roughly 40 million elderly americans . rising health care costs have made medicare a growing part of the federal budget , and the stress on the system is increasing as more baby boomers reach retirement age . while the debate was raging over the bill , the ama said the cuts could lead to a `` meltdown '' of the government 's health care system for the elderly . a recent survey by the group found that 60 percent of physicians will be forced to limit the number of new medicare patients they can take on if the cuts go into effect .<doc-sep>`` we stand at the brink of a medicare meltdown . ... for doctors , this is not a partisan issue ; it 's a patient access issue , '' ama president nancy nielsen said in a statement after last week 's senate vote . the ama ran radio and tv ads over the july fourth congressional recess targeting 10 republican senators , seven of whom are up for re-election . the aarp , the nation 's largest organization of retired people , and other groups also are weighing in against the cuts . gerald harmon , a family physician who practices in pawleys island , south carolina , said the cuts could lead to doctors taking fewer medicare patients , making it difficult for the program 's elderly patients to get the care they need . `` this medicare access problem is a real issue , not just a political football , '' said harmon , who said 35 percent of his patients were eligible for medicare . `` it affects your dad when he 's sick . it affects my patients in my practice . this has to be addressed . '' cnn 's elaine quijano and ted barrett contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- republicans were facing pressure tuesday to vote for a rollback of across-the-board cuts in medicare payments to health providers after a major doctors ' group said the cuts could lead to a `` meltdown '' of the government 's health care system for the elderly . doctors say they would take on fewer medicare patients if the cuts go into effect . on monday , senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , called several republicans trying to persuade them to support a bill that would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in medicare payments to doctors . the cuts in medicare payments -- part of a scheduled cost-saving formula -- went into effect july 1 , although the bush administration said it will hold off on processing claims until mid-july to give congress time to reach a compromise . the medicare system pays for the health care of roughly 40 million elderly americans . rising health care costs have made medicare a growing part of the federal budget , and the stress on the system is increasing as more baby boomers reach retirement age . similar cuts have been scheduled to go into effect on july 1 in previous years , but congress always has voted to stop the cuts before they went into effect . gerald harmon , a family physician who practices in pawleys island , south carolina , said the cuts could lead to doctors taking fewer medicare patients , making it difficult for the program 's elderly patients to get the care they need . `` this medicare access problem is a real issue , not just a political football , '' said harmon , who said 35 percent of his patients were eligible for medicare . `` it affects your dad , when he 's sick . it affects my patients in my practice . this has to be addressed . '' a vote on the bill last week fell one shy of the 60 needed to clear a republican filibuster and advance in the senate . senate republicans joined the white house in objecting to the democratic-back bill because it paid for the increased payments to doctors by trimming government support for private insurance programs that provide coverage to medicare patients . the private medicare programs are a top policy initiative for republicans . the issue has become the subject of an intense election-year lobbying and advertising campaign aimed primarily at its gop opponents . the american medical association , a powerful doctor 's group , said its members may be forced to reduce service to medicare patients if the cuts go into effect . according to a recent association survey , 60 percent of physicians will be forced to limit the number of new medicare patients they can take on if the july 1 cuts go into effect . `` we stand at the brink of a medicare meltdown . ... for doctors , this is not a partisan issue -- it 's a patient access issue , '' ama president nancy nielsen said in a statement after the senate vote last week . the ama ran radio and tv ads over the july fourth congressional recess targeting 10 republican senators , seven of whom are up for re-election . the aarp , the nation 's largest organization of retired persons , and other groups also are weighing in against the cuts . reid has `` no idea '' if the pressure has changed any minds , but the `` proof will be in the pudding '' when senators vote again to break the filibuster , said jim manley , a spokesman for the speaker . that vote is likely to occur wednesday . `` there is clearly a lot of pressure , '' sen. max baucus , d-montana , chairman of the senate finance committee , said monday . baucus said he has talked to several republicans and `` there are a few '' who could switch their votes . but gop lawmakers and aides gave no indication the intense lobbying had changed any minds , and even if the bill does pass the senate , it may still face a presidential veto . republicans `` are holding out for a compromise that can pass and the president can sign , '' said a top gop leadership aide . at the heart of the dispute is the decision by democratic lawmakers to pay for the `` doctors ' fix '' by cutting funds for medicare advantage , a program administered by private insurance companies that is generally favored by republicans and opposed by democrats . the program , which has more benefits than traditional medicare , is also more expensive . republicans -- joined by the insurance industry -- fear democrats are trying to weaken the medicare alternative by draining funds away from it . president bush has threatened to veto the legislation because of the cuts to medicare advantage -- so that even if democrats get one additional vote to beat a filibuster , they will need several more to override a veto . the house of representatives passed the bill 359-55 with broad republican support in june , but the two-thirds vote needed to override a presidential veto appears , at the moment , to be an insurmountable barrier in the senate . `` our goal is to get a result , '' said senate minority leader mitch mcconnell , r-kentucky . `` a vetoed bill is not a result . '' mcconnell on monday pressed for a monthlong extension of the current fee schedule so senators could work on a compromise . cnn 's ted barrett and miriam falco contributed to this report .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- massachusetts sen. edward kennedy on wednesday made his first appearance in congress since being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly two months ago , casting a single vote to help break a republican filibuster of an important medicare bill . colleagues greeted kennedy with a lengthy standing ovation on the senate floor just after 4:15 p.m. . the bill would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in medicare payments to doctors . the cuts in medicare payments -- part of a scheduled cost-saving formula -- went into effect july 1 , although the bush administration said it will hold off processing claims until mid-july to give congress time to reach a compromise . in a written statement , kennedy said , `` i return to the senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens -- and that 's to protect medicare . win , lose or draw , i wanted to be here . i was n't going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference . '' watch the senators applaud kennedy 's arrival ''<doc-sep>a vote on the bill before the july 4 recess fell one shy of the 60 needed to clear a republican filibuster and advance in the senate . senate republicans joined the white house in objecting to the democratic-backed bill because it trimmed government support for private insurance programs that provide coverage to medicare patients . the private medicare programs are a top policy initiative for republicans . white house spokesman tony fratto says the president 's senior advisers would still advise the president to veto the bill in its current form . the vote to end the gop filibuster on the medicare bill was 69-30 , nine more than the 60 votes needed and two more than needed to override a presidential veto . the senators agreed to consider the bill passed if the filibuster were broken .<doc-sep>new albany , indiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush vetoed a $ 600 billion spending bill tuesday , accusing democratic leaders of wasting money and plotting tax increases , then took his budget fight with congress on the road . congress should cut spending `` and send me a responsible measure that i can sign into law , '' president bush said . `` the majority was elected on a pledge of fiscal responsibility , but so far , it 's acting like a teenager with a new credit card , '' he said in a speech in new albany , indiana . the bill -- which bush said was laden with $ 10 billion in `` pork '' -- would have funded the departments of labor , education , and health and human services . it also would have funded projects such as a prison museum , a sailing school and a program to teach portuguese . `` congress needs to cut out that pork , reduce the spending and send me a responsible measure that i can sign into law , '' the president said . watch a report on the veto '' while polls show bush 's popularity remains at near-record lows , congress ranks even lower as a whole . the president has taken numerous opportunities to mock the spending habits of the democratic leadership and force confrontations over the appropriations bills needed to fund the government for the 2008 budget year , which began october 1 . the bill bush vetoed tuesday includes about $ 150 billion to run those departments and more than $ 450 billion in mandatory spending on medicare and medicaid , the federal health care programs for the elderly and poor , according to the house appropriations committee . the committee 's chairman , rep. david obey , called bush 's veto `` not responsible and not credible . '' `` this is a bipartisan bill supported by over 50 republicans , '' obey , d-wisconsin , said in a statement issued after the veto . `` there has been virtually no criticism of its contents . it is clear the only reason the president vetoed this bill is pure politics . '' bush said democrats are supporting $ 22 billion in additional spending beyond his budget proposals this year and $ 205 billion over five years -- money he said would ultimately be raised by tax increases . `` when the bill for all that spending comes due , congress is going to turn to the working people , to the small-business owners and the entrepreneurs , '' he said . | <t> new : house votes 383 to 41 to override president bush 's veto . </t> <t> new : senate votes 70-26 to enact the law over bush 's objections . </t> <t> medicare payment bill sent to bush after senate filibuster battle . </t> <t> bill would stop 10.6 percent cut in what medicare pays doctors . </t> | congress rejects veto of bill to halt medicare payment cuts<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` the dark knight '' opened early friday to huge crowds and rave reviews . colorado teen christina perez says she painted her face like the joker as a tribute to heath ledger . much of the praise has gone to heath ledger 's dark and disturbing portrayal of the joker . ledger died of an accidental drug overdose before the movie was finished . ireporter chelsea itson , a 23-year-old student , went to the 12:15 a.m. showing in perrysburg , ohio , and could n't sleep afterward . `` it still has me kind of jittery , '' she told cnn . itson saw the first `` batman '' movie , but was n't a big fan of the series , or heath ledger , but said her friend wanted to go . ireporter has n't been to sleep since seeing film '' `` it was completely different from jack nicholson -lsb- as the joker -rsb- , '' she said .<doc-sep>after the movie , she said , the audience was silent . `` i 've never left a movie shaking before , '' she said . christina perez , of colorado springs , colorado , and her friends went to the theater four hours early to make sure they got a good seat . `` there was already a line going along the side of the theater , but we managed to get good seats anyway , '' she said . the 17-year-old says she 's more of a heath ledger fan than a batman fan , and she wore joker make up as a tribute to him . `` i thought he was amazing . i felt really sad that he died while filming this , his role was so amazing , '' she said . jessica lang , 15 , of mankato , minnesota , said she was n't expecting much from the movie and pretty much went only because her brother and some friends wanted to go .<doc-sep>`` it was amazing , there were no words for it , it was so good , it was probably the best movie i 've ever seen , '' she said . jenni smith went to the 3 a.m. showing in las vegas , nevada , even though she had to be at work that day . she and her friends went straight to bed after work thursday , then got up at 1 a.m. `` i 'm a big comic book fan , and i 've been reading comic books since i was 5 . and i 'm also a big movie fan , and we tend to go to a lot of movie openings . '' her friend mario carrillo also dressed up as the joker , and she made a custom shirt for the event . `` one of the things i just really love is the energy of the crowd on opening day . i find that people are more willing to laugh out loud and cheer . ... it 's worth staying up for , '' the 32-year-old publications manager said .<doc-sep>below is a sampling of ireporters ' impressions of `` the dark knight . '' some have been edited for length or clarity : . sanjeeva7 of alpharetta , georgia : believe the hype . the dark knight lived up to the hype , especially heath ledger 's role as the joker . i really felt he was crazy . one of the best villain portrayals of all time and well deserving of an oscar nomination . geno walker of charlotte , north carolina : `` unless you hate yourself , you should go see this movie immediately . stop reading this right now and go to the nearest movie theater . it does n't even matter if the show has already started . buy a ticket , walk in halfway through , sit down and wait for the next showing to start . see it soon and see it often . you 'll love yourself more if you do . '' mrrg : `` a haunting experiment into the human psyche is the only way i can describe the unequivocal depth that ledger was able to reach with this portrayal of one the most evil characters ever brought to the screen . it was definitely bale 's story , but the late heath ledger 's movie . sonnyjc9 : wife and i watched this yesterday 17 july here in bangkok , thailand . heath ledger is awesome as the joker . 154 minutes of pure entertainment , and you will be giggling to yourself from heath 's performance . it is sad to think he will never reprise this role , but what a farewell . must see . zandz : we went to the premiere of this movie last night and thought the movie was only good . however , heath ledger did an excellent job portraying the the joker . the way heath ledger plays the joker is different than how jack nicholson plays the character . both have their unique styles -- nicholson 's joker was more comical , but ledger 's was more dark -lrb- while trying to be funny -rrb- . the makeup artists also did a great job on this joker 's face .<doc-sep>-lrb- ew.com -rrb- -- last weekend , a dark cloud hung over the box office after the tragedy in aurora , colorado , rocked the country . the `` dark knight rises '' still managed a stunning $ 160.9 million opening weekend -- the third best of all time -- but most believe it could have finished with substantially more money had audiences not been avoiding the theater . there 's definitely still some tension in the air this frame , but movie going is expected to return at least somewhat back to normal . two new openers are hitting theaters -- sci-fi comedy `` the watch '' and dance sequel `` step up revolution '' -- but they wo n't be any match for the second weekend of `` the dark knight rises . '' here 's how the box office may play out : . once again , the dark knight rises will top the chart . the question is how hard it will fall in its sophomore frame . in 2008 , the dark knight dropped 53 percent to $ 75.2 million in its second weekend , but rises will be lucky to earn a similar drop . after six days in theaters , `` rises '' is lagging behind `` the dark knight '' -lrb- $ 211.8 million vs. $ 222.2 million -rrb- despite a stronger start . on its first monday , tuesday , and wednesday , `` the dark knight '' earned $ 24.5 million , $ 20.9 million , and $ 18.4 million , respectively . rises , meanwhile , earned $ 19.4 million , $ 17.8 million , and $ 13.8 million . i see four possible reasons for this slighter performance : . • the shooting still has moviegoers wary to attend the theater -- especially for `` the dark knight rises . '' • `` the dark knight rises , '' while well-received , is not earning the same amount of feverishly strong word-of-mouth that propelled `` the dark knight '' into the box office stratosphere . • `` the dark knight rises '' is playing like a typical sequel . they open bigger -lrb- in this case , only slightly bigger -rrb- , but then fall much more quickly due to up-front fan excitement .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- after three weekends , it 's clear that warner brothers ' $ 250 million franchise finale `` the dark knight rises , '' which has earned $ 363.3 million , wo n't be able to match `` the dark knight 's '' box office haul -lrb- $ 533.3 million -rrb- domestically , but it 's more than making up the difference overseas . `` rises '' is running well ahead of `` the dark knight '' internationally , having grossed $ 378.4 million so far . at the same point in its run , `` the dark knight '' had earned $ 203.7 million on the way to a $ 468.6 million international finish .<doc-sep>-lrb- ew.com -rrb- -- the wait is almost over , batman fans . well , not really . `` the dark knight rises '' is still 45 days away , but if you want a seat on opening night , you better be prepared to rise up and order your tickets this monday . warner bros. has announced that tickets for the much-anticipated conclusion to christopher nolan 's superhero epic will go on sale on the internet at noon on june 11 . according to amc theaters , which is planning a `` dark knight '' marathon on the eve of the film 's release , `` the dark knight rises '' has a running time of two hours and 45 minutes . that 's 13 minutes longer than its predecessor and even three minutes longer than `` avatar . '' do n't expect too many complaints from the franchise 's fanbase , though , especially those ordering tickets 39 days in advance . to them , nolan could n't make this film long enough . see the full story at ew.com . click here to try 2 risk free issues of entertainment weekly . © 2011 entertainment weekly and time inc. . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>the scrap-metal was attached to a modified suzuki fx 125 he bought for # 90 with car tyres replacing the original . the skeleton of the batpod replica is a suzuki fx 125 bike which tùng lâm bought for # 90 . the batpod bike uses steel tubes to create the exhaust pipes and old car tyres instead of the originals . although he did not originally intend to sell the the batpod bike , which is worth just over # 300 , tùng lâm said that he is considering selling it to a devoted dark knight fan if the price is right . he plans to invest the profits in his next project -- a replica of the tumbler , batman 's futuristic car from which the batpod detaches . tùng lâm admits that his creation would have been better had he had a bigger budget and told the vnexppress , that he hopes to make his tumbler replica closer to the original . the young mechanic said his future plans was to build replicas of the futuristic helicopters from the movie avatar once he has the money for parts . dark knight : tùng lâm hopes to build a replica of the tumbler - a vehicle used in the dark knight series . | <t> ireporters got up early , stayed up late to see `` the dark night '' </t> <t> christina perez got to the theater four hours early . </t> <t> `` best movie i 've ever seen , '' jessica lang said . </t> <t> send your review : share photos and videos . </t> | ireporters gush over ` dark knight '<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- authorities are searching for a female soldier , missing after a fire at her apartment near fort bragg in north carolina . fayetteville , north carolina , police released this undated photo of 2nd lt. holley wimunc . investigators thursday morning found evidence of arson at the fayetteville apartment of 2nd lt. holley wimunc , 24 . a neighbor , roland petty , told cnn affiliate wral-tv that he saw a man running from the area on wednesday night and smelled smoke , although he did n't associate it with the building at the time . in a court filing for a protective order , wimunc said that in may her husband had knocked her down , held a loaded gun to her head and then threatened to commit suicide , wral reported . watch police at work at wimunc 's complex '' the court documents indicate that john wimunc is a marine stationed at camp lejeune , the station reported .<doc-sep>a camp lejeune spokesman told wral that police had spoken to john wimunc on thursday about his wife 's disappearance . `` i have n't seen any violence . i know -lsb- wimunc 's husband -rsb- was not living here anymore , but that 's all i know , '' a neighbor told wtvd-tv , another cnn affiliate . both stations reported that holley wimunc 's car was still in the parking lot at the apartment . her disappearance is considered a missing person case . holley wimunc 's family , from dubuque , iowa , released a statement friday saying they are `` still trying to absorb the impact of this week 's stunning events . ''<doc-sep>`` first and foremost , our concern is for our daughter , holley -- that she will be found and restored to us , '' the james family wrote . `` when you read about or watch television news reports of incidents like this , you can hardly believe that it could happen to you . but it has -- we are so grateful for the thoughts , support and prayers of friends today -- something we 're leaning on heavily right now . '' the family said they would not be making any further comments , citing the investigation . no one was inside the apartment at the time of the fire , police said . wimunc is assigned to charlie company , womack army hospital at fort bragg , police said .<doc-sep>a statement from fort bragg said wimunc is a nurse from lafayette , louisiana , who works at the hospital 's mother and baby ward . `` womack army medical center staff is very concerned about our soldier and her safety , '' col. terry walters , commander of wamc , said in the statement . `` the staff and members of her unit are being supported by the command and with counseling available through our unit chaplains . '' the blaze comes nearly three weeks after the body of a pregnant soldier was found in a hotel near fort bragg . spc. megan lynn touma , 23 , was seven months pregnant at the time of her death , authorities said . investigators say they are treating touma 's death as a homicide .<doc-sep>authorities began searching for the missing soldier after her fayetteville , north carolina , apartment was torched july 10 . on sunday , a witness found a charred body in a wooded area , but fayetteville police detective jeff locklear said police were still awaiting a positive identification from the medical examiner . watch nancy grace report on the missing soldier '' however , the lieutenant 's father released a statement monday saying his daughter , a mother of two and nurse at a military hospital , was dead . wimunc is the second female soldier from fort bragg to die under suspicious circumstances in recent weeks .<doc-sep>`` it 's the middle east , '' i reply . `` i guess so , '' he says with a sigh . in room after room , our delegation encounters stories of war that are just not a part of the national conversation . i keep thinking : whatever happened to the telling of these stories in america ? do we need a washington lobbyist to push the soldier 's - story agenda ? individual tales make up the reality of war ; anecdote by anecdote , they become the truth of combat . but in the u.s. mainstream media , they have too little presence . how did we get to a place where sharing a soldier 's narrative or reading soldiers ' names on television or meeting their coffins when they are brought back to their country becomes a political or disloyal act ? why ca n't we share the truth about war ? when i was growing up in israel , we saw scenes from military funerals on the news : screaming , crying mothers and all . wounded soldiers would be interviewed , sometimes with burned bodies or missing limbs . it was not political ; it was just the subjective , human reality of the soldier . there was a need to know . it gave our warriors a public stage from which to reconnect .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- her body was left on a riverbed next to a cemetery , burned and abandoned , found just days after her family reported her missing . now , a nation is protesting -- viewing her murder , according to one petition , as a symbol of the growing trend of violence against women in turkey . the government is promising to punish her attackers and do more to protect others like her . three suspects have been arrested in the murder of ozgecan aslan , 20 , whose body was found friday in mersin 's tarsus district in southern turkey , according to the country 's semiofficial news agency anadolu . she was reported missing wednesday . aslan allegedly fought a sexual assault before being killed by the driver of a bus she 'd taken to go home , anadolu reported . she was a first-year university student . her body was covered in gasoline , burned and then dumped in a riverbed , police in mersin said in a statement . her funeral was held saturday in her hometown , the same day protesters marched in istanbul and ankara . `` you will never walk alone , '' anadolu reported they shouted . `` we will put an end to female homicides . '' the demonstrators carried banners , and images of the glasses-clad , long-haired aslan , chanting : `` we are here today . we revolt and we will continue to revolt until this stops . '' protesters have also taken to the internet , and their cries have been heard at the highest levels of government . the hashtag #ozgecanaslan renders thousands of tweets , updating hundreds every hour . on monday , the country 's president , recep tayyip erdogan , used twitter to tell the country : `` to make sure the perpetrators who brutally slayed our daughter , ozgecan , get the heaviest punishment that they deserve , i will personally pursue this lawsuit . '' an online petition calling for institutions to step up and take responsibility for attacks like the one on aslan has so far gathered more than 600,000 signatures . according to anadolu , the daughters of turkish president recep tayyip erdogan -- sumeyye erdogan and esra albayrak -- visited aslan 's family on sunday . `` it is a very terrible situation , '' sumeyye erdogan reportedly said after the visit . `` we 've come here in order to be able to share their sorrow . our actual aim is for those murderers to be punished in an effective way . '' cnn 's gul tuysuz contributed to this report .<doc-sep>federal law enforcement officials are investigating a former marine and several active-duty marines after they allegedly posted threatening and lewd remarks online against president obama and california rep. jackie speier . the threats were made on one of many facebook pages that have targeted speier , a democrat , since she alerted the defense department to an online forum where marines were posting degrading images of female service members . the page that prompted the investigation , titled ` f *** you jackie speier , ' has since been removed by facebook , but another - called ` jackie struggle snuggle speier ' has gone up in its place with similar content , including a photograph of speier that has been edited to look as though she has a black eye with the caption , ` she burned the bacon only once . ' threats : several facebook pages , including this one , have been targeting rep. jackie speier since the democratic congresswoman alerted defense secretary chuck hagel to inappropriate activity by marines online . speier told kcbs that she refereed the original page to authorities after users ` made threatening claims to both the president and me . ' both the secret service and u.s. capitol police are involved in the investigation , according to usa today . speier was targeted online after she wrote a letter to defense secretary chuck hagel regarding the facebook page ` f 'n wook , ' on which several active duty and former marines had posted sexually degrading comments and explicit pictures of female service members . in one photo from that page , which has been removed , a female marine is pictured putting a male marine into a choke hold . the caption reads : ` this is my rape face . ' another photo shows a female soldier lying on the ground with a gun and the caption reads : ` hehe ... i can `` bang '' even when i am not on my back ! ' several marines have since been referred to their commanders for punishment as a result of that page and other inappropriate activity online . | <t> new : missing soldier 's family : you can hardly believe that it could happen to you . </t> <t> she said in court filing her husband threatened her , wral reports . </t> <t> authorities were called to fire at 2nd lt. holley wimunc 's apartment thursday . </t> <t> fire , apparently arson , had gone out , but wimunc was missing , police say . </t> | female soldier missing , home burned<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` mad men '' and `` damages '' found themselves on top when the nominations for the 60th annual primetime emmys came out thursday morning -- but , again , there was no love for hbo 's `` the wire . '' emmy nominee jon hamm stars as ad exec don draper in `` mad men , '' which earned 16 nominations . amc 's `` mad men '' and fx 's `` damages '' made emmy history thursday as the first basic-cable series to be nominated for best drama . the pair , which had made the 10-series emmy shortlist , have been widely hailed by critics and have received good ratings for basic-cable series -- though `` damages '' star glenn close said she hopes the emmys help boost the show 's audience . `` we need all the help we can get , '' she told the associated press . on the other hand , hbo 's `` the wire '' -- which concluded its fifth and final season this year -- once again came up empty in the best drama nominations . it did receive one nod , for writing . the series , though much praised and dissected by a hard-core group of fans , has received little recognition from the emmys , with just one previous nomination -- also for writing -- in 2005 . check out some of the top emmy nods this year '' indeed , hbo has struggled to find a drama to take the place of the much-lauded `` the sopranos , '' which won best drama last year after a storied run . `` mad men , '' which has made amc into a player , was allegedly turned down by the cable giant , and shows such as the quickly canceled `` john from cincinnati '' and `` rome '' have n't had the same impact . on the other hand , `` in treatment '' received a nomination for gabriel byrne 's performance as a therapist , and the network 's comedies , particularly `` entourage , '' have performed strongly . moreover , the network 's short-form programming , such as the miniseries `` john adams '' and the tv movie `` recount , '' dominated their emmy categories : `` john adams '' led all nominees with 23 nominations , and `` recount , '' about the 2000 presidential election battle , received 11 . `` the network has made up for -lsb- its lack of drama series success -rsb- in other forms , '' variety tv editor michael schneider told cnn . `` it 's still the most nominated network and has the most nominated program . ''<doc-sep>hbo led all networks with 85 nominations . among broadcast networks , abc led with 76 nominations . among regularly scheduled tv series , `` 30 rock '' earned 17 nominations and `` mad men '' received 16 . the 17 nominations for `` 30 rock '' were a record number in a single year for a comedy series . newcomer `` pushing daisies , '' the whimsical series on abc , received 12 nominations . given that the show only aired nine episodes -- and has n't been on the air in months due to the writers strike -- its recognition was a surprise , schneider said . `` it was nice that voters still remembered it , '' he said . along with `` damages '' and `` mad men , '' nominees for best drama include `` boston legal , '' `` dexter , '' `` house '' and `` lost . '' comedy series nominees are `` curb your enthusiasm , '' `` entourage , '' `` the office , '' `` 30 rock '' and `` two and a half men . '' cable series dominated the dramatic acting nominations , with four of the six actors and three of the five actresses appearing on basic or pay cable . best actor in a drama nominees are byrne -lrb- `` in treatment '' -rrb- , bryan cranston -lrb- `` breaking bad '' -rrb- , michael c. hall -lrb- `` dexter '' -rrb- , jon hamm -lrb- `` mad men '' -rrb- , hugh laurie -lrb- `` house '' -rrb- and james spader -lrb- `` boston legal '' -rrb- . `` dexter , '' which originated on showtime , earned a short run on cbs following the writers strike . the nominees for best actress in a drama are close -lrb- `` damages '' -rrb- , sally field -lrb- `` brothers and sisters '' -rrb- , mariska hargitay -lrb- `` law & order : special victims unit '' -rrb- , holly hunter -lrb- `` saving grace '' -rrb- and kyra sedgwick -lrb- `` the closer '' -rrb- . a number of familiar names were included among nominees for comedies . the nominees for best actor in a comedy are alec baldwin -lrb- `` 30 rock '' -rrb- , steve carell -lrb- `` the office '' -rrb- , lee pace -lrb- `` pushing daisies '' -rrb- , tony shalhoub -lrb- `` monk '' -rrb- and charlie sheen -lrb- `` two and a half men '' -rrb- . only pace is a newcomer .<doc-sep>the nominees for best actress in a comedy are christina applegate -lrb- `` samantha who ? '' -rrb- , america ferrera -lrb- `` ugly betty '' -rrb- , tina fey -lrb- `` 30 rock '' -rrb- , julia louis-dreyfus -lrb- `` the new adventures of old christine '' -rrb- and mary-louise parker -lrb- `` weeds '' -rrb- . sarah silverman earned three nominations , all for different programs : one for a guest shot on `` monk , '' another for contributing to `` jimmy kimmel live '' and a third for producing her own `` the sarah silverman program . '' kristin chenoweth , neil patrick harris and tv academy chairman john shaffner announced the nominations thursday . chenoweth was particularly bubbly , throwing in a non sequitur about once dating `` survivor '' host jeff probst and declining to sing `` happy birthday '' because `` the emmys ca n't afford me to sing that song '' due to licensing arrangements . both chenoweth -lrb- `` pushing daisies '' -rrb- and harris -lrb- `` how i met your mother '' -rrb- were nominated in supporting actor categories . two highly rated shows , `` grey 's anatomy '' and `` desperate housewives , '' were snubbed . `` grey 's , '' a regular nominee for best drama , was left off that list , though star sandra oh was nominated for best supporting actress . `` housewives , '' which won six emmys its debut season , was ignored in both best comedy series and best actress in a comedy series categories . two guest stars did receive nominations . stephen colbert , nominated for individual performance in a variety or musical program , put everything in perspective . `` what an honor , unless i do n't win , '' he told the ap . the emmy awards ceremony will be held september 21 and broadcast on abc . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 08:47 est , 19 july 2012 . | . updated : . 01:57 est , 20 july 2012 . mad men earned a leading 17 emmy nominations today - and the chance to set a new record as the most-honoured drama in television history . the amc show , which portrays a piercingly bleak portrait of a 1960s american anti-hero -lrb- don draper -rrb- , has already won four best drama series trophies - and is tied with hill street blues , l.a. law and the west wing to receive a fifth bid in the category . the miniseries american horror story , a nightmarish saga about a haunted house , received a matching 17 awards , including an acting nod for star connie britton . scroll down for video . honoured : mad men received a leading 17 emmy nominations today alongside american horror story , pictured here john hamm as don draper and jessica pare as his wife megan . the show is set in sixties new york and takes a bleak look at the murky world of advertising . other leading nominees include the elegant british-born period drama downton abbey , which earned 16 bids , and two miniseries , hatfields & mccoys , with 16 , and hemingway & gellhorn with 15 . modern family , honoured as best comedy series for the past two years , was the sitcom leader with 14 bids , but the category also saw an infusion of girl power . breakout comedies with women at their centre - in fashion after the box-office success of bridesmaids - proved alluring to emmy voters . american horror story won a matching 17 nods , including a leading actress nomination for connie britton , left , while lena dunham , right , also received an acting nomination and best comedy nomination for her show girls . early risers jimmy kimmel , clad in his pyjamas , and actress kerry washington announced the nominees at the academy of television arts & sciences in los angeles at 5.30 am local time . girls , creator-star lena dunham 's darkly comedic coming-of-age new york story , received a best comedy nod and an acting nomination for its star , . lena dunham . zooey deschanel 's offbeat charm in new girl earned her an acting bid . ` girls is hbo 's current spin on sex and the city , which was a strong past emmy favourite , ' said tom o'neil , editor of the gold derby awards website . homeland is nominated for best drama , with damian lewis and claire danes getting an acting honour each . downton abbey has been nominated for best drama in the 64th annual primetime emmy awards . emmy darling julia louis-dreyfus , with past wins for seinfeld and new adventures of old christine , earned an acting nod for veep . betty white , 90 , brought her brand of female empowerment to the nominations , earning a best reality series host nod for betty white 's off their rockers . a no-show in the category was perennial winner jeff probst of survivor . top nominations were announced by kerry washington of scandal and by jimmy kimmel , who will host the awards . game of thrones is competing for best drama , pictured left star 's lena headey and peter dinklage , while modern family has been honoured in the best comedy category , sofia vergara seen right . alec baldwin and tina fey have received an acting nod each for 30 rock , which has also bagged a place in the best comedy category . kimmel filled in today for nick offerman of parks and recreation , who was held up by weather-related travel delays on the east coast . ` this is a sex dream , is n't it , ' joked kimmel , abc 's late-night host , who arrived on stage at the tv academy dressed in pyjamas . the emmy ceremony is scheduled to air on abc on september 23 . kimmel arrived to the announcement ceremony in a . pair of pyjamas and discovered that he is up for an award in the best . variety series category . drama series . boardwalk empire . breaking bad . downton abbey . game of thrones . homeland . mad men . lead actress in a drama series . kathy bates - harry 's law . glenn close - damages . claire danes - homeland . michelle dockery - downton abbey . julianna margulies - the good wife . elizabeth moss - mad men . lead actor in a drama series . hugh bonneville - downton abbey . steven buscemi - boardwalk empire . bryan cranston - breaking bad . michael c. hall - dexter . damien lewis - homeland . jon hamm - mad men . outstanding mini series . american horror story . game change . hatfields & mccoys . hemingway & gellhorn . luther . sherlock . lead actress in a mini series or movie . connie britton - american horror story . ashley judd - missing . nicole kidman - hemingway & gellhorn . julianne moore - game change . emma thompson - the song of lunch . lead actor in a mini series or movie . kevin costner - hatfields & mccoys . benedict cumberbatch - sherlock . idris elba - luther . woody harrelson - game change . clive owen - hemingway & gellhorn . bill paxton - hatfields & mccoys . outstanding host of a reality show . tom bergeron - dancing with the stars . cat deeley - so you think you can dance . phil keoghan - the amazing race . ryan seacrest - american idol . betty white - betty white 's off their rockers . best tv reality competition . the amazing race . dancing with the stars . project runway . so you think you can dance . top chef . the voice . best variety series . the cold bare reaper . the daily show with jon stewart . jimmy kimmel live . late night with fallon . real time with bill marr . saturday night live . lead actress in a comedy . zooey deschanel - new girl . lena dunham - girls . edie falco - nurse jackie . tina fey - 30 rock . melissa mccarthy - mike & molly . julie bowen - modern family . amy poehler - parks and recreation . lead actor in a comedy . alec baldwin - 30 rock . don cheadle - house of lies . louis c.k - louie . jon cryer - two and a half men . larry david - curb your enthusiasm . jim parsons - the big bang theory . comedy series . the big bang theory . girls . modern family . 30 rock . veep . showbiz roundup . emmy nod for downton , dark knight premiere and who 's on tour ? ...<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- when it comes to comedy , the emmys are making room for `` girls . '' `` girls , '' the polarizing hbo comedy about four twentysomething women finding their way in 21st-century new york , received five nods thursday when the nominations for the 64th primetime emmy awards were announced . among the show 's nominations were picks for best comedy series as well as best actress in a comedy for creator and writer lena dunham . `` girls '' joined fellow newcomer `` veep '' as well as comedy mainstays `` modern family '' -- which led all comedy series with 14 nominations -- `` 30 rock '' -lrb- 13 nods -rrb- , `` the big bang theory '' and `` curb your enthusiasm '' among comedy series nominees . `` family '' won the category last year . several veteran shows were among the nominees for best drama series , including `` mad men '' -- which has won this category four years running -- `` boardwalk empire , '' `` breaking bad '' and `` game of thrones . '' pbs ' breakout hit `` downton abbey , '' which was nominated in the miniseries category last year , joined the crew for best drama , as did showtime 's `` homeland . '' thanks to the showings of `` thrones , '' `` girls , '' `` empire '' and the movie `` game change , '' hbo led all networks with 81 nominations . `` mad men '' and the fx series `` american horror story , '' which was put in the miniseries category , led all programs with 17 nominations each . `` downton abbey '' and the history channel 's `` hatfields and mccoys '' both earned 16 nods . cbs led broadcast networks with 60 nominations .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- with the emmy awards this weekend , it 's time for the predictions . who will defend their crown ? who will take home a statuette for the first time ? who should win ? and who will win ? here are our prognostications . tell us yours in the comments section below . outstanding drama series . although `` mad men '' has the most victories in the drama series category and `` game of thrones '' leads with 16 nominations , neither of these two shows is a sure thing . -lrb- `` mad men '' was shut out last year , and if the creative arts emmys this year are any indication , `` game of thrones '' wo n't sweep -rrb- . the real race is between defending champion `` homeland , '' which won last year for its freshman season , and `` breaking bad , '' which has better odds to triumph given that the critically acclaimed show 's fifth season is its last . as a four-time nominee , voters might feel like giving `` bad '' a hug goodbye , so the show will likely win . photos : ` breaking bad 's ' most memorable scenes . but as far as creative ambition and strength of storytelling , the epic `` game of thrones '' pulls off the bigger feat and should win . -lrb- unfortunately , historically emmy voters tend not to favor fantasy shows , save for `` lost '' before its supernatural elements became prominent -rrb- . outstanding comedy series . a sentimental choice might also rule the comedy series category . just as `` breaking bad '' is the favorite to win the drama race in its last season , so could `` 30 rock '' take the comedy crown . if facebook could predict the emmy winners ... however , `` 30 rock '' has won three times -lrb- 2007 , 2008 and 2009 -rrb- , so it does n't provide the same element of righting a wrong to give it one last emmy , and the show has been shut out ever since `` modern family '' stole its winning streak . last season of `` modern family , '' however , was n't a laugh riot , and voter fatigue could be an issue here -- how many times can this show continue to win ? a newcomer to the ballot , `` louie '' has a singular vision and has influenced other shows in its category -lrb- i.e. `` girls '' -rrb- , which might help break the comedy category from the ensemble-oriented tunnel vision . unlike `` girls , '' `` louie '' does n't have a backlash problem -- and the show has nods for writing , directing , acting and editing , a total package . `` modern family '' might win again , `` 30 rock '' might even get some love , but `` louie '' should score . photos : what we 'll miss most from '30 rock ' outstanding tv movie/miniseries . `` game change '' was a clear favorite in the tv movie/miniseries category last year , and this year , it 's steven soderbergh 's `` behind the candelabra , '' starring michael douglas as liberace and matt damon as his lover , scott thorson , with 15 nominations . photos : ` behind the candelabra ' `` candelabra '' will dominate , but would it be crazy if `` american horror story : asylum '' took the prize ? with 17 nominations and the most out-there topics -- nazi experiments , demonic possessions , alien abductions and serial killers -- the show still managed to be as poignant as it was camp . no easy feat . outstanding lead actor in a comedy series . of course , all of these shows depend on the strength of their actors . stand-up comics , however , rarely win acting emmys , but this might be the year that changes that trend , if louis c.k. can take home an award . -lrb- he looks poised to do so , after his recent win at the critics ' choice television awards and television critics association awards -rrb- . coming up on his heels are last year 's winner , don cheadle , for `` house of lies , '' crowd favorite jim parsons for `` big bang theory , '' alec baldwin , who took home the emmy in 2008 and 2009 but is on his last chance for `` 30 rock , '' and jason bateman , the sole nominee from `` arrested development . '' cheadle did n't submit a showcase episode , so there 's room for an upset here . louis c.k. can and should win . outstanding lead actress in a comedy series . as for comedy actresses , tina fey , edie falco and julia louis-dreyfus have all won emmys for their respective roles on `` 30 rock , '' `` nurse jackie '' and `` veep . '' fey might get the sentimental vote for being the show 's creator and the show having its last season , but it 's also time for her pal amy poehler to get a win for `` parks and recreation . '' -lrb- and if either one wins , they could do a speech together ! hilarity would ensue . -rrb- . outstanding leads in a drama series . in the emmy race for drama actor and actress , `` homeland '' hopes for a repeat of its sweep . this year , claire danes is the only former emmy winner in her field , which includes elisabeth moss -lrb- `` mad men '' -rrb- , michelle dockery -lrb- `` downton abbey '' -rrb- , vera farmiga -lrb- `` bates motel '' -rrb- , kerry washington -lrb- `` scandal '' -rrb- and robin wright -lrb- `` house of cards '' -rrb- . while danes has the more flamboyant role , she has a rival in washington , who is also a favorite and might become the first african-american actress to win best actress in this category . kerry washington : emmys ` it girl ' but previous oscar nominee farmiga should win . as the mother of a teenage norman bates , she plays a role that is at turns neurotic , obsessive and sympathetic , creating a character who might be even more dangerous in some ways than her serial killer son . -lrb- though moss would be shut out -- again -- she 's really more deserving for best actress for her movie/miniseries `` top of the lake , '' even if jessica lange is the favorite in that category -rrb- . bryan cranston : emmys man of the moment . meanwhile , bryan cranston lost out to damian lewis last year , but cranston is the favorite to win this year , what with the series finale of `` breaking bad '' airing just a week after the emmys . if cranston wins , this would be his fourth emmy , and he would tie with `` nypd blue '' star dennis franz for most wins in this category . even though his competition includes two-time oscar winner kevin spacey for `` house of cards '' and always-a-nominee , never-a-winner jon hamm for `` mad men , '' cranston will and should win . say his name , emmy voters !<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- remember netflix , that little video rental outfit that sent you dvds via the u.s. mail ? the one whose red envelopes would arrive with dulling regularity and sit near your television for months on end as you attempted to catch up on your dvr recordings ? it 's playing with the big boys now . netflix is , of course , no longer just a dvd rental service . it also streams movies and tv series -- including its own . on thursday morning , netflix received the ultimate recognition . one of the company 's original series , `` house of cards , '' was nominated for best drama for the 65th primetime emmy awards . another , `` arrested development , '' received a nod for actor jason bateman . a third , `` hemlock grove , '' got two nominations . see the complete list of nominations . `` house of cards '' is going up against veterans such as `` breaking bad , '' `` mad men , '' `` downton abbey , '' `` game of thrones '' and `` homeland '' for emmy 's most prestigious award . the series earned nine nominations overall , including lead acting nods for kevin spacey and robin wright . | <t> `` mad men '' and `` damages '' earn best drama nominations . </t> <t> hbo miniseries `` john adams '' receives 23 nominations . </t> <t> emmys snub `` the wire , '' `` grey 's anatomy , '' `` desperate housewives '' </t> <t> ceremony will be broadcast on abc on september 21 . </t> | ` john adams , ' ` mad men , ' '30 rock ' lead in emmy nods<T> |
dubai , united arab emirates -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- dubai has forgiven the nearly $ 7 billion baghdad owes it , iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki announced sunday . uae president sheikh khalifa bin zayed al nahyan has promised to appoint an ambassador to iraq . uae president sheikh khalifa bin zayed al nahyan promised to `` put out these debts , '' appoint an ambassador to baghdad , and `` help iraq building the holy shrines that were targeted by the terrorists , '' al-maliki said in a written statement . al-maliki and the sheikh met sunday , the first day of a two-day official visit . al-maliki was accompanied by the iraqi ministers of interior , commerce and industry . `` our biggest challenge is now the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the economic situation and to provide services to our citizens , '' al-maliki said . debt relief is a major issue for iraq , and the united states has urged other nations to forgive iraqi debt , most of which is held by arab states , u.s. deputy treasury secretary robert kimmitt said in late may . also , the uae cabinet on sunday nominated abdullah ibrahim al-shehhi to be the country 's ambassador to iraq . al-shehhi , who previously served as the emirates ' ambassador to india , is to travel to iraq after his nomination is confirmed . an official government source said the uae intends to reopen its embassy in baghdad by the end of the year . the united states and other nations have urged arab countries to post ambassadors to iraq , reopen embassies and forge closer relationships with iraq 's government . the uae mission in iraq has n't been active since a uae diplomat was kidnapped and released two years ago . the year before that , two iraqis working for that mission were killed . no ambassador from an arab country has been stationed permanently in iraq since july 2005 , when egypt 's ambassador , dr. ihab al-sherif , was abducted from a baghdad street and slain . al qaeda claimed responsibility for the assassination , saying it had killed al-sherif because of egypt 's foreign policies and its alliances with the united states and israel . the uae 's announcement sunday came a month after its foreign minister , sheikh abdullah bin zayed al-nahyan , visited baghdad . during that visit , al-nahyan extended the official invitation that brought al-maliki to dubai . iraq 's government said that al-nahyan 's one-day visit was the first to iraq by a gulf cooperation council foreign minister since the 2003 u.s-led invasion that toppled the regime of president saddam hussein . the gulf cooperation council also includes bahrain , kuwait , oman , qatar and saudi arabia . prior to al-nahyan 's visit , only syria and jordan had sent foreign ministers to iraq in the post-saddam hussein era . the arab league 's secretary-general has also visited . war and the sunni-shiite rivalry in iraq and the muslim world have slowed the arab world 's re-establishment of diplomatic relations with iraq . iraq 's mixed population is mostly arab with some kurds and turkmens , and mostly shiite muslim , with a sunni muslim minority . most arab countries -- including the uae -- are sunni-ruled . iraq 's government is shiite-dominated and it is forging a close relationship with its neighbor , the non-arab shiite nation of iran -- a development that concerns arab nations wary of iran 's islamic republic government . al-maliki 's government is seeking to develop close ties to all countries of the region . cnn 's caroline faraj in dubai and mohammed tawfeeq in baghdad contributed to this report .<doc-sep>debt relief is a major issue for iraq , and the united states has urged other nations to forgive iraqi debt , most of which is held by arab states , u.s. deputy treasury secretary robert kimmitt said in late may . also , the uae cabinet on sunday nominated abdullah ibrahim al-shehhi to be the country 's ambassador to iraq . al-shehhi , who previously served as the emirates ' ambassador to india , is to travel to iraq after his nomination is confirmed . an official government source said the uae intends to reopen its embassy in baghdad by the end of the year . the united states and other nations have urged arab countries to post ambassadors to iraq , reopen embassies and forge closer relationships with iraq 's government . the uae mission in iraq has n't been active since a uae diplomat was kidnapped and released two years ago . the year before that , two iraqis working for that mission were killed .<doc-sep>dubai , united arab emirates -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- dubai has forgiven the nearly $ 7 billion baghdad owes it , iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki announced sunday . uae president sheikh khalifa bin zayed al nahyan has promised to appoint an ambassador to iraq . uae president sheikh khalifa bin zayed al nahyan promised to `` put out these debts , '' appoint an ambassador to baghdad , and `` help iraq building the holy shrines that were targeted by the terrorists , '' al-maliki said in a written statement . al-maliki and the sheikh met sunday , the first day of a two-day official visit . al-maliki was accompanied by the iraqi ministers of interior , commerce and industry . `` our biggest challenge is now the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the economic situation and to provide services to our citizens , '' al-maliki said .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- special edition repeat show . exclusive interview with sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum , ruler of dubai and prime minister of the uae . from the region 's largest airport , the largest airline and the largest trade port , in the past two decades , dubai has created a name for itself in finance , tourism and logistics . the past six months have included a whole different set of challenges . it has restructured $ 23.5 billion of dubai world 's debt and is now dealing with the debt of other companies .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- mme special edition : delving into the emirate of dubai . this week mme talks exclusively to h.h sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum , ruler of dubai and prime minister of the uae . from the region 's largest airport , the largest airline and the largest trade port , in the past two decades , dubai has created a name for itself in finance , tourism and logistics . but the past six months have included a whole different set of challenges . it has restructured 23 and a half billion dollars of dubai world 's debt and is now dealing with the debt of other companies . in an exclusive interview during his annual visit to royal ascot , mme sat down with the ruler of dubai and prime minister of the uae , sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum and asked him how the emirate carved out its niche and the lessons learned from the financial crisis . watch the show this week at the times -lrb- gmt -rrb- below : . friday : 0915 , 1745 saturday : 0445 sunday : 0615,1745 . | <t> president of united arab emirates agrees to cancel all iraq 's debts to the nation . </t> <t> west has urged nations to forgive billions in iraqi debt . </t> <t> uae cabinet nominates abdullah ibrahim al-shehhi to be ambassador to iraq . </t> | uae to cancel iraq 's $ 7 billion debt<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two teenage girls from great britain will fly home thursday after spending a year behind bars in ghana for drug-smuggling , the british high commission in the west african country said . the girls were stopped by customs officials at accra trying to smuggle drugs back to britain . ghanaian police arrested the teenagers , identified as yasemin vatansever and yatunde diya , in july 2007 as they prepared to board a british airways flight to london . when officials searched their laptop bags as part of departure formalities , they found about 13 lbs -lrb- 6 kg -rrb- of cocaine . the girls , now 17 , were 16 at the time of their arrest . they faced a maximum sentence of three years . uk media have named the girls as yatunde diya and yasemin vatansever of north london . in january , a juvenile court in ghana sentenced the pair to nine months in jail for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country . at the time , a british foreign office spokesman said the teens would not have to serve the full sentence because they had already spent more than six months in custody . but soon afterward , ghanaian authorities changed their minds . the girls were housed in a correctional home for girls in the country 's capital , accra . fair trials international , a uk-based group that provided legal assistance to the pair , called the girls `` pawns in a larger operation . '' authorities in ghana had said a man paid the girls # 6,000 -lrb- about $ 11,700 -rrb- to fly to ghana to retrieve the laptop bags containing the drugs from two of his associates , according to the country 's national news agency . those men have not been caught . `` the girls have served their full sentences , but the men who groomed them and lured them to ghana remain free to target other vulnerable young women , '' said catherine wolthuizen , fair trials ' chief executive , in a statement this week . ghana and other west african countries have become a transit point for drugs headed to europe . the girls were arrested in a joint britain-ghana drug detection operation , the uk 's customs agency said wednesday . cnn 's laura maestro contributed to this report .<doc-sep>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a juvenile court in ghana has sentenced two teenage girls from great britain to nine months in jail for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country , ghana 's national news agency said wednesday . the girls were stopped by customs officials at accra trying to smuggle drugs back to britain . the 16-year-olds will not have to serve the full sentence because they have already spent more than six months in jail , a british foreign office spokesman said . fair trials international , a uk-based group that provided legal assistance to the pair , said in a statement wednesday that it will decide in the coming days whether to appeal . the girls faced a maximum sentence of three years but are expected to be released on april 18 , the group said . for now , the girls are housed in a correctional home for girls in the country 's capital , accra . ghanaian police arrested the teenagers as they were readying to board a british airways flight back to london last july . when officials searched their laptop bags as part of departure formalities , they found about 6 kg -lrb- 13 lbs -rrb- of cocaine , the ghana news agency and british media reports said . authorities in ghana said a man paid the girls 6,000 pounds -lrb- about $ 11,700 -rrb- to fly to ghana to retrieve the laptop bags containing the drugs from two of his associates , the news agency added . those men have not been caught . fair trials called the girls `` pawns in a larger operation . `` it is deeply unfortunate that they , and not the men who lured them to ghana , are bearing the consequences , '' said the group 's chief executive , catherine wolthuizen . ghana and other west african countries have become a transit point for drugs headed to europe . the girls were arrested in a joint britain-ghana drug detection operation , the united kingdom 's customs agency said wednesday . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two teenage girls from great britain will fly home thursday after spending a year behind bars in ghana for drug-smuggling , the british high commission in the west african country said . the girls were stopped by customs officials at accra trying to smuggle drugs back to britain . ghanaian police arrested the teenagers , identified as yasemin vatansever and yatunde diya , in july 2007 as they prepared to board a british airways flight to london . when officials searched their laptop bags as part of departure formalities , they found about 13 lbs -lrb- 6 kg -rrb- of cocaine . the girls , now 17 , were 16 at the time of their arrest . they faced a maximum sentence of three years . uk media have named the girls as yatunde diya and yasemin vatansever of north london . in january , a juvenile court in ghana sentenced the pair to nine months in jail for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country . at the time , a british foreign office spokesman said the teens would not have to serve the full sentence because they had already spent more than six months in custody . but soon afterward , ghanaian authorities changed their minds . the girls were housed in a correctional home for girls in the country 's capital , accra . fair trials international , a uk-based group that provided legal assistance to the pair , called the girls `` pawns in a larger operation . '' authorities in ghana had said a man paid the girls # 6,000 -lrb- about $ 11,700 -rrb- to fly to ghana to retrieve the laptop bags containing the drugs from two of his associates , according to the country 's national news agency . those men have not been caught . `` the girls have served their full sentences , but the men who groomed them and lured them to ghana remain free to target other vulnerable young women , '' said catherine wolthuizen , fair trials ' chief executive , in a statement this week . ghana and other west african countries have become a transit point for drugs headed to europe . the girls were arrested in a joint britain-ghana drug detection operation , the uk 's customs agency said wednesday . cnn 's laura maestro contributed to this report .<doc-sep>cannabis resin : the 10-man team operating out of rochdale , greater manchester , had imported # 4.5 million worth of ecstasy , amphetamines , cocaine and cannabis into britain disguised as tinned fruit and tomatoes . his boss jason seale , 45 , from bacup , . lancashire , who was the leader of the gang , also admitted conspiracy and . was jailed for 14 years . six . other britons all from rochdale and two dutchmen - one a friend of the . infamous drugs gangster curtis warren - were jailed for a total of 69 . years after admitting drug offences . the court heard the gang had one of the most powerful drugs operations in the north of england . company . director seale set it up after being freed from a nine-year jail term . having been convicted in 2004 of trying to import cannabis into britain . via the island of guernsey on board a private yacht . bagged up : the gang bought drugs wholesale from underworld contacts in holland and shipped into the uk on pallets , before they were sold onto crime gangs in liverpool , leeds , london and glasgow . communications : the gang prided themselves on being ` untraceable ' by regularly switching pay-as-you-go mobile phones and deleting data including photographs . in the latest racket seale sourced his . drugs from two contacts he met in amsterdam and had them packed into . boxes which claimed to be various kinds of tinned fruit and vegetables . ` they used many code names : `` paper '' for money , `` jacket '' for cannabis and `` trainers or roadrunners '' for amphetamines ' gary woodhall , prosecuting . police . acting on a tip off intercepted a shipment of the drugs in december . 2011 but the gang carried on importing more narcotics into the uk . seale . was planning to manufacture drugs in a dutch laboratory before shipping . them to the uk - unaware his gold s-type jaguar had been bugged by . detectives . ` this group was .<doc-sep>1kg blocks of cocaine , scales and a food blender bearing traces of the . drug . a further search of . the flat uncovered a self-loading pistol wrapped inside a plastic . carrier bag , which had been stashed in a utility cupboard . barrett , . the owner of the flat kevin faulkner - who was described by police as a . ` dangerous ' man - and a third gangster were arrested . at barrett 's then-home in bolton officers recovered 51 grams of heroin with a street value of over # 5,000 . barrett . was later convicted of conspiracy to supply class a drugs and . possession with intent to supply class a drugs in march 2008 and . breaching the the terms of his licence from a previous jail term . but he was recently freed after serving half his jail term . faulkner is still serving eight-and-a-half years behind bars for drugs and firearms offences . | <t> british teens jailed in ghana on drugs charges , due to fly home to uk thursday . </t> <t> pair , both 16 at time of arrest last july , sentenced to nine months in prison . </t> <t> uk legal aid group says girls had been targeted , were `` pawns in a larger operation '' </t> | uk drugs girls freed from ghana jail<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united states needs a new law requiring that the president consult with congress before going to war , a blue-ribbon panel led by two former secretaries of state said tuesday . james baker , left , and warren christopher led a panel that recommended a new war powers act . the current war powers resolution is `` ineffective , and it should be repealed and it should be replaced , '' james baker said in a joint appearance with warren christopher , announcing the results of the study they led . the recommendation follows failed efforts by democrats in congress to put a stop to the war in iraq or to put conditions on president bush 's conduct of it . congress passed a joint resolution to authorize armed force against iraq in 2002 , but some bush opponents say it should not have been interpreted as a blank check for the united states to invade and occupy the persian gulf nation . baker , who served in george h.w. bush 's administration , and christopher , who served under president bill clinton , said their project was not prompted by any specific war , with christopher adding that the commission had `` tried very hard not to call balls and strikes on past history here . ''<doc-sep>`` we did n't direct this report at any particular conflict , '' baker added . the existing law , the war powers resolution of 1973 , has been regarded as unconstitutional by every president since it was passed as a response to the vietnam war , baker and christopher said . it requires presidents to report regularly to congress about ongoing conflicts , but the provision has been flouted . `` no president has ever made a submission to congress pursuant to the war powers resolution since 1973 , '' former sen. slade gorton , a republican member of the committee , said tuesday . the panel , formally called the national war powers commission , said a new law should be created requiring the president to consult with key members of congress before sending troops into combat expected to last more than a week , or within three days of doing so in the case of operations that need to be kept secret . it should also make clear exactly who the president needed to consult . the panel suggests that the president talk to `` a joint congressional committee made up of the leaders of the house and the senate as well as the chairmen and ranking members of key committees . '' the new committee would have a permanent professional staff with access to intelligence information , baker and christopher said . congress , in turn , would have to declare war or vote on a `` resolution of approval '' within 30 days , they said .<doc-sep>if a resolution of approval failed , any member of congress could introduce a `` resolution of disapproval , '' but it was not clear that such an act would stop a war in progress . christopher was unable to say in the news conference what practical effect congressional disapproval would have . baker said the commission had been in touch with the presidential campaigns of democrat barack obama and republican john mccain , as well as leaders of congress . he declined to reveal what they thought of the proposal , but said : `` we have n't gotten a negative reaction . '' congress has not officially declared war since 1942 , when the united states entered formal hostilities with the axis powers in world war ii . but since then , presidents have sent troops into countries including korea , vietnam , grenada and iraq . the constitution makes the president the commander in chief of the armed forces , but gives congress the power to declare war and approve military budgets . baker and christopher 's group included both republicans and democrats and held seven meetings over 14 months .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united states needs a new law requiring that the president consult with congress before going to war , a blue-ribbon panel led by two former secretaries of state said tuesday . james baker , left , and warren christopher led a panel that recommended a new war powers act . the current war powers resolution is `` ineffective , and it should be repealed and it should be replaced , '' james baker said in a joint appearance with warren christopher , announcing the results of the study they led . the recommendation follows failed efforts by democrats in congress to put a stop to the war in iraq or to put conditions on president bush 's conduct of it . congress passed a joint resolution to authorize armed force against iraq in 2002 , but some bush opponents say it should not have been interpreted as a blank check for the united states to invade and occupy the persian gulf nation . baker , who served in george h.w. bush 's administration , and christopher , who served under president bill clinton , said their project was not prompted by any specific war , with christopher adding that the commission had `` tried very hard not to call balls and strikes on past history here . '' `` we did n't direct this report at any particular conflict , '' baker added . the existing law , the war powers resolution of 1973 , has been regarded as unconstitutional by every president since it was passed as a response to the vietnam war , baker and christopher said . it requires presidents to report regularly to congress about ongoing conflicts , but the provision has been flouted . `` no president has ever made a submission to congress pursuant to the war powers resolution since 1973 , '' former sen. slade gorton , a republican member of the committee , said tuesday .<doc-sep>kevin m. kruse , a history professor at princeton , pointed out the gulf of tonkin resolution on vietnam in 1964 . it passed the house unanimously and the senate with only two votes in opposition . `` a lot of unfortunate things have been passed because both parties can get swept up in the fear and urgency of the moment and nobody 's willing to or brave enough to stand up and say this is wrong , '' said james n. gregory , a history professor at the university of washington . gregory pointed to the patriot act in 2001 and the resolution to go to war with iraq as his examples of bad pieces of bipartisan action . the patriot act was passed little over a month after the 9/11 terror attacks , but questions were subsequently raised about expanded law enforcement surveillance powers in terrorism investigations . allowing detainment of non-u.s. citizens suspected of terrorism without specific charges also drew scrutiny . congress voted overwhelmingly in favor of going to war in iraq in 2003 , citing imminent fears that saddam hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction . but none were ever found and the war went on for nearly a decade . there have been other cases not involving war or national crisis . `` chinese exclusion was pretty popular by democrats and republicans , '' said gregory about the chinese-exclusion act passed by congress at the height of anti-chinese sentiment in the u.s in 1882 . the law imposed severe restrictions on chinese immigration -- which originally focused on `` skilled and unskilled laborers employed in mining '' but later was extended to all chinese wishing to immigrate to or remain in america . another example of bipartisan acquiesce was in civil rights .<doc-sep>a bipartisan group of 10 lawmakers has filed suit against the obama administration , alleging that continuing the u.s. military involvement in libya without congressional approval violates the war powers resolution . the obama administration denies any violation . mccain said every president has disagreed with the constitutionality of the war powers resolution , `` but they have adhered to it . '' `` so the congress of the united states should pass a resolution -- and senator john kerry -lrb- d-massachusetts -rrb- and i have the resolution that 's ready to go -- that would comply with the war powers act , '' mccain said . libyan leader moammar gadhafi `` was at the gates of benghazi , '' mccain said . `` he said he was going to go house to house to kill everybody . that 's a city of 700,000 people . what would we be saying now if we had allowed for that to happen ? '' citing the 1988 bombing of pan am flight 103 and a 1986 libyan sponsored bombing of a german disco frequented by u.s. soldiers , mccain said gadhafi has americans ' blood `` on his hands . '' `` if gadhafi remains in power , it 's clear that you will see him engage in an escalated effort , of course , to harm the united states of america , obviously , '' he said .<doc-sep>the senate judiciary committee has approved a far-reaching immigration bill - after its chairman withdrew an amendment allowing gay couples to obtain green cards for spouses born outside the u.s. . the 13-5 vote clears the bill for a senate debate expected to begin early next month . committee approval came after the panel 's chairman , sen patrick leahy sidestepped a showdown on the rights of gay spouses , caving to pressure from the white house and others who feared such a vote could lead to the bill 's failure in the senate . scroll down for video . heated : senate judiciary committee chairman sen patrick leahy confers with the committee 's ranking republican , sen chuck grassley during immigration bill talks . the much-awaited announcement on tuesday by the vermont democrat clears . the way for passage by his committee of the legislation . offering the possibility of citizenship to millions in this country . illegally . leahy had been under pressure from gay rights groups to offer the . amendment , which would have allowed gays to petition to bring their . spouses to the united states like straight americans can . but the white house and other democrats privately urged leahy to hold . off as republican supporters of the immigration bill threatened to . withdraw their support over the issue . in a statement released on tuesday evening , president obama said : ' i congratulate the senate judiciary committee on completing its work on s. 744 , the border security , economic opportunity , and immigration modernization act . ` thanks to the leadership of chairman leahy and a bipartisan group of eight senators , the legislation that passed the judiciary committee with a strong bipartisan vote is largely consistent with the principles of commonsense reform i have proposed and meets the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system . ' the controversy over the rights of gay spouses , with the ability to . fracture a bipartisan coalition behind the legislation , has hovered in . the background of the debate from the beginning . | <t> war powers act is `` ineffective '' and should be repealed , blue-ribbon panel says . </t> <t> former secretaries of state james baker and warren christopher led the study . </t> <t> they say the project was not prompted by any specific war . </t> <t> panel proposes new law requiring president to consult with congress . </t> | war powers act needs fixing , bipartisan panel says<T> |
srinagar , indian-controlled kashmir -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- senior pakistani and indian military officials met tuesday to discuss a border clash in kashmir , the first major skirmish between south asia 's nuclear rivals since a 2003 cease-fire . indian army soldiers on the outskirts of kashmir 's summer capital srinagar . pakistan 's army spokesman maj. gen. athar abbas told cnn that pakistan `` made our point clear '' regarding the firefight , which he said began after indian soldiers crossed the line of control that separates kashmir between india and pakistan . but an indian military spokeswoman , capt. neha goyal , told cnn pakistani troops crossed the line of control and `` started firing on our patrol , '' killing an indian soldier . `` our troops also retaliated and the pakistan army troopers ran back , '' she said .<doc-sep>abbas said `` further action should be taken '' following tuesday 's `` flag meeting , '' but did not elaborate . the meeting took place along the line of control . reports in india 's media said four pakistani soldiers were killed , but pakistan 's military `` strongly denied the report of any -lrb- casualties -rrb- on the pakistani side . '' pakistan 's military also denied its forces crossed the line of control , saying the skirmish started when indian soldiers tried to establish a forward post on pakistan 's side of the line . `` on pakistan 's ' objection , indian troops opened indiscriminate and unprovoked fire , '' a pakistan military news release , posted on monday , stated . `` the indian fire was immediately responded to . the firing continued -- intermittently during the whole night . ''<doc-sep>pakistan said the indian soldiers `` were forced to flee from the area leaving behind their weapons '' after the firefight . indian and pakistani forces have exchanged periodic gunfire since may , but monday 's clashes appear to be a serious setback to the ongoing peace process between the two nations . india and pakistan had announced a bilateral cease-fire all along their borders in november 2003 and the cease-fire had been holding on the borders until recently . kashmir has been at the root of two wars between india and pakistan , both of which tested nuclear weapons in 1998 .<doc-sep>an 18-year separatist campaign in the indian-controlled portion of the largely muslim territory has claimed more than 43,000 lives , according to government officials , although human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations put the toll at twice that number . india has long accused pakistan of supporting the separatists in kashmir , a charge pakistan denies . india blamed militants from pakistan for a suicide car bombing outside its embassy in afghanistan that killed 58 people on july 7 . a december 2001 attack on india 's parliament that india blamed on the militants brought the two nations to the brink of another war , but they have expanded economic and cultural ties since the november 2003 cease-fire agreement . -- cnn 's aliza kassim in atlanta and mukhtar ahmad in srinagar contributed to this report .<doc-sep>islamabad , pakistan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pakistan called on india friday to investigate what it called repeated violations by indian soldiers along the de facto border between the two nations in the disputed territory of kashmir . pakistan 's foreign office summoned the high commissioner of india , sharat sabharwal , to its offices to protest the killing of one of its soldiers on the pakistani side of the border known as the line of control . opinion : how india mistreats kashmir . foreign secretary jalil abbas jilani also demanded that the indian government investigate recent clashes between the two countries in the kashmir region . jilani 's call came just days after indian foreign secretary ranjan mathai summoned the pakistani high commissioner to lodge complaints about the killing of two of its soldiers in the kashmir region tuesday . india and pakistan have traded bitter accusations over allegations of repeated violations of a cease-fire in recent days at the line of control , increasing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors . read more : south asian rivals take baby steps to warmer relations . it began with a clash sunday that , according to the pakistani military , saw indian troops cross the line of control and attack a military post . pakistani army troops repulsed the attack , but one pakistani soldier was killed and another critically injured , pakistan said . the indian defense ministry , however , said pakistani troops opened fire unprovoked on indian posts in the north uri sector of indian-administered kashmir . indian troops retaliated and forced pakistani troops to stop firing , the ministry said . it did not immediately report the number of casualties . read more : india says 2 soldiers killed in clash in kashmir . that was followed tuesday with allegations made by india that pakistani troops took advantage of thick fog in a wooded area to cross over to its side of the border . the indian military says one of its routine patrols spotted the pakistani troops in the mendhar sector of poonch district , and a firefight lasting about 30 minutes ensued , during which two indian soldiers were killed .<doc-sep>the indian government on wednesday accused pakistani troops of subjecting the two soldiers ' bodies to `` barbaric and inhuman mutilation , '' calling the alleged actions `` highly provocative . '' pakistan denied the accusations , saying india was trying to distract attention from a weekend clash in the himalayan territory that left a pakistani soldier dead . pakistani taliban threaten to target india after execution of mumbai attacker . the pakistani foreign ministry rejected the allegations that its troops had crossed the line of control and killed indian soldiers . the two south asian neighbors have had a cease-fire along the de facto border since november 2003 . but it has been violated repeatedly , with both sides accusing the other of offenses . bilateral talks were suspended in 2008 after an attack by pakistani militants in mumbai , india 's most populous city , killed more than 160 people . the negotiations have since resumed . the conflict over kashmir dates back to 1947 , after britain relinquished control of the indian subcontinent , giving birth to modern india and pakistan . kashmir was free to accede to either nation . maharaja hari singh , the ruler of the kingdom at the time , initially chose to remain independent but eventually opted to join india , thereby handing key powers to the central government in new delhi . in exchange , india guaranteed him military protection and vowed to hold a popular vote on the issue . the south asian rivals have fought two full-scale wars over the territorial issue . islamabad has always said that majority-muslim kashmir should have been a part of pakistan . a united nations resolution adopted after the first war called for a referendum allowing the people of kashmir to choose which country they wanted to join , but that vote for self-determination has never been held . pakistan wants that referendum to take place . india says that pakistan lends support to separatist groups fighting against government control and argues that a 1972 agreement mandates a resolution to the kashmir dispute through bilateral talks .<doc-sep>new delhi , india -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- india and pakistan traded bitter accusations wednesday after new delhi said pakistani troops had killed two of its soldiers in the disputed territory of kashmir , a flash point between the two nations since their creation . indian foreign secretary ranjan mathai summoned the pakistani high commissioner and `` lodged a strong protest '' about what india alleges took place tuesday , increasing the strain on ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors . but pakistan reiterated its denial of the accusations , saying india was trying to distract attention from a weekend clash in the himalayan territory that left a pakistani soldier dead . india asserts that pakistani troops took advantage of thick fog in a wooded area on tuesday to cross over to its side of the line of control , the de facto border between the two nations in kashmir . the indian military says one of its routine patrols spotted the pakistani troops in the mendhar sector of poonch district , and a firefight lasting about 30 minutes ensued , during which two indian soldiers were killed . the indian government on wednesday accused pakistani troops of subjecting the two soldiers ' bodies to `` barbaric and inhuman mutilation , '' calling the alleged actions `` highly provocative . '' read more : fire destroys historic shrine , triggers anger in kashmir . the pakistani foreign ministry rejected the allegations that its troops had crossed the line of control and killed indian soldiers . `` these are baseless and unfounded allegations , '' the foreign ministry said . `` pakistan is prepared to hold investigations through the united nations military observes group for india and pakistan on the recent cease-fire violations on the line of control . '' pakistan said it is committed to `` a constructive , sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with india , '' and is working to ensure their relations are normal . indian external affairs minister salman khurshid urged his compatriots to keep cool heads despite widespread outrage about the reported attack on the indian soldiers . while noting `` enormous concern among ordinary people '' and a `` tremendous amount of stress '' in the government , he said wednesday , `` i think it 's important that we remain in control of the situation and we do n't allow emotions to run away with the situation . '' speaking in an interview with cnn affiliate ibn , khurshid said it was necessary to wait for pakistan 's formal response to india 's diplomatic protest . in the sunday clash , according to the pakistani military , indian troops crossed the line of control and attacked a military post . pakistani army troops repulsed the attack , but one pakistani soldier was killed and another critically injured , pakistan said . the indian defense ministry , however , said pakistani troops opened fire unprovoked on indian posts in the north uri sector of indian-administered kashmir . indian troops retaliated and forced pakistani troops to stop firing , the ministry said . it did not immediately report the number of casualties . the disputed territory lies in india 's kashmir valley , separated from pakistan by the 450-mile line of control . the pakistani army filed a formal complaint over sunday 's incident with united nations military observers , said kieran dwyer , spokesman for the agency 's peacekeeping operations . the u.n. group will conduct an investigation . no complaint had been filed by either army over tuesday 's incident . u.n. officials urged `` both sides to respect the cease-fire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue , '' dwyer said . read more : south asian rivals take baby steps to warmer relations . the two south asian neighbors have had a cease-fire along the de facto border since november 2003 . but it has been violated repeatedly , with both sides accusing the other of offenses . bilateral talks were suspended in 2008 after an attack by pakistani militants in mumbai , india 's most populous city , killed more than 160 people . the negotiations have since resumed . read more : 2 police officers killed in kashmir attacks . the conflict over kashmir dates back to 1947 , after britain relinquished control of the indian subcontinent , giving birth to modern india and pakistan . kashmir was free to accede to either nation . maharaja hari singh , the ruler of the kingdom at the time , initially chose to remain independent but eventually opted to join india , thereby handing key powers to the central government in new delhi . in exchange , india guaranteed him military protection and vowed to hold a popular vote on the issue . read more : pakistani taliban threaten to target india after execution of mumbai attacker . the south asian rivals have fought two full-scale wars over the territorial issue . islamabad has always said that majority-muslim kashmir should have been a part of pakistan . a united nations resolution adopted after the first war called for a referendum allowing the people of kashmir to choose which country they wanted to join , but that vote for self-determination has never been held . pakistan wants that referendum to take place . india says that pakistan lends support to separatist groups fighting against government control and argues that a 1972 agreement mandates a resolution to the kashmir dispute through bilateral talks . cnn 's harmeet shah singh reported from new delhi , and journalist habib nasir reported from islamabad , pakistan . cnn 's shaan khan in islamabad ; journalist mukhtar ahmad in srinagar , india ; and cnn 's aliza kassim in atlanta contributed to this report .<doc-sep>srinagar , india -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the indian army accused pakistani troops of violating a cease-fire agreement early thursday by firing across the line of control that divides kashmir . pakistani border troops fired for about 90 minutes in poonch district of the indian state of jammu and kashmir , said biplab nath , an indian army spokesman . the pakistanis used heavy volumes of small arms , and heavy caliber weapons such as mortars and rocket propelled grenades , nath said . indian troops retaliated `` appropriately '' to the `` unprovoked '' firing , he said . a spokesman for the pakistani military confirmed the gunfire , but said indian troops fired at their soldiers . spokesman maj. gen. athar abbas said the two nations have agreed to meet soon to discuss the incident and seek clarification . nath said there were no casualties on the indian side . `` our assessment is that this firing was to primarily assist infiltration of terrorists , '' he said . such ceasefire violations have been common since 2003 , but nath described the latest incident firing as `` major . '' kashmir has been a source of bitter dispute between india and pakistan since the independence of both nations in 1947 . under terms agreed by the two countries , kashmir 's rulers could either opt to merge with india or pakistan or remain independent . one part sided with pakistan . the ruler of the other part sided with predominantly hindu india , sparking a controversy among the region 's muslim majority . india and pakistan have fought three wars over kashmir and militants , who india says are backed by pakistan , have been fighting since the late 1980s to end indian rule in the region . a cease-fire to end the violence was agreed to in 2003 . both india and pakistan routinely accuse each other of firing across the border . cnn 's samson desta contributed to this report . | <t> pakistan : fighting began after indian soldiers crossed the line of control . </t> <t> india accused pakistan of attacking one of its patrols , killing a soldier . </t> <t> firefight took place across the line of control border in disputed kashmir region . </t> | india , pakistan meet over kashmir clash<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. army 's official history of the iraq war shows military chiefs made mistake after mistake in the early months of the conflict . iraqis watch as a statue of saddam hussein is toppled in baghdad in 2003 . failures to recognize the chaos engulfing the country and to send in enough troops to restore order after the 2003 invasion have long been highlighted by critics , but a new report shows the army assessing itself . frank opinions from officers serving in the 18 months from the start of war to iraqi elections in january 2005 reveal there were concerns at the time , not just about assumptions made by planners but at decisions taken once u.s.-led coalition forces had control of iraq . `` i flipped , '' gen. jack keane , then the army 's deputy chief of staff , told the historians of his reaction to a june 2003 decision to transfer control of all coalition troops away from the land forces command that had been preparing for the mission . he recounted a conversation with gen. john abizaid , who succeeded the invasion 's architect , gen. tommy franks . `` i said , ` jesus christ , john , this is a recipe for disaster . we invested in that headquarters . we have the experience and judgment in that headquarters . '' keane said it took the u.s. command between six and eight months to get the new headquarters up and running . during that time , troops in the field saw the mood of ordinary iraqis turn against americans and watched the insurgency take root . `` by the time we got a plan together to resource everything , the insurgents had closed that window of opportunity quickly , '' col. david perkins , a brigade commander in the army 's 3rd infantry division , told the historians . `` what we started doing in september was probably a good idea to have done in april 2003 . '' franks , who would soon retire and be awarded the presidential medal of freedom , said he ordered the transition to force the pentagon to get leaders into the field to work with civilian occupation officials .<doc-sep>`` that is a task that john abizaid and i very simply laid on washington and said , ` figure it out . do it fast . get me a joint headquarters in here . we have a lot of work to do and -lsb- civilian administrator of iraq -rsb- jerry bremer has a lot of responsibility and he needs help , ' '' he recalled . the 720-page report compiled by the combat studies institute at fort leavenworth , kansas , details the effects of having too few coalition troops on the ground when the reality after the fall of baghdad was `` severely out of line '' with the anticipated conditions . previous experience `` should have indicated that many more troops would be needed for the post-saddam era in iraq , '' historians wrote in the report , `` on point ii : transition to a new campaign . '' `` the coalition 's inability to prevent looting , to secure iraq 's borders and to guard the vast number of munitions dumps in the early months after saddam 's overthrow are indicative of the shortage , '' the study found . about 150,000 u.s. and allied troops were in iraq after the invasion , at a time when war planners were assuming that iraq 's government would remain functional after hussein 's ouster and that there would be no mass insurgency . `` these factors were in line with prewar planning for a quick turnover of power to iraqis and a quick withdrawal of u.s. forces , leaving iraqis to determine their own political future -- options that proved impossible to execute , '' the historians wrote in the report released over the weekend . `` we had the wrong assumptions , and therefore , we had the wrong plan to put into play , '' gen. william wallace , who commanded the army 's v corps during the invasion , told the authors . but some of the most critical decisions were made between may and august 2003 , which some participants called a `` window of opportunity that could have been exploited to produce the conditions for the quick creation of a new iraq . '' among those decisions were the frequently criticized dissolution of the iraqi army and the order that barred former members of hussein 's baath party from public life as well as the change in plan over the joint headquarters .<doc-sep>`` that did n't stop the fbi from pursuing a case by sending an informant in to work with ferdaus and eventually help him develop a plot to attack '' the capitol , the group said . the justice department said it has followed the law . `` the department of justice has been a steadfast ally of our nation 's civil rights groups for decades . the report itself acknowledges that many of the decisions that the report criticizes are not only lawful but also specifically approved by federal judges , just as the material support statute that the report criticizes was upheld as constitutional by the u.s. supreme court . we do not and can not target individuals solely for engaging in activities protected by the first amendment , which includes free speech and religion , '' said spokesman marc raimondi .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at least 1,000 prisoners are on death row in iraq , which now has one of the highest rates of execution in the world , the human rights group amnesty international says in a report being released tuesday . samar saed abdullah is one of many facing execution in iraq . she 's accused of being an accessory to murders . the courts that sentence people to death do not meet international standards , the report charged , and iraqi authorities `` provide very little information on executions , and some have been carried out secretly . '' it criticizes the central criminal court of iraq and the supreme iraqi criminal tribunal , which issue the majority of death sentences in the country . `` defendants commonly complain that ` confessions ' were extracted from them under torture , '' the report alleges .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- finding a `` smoking gun '' linking iraq and al qaeda became the main purpose of the abusive interrogation program the bush administration authorized in 2002 , a former state department official told cnn on thursday . dick cheney 's office ordered use of `` alternative '' techniques against cia 's recommendations , aide says . the allegation was included in an online broadside aimed at former vice president dick cheney by lawrence wilkerson , chief of staff for then-secretary of state colin powell . in it , wilkerson wrote that the interrogation program began in april and may of 2002 , and then-vice president cheney 's office kept close tabs on the questioning . `` its principal priority for intelligence was not aimed at preempting another terrorist attack on the u.s. but discovering a smoking gun linking iraq and al qaeda , '' wilkerson wrote in the washington note , an online political journal . wilkerson , a retired army colonel , said his accusation is based on information from current and former officials . he said he has been `` relentlessly digging '' since 2004 , when powell asked him to look into the scandal surrounding the treatment of prisoners at iraq 's abu ghraib prison . `` i could n't walk into a courtroom and prove this to anybody , but i 'm pretty sure it 's fairly accurate , '' he told cnn . most of wilkerson 's online essay criticizes cheney 's recent defense of the `` alternative '' interrogation techniques the bush administration authorized for use against suspected terrorists . cheney has argued the interrogation program was legal and effective in preventing further attacks on americans . critics say the tactics amounted to the illegal torture of prisoners in u.s. custody and have called for investigations of those who authorized them . representatives of the former vice president declined comment on wilkerson 's allegations . but wilkerson told cnn that by early 2002 , u.s. officials had decided that `` we had al qaeda pretty much on the run . '' `` the priority had turned to other purposes , and one of those purposes was to find substantial contacts between al qaeda and baghdad , '' he said . the argument that iraq could have provided weapons of mass destruction to terrorists such as al qaeda was a key element of the bush administration 's case for the march 2003 invasion . but after the invasion , iraq was found to have dismantled its nuclear , chemical and biological weapons programs , and the independent commission that investigated the 2001 attacks found no evidence of a collaborative relationship between the two entities . wilkerson wrote that in one case , the cia told cheney 's office that a prisoner under its interrogation program was now `` compliant , '' meaning agents recommended the use of `` alternative '' techniques should stop . at that point , `` the vp 's office ordered them to continue the enhanced methods , '' wilkerson wrote . `` the detainee had not revealed any al qaeda-baghdad contacts yet . this ceased only after ibn al-shaykh al-libi , under waterboarding in egypt , ` revealed ' such contacts . '' al-libi 's claim that iraqi dictator saddam hussein 's government had trained al qaeda operatives in producing chemical and biological weapons appeared in the october 2002 speech then-president bush gave when pushing congress to authorize military action against iraq . it also was part of powell 's february 2003 presentation to the united nations on the case for war , a speech powell has called a `` blot '' on his record . al-libi later recanted the claim , saying it was made under torture by egyptian intelligence agents , a claim egypt denies . he died last week in a libyan prison , reportedly a suicide , human rights watch reported . stacy sullivan , a counterterrorism adviser for the u.s.-based group , called al-libi 's allegation `` pivotal '' to the bush administration 's case for war , as it connected baghdad to the terrorist organization behind the 2001 attacks on new york and washington . and an army psychiatrist assigned to support questioning of suspected terrorists at the guantanamo bay prison camp in cuba told the service 's inspector-general that interrogators there were trying to connect al qaeda and iraq . `` this is my opinion , '' maj. paul burney told the inspector-general 's office . `` even though they were giving information and some of it was useful , while we were there a large part of the time we were focused on trying to establish a link between ai qaeda and iraq and we were not being successful in establishing a link between ai qaeda and iraq . the more frustrated people got in not being able to establish this link ... there was more and more pressure to resort to measures that might produce more immediate results . '' burney 's account was included in a senate armed services committee report released in april . other interrogators reported pressure to produce intelligence `` but did not recall pressure to identify links between iraq and al qaeda , '' the senate report states . cheney criticized powell during a television interview over the weekend , saying he no longer considers powell a fellow republican after his former colleague endorsed democratic candidate barack obama in the 2008 presidential election . wilkerson said he is not speaking for his former boss and does not know whether powell shares his views .<doc-sep>' i love it when i hear , ` ` oh there were n't any chemical weapons in iraq '' , ' he said . ` there were plenty . ' president bush , together with strong support from then british prime minister tony blair , left , claimed that sadam was in possession of weapons of mass destruction in 2003 . in march 2003 , president bush received a mandate from the u.s. congress to lead an invasion of iraq , asserting that iraq was in violation of un security council resolution 1441 . with strong support from british p.m. tony blair , the bush administration claimed that sadam and his forces were in possession of weapons of mass destruction that posed a threat to u.s. security and that of allies including the u.k. and australia . after investigation following the invasion , the u.s. led iraq survey group concluded that iraq had ended its nuclear , chemical and biological programs in 1991 and had no active programs at the time of the invasion , but that they intended to resume production if the iraq sanctions were lifted . although no active chemical weapons program was found , at least 17 u.s. troops and 7 iraqi police officers were burned or wounded when chemical devices exploded . president bush later said that the biggest regret of his presidency was ` the intelligence failure ' in iraq , while the senate intelligence committee found in 2008 that his administration ` misrepresented the intelligence and the threat from iraq ' . the u.s. completed its withdrawal of military personnel in december 2011 , during the ninth year of the war . the rise of isis means that the u.s. will send an army headquarters to iraq for the first time in three years to assist local security forces struggling to resist advances by the fundamentalist group . a u.s. army third infantry division soldier loads materials discovered in an explosives laboratory hidden in a home april 15 , 2003 in baghdad , iraq . u.s. secretary of state john kerry -lrb- centre -rrb- is greeted as he arrives at vienna international airport . he 's in the country to discuss iran 's nuclear program . | <t> army history of iraq war 's first two years says u.s. was unprepared for chaos . </t> <t> u.s.-led coalition did n't have enough troops after saddam hussein 's fall , report says . </t> <t> `` this is a recipe for disaster , '' one general recalls saying of one decision . </t> | army criticizes itself in iraq invasion report<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a virginia judge on tuesday approved an $ 11 million settlement from the state to the families of victims killed or injured in last year 's virginia tech shootings . parents of wounded virginia tech students comfort each other on tuesday . the 24 victims included in the settlement were among the 32 killed by seung-hui cho 's april 16 , 2007 , shooting rampage . the settlement also compensates 18 people injured . `` the commonwealth has endeavored to meet the needs and concerns of the victims , including family members , through both monetary and non-monetary provisions , '' said chief deputy attorney general william c. mims . of the remaining eight deceased victims , families of two chose not to file claims and two other claims are unresolved . the other four will be brought forward at a later date , mims said . the settlement also includes provisions that allow the families to occasionally meet with the governor and virginia tech officials to review legislation and improvements made at the campus in response to the tragedy . the families had pursued wrongful death and personal injury claims against the state after an august 2007 report by an independent panel concluded that more timely and more specific information from university officials might have saved lives . university officials were criticized for not immediately warning students and staff after two students were found dead in a dormitory at 7 a.m. on the day of the killings . police said they initially believed the two had been involved in a romantic dispute , but later determined they were cho 's first victims . it was almost 9:30 a.m. before authorities sent an e-mail to students and staff notifying them of the shootings and warning them to be cautious . about 9:50 a.m. , cho , 23 , began shooting people in norris hall , an engineering and classroom building . while criticizing the university response , the panel -- which included former homeland security secretary tom ridge -- also said quicker action by school officials may not have made a difference . the report also noted that campus and state agencies might have taken a different approach to cho had his middle - and high-school records followed him to virginia tech . problems with cho reportedly began to surface well before the shootings . the records detailed his mental health issues , including a tendency to react to depression with violence .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- virginia tech plans to consider all its options after it reviews a jury verdict that found it was negligent in a 2007 shooting rampage that left 33 people dead , including the gunman , a university spokesman said . the move follows wednesday 's verdict by a seven-member jury in christiansburg , virginia , that awarded $ 4 million each to two victims ' families who sued the state for wrongful death in the shooting massacre . `` we are disappointed with today 's decision and stand by our long-held position that the administration and law enforcement at virginia tech did their absolute best with the information available on april 16 , 2007 , '' mark owczarski , a university spokesman , said in a statement . `` we will discuss this matter with the attorney general , carefully review the case and explore all of the options available . '' the jury found virginia tech failed to notify students early enough following the discovery of two shooting victims at west ambler johnston dormitory . the two students were the first victims of seung-hui cho , who went on to kill 30 more people at norris hall -- home to the engineering science and mechanics department -- after chaining the doors closed . he also wounded 17 people before killing himself . the families of erin peterson and julia pryde , who were killed in norris hall , argued that had officials notified students , faculty and staff earlier of the shooting at the dormitory , lives might have been spared . peterson died while in her french class ; pryde was shot while attending an advanced hydrology class . the peterson and pryde families did not accept a portion of an $ 11 million settlement between the state and the families of victims , opting instead to sue for wrongful death . `` it certainly was the end of a long process for us where we just said we wanted to get a little bit more truth . a little bit of accountability and we were n't just going to go away , and so we came here and this is what happened , '' harry pryde , julia 's father , told cnn affiliate wdbj of roanoke , virginia . while the jury awards the families $ 4 million each , an attorney for the state has asked the judge to reduce the verdict to $ 100,000 per claim . state law limits awards to $ 100,000 , though the judge approved a request by an attorney for the family to file a motion on the matter .<doc-sep>in response , the state attorney general 's office said in a statement that the court ` found what we have said all along to be true ' . spokesman brian gottstein wrote in an email : ` the commonwealth and its officials at virginia tech were not negligent on april 16 , 2007 . cho was the lone person responsible for this tragedy . ' the case was the lone pending legal action from the massacre , mr gottstein said . at the trial in the case last year jurors found that the state should have issued more timely campus warnings after the dormitory shooting . the trial focused on the time between the first shootings , shortly after 7am , and the killings at norris hall , shortly before 10am . a campus-wide email at 9:50 am warned of a gunman and advised students to remain inside . by then , cho had chained the norris hall doors and continued with his massacre . the state argued that law enforcement officials believed the first shootings were the result of a domestic dispute , and had concluded the larger campus was n't at risk . reflection : virginia tech staff and a student pause at a memorial for the victims . universities have brought in warning systems since the attack . the justices concluded that university officials acted properly . the petersons and prydes are the only families of virginia tech victims who did not join an $ 11 million settlement . their attorneys have shielded the families from the media , but they have said they were intent on holding university officials accountable for their actions on april 16 , 2007 . the state was the only defendant at trial . in a statement , virginia tech president charles steger , extended his gratitude to state attorneys who argued the appeal . a university statement said the ruling ` can never reverse the loss of lives nor the pain experienced by so many families and friends of victims of one person ' . andrew goddard , whose son colin was wounded in the attack , said he found the ruling upsetting . ' i think it certainly takes the pressure off universities , ' he wrote in an email to the associated press . ' i would hope that all future freshman orientations clearly spell out that , despite all the policy changes and advanced notification systems , the university actually has no `` duty '' to use them . let 's see how parents react to that . '<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a multi-million dollar negligence lawsuit filed by the families of two victims of the 2007 virginia tech mass shooting has been dismissed by virginia 's highest court . the state justices said thursday that given the initial uncertainty and confusion surrounding the actions of the student gunman , `` there was no duty for the commonwealth to warn students about the potential for criminal acts by third parties , '' meaning gunman seung-hui cho . he went on a shooting rampage on the blacksburg , virginia , campus that left 32 people dead . the young man then took his own life . a county jury had awarded the estates of erin peterson and julia pryde $ 4 million each , saying the state was negligent . the amount was later reduced to $ 100,000 per family . the women were students at the state university . virginia tech shootings timeline . there was no initial reaction from the families , but a spokesman for state attorney general ken cuccinelli said the justices ' conclusions were proper . `` while words can not express the tremendous sympathy we have for the families who lost their loved ones in the virginia tech shootings of 2007 -- including the prydes and the petersons -- the virginia supreme court has found what we have said all along to be true : the commonwealth and its officials at virginia tech were not negligent on april 16 , 2007 , '' said brian gottstein . `` cho was the lone person responsible for this tragedy . '' cuccinelli is the republican nominee for governor , and the general election is next tuesday . at issue was the level of responsibility the state -- including university officials , as well as local and campus police -- should bear for the initial handling of cho 's actions , which eventually spread out over several hours . could his final rampage be reasonably foreseen ? law enforcement on april 16 , 2007 , received a call of an incident inside a dormitory around 7:30 a.m. officers arrived to find two gunshot victims , one fatal , and initially believed it be a `` domestic homicide , '' not a prelude to far more lethal killing spree to come . `` police believed that this was an isolated incident that posed no danger to others and that the shooter had fled the area , '' said the virginia supreme court 's 15-page ruling . `` they did not believe that a campus lockdown was necessary . ''<doc-sep>the families of erin peterson and julia pryde , who were killed in norris hall , argued that had officials notified students , faculty and staff earlier of the shooting at the dormitory , lives might have been spared . peterson died while in her french class ; pryde was shot while attending an advanced hydrology class . the peterson and pryde families did not accept a portion of an $ 11 million settlement between the state and the families of victims , opting instead to sue for wrongful death . `` it certainly was the end of a long process for us where we just said we wanted to get a little bit more truth . a little bit of accountability and we were n't just going to go away , and so we came here and this is what happened , '' harry pryde , julia 's father , told cnn affiliate wdbj of roanoke , virginia . while the jury awards the families $ 4 million each , an attorney for the state has asked the judge to reduce the verdict to $ 100,000 per claim . state law limits awards to $ 100,000 , though the judge approved a request by an attorney for the family to file a motion on the matter . | <t> 24 victims included in settlement were among 32 seung-hui cho killed in april 2007 . </t> <t> of the other 8 victims , families of two chose not to file claims ; two are unresolved . </t> <t> agreement allows families to be updated on campus security improvements . </t> | virginia tech families win $ 11 million settlement from state<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the inspector-general of the house of representatives will investigate recent allegations of sexual misconduct among congressional pages , the democratic and republican leaders of the chamber announced . the house page program came under scrutiny after the mark foley scandal last year . two pages -- usually high school juniors who serve congress as messengers -- have been dismissed for allegedly having oral sex in public areas of their capitol hill dormitory . `` it was n't kissing and hugging -- let me put it that way , '' said rep. ginny brown-waite , r-florida , last week . `` it did go beyond that . there were not only a young male and female involved , but there were also observers and other page participants who were , let 's say , enablers . '' to protest what they called lax oversight , brown-waite has resigned from the house page board , along with republican rep. shelley moore capito of west virginia . watch more on alleged page misconduct ''<doc-sep>brown-waite said her resignation was meant `` to send a loud and clear message '' to house speaker nancy pelosi and other democratic leaders . pelosi , a california democrat , and republican minority leader john boehner of ohio issued a joint statement on the matter wednesday . `` we expect the inspector-general to gather the facts and recommend the appropriate and necessary corrective actions to be taken by the house , '' it said . in 2006 , florida gop rep. mark foley was forced to resign after his sexually suggestive e-mails to male pages were made public .<doc-sep>the house ethics committee later found that some people who knew about foley 's questionable communications chose to `` remain willfully ignorant '' rather than confront the matter . then-house speaker dennis hastert , r-illinois , promised an overhaul of the program , which pelosi pledged to pursue after democrats gained control of the house of representatives in the 2006 elections . `` apparently democrats did n't learn from the mark foley incident that pages need better supervision , '' brown-waite said . `` apparently they have n't learned anything . '' no members of congress are involved in the current controversy , and house clerk lorraine miller , who administers the programs , said the students involved were dismissed . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>among the young smiling men with their arms on each other 's shoulders is a plastic blow-up sex doll . according to fraternity brothers , the doll was a ` beyoncé sex toy ' that had been bought as a ` gag gift ' for secret santa , and had been included in the photograph with no intention of causing offense . shortly after the picture was posted on facebook , several organisations on and off campus , including the university 's chapter of the national association for the advancement of colored people , accused the fraternity of racism . the picture has now been removed from the fraternity 's page and all activities have been suspended while phi delta theta 's parent organisation investigates the incident . apology : the fraternity said the doll had been included as a joke with no intention of causing offense .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a member of the u.s. military assigned to the white house communications agency is under investigation in connection with alleged misconduct in colombia , bringing to 12 the total number of military personnel being reviewed , officials said monday . one defense department official said the military member admitted to his leadership that he was involved in misconduct `` of some kind '' while in colombia for the recent summit of the americas attended by president barack obama . the agency is a non-white house office that provides the president with secure communications while he travels . it is staffed by members of the military who report through the defense information systems agency . a total of 24 people -- 12 secret service members and 12 u.s. military members -- are under investigation in the alleged prostitution scandal that occurred before obama arrived in cartagena on april 13 . the controversy has embarrassed the nearly 150-year-old secret service , which protects the president and other top officials and investigates criminal activity , and raised questions about a possible security breach immediately preceding obama 's visit . six secret service members have left their jobs in the wake of the incident in cartagena , and one employee `` has been cleared of serious misconduct but will face administrative action , '' the secret service said . five other secret service employees are on administrative leave and have had their security clearances temporarily revoked . in addition , the u.s. military is investigating 12 of its own service members for alleged misconduct . defense secretary leon panetta said monday that security clearances have been suspended for all u.s. military personnel involved in the incident in cartagena , and he repeated his vow that anyone found to have violated regulations would be punished .<doc-sep>cleared : alcee hastings was found not to have breached house behavior standards over sexual harassment allegations . one of the most controversial democrats in the house propositioned a high-flying policy adviser for sex then threatened to end her career when she rebuffed him , according to a house ethics report . alcee hastings exploded with rage and told winsome packer that she could forget about a political career when she repeatedly turned him down in their hotel one evening in portugal in 2009 . she told him : ` excuse me , i have to call my son ' and walked away in tears during the most serious incident in what she alleged was a two-year-campaign of harassment . hastings is said to have made numerous lewd comments and after downing two courvoisier cocktails once said that he did not know how women wore the same pair of underwear all day . two congressional ethics committee reports have revealed that he also repeatedly hugged packer against her will . he once supposedly told her that ` nobody will think you are any less professional if you have a relationship with me ' . tactile : alcee hastings , pictured here shaking hands with top chef contestant tiffanny derry on capitol hill , was accused of hugging winsome packer but said he ` hugs many different people ' not guilty : winsome packer said she was the victim of a two-year campaign of sexual harassment by congressman hastings but this week a congressional committee ruled he had not breached its rules . foreign involvement : hastings with interns at the us commission on security and cooperation in europe , also known as the helsinki commission . both the house committee on ethics and the office of congressional ethics investigated hastings - who their reports say had two girlfriends at the time - but concluded he did not breach the rules of conduct . they only admonished him for behavior that was ` less than professional ' in the latest of many controversial blots on the 78-year-old 's career . the report noted : ` representative hastings told the oce that he hugged witness 1 -lsb- packer -rsb- every time she said he did and that he hugs many different people . ' a former federal judge , hastings was impeached for bribery and perjury in 1988 and became only the sixth person in such a position in us history to be forced off the bench . ' i ca n't sleep after having sex ' - driving with packer to a meeting at the international atomic energy agency in vienna in 2008 . ' i do n't know how women can wear the same underwear all day ' - at the hotel bar in vienna with packer and colleagues after a long day in 2008 . ` my other girlfriend is n't worthy '<doc-sep>a new report claims that embattled miami dolphins guard richie incognito 's bullying was n't limited to other players , but also includes a member of the team 's staff , whom incognito allegedly mocked about his ethnic background and made crude joke 's about the man 's wife . according to two sources , ` incognito would sometimes dress in garb from the staff member 's culture and then make profane jokes about that culture . ' another source says that another player joined incognito in the bullying . scroll down for video . bullying claims : miami dolphins guard richie incognito , right , has been accused of bullying younger players though he denies the claims . these most recent allegations about incognito 's alleged bullying antics were first reported by national football post . in addition to the cultural jabs , . incognito reportedly made sexual references to the staffer 's wife , . telling the man that she 'd had sex with several members of the team . according to the report , the . harassment was done in full-view of other staffers and that team . management and front-office staff did nothing to stop it . the nfl currently is investigating . the allegations against incognito and the dolphins , as well as the . alleged bullying of incognito 's former teammate jonathan martin , who . claims he was relentlessly harassed by incognito to the point that he . left the team to seek mental health treatment . in one of the disturbing exchanges , . incognito referred to martin , 24 , as a ` half-n ***** ' , while in another . he threatened to defecate in his young teammate 's mouth . incognito also made reference to tracking down members of martin 's family and harming them in other texts , reports cbs sports . incognito was indefinitely suspended by the nfl earlier this month while the league investigates the situation involving the rookie martin . martin left the team after an incident involving incognito in the team cafeteria in october . it was later alleged that almost all the veteran dolphins players have forced newer recruits to fund their lavish lifestyles . including $ 30,000 dinners . | <t> two pages fired for alleged oral sex in public areas of capitol hill dorm . </t> <t> male , female involved as were pages who were `` enablers , '' says lawmaker . </t> <t> two gop lawmakers quit house page board in protest . </t> <t> inspector-general tasked with investigation , recommending `` corrective actions '' </t> | house investigates alleged congressional page sex incident<T> |
baghdad , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- shada 's back aches more and more each day as she literally bears her family 's burden . clothed in a black robe , she strains under her husband 's weight . shada now carries her husband around the house . his legs were blown off in a bombing . murtada , a 29-year-old taxi driver , was once a proud husband and father . but one morning last october , he kissed his family good-bye and set off to work . within hours , their world was shattered . a bomb blew off both his legs above the knee . `` i lost consciousness for a bit . i knew i was wounded , '' he says . `` i was under the car . i saw my legs were severed , just flesh and skin . i was holding my legs , bleeding . '' watch shada strain to carry her husband '' helpless , the daily burden is now on shada . she carries murtada when he needs to be moved . she ca n't even leave the house because of the constant care she provides her husband . `` i want to work , but i ca n't really because then who will stay with my husband ? '' she says . `` who will take him to the bathroom ? my first concern every morning is my husband . '' see the struggles of iraqi women '' the attack did to murtada what roadside bombs , rocket fire , and sniper shootings have done to thousands of iraqis . since the war began , the estimates of wounded iraqis have ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people . go inside iraq with cnn 's arwa damon '' according to iraq 's health ministry , 25 percent of the wounded have lost at least one limb . murtada is one of these grim stats , and his life is now a nightmare . he has stumps where his legs used to be and has n't been able to get prosthetics . he moves around by lifting himself with his arms , riding in a wheelchair or being carried by his wife . life has forced shada to tap into a physical and emotional strength she did not know she possessed . their 3-year-old son helps care for his father . one time , murtada admits his thoughts turned dark . `` i was thinking , ` is this really going to be my life ? ' and then i was thinking about my son and how i ca n't provide for him , and then i began thinking about poisoning myself . '' this small family lives in a small rented house in a shiite neighborhood in western baghdad . shada has endured many tough times amid war and conflict . her brother was shot dead and her father died because of poor health care . neighbors have helped the family financially , and shada tries to make ends meet by selling gasoline on the street . but the circumstances have forced the man she relied on to rely on her . `` i look at him like a baby , with the needs of a baby , '' she says . `` nobody but me can help him . i can not go to the markets because of him . i am asking people for help because i can not leave him alone in the house . '' e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>he said : ` the individual was in possession of the same magnets and we are currently examining the source of the magnet ' . iran , which has been accused of being behind the attacks , has strongly denied any involvement . but israeli ambassador itzhak shoham countered this , claiming thai police had found and defused another two magnetic bombs that could be stuck on vehicles , after yesterday 's bangkok blasts . he said : ` they are similar to the ones used in delhi and in tbilisi . from that we can assume that there is the same network of terror . ` with the arrest of the two iranians it leaves not too much room to assume who was behind it . ' investigation : a thai bomb disposal expert analyses the damage following the blasts in bangkok on tuesday . carnage : a bomb disposal expert checks out the damage , which also hit a police car , yesterday . warning : israel and the u.s. have told their citizens to be alert in the capital . on monday , a bomb wrecked a car in new delhi taking an israeli embassy official to pick up her children from school . she was in stable condition today after surgery to her spine and liver . her driver and two passers-by suffered lesser injuries in the attack which police believe was also a botched job . the motorbike rider who stuck the bomb on to the car put it on the opposite side to the petrol tank - if it had been on the tank side it would have been a bigger blast and likely caused fatalities . five people have been detained for questioning . israeli officials said an attempt to bomb an embassy car in tbilisi failed and the device was defused . delhi police spokesman rajan bhagat confirmed that the blast there was caused by a ` sticky bomb ' . he said witnesses saw a lone motorbike rider attach the device to the right rear side of the car in which the israeli diplomat 's wife was travelling . destruction : saeid moradi lies on the ground , by a telephone box , after his legs were seriously wounded in the blast .<doc-sep>by . mark nicol . published : . 19:36 est , 27 april 2013 . | . updated : . 02:50 est , 28 april 2013 . when sergeant rick clement got married a year after suffering devastating injuries in afghanistan , it seemed an uplifting denouement to a story that once seemed destined to end tragically . the soldier lost both legs when he stepped on a bomb and ` died twice ' on the flight home . when he came round he was told he would never be able to have children or a sex life . but his fiancee , leanne isaacs , went ahead with the wedding , insisting he was still her ` perfect man ' . but now the painful realities of their life together have brought their marriage to a sad end . as newlyweds : rick clement from blackpool who when stepped on an ied in afghanistan with his wife shortly after they married in 2011 . in a deeply moving interview , 33-year-old rick revealed that leanne has left him after less than two years . he blames his injuries , which doctors said were among the worse they had seen . blast victim : rick clement lost both legs when he stepped on a bomb . ` neither of us could take any more , ' he said . ` we had gone from being a very happy , active couple , dreaming of a long future together to a relationship more like being brother and sister . we talked it through so many times and we took it very badly . there were a lot of tears . ' i wanted to make her happy and at my lowest moments i would say to myself , `` christ , i am not a man any more . '' a guy ca n't feel much worse than that . ' the couple had foreseen difficult times ahead but hoped their love would transcend them . ` we could never make up for what was missing , ' said rick . ` watching leanne mourn for me and for not having the man i 'd been before the blast and not being able to fulfil her , that became too much to take . ` obviously i 've lost my legs as well as my testicles but there is simply no comparison in how these injuries affected my life with leanne . '<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 09:03 est , 21 april 2013 . | . updated : . 11:47 est , 21 april 2013 . a mother who lost both legs in the boston marathon bombing has been reunited in the hospital with her daughter , who was also gravely injured in the blast . celeste and sydney corcoran - both of whom were featured in separate iconic photographs from the tragedy last monday - are now recovering in the same room at boston medical center . the family has received nearly $ 500,000 in donations from strangers across the world to help pay for the cost of medical care and rehabilitation . the mother and daughter had been near the finish line at the marathon waiting to see celeste 's sister carmen acabbo compete in the race . scroll down for videos . together again : sydney corcoran , left , whose legs were badly injured in the bomb blast now shares a hospital room with her mother celeste , right , who lost both legs below the knee . around the world : this picture , which shows kevin corcoran caring for his wife celeste , was printed on the front pages of newspapers around the world . horror : another good samaritan and emergency workers come to sydney 's aid . syndey cheated death before after surviving a serious car accident in 2011 . this photo of a stranger comforting sydney spread around the world and became one of the most famous images from the aftermath of the blast . ` it just hits you , like , life will never be the same , but she can still hug me , ' mrs acabbo , 43 , told nbc news . ` and i still have her . she 's my very best friend and i 'm just so thankful to have her in whatever capacity that i do . ' doctors were forced the amputate both of celeste 's legs below the knee because they were so badly mangled in the bomb blast . the 47-year-old hairdresser from lowell , massachusetts , appears in the top right corner of one of the most famous photos from the aftermath of the explosion . her husband kevin can be seen laying over her , comforting her . ` instinct just takes over . you take your belt off , you put a tourniquet on , yell to a guy who happens to be running towards me . he gave me his belt . i put on another one , ' mr corcoran told nbc . ' i just laid down next to her and just told her i loved her and that everything would be ok and just kissed her face and just gently caressed her face while people were trying to get to us . ' i just stayed with her laying down in this carnage . in the blood . just holding on to her until the professionals came over and took over . ' grateful : kevin cocoran is grateful that his wife and daughter survived the blast , despite suffering horrific injuries . celeste 's sister carmen acabbo was running in the marathon . close : this photo shows carmen acabbo , left , and her wounded sister celeste and daughter sydney before the blast . his daughter sydney , 18 , meanwhile was many feet away . her femoral artery had been severed by the bomb and had legs had been shredded . mr corcoran could n't find her . ` after i realized that i could not look for my daughter , i just entrusted to humanity that there had to be somebody out there who was taking care of her , ' he said . his faith was well-placed . images emerged of sydney being comforted by a man in a red shirt . other pictures show another perfect stranger caring for her injury . doctors later told mr corcoran that the strangers saved her life . ` this was a mortal wound and if the people did not get to her when they did she would have bled to death , ' he recalls sydney 's doctor telling him . sydney , a high school student , was later reunited with matt smith - the man who saved her . ` find matt , ' she had told her family , according to her aunt , mrs acabbo . ` we would all like to thank him , ' acabbo said . meets her hero : sydney gets to reunite with one of the men who saved her life , matt smith . sydney corcoran suffered shredded limbs from the shrapnel . she previously had a fractured skull after being struck by a car in 2011 . sydney , whose femoral artery was ruptured , awoke from surgery to ask relatives to locate the men who saved her life . her mother celeste had to have both her legs amputated . they got to meet actor bradley cooper who visited several victims . it was another horrifying incident for . the family as sydney cheated death in 2011 when she survived a car . accident which left her with a fractured skull . ' i thought we were done with traumatic events , ' said sydney 's older brother , tyler . celeste , who had to have both her legs amputated , met actor bradley cooper , who visited victims at the hospital . cooper also met with sydney , who has been in good spirits despite suffering such a terrible injury . tragedy : sydney corcoran is seen here with her mother celeste , who lost both her legs in monday 's terror attacks . celeste works as a hair dresser and is ` such an active person ' sydney , a lowell high school who is set to attend community college this fall , suffered deep arterial injuries , according to tyler . ` her legs were hit pretty bad , ' the brother said . the picture of the man in a red t-shirt was so touching that it sparked a false rumor on twitter that he was proposing to his dying girlfriend . a picture telling the tragic , but incorrect , story was retweeted 1,600 times and received 448,000 likes on facebook . it spread around the internet before being debunked . rumor : a twitter posting of the picture received 1,600 likes saying the man proposed to his dying girlfriend , which was untrue . the attack , which left three dead and 183 injured , occurred as two bombs were detonated just seconds apart near the finish line . ` my father said everyone seemed in a . daze . he looked down and saw my mom and her eyes were open . ` once he . realized she was alive , he noticed both her legs hanging on by skin . he . asked a guy for a belt , ' tyler said . the family was at the race to watch accabo , celeste 's sister , compete . a third man rushed to sydney 's aid after shrapnel tore into her legs . a relative said the family ` owes ' the good samaritans ` unspeakable gratitude ' ' i thought we were done with traumatic events ' : tyler , here with his mother celeste , was supposed to attend the race with his family but cancelled at the last minute . tyler , a college student , was supposed . to attend the event but cancelled at the last minute because he had to . meet with a study group . ' i . was supposed to be there , '' said tyler , fighting back tears . ' i did n't . even think this whole thing was real until my phone started ringing like . crazy later in the afternoon . ' kevin , a delivery truck driver , received minor injuries but is having a difficult time coming to terms with the wounds suffered by his wife and daughter . ` my brother is just heartbroken , just devastated , ' his brother , tim corcoran , told the lowell sun . celeste works as a hairdresser in boston . sydney 's and tyler 's great uncle paul corcoran said celeste has always been ` such an active person , ' and that ` it 's going to seriously impact her career . ' ` it 's just been a devastating experience , ' he said . ' i do n't know how we 're going to cope with this . ' a website to raise funds for the injured mother and daughter has been created , with the goal of raising $ 300,000 to aid in their recovery . by wednesday morning , it was already more than halfway to its goal . the website , organized by relative alyssa carter , included updates on their conditions . carter said they were headed into additional surgery wednesday afternoon to remove further debris and make additional repairs . ` the . nurses were able to get them in the same room and their beds are pushed . together so they can hold hands , ' carter , tyler and sidney 's second cousin , said . carter told mailonline that both are in good spirits despite their circumstances . ` celeste is a firecracker . she 's just upset she did n't see her sister cross the finish line , ' carter said . ` celeste is the glue of the family . ' sydney has been more reserved since monday but ` has cracked a few smiles . they 're hanging in there . we have a large family , ' carter said . when asked about sydney already overcoming her 2011 accident , carter said she feels horribly for her cousin . ` she 's just a kid . it 's depressing to think of sydney 's struggles . ' the corcoran family has been touched by trauma again . dad kevin , right , is ` heartbroken ' over the devastating injuries suffered by his wife and daughter . carter said the fund would help cover expenses in light of celeste not being able to immediately return to work as a hairdresser as well as do modifications on their home to accommodate their injuries . ` so much will be needed . ' paul corcoran said that he had been in contact with the family via facebook and saw the picture of sydney lying on the street all over the internet on monday but did n't immediately realize it was her . it was n't until he looked at the front page of the new york times on tuesday that he saw it was sydney . ` i 've seen the picture online with all the articles and with the smaller ones i could n't quite tell , ' he told the los angeles times in a phone interview . ` but you 're looking at the front page of the new york times . i mean , that 's her . '<doc-sep>by . lizzie edmonds . a soldier who lost both legs in a taliban bomb blast has become the first person to travel from land 's end to john o'groats in a straight line . captain nick beighton , 32 , from shrewsbury , shropshire , stepped on a hidden taliban bomb while serving in helmand province in 2009 . despite losing both his legs above the knee in the blast , the hero has become the first person to travel the length of britain in a straight line using just the power of his arms . captain nick beighton , pictured , who lost both his legs to the knee in a bomb blast in helmand province , has become the first person to travel the length of britain in a straight line . the hero , pictured front right , began his epic journey 28 days ago - starting the 1100km trek with a 34-hour sea kayak journey from john o'groats to pembrokeshire . the hero pictured with his team back on dry land after completing the 34-hour kayak . captain beighton covered over 1100km in the beeline britain challenge - which was supported by prince harry . | <t> iraqi woman devotes herself to caring for injured husband . </t> <t> her husband lost both legs in bombing , has been unable to get prosthetics . </t> <t> `` i saw my legs were severed , just flesh and skin , '' he says . </t> <t> wife : `` i am asking people for help because i can not leave him alone in the house '' </t> | after bomb blast , wife is left to be her husband 's legs<T> |
copenhagen , denamrk -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- what makes someone decide to become an actor ? it sometimes seems as if the average hollywood star is motivated mainly by the promise of a fat pay check . connie nielsen shot to fame playing lucilla in `` gladiator . '' or perhaps they 're drawn to the celebrity lifestyle . maybe they crave the love of an adoring public , or perhaps they see the movies as a way to leave their mark on the world , to be immortalized on celluloid . for danish actress connie nielsen it was something quite different . for her , being an actor means being an outsider . `` as an artist you actually do have to make a choice to be an outsider . if you 're an outsider you have the freedom to say what people on the inside do n't dare to say , '' she told cnn . so connie nielsen is not your typical movie star . as a 5-foot-10-inch blonde scandinavian beauty she has the looks of a classic silver screen siren , but she has steadfastly resisted a career as hollywood eye candy and rejected the lifestyle that goes with it .<doc-sep>`` i absolutely refuse the fame part of my business , '' she says . `` i refuse even the money side of my business . i try to do as good work as i can do , i try to grow in my art and reach for truth , '' she says . raised in elling , a small coastal village in denmark , she is fluent in seven languages and studied acting in france and italy , making her screen debut in french comedy `` par où t'es rentré ? on t ' a pas vu sortir '' -lrb- u.s. title `` how did you get in ? we did n't see you leave '' -rrb- in 1984 . she appeared in more french and italian movies before landing a role opposite al pacino and keanu reeves in `` the devil 's advocate '' in 1997 . but it was n't until 2000 , when she was cast in ridley scott 's oscar-winning `` gladiator '' , that nielsen landed a role that really let her show her acting ability . as lucilla , the sister of the villainous emperor commodus , nielsen brought some much-needed subtlety to the swords-and-sandals epic and held her own sharing the screen with joaquin phoenix and russell crowe . the movie made nielsen an international star and she scored other successes with `` one hour photo '' in 2002 , and `` the hunted '' in 2003 . but while the success of `` gladiator '' opened doors for her , it also meant she had to fight the kind of typecasting that would try to limit her to playing `` the love interest '' to a male lead who got all the good lines .<doc-sep>nielsen has in the past been critical of hollywood for its lack of female roles , saying `` you think once you 've shown what you can do , and your movies have been successful , that snap , you work . so to discover the difference between guys ' roles and girls ' roles made me plain mad . it 's unjust . '' but nielsen has refused to be pigeonholed , seemingly drawn to difficult roles in controversial movies . she appeared in french movie `` demonlover '' , which dealt with pornography , violence and corporate amorality , while more recent films have taken on the wars in afghanistan and iraq . danish drama `` brødre '' -lrb- u.s. title `` brothers '' -rrb- is about a soldier who returns from afghanistan a broken man , unable to communicate his experiences from the conflict . playing his wife , nielsen put in a powerful performance that won her awards and served to highlight how hollywood had underused her talents . `` the situation '' in 2006 was billed as the first film to be made about the iraq war and told the story of ordinary iraqis caught up in the conflict , while `` battle of seattle '' examined how peaceful protests erupted into riots when the world trade organization met in seattle in 1999 .<doc-sep>of her choice of subject matter , nielsen says that rather than making a political point she is trying to show the human aspects of the conflicts . but nielsen makes it clear that her career is not the focus of her life and she stresses the importance of making time outside the movies . she is passionate about literature and art and she is currently dating lars ulrich , drummer of rock group metallica . she had a son with him in 2007 and has another son from a previous relationship . `` i will always find something that i want to try and become better at . i always love to spend more time with my friends , more time with my family , my extended family . i always want to read more books , '' she says . perhaps her commitment to her art , her interest in social issues and her disavowal of fame simply reflect her danish upbringing , but there 's no doubt that compared to many other hollywood stars connie nielsen is a breath of fresh air .<doc-sep>by . sean o'hare . lookalike : transgender model connie fleming on front cover of world 's first transsexual style magazine , candy . a striking transgender model made up to look like michelle obama being sworn into office has been put on the front cover of a u.s. magazine . luis venegas , publisher of the first transsexual style magazine candy , said he put model connie fleming on the front cover because he was inspired by the idea that a black , transsexual woman could one day be president of the unites states . the split front cover shows new york model fleming being sworn into office and waving a u.s. flag accompanied by the headline ` the candydate ' . fleming is dressed in typical first lady fashion , down to the pearl . necklace . even the hair style is reminiscent of the president barack . obama 's wife , michelle . publisher . venegas told dazed digital that he was inspired by the idea that a . ` black , transsexual woman ' could someday be president of the united . states ' . ' i especially love the cover story , which for the first . time is n't a super-popular star , but a fabulous , beautiful black . transwoman channeling a politician who looks pretty much like michelle . obama . ' i remember back in early 2007 when the democratic party 's . nominees were narrowed down between two ` controversial ' stereotypes . never before seen for presidency : a black man , barack obama ; and a . woman , hillary rodham clinton . ` at that time , i thought , ` when will the . time come when these archaic walls break down and the white house will . be occupied by , for example , a black , transsexual woman ? ' presidential style : united states first lady michelle obama with a hairstyle and make-up that has been copied by stylists in the production of candy magazine 's front cover using transgender model connie fleming . famous : according to a transsexual web database , connie fleming is a veteran of the paris and new york runways and the new york club scene . make way ! carrying a bright red sack , first lady . michelle obama recently joined staff sgt. joel vazquez to deliver toys . to the marine corps ' toys for tots campaign at the joint base . anacostia-bolling . connie fleming is described by us transgender website queenmother.tvas ' a living doll , a multi-talented lady with a promising . career as stylist and designer 's assistant . ` she is also a veteran of the paris and new york runways -lrb- most . notably for thierry mugler , -rrb- the tokyo club performance scene , and many . important new york nightclub cults , from the house of field and boy bar . to her work as a mistress of ceremonies at jackie 60 . her facebook page reveals she worked for new york fashion designer and ugly betty stylist patricia field . connie fleming is described on website database of new york transsexuals as ' a living doll , a multi-talented lady with a promising career as stylist and designer 's assistant . ` she is also a veteran of the paris and new york runways -lrb- most notably for thierry mugler , -rrb- the tokyo club performance scene , and many important new york nightclub cults , from the house of field and boy bar to her work as a mistress of ceremonies at jackie 60 . her facebook page reveals she worked for new york fashion designer and ugly betty stylist patricia field . the winter 2012 connie fleming front cover will be the magazine 's fifth issue , having already dressed james franco , chloe sevigny and andrej pejic in drag for previous covers . james franco arguably one of the most famous young actors in . hollywood today was unrecognisable during his shoot for candy . wearing heavy eyeshadow and lipstick he was shot in dresses . as well as t-shirts and jeans for the pictures taken by renowned . photographer terry richardson . the magazine describes itself as being ` completely dedicated to celebrating transvestism , . transsexuality , cross dressing and androgyny , in all its manifestations . ` candy is a magazine for everybody . a space for individual freedom , . and a publication that pushes people to take on the persona of what they . always wanted to be . ' connie fleming 's facebook page that shows she worked for new fashion designer patricia field . video : behind-the-scenes of a candy cover shoot with seriously made-up drag queens .<doc-sep>copenhagen , denamrk -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- what makes someone decide to become an actor ? it sometimes seems as if the average hollywood star is motivated mainly by the promise of a fat pay check . connie nielsen shot to fame playing lucilla in `` gladiator . '' or perhaps they 're drawn to the celebrity lifestyle . maybe they crave the love of an adoring public , or perhaps they see the movies as a way to leave their mark on the world , to be immortalized on celluloid . for danish actress connie nielsen it was something quite different . for her , being an actor means being an outsider . `` as an artist you actually do have to make a choice to be an outsider . if you 're an outsider you have the freedom to say what people on the inside do n't dare to say , '' she told cnn . so connie nielsen is not your typical movie star . as a 5-foot-10-inch blonde scandinavian beauty she has the looks of a classic silver screen siren , but she has steadfastly resisted a career as hollywood eye candy and rejected the lifestyle that goes with it . `` i absolutely refuse the fame part of my business , '' she says . `` i refuse even the money side of my business . i try to do as good work as i can do , i try to grow in my art and reach for truth , '' she says . raised in elling , a small coastal village in denmark , she is fluent in seven languages and studied acting in france and italy , making her screen debut in french comedy `` par où t'es rentré ? on t ' a pas vu sortir '' -lrb- u.s. title `` how did you get in ? we did n't see you leave '' -rrb- in 1984 . she appeared in more french and italian movies before landing a role opposite al pacino and keanu reeves in `` the devil 's advocate '' in 1997 . but it was n't until 2000 , when she was cast in ridley scott 's oscar-winning `` gladiator '' , that nielsen landed a role that really let her show her acting ability . as lucilla , the sister of the villainous emperor commodus , nielsen brought some much-needed subtlety to the swords-and-sandals epic and held her own sharing the screen with joaquin phoenix and russell crowe . the movie made nielsen an international star and she scored other successes with `` one hour photo '' in 2002 , and `` the hunted '' in 2003 . but while the success of `` gladiator '' opened doors for her , it also meant she had to fight the kind of typecasting that would try to limit her to playing `` the love interest '' to a male lead who got all the good lines . nielsen has in the past been critical of hollywood for its lack of female roles , saying `` you think once you 've shown what you can do , and your movies have been successful , that snap , you work . so to discover the difference between guys ' roles and girls ' roles made me plain mad . it 's unjust . '' but nielsen has refused to be pigeonholed , seemingly drawn to difficult roles in controversial movies . she appeared in french movie `` demonlover '' , which dealt with pornography , violence and corporate amorality , while more recent films have taken on the wars in afghanistan and iraq . danish drama `` brødre '' -lrb- u.s. title `` brothers '' -rrb- is about a soldier who returns from afghanistan a broken man , unable to communicate his experiences from the conflict . playing his wife , nielsen put in a powerful performance that won her awards and served to highlight how hollywood had underused her talents . `` the situation '' in 2006 was billed as the first film to be made about the iraq war and told the story of ordinary iraqis caught up in the conflict , while `` battle of seattle '' examined how peaceful protests erupted into riots when the world trade organization met in seattle in 1999 . of her choice of subject matter , nielsen says that rather than making a political point she is trying to show the human aspects of the conflicts . but nielsen makes it clear that her career is not the focus of her life and she stresses the importance of making time outside the movies . she is passionate about literature and art and she is currently dating lars ulrich , drummer of rock group metallica . she had a son with him in 2007 and has another son from a previous relationship . `` i will always find something that i want to try and become better at . i always love to spend more time with my friends , more time with my family , my extended family . i always want to read more books , '' she says . perhaps her commitment to her art , her interest in social issues and her disavowal of fame simply reflect her danish upbringing , but there 's no doubt that compared to many other hollywood stars connie nielsen is a breath of fresh air .<doc-sep>copenhagen , denamrk -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- actress connie nielsen hit the big time when she starred in `` gladiator '' as lucilla , sister of the deranged emperor commodus . since then she has appeared in hit movies including `` one hour photo '' and `` the hunted '' . connie nielsen has always refused to play the hollywood fame game . but nielsen has refused to play the hollywood fame game and seems drawn to challenging roles in controversial movies , including `` the situation '' , about the current iraq war , and `` battle in seattle '' , about the anti-globalization riots that took place in seattle in 1999 . nielsen now lives in the us and returns to copenhagen every year . she talks to my city , my life about what makes the city , and its people , so special . cnn : how do you define yourself ? connie nielsen : i absolutely refuse the fame part of my business . i refuse even the money side of my business . i try to do as good work as i can do , i try to grow in my art and reach for truth . that 's what i want from my art , that 's what i aspire to . i try to combine my work with my family , that 's what i aspire to . i do n't say that 's the only thing . it 's not all work and family , because otherwise you would be saying no to the many other things in life and there are many other things . cnn : the people here are supposed to be incredibly happy -- what do you think ? connie nielsen : i think it 's funny in a way because when i grew up here it was very unusual to hear the word `` happiness '' . if you asked somebody , `` what do you wish for in life ? '' they would n't say `` happiness . ''<doc-sep>she 's the hollywood star with a penchant for goofing around and photobombing her a-list pals , but as her latest fashion campaign proves , jennifer lawrence can do serious and ladylike too . the 24-year-old actress has starred in a fourth campaign for french fashion house dior , and with her short blonde hair slicked back and contoured cheeks the oscar winner exudes old school hollywood glamour in the aw14 shoot . speaking in a behind-the-scenes video , jennifer opens up about working with renowned fashion photographer patrick demarchelier , who captured the shoot . natural beauty : dior has released a behind the scenes video of its aw14 campaign featuring jennifer lawrence . ` working with patrick is such a privilege . he is a legend and he has such an incredible eye for beauty . all of his photographs are effortless and timeless , ' she said . | <t> connie nielsen made her name playing lucilla in ridley scott 's `` gladiator '' </t> <t> she has appeared in movies dealing with the wars in afghanistan and iraq . </t> <t> nielsen speaks seven languages and is passionate about art and literature . </t> | connie neilsen proves she 's no hollywood eye candy<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a north carolina man charged with killing a pregnant fort bragg soldier was the father of her unborn child , authorities said wednesday . sgt. edgar patino faces first-degree murder charges in the slaying of megan touma . army sgt. edgar patino is linked to two anonymous `` confession '' letters sent in what police believe was an attempt to derail the investigation into megan touma 's death , police said . patino , 27 , was arrested at his hope mills , north carolina , home tuesday night without incident . patino , who is stationed at fort bragg 's jfk special warfare training center , faces first-degree murder charges in the slaying of touma , 23 , who was seven months pregnant . touma 's decomposing body was found in the bathtub of a hotel room near fort bragg on june 21 . authorities said wednesday that they believe she died late june 13 or early june 14 . although her death has been ruled a homicide , authorities said wednesday that the state medical examiner has not made a final determination of how she died . watch officials discuss the case '' patino has admitted being in touma 's hotel room june 13 , and investigators found that the room 's electronic key card was last used on that day , police said wednesday . however , patino has not admitted killing touma . patino wore red jail coveralls in his initial court appearance wednesday afternoon . he spoke only to answer the judge 's questions , acknowledging that he understood he was charged with first-degree murder and that the charge carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison without parole . he also requested that an attorney be appointed for him . fayetteville , north carolina , police chief tom bergamine said wednesday that patino , who is married , was the father of touma 's fetus . police also said evidence links patino to a letter received june 25 by the fayetteville observer newspaper . in it , the writer claimed to have killed touma and said more killings were planned . the letter was signed with a circular symbol similar to one used by the zodiac killer in california in the late 1960s . at the request of police , the newspaper withheld information regarding the letters and delayed publishing a story for several days to allow police to conduct an investigation , bergamine said . police also received a similar letter . fayetteville police sgt. chris corcione said both letters were postmarked june 24 and sent from fayetteville . patino purchased a typewriter the day before the letters were sent , corcione said . that typewriter is now in police custody . police , however , stopped short of saying patino wrote the letters , saying only that evidence links him to them . two of touma 's friends , who are also female soldiers and asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the case , said touma and patino had been stationed together in germany and had dated . they said patino had proposed to touma in germany , but when the two returned to north carolina , she discovered that he was married .<doc-sep>police said wednesday that patino was a person of interest from the early days of their investigation . corcione said his initial interview with authorities could be described as `` deceptive , '' and officials had little other contact with him until his arrest . police have found no criminal record for him . `` we felt like from the beginning , there was no major concerns of a serial killer being out there , '' bergamine said . patino was being held without bail at the cumberland county detention center , bergamine said . asked what police believe the motive to be , fayetteville police detective joshua carter said , `` right now , the motive is going to be held close . there 's still several months of investigation left to be conducted . '' `` i think one of the things that folks need to understand is that scientific evidence , things that have to go to the lab , they 're going to take time , '' bergamine said . `` this is not the world of television and ` csi . ' things do n't get settled within a hour . '' touma , a five-year army veteran , had served with the u.s. army dental activity clinic in bamberg , germany , and in fort drum , new york , before her stint at fort bragg . she is the second female soldier from fort bragg to die under suspicious circumstances since june . army 2nd lt. holley wimunc was killed in early july . her fayetteville apartment was torched july 10 , and her charred body was found nearby a few days later . her husband , marine cpl. john wimunc , was charged with arson and first-degree murder in connection with the death . another marine , lance cpl. kyle alden , was charged with arson and felony accessory after the fact to first-degree murder . camp lejeune , north carolina , also had a homicide case involving a female service member this year . the charred body of marine lance cpl. maria lauterbach , 20 , was found in the backyard of another marine stationed at the base , cpl. cesar laurean . lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she died . laurean , who has been charged with first-degree murder , was arrested in mexico in april , but because he holds citizenship in the united states and mexico , he can not be immediately deported and must go through an extradition process . authorities have said that if he chooses to fight extradition , it could take two years to return him to north carolina . cnn 's marylynn ryan contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . rob cooper . published : . 06:23 est , 24 may 2013 . | . updated : . 07:25 est , 24 may 2013 . the sister of the terror suspect accused of hacking a soldier to death smiled yesterday as she was escorted from her home and got into a police car . blessing adebolajo , 32 , was led from her property yesterday morning just hours after her brother michael , 28 , was filmed ranting with blood on his hands yards from the body of the murdered soldier in woolwich . blessing was carrying a bag full of clothes as she got into an unmarked police vehicle outside her flat in romford , essex , at 8.10 am . suspect 's sister : blessing adebolajo , 32 , smiles as she gets into an unmarked police car outside her home in romford , essex , yesterday morning . it is understood she was not arrested , but police will undoubtedly want to question her about her brother who neighbours said was seen regularly at the house . a woman purporting to be adebolajo 's sister told the romford recorder newspaper yesterday : ` we did n't know he was going to do this . ' adebolajo and michael adebowale , 22 , have been identified as the men suspected of murdering drummer lee rigby . blessing - who has also gone by the surname daniels - lives on the top floor of the property and used to share the home with her terror suspect brother , neighbours told the times . graham wells , 30 , claimed that adebolajo smoked drugs when he was staying there . led away : blessing adebolajo gets into the vehicle yesterday and was taken away . she has not been arrested . ` he liked to smoke a bit of green -lrb- marijuana -rrb- . we played football , a kick-about on the courts . he was a big lad , not the sort of guy you 'd want to cross , ' he told the newspaper . ` he used to be a normal bloke . he always had a big smile on his face . he 'd say `` all right wellsy , all right boy , what 's happening ? '' . ' police also raided a home in saxilby , lincolnshire , yesterday which is believed to belong to the terror suspect 's father anthony , 56 .<doc-sep>a father has been arrested after allegedly stabbing to death his five-month-old baby daughter and a family friend and critically injuring two others in a domestic-related knife attack at a wisconsin home . the suspect , who is yet to be identified , reportedly fatally stabbed his defenseless daughter as she lay in her crib at her mother 's duplex in milwaukee at around 8.30 am on friday . he also knifed to death a 39-year-old man , described by police as a family friend , as well as seriously wounding the baby 's 19-year-old mother and her new boyfriend , 22 , it is alleged . incredibly , the woman - the suspect 's ex-girlfriend - managed to call 911 as she was being attacked , alerting police to the ` domestic violence incident ' , the force 's chief , edward flynn , said . scroll down for video . tragic : a father has been arrested after allegedly stabbing to death his five-month-old daughter and a family friend and critically injuring two others in a domestic-related knife attack at this wisconsin home -lrb- pictured -rrb- . officers rushed to the duplex , situated near 39th street and clybourn , and discovered the baby girl lying dead in her crib . the male victim was also found unresponsive in the property . meanwhile , the child 's mother and her partner were taken to a milwaukee area hospital , where the woman underwent surgery . the pair are currently undergoing further treatment at the facility . during the raid , police found the suspect residing in the bathroom of the duplex , with several superficial stab wounds on his body . he was arrested at the scene and treated for his injuries . ` the offender , the man we 've arrested , is apparently the ex-boyfriend -lrb- of the mother -rrb- and father of the dead baby , ' chief flynn said on friday morning . ` the young man who was stabbed is someone who very recently established a relationship with the mother of the baby . obviously the mother of the baby has been seriously wounded . ` also murdered was an older man in the apartment who was basically a friend of the family . ' police chief : the suspect reportedly fatally stabbed his daughter as she lay in her crib . he then killed a 39-year-old man and seriously wounded the baby 's mother , 19 , and her new boyfriend , 22 , it is said . above , police chief edward flynn -lrb- pictured -rrb- said the man has now been arrested and police are not seeking other suspects . scene : officers rushed to the duplex , situated near 39th street and clybourn , and discovered the baby girl lying dead in her crib . the male victim was also found unresponsive . above , police outside the property . chief flynn said the baby 's parents had experienced a troubled relationship . ` we have learned from the people at the scene that there previous incidents of domestic violence , but none have ever been reported to us , ' he said . the alleged homicides are among 13 to have taken place in milwaukee since the start of the year , compared to one homicide in january 2014 . ` this was not on our radar screen and it is those that tend to be the most volatile , ' chief flynn told fox 6 . ` and when one of these erupts into deadly violence , the results are tragic . ' mayor : milwaukee mayor tom barrett -lrb- pictured -rrb- joined flynn at the crime scene to denounce the violence . milwaukee mayor tom barrett joined flynn at the crime scene to denounce the violence . ` as mayor , it is very frustrating to have a month like we have had in her the city of milwaukee as it pertains to violence . usually january is our least violent month of the year , ' mr barrett said . chief flynn said police are not seeking any other suspects in the stabbings . the suspect and victims involved are yet to be formally named . an investigation is ongoing .<doc-sep>the 11-month-old boy whose mother was found dead in the refrigerator of her houston apartment has been found safe in mexico with his father , who has been taken into custody as a suspect in the killing . houston pd cops say that patrick lambert , 38 , and his son achilles are awaiting return to the united states . lambert has not been charged in his wife anastacia lambert 's death . baby achilles , 11 months old , is being brought back to the united states after he was found abandoned in mexico . he was in ` good condition , ' authorities said . patrick lambert -lrb- right -rrb- is the main suspect in the killing of his wife anastacia -lrb- left -rrb- . cops say he disappeared with their son achilles not long after her death . tiny achilles was found in queretaro , in central mexico , where his father abandoned him . he was in ` good condition , ' mexican authorities said . patrick was found in a separate location and taken into custody . anastacia 's body was found monday after a foul odor led a maintenance worker to a second-floor unit at the brawswood oaks apartment complex in houston . the 27-year-old mother was stabbed to death and her body stuffed in a refrigerator . a foul odor led a maintenance worker to anastacia lambert 's body , which was stuffed inside this refrigerator in the houston apartment she shared with patrick and their son . mexican authorities said achilles was in ` good condition ' when they found him . it is unclear how long she had been dead , but detectives said it could have been as long as three weeks . the stench was noticeable because the apartment 's power was turned off on nov. 20 after the utility bills were n't paid . anastacia had not been seen in a week . nobody realized she was missing because she did n't have family in the area and was currently unemployed , khou.com reported . the hunt for patrick had been slowed down because police did n't know what kind of vehicle he was driving and had no license plates , according to the website . the couple had lived in several places , including florida , new york and hawaii . they moved . to the apartment in houston in june . police said anastacia called 911 three months ago and said her husband was threatening her . with a knife , khou.com reported . officers responded to the call but no charges were filed .<doc-sep>justicetoliver , 17 , was the mother to a three-year-old daughter and had just got a new job , her family said . the girl was discovered in a chinatown . apartment with a fatal gunshot wound . the victim was pronounced dead by . emergency medical workers . the teenage suspect is now on the run with relatives pleading for him to hand himself into police . they say that they have no idea how he got a gun . family members told . ktvu-tv that miss toliver had a three-year-old daughter and had just started a new job . the suspect 's grandmother begged her grandson to hand himself in . she told abc7 : ` so once again , grandson , grandma is asking you , please do the right thing , please . and i love you , i love you with all my heart . ' police have not confirmed a motive . the investigation is ongoing . rell toliver , who is believed to be a relation of miss toliver , posted grief-stricken messages on twitter following the young woman 's death . he wrote : ' i know you gon watch over me baby girl . i love you so much . i was just witchu on new years this s *** got ta be a dream . watch over me justice ily . ' miss toliver was allegedly killed by her 14-year-old brother after she spilled bleach on his clothes . mario toliver , the teenagers ' father , reacted with complete shock over the news that his son had allegedly killed his daughter . | <t> edgar patino was arrested tuesday , charged in death of pregnant soldier . </t> <t> patino , also a soldier , was father of megan touma 's unborn baby , police say . </t> <t> touma 's body was found in hotel bathtub on june 21 . </t> <t> friends of touma say she and patino had dated , served together in germany . </t> | suspect in soldier 's death was father of her baby , police say<T> |
los angeles , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a magnitude-5 .4 earthquake shook the los angeles metropolitan area tuesday , leaving residents rattled but causing no serious damage or injuries . bricks and other debris clutter an alleyway in pomona , near los angeles tuesday afternoon . however , the temblor served as a warning to southern californians who had not experienced an earthquake in some time : the `` big one '' remains a possibility . `` this is a sample , a small sample , '' said kate hutton , a seismologist at the california institute of technology . `` this is somewhere between small and moderate . '' she said there is a 5 percent chance the quake could be a precursor to a larger earthquake . after 24 hours , she said , that chance will drop to 1 percent . `` every earthquake relieves some stress , '' hutton said . `` it 's usually only a drop in the ocean . in other words , the amount of stress released by this earthquake is minuscule compared to the amount that 's built up and is building up for the big one when it happens some day in the future . '' watch hutton say tuesday 's quake was a sign of bigger ones to come '' and when will that be ? `` from a geologist 's point of view , the answer has to be soon , '' she said . `` but geologists are used to thinking on millions of years and thousands of years time scale , so i do n't think that gives any useful information for people , except be prepared at any time because it could happen at any time . '' a 5.4 magnitude quake is considered by the usgs to be `` moderate , '' which can cause slight damage to buildings and others structures . so far this year , 39 `` moderate '' earthquakes of between magnitude 5.0 and 5.9 have occurred in the united states , and 790 globally . the last moderate quake to strike california was a magnitude 5.4 in april in the northern part of the state . a magnitude 4.4 struck the greater los angeles area in august 2007 . there is a 99 percent chance of california experiencing a quake of magnitude 6.7 or larger within the next 30 years , according to the uniform california earthquake rupture forecast , sponsored by the u.s. geological survey , the california geological survey and the southern california earthquake center and published in science daily in april .<doc-sep>`` this earthquake reminds us to be prepared , '' said california gov. arnold schwarzenegger . `` we were very fortunate that there were no serious injuries or property damage . '' he said he believes the state is `` as prepared as anyone can be . we have continuous discussions about that . we are fanatics about emergencies and to be ready . '' the largest earthquake in recent years in california was a magnitude 7.1 in 1999 , hutton said . but it was centered in the desert , near twentynine palms , in a sparsely populated area . tuesday 's quake struck about 11:42 a.m. , according to the usgs . its epicenter was about 2 miles southwest of chino hills and about 5 miles southeast of diamond bar . the epicenter was about 7.6 miles deep , making it a fairly shallow quake , according to cnn meteorologist chad meyers . in general , earthquakes centered closer to the surface produce stronger shaking and can cause more damage than those further underground . but most southern california earthquakes tend to be fairly shallow , officials said . more than 30 aftershocks were recorded . hutton said the largest was a magnitude 3.6 . los angeles police said a downtown hotel sustained some structural damage , but no one was injured and the building was not evacuated . there were some unconfirmed reports of minor injuries . the white house was also monitoring the situation , said spokeswoman dana perino . despite the absence of serious damage or injuries , some los angeles-area residents were left rattled . the quake was felt as far south as san diego , california , and the usgs said it received reports of light shaking as far north as rosamond , california , about 55 miles north-northeast of los angeles . reports from those who felt the quake poured into cnn . did you feel the quake ? `` my house was like a fun house . everything was moving , '' said danny casler , 28 , of huntington beach . he said he was sleeping when his house began shaking , and some things fell in the living room . he said he ran out of the house in his boxer shorts . attorney kevin crisp said he was on the phone with his law partner in riverside , 65 miles away , who burst out , `` big quake ! '' crisp said he felt it about five seconds later . `` this was very impressive . long and very uniform . really had the building going . '' he said doors were swinging on the hinges and bottles of wine were rolling back and forth on his shelf .<doc-sep>`` it just started with a really strong jolt , '' said wendy criner . `` i ran and got my daughters from different rooms , and we squatted in the living room . i did have stuff fall off the shelf , some books in my daughters ' room and some things in the kitchen . '' the quake knocked out a ground radar system at los angeles international airport , but that has not interfered with operations , according to the federal aviation administration . technicians were working to restore the system , which helps controllers monitor traffic on the ground . also , tiles fell from the ceiling in one terminal as water flowed from a burst pipe . the calculation of the quake 's magnitude fluctuated as seismologists reviewed the data . initially classified as a magnitude 5.8 , the quake 's intensity was reduced to a 5.6 and then to a 5.4 . because the earthquake magnitude scale is exponential , a 5.8 magnitude quake is four to five times more intense than a 5.4 . two nuclear plants are in the vicinity of the quake 's epicenter near chino hills , according to the nuclear regulatory commission . the closest to the epicenter is in san onofre , 50 miles south , but an nrc spokesman said , `` this is well below the threshold for any conceivable damage to the plants . '' `` in the u.s. particularly in california , buildings are generally built well enough that it takes about a 5.5 for there to be some damage , so we do have the potential for damage , '' said don blakeman , an analyst for the usgs . `` it depends on the structures -lsb- and -rsb- the ground the building is built on . '' he said he would expect objects to be knocked from shelves and some windows broken . `` it 's kind of on the margin where you 'll get some structural damage from these . we may find that some of the older homes and buildings that were n't retrofitted suffer more damage than the newer structures . `` i would expect some cracked buildings , '' he said . `` there is the potential for injuries , but hopefully we wo n't have too much of that . '' blakeman 's comments came before the quake 's magnitude was dropped to a 5.4 . however , he said afterward that the change does not affect his expectations , although obviously there is less potential for damage . still , the quake jolted the nerves of many californians . `` i 've lived in california , i 've lived through several of them , '' margot wagner of santa barbara told cnn . `` it 's always a little unnerving . '' copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the quake , which struck at 4.15 am , was . felt over a 90 mile radius in areas as far apart as southport , in . merseyside , dublin , in ireland , and douglas , isle of man . although thousands of people are thought to have been woken up by the rumbling this morning , it is not thought to have caused any significant damage . earthquake : the quake was felt at 4.16 am today -lrb- 3.16 am in coordinated universal time -rrb- just off the coast of north wales . the biggest earthquake ever recorded in britain with a magnitude of 5.4 stuck in the same area in the llyn peninsula in 1984 . that was 250 times as big and caused chimney stacks to topple , the british geological survey -lrb- bgs -rrb- said . today an aftershock with a magnitude of 1.7 was measured four minutes later at 4.20 am but it was so small that only one person has so far reported feeling it . david galloway , a seismologist with the bgs , said today : ` we have had 193 reports from people who felt the earthquake already but that number is going up all the time .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a series of four strong earthquakes spanning just over an hour struck the philippines ' moro gulf on saturday morning , according to the u.s. geological survey . three of the four earthquakes had magnitudes between 7.3 and 7.6 ; the other came in at a 5.4 magnitude . the first quake struck at 6:08 a.m. -lrb- 6:08 p.m. et friday -rrb- and the fourth hit at 7:15 a.m. . the last quake ran the deepest at 616 -lrb- 382 miles -rrb- kilometers .<doc-sep>two earthquakes have struck north of los angeles , shaking parts of ventura and los angeles counties , but fire officials say no significant damage took place . the u.s. geological survey says a magnitude-4 .5 quake hit at about 7:18 pst on saturday and was centered close to 50 miles north of los angeles near the town of castaic . the los angeles times reports that a magnitude-3 .0 quake occurred near the same place about 20 minutes earlier . earthquakes : this map of northern california shows the epicenter of where saturday 's earthquakes occurred . the times says there have been three earthquakes of magnitude-3 .0 or greater centered in the area over the last 10 days . victoria contreras , 49 , a clerk at gallion 's market in castaic , told the l.a. times that a second earthquake shook the shelves stocked with liquor and soda . ` all my bottles started rattling , then one great big boom , ' said contreras . ' i almost fell off the stool . ' contreras told reporters that the shocks continued for 45 seconds but that the store did n't lose any other their stock . no injuries or damages were reported to los angeles fire department as of yet . magnitude 3 or lower earthquakes are mostly almost imperceptible or weak and magnitude 7 and over can cause serious damage . the los angeles fire department noted that they are not in ` earthquake mode . ' magnitude : this chart shows the magnitude of earthquakes and indicates that saturday 's quakes were small scale compared to stronger earthquakes prone to causing more damage .<doc-sep>the reported damage was slight according to authorities . at the time , lucy jones said , ` it 's not that large by california terms . it 's the size of earthquake we have across the state once every couple of months . but we have n't had one like this in la for quite a while . ' structural damage : water covers a street as a city worker walks by near a water main break that occurred during a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in fullerton , california on march 28 , 2014 . clean-up : a man picks up fallen goods at a cvs store after an earthquake on friday , march 28 , 2014 , in la mirada , california . experts said that the earthquakes occurred on the puente hills thrust fault , which stretches from the san gabriel valley to downtown los angeles . last night 's quake was shallow , which ` means the shaking is very concentrated in a small area , ' said caltech seismologist egill hauksson . hauksson revealed that the earthquake was unusual because the 5.1 quake was preceded by the weaker foreshock . scientists such as hauksson are very concerned about the puente hills fault because it runs directly under downtown los angeles . ` this is the fault that could eat l.a. , ' seismologist sue hough told the la times in 2003 . residents across los angeles reported swinging chandeliers , fireplaces dislodging from walls and burglar alarms being set off by the quake . enforcement : a police officer controls the traffic as workers shut off the water valve on friday , march 28 , 2014 , in fullerton , california . off road : in brea , the earthquake triggered a landslide that left this car upside down , with only minor injuries reported . eyewitness photos and videos show bottles and packages strewn on store floors . southern california edison reported power outages to about 2,000 customers following the quake . more than two dozen aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2 to 3.6 were recorded , according to the usgs . earlier in the evening , two foreshocks registering at magnitude-3 .6 and magnitude-2 .1 hit nearby in the city of la habra . public safety officials said crews were inspecting bridges , dams , rail tracks and other infrastructure systems for signs of damage . the brea police department said the rock slide in the carbon canyon area caused a car to overturn , and the people inside the car sustained minor injuries . | <t> new : few reports of damage or injury from `` moderate '' earthquake . </t> <t> new : experts , officials say earthquake is a reminder to be prepared . </t> <t> 11:42 a.m. pt quake 's epicenter was about 32 miles east of los angeles . </t> <t> more than 30 aftershocks were recorded , largest was 3.6 . </t> | expert : l.a. 's 5.4 quake ` small sample ' of one to come<T> |
prague , czech republic -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a passenger train rumbling through the czech republic slammed into a collapsed overpass , causing the deaths of at least a half dozen passengers and the injuries of a few dozen more , according to a czech news agency account . an areal view shows the scene of the train accident in studenka , 360 kilometers east of prague . the eurocity train , which was traveling about 140 kilometers , or 87 miles , an hour at the time of the accident , crashed around 10:30 a.m. near the czech town of studenka . it had been headed from the polish city of krakow to the czech republic capital of prague , and was carrying people who were planning to attend an iron maiden rock concert , the state-run news agency said .<doc-sep>officials said the engine and its six passenger carriages derailed when part of a bridge under construction fell down as the train approached . at least six people were killed and 41 others were injured , officials said . initial estimates said 10 people were killed and around 100 were injured . zdenek nytra , head of moravian-silesian firefighters , said rescuers extricated all survivors , according to the agency .<doc-sep>` all . i felt was a bump , and i saw a bit of smoke . i thought we were going . off the track ... i was afraid we were going to flip over , ' train . passenger robert gencarelli said . devastation : a woman sobs as she sits on a bus today that was involved in a fatal collision . critically injured : six were dead and 30 injured , ten critically , on their journey this morning . emergency workers take a person away at the scene of an accident involving a bus and a train in ottawa on september 18 . carnage : an investigator approaches the mangled bus after it plowed through a barrier at a train track . the driver was among the dead . derailed : the train was pushed off the tracks following the collision but no passengers were believed to be injured . he added that he was startled when he got off the train and saw how badly the bus was damaged . ` that hit home . ' another . train passenger , who did not give his name , said he saw the bus rolling . toward the train tracks and knew the collision was about to happen . ' i saw it before it happened . i was expecting something . there was a big bang . ... the bus was rolling . it did n't stop . ' terror on the journey to work : passengers said that they screamed at the bus ride to stop ahead of the barrier . off the rails : investigators and police man the scene of a collision between a via train and oc transpo city bus . the derailed via rail train suffered minor damage . one of its passengers said he saw the bus rolling over the tracks before hearing a ` big bang ' at least six people on the bus were killed , with several more injured , while nobody on the train was hurt . the train tracks in the area cross a major city street and a transit line reserved for buses only . rescue . crews swarmed over the wreckage . the injured from the bus who could . walk were taken to a second bus nearby to be treated by paramedics . canadian . prime minister stephen harper posted a message on twitter saying he was . deeply saddened by the accident and his thoughts and prayers were with . the families of those involved . the damage along the side of the passenger train can clearly be seen , with panels hanging off and paint scraped away . the via rail passenger train sits on the tracks shortly after the collision at the crossing . via . rail , which operates the national passenger service in canada , . confirmed the crash and said there were no major injuries reported on . the train . the crash occurred in the west end of ottawa , canada 's capital city . canada 's . two big railroads - canadian national railway co and canadian pacific . railway ltd - are reviewing safety standards after a deadly train crash . on july 6 that killed 50 people and destroyed the center of a small . quebec town . smoke rises from railway cars after a large swath of lac megantic was destroyed when a train carrying crude oil derailed , sparking several explosions in lac megantic , quebec , on july 6 . almost 1,000 people had to be evacuated from lac megantic after the crash that claimed 50 lives .<doc-sep>santiago de compostela , spain -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the driver of a train that derailed in northwestern spain , killing at least 78 people , is under detention and is being investigated for `` a crime , '' the regional police chief said friday . investigations into the cause of the crash are still under way , but suggestions that the train was traveling too fast have come to the fore . police are guarding the hospital bed where the driver was placed in detention thursday afternoon , maria pardo rios , a spokeswoman for the galicia regional supreme court , told cnn . investigators are expected to ask the train driver , who is under formal investigation , more questions on friday . the case has not yet been turned over by police to judicial authorities , she said . spain train crash victim : ` it felt like a roller coaster ' galicia regional police chief jaime iglesias on friday confirmed that the driver is under police detention because of `` a crime . '' asked the follow-up question , `` what crime ? '' he responded : `` well ... in connection to the accident , in connection with his recklessness , in connection with causing the accident . '' the crash on the outskirts of santiago de compostela , a city popular with tourists and christian pilgrims , late wednesday shocked the galician region and the nation . the crumpled wreckage of the eight train cars sent careering onto their sides when the train derailed has now been removed from the tracks , but the grim task of identifying the dead continues . a spokeswoman for the galician regional government told cnn at least 78 people are confirmed dead and the number could rise to 80 . of the dead , 72 have been identified , she said . a spokeswoman for the department of health in the galicia region said 81 people are still being treated in hospitals , 31 of them in a critical condition . of those 31 , three are children . those hospitalized include 31 from galicia , 38 from other spanish regions and eight from argentina , colombia , peru , the united states and britain . the nationalities of four others have not been established . an american woman identified as ana-maria cordoba from arlington , virginia , is among the dead . and at least five other u.s. citizens were injured , said state department deputy spokeswoman marie harf . the unidentified remains will be sent for dna testing in madrid , police superintendent antonio del amo said at a news conference friday . the process could take days or even weeks , he said . conflicting accounts have emerged in the past two days over the number of people killed and injured . del amo explained the confusion by pointing out that the operation was very complex and involved a difficult accident scene .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two commuter trains collided head-on monday evening in western switzerland , injuring dozens , officials said . one locomotive 's driver was missing after the crash , police said , and search crews were trying to pry open the train 's crushed cab . at least 40 people were injured , including five seriously , swiss federal railways spokesman reto schaerli told cnn . the collision happened in the village of granges-prã ¨ s-marnand , about 8 km -lrb- 5 miles -rrb- south of payerne , around 6:45 p.m. rescue teams at the scene included paramedics , firefighters , police and an air rescue helicopter , police said . authorities are investigating what caused the crash . `` at the moment , we do n't have any ... information how this collision happened , '' schaerli said . the trains were on a route between payerne and lausanne , a city on the shores of lake geneva , schaerli said . the crash will interrupt train service between payerne and moudon -- a city near the line 's halfway point -- until at least midnight , schaerli said . cnn 's stefan simons contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . mark duell . last updated at 6:22 pm on 26th june 2011 . almost 30 people are still unaccounted for following the fatal amtrak train crash that took six lives . the driver of the truck that ploughed through the nevada rail crossing into the california zephyr , and the train conductor - laurette lee , 68 , of south lake tahoe , california - were among the dead . but there is still confusion as 28 people are unaccounted for , and a passenger manifest suggests a different number of people on the train to the figure given by an amtrak spokesman . tragedy : train conductor laurette lee , 68 , left , of south lake tahoe , california - was among the six dead in the amtrak crash in nevada last friday , but 30 people are still unaccounted for . ms lee came from a railroad family , . with her great-grandfather and grandfather working for railroad . companies , her brother an amtrak dispatcher and her nephew an amtrak . conductor . two truck drivers and a train . engineer watched helplessly as the semi-trailer skidded the length of a . football field before it smashed through crossing gates and into two . double-decker cars of the train . the drivers were part of a . three-truck convoy that saw the gates come down and the warning lights . go off as the train approached . they stopped , but the driver of the big . rig in the lead did not . investigators plan to look over the . scene for any clues as to why the truck driver skidded through the . railroad crossing on friday - but it 's expected to take up to a year to . pinpoint the cause of the crash . the unaccounted figure is ` spongy ' as . some passengers may have got off before the crash or walked away without . telling officials , national transportation safety board member earl . weener said . tangled mess : firefighters put water on the wreckage of an amtrak passenger car . point of impact : the spot where the westbound amtrak train and the truck on u.s. 95 collided . | <t> reports : train crashed into a collapsed overpass , with up to 10 possibly dead . </t> <t> eurocity train going from polish city of krakow to the czech capital , prague . </t> <t> incident occured at around 0830 gmt , officials say . </t> | at least 6 dead in czech train crash<T> |
sherman , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a seventeenth person has died from injuries suffered in friday 's bus crash in northern texas , a hospital spokeswoman said sunday . the damaged bus is hauled from the crash scene on a flatbed truck friday in sherman , texas . the driver of the bus , which was carrying dozens of vietnamese people on a church trip , apparently lost control on northbound u.s. 75 early friday . the bus smashed into a guardrail before rolling on its side and sliding into a gully . the accident happened near the texas-oklahoma state line . twelve people were declared dead at the scene , and four others died at hospitals , officials said . police estimated that , in addition to the deaths , 33 to 39 of the 54 passengers and the driver suffered mild to serious injuries . watch what investigators are learning about the accident '' the bus was operating illegally , according to the federal motor carrier safety administration . the national transportation safety board has begun investigating the crash . on friday , ntsb member debbie hersman told reporters that the right front tire of the bus had been retreaded , in violation of safety rules . the blown tire was the only one that was recapped , and it was the only one whose tread separated , she said .<doc-sep>asked what caused the goodyear tire to lose its air , she said , `` we do n't know the answer to that question ; that 's why we 're here . '' the bus itself was made in 2002 by motor coach industries . the trip to carthage , missouri , had been scheduled by the vietnamese catholic martyrs church in houston , though some of the passengers may have belonged to other churches , hersman said . the 52-year-old driver had his commercial driver 's license , but his medical certificate had expired , she said . late friday , police were assisting ntsb investigators with gathering evidence and mapping the scene , documenting the location of witness marks and scars on the highway and bridge rail over an overpass , she said . preliminary evidence suggests that the bus hit a rail on the right side of the bridge and then traveled 1,809 feet before coming to a stop on its right side in the earthen median between the highway and a frontage road , hersman said . `` as it dropped off the bridge rail , the bus rolled to the right ... where it came to rest . '' watch as the fire chief describes the crash scene '' she noted that the bus was not equipped with seat belts , which are not required on motor coaches .<doc-sep>in a written statement , motor carrier agency administrator john h. hill said investigators noted `` certain irregularities ... about whether the bus was operating under the name angel tours or iguala busmex . it is important to note that neither of these domestic entities is authorized to operate as a u.s. passenger carrier in interstate commerce at this time . '' he added that the agency identified angel tours `` as being a high-risk carrier due to safety violations detected during roadside safety inspections and was subjected to an fmcsa compliance review in may 2008 . '' `` this review resulted in fmcsa placing angel tours ' operations out of service , '' hill said . `` to date , angel tours has not provided the agency with evidence of satisfactory corrective actions to the problems discovered and remains out of service . '' in addition , `` fmcsa has not granted iguala busmex authority to transport passengers because it has failed to fully comply with federal safety requirements . '' he said police have been asked to stop any of the companies ' buses . both companies are owned by angel de la torre . a man who answered the phone at angel tours office said the owner was meeting with his lawyers and was unavailable .<doc-sep>massage therapist leha nguyen , 45 , was a passenger . she was traveling by herself on the bus when she departed houston at 8:30 p.m. thursday for what was to have been her fourth trip to carthage , missouri . after sandwiches were passed around , the group said prayers , and nguyen began to drift off to sleep in her window seat next to an older woman , four rows behind the driver , she said . ireport.com : were you there ? send photos , video . about 11:45 p.m. , the bus passed dallas , `` and as soon as we passed dallas we were on the two-way freeway and i feel the bus ride a little bit fast and i have a feeling , not a safe feeling , '' she said . she added , `` i feel a little bit shaky , but i just let myself at peace and then go to sleep . '' her sleep did n't last long . `` as i opened my eyes , i see the chair falling off and i was sitting right below the tv and i felt that somebody was laying on my leg and then right next to me there was a lady , she got her arm really crushed up and on top of her there was another lady , she can not move . '' although her head hurt , nguyen -- who left vietnam in 1975 as a refugee -- was in better shape than many of her fellow riders . she accepted an ambulance ride to the hospital , where she learned that her seatmate had died . once her scalp was sewn up , she aided in translating for other vietnamese patients whose english was not as good . cnn 's susan roesgen contributed to this story from sherman , texas .<doc-sep>roads near the site have been closed and will probably remain that way until monday , he said . according to the air force website , a pave hawk is a `` highly modified '' version of a black hawk helicopter that often carries a crew of two pilots , one flight engineer and one gunner . death toll in scottish helicopter crash rises . 3 killed in medical helicopter crash in tennessee . copter crashes during antarctica science mission .<doc-sep>forty-six passengers were taken to hospital with 12 of them in a critical condition . the death toll was expected to rise , it was reported . as many as 39 people , including the driver , died at the scene , while 13 succumbed to their injuries in the hospital . tragedy struck at 9am local time as the privately-owned bus travelled from chamba - a remote mountainous district where there are many road accidents - to dulera . grieving : bodies covered in white blankets lie on the ground as onlookers and rescue workers gather at the crash scene in a 300ft-deep gorge . helpers : rescue workers at the scene where an overcrowded bus with passengers lying the roof plunged 300ft into a gorge in northern india . sunil chaudhury , administrator of himachal pradesh 's chamba district , said all victims ' bodies had been recovered but the relief and rescue operation was going on . four teams of doctors were working at the crash site and postmortems were being conducted at the scene . although an investigation into the cause of the crash has been started , chaudhury confirmed the bus appeared to have been overloaded . india has the world 's highest road-death toll , with . more than 110,000 people dying each year in accidents commonly caused by . overcrowding , speeding and poor vehicle and road maintenance . aftermath : all that 's left of the privately-owned bus is scattered around the gorge after the tragedy .<doc-sep>pakistani relatives of bus accident victims mourn their death outside a hospital in karachi . mourners outside karachi hospital weep and hold each other as they are told their relatives were on board during the disastrous crash . at least 57 people were killed in the inferno which ignited when the oil tanker and the bus collided . ` we are trying to ascertain if the driver of the oil tanker was solely at fault or whether the bus driver also showed negligence , ' anwaar said . pakistan has an appalling record of fatal traffic accidents due to poor roads , badly-maintained vehicles and reckless driving . television channels showed live footage from the fiery crash site where rescue workers were busily evacuating dead bodies and injured . pictures from the scene show the passenger bus completely gutted and so badly burnt only the skeleton of the vehicle remains . family members of those who were killed on board the bus were seen weeping with grief as they held each other after learning the news outside karachi hospital . a small number of passengers managed to escape out the bus windows according to a police official . more than 50 bodies have already been retrieved and officials say it is likely the death toll will rise .<doc-sep>by . damien gayle . published : . 13:04 est , 20 december 2013 . | . updated : . 14:23 est , 20 december 2013 . sixteen people died and 58 were hurt after a double-decker bus flipped on a tortuos andean mountain highway and plunged into a deep ravine . the packed bus tumbled down a 98ft slope at a spot known as the ` devil 's curve ' on the highway leading from the city of huaraz to pativilca in peru 's ancash region . among the dead is a one-year-old baby , said ancash province health director carlos segovia . scroll down for video . horror in the mountains : the wreckage of the . double-decker bus which flipped over and plunged nearly 100ft down a . ravine in the peruvian andes yesterday , killing 16 people and injuring a . further 58 . smash : the packed bus tumbled down a slope . at a spot known as the ` devil 's curve ' on the highway leading from the . city of huaraz to pativilca in peru 's ancash region . the exhausted . driver was apparently speeding . a spokesman for the local police told san antonio , texas-based newspaper la prensa that the bus was apparently speeding and its driver exhausted . he added that the injured were taken to five hospitals in the region and that the bodies of those killed in the accident will be delivered to their families . the crash happened just before noon on . thursday as the bus was making its way to peru 's capital , lima , which . lies about 134 miles south-west of the site . rescued passengers were freed from the wreckage by police and firefighters , according to officials at one hospital which treated survivors . rescue : police and firefighters work to free a trapped passenger . survivors were taken to five nearby hospitals . police transport survivors to hospital : the smash happened just before noon on thursday as the bus was making its . way to peru 's capital , lima , which lies about 134 miles south-west of . the crash site . the unpaved , high-altitude roads of the peruvian andes are notorious for bus plunges , with poor farmers comprising many of the victims . inexperienced drivers and poor maintainance of buses also contribute to the death toll . last year , more than 4,000 people were killed in such accidents . in october , 51 quechua farmers died in southeastern peru in the country 's worst highway accident in three decades . | <t> new : another passenger from bus crash in northern texas dies of injuries bus had a recapped tire on the right front , a federal investigator says . </t> <t> the bus was operating illegally , federal agency says . </t> <t> survivor describes chaos during and after accident . </t> | death toll in texas bus crash rises to 17<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- starbucks is closing more than two-thirds of its stores in australia , days after announcing that hundreds of its american coffee outlets are also being shuttered . starbucks announced plans to close 600 stores in the u.s. last week .<doc-sep>the seattle-based global coffee franchise said tuesday that it will close 61 of its 84 locations in australia by the weekend . the closures will mean that only 23 cafes will remain open in and around three major cities : brisbane , melbourne and sydney , the company said in a statement tuesday .<doc-sep>earlier this month , the company announced it would close 600 company-owned stores in the united states . starbucks , named after the first mate in herman melville 's ` moby dick , ' was founded in 1971 . it has more than 8,000 company-operated stores and another 6,800 licensed cafes in 44 countries .<doc-sep>starbucks has seen rising competition from privately-held dunkin' donuts and mcdonalds recently , and welcomed founder schultz back as ceo in january after a lackluster performance by the company in the latter half of 2007 .<doc-sep>paying . backlash : starbucks suffered its first ever fall during 16 years of operating in this country as it was hit by boycotts and criticism over the low levels of tax it was paying . success : whitbread chief executive andy harrison said people in china have a taste for western coffee shops . accounts for its main uk subsidiary , starbucks coffee company . -lrb- uk -rrb- , showed turnover fell in the year to the end of september 2013 to . # 399million from # 413million the previous year . the . fall came on the back of the closure of some of its unprofitable . outlets , however it plans to open 100 more starbucks this year . the . firm has also moved to dampen the criticism of its tax arrangements by . moving its european headquarters from the netherlands to london with the . result that it will pay more . as . well as costa , the whitbread group also owns the premier inn budget . hotel chain , where there are also big expansion plans , along with the . restaurant brands brewers fayre and beefeater . caffe . nero plans to open 34 more british outlets this year , and tesco has the . financial muscle to expand its coffee shop chain harris + hoole into . suburbs across the country .<doc-sep>large transnational companies are getting away with paying little tax in australia by taking advantage of recent cuts at the australian tax office , an outgoing ato employee has claimed . the insider said the ato 's internationals department , which is responsible for making sure companies such as google , ikea , apple and starbucks pay their fair share of tax , has lost a large number of senior staff in recent years , the canberra times reported . funding cuts to the tax office combined with an internationals department that is increasingly made up of junior staff has left the ato unable to properly pursue multinational companies , he said . for the 2013-14 financial year ikea paid just $ 7.7 million in tax after making a profit of $ 92 million . for the 2013-14 financial year ikea paid just $ 7.7 million in tax after making a profit of $ 92 million . in 2013 apple paid $ 36 million in tax despite making $ 6.1 billion in australia , while google paid just $ 7.1 million despite making $ 46.5 million . in 2013 starbucks australia had gone 13 years without paying any company tax . the ato insider said the ` big four ' accounting firms that represent large corporations - including pwc , kpmg , deloitte and ernst & young - were bolstered by the loss of senior staff and were attempting trickier ways of tax avoidance . large transnational companies are getting away with paying little tax in australia by taking advantage of recent cuts at the australian tax office , an outgoing ato employee has claimed . ` that 's more likely to be the case in a climate of a loss of staff , it has progressively become that way during the past three years , internationals has dramatically shrunk in its technical staff , '' the mid-ranking executive , who did not wish to be named , said .<doc-sep>thanks to the drive thru outlets 5,000 new jobs will be introduced across the uk and the company will create new apprenticeships . pictured here are members of the new milton keynes team . to order a coffee , customers speak into a microphone and then drive forward to a manned hatch where a starbucks employee hands over the drink . the drive-thrus are open 24 hours a day , seven days a week . the concept has been popular in america for years , with thousands of outlets across the country . drive-thrus cropped up as early as 2008 in the uk when starbucks experimented with 10 initial roadside outlets . the first was opened in cardiff .<doc-sep>but in 2011 the company announced that it would be fully importing the trend across the pond and introducing 200 uk drive-thrus . in the same year , costa coffee also announced that it would open 75 uk drive-thrus . half of the starbucks outlets will be located at petrol stations following an agreement with euro garages . and thanks to the new shops a further 5,000 employees will be hired across the uk . in 2011 , starbucks announced that it would be importing the trend from america and introducing 200 uk drive-thrus across the uk . the outlets will require the company to hire a further 5,000 employees . | <t> more than 60 starbucks cafes to close by august 3 . </t> <t> closures follow news of more than 600 outlets to shut in u.s. </t> <t> move by seattle company will end 685 jobs in australia , reports say . </t> | starbucks cuts back australian outlets<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- an estimated 125,000 western lowland gorillas are living in a swamp in equatorial africa , researchers reported tuesday , double the number of the endangered primates thought to survive worldwide . forest clearings draw large numbers of western lowland gorillas searching for food . `` it 's pretty astonishing , '' hugo rainey , one of the researchers who conducted the survey for the u.s.-based wildlife conservation society , told cnn tuesday . the last census on the species , carried out during the 1980s , estimated that there were only 100,000 of the gorillas left worldwide . since then , the researchers estimated , the numbers had been cut in half . wcs survey teams conducted the research in 2006 and 2007 , traveling to the remote lac tele community reserve in northern republic of congo , a vast area of swamp forest . acting on a tip from hunters who indicated the presence of gorillas , rainey said that the researchers trekked on foot through mud for three days to the outskirts of lac tele , about 80 kilometers -lrb- 50 miles -rrb- from the nearest road . `` when we went there , we found an astonishing amount of gorillas , '' said rainey , speaking from the international primatological society congress in edinburgh , scotland . though researchers did spot some gorillas , they based their estimate on the number of gorilla nests found at the site , rainey said . each gorilla makes a nest to sleep in at night . `` this is the highest-known density of gorillas that 's ever been found , '' rainey said . watch a glimpse of gorilla life in african swamp '' western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered , the highest threat category for a species . their populations are declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like ebola hemorrhagic fever , whose symptoms include diarrhea , vomiting and internal and external bleeding . take a closer look at the western lowland gorilla '' while the discovery in northern congo indicates that the gorilla population remains stable in some areas , it is likely that gorillas will remain critically endangered because the threats facing the species are so great , rainey said . ireport.com : share photos and video of gorillas in zoos or the wild . `` we know very little about ebola and how it spreads , '' he said . `` we do n't even know the animal that spreads it around . '' the goal now , rainey said , is to work with the congolese government and donors to protect the areas in which the gorillas are known to be living . western lowland gorillas , which are found in cameroon , the central african republic , equatorial guinea , gabon and nigeria as well as the republic of congo , are the most numerous and wide-ranging of the four gorilla subspecies , each of which is threatened by extinction , the wcs says . see where the gorillas live '' illegal hunting and habitat loss have also threatened the cross river gorillas , found in the highlands of cameroon and nigeria . only about 250 to 300 are estimated to remain in the world , the wcs says . war , habitat loss , poaching and disease are the major threats to the mountain gorillas , made famous by researcher dian fossey and the film `` gorillas in the mist . '' the mountain gorilla population is starting to recover after decades of conservation work . from a population of around 230 in the 1970s , the mountain gorillas now number around 700 , the wcs says . poaching and war have also threatened populations of grauer 's gorillas in the eastern democratic republic of congo , the former zaire . the wcs estimates their population to be around 16,000 . news of the discovery of the western lowland gorillas in northern congo comes the same week as a report that almost 50 percent of the world 's primates are in danger of extinction . watch what gorilla expert thinks of find '' the report , also delivered to the edinburgh conference , cites habitat loss and hunting as the greatest threats . the situation is especially dire in asia , where the report says more than 70 percent of monkeys , apes , and other primates are classified as vulnerable , endangered , or critically endangered . conservation international and the international union for conservation of nature issued the report .<doc-sep>while the discovery in northern congo indicates that the gorilla population remains stable in some areas , it is likely that gorillas will remain critically endangered because the threats facing the species are so great , rainey said . ireport.com : share photos and video of gorillas in zoos or the wild . `` we know very little about ebola and how it spreads , '' he said . `` we do n't even know the animal that spreads it around . '' the goal now , rainey said , is to work with the congolese government and donors to protect the areas in which the gorillas are known to be living . western lowland gorillas , which are found in cameroon , the central african republic , equatorial guinea , gabon and nigeria as well as the republic of congo , are the most numerous and wide-ranging of the four gorilla subspecies , each of which is threatened by extinction , the wcs says . see where the gorillas live '' illegal hunting and habitat loss have also threatened the cross river gorillas , found in the highlands of cameroon and nigeria . only about 250 to 300 are estimated to remain in the world , the wcs says . war , habitat loss , poaching and disease are the major threats to the mountain gorillas , made famous by researcher dian fossey and the film `` gorillas in the mist . '' the mountain gorilla population is starting to recover after decades of conservation work . from a population of around 230 in the 1970s , the mountain gorillas now number around 700 , the wcs says . poaching and war have also threatened populations of grauer 's gorillas in the eastern democratic republic of congo , the former zaire . the wcs estimates their population to be around 16,000 . news of the discovery of the western lowland gorillas in northern congo comes the same week as a report that almost 50 percent of the world 's primates are in danger of extinction . watch what gorilla expert thinks of find '' the report , also delivered to the edinburgh conference , cites habitat loss and hunting as the greatest threats . the situation is especially dire in asia , where the report says more than 70 percent of monkeys , apes , and other primates are classified as vulnerable , endangered , or critically endangered . conservation international and the international union for conservation of nature issued the report .<doc-sep>the film 's producer , joanna natasegara also discussed the poignant message behind the film which has already been oscar-nominated for best documentary feature . standing together : dicaprio uploaded this image to instagram of him posing with clinton . the virunga national park , in the democratic republic of congo is home to critically endangered mountain gorillas . the virunga national park , in the democratic republic of congo is home to critically endangered mountain gorillas . the national park is made up of lakes , savannah , forests , volcanoes and is home to rare wildlife including the critically endangered mountain gorilla .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- an estimated 125,000 western lowland gorillas are living in a swamp in equatorial africa , researchers reported tuesday , double the number of the endangered primates thought to survive worldwide . forest clearings draw large numbers of western lowland gorillas searching for food . `` it 's pretty astonishing , '' hugo rainey , one of the researchers who conducted the survey for the u.s.-based wildlife conservation society , told cnn tuesday . the last census on the species , carried out during the 1980s , estimated that there were only 100,000 of the gorillas left worldwide . since then , the researchers estimated , the numbers had been cut in half . wcs survey teams conducted the research in 2006 and 2007 , traveling to the remote lac tele community reserve in northern republic of congo , a vast area of swamp forest . acting on a tip from hunters who indicated the presence of gorillas , rainey said that the researchers trekked on foot through mud for three days to the outskirts of lac tele , about 80 kilometers -lrb- 50 miles -rrb- from the nearest road . `` when we went there , we found an astonishing amount of gorillas , '' said rainey , speaking from the international primatological society congress in edinburgh , scotland . though researchers did spot some gorillas , they based their estimate on the number of gorilla nests found at the site , rainey said . each gorilla makes a nest to sleep in at night . `` this is the highest-known density of gorillas that 's ever been found , '' rainey said . watch a glimpse of gorilla life in african swamp '' western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered , the highest threat category for a species . their populations are declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like ebola hemorrhagic fever , whose symptoms include diarrhea , vomiting and internal and external bleeding . take a closer look at the western lowland gorilla ''<doc-sep>endangered : current estimates suggest a third of the world 's gorillas and chimpanzees have died from ebola since the 1990s . there is a side to the ebola crisis that , perhaps understandably , has received little media attention : the threat it poses to our nearest cousins , the great apes of africa . at this moment in time ebola is the single greatest threat to the survival of gorillas and chimpanzees . the virus is as deadly for great apes as it is for humans - with mortality rates at approximately 95 per cent for gorillas and 77 per cent for chimpanzees . current estimates suggest a third of the world 's gorillas and chimpanzees have died from ebola since the 1990s . as with humans , these deaths tend to come in epidemics . in 1995 , an outbreak is reported to have killed more than 90 per cent of the gorillas in minkébé park in northern gabon . in 2002-2003 , a single outbreak of zebov - the zaire strain of ebola - in the democratic republic of congo , killed an estimated 5,000 western gorillas . it 's hard to accurately count such elusive creatures but the wwf estimates there are up to 100,000 left in the wild -- so a single ebola outbreak wiped out a considerable chunk of the world 's gorilla population . there are of course additional factors behind the declining numbers of africa 's great apes : illegal trading in wildlife and bushmeat , war , deforestation and other infectious diseases . the world 's remaining wild apes are increasingly being forced into isolated pockets of forest , which impedes their ability to forage , breed and to hide from hunters . | <t> researchers feared only around 50,000 western lowland gorillas left worldwide . </t> <t> now 125,000 primates have been discovered in northern congo . </t> <t> population declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like ebola . </t> <t> expert : this is the highest-known density of gorillas that 's ever been found . </t> | more than 100,000 rare gorillas found in congo<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- canada announced wednesday that it will dispatch a warship to somalia 's coast to protect u.n. aid ships from pirate attacks . the canadian frigate hmcs ville de quebec will escort ships carrying food aid to somalia . `` canada is stepping up to the plate by tasking ville de quebec with the role of escorting world food programme ships to ensure their safe arrival at designated ports , '' canadian defense minister peter mackay said in a government news release . the united nations hunger program praised canada for answering its call for help , and said it hoped other governments would step forward to take over from canada once it completes its mission in a few weeks . the hmcs ville de quebec is a 440-foot frigate armed with torpedoes , surface-to-air missiles and other weapons , and carries a twin-engine sea king anti-submarine helicopter . ville de quebec , which can travel at speeds greater than 27 knots , will be dispatched after somalia 's transitional government formally authorizes the mission , the government 's news release said .<doc-sep>wfp asked the world 's naval powers in mid-june to help its ships reach the more than 2 million people in need of aid . it put out the request weeks before french , danish and dutch warships ended their escort missions , which began in november . pirate attacks on unescorted ships have been a growing problem in somalia . three european freighters were hijacked off the horn of africa in june , adding to the 27 other reported attacks this year , according to the international maritime bureau , which tracks piracy . wfp delivers 80 percent of its aid to somalia by sea , and wfp spokesman peter smerdon said that if there are no warships to escort the food supply , the program will have to rely on ground or air travel to deliver the food . but both are dangerous and expensive . the agency said that if there is no assistance from naval powers , piracy will increase , and so will death and malnutrition . smerdon said that although somalia 's food crisis has n't yet reached the devastation of the early 1990s , `` we 're worried it will be . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- canada announced wednesday that it will dispatch a warship to somalia 's coast to protect u.n. aid ships from pirate attacks . the canadian frigate hmcs ville de quebec will escort ships carrying food aid to somalia . `` canada is stepping up to the plate by tasking ville de quebec with the role of escorting world food programme ships to ensure their safe arrival at designated ports , '' canadian defense minister peter mackay said in a government news release . the united nations hunger program praised canada for answering its call for help , and said it hoped other governments would step forward to take over from canada once it completes its mission in a few weeks . the hmcs ville de quebec is a 440-foot frigate armed with torpedoes , surface-to-air missiles and other weapons , and carries a twin-engine sea king anti-submarine helicopter . ville de quebec , which can travel at speeds greater than 27 knots , will be dispatched after somalia 's transitional government formally authorizes the mission , the government 's news release said . wfp asked the world 's naval powers in mid-june to help its ships reach the more than 2 million people in need of aid . it put out the request weeks before french , danish and dutch warships ended their escort missions , which began in november . pirate attacks on unescorted ships have been a growing problem in somalia . three european freighters were hijacked off the horn of africa in june , adding to the 27 other reported attacks this year , according to the international maritime bureau , which tracks piracy . wfp delivers 80 percent of its aid to somalia by sea , and wfp spokesman peter smerdon said that if there are no warships to escort the food supply , the program will have to rely on ground or air travel to deliver the food . but both are dangerous and expensive . the agency said that if there is no assistance from naval powers , piracy will increase , and so will death and malnutrition . smerdon said that although somalia 's food crisis has n't yet reached the devastation of the early 1990s , `` we 're worried it will be . ''<doc-sep>the pirates hijacked the ship off the coast of somalia september 25 . the faina had been headed to the kenyan port of mombasa after departing from nikolayev , ukraine , and was seized not far from its destination . the faina is owned and operated by kaalbye shipping ukraine , and its crew includes citizens of ukraine , russia and latvia , the navy said . abdi salan khalif , commissioner of the coastal town of harardhere , told cnn the pirates told a group of town elders that one crew member had died of high blood pressure problems . attacks by pirates have increased dramatically in the waters off somalia 's northern coast in the past year , prompting the u.s. and other coalition warships to widen their patrols in the region . three ships were hijacked on august 21 in that area , the `` worst number of attacks '' in a single day in many years , capt. pottengal mukudan of the international maritime bureau told cnn . after the spate of attacks , the u.s. navy 's fifth fleet in bahrain announced that it would begin patrolling a newly established shipping corridor in the gulf of aden in an attempt to protect international shipping . canada also sent a warship through the end of september . the international maritime bureau said in april that 49 pirate attacks on ships were reported in the first three months of 2008 , compared with 41 for the same period last year . it recorded 263 pirates attacks last year , up from 239 the year before and the first increase in three years .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- five people were detained off somalia 's coast wednesday after pirates mistook a french ship involved in an anti-piracy operation for a commercial vessel , the french defense ministry said . a german-flagged warship taking part in the eu 's anti-piracy mission is pictured in this april 2009 file photo . there were no injuries as a result of the attack on the bcr somme , the ministry said . the pirates opened fire at midnight local time , about 250 nautical miles -lrb- 463 kilometers -rrb- off somalia 's coast , officials added .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- seven suspected pirates rescued by a danish warship were turned over to authorities in yemen early friday , two days after they were picked up in the pirate-plagued gulf of aden . the french frigate nivose escorts commercial ships in the gulf of aden on november 28 , 2008 . the men were rescued by the hdms absalon on wednesday after being found in a powerless skiff with rocket-propelled grenades and ak-47s aboard , danish navy spokesman jesper lynge told cnn . they were found approximately 75 nautical miles -lrb- 140 km -rrb- off the coast of yemen following a distress call , lynge said . `` these guys had been without propulsion on their small boat for several days without food or drinking water , '' he added . after receiving medical treatment aboard the absalon , the ship 's crew turned them over to yemen 's coast guard friday morning , said rasmus tantholt , a reporter for denmark 's tv2 , who was aboard the warship . the skiff 's small engine was broken , and the danish vessel sank the boat in order to prevent any hazard to sea traffic . watch how nato is fighting piracy '' the men are suspected to be pirates because of the weapons on board , lynge said . pirates frequently use small boats to attack commercial vessels with small arms and grenades , but lynge said absalon crew could not connect the men `` directly with another pirate attack in the area , '' lynge said . lynge said the skiff was found in yemeni waters , and the absalon crew was instructed to hand over the men to the yemen coast guard . yemeni authorities must conduct any investigation because the episode took place in their jurisdiction , he said . cnn was unable to obtain an immediate comment from yemeni authorities . pirates have seized many ships in recent weeks in the waters of the gulf of aden , which separates yemen from somalia . so far this year , pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off the coast of somalia and successfully hijacked nearly 40 , according to the international maritime bureau . a multinational fleet , including vessels from the united states , nato member states , russia and india , has been patrolling waters of indian ocean near the gulf , which connects the red sea and the arabian sea . around 20,000 oil tankers , freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year . cnn 's katy byron contributed to this report . | <t> canada to send 440-foot frigate to help aid reach ports safely . </t> <t> mission must be authorized by somalia 's transitional government . </t> <t> 80 percent of u.n. 's food aid to somalia sent by ship . </t> <t> heavily armed pirates frequently hijack cargo ships off horn of africa . </t> | canadian warship to protect food from pirates off somalia<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- radovan karadzic , whose interpol charges listed `` flamboyant behavior '' as a distinguishing characteristic , was a practicing psychiatrist who came to be nicknamed the `` butcher of bosnia . '' twice indicted in 1995 by the u.n. international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia , karadzic faces charges of genocide , complicity in genocide , extermination , murder , willful killing , persecutions , deportation , inhumane acts , terror against civilians and hostage-taking . while president of the so-called serbian republic of bosnia-herzegovina , karadzic 's troops were reported to have massacred over hundreds of thousands of muslims and croats during a campaign of `` ethnic cleansing . '' early estimates of the death toll from the 3-year war ranged up to 300,000 , but recent research reduced that to about 100,000 . the u.s. state department had a $ 5 million reward for information leading to his capture . his arrest brings an end to more than 10 years as a fugitive . watch cnn 's chief international correspondent christiane amanpour report on karadzic 's rise and fall '' karadzic was born on june 19 , 1945 , in petnjica , montenegro . he studied psychiatry and medicine at the university of sarajevo during the 1960s and took courses in psychiatry and poetry at columbia university from 1974 to 1975 . karadzic , a serb-croat , in 1990 helped found the serbian democratic party -lrb- sds -rrb- , a party aimed at unifying serbs into a common state , and became its president . two years later , he became president of the newly declared serbian republic of bosnia and herzegovina , later called `` republika srpska . '' during the next three years , he ordered bosnian serb forces to seize the majority of bosnia and herzegovina .<doc-sep>he also announced , according to his u.n. indictment , six `` strategic objectives '' for the serbian people . they included the establishment of state borders between the serbs and the other two ethnic communities , bosnian muslims and bosnian croats . answering to him , according to the indictment , was bosnian serb military commander ratko mladic . from may 1992 , the indictment alleged , bosnian serb forces under mladic 's command targeted civilian areas of sarajevo with shelling and sniping during a three-year conflict within the city . in july 1995 , according to the u.n. indictment , troops under mladic 's command executed an estimated 7,000 bosnian muslim male prisoners in srebrenica , a u.n. safe area , and then participated in a comprehensive effort to conceal the killings . the massacre is considered the worst in europe since world war ii . the indictment states that bosnian serb forces acted under karadzic 's direction and worked to `` significantly reduce the bosnian muslim , bosnian croat and other non-serb populations '' in municipalities that were seized . karadzic was last seen in public in september 1996 , a year after the dayton peace accords brought a formal end to the conflict and banned anyone accused of war crimes , including him , from office .<doc-sep>he reportedly shaved his trademark bushy hair , grew a beard and donned priest 's robes , moving from monastery to monastery in the mountains to avoid capture . cnn correspondent alessio vinci said : `` he enjoyed protection from the local population , wherever he was hiding . legend has it he disguised himself as a priest to take part in his mother 's funeral . `` in 2002 , after nato launched one of its many failed raids to try to arrest karadzic in bosnia , i interviewed his mother . at that time she said : ` serbs are righteous people and i can see that they support him , and that they adore him the way he is . they would lose their lives to protect him . ' '' despite years on the run , karadzic wrote `` miraculous chronicles of the night '' -- 1,200 copies of which sold out at the 2004 belgrade international book fair . after his arrest was announced , serb officials revealed the final chapter of his life on the run had seen karadic reprise his medical role , working in a clinic in belgrade under a false identity and heavily disguised by a white beard , long hair and spectacles . `` he moved freely throughout the city , and the fact that he even held a job at a medical practice and nobody knew about this contributes to the fact that his false identity was very elaborate , '' said serbian war crimes prosecutor vladimir vukcevic .<doc-sep>more than 10,000 people , most of them civilians , died in the lengthy siege of sarajevo , the bosnian capital , by bosnian serb forces that pounded the city every day from higher ground . mladic was also asked if he and karadzic had any agreement `` to expel muslims or croats residing in serb-controlled areas '' -- a question related to the second genocide charge faced by karadzic . karadzic : from psychiatrist to ` butcher of bosnia ' elaborate disguise . the court proceedings are now in recess , the icty said . there was already an early break in proceedings after mladic asked to be brought his dentures before he answered questions , said icty spokeswoman magdalena spalinska . karadzic was captured in 2008 after more than 13 years of hiding in plain sight in belgrade . he had adopted an elaborate disguise that included long hair and a full beard , and was practicing alternative medicine in the serbian capital . his trial started in 2009 , and the prosecution rested its case in may 2012 . the defense case began in october of that year . mladic is accused of genocide , crimes against humanity and war crimes in a trial that began in 2011 .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- radovan karadzic , whose interpol charges listed `` flamboyant behavior '' as a distinguishing characteristic , was a practicing psychiatrist who came to be nicknamed the `` butcher of bosnia . '' twice indicted in 1995 by the u.n. international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia , karadzic faces charges of genocide over the massacre of nearly 8,000 muslim men and boys at srebrenica , and nine other charges related to ethnic violence during the breakup of yugoslavia in the 1990s . he had filed a motion seeking acquittal on all 11 counts in june , but was successful on only one . while president of the so-called serbian republic of bosnia-herzegovina , karadzic 's troops were reported to have massacred over hundreds of thousands of muslims and croats during a campaign of `` ethnic cleansing . '' early estimates of the death toll from the 3-year war ranged up to 300,000 , but recent research reduced that to about 100,000 . the u.s. state department had a $ 5 million reward for information leading to his capture . his arrest brings an end to more than 10 years as a fugitive . karadzic was born on june 19 , 1945 , in petnjica , montenegro . he studied psychiatry and medicine at the university of sarajevo during the 1960s and took courses in psychiatry and poetry at columbia university from 1974 to 1975 . karadzic , a serb-croat , in 1990 helped found the serbian democratic party -lrb- sds -rrb- , a party aimed at unifying serbs into a common state , and became its president . two years later , he became president of the newly declared serbian republic of bosnia and herzegovina , later called `` republika srpska . '' during the next three years , he ordered bosnian serb forces to seize the majority of bosnia and herzegovina . he also announced , according to his u.n. indictment , six `` strategic objectives '' for the serbian people . they included the establishment of state borders between the serbs and the other two ethnic communities , bosnian muslims and bosnian croats . answering to him , according to the indictment , was bosnian serb military commander ratko mladic . from may 1992 , the indictment alleged , bosnian serb forces under mladic 's command targeted civilian areas of sarajevo with shelling and sniping during a three-year conflict within the city . in july 1995 , according to the u.n. indictment , troops under mladic 's command executed an estimated 7,000 bosnian muslim male prisoners in srebrenica , a u.n. safe area , and then participated in a comprehensive effort to conceal the killings . the massacre is considered the worst in europe since world war ii . the indictment states that bosnian serb forces acted under karadzic 's direction and worked to `` significantly reduce the bosnian muslim , bosnian croat and other non-serb populations '' in municipalities that were seized . karadzic was last seen in public in september 1996 , a year after the dayton peace accords brought a formal end to the conflict and banned anyone accused of war crimes , including him , from office . he reportedly shaved his trademark bushy hair , grew a beard and donned priest 's robes , moving from monastery to monastery in the mountains to avoid capture . cnn correspondent alessio vinci said in 2008 : `` he enjoyed protection from the local population , wherever he was hiding . legend has it he disguised himself as a priest to take part in his mother 's funeral . `` in 2002 , after nato launched one of its many failed raids to try to arrest karadzic in bosnia , i interviewed his mother . at that time she said : ` serbs are righteous people and i can see that they support him , and that they adore him the way he is . they would lose their lives to protect him . ' '' despite years on the run , karadzic wrote `` miraculous chronicles of the night '' -- 1,200 copies of which sold out at the 2004 belgrade international book fair . after his arrest was announced , serb officials revealed the final chapter of his life on the run had seen karadic reprise his medical role , working in a clinic in belgrade under a false identity and heavily disguised by a white beard , long hair and spectacles .<doc-sep>karadzic , a one-time psychiatrist and self-styled poet , declared himself president of a bosnian serb republic when bosnia-herzegovina seceded from yugoslavia in 1992 . the bosnian serbs , backed by the serb-dominated yugoslav military and paramilitary forces , quickly seized control of most of the country and laid siege to sarajevo , the capital . during the conflict that followed , the serb forces launched what they called the `` ethnic cleansing '' of the territories under their control -- the forced displacement and killings of muslims and croats . among the crimes karadzic is accused of overseeing is the massacre at srebrenica , a u.n. `` safe area '' overrun by serb troops in july 1995 . nearly 8,000 bosnian muslim men and boys were killed at srebrenica , the worst european massacre since world war ii . during the siege of sarajevo , `` shelling and sniping killed and wounded thousands of civilians of both sexes and all ages , including children and the elderly , '' according to the u.n. tribunal 's indictment of karadzic . he was removed from power in 1995 , when the dayton accords that ended the bosnian war barred anyone accused of war crimes from holding office . but he remained `` kind of a robin hood '' to serbs during more than a decade as a fugitive , said holbrooke , one of the architects of the dayton accords . serbia 's government has been under increasing pressure to arrest war crimes suspects such as karadzic and mladic -- who were believed to be in hiding in serbia rather than bosnia . the european union warned in december that any steps toward allowing serbia into the organization would depend on its cooperation with the war crimes tribunal .<doc-sep>by . david williams , chief reporter . published : . 10:49 est , 28 january 2014 . | . updated : . 11:07 est , 28 january 2014 . former bosnian serb commander ratko mladic denounced the united nations war crimes tribunal as a ` satanic court ' today as he refused to testify as a defence witness on behalf of his one-time ally radovan karadzic . for many of the families of victims of bosnian serb atrocities it was the two men seen together for the first time in more than 17 years who had performed the work of satan as thousands are said by war crimes prosecutors to have been murdered on their orders during the 1990s war in bosnia . the extraordinary courtroom reunion at the hague lasted only about an hour as mladic repeatedly told judges he would not answer the former bosnian serb leader 's questions , citing ill health and an unwillingness to risk incriminating himself . reunion : ratko mladic -lrb- left -rrb- has refused to testify as a defence witness on behalf of his one-time ally radovan karadzic -lrb- right -rrb- . above , the pair are seen together for the first time in more than 17 years at the hague today . the two men - one the military enforcer , the other the politican who dreamed of creating an ethnically-cleansed pure serb state in bosnia - exchanged greetings as they saw one another again in public . both men had clearly aged but appeared unbowed displaying the same robust contempt for ` outsiders ' they had in the years when their faces were known around the world . mladic , 71 , said by his lawyers to be suffering from a condition that affects his memory , apologised to 68 year-old karadzic as he refused to give evidence on his behalf , telling him as he left court : ` thanks a lot , radovan . i 'm sorry , these idiots would n't let me speak . they defend nato bombs . ' defence lawyer peter robinson said that . mladic was ` the one person in the whole world who knows best what . happened in the war in bosnia ' and that karadzic was asking him to do . his best to testify and to tell what had occurred . condemnation : mladic , 71 , said by his lawyers to be suffering from a condition that affects his memory , dubbed the hague a ` satanic court ' . above , the former bosnian serb commander is pictured at court in 2011 . allies : mladic -lrb- left -rrb- and karadzic -lrb- right -rrb- , pictured in 1995 , exchanged greetings as they saw one another today . karadzic , who was captured in the serbian capital belgrade after years on the run , faces 11 charges , including genocide relating to the srebrenica massacre in july 1995 . both men deny charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity . dubbed the ` butcher of bosnia ' after srebrenica where more than 7,000 men and boys were executed , mladic initially refused to take the oath , saying : ` your subpoenas , your platitudes , your false indictments , i do not care one bit about any of it . ' he added : ` this is a satanic court , which is putting on trial us serbs because we are defending our people from you . ' ` the butcher of bosnia ' : mladic , pictured addressing his troops in bosnia in 1995 , initially refused to take the oath , saying : ` your subpoenas , your platitudes , your false indictments , i do not care one bit about any of it ' horrific : both men deny charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity , including the srebrenica massacre in july 1995 . above , women weep over caskets at a memorial centre following the massacre . in one moment of light relief and farce , . the hearing had to be delayed so that mladic 's dentures could be brought . from his cell in the tribunal 's detention centre . the two former allies barely made eye contact during the hearing . karadzic was businesslike - often looking down at documents on his desk . mladic appeared to be enjoying the attention , waving to the packed public gallery and saluting judges as he left court . going through the motions of the examination of a witness , karadzic asked mladic questions about the main allegations in their respective indictments , even though he knew the bullish general would refuse to answer . he asked if mladic had ever informed him ` prisoners ' in srebrenica would be or had been executed , an apparent reference to the 1995 massacre of thousands of muslim men and boys in the eastern enclave . he asked if the two leaders had agreed to subject residents of the bosnian capital , sarajevo , to a campaign of terror by shelling or sniping . he asked why serb forces conducted shelling and sniping in sarajevo and , finally , he asked if the bosnian serb leadership had a plan to expel croats and muslims from serb-held territory during the war . on trial : karadzic , who was captured in the serbian capital belgrade after years on the run , faces 11 charges . mladic repeatedly read out a refusal he had printed on a sheet of paper , once telling judges he touched upon the srebrenica massacre in his seven-page prepared statement they had refused to allow him to read in court . ' i think it would be interesting , ' he told judges . as he stood up to leave , mladic sardonically thanked judges for not letting him say what he wanted to say . ` you have confirmed my thesis that the hague tribunal is not a court of law but a satanic court , ' he said through a courtroom interpreter . | <t> karadzic was a psychiatrist who came to be nicknamed the `` butcher of bosnia '' </t> <t> he was the bosnian serb political leader during the 1992-1995 war . </t> <t> troops under his leadership are reported to have massacred 100,000 people . </t> <t> he was indicted by the u.n. tribunal for war crimes and genocide . </t> | karadzic : psychiatrist-turned ` butcher of bosnia '<T> |
-lrb- aol autos -rrb- -- price of gas got you crying at the pump ? is it eating into your household budget ? well , get used to it . gas in california , the second worst state , hits $ 4.59 per gallon for regular unleaded in this july 14 photo . that 's the word on the streets as the price of a gallon of gasoline soars to record highs . with regional differentials pushing the price much higher in some places , drivers and small-business owners are finding it hard to cope . but which states ' motorists get the best deal , and in which states do drivers pay the most to fill-up ? here come the numbers . alaska has the highest gas prices in the nation , with a gallon of regular gasoline at $ 4.623 , followed by california at $ 4.583 as of june 30 . hawaii , connecticut and washington make up the top five states with highest prices , with new york and d.c. not far behind at $ 4.292 and $ 4.160 respectively . best states to buy gas ? missouri comes out top at $ 3.862 for a gallon of regular , followed by oklahoma at $ 3.866 , south carolina , mississippi and arkansas . iowa , kansas and alabama are next in line . aol autos : cars with 30 + mpg for $ 300 or less per month . past prices . we use the term ` best states to buy gas ' with this caveat : back in june 2004 , gas hovered at around $ 1.74 a gallon , according to figures from gasbuddy.com . geoff sundstrom , aaa 's fuel price analyst , said the primary reasons for rising fuel prices are an increase in demand for petroleum products across the globe and a need for investment in refining infrastructure . `` right now , it is almost impossible to know where oil and gas prices will be in six months to a year , '' he said . `` it 's easy to assume that the world economy will continue to grow , we are very clearly at risk of an economic downturn and perhaps a severe economic downturn which could influence the demand side to the point where oil and gas prices may drop . `` in 10 to 20 years out , oil and gasoline will continue to be more expensive . but given what 's happening in the markets right now , there is some potential that -lsb- the -rsb- demands side of the equation could fall off a cliff . '' aol autos : consumer reports on best fuel-efficient used cars . why so expensive in california ? marie montgomery , spokeswoman for the automobile club of southern california , says the primary reason behind the high price of gas in california is `` market segmentation , '' a marketing term that basically means california -lrb- along with many other states -rrb- has developed a `` boutique blend '' of fuel in a bid to uphold environmental or ecological standards . in california 's case , this blend helps clear the state 's notorious smog . `` we ca n't use gas they made for iowa . we use a special blend with additives in it , an ethanol mix , '' montgomery said . `` when you do that , you can only use refineries that make that gas -lsb- mix -rsb- . the refineries in california are a major supplier , but , when prices are high and there 's not another supplier , we have to go where they make that mix . '' she pointed out that refineries in oregon and washington produce the gas product , and there is a pipeline to alaska , but that the only other options are shipping in the blend from elsewhere in the nation or asia , which is not cost-efficient . `` people have to figure out how to deal with this on a long-term basis . we 've been telling motorists to carpool and here we are in summer , and prices have barely come down , '' she said . `` usually we 're about a month into a downturn , it 's cyclical : prices go up in spring and spike in may , which is n't happening this year . prices may not come down a lot . '' less misery in missouri . michael right , vice president of public affairs for aaa missouri , said his state is usually among the top three in terms of low gas prices . a contributing factor , he said , is that the state 's per-gallon tax rate is the lowest in the nation . he said that most , if not all , states impose a tax on gasoline but few are as low as the 17 cents a gallon missouri levies . and missouri , unlike most other states , does n't impose a sales tax on top of that . the state also benefits from good distribution via a crisscrossing network of pipelines which can , unusually , result in cheaper gas in rural areas than in major cities . the reason for this is the three types of gas used in the state . st louis primarily uses reformulated gasoline . conventional gas is sold in rural areas , and kansas city uses low rvp -lrb- or low-emission -rrb- gasoline . reformulated costs more than conventional gas , hence the higher cost in cities . `` in illinois , it 's not unusual to save 15 cents a gallon by crossing the river , '' right said . aol autos : best hybrid suvs . effects on station owners and operators . while the effects of soaring pump prices on consumers are well documented , owners and operators of service stations nationwide are also feeling the pain acutely . dennis decota , the executive director of the 135-year-old california service station and automotive repair association and owner of a service station in marin county , california , said high prices are `` extremely detrimental to business people . what it does is creates a financial hardship on customers , -lsb- leading to -rsb- less foot traffic to stores or repair facilities . it puts a strain on entire businesses ; unbranded service stations are really at the end of their rope . '' independent , unbranded stations have one retail philosophy : offer the best price . they rely on oversupply by refineries which they buy at wholesale prices and sell cheaper than the branded competition , like shell or exxon -lrb- which have both announced they are quitting the service-station industry -rrb- . but in the past six months , that supply curve has become inverted , which means owner-operators are paying more -- $ 37,000 a truckload -- for their gas than branded outlets . decota noted some are losing as much as 15 cents a gallon on every sale . it 's a hard time for the industry , he said . the blame for high oil prices is pretty evenly spread , decota said . he did , however , point out that as a result of higher gas prices , california brought in $ 4.4 billion last year in sales taxes from its monthly sales of 1,300,000,000 gallons . in 2002 , when gas prices averaged about $ 1.71 a gallon , it brought in $ 1.7 billion . decota advocates boosting refinery capacity from its current level of 88 percent to about 92 percent . he said refineries `` have their hands on the spigot . there is no shortage of crude . but if the government stepped up refinery capacity , that would put enough downward pressure to create competition among refineries . and my guys are going under . '' aol autos : 10 hot small cars .<doc-sep>what else can go wrong with obamacare ? comparisons difficult to make . premiums on the federal exchange are lower than those previously projected , but comparing rate changes in any given state is tricky , according to cox , who co-authored a report for kaiser in september outlining the changes that individuals in the private market could expect . because all plans must offer an expanded set of benefits under the affordable care act , they can not be compared straightforwardly to plans offered in the past . another reason why insurance options and prices vary so significantly from region to region has to do with how state governments choose to use their rate review authority , which was expanded under the affordable care act . in some states , officials can prevent insurance companies from raising rates if they believe those rates are unjustified , and some states have used this authority to keep prices down on the exchanges . other states , such as florida , have acted to formally reject their rate review authority , thereby preventing any state influence in prices . state laws can also play a role in promoting insurance competition . in arizona , for example , there is a state requirement that prevents insurance companies from cherry-picking which counties they offer ppo plans in , according to arizona department of insurance spokeswoman erin klugh â $ '' although they can selectively offer hmo plans . because of this rule , arizonans across the state have multiple insurers to choose from . cnn 's adam aigner-treworgy and jessica stanton contributed to this report .<doc-sep>on `` cnn newsroom '' throughout the week , we will also drill down , so to speak , on aspects of the problem that you rarely see explained on television : how oil refineries work , how the availability of `` surplus gas '' from independent oil companies can play havoc with pump prices , and what effect the squeeze on oil will have on the market for alternative energy . on cnn.com and cnnmoney.com , you 'll be able to compare gas prices on a state-by-state map . cnnmoney : will oil prices kill the stock market rally ? through ireport , you can send us your own videos documenting the pain at your local pump and tell us how your own driving habits have changed . writers on our opinion page will debate the causes and the fallout , and in our latest of our explain it to me video tutorials , velshi offers a 101 primer on why gas prices go up and down . and because this is another big week in election 2012 , our political reporters and analysts will weigh in on the implications for the presidential race . just as president barack obama is nurturing a narrative of a slowly healing economy , the gop is looking at the price of gas as exhibit a that his administration remains a failure . but before they get to make that case in the fall , the republicans will have to settle on a candidate , a ride that so far has been much wilder than anyone predicted . will they be any closer after the michigan and arizona primaries ? tune into cnn 's special coverage all through the evening on tuesday to find out .<doc-sep>refineries , pipeline and oil platforms are still being assessed after ike , but the damage apparently is n't as severe as predicted , said gregg laskoski , spokesman for the southern region of the american automobile association . despite the rosier-than-expected outlook , prices spiked all over the nation after ike struck the gulf coast -- about 6 cents a gallon saturday , another 6 cents sunday and about 5 cents monday . particularly hard hit was the central and eastern united states . from sunday to monday alone , 23 states saw the average price of gas jump about a nickel or more a gallon , according to aaa . ireport.com : send , see photos of gas prices . in tennessee , the price jumped about 17 cents to $ 4.12 monday . in georgia , the price climbed about 14 cents to $ 4.16 . michigan saw an almost 13-cent increase , and indiana 's gas went up 12 cents a gallon . see gas prices state by state '' several factors drive these fluctuations , laskoski said , including the method in which gasoline is delivered to a state . in florida , he said , the price went up nominally -lrb- about 5 cents -rrb- from sunday to monday because the sunshine state relies more heavily on gas shipped on boats out of louisiana and mississippi , he said . though georgia abuts florida , it does n't have as many ports and relies more on tanker trucks to deliver gas from the galveston-houston area , laskoski said . hear how man ran out of fuel looking for gas in atlanta , georgia '' another factor , laskoski said , is that ike prompted many oil companies to shut down operations ahead of the storm . it could take up to two weeks to get some refineries operational again because it 's not as simple as flipping a switch , he said . the hiatus in oil production has ripple effects , and retailers often raise prices in anticipation of gas shortages . gas station owners earn only a few pennies of profit on each gallon of gas , laskoski said , explaining that proprietors essentially use gas to lure consumers into convenience stores to buy cigarettes , beer and potato chips -- items that draw better profits .<doc-sep>santorum on sunday said he had experience in the private sector as a lawyer , but argued that executive experience at a company is not necessary to be commander-in-chief . `` running a business is not the same as being president of the united states , '' he said . santorum also gave no indication that he has plans to drop out of the race should his campaign reach a point where the delegate math does n't add up in his favor . `` what i 'm hearing is that we want a conservative nominee , that the establishment is trying to push a moderate like they did in 1976 against ronald reagan , like they did in 1996 with bob dole and what they did with john mccain , '' santorum said . `` i think conservatives would like an opportunity to nominate a conservative , and that 's an opportunity . '' both santorum and romney also focused their rhetoric at president barack obama , particularly with regard to rising gas prices . romney said obama needed to fire secretary of energy steven chu and interior secretary ken salazar for their role in driving up gas prices . `` given the fact that -lrb- obama has -rrb- changed his policies , wants lower gas prices , he needs to fire them and return to the energy policies we need , '' romney said during a town hall meeting in collinsville , illinois . santorum told a crowd in effingham , illinois , to remember obama at the gas pumps . `` when you see that zero come up , when it gets to the $ 100 range , when you see the zero , think of ` o ' for obama because that 's why you are paying that extra amount of money , '' santorum said . cnn 's jim acosta , john helton , ashley killough , rachel streitfeld and shannon travis contributed to this report . watch state of the union with candy crowley sundays at 9am et . for the latest from state of the union click here . | <t> price of a gallon of gasoline at record high national average of $ 4.086 on june 30 . </t> <t> alaska has the highest gas prices in the nation , missouri has lowest . </t> <t> fuel prices rising because of high demand for petroleum products worldwide . </t> <t> gas taxes and ability to access fuel determine state price of gasoline . </t> | why gas prices vary from state to state<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three aid workers have been shot over the last day in somalia , two of them fatally , somali media reports said . somalis prepare monday to bury murdered osman ali ahmed , the head of the u.n. development program . the first fatality was a somali , mohamed mohamud qeyre . he was the deputy director of the group daryeel bulasho guud -lrb- dbg -rrb- , funded by a german company and affiliated with the group bread for the world .<doc-sep>qeyre was shot in the somali capital of mogadishu friday night in what appeared to be a targeted attack , the reports said . he was shot by three gunmen outside the facility where aid distribution is coordinated . the gunmen may have been staking out the facility waiting for qeyre to exit . the head of dbg , in nairobi , kenya , said he will suspend all aid operations in somalia for the time being . the second fatality was a member of the sodra nongovernmental organization , which is helping with humanitarian efforts in somalia . officials said it appears that ali baashi was also specifically targeted by gunmen .<doc-sep>earlier this week , the world food program said a truck driver carrying its relief supplies was killed -- the fourth wfp driver killed in somalia this year . ahmed saalim was shot when fighting broke out between convoy escorts and militiamen at a checkpoint , the u.n. aid agency said . a growing percentage of the somali population has become dependent on humanitarian aid . a severe famine swept the nation in 1991-1993 , devastating crops , killing up to 280,000 people and displacing up to 2 million , according to the united nations high commissioner for refugees .<doc-sep>the situation has been exacerbated by drought , continual armed conflicts in central and southern somalia and high inflation on food and fuel . journalist mohamed amin contributed to this report .<doc-sep>the head of dbg , in nairobi , kenya , said he will suspend all aid operations in somalia for the time being . the second fatality was a member of the sodra nongovernmental organization , which is helping with humanitarian efforts in somalia . officials said it appears that ali baashi was also specifically targeted by gunmen . earlier this week , the world food program said a truck driver carrying its relief supplies was killed -- the fourth wfp driver killed in somalia this year . ahmed saalim was shot when fighting broke out between convoy escorts and militiamen at a checkpoint , the u.n. aid agency said .<doc-sep>`` the dangers are very real . since the last world humanitarian day , 19 aid workers were killed and eight others kidnapped in somalia , four of whom remain in captivity , '' bowden said . the world food programme has also suffered casualties while carrying out its work . in the past year , 12 wfp staff , contractors and partner staff have been killed while working to fight hunger in haiti , the ivory coast , somalia , sudan and south sudan , the group 's executive director , ertharin cousin , said in a statement . the u.n. chief said the best way to honor fallen aid workers is to carry on their mission by helping those who are suffering . `` individual actions may seem small , but collectively they will reverberate around the world , generating unstoppable momentum for a better future , '' ban said .<doc-sep>last year , a u.s. drone strike killed anwar al-awlaki and al qaeda founder osama bin laden was shot to death by u.s. commandos . al-shabaab , which has battled somalia 's weak transitional government since 2007 , controls much of southern somalia and is active around the capital city of mogadishu . the u.s. listed it as a terror organization in 2008 . `` the group is responsible for the killing of thousands of somali civilians , somali peace activists , international aid workers , journalists and african union peacekeepers , '' the state department said . kenyan blast injures 28 ; authorities disagree on cause . the state department is also offering up to $ 5 million each for information leading to the location of four of aw-mohamed 's associates , who make up his inner circle : ibrahim haji jama , fuad mohamed khalaf , bashir mohamed mahamoud , and mukhtar robow , who acts as the group 's spokesman and spiritual leader .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- doctors without borders is pulling out of somalia after more than two decades because of frequent attacks on its staff , the aid group said wednesday . the group , internationally known by its french name , medecins sans frontieres , has worked in the nation since 1991 . it said civilian leaders tolerate or `` condone the killing , assaulting and abducting '' of aid workers . `` the same actors with whom msf must negotiate minimum guarantees to respect its medical humanitarian mission have in some cases played a role in the abuses against msf staff , either through direct involvement or tacit approval , particularly but not exclusively in south-central somalia , '' it said . in 2011 , two msf members were killed in mogadishu , and their convicted killer was released early , the group said . aid worker dies after attack in south sudan . in addition , 14 other staff members have been killed and dozens of msf 's ambulances and medical facilities have been attacked , the group said . `` in choosing to kill , attack , and abduct humanitarian aid workers , these armed groups , and the civilian authorities who tolerate their actions , have sealed the fate of countless lives in somalia , '' said dr. unni karunakara , msf 's international president . '' ... the situation in the country has created an untenable imbalance between the risks and compromises our staff must make , and our ability to provide assistance to the somali people . '' the aid agency had a staff of about 1,500 in the nation to provide various services , including health care , malnutrition treatment , surgery and relief supplies . somalia has been plagued by a long-running struggle between government forces and al-shabaab , a militant islamist group with connections to al qaeda . it has waged a war to implement a stricter form of islamic law in the country . two years ago , somali and african forces pushed the militants out of the capital , mogadishu , raising hopes of a return to relative security after about 20 years of violence . but the militants have maintained control of large chunks of southern and central somalia , where they stage attacks . until last year , somalia had not had an effective government since dictator mohamed siad barre was overthrown in 1991 . rape and injustice : the woman breaking somalia 's wall of silence . | <t> three aid workers have been shot over the last day in somalia , two of them fatally . </t> <t> one victim worked for aid agency , dbg , which has suspended operations . </t> <t> four world food program drivers of relief supplies killed this year . </t> <t> somalis dependent on humanitarian aid since 1993 famine , ongoing war , drought . </t> | aid workers being shot , killed in somalia<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as horrified travelers watched , a greyhound canada bus passenger repeatedly stabbed and then decapitated a young man who was sitting and sleeping beside him , a witness said thursday . police investigate the scene near portage la prairie , canada , on thursday . `` there was a bloodcurdling scream . i was just reading my book , and all of a sudden , i heard it , '' garnet caton , who was sitting in front of the two men , said of the wednesday night incident west of portage la prairie in manitoba . `` it was like something between a dog howling and a baby crying , i guess you could say , '' caton said . `` i do n't think it will leave me for a while . '' passengers exited the bus , and a trucker who stopped provided wrenches and crowbars to several of them so they could keep the suspect on the bus until police came , witnesses told canadian tv . the suspect was seized with the help of negotiators , royal canadian mounted police sgt. steve colwell said . watch colwell discuss the case '' he said no formal charges had been filed , and he declined to identify either the man in custody or the victim , who were among 34 passengers .<doc-sep>there was no immediate indication of what prompted the attack , colwell said . he said he did n't know how many times the victim was stabbed . witnesses described the weapon as a large butcher-type knife . caton told the associated press that the victim appeared to be about 19 years old and had gotten on the bus in edmonton . colwell praised the `` extraordinary '' level-headedness and bravery of the bus driver and passengers . `` what you saw and what you experienced would shake the most seasoned police officer . and yet i 'm told that each of you acted swiftly , calmly and bravely , '' colwell said . `` as a result , no one else was injured . '' the police received a call reporting the attack at 8:30 p.m. by the time they arrived at the scene , everyone except the knife-wielder and his victim had left the bus , colwell said . the incident ended about 1:30 a.m. . the bus was traveling along the trans-canada highway from edmonton , alberta , to winnipeg , manitoba , and was about 45 minutes from its destination when the attack occurred , greyhound spokeswoman abby wambaugh said in dallas , texas .<doc-sep>caton said the victim was sleeping with his head leaning against the window when the attack happened . caton said he shouted at the other passengers , many of whom also were sleeping , to leave . watch caton describe what he saw '' `` everybody got off the bus . me and a trucker that stopped and the greyhound driver ran up to the door to maybe see if the guy was still alive or we could help or something like that , '' caton said . `` and when we all got up , we saw that the guy was cutting off the guy 's head . ... when he saw us , he came back to the front of the bus , told the driver to shut the door . he pressed the button and the door shut , but it did n't shut in time , and the guy was able to get his knife out and take a swipe at us , '' caton said . caton told the ap that the attacker did n't sit near the victim when he first got on the bus , about an hour before the attack . `` he sat in the front at first ; everything was normal , '' caton said . `` we went to the next stop , and he got off and had a smoke with another young lady there . when he got on the bus again , he came to the back near where i was sitting . he put his bags in the overhead compartment . he did n't say a word to anybody . he seemed totally normal . '' half an hour later , the attack began , caton told the ap . `` there was no rage or anything . he was like a robot , stabbing the guy . ''<doc-sep>the incident occurred on the first of two greyhound canada buses that were traveling together , wambaugh said . the bus was carrying 37 passengers . as many passengers as possible among those not directly involved in the incident were transferred to the second bus , she said . others were taken to a hotel in brandon , where they were met by greyhound managers and police , wambaugh said . once they are released , greyhound will take them by bus to winnipeg , and `` we will do whatever is required to help them , and that includes counseling , '' she added . wambaugh declined to comment further . `` i do n't want to compromise the investigation , '' she said . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . adam duggan . a bus driver has been left so scarred from a violent attack that he 's unable to even get on a bus since the incident - let alone drive it . in cctv footage released to nine news melbourne , the bus driver can be seen recoiling - as a male teenager , in the midst of an ice binge , hurls verbal abuse at him before becoming increasingly violent . crying passengers were able to escape the packed bus , while the violent passenger 's friend managed to restrain him from further attacking anybody on september 28 last year , the day of the afl grand final . scroll down for video . bashed for asking a passenger to pay his way : a melbourne bus driver was brutally attacked by a drug-affect teenage passenger on the day of last year 's afl grand final . causing a commotion : a teenager , in the midst of an ice binge at the time of the attack , violently assaulted a melbourne bus driver and caused reckless damage to the bus . the boy reportedly failed to tap a valid myki card - a plastic smartcard ticket used across victoria 's public transport system - when getting on the bus in the west melbourne suburb of mill park with a friend . the video starts following the bus driver 's request for the passenger to get off the bus . ` are you gon na drive ? ' the drug-affected boy yells . ` drive the f *** ing bus . ' despite the physical attack , the bus driver stands firm and demands the boy ` get off ' . holding him in a headlock : the violent teenage passenger holds the bus driver in a headlock , after he refuses to budge and continues to ask the passenger to remove himself from the bus . ` are you gon na drive ? ' the boy again asks the driver . when the driver refuses , the boy slaps him across the face . after holding the bus driver in a headlock and punching him in the face , the boy 's friend finally comes to the front of the bus to try and control the situation . the male friend , wearing a black pullover with a white ` everlast ' logo , manages to eventually remove his ice raging friend from the bus after reminding him of the young children who were forced to witness the unprovoked attack . ` mate - there 's little kids , there 's little kids , ' he tells his friend after trying to restrain him from further injuring the driver . forced to intervene : the man 's friend , clearly concerned by the violence his friend had shown , steps in and helps the driver remove him from the bus .<doc-sep>by . david mccormack . published : . 10:49 est , 22 august 2013 . | . updated : . 11:44 est , 22 august 2013 . passengers on a detroit bus were recently witness to a shocking no holds barred fight between the driver and a belligerent member of the public . according to one witness , the incident happened after the unnamed passenger lost her cool when her ticket got stuck in the machine as she attempted to transfer . the unruly passenger then started to argue with the driver , demanding her ticket back and even spat at the driver . scroll down for video . seconds out , round 1 : witnesses claim the passenger started arguing with the driver , demanding her ticket back and even spitting . that proved to be the final straw for the driver who , dressed in her white work shirt , got up from her seat and lunged at the passenger . video footage shows the driver hit the passenger around the head , using her keys as a weapon , while the passenger pulls on the driver 's hair . for several minutes the pair battled each other using a variety of boxing , wrestling and even mixed martial arts moves . at one stage another passenger attempted to get between the warring women and breakup the disagreement , but without any backup he decided to leave the pair to get on with it . sucker punch : the driver then lunged at the passenger , using her keys as a weapon , while the passenger pulled on the driver 's hair . other passengers actually egged on the women as they punched , kicked and clawed at each other . eventually , the driver pined the passenger down and bystander finally helped to break them up before either got further injuries . the unruly passenger was then forced off the bus . the police arrived , but the fight had already been broken up and passengers were moved to a different bus . the president of the bus drivers ' union in detroit , fred westbrook , told fox2 that the driver required stitches for bite marks , cuts and lacerations . for the next couple of minutes the pair battle each other using a variety of boxing , wrestling and even mixed martial arts moves . he claims his union member was defending herself and should n't face disciplinary action . an investigation is currently underway . police are believed to have arrested the unruly passenger and are also investigating the fight . according to westbrook , eight of his drivers have needed hospitalization this year , including this particular driver who was admitted for injuries sustained in a previous incident . the passenger who attempted to break up the fight , christoper jackson , told fox he was disappointed that no one wanted to help when he stepped in between the two warring women . fellow passenger christoper jackson attempted to resolve the dispute at one stage , but quickly ducked out after no one helped him .<doc-sep>passengers watched as the sisters beat up their three alleged abusers with a belt after no one intervened to help them . but according to the times of india , one witness , bimla devi , said : ` the two sisters were sitting on seat no. 8 which was allotted to an unwell woman passenger . ` when the boys asked the sisters to vacate the seat , the two refused and started fighting . ' the sisters claim the men had been touching aarti and that they grabbed her by the throat after she told them to stop . coming to her sister 's defence , pooja removed her belt and began hitting , kicking and punching the man holding her sister until he let go . they say they were forced off the bus and were only able to escape the men after throwing a brick at then .<doc-sep>mohammed yasin smashed into a bus stop while three times the legal alcohol limit . his four-year-old son was in the passenger seat . a drink-driving father smashed his car into a bus stop while three times the legal alcohol limit - as his young son sat in the passenger seat . mohammed yasin was drinking vodka before getting into his nissan micra , accompanied by his four-year-old child , at rush hour . yasin , 29 , was driving close to his home in cheetham hill when he swerved in the road , mounted a pavement and careered into the bus stop , a court heard . police officers were called to the scene of the accident at around 5.30 pm on october 1 . they discovered yasin at the wheel smelling of alcohol . | <t> new : police say suspect is in custody , no charges have been filed . </t> <t> ap : witness says attacker seemed normal before slaying , appeared to be about 19 . </t> <t> man repeatedly stabbed and then decapitated sleeping seat mate , witness says . </t> <t> trucker helped passengers trap knife-wielding man on bus , witnesses say . </t> | bus passenger beheaded seat mate , witness says<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. john mccain said wednesday that the crisis in georgia should not be used to score political points , but his campaign has stepped up its attacks on sen. barack obama 's foreign policy credentials . sen. john mccain says russia 's entry into the wto should be reviewed . in response , obama 's top foreign policy aide suggested that the presumptive republican presidential nominee was willing to `` shoot from the hip '' and was acting irresponsibly by offering strong support for the georgia government . on wednesday , mccain continued his tough line against russia , saying its potential membership in the world trade organization should be reviewed as a result of its actions in georgia , as well its relationship with the g-8 nations , which represent the world 's largest industrial economies . mccain also said that an international peacekeeping mission should be sent to georgia and that nato should re-consider adding georgia and ukraine , another former soviet republic , to the alliance . watch mccain call georgia 's position ` perilous ' '' `` after the events of the past six days , no one should wonder why countries on russia 's periphery so ardently seek the security guarantees alliance membership represents , '' mccain said during a campaign stop in birmingham , michigan . russia has strenuously objected to both nations joining nato . after president bush said wednesday that he was ordering the u.s. military to help georgia 's citizens , obama applauded the move . `` the situation is still unstable , and russia must back up its commitment to stop its violence and violation of georgia 's sovereignty with actions , not just words , '' obama said in a statement . `` the united states should now join our european partners in direct , high-level diplomacy with both georgia and russia to seek immediate implementation of a cease-fire , and to achieve a lasting resolution to this crisis . '' the crisis in georgia started friday , when russia moved troops in into south ossetia after the georgian government moved troops into breakaway territory . south ossetia has been largely autonomous since 1991 , but separatists would like to break with georgia and either declare independence or join north ossetia , which is part of russia . secretary of state condoleezza rice , who is heading to france and the georgian capitol of tbilisi , said wednesday that she has been briefing both candidates on the conflict . watch president bush declare ` america 's unwavering support ' for georgia '' when the crisis began last week , mccain , the presumptive republican presidential nominee , was out front in condemning the russia actions and calling for a cease-fire . `` today , we are all georgians , '' mccain said tuesday . watch mccain declare ` we are all georgians ' '' when the crisis broke out last week , the obama camp called `` for all sides to show restraint and to stop this armed conflict , '' echoing the statements from the white house and the european union . as russia planes bombed georgian cities and russian troops advanced into georgia , obama , who is on vacation in hawaii , condemned russia 's actions and called for a cease-fire . watch obama condemn russia 's actions '' mccain said wednesday that the crisis was not the time for partisan attacks . `` i know the people of georgia have enjoyed an unprecedented period of prosperity and freedom . and i know that at this time they 're suffering mightily , '' the arizona republican said . `` so maybe later on in the campaign , let 's have a back-and-forth about who has comments or statements . now , let 's devote all our energy to helping resolve a situation which is fraught with human tragedy . '' but , despite mccain comments , the crisis in georgia has dominated the political debate between the two candidates ' campaigns in recent days . on tuesday , randy scheunemann , mccain 's top foreign policy adviser , attacked the presumptive democratic presidential nominee 's response to the situation in georgia , saying his experience with the region amounted to a handful of paper statements . on the other hand , mccain 's experience with georgia runs deep , scheunemann said , noting that mccain and the georgian president were friends . `` there 's a depth of knowledge , a breadth of knowledge and an extent of historical experience that does n't compare between the two on russia policy , '' scheunemann said . `` you ca n't compare a 15-year historical record to three or four statements over the course of 15 months . '' but susan rice , obama 's senior foreign policy adviser , said tuesday that mccain 's comments condemning russia `` may or may not have complicated the situation . '' `` we can not shoot from the hip , '' rice told msnbc on tuesday . `` we can not act on the basis of ideology or preconceived notions . when this crisis began , barack obama , the administration ... and all of our nato allies took a measured and reasoned approach because we were dealing with the facts as we knew them . '' mccain spokesman tucker bounds said wednesday that his campaign was disappointed that rice had launched `` inflammatory and baseless '' political attacks `` during an international crisis when bipartisanship is needed most . '' in response , hari sevugan , a spokesman for the obama , said it was `` the absolute height of hypocrisy '' for the mccain campaign to `` play the victim '' after attacking obama 's `` strong and appropriate '' position on georgia . bill schneider , a cnn senior political analyst , said mccain could use the situation in georgia to highlight one his inherent advantages over obama : his experience . but mccain 's strong position in defiance of russia also has risks , schneider said . `` some voters may worry : does he want to start a new cold war ? the risk for mccain is that he could overplay the issue and frighten war-weary voters whose priorities right now lie closer to home , '' schneider said . cnn 's peter hamby contributed to this report .<doc-sep>obama said that the united states was facing its worst financial crisis since the great depression . mccain said he was encouraged that republicans and democrats were working together to solve the crisis . obama refused to be pinned down on whether he would support a $ 700 billion plan proposed by president bush 's top economic advisers , saying the final details of the proposal were not known . mccain said he hoped to be able to vote for it . on the likelihood of another terrorist attack : . mccain that another attack on the scale of the september 11 hijackings is `` much less likely '' now than it was the day after the terrorist attacks . `` america is safer now than it was on 9/11 , '' he said , `` but we have a long way to go before we can declare america safe . '' obama agreed that the united states is `` safer in some ways '' but said the country needed to focus more on issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and restoring america 's image in the world . on relations with russia : . obama called for a re-evaluation of the united states ' approach to russia in light of the country 's recent military action in the caucasus . `` you can not be a 21st-century superpower and act like a 20th-century dictatorship , '' he said . mccain accused obama of responding naively to russia 's invasion of neighboring georgia last month by calling on both sides to exercise restraint . mccain said he would support the inclusion of georgia and ukraine in nato .<doc-sep>` rope-a-dope ' : sen. mccain 's reference was to heavyweight boxer muhammad ali 's successful 1974 strategy of stretching out his fight against george foreman , by feigning weakness in order to exhaust the older fighter over the long-term . senator john mccain today said he fears that president obama is a victim of a ` game of rope-a-dope ' being played by russia 's vladimir putin ` as the slaughter goes on ' . mccain , who has alternated between supporting obama 's course and publicly lamenting its weakness , spoke out after the president 's landmark national address last night in which he agreed to bow to russian plans to broker a handover of syria 's chemical weapons . ` i 'm worried that we have a game of rope-a-dope for a while , and the slaughter goes on , ' mccain said wednesday morning at a wall street journal breakfast in washington . ' i think if you were sitting in putin 's seat , you would feel pretty good today , ' mccain added later . thearizona republican has expressed puzzlement at why the president has n't insisted that any diplomatic solution to the chemical weapons crisis end with assad 's removal from power . meanwhile , aides to members of congress told mailonline today that the chief fear swirling around capitol hill is that in the hands of putin , an apparent deal to separate syrian dictator bashar al-assad from his chemical weapons could be a giant stalling tactic . a staffer to a senior member of that committee said wednesday afternoon that by relegating u.s. military muscle to backup-plan status , the president ` all but guaranteed that putin will think he has a really long leash . ' ` not that we 'll be in a position to pull it anyway , ' the aide added . who 's the boss ? putin now appears in charge , while obama 's embrace of a diplomatic path in syria has limited america 's options . the a-team : russian foreign minister sergei lavrov -lrb- r -rrb- and his syrian counterpart walid al-moualem -lrb- l -rrb- turned john kerry 's gaffe into a diplomatic triumph that leaves obama on the outside looking in . obama said tuesday that ` it 's too early to tell whether this offer will succeed , and any agreement must verify that the assad regime keeps its commitments . ' ` but this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force , ' he added , ` particularly because russia is one of assad 's strongest allies . '<doc-sep>severe consequences . in a briefing to reporters , senior u.s. administration officials sounded further warnings against any russian provocations in ukraine . `` we believe that it is very important to signal that if russia further escalates this situation they will be met with severe consequences , '' one official said . the tough talk looked even more credible compared to russia 's almost comical response to the u.s. announcement : sanctions against nine u.s. political leaders and administration officials . on ukraine , more must be done . moscow 's list included house speaker john boehner , senate majority leader harry reid , republican sens. john mccain and dan coats , democratic sens. robert menendez and mary landrieu , and some members of obama 's white house team . `` i guess this means my spring break in siberia is off , my gazprom stock is lost , and my secret bank account in moscow is frozen , '' mccain joked in response . ` badge of honor ' landrieu , who is facing a tough re-election battle this year in generally conservative louisiana , called her sanction by russia `` a badge of honor . '' obama and u.s. officials have made clear that the response to russia will remain in the diplomatic and economic arenas , with one senior administration official essentially rejecting for now any direct u.s. effort to bolster ukraine 's military forces for a ground war . `` nobody wants the outcome here to be a full-bore military conflict between russia and ukraine , and in fact , the ukrainian government themselves have been quite restrained in not giving in to provocation and not having this go the way of bloodshed , '' the official said , adding that `` we do n't want to take steps to add to a momentum of further militarizing the situation . '' clinton walks a ` fine line ' on putin . cnnmoney 's mark thompson and cnn 's dana bash and lisa desjardins contributed to this report .<doc-sep>on tuesday , republicans who joined democrats in backing the resolution last year castigated kerry and the administration for what they characterized as an ineffective syria policy . `` we have no policy from what i can tell , other than ... allowing people to kill each other off , and us making commitments to the opposition that we do not honor , and leaving them in refugee camps and basically stranded without the support that we committed to on the front end , '' said sen. bob corker of tennessee , the panel 's ranking republican . corker and mccain called for sending weapons and other military aid to some groups in the syrian opposition . so far , the administration has limited its support to humanitarian and non-lethal military aid , but kerry indicated tuesday it was considering increased military backing . support for syrian opposition . obama has rejected any chance of u.s. troops joining the syrian fight , but kerry said the president believes arming the opposition could change the syrian leader 's `` calculation '' of how the conflict will proceed . when he explained how things had changed in recent months , with the opposition fracturing and jihadists joining the fray , corker noted that such outcomes had been widely predicted . forget ukraine , syria is now the world 's biggest threat . `` but what was the plan to not have that happen , senator ? '' kerry shot back . `` i did n't notice congress racing to the barriers saying , ` we 're going to , you know , we 're going to do something . ' i do n't think the american people were going to send american troops . '' he took particular umbrage with complaints that obama failed to attack syria for crossing the red line he set on using chemical weapons . obama had decided back then to attack , kerry said , and the president 's resolve led to the agreement brokered by russia for iran to turn over its chemical weapon stockpiles to international control . `` we came up with a better solution -- to get all of them out by working through the diplomatic channel with russia , and we have an agreement which is now working out with 54 % removed '' so far , kerry said to corker . `` so , what 's your take ? would you rather drop a few bombs , send a message , and then have him still with the weapons and capacity to deliver them ? or would you rather get all of them out . '' the ukraine crisis also drew criticism , with mccain accusing the administration of using `` the logic of appeasement '' by failing to provide military support against russia 's expansionist moves . | <t> russia 's participation in wto , g-8 at risk because of georgia , mccain says . </t> <t> mccain says crisis should not be used to score political points . </t> <t> obama 's response to crisis reveals foreign policy inexperience , mccain aide says . </t> <t> obama 's top foreign policy aides say mccain willing to `` shoot from the hip '' </t> | mccain pushes hard line against russia ⁇ aides attack obama<T> |
madrid , spain -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- passengers said they saw flames and then heard an explosion moments before a spanair jet crashed on takeoff wednesday at madrid 's barajas airport , killing 153 people , according to local media . medical personnel tend to an injured passenger at madrid 's barajas airport . the spanair flight jk5022 was carrying 172 people . there were 19 survivors , including two infants , development minister magdalena alvarez said . the 19 were being treated at a hospital , alvaraez said . the severity of the injuries varies , but many of the injured have been treated for burns , spanish red cross spokeswoman olivia acosa said . watch as the wounded arrive at a hospital '' the flight was bound for las palmas in the canary islands , two hours away . local officials said one of the engines caught fire . the aircraft , an md-82 , has two jet engines , both at the rear . the burning plane came to rest in a gully about 2:45 p.m. -lrb- 8:45 a.m. et -rrb- .<doc-sep>the crash sent up a plume of smoke visible from several kilometers away . at the time of the crash , weather conditions were hot and clear . watch smoke rising from airport '' a survivor told spain 's abc newspaper that she and other passengers heard an explosion as the plane was taking off . ireport : send us your pictures , video , information . `` she said they could see the fire , ... and then it was not even a minute or so they heard -lsb- something -rsb- blow up , '' reporter carlota fomina told cnn . `` they were about 200 meters -lsb- 660 feet -rsb- in the air , and then they were landing but not crashing . they were landing , like , little by little ; it was not like they -lsb- fell -rsb- down suddenly . '' the md-82 was carrying 162 passengers , four non-working crew members and six working crew members , spanair said . after contacting families , the airline published the names of those aboard on its web site . watch as relatives of survivors start arriving at the airport '' some of the survivors have serious injuries , while others have non-life-threatening injuries . many of the injured were treated for burns , she said . the aircraft was carrying seven passengers from lufthansa flight 2554 , according to the airline . spanair , a low-cost airline that has a flight-sharing agreement with lufthansa , is owned by sas scandinavian airlines . barajas airport closed after the crash but reopened more than two hours later , allowing a limited number of takeoffs and landings , an airport official said . see a map of the airport ''<doc-sep>spanish prime minister jose luis rodriguez zapatero arrived at the airport wednesday evening after cutting short a vacation . `` the government will do all it can to support the families in this difficult situation , '' he said . `` the whole government , logically , is affected , very affected , as are all spanish citizens , by this tragedy . '' the fatal crash was the first at the airport since december 1983 , when 93 people were killed as two spanish airliners collided . the airport , eight miles -lrb- 13 km -rrb- northeast of central madrid , is spain 's busiest , handling more than 40 million passengers a year . the united states national transportation safety board is sending an investigation team to madrid because the aircraft is american-made , ntsb spokesman keith holloway said . spanair has set up a local emergency number for family members and friends phoning from spain : +34 800-400-200 . cnn 's madrid bureau chief al goodman , brian todd and kathleen koch contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . nathan klein . gone too soon : a picture of wang moheng , who was one of the 239 passengers aboard missing malaysia airlines flight mh370 . after more than two weeks of uncertainty , pain and fear , malaysian prime minister najib razak yesterday confirmed what everyone already knew in their hearts : the missing malaysia airlines flight mh370 had crashed in the southern indian ocean , killing all 239 people on board . and while it is unclear why the boeing 777-200 crashed , we do know some of those passengers - including 23-month-old wang moheng - died tragically with their whole life still ahead of them . as the youngest person on the flight and one of his first trips abroad - moheng was taken to the tropics of malaysia by his parents and grandparents simply to escape the ` bad air in beijing ' , a friend said . following their relaxing holiday , the family of five left kuala lumpur early saturday for beijing but never arrived . people from at least 13 countries were aboard the boeing jet , with the 153 chinese passengers by far the most numerous . of those from china , moheng was the youngest .<doc-sep>by . leon watson . published : . 10:07 est , 12 january 2014 . | . updated : . 12:49 est , 12 january 2014 . four people were killed today when their business jet from the uk struck a power pylon in thick fog as it was coming into land at an airfield in germany . the aircraft - with two businessmen and two passengers aboard - was travelling from shoreham airport in west sussex to the landing strip at foehren 15 miles from trier when it crashed into a landfill site . a spokesman for trier-fohren airfield said all the deceased were german . scroll down for video . wreckage : this is the burnt-out wreckage of the business jet that crashed in germany today , killing four people . disaster : the plane from the uk struck a power pylon in thick fog as it was coming into land at an airfield . crash : the aircraft - with two businessmen and two passengers aboard - was travelling from shoreham airport in west sussex to the landing strip at foehren 15 miles from trier when it crashed into a landfill site . ` on board were two passengers and two pilots , ' said stephan christ , local civil defence organiser . ` we . believe the passengers are businessmen from the trier area . they hit a . high power mast on the way into land . the power in the area has been . switched off . ' the . twin-engine jet plane with american registration burst into flames upon .<doc-sep>by . mario ledwith . published : . 13:07 est , 28 december 2012 . | . updated : . 13:07 est , 28 december 2012 . the last 12 months have been the safest for air travel with only one fatal accident in every 2.5 million flights . despite a number of high profile crashes , such as the devastating boeing 737 crash in pakistan that killed 127 people , 2012 has been a significantly safer year for air travel than 2011 . the number of fatal crashes this year and the number of people killed in those crashes fell sharply compared , according to figures released today . safety in numbers : the number of fatal crashes this year and the number of people killed sharply compared to 2011 , according to figures released by flight advisory service ascend . the fatal accident rate of one per 2.5 million flights makes 2012 the safest year on record and almost twice as safe as 2011 , flight advisory service ascend said . there were 15 plane crashes involving deaths in 2012 , compared with 25 in the previous 12 months , according to the figures which relate to airliner safety . the number of people killed in fatal crashes this year was 362 compared to 403 in 2011 . nearly three quarters of the 362 deaths in 2012 resulted from two crashes . when a bhoja air boeing 737 crashed near islamabad airport in pakistan in april 20 a total of 127 people were killed . the plane 's fuel tank caught fire only three miles from the airport and is reported to have exploded in midair . record : there were 15 plane crashes involving deaths in 2012 , compared to 25 in the previous 12 months . the number of people killed in fatal crashes this year was 362 compared to 403 in 2011 . wreckage : remains of the dana air plane which crashed while approaching lagos airport in nigeria , killing all 153 passengers . the 32-year-old jet was first used by british airways . in june , all 153 passengers on a dana air plane died when it crashed while approaching lagos airport in nigeria . a further 10 people were killed when the plane crashed into print works and residential buildings in the busy iju-ishaga suburb . ascend said the passenger death rate for the last five years was about one per 6.1 million passengers , while the rate was one per 3.7 million for the period between 2000 and 2009 . the rates have steadily increased since the 1990s when the rate was one per 1.8 million flights . disaster : a further 10 people were killed when the plane crashed into print works and residential buildings in the busy iju-ishaga suburb . horror : wreckage from the 32-year-old jet , which first saw service with british airways , was scattered across a wide area in fields about three miles from the airport in pakistan . insurance claims for loss of airliners in 2012 were worth approximately $ 980 million dollars -lrb- â # 612 million -rrb- - the lowest level since 1991 . paul hayes , head of safety at ascend , said : ' 2012 does not represent a new norm for the world airlines . ` nonetheless , airline fatal accident rates have been steadily improving and on average , operations are now twice as safe as they were 15 years ago . ` about 335 fewer passengers and crew were killed each year in the last decade than during the 1990s . '<doc-sep>scroll down for video . fatal : co-pilot sergio carranza brabata , from mexico , died when the canadair cl - 600 skidded down the right side of runway at aspen-pitkin county airport , flipped and exploded about 12.30 pm . at least one person is dead and two others seriously injured after a plane crashed on landing at the aspen-pitkin county airport in aspen , colorado , on sunday . emergency crews work near a passenger plane that crashed upon landing at the aspen-pitkin county airport in aspen , colorado , on sunday , killing one person and injuring two after exploding on impact . the wreckage of a private jet lies on the runway after it crashed and burned at aspen/pitkin county airport in colorado january 5 , 2014 . one person died and two were injured in the crash , the pitkin county sheriff office said . emergency crews hose a private plane that crashed and burst into flames on the runway at aspen airport on sunday afternoon . in a photo from twitter the aircraft appears overturned . cbs reports the aircraft was registered to the bank of utah in salt lake city . the aircraft was reportedly en route to the luxury ski resort town from toluca , mexico via tuscon , arizona . the plane is said to have attempted a few approaches before crashing in a ball of fire . emergency crews rushed to extinguish the flames and are currently investigating the cause of the crash . | <t> new : local officials say one of jet 's two engines caught fire . </t> <t> new : two infants among 19 survivors , spanish official says . </t> <t> new : passenger list posted on spanair web site . </t> <t> md-82 crashed while taking off from madrid 's main airport . </t> | passengers reportedly saw flames before jet crashed , killing 153<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a swedish wrestler who discarded his bronze medal in a protest during the presentation ceremony has been stripped of the award and disqualified from the tournament in beijing . a disgruntled abrahamian drops his bronze medal before leaving the arena during the presentation ceremony . the international olympic committee said it was also officially disqualifying ara abrahamian , 35 , from his event , greco-roman wrestling . abrahamian was beaten in the 84-kilogram class by eventual gold medal winner andrea minguzzi of italy . he complained that `` blatant errors in judging '' caused him to lose the match and said he felt that he deserved the gold . the swede shouted at the referee before confronting the judges . during thursday 's presentation ceremony , he took off his medal and left it in the center of the competition mat before walking off . the ioc said abrahamian violated two rules of the olympic charter , one that bans any sort of demonstrations and another that demands respect for all olympic athletes . `` the awards ceremony is a highly symbolic ritual , acknowledged as such by all athletes and other participants , '' the ioc said . `` any disruption by any athlete , in particular a medalist , is in itself an insult to the other athletes and to the olympic movement . it is also contrary to the spirit of fair play . '' abrahamian never expressed regret or offered an apology , the ioc said . the international weightlifting federation was asked to consider further sanctions against him . his medal was the third stripped at the beijing games . on friday , north korean shooter kim jong su had his silver and bronze medals taken away after failing a doping test . also expelled for doping violations have been spanish cyclist maria isabel moreno and vietnamese gymnast thi ngan thuong do . abrahamian 's case is not the first of its kind . a weightlifter at the 1992 barcelona olympics was stripped of his bronze medal after rejecting it during the medal ceremony . ibragim samadov , competing in the light heavyweight category for the unified team of the former soviet union , was upset with his performance and refused to have the medal placed around his neck and only accepted it in his hand . he then put it down and walked off . samadov later apologized , but the ioc upheld its decision to disqualify him , and he was later banned for life by the sport 's governing body .<doc-sep>champion : jake varner of the united states celebrates his victory against valerii andriitsev of ukraine during the men 's freestyle 96kg wrestling . varner joins jordan burroughs , who won the 74-kilogram freestyle on friday night , as olympic champions . varner , a two-time ncaa champion at iowa state , will also collect a $ 250,000 bonus from the living the dream medal fund that supports american wrestling . any u.s. wrestler who wins a gold medal is entitled to the quarter of a million dollars . silver medalists receive $ 50,000 and bronze medalists $ 25,000 . the 26-year-old wrestler trains with the nittany lion wrestling club at penn state . his medal brings america 's tally to an unbeatable lead of 45 golds , 29 silver and 29 bronze . china will take home 38 golds , 27 silver and 22 bronze , totaling 87 medals . great britain is in third place with 28 gold , 16 silver and 19 bronze . defeat : varner beat andriitsev of ukraine in the 96-kg freestyle wrestling event in london . golden boy : varner celebrates his gold medal on the final day of the olympic games .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- been thinking about wrestlers . no , not about hulk hogan or andre the giant or the rock . i mean real wrestlers . wrestlers who wrestle for real . wrestlers who wo n't wrestle in the 2020 olympic games if the international olympic committee drop kicks their sport . it was revealed tuesday that the ioc is giving serious thought to the elimination of wrestling from olympic competition . been thinking about steve fraser . he was a deputy sheriff from ann arbor , michigan , when i watched him in the 1984 los angeles olympics on the night he became the first american ever to win a medal in greco-roman wrestling . it was shiny . it was gold . `` knowing me , '' he said , `` i 'll probably have it bronzed . '' been thinking about joe williams . wrestling may be cut from olympic games . he was a high school and college wrestling champion from harvey , illinois , who was 29 when he finally made it to an olympic games . he went to athens in 2004 . he dedicated it to his older brother steve , a former wrestler who died of heart failure right outside joe 's house in 2003 . joe did his best but did not win a medal . `` i do n't care . it was still worth it , '' he told me . `` every long , hard minute from day 1 . '' been thinking about clarissa chun . she -- yes , she -- is a wrestler . a mere 4 feet , 11 inches tall . -lrb- women 's wrestling became an olympic sport in 2004 . -rrb- chun was a kindergarten teacher from honolulu , the daughter of a japanese-american mom and a chinese-american dad . she defeated a seven-time national champion in the u.s. trials in 2008 . then she went to the 2012 london olympics and got herself a bronze medal .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- china 's star hurdler liu xiang bounced back from his olympic games disappointment to claim his third successive asian games gold medal , but wednesday 's action was marred by a second positive drug test by a uzbekistani athlete . liu limped out before his first 110-meters hurdles heat in beijing two years ago , but has since recovered from an achilles injury and returned to form on home soil with victory in guangzhou . the 27-year-old headed off teammate shi dongpeng in a record time of 13.09 seconds in front of 80,000 people as he bettered the marks he set in winning in qatar four years ago and south korea in 2002 . `` my coach always has confidence in me . i am confident of myself too . i am quite sure of my form , '' the former world record holder told the xinhua news agency . `` the asian games is important to me , and after that i will focus on the preparation for the 2011 world championships as well as the 2012 london olympics . '' shi clocked a season 's best time of 13.38 while south korea 's park taek yong claimed the bronze medal in 13.48 . china also won gold in the women 's pole vault as li caixia claimed her first asiad title from teammate li ling and japan 's tomomi abiko . with three days of competition remaining , china leads with 173 gold medals and 352 in total -- beating its previous record of 342 in beijing 20 years ago . the nation is also on target to beat its unprecedented 183 titles from that same year . xu linyin and wu penggen won the men 's beach volleyball , the women 's hockey team triumphed over south korea , and he min earned gold in the men 's 1m springboard diving and wu minxia in the women 's event . south korea is second on 71 as kim deok hyeon won the men 's long jump to become the first male from the republic to win an athletics gold . japan has 36 golds after tatsuhiro yonemitsu 's win in men 's 66kg freestyle wrestling and rika usami 's victory in women 's karate 's individual kata . iran moved up to fourth on 16 after ehsan hadadi won the men 's discus and wrestler jamal mirzaei claimed victory in the men 's 84kg freestyle division . uzbekistan is 11th on five golds after yuliya tarasova won the women 's heptathlon , but wrestler jakhongir muminov followed judoka shokir muminov in testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine . jakhongir failed an out-of-competition doping test on november 19 , while shokir -- who is not related -- lost his silver medal last friday . the duo joined a growing list of international athletes who have tested positive for the drug , which is generally used as a nasal decongestant .<doc-sep>japan has expelled one of its top swimmers from the asian games after he was caught stealing a camera . naoya tomita , 25 , the 200 metre breaststroke gold medallist from the 2010 games , could face criminal charges over the theft of the camera , owned by a south korean media organisation , team bosses said . naoya tomita , seen here competing in the 100m breaststroke at the asian games in incheon , korea has been expelled from the competition following the theft of a camera . japan 's chef de mission , tsuyoshi aoki -lrb- left -rrb- , and headquarters official , naoya yanagiya -lrb- right -rrb- were forced to apologise for tomita 's actions . surveillance cameras at the games in incheon , south korea , captured tomita putting the camera in his bag on thursday after watching his team-mates compete . officials said he admitted taking the camera . ' i ca n't recall anything like this ever happening before with a japanese athlete at the asian games , ' said tsuyoshi aoki , the head of japan 's delegation . ` it is a violation of the most basic code of conduct . tomita could face criminal charges for the theft of the camera , which belonged to a korean media organisation . ` we offer our deep apologies . ' mr aoki said tomita would have to pay his own airfare home . tomita finished fourth in the 100 metre breaststroke and failed to win a medal at this year 's games . | <t> swede ara abrahamian disqualified from olympics , stripped of bronze medal . </t> <t> he discarded the medal at the presentation ceremony in protest of judging . </t> <t> ioc says he violated rules banning demonstrations , requiring respect . </t> <t> his medal was the third stripped at the beijing games . </t> | wrestler who discarded medal expelled from games<T> |
miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm fay made landfall in southwestern florida early tuesday , coming ashore at cape romano just south of marco island , the national hurricane center said . satellite image shows tropical storm fay along florida 's southwest coast at 11 p.m. et monday . forecasters immediately dropped hurricane warnings for the storm as it never reached the 74 mph threshold necessary for hurricane status . it was the third landfall for the storm , which came ashore in western cuba sunday night and then again over key west monday afternoon .<doc-sep>voluntary evacuations were urged monday evening on marco island , a community of about 12,000 people near naples on southwestern florida 's coast . however , a cnn crew reported many people seemed to be staying and few had boarded windows there . at of 5 a.m. et tuesday , the storm was moving north-northwest at 9 mph -lrb- 15 km/hr -rrb- and was on the florida coastline at cape romano , or about 55 miles -lrb- 90 km -rrb- south of fort myers . maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph -lrb- 95 km/hr -rrb- , with higher gusts , and forecasters expected some strengthening prior to landfall . tropical storm force winds extended up to 125 miles -lrb- 205 km -rrb- . ireport.com : are you there ? share photos , video . fay is expected to continue in a north-northeasterly direction throughout the day , passing near orlando , and entering the atlantic as a tropical depression off the coast of northeastern florida early wednesday . watch wind , rain batter key west ''<doc-sep>a tropical storm warning wraps around the bottom of the florida peninsula from longboat key on the gulf coast to flagler beach on the east . the florida keys from ocean reef to the west end of the seven mile bridge are also included in the warning . rainfall amounts up to 10 inches are expected across portions of southern and east-central florida , with 4 to 8 inches elsewhere along the storm 's path . isolated tornadoes are possible over the florida keys and the southern florida peninsula , the center said .<doc-sep>port st. lucie , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm fay , stalled near cape canaveral , florida , soaked portions of east-central florida late wednesday , and the national hurricane center said it could dump 30 inches of rain in some areas of the state . streets are flooded wednesday in port st. lucie , florida , in a photo from ireporter bethany schulstrom . as of 11 p.m. et , the storm was just off the coast of central florida about 35 miles southeast of daytona beach , the national hurricane center said . the storm was moving slowly but could make landfall again in northern florida thursday , the hurricane center said . it would be the fourth time the storm makes landfall . fay has come ashore in florida twice after making landfall in cuba . nasa reported receiving 21 inches of rain from the storm wednesday , said craig fugate , florida 's emergency management director . forecasters said they received an unofficial report of 22 inches northwest of melbourne , florida . florida gov. charlie crist has asked president bush to declare an emergency in the state to free up federal funding . the storm `` is producing historic flooding across a large portion of brevard county , '' crist wrote in a letter to bush . `` fay has and will continue to produce copious amounts of rain over a large portion of northeast florida as the storm turns westward on august 21 . `` fay remains a significant threat , '' crist continued , noting that tornadoes have touched down in seven counties . the governor pre-emptively declared a state of emergency last week . as of 11 p.m. et , fay the storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph -lrb- 95 km/h -rrb- , and it was expected to move slowly toward the northwest overnight , according to a hurricane center advisory .<doc-sep>`` this general motion is expected tonight with a gradual turn to the northwest and west-northwest on thursday , '' the national hurricane center said . `` on this track , fay is forecast to move very slowly across northern florida on thursday . '' fay could make its fourth landfall thursday along the florida coast , possibly in the jacksonville-daytona beach area , forecasters said . `` the storm continues to be a threat to this community , '' jacksonville mayor john peyton said . `` looks like the worst is still ahead . '' peyton said jacksonville had set up shelters should people need them . storm tides of 1 to 3 feet above normal are possible along the florida 's east coast , to the north of the center of fay , the hurricane center said , adding that isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of northeastern florida and southeast georgia . the storm forced nasa to close for a second day because of `` potential wind threat , '' nasa said on its web site . the agency was to announce wednesday night whether it would also be shut thursday . the u.s. navy announced wednesday afternoon that it was moving several ships and aircraft in anticipation of fay 's arrival in northeast florida . naval air station jacksonville has evacuated 24 p-3 orion aircraft to bases in maine and ohio . on the southeast coast of florida , fay flooded hundreds of homes in st. lucie county , authorities said . rescuers were using airboats and other means wednesday to pick up stranded residents . earlier in the day , the county 's public safety department said that as many as 8,000 homes might be affected in two low-lying areas but later scaled the number back . crist announced the first known storm-related death . a 54-year-old man died from carbon monoxide fumes as he tested two gasoline-powered generators in his home in highlands county , northwest of lake okeechobee in eastern florida , crist said , quoting the county 's medical examiner .<doc-sep>naples , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at least seven possible tornadoes were reported tuesday in eastern florida as tropical storm fay battered parts of the state with high winds and heavy rain , the national hurricane center said . fay tore through barefoot bay , florida , south of melbourne tuesday . fay could strengthen into a hurricane when it swings over florida again thursday , according to the center . `` this storm is going to be with us for a while , '' said florida gov. charlie crist . `` looks like it could be a boomerang storm . '' a hurricane watch has been issued for florida 's east coast , from north of flagler beach to altamaha sound . at 5 p.m. , the center of the storm was about 60 miles southwest of melbourne , the hurricane center said . fay was traveling north-northeast at 8 mph . florida power & light reported more than 93,000 customers without power in 20 counties . most of the outages -- 34,000 -- were in collier county , where fay came ashore earlier in the day . as many as 9,700 residents in brevard county were without power tuesday evening , according to david waters , the county emergency operations center spokesman . a brevard county tornado that hit about 1:45 p.m. damaged more than 50 homes , leaving nine uninhabitable , according to the emergency operations center . three people suffered minor injuries , officials said . fay 's maximum sustained winds remained near 65 mph , with higher gusts , forecasters said . a storm tracker in moore haven , near the west bank of lake okeechobee , reported winds up to 81 mph in the afternoon . `` some fluctuations in intensity are likely this afternoon and tonight as fay moves inland over florida . some strengthening is expected when fay moves over the atlantic ocean on wednesday , '' according to the hurricane center . the storm was earlier buffeting lake okeechobee with high winds as it moved north and northeast through florida , leaving a trail of flooding , broken trees and power outages . at midday , the hurricane center issued two tornado warnings -- for st. lucie and indian river counties , and tornado watches were in effect for several areas , most of them ending at 4 p.m. . a possible twister hit wellington in palm beach county , where the violent weather ripped a small barn off its foundation and left a horse standing unhurt on a concrete slab , authorities said . dr. bob smith , an associate veterinarian at the palm beach equine clinic , said an 8-year-old quarterhorse named onyx was in a stall , untied , when the suspected tornado hit about 2 a.m. . it destroyed the structure `` and left the horse standing there unscathed , '' smith said . ireport.com : flooding , beached whale as fay hits . when he came to work several hours later , a technician had rescued the horse , who was not visibly rattled , smith said . `` she 's just calm and cool , '' he said . `` she 's fine . '' smith said roof tiles flew off the veterinary clinic and broke car windows in a nearby parking lot . the storm also picked up a horse trailer and smashed it into another horse trailer , he said . a tropical storm warning remained in effect along florida 's east coast from north of ocean reef to flagler beach , including lake okeechobee . a tropical storm watch covered that coast north of flagler beach to fernandina beach . fay is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain over southern and east-central florida , with possible maximum amounts of 15 inches . three to 5 inches of rain were possible in the northwestern bahamas . steve delai , deputy chief of fire and rescue for palm beach county , said he could not confirm a tornado had hit the southeast county , but the damage was `` consistent with a tornado . '' `` it 's clear that the damage was in a very linear fashion , '' he said . crist said 31 schools were closed in the region tuesday as a precaution . all but four , including brevard county , will be open wednesday . `` floridians should continue to monitor local news reports , stay calm and exercise common sense , '' he advised . `` please remember to be cautious when testing generators and other hurricane-related equipment . `` in areas where the weather is getting worse , stay inside and stay off the roads and be safe , '' crist added . fay 's landfall at cape romano south of marco island was the third for the storm , which came ashore in western cuba sunday night and then again over key west monday afternoon . cindy lou corum , who lives in palm beach county , said her home was surrounded by water . see the path of damage in photos and videos '' `` i 'm going to need a rowboat to get out of my house , '' she said . `` i may have to swim out . '' for residents in punta gorda , in southwest florida , the storm and its trail of damage are a reminder of the devastation from hurricane charley in 2004 . irene faust has lived in mobile homes up and down the florida coast for 35 years . her trailer in punta gorda was destroyed by charley . faust , who turns 82 on thursday , said she learned from charley and is urging others not to wait out the storm in their trailer . `` i 'd say , get out of a mobile home , because it 's like a cracker box , '' she said . ireport.com : your images tell the story . concern about fay 's strength also led school officials in broward county to delay the start of the school year , which was supposed to begin monday . watch wind and rain batter key west '' cnn 's aaron cooper contributed to this report .<doc-sep>new orleans , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- more oil than what would fill an olympic-sized swimming pool slipped by the cap on bp 's ruptured undersea well due to bad weather on friday , said coast guard rear adm. paul zukunft . the cap on the well in the gulf of mexico , bouncing in the rough conditions , captured 20,000 barrels -lrb- 840,000 gallons -rrb- fewer than anticipated , zukunft said . bad weather has also prevented skimming or burning for the past two days , displaced boom and made it unsafe to fly , he said . crews are standing by to resume skimming operations and survey inland waterways that may have seen impacts due to a storm surge . shoreline cleanup operations continue with limited weather interruption . for the 12-hour period from noon thursday until midnight , approximately 9,515 barrels of oil were collected and about 4,150 barrels of oil and 28.6 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared . thursday 's total oil recovered was approximately 25,150 barrels . high winds account for the cap 's `` wobble , '' said mark proegler , a bp spokesman . he noted that forecasters expect rough seas to calm a bit this weekend . the oil is more likely to move east than west along the coastline and , if it rides on the loop current , could reach the southwestern florida coast in a degraded form , the national oceanic and atmospheric administration said in a report released friday . the loop current flows northward between cuba and mexico 's yucatan peninsula into the gulf of mexico , then u-turns and flows out between cuba and florida into the atlantic ocean . noaa predicts that there 's up to an 80 percent that the florida keys , miami and fort lauderdale will be affected by the disaster , depending on the weather conditions , currents and recovery efforts . it would reach the shore in the form of tar balls or weathered patches -- not as a slick . the western side of florida is highly unlikely to be hit , noaa projected . hurricane alex whipped up strong winds and waves before it made landfall in northeastern mexico late wednesday night . with alex fading , many in the gulf states were hoping they could get back to cleaning up the massive oil spill . | <t> new : fay made landfall at cape romano just south of marco island . </t> <t> new : hurricane warnings dropped as fay 's winds never reached 74 mph . </t> <t> it was the third landfall for the storm , which came ashore in western cuba sunday . </t> <t> track fay with cnn 's hurricane tracker . </t> | fay makes landfall in southwestern florida<T> |
naples , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- at least seven possible tornadoes were reported tuesday in eastern florida as tropical storm fay battered parts of the state with high winds and heavy rain , the national hurricane center said . fay tore through barefoot bay , florida , south of melbourne tuesday . fay could strengthen into a hurricane when it swings over florida again thursday , according to the center . `` this storm is going to be with us for a while , '' said florida gov. charlie crist . `` looks like it could be a boomerang storm . '' a hurricane watch has been issued for florida 's east coast , from north of flagler beach to altamaha sound . at 5 p.m. , the center of the storm was about 60 miles southwest of melbourne , the hurricane center said . fay was traveling north-northeast at 8 mph . florida power & light reported more than 93,000 customers without power in 20 counties . most of the outages -- 34,000 -- were in collier county , where fay came ashore earlier in the day . as many as 9,700 residents in brevard county were without power tuesday evening , according to david waters , the county emergency operations center spokesman . a brevard county tornado that hit about 1:45 p.m. damaged more than 50 homes , leaving nine uninhabitable , according to the emergency operations center . three people suffered minor injuries , officials said . fay 's maximum sustained winds remained near 65 mph , with higher gusts , forecasters said . a storm tracker in moore haven , near the west bank of lake okeechobee , reported winds up to 81 mph in the afternoon . `` some fluctuations in intensity are likely this afternoon and tonight as fay moves inland over florida . some strengthening is expected when fay moves over the atlantic ocean on wednesday , '' according to the hurricane center . the storm was earlier buffeting lake okeechobee with high winds as it moved north and northeast through florida , leaving a trail of flooding , broken trees and power outages . at midday , the hurricane center issued two tornado warnings -- for st. lucie and indian river counties , and tornado watches were in effect for several areas , most of them ending at 4 p.m. . a possible twister hit wellington in palm beach county , where the violent weather ripped a small barn off its foundation and left a horse standing unhurt on a concrete slab , authorities said . dr. bob smith , an associate veterinarian at the palm beach equine clinic , said an 8-year-old quarterhorse named onyx was in a stall , untied , when the suspected tornado hit about 2 a.m. . it destroyed the structure `` and left the horse standing there unscathed , '' smith said . ireport.com : flooding , beached whale as fay hits . when he came to work several hours later , a technician had rescued the horse , who was not visibly rattled , smith said . `` she 's just calm and cool , '' he said . `` she 's fine . '' smith said roof tiles flew off the veterinary clinic and broke car windows in a nearby parking lot . the storm also picked up a horse trailer and smashed it into another horse trailer , he said . a tropical storm warning remained in effect along florida 's east coast from north of ocean reef to flagler beach , including lake okeechobee . a tropical storm watch covered that coast north of flagler beach to fernandina beach . fay is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain over southern and east-central florida , with possible maximum amounts of 15 inches . three to 5 inches of rain were possible in the northwestern bahamas . steve delai , deputy chief of fire and rescue for palm beach county , said he could not confirm a tornado had hit the southeast county , but the damage was `` consistent with a tornado . '' `` it 's clear that the damage was in a very linear fashion , '' he said . crist said 31 schools were closed in the region tuesday as a precaution . all but four , including brevard county , will be open wednesday . `` floridians should continue to monitor local news reports , stay calm and exercise common sense , '' he advised . `` please remember to be cautious when testing generators and other hurricane-related equipment . `` in areas where the weather is getting worse , stay inside and stay off the roads and be safe , '' crist added . fay 's landfall at cape romano south of marco island was the third for the storm , which came ashore in western cuba sunday night and then again over key west monday afternoon . cindy lou corum , who lives in palm beach county , said her home was surrounded by water . see the path of damage in photos and videos '' `` i 'm going to need a rowboat to get out of my house , '' she said . `` i may have to swim out . '' for residents in punta gorda , in southwest florida , the storm and its trail of damage are a reminder of the devastation from hurricane charley in 2004 . irene faust has lived in mobile homes up and down the florida coast for 35 years . her trailer in punta gorda was destroyed by charley . faust , who turns 82 on thursday , said she learned from charley and is urging others not to wait out the storm in their trailer . `` i 'd say , get out of a mobile home , because it 's like a cracker box , '' she said . ireport.com : your images tell the story . concern about fay 's strength also led school officials in broward county to delay the start of the school year , which was supposed to begin monday . watch wind and rain batter key west '' cnn 's aaron cooper contributed to this report .<doc-sep>port st. lucie , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm fay , stalled near cape canaveral , florida , soaked portions of east-central florida late wednesday , and the national hurricane center said it could dump 30 inches of rain in some areas of the state . streets are flooded wednesday in port st. lucie , florida , in a photo from ireporter bethany schulstrom . as of 11 p.m. et , the storm was just off the coast of central florida about 35 miles southeast of daytona beach , the national hurricane center said . the storm was moving slowly but could make landfall again in northern florida thursday , the hurricane center said . it would be the fourth time the storm makes landfall . fay has come ashore in florida twice after making landfall in cuba . nasa reported receiving 21 inches of rain from the storm wednesday , said craig fugate , florida 's emergency management director . forecasters said they received an unofficial report of 22 inches northwest of melbourne , florida . florida gov. charlie crist has asked president bush to declare an emergency in the state to free up federal funding . the storm `` is producing historic flooding across a large portion of brevard county , '' crist wrote in a letter to bush . `` fay has and will continue to produce copious amounts of rain over a large portion of northeast florida as the storm turns westward on august 21 . `` fay remains a significant threat , '' crist continued , noting that tornadoes have touched down in seven counties . the governor pre-emptively declared a state of emergency last week . as of 11 p.m. et , fay the storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph -lrb- 95 km/h -rrb- , and it was expected to move slowly toward the northwest overnight , according to a hurricane center advisory .<doc-sep>`` this general motion is expected tonight with a gradual turn to the northwest and west-northwest on thursday , '' the national hurricane center said . `` on this track , fay is forecast to move very slowly across northern florida on thursday . '' fay could make its fourth landfall thursday along the florida coast , possibly in the jacksonville-daytona beach area , forecasters said . `` the storm continues to be a threat to this community , '' jacksonville mayor john peyton said . `` looks like the worst is still ahead . '' peyton said jacksonville had set up shelters should people need them . storm tides of 1 to 3 feet above normal are possible along the florida 's east coast , to the north of the center of fay , the hurricane center said , adding that isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of northeastern florida and southeast georgia . the storm forced nasa to close for a second day because of `` potential wind threat , '' nasa said on its web site . the agency was to announce wednesday night whether it would also be shut thursday . the u.s. navy announced wednesday afternoon that it was moving several ships and aircraft in anticipation of fay 's arrival in northeast florida . naval air station jacksonville has evacuated 24 p-3 orion aircraft to bases in maine and ohio . on the southeast coast of florida , fay flooded hundreds of homes in st. lucie county , authorities said . rescuers were using airboats and other means wednesday to pick up stranded residents . earlier in the day , the county 's public safety department said that as many as 8,000 homes might be affected in two low-lying areas but later scaled the number back . crist announced the first known storm-related death . a 54-year-old man died from carbon monoxide fumes as he tested two gasoline-powered generators in his home in highlands county , northwest of lake okeechobee in eastern florida , crist said , quoting the county 's medical examiner .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a powerful storm system brought drenching rains , hail and -- in a few cases -- tornadoes to a wide swath of the central united states on thursday evening , causing damage but no known fatalities . the national weather service reported a number of twisters across several states . that includes a tornado spotted around 8:16 p.m. -lrb- 9:16 p.m. et -rrb- on the ground in st. louis county , missouri , near glendale . about an hour earlier , the agency reported a `` damaging '' twister with quarter-size hail about 50 miles west near washington . and a tornado was earlier reported in the osage county community of rich fountain . it was not immediately clear whether there was any related injuries or damage in any of these missouri locales . the weather service also reported twisters thursday night in the southeastern missouri community of doniphan , as well as nearby in butler county .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm fay made landfall in southwestern florida early tuesday , coming ashore at cape romano just south of marco island , the national hurricane center said . satellite image shows tropical storm fay along florida 's southwest coast at 11 p.m. et monday . forecasters immediately dropped hurricane warnings for the storm as it never reached the 74 mph threshold necessary for hurricane status . it was the third landfall for the storm , which came ashore in western cuba sunday night and then again over key west monday afternoon . | <t> seven suspected tornadoes reported tuesday in eastern florida . </t> <t> forecasters : fay will become a hurricane in florida on thursday . </t> <t> tens of thousands of people without power in southern florida . </t> <t> track fay with cnn 's hurricane tracker . </t> | twisters spotted as fay sweeps across southern florida<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a slim majority of americans think churches should stay out of politics , according to a new survey . john mccain , the rev. rick warren and barack obama together for a cnn broadcast forum on faith . the survey suggests that for the first time in more than a decade , there has been a shift away from the view that religious groups should influence social and political issues . fifty-two percent of poll respondents said churches should stay quiet , while 46 percent said churches should express political views . the biggest shift has come among republicans , one of the authors of the poll said . `` overall , the number of people who say churches should not endorse political candidates is up slightly , but among republicans it is up 11 points , and among white evangelical republicans it is up 19 points , '' said greg smith , a research fellow at the pew forum on religion & public life . `` there is a slight uptick , from 40 percent to 46 percent , among people who are uncomfortable to have politicians talking about religion , but it is up 10 points among republicans , '' he added . four years ago , seven out of 10 conservatives approved of religious institutions expressing political views . but five out of 10 conservatives in thursday 's poll said it was appropriate . it seems that the more important social issues are to conservatives , the more likely they were to say that religion and politics should not mix .<doc-sep>among people who said gay marriage was a very important issue , the number saying houses of worship should keep out of politics doubled , from 25 percent to 50 percent . among those who said it was not important , the number was essentially unchanged . respondents were also more likely to say houses of worship should not meddle in politics if they considered the major political parties to be hostile to religion . the new figures bring republican views into line with those of democrats and independents . a 14-point gap between republican and democratic views on the subject in august 2004 fell to one point in the new survey . but smith cautioned against reading the survey to mean basic conservative philosophy was changing . `` it appears to be frustration with the contemporary political landscape more than an underlying philosophical shift , '' he said . `` it is not the case the conservatives are uncomfortable with a political role for religion , but we do see increasing discomfort with churches getting involved with politics . '' `` voting intentions among white evangelicals have not changed at all , '' smith added . republican candidate sen. john mccain `` has a huge lead even among younger evangelicals . '' but social conservatives are lukewarm about mccain as compared to president bush . nearly seven out of 10 white evangelical protestants and conservatives said they supported mccain ; the number was slightly higher for bush in august 2004 . but four years ago , 57 percent of them said they backed bush strongly . the number is 28 percent for mccain this year , with 40 percent saying they backed him , but not strongly . the number of people who think religious groups have too much influence over political parties grew -- for both republicans and democrats -- as did the percentage of people who are uncomfortable hearing politicians talk about how religious they are .<doc-sep>americans continue to see the republican party as more friendly to religion than the democrats , although the democrats closed the gap somewhat since reaching a low point in 2006 . other survey results showed little change from the past . two out of three americans continue to say churches should not endorse candidates for president , and most still feel a president should have strong religious beliefs . the survey was conducted by the pew research center for people & the press and the pew forum on religion & public life by interviewing 2,905 adults nationwide by phone between july 31 and august 10 . on saturday , obama and mccain answered questions that had religious overtones at a forum hosted by the rev. rick warren . the pastor of southern california 's saddleback church is author of the best-selling book `` the purpose-driven life . '' asked when life begins , mccain was quick to say `` at the moment of conception . '' mccain 's response was met with huge applause from the audience . `` i have a 25-year pro-life record in the congress , in the senate , and as president of the united states , i will be a pro-life president , and this presidency will have pro-life policies , '' he said . when obama was asked about when life begins , the pro-choice candidate said that decision is `` above my pay grade . '' the response garnered criticism from liberal and conservative thinkers who said obama tried to dodge the issue . obama said although he 's pro-choice and supports a woman 's right to abortion , his goal is to reduce the number of abortions in america . `` on this particular issue , if you believe that life begins at conception ... and you are consistent , then i ca n't argue with you on that , '' he said . `` what i can do is say , ` are there ways we can work together to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies ? ' ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- america is a less christian nation than it was 20 years ago , and christianity is not losing out to other religions , but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether , a survey published monday found . survey finds percentage of of americans identifying themselves as christian has fallen over two decades . seventy-five percent of americans call themselves christian , according to the american religious identification survey from trinity college in hartford , connecticut . in 1990 , the figure was 86 percent . william donohue , president of the catholic league said he thinks a radical shift towards individualism over the last quarter-century has a lot to do it . `` the three most dreaded words are thou shalt not , '' he told lou dobbs . `` notice they are not atheists -- they are saying i do n't want to be told what to do with my life . '' at the same time there has been an increase in the number of people expressing no religious affiliation . the survey also found that `` born-again '' or `` evangelical '' christianity is on the rise , while the percentage who belong to `` mainline '' congregations such as the episcopal or lutheran churches has fallen . one in three americans consider themselves evangelical , and the number of people associated with mega-churches has skyrocketed from less than 200,000 in 1990 to more than 8 million in the latest survey . watch cnn report on new study '' the rise in evangelical christianity is contributing to the rejection of religion altogether by some americans , said mark silk of trinity college . `` in the 1990s , it really sunk in on the american public generally that there was a long-lasting ` religious right ' connected to a political party , and that turned a lot of people the other way , '' he said of the link between the republican party and groups such as the moral majority and focus on the family . watch author on mixing religion and politics '' `` in an earlier time , people who would have been content to say , ` well , i 'm some kind of a protestant , ' now say ` hell no , i wo n't go , ' '' he told cnn . silk also said the revelation that some catholic priests had sexually abused children -- and senior figures in the church hierarchy had helped to hide it -- drove some catholics away from religion . and , he said , it is now more socially acceptable than it once was to admit having no religion . `` you 're not declaring yourself a total pariah . the culture has changed in a way that makes it easier to say , ` no , i do n't have a religion . even in the past year , mitt romney and barack obama feel obliged to talk about ` those of no faith , ' '' he pointed out . obama mentioned people without faith in his inaugural address in january , making him the first president to do so . in the survey , one in five americans said they have no religious identity or did not answer the question , and more than one in four said they do not expect to have a religious funeral . the rise in what the survey authors call `` nones '' is the only trend reflected in every single state in the study , silk said . `` we do n't see anything else in the survey that is nationwide , '' he told cnn . still , tony perkins , the president of the family research council , remained hopeful that people will return to their faith , noting there was a less dramatic decline in those affiliating themselves with a religion this decade than in the 1990s . perkins told lou dobbs he sees that decline easing , and he thinks soon religion will be an even greater part of people 's lives . `` if this poll is taken next year will the outcome be different ? '' he asked . `` as the economy goes downward , i think people are going to be driven to religion . '' other findings include : . • the percentage of catholics in the united states has remained steady at about one in four since 1990 , while the percentage of other christians has plummeted from 60 percent to 50 percent . • the percentage of muslims has doubled since 1990 , but remains statistically very small , only 0.3 percent in the original survey and 0.6 percent today . • mormons have remained steady as a percentage of the population , even as the number of people in the united states has grown . they make up 1.4 percent of the population . • the number of jews in the united states is falling if the category includes only those who define themselves as jews religiously , but has remained the same if the category includes people who consider themselves ethnically jewish . the survey polled 54,461 americans between february and november of last year . pollsters conducted the research in both english and spanish . the survey is the third in a series , following polls in 1990 and 2001 .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- america is a less christian nation than it was 20 years ago , and christianity is not losing out to other religions , but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether , a survey published monday found . survey finds percentage of of americans identifying themselves as christian has fallen over two decades . seventy-five percent of americans call themselves christian , according to the american religious identification survey from trinity college in hartford , connecticut . in 1990 , the figure was 86 percent . william donohue , president of the catholic league said he thinks a radical shift towards individualism over the last quarter-century has a lot to do it . `` the three most dreaded words are thou shalt not , '' he told lou dobbs . `` notice they are not atheists -- they are saying i do n't want to be told what to do with my life . '' at the same time there has been an increase in the number of people expressing no religious affiliation . the survey also found that `` born-again '' or `` evangelical '' christianity is on the rise , while the percentage who belong to `` mainline '' congregations such as the episcopal or lutheran churches has fallen . one in three americans consider themselves evangelical , and the number of people associated with mega-churches has skyrocketed from less than 200,000 in 1990 to more than 8 million in the latest survey . watch cnn report on new study '' the rise in evangelical christianity is contributing to the rejection of religion altogether by some americans , said mark silk of trinity college .<doc-sep>but pastor bobby t. newman of citizens of zion missionary baptist church in compton , california , says black churches ca n't afford to lose members to other churches . newman said it creates a great burden on the church financially and leaves a void for younger african-americans culturally . he thinks the church needs to adapt to make more people more comfortable attending black churches . interracial churches can be the scene of internal battles , as cnn has reported previously . some of those tug-of-wars can be over preaching styles or music . differing views on interracial dating and the appropriate racial mix of church leaders can also cause tension . dougherty and co-author christopher p. scheitle , a senior research assistant at penn state university discovered that many church minority members feel they have no say in church affairs , though this starts to change when a minority reaches 40 percent of the church population . more than 3,000 people attend christ our redeemer . ron guyer has been attending for 10 years , said he 's never felt uncomfortable there . other churches could learn a lesson from his worship community , he says . `` i think as other black churches are beginning to see what 's happening and just the burgeoning growth of christ our redeemer , i think they may take a different look at their agenda and say maybe we should kind of open up our churches . '' cnn 's ted rowlands contributed to this report .<doc-sep>it is easy to forget that clinton has differed with the white house in the past about how to frame a political race . in 2010 , working through vice president joe biden , he urged obama to make the case that the president had done a number of things to improve the lives of americans in his first two years and suggested the president campaign on his record . but the white house resisted this approach , fearing the stimulus and health care reform were not popular enough to brag about and instead tried to make the republican agenda the issue . clinton disagreed but -lrb- mostly -rrb- kept his mouth shut about it . he does n't seem willing to bite his tongue now . photos : clinton 's last days in office . clinton is n't the first president to meddle in presidential politics after his own presidency ended . so great was his dislike of dwight eisenhower that harry truman could n't stay out of the 1952 race and even campaigned against ike that fall . richard nixon made life unpleasant for gerald ford in the 1976 republican primary -lrb- and seemed determined to undercut george bush in 1992 , to clinton 's benefit -rrb- . but clinton 's grudge is n't personal ; it 's about how best to mount and run a campaign . how much of his personal popularity clinton will spend to win this argument is unclear , but nearing age 66 , as the new poll shows , the former president has time to earn it back . | <t> survey : republicans change view more than others on church and politics . </t> <t> small majority of americans think churches should n't endorse candidates . </t> <t> researcher : survey does n't mean basic conservative philosophy is changing . </t> | survey : americans feel churches should n't meddle in politics<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cuba is more than a thousand miles from my home in new york , but it 's a place close to my heart . steve kastenbaum talks with salomon leyderman outside the adath israel synagogue in havana , cuba . i went to cuba to report on a country that appears to be on the cusp of a new era . my focus was the future of u.s.-cuban relations and the reforms under cuban leader raúl castro . but a vague notion of exploring my family history in cuba resulted in the most memorable story of the entire journey . more than 15,000 jews were living in cuba in the 1940s and '50s . today , there are about 1,500 . my grandmother , the daughter of russian immigrants , was born in havana , and my grandfather came to cuba when he was just 3 years old . his family left germany in the 1920s . to me , they were as much cuban as they were jewish . watch how everyday life has changed for cubans '' my grandparents left cuba in the late '40s so that their children would be born in the united states . the last members of my family to leave cuba did so post-revolution , in the 1960s . i was eager to see what had become of the places they left behind . slideshow : learn more about the jewish population in cuba '' when castro lifted restrictions on religion in the mid - '90s , the once-dilapidated building that houses congregation el patronato came back to life . today , it 's a thriving center for the local jewish community .<doc-sep>when i arrived , the children 's summer program was in full swing . a few dozen boys and girls were laughing and playing as they waited for lunch to be served . i was n't prepared for the wave of emotions that overcame me . had things been different , i could have been just like them . slideshow : experience more of kastenbaum 's explorations of cuba '' my next stop took me to habana viejo . jewish life in cuba has its roots in old havana , where my great-grandparents settled . i walked the streets where they lived and stopped in at the only remaining kosher butcher in town . i passed the building that once housed the local synagogue where my grandparents were wed. . watch efforts to restore parts of havana '' the current home of adath israel is a few blocks away . at the front door , salomon leyderman introduced himself to me as the oldest jew in cuba . he 's 86 . i took out some old family photos , and salomon immediately recognized my great-grandfather , salomon sher . he shouted out in spanish , `` they were tailors ! '' i could n't believe my ears . this 86-year-old man told me how my great-grandfather was highly regarded in the community , how he belonged to many social organizations and how after the revolution , he made it possible for many cuban jews to leave the island and join him in miami , florida . as he looked at a family portrait , salomon began to cry . he recognized luis sher , my grandmother 's brother . he said luis gave him as a gift a suit to wear at his bar mitzvah , the jewish ceremony marking a boy 's transition into manhood . it took place more than 70 years ago , but he recalled the details as if it happened yesterday . tears were flowing down my cheeks , too . the following day , i called my father in new york and handed the cell phone to the oldest jew in cuba . this time there were no tears , just laughter . after the call , salomon looked at my sneakers and said they 're good shoes . he told me he 's a european size 42 , and i should bring him a pair when i return . he then asked me to send him a card on hanukkah and smiled . steve kastenbaum is a new york correspondent for cnn radio .<doc-sep>the final step was for the family to appear before a beit din , or religious council , to approve the conversion . `` we decided we had to make our full return to judaism , and we had such good mazal -lrb- luck -rrb- because the rabbis made it relatively easy . they saw that we were serious people that had studied the religion , '' nunez says . the nunez family 's story is not out of the ordinary , says rabbi shea rubenstein , an argentine rabbi who leads the jewish latin american connection at the shul in surfside , florida . `` we have a very vibrant synagogue , and a very large percentage happen to be from spanish background from countries such as venezuela , peru , argentina , mexico and cuba , '' the rabbi says . rubenstein says that quite a few non-jewish hispanics come to the shul to learn more about judaism , and while they may not be able to prove they are jewish , they believe they are descendants of jews and seek to reconnect with their jewish roots . if a person wants to practice judaism but can not verify their jewish roots , rubenstein recommends they go through a formal conversion as the nunez family did . `` it 's difficult to verify because there 's some 400 or 500 years of history that people can not trace , especially since judaism is passed through the mother and the last name reflects that of the father , '' rubenstein says . inspired by their experiences , moshe and chanaleah -- both songwriters and musicians -- wrote a song called `` jews of spain , '' with lyrics in spanish , english and hebrew . nunez recorded the song , part of the album `` kol haneshema -lrb- every soul -rrb- . '' aside from his work as a consultant and musician , nunez leads seminars , conducts a weekly program called quality life now at the empire state building and teaches weekly webinars from his brooklyn home . his seminars , taught in both spanish and english , focus on seven core values found in the old testament . the seven values are often referred to as the noahide laws . according to the bible , the laws were given from god to noah to serve as a moral code for all humankind . `` i 've taken the seven noahide laws and i teach them as universal core values , so everyday people can apply them to their lifestyle , '' nunez says . he says he hopes to share his teachings with all of mankind , regardless of religion , to help them lead a more meaningful life . `` sharing the knowledge of torah to the world through education , songs and acts of kindness will help ensure that what happened to the marranos during the inquisition will never happen again . ''<doc-sep>cnn : would you ever go to cuba and play a concert there ? pitbull : no way . i 'd never go to cuba and play a concert . -lsb- i 'd consider playing there -rsb- as soon as i know that it 's confirmed that castro 's out of there . i mean , if you ask me , i think castro 's been dead for years . he handed power to raúl , and he slips pictures here and there . he keeps giving these pictures to the media with the same shirt on -- same jacket , same everything . cnn : how do you feel about other artists of your generation who feel compelled to go and perform in cuba as kind of an olive branch ? pitbull : juanes just did it . papa , you ca n't change cuba . history will tell you that you ca n't change cuba . i respect him as an artist -- he 's like u2 , the bono of spanish . i do n't respect his decision . maybe he does n't really understand it at the end of the day because he 's not cuban . -lsb- juanes is colombian . -rsb- . but to each his own . there 's too much suffering , too much pain from people who left that island , that have come over here and tried to change their life . cnn : even though you were born in america , how much are you influenced by your cuban roots ? pitbull : my mother , she 's like , `` look , you 're american , son . you were born here in the states . '' my father ? my father said , `` you 're cuban-american . '' my mother would call me chris , because my middle name 's christian . my father would say , `` no , your name 's armando . '' but in my blood , what it tells me is , `` you 're cuban-american . '' the music is what makes you , the food is what makes you , the way you 've been taught mentally .<doc-sep>the club 's members include men who have sailed around the world , run marathons on every continent and undertaken numerous other adventures . the club itself displays artifacts and pieces of history collected by club members from all over the globe , commemorating their international expeditions . story time : adventurers club of los angeles member jay foonberg talks to a room full of men in the club that 's banned women from becoming members . it describes itself as a private gentlemen 's club , tracing its roots back to teddy roosevelt and friends in a 1908 meeting .<doc-sep>`` when i learned about -lrb- cruzado 's -rrb- work , my life changed , '' maynard said . `` it was an awakening that the taíno heritage was not extinct . '' map how the united states has changed . for maynard , this was a living heritage to reclaim . months later , she took a dna test that confirmed she was taíno via her mother 's ancestry . `` i walked through that door and for the first time had a deep understanding of who i was , '' she said . despite diminished numbers -- the taíno population decreased from 8 million in 1492 to 20,000 in 1520 to 200 in 1560 -- the taíno culture has survived and is still present in the language today , said jose barreiro , assistant director for research at the national museum of the american indian . `` i am originally from cuba , and i like to say to my fellow cubans that cuba is a taíno word , '' barreiro said . `` they have no idea that when they say the word cuba , they are speaking taíno . it means ` big land , well-planted . ' '' mario garza created the indigenous cultures institute in 2005 , a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of indigenous cultures . it tries to educate people with indigenous roots who label themselves `` hispanic , '' garza said . the increasing number of people who identified as latino and native american in 2010 give him hope . `` the spaniards tried to destroy our civilization and history , outlawed our ceremonies , yet we are still here , '' garza said . `` with a bigger group of native americans , we have a better chance of getting federal recognition and grants . '' but for maynard , it was n't about gaining political power ; it was a way to acknowledge her newly discovered taíno heritage . her census form showed that the culture was still alive . in a sacred ceremony , maynard 's priest gave her a consecrated taíno name : `` tekina-eirú . '' it means `` sweet teacher . '' the name is apt , maynard said , as she wants to teach the taíno culture to those that come to her cultural center . her two children will need to learn their own lessons about identity . she wants her children to know about what she yearned for : their roots . | <t> a cnn radio correspondent explores his jewish heritage in cuba . </t> <t> his grandparents left cuba in the late 1940s . </t> <t> an 86-year-old jewish man remembered correspondent 's family . </t> | tracing my jewish roots in cuba<T> |
atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the two men who claimed to have found the carcass of bigfoot have surfaced to say : hey , it was just a joke . matt whitton has been fired from his job as a police officer because of his role in the hoax . not everyone is laughing . in an exclusive interview with cnn affiliate wsb , the two hoaxers -- car salesman rick dyer and now-fired police officer matt whitton -- said the whole situation began as a joke and then got out of hand . `` it 's just a big hoax , a big joke , '' dyer said . `` it 's bigfoot , '' dyer explained . `` bigfoot does n't exist . '' whitton chimed in : `` all this was a big joke . it got into something way bigger than it was supposed to be . '' watch the two men explain their `` joke '' '' at a news conference in california last week , the two men had stood by their claims that they had discovered bigfoot 's corpse and had it on ice . scientific analysis would prove it , they said . not quite . now the two georgia men admit that the hairy , icy blob was an internet-purchased sasquatch costume stuffed with possum roadkill and slaughterhouse leftovers . whitton and dyer say that when they came up with the hoax , they had no idea it would become a media circus . `` it got legs and ran . it 's crazy now , '' dyer told wsb . co-hoaxer whitton agrees : `` it started off as some youtube videos and a web site . we 're all about having fun . '' `` fun '' is n't exactly how clayton county police chief jeff turner sees it . he has kicked whitton off the police force . `` he lied on national tv , '' turner says of whitton , `` so a defense attorney now could say , ` how do we know you 're not lying now ? ' '' whitton and dyer had announced that they had found the body of a 7-foot-7-inch , 500-pound half-ape , half-human creature while hiking in the north georgia mountains in june . they also said they had spotted about three similar living creatures . still unclear is how much money whitton and dyer got out of the hoax . steve kulls , who maintains the squatchdetective web site and hosts a similarly named internet radio program , first interviewed dyer on july 28 for the radio program . on august 12 , kulls said , dyer and whitton `` requested an undisclosed sum of money as an advance , expected from the marketing and promotion . '' two days later , after signing a receipt and counting the money , dyer and whitton showed the searching for bigfoot team the freezer containing what they claimed was the carcass : `` something appearing large , hairy and frozen in ice , '' kulls wrote on the web site . it was , as many had suspected , an ape-like costume stuffed with entrails . after the news conference last week , dyer and whitton disappeared from view . the truth came out over the weekend . in a web posting this week , kulls wrote that `` action is being instigated against the perpetrators . '' the two hoaxers have hired attorney steve lister to represent them . `` there have been some threats made to them for both civil and criminal prosecution , '' lister said . the attorney says the bigfoot incident `` got out of hand . '' dyer , asked whether he ever thought that the hoopla had become more than just a joke , implied that everyone should have known it was a hoax . `` well , we told 10 different stories , '' he said . `` everyone knew we were lying . ''<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the two men who claimed to have found the carcass of bigfoot have surfaced to say : hey , it was just a joke . matt whitton has been fired from his job as a police officer because of his role in the hoax . not everyone is laughing . in an exclusive interview with cnn affiliate wsb , the two hoaxers -- car salesman rick dyer and now-fired police officer matt whitton -- said the whole situation began as a joke and then got out of hand . `` it 's just a big hoax , a big joke , '' dyer said . `` it 's bigfoot , '' dyer explained . `` bigfoot does n't exist . '' whitton chimed in : `` all this was a big joke . it got into something way bigger than it was supposed to be . '' watch the two men explain their `` joke '' '' at a news conference in california last week , the two men had stood by their claims that they had discovered bigfoot 's corpse and had it on ice . scientific analysis would prove it , they said . not quite . now the two georgia men admit that the hairy , icy blob was an internet-purchased sasquatch costume stuffed with possum roadkill and slaughterhouse leftovers . whitton and dyer say that when they came up with the hoax , they had no idea it would become a media circus . `` it got legs and ran . it 's crazy now , '' dyer told wsb . co-hoaxer whitton agrees : `` it started off as some youtube videos and a web site . we 're all about having fun . '' `` fun '' is n't exactly how clayton county police chief jeff turner sees it . he has kicked whitton off the police force . `` he lied on national tv , '' turner says of whitton , `` so a defense attorney now could say , ` how do we know you 're not lying now ? ' '' whitton and dyer had announced that they had found the body of a 7-foot-7-inch , 500-pound half-ape , half-human creature while hiking in the north georgia mountains in june . they also said they had spotted about three similar living creatures . still unclear is how much money whitton and dyer got out of the hoax . steve kulls , who maintains the squatchdetective web site and hosts a similarly named internet radio program , first interviewed dyer on july 28 for the radio program . on august 12 , kulls said , dyer and whitton `` requested an undisclosed sum of money as an advance , expected from the marketing and promotion . '' two days later , after signing a receipt and counting the money , dyer and whitton showed the searching for bigfoot team the freezer containing what they claimed was the carcass : `` something appearing large , hairy and frozen in ice , '' kulls wrote on the web site . it was , as many had suspected , an ape-like costume stuffed with entrails . after the news conference last week , dyer and whitton disappeared from view . the truth came out over the weekend . in a web posting this week , kulls wrote that `` action is being instigated against the perpetrators . '' the two hoaxers have hired attorney steve lister to represent them . `` there have been some threats made to them for both civil and criminal prosecution , '' lister said . the attorney says the bigfoot incident `` got out of hand . '' dyer , asked whether he ever thought that the hoopla had become more than just a joke , implied that everyone should have known it was a hoax . `` well , we told 10 different stories , '' he said . `` everyone knew we were lying . ''<doc-sep>` not mad ' : anthony padilla , from midland county , michigan , says he 's been leaving boxes of pepperoni-topped pizza pies out for a bigfoot . the michigan state police are refusing to investigate the sightings , but his local tv network tv5 decided to take a look . mr padilla told the station : ` at first , i just thought it was a huge man in a ghillie suit -lsb- camouflage clothing -rsb- . so then , i look into his face , right dead in his eyes , and they were so red they looked like they were full of blood , like a man on his deathbed . ' mr padillo says he 's been trying to prove that bigfoot exists for years . he cities his collection of evidence ; items like footprints , broken branches , and even droppings . mr padilla said he 's trying to catch the sasquatch by putting food into pizza boxes . mr padilla told local tv news the beast has been feasting on pizzas at his property for years . michigan state police are refusing to investigate the sightings , but mr padilla 's local tv network tv5 decided to take a look . he says in the morning he finds the boxes folded or rolled . he added bigfoot likes also to eat mexican or chinese . bigfoot researcher matthew smith jr said : ` we look into investigations very carefully because sometimes people could be trying to pull a prank . ` many people have claimed -lsb- that -rsb- a big hairy creature -lsb- ran -rsb- across the road , so there 's -lsb- something -rsb- going on up there . whether it 's bigfoot , i ca n't say . ' ' i believe i can `` out-bigfoot '' anyone on this earth ! it 's like , i do n't even have to try , he just gives it to me . '<doc-sep>it might sound bizarre but biscardi is convinced he knows what he 's doing . ` you hear about people saying they 're a bigfoot hunter , bigfoot researcher , bigfoot this and that , crypto zoologist , ' he complains . ` crypto my ass - the name of the game is this : you either heel and toe it down that street and go out into the brush and look or you 'll never find anything . ' 10 : the photographic and video evidence is awful : besides the famed 1968 patterson gimlin video that purports to show bigfoot walking all footage is grainy and photographs blurred . we wonder why ? 9 : bigfoot fails to fit into the food chain in north america : the beast is supposed to be 9ft tall and weigh 600 pounds . that would mean it would need to eat 5,000 calories a day to survive - which would lead to a huge unexplained dent in the natural food chain . scientists have said they have never detected a gap this size before . 8 : bigfoot is just too big : logically , a 600-pound , 9ft tall ape-man would not go unnoticed by people not even on the trail of the bigfoot . basically , if the creature did exist , we would have found it by now . 7 : there is no fossil or bone record : a creature this big would have left bones or fossil records behind . however , never once have any ape-like creature 's remains or bones been found .<doc-sep>one bigfoot and ufo fanatic even made a youtube video debunking the claim . as people raged on twitter at the officials ' idiocy , the department admitted it had been a joke . ` we always try to have a little fun with our facebook and twitter feeds , ' department spokesman tim tait told abc news . ` that way , we do n't just post news about crashes and road conditions , but a little something to engage our audience in different ways . | <t> two men surface to say bigfoot hoax was just a joke . </t> <t> men say their idea of `` having fun '' turned into something bigger than expected . </t> <t> attorney for men says incident `` got out of hand '' </t> | bigfoot hoaxers say it was just ` a big joke '<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the united states and britain praised pakistani president pervez musharraf 's contribution to the war on terror while the bush administration claimed no role in the leader 's resignation monday . pakistan 's pervez musharraf has until now stubbornly resisted pressure to quit . a senior state department official familiar with the situation told cnn u.s. officials were in touch with musharraf in the week leading up to the resignation . however , the official said , the united states made it clear that it would not get involved in the struggle between musharraf and the newly elected pakistani parliament . `` if he made a decision to go , or fight against it -- we did n't advise him either way , '' the official said . `` we really did keep our fingers out of this one . '' musharraf is viewed as a keen ally of the west in the fight on terror , receiving billions in military aid from both and launching attacks on militant groups near the country 's border with afghanistan . watch musharraf resign '' `` president musharraf has been a friend to the united states and one of the world 's most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism , '' said secretary of state condoleezza rice after musharraf 's announcement . `` we will continue to work with the pakistani government and political leaders and urge them to redouble their focus on pakistan 's future and its most urgent needs , including stemming the growth of extremism , addressing food and energy shortages and improving economic stability , '' she added .<doc-sep>`` the united states will help with these efforts to see pakistan reach its goal of becoming a stable , prosperous , democratic , modern , muslim nation . '' the bush administration 's main priority is a crackdown on taliban and al qaeda militants in pakistan 's tribal regions . the administration believes pakistan 's intelligence service is full of al qaeda and taliban loyalists , an accusation pakistan denies . view a timeline of musharraf 's time in power '' `` there is a great deal of frustration on the part of the u.s. government with pakistan 's inability to follow through on what the u.s. sees as its clear commitments , '' said robert grenier , a former cia counterterrorism official , now a managing director at risk consultation firm kroll . `` it remains very much to be seen whether this new democratically-elected leadership will really be able to follow through in a sustained and coherent way , '' he said . `` they have n't demonstrated an ability to do that . '' the united states has stepped up missile strikes inside pakistan , killing dozens of militants , and head of the army , gen. ashfaq kiyani , is now the united states ' closest ally in power . but some experts warn that u.s. pressure could go too far . `` the u.s. military has to be extremely cautious , '' said rick barton , a director and adviser with the non-profit center for strategic and international studies who is a former u.n. and u.s. official . `` it could actually be setting the torch to the kindling inside the country . '' musharraf told the nation in a televised address monday that he would step down -- nearly nine years after he seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 .<doc-sep>`` i do n't want the people of pakistan to slide deeper and deeper into uncertainty , '' he said . until now , musharraf , 65 , had stubbornly resisted pressure to resign . but his once-considerable power eroded significantly since february 's election that pushed his party out of power . that pressure increased in the past few weeks as the new ruling party began making plans to impeach him . only time will tell whether the power shift will benefit pakistan , but `` it puts a lot more responsibility squarely on the government . there is no more excuse any more . they have to stand up and do things . they ca n't blame musharraf , '' the state department official said . the official said musharraf is n't expected to try to undermine the government . `` i really do n't think he has been a factor for six months , '' the official said . `` he has n't been able to do that while he was in the presidency , and he wo n't be as well-positioned -lsb- out of the presidency -rsb- to interfere . '' mohammedmian soomro , the chairman of the upper house of the national assembly , stepped into the president 's role and will act as caretaker until a new president is chosen , which is expected to be in the next few weeks . under pakistan 's constitution , the president is elected by a majority vote of pakistan 's four provincial assemblies and the two houses of the national assembly . since musharraf 's resignation , the united states had n't yet spoken to the government under newly elected prime minister syed yousaf raza gillani , who visited washington late last month . in a statement released by u.s. national security council spokesman gordon johndroe , president george w. bush said it was committed to a `` strong pakistan that continues its efforts to strengthen democracy and fight terror . ''<doc-sep>`` president bush looks forward to working with the government of pakistan on the economic , political and security challenges they face . '' british foreign secretary david miliband said it was strongly committed to its alliance with pakistan following musharraf 's resignation . he praised musharraf 's economic and security achievements , described pakistan as a `` vital friend '' and said britain 's aid program for the country would continue . meanwhile , an afghanistan government spokesman said musharraf 's resignation would be good for afghanistan . the indian government said in a statement that it had no comment to make . `` this is an internal matter of pakistan . '' copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . beth stebner . published : . 20:03 est , 9 november 2012 . | . updated : . 08:44 est , 10 november 2012 . the dramatic resignation of cia director david petraeus on friday threatens to undermine next week 's hearings into the deadly attack at the u.s. consulate in libya , at which he was scheduled to testify . petraeus resigned as head of the cia following revelations he had engaged in an extramarital affair and acknowledging that he ` showed extremely poor judgment ' . the highly-decorated general , 60 , had recently traveled to libya and the middle east , and was to testify about the benghazi attack next week behind closed doors to the house and senate intelligence committees . bad timing : petraeus ' resignation comes at a sensitive time ; the cia chief was slated to testify at the benghazi hearings next week . fears have also emerged as his resignation comes at an extremely sensitive time . the administration and the cia have struggled to defend security and intelligence lapses before the attack that killed the u.s. ambassador to libya and three others . shocking : petraeus resigned after an fbi investigation on his biographer paula broadwell was revealed . it was an issue during the presidential campaign that ended with obama 's re-election tuesday . petraeus had led the cia for only 14 months . his sudden departure threatened to usher in a period of instability at the spy agency , which is grappling with a leveling off in its budget after a decade of steady increases . the agency is also fending off questions about its performance before and after the attack that led to the death of u.s. ambassador chris stevens in benghazi , libya . u.s. officials insisted that the cia 's handling of the benghazi incident had nothing to do with petraeus ' decision to resign . the cia has come under intense scrutiny for providing the white house and other administration officials with talking points that led them to say the benghazi attack was a result of a film protest , not a militant terror attack . it has become clear that the cia was aware the attack was distinct from the film protests roiling across other parts of the muslim world . morell rather than petraeus now is expected to testify at closed congressional briefings next week on the sept. 11 attacks on the consulate in benghazi . according to the new york times , petraeus told the white house of the affair , only one day after obama secured a second term in the white house . the president did not immediately accept it , aides told the times , and only reluctantly agreed to it on friday . under attack : an armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the us consulate compound in benghazi late on september 11 . horrific : two days after the attack , a libyan man shows that the bloodstains on the column are from one the american staff members who grabbed the edge of the structure . ruins : a libyan man investigates the inside of the u.s. consulate , after the attack ; this was only part of the damage incurred to the compound . news corps ' rupert murdoch was one of masses who took to twitter to voice his opinion . the 81-year-old aussie wrote : ` petraeus resignation . timing , everything suspicious . there has to be more to this story . ' chiming in with her own conspiracy theory , conservative talk show radio host laura ingraham wrote : ` cia chief petraus resignation ... something about this stinks to high heaven . ' she added : ` coincidence ?! petraeus is set to testify next week at a closed door session on capitol hill about benghazi . did bho push him out ? this stinks ! ' but some , like huffington post founder arianna huffington , reacted to the news in a very forgiving fashion . ` turns out petraeus is -lrb- sic -rrb- human being . and of course we definitely ca n't have human beings in government ! ' she wrote .<doc-sep>he was in the throes of a political scandal that would ultimately see him forced to leave the white house . and this recording of a phone call between richard nixon and his chief of staff h.r haldeman in april 1973 suggests the embattled president may have indulged in a few drinks to take his mind off the watergate trial . in it the president - who hours before had announced that haldeman would be resigning over watergate - can be heard telling his long-serving aide : ` you 're a strong man , goddamnit , and i love you . ' scroll down for audio and video . ' i love you , as you know ... like my brother ' : former u.s. president richard nixon , left , sounds emotional during the phone conversation with h.r. haldeman , right , whose resignation he had demanded after watergate . after vowing to never ` discuss the son-of-bitching watergate thing again ' , ` never , never , never , never ' , nixon goes on to declare again : ' i love you , as you know ... like my brother . ' he goes on to ask whether haldeman could make some calls to gauge the reaction to his speech that day , ` like the old style ' . haldeman tells his now ex-boss : ' i do n't think i can ... i 'm in an odd spot to try and do that . ' nixon quickly adds : ' i completely agree ... do n't call a goddamn soul . ' saying goodbye , the president tells haldeman , who he had known for almost 20 years : ` alright boy , keep the faith . ' scandal : the former white house chief of staff ultimately served 18 months in prison over watergate . audio : listen to call between richard nixon and white house chief of staff in april 1973 . long-time adviser : richard nixon , then vice president , is seen with haldeman in march 1960 . featured in the cnn documentary ` our nixon ' , the audio clip of the former u.s. president 's bizarre ramblings have led to speculation that he was drunk at the time of the phone call , which took place at 10.16 pm on april 30 . ` keep the faith ' : richard nixon announced his own resignation on august 8 1974 .<doc-sep>a white house official said friday that the resignation of veterans affairs undersecretary robert petzl was not voluntary , despite previous reports that he resigned out of anger with the obama administration . ` there is no question that this is a termination of his job there before he was planning to go , ' white house chief of staff denis mcdonough told cbs news chief white house correspondent major garrett for an interview to air on face the nation this sunday . petzel , the undersecretary for health care at the va , resigned abruptly on friday , just a day after telling a u.s. senate committee that he knew in 2010 about a memo describing ` inappropriate scheduling practices ' now blamed for as many as 40 deaths at va medical centers . scroll down for video . veterans affairs undersecretary for health dr. robert petzel has resigned just a day after testifying in a contentious senate hearing about a va health care scandal tied to as many as 40 deaths . focus : millions of military veterans depend on va hospitals and clinics for acute and long-term medical care , and the system has been rife with wait-list problems for years . complaints about long wait lists and falsified patient appointment reports have dogged va hospitals and clinics nationwide . petzel , a 40-year veteran of the va system and its . undersecretary for health , tendered his resignation even though he was . already scheduled to retire later in the year . the white house announced . his successor on may 1 but said petzel would remain in his job until . jeffrey murawsky , director of the va 's illinois-based great lakes health . care system , wins senate confirmation . secretary . eric shinseki requested and received petzel 's resignation but has . steadfastly insisted upon staying put himself , despite calls from . prominent republicans and democrats for his ouster .<doc-sep>highly suspicious ? news corp 's rupert murdoch said that the timing of this was ` suspicious ' suspicious : conservative radio host laura ingraham tweeted her leering suspicion over the timing of petraeus ' resignation . for the director of the cia , being engaged in an extramarital affair is considered a serious breach of security and a counterintelligence threat . if a foreign government had learned of the affair , the reasoning goes , petraeus or the person with whom he was involved could have been blackmailed or otherwise compromised . military justice considers conduct such as an extramarital affair to be possible grounds for court martial . failure to resign also could create the perception for the rank-and-file that such behavior is acceptable . at fbi headquarters , spokesman paul bresson declined to comment on the information that the affair had been discovered in the course of an investigation by the bureau . gone : u.s. ambassador to libya chris stevens was killed along with three other americans in the attack ; an autopsy revealed he died of smoke inhalation . victims : from left to right , sean smith , glen doherty , and tyrone woods were also killed in the violent attacks . in a statement from the president , obama said , ' i am completely confident that the cia will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission . ' but there is no indication that he broke any agency rule in connection with his admitted affair , sources familiar with the matter said . the cia has no broad rule banning officials from engaging in extramarital affairs , though if discovered , liaisons by cia personnel with suspected foreign agents would pose security problems for a u.s. spy . obama , who accepted petraeus ' resignation in a phone call with him friday afternoon , said that michael morell , the agency 's long-time deputy director , would serve as acting cia chief . morell , who is well respected at both the white house and on capitol hill , had previously served as acting director following the departure of former cia chief leon panetta . he is a leading candidate to be petraeus ' permanent successor , sources said . other possible candidates being discussed on capitol hill include john brennan , obama 's chief counter-terrorism adviser ; obama national security adviser thomas donilon ; and former congresswoman jane harman , who chaired the house intelligence committee . classified : a redacted copy of an email discussing the attack of the benghazi , libya mission two hours after it happened . stepping up : michael morell , the current cia deputy director , will serve as acting director and will testify at next week 's benghazi closed-door hearings . petraeus ' resignation also adds a new vacancy on obama 's national security team . secretary of state hillary clinton has said she will leave after obama 's first term , and defense secretary leon panetta is widely expected to leave as well . petraeus ' wife , holly , has been an advocate for u.s. veterans and head of the office of servicemember affairs at the u.s. consumer financial protection bureau . last month , petraeus and holly appeared together at a reception at the canadian embassy in washington to celebrate the premiere of the ben affleck film ` argo , ' which chronicles a successful operation in which the cia and canadian diplomats smuggled a group of u.s. officials out of tehran during the 1979-80 u.s. embassy hostage crisis . in a letter to the cia workforce , petraeus said that he met with obama at the white house on thursday and asked ` to be allowed , for personal reasons , to resign from my position . ' ` after being married for 37 years , i showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair , ' he wrote . ` such behavior is unacceptable , both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours . ' saddened : white house aides said that president obama did not immediately accept petraeus ' resignation , but later wished him the best , ' i wish -lrb- he and his wife holly -rrb- the very best at this difficult time ' reliable : then-president george w. bush , right , was very close to petraeus , left , who was then in charge of the iraq war . obama , who was re-elected to a second term on tuesday , said in a statement that he accepted petraeus ' resignation , praising him for his work at the cia and for leading u.s. troops in iraq and afghanistan . the sudden and dramatic turn of events appeared to end the public career of a widely admired man who played a key role in the iraq war , led the u.s. central command and commanded u.s. and nato troops in afghanistan . petraeus ' name had circulated speculatively as a possible republican presidential nominee before obama tapped him as cia chief . before taking the cia post , he retired as an army general after nearly four decades of military service . | <t> pervez musharraf tells nationwide audience he will resign as president . </t> <t> u.s. and britain praise musharraf for his contribution to ` war on terror ' </t> <t> both promise continued aid and support for pakistan . </t> | white house : u.s. had nothing to do with resignation<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the marine husband of a slain fort bragg soldier was charged with murder monday and another marine was charged with aiding the crime , a local police chief said . fayetteville , north carolina , police released this undated photo of 2nd lt. holley wimunc . authorities have been searching for the missing soldier , army 2nd lt. holley wimunc , 24 , since a fire torched her north carolina apartment on july 10 . marine cpl. john wimunc and fellow marine lance cpl. kyle alden were initially charged with arson , but after police interviews wimunc was charged with first-degree murder , said fayetteville police chief tom bergamine . alden was charged with felony accessory after the fact to first-degree murder , bergamine said . both were taken to cumberland county 's jail and held without bond , he said .<doc-sep>earlier , a witness found a charred body in woods , but detective jeff locklear told reporters that police were still awaiting a positive identification from the medical examiner and could not say for certain it was holley wimunc . the lieutenant 's father released a statement about the death monday in which he said his daughter was a nurse at a military hospital and had two children . `` it is with profound sadness that our family just received the news from authorities that our beloved daughter holley is dead , '' wimunc 's father said in a statement released to cnn affiliate wral in raleigh , north carolina . `` since last thursday 's shocking news about holley 's burned apartment and her missing person status , our family through the country has nonetheless been holding on to a thin thread of hope that she would be found alive . '' military officials said both marines were stationed at camp lejeune , which is about two hours away from wimunc 's fayetteville home .<doc-sep>joe lenczyk -- resident agent-in-charge for the federal bureau of alcohol , tobacco , firearms and explosives -- said wimunc and her husband were estranged and lived apart . wimunc is the second female soldier from fort bragg to die under suspicious circumstances in recent weeks . spc. megan lynn touma , 23 , was seven months pregnant at the time of her death in june , authorities said . investigators say they are treating that death as a homicide . camp lejeune also has had a suspicious death of a female soldier this year . twenty-year-old pregnant marine lance cpl. maria lauterbach 's charred body was found january in the back yard of another marine stationed at the base . that suspect , u.s. marine cpl. cesar laurean , was captured in april in mexico .<doc-sep>by . kerry mcdermott . published : . 06:07 est , 7 august 2013 . | . updated : . 09:21 est , 7 august 2013 . a former soldier has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his 21-year-old wife , police have confirmed . danielle roberts was found dead in the bristol flat she shared with her husband , ex-soldier james , 27 . the couple , who moved in together in bedminster last year , wed just eight months ago at bristol register office after dating for several years . wedding day : danielle roberts with her former soldier husband james on the day they got married at bristol registry office just eight months ago . just wed : danielle , pictured here with her husband james , was discovered dead in her flat . her death is being treated as ` unexplained ' their flat in west street remains cordoned off with police tape , and officers say they are still treating danielle 's death last thursday as unexplained . her devastated mother cindy hardiman has paid tribute to her ` bubbly ' daughter , describing her death as ' a complete nightmare ' . ` she was a bubbly girl and very kind-hearted . she would do anything for anybody , ' said mrs hardiman , 49 .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . a soldier from moore , oklahoma , has been charged after he allegedly killed the family cat in front of his wife and her 14-year-old son because the animal had peed in his boots . kevin grace has been charged with one count of animal cruelty after the march 10 incident , which saw heather grace 's cat , kitty , thrown against a wall until it was unresponsive . moore police were called to the home following a report of extreme animal cruelty . cat killer : kevin grace , a soldier from moore , oklahoma , has been charged after he allegedly killed the family cat in front of his wife and her 14-year-old son because the animal had peed in his boots . kitty : when police officers arrived , mrs grace told them she and her husband had had a fight , and he grabbed the 18-year-old pet , pictured , and marched upstairs . when officers arrived , mrs grace told them she and her husband had had a fight , and he grabbed the 18-year-old pet and marched upstairs .<doc-sep>by . lee moran . last updated at 12:48 pm on 1st september 2011 . a soldier who guards the queen at windsor castle and his primary school teacher wife have appeared in court charged with raping a pre-teenage girl . simon davies , 37 , and wife fiona , 44 , . were held by police after a video of the alleged incident was found . during a raid on a london home . police swooped on the house as part of . an investigation into a child porn ring . it is believed the footage was . being circulated online by paedophiles . charged : a soldier who guards the queen at windsor castle has been arrested and charged , alongside his primary school teacher wife , with raping a pre-teenage girl . housed : davies is based at combermere barracks , where princes william and harry served before starting their careers of flying military helicopters . the husband and wife appeared in custody at reading magistrates ' court earlier this week over offences alleged to have occurred in january . davies is charged with three counts of rape of a child under 13 years , while parsons-davies is accused of rape , aiding and abetting rape and child neglect .<doc-sep>by . michael zennie . published : . 15:17 est , 1 october 2013 . | . updated : . 15:24 est , 1 october 2013 . an elderly husband and wife have been charged with murdering their spouses and two children and hiding the bodies more than 30 years ago - and then marrying each other and moving 1,100 miles away . officials said monday that 71-year-old gerald uden and 74-year-old alice . | <t> new : soldier 's husband , cpl. john wimunc , charged with murder . </t> <t> marine lance cpl. kyle alden charged with arson in connection with the crime . </t> <t> authorities have been searching for 2nd lt. holley wimunc since july 10 . </t> | husband charged with murdering soldier wife<T> |
harare , zimbabwe -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- zimbabwean lawmakers on monday narrowly voted for lovemore moyo as speaker of the parliament -- making him the first opposition lawmaker to hold the position in the country 's history . morgan tsvangirai 's mdc faction has a slim majority following parliamentary elections . `` this is historic as it ceases to be a rubber-stamping house , '' moyo said after winning the position . `` it will ensure that progressive laws are passed . i promise to be professional . '' moyo -- the national chairman of the main movement for democratic change -lrb- mdc -rrb- party -- received 110 votes while his only opponent , paul themba-nyathi , received 98 votes . the speaker of the parliament is the fourth most powerful post in zimbabwe . themba-nyathi represented the splinter mdc faction led by arthur mutambara , but he had support of president robert mugabe 's zanu-pf party . the vote took place hours after mugabe swore in lawmakers , five months after they were elected . two members of the main mdc -- led by presidential candidate morgan tsvangirai -- were arrested as they arrived at the opening session , but they were released after a short time , according to a government spokesman . an mdc official said the arrests were part of the `` sinister agenda of this regime '' to `` tilt the balance of numbers in their favour during the voting for the speaker of parliament . '' one of those detained -- shuwa mudiwa -- appeared back in parliament , but the other member -- elia jembere -- was not seen , according to sources . government spokesman bright matonga said jembere had been accused of rape , but that he has been released from custody . a third member -- elton mangoma -- escaped an arrest attempt when other party members came to his rescue , mdc officials said . attendance at the session of parliament is important since the membership is closely divided between the mdc and the mugabe 's zanu-pf . the ruling zanu-pf party lost its majority in the 210-seat parliament in elections in march , but vote recounts and political violence have delayed the body from convening until now . final results gave 100 seats to an mdc faction led by morgan tsvangirai , the party 's presidential candidate . president robert mugabe 's zanu-pf got 99 seats . an offshoot of the main mdc party , led by arthur mutambara , won 10 seats . an independent candidate won one seat . tsvangirai , who was locked in a bitter presidential contest with mugabe , had objected to mugabe 's decision to convene parliament , saying it could `` decapitate '' power-sharing talks that have been on hold for the past two weeks . still , tsvangirai said he would attend the swearing-in ceremony . mdc party spokesman nelson chamisa said all mdc members elected to parliament were expected to attend `` except those few mps who are still in hiding . '' cnn 's nkepile mabuse in johannesburg , south africa contributed to this report .<doc-sep>harare , zimbabwe -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a power-sharing deal has been reached between zimbabwean president robert mugabe and the opposition movement for democratic change , south african president thabo mbeki said . zimbabwe president robert mugabe , left , and opposition leader morgan tsvangirai . mbeki , who mediated the talks in harare for the southern african development community , said the deal would be signed monday but did not give details of the agreement . zimbabwe has had no cabinet since the march presidential election that started the impasse . opposition lawmakers booed and heckled mugabe when he spoke at the opening of the country 's parliament august 26 .<doc-sep>harare , zimbabwe -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- zimbabwe president robert mugabe published a draft constitutional amendment in the government gazette saturday , paving the way for the power-sharing agreement reached after violence disrupted this year 's presidential election . president robert mugabe , left , and opposition leader morgan tsvangirai signed the deal in july . constitutional amendment 19 details the posts and institutions that were created by the power-sharing deal , including the position of prime minister intended for morgan tsvangirai , leader of the movement for democratic change . the publication of the draft is the first step in creating a law in zimbabwe . for the law to pass , it must be appear before parliament in 30 days , according to the country 's constitution . if it is approved , it will be sent to mugabe for his signature . the deal arose after tsvangirai withdrew from a june 27 runoff days before the vote , saying mugabe 's supporters had waged a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition supporters . the two leaders signed the initial agreement , brokered by former south african president thabo mbeki , in july but have failed to agree on how to form a cabinet . the mdc , the main opposition party , noted that mugabe 's latest move does not legalize the amendment . `` gazetting the bill -- which was done by -lsb- mugabe 's party -rsb- zanu-pf -- does not automatically translate into passing it into law , '' mdc spokesman nelson chamisa said . `` that can only take place if outstanding issues have been addressed . otherwise we will not support the bill . ''<doc-sep>harare , zimbabwe -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- zimbabwe president robert mugabe published a draft constitutional amendment in the government gazette saturday , paving the way for the power-sharing agreement reached after violence disrupted this year 's presidential election . president robert mugabe , left , and opposition leader morgan tsvangirai signed the deal in july . constitutional amendment 19 details the posts and institutions that were created by the power-sharing deal , including the position of prime minister intended for morgan tsvangirai , leader of the movement for democratic change . the publication of the draft is the first step in creating a law in zimbabwe . for the law to pass , it must be appear before parliament in 30 days , according to the country 's constitution . if it is approved , it will be sent to mugabe for his signature . the deal arose after tsvangirai withdrew from a june 27 runoff days before the vote , saying mugabe 's supporters had waged a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition supporters . the two leaders signed the initial agreement , brokered by former south african president thabo mbeki , in july but have failed to agree on how to form a cabinet . the mdc , the main opposition party , noted that mugabe 's latest move does not legalize the amendment . `` gazetting the bill -- which was done by -lsb- mugabe 's party -rsb- zanu-pf -- does not automatically translate into passing it into law , '' mdc spokesman nelson chamisa said . `` that can only take place if outstanding issues have been addressed . otherwise we will not support the bill . ''<doc-sep>fists flew in the ukraine parliament for a second day running , as mps wrestled with each other following controversial elections in october . the brawl erupted as a vote on the ruling party of regions ' nomination for . speaker was about to be announced . opposition and pro-presidential lawmakers grappled with each other . in a mass of bodies around the main rostrum in parliament . scroll down for video . chaotic scenes : fists flew in the ukraine parliament for a second day running , as mps wrestled with each other following controversial elections in october . violent scenes : the brawl erupted as a vote on the ruling party of regions ' nomination for speaker was about to be announced . scamble : despite some deputies being knocked over in the melee , ukrainian president viktor yanukovich 's ruling party still managed to install one of its parliamentary deputies as speaker . aggressive : opposition and pro-presidential lawmakers grappled with each other in a mass of bodies around the main rostrum in parliament . vitali klitschko heavy weight world boxing champion and leader of the udar looked on as the brawl erupted . despite some deputies being knocked over in the melee , ukrainian president viktor yanukovich 's ruling party still managed to install one of its parliamentary deputies as speaker . the . violent scenes were similar to yesterday when the new session of the . ukrainian parliament got off to a dramatic start with mps brawling on the floor of the chamber while a topless protest against corruption was staged outside . teamwork : ukraine 's parliament has seen several physical confrontations in recent years amid bitter confrontation between opposition and pro-government camps . squaring up : the tension of the situation was visible on some lawmaker 's faces . tension : the men pulled each other 's clothing as the violent drama broke out . standing back : heavyweight boxer and leader of the udar vitali klitschko looked on as the brawl erupted . members of feminist group femen , . whose motto is ` we came , we undressed , we conquered ' , stripped naked down to just black pants and knee-high black socks in temperatures of minus 3c . their stunt was an attempt to draw . attention to the plight of opposition leader and ex-premier yulia tymoshenko who was jailed for . crimes not recognised in the west as punishable by prison . before being hauled away by police , the femen protesters claimed parliament , which yesterday met for the first time since the ` flawed ' october elections in the country , was a ` stable ' for the ` horses of oligarchs ' . inside . parliament , the opposition nationalist svoboda group chased and . manhandled two mps , a father and son , in a bid to prevent them taking . the oath . making a stand : police officers detain a femen activist protesting in front of the ukrainian parliament . blockade : members of opposition parties block the door to parliament during a day of violence and tension . getting physical : the three main opposition parties have ruled out any coalition with the ruling party of the regions . protest : the women were demonstrating over alleged corruption in the country , referring to parliament as a ` stable ' for the ` horses of oligarchs ' former ukrainian prime minister yulia tymoshenko is the leader of the main opposition party , all-ukrainian union , also known as ` fatherland ' . she lost the ukrainian presidential election to viktor yanukovych in 2010 and has since faced a number of criminal charges . tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 after being found guilty of abuse of office when brokering a gas deal with russia in 2009 . the european union and other international organisations have ruled the conviction as ` justice being applied selectively under political motivation ' . tymoshenko is currently being held in . kharkiv , where she is receiving treatment at a hospital . after being diagnosed with a spinal disc herniation . she is appealing to the european court of human rights against her conviction . the ukraine government commissioned a team of u.s. lawyers to compile a dossier on the case to use in its defence at the appeal . but the daily telegraph reports the dossier states the trial was ` flawed ' and would not have met the requirements of a western court . gregory craig , former white house counsel for president barack obama and the dossier lead author , said : ` we concluded that there were ways in which tymoshenko was not given a fair trial . ' a legal expert told the newspaper the procedural violations would have led ` to a cancellations of the verdict ' in the west . they were physically ejected from the chamber by opposition . deputies who accused them of defecting to the ruling coalition . the procedural wrangling at the opening of the . new parliament threatened to push back a key vote on whether mykola azarov will be endorsed for a new term as prime minister . the vote will be the . first test of the support for president viktor yanukovich , who . re-nominated azarov . but when the speaker formally announced that . azarov and his government were present , the chamber echoed to opposition . cries of ` hanba ! hanba ! ' -lrb- shame ! -rrb- . mps . from tymoshenko 's party wore black jerseys with her portrait on the . front and the phrase ` freedom to political prisoners ' on the back . tymoshenko remains in prison after being sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 for alleged abuse of office over a gas deal with russia . yanukovich 's pro-business party of the . regions and their allies enjoyed a strong majority in the last . parliament , which allowed them to push through changes to the electoral . law and a law on use of the russian language that sparked street . protests . despite losing seats in the october elections , the results were seen as a consolidation of president yanukovych 's power as his party still remained the biggest in parliament . most analysts said they believed horse-trading would ensure enough support from independents and others to secure the required 226 or more seats . but the new opposition line-up , whose leaders have ruled out any coalition with the regions , quickly showed their teeth . deputies from the three main opposition parties surrounded the speaker 's rostrum , effectively blocking activation of the electronic system which would allow deputies to vote on azarov 's nomination and the appointment of parliamentary officials . after a prolonged stand-off , both sides went home agreeing to resume business on thursday , according to the regions party . separately , the government put off a meeting scheduled for thursday morning . imprisonment : lithuania 's president dalia grybauskaite , left , holds the hand of jailed ukrainian opposition leader yulia tymoshenko during her visit to a hospital in kharkiv . injuries : opposition leader yulia tymoshenko showing bruising on her forearm in the kachanivska penitentiary colony for women in kharkiv earlier this year . demonstration : supporters of jailed ukrainian opposition leader yulia tymoshenko protest against her conviction near the high court of appeals , in kiev , ukraine . | <t> moyo received 110 votes , opponent paul themba-nyathi received 98 votes . </t> <t> themba-nyathi represented the splinter mdc faction led by arthur mutambara . </t> <t> mdc 's shuwa mudiwa and elia jembere arrested outside parliament building . </t> <t> ruling zanu-pf party lost majority in 210-seat parliament in march elections . </t> | zimbabwe parliament elects first opposition speaker<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- former olympic champion angel matos of cuba faces a life ban after kicking a referee flush in the face during his taekwondo bronze medal match in beijing . matos reacted in extraordinary fashion to being disqualified by chelbat . matos , who took gold in sydney in 2000 , was winning 3-2 , with just over a minute left in the second round , when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent , kazakhstan 's arman chilmanov . matos lay down , awaiting medical attention , but was then disqualified by referee chakir chelbat of sweden for taking too much injury time . a furious matos reacted by pushing a judge , then pushed and kicked chelbat in the face .<doc-sep>it left the swede with blood pouring from his lip while matos spat on the floor and was then escorted out of the arena . `` we did n't expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur , '' said world taekwondo federation secretary general yang jin-suk . `` i am at a loss for words , '' he told the associated press . matos ' coach , leudis gonzalez , is also in hot water for his angry reaction and claiming the kazakhs had tried to fix the match . `` this is an insult to the olympic vision , an insult to the spirit of taekwondo and , in my opinion , an insult to mankind , '' yang added .<doc-sep>although the arena announcer said matos and his coach were banned effective immediately , yang said due process must be followed before officially banning the two . it was not the only controversial moment in the four-day taekwondo competition , which was marred by several protests against judging decisions . earlier saturday , china 's double gold medalist chen zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner . she was fighting britain 's sarah stevenson , who scored with a clear head kick -- worth two points -- in the final seconds of their bout .<doc-sep>that would have put stevenson ahead and into the semifinals , but the judges ruled stevenson 's kick was n't solid enough for points , and chen was declared the winner 1-0 . after britain protested , the result was changed to put stevenson in the semifinal . she lost that to jeers from the partisan chinese crowd , but later won a bronze medal match . it was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official olympic sport . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>nasa treadmill : american runner shannon rowbury , meanwhile , has been training for london with a treadmill that simulates weightlessness . the alterg treadmill uses anti-gravity technology developed by nasa to give runners the feeling that they are only 20 % of their actual weight , the company says . in an interview posted on the company 's website , rowbury said the treadmill helped her start running much more quickly after a stress fracture . low-tech suits : we tend to think of the olympics becoming higher-tech over time , but new technologies of course bring controversy and questions about how much help athletes should receive from space-age materials and equipment . high-tech speedo swimsuits , called lzr racer , are credited with helping swimmers shatter world records in 2008 . but they will be banned at the london olympics , leading to questions about how fast swimmers will go without this technological aid . at a news conference , michael phelps , who won eight gold medals in beijing , said that records will fall in london even without the tech . `` if somebody wants a record , it 's going to be broken . '' electronic blocks : omega , the official timekeeper of the games , is debuting new starting equipment for swimming and track-and-field events in london . the track starting blocks will be fully electronic for the first time . previously , 1970s technology required athletes to push back the blocks 5 millimeters to register a start , according to wired . the swimming starting blocks now will light up to indicate who placed first , second and third . jump-kick sensors : taekwondo has been at risk for being eliminated from the olympics , but technology that registers the strength and accuracy of kicks may save the sport . `` i think taekwondo will really benefit from the technology because it will ensure the medals go to the best athletes , not to someone else because of a mistake from a referee or a judge , '' world taekwondo federation president choue chung-won told reuters . `` this is a wonderful opportunity for us to remain in the olympics . not many sports have this kind of technology . ... it will help eliminate human error in taekwondo . ''<doc-sep>while tim krul has been hailed as the hero for holland in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out his antics as costa rica players approached to take their kicks went beyond gamesmanship . the newcastle goalkeeper should have been told to stop his face-pulling and sledging by uzbek referee ravshan irmatov who had been excellent until that point . after standing by the assistant referee while his team are taking their kicks , as the law requires , he should have been made to go straight to the goal to face the next spot-kick . video scroll down to watch krul on penalty heroics and what he said to costa rica players . gamesmanship : tim krul -lrb- right -rrb- should have been cautioned by the referee for his antic during shoot-out . dive : krul saved two penalties as holland beat costa rica 4-3 on penalties . inaction : uzbek referee ravshan irmatov failed to caution krul for face-pulling and sledging . when he did not , krul should have been warned and then cautioned for unsporting behaviour if he had ignored the referee . if he had carried on his antics he could have been sent off . however , because irmatov failed even to warn krul it is hard to blame the dutchman too much for continuing to try to unsettle the costa rica penalty-takers . there was debate as to whether it was fair for holland coach louis van gaal to make the late substitution which enabled him to put on the goalkeeper he thought best to face the spot-kicks . there is no issue within the laws of the game and , of course , he sacrificed the chance to bring on a fresh outfield player . joy : holland 's players celebrate with krul -lrb- left -rrb- after reaching the world cup semi-finals . masterstroke : louis van gaal congratulates krul after he brought the goalkeeper on for shoot-out . legal : van gaal 's -lrb- left -rrb- decision to bring on krul -lrb- centre -rrb- was within the laws of the game . video sub krul is penalty hero .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a bare-chested man bursts athletically across the floor , flipping sideways , striking out a fierce kick , high above the heads of the screaming crowd . his rival hits back -- sliding across the space with a seamless stream of backflips , jump kicks , and aerial rotations , teetering on the corner of the mat , stretching backwards to recover his balance . we are in warehouse-looking arena in midtown atlanta , where the referee is calling 10 seconds remaining in the battle . the shirtless man explodes forward once more , from standing , shooting agressively into the air with final , winning flip . this is `` tricking '' -- a lightning-fast mix of martial arts , gymnastics and breakdancing that has spent 20 years quietly spreading across gymnasium floors and internet video sites , but is now set to burst out . read this : the street kid who grew into a ` snake man ' in the burgeoning world of tricking , 23-year-old will coneys is the new hero , the bare-chested , high-kicking victor in the atlanta battle , and champion of tricking 's first international `` throwdown '' tournament on 24 august . meet the tricker . coneys says it all started when he was a child , in arlington , virginia . he sat watching wide-eyed as jackie chan and the power rangers blazed across the tv screen with superheroic stunts and frenzied action sequences . `` as a kid you think ` wow , i want to do that ! ' '' he says . when he first heard of tricking it was little more than a hobby for likeminded teens with a fondness for impressive acrobatics . coneys had spent much of his youth studying dance and teaching himself to do gymnastic tumbling moves before taking martial arts lessons aged 16 -- ultimately earning a first degree black belt in taekwondo .<doc-sep>undeterred , he punches the board another three times , with similar and equally disappointing results . ever the optimist , the man then repeatedly kicks the stout board , before deciding that two burly men are required to hold it for his strikes to succeed . success ! after getting two men to hold the board , the martial artist finally smashes the board , sending a piece of wood flying . cringe : a splinter of the piece of wood hits a girl watching the demonstration . ouch : the little girl grabs her head after she is hit by the flying piece of plank . the martial artist goes over to make sure she 's ok . he saves face when the board satisfyingly splits after a side kick , even getting a round of applause , but the triumph is short-lived as a fragment of the wood flies off and smacks a young girl in the face , causing her to burst into tears . he rushes over to check she 's ok , and the girl appears to have just been shocked and is comforted by a woman , presumably her mother . most people would have called time on the demonstration at this point , but the man gamely battles on . the big guns : but even a spinning heel kick fails to destroy his wooden adversary . the martial artist checks the unscathed piece of wood . as the two men grip the plank he subjects it to a barrage of ineffectual blows , drawing nervous giggles from the crowd . unfortunately , viewers never find out the fate of the second piece of wood as the video ends shortly after . one internet wag commented : ` it is not taekwondo , it is taekwondont ! ' | <t> cuba 's angel matos kicks referee in the face during bronze medal match . </t> <t> matos was furious with sweden 's chakir chelbat after being disqualified . </t> <t> matos and his coach are facing life bans from taekwondo . </t> | taekwondo star kicks referee in the face<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- democratic sen. barack obama and republican sen. john mccain in august will be on the same stage for the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign . the rev. rick warren says he makes no endorsements because he shepherds `` both sides of the flock . '' the rev. rick warren has invited them to appear at a leadership and compassion forum in his saddleback church in lake forest , california , on august 16 . warren , the author of the best-selling book `` the purpose driven life '' spoke with cnn 's wolf blitzer by phone tuesday from sao paulo , brazil . blitzer : pastor warren , how did you do it ? how did you convince both of them to show up ?<doc-sep>pastor rick warren , saddleback church : well , wolf , they 've both been friends for a long time . i knew both john and barack before either of them decided to run for office , had talked with them . both of them have helped me in the past with our peace plan and with -- they 've sent messages to saddleback at some of our conferences . and so i just thought let 's -- you know , i might be the guy to get them together . so , i called them up and said , let 's do it . and they said , well , we 'll do it if you be the only questioner , if you do n't have a forum , do n't have a panel . and if you 'll ask all the questions , then we 'll do it . blitzer : but they 're not going to be together . they 're going to be separate . these are going to be pastor warren and barack obama , followed by pastor warren and john mccain . but there 's not going to be any interchange between the two of them , is that right ? warren : yes . i 'm going to -- my plan is to bring them out on stage together at the beginning or at the end . but what i want to do is i want to let each of them talk without interrupting each other . and it 's not a debate format .<doc-sep>there will be plenty of time for debates . what i want to do is get people to know the real person like i know them without a time barrier and a buzzer and a time for rebuttal . let them just speak what they need to say . blitzer : the last time we spoke was right after you invited barack obama when he was still running for the democratic presidential nomination . you got some criticism from a few fellow evangelicals out there . you called him in the interview with me an amazing , an amazing man , barack obama . could you see yourself supporting him for president ? warren : well , i do n't support anybody for president publicly . i never endorse . i never campaign .<doc-sep>you know , as a pastor , i do n't really think that 's my role . i have to shepherd both sides of the flock . and i have a church full of democrats and a church full of republicans and a church full of independents . so , i think they 're both amazing men . i 've known them for a long time . they 're both very , very different . they have both different theories of government , different theories of leadership , different approaches to life . and i -- what i do is i think , because i know them , i think i can set up an environment that people can actually say , oh , so that 's what that guy 's really like . and i think i can do that for both john and for barack .<doc-sep>obama had rejected mccain 's proposal for the joint town hall meetings . the two participated in one such appearance as part of the three presidential debates . as for biden , the snl skit had fey hawking a set of `` joe '' action figures : joe the plumber , joe six-pack and joe biden . the plumber reference was meant to invoke the now-famous samuel joseph wurzelbacher , who mccain has held up as a small business owner who will see his taxes rise if obama wins the presidency . joe six-pack is a term palin has used to describe a regular american . fey , as palin , pointed to the joe biden doll and said , `` if you pull this cord , he talks for 45 minutes . '' mccain added , `` it 's great if you want to clear out a party . '' the skit ended with the senator delivering the signature line that opens the show every weekend : `` live from new york , it 's saturday night . '' ireport.com : palin talks equality with ireporter . mccain also joined cast member seth meyers in the `` weekend update '' segment , where he unveiled radical last-minute campaign strategies he was considering . among them was the ` reverse maverick ' -lrb- `` that 's where i do whatever anybody tells me '' -rrb- , the ` double maverick ' -lrb- `` that 's where i go totally berserk or just freak everybody out , even the regular mavericks '' -rrb- and the `` sad grandpa . '' `` that 's where i get on tv and go , ` come on , obama 's gon na have plenty of chances to be president . it 's my turn , ' '' he said . mccain has made two previous appearances on the show , which airs saturday nights on nbc . the program , which has drawn attention for its political skits this year , garnered its highest rating in 14 seasons two weeks ago when palin made an appearance . obama canceled an appearance in september as a result of hurricane ike , but he appeared on the show in november 2007 , making an unannounced cameo during an opening skit about a halloween party at the house of new york sen. hillary clinton , obama 's rival during the democratic primary .<doc-sep>at the height of the wright controversy , obama gave a speech on race relations , rejecting his ex-pastor 's controversial comments but saying he could not repudiate the man himself . `` i 'm not here for political reasons , '' wright said sunday . `` i am not a politician . i know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media have made it seem as if i had announced that i 'm running for the oval office . i am not running for the oval office . `` i 've been running for jesus a long , long time , and i 'm not tired yet . '' sen. john mccain , the presumptive gop nominee , weighed in on the controversy monday , saying he does not think obama and wright share the same `` extremist views . '' watch mccain comment on wright '' mccain on sunday broached the topic of wright unprompted for the first time despite previous suggestions the issue would be out of bounds in the presidential race . mccain said his shifting stance was justified because obama told `` fox news sunday '' the controversy surrounding his ex-pastor was `` a legitimate political issue . '' the senator from arizona last week told the north carolina gop not to run an ad linking the state 's democratic candidates for governor -- richard moore and beverly perdue , both obama supporters -- to wright . but on monday , mccain said he would no longer get involved in such matters . `` i will not be a referee , '' he said . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- retired u.s. gen. wesley clark , a supporter of democratic presidential candidate barack obama , on sunday questioned whether sen. john mccain 's military experience qualified him to be commander-in-chief . retired gen. wesley clark , who ran for president in 2004 , questioned john mccain 's qualifications sunday . the mccain campaign called for obama to condemn the remarks . the dust-up began with clark 's appearance sunday on cbs ' `` face the nation , '' where moderator bob schieffer asked him about his interview with the huffington post earlier this month . in the interview , clark said mccain , the presumptive republican nominee , was `` untested and untried . ''<doc-sep>in no particular order , here is a selection of some of the best : . 1 . crying game : back in january 's new hampshire primaries , hillary clinton welled up with emotion , almost crying into her coffee cup during a chat with voters . this unexpected exposure of her human side was credited with winning back some women supporters . read more . 2 . mccain bombs : john mccain displayed rather off-key singing and diplomacy skills when asked if there was a plan to attack iran back in april 2007 . changing the words to the classic beach boys ' song `` barbara ann , '' the arizona senator responded : `` bomb bomb bomb , bomb bomb iran . '' read more . 3 . pastor disaster : proving once again that religion and politics do n't mix , barack obama was forced to distance himself from his former pastor and mentor jeremiah wright , after a series of pulpit fulminations in which he made racially-charged criticisms of hillary clinton and said of the 9/11 terror attacks : `` american 's chickens are coming home to roost . '' read more . 4 . ramblin ' man : garrulous `` gaffe machine '' joe biden got the last word in a primary debate about his tendency to speak his mind and not shut up . asked if he could hold his tongue enough to `` reassure your voters in this country that you have the discipline you would need on the world stage , '' biden replied succinctly : `` yes . '' read more . 5 . the pig issue : obama may have been hoping to generate oinks of outrage when he commented in september that mccain 's policies were like `` lipstick on a pig , '' after the arizona senator named sarah palin as running mate . the democratic candidate refused to apologize for what republicans said was a misogynistic response to palin 's own claim to be a pitbull in lipstick . you could n't make it up . read more . | <t> the rev. rick warren will play host to candidates at his church . </t> <t> warren says he 's friends with both and wants people to know them as he does . </t> <t> warren is author of the best-selling book `` the purpose driven life '' </t> | pastor snags obama , mccain for joint appearance<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- spec . shaun gopaul woke up at 4 a.m. on may 12 , 2007 , and waited at a battle position south of baghdad for members of his company to pick him up . sgt. alex jimenez , left , and spc. shaun gopaul had served in the military together since 2005 . one of those he expected to see was the larger-than-life figure of sgt. alex jimenez , who cared so much about his fellow soldiers that he made sure every one was comfortable and who cared so much about the iraqis he was fighting for that he learned arabic on his own so he could talk with them . `` he was a good guy , you know . he had a big heart , '' gopaul said . but jimenez and the other soldiers never came . while he was waiting , gopaul heard on the radio that sgt. alex jimenez -- the first person he met in the company and also his best friend -- and other members of his company had been ambushed and captured by insurgents in a section of iraq known as the triangle of death . gopaul said friday that during the time jimenez and other members of the company were missing , he tried to keep upbeat and hoped that his best friend would come home safely .<doc-sep>but on friday the military confirmed they found the bodies of jimenez and 19-year-old pvt. byron w. fouty and returned them to the united states . `` in a way , i 'm glad that he 's home , '' gopaul said . `` it 's just not in the way that we wanted . '' the body of a third soldier who was captured -- pfc. joseph j. anzack jr. , 20 , of torrance , california -- was pulled from the euphrates river in babil province 11 days after the attack . after they began serving together in 2005 , gopaul said he and jimenez were inseparable . when gopaul arrived , jimenez offered to let him bunk with him because many of the servicemen were younger than he . it was gopaul 's first tour in iraq and jimenez , who was on his second tour , took it upon himself to help new soldiers from company d , 4th battalion , 31st regiment -- nicknamed the polar bears -- learn the ropes . `` he grabbed all the new guys and put us where we needed to be and showed us how to do our jobs , '' gopaul said . `` he saved our lives by showing us the right way to do things and where to be so we would n't be hurt . '' jimenez , 25 , even took it upon himself to start learning arabic , gopaul said . he studied the language until he eventually became fluent . then , he taught the entire platoon and company so they would have an easier time talking to locals . `` it was awesome , because if we did n't have an interpreter we had him to help out , '' gopaul said .<doc-sep>during their free time the two soldiers wrote and sang music -- often reggaeton -- sometimes about being in the army . above all , gopaul said , jimenez was known for his sense of humor and always being there for anyone who needed it . `` i 've been getting a lot of calls from a lot of people across different battalions who knew him and knew the size of his heart , gopaul said . the last time he spoke to jimenez , gopaul was returning from time off and jimenez called to let him know what was going on in iraq and see how his good friend was doing . `` i told him ` i 'll see you in a couple days , ' '' gopaul said . `` but that was it . i never saw him again . '' gopaul said he has taken a 14-day leave from service and will go to visit members of the jimenez family who live in new york and boston , massachusetts . black ribbons of mourning replaced the yellow ribbons around the jimenez home thursday afternoon . a pow/mia flag that had been hanging from the home for more than a year was also replaced by a u.s. flag . `` this has all been pretty hard , '' gopaul said . `` but one thing is for sure -- we 'll never forget him . ''<doc-sep>by . sam adams . published : . 04:48 est , 21 february 2013 . | . updated : . 06:42 est , 21 february 2013 . he risked his life by running across open ground in front of an enemy sniper to save a fallen comrade on an afghan battlefield . and now a young soldier , who was shot in the head while carrying out the courageous rescue in helmand province , has received a military cross in recognition of his bravery . lance corporal matthew wilson , 21 , of aberystwyth , who serves with 2nd battalion the rifles , deliberately put himself into the cross hairs of a taliban sniper after a fellow soldier was shot in the leg . honour : lance corporal matthew wilson proudly holds his military cross following an investiture ceremony at buckingham palace . his unit had been on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines in nahr-e saraj when they came under enemy fire . by drawing the sniper 's attention , l/cpl wilson won time for a helicopter to fly in and rescue the injured soldier . but his bravery almost cost him his own life , when a bullet struck his helmet , knocking him out . his horrified comrades feared l/cpl wilson was dead . a few seconds later they watched in astonishment as he groggily got to his feet , sprinted 50 yards across open ground and began returning fire at the insurgent . incredibly , the round had deflected off the soldier 's helmet -- saving his life , and leaving him with nothing worse than a ` massive headache ' . his selfless actions allowed a helicopter to land and fly his stricken colleague , who had been shot in the leg , to safety . brave : lt wilson , 21 , of 2 rifles , received the military cross for running to protect a wounded comrade in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a sniper in which he was shot in the head . risk : l/cpl wilson 's unit was on a mission in afghanistan 's dangerous helmand province when his comrade was shot and wounded -lrb- file picture -rrb- . l/cpl .<doc-sep>war hero : whilst standing guard one night in may 1918 , johnson left four germans dead and injured at least 20 others , who retreated , saving his regiment . nearly 100 years after he single-handedly fought off a german attack and saved a comrade from capture despite suffering serious wounds , sgt. henry johnson is a step closer to getting a posthumous medal of honor . in an unprecedented move , congress is looking at changing a law that would allow a black world war i soldier from upstate new york who saved a comrade while fighting off a german attack in france , to be honored . a number of congressmen including chuck hagel , the secretary of defense , has sent congress a letter saying sgt. henry johnson should receive the nation 's highest military decoration for bravery in combat . the railroad porter from albany was serving in the all-black 369th infantry regiment when he killed or wounded several enemy soldiers while saving a fellow soldier from capture . the president gets the final word on the medal request , which also requires passage of special legislation in congress because johnson 's actions were more than five years ago . the current legislation specifies that heroic actions have to have taken place within five years to be considered . his men : johnson -lrb- back row , 2nd from right -rrb- was a solider in an all-black outfit , the 369th infantry regiment , a new york national guard unit based in manhattan and known as the harlem hell-fighters . the stuff of legend : he almost single - highhandedly fought off his attackers armed only with a rifle and a knife , using the rifle as a club once it had run out of bullets . remembered : henry johnson is displayed in the arbor hill neighborhood in albany , new york . the secretary of defense has recommended awarding a posthumous medal of honor to the black soldier from upstate new york who saved a comrade while fighting off a german attack in france during world war i . ` johnson should have received this recognition 95 years ago , and providing an exemption for him now is the right thing to do , ' said chuck schumer , a new york democrat . if approved , johnson would become the 89th black soldier to receive the medal of honor and just the second for heroism during world war i , according to the mount pleasant , south carolina-based congressional medal of honor society . better late thn never : it has been argued that johnson should receive the medal of honor - the nation 's highest military decoration for bravery in combat . johnson , a virginia-born rail station porter in albany , enlisted in the 369th infantry regiment , a new york national guard unit based in manhattan that became known as the ` harlem hellfighters . ' with u.s. armed forces segregated at the time , the 369th was assigned to serve under french command when johnson 's outfit arrived on the front lines in early 1918 . around midnight on may 15 , 1918 , he and another soldier , needham roberts of trenton , new jersey , were standing guard when their position was attacked by about two dozen germans . both americans were wounded , but despite his injuries the 5ft 4in johnson fought off the attack , using his knife and rifle to kill or wound several of the enemy who were trying to drag roberts away . johnson 's actions caused the other germans to retreat . his actions earned him one of france 's highest military medals , but historians believe rampant jim crow-era racism at a time when the services were segregated kept johnson from receiving american military honors . indeed , accounts of his actions were published in newspapers back home in albany , as well as in chicago and new york city .<doc-sep>by . james rush . published : . 23:44 est , 17 january 2013 . | . updated : . 05:45 est , 18 january 2013 . a young soldier hanged himself the day after the funeral of a fallen comrade whose killer he shot dead , an inquest heard yesterday . ryan ward , 20 , had gunned down an afghan policeman who had killed two of his colleagues in a ` shocking and horrible ' ambush . he had later gone to pay his last respects to sgt gareth thursby , 29 , at his funeral in skipton , just 24 hours before his own death , the hearing was told . soldier ryan ward hanged himself the day after the funeral of a fallen comrade whose killer he shot dead , the inquest heard . kingsman ryan ward 's mother kathryn and father richard leaving kendal magistrates ' court after the inquest into their son 's death . sgt thursby died alongside private .<doc-sep>sergeant percy buck was only 26 when he died at passchendaele in 1917 . with the battle of passchendaele raging around him , sergeant percy buck - dying from a fatal wound - clutched a picture of his family . on the back , he had written his dying wish , that someone would return it to his wife . he would have hoped one of his comrades would fulfil the request , it ca n't have crossed his mind that it would be honoured by an enemy - let alone the one who had killed him . however , this is the incredible story that has come to light now the soldier 's grandaughter has unearthed the photograph among her father 's belongings . christina reynolds , 58 , has uncovered the black and white photo almost 100 years after it was taken . it pictures the soldier with his wife , bertha , and son - mrs reynolds 's father - cyril . along with the photograph , mrs reynolds found the devastating telegram that informed her grandmother of her husband 's death and a letter from the german soldier , explaining the picture 's incredible journey from the western front back to mrs reynolds in hitchin , herts . mrs reynolds , whose late father was only three when his sgt buck died , said : ` my father barely knew his father but he had these items in a box . ` the box has been passed down to me and in it were these letters by the german soldier and the red cross explaining the return of the photo to my grandmother in 1917 . photograph taken on the same occasion as the one returned by the german soldier . -lrb- back row , left to right -rrb- unknown , percy buck , brother ted buck -lrb- front row -rrb- bertha with son cyril and bertha 's mother mrs stevens . a translation of the letter sent by gefreieter josef wilczek to the red cross . the letter sent by the red cross to bertha buck along with her husband 's photograph . ` it was this german soldier who probably killed my grandfather in an act of war . ` he did n't have to take the time out and maybe risk punishment to fulfil my grandfather 's wishes . he could have left it there . ` the two men did n't know each other but it was very kind of him to do what he did for a fellow soldier . ' the german who recovered the poignant image from sgt buck 's body was gefreiter josef wilczek - gefreiter is an army rank for enlisted soldiers equivalent to a private . in a remarkable act of humanity , gefreiter wilczek sent the photo to the red cross in geneva along with a forwarding note . he wrote : ` he was holding the card in his hand and the finder was asked to forward it to his wife . i , wishing to fulfil the last will of the dead comrade , send it to you . ` may he rest in peace . ' percy buck , far right , pictured with his fellow soldiers in the hertfordshire regiment . a recent photograph of the area where sgt buck received his fatal wound . however , in a sad twist , by carrying out the stranger 's final wish , gefreiter wilczek may have deprived sgt buck of a war grave for his family to visit . the photo would have been a key item that would have helped identify his body . it is thought sgt buck was instead buried in an unmarked grave in flanders . sgt buck served in the hertfordshire regiment and trained troops in rifle practice before being sent to the western front in december 1916 . in july 1917 , the men took part in a major dawn offensive in the third battle of ypres , known as passchendaele . the night before the men went over the top , sgt buck wrote the request on the back of the photo and showed it to a colleague . the letter that officially informed bertha buck of her husband 's death . his body has never been found . the next morning his battalion were at st julien at flanders and came under heavy machine gun fire which caused them to conduct a fighting withdrawal . sgt buck was shot in the side and fell into the shell hole . until now , sgt buck 's family have not known the details of his death but , with the help of the herts at war project , set up to mark the centenary of the first world war , mrs reynolds has been able to fill in the blanks . as a result of her coming forward with the documents , researchers for the herts at war team have uncovered an eye-witness account of sgt buck 's death . in 1918 , a private ramsell told the enquiry department for wounded and missing : ` we went over the top together at st julien front . ' i did not see him -lrb- percy -rrb- hit but several other fellows did . he was hit in the side and fell into a shell hole . he was too severely wounded to move . ` he showed me a photo of his wife and child the night before . on the back of it he had written his wife 's address and the words ` whoever finds this please forward ' , or words like that . ` we never saw him again and his body was never found . ' mrs reynolds said : ` all the family knew was that my grandfather was missing in action and then confirmed as killed in action . ` his body has never been found and we have never really known what happened to him until now . ` we still do n't know where he is , only that he is buried out there somewhere . ' i just wish my father was still alive today because he would have wanted to know . ' dan hill , of the herts at war . project , said : `` we are covering 20,000 different stories and this one . stood out because it was an incredible moment of humanity in the carnage . of war . `` it . was right in the thick of the action and this one german soldier took . it upon himself to do a dying comrade this remarkable favour . '' sgt buck was aged 26 when he was killed . his widow bertha , who he married in 1912 , died in 1962 . gefreiter wilczek did not survive the first world war either , he was killed on october 31 , 1918 , just two weeks before the armistice . | <t> shaun gopaul , alex jimenez served together in military starting in 2005 . </t> <t> gopaul : `` he saved our lives '' by showing us what to do . </t> <t> bodies of jimenez , another soldier found in iraq after a year . </t> <t> jimenez learned arabic and taught others so they could talk to locals . </t> | soldier remembers comrade who never came back<T> |
tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thirty people convicted of drug and other criminal charges will be hanged on sunday , iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported saturday . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . the 30 had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them , iran 's judiciary said in a statement . the verdicts are final , and the sentences will be carried out sunday , according to fars .according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . the u.s. executed 42 people in 2007 , according to amnesty international . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of crimes including murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were among the charges . the statement said that 20 of the people were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms .<doc-sep>the judiciary said it will provide more details later as to the crimes committed by those condemned and added that the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes . others are awaiting trial , and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts , the judiciary said . the judiciary asked the public to notify the authorities if they have any information that might lead to arrest and convictions of criminals . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down .<doc-sep>police cracked down on drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the suspects and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday . the judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . the statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- gambia plans to execute all death row prisoners by september , the president said this week , sparking condemnation from human rights groups worldwide . the tiny west african nation last executed an inmate about 30 years ago . it is unclear what prompted the change in stance . by the end of last year , gambia had 44 people on death row , including two women , according to human rights activists . death row convicts will be executed by mid-september , president yahya jammeh said in a speech on state media sunday that was rebroadcast monday .<doc-sep>tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- thirty people convicted of drug and other criminal charges will be hanged on sunday , iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported saturday . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . the 30 had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them , iran 's judiciary said in a statement . the verdicts are final , and the sentences will be carried out sunday , according to fars . | <t> the condemned include people convicted of drug and alcohol offenses . </t> <t> iran executed 317 people in 2007 , compared with 42 executions in u.s. </t> <t> iran 's government announced a crackdown on crime in march . </t> | iran to hang 30 convicts on sunday<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the relatives of a woman who died on the floor of a new york hospital say they plan to file a $ 25 million lawsuit against the city and the facility where esmin green died . esmin green 's daughter , tecia harrison , says disciplinary action against hospital workers is not enough for her . green 's family is also calling for criminal charges against hospital workers , who they say failed to help her and then attempted to cover up the circumstances of her death . `` my sister was killed twice , '' said brenda james , green 's sister . `` first , by those who neglected to offer her the needed health care . secondly , she was killed by those who tried to cover up this criminal action . '' the family has retained a lawyer , sanford rubenstein , to file the suit .<doc-sep>green , a jamaican immigrant , had been involuntarily admitted to the kings county hospital in brooklyn , new york , on june 18 for what the hospital described as `` agitation and psychosis . '' surveillance camera footage captured the mother of six sliding off of a chair and onto the floor of waiting room of the hospital 's psychiatric emergency department , where she lay convulsing for more than a hour before anyone helped her . the footage appears to capture several employees passing by her as she lay on the floor struggling . the new york civil liberties union said last week that the hospital falsified medical records for the timeframe covering green 's visit , describing her as awake and going to the bathroom when she is seen on the video . watch green 's family after seeing video ''<doc-sep>seven workers , including doctors , nurses and security guards , have been fired or suspended since green 's death , the city 's health and hospitals corporation said . it 's not clear whether any of the employees have appealed the disciplinary actions against them . the agency said it referred the matter to law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation . `` we failed esmin green and believe her family deserves fair and just compensation , '' it said in a statement . autopsy results have not been released .<doc-sep>green 's daughter , who reluctantly watched the footage for the first time this week , says disciplinary action does n't make up for her family 's loss . `` firing is not enough for me , for my brothers . they do n't know this wonderful woman they took away from us , '' said tecia harrison , who traveled to new york from jamaica to attend her mother 's funeral sunday . `` we want them to pay for it , '' she said . cnn 's mary snow contributed to this report .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the family of a woman who died ignored on an emergency room floor has reached a settlement with health and hospital corp. , the family 's lawyer and the company 's top executive said thursday . surveillance video shows esmin green on the hospital floor for more than an hour before anyone helps her . the attorney , sanford rubenstein , said the settlement , reached wednesday , is for $ 2 million . alan aviles , the president and ceo of health and hospital corp. , said in a written statement that the company -- which operates kings county hospital , where esmin green , 49 , died last year -- takes full responsibility for her death and offers a `` full apology . '' he said the settlement `` is not meant to put a value on a life and the loss of a loved one . that remains priceless . '' last july , green 's relatives said they planned to file a $ 25 million lawsuit against the city and the hospital and called for criminal charges against hospital workers . a hospital security video showed that the mother of six waited in an emergency room chair for nearly 24 hours before she slid to the floor , where she convulsed for more than a half hour and then became still . an hour after she fell to the floor , the video showed , a hospital employee nudged green with her foot and summoned help , but the 49-year-old woman was dead . the new york civil liberties union alleges that hospital records were falsified to say that green was `` sitting quietly in the waiting room '' at a time when , the video shows , she had been on the floor for 48 minutes and had not moved for more than 10 minutes . an autopsy revealed that green died from pulmonary thromboembolism -- blood clots that formed in her legs and eventually made their way into her lungs , according to ellen borakove , the medical examiner 's spokeswoman . the clots came from deep vein thrombosis , which complicated green 's chronic paranoid schizophrenia , she said .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 11:33 est , 25 january 2014 . | . updated : . 11:38 est , 25 january 2014 . the family of a man who was left dying whilst he sat in the waiting room of the er to be seen , have spoken of their distress when they learned the details of his death . john verrier 's family first heard the terrible news after seeing the story on a local tv news broadcast . ` deep down inside i knew it was him , ' said charles verrier to abc7 . john verrier went to the hospital for a rash and was discovered dead in the waiting room 8 hours later . susan verrier : no one should sit in the waiting room that long . i 'm sorry , name calling over the loud speaker proves nothing , nothing . charles verrier , brother : i do n't know how , i do n't know why . i do n't want this pushed under the rug as another mistake . the family says they knew that john . verrier died at st barnabas hospital , but claim they had no idea the . story of a 30-year-old man who had been kept waiting eight hours was . their brother , and son . ` you 're . just a number no matter where you go . that 's how they treated him like a . number , ' said charles , tears flowing down his cheeks . an er worker said mr verrier was found sitting in his chair . ` they found this person , slumped over cold blue and stiff . . he was dead . ' incomprehensible : the family are grief stricken but more than anything , they want answers . tight : for all his troubles , john was close to his mother , susan , as seen in this holiday photos . the . emergency room worker who was on duty at the time believes the 30 . year-old man may have been dead for several hours before being . discovered by a security guard . ` there 's . no policy in place to check the waiting room to see if people waiting . to be seen are still there or still alive , ' said the er worker . john . verrier had struggled with drug addiction and had been to st barnabas . before but his family says he had been clean for months and living at . home . he had gone to the er complaining about a rash , his vitals were checked and he was told to wait until his name was called . he sat in a hospital waiting room teeming with . other sick people . he entered the waiting room at 10pm . by 6:04 am the following morning , he was dead , found slumped over in a waiting room chair : . a spokesperson from the hospital . claims that verrier was checked on several times but that he seemed to . be in a decent condition . the hospital said , ` per our policy and . procedures , security checked on the patient and others . video .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 16:51 est , 15 january 2014 . | . updated : . 17:22 est , 15 january 2014 . a patient has been left in a vegetative state after his doctor walked out in the middle of his open-heart surgery to attend a lunch , a lawsuit has claimed . silvino perez , 72 , suffered complications after his cardiologist , dr pervaiz chaudhry , left a physician 's assistant to close his chest in 2012 - even though he was n't qualified to do so , according to relatives . perez 's wife , maria arteaga alvarez , and his stepson , cristobal arteaga , have now filed a lawsuit against the doctor and fresno community regional medical center in california . arteaga says they only learned that the doctor had left the room when they received an anonymous phone call in october from a nurse who had been in the room at the time , abc news reported . changed : silvino perez , pictured left before his 2012 surgery and right after the surgery , suffered brain damage after his cardiologist left open-heart surgery while his chest was still open , according to a lawsuit . he revealed that when perez was undergoing surgery , dr chaudhry left to attend a lunch at least 20 minutes away , arteaga said . when the doctor received a call to say that perez 's heart had stopped , he returned - but the patient 's brain had already suffered extensive damage . arteaga said the man on the phone told him that this was why perez was in a vegetative state . ' i cant put it into words , ' arteaga said . ` what kind of monster is that ? that would just walk out ? you trust this individual with your life . ' the man said that a state health department report had detailed the incident , but had not named the patient or doctor . but arteaga said the caller told him the report was about chaudhry and perez . an investigation had been launched into the surgery a week afterwards following an anonymous call from a staff member , according to the california department of public health 's website . arteaga 's lawyer , jeffrey mitchell , said the details of the report matched perez 's case - but neither the california department of public health nor the hospital would confirm he was the subject . accused : dr. pervaiz chaudhry left the room to attend a lunch at least 20 minutes away , according to the lawsuit . when his assistant struggled to close the patient 's chest , he rushed back - but it was too late . before the surgery , perez ` was the hardest-working man you 'd ever meet ' , arteaga told the fresno bee . he had been a field worker and had also been taking care of his wife , who is disabled and uses a wheelchair , for three years . cristobal arteaga , patient 's stepson . he underwent surgery on april 2 , 2012 after suffering chest pains and learning that he had a heart defect that required surgery . during the surgery , arteaga and his mother waited in a private waiting room and that , after two hours , dr chaudhry arrived to tell them the surgery had been a success , abc news reported . their attorney says this is likely when the doctor left . but minutes later , a phone in the room rang and they learned perez was suffering from complications . the physician 's assistant had closed the patient but another staff member noticed he was still bleeding , according to the health department . they called chaudhry , who gave them instructions , but they struggled to make perez stable . heartbroken : perez 's distraught stepson , cristobal arteaga , said the family only learned of the alleged mistake after receiving an anonymous call from a member of hospital staff last october . ` it was somewhat of a whirlwind , ' arteaga said . ` at one point in time , they told us to round up the whole family , because they did n't think he was going to pull through . ' about 45 minutes after the patient ` coded ' , the doctor returned to the hospital and successfully restarted his heart , although he continued to bleed . that night , he was transferred to the cardiovascular intensive care unit . arteaga said his stepfather 's chest was left open for days - covered with just a clear tape - in case something else went wrong . perez has never regained consciousness and has never moved , his stepson said . he is now in an acute care facility . the doctor was given a 14-day suspension and his surgeries were monitored for two months , according to the health department 's report . heading to court : the family has also sued fresno community regional medical center in california . the family is asking for unspecified damages in their lawsuit . valley cardiac surgery medical group , which has been named in the suit and which counts chaudhry as a memeber , said they have not yet received the suit . but bruce eliason said in a statement that the claim that chaudhry left the operating room before the patient 's chest was closed ` is unequivocally false , and it will be proven so ' . mary lisa russell , spokeswoman for community regional medical center , said in an email : ` while we ca n't comment on any ongoing litigation , we have instituted improved safeguards with action plans that have been approved by the state . ' see below for video . unfortunately your browser does not support iframes .<doc-sep>the lawyer told the new york daily news in 2013 that at one point during mr chanko 's treatment the doctors working on him discussed amputating his legs and trying to stop extensive bleeding in his abdomen . after the 83-year-old had a heart attack , one of the physicians addressed his colleagues , asking : ` we all agree he 's gone ? ' later in the show , a social worker and dr schubl , the chief orthopedic resident , break the news of mr chanko 's death to his family in the waiting room . mr fox said the doctor had a microphone on , but the grieving relatives ' words were left out of the show . a camera was trained on the door of the room that the family were in . ` they never suspected that the saddest moment of their live was being recorded , ' mr fox added . abc removed the episode in question last year after the chankos complained . ny meds features celebrity doctor mehmet oz -lrb- left -rrb- . dr sebastian schubl -lrb- right -rrb- , the chief orthopedic resident who treated mark chanko , was also named in the chanko family 's lawsuit . the attorney explained that when his client approached the hospital and abc , they were told that the producers of the show did not think it was necessary to ask for consent in this case because the patient 's face was obscured . ` they thought if they put a little smudge on it was enough , ' mr fox said , adding that mr chanko 's voice was instantly-recognized to his family . the attorney said that all the other patients featured in the series were given release forms to sign , but mrs chanko was never asked for her permission . he pointed out that she would not have given it . according to his new york times obituary , mr chanko , a grandfather-of-eight , served in the korean war and later became a certified public accountant . he was described as an avid tennis and bridge player , and a lover of the arts . ny med premiered on abc on july 10 , 2012 . the eight-part medical documentary series followed the medical staff and patients of columbia university medical center and weill cornell medical center , both a part of new york -- presbyterian hospital , as well as lutheran medical center in brooklyn . the show enjoyed high ratings throughout its run and received critical acclaim . the chanko family 's attorney told mailonline in march 2013 that in the operating room a studio with cameras and lights were set up , and the abc staffers were dressed in scrubs to ` keep the atmosphere ' | <t> family of esmin green says they will sue the city , hospital for $ 25 million . </t> <t> relatives says hospital employees failed to render help , attempted to falsify records . </t> <t> surveillance camera captured green convulsing on floor for an hour before she died . </t> | family plans lawsuit for waiting room death<T> |
srinagar , indian-controlled kashmir -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- violent protests continued across kashmir wednesday , as the death toll from the past two days of demonstrations rose to 20 , a senior police official said . hindu protesters shout slogans against jammu and kashmir state governor n. n. vohra . three people critically injured in the protests died on wednesday , adding to the already high tensions . several thousand people joined the wednesday morning funeral procession for one of the victims in old srinagar city . the region -- which is split between india and pakistan -- has been a flashpoint of violence between hindus and muslims for more than a month . the violence was triggered by the hindu government 's attempt to transfer land to a hindu shrine . the latest round of protests was started on monday by fruit growers who were upset that hindu protesters had blocked a highway leading into india , preventing their crops from getting to market . it has spiraled into demonstrations against the deaths .<doc-sep>a police official said 200 people have been injured in the two days of protests . a round-the-clock curfew in srinagar , the summer capital of kashmir , was lifted for several hours wednesday to allow residents to buy essential commodities . during the curfew suspension , an angry mob attacked a policeman in srinagar 's old city , torching his motorbike . speaking wednesday , kashmir 's indian-appointed governor n. n. vohra made a fervent appeal for demonstrators to maintain calm . he expressed deep grief for `` the families who lost their near and dear ones in the unfortunate incidents . '' from journalist mukhtar ahmad .<doc-sep>for the past 18 years , kashmir has been wracked by a bloody separatist campaign . authorities say up to 43,000 people have died , but rights groups and non-governmental organizations put the death toll at twice that . violence had dropped off since the countries began a peace process in 2004 , but it surged after the state government in indian-controlled kashmir announced plans in june to donate land for a hindu shrine . muslim protests following the decision prompted a government u-turn that triggered hindu demonstrations calling for it to be restored . subsequent violence left 40 dead and hundreds wounded . it is hoped tuesday 's route opening will bolster the peace agreement and combat lingering mistrust between india and pakistan . a bilateral cease-fire has been holding in the region for more than four years . a bus service connecting the divided kashmir began amid much fanfare in 2005 but struggled under the weight of elaborate security checks and stifling bureaucracy . `` this is a great emotional moment , as it brings to mind my grandfather , who used to drive lorries on this road , '' said muzhar hussain naqvi , who drove the leading pakistani truck . cnn 's sara sidner and mukhtar ahmad contributed to this report .<doc-sep>kashmir has been disputed territory between india and pakistan since the two countries separated in 1947 after a costly war . militants supporting pakistan have been fighting for more than 20 years against indian rule in the parts controlled by that country , which has a mostly muslim population . the insurgency has killed more than 43,000 people , but some human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations put the death toll at twice that . the two attackers in the wednesday incident were killed , said omar abdullah , the chief minister of the indian-administered kashmir . journalist mukhtar ahmad reported from srinagar and ben brumfield reported and wrote from atlanta . cnn 's harmeet shah singh contributed to this report .<doc-sep>monday 's killings are the highest single-day toll in the muslim-majority kashmir valley since june 11 , bringing the death toll to 89 . scores of others wounded in the violence are receiving treatment in kashmir hospitals that have come under tremendous strain . clashes between indian security forces and stone-throwing protesters raged in numerous towns across kashmir , from the northern resort town of tangmarg to the central budgam district and anantnag in the south . local governments appealed for calm and banned the iranian press tv channel , which reported on the american pastor 's plans to burn the quran .<doc-sep>news of the rising death toll in pakistan came a day after reports out of indian-administered kashmir , where 50 people died when a bus carrying a wedding party overturned in a flash flood . they were among 70 killed in jammu and indian-administered kashmir as a result of flooding , indian officials reported according to cnn sister network cnn-ibn . in thailand , the state-run mcot news agency reported that authorities have urged residents along waterways in the country 's central region to move to higher ground . the risk of flooding has increased there after a decision to release more water from a dam to reduce water levels in the flood-hit north , mcot reported . | <t> violent protests continue across kashmir , death toll rises to 20 . </t> <t> thousands join funeral procession for one of the victims . </t> <t> protesters angry over govt . decision not to transfer land to a hindu shrine . </t> <t> state govt . revoked transfer after a week of violent protests by muslims . </t> | death toll hits 20 in kashmir protests<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- u.s. house speaker nancy pelosi reversed her opposition to a vote on offshore drilling on `` larry king live '' on monday night , saying she would consider a vote if it were part of a larger energy package . u.s. house speaker nancy pelosi urges the release of oil from strategic reserves as a way to bring down gas prices . pelosi and fellow house democrats have staunchly opposed republicans ' request for a vote on the drilling . some republicans stayed in chambers after congress adjourned for the session , making speeches on energy policies , in an attempt to get democrats to come back for a vote . reacting to pelosi 's remarks , house minority leader john boehner , r-ohio , said the speaker should call the house of representatives back from its summer recess immediately if she is sincere about a vote on off-shore drilling . `` our message to speaker pelosi is very simple : we are ready to vote on more energy production and lower gas prices right now , and we should not wait one more day to begin giving the american people the relief they expect and deserve , '' boehner said . `` if you meant what you said last night , we welcome you and your democratic colleagues to join us in our historic call to action on american energy . '' on monday night , pelosi said the vote would need to be part of a larger discussion that would include investing in renewable energy resources and releasing oil from the strategic petroleum reserve . those options would help bring both immediate and long-lasting solutions to the energy crisis , she said . in her interview with king , pelosi talked about what the government and country needs to do to avert the energy crisis and quickly bring down gas prices . the following is an edited version of the interview : . larry king : ok , madam speaker , author of `` know your power , '' why do n't you bring -lsb- congress -rsb- back ? speaker nancy pelosi : well , it 's interesting to hear sen. -lsb- john -rsb- mccain talk about bringing congress back . he was n't even in congress this last session when we really had two very important bills on energy -- one to give tax credit for wind , solar and other renewable resources , and another about hybrid cars and the rest . so he was n't in to vote when were in session and now he 's saying call it back in . and then one of the others said to the president , call congress back in . and the president said no . the president said no . but the point is this : the american people are suffering . we have to do what is best for them .<doc-sep>how do we bring down the prices at the pump ? we have said to the president , the fastest way to do this if in 10 days the price can come down if you will free our oil . over 700 million barrels of oil the president is sitting on of the strategic petroleum reserve . no. 1 , free our oil . no. 2 , they want to drill . if they want to drill , we have 68 million acres in the lower 48 that they can drill in that are permitted and all the rest . three , stop the speculation . four , renew -- invest in renewable energy resources , which will bring a faster return than drilling offshore , which will take 10 years and produce 2 cents ' reduction in 10 years off the price at the pump . and then use natural gas . natural gas is so plentiful . it 's better for the environment , and it is cheaper . so there are things that congress can do , and we have voted on this over and over again . but the republicans and the president have resisted . instead , they have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas . well , we can do that . we can have a vote on that . but it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and not just a hoax on them . king : would you vote yes on a package that includes drilling ? pelosi : i would not . it depends how the drilling is put forth . but i do n't -- that is not excluded , let me say it that way . it depends how that is proposed , if the safeguards are there . now , mind you , 68 million acres -- 10 million more acres in alaska where they can drill . but if there 's -- if we can get some great things , in terms of renewable energy resources : a renewable electricity standard , wind , solar , biofuels and the rest in that context , because if you make a decision only to go with the offshore drilling , you are increasing our dependence on fossil fuels , and you will never free yourself of that addiction unless you invest in the renewable energy resources that are good for the environment , cheaper for the consumer and will reverse global warming .<doc-sep>and the consumer is our first responsibility . the american taxpayer owns this oil offshore , by the way . let me make this one final point . this oil is owned by the american taxpayers . the oil companies drill . we give them money to drill there . but we get very little in return . so i think as we have this debate , which is a very healthy one to have and i welcome it ; we have to review and realign the relationship between our oil , big oil 's profits and what it means to the consumer and the taxpayer . king : do you expect -- do you suspect the oil companies of having a lot of clout here , influence over the republicans ? pelosi : of course . yes , they rule . and that 's what we 'll find out . king : they rule ? pelosi : when we have this vote , when we really define it and where the choice is clear to the american people -- i mean , do you know what -- exxon mobil , their last quarter , their profits were historic . last year , they were historic . they outdid themselves this year already in this second quarter . and they insist that we pay them to drill . they need an incentive to drill in order to make over $ 11 billion in one quarter . and it just does n't make sense . we should be using that money to invest in renewable resources , tax credit for wind and solar , etc. and invest in the technologies that will develop the battery and the rest , instead of giving big oil more profits . king : do you expect to get a big enough majority in the senate and house for the democrats to overcome anything and get through your proposals ? pelosi : well , i hope we can do some of it before we even leave this session . i think we can -- hopefully , we can do something before december . i will not subscribe to a hoax on the american people that if you drill offshore , you 're going to bring down the price at the pump . even the president says that 's not true . ten years , two cents -- we 're saying 10 days , bring down the price , if the president would free our oil from the strategic petroleum -lsb- reserve -rsb- -- from our stockpile -- owned by the taxpayers , purchased by the taxpayers . in the next election , i know that we will strengthen our majorities , increase their numbers , and we will have a democratic president in the white house , and we will be able to address more fully really what i think is the challenge to our generation -- energy security and global warming .<doc-sep>before the vote , pelosi said the bill presented a choice between `` the status quo , which is preferred by big oil , '' and `` change for the future to take our country in a new direction . '' fifteen republicans voted for the largely democrat-backed bill . thirteen democrats voted against it . the senate , meanwhile , could vote on various energy proposals , including more offshore drilling , as early as this week . the house bill would require states to give their permission for drilling on their land . it also would offer incentives for renewable energy , require the government to release oil from its emergency reserve , and force oil companies to drill on federal lands they already lease from the government . democratic leaders had previously opposed republican-led efforts to repeal a 1981 law barring most offshore drilling . but they changed course over the august recess , saying their new plans would allow some expanded drilling . see where u.s. offshore drilling is banned ''<doc-sep>`` rather than personally critique others , speaker pelosi should reconsider her own out-of-touch stance against oil exploration , '' he said . `` with americans paying record prices at the pump and congress in gridlock , this is no time for the speaker to only offer personal attacks . '' in the wide-ranging interview , the entirety of which will air sunday on cnn 's `` late edition with wolf blitzer , '' pelosi also reiterated her longtime opposition to lifting a congressional ban on offshore drilling as well as opening up areas such as the arctic national wildlife refuge in alaska for oil exploration . bush and congressional republicans have pushed for those two policy changes . pelosi has long opposed drilling offshore , a popular policy position among californians , many of whom fear its environmental consequences along the state 's coastline . but a recent cnn/opinion research corp. poll showed that more than 73 percent of americans polled approved of lifting the 1981 ban , and the move holds support among many in pelosi 's own party , whose constituents are growing increasingly angry over rising gas prices . pelosi said the oil industry is not aggressively exploring large amounts of federal areas already leased to them and approved for drilling , including 33 million offshore acres and 68 million acres in the lower 48 states . she has sponsored legislation calling on oil companies to increase their production in those areas before they are allowed to go into the offshore areas currently banned . `` thirty-three million acres offshore are allowed for leasing , '' she said . `` and we 're saying to them , use it or lose it . you have the opportunity to drill there . when you have exhausted those remedies , then you can talk about something else . '' she 's also calling on the president to release 10 percent of the more than 700 million barrels of oil housed in the country 's strategic petroleum reserve . bush said tuesday that he is against any release from the reserve , saying that stash is for emergencies only . he also disputed that it would have any effect on lowering gas prices . `` what we are saying is , mr. president , free our oil from the strategic petroleum reserve , '' pelosi said . `` we 're saying , let 's take 10 percent of that , which has been paid for by the american taxpayer , and use that to put on the market so that we increase supply , reduce price . '' `` and when the price comes down , we can buy back the oil at a lower price , put it in the spr , use the spread for renewable energy resources . '' the house speaker has faced heavy criticism from house republican leader john boehner , who is leading a congressional delegation to anwr this weekend and has said pelosi 's action does not adequately address the problem . he 's also said pelosi is leading the moderate faction of her party `` off a cliff '' by refusing to allow a vote in the house on offshore drilling . `` just because john boehner , who is my friend , has my respect , says it does n't make it so , '' she responded , reiterating that she will block any vote to allow lifting the ban .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the house of representatives on tuesday night passed an energy bill clearing the way for more oil drilling off u.s. coasts , but not nearly as much as republican leaders wanted . the bill was passed by a vote of 236-189 . many republicans opposed the bill because it would allow new oil drilling only between 50 and 100 miles offshore . republicans generally want to allow new drilling starting 3 miles from shore . republicans also objected to provisions repealing tax cuts for the oil industry and what they said was a lack of incentive for states to allow drilling on their land . house speaker nancy pelosi , a california democrat , told reporters tuesday : `` the american taxpayers have been ripped off for years on offshore drilling . this bill changes that . ''<doc-sep>obama 's solution , a push for plug-in hybrid cars and other alternatives to oil , will not give consumers short-term relief either . congressional democrats are determined to block the president 's push for offshore drilling , prohibited by a 1981 law and a 1990 executive order . `` when congress lifts the legislative ban , i will lift the executive prohibition , '' bush said . watch bush make a case for new drilling '' the issue also makes for a fascinating family drama since the president 's father , president george h.w. bush , signed the order banning offshore drilling , while his brother jeb more recently opposed such drilling when he was governor of florida . florida 's current governor , charlie crist , has been an opponent of offshore drilling , but he now has an open mind about it since mccain 's embrace . crist 's name has come up as a possible vice presidential running mate on the gop ticket . `` it 's the last thing in the world i 'd like to do , but i also understand what people are paying at the pump , and i understand the drag it is on our economy , '' crist told the st. petersburg times this week . `` something has to be done in a responsible , pragmatic way . '' in the long run , however , the fact that bush has embraced this position on offshore oil drilling as well may make it more difficult for mccain to portray himself as an independent . mccain 's stance also may hurt him in california , a state with 55 electoral votes . the proposal could put mccain at odds with environmentalists who say it is incongruous with his plans to combat global warning . california gov. arnold schwarzenegger , a mccain ally , also opposes offshore drilling . schwarzenegger released a statement wednesday saying he still does not believe it makes sense to have such drilling off the california coast . cnn 's ed hornick contributed to this report . | <t> new : house minority leader calls for immediate vote on offshore drilling . </t> <t> house speaker says she 'd be open for a vote on drilling as part of a larger package . </t> <t> pelosi : releasing oil from strategic reserves would quickly reduce gas prices . </t> <t> `` we should be using that money to invest in renewable resources , '' pelosi says . </t> | pelosi open to vote on offshore drilling<T> |
mogadishu , somalia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a roadside bombing in somalia 's capital killed 21 women who were cleaning rubbish from a southern mogadishu street on sunday morning , a hospital official said . mogadishu residents gather around victims of the bomb attack along the city 's maka al mukarama road . the bomb blast wounded another 46 people , most of them somali women who had gathered to clean maka al mukarama road in southern mogadishu 's kilometer 4 district , according to medina hospital director dr. dahir dhere . `` it suddenly turned the area into a carnage , scattering body parts of the street cleaners into a large area , '' said witness asha ise gedi . `` there were pools of blood everywhere . i have never seen such mass killing . '' `` they were innocent poor mothers or sisters , '' gedi said . `` why did they deserve this ? '' it is unclear who is behind the attack . mogadishu mayor mohamed omar habeb mohamed dhere , who was recently fired by the country 's prime minister , blamed the islamic courts union for waging the attack . but the head of the islamist insurgent group , abid rahim ise adow , denied any involvement and blamed somalia 's government for orchestrating the attack . the victims were participating in a program that allows somali women to work as street cleaners in exchange for food . the united nations ' world food program organized the program , which began last year and is administered by mogadishu 's regional authority . mogadishu has been the site of violence in recent months between ethiopian troops and islamist fighters . somalia 's current transitional government is trying to maintain control of the capital , with the help of the better-equipped ethiopian forces . on saturday , two-thirds of the somali government ministers announced their resignations , blaming prime minister nur hassan nur ade 's `` dictatorship , '' which they said included his firing of mogadishu 's mayor . nur ade said he suspects the mass resignations were aimed at weakening implementation of the peace agreement between somalia 's transitional government and the opposition alliance for the re-liberation of somalia . he said he had no plans to resign . the peace agreement , signed june 9 in djibouti , calls for a cease-fire between somalia 's u.n.-backed transitional government and the alliance for the re-liberation of somalia , an opposition group that includes members of the islamist court union which overthrew the government in 2006 . the icu was ousted from power later that year by ethiopian forces , with the support of somalia 's transitional government . if followed , the peace deal would pave the way for a withdrawal of ethiopian troops -- a major sticking point for islamist fighters who oppose their presence . the agreement calls on the alliance to dissociate itself from armed groups still fighting the government and for all sides to allow `` unhindered humanitarian access and assistance '' to all somalis . a joint committee led by u.n. officials will monitor the agreement 's implementation . ethiopian forces became embroiled in an islamist insurgency after the ethiopian forces invaded somalia in december 2006 to overthrow the icu leaders and reinstall the transitional government . as guerrilla attacks mounted , efforts to replace the ethiopians with an african union-led peacekeeping mission faltered . ethiopia 's invasion had the blessing of somalia 's government and the united states , which accused the icu of harboring fugitives from the al qaeda terrorist movement . the conflict displaced hundreds of thousands of somalis , further worsening a humanitarian crisis that dates back to the collapse of the country 's last government in 1991 . the situation has been exacerbated by drought , continual armed conflicts in central and southern somalia , and high inflation on food and fuel prices . cnn 's alan duke and journalists mohamed amin adow and abdi nasir mohamed contributed to this report .<doc-sep>mogadishu , somalia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a roadside bombing in somalia 's capital killed 21 women who were cleaning rubbish from a southern mogadishu street on sunday morning , a hospital official said . mogadishu residents gather around victims of the bomb attack along the city 's maka al mukarama road . the bomb blast wounded another 46 people , most of them somali women who had gathered to clean maka al mukarama road in southern mogadishu 's kilometer 4 district , according to medina hospital director dr. dahir dhere . `` it suddenly turned the area into a carnage , scattering body parts of the street cleaners into a large area , '' said witness asha ise gedi . `` there were pools of blood everywhere . i have never seen such mass killing . '' `` they were innocent poor mothers or sisters , '' gedi said . `` why did they deserve this ? '' it is unclear who is behind the attack .<doc-sep>mogadishu mayor mohamed omar habeb mohamed dhere , who was recently fired by the country 's prime minister , blamed the islamic courts union for waging the attack . but the head of the islamist insurgent group , abid rahim ise adow , denied any involvement and blamed somalia 's government for orchestrating the attack . the victims were participating in a program that allows somali women to work as street cleaners in exchange for food . the united nations ' world food program organized the program , which began last year and is administered by mogadishu 's regional authority . mogadishu has been the site of violence in recent months between ethiopian troops and islamist fighters . somalia 's current transitional government is trying to maintain control of the capital , with the help of the better-equipped ethiopian forces . on saturday , two-thirds of the somali government ministers announced their resignations , blaming prime minister nur hassan nur ade 's `` dictatorship , '' which they said included his firing of mogadishu 's mayor . nur ade said he suspects the mass resignations were aimed at weakening implementation of the peace agreement between somalia 's transitional government and the opposition alliance for the re-liberation of somalia .<doc-sep>nurses wheel a victim in to medina hospital following a the explosion near a busy mogadishu market . terror attack : a wounded somali woman rests after being treated at medina hospital on sunday afternoon . ` i counted three dead and seven others injured . i was the first person who arrived for help . it is very unfortunate if mothers are the target . ' ` a remotely controlled roadside bomb killed three female city cleaners and injured seven others in hodan district . the militants hid the bomb inside a rubbish pit , ' major ali afrah , a police officer said . african union forces along with the somali army launched a new offensive this year against al-shabab , which is fighting to impose a harsh version of islamic law on somalia . several towns have been taken back from the group , but officials say the islamists still control large sections of countryside and some settlements , from where they have been able to continue their guerrilla-style campaign . the militants have also staged attacks outside somalia , including one at a kenyan shopping mall in september that killed at least 67 people .<doc-sep>by . ashley collman . published : . 21:34 est , 19 july 2013 . | . updated : . 21:34 est , 19 july 2013 . a prostitution ring in new jersey that ran a high-volume business with illegal immigrants from mexico and latin america was busted thursday . the ring , headed by 38-year-old jose cruz ` chato ' romero-flores , brought women to the u.s. with the promise of jobs as house cleaners or babysitters . once in the country , the women endured a ` miserable life of high-volume prostitution ' according to new jersey 's acting attorney general john hoffman . | <t> new : mayor blames islamist fighters for blast ; islamist fighters blame government . </t> <t> new : women part of u.n. program in which they cleaned streets for food . </t> <t> mogadishu the site of violence between ethiopian troops and islamist fighters . </t> <t> 11 ministers resign saturday , prime minister has refused to step down . </t> | somalia bomb kills 21 women street cleaners<T> |
miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane gustav churned into the gulf of mexico on saturday night , still an `` extremely dangerous '' category 4 storm threatening to blast the same region devastated by hurricane katrina three years ago . saturday morning , gustav was about 255 miles east-southeast of the western tip of cuba . gustav , a category 4 storm with 135 mph -lrb- 220 km/hr -rrb- top winds , was centered 485 miles -lrb- 780 kilometers -rrb- southeast of the mouth of the mississippi river , according to the national hurricane center 's 6 a.m. gmt -lrb- 2 a.m. et -rrb- advisory . that 's only 15 mph slower than when the storm first crossed land in cuba . the u.s. national hurricane center said the storm could pick up even more strength as it enters the gulf 's warmer waters . the hurricane center said gustav is an `` extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane . '' in the united states , state and federal officials -- eager to prove they are ready -- urged residents to flee , and many of those residents obeyed , moving north by the tens of thousands , according to the governor of louisiana , whose state was hit three years ago by hurricane katrina . new orleans mayor ray nagin called gustav `` the mother of all storms , '' saying its destruction could outstrip that from katrina , which flooded much of his city and killed about 3,000 people . a hurricane watch remained in effect for the northern gulf coast from east of high island texas eastward to the alabama-florida border , including the city of new orleans and lake pontchartrain , the national hurricane center said . a hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area , generally within 36 hours .<doc-sep>on its current track , gustav would reach the northern gulf on monday . thousands of anxious cubans had boarded up their homes and sought safety from gustav earlier as it slammed into the island nation . as it made landfall in western cuba on saturday night with sustained winds near 150 mph -lrb- 240 kmh -rrb- , the national hurricane center said . some fluctuations , with an overall slight strengthening , is forecast for the next 24 hours , and forecasters said gustav could become a category 5 hurricane within that period . see gustav 's projected path '' hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 in intensity on the saffir-simpson scale . a category 5 is the highest classification , with sustained winds of more than 155 mph . a category 4 has winds of 131 to 155 mph and can cause extreme damage . anticipating the storm , about 10,000 cubans evacuated saturday to cuba 's mainland from la isla de juventud , or isle of youth , a province south of the nation 's western end . the hurricane center said western cuba could receive as much as 25 inches of rain . residents sought refuge with family or friends , or went to a government shelter , cnn 's morgan neill said . cubans also headed to higher ground on the mainland , with many utilizing horse-drawn carriages and vintage cars . president raúl castro checked with the island 's officials saturday to be sure preparations were on track , neill said .<doc-sep>cuba 's western province of pinar del rio , currently under a hurricane warning , is the center of the nation 's lucrative cigar industry . a hurricane warning remained in effect for the cuban provinces of pinar del rio , la habana , ciudad de la habana , isla de juventud , matanzas and cienfuegos . a warning indicates that hurricane conditions will arrive in the next 24 hours . gustav caused little damage on grand cayman on friday night , according to an official at the island 's airport . as a tropical storm , gustav blasted jamaica with high winds and drenched it with heavy rain thursday night into friday . four people were killed , the national emergency operations center in jamaica said , and the storm downed trees and damaged houses . `` it is total devastation everywhere , '' the councilor for the manchioneal division , alston hunter , told the jamaican gleaner newspaper . `` several residents are now crammed into disaster shelters here in east portland , and the weather continues to make the situation worse . '' at least 51 people were killed in southwestern haiti and eight were killed in neighboring dominican republic as gustav roared through as a category 1 hurricane on wednesday , officials there said . the hurricane center 's five-day forecast places a landfall anywhere from galveston , texas , east to mobile , alabama . new orleans , louisiana , is at the center of the projected path .<doc-sep>a hurricane watch remained in effect for the northern gulf coast from east of high island , texas , to the alabama-florida border , including the city of new orleans and lake pontchartrain , the national hurricane center said . a watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the specified area , generally within 36 hours . the gulf coast is still recovering from hurricane katrina , which killed more than 1,800 people when it slammed ashore august 29 , 2005 . mississippi gov. haley barbour said hurricane katrina victims living in government-issued trailers or mobile homes along his state 's coast will begin evacuating this weekend . gustav is the second major hurricane of the 2008 atlantic hurricane season . meanwhile , tropical storm hanna passed north of the leeward islands on friday with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph -lrb- 80 kph -rrb- , the hurricane center said . the center predicted gradual strengthening , and hanna could be near hurricane strength sunday . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>`` on the forecast track , gustav should pass between jamaica and the southeastern coast of cuba on thursday , '' the hurricane center said . `` however , any deviation to the left of the forecast track could bring the center of gustav very near jamaica . '' gustav 's maximum sustained winds were near 45 mph -lrb- 75 kph -rrb- , with higher gusts . `` slow strengthening is forecast once gustav moves away from haiti , and the storm could regain hurricane strength within the next day or two , '' the hurricane center said . a category 1 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph -lrb- 119 kph -rrb- . see projected path '' michaele gedeon , president of the haitian red cross , said that 180 people were in a shelter set up in a mayor 's office in southeast haiti . the storm has destroyed the roofs of more than 100 homes , gedeon said . gustav is expected to produce rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over haiti , the dominican republic , cuba , jamaica and the cayman islands , with isolated amounts up to 25 inches possible , forecasters said . the heavy rain could trigger flash floods and additional mudslides . computer models show gustav heading for the u.s. gulf coast , arriving anywhere from western florida -- which is already waterlogged from last week 's tropical storm fay -- to louisiana , where cleanup and repair efforts are ongoing three years after hurricane katrina . katrina killed more than 1,800 people when it slammed into the gulf coast on august 29 , 2005 , flattening towns on the mississippi coast and flooding portions of new orleans , louisiana . louisiana gov. bobby jindal , saying he wanted the state to be prepared in case gustav hit the state , declared an emergency for louisiana on wednesday .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm gustav left 22 dead in haiti and the dominican republic before it pulled away from the countries wednesday , officials said . a coffin is carried for one of eight people who was killed as gustav hit the dominican republic on wednesday . the storm is expected to pass between cuba and jamaica before heading into the gulf of mexico . the storm killed 14 people in haiti , said pierre louis pinchinat , deputy director of haiti 's civil protection directorate . authorities said eight more , including six children , were killed in a mudslide triggered by heavy rain in santo domingo , dominican republic . forecasters warned that gustav , which was a category 1 hurricane when it made landfall in haiti on tuesday , is likely to regain hurricane intensity by friday . the forecast shows gustav entering the gulf of mexico on saturday or sunday as a category 3 hurricane , with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph -lrb- 179 kph -rrb- . however , hurricane movements are erratic , and long-range forecasts are subject to change . ireport.com : send us your photos , videos . pinchinat said many areas of haiti are cut off from aid workers because roads and bridges are washed out . at least 300 people are in a shelter in one region , he said , and others are in shelters across the country . in the dominican republic , the mudslide occurred early wednesday in the guachupita neighborhood of santo domingo , officials said . see flooding , damage caused by gustav '' marino vasquez stood crying over the coffin of one of his children . ireport.com : storm takes young lives in santo domingo .<doc-sep>new orleans , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane gustav did n't pack the wallop of katrina three years earlier , officials said monday , but they urged almost 2 million evacuees to stay away from the gulf coast for another day . a man walks past a storefront that collapsed as hurricane gustav passed through lafayette , louisiana , on monday . `` tomorrow is not a day to start coming back to the city of new orleans , '' mayor ray nagin said monday night . `` power lines are down all over the city ; there 's a significant number of homes and businesses that are without power , '' nagin said . still , he said , gustav did n't do the damage feared a few days ago , a possible repeat of 2005 's hurricane katrina . `` i 'd probably call gustav , instead of the mother of all storms , maybe the mother-in-law or the ugly sister of all storms , '' nagin said . across louisiana , more than 800,000 people were without electricity , and some may not see it restored for two weeks or more , gov. bobby jindal said . at a news conference with jindal , homeland security secretary michael chertoff urged gulf coast residents who evacuated to stay away until damage could be assessed . but even those who fled faced hardships . about 2,700 people who took up short-term residence monday in the louisiana state university agriculture center in alexandria were told that the buildings generator power was not reaching the plumbing system , meaning no showers and no flushing toilets , said john barnett , head of the facilities . `` it 's really crowded , and everybody 's just trying to do their best , '' said kesha harlow , who was there with her daughter , 8 , and her son , 2 months . `` we 're just waiting for the storm to blow over . '' gustav roared from the gulf of mexico into southern louisiana on monday as a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph , bringing fierce winds and heavy rains from the alabama-florida border west into texas . in baton rouge , louisiana , two people were killed when a tree fell on the house where they were staying after they had come from farther south to escape the storm , officials said . a man was killed in a similar incident in north lafayette , louisiana , officials said .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- officials in some gulf coast states spent the third anniversary of hurricane katrina on friday gearing up for what could be the biggest threat to the region since katrina hit in 2005 . new orleans mayor ray nagin attends a ceremony friday honoring hurricane katrina victims . hurricane gustav is poised to pass near or over the cayman islands on friday night and over western portions of cuba on saturday . it may approach the u.s. gulf coast by tuesday morning as a category 2 or 3 hurricane , the national hurricane center said friday . `` today , on that third anniversary , we 've got to be thinking about the future , '' mississippi gov. haley barbour said . `` as we pray for the best , we 're going to prepare for the worst , '' barbour announced friday that hurricane katrina victims living in government-issued trailers or mobile homes along his state 's coast will begin evacuating this weekend to prepare for the gustav 's possible arrival . the process will begin saturday , with notices going out to people living in federal emergency management agency trailers or mobile homes , as well as people living in more permanent structures known as `` mississippi cottages , '' he said . watch the gulf coast states prepare for gustav '' the evacuation will begin in harrison and hancock counties on sunday morning , barbour said . evacuation in jackson county will begin monday . about 4,300 families live in fema trailers or mobile homes , and 2,800 live in mississippi cottages , the governor 's office said . he said he would urge people living in privately owned mobile homes to evacuate as well . president bush declared an emergency in louisiana on friday , freeing up federal aid and allowing fema to coordinate relief efforts . | <t> new : gustav heads into gulf after category 4 hurricane slams into cuba . </t> <t> about 10,000 cubans flee to mainland , some in vintage cars , horse-drawn carriages . </t> <t> storm expected to hit gulf coast on monday or tuesday . </t> <t> coastal mississippi and new orleans residents getting out . </t> | hurricane gustav churns into gulf<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` i am '' is a new cnn.com feature built on the belief that the labels we use for one another do n't really reveal who we are . we present a collection of people who may surprise you . they not only defy their labels , but they 've done it in very public and dramatic ways .<doc-sep>this week , i am presents four african-americans who challenge conventional notions of blackness . but then defining what it means to be black has long been a matter of debate within the african-american community . the r&b singer , billy paul , once had a song called , `` am i black enough ? '' well are they ? you be the judge . barbara hillary -- at the age of 75 , she became the first african american woman to reach the north pole . maurice ashley -- is the first and only african american to attain the coveted title of international grand master of chess . bliss broyard -- author of `` one drop : my father 's hidden life -- a story of race & family secrets , '' learned her father was black just before his death . marvin perkins -- as an african american elder in the mormon church , perkins says he is one of the world 's best kept secrets in the world .<doc-sep>i am the amalgamation of all the ignorance , ambitions , yearnings for freedom , and religions of the world . i am -- have been -- brainwashed so many times that innocence is second nature to me . contradictorily , america is what i am but not my history , not my identity . i am a new man almost every day . i and mine were once colored , negro , black , afro-american , african-american , brother , sister , uncle tom , revolutionary , good one , bad one , convict , malingerer , miracle , and so much more . in the end i can say with conviction that i am america . through my veins run 10,000 years of history that touches every continent , deity , and crime known to humanity . this history is not composed of the false accounts of the past ; it is the blood and the beat and the light that passes through my mind , and yours . i am your sibling whether you know it or not , whether you accept me or not . we , known and unknown to each other , form an identity that i can express but still not know , not completely . and for this state of being i am infinitely grateful because it means that i can be part of something greater than the individual , while still i am at home in my heart .<doc-sep>`` i was at the mall w/my kids & overheard some teenagers -lrb- guys & girls -rrb- talking about female thor excitedly & i just am happy to be in comics , '' tweeted scott snyder . `` we now live in a world where captain america is black , and thor is a woman . huzzah , '' tweeted the washington post 's nia-malika henderson , noting the news that the new captain america will be the african-american marvel character the falcon , a.k.a. sam wilson . some wags could n't resist a joke , however .<doc-sep>`` i ca n't reveal too much about the character , '' vancamp said . `` i think people have a certain idea of what i 'm meant to be playing , but i think you 'll be surprised at how we use this character . compared to other characters i 've done , it was certainly a challenging experience and an exciting experience . '' the central point of the film seems to be a friendship between captain america and black widow -lrb- scarlett johansson -rrb- , who initially joined forces in `` the avengers . '' `` the hurdle of captain america is that his nature is to put himself last , '' evans said . `` the first captain america film is about getting the opportunity to serve , the opportunity to lead , to a soldier . i think he 's so determined to do what 's right . the conflict with this modern society as opposed to the '40s is in the '40s , it was easy to say ` the nazis are the bad guys . ' today it 's a little bit harder to know ` who am i serving ? ' `` it 's not about doing the right thing , it 's about ` what is the right thing ? ' we get to see captain struggling with that . that 's where his relationship with black widow comes to fruition . she 's someone who has had to compromise her morals and not live in black and white , and i think as a result -- i ca n't say too much -- something happens . these two people from different worlds need to rely on each other . ''<doc-sep>on the cover : the dirty wisdom of louis c.k. `` race does n't mean what it used to in america anymore , '' he continues . `` it just does n't . obama 's black , but he 's not black the way people used to define that . is black your experience or the color of your skin ? my experience is as a mexican immigrant , more so than someone like george lopez . he 's from california . but he 'll be treated as an immigrant . i am an outsider . my abuelita , my grandmother , did n't speak english . my whole family on my dad 's side is in mexico . i wo n't ever be called that or treated that way , but it was my experience . '' see the original story at rollingstone.com . copyright © 2011 rolling stone . | <t> `` i am '' is built on the belief that the labels we use for others , do n't reveal who we are . </t> <t> meet four african americans who challenge conventional notions of blackness . </t> <t> cnn presents : black in america airs july 23 and 24 , at 9 p.m. et . </t> | i am : black in america<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- oklahoma health officials said friday they are searching for the source of a rare form of e. coli that has killed one person and sickened 116 others in the northeastern part of the state . the subtype of bacteria -- called e. coli 0111 -- is `` not normally found in this form of outbreak , '' said leslea bennett-webb , director of communication for the oklahoma state department of health . more than 50 people have been hospitalized and nine people -- six of them children -- have been placed on dialysis , she said . she said the federal centers for disease control and prevention in atlanta , georgia , helped state officials determine the subtype , but said the cause of the outbreak remains unknown . `` the focus has been narrowed to the country cottage restaurant located in locust grove , '' she said , noting that most of the people who became ill ate there between august 15 and august 23 . tests carried out on water from a well on restaurant property indicate the presence of bacteria , but `` we have not been able to confirm what kind of bacteria , '' said skylar mcelhaney , a spokeswoman for the oklahoma department of environmental quality .<doc-sep>the oklahoma department of health will analyze them and compare them with samples taken from victims , she said . `` we ca n't say for sure that it is tied to the water in any way , but we also can not rule it out , '' she said . symptoms of infection with the bacteria can include severe diarrhea , bloody diarrhea , vomiting and severe abdominal cramping , said larry weatherford of the oklahoma state department of health . management at the restaurant , which has closed during the investigation , was working closely with health officials , he added . meanwhile , the outbreak appears to be abating . `` while we believe we are seeing a downward curve in the number of people who have become ill , we still have many challenges with some patients who remain hospitalized , '' said state epidemiologist dr. kristy bradley . `` we continue to ask the public to be extra diligent in their hand washing and food preparation to minimize the possibility of additional persons becoming ill . '' the cdc estimates there may be about 70,000 e. coli infections each year in the united states .<doc-sep>paris -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- seven children are seriously ill in the french city of lille after an e. coli outbreak linked to frozen ground beef , french health authorities said thursday . all seven , aged from 18 months to 8 years old , are being treated in a hospital for hemolytic uremic syndrome -lrb- hus -rrb- -- a form of kidney failure related to a rare form of e. coli -- according to the nord-pas-de-calais regional health agency . the infection is not thought to be linked to a recent deadly e. coli outbreak centered in germany .<doc-sep>an eight-year-old girl has died after contracting an e. coli infection but health officials have stressed it is not part of an outbreak . the child was from east ayrshire in scotland and had contracted the e. coli o157 strain . she was treated in the royal hospital for sick children in glasgow but sadly died . tragic : the child was from east ayrshire in scotland . she was treated in the royal hospital for sick children in glasgow , pictured , but sadly died . nhs ayrshire and arran said it has not identified the source of the infection but it does not believe the case is part of an outbreak . dr jane cooper , consultant in public health medicine said : ` our thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time . ` sometimes it is possible to identify a particular source of e.coli o157 infection . an outbreak may occur if a number of people are exposed to the same source . ` nhs ayrshire & arran is satisfied that this case is not part of an outbreak , and has not identified a particular source which might represent a risk to others . ` e. coli o157 infection is very easily picked up and sometimes investigations can not identify either a particular source , or any way in which the risk of infection could have been avoided . ' symptoms normally develop after ingesting contaminated foods or liquids or having been in contact with infected animals . sad : the child was from east ayrshire in scotland and had contracted the e. coli o157 strain . this if a file picture of e coli . infected cases often develop a fever leading to sickness and diarrhoea .<doc-sep>there was no trace of e. coli in a pack of bean sprouts in a household in hamburg , where a man had become infected , health authorities there told cnn . the sprouts came from the farm which officials believe could be the source of the outbreak . but initial tests showed no sign of e. coli there , agriculture officials in the german state of lower saxony said monday . but authorities said that does not mean their suspicions are not correct ; they would not expect to find evidence of e. coli if the tainted sprouts were no longer in the supply chain . test results are back for 20 of the 40 samples , lower saxony officials said monday . it was not clear when the rest of the test results would be available . on sunday , officials said german-grown sprouts are the likely source for the e. coli outbreak . `` there is a direct link between this company and these people getting sick , '' said gert lindemann , the agricultural minister in lower saxony . it was not clear how the rare strain may have gotten into the sprouts , officials said . e. coli has not been found in the company , gaertnerhof , which has halted production and is recalling its products . gaertnerhof , in the town of bienenbuettel , said in a statement it was `` shocked and worried . ... that part of our production has been linked to e. coli infections '' and had never had a problem in its 25 years of growing sprouts . it said it had found no evidence of e. coli during routine testing in january or during tests last month in response to the health scare .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the number of cases of e. coli stemming from a county fair in north carolina has grown to 38 , including one child who died , the state 's department of health said monday . more than 165,000 people attended the cleveland county fair , which ended october 7 . eight people have been hospitalized for e. coli infections . two-year-old gage lafevers of bessemer city died friday , cnn affiliate wbtv reported . there are more than 700 strains of the bacteria e. coli . although most of them are harmless , some can cause serious problems by attacking the intestinal tract . contracting certain forms of e. coli can lead to diarrhea , nausea , dehydration and in some cases , death . symptoms of e. coli infection can occur as late as 10 days after exposure , the north carolina health department said . `` not much we can say until things are definitely connected and hopefully we can know soon , '' cleveland county fair manager calvin hastings said . `` all we can do is hope and pray for the families . '' wbtv reported that as many as 75 people who attended the fair have been interviewed by officials , but authorities have yet to discern a possible source of the infection . health officials said 22 of the people sickened are children . the outbreak comes about a year after one at the north carolina state fair in raleigh affected 27 people . the source of that outbreak was a building that housed animals , officials said . food recall roundup . kroger recalls bagged spinach . food safety tips from a pro . e. coli outbreak sickens 14 in six states . cnn 's joe sutton contributed to this report . | <t> 1 person dead , 116 ill in northeastern part of the state . </t> <t> focus of investigation is restaurant in locust grove , oklahoma . </t> <t> officials say this form of e. coli is `` not normally found in this form of outbreak '' </t> <t> officials say outbreak appears to be abating . </t> | oklahoma seeks source of deadly e. coli<T> |
new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. charles schumer said sunday the bush administration is trying to `` blame the fire on the person who calls 911 '' by suggesting he had a role in one of the costliest u.s. bank failures . sen. charles schumer said the ots `` ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame . '' federal regulators with the office of thrift supervision were `` asleep at the switch '' when it came to indymac 's `` reckless '' behavior , the new york democrat complained . the ots announced friday that it was taking over the $ 32 billion indymac and transferring control to the federal deposit insurance corporation . the ots pointed the finger directly at schumer for the failure , accusing him of sparking a bank run by releasing a letter that `` expressed concerns about indymac 's viability . '' watch what 's next for indymac '' `` in the following 11 business days , depositors withdrew more than $ 1.3 billion from their accounts , '' the ots said in a statement announcing the california-based lender 's takeover on friday . the statement included a quote from ots director john reich saying , `` although this institution was already in distress , i am troubled by any interference in the regulatory process . '' schumer , a member of the senate banking committee , chairman of congress ' joint economic committee and the third-ranking democrat in the senate , rejected any suggestions of responsibility for indymac 's collapse . `` ots ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame and start doing its job to protect the future of the banking system , so that there wo n't be other indymacs , '' he said . schumer 's june 26 letter said he was `` concerned that indymac 's financial deterioration poses significant risks to both taxpayers and borrowers . ''<doc-sep>in a sunday news conference , he said everything in his letter was already known to the public . `` indymac was one of the most poorly run and reckless of all the banks , '' he said . `` it was a spinoff from the old countrywide , and like countrywide , it did all kinds of profligate activities that it never should have . both indymac and countrywide helped cause the housing crisis we 're now in . '' the embattled countrywide financial corp. was recently purchased by bank of america . schumer argued that the `` breadth and depth '' of the problems at indymac were `` apparent for years , and they accelerated in the last six months . '' but ots , he said , `` was asleep at the switch and allowed things to happen without restraint . `` and now they are doing what the bush administration always does : blame the fire on the person who calls 911 . '' the white house had no immediate response . schumer said ots is `` known as a weak regulator , '' and added , `` my job was to try and toughen them up and that 's what i tried to do . '' indymac , with assets of $ 32 billion and deposits of $ 19 billion , is the fifth bank to fail this year . between 2005 and 2007 , only three banks failed . and in the past 15 years , the fdic has taken over 127 banks with combined assets of $ 22 billion , according to fdic records . indymac will reopen monday with a new charter and a new name -- indymac federal bank .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- fannie mae and freddie mac were created to help individuals realize the american dream of home ownership , but they now find their survival at risk in the u.s. mortgage crisis . steps to shore up fanniemae and freddie mac could eventually stabilize home prices . friday 's closure of california-based indymac bank by federal regulators on friday sparked investor panic that sent shares of mortgage finance giants fannie mae and freddie mac on a wild ride and fueled speculation of a government rescue . on sunday , the treasury department and federal reserve announced steps to make funds available to fannie mae and freddie mac if necessary . indymac , which reopened monday under federal supervision , was once one of the nation 's largest home lenders . thanks in part to the nation 's mortgage crisis , it lost hundreds of millions of dollars this year and last , and concerns about the bank led customers to withdraw $ 1.3 billion in the last two weeks , prompting the government takeover . below , cnn 's ali velshi and gerri willis answer questions about fannie mae , freddie mac and indymac and how you may be affected . q : what are fannie mae and freddie mac and what do they do ? a : originally chartered by congress , both were converted into private companies with shares traded on wall street . neither company directly loans money to prospective home buyers . instead , they buy mortgages from banks and other lenders on the secondary market , thus freeing up more funds to home lenders . they resell bundled loans as mortgage-backed securities . read more about fannie mae and freddie mac '' combined , the two companies own or guarantee almost half of the home loans in the united states , or $ 5.3 trillion of mortgage debt . q : how did they get their names ? a : fannie mae was created in 1938 , during the great depression . the nickname comes from the acronym fnma , which stands for federal national mortgage association . freddie mac was chartered by congress as a private corporation in 1970 to end fannie mae 's monopoly over the secondary mortgage market . the name freddie mac spawns from the acronym fhlmc , or federal home loan mortgage corp. . q : what 's the connection between the indymac takeover and fannie mae and freddie mac ? a : nothing , except both crises stem from the same problem : a drop in home prices and the inability of mortgage-holders to make their payments , thereby leaving banks -lrb- whether it was indymac , an actual lender , or fannie/freddie , the secondary banks that had bought mortgages -rrb- holding the bag . q : will the government 's actions change the value of my home ? a : steps the federal government is taking to shore up freddie mac and fannie mae is ultimately a positive for the housing industry . although it wo n't happen overnight , housing prices could be stabilized by the move . the reason ? these two institutions are critical to the smooth functioning of the mortgage underwriting industry . q : is my money safe in the bank ? a : up to certain limits , money is safe in banks insured by the federal deposit insurance corp. . the fdic guarantees traditional bank accounts up to $ 100,000 and individual retirement accounts up to $ 250,000 . money beyond those limits is n't guaranteed if a bank fails . in the case of indymac , the fdic says it will cover 50 percent of uninsured balances there . but as a practical matter , consumers should n't count on that . bottom line : owning accounts with amounts that exceed the fdic limits is like driving without a seat belt . watch : is your bank safe ? '' q : how are the government 's moves to help fannie mae and freddie mac going to affect mortgages , loans and the federal budget deficit ? a : shoring up freddie mac and fannie mae is good news for consumer lending lending generally because it boosts confidence in the mortgage markets . if you already have a loan , it 's wo n't have immediate consequences . we do n't yet know if it will be successful and how much the two entities might take advantage of the federal governments offer to lend them money . for that reason , it 's difficult to say what the impact might be on the federal budget deficit . suffice it to say , however , that the buck always seems to stop with the american taxpayer .<doc-sep>schumer defended both the constitutional right to bear arms , as well as the power of congress to put some limits on weapon ownership and use . `` there is a right to bear arms . it 's in the constitution . and you ca n't ignore it , just like you ca n't ignore the others , '' schumer said . `` but like all the other rights , it 's not absolute . '' citing the success of previous gun control efforts , schumer said that `` smart , rational gun control laws that protect the right to bear arms , but have reasonable limits are the way to go . '' coburn , however , said approaching the tucson shootings as a gun control issue would miss the central problem -- the failure to properly intervene in a case of obvious mental instability . former new york mayor rudy giuliani , a possible republican presidential contender in 2012 , made the same point on the cbs program `` face the nation . '' `` it would seem to me that you 'd address this with the most relevant problem first , '' giuliani said . `` the most relevant problem was the lack of an ability to deal with what was apparently paranoid schizophrenia that should have been treated . '' he also said political civility must return so that a legitimate debate on gun control could ensue , free of the hyper-partisanship emblematic of washington . `` i think we could take a look at gun laws and see what can be done that does n't affect the constitutional rights that people have to have guns , the right they have to protect themselves , '' giuliani said . `` i mean , there are people that would argue that , if more people had guns , this may not have happened because somebody might have been able to take action immediately and stop him before he inflicted either damage or as much damage as he did . '' on the same program , rendell also said the issue required a thorough and reasoned debate free from excessive politicking . `` we need a rational discussion on guns where we put aside the pressure from interest groups and we take a look and say , does any citizen protecting themselves or their home or using a handgun to hunt , do they need a clip that has 33 bullets in it ? '' rendell said , adding that in his mind , the answer was no . `` i think the nation 's spirits would be lifted if the congress acted quickly with the president and reinstated the assault weapons ban , which also had the ban on these large magazines , these clips that carried 30-plus bullets , '' rendell added .<doc-sep>` they do n't believe david cameron can turn britain around , ' he added . ` but let me be clear with you . i know that however discredited , divided and damaging this government becomes , it does n't necessarily translate into support for us . ` we have to earn your trust . indeed , many people will believe that the failure of this government means they should give up on politics altogether . ` that nobody can turn round the problems of the country and nobody deserves their vote . that is a terrible thing for our democracy . ' i understand that some people think the problems are so great that no no one can fix them . ` but i passionately believe that labour can . that we can turn round the problems of the country . ' mr miliband said some were suggesting that the public themselves , rather than the government , were to blame for the britain 's failure to bounce back from the credit crunch . but he insisted : ` we have got good people who are being let down by a bad government . that is the reality of britain today . '<doc-sep>schumer is one of the senate 's most senior and ambitious democrats . he oversaw the party 's campaign efforts in two highly successful elections , 2006 and 2008 , and he now chairs the democratic policy and communications committee . some see him as a potential successor to senate democratic leader harry reid of nevada . his comments tuesday could upset those who say it was wise to make the health care overhaul the first major legislative initiative after president barack obama 's 2008 election . and republicans quickly ridiculed his call for a more robust federal government . ` the failure of big-government liberalism is why liberals were overwhelmingly rebuked at the polls this month , ' said the conservative group yg network . odd reflection : in a 2007 book , schumer called for lower taxes and a reduction in the number of illegal immigrants in america . | <t> fdic taking control of the $ 32 billion indymac . </t> <t> ots accuses sen. charles schumer of sparking a bank run . </t> <t> schumer : indymac `` one of the most poorly run and reckless of all the banks '' </t> <t> schumer rejects any suggestions of responsibility for indymac 's collapse . </t> | schumer : do n't blame me for indymac failure<T> |
san antonio , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the three americans rescued after more than five years in captivity in colombia say they are doing well but are `` overwhelmed with emotion , '' according to a statement released on their behalf . `` words alone can never possibly express the thrill and excitement we feel to be back home in the united states of america with our families at our side , '' the friday statement from marc gonsalves , thomas howes and keith stansell said . the revolutionary armed forces of colombia -lrb- farc -rrb- had held the three u.s. government contractors since february 2003 , after their plane crashed in a remote region of the south american country . they were among 15 hostages rescued wednesday in a colombian military operation . watch colombians celebrate success '' also among the rescued hostages was french-colombian politician ingrid betancourt , who returned to france on friday . she is undergoing medical tests at a paris military hospital , the associated press reported . watch betancourt 's joyous return to france '' shortly after the plane crashed , farc members killed contractor tom janis , according to employer northrop grumman , and colombian army sgt. luis cruz , according to the u.s. state department .<doc-sep>the three freed americans are being treated at brooke army medical center in san antonio , texas . learn about the former hostages '' `` for five-and-a-half long years , we all hoped and prayed this day would come , '' their statement said . `` now that it has , we 're just overwhelmed with emotion . the love and the joy we 're all experiencing is beyond description . `` we want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the government and the armed forces of colombia . the operation they conducted to rescue us was one for the history books -- something we will never forget for the rest of our lives . '' colombian authorities unveiled details and a videotape friday describing the mission , which involved tricking the leftist rebels into giving up their hostages . watch video of the rescue '' government agents had infiltrated the farc leadership over several months . this week they talked the rebels into moving the hostages , saying a humanitarian group wanted to check on them .<doc-sep>a helicopter carrying fake rebels picked up the hostages at a rendezvous point , ostensibly to take them to another rebel camp . it actually was a government helicopter , and the hostages were whisked to freedom without a shot being fired . learn about farc '' on thursday , doctors at the brooke army medical center said the three americans appeared to be in good health . initial tests had for now ruled out the suspicion of infectious diseases , and although other medical tests are pending , `` everything really looks well , '' said col. jackie hayes , a psychiatrist and the lead physician on the men 's medical team . hayes said patient confidentiality rules prevented him from commenting on reports that gonsalves was suffering from hepatitis . maj. gen. keith huber , commander of u.s. army south , said the contractors were in the second phase of a three-phase process designed to ease their transition back to normal life . `` they greeted me with a strong handshake and clear eyes and an incredible smile , '' he said .<doc-sep>achieving the element of surprise was made particularly difficult by the failure of the previous special operations attempt . on november 25 , u.s. special operations forces along with a yemeni counterterrorism unit successfully freed eight foreign hostages in a raid on a location in yemen where somers was believed to be held . unlike saturday 's operation , this raid did have the element of surprise , but it suffered from a lack of up-to-date intelligence . the militants had reportedly moved somers to a new location days before the raid . this surely prepared the militants holding somers for the possibility of another u.s. raid to free him . american special operations forces have a mixed record when it comes to the tricky task of rescuing hostages held by well-armed terrorists . in july , a special operations team conducted a raid in the syrian city of raqqa in an attempt to free james foley , a 40-year-old american journalist held by isis , as well as other westerners captured by the group . the special operations team flew modified black hawk helicopters deep into isis-held territory and according to american officials killed a `` good number '' of militants , but the western hostages had been recently moved . in another failed rescue attempt , linda norgrove , a 36-year-old british aid worker in afghanistan , was killed when american commandos tried to free her from her taliban captors on october 8 , 2010 . american forces arrived in helicopters in a remote area of eastern afghanistan , but because of the remote location they lacked much of the element of surprise . in the ensuing firefight , a seal threw a fragmentation grenade killing norgrove . the seal was later disciplined for throwing the grenade . u.s. special operations forces have also successfully freed american hostages , particularly when they had up to date intelligence and maintained the element of surprise . on january 25 , 2012 , members of seal team six parachuted into somalia and hiked two miles to a compound where somali pirates held jessica buchanan , a 32 year-old american aid worker , and poul thisted her 60-year-old danish co-worker . they surprised the pirates and freed buchanan and thisted . there 's also the well-known case of the rescue of capt. richard phillips whose ship the alabama maersk was hijacked by somali pirates in 2009 . three u.s. navy seal sharpshooters on a u.s. warship tracking the alabama maersk fired simultaneously at the pirates from a distance of 30 yards in heaving seas at nightfall , killing them all . the seals were able to generate surprise through astonishing sniping skills married to technology -- night vision scopes allowed them to shoot and kill the pirates in a matter of seconds and free capt. phillips unharmed . in another successful mission on september 7 , 2005 , the army 's delta force rescued roy hallums , an american contractor who was kidnapped in baghdad in 2004 by armed men from a local kidnapping ring demanding a $ 12 million ransom . the delta force operators were pointed to the house where hallums was held because of good intelligence from an iraqi detainee and when they dropped onto the house from helicopters they found that the kidnappers had fled . successful special operations missions require good intelligence and the element of surprise . hostage rescues are particularly tough as they require not only reaching the target undetected , but also doing the operation in a manner that ensures the hostages ' safety . even the brilliant operation to release the hostages at entebbe airport resulted in the deaths of three of the hostages . some of the successful recent hostage rescues such as the operations that freed buchanan and thisted , phillips , and hallums were operations to free hostages held by criminal groups rather than by terrorists . as terrorist groups like al qaeda in the arabian peninsula and isis frequently engage in hostage taking , american special operators may increasingly find themselves confronting enemies who are better armed and trained and more willing to threaten the lives of hostages than is the case of ordinary criminal groups .<doc-sep>a daring raid by u.s. and yemeni forces into an al qaeda stronghold in yemen freed eight hostages , but not before kidnappers stole away with some westerners , including an american . the raid took place monday , according to an american official and information posted on a yemini website associated with the country 's defense ministry .<doc-sep>`` my name is luke somers . i 'm 33 years old . i was born in england , but i carry american citizenship and have lived in america for most of my life , '' he says . somers , a photojournalist , fell into the hands of kidnappers in september last year . he missed being saved in a raid last week by u.s. and yemini special forces that freed eight hostages . the raid was planned after al qaeda militants were spotted transferring the hostages into pickups , `` chained and covered in blankets , '' according to a website associated with yemen 's defense ministry . militants drove them to a cave over 65 miles away from the town of hajir al-saiyer .<doc-sep>u.s. special operations forces attempted to rescue an american and briton held hostage by al-qaeda during an early morning raid on a cave in yemen , but the two westerners had already been moved by the time commandos arrived . news of the pre-dawn tuesday raid was first reported by the new york times on wednesday , which detailed how americans , including members of the navy 's seal team six , worked with yemeni counterterrorism forces to stage the attack on an al-qaeda hideout in the yemeni province of hadhramaut , near the border with saudi arabia . seal team six is the elite team which participated in the 2012 raid in which former al-qaeda leader and 9/11 mastermind osama bin laden was assassinated . eight hostages - including six yemenis , a saudi arabian and an ethiopian - were rescued in this week 's raid . a member of the yemen special forces confirmed that an unnamed american and briton were expected to be among the hostages in the remote cave . covert : a joint team of u.s. special forces and yemen counterterrorism agents conducted a raid on an al-qaeda hideout tuesday , freeing eight hostages . an american and briton were expected to be among the prisoners , but appear to have been moved shortly before the raid . u.s. officials confirmed that the raid took place , but referred all questions about the operation to the yemeni government . ` i would just tell you we continue to support yemeni counterterrorism efforts and would refer you to them to talk to any operations , ' rear admiral john f kirby , the pentagon press secretary , told reporters on tuesday . according to the times , the raid happened in the early hours of tuesday morning , when about two dozen u.s. special forces and yemeni soldiers were flown to a dune-filled area called hagr al-saiaar . the team then made their way on foot to a cave where the hostages were being held , and engaged in a firefight with members of the group al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula -lrb- aqap -rrb- . seven aqap fighters were killed in the battle , officials said . the soldiers and freed hostages then hiked back to waiting helicopters , and flew out of the rural region overrun by al-qaeda groups who are protected by the local tribes . the tuesday operation was the first reported incident where american forces have operated on the ground in yemen . however , the u.s. military has a strong presence in the country , which has authorized the pentagon to carry out drone strikes on terrorist groups . so far , the yemeni government has only confirmed the identity of one of the hostages freed in the raid : khalil al-mekhlafi . al-meklafi , a lecturer at yemen 's al bayda university who holds a doctorate in computer science , and two of his colleagues were abducted last year after finishing classes at the school . professor sailan al arami , president of the al bayda , said al-meklafi was hired by the university last year after serving for months at a police academy . a local journalist told the times that al-meklafi was likely abducted by al-qaeda militants , who thought his time as a police officer made him knowledgeable in how to make explosives . ` they think that he would help them making bombs , ' the journalist , who asked to remain anonymous , told the times . the saudi arabian hostage has also not been identified yet , but it is alleged that it could be diplomat abdullah al-khalidi . free ? six yemenis , an ethiopian and a saudi arabian were freed in the raid . the saudi arabian hostage has not been identified but could be diplomat abdullah al-khalidi -lrb- pictured left and right -rrb- . al-khalidi was kidnapped in aden , yemen in 2012 , and has appeared in al-qaeda videos pleading for his release -lrb- a grab of one of the videos on the right -rrb- . al-khalidi was kidnapped from the yemeni city of aden in 2012 , and has pleaded for his release in videos released by al-qaeda to the saudi arabian government . a spokesman at the saudi embassy in washington told the times that they had no information about the citizen who was released . this past summer , u.s. special ops participated in a similar raid in syria , where they failed to rescue american hostages held by the islamic state , after the extremist group started beheading american journalists and aid workers in videotaped recordings . the identity of the american targeted in the tuesday raid remains a mystery , since there has n't been a report of an american held hostage by aqap in yemen . | <t> three men , safe in texas , express gratitude to colombian military . </t> <t> ex-hostages said to be doing well , in reintegration process . </t> <t> french-colombian ingrid betancourt undergoing medical tests in paris . </t> <t> 15 hostages freed wednesday when colombian agents tricked rebels . </t> | freed american hostages ` overwhelmed with emotion '<T> |
-lrb- real simple -rrb- -- whether you 're hosting a formal party or just throwing together snacks for drinks with friends , we 've got ideas for transforming carryout into crowd-pleasing cuisine . everyone will assume your sink is stacked with dirty pots and pans . -lrb- and if you keep them out of the kitchen , they 'll never know the truth . -rrb- . tiny-size pizzas . start with : a large cheese pizza . -lrb- ask for it unsliced and , if possible , slightly underbaked . -rrb- . to make : avoiding the crust , cut out mini pizzas with round cookie or biscuit cutters . heat the rounds at 400º fahrenheit for about 5 minutes . top with slices of olives , marinated mushrooms , chopped prosciutto , an anchovy fillet , or fresh herbs -lrb- such as basil , flat-leaf parsley , rosemary , thyme , or oregano -rrb- . mediterranean bruschetta . start with : garlic bread from your favorite italian spot . to make : slather slices with prepared marinara or pesto sauce . top with goat cheese or mozzarella , a marinated pepper , or an oil-packed sun-dried tomato , then toast in the oven . also try : hummus po ' boys . spread hot garlic bread with hummus and top with coleslaw or lettuce and tomato . cap with more hot , crunchy bread . real simple : how to know when food is cooked just right . chicken - or shrimp-boat hors d'oeuvres .<doc-sep>start with : your favorite chicken or shrimp chinese stir-fry . to make : mound spoonfuls of stir-fry into the cuplike center leaves from a head of boston lettuce . if desired , top the boats with chopped nuts or scallion slices . also try : asian-mexican fusion . roll the dish with rice and some soy sauce in a giant tortilla . slice into single-serving pieces . chicken pasta with blue cheese and walnuts . start with : a golden-brown rotisserie chicken . to make : toss thin slices of chicken with hot pasta , crumbled blue cheese , and chopped walnuts . also try : quick chicken salad . stir dijon mustard , mayo , and chopped onion and herbs into shredded chicken meat . season with salt and pepper and spoon onto whole-grain bread for sandwiches . real simple : pasta glossary . antipasto platter . start with : assorted salad-bar treats .<doc-sep>to make : arrange swiss and cheddar cheese cubes , prosciutto and salami slices , marinated vegetables -lrb- artichoke hearts , red peppers , mushrooms -rrb- , mixed olives , and giant capers on a platter . also try : salad bar as personal sous-chef . make it your source for julienned vegetables , grated cheese , and bite-size meats . roasted duck , watercress , and brown rice salad . start with : half a chinese peking duck -lrb- 1 order -rrb- . to make : shred the meat and toss it with take-out brown rice and a splash of dumpling dipping sauce -lrb- most restaurants will add it to your order at no charge -rrb- . top with chopped watercress and scallions . also try : duck crostini . finely chop the meat and toss it with minced herbs , chopped onion , olive oil , and balsamic vinegar . pile the mixture on tiny toasts . real simple : easy fixes for 8 common kitchen mishaps . spareribs , minimalist style . start with : a few orders of chinese take-out ribs .<doc-sep>to make : simply separate the spareribs , heat , and serve on simple white plates . also try : spareribs with crunch . the glaze on chinese-style ribs provides the perfect glue for a crunchy coating . separate the ribs and roll them in chopped peanuts or toasted sesame seeds . serve hot on a scoop of fried or steamed rice . trimmings . start with : a bucket of chicken , some biscuits , mashed potatoes , and gravy -- all from your local kfc . to make : heat the chicken and biscuits in a 350º f oven for 10 minutes , then place in napkin-lined baskets . put the potatoes and gravy -lrb- request it on the side -rrb- in your best bowls . also try : chicken dippers . serve slices of fried chicken with homemade sauce -- yogurt or sour cream with honey mustard stirred in to taste . get a free trial issue of real simple - click here ! copyright © 2008 time inc. . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>by . olivia fleming . published : . 12:36 est , 2 january 2013 . | . updated : . 13:33 est , 2 january 2013 . a growing number of busy parents , with no time to cook for their precious youngsters , are turning to toddler takeout services instead . but far from your ordinary meal delivery , these pricey and gourmet dropped-to-your-door dinners are organic , made from local fresh produce , full of vegetables , and cater to the most advanced eaters . according to the new york post , brooklyn-based komi organics charges $ 180 for delivery of five lunches and five dinners from a menu serving grilled arctic char with herbed quinoa , julienned red pepper and cucumber ; and peach noodle kugel with swedish meatballs . toddler takeout : a growing number of busy parents , with no time to cook for their precious youngsters , are turning to food delivery services such as junior 's fresh instead . meanwhile junior 's fresh , one of new york city 's most well-known toddler-specific takeout brands , charges $ 40 for five meals - a menu including tarragon scented organic chicken breast with sweet potato over candy cane , beet barley risotto and golden raisins . but before these gourmet meal deliveries for the preschool set are dismissed as lazy and unnecessary , working parents argue it is an effective way to spend more quality time with their children . natasha gural-maiello , 41 , mother of . two-year-old michael alexander , says she has five junior 's fresh lunches delivered in a special refrigeration . pack every tuesday at 10am .<doc-sep>a manhattan teen was distraught when she found the message ` trash like you ' scrawled in her takeout box from trendy new york city burger spot umami burger , but learning the truth behind the message would make her feel even worse . juliette borghesan , 15 , found the message on sunday as she recovered from a nasty bout with pneumonia and her father treated her to the meaty treat . after her father called the restaurant to vent his outrage , the responsible umami employee soon called to apologize -- and to reveal that the to-go box had been filled with actual garbage throughout the day . sick to her stomach : as she recovered slowly from a nasty bout with pneumonia , 15-year-old juliette borghesan was further sickened when she heard hear takeout box from manhattan 's umami burger had contained trash . junk food : juliette had already started digging in to her food when she noticed the message , ` trash like you ' on the takeout box -lrb- left -rrb- . meanwhile , umami burger execs are denying the staffer 's version of things completely .<doc-sep>he has also refused to rescind the state 's new policy requiring health workers returning from west africa to self-quarantine at home for 21 days , the incubation period for ebola . on tuesday he maintained that he did n't think he 'd done anything wrong in keeping her isolated until health officials could be sure she did n't have ebola . ` we 're trying to be careful here , ' christie said on nbc 's today show . ` this is common sense , and ... the american public believes it is common sense . and we 're not moving an inch . our policy has n't changed , and our policy will not change . ' at the campaign event later that day christie pointed out that the centers for disease and control staff who were ` on the ground in university hospital monitoring the conditions she was in ' did n't think the state treated hickox unfairly , either . ` she had access to the internet and we brought her takeout food , ' he said . pouncing on christie 's comment , gawker called some of newark 's finest takeout restaurants and found that none of them delivered food to hickox - or at least not to the restaurants ' knowledge . as christie noted new jersey officials brought hickox the food , so takeout restaurants may not have been away they were feeding the ebola patient .<doc-sep>on the hatanaka website , the fake food designers say : ` hatanaka produces industrial arts food 's model ' or fake food in a self-supporting factory in tokorozawa , saitama . ` we make a fake food which appeals to sight for a taste by using our expert technology of the craftsman . ' -lsb- sic -rsb- . ribbons , butterflies and pretty little stars are so passe , this year all the coolest little girls will be wearing hairbands decorated with cured meats , according to the hatanaka fake food website . the bacon and scrambled eggs hairband , left , is part of the kooky accessories range that also includes a # 16 carbonara ring , complete with perfect egg yolk . a pizza necklace collar is perfect for the imaginative italophile in your life , and costs around # 75 . the hatanaka accessories range includes a fake strawberry hair bobble , left , and a sausage necklace , right . | <t> you can feed great food to guests by fiddling with takeout . </t> <t> use cookie cutter to cut bite-size pizzas out of large uncut pizza . </t> <t> slice a rotisserie chicken and toss with blue cheese and walnuts . </t> <t> spoon shrimp stir-fry into boston lettuce leaves , top with chopped nuts . </t> | fake your party food with takeout<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- federal investigators will declare the 2001 anthrax case solved on wednesday , when they make public their case against government researcher bruce ivins , a government source familiar with the case told cnn on tuesday . ex-army scientist bruce ivins , seen here in 2003 , died from an apparent suicide last week . but the case will not be considered closed , because administrative details remain incomplete , said the source , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing . before making the information public , the fbi is expected to share the evidence of ivins ' involvement with survivors and relatives of victims in the anthrax attacks , the source said . a lawyer for maureen stevens , the widow of bob stevens , the first victim of the 2001 attacks , said she was invited to the session and will attend . the tabloid photo editor died after inhaling anthrax that investigators believe was in a letter sent to american media inc. , the publisher of the sun and national enquirer tabloids , at its offices in boca raton , florida . another source familiar with the investigation said tuesday that in the fall of 2001 , ivins borrowed a machine that can convert wet anthrax , the kind used at fort detrick , into dry powder , which was found in the anthrax letters . such machines , called lyophilizers , are not usually used at fort detrick , where ivins worked , though they are easy to obtain . experts said the report may have no significance . `` i would n't necessarily make the conclusion that , just because he had access to a lyophilizer and used a lyophilizer , that that provides a smoking gun , that he must be using this for sinister purposes , '' said peter hotez , chairman of microbiology at george washington university in washington . richard spertzel , a former biodefense scientist who worked with ivins at the lab at fort detrick , said there was `` no way '' a lyophilizer could have created the fine anthrax spores used in the 2001 letters . spertzel said a more advanced machine would have been needed , and that no one working at a u.s. government lab could have produced such high quality anthrax in secret . ivins , who is expected to be blamed for the mailings of the toxin , which killed five people and sickened more than a dozen others -- died july 27 at a hospital in frederick , maryland , from an apparent suicide attempt two days earlier .<doc-sep>no charges have been made public . he became a suspect after investigators found dna evidence from the 2001 anthrax mailings on a flask used in his laboratory at the u.s. army medical institute of infectious diseases , said a source who is familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly about the case . ivins had worked for decades in the biodefense lab at fort detrick , where he was trying to develop a better vaccine against the toxin . the fbi had traced the anthrax used in the attacks to the lab by using a new technology , a u.s. official familiar with the investigation said . authorities were looking at whether ivins may have released anthrax to test a vaccine he was working on , another official said . some of the anthrax-laced letters , written in crude block letters , included the words , `` take penacilin -lrb- sic -rrb- now , '' according to photographs released by the fbi . since ivins ' death , suspicions about his involvement in the anthrax attacks have surfaced alongside questions about his sanity . at the time of his death , the 62-year-old scientist was under a temporary restraining order sought by a social worker who had counseled him in private and group sessions . she accused him of having harassed , stalked and threatened her with violence . the woman told the court in her complaint that ivins had been treated at a mental health facility . steven hatfill , another government scientist who was named by the justice department as a `` person of interest '' in the attacks , was never charged . he sued the department , which settled the case in june . the skepticism in scientific circles about the strength of the case against ivins heightens the importance of the government 's unveiling of its evidence against the scientist , a former prosecutor said . `` i think the public and the survivors of the anthrax attacks are entitled to see the evidence before the grand jury , '' said andrew mcbride . `` and if there was a draft indictment and they were ready to indict mr. ivins , they ought to see that as well . '' cnn producer kevin bohn contributed to this story .<doc-sep>the man , who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the north east of england , is the eight case to be have been identified since early june , with contaminated heroin the suspected source . last month it was reported that a drug user had died in a lancashire hospital after being infected with anthrax . dr chris whiteside , consultant in communicable disease control for public health wales , said : ` it 's likely further cases among people who inject drugs will be identified as part of the on-going outbreak in eu countries . bacillus anthracis : anthrax under a microscope . ` the department of health has alerted the nhs of the possibility of drug users presenting to emergency departments and walk-in clinics , with symptoms suggestive of anthrax . ' a spokeswoman for public health wales said : ` anthrax in drug users was considered to be very rare . `` before the 2009-2010 outbreak in scotland , only one previous case had been reported , in norway in 2000 . ' dr whiteside added that although anthrax was a very serious disease , it can be treated with antibiotics , especially if cases were identified early . humans can become infected with anthrax through the skin , inhalation , injection or ingestion of anthrax spores and symptoms can vary depending on the route of infection . drug users may become infected when heroin is contaminated with anthrax spores , however the drug is taken . the man at the centre of the latest outbreak is said to be responding to treatment well and is in a stable condition .<doc-sep>ivins had been questioned previously by the fbi , as had many scientists assisting the fbi , the source said . investigators believed the culprit might be a scientist because of the amount of knowledge needed to process the anthrax . fbi director robert mueller told cnn in july that `` there have been breakthroughs '' in the investigation and he was confident it would be resolved . watch mueller discuss `` breakthroughs '' in anthrax case '' `` we 've made great progress in the investigation and it 's in no way dormant , '' mueller said . `` i 'm confident in the course of the investigation , i 'm confident of the steps that have been taken in the course of the investigation , and i 'm confident that it will be resolved . '' early in the investigation , attorney general john ashcroft publicly identified a `` person of interest '' in the anthrax case -- steven hatfill , a former civilian researcher on anthrax . hatfill and ivins both worked at the bioweapons lab at fort detrick . hatfill was not charged and strongly denied involvement . he sued the justice department , claiming his privacy rights were violated when his name was leaked to the media in connection with the ongoing federal investigation into the biological attacks . watch hatfill deny involvement in anthrax case '' the justice department reached a settlement with hatfill in june . he is to receive a one-time payment of $ 2.8 million and $ 150,000 a year for life . cnn 's kevin bohn , kelli arena and mike ahlers contributed to this report .<doc-sep>anthrax -lrb- pictured -rrb- is an acute bacterial infection that normally infects humans when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores . ` it is possible that further cases may be seen in people who inject heroin . ` people who use drugs may become infected with anthrax when the heroin they use is contaminated with anthrax spores . ` this could be a source of infection if injected , smoked or snorted - there is no safe route for consuming heroin or other drugs that may be contaminated with anthrax spores . ' dr james sedgwick , interim director of the hpa 's kent health protection unit , said : ` in light of this recent case in medway , we have advised local agencies to talk to their service users who inject drugs about the risk of anthrax infection . ` people who inject drugs often experience skin infection but we strongly advise them not to ignore signs such as redness or excessive swelling around injection sites , or other symptoms of general illness such a high temperature , chills , severe headaches or breathing difficulties . ` they should seek medical advice quickly in such circumstances generally but particularly now because we have concerns that some batches of heroin in circulation may be contaminated with anthrax . early treatment with antibiotics is essential for a successful recovery . '<doc-sep>by . emily allen . published : . 06:08 est , 17 august 2012 . | . updated : . 06:55 est , 17 august 2012 . anthrax is very rare but it 's a bacterial infection caused by bacillus anthracis -lrb- pictured -rrb- . a drug user has died after being infected with anthrax , health experts said . the health protection agency said that a person who injected drugs died in hospital in blackpool . the name of the person or the hospital has not been disclosed . the hpa said the source of the infection is presumed to be contaminated heroin . the news comes after a spate of cases in europe since early june . the hpa said it is ` unclear ' whether the case in blackpool and another case in scotland - which was confirmed at the end of july - are linked to the european outbreak . anthrax is a rare bacterial infection and is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals , though other animals and some birds can also contract it . bacillus anthracis spores can survive in the environment for years or decades . dependent on the dose and route of exposure , the symptoms may develop within a week of taking heroin . an hpa spokesperson said : ` the patient . comes from the north west of england and was taken to hospital earlier . this week and died shortly afterwards . ` the infection was cultured in the laboratory and the results came back last night that it was anthrax . ` it is very difficult to identify the . source of the anthrax because the spores are miniscule . we do not know . where it may have originated . ` we are telling people on the ground who . work with drugs users to be aware of the danger and look out for gashes . that develop around injection sites . addict : heroin users have been warned to look out for signs of infection which include redness or . excessive swelling or high temperatures , chills or headache . ` you can treat anthrax with antibiotics . if caught early , otherwise it can be fatal . that is the vital message we . are trying to get out . ' since june there have been seven . confirmed cases of the infection - one in scotland , three in germany , . | <t> source : feds to declare anthrax case solved but not closed . </t> <t> bruce ivins , 62 , died last week as fbi prepared to charge him in 2001 attacks . </t> <t> another source says ivins used a machine to convert wet anthrax into dry powder . </t> <t> authorities will make case public after sharing details with victims and relatives . </t> | source : feds to declare anthrax case solved<T> |
donetsk , ukraine -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a frail irene famulak clutched her brother on the airport tarmac , her arm wrapped around him in a tight embrace , tears streaming down their faces . it was the first time since 1942 they had seen each other , when she was 17 and he was just 7 . siblings wssewolod galezkij and irene famulak were separated in 1942 when nazis took her to a labor camp . that was the night the invading nazis came to take her away from her ukrainian home . `` i remember it well because i kissed him good-bye , and he pushed me away , '' she said of her brother . `` i asked , ` why did you do that ? ' and he said that he does n't like kisses . '' `` the nazis told my mother that i was being taken to work in a german labor camp for six months . but it was , of course , much longer . i was there for years . '' both siblings survived the holocaust and grew up on different sides of the iron curtain , not knowing the fate of the other . but after 66 years apart , famulak , 83 , was reunited with her long lost 73-year-old brother , wssewolod galezkij . they held each other close this time , cherishing the moment . watch siblings hug for first time in seven decades '' `` i do n't believe anyone has ever known such happiness . now , i truly believe i can die satisfied , '' galezkij said . famulak made the long journey to donetsk in eastern ukraine from philadelphia , pennsylvania , after being contacted by the american red cross . the organization told her they had located her only surviving sibling . famulak said she spent world war ii in a labor camp in munich , germany , working in the kitchens . she had been taken to the camp with her older sister . when it was liberated in 1945 , famulak stayed in germany for several years , eventually emigrating to the united states in 1956 . she never saw her parents again after that day in 1942 when nazis separated her from her family . she and her brother still have no idea what happened to their mother and father . some of their siblings lived through the war , but later died ; others , they never heard from again after being separated . but her younger brother never gave up hope of tracking his sister down . he , too , was sent to a german labor camp , but after the war , he moved back to ukraine , then a republic of the soviet union . see photos of the `` needle in haystack '' reunion '' under soviet leader josef stalin , information on lost relatives was kept sealed , and galezkij said it was n't until reforms in the late 1980s , followed by the soviet collapse , that he started making progress in finding his sister . even then , it took him more than 17 years to locate her in the united states . he broke down in tears as he spoke of his overwhelming happiness at finding her . `` when the red cross told me they had found her in america , it was such a joy , '' he said , sobbing . in fact , he had to be taken to the hospital because he was so overcome when he first learned she was alive . at this week 's reunion , there was a doctor on hand at the airport as a precaution . back in the united states , there were tears , too . linda klein , the director of the american red cross holocaust and war victims tracing center , said the volunteer who helped the siblings find each other got caught up in the emotion herself . `` when i showed her the picture , she stood there and wept , '' klein said . `` she was beside herself . '' klein 's group has reunited 1,500 families since it began work in 1990 . she said the former soviet union released records in 1989 of concentration camps it liberated , greatly helping organizers find information on holocaust victims . the organization has 100 volunteers -- a third of them holocaust survivors , klein said . the group also helps families find information about their loved ones who died during the holocaust . they have brought together more than 50 families this year . all of their work is free . she says it 's often like `` looking for a needle in a haystack . '' `` we 're playing beat the clock right now , '' she said , adding , `` it 's about families that one day they were together and then they were apart . '' `` when a connection is made , there are just smiles all around . '' that was the case for this family in ukraine . years of trauma , of separation , of not knowing what happened to loved ones , have been replaced by celebration . in a picturesque orchard overlooking rolling fields , galezkij , his wife and their neighbors laid out a feast for his american sister . as the vodka flowed , he told her how he had survived for a lifetime without her . `` he says he always thought he 'd see me someday . he dreamt lots about me , '' famulak said , as she sat next to her brother . `` and he wrote a song for me . when he went to sleep , he sang every night and cried . '' with that , galezkij , weakened by illness and age , burst into song . but this time , he sang the words with pure joy . cnn 's michael sefanov and wayne drash contributed to this report .<doc-sep>a medal struck by the royal mint to mark 70 years since the end of the holocaust was unveiled last night , with the first presented to some of the dwindling number of survivors . chancellor george osborne and communities secretary eric pickles , who commissioned the silver medal , said it was vital to keep ` retelling ' the story of the murder of six million jews . the first of the run of medals were awarded to survivors and supporters of the holocaust education trust in downing street last night , and a limited number will be on sale on the royal mint 's website . the obverse features the words ` liberation 1945 ' in a typeface reflecting that used at belsen , breaking through barbed wire . the reverse commemorates the 11th armoured division , the british forces that liberated the camp , and a stylised eternal flame that has come to symbolise the holocaust victims . the obverse features the words ` liberation 1945 ' in a typeface reflecting that used at belsen , breaking through barbed wire . the reverse commemorates the 11th armoured division , the british forces that liberated the camp , and a stylised eternal flame that has come to symbolise the holocaust victims . among those who were presented with the first medals were gena turgel , 90 , who was liberated from bergen-belsen in april 1945 . having lost seven of her eight siblings and a tiny nephew in the holocaust . incarcerated in three concentration camps , she survived a trip to the gas chamber and forced marches between the camps and now lives in england . ben helfgott , 85 , a polish born british holocaust survivor and former champion weightlifter , was another recipient at last night 's reception in downing street . karen pollock , chief executive of the holocaust educational trust , which takes schoolchildren on visits to auschwitz , said : ` we are delighted that the chancellor has announced the commissioning of a special commemorative medal to mark 70 years since the end of the holocaust .<doc-sep>a new york delivery man was been awarded almost $ 1 million in damages by a jury after detailing the anti-semitic torment he suffered by three supervisors in the workplace . adam weircinski , who is in his fifties and lives in washington heights , won $ 900,000 and a ` moral victory ' following years of abuse at midtown manhattan restaurant mangia 57 . the brooklyn federal court was told how other employees would call him a ` dirty jew ' . nightshift manager artur zbozien was named in the lawsuit as someone who would ` pass gas ' in front of wiercinski and ` joke ' that is was zyklon b , the poison used in nazi gas chambers during the holocaust . ` my father had six siblings -- only two of them survived in what is now the ukraine , ' he told fox news . ' i had to explain to the members of the jury what is zyklon b.<doc-sep>lib dem mp david ward was summoned to meet party enforcers to explain comments about the holocaust he posted on his . website . a lib dem mp who sparked a row on the . eve of a holocaust memorial with comments about ` the jews ' is to escape . censure while he receives training in how not to be offensive . campaigners . accused nick clegg of not taking anti-semitism seriously after it . emerged that plans to punish bradford east mp david ward have been . ` adjourned ' while he learns what language to use in future . the . row comes as the lib dems reputation has been battered by allegations . of a cover-up over groping claims against lord rennard and the . resignation of former cabinet minister chris huhne , who faces jail for . perverting the course of justice . embattled lib dem leader mr clegg staged a showdown meeting with mr ward over his ` unacceptable ' comments in which he accused ` the jews ' of atrocities against palestinians . days before the annual holocaust memorial day last month , mr ward wrote on his blog : ` having visited auschwitz twice - once with my family . and once with local schools - i am saddened that the jews , who suffered .<doc-sep>the visit to auschwitz , organised by the holocaust educational trust , took place after two holocaust survivors spoke to the squad in england before they flew to poland earlier this week . at the end of the guided tour , fa chairman david bernstein and hodgson donned skull caps and lit candles in memory of the dead . mr grant 's father , meir granat , was . just a teenager when his father decided to uproot his family and flee . their hometown of mlawa , poland in 1937 . meir 's . father avram , feared that something terrible would happen and took his . wife and nine of their ten children on a three-year trek to find safety - . across poland , into the horrors of the warsaw camp and eventually to a . remote forest in russia . leading : england captain steven gerrard arrives at the oskar schindler factory in krakow , poland . visit : chelsea player ashley cole , right , makes his way to the museum on the factory site , left . according . to an interview with the bbc , grant explained that one child , hertsel , . was hidden in a monastery , rachel and estera were placed in . an orphanage and the rest were constantly moved around eastern europe in . search of safety . two of grant 's . father 's . siblings - koppel & hannah - were pulled from their train when it . stopped and were never seen again . he later discovered that both died at . auschwitz . the rest of his father 's family along . with many other jews were taken by train deep into russia 's wilderness . | <t> brother , sister meet for first time since 1942 , when nazis separated them . </t> <t> brother in ukraine never stopped searching : `` now i truly believe i can die satisfied '' </t> <t> an american red cross volunteer helped bring them together . </t> <t> even after all this time , the siblings do n't know what happened to their parents . </t> | holocaust siblings meet after 66 years<T> |
editor 's note : paul begala , a democratic strategist and cnn political contributor , was a political consultant for bill clinton 's presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to clinton in the white house . begala is not a paid political consultant for any politicians or candidates . click here for a rival view . paul begala says mccain 's vp choice , alaska gov. sarah palin , is completely unqualified to be president . -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- john mccain needs what kinky friedman calls `` a checkup from the neck up . '' in choosing alaska gov. sarah palin to be his running mate , he is not thinking `` outside the box , '' as some have said . more like out of his mind .<doc-sep>palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people , will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight . her personal story is impressive : former fisherman , mother of five . but that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency . for a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible . suddenly , mccain 's age and health become central issues in the campaign , as does his judgment . in choosing this featherweight , mccain passed over tom ridge , a decorated combat hero , a cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large , complex state of pennsylvania . ireport.com : ` mccain pick might be a gimmick ' he passed over mitt romney , who ran a big state , massachusetts ; a big company , bain capital ; and a big event , the olympics .<doc-sep>he passed over kay bailey hutchison , the texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military , good on television and -- obviously -- a woman . he passed over joe lieberman , his best friend in the senate and fellow iraq kool-aid drinker . he passed over former congressman , trade negotiator and budget director rob portman .<doc-sep>and he also passed over mike huckabee , the governor of arkansas . for months , the mccainiacs have said they will run on his judgment and experience . in his first presidential decision , john mccain has shown that he is willing to endanger his country , potentially leaving it in the hands of someone who simply has no business being a heartbeat away from the most powerful , complicated , difficult job in human history . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in a column appearing in newsweek , world affairs expert and author fareed zakaria said he thinks it would be best for republican presidential hopeful john mccain if gov. sarah palin bowed out as his vice presidential running mate . `` for him to choose sarah palin to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible , '' says zakaria . zakaria says mccain did not put the country first in making his v.p. choice , and he says palin is not qualified to lead the united states . cnn spoke to him about his commentary titled , `` palin is ready ? please . '' cnn : what did you initially think when sarah palin was announced as the republican vice presidential nominee ? zakaria : i was a bit surprised -- as i think most people were . but i was willing to give her a chance . and i thought her speech at the convention was clever and funny . but once she began answering questions about economics and foreign policy , it became clear that she has simply never thought about these subjects before and is dangerously ignorant and unprepared for the job of vice president , let alone president . watch zakaria slam sarah palin '' cnn : you do n't think she is qualified ? zakaria : no . gov. palin has been given a set of talking points by campaign advisers , simple ideological mantras that she repeats and repeats as long as she can . but if forced off those rehearsed lines , what she has to say is often , quite frankly -- nonsense . just listen to her response to katie couric 's question about the bailout . it 's gibberish -- an emptying out of catchphrases about economics that have nothing to do with the question or the topic . it 's scary to think that this person could be running the country . here is their exchange : . katie couric : why is n't it better , gov. palin , to spend $ 700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care , housing , gas and groceries ; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess ? gov. sarah palin : that 's why i say i , like every american i 'm speaking with , we 're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out . but ultimately , what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy , helping the -- it 's got to be all about job creation , too , shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track . so health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for americans . and trade , we 've got to see trade as opportunity , not as a competitive , scary thing . but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today , we 've got to look at that as more opportunity . all those things under the umbrella of job creation . this bailout is a part of that . cnn : but dan quayle was n't very qualified and that did n't seem to matter , did it ? zakaria : this is way beyond dan quayle . quayle was a lightweight who was prone to scramble his words , or say things that sounded weird , but you almost always knew what he meant . one of his most famous miscues was to the united negro college fund when he said , `` what a terrible thing to have lost one 's mind . or not to have a mind at all . '' now he was trying to play off a famous ad that the group used to run , `` a mind is a terrible thing to waste . '' and he screwed it up in a funny way . but read gov. palin 's answers and it does appear that she does n't have any understanding about the topic under discussion . cnn : but she has a lot of supporters . zakaria : look , i 'm not saying that she is not a feisty , charismatic politician who has done some good things in alaska . it is just we are talking about a person who should be ready to lead the united states at a moment 's notice . she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue , and this is a hell of a time to start . cnn : does it make you concerned about sen. mccain as a president ? zakaria : yes , and i say this with sadness because i greatly admire john mccain , a man of intelligence , honor and enormous personal and political courage . however , for him to choose sara palin to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible . he did not put the country first with this decision . whether it is appropriate or not , considering sen. mccain 's age most people expected to have a vice presidential candidate who would be ready to step in at a moment 's notice . the actuarial odds of that happening are significant , something like a one-in-five chance .<doc-sep>editor 's note : jack cafferty is the author of the best-seller `` it 's getting ugly out there : the frauds , bunglers , liars , and losers who are hurting america . '' he provides commentary on cnn 's `` the situation room '' daily from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. . you can also visit jack 's cafferty file blog . jack cafferty says john mccain shows virtually no intellectual curiosity , emulating president bush . new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- russia invades georgia and president bush goes on vacation . our president has spent one-third of his entire two terms in office either at camp david , maryland , or at crawford , texas , on vacation . his time away from the oval office included the month leading up to 9/11 , when there were signs osama bin laden was planning to attack america , and the time hurricane katrina destroyed the city of new orleans . sen. john mccain takes weekends off and limits his campaign events to one a day . he made an exception for the religious forum on saturday at saddleback church in southern california .<doc-sep>most of all , of course , there is the obvious lesson learned from palin : that the vice presidential pick needs to have a pre-existing base of expertise on a variety of issues . one of the many mistakes the mccain people have admitted is that they assumed that a sitting governor , by virtue of her position , would be up to the task of answering substantive questions of vital interest to the nation . `` it 's the threshold , '' says one former mccain adviser . well , at least it is now . sure , romney will want a running mate who balances his weaknesses with conservatives and maybe can lend a hand in a key state or two . but post-palin , the vice presidential nominee needs to be one thing more than anything else : competent , prepared and ready to lead . mccain 's credibility went down the tubes when the 72-year-old candidate offered the slogan `` america first , '' and then picked palin as his potential successor . mccain chose the hail mary ; that 's who he is . romney wo n't do that . his choice will be more staid and more subdued -- and someone he knows he can work with across that conference table . that might not be exciting , but it would be authentic . which is exactly what romney needs to be . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of gloria borger .<doc-sep>san diego , california -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- john mccain is stuck in an ideological no-man 's land . the arizona senator is not sufficiently liberal for liberals . but nor is he conservative enough for conservatives . in an extraordinary gesture on saturday , the arizona republican party formally censured mccain , who is one of the most respected and powerful elected officials in the state . those who adopted the resolution cited a legislative record that they say is insufficiently conservative on issues such as immigration reform and funding obamacare . they also seem upset that mccain has worked with democrats to pass legislation dealing with issues such as campaign finance reform . mccain has always been a hawk on national defense , and his pro-life credentials are solid . but , on other issues , he is a moderate -- at least by arizona standards . arizona gop rebukes mccain for not being conservative enough . former sen. jon kyl , who represented arizona in the senate for three terms and whose own conservative credentials were rarely called into question by republicans , stood by mccain . he told the arizona republic that mccain 's record was `` very conservative , '' and he called the resolution `` wacky . '' there 's that word again -- or at least a variation of it . do you remember when mccain got in a rhetoric shoving match with senate rookie ted cruz of texas ? last year , mccain called cruz , sen. rand paul of kentucky and rep. justin amash , r-michigan , `` wacko birds . '' he later apologized . partly , that 's what this vote in arizona is about . it 's revenge of the wacko birds . during that tussle with the tea party faction of the senate , many of the republican faithful -- both in arizona and around the country -- made it known that they preferred the confrontational approach on issues such as whether to fund obamacare . mccain and other senators within the republican establishment such as lindsey graham of south carolina were seen as much too accommodating . obviously , there are plenty of republicans with good memories . during their tussle , cruz tweaked mccain by appearing to include him in what the tea party party favorite called the senate 's `` surrender caucus . '' cruz later denied using those words , but audio of cruz 's appearance on the sean hannity radio show proved otherwise . for mccain , whose record of military service is well-known , any talk of surrender is tantamount to fighting words . perhaps . but i 've seen mccain surrender before -- to right-wing republicans in his home state when his political career seems jeopardized . that record is also fairly well-known and not nearly as commendable . i first met mccain in the late 1990s when i was a reporter and metro columnist for the arizona republic . i wrote some nice things about him and praised his ability to carve out an average of 60 % of the hispanic vote in his re-election campaigns . by the time mccain ran for president the first time , in 2000 , i 'd left the newspaper and returned to graduate school . i was a big fan of the `` maverick '' aboard the `` straight talk express '' who , according to the marketing , had gotten crossways with stuffy senate colleagues by putting solutions ahead of partisanship and working with democrats . twice during the campaign , i bumped into mccain , and he recognized me on sight . he would shake my hand enthusiastically . in 2008 , when he ran again , i interviewed him and wrote a column laying out the case that he was a better choice for latinos than barack obama . then came the senator 's radical makeover . in 2010 , mccain found himself running for re-election against j.d. hayworth , a former congressman turned right-wing radio talk show host . with polls showing that mccain was vulnerable to being turned out of office , the maverick became the conformist . he seemed determined to `` out crazy '' hayworth on immigration , supporting the arizona immigration law . that statute was opposed by 70 % of hispanics nationwide . i harshly criticized mccain for being so quick to throw hispanics under the bus . i had hoped that someone who withstood five and a half years of torture in a north vietnamese prison camp would have been stronger and able to resist those in his own party who tried to pull him to the nativist fringe -- and , by all appearances , succeeded in getting their way . the low point had to have been in june 2011 , when mccain -- with no evidence to back it up -- blamed some arizona wildfires on illegal immigrants . the real culprits turned out to be two campers who had been careless about putting out their campfire , and wound up being fined $ 3.7 million in damages . the senator wound up with huevos rancheros on his face . now , as mccain decides whether to run again for re-election in 2016 -- when he 'll be 80 , and for what would be his sixth term in the senate -- he seems to be drifting back to the middle . on immigration , he is signaling that he is ready to support the kind of comprehensive solution that he once championed . perhaps in response to that , the crazies on the far right are -- through gestures like this resolution -- pulling again . let 's hope that , this time , he is stronger and better able to resist . it would be nice to have the maverick back for good . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of ruben navarrette . | <t> begala : mccain 's vp choice unqualified to be heartbeat from the presidency . </t> <t> choice of alaska gov. sarah palin is `` shockingly irresponsible , '' he says . </t> <t> begala says choice makes mccain 's age , health , and judgment central issues . </t> | commentary : is mccain out of his mind ?<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the environmental protection agency advised employees last month not to answer questions from journalists , the government accountability office or the agency 's inspector general , according to an epa e-mail made public monday . california sen. barbara boxer has said the epa is becoming a `` secretive , dangerous ally of polluters . '' `` please do not respond to questions or make any statements , '' the june 16 e-mail said , advising staff to direct questioners to senior staff members cleared to answer questions from outside the agency . robbi farrell , chief of staff of the epa 's compliance assurance division , sent the e-mail to 11 managers in the department . the e-mail was posted on a web site of the public employees for environmental responsibility . the group , an alliance of state and federal environmental professionals , labeled the communication a `` gag order . ''<doc-sep>`` the order reinforces a growing bunker mentality within an epa that is the subject of a growing number of probes into political interference with agency operations , '' the group said . epa press director roxanne smith rejected that characterization , saying the e-mail was about efficiency , not secrecy . the memo was a response to a may 2007 audit by the inspector general 's office that found the epa did not respond earlier to ig reports on problems with water enforcement and other issues , the associated press reported . the audit , however , did not make any recommendations governing communication between staff and the inspector general 's office . `` a senior staffer in the enforcement office sent out an e-mail to simply help her office efficiently respond to requests from the press , gao and epa 's inspector general , '' smith told cnn . `` there is nothing in the procedure that restricts conversation between enforcement staff , the press , gao and the ig , '' she said , adding it is `` consistent with existing agency polices . ''<doc-sep>smith is one of the people to whom recipients of the memo were told to direct journalists ' questions . in a written statement , the epa 's office of inspector general said it did not approve the language of robbi 's warning and advised , `` all epa officials and employees are required to cooperate '' with the office . `` this cooperation includes providing the oig full and unrestricted access to epa documents , records , and personnel , '' the statement read . `` we are currently engaged in discussions with oeca -lsb- office of enforcement and compliance assurance -rsb- to assure that oig and oeca interpretations are consistent in this matter . '' and sen. barbara boxer , a california democrat who has long battled with the agency 's administrator , stephen johnson , said the instructions showed that johnson is `` turning the epa into a secretive , dangerous ally of polluters , instead of a leader in the effort to protect the health and safety of the american people . ''<doc-sep>last week , johnson denied a request to appear before two senate committees to talk about whether the epa 's decisions comply with its staff 's legal and technical recommendations . the committee 's chairman , sen. patrick leahy , d-vermont , has asked the inspector general 's office to assess the administration 's claims of executive privilege as it tries to keep documents related to epa decisions from congress . boxer chairs the senate committee on the environment and public works . she is expected to hold a news conference tuesday to talk about what she calls `` political interference in recent epa decisions '' and discuss `` apparent contradictions between the sworn testimony '' of johnson and accounts given by other sworn witnesses .<doc-sep>cummings demanded last week the inspector general , j. russell george , be called to appear again before the committee to answer questions about why his original report failed to note that liberal groups also were targeted for extra scrutiny . the irs probe `` has been characterized by one-sided and partial information leading to unsubstantiated accusations with no basis in fact , '' cummings said . george 's report in may indicated that lax oversight at the irs allowed for the singling out of some conservative groups starting in 2010 and continuing until last year . in particular , the report said irs workers in the tax-exempt unit used `` be on the lookout '' or bolo lists of words such as tea party to assess what applicants came under extra scrutiny . george subsequently testified that he could not specifically identify whether any liberal groups were similarly targeted . however , cummings said the information made public last week showed that george was aware that liberal groups also were targeted . conservative group takes irs , top obama officials to court . in addition , cummings revealed a may 2013 e-mail from george 's deputy that noted how 5,500 internal irs e-mails were reviewed as part of an effort to discover any directing of staff to target `` tea party and other political organizations , '' as well as any subsequent coverup .<doc-sep>reality tv show the block has been accused of ` faking ' an environmental scare , further damaging the show 's reputation . during the most recent series viewers were told the safety of the glasshouse building at the melbourne site was compromised by a mysterious underground tank , which held thousands of litres of fuel . concerned builders , worried that the fuel may have leaked into the surrounding soil , then received a visit from an environmental protection authority representative . or so viewers were led to believe . scroll down for video . the daily telegraph claims the epa inspector introduced as ` chris ' -lrb- pictured -rrb- , was actually an environmental scientist hired by the show . the show says it was a case of ` misidentification ' and an ` editing error ' the daily telegraph claims the epa inspector introduced as ` chris ' , seen taking soil samples , was actually an environmental scientist hired by the show . the block spokesman terry stuart admitted to the daily telegraph , it was a case of ` misidentification ' and an ` editing error ' when ` chris ' was labelled an epa inspector by host scott cam . ` back on the block , the rep from the epa has arrived and the news is not good , ' he said on a voiceover during the episode . ` he was in fact an environmental scientist hired by the block glasshouse to help us liaise with the epa , ' said mr stuart . the block spokesperson terry stuart admitted to the daily telegraph , it was a case of ` misidentification ' and an ` editing error ' when he -lrb- chris -rrb- was labelled an epa inspector by host scott cam . ` he was in fact an environmental scientist hired by the block glasshouse to help us liase with the epa , ' said block spokesperson terry stuart . the block cast : the show is being put under the spotlight again after claims of faking a visit from the epa . but after being contacted by the media , the epa confirmed they in fact had ` no involvement ' with the show regarding the pollution concerns . this is just one of a few scandals the show has had to deal with following its final episode . a viewer complaint , following footage of scott cam piloting a large remote controlled camera drone , raised more questions . australia 's civil aviation safety authority started investigations into possible safety breaches but alpha media , the company contracted to film aerial shots for the show , claimed he was n't actually flying the drone .<doc-sep>chaney admitted when he entered his guilty plea that he hacked e-mail accounts by clicking on the `` forgot your password ? '' feature to reset passwords . his research of celebrities ' personal information helped him to correctly answer their security questions . `` once chaney gained exclusive control of the victims ' e-mail accounts , he was able to access all of their e-mail boxes , '' the u.s. attorney 's office said . `` while in the accounts , chaney also went through their contact lists to find addresses of potential new hacking targets . '' while inside the accounts , he changed the settings to forward a copy of each e-mail to his own inbox , the prosecutor said . `` most of the victims did not check their account settings , so even after they regained control of their e-mail accounts , chaney 's e-mail address remained in their account settings . '' see more entertainment news .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a government official at the center of lavish spending at a las vegas conference claimed his fifth amendment rights against testifying at a congressional hearing monday , while his former boss said she mourned her departure from public service over the controversy . jeff neely , the general services administration official who organized the 2010 conference that cost $ 800,000 , repeatedly refused to answer questions , saying more than five times : `` i respectfully decline to answer any questions here today based on my fifth amendment constitutional privileges . '' rep. darrell issa , the republican chairman of the house oversight committee , then excused neely and proceeded with the hearing on what he described as an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money . `` we 're here today to get answers to questions that should have been asked and answered a long , long , long time ago , '' issa said in his opening remarks , adding that the controversy raised `` serious questions in the minds of the american people about how government is using their tax dollars . '' issa also injected politics into his comments , saying the situation should raise questions in the minds of people about whether `` government and its reach should be expanded , '' a common republican criticism of democrats . the controversy involving a normally obscure federal agency has become politically toxic after reports and video clips of the lavish 2010 conference in las vegas were released . the revelation has prompted taxpayer indignation , embarrassed the administration and put a spotlight on wasteful spending by the gsa , which acts as a real estate agency for the federal government . particular questions raised by issa included why it took 11 months for the results of an inspector general 's investigation to become public , and why a former congressional aide to president barack obama remained in his top job at gsa when he likely knew of the wrongdoing -- or should have . in later tough questioning of that official , gsa chief of staff mike robertson , issa determined that a lawyer in the white house counsel 's office knew of the ongoing investigation of the gsa in the middle of 2011 , nine months before the earliest time acknowledged to date by the administration . however , robertson later issued a statement to clarify his testimony to the committee , saying : `` i only mentioned in passing the existence of an ig -lrb- inspector general -rrb- investigation as i bumped into a white house staffer that i regularly worked with on gsa issues . this was in late may or june of 2011 . '' committee members from both parties expressed outrage monday over the gsa 's excessive spending , contracting violations and other abuses cited by the inspector general 's report . rep. elijah cummings of maryland , the ranking democrat on the panel , called the gsa behavior `` indefensible and intolerable , '' taking aim at neely , a public buildings service regional commissioner for gsa who organized the las vegas conference . `` in one e-mail , '' cummings began , `` mr. neely invited personal friends to the conference , writing , and i quote -- and this is simply incredible -- quote : ` we 'll get you guys a room near us , and we 'll pick up the room tab . could be a blast . ' end of quote . he then went on and wrote this -- ' i know i 'm bad , but as deb and i often say , why not enjoy it while we have it and while we can . ai n't gon na last forever . ' end of quote . well , mr. neely it stops now . '' in her opening statement , former gsa administrator martha johnson said she found a badly managed gsa when she took over in 2010 after more than two years of interim leadership . she added that the western regions conference at the heart of the problem had become a `` raucous , extravagant , arrogant , self-congratulatory event that ultimately belittled federal workers . '' when she received a draft of the final inspector general 's report outlining the abuses , johnson said , she started thinking immediately she might have to resign . her final decision to step down came `` three or four days '' before the final report was released in march because she wanted to send a message to the american people that `` this was unacceptable , it was appalling and not the norm , '' said johnson , who had a long career in public service . `` i will mourn for the rest of my life the loss of my appointment , '' johnson said of her resignation . johnson stepped down nearly two weeks ago as the obama administration revealed details of the western regions convention at a las vegas casino . videos then surfaced of david foley , a deputy commissioner of the public buildings service , an arm of the gsa , appearing to mock congressional oversight . in it , he gave a talent show award to an employee whose video featured a rap about spending too much and joking about avoiding investigation . | <t> epa e-mail told employees not to answer questions from its own inspector 's office . </t> <t> workers also told not to talk to reporters or government accountability office . </t> <t> watchdog group calls e-mail a `` gag order '' ; epa official says it 's not about secrecy . </t> <t> tuesday news conference to address whether epa avoided giving public information . </t> | epa e-mail to workers : do n't answer inspector 's questions<T> |
new orleans , louisiana -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as hurricane gustav neared louisiana 's coast monday morning , forecasters warned that the storm could stall over louisiana and northeast texas for several days , which would `` exacerbate the threat of heavy rains and inland flooding . '' water from a canal in new orleans , louisiana , floods a road as hurricane gustav makes landfall monday . southern louisiana 's barrier islands and coast reported hurricane force winds and heavy rains from gustav , which was centered about 80 miles south of new orleans and about 20 miles south-southeast of port fourchon , louisiana , at 8 a.m. ct. . power went out about 6 a.m. in the western part of downtown new orleans and in the french quarter 10 minutes later , cnn correspondents chris lawrence and anderson cooper reported . the eye of hurricane gustav made landfall near cocodrie , louisiana , about 9:30 a.m. ct , the national hurricane center said . gustav 's top winds weakened to 110 mph , downgrading it to a category 2 storm , the hurricane center said . watch water overflow banks of industrial canal '' earlier predictions of a category 4 storm , which would mean winds of at least 131 mph , and fresh memories of katrina , which came ashore in 2005 with 127-mph winds , fueled the evacuation of 2 million residents from new orleans and other parishes . but gustav never regained the strength lost over cuba , and by monday morning hurricane center forecasters said its cloud pattern looked `` a bit more ragged . '' watch new orleans man explain his sad reason for staying '' the latest discussion published by the hurricane center forecasters said computer models show `` gustav or its remnants slowing to a crawl '' over northeast texas over the next three to five days . `` such slow motion would exacerbate the threat of heavy rains and inland flooding , '' the forecasters said . watch water spill over canal levee '' with hurricane-force winds extending 70 miles from the center , the islands and shoreline are already in reach of gustav 's fury . sustained winds of 91 mph and gusts of 117 mph were measured in southwest pass , louisiana , during the 4 a.m. hour , the hurricane center said . cnn 's ali velshi was hunkered down in a house on grand isle , louisiana , where only a handful of people remained . when high winds first kicked up about 3:15 a.m. monday , the barrier island 's electric power went out , velshi said . a storm surge of at least 14 feet is expected there , he said .<doc-sep>the official mandatory evacuation order for the general population will remain in effect until then , said the mayor 's spokesman , james ross . nagin had planned for a phased return to the city , allowing operators of essential businesses and some residents back wednesday . safety and utility personnel began returning tuesday . watch gustav 's aftermath '' bush said he had authorized the release of some oil from the strategic petroleum reserve to aid in the region 's clean-up efforts . the president has declared 34 of louisiana 's 64 parishes federal disaster areas , making residents there eligible for federal aid . gustav -- which has been downgraded to a tropical depression , meaning its winds are less than 39 mph -lrb- 63 kph -rrb- -- was still causing trouble in the gulf region and northward . ireport.com : did gustav affect you ? the storm had 20-mph winds as it moved to the northwest at 3 mph . its center was about 20 miles -lrb- 32 kilometers -rrb- south of texarkana , on the texas-arkansas border at the northeast corner of texas . early wednesday , flood watches and warnings remained in effect for parts of louisiana , mississippi , texas , arkansas , oklahoma and missouri . watch louisianans get back to business '' as of 4 a.m. ct , some parts of louisiana and mississippi had already received more than 6 inches of rain . among them : monroe , louisiana -lrb- 9.3 inches -rrb- ; alexandria , louisiana -lrb- 8.1 inches -rrb- ; mccomb , mississippi -lrb- 7.3 inches -rrb- ; and hattiesburg , mississippi -lrb- 6.4 inches -rrb- . other areas receiving heavy rainfall were mount ida , arkansas -lrb- 4.7 inches -rrb- ; pensacola , florida -lrb- 3.6 inches -rrb- ; and baton rouge , louisiana -lrb- 4.6 inches -rrb- , according to the national weather service . watch who gustav hit hardest '' gustav came ashore monday near cocodrie , louisiana -- about 80 miles southwest of new orleans -- and moved along the coast to the northwest , avoiding a direct hit on the city . houma , morgan city and other coastal cities took the brunt of the storm .<doc-sep>the low-lying parish near the mouth of the mississippi was heavily damaged during hurricane katrina in 2005 . parish officials have tried to get the federal government to take the private levee into their system for several years , nungesser said . in the meantime , he said , the parish raised the levee 2 feet and planted grass on top of it to prevent erosion . `` obviously , 2 feet was not enough , but that 's as high as we were able to raise it , '' he said . gustav made landfall about 10:30 a.m. monday near the coastal town of cocodrie , louisiana , roughly 80 miles southwest of new orleans . in new orleans , gustav drove sheets of water over the protective levees around new orleans ' industrial canal early monday afternoon , but the walls appeared to have held as the winds faded . see where the water was coming over levees '' up to 6 feet of water spilled into an industrial park in the upper 9th ward of new orleans at one point late monday morning , pouring through small gaps in the concrete flood walls before receding in the afternoon . wind-whipped whitecaps curled over the top of the flood walls near the claiborne avenue railroad bridge while others poured across the levee in the gentilly neighborhood , north of downtown . as the storm eased , inspectors from the army corps of engineers and parish levee boards went out to check on the earthen walls and have found nothing to raise alarms , said col. greg gunter , a corps of engineers spokesman . `` the levees all held up , '' said new orleans mayor ray nagin . `` i was hoping that this would happen -- that we would be able to stand before america and before everyone and say we had some success with the levee system . ''<doc-sep>four hospice patients died while waiting for air ambulances to evacuate them from southern louisiana , according to richard zuschlag , chairman and ceo of acadian ambulance . gustav was blamed for more than 60 deaths in the caribbean , including 51 in southwestern haiti . at 10 p.m. ct , gustav was a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph , the national hurricane center said . in new orleans , gustav drove sheets of water over the protective levees around the industrial canal early monday afternoon , but the walls appeared to hold up under the onslaught as the winds faded . up to 6 feet of water spilled into an industrial park in the upper 9th ward late monday morning , pouring through small gaps in the concrete flood walls before receding in the afternoon . watch water spill over the levee '' but as the storm eased , inspectors from the army corps of engineers and parish levee boards went out to check on the earthen walls and have found nothing to raise alarm , said col. craig gunter , a corps of engineers spokesman . ireport.com : see one reader 's footage of the levee . `` the levees all held up , '' nagin said . `` i was hoping that this would happen , that we would be able to stand before america and before everyone and say we had some success with the levee system . '' with the water level in lake pontchartrain north of the city rising , the army corps of engineers closed flood gates on the 17th street canal and the london avenue canal , two areas that caused some of the more severe flooding during katrina . official feared late monday afternoon that a private levee south of new orleans was in danger of failing , but water levels receded , and sandbagging efforts appeared to have paid off . `` we have stopped the bleeding , and i am very encouraged by what we are seeing , '' plaquemines parish president billy nungesser said of the levee in braithwaite . gustav made landfall monday morning near the coastal town of cocodrie , louisiana , about 80 miles southwest of new orleans . ireport : watch winds rip new orleans rooftop . the storm 's eastern bands , which generally pack the most powerful winds , also hammered mississippi as gustav moved to the west of new orleans .<doc-sep>on its current track , gustav would reach the northern gulf on monday . thousands of anxious cubans had boarded up their homes and sought safety from gustav earlier as it slammed into the island nation . as it made landfall in western cuba on saturday night with sustained winds near 150 mph -lrb- 240 kmh -rrb- , the national hurricane center said . some fluctuations , with an overall slight strengthening , is forecast for the next 24 hours , and forecasters said gustav could become a category 5 hurricane within that period . see gustav 's projected path '' hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 in intensity on the saffir-simpson scale . a category 5 is the highest classification , with sustained winds of more than 155 mph . a category 4 has winds of 131 to 155 mph and can cause extreme damage . anticipating the storm , about 10,000 cubans evacuated saturday to cuba 's mainland from la isla de juventud , or isle of youth , a province south of the nation 's western end . the hurricane center said western cuba could receive as much as 25 inches of rain . residents sought refuge with family or friends , or went to a government shelter , cnn 's morgan neill said . cubans also headed to higher ground on the mainland , with many utilizing horse-drawn carriages and vintage cars . president raúl castro checked with the island 's officials saturday to be sure preparations were on track , neill said . | <t> new : eye of gustav made landfall near cocodrie , louisiana , about 9:30 a.m. ct . </t> <t> gustav stalling over northeast texas would `` exacerbate '' inland flooding , warns nhc . </t> <t> hurricane gustav 's 110 mph winds downgrade it to a category 2 storm . </t> | gustav , near landfall , could park over northeast texas<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- new zealand warmed up for their tri-nations decider against australia with a 101-14 rout of samoa in a one-off rugby union test on wednesday in new plymouth , running in 15 tries . conrad smith touches down for one of his two tries in the all blacks win . fullback mils muliaina scored three tries in the first half , center conrad smith and winger richard kahui touched down twice and nine other players added their names to the new zealand scoresheet as the all blacks beat a weakened samoan team by a record margin . new zealand led 47-7 , seven tries to one , at halftime and added eight tries , including a penalty try , in the second spell to surpass their highest score against samoa . the all blacks had a 26-0 lead after 16 minutes and set their record score against samoa -- surpassing the 71-13 in 1999 -- despite being held scoreless for periods of 18 minutes in the first half and 10 minutes in the second . it was the fifth time new zealand had reached 100 points in a match , with the all blacks ' record being the 145-17 win over japan at the 1995 world cup . samoa was forced to pick a severely under-strength side because many of its leading and most-experienced players are involved with european club sides . most of the players who took the field wednesday were young and samoa-based and playing against the all blacks for the first time . although outgunned by an all blacks team which overwhelmingly controlled territory and possession , samoa played with great spirit and scored a try in each half . flyhalf uale mai scored and converted his own try after 28 minutes and flanker alafoti faosiliva touched down off a break by uale mai four minutes before fulltime . `` what can you say ? 100 points , '' samoa captain filipo levi said . `` it shows the all blacks are on fire at the moment . they 've showed in the tri-nations competition that they 're a very consistent team . `` for some of our boys it was a big step up from playing club rugby in samoa but , having said that , it was a big learning curve . '' flyhalf daniel carter converted six of the all blacks ' first-half tries , surpassing 2,000 points in first-class rugby , and his replacement stephen donald scored his first test try and converted seven of new zealand 's eight second-half tries . the match was scheduled to help the all blacks bridge the three-week gap between their most recent tri-nations clash with south africa and their next , against australia , at brisbane on september 13 . the brisbane match will decide the outcome of the tri-nations tournament . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>twenty of new zealand 's 26 wins over wales have been by a margin greater than 10 points . twenty of new zealand 's 26 wins over wales have been by a margin greater than 10 points . mccaw will be keen to repeat the trick when he becomes the first rugby union player to captain his country in 100 tests . he has led new zealand to 87 wins in 99 tests as captain , and spoke of his pride in playing for and leading the all blacks on thursday .<doc-sep>nation : new zealand -lrb- 2003 - -rrb- . international caps : 100 . international points : 1,440 . international tries : 17 . all black legend carter was unable to make an impact though , failing to score or help overturn the deficit as the crusaders lost top spot in the new zealand conference as they search for an eighth super rugby title .<doc-sep>mccaw led his side to world cup victory in 2011 and has won international player of the year three times . mccaw heads down the tunnel to new zealand dressing room after a rampant all blacks display . all blacks coach steve hansen first spotted mccaw when he was playing in a schoolboy match . ` he was about 17 , ' said hansen . ` he was n't a natural athlete ; he had four feet and could n't catch a cold . but he had a massive capacity to learn and he always wanted to be better . ` he was very good over the ball . you could run him over with a tractor and he would still get up and have another go . the thing that 's made him great , outside of his mental strength , is the way his game has continually evolved . '<doc-sep>australia were just under three seconds adrift with new zealand winning the bronze medal after beating russia in their run off . there was promise of more gold for the rampant home team in the women 's team pursuit where the trio of laura trott , joanna rowsell and dani king broke their own world record in qualifying . their time of three minutes 15.669 seconds , edged their own mark for the 3,000 m event set at the world championships earlier this year . it is the seventh world record to be set in the velodrome and the fifth for the hosts , who won the men 's team sprint on the first night . | <t> new zealand rout samao 101-14 in rugby union test in new plymouth . </t> <t> all blacks run in 15 tries as they warm up for tri-nations decider against australia . </t> <t> flyhalf dan carter passes 2,000 first class points during match . </t> | rampant new zealand run up 100 points<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the head of pakistan 's ruling coalition announced thursday that the government will move to impeach president pervez musharraf . president pervez musharraf took control of pakistan in a military coup in 1999 . `` the coalition reaffirmed the resolve of democracy and democratic forces will work jointly to make a transition to genuine democracy , '' the head of pakistan people 's party asif ali zardari said , reading a joint communique with his coalition partners . before pursuing impeachment proceedings , pakistani lawmakers will demand musharraf take a vote of confidence in the newly elected parliament , which he had vowed to do last year , zardari said . `` the people of pakistan gave a clear mandate in favor of democracy and democratic forces and voted for the change to oust gen. musharraf by defeating his ... party , '' zardari added . `` in spite of his clear commitment that if his party was defeated in the election he would resign , he continues to cling to the office of the president . '' watch an expert talk about the impact of a possible impeachment '' if musharraf does not request a vote of confidence , the national assembly will meet on monday to consider impeachment proceedings , ppp spokesman capt. wasif syed told cnn . speaking a short time before thursday 's announcement , syed said there are enough votes in parliament right now to impeach the president . but musharraf may still have one card up his sleeve : he could move to dissolve parliament and dismiss the prime minister . amid the political upheaval , prime minister yousaf raza gilani will replace musharraf at the opening ceremony of the olympics on friday in beijing , pakistan 's state-run news agency reported . musharraf , who seized power in a 1999 bloodless military coup , has seen his power erode significantly since he stepped down as the country 's military ruler last year and since the opposition parties ' victory in february 's parliamentary elections . the new civilian government is under a lot of pressure to control taliban and al qaeda militants in its tribal region along the afghan border . the cia recently accused pakistan 's intelligence service of providing support for the militants who bombed india 's embassy in kabul , afghanistan last month . fighting on thursday between pakistani paramilitary troops and taliban forces killed 25 taliban and five soldiers along the afghan border , an army spokesman told cnn . asked about the situation , dr. ishtiaq ahmad -- an islamabad-based political analyst -- told cnn on wednesday that he believes musharraf `` will fight back '' against any attempt to remove him from power . `` before they impeach the president , he might pre-empt them by using article 58 -lrb- 2b -rrb- , '' he said , referring to the constitutional article that gives the president power to dissolve parliament and dismiss the prime minister . ahmad , a professor of international relations at islamabad 's quaid-i-azam university , said any attempt to remove musharraf would be a `` next to an impossible task '' because the president still has support . `` the army does n't want him to be eliminated . the americans are still favoring him , '' he noted . cnn 's reza sayah contributed to this report .<doc-sep>court today involved musharraf 's decision in 2007 to detain senior . judges , including the chief justice of the supreme court , when he . declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution . the . decision outraged many pakistanis , and further fueled a nationwide . protest movement by lawyers that eventually resulted in musharraf . stepping down under the threat of impeachment . before he returned to the country , . musharraf obtained pre-arrest bail for the judges ' case and two others , . meaning he could not be arrested when he landed - a feature of . pakistan 's legal system . the islamabad high court refused to extend that bail today and ordered his arrest , said police officer ali asghar . the court previously agreed to extend . his bail in the case for six days on april 12 . it 's unclear why they . chose to reject it this time .<doc-sep>musharraf stepped down in august 2008 after the governing coalition began taking steps to impeach him . prosecutors say musharraf violated pakistan 's constitution by imposing the state of emergency . in january , musharraf was unable to attend another court hearing after being hospitalized . asiya ishaq , a supporter and leader of the all pakistan muslim league , said the former president had been feeling pressure in his chest and was not well . pakistan media has reported he has been receiving treatment for high blood pressure . musharraf is also on an `` exit control list '' in pakistan , which prevents him leaving the country , although akram shaikh , the prosecutor in the case , said monday that if the court allows the 70-year old to travel abroad then he has no objection . pakistan media has reported that musharraf 's mother is currently in critical condition in a hospital in the uae , and that he has requested permission to visit her .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a court in pakistan has banned former president pervez musharraf from politics for life . tuesday 's move -- which can appealed by the controversial figure -- is another barrier in the roadblock musharraf faces as he tries to get back into his country 's political mix . the ruling by the high court in peshawar follows similar ruling from lower courts and the election commission . musharraf can pursue an appeal in the peshawar court or take it to the country 's supreme court . there was no immediate comment from musharraf 's camp .<doc-sep>a united nations panel looking into bhutto 's assassination concluded that pakistan 's former military-led government failed to adequately protect her and that intelligence agencies hindered the subsequent investigation . the panel 's scathing report in april 2010 said the suicide bombing that killed bhutto `` could have been prevented '' and that police deliberately failed to pursue an effective investigation into the killings . but musharraf 's government has said bhutto had been afforded adequate protection . musharraf 's legal adviser told cnn that musharraf has not appeared before the court because the accusations against him are baseless and politically motivated . `` this is political victimization against musharraf , '' muhammad ali saif said . `` musharraf was never contacted by investigators to get his version of the assassination . '' musharraf went to london after resigning in 2008 . he decided to start a political party last year and make a comeback . he has said he wants to return for a presidential run in 2013 because he sees suffering in pakistan and does n't see a political party offering a solution . journalist nasir habib contributed to this report . | <t> pakistan 's government confirms move to impeach president pervez musharraf . </t> <t> musharraf may still move to dissolve parliament and dismiss the pm . </t> <t> pm yousaf raza gilani will replace musharraf at the olympic opening ceremony . </t> <t> musharraf seized power in a 1999 military coup . </t> | pakistan coalition to pursue musharraf impeachment<T> |
kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the leader of nepal 's former communist rebels was named as the country 's new prime minister friday . prachanda is still the supreme commander of the maoists people 's liberation army . pushpa kamal dahal , also known as prachanda , was elected four months after elections in which his communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- became the largest party in the 601-member constituent assembly . prachanda received 464 votes of the 577 votes cast , while his rival sher bahadur deuba of the nepali congress party received 113 votes . most of the parties in the assembly voted for the maoist candidate . a simple majority was enough to be elected the prime minister .<doc-sep>prachanda 's victory became certain on thursday when the third and fourth biggest parties in nepal 's assembly decided to back him . he will now lead a coalition government , although talks are ongoing on about the allocation of ministerial portfolios . the maoists signed a peace deal with the government in november 2006 , joined an interim parliament and government in 2007 and fought multi-party elections in april this year . the communist party of nepal unexpectedly became the largest party in the elections , winning 220 of the 575 elected seats in the assembly . the assembly declared nepal a republic in may and in july elected nepal 's first president , physician ram baran yadav .<doc-sep>prachanda , 54 , entered politics when he was 17 but went underground in 1981 , making his first public appearance after 25 years in 2006 . the maoists launched an insurgency to abolish the monarchy in 1996 and the ten-year conflict claimed more than 13,000 lives . according to the peace deal agreed in 2008 , the estimated 19,602 maoist combatants would be integrated into the country 's security structure , the process of which is yet to be worked out . prachanda remains the supreme commander of the maoists people 's liberation army . besides completing the peace process , the new government has to face many challenges including inflation , lawlessness , impunity and ethnic aspirations .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- an unopposed former communist leader was elected nepal 's new prime minister saturday , ending nearly three weeks of political uncertainty . madhav kumar nepal waves at his supporters at the country 's parliament in kathmandu . madhav kumar nepal of the communist party of nepal -lrb- unified marxist-leninist -rrb- was the only person to serve as a candidate for the post after he received backing from more than 20 of the 25 parties in parliament . nepal , 56 , is a former general secretary of the communist party , but had resigned after the party made a poor showing last year against another communist movement . in that vote , the communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- became the largest party , with 38 percent of the seats in the 601-member constituent assembly which also functions as parliament . nepal had been general secretary since 1993 and served as the country 's deputy prime minister for nine months in 1995 . pushpa kamal dahal , the maoist chairman , resigned as prime minister may 4 after the president overturned the cabinet 's decision to sack the army chief . nepal became a republic last year . the new government has two important tasks before it : the writing of a new constitution within a year , and integration of 19,600 maoist combatants into the security forces . without the support of the former maoist rebels , these tasks can not be achieved . the maoists fought a 10-year insurgency aimed at abolishing the monarchy .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- an unopposed former communist leader was elected nepal 's new prime minister saturday , ending nearly three weeks of political uncertainty . madhav kumar nepal waves at his supporters at the country 's parliament in kathmandu . madhav kumar nepal of the communist party of nepal -lrb- unified marxist-leninist -rrb- was the only person to serve as a candidate for the post after he received backing from more than 20 of the 25 parties in parliament . nepal , 56 , is a former general secretary of the communist party , but had resigned after the party made a poor showing last year against another communist movement . in that vote , the communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- became the largest party , with 38 percent of the seats in the 601-member constituent assembly which also functions as parliament . nepal had been general secretary since 1993 and served as the country 's deputy prime minister for nine months in 1995 . pushpa kamal dahal , the maoist chairman , resigned as prime minister may 4 after the president overturned the cabinet 's decision to sack the army chief . nepal became a republic last year . the new government has two important tasks before it : the writing of a new constitution within a year , and integration of 19,600 maoist combatants into the security forces . without the support of the former maoist rebels , these tasks can not be achieved . the maoists fought a 10-year insurgency aimed at abolishing the monarchy .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- after more than seven months of political gridlock , nepal 's parliament thursday elected a 60-year-old leftist leader as the country 's new prime minister . jhala nath khanal , chairman of the leftist communist party of nepal -lrb- unified marxist-leninist -rrb- , received 368 votes in the 601-member parliament . his nearest rival , ram chandra poudel of the nepali congress , got 122 votes and bijay kumar gachhedar of madhesi people 's rights forum -lrb- democratic -rrb- got 67 votes . before the vote , khanal said in parliament that resolving the political complexities of the country would be his first priority . khanal faces the challenge of preparing -- with the support of other parties -- a new republican constitution by a may 28 deadline and finalizing an agreement on the future of nearly 20,000 maoist combatants . the country had been without a proper government since outgoing and caretaker prime minister madhav kumar nepal resigned in june . sixteen rounds of voting in parliament since july failed to produce a prime minister since none of the parties had a majority . nepal 's biggest party , the unified communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- , decided to withdraw its own candidate earlier thursday and back khanal . he becomes the third prime minister since nepal became a republic in 2008 , ending centuries of monarchy rule . he replaces nepal , who was also of the same party but had the support of nepali congress , the second biggest party in parliament .<doc-sep>kathmandu , nepal -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- nepal 's octogenarian prime minister girija prasad koirala resigned thursday , ending two months of political deadlock following elections for a constituent assembly in april . nepal 's prime minister girija prasad koirala has resigned after two years in the job . `` i would like to announce my resignation from the post of prime minister in this constituent assembly , '' koirala , 84 , told the 601-member assembly . nepal 's former rebels , the communist party of nepal -lrb- maoist -rrb- , which became the largest party but fell short of a majority in the april elections , is now expected to form the new government . | <t> prachanda , communist party of nepal chairman , won 464 out of 577 votes . </t> <t> a simple majority was enough to be elected the prime minister . </t> <t> assembly declared nepal a republic in may and july elected first president . </t> <t> the post of president is largely ceremonial . pm has executive powers . </t> | former communist becomes nepal pm<T> |
jakarta , indonesia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- about 50 students broke into a dutch consulate compound in indonesia wednesday to protest a film by a dutch lawmaker that many muslims consider anti-islamic . protesters demonstrate against an anti-islamic film in front of the dutch embassy in jakarta . the protesters tore off the gate of the embassy in the city of medan and ripped down a flag , said dutch embassy spokeswoman gonneke de ridder . local television carried pictures of police dispersing and rounding up demonstrators . there were no immediate reports of injuries . indonesia is the world 's most populous muslim nation . the 15-minute film , `` fitna , '' features disturbing images of terrorist acts juxtaposed over verses from the quran to paint islam as a threat to western society . it has been posted on several web sites , including google video and youtube .<doc-sep>dutch prime minister jan beter balkanende has said his government worried that geert wilders ' film could provoke a violent backlash . the film has prompted protests in other parts of the muslim world . soon after its release last month , hundreds of angry muslims rallied in pakistan , where the government temporarily blocked access of youtube over a trailer for wilders ' film . the protesters burned the dutch flag and called on pakistan to cut ties with the netherlands . the dutch government and others , including the european union and the organization of the islamic conference , have rejected the film . the oic has 57 member states over four continents and claims on its web site to be the second largest inter-governmental organization , after the united nations . in its statement , it urged the international community to condemn the showing of the film and asked the dutch government to prosecute the author of the documentary under dutch law . wilders has stood by his project .<doc-sep>`` my intention was not to offend in any way , but to show the truth -- at least the truth as i see it , '' wilders told cnn . `` and if the truth hurts and could be offensive , well , this of course is not my problem . '' wilders is a member of the dutch parliament from the conservative party for freedom and an outspoken critic of islam . he said he has `` big problems '' with islam 's prophet mohammed , the quran and `` everything that is stated inside this terrible book . '' the title , `` fitna , '' translates in arabic to `` strife '' or `` conflict '' of the type that occurs within families or any other homogenous group . the film opens with passages from the quran , interspersed with graphic images of the september 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks against the united states . the video also includes disturbing images of other terror attacks -- bloodied victims ; beheadings of hostages ; executions of women in hijab , the traditional muslim attire ; and footage , with subtitles , of islamic leaders preaching inflammatory sermons against jews and christians . e-mail to a friend . from cnn 's kathy quiano .<doc-sep>jakarta , indonesia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- indonesia , the world 's most populous muslim nation , has temporarily banned youtube to block access to a video that many muslims consider anti-islamic . protesters demonstrate against an anti-islamic film in front of the dutch embassy in jakarta . indonesia 's communications and information minister sent a letter to all internet providers ordering them to block the video-sharing web site until further notice , a ministry spokesman said tuesday . the minister has asked youtube to remove the 15-minute movie `` fitna , '' but has not received a reply from the company , the spokesman said . `` fitna , '' which is the work of dutch lawmaker geert wilders , features disturbing images of terrorist acts juxtaposed over verses from the quran to paint islam as a threat to western society . it has been posted on several web sites , including google video and youtube . last week , about 50 indonesia students broke into a dutch consulate compound to protest the movie . they tore off the gate of the embassy in the city of medan and ripped down a flag , said a dutch embassy spokeswoman .<doc-sep>jakarta , indonesia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- about 50 students broke into a dutch consulate compound in indonesia wednesday to protest a film by a dutch lawmaker that many muslims consider anti-islamic . protesters demonstrate against an anti-islamic film in front of the dutch embassy in jakarta . the protesters tore off the gate of the embassy in the city of medan and ripped down a flag , said dutch embassy spokeswoman gonneke de ridder . local television carried pictures of police dispersing and rounding up demonstrators . there were no immediate reports of injuries . indonesia is the world 's most populous muslim nation . the 15-minute film , `` fitna , '' features disturbing images of terrorist acts juxtaposed over verses from the quran to paint islam as a threat to western society . it has been posted on several web sites , including google video and youtube . dutch prime minister jan beter balkanende has said his government worried that geert wilders ' film could provoke a violent backlash . the film has prompted protests in other parts of the muslim world . soon after its release last month , hundreds of angry muslims rallied in pakistan , where the government temporarily blocked access of youtube over a trailer for wilders ' film . the protesters burned the dutch flag and called on pakistan to cut ties with the netherlands . the dutch government and others , including the european union and the organization of the islamic conference , have rejected the film . the oic has 57 member states over four continents and claims on its web site to be the second largest inter-governmental organization , after the united nations . in its statement , it urged the international community to condemn the showing of the film and asked the dutch government to prosecute the author of the documentary under dutch law . wilders has stood by his project . `` my intention was not to offend in any way , but to show the truth -- at least the truth as i see it , '' wilders told cnn . `` and if the truth hurts and could be offensive , well , this of course is not my problem . '' wilders is a member of the dutch parliament from the conservative party for freedom and an outspoken critic of islam . he said he has `` big problems '' with islam 's prophet mohammed , the quran and `` everything that is stated inside this terrible book . '' the title , `` fitna , '' translates in arabic to `` strife '' or `` conflict '' of the type that occurs within families or any other homogenous group . the film opens with passages from the quran , interspersed with graphic images of the september 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks against the united states . the video also includes disturbing images of other terror attacks -- bloodied victims ; beheadings of hostages ; executions of women in hijab , the traditional muslim attire ; and footage , with subtitles , of islamic leaders preaching inflammatory sermons against jews and christians . e-mail to a friend . from cnn 's kathy quiano .<doc-sep>some protesters threw rocks and other objects that hit the consulate building , said rian harris , spokeswoman for the u.s. embassy in pakistan . some walls may have been damaged , she said . the consulate took proper safety measures , harris said . zakaria : what mideast protests reveal .<doc-sep>jakarta , indonesia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- responsible for shaping modern indonesia , haji muhammad suharto was known as the `` smiling general , '' but his legacy as one of the great cold war era strongmen was built on corruption and a reign of violence that left hundreds of thousands dead . suharto died after being admitted to hospital suffering from anemia . he died on january 27 in hospital at the age of 86 after being treated for liver , heart and lung disease . he had been admitted to hospital on january 4 suffering from anemia . he had already been weakened by strokes in recent years that gave him brain damage and impaired speech but prevented him from being put on trial . suharto rose to power by crushing an alleged communist uprising in 1965 after his political rivals were mysteriously eliminated . his iron-fist rule went unchallenged until widespread protests in 1998 , when his downfall ushered democracy into the world 's fourth largest nation . born into a poor rice-farming family on java island in 1921 , suharto received military training first in the dutch colonial army and then in a collaborationist unit set up by japanese occupiers in world war ii . he later joined the indonesian army that resisted dutch efforts to regain control over its former colony . after indonesia became independent in 1949 , suharto climbed the ranks as a favorite of founding president sukarno , eventually becoming a five-star general . a murky military rebellion in 1965 saw his fellow senior officers killed , allowing suharto to assert his control of the armed forces before easing sukarno from power . it was during that period that suharto embarked on a nationwide purge of alleged communists overseen by his powerful military . human rights groups estimate anywhere between 500,000 to a million people were killed . although indonesia is still struggling to come to terms with the bloodletting and graft of the suharto era , many ordinary people also remember the drastic improvements in quality of life experienced under their `` father of development . '' | <t> protesters break into dutch consolate compound in indonesian city of medan . </t> <t> flag pulled down , gate ripped off embassy , dutch spokeswoman tells cnn . </t> <t> protests prompted by a film juxtaposing images of terrorism with verses from quran . </t> <t> filmmaker geert wilders is a conservative member of dutch parliament . </t> | dutch consulate damaged in indonesia protests<T> |
atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- air traffic delays began to clear up tuesday evening after computer problems left travelers across the united states waiting in airports , the federal aviation administration said . flights at atlanta 's hartsfield-jackson international airport were delayed tuesday afternoon . airports experienced hours of flight delays tuesday afternoon after a communications breakdown at a federal aviation administration facility , the administration said . the facility south of atlanta had problems processing data , requiring that all flight-plan information be processed through a facility in salt lake city , utah , overloading that facility . the two facilities process all flight plans for commercial and general aviation flights in the united states , faa spokeswoman kathleen bergen said . delays had begun to clear by 5 p.m. et . by 6 p.m. , the administration said minimal delays remained as the salt lake facility began processing requests closer to normal speed . `` the situation is pretty much resolved , '' faa spokeswoman diane spitaliere said . at about 9:30 p.m. et , most major airports were reporting flights departing on time or with less than 15-minute delays . newark international was still reporting delays of up to 1 hour and 45 minutes and laguardia airport in new york reported 45-minute delays -- although weather problems were cited as the main problem . john f. kennedy international in new york and hartsfield-jackson atlanta international were reporting delays of up to 30 minutes , although both of those airports also had experienced thunderstorms and other weather-related difficulties .<doc-sep>the administration said there were no radar outages and said it had not lost contact with any planes during the computer glitch . the roughly 5,000 flights that were in the air when the breakdown happened were not affected , just those that were waiting to take off . ireporter stuck in philadelphia . `` this is really not a safety issue , this is an aggravation issue , '' cnn aviation expert miles o'brien said . watch miles o'brien track the delays '' the problem appeared similar to a june 8 , 2007 , computer issue that caused severe flight delays and some cancellations along the east coast . ireport.com : are you stuck at the airport ? ireporter stephanie mccauley sat on the tarmac for more than an hour at baltimore/washington international airport on tuesday on a flight bound for albany , new york . `` it happens . it 's just weird , because you 're sitting , and you do n't know if it 's going to be 20 minutes or 2 hours , '' mccauley said . cheryl stewart , spokeswoman for baltimore/washington international airport , said that as of about 3:40 p.m. , some flights were being allowed to take off , but the faa was no longer accepting new flight plans . `` we 're just kind of waiting for further word , '' stewart said . on the faa 's web site , delays were being reported at all 40 airports on the administration 's primary flight information map .<doc-sep>the worst delays were in the northeast , bergen said . chicago 's midway and o'hare airports in illinois were reporting delays of up to 90 minutes . the web site , which normally lists the length of expected flight delays , was no longer listing that information tuesday afternoon . the total number of flights affected was unknown , although it was believed to be in the hundreds . mark biello , a cnn photographer sitting on a delayed flight at hartsfield-jackson international airport in atlanta on tuesday afternoon , said flights there were being cleared for takeoff one at a time . watch mark biello at the airport '' `` they 're releasing the planes but on a one-by-one basis , so it 's really backed the whole system up , at least in the atlanta area , '' biello said . at philadelphia international airport in pennsylvania , ireporter randy hehn and his wife were on their way home to denver , colorado , after a trip to europe . he said he 'd left stockholm , sweden , 11 hours earlier . `` i do n't really want to spend the rest of the evening in the airport ; i 'm hoping they get this fixed , '' hehn said in a video posted on ireport.com . `` i see planes moving around , but i do n't know . `` we 're just coming back from europe , we 're really tired , and this is bad news . ''<doc-sep>a u-2 spy plane is being blamed for a software glitch at a californian air traffic control center which led to delays earlier this week . hundreds of flights were either cancelled or delayed on wednesday afternoon and it was a relic from the cold war that appears to be to blame . according to nbc news , the u-2 was flying at 60,000 feet , but air traffic control computers were attempting to keep it from colliding with planes that were actually miles beneath it . hidden disruption : a cold war-era u.s. air force u-2 spy plane forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights at and around lax on wednesday afternoon . the computers at the l.a. center are programmed to keep commercial airliners and other aircraft from colliding with each other . the spy plane 's altitude and route apparently overloaded a computer system called eram , which generates display data for air-traffic controllers . back-up computer systems also failed . the u-2 spy plane is the same type of aircraft that flew high-altitude spy missions over russia 50 years ago and more recently afghanistan . the aircraft passed through the airspace monitored by the l.a. air route traffic control center in palmdale , california . on wednesday , government officials were not immediately sure why the system had failed . areas affected by the shutdown included southern california , western arizona , southern nevada and part of utah . going nowhere : hundreds of flights were either cancelled or diverted from los angeles airport , one of the countries biggest airports . the faa announced on monday that it was the high-flying plane 's complex flight plan that overloaded flight tracking systems , not ` spy signals ' the center handles landings and departures at the region 's major airports , including los angeles international -lrb- lax -rrb- , san diego and las vegas . at lax there were 27 cancellations of arriving flights , as well as 212 delays . the faa said that it was ` investigating a flight-plan processing issue ' at the l.a. air route traffic control center . it has not confirmed that the glitch was related to the presence of the spy planes operation . ` faa technical specialists resolved the specific issue that triggered the problem on wednesday , and the faa has put in place mitigation measures as engineers complete development of software changes , ' said the agency in a statement . the computer that failed is part of the en route automation modernization system , known as eram . the f.a.a. has been rolling it out since 2008 in an effort to integrate data from more sources , increasing the number of planes that can be tracked and allowing more direct routing , among other improvements . time to upgrade ? computer software at the l.a. air route traffic control center in palmdale , california -lrb- pictured -rrb- was unable to distinguish between commercial aircraft and the spy plane which was flying miles above . ` the faa will fully analyze the event to resolve any underlying issues that contributed to the incident and prevent a re-occurrence . ' nasa uses the planes to conduct scientific research . the u.s. air force is still flying u-2s , but plans to retire them within the next few years . the u-2 planes which were created in the 1950s to monitor soviet nuclear sites . more recently they listened to taliban phone calls and gave information on where predator and reaper drones should be deployed . they u-2 was once the workhorse of u.s. airborne surveillance , able to fly higher and faster than any other military jet at 70,000 feet .<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- air traffic controllers were forced to use their personal cell phones to reroute hundreds of flights tuesday after the federal aviation administration 's memphis center lost radar and telephone service for more than two hours , snarling air traffic in the middle of the nation . the faa 's memphis center lost communication service tuesday , affecting fedex flights and others . a spokesman for fedex , which has its hub in memphis , tennessee , said the package delivery company had diverted 11 aircraft to other cities . but most of its flights take off and land after 10 p.m. , so fedex expected the impact to be minimal , the spokesman said . air traffic was halted at 12:35 p.m. et when a major communication line that feeds all the telephones at the faa 's memphis center failed , said faa spokeswoman kathleen bergen . service was restored at 3 p.m. . the malfunction , which occurred inside a telephone company 's switching office , made it impossible for air controllers at faa 's memphis center to communicate normally with adjoining centers to hand off control of flights , bergen said .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a powerful winter storm left thousands of travelers stranded thursday , particularly in the northeast , as scores of flights were canceled or delayed . more than 400 flights within , into or out of the united states were canceled early thursday , according to the tracking website flightaware.com . some flights arriving at new york 's laguardia airport were delayed an average of an hour thursday morning , the federal aviation administration said . sixty flights were canceled thursday at philadelphia international airport , after 300 flights were grounded the day before , airport spokeswoman victoria lupica said . some smaller airports were also hit hard . syracuse hancock international airport in upstate new york was open , but only about half the flights were getting off the ground , officials told cnn . faa : flight delay information by airport . many roads throughout the northeast were treacherous . in massachusetts , more than 1,000 crews were clearing streets , where pavement temperatures were below freezing , the state 's department of transportation said . vermont authorities warned of difficult driving conditions .<doc-sep>the primary air traffic control system around los angeles shut down last week because data from the a u-2 spy plane 's flight plan confused software that helps track and route aircraft around the region , the federal aviation administration said monday . when the system failed wednesday , a backup helped safely guide flights already in the air , but hundreds of planes across the nation headed for southern california were ordered not to take off as an air traffic control facility about 40 miles north of los angeles effectively rebooted . the problem had nothing to do with spy-related signals sent by the cold war-era plane . hidden disruption : a cold war-era u.s. air force u-2 spy plane forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights at and around lax on wednesday afternoon . the plane flies at around 60,000 feet under ` visual flight rules . ' according to the faa , a computer perceived a conflict between the altitude and the use of visual flight rules , and began trying to route the plane to 10,000 feet . the number of adjustments that would need to be made to routes of other planes throughout the area overwhelmed the software . ` the extensive number of routings that would have been required to deconflict the aircraft with lower-altitude flights used a large amount of available memory and interrupted the computer 's other flight-processing functions , ' the faa said in a statement . the pentagon confirmed monday that an air force u-2 spy plane was conducting training operations in the area . it is not unusual for a u-2 to operate in the region , and the necessary flight plan had been submitted for the high-flying plane , col. steve warren said . going nowhere : hundreds of flights were either cancelled or diverted from los angeles airport , one of the countries biggest airports . the faa announced on monday that it was the high-flying plane 's complex flight plan that overloaded flight tracking systems , not ` spy signals ' | <t> new : faa says situation `` pretty much resolved '' </t> <t> faa facility south of atlanta , georgia , having problems processing data . </t> <t> all flight-plan information must be processed by facility in salt lake city , utah . </t> <t> unknown number of flights delayed by glitch . </t> | faa computers delay hundreds of flights<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- control tower tapes reveal that the pilot of presidential hopeful barack obama 's plane told air traffic controllers there was an emergency when he made an unscheduled landing last month in st. louis , missouri . barack obama 's plane had to make an unscheduled landing on july 7 in st. louis , missouri . on july 7 the midwest airlines md-81 made an unscheduled landing during the flight from chicago , illinois , to charlotte , north carolina . the owner of the plane initially said the landing was not caused by an emergency . however the tapes , released to abc news through a freedom of information act request , contradict that report . abc first reported on the tapes on thursday . federal aviation administration spokeswoman laura brown told cnn thursday evening that preliminary information for incidents is often incomplete or incorrect . watch what the tapes revealed ''<doc-sep>according to the tapes , the pilot told an faa air traffic controller that he had limited ability to move the plane 's nose up and down . `` we have limited pitch authority at flight levels ; we 're descending to see if we can regain pitch authority , '' the pilot told the air traffic controller . `` at this time we would like to declare this an emergency and also have cfr -lrb- fire and rescue equipment -rrb- standing by in st. louis , '' the pilot said . the pilot remained calm throughout the recording . midwest airlines acknowledged at the time that the pilot had detected a control problem in the pitch of the plane after an emergency evacuation chute opened in the aircraft 's tail cone while in flight . normally , the chute deploys only after landing and after the tail cone pops off . the pitch , or angle of the nose of an airplane , affects the pilot 's ability to control the plane .<doc-sep>the airline said the pilot had `` full authority of the aircraft . '' according to the tapes , the pilot said he regained control as the plane began to descend into st. louis . `` we had a pitch authority problem , now that we have come down to a lower altitude it seems to have rectified itself . we do have pitch control of the aircraft at this time , '' he said . fire trucks met the aircraft when it landed at lambert-st . louis international airport . after the plane landed , obama told reporters the plane landed because of a mechanical problem and noted it marked the first time he had had to do so .<doc-sep>`` just thought we 'd spice things up a little bit today , '' he joked . `` anytime a pilot says that something 's not working the way its supposed to , then , you know , you make sure you tighten your seat belt . everything seemed under control , the pilots knew what they were doing . '' the national transportation safety board , which is investigating the incident , said last month that there was no evidence of tampering . an `` examination of the hardware did not reveal any evidence of missing components , nor any evidence of tampering , '' the board said . cnn 's jeanne meserve and mike ahlers contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . kerry mcqueeney . published : . 05:11 est , 7 september 2012 . | . updated : . 08:16 est , 7 september 2012 . a passenger jet bound for the uk was forced to make an 'em ergency ' landing in portugal because of a mechanical malfunction . more than 140 british passengers were thought to be on board the edinburgh-bound airliner operated by the budget tour operator jet2 when it was forced to turn back to faro airport . the pilot was said to have been alerted to a technical problem retracting the airliner 's flaps shortly after take-off at about 12.30 pm yesterday -lrb- thursday -rrb- . drama : the jet2 airliner making its landing at faro airport yesterday afternoon . mechanical malfunction : the pilot was said to have noticed a minor fault shortly after take-off . the plane then had to burn off fuel by circling over the ocean before landing 75 minutes after departure . it has also been reported that fire crews were waiting on the runway at faro as the aircraft landed . however , the landing went without incident and passengers disembarked the plane unaided . a replacement aircraft was rescheduled to take the passengers on their journey and they landed safely in edinburgh at about 1.20 am today . a spokeswoman from jet2 denied the incident was an 'em ergency ' landing and instead described it as unscheduled . the . spokeswoman said the pilot noticed an indication of a minor technical . fault with the flaps shortly after take-off and , as a safety precaution , . decided to land the plane . it was reported that fire crews were waiting on the runway at faro as the aircraft landed but the passengers were able to disembark the plane unaided . as the plane had a full tank , the pilot had to burn off some of the fuel before landing safely , which the spokeswoman said was ` standard procedure ' . no one was injured during the incident and the tour operator has insisted the crew were simply following a routine course of action . in an official statement , jet2 said : ` shortly after take off the 12:30 pm flight from faro to edinburgh on 6th september there was a minor technical fault indication . ` the captain followed the standard procedure , in that event , to return to faro , where the aircraft landed normally . ` we provided a replacement aircraft which landed back in edinburgh at 1:20 am this morning . we would like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused . '<doc-sep>the first officer `` alerted the airport to an 'em ergency in-air ' at approximately 12:10 p.m pt '' and made an unassisted landing , mccarran spokeswoman christine crews said . `` a commercial aircraft can be landed with one pilot at the control and delta pilots are fully trained to do so if the situation were to occur , '' a delta representative said in a statement . `` the first officer took control and landed the aircraft safely without incident . the door will be evaluated by delta maintenance technicians . '' there were 160 people on board the md-90 aircraft , which landed at 12:23 p.m. with no injuries or damage to the aircraft , crews said .<doc-sep>about half an hour into the flight the pilot declared an emergency , and within about five minutes the plane was on the ground , according to harold johnson , an ontario airport spokesman . passenger mitchell hashimoto tweeted about the incident . some of his tweets were deleted but preserved by nbc los angeles . ` airplane caught on fire mid flight , ' one of them read . 'em ergency landed from cruising altitude to ground in 5 minutes . not comfortable . ' ' 25,000 feet to 0 in 5 minutes , ' another said . ' a roller coaster ! ' kabc preserved hashimoto 's tweet that ` they ca n't deplane us until the fire is out , it 's not in the cabin . cabin has smoke in it though . it was smoky mid-flight . again , not fun . ' in one tweet that is still up , however , hashimoto wrote ` but also , our pilot handled that situation super fast and professionally . high five . ' twitter user @toddpalmerton wrote ` we just made an emergency landing in ontario ca . @united flight 1181 was smoking in the cabin and cock pit . we are safe but shaken up . ' in an instagram post showing people exiting the plane , he said ` we had to make an emergency landing in ontario ca today after we smelled smoke and they discovered a small fire in the fuselage .<doc-sep>passengers on board a malindo air flight on monday were left terrified when its oxygen masks deployed and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in bangkok . the five-hour flight from new delhi to kuala lumpur was aborted and the plane diverted to thailand after the cabin began to depressurise as it flew through a storm . those on board said a child vomited in her oxygen mask and an elderly man fell in the toilet ` when the plane began losing altitude ' . the malindo air flight was forced to divert after its cabin began to depressurise -lrb- file photo -rrb- . the plane landed safely in bangkok after the pilot told passengers an 'em ergency descent ' would take place . flight od206 was carrying 121 passengers , including three infants , and eight crew members when ` a slow decompression ' was detected by the pilot , a malindo spokesman told afp . he said the boeing 737-900er 's oxygen masks deployed as a precaution and the plane landed safely in bangkok . one of the passengers , puteri shehnaz majid , described the situation in a post on facebook , saying the plane was flying over the indian ocean when the pilot came on the loudspeaker to announce that they would be making an ` emergency descent ' . she said the aircraft then lost altitude in turbulent skies . the aircraft -lrb- not pictured -rrb- was carrying 121 passengers , including three infants , and eight crew members . an airline spokesman says the cabin 's oxygen masks deployed as a precaution -lrb- file photo -rrb- . according to a report by the rakyat post , she said : ` the oxygen masks came down and the ac -lrb- air-conditioner -rrb- was switched off . we were breathing through the masks for a good half an hour at least and a lightning storm to go with it . ` the plane had to divert and we had an emergency landing in bangkok . by the time we landed everyone was drenched in sweat . ` a child vomited in her oxygen mask . an old man fell in the toilet when the plane began losing altitude . ' malindo air said the plane is being inspected for a ` technical glitch ' and passengers were placed on another aircraft to resume their journey to malaysia . | <t> on tape pilot says he has limited ability to move plane 's nose up and down . </t> <t> abc obtained audio tape in freedom of information act request . </t> <t> when incident occurred , officials had said it was not an emergency . </t> <t> pilot says on tape he was able to regain control during descent into st. louis . </t> | audio : pilot said unscheduled obama landing was 'em ergency '<T> |
buenos aires , argentina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president cristina fernandez de kirchner repeated her call this week to decriminalize personal drug use and crack down on traffickers and dealers . president cristina fernandez de kirchner says she does n't like to `` condemn someone who has an addiction . '' `` i do n't like it when people easily condemn someone who has an addiction as if he were a criminal , as if he were a person who should be persecuted , '' she told a meeting of the national investigation into the consumption of alcohol , tobacco , psychopharmaceuticals and illegal drugs . `` those who should be persecuted are those who sell the substances , those who give it away , those who traffic in it . '' a poll shows 2 percent of argentines have tried cocaine , but some people believe decriminalization of drugs could result in wider drug use . regardless , the argentine government is pushing congress to pass the decriminalization legislation by the end of the year . `` decriminalization of the consumer should include what are called second-generation human rights , but at the same time there should be a strong policy of prevention , so that no one falls in the situation of consuming any substance , '' said anibal fernandez , the minister of security and justice . ethan nadelmann , founder and executive director of the new york-based drug policy alliance , said such policies have been adopted throughout europe and other parts of latin america . `` the evidence generally shows that the decriminalization of possession is not clearly associated with any increase in illicit drug use , '' he said .<doc-sep>a few years ago , then-mexican president vicente fox proposed decriminalizing possession of drugs combined with a crackdown on traffickers , but a harsh reaction from the bush administration caused him to retreat , nadelmann said . brazil and colombia have passed laws decriminalizing drug use in an effort to combat the spread of hiv among injecting drug users , he said . politicians recognize that `` you basically need to get those people out of the underground and into health systems , '' nadelmann said . `` this would be part of a growing number of countries in latin america where there is , either for political or judicial reasons , a push toward decriminalization of personal possession , sometimes combined with initiatives to crack down harder on bigger drug traffickers , '' he said . `` it typically involves both lessening the criminal sanction for possession of cannabis while also providing for alternatives to incarceration for people addicted to drugs who are arrested for drug possession or other minor offenses . '' the concept has gained followers in the united states , too , he said , citing statistics that show two-thirds of americans support drug treatment instead of jail time for first-time drug offenders . on wednesday , rep. barney frank announced a proposal to end federal penalties for americans carrying fewer than 100 grams , or almost a quarter-pound , of marijuana . `` the vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government 's business , '' frank said on capitol hill . `` i do n't think it is the government 's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time . '' cnn 's javier doberti contributed to this story .<doc-sep>buenos aires , argentina -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president cristina fernandez de kirchner repeated her call this week to decriminalize personal drug use and crack down on traffickers and dealers . president cristina fernandez de kirchner says she does n't like to `` condemn someone who has an addiction . '' `` i do n't like it when people easily condemn someone who has an addiction as if he were a criminal , as if he were a person who should be persecuted , '' she told a meeting of the national investigation into the consumption of alcohol , tobacco , psychopharmaceuticals and illegal drugs . `` those who should be persecuted are those who sell the substances , those who give it away , those who traffic in it . '' a poll shows 2 percent of argentines have tried cocaine , but some people believe decriminalization of drugs could result in wider drug use . regardless , the argentine government is pushing congress to pass the decriminalization legislation by the end of the year . `` decriminalization of the consumer should include what are called second-generation human rights , but at the same time there should be a strong policy of prevention , so that no one falls in the situation of consuming any substance , '' said anibal fernandez , the minister of security and justice . ethan nadelmann , founder and executive director of the new york-based drug policy alliance , said such policies have been adopted throughout europe and other parts of latin america . `` the evidence generally shows that the decriminalization of possession is not clearly associated with any increase in illicit drug use , '' he said . a few years ago , then-mexican president vicente fox proposed decriminalizing possession of drugs combined with a crackdown on traffickers , but a harsh reaction from the bush administration caused him to retreat , nadelmann said . brazil and colombia have passed laws decriminalizing drug use in an effort to combat the spread of hiv among injecting drug users , he said . politicians recognize that `` you basically need to get those people out of the underground and into health systems , '' nadelmann said . `` this would be part of a growing number of countries in latin america where there is , either for political or judicial reasons , a push toward decriminalization of personal possession , sometimes combined with initiatives to crack down harder on bigger drug traffickers , '' he said . `` it typically involves both lessening the criminal sanction for possession of cannabis while also providing for alternatives to incarceration for people addicted to drugs who are arrested for drug possession or other minor offenses . '' the concept has gained followers in the united states , too , he said , citing statistics that show two-thirds of americans support drug treatment instead of jail time for first-time drug offenders . on wednesday , rep. barney frank announced a proposal to end federal penalties for americans carrying fewer than 100 grams , or almost a quarter-pound , of marijuana . `` the vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government 's business , '' frank said on capitol hill . `` i do n't think it is the government 's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time . '' cnn 's javier doberti contributed to this story .<doc-sep>such dire problems call for a new way of looking at the situation , some say . `` the unthinkable is happening , '' birns said . `` people are beginning to discuss decriminalization and legalization . ... there 's only one thing that can be done : take the profit out of it . '' pastor calls the problem in mexico `` even worse than chicago during the prohibition era '' and said a solution similar to what ended that violence is needed now . `` what worked in the u.s. was not eliot ness , '' he said , referring to the federal agent famous for fighting gangsters in 1920s and '30s . `` it was the repeal of prohibition . '' that viewpoint has picked up some high-level support in latin america . last week , the former presidents of mexico , colombia and brazil called for the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use and a change in strategy on the war on drugs at a meeting in brazil of the latin american commission on drugs and democracy . `` the problem is that current policies are based on prejudices and fears and not on results , '' former colombian president cesar gaviria said at a news conference , in which the 17-member commission 's recommendations were presented . mexican president felipe calderon has taken the war on drugs to the cartels and some say it 's not working . `` it 's as if the burden of being the main arena of the anti-drug war has overwhelmed mexican institutions , '' birns said . `` the occasional anti-drug battle is being won , but the war is being lost . and there 's no prospect the war is going to be won . '' in the meantime , the killings will continue at a record pace . on wednesday , the mexican cities of torreon and gomez palacio reported at least eight shootouts involving heavily armed men . the toll : seven dead , seven wounded .<doc-sep>such dire problems call for a new way of looking at the situation , some say . `` the unthinkable is happening , '' birns said . `` people are beginning to discuss decriminalization and legalization . ... there 's only one thing that can be done : take the profit out of it . '' pastor calls the problem in mexico `` even worse than chicago during the prohibition era '' and said a solution similar to what ended that violence is needed now . `` what worked in the u.s. was not eliot ness , '' he said , referring to the federal agent famous for fighting gangsters in 1920s and '30s . `` it was the repeal of prohibition . '' that viewpoint has picked up some high-level support in latin america . last week , the former presidents of mexico , colombia and brazil called for the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use and a change in strategy on the war on drugs at a meeting in brazil of the latin american commission on drugs and democracy . `` the problem is that current policies are based on prejudices and fears and not on results , '' former colombian president cesar gaviria said at a news conference , in which the 17-member commission 's recommendations were presented . mexican president felipe calderon has taken the war on drugs to the cartels and some say it 's not working . `` it 's as if the burden of being the main arena of the anti-drug war has overwhelmed mexican institutions , '' birns said . `` the occasional anti-drug battle is being won , but the war is being lost . and there 's no prospect the war is going to be won . '' in the meantime , the killings will continue at a record pace . on wednesday , the mexican cities of torreon and gomez palacio reported at least eight shootouts involving heavily armed men . the toll : seven dead , seven wounded .<doc-sep>analysts see the shift in attitude as recognition that current methods in the war on drugs are not working . `` it seems quite clear that drug policy based primarily on interdiction and enforcement has failed , '' said robert pastor , a latin america national security adviser for president jimmy carter in the late 1970s . `` therefore , it 's natural for people to stand back and ask , ` is there a better way ? ' '' pastor noted that some recent research has shown that handling drug use as a health challenge and focusing on treatment may be more efficient . `` what argentina and mexico are doing in many ways is blazing a new path , '' pastor said . peter hakim , president of the inter-american dialogue policy institute in washington , sees a trend at work . `` it 's all part of a harm-reduction approach , '' hakim said , noting that policymakers are shifting away from getting rid of drugs and toward figuring out how to reduce harm to users and society . mexico has been considering decriminalization for several years , particularly under the administration of former president vicente fox , who held office from 2000-2006 . but efforts by the mexican congress toward decriminalization met with strong resistance from the administration of u.s. president george w. bush . `` mexico tried it under fox and the u.s. got so snippety that they had to back down , '' hakim said . | <t> president cristina fernandez de kirchner says addicts should not be persecuted . </t> <t> argentine government wants congress to pass legislation by end of year . </t> <t> measures could lessen sentences for users , crack down on dealers and traffickers . </t> <t> rep. barney frank proposes similar legislation this week on capitol hill . </t> | argentine president calls for decriminalization of drug use<T> |
dubai , united arab emirates -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a helicopter crashed into an oil drilling platform off the coast of dubai , killing all seven people on board , officials said thursday . the helicopter which crashed was a bell 212 , the same model as pictured above . among the victims were an american and a briton , said hanan moussa of the united arab emirates ' general civil aviation authority .<doc-sep>also killed were two indians , a pakistani , a filipino and a venezuelan , moussa said . the bell 212 helicopter crashed wednesday on the deck of an oil rig , then broke up and fell into the sea , said a spokesman for aerogulf services -- which operated the chopper . a fire broke out aboard the rig , located about 43 miles -lrb- 70 km -rrb- off the coast of dubai . the fire was quickly contained , the aerogulf spokesman said .<doc-sep>authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash . cnn 's ammar ben aziz and caroline faraj contributed to this report .<doc-sep>radiant in bright orange , the cnn crew flew around the rig to get some aerial shots of the platform . if you 've never been in a helicopter before , it 's quite a peculiar feeling when you lift off the helipad vertically . andrew waller , the cameraman , was actually harnessed to the roof of the helicopter because he was hanging out of the open door with a very heavy camera , trying to film the rig below for our opening sequence . it was quite impressive . as far as the eye could see there were oil and gas platforms , stretching out across the horizon . some were in norwegian waters , some in british waters . it really gave me a sense of the size and power of the petroleum industry . after we 'd landed , the platform manager took a sample of the oil which was being processed at the rig and showed it to us . i realized it was the first time i 'd ever seen oil in its true form . so many things we are surrounded by each day are made from oil , but most of us never get close to the stuff . oil is a commodity that really influences world markets and geopolitics . it was funny to see it in a little plastic container .<doc-sep>all 52 workers were airlifted off the beatrice oil platform 15 miles off wick , north east scotland , after a ship carrying radioactive waste caught fire near it . an oil platform in the north sea was evacuated after a cargo vessel carrying radioactive waste began drifting towards it . crew on the ship , the mv parida , shut down its engines after a fire started in one of its funnels as they tried to carry out repairs . the ship , which was on its way from scotland to belgium , started to drift towards the beatrice oil platform 15 miles south east of wick on the north east coast of scotland . all 52 people on the oil platform , which can be seen from the shore , were airlifted off it and the rig was shut down as a precaution , shetland coastguard said . the oil workers were lifted off by rescue helicopter 137 from raf lossiemouth and coastguard helicopter 102 from sumburgh . meanwhile all 15 crew members on the danish-owned parida remained on board , and the ship 's cargo was said to have been unaffected by the fire . the parida was transporting belgian cement waste back to belgium after collecting it from dounreay nuclear plant in caithness where it had been reprocessed . shetland coastguard was called at around 8pm last night and arranged for its emergency towing vessel to attend the scene from orkney , but the parida 's operators arranged for the ship to be towed by a commercial vessel to cromarty firth , where it dropped anchor . the ship is now expected to undergo repairs before continuing its journey back to antwerp . a spokesman for ithaca energy , which owns the platform , said they hoped to return staff to the platform today . ` because the ship was drifting overnight towards our platform we did what is standard procedure and shut the platform down and evacuated all personnel to shore , and that worked very safely and efficiently , ' he said . ` we are going to focus on getting our people back out to the platform today and do what we need to start production again . ' scotland 's environment secretary richard lochhead said ministers had been informed about the movements of the ship , which is listed on shipping websites as sailing under a danish flag . lang banks , director of wwf scotland said : ` this incident highlights the problems of dealing with the hazardous and expensive radioactive mess that the nuclear industry always leaves in its wake . ` given all the severe weather warnings , questions need to be asked as to why a vessel carrying radioactive material was at sea at all . ' the mv parida was carrying radioactive material from scotland to antwerp when one of its funnels caught fire .<doc-sep>by . mark duell . published : . 12:07 est , 25 august 2013 . | . updated : . 12:14 est , 25 august 2013 . the body of the fourth victim of a north sea helicopter crash was recovered from the aircraft wreckage today , as all super puma flights to and from british oil rigs were suspended . helicopter operator chc said it has grounded the as332 l2 aircraft which ditched without warning into the north sea off shetland while carrying 18 workers on friday evening , killing four people . the company has also suspended all uk commercial flights of three other super puma models following a recommendation from an aviation safety association . scroll down for video . investigation : the wreckage of the super puma l2 helicopter which went down in the north sea with the loss of four lives at 6.20 pm on friday , around two miles west of sumburgh airport on shetland . response : the wreckage floats on the surface as the operation to recover the helicopter and the last of the four bodies was completed today . the offshore industry 's helicopter safety steering group -lrb- hssg -rrb- urged the precautionary measure until there is ` sufficient factual information ' to resume flights . rescuers have now recovered the final body from the site of the crash around two miles west of sumburgh airport . the cause of the accident is not yet known . those who died have been named as duncan munro , 46 , from bishop auckland , county durham ; george allison , 57 , from winchester , hampshire ; sarah darnley , 45 , from elgin in the highlands and 59-year-old gary mccrossan , from inverness . the helicopter was being operated by chc for oil company total and was transporting workers from the borgsten dolphin platform when it is believed to have experienced a ` catastrophic ' loss of power as it approached the airport on the southern tip of shetland 's main island . the hssg is made up of representatives from oil and gas firms , contractors , helicopter operators , offshore unions , the health and safety executive -lrb- hse -rrb- and the civil aviation authority -lrb- caa -rrb- . the group met in aberdeen yesterday and recommended the temporary suspension of all super puma commercial passenger flights to and from the uk 's oil and gas installations . this includes the as332 l , l1 , l2 and ec225 models . loss of power : the helicopter was being operated by chc for oil company total and was transporting workers from the borgsten dolphin platform . difficult task : rnli volunteers and coastguard workers inspecting the wreckage of the super puma l2 helicopter which went down in the north sea with the loss of four lives at 6.20 pm on friday . chc said it was ` devastated ' by the accident and would follow the recommendation , which allows for the operation of emergency rescue flights . fellow operators bond offshore helicopters and bristow have also enforced a temporary suspension of super puma flights . bristow said three flights scheduled for today had been cancelled and further updates would be issued in due course . the hssg will meet again on wednesday to review the suspension unless ` any significant information come to light before this date ' . industry body oil & gas uk has meanwhile arranged a meeting of operators and major contractors tomorrow to discuss ways of minimising the impact of the grounding of flights on the offshore workforce . scotland 's finance secretary john swinney said the government did not anticipate that the temporary suspension would have any immediate impact on the production of oil and gas in the north sea but that the situation would be closely monitored . probe : a diver works on the wreckage of the super puma l2 helicopter which went down in the north sea . model : an undated handout photograph released by chc helicopter shows a eurocopter as332 super puma l2 variant , the same model as the chc operated helicopter that crashed in the north sea . ` my thoughts are with the families , friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives and i hope those who were injured make a good recovery , ' he said . of the 14 survivors , two remain in hospital on shetland and 12 returned to aberdeen yesterday . one total employee was on board and the remainder worked for contract companies , including those killed . mr munro leaves behind wife penny and 12-year-old daughter katie . his family said in a statement : ` he will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in a lot of people 's lives . ' ms darnley 's family paid tribute to a ` fun-loving , free spirit ' who was brought up in elgin and moved to aberdeen aged 19 . the offshore worker is survived by parents anne and edmund darnley , her sister angela and nephew nicholas . confirmed dead : duncan . munro , 46 , from bishop auckland , and 59-year-old gary mccrossan , from . inverness .<doc-sep>by . steph cockroft . this is the dramatic moment that a helicopter carrying 16 oil workers had to be manually lowered by crew after it ran into difficulties while coming in for landing . aberdeen international airport was . placed on full emergency alert while the chc-operated s92 aircraft was suspended in the air and airbags were set up on the ground for safe landing . the helicopter could be seen hovering just 8ft above crew as they worked to pull down the aircraft 's landing gear , which had failed to deploy . this is the dramatic moment a ground crew had to manually lower the . landing gear of a helicopter - which was carrying 16 oil workers home from a north sea platform - after it ran into problems at . aberdeen airport . the warning light came on in the cockpit of the aircraft as it arrived back to the airport from a north sea platform where the oil workers had been based . the incident took place on tuesday , but photographs emerged days later showing the crew in action . one of the images was posted on an online forum for oil and gas workers and the photograph received a mixed response online . one local wireline operator , mike wetherly , of aberdeen , said : ` fair play to the lads that got under and sorted the landing gear ! good effort boys . ' and oil worker gavin kimpton , of sheffield , said : ' i was due out just after it landed and spoke with the guys coming off that chopper . it was hovering for an hour before they did this . ' but others were less enthusiastic about . the dramatic end to the flight . social media user craig stappard , from . newcastle , said : ` this just gets worse . ' aberdeen international airport , pictured , was thrown into full emergency alert when the incident unfolded . the runway remained open for other aircraft and an aberdeen international airport spokeswoman said flights were not affected by the incident . | <t> helicopter crashes into an oil drilling platform off dubai , killing seven people . </t> <t> victims were : american , british , indian , pakistani , filipino and venezuelan . </t> <t> bell 212 helicopter crashed on the deck of the oil rig . </t> | dubai : helicopter hits oil platform , 7 dead<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- pictures of brad pitt and angelina jolie 's newborn twins have been published for the first time after a magazine bidding war which news agencies claim topped $ 14 million . hola ! magazine , the spanish sister publication to hello ! , has also published images of the jolie-pitt twins . hello ! magazine , which won international rights to the images , and people magazine , which took u.s. rights , published the photographs in their latest editions , which hit newsstands monday .<doc-sep>the two publications , which have previously secured image rights to the couple 's elder children , are believed to have shared the costs , the associated press reported over the weekend . the agency quoted an unnamed source , not authorized to speak about the deal , as saying the pictures had fetched $ 14 million . the images show the couple , newborns knox leon and vivienne marcheline and the rest of the jolie-pitt family -- maddox , 7 , pax , 4 , zahara , 3 , and shiloh , 2 . the twins were born by cesarian section at the lenval hospital in the french riviera resort of nice on july 12 .<doc-sep>hello ! magazine , which heralds its coverage as the `` biggest exclusive of the year , '' devotes 17 pages of coverage to the twins ' arrival . in an interview published in the magazine , jolie says : `` wanting a big family is one of the things that brought brad and i together . '' pitt adds : `` when ange and i were told we were having twins we burst into hysterics ... we did n't see this one coming . '' watch why the photos went for so much money ''<doc-sep>larry hackett , the managing editor of people said that it was `` thrilled '' to have carried the images . people , like cnn , is owned by time warner . jonathan klein , co-founder and ceo of getty images , which organized the photo shoot , said that all the proceeds would go toward the jolie-pitt foundation , which earlier this year donated $ 1 million to help children in iraq . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>and after a # 10 million renovation project , personally overseen by fight club actor pitt , a grand reception hall has was added , which will make the perfect location for the wedding party . afterwards , guests can wander the . grounds that are filled with 20 beautiful water fountains , aqueducts and . a stream that runs through hidden tunnels and into a moat and ornamental lake . animal rights organisation peta recently quashed rumours the couple were having eight elephants at the the ceremony . the estate : the 1,200-acre property , chateau miraval , already grows enough grapes for 150,000 bottles of wine . the news came in the run-up to brangelina 's wedding which will take place at chateau miraval . the picturesque estate even has its own romanesque chapel , where the couple plan to exchange vows . however , under french law there will also have to be a civil ceremony officiated by the local mayor at the nearby town hall . michael latz , the mayor of correns , says : ` they are a wonderful couple with beautiful children and we will hold a civic reception to honour them . ' brangelina - as they became known - have a brood of six children ; five-year-old shiloh and twins knox and vivienne , aged three , along with three adopted children maddox , 10 , pax , eight , and zahara , seven . the couple are just the latest in a . long list of stars who have invested in wine . ex-formula one champion . michael schumacher , singer sting and footballer david beckham have all tried their hand recently .<doc-sep>song performed the twins ' surgeries on tuesday and both fared well . kelly mccarthy at her mother-in-law 's house with her niece finley , left , and son , grey . typically , breast reconstruction surgery involves implants and/or a woman 's own tissue , sometimes taken from the abdomen , thighs or buttocks . the first successful organ transplant was between identical twins in boston in 1954 and involved a kidney . since then , identical twins have been involved in many other transplant operations , involving kidneys and other organs , bone marrow , and stem cells . but breast reconstruction between identical twins has only been done a handful of times ; maurer and mccarthy , a nurse , are among the youngest patients at 34 . identical twins are ideal donors because their skin , tissue and organs are perfect genetic matches . but mccarthy is among women who do n't have enough extra tissue ; plus , radiation treatment damaged tissue near her breasts . so maurer offered to be a donor . mccarthy said her sister 's sacrifice , ` just so i can feel better about myself ... is really humbling . ' with their blonde bobs , sparkling brown eyes and easy , engaging smiles , the twins are clearly mirror images of each other .<doc-sep>the beach boys made california girls famous in 1965 , but it was pamela anderson 's 1992 debut on drama series `` baywatch '' , wearing the swimsuit , which made this so-called ` roller-skating capital of the world ' red hot . venice beach , usa : the beach boys made california girls famous in 1965 , but it was pamela anderson 's 1992 debut on drama series baywatch which really caught the world 's attention . brangelina may have fallen in love on the set of the film ` mr and mrs smith ' , but it was n't until april 2005 , on their first romantic beach holiday , that they were uncovered as hollywood 's sexiest couple . diani beach , near mombasa , kenya : where brangelina had there first holiday as hollywood 's hottest couple . if a perfect one-kilometre stretch of white sand dotted with bronzed bodies was n't enough , the fact that bondi is australia 's best celebrity-spotting beach might do the trick . hollywood hunks leo dicaprio and hugh jackman are regulars . bondi beach , australia : if a perfect one-kilometre stretch of white sand bursting with bronzed bodies was n't enough , the fact that bondi is australia 's best celebrity-spotting beach might do the trick . hollywood hunks leo dicaprio and hugh jackman are regulars . what could be sexier than an exclusive hideaway for rock stars and royals that has only two hotels and 100 private villas ? this place is a firm favourite with the duke and duchess of cambridge who have already holidayed on the island seven times . a royal favourite : boats on mustique island in st. vincent and the grenadines .<doc-sep>scientists in mexico 's laguna ojo de liebre , discovered the dead gray whale calves , believed to have been miscarried as a result of their disability . the carcass is only about seven feet long , versus the normal 12 to 16 feet for new-born gray whales . alisa schulman-janiger , an american cetacean society researcher , pointed out that the twins were severely underdeveloped and wondered whether the birth or stillbirth might also have killed the mother . the twins ' carcass has been collected for study . images were posted by the guerrero negro verde facebook page , with the translated statement : ` unfortunately , the specimen died . -lsb- its -rsb- survival was very difficult . ' new discovery : the conjoined calves could be the first documented case of siamese twin gray whales . unfortunate tale : the twins were so underdeveloped it is believed they were miscarried by their mother who may also have died giving birth to them . | <t> magazines publish images of angelina jolie-brad pitt twins for the first time . </t> <t> ap : rights to images secured after $ 14m joint bid by hello ! and people magazines . </t> <t> vivienne marcheline and knox leon born july 12 in nice , southern france . </t> | first images published of ` brangelina ' twins<T> |
st. paul , minnesota -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- after rubbing shoulders with susan sarandon , danny glover , charlize theron and charles barkley at the democratic national convention in denver , colorado , new york post celebrity gossip columnist cindy adams jetted off to `` one of the dullest towns in america , '' according to her latest column , to sniff out politically-inclined celebs in st. paul . `` i would n't know -lsb- sarah palin -rsb- from an alaskan salmon ! '' columnist cindy adams says . what does john mccain running mate sarah palin have in common with an alaskan salmon ? and who will win november ? just a few of the five questions we put to the woman famous for knowing famous people over dinner at the cnn grill . cnn.com : first things first : celebrity-wise , does the republican convention compare to denver ? adams : it does n't . it ca n't compare , because hollywood is very left-wing . and there were so many celebrities in denver . everywhere you looked , you fell over somebody who thought they were important . here , not .<doc-sep>cnn.com : is that a good or bad thing ? adams : it makes for more excitement . it makes for more media attention . j.lo , you got spike lee , you got ashley judd . they 're all schlepping around thinking they 're saving the world , see , thinking they 're saving mankind . you do n't have that here . cnn.com : what do you hope to accomplish by attending this convention ? adams : i would like to help mccain have a fine election . i would like to wave my flag . i 'm a patriotic red , white and blue flag-waving american . if this is our system , then i want it to work . and i just want mccain to have an equal shot just like -lsb- barack -rsb- obama did .<doc-sep>cnn.com : what are your thoughts on mccain 's running mate , sarah palin ? adams : i do n't know ! i do n't know this woman ! i mean i would n't know her from an alaskan salmon . none of us knew her . it 's going to take six months to figure out what she does other than make mooseburgers ! i do not know this lady . i 'm sure she 's wonderful . i 'm not bright enough to have made a vice presidential pick . but it 's going to take us six months to know who she is . right now , i do n't like the fact that she mispronounces `` i '' - raq and `` i '' - ran . if she would say iraq and iran , i would be happier . cnn.com : any thoughts on who will win in november ? adams : of course , i 'm right here at the republican convention , and i 'm picking up -lsb- on -rsb- what they 're saying , obviously . i sort of think that when it finally gets down to it , not everybody in middle america is going to press the lever for obama . i just do n't think he 's ready . i sort of think there will be upset . but i 'm picking up the vibes from the republican convention .<doc-sep>cindy also told wztz that her other son dylan , who has been behind bars since july , was questioned in connection with the bobo case . ' i asked him , `` did you get interrogated ? '' he said , `` yeah mom i did . they kept me up all night asking me all these questions about zachary and holly , '' ' cindy adams said . investigators say more arrests may come in the case , so there is a possibility that dylan is also a suspect . ' i am not saying that either one of them is innocent . i am just saying that as their mother , i am going to believe my children until proven otherwise , ' the mother added . broken : bobo 's heartbroken parents karen -lrb- left -rrb- and dana -lrb- right -rrb- . close : bobo went missing in darden , and the search this weekend took place in nearby holladay , tennessee . wednesday afternoon , district attorney hansel mcadams announced that a grand jury had indicted adams on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping . mcadams would not say whether bobo 's body was found on adams ' property . adams is being held without bond and will be formally arraigned in court on tuesday . at a wednesday press conference , tbi director mark gwyn says members of staff and the fbi spoke with the bobo family after the indictment , and says they were torn up over the news . ` obviously they 're devastated . they 've been devastated for three years . but hopefully this is the beginning of closure for the bobo family and they deserve that , ' gwyn said . danielle darnell , who grew up with . adams , revealed another connection between adams and bobo when she was . interviewed by police last week . darnell says she told police that bobo encountered adams and friends out on a racoon hunt a week before her disappearance . ` holly was on stage and walking around the coon hunt and they basically followed , stalked her a bit , ' darnell told wbbj . ` karen -lsb- bobo -rsb- even went up and introduced herself as holly 's mom . ' darnell . says adams made a few comments about bobo in the past year to close . friends , and that she and others reported the comments to the tbi . ' i do believe he is involved along with three others . i just know from things i 've heard , ' she said . where is holly ? the search on saturday seemed to focus on an abandoned building and well across the street from adams ' house .<doc-sep>by . ashley collman . published : . 18:27 est , 6 march 2014 . | . updated : . 18:50 est , 6 march 2014 . the mother of the 29-year-old man charged with killing missing nursing student holly bobo , says bobo 's mother karen was her son 's fourth grade teacher . zachary adams was was officially charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping wednesday , following a search of his property in holladay , tennessee over the weekend . authorities believe adams is responsible for the disappearance of 20-year-old holly bobo , who was last seen being led into the woods behind her home with a man wearing all camouflage in april 2011 . mrs bobo : the mother of holly bobo murder-suspect zachary adams , 29 -lrb- left -rrb- , says bobo 's mother karen -lrb- right -rrb- was her son 's fourth-grade teacher . mrs bobo is pictured above at an event in august 2012 at scotts hill high school . a woman at scotts hill elementary school told a local news station today that mrs bobo had worked there for 27 years . what happened ? holly bobo was last seen by her brother in april 2011 , being led by a man in all camouflage into the woods behind her house . tennessee bureau of investigation authorities have n't yet revealed what they believe connects adams to bobo , but his mother cindy spoke about her son 's elementary school connection to karen bobo with wtvf on wednesday . the decatur county board of education would not say whether mrs bobo ever had adams as a student , but a woman at scotts hill elementary school said the missing girl 's mother was employed there for 27 years . according to public records , adams ' mother was also a teacher in decator county , but has since moved to georgia . while her son may have had karen bobo as a teacher , that 's the only connection cindy adams knows between the two . new tips : authorities started searching adams ' property last weekend after he was arrested on unrelated charges . on wednesday , adams was formally charged with the first-degree murder and especially aggravated assault of holly bobo . she says her 29-year-old son did n't run in the same circles as holly bobo , who would have been 23 this year . after her son 's initial arrest friday on charged of aggravated assault , cindy adams described zachary as ` one of the sweetest people ' , but said he had changed after getting ` mixed up with drugs at an early age ' .<doc-sep>by . tom leonard . last updated at 12:10 pm on 8th july 2011 . questions : gerry adams interview tapes are being sought by prosecutors . prosecutors in the u.s. are demanding that a university hands over to britain taped interviews in which former ira members purportedly accuse gerry adams of running a secret death squad .<doc-sep>adams returned to portland from washington , where he had planned to attend the inauguration of president barack obama , to hold the news conference . a day earlier , adams issued a statement saying : `` in the past , i have characterized my relationship with beau breedlove as purely nonsexual . that is not true . beau breedlove and i had a sexual relationship for a few months in the summer of 2005 after he turned 18 years of age . '' adams issued the statement monday after a local newspaper , the willamette week , published a story about the relationship between adams , who was a city commissioner in 2005 , and breedlove , then a legislative intern . during the mayoral campaign , questions had emerged about whether adams and breedlove had a sexual relationship . adams said he had lied about the relationship during the campaign , and had asked breedlove to lie , because of `` untrue rumors being circulated saying that i had broken the law regarding sex relations with a minor . '' `` the allegation coming at me was ` sex with a minor , ' '' adams said . `` but still , i should have told the truth at the time and taken the consequences . '' | <t> gossip columnist says too many people `` thought they were important '' in denver . </t> <t> `` i just want mccain to have an equal shot '' like obama , adams says . </t> <t> adams also shares her thoughts on sarah palin and the election 's outcome . </t> | five questions : cindy adams<T> |
brownsville , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane dolly weakened to a tropical storm wednesday night after it made landfall on south padre island , texas , leaving a trail of battered buildings and flooding . police patrol the streets of south padre island , texas , on wednesday as hurricane dolly approaches . by 9 p.m. ct , dolly 's sustained winds had dipped to about 70 mph with higher gusts , according to the national hurricane center . a category 1 hurricane has winds of at least 75 mph . a tropical storm warning remained in effect from brownsville to port aransas , texas . tropical storm warnings for other areas were lifted . the eye of the storm made landfall as a category 2 hurricane on south padre island , texas , about 1 p.m. ct , tearing roofs off homes , flooding streets and sending residents scrambling for safety from wind gusts reaching 120 mph . by 2 p.m. , the hurricane was downgraded to category 1 , but in many areas along the southwest coastal region , the damage was already done . watch cnn 's gary tuchman brace against dolly 's high winds '' at least one person was injured as sustained winds up to 100 mph downed power lines and tore observation decks off homes and condos , cnn affiliate kprc reported . a 17-year-old fell from a seventh-story balcony , sustaining head injuries , a broken leg and a broken hip . he is alert and receiving treatment on the island while authorities wait for the first opportunity to get him to the mainland , kprc reported . `` when we heard the first bang , i thought it was one of the air conditioners flying , '' said jacqueline bell , who lives on south padre island . `` then we went outside , and we saw the debris , and we saw the neighbors leaving . '' cnn meteorologist chad myers said persistent rainfall could cause flooding upstream in the rio grande as long as the storm stalled over the mountains of mexico . watch myers explain the threat of flooding upriver '' myers said it could take two days for the rainwater to flow upstream and challenge the natural levees , which were holding for now . `` the levees are holding up just fine , '' said johnny cavazos , emergency coordinator for cameron county , the associated press reported . `` there is no indication right now that they are going to crest . '' even before dolly made landfall , driving rain and wind gusts from its outer rings flooded streets and threatened to pour into homes while wind gusts shattered windows on the island popular with tourists . the 2,400 residents began bracing for the storm tuesday night , when strong winds forced the closure of south padre island 's causeway to the mainland . officials said the causeway is closed any time winds reach 39 mph . some chose to remain on the island and wait out the storm . steven murphy took shelter with his girlfriend in his 65-foot double-decker fishing boat , murphy 's law , and hoped for the best . read about why murphy decided to wait out the storm . murphy , who owns a charter fishing company with his brother on the island , lived through a more powerful hurricane , where he saw boats bigger than his tossed onto land .<doc-sep>`` i had nightmares about that last night , '' he said from his boat wednesday . he said the wind outside sounded like a tornado and added that he 'd seen several items blow past the windows of his vessel . `` it 's starting to tear it up real good , '' murphy said . see images and videos from affected areas '' on the mainland , people in the path of the storm stacked sandbags around their homes , nailed plywood over windows and prepared generators to keep power going in the event of a blackout . ireport.com : are you in dolly 's path ? brownsville mayor pat ahumada said that the storm downed trees and dumped 6 to 8 inches of rain but that emergency workers were ready to respond once the wind and rain died down . ahumada said reports that the city 's levees are in danger of breaching were exaggerated . watch mayor ahumada explain the situation on the ground '' he said it would take 20 inches of rain to top nearly all of the city 's levees , which had been reinforced to federal standards or above . `` people think we 're facing a katrina , '' he said . `` that 's not the case . '' more than 13,000 customers were without power in cameron county , where brownsville is , utility company aep texas told the associated press . dolly 's arrival also had the military scrambling . the navy moved 89 aircraft from its corpus christi post to other locations in texas and new mexico . see dolly 's projected path '' texas gov. rick perry issued a disaster declaration for 14 counties before dolly arrived . the declaration `` allows the state to initiate necessary preparedness efforts , '' according to a statement from perry 's office . more than two dozen state agencies and organizations , including the red cross , are on standby to help with evacuations and other needs . the national guard has set up staging areas in houston , austin and san antonio , officials said . as many as 1,200 national guardsmen have been called to help , and 700 are deployed to targeted areas . an incident management team has been pre-positioned in south texas , including six uh-60 helicopters , to provide support to first responders . cnn 's alex walker , barbara starr and ed lavandera contributed to this report . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>authorities on mexico 's gulf coast prepared shelters and closed schools wednesday as tropical storm dolly threatened with flash floods and mudslides . not over yet : life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are possible in mountainous areas.tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 140 miles . weakening is expected over the next 24 hours as dolly moves further inland . dolly 's formation on september 2 comes more than a week later than the usual formation date of the atlantic 's fourth named storm , august 23 . the 2014 version of tropical storm dolly is the eighth appearance of a storm named dolly in the atlantic . dolly made its first appearance in 1953 as hurricane that weakened before passing over bermuda . dolly 's most recent appearance , as a 2008 category 2 hurricane that hit near the texas/mexico border , was its most damaging -- $ 1.5 billion in losses were recorded . this was not enough to get the name dolly retired , though .<doc-sep>heavy rains from tropical storm dolly threatened flash floods and mudslides in mountainous areas as it moved in from mexico 's gulf coast , where authorities had readied shelters and suspended school classes on wednesday . the u.s. hurricane center said dolly was located about 30 miles -lrb- 50 kilometers -rrb- south-southwest of tampico early wednesday morning . the storm 's maximum sustained winds were near 45 mph -lrb- 75 kph -rrb- and it was moving to the west at 8 mph -lrb- 13 kph -rrb- . the storm was expected to bring 5 to 10 inches -lrb- 12 to 25 centimeters -rrb- of rain to states of tamaulipas and veracruz , along the gulf coast and inland . life-threatening flash floods and mud slides were possible in mountainous areas . deluge : a couple of cars lie in a portion of a collapsed street due to heavy rains in the gulf port city of veracruz , mexico . surveying the damage : a woman looks at the damage after part of a street and a home collapsed due to heavy rains . the gulf states of mexico are bracing for more bad weather as tropical storm dolly crosses the mexican coast . fierce : tropical storm dolly has formed off mexico 's coast over the bay of campeche . the storm 's maximum sustained winds were close tonear 45 mph . tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 140 miles -lrb- 220 kilometers -rrb- but weakening was expected over the next 24 hours as dolly moves farther inland . tamaulipas state authorities said earlier in the day that shelters were being readied and that classes would be suspended wednesday in several municipalities along the gulf coast . authorities in neighboring veracruz state ordered classes in the whole state suspended .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm karen apparently will not become a hurricane , but the storm still means a soggy weekend for parts of the u.s. gulf coast . the storm , expected to near land between southeastern louisiana and the florida panhandle early sunday morning , before it weakens into a depression , the national hurricane center said . the hurricane center canceled a hurricane watch friday afternoon . a tropical storm watch continued from morgan city , louisiana , to indian pass , florida . coastal residents were warned that storm surges and dangerous waves remain possible . karen 's maximum sustained winds dropped to about 40 mph by midday saturday . the storm was centered about 130 miles south-southwest of the mississippi river 's mouth about 10 p.m. ct -lrb- 11 a.m. et -rrb- . the mayor of grand isle , louisiana , on friday ordered a mandatory evacuation for the barrier island town , cnn affiliate wgno-tv reported . grand isle has about 1,300 residents plus tourists . mayor david camardelle ordered them to take camper trailers and recreational vehicles off the island . track the storm . a tropical storm warning is in effect from morgan city , louisiana , to the mouth of the pearl river on the louisiana-mississippi line . 3 to 6 inches of rain . the storm is expected to drop 3 to 6 inches of rain over parts of the central and eastern gulf coast through sunday night , mainly near and to the east of the storm 's center , the hurricane center said . isolated storm total amounts of 10 inches are possible . storm surges also are a concern . if peak surges coincide with high tide , water could reach 3 to 5 feet above ground from the mouth of the mississippi river in louisiana to alabama 's mobile bay , the center said . `` the combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters , '' the center said . the hurricane center 's tracking map shows that the storm could make two landfalls : once over the louisiana barrier islands saturday night and again over the florida panhandle on sunday morning . back to work at fema . the storm prompted the federal emergency management agency to recall some of its workers furloughed during the government shutdown . the agency also reactivated its hurricane liaison team at the national hurricane center in miami . fema officials in the atlanta and denton , texas , offices are monitoring karen . `` at all times , fema maintains commodities , including millions of liters of water , millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets , strategically located at distribution centers throughout the united states , including in the gulf coast region , that are available to state and local partners if needed and requested , '' the agency said in a statement . the hurricane center said it , too , would be unaffected by the government shutdown as karen approaches . `` the national hurricane center is fully operational ... and has all of its resources available to it , '' spokesman dennis feltgen said in an e-mail . `` the government shutdown will not inhibit nhc from providing its mission . '' storm preparations . louisiana gov. bobby jindal and alabama gov. robert bentley declared statewide states of emergency . florida gov. rick scott declared a state of emergency in 18 counties . a louisiana law prohibiting price gouging during emergencies went into effect , cnn affiliate wdsu-tv reported . new orleans officials released a statement asking residents to `` monitor weather conditions and stay alert . '' the city is included in the tropical storm watch area . karen formed between cuba and mexico 's yucatan peninsula . cnn 's sean morris , eliott c. mclaughlin and david simpson contributed to this report .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- tropical storm ida could regain hurricane status saturday night as it heads toward the gulf coast . the northern yucatan peninsula in mexico is under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning , the national hurricane center said . pinar del rio , in western cuba , is also under a tropical storm warning , the center said . during a hurricane watch , hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours . tropical storm conditions are possible within 24 hours under a tropical storm watch . ida made landfall as a hurricane thursday morning over east central nicaragua , pelting the central american nation with heavy rain before weakening to a tropical storm . | <t> new : rains persist as dolly weakens to tropical storm . </t> <t> heavy rains and winds tore roofs off homes , flooded streets earlier in the day . </t> <t> eye of the hurricane reached south padre island , texas , about 1 p.m. ct . </t> <t> by 2 p.m. , sustained winds had decreased from 100 mph to 95 mph . </t> | hurricane dolly weakens to tropical storm<T> |
las vegas , nevada -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- polygamist sect leader warren jeffs was released from a hospital in las vegas , nevada on wednesday , a source close to the case told cnn . jailed polygamist sect leader warren jeffs , seen in september , has been hospitalized in las vegas . authorities took jeffs from an arizona jail to a nevada hospital on tuesday after he saying he looked feverish and was `` acting in a convulsive manner , and looked in a very weakened state . '' doctors there determined he should go to a larger facility , so jeffs was flown to the sunrise medical center in las vegas . sheriff tom sheahan of mohave county , arizona said before jeffs ' release that his condition was not believed to be life-threatening . further details about his release on wednesday were unavailable . sheahan said he is trying to get information about jeffs ' condition . watch how authorities are mum about jeffs ''<doc-sep>jeffs ' attorney in arizona , michael piccarreta , also declined comment on his client 's hospitalization . the 52-year-old is the leader and so-called prophet of the estimated 10,000-member fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter-day saints , an offshoot of the mainstream mormon church . the flds openly practices polygamy at its yearning for zion ranch outside eldorado , texas , along with two towns straddling the utah-arizona state line -- hildale , utah , and colorado city , arizona . the charges against jeffs are class 6 felonies under arizona law , piccarreta said , meaning that a judge -- upon conviction -- will determine whether the charges are misdemeanors or felonies . other charges jeffs initially faced in arizona have been dismissed , said piccarreta . in november , jeffs was sentenced in utah to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison after his conviction on two charges of being an accomplice to rape in connection with a 2001 marriage he performed between a girl , 14 , and her cousin , 19 . according to unsealed court documents , jeffs refused food and drink for a month in january 2007 and developed ulcers on his knees from kneeling in prayer for hours as he awaited trial .<doc-sep>on january 28 , 2007 , he attempted to hang himself in his cell , the documents said . in the days afterward while on suicide watch , jeffs on separate occasions banged his head and threw himself against a wall . he has been in custody since august 2006 , when he was arrested during a routine traffic stop after spending months on the fbi 's 10 most-wanted fugitives list . in april , authorities removed more than 400 children from the yfz ranch . child protection officials said they found a `` pervasive pattern '' of sexual abuse on the ranch through forced marriages between underage girls and older men . in june , however , the texas supreme court ruled the state had no right to remove the children . the court also said the state lacked evidence to show that the children faced imminent danger of abuse . the children were returned to their families . cnn 's saeed ahmed and gary tuchman contributed to this report .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- polygamist sect leader warren jeffs tried to hang himself earlier this year while he was in jail awaiting trial , according to court documents unsealed by a utah judge on tuesday . sect leader warren jeffs arrives in court to hear the verdict against him september 25 in st. george , utah . jeffs , the leader and so-called prophet of the 10,000-member fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter day saints , is now awaiting sentencing after being convicted on two counts of being an accomplice to rape . the documents , released by fifth district judge james shumate at the request of the media , also indicate that jeffs confessed to `` immorality '' with a `` sister '' and a daughter more than 30 years ago . among the documents is a competency report on jeffs completed in april , in which social worker eric nielsen wrote that throughout the month of january , jeffs refused food and drink and developed ulcers on his knees from kneeling in prayer for hours .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- texas authorities are investigating `` the safety of children '' at a ranch occupied by about 400 followers of polygamist sect leader warren jeffs , officials said friday . an aerial view taken last year shows some living quarters at polygamist leader warren jeffs ' texas ranch . authorities have sealed off the 1,900-acre ranch near eldorado and no one is allowed to enter or leave , officials with child protective services and the department of public safety said . the people living at the ranch are cooperating , authorities said . escorted by police , social workers entered the compound in south central texas at 8 p.m. thursday after receiving `` a referral , '' said child protective services spokeswoman marleigh meisner . watch police seal off the compound ''<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 09:21 est , 17 march 2014 . | . updated : . 09:53 est , 17 march 2014 . frail : warren jeffs , pictured here in 2011 , was recently described as looking frail and he was hospitalized over the weekend . polygamist sect leader warren jeffs has been hospitalized as he serves life in prison . jeffs , 58 , is now listed as being treated in a hospital by the texas department of justice 's website but no further details about his condition have been reported . he has been transferred to a hospital in galveston , texas , and the update in the online registry was made sunday . this is the second time that he has been hospitalized since his 2011 sentencing . the first time he was a result of lengthy hunger strikes that left him in a medically induced coma . the last-known interview with jeffs came last month during a deposition in a child custody case and he was described as looking ill during that interaction .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- texas authorities are investigating `` the safety of children '' at a ranch occupied by about 400 followers of polygamist sect leader warren jeffs , officials said friday . an aerial view taken last year shows some living quarters at polygamist leader warren jeffs ' texas ranch . authorities have sealed off the 1,900-acre ranch near eldorado and no one is allowed to enter or leave , officials with child protective services and the department of public safety said . the people living at the ranch are cooperating , authorities said . escorted by police , social workers entered the compound in south central texas at 8 p.m. thursday after receiving `` a referral , '' said child protective services spokeswoman marleigh meisner . watch police seal off the compound '' child protective services `` is conducting an investigation into safety issues of the children who live within the compound , '' she said . meisner would not provide details about the referral but did say officials responded `` within days '' of receiving it . as of friday morning , meisner added , her agency had `` not determined that there is a safety issue with these children . '' | <t> new : warren jeffs was released from a las vegas hospital on wednesday . </t> <t> polygamist sect leader flown to las vegas hospital from arizona jail on tuesday . </t> <t> court documents say jeffs previously has tried to hurt , hang and starve himself . </t> <t> jeffs is leader of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter-day saints . </t> | polygamist leader released from hospital<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- musician pete wentz of fall out boy performed at a concert sponsored by rock the vote on the first night of the democratic national convention . before monday night 's show in denver , colorado , wentz answered five questions for cnn.com . pete wentz says it 's great to see his young fans get energized about the election when they ca n't even vote . cnn.com : what have you been doing in denver ? have you been having any fun ? wentz : i have had a little bit of fun , but i only came in yesterday so we 've only been around a little bit . i think we 'll go out a little bit tonight , but then i think we go back to california . then we 're going to watch most of the speeches and whatnot on tv and the computer . cnn.com : so what do the democrats need to do to win the white house , do you think ? wentz : i actually learned this from the person i got tennis lessons from that democrats or the republicans need not only to win the white house but you need to maintain the majority in the government in general in order to get things moving .<doc-sep>cnn.com : as you 're meeting your fans , does it seem like people are pretty energized about this election ? wentz : yeah ... people are pretty excited about it . ... i think -lsb- even -rsb- people that are n't even old enough to vote , which is what 's pretty exciting . a lot of the times we 're like , `` well , some of the fans are really young , they ca n't even vote , '' but it 's like they 're gon na be voting in the next election . i 'm personally excited when i see people who are so excited about it . ireport.com : are you at the dnc ? share sights and sounds . cnn.com : illinois -- home base for the band . what 's the vibe that you 're getting there in illinois ? wentz : well , illinois 's definitely pulling for obama . i think that that is because of chicago as a populace and also by virtue of obama being from illinois . and you know , hometown crowd 's the best , you know what i 'm saying ? cnn.com : and who are you voting for ? and ashlee -lsb- simpson -rsb- ? wentz : well , probably the last thing my wife would do -- ever -- is tell me who she 's voting for , to be honest with you . but my guess would be that she votes pretty similarly to me .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- when rock groups announce that they 're going on `` indefinite hiatus , '' usually it 's publicist-speak for `` do n't hold your breath that they 're ever coming back . '' but fall out boy beat the odds when they announced that they 'd secretly recorded a new album , their first since going on `` indefinite hiatus '' in 2009 . tagged with the tongue-in-cheek title `` save rock and roll , '' the disc promptly shot to the top of the billboard 200 album chart and debuted at number one on itunes in 27 countries . cnn recently spoke with singer patrick stump , bassist pete wentz , guitarist joe trohman and drummer andy hurley about their surprise reunion . cnn : we thought you guys were on `` indefinite hiatus . '' pete wentz : well , it 's ended . it has become definite . patrick stump : we did just genuinely mean that we were just going to take a break , like it 's supposed to be . joe trohman : i think a lot of people do n't understand that we were kids and that some of us grew up in this band , and we needed a little time away from the band . we may have been in our mid-20s or early 30s , but we still felt like we were 17 , so we kind of needed to catch up to being whatever age we were by the end . cnn : how did you manage to record the new album in secret ? stump : there were n't a lot of people knocking down our doors , going , `` when 's the next fall out boy record ? '' that was n't a thing that we were really getting pelted with , so we did n't really have any expectations to live up to . andy hurley : which is nice , because then you make something that you 're happy with , and you do n't have to do something for this group of people , which is a great way to do it . cnn : your first single is called `` my songs know what you did in the dark . '' wentz : the video is pretty cool . it has our buddy -lrb- rapper -rrb- 2 chainz in it , basically burning a lot of stuff -- which seemed apt in some way . stump : 2 chainz is in his second act , and i think he learned so much from the first time around that he has a total other perspective than a lot of others have . you do n't see a lot of artists in any genre who are on time and prepared to work . i think that 's something you get with the benefit of hindsight a little bit . cnn : what are you doing differently this time around ?<doc-sep>wentz : i think that there was a lot of `` ready , fire , aim '' stuff that would go on . it was kind of like , `` oh , we 've got to the do this right now , '' and now i think that we realize it 's not so much quantity and constantly saying , `` yes . '' there 's the power of `` no '' and doing things the way that you want to do it and making sure quality is the most important aspect . i think at the end of the day , that 's what determines your legacy . you can either be a fast food restaurant or you can be making art , and i do n't want to flip burgers , really . cnn : how 's the communication in the group these days ? trohman : guys are notoriously bad at emoting and communicating , and i think we had to learn how to do that . but also taking that time apart to be with our families , do other projects , work with different people and experience different things allowed us to come back and realize that maybe we did this thing not so well ; maybe we should have talked more ; maybe we should n't have been so passive-aggressive ; maybe this guy should have voiced his opinion more . i think we are better at that , and it has been very healthy for the band . cnn : joe , you and patrick got married . pete became a dad . how have your personal lives changed things ? trohman : it changes your perspective . we had to pay attention to these people who have been supporting us for so long , have been waiting for us while we 've been on the road , and i think they 've been waiting long enough . wentz : i took my kid to preschool today , and he has a friend who is really into music there -- this little kid -- and he was like , `` i want to play fall out boy right now . '' and my kid was like , `` i do n't . i want to play justice league . '' -lrb- laughter -rrb- that will keep you grounded . cnn : `` save rock and roll '' just debuted at no. 1 on the billboard 200 album chart . it also went no. 1 on itunes in 27 countries . wentz : wow . how mind-blowing is this ? coming back , we never thought something like that was even possible . at the end of the day , we just put the music out there in the world . we are humbled and thankful for the world 's reaction . cnn : fall out boy will be embarking on an arena tour later this year . wentz : we just announced that we 're taking our buddies panic ! at the disco on tour with us this fall in arenas . a bunch of those -- like barclay 's in new york -- are almost sold out , so make sure you get your tickets so we can hang out and be weird together . stump : on the subject of arena tours , it 's interesting . sometimes i 'll talk to fans , and there 's always these different perspectives of `` i like the big rooms '' or `` i like the small rooms . '' wentz : if you 're bummed about the arena tour , you 're going to be real bummed about the stadium tour ! -lrb- laughter -rrb- .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- who said lego is just child 's play ? the new orleans public library asked nathan sawaya to build this sculpture to celebrate the city 's rebirth . since cnn spoke with lego artist nathan sawaya a year ago , his popularity has skyrocketed . just check out his clientele . donald trump recently asked sawaya to create a replica of the new hotel he 's building in dubai . with 10 days to complete it , and only architectural renderings to work from , sawaya toiled away in his manhattan studio snapping tiny bricks together , barely sleeping , to finish the curvy 10-foot statue in time for its unveiling . his work has also created a , well ... buzz with entertainers . sawaya built a 4-foot bumblebee for fall out boy 's pete wentz to offer his new bride , ashlee simpson , as a wedding gift . stephen colbert wanted a piece of the action too . the comedian invited sawaya on his show last august to present a life-size lego colbert replica . `` he loved it , '' says sawaya . `` he called it actual art ! '' while being recognized as an artist -- rather than a hobbyist -- has n't been easy for sawaya , some of his more evocative pieces appear to be breaking down barriers . see photos of sawaya 's work ''<doc-sep>many tweets feature the question ` who do you # x ? ' asking people who they text the symbol to before they drive . musician pete wentz supported the campaign tweeting : ` before i drive , i # x @brendonurie to pause the convo . who do you #xselfie ? #itcanwait #sponsored ' those behind the ` itcanwait ' twitter page tweeted ' # x does not mean your friend found buried pirate treasure . # x does mean they 're driving and ca n't respond . #itcanwait . ' not worth a life : the campaign 's website is riddled with tweets and ` selfies ' from people all over the world who have taken the pledge to put down their phones and pay attention to the road while driving . | <t> pete wentz says band 's home base of illinois rooting for sen. barack obama . </t> <t> rocker : `` i 'm personally excited when i see people who are so excited about it '' </t> <t> wentz says wife ashlee simpson not likely to tell him who she 's voting for . </t> | five questions : fall out boy 's pete wentz in denver<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- new zealand police are investigating a `` serious allegation '' against four england rugby internationals following an alleged incident at their team hotel in auckland . the england team are currently involved in a two match tour to new zealand . although auckland police have yet to confirm the nature of the allegation , the press association reports that an incident is said to have taken place early sunday in a private hotel room at the city 's hilton hotel following the team 's defeat to new zealand 's all blacks . in a statement the police said : `` auckland city criminal investigation branch is investigating an allegation involving up to four members of the england rugby team . `` the incident being investigated is alleged to have occurred early on sunday , june 15 , in a private room . whilst an allegation was brought to the attention of police on sunday evening , no formal complaint has been received . `` investigating officers are receiving the appropriate level of co-operation from the england rugby team management . ''<doc-sep>the rugby football union -lrb- rfu -rrb- confirmed it was fully co-operating with the authorities over the matter . rob andrew , the rfu 's elite director of rugby , said in a statement : `` the england rugby team has been informed by auckland police that an allegation has been made against four members of the england playing squad . `` whilst no formal complaint has been made we are co-operating with the police and their enquiries . `` the players concerned have the complete support of all the players and the management . in the circumstances we are unable to make any further comment . '' the identity of the players has not been revealed . the england team is currently in christchurch preparing for the second test against the all blacks on saturday .<doc-sep>they are paid just nz$ 1,000 -lrb- # 505 -rrb- per match while on tour in the uk . england players earn # 18,000 per match before win bonuses . prime minister tuilaepa sa'ilele malielegaoi has angered players by accusing them of ` childish behaviour ' tourists have ruled out the possibility of strike action as their european tour comes to an end . video o2 inside line : season 5 , episode 3 .<doc-sep>samoa 's players have threatened to boycott their side 's clash with england at twickenham in next week after accusing their cash-strapped union of ` incompetence ' and financial mismanagement . it emerged on wednesday that senior samoan players wrote to the international rugby board last week threatening to take strike action in protest at their union 's failure to pay for flights and transport as well as a lack of financial transparency . ` as players , we 're unhappy with the incompetence of the samoan rugby union in its current shape and under its current leadership , ' said the unnamed source in a letter addressed to the irb and leaked to the rugby paper . samoa 's players have threatened to boycott their side 's clash with england at twickenham in next week . ` we would like to notify you that we have called for the resignation of a number of senior officials within the samoan rugby union and will be boycotting our game against england on the 22nd of november should our feelings not be addressed .<doc-sep>he said a new protocol of a 10m gap between teams should be introduced for future games . some rugby fans took to their page to express their opinion on kiwis ' pre-match haka . anahera waru tweeted : ` hows that for pre-match feeling ! ' after the kiwis ' pre-match haka . both teams were standing toe to toe while the young australian players linked arms during the performance on saturday , which australian media described as ` the most aggressive haka of all time ' . ` that was interesting viewing for sure , ' mr gemmell told nz herald . ` when i saw australia advance and they crossed halfway and i knew our boys were still to walk forward and still to stick a hand out at them . ' i thought this could potentially turn really sour but it calmed down and we got on with the footy which was good . ' new zealand beat australia 15-14 with a field goal in the last minute of the game . both teams were standing toe to toe while the young australian players linked arms during the performance . not a single tackle was made but tensions were already heating up between both teams . new zealand beat australia 15-14 with a field goal in the last minute of the game .<doc-sep>the irb on wednesday night confirmed the letter was genuine but insisted strike action , which would cost the rfu several million pounds , will be averted following talks between samoa 's players -- who earn a tiny fraction in comparison to england 's players -- and union representatives . ` on october 27 , the irb was made aware of concerns raised by the samoa senior men 's national squad regarding the administration of the samoa rugby union , ' an irb statement read . ` this included an indication that the players would withdraw from the match against england on november 22 if their concerns were not heard . ` subsequently , the irb engaged in dialogue with the samoa rugby union and the international rugby players ' association to facilitate urgent and collaborative resolution . | <t> auckland police have yet to confirm the nature of the allegation . </t> <t> `` incident '' occured in a private hotel room after team 's defeat to all blacks . </t> <t> rfu : players concerned have complete support of all players and management . </t> | england rugby players in nz police probe<T> |
tehran , iran -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- twenty-nine people convicted of various crimes , ranging from murder to being a public nuisance while drunk , were hanged in iran , state tv said . a convicted iranian drug dealer is hanged from a crane in the southern city of shiraz in september . iran 's semi-official fars news agency reported earlier that 30 people would be put to death . it was not immediately clear if the last person 's life was spared . the iranian judiciary 's statement said that all 30 were convicted of various crimes , which included : murder , murder in commission of a crime , disturbing public safety and security , being a public nuisance while drunk and being involved in illegal relationships -- relationships between men and women who are not married to each other . kidnapping and using weapons while committing a crime were also among the charges . the statement also said that 20 of the convicts were convicted of drug and alcohol dealing , armed robbery and smuggling arms . the judiciary statement said that the convicts had their cases tried by the highest judicial authorities and were found guilty of the charges brought against them . the verdicts were final with their sentences carried out on sunday . the judiciary said the hangings should serve as a warning to those who are contemplating committing such crimes , the agency reported . the statement also said that several other individuals are currently awaiting trial and their sentences will be carried out as soon as the verdicts are pronounced by the courts . according to amnesty international , iran executed 317 people last year , second only to china 's 470 . iran 's government launched a campaign march 20 to increase public security and bring the crime rate down . police cracked down on alleged drug dealers , whom they called criminal gang members , and alleged habitual criminals who use guns in the commission of their crime . alleged weapons smugglers and people who break social and religious laws , including adulterers , were also targets . national television showed scenes of what were described as criminals being paraded publicly in chains as a deterrent to others . the wave of arrests has now subsided , as officials are now prosecuting the alleged criminals and sentencing those convicted . journalist shirzad bozorgmehr contributed to this report .<doc-sep>by . matt blake . published : . 06:52 est , 27 march 2012 . | . updated : . 07:41 est , 27 march 2012 . the united states was the world 's fifth most prolific executioner and only western democracy to put a prisoner to death last year , new figures have revealed . forty three convicts died for their crimes in america in 2011 , ranking the world 's richest country fifth on the global execution league table . the figures , released by amnesty international , came as the rights group announced that 18,750 people are currently languishing on death row around the world . penalty : most executions in the us are carried out by lethal injection , in death chambers like this one . capital punishment has become a polemical issue in the united states in recent years . white house-race flop rick perry , who has signed the death warrants of 234 convicts in 10 years as texas governor , was cheered at a republican debate when he called it the ` ultimate justice ' . most recent : george rivas of . the texas seven crime speaks in the allan polunsky unit . prison in livingston , texas , two weeks before his execution on february 29 . texas accounted for 30 per cent of all executions in america with 13 people put to death in 2011 . the most recent was george rivas , though he is not included in the figures as he was put to death on february 29 this year . 1 . texas -lrb- 13 -rrb- . 2 . alabama -lrb- 6 -rrb- . 3 . ohio -lrb- 5 -rrb- . 4 . arizona -lrb- 4 -rrb- . = 4 . georgia -lrb- 4 -rrb- . 6 . florida -lrb- 2 -rrb- . = 6 . oklahoma -lrb- 2 -rrb- . = 6 . mississippi -lrb- 2 -rrb- . 9 . delaware -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . idaho -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . virginia -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . missouri -lrb- 1 -rrb- . = 9 . s. carolina -lrb- 1 -rrb- . the 41-year-old , leader of the notorious ` texas . seven ' , was killed by lethal injection for gunning down police . officer aubrey hawkins during a violent raid on a sports store on christmas eve 2010 . but there are signs that america is edging away from the death penalty . last year , illinois became the 16th state to abolish the practice , and a moratorium was announced in oregon . while amnesty said maryland and connecticut are close to abolition , 36 states still retain the death penalty . globally , there were more executions last year than in 2010 . a surge in iran , iraq , saudi arabia and yemen is the cause of the rise , amnesty international said . ` suzanne nossel , executive director of amnesty international usa , said : ` we do not believe that governments should be in the business of executing citizens . ` that 's an inappropriate role for the government to play , regardless of the circumstances . ' various countries subject a wide array of crimes to capital punishment . in iran , death can be the punishment for adultery , sodomy and religious offenses such as apostasy or ` treason against god ' . to death : a convicted murderer in iran awaits his execution . iran 's most usual form of execution is hanging . meanwhile , blasphemy in pakistan , ` sorcery ' in saudi arabia , trafficking in human bones in the republic of congo , and economic crimes in china such as selling fake drugs or tainted foods or soliciting deceptive organ transplantation carry the death penalty . china executes thousands of people annually , many more than the rest of the world put together . but figures are a state secret , amnesty international said , and it has stopped compiling them from public sources because those numbers lead to under-reporting and a gross underestimate of the true total . 1 . china -lrb- ~ 1,000 s -rrb- . 2 . iran -lrb- 360 -rrb- . 3 . saudi arabia -lrb- 82 -rrb- . 4 . iraq -lrb- 68 -rrb- . 5 . usa -lrb- 43 -rrb- . 6 . yemen -lrb- 41 -rrb- . 7 . north korea -lrb- 30 -rrb- . 8 . somalia -lrb- 10 -rrb- . 9 . sudan -lrb- 7 + -rrb- . 10 . bangladesh -lrb- 5 + -rrb- . amnesty international challenged beijing to publish figures on sentencing and executions ` to confirm their claims that various changes in law and practice have led to a significant reduction in the use of the death penalty over the last four years , ' the group said . the wave of executions in the middle east - a 50 per cent regional increase - pushed the global total higher for 2011 , with 149 executions more worldwide than in 2010 . iran executed at least 360 people , many of them under harsh new anti-drug laws introduced last year . iranian executions are usually conducted by hanging , sometimes in public from a construction crane , which amnesty said led the japanese construction equipment company tadano to cut off exports of cranes to iran last july . iraq executed 68 people while saddam hussein 's former foreign minister and deputy prime minister , tariq aziz , awaits his execution this year . saudi arabia executed at least 82 ; and yemen executed at least 41 . iran , iraq , saudi arabia and yemen accounted for 99 percent of the executions in the middle east and north africa , amnesty said . although all the mideast and north african nations had very different governments and political dynamics , the 50 per cent increase in executions came against the backdrop of the arab spring protests and upheaval . chaos in libya meant that amnesty was unable to account for any legal executions , though torture , detention and summary killings by pro-government loyalists and by opposition militias who ousted moammar gadhafi 's regime are widely reported . gadhafi himself appears to have been videotaped being shot to death by members of a crowd that apprehended him . amnesty recorded no executions by stoning anywhere in the world in 2011 . the rights group criticized iran , north korea , saudi arabia and somalia for staging public executions . japan , which also retains capital punishment , recorded no executions for the first time in 19 years , amnesty reported . india also conducted no executions for the seventh year in a row and pakistan none for a third year , amnesty said . sri lanka also had no executions in 2011 , but 362 people were on death row . sri lanka has sought to hire a hangman and received several applications for the job , amnesty quoted sri lanka 's treasury department as reporting .<doc-sep>`` if murder was proven , my client would have been executed and there would have been no need to stone her to death , '' kian wrote . `` based on islamic penal code , the punishments for murder and adultery should have been combined in one case and sentence and handled by branch 12 of the tabriz province court . whereas this was not the case . the branch has no records of sentencing my client to murder . '' last month , malek ajdar sharifi , who is the head of the judiciary of east azerbaijan province , said ashtiani 's crimes were `` numerous '' and said she was `` convicted of adultery and murder and was sentenced to death , '' according to the official news agency irna . `` because of morality and ethics , i can not go into the details of the crimes , but if the public knew , they would understand the criminal nature of them , '' he said , according to irna . `` but she killed her husband , brutally and gruesomely , and the detective on the scene said that if she had beheaded her husband it would have been better than what they actually saw . '' ashtiani , 43 , a mother of two , is being held in a tabriz prison . iran 's judiciary could reinstate her sentence of death by stoning , execute her by other means , or possibly even grant her a reprieve , according to human rights groups . mina ahadi , spokeswoman for the international committee against stoning , said if ashtiani is executed , `` it is entirely political . it has nothing to do with the case itself . '' `` now that iran is under this international pressure , they have brought the case up that convicts her of the murder of her husband , '' ahadi said saturday .<doc-sep>suspect in etan patz case arraigned on murder charge . california reinstated capital punishment in 1978 , and since then , 57 condemned inmates have died from natural causes , 20 have committed suicide , 13 have been executed in california , one was executed in missouri and six died from other causes , authorities said . california has 723 convicts on california 's death row .<doc-sep>by . sam adams . published : . 11:09 est , 21 march 2013 . | . updated : . 11:23 est , 21 march 2013 . examined : convicted arsonist cameron todd willingham was executed in 2004 for the murder of his three children . the evidence from the fire at his home is being re-examined . evidence used to convict a man who was executed nine years ago for killing his three children in a fire - is to be re-examined . cameron . todd willingham was put to death in 2004 after being found guilty of deliberately setting fire to his family 's home in corsicana , texas in 1991 . but the evidence used to convict him is now to be reassessed by the state 's fire . marshal and the ` innocence project ' of texas as part of a wider review of dozens of past convictions for arson . authorities in texas and in other . states are beginning to re-examine cases in which defendants were sent . to prison for setting fires based on expert testimony about burn . patterns and charring that today is considered suspect . the innocence project , a national . legal reform group that has worked to exonerate more than 250 convicts , . has identified potentially problematic arson cases in several states , . including one in tucson , arizona , in 1970 in which 29 people were . killed . | <t> twenty-nine convicts were hanged , according to iranian state tv . </t> <t> convicts were found guilty of murder , rape , armed robbery and other charges . </t> <t> judiciary said hangings should serve as warning to those contemplating crimes . </t> | 29 convicts executed in iran<T> |
detroit , michigan -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a defiant mayor kwame kilpatrick addressed detroit on thursday night listing what he said the city had accomplished under his leadership just hours after announcing his resignation amid a sex and perjury scandal . detroit mayor kwame kilpatrick has agreed to resign from office , a prosecutor said thursday . `` the city is much better shape than the city i received seven years ago , '' said kilpatrick . `` we in detroit have done amazing things together . '' during the speech kilpatrick also jabbed city officials and michigan 's governor , telling them to continue to work for the people of detroit as hard as they did to get him out of office . kilpatrick told the crowd his marriage is better than it has ever been and kissed his wife to end the speech , an act that brought thunderous applause . kilpatrick said he decided to step down so the city could continue to move forward . `` sometimes standing strong means stepping down , '' kilpatrick said . `` but detroit you have set me up for a comeback . '' the embattled kilpatrick pleaded guilty thursday to charges resulting from a sex scandal and submitted his resignation to the governor -- effective in two weeks . under a plea deal , kilpatrick will serve four months in the wayne county jail and the rest of his five-year sentence on probation , said wayne county prosecutor kym worthy . he will enter jail on the day of his formal sentencing , october 28 , she said .<doc-sep>kilpatrick , 38 , also agreed not to run for public office during his probation , to pay $ 1 million in restitution and to forfeit any future pension . he was accused of blocking a criminal investigation into his office and firing a police deputy to cover up an extramarital affair and other possible illicit activities . after the deputy , gary brown , lost his job , a mayoral bodyguard , officer harold nelthrope , left his job voluntarily when the atmosphere became too tense , said his attorney in the whistle-blower suit trial . walt harris , another former mayoral bodyguard , filed his own whistle-blower suit , contending he was punished for supporting nelthrope 's reports of wrongdoing by kilpatrick and his bodyguards . the city of detroit paid $ 8.4 million to settle the lawsuits , but legal fees have pushed that figure to at least $ 9 million . prompted by the judge to recount his wrongdoing , kilpatrick admitted thursday , `` i lied under oath in the case of gary brown and harold nelthrope versus the city of detroit . ... i did so with the intent to mislead the court and the jury and to impede and obstruct the fair administration of justice . '' watch kilpatrick in court '' when circuit court judge david groner asked kilpatrick if he understood that by pleading guilty he was giving up the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty , the mayor said , `` i think i gave that up a long time ago , your honor . yes . '' kilpatrick had faced eight felony counts . as part of the agreement , six counts related to misconduct in office were dropped , and a perjury count was changed to a second obstruction of justice charge . in a separate case against kilpatrick , groner on thursday accepted a no-contest plea on an assault charge brought against the mayor in july after he allegedly shoved a police officer trying to serve a subpoena on a friend of kilpatrick 's who was a potential witness in his perjury case .<doc-sep>groner set an october 28 sentencing date for both cases . also thursday , michigan gov. jennifer granholm adjourned a hearing on whether to remove kilpatrick from office after he notified her of his pending resignation . `` today , this sad but historic story is coming to an end , '' granholm said . `` it 's very important for us as a state and as a city to turn this page together . there is much work to do . it is my profound hope that we can now write a new history for this great but embattled city . '' watch granholm call for a new chapter '' the governor set the hearing after the detroit city council voted in may to ask her to remove kilpatrick , alleging he had misled the council by not revealing the affair when he urged it to approve settlements with the people who had filed the whistle-blower suits against the city . if kilpatrick does n't resign as promised , granholm said the hearing would reconvene on september 22 . the detroit city council president , who becomes mayor when kilpatrick steps down september 18 , vowed to make the transition as seamless as possible . kilpatrick will be replaced in two weeks by city council president ken cockrel jr. , who vowed thursday to make the transition `` as seamless as possible . ''<doc-sep>january . questions begin to be asked over cook 's captaincy as england lose the ashes series in australia 5-0 . january . cook captains england in the odi series but is unable to make a big contribution as england lose 4-1 . january . england coach andy flower resigns but under-fire cook vows to continue as captain and is backed by the ecb . february . fall-out from ashes continues as the ecb axe batsman kevin pietersen effectively ending his england career . may . cook 's mentor graham gooch is sacked as england batting coach -- on the captain 's advice . june . more doubts are raised over cook 's captaincy as the opener is dismissed for just 17 in the first test against sri lanka . he scores only 28 in the second innings , before making just 17 and 16 in the second test .<doc-sep>winner : mayor-elect mike duggan speaks at his election night celebration in detroit . the former hospital executive will be the first white mayor of the city since 1974 . no his year : here , detroit mayor candidate benny napoleon concedes the race to duggan during an election night watch party in detroit . ` i 'm going to try to shorten kevyn orr 's stay , ' duggan told the associated press heading into the election . but the reality is that duggan will have little power under emergency manager kevyn orr , who in july filed to take detroit into bankruptcy . duggan , an ex-county prosecutor and former chief of the detroit medical center , said he wants to convince orr 's boss , gov. rick snyder , to allow him to develop a team and a plan to resuscitate the city 's fiscal condition if elected mayor . both duggan and napoleon campaigned on fixing detroit 's deteriorating neighborhoods and reducing the high crime rate in a city that struggles to respond to 911 calls on time . outgunned : duggan defeated benny napoleon , the sheriff of wayne county , michigan , to become to become the city 's next mayor . duggan outspent napoleon 3-t-1 in the election . forty years ago , detroit elected its first black mayor with coleman young . since then , the 80 percent black city has opted for leaders that look like they do . detroit has more than 30,000 vacant houses and buildings . bing 's administration has demolished about 10,000 empty and dangerous houses during his four-year term . but anything the new mayor wants done that requires money must first get orr 's approval .<doc-sep>investigators documented five separate occasions between january 2013 and february 2014 in which cannon allegedly took more than $ 48,000 in cash , airline tickets , a hotel room and a luxury apartment from the undercover agents . in the last instance , authorities say cannon got $ 20,000 in cash in the mayor 's office . he allegedly accepted the largesse in exchange for returning the favor using his powers as a city council member , mayor pro tem and , eventually , mayor . cannon appeared in court wednesday and was released on bond , the u.s. attorney 's office reported . if convicted on all charges , he could be sentenced to as many as 50 years in federal prison and pay as much as $ 1.5 million in fines , officials said . cannon succeeded then-mayor anthony foxx , who in july 2013 was sworn in as u.s. transportation secretary . mayor of corrupt hampton , florida , resigns -- from jail . ex-new orleans mayor ray nagin guilty .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- jury selection kicked off thursday in the federal corruption case of former detroit mayor kwame kilpatrick and his associates , who are accused of setting up a criminal enterprise in the mayor 's office that engaged in racketeering , bribery , fraud and extortion . a panel of 12 jurors , with six alternates , will decide the fate of kilpatrick ; his father , bernard kilpatrick ; contractor bobby ferguson ; and victor mercado , a former director of detroit 's water and sewerage department . prosecutors say they were involved in rigging millions of dollars worth of city contracts and extorting city contractors . the jury panel will be whittled from a pool of more than 200 potential candidates . all four men have maintained their innocence . their attorneys were not immediately available for comment . ex-detroit mayor got free trips from pension fund broker , feds say . prosecutors say the defendants were `` working together to abuse kilpatrick 's public offices , both his position as a state representative as well as his position of mayor of detroit , to unjustly enrich themselves through a pattern of extortion , bribery and fraud . '' at the heart of the scheme was corruption in municipal contracting , mostly centering on the detroit water and sewerage department , said barbara mcquade , u.s. attorney for the eastern district of michigan . derrick miller , a former kilpatrick aide , entered into a plea agreement last year and is expected to testify against his former associates . in september 2008 , the ex-mayor pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice stemming from his efforts to cover up an extramarital affair . he also pleaded no contest to charges of assaulting a police officer who was attempting to serve a subpoena on a kilpatrick friend in that case . 2008 : detroit mayor apologizes to supporters , says he will not resign . 2010 : former detroit mayor indicted on 19 fraud , tax charges . | <t> new : kilpatrick tells officials to work as hard on city as they did to oust him . </t> <t> kwame kilpatrick pleads guilty to charges resulting from a sex scandal . </t> <t> he is to resign from office and will serve four months in jail . </t> <t> kilpatrick also agrees not to run for public office during his five-year probation . </t> | detroit mayor resigns , vows ` comeback '<T> |
st. paul , minnesota -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- cindy mccain praised her husband , republican presidential nominee john mccain , as `` someone of unusual strength and character '' in a speech to the republican national convention on thursday . cindy mccain speaks at the republican national convention on thursday night . `` you can trust his hand at the wheel , '' she said , adding : `` but you know what -- i 've always thought it 's a good idea to have a woman 's hand on the wheel as well . so how about gov. sarah palin ! '' delegates erupted in cheers at the mention of mccain 's running mate , the governor of alaska . cindy mccain said her husband 's run for the white house `` is not about us . it 's about our special and exceptional country . ''<doc-sep>she called americans the most generous people in history , and said `` our hearts are still alive with hope and belief in our individual ability to make things right if only the federal government would get itself under control and out of our way , '' prompting cheers from the delegates . watch cindy mccain speak at the convention '' cindy mccain wore jewelled pins reading `` usmc '' and `` navy '' and a flag with a star in honor of her two sons in military service , jimmy and jack . she introduced a rwandan genocide survivor she identified only as ernestine to illustrate the importance of forgiveness , and said john mccain also exemplified the virtue . `` forgiveness is not just a personal issue : it 's why john led the effort to normalize relations with vietnam ; to retrieve the remains of our mias ; to bring closure to both sides , '' she said .<doc-sep>`` that 's leadership -- national leadership . and it 's leading by example , '' she said . `` this is a good man , a worthy man , i know , '' she said . `` i have loved him with all my heart for almost 30 years and i humbly recommend him to you tonight as our nominee for the next president of the united states . '' she left the stage to the strains of `` johnny b. goode , '' which mccain often uses on the campaign trail .<doc-sep>tell-all : bristol palin 's memoir comes out this week . bristol palin finished third in abc 's ` dancing with the stars ' , but she has n't finished trying to claw her way to the top . the 20-year-old daughter of former alaska governor sarah palin takes several shots at rival conservative daughter meghan mccain , 26 , her mother cindy mccain and other frenemies in her new memoir . ` not afraid of life : my journey so far ' , co-written with nancy french , is due out this week from william morrow , but abc news today revealed details of what 's in the tell-all book . according to abc , ms palin writes that the first time she met meghan mccain , the young woman ` ignored us during the entire visit ' . this was just before arizona senator john mccain had officially recognized sarah palin as his running mate for vice president , but ms palin wrote that she ` had a sneaking suspicion i might need to watch my back . ` every time we saw meghan , she seemed to be constantly checking us out , comparing my family to hers and complaining . oh the complaining ' . in the years since 2008 , ms mccain has fostered her own time in the limelight , appearing frequently as a young conservative pundit in media , blogging for the daily beast and constantly updating her 112,000 twitter followers . on june 17 , the firebrand tweeted : ' `` hi , i 'm meghan mccain '' is in no way , shape or form a pickup line . trust me honey , you 'd know it if i was hitting on you ' . about the troubled ex-representative , she tweeted : ' i am more curious to hear what the creators of twitter think of anthony . weiner resigning than any political pundits this morning ... ' in her book , ms palin wrote about cindy mccain , heiress to a beer fortune and second wife of the senator : ` i 'd never seen people with so much louis vuitton luggage , so many cell phones , and so many constant helpers to do hair and makeup ' . rival : ms palin writes that fellow conservative pundit meghan mccain , daughter of politician john mccain , was unfriendly , ` checking us out ' , ` comparing my family to hers ' and ` complaining ' . ` oh the complaining ' primping and cell phones : ms palin claims cindy mccain styles herself a ` queen ' , with ` helpers ' , expensive luggage and ` many cell phones ' second wife : cindy mccain 's considerable wealth and connections helped her husband chase his political goals . ms palin writes that mrs mccain offered to be a godmother to her son tripp as soon as they met . campaigning : republican presidential nominee sen. john mccain -lrb- r-az -rrb- and his wife cindy mccain at a rally in nevada november 3 , 2008 . ms palin wrote of meghan mccain : ` every time we saw meghan , she seemed to .<doc-sep>day at my son jack 's wedding ! ' the arizona senator tweeted with an . instagram photo of his family in the courtyard of the venue . he later tweeted a picture of himself toasting the happy couple . jack is a helicopter pilot for the us navy and is stationed in guam , where he met renee , an air force reservist . sen. mccain , 76 , who lost to barack obama in a race for the oval office in . 2008 and to george w bush in 2000 , has been married to his wife , cindy . lou hensley mccain , since 1980 . lt. jack mccain , his bride capt. renee swift , and cindy and john mccain : jack mccain is a helicopter pilot and navy lieutenant stationed in guam , where he met renee , an air force reservist . big family : jack -lrb- not pictured -rrb- is one of five children , including older sister , meghan -lrb- right -rrb- , who tweeted throughout the day alongside her father john -lrb- right -rrb- , and james -lrb- centre -rrb- . the senator met cindy in april 1979 , while he was still married to his first wife , carol . he and cindy began dating and eventually married in may 1980 , only a month after his divorce to carol was finalized . mrs mccain is the heiress to her father 's stake in hensley & co , an anheuser-busch beer wholesaler . her estimated net worth exceeds $ 100 million .<doc-sep>new york -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- with three days to go before the elections and polls showing him trailing , republican presidential candidate john mccain appeared on nbc 's late night comedy show `` saturday night live , '' poking good-natured fun at his campaign . sen. john mccain and his wife , cindy , made guest appearances on `` saturday night live . '' the arizona senator appeared in the opening skit , next to former cast member tina fey reprising her role as his running mate , alaska gov. sarah palin . `` this past wednesday , barack obama purchased airtime on three major networks , '' he said in the first skit . `` we , however , can only afford qvc -lrb- the television home shopping network -rrb- . '' later , mccain -- who delivered his lines with a smile on his face -- took another shot at his own expense . `` look , would i rather be on three major networks ? of course , '' he said . `` but i 'm a true maverick -- a republican without money . '' watch mccain and fey appear on `` saturday night live '' '' throughout the skit , mccain and fey hawked campaign memorabilia such as a set of knives that cuts through pork , and a jewelry collection that mccain 's wife , cindy , held up . watch cindy mccain discuss her `` snl '' appearance '' he dubbed the latter `` mccain fine gold , '' a play on the name of the campaign reform act that he sponsored with russ feingold , a democratic senator from wisconsin . mccain also took humorous potshots at his democratic rival , illinois sen. barack obama , and his vice-presidential pick , delaware sen. joe biden . mccain pointed to a set of 10 commemorative plates that he said celebrates the 10 town hall meetings he would have had with obama . `` they are blank , '' he said . `` he would n't agree to those debates . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a big part of being president is making decisions , and one of the key decisions a would-be president can make is who he or she marries . cindy mccain has a master 's degree in special education . she is part owner of her father 's business . it 's not like deciding whether to press the nuclear button , but first ladies in the united states can wield enormous influence in politics and in society . they 're not elected . they 're not paid . there 's no precise job description . but whether it 's an elegantly dressed jacqueline kennedy giving americans a tour of the white house , eleanor roosevelt speaking on civil rights or hillary clinton saying `` i suppose i could have stayed home and baked cookies , '' first ladies are praised , criticized , adored and scorned -- but never ignored . the two women poised for the job , 54-year-old cindy mccain , wife of republican sen. john mccain , and 44-year-old michelle obama , wife of democratic sen. barack obama , come from strikingly different backgrounds . watch the different styles of potential first ladies '' mccain is the only child of a wealthy arizona businessman , james hensley , founder of hensley & co. , a major distributor of budweiser beer . her stake in the business is estimated to be at least $ 100 million . she refused to release her full tax returns , saying `` i am not the candidate , '' but later provided summary pages of her 2006 taxes without details . cindy mccain has a master 's degree in special education . she met john mccain in 1979 when he was the u.s. navy 's liaison to the senate . he was 18 years older than she . he divorced his wife and married cindy in 1980 . | <t> cindy mccain : america needs someone of unusual strength and character to lead . </t> <t> cindy mccain : `` someone exactly like my husband '' </t> <t> mccain served in washington without becoming a washington insider , she says . </t> | cindy mccain : john mccain speaks truth , at any cost<T> |
miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane ike grew from a category 1 into a menacing category 4 storm in about six hours wednesday as it fed on the warm waters of atlantic , the national hurricane center said . an infrared image from a noaa satellite shows ike swirling in the atlantic on wednesday night . `` ike is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane '' with 135-mph sustained winds , the center said in its 11 p.m. et advisory . although it is likely to lose some strength during the next few days , ike is forecast to regain category 4 status by monday , the center said . `` it is too early to determine what , if any , land areas might be affected by ike , '' the hurricane center said . but the center 's potential four - to five-day track for ike puts it anywhere from north of jamaica to the coast of south florida on monday . ireport.com : are you in ike 's path ? at 11 p.m. et monday , ike was moving west-northwest through the atlantic ocean . the storm will be over open water for two days , forecasters said . earlier wednesday , ike intensified into the fifth hurricane of the 2008 atlantic season when its winds reached 80 mph .<doc-sep>but before ike can reach into the caribbean or threaten florida , tropical storm hanna was getting more organized in the bahamas , according to the hurricane center . at 2 a.m. , hanna was about 325 miles east-southeast of nassau in the bahamas , with winds of 65 mph . hanna was drenching the bahamas and haiti with torrential rains . haitian officials put the nation 's death toll in the wake of hanna and hurricane gustav at 61 , said abel nabaire , the deputy coordinator of the civil protection service . eight of the country 's 10 departments underwater , he said . more rainfall , up to 15 inches in some places , was possible in the caribbean , the hurricane center said . hanna was forecast to return to hurricane strength by friday as it shot up the east coast of the southern u.s. , with landfall predicted on the south carolina or north carolina coast late friday or early saturday .<doc-sep>`` a hurricane watch may be required for a portion of the southeastern united states coast early thursday and interests in this area should monitor the progress of hanna , '' the hurricane center said . florida could begin seeing rainfall from hanna on friday , forecasters said . watch as florida also keeps an eye on hanna '' swells from hanna are expected to bolster the number of rip tides along the southeastern u.s. coast this week , the hurricane center said . ireport.com : hanna makes waves in bahamas . hanna passed over the northern haitian city of gonaives on tuesday night , leaving water more than 12 feet deep in some places , an official said . see hanna 's impact on haiti '' many people were still cut off amid floodwater . `` it 's a very grim picture , '' dr. jean pierre guiteau of the red cross said wednesday . `` we ca n't reach those people ; they are standing on rooftops , waiting for help . '' in line behind ike in the atlantic is tropical storm josephine , with top winds near 50 mph , the hurricane center said . josephine was about 425 miles west of the southernmost cape verde islands off western africa .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane ike grew from a category 1 into a menacing category 4 storm in about six hours wednesday as it fed on the warm waters of atlantic , the national hurricane center said . an infrared image from a noaa satellite shows ike swirling in the atlantic on wednesday night . `` ike is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane '' with 135-mph sustained winds , the center said in its 11 p.m. et advisory . although it is likely to lose some strength during the next few days , ike is forecast to regain category 4 status by monday , the center said . `` it is too early to determine what , if any , land areas might be affected by ike , '' the hurricane center said . but the center 's potential four - to five-day track for ike puts it anywhere from north of jamaica to the coast of south florida on monday . ireport.com : are you in ike 's path ?<doc-sep>`` i filled up the gas can , i have water , i have peanut butter , and i took the rocking chairs off the front porch , '' she said . charleston sits on a peninsula between two rivers and is extremely prone to flooding . recent downpours from the remnants of tropical storm fay left a foot and a half of water on some streets . but the city has n't had a mandatory evacuation since hurricane floyd in 1999 . traffic then was so congested that it took up to 19 hours to drive inland to columbia , usually a two-hour trip . at parris island , south carolina , hundreds of marines graduated thursday morning from basic training -- a day earlier than planned because the base did n't want hanna to cause problems for families coming to the celebration , master sgt. mark oliva said . however , oliva said the base 's emergency center was standing down , as the storm 's track seemed to put parris island out of harm 's way . meanwhile , hurricane ike , still hundreds of miles from the islands of the caribbean , was a powerful category 4 hurricane on thursday . its winds had dropped slightly , to 135 mph , but the center said ike was still `` extremely dangerous . '' ireport.com : bracing for hanna and ike . the hurricane center 's five-day forecast map shows ike arriving near the turks and caicos islands and the southeastern bahamas on sunday . the center 's advisory said , `` it is too early to determine what land areas might eventually be affected by ike , but interests in the southeastern bahamas and the turks and caicos islands should monitor the progress of this system . '' see the path ike might follow '' at 11 p.m. thursday , ike was about 475 miles north-northeast of the leeward islands , moving westward near 14 mph . watch a view of ike from space '' trailing ike by about 1,600 miles in the eastern atlantic was tropical storm josephine . josephine 's winds had dropped to 45 mph , and the system was not forecast to make landfall any time soon . cnn 's larry shaughnessy and alanne orjoux contributed to this report .<doc-sep>miami , florida -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- hurricane gustav churned into the gulf of mexico on saturday night , still an `` extremely dangerous '' category 4 storm threatening to blast the same region devastated by hurricane katrina three years ago . saturday morning , gustav was about 255 miles east-southeast of the western tip of cuba . gustav , a category 4 storm with 135 mph -lrb- 220 km/hr -rrb- top winds , was centered 485 miles -lrb- 780 kilometers -rrb- southeast of the mouth of the mississippi river , according to the national hurricane center 's 6 a.m. gmt -lrb- 2 a.m. et -rrb- advisory . that 's only 15 mph slower than when the storm first crossed land in cuba . the u.s. national hurricane center said the storm could pick up even more strength as it enters the gulf 's warmer waters . the hurricane center said gustav is an `` extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane . '' in the united states , state and federal officials -- eager to prove they are ready -- urged residents to flee , and many of those residents obeyed , moving north by the tens of thousands , according to the governor of louisiana , whose state was hit three years ago by hurricane katrina . new orleans mayor ray nagin called gustav `` the mother of all storms , '' saying its destruction could outstrip that from katrina , which flooded much of his city and killed about 3,000 people . a hurricane watch remained in effect for the northern gulf coast from east of high island texas eastward to the alabama-florida border , including the city of new orleans and lake pontchartrain , the national hurricane center said . a hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area , generally within 36 hours .<doc-sep>the category levels that are more widely cited to quantify the power of hurricanes purely measure wind speed . katrina was measured as a category 3 hurricane at landfall and later rose to a category 5 . the estimated cost of hurricane sandy is $ 20 billion . residents walk past burned houses in breezy point , a neighborhood located in the new york city borough of queens , after it was devastated by hurricane sandy . sandy , meanwhile , was measured as a category 1 hurricane at landfall . but sandy may end up being the second costliest hurricane in history after katrina because of its high ike , mcnoldy noted . ` sandy had category 1 winds at landfall yet was able to create very significant storm surge over hundreds of miles of highly populated coastline , ' he wrote . general view of downtown new orleans , louisiana after katrina hit in 2005 . ` katrina 's ike was more concentrated , sandy 's ike was more spread out . this metric -- more than wind speed -- encapsulates the respective storms ' horrific effects . ' sandy has been estimated to cost at least $ 20 billion in damage , whereas katrina cost roughly $ 106 billion . | <t> new : ike goes from 80-mph winds to 135-mph winds in six hours . </t> <t> hanna to pound bahamas , could regain hurricane strength . </t> <t> hanna expected to make u.s. landfall by friday or saturday . </t> | ike ignites into ` extremely dangerous ' category 4 hurricane<T> |
to celebrate our 20th year of publication , cooking light wanted to know what places best fit our philosophy to eat smart , be fit , and live well . using statistics from such organizations as the centers for disease control and prevention , the u.s. department of agriculture , and the zagat survey , we ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria . the result , we think , is a ranking of u.s. cities that best provide the resources people need to live healthful lives . seattle appears to be a place where healthful living comes easily and naturally , cooking light says . `` each city reflects the full spectrum of living well in its own unique way -- innovative restaurants and markets with nutritious local foods , abundant spaces for walking and other exercise , and a population that takes advantage of both , '' says senior editor phillip rhodes , who headed up the project . `` it 's great to know that so many people all over the country have the tools they need to eat smart , be fit , and live well , '' rhodes says . click on each city link below to learn why the city made our list and find details about the healthiest restaurants , freshest markets , and liveliest activities in the area . 1 . seattle , washington . an abundance of fresh local foods , walker-friendly streets , and inclusive attitudes helps make seattle america 's best city for healthy living . 2 . portland , oregon . life is good in our second-ranked city , thanks to its seemingly endless supply of outdoor activities , cutting-edge restaurants , and vibrant environmental consciousness . watch more on cooking light 's top 20 '' 3 . washington , d.c. . our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining , diverse cultures , and ample opportunity for exploration on foot . 4 . minneapolis , minnesota . in our fourth-ranked best city , lush parks and shimmering lakes provide a natural backdrop to a rich cultural landscape .<doc-sep>5 . san francisco , california . our fifth-ranked city steps up with one of the world 's most unforgettable settings -- along with great cuisine and an energetic spirit . 6 . boston , massachusetts . strolling historic parks and swanning around the water are but two of the pastimes that make summer prime time to enjoy our sixth-ranked city . 7 . denver , colorado . the mile-high city ranked seventh on our list for an outdoorsy western lifestyle that makes living well accessible and irresistible . 8 . milwaukee , wisconsin . our eighth-ranked city proves a worthy destination for food lovers , adventure seekers , and culture aficionados alike . 9 . philadelphia , pennsylvania . in america 's fifth-largest city , the historic past provides a backdrop for a present that 's healthful and happening . 10 . tucson , arizona . tucson offers a taste of the authentic southwest in a desert setting that 's ideal for a warm winter getaway .<doc-sep>11 . baltimore , maryland . baltimore , it turns out , has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day -- 27 percent . 12 . colorado springs , colorado . graced with bountiful trail systems , no wonder 91 percent of the city 's population claims to be in good health . 13 . pittsburgh , pennsylvania . skies , once dark with factory smoke , open above crystal-towered downtown pittsburgh , bound on three sides by the rivers monongahela , allegheny , and ohio . 14 . st. louis , missouri . a love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move . 15 . new york , new york . new yorkers walk far more than most americans , and they do it quickly . but they slow down for green markets -- 25 in manhattan alone . 16 . atlanta , georgia .<doc-sep>approximately 55,000 people gather on the fourth of july at the peachtree road race , the largest 10k in the world . 17 . austin , texas . you ca n't swing a yoga mat in austin without hitting a cool place to exercise -- whether it 's inside a gym or outdoors in a natural , spring-fed pool . 18 . chicago , illinois . the city 's environmentally friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 cooking light fithouse . 19 . las vegas , nevada . in our list , the city ranks third in restaurants rated `` extraordinary to perfection '' and third in nominations for james beard awards . 20 . kansas city , missouri . a recent study revealed kansas city has the purest water of any major city in the country . e-mail to a friend . enter to win a monthly room makeover giveaway from myhomeideas.com . copyright 2008 cooking light magazine . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>` we have daily communication around which players will train with the first team , and we do our best to mirror their schedule so we are able to accommodate any last-minute changes of plan . ' i speak with our manager regularly on players and philosophy . he is quite unique in that he knows the names of all the scholars in our system , and often asks how certain individuals are progressing . the first-team staff are equally supportive with the academy .<doc-sep>the budget airline became infamous for flying to airports outside of the cities that it advertised . they also came under fire in 2012 for launching a service to an airfield in the champagne region of france billed as paris-vatry-disney when it is 70 miles from disneyland paris and 90 miles from the french capital . stelios haji-ioannou , founder of easyjet , once described the carrier as flying from ` nowhere to nowhere ' . responding to the cities blunder yesterday , a spokesman for ryanair made light of the glitch , saying : ` we fly to so many airports -lrb- 189 across europe -rrb- , we can barely fit them on the same page , never mind the same map . ' the airline insists it has moved on from its reputation for obscure destinations , saying it is flying to more ` primary ' airports than ever with athens , lisbon and glasgow international among those added over the past 12 months .<doc-sep>one , for instance , has been named after hal masursky , a geologist who spent his career at nasa studying lunar and planetary surfaces and the best places for landing . ` names of martian craters in this new mars map can honour individuals , living or deceased , pets , places on earth or in space , sports teams , musical groups , countries , fictional characters - its up to you . ' mr stern said the project could provide some interesting insights into what people are thinking about and what 's important to them . duplicate names are allowed in different districts and provinces on mars just as street names in different cities on earth can be the same . for each crater you named , an electronic certificate is issued with the name , date and details of the crater . the 15,000 red planet features whose names have been approved by the international astronomical union -lrb- iau -rrb- will be added into uwingu 's base map . however , uwingu will not get approval from the iau , who is the body that approves the names of space bodies and their features . uwingu 's founders said 7,000 craters had been named by people in 78 countries in 10 days .<doc-sep>david and victoria beckham , pictured recently , famously keep incredibly fit and toned . now people in the uk can benefit from the cadillac trapeze too as stott pilates , brainchild of fitness guru moira stott-merrithew , launches at the spa at stanley house in lancashire . taylor swift and jeniffer aniston are also said to be fans . ` the beckhams train with a private teacher and seem to really enjoy using -lsb- the cadillac trapeze -rsb- , ' the source said . ` victoria has been doing pilates longer than david so is more confident with the moves but he is very enthusiastic . ' a stott pilates spokesperson said : ` the purpose-built pilates studio at the spa at stanley house uses the latest and best equipment available , perfectly complementing its philosophy in the provision of health and well-being for its guests . ' the pair were spotted using the intimidating-looking equipment like this at a gym in los angeles . traditionally , it is practiced on a table called the reformer , with springs and pulleys for resistance . | <t> cooking light magazine marks 20th anniversary by naming top 20 u.s. cities . </t> <t> 15 criteria were grouped into categories -- eat smart , be fit , live well . </t> <t> seattle tops list with lots of fresh local foods , pedestrian-friendly streets . </t> | cooking light names cities that best fit its philosophy<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- randy pausch , the professor whose `` last lecture '' became a runaway phenomenon on the internet and was turned into a best-selling book , died friday of pancreatic cancer , carnegie mellon university announced on its web site . randy pausch emphasized the joy of life in his `` last lecture , '' originally given in september 2007 . pausch , 47 , a computer science professor , delivered the lecture , `` really achieving your childhood dreams , '' at carnegie mellon in september 2007 , a month after being told he had three to six months to live because his cancer had returned . the lanky , energetic pausch talked about goals he had accomplished , like experiencing zero gravity and creating disney attractions , and those he had not , including becoming a professional football player . he used rejections he was handed when he applied for jobs at disney to comment on the importance of persistence . `` the brick walls are there for a reason ... to show us how badly we want something , '' he said . `` because the brick walls are there to stop the people who do n't want it badly enough . they 're there to stop the other people . '' watch what pausch did for his wife '' starting with a joke about `` a deathbed conversion '' -- `` i just bought a macintosh '' computer -- the educator went on to say that one of his childhood dreams was to write an entry in the world book encyclopedia .<doc-sep>`` i guess you can tell the nerds early , '' he added . an expert in virtual reality , pausch did go on to write an encyclopedia entry on the subject . he discussed his fondness for winning stuffed animals at fairs , showed a slide of them , then -- pretending to be concerned his audience would think the image had been digitally manipulated -- produced them onstage . donning silly costume items like a vest with arrows sticking out of it and a mad hatter 's hat , he described working with students as a way to help other people achieve their dreams . he also played down his own importance , saying that after he got a ph.d. , his mother took to introducing him as `` a doctor , but not the kind who helps people . '' the lecture has been viewed more than 3.2 million times since it was posted on youtube in december .<doc-sep>pausch co-founded the university 's entertainment technology center and was known for developing interdisciplinary courses and research projects that attracted new students to the field of computer science . he also spent his career encouraging computer scientists to collaborate with artists , dramatists and designers , carnegie mellon said . the university 's president , jared cohon , described pausch as `` a brilliant researcher and gifted teacher . '' `` his love of teaching , his sense of fun and his brilliance came together in the alice project , which teaches students computer programming while enabling them to do something fun -- making animated movies and games , '' cohon added . `` carnegie mellon -- and the world -- are better places for having had randy pausch in them . '' pausch describes cohon urging him to talk about having fun in his lecture , and telling him it 's difficult because it 's like asking a fish to talk about water . `` i do n't know how not to have fun , '' he said . `` i 'm dying and i 'm having fun . and i 'm going to keep having fun every day i have left . '' pausch is survived by his wife , jai , and three children .<doc-sep>tough crowd : some people are less enchanted with forgeard 's singing than others . front row : with one notable exception , the girls in this lecture 's front row seem to have enjoyed forgeard 's efforts . in one lecture , forgeard finishes up his love-song to a university student and begins to leave the lecture theater before turning back and serenading the stern-looking lecturer with john mayer 's your body is a wonderland which has both the lecturer and students in stitches . at the university of toronto mississauga , a female lecturer who is serenaded is so touched she offers both young men chocolate bars for their efforts . one professor who clearly believes in love from guelph university holds his lapel microphone in front of foregeard as he sings to amplify his dulcet tones . ` we did n't think the professors would be so cool about it , ' forgeard told the star . ` we thought some would -lsb- tell us to -rsb- get out and would tell us not to disturb the lecture . ' and while professors and students alike seem delighted by the unexpected mid-lecture music break , some university officials are less than pleased about the interruptions . ` we value the time of our faculty and our students , and must oppose activities that disrupt teaching and learning , however briefly , for purposes of entertainment , ' amy mullin , vice-principal academic and dean of the university of toronto mississauga told the star via email . ` we also can not endorse having our students or faculty singled out for attention , possibly quite unwelcome , in the context of a love song when they are supposed instead to be teaching or learning , ' she said . students do not agree with this attitude , though . ` it definitely made my day , ' elizabeth thomlinson told the star . ` who does n't want a guy singing to her ? ' hilarity : the student sitting in front of the girl forgeard is singing to is amazed by the unexpected turn of events . amplified : this lecturer lends his microphone to forgeard . joy : the efforts of forgeard , martinovik and slater result in a lot of laughter and a welcome respite from the rigors of academic work . ' @kyleforgeard you seem to have missed western on your rounds . stop by . i like daisies , ' tweeted a western university student to forgeard . forgeard and slater say they serenade women to make people happy and the videos are not part of their coursework . according to the star , the pair have been making videos together since ninth grade . their youtube channel , nelkfilmz , has received thousands of hits since they posted their university serenades . ` it 's a passion of ours , ' said forgeard . ` we want to grow our -lsb- youtube -rsb- channel and make it big . ' .<doc-sep>1928 - penicillin invented by alexander fleming . 1929 - great depression of america . 1933 - assassination attempt on president-elect franklin d roosevelt . 1939 - world war ii starts . 1955 - disneyland park opened in california . 1963 - jfk assassinated . 1969 - first man on the moon - internet arrives . 1977 - star wars released . 1980 - mount st helens erupts . 1986 - space shuttle challenger disaster . 1987 - dna used to convict criminals for the first time . 1989 - berlin wall falls . 1997 - princess diana dies . 2001 - wikipedia is launched . 2005 - youtube launched . 2009 - barack obama is sworn in . misao okawa looks on as she is recognized as the world 's oldest woman by the guinness world record in osaka , western japan on february 27 , 2013 , when she was 114 .<doc-sep>family 's financial future before he dies . popular : breaking bad tells the story of struggling chemistry teacher walter white -lrb- left -rrb- , who is also known as heisenberg . above , white -lrb- bryan cranston -rrb- is pictured with his former partner jesse pinkman -lrb- aaron paul -rrb- . drug lord : in the hit show , white -lrb- pictured -rrb- uses his expertise to produce and sell the purest form of methamphetamine , or ` crystal meth ' , in a secret laboratory to secure his family 's financial future before he dies . caught in the act : the gang was caught after the national crime agency put them under surveillance -lrb- above -rrb- . pictured : police officers swooped on jakubczyk and his colleagues as they produced a test batch of the drug in the laboratory . above , jakubczyk and lyzwa-cias are pictured emerging from the secret laboratory in 2012 . methamphetamine , a form of amphetamine sold in ` crystal ' form , can be snorted , swallowed or injected by users . it is a class a drug that is known for being extremely powerful and addictive . police swooped on jakubczyk and his colleagues as they produced a test batch of amphetamine in the laboratory , which was hidden in the garden of the house in grantham , the court heard . they later discovered an underground bunker which had been used by the gang to store an array of dangerous chemicals . storage : jakubczyk and his associates used these metal containers to store test batches of the powerful drug . keeping it hidden : they also used these containers , pictured following the discovery , to store amphetamine . jakubczyk , who trained in . narcotics before becoming a university lecturer in warsaw , was sentenced . to nine years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracies to . produce and supply amphetamine . meanwhile , . piotr turek , 35 , from kilkenny in ireland , who planned to distribute . the drug across the uk , ireland and poland , was jailed for eight years . and . ernest skorupa , 36 , and ewa lyzwa-cias , 60 , both from grantham in . lincolnshire , were sentenced to seven and five years in prison . respectively for their parts in the plot . meticulously planned : ` the professor ' was also helped by 36-year-old ernest skorupa -lrb- left -rrb- . right , a piece of equipment recovered from the laboratory by police . case : jakubczyk , who trained in narcotics before becoming a lecturer , was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracies to produce and supply amphetamine at leeds crown court -lrb- pictured -rrb- .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 22:02 est , 19 february 2013 . | . updated : . 11:09 est , 20 february 2013 . youtube has been criticised for helping to encourage the stereotype of nurses as ` sexual playthings ' . university lecturer jacinta kelly said videos uploaded to the website demean the nursing profession and portray nurses as ` witless , incompetent ' doctors ' assistants . | <t> randy pausch was computer science professor at carnegie mellon . </t> <t> his september 2007 `` last lecture '' became internet sensation , best-seller . </t> <t> pausch 's lecture celebrated living the life he always dreamed . </t> | youtube 's star lecturer dies at 47<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a year ago thursday , i-report was born . cnn.com launched its i-report initiative august 2 , 2006 , in an effort to involve citizens in the newsgathering process . numerous milestones later , i-report has grown and developed its ability to be an integral component of the network 's coverage . mark lacroix photographed the collapsed bridge from his apartment window . on the eve of its anniversary , i-reporters responded to yet another major news event : the deadly collapse of a bridge over the mississippi river in minneapolis , minnesota .<doc-sep>mark lacroix sent photos of the scene immediately after the disaster . as the story developed , he provided information about the situation to viewers live on television . lacroix 's photos were among the more than 450 i-report submissions sent to cnn within the first 24 hours of the bridge 's collapse -- the biggest response in one day to a single news event in i-report history . cnn.com readers have long been submitting photos and video , as well as speaking with cnn reporters , during major breaking news events . -lrb- check out our timeline of i-report milestones -rrb- '' on april 16 , jamal albarghouti sent cell phone video of the virginia tech shooting in blacksburg , virginia , as the dramatic events were unfolding .<doc-sep>more recently , when fireballs began exploding from an industrial gas facility in dallas , texas , in july , i-reporters wasted no time in recording video as smoke and debris rose into the air . justin randall was in a convertible during the incident and tried to drive around blast debris on a highway . he sent video of the explosions , showing flames rising high into the air . during a steam pipe explosion in new york , jonathan thompson sent video of a powerful surge of steam rising from the ground and rescuers scrambling to secure the area . he followed up later that month by sending footage of repairs being made to the crater left behind . e-mail to a friend .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a 16-year-old girl pleads with her parents not to barter her into a marriage . komol , from india , dreamed of continuing her education , going to college and providing a better life for her parents . but what she wanted counted little . she became pregnant with her first child at age 16 , in a marriage she did not want . `` since then , i have hardly ever been allowed to step out of the house , '' komol was reported as saying , in a united nations population fund report released wednesday . `` sometimes , when the others are not at home , i read my old school books , and hold my baby and cry . '' `` she is such an adorable little girl , but i am blamed for not having a son . '' one in every five girls -lrb- about 19 % -rrb- gives birth before she turns 18 in developing countries , according to the report . of the 7.3 million girls who give birth every year , 2 million of them are under the age of 14 . the report states that pregnancies -- especially for these girls -- `` are not the result of a deliberate choice '' but rather `` the result of an absence of choices and of circumstances beyond a girl 's control , '' affecting their health , education and future job opportunities . `` for these very young adolescents who do not have a say in whether or when they will become pregnant , their futures are destroyed , and their basic human rights are violated , '' said dr. babatunde osotimehin , the executive director of the united nations population fund in an e-mail . countries with the highest percentage of reported births before age 18 were mostly in west africa , in countries such as niger -lrb- 51 % -rrb- , chad -lrb- 48 % -rrb- , mali -lrb- 46 % -rrb- and guinea -lrb- 44 % -rrb- .<doc-sep>connor was the oldest of four boys . a judge on monday ordered a mental competency exam for the 12-year-old boy charged in connor 's death . the associated press is n't naming the 12-year-old because of his age . he 's . designated as an adult in the juvenile court system , meaning he 'd be . sentenced as a juvenile if convicted and then resentenced as an adult . once he turns 21 . state . mental health experts will examine the 12-year-old and report on whether . they believe he is mentally competent to stand trial . that is expected to bring a delay of several months . scene of the crime : the children 's playground where connor was stabbed .<doc-sep>the 29-year-old said : ` my boyfriend . james is always talking in his sleep and i 'm hoping to finally hear what . he is saying using this new app . ` i . must admit i am a bit worried , though . it would be awful if it turns . out he is muttering his ex-girlfriend 's name or a girl that we both . know . ` if i wake up one . day , look at the app and find out he has been dreaming about another . girl - he could end up sleeping on the floor ! ' dreamers beware : the app could be used by couples to find out what - or whom - each person is dreaming about , which could prove awkward if it turns out they are subconsciously thinking about an ex or something inappropriate and blurting it out in the night .<doc-sep>elizabeth celebrated her 60th anniversary on the throne in 2012 and turns 87 in april . she was last hospitalized in 2003 for knee surgery . her husband , the 92-year-old prince philip , was hospitalized three times between december 2011 and august 2012 -- once for treatment of a blocked coronary artery and twice for a bladder infection . get the latest news from cnn.com . cnn 's richard quest , elizabeth cohen , per nyberg and max foster contributed to this report . | <t> i-report initiative launched august 2 , 2006 , on cnn.com . </t> <t> citizen journalists have participated in cnn 's newsgathering . </t> <t> more than 6,000 i-report submissions last month . </t> | i-report turns one year old<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sen. john mccain 's campaign rebuked sen. joe biden on tuesday , saying the democratic vice presidential nominee had `` sunk to a new low '' by raising a debate over who cares more for special needs children . sen. joseph biden embraces a supporter during a campaign stop in columbia , missouri , on tuesday . the republican camp 's sharp response came after biden said gop advocates for children with birth defects should support stem cell research . during a campaign event in columbia , missouri , biden did not mention his republican counterpart by name but said , `` i hear all this talk about how the republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have both the joy ... and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability , who were born with a birth defect . '' biden 's support of stem cell research is at odds with the position taken by the republicans ' vice presidential nominee , alaska gov. sarah palin , whose 5-month-old son , trig , has down syndrome .<doc-sep>palin , an evangelical christian , opposes stem cell research because it involves the use of human embryos , but her running mate , gop presidential nominee mccain , does support stem cell research . `` well , guess what , folks ? if you care about it , why do n't you support stem cell research ? '' asked biden , the running mate of democratic presidential nominee sen. barack obama . those comments brought a sharp response . `` barack obama 's running mate sunk to a new low today , launching an offensive debate over who cares more about special needs children , '' mccain-palin spokesman ben porritt said . `` playing politics with this issue is disturbing and indicative of a desperate campaign . '' biden spokesman david wade insisted that the delaware senator 's comments were not directed at palin .<doc-sep>`` this is a clash of policies , not a clash of personalities , '' wade said . `` we 've heard not a dime 's worth of difference between the mccain-palin ticket and the bush administration on medical breakthroughs that millions of parents and doctors believe could save lives and transform the quality of life for countless americans . '' during her acceptance speech at the republican national convention last week , palin told parents of children with disabilities that she would be `` a friend and advocate in the white house . '' but the alaska governor 's support for the disabled has come under scrutiny since mccain chose palin to be his running mate nearly two weeks ago . before her run for the vice presidency , advocacy for special needs programs had not been a central part of her political campaigns or during her administration , despite her sister 's autistic son . watch more on palin 's budget priorities ''<doc-sep>palin signed a bill this year increasing special needs funding but frustrated some of the bill 's co-sponsors by stepping in only at the last minute . sonya kerr , an anchorage attorney specializing in disability rights , filed a lawsuit against the state and palin , alleging that there are not enough services for kids with special needs , specifically a child with autism . `` i would say , welcome , gov. palin , to our reality and what we 've been trying to deal with for a long time , '' kerr said . `` i hope that it means that there will be support on a bipartisan basis for what people with disabilities need so we are not a bargaining chip in the political process . '' cnn 's deb feyerick , alexander mooney and rachel streitfeld contributed to this report .<doc-sep>ellen seidman , whose family is heading to disneyland for the first time in december , is willing to give disney the benefit of the doubt during the rollout . `` disney has an admirable history of accommodating guests with special needs , '' she wrote on her `` love that max '' blog about kids with special needs . `` there are wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles available for rent , special dietary offerings at most restaurants , designated relief areas for service animals , plus options for guests with hearing and visual impairment . i ca n't imagine that disney would ever leave kids with special needs in the -lrb- pixie -rrb- dust . `` parents of kids with special needs sure are n't shy about speaking up when something is n't working . if the realities of the new program prove too hard to handle , the parks will hear about it -- and hopefully make adjustments accordingly . '' what do you think of disney 's new program ? please share in the comments section below .<doc-sep>a department spokesman told the daily telegraph : ` the principal appreciates that the material was unacceptable and apologises for any offence it caused . ' in the newsletter principal christian cundy referred to students who may be bullying victims or have mental health issues as ` morons ' , ` nut cases ' and ` village idiots ' . ` he has undertaken not to include any material of this nature in future staff newsletters . he has been formally counselled by the department . ' ` the department stresses that the material is contrary to the values of public education and the school 's track record of support for students with disabilities and other learning needs , ' they said . the comments have provoked anger amongst disability groups . autism advisory and support service founder and president grace fava told the daily telegraph she was angered by the shameful ' comments and called for stronger action against the principal . ` you do not joke about this -- he is supposedly the head of a school filled with kids who have special needs , ' ms fava said .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . a toronto mother who had received a shocking anonymous letter last week urging her to have her 13-year-old autistic son euthanized has issued a forceful response , highlighting the importance of tolerance . karla begley and her family were left reeling after receiving a disturbing , hate-filled missive from a neighbor in newcastle , canada , informing her that the noise her special needs son , max , was making while playing outside terrified her ` normal ' children . on wednesday , miss begley , whose . 15-year-old son , jack , is also on the autistic spectrum , and she herself . is wheelchair-bound due to multiple sclerosis , gave an interview to a blog about special needs children called love that max to address the controversy in a constructive way . eloquent answer : karla begley , pictured here . with her son max in 2010 , took to a blog about special needs children to . deliver a response to a vile letter a neighbor had sent her complaining . about the boy 's sounds . words of wisdom : mrs begley -lrb- left -rrb- urged people to be more understanding towards special needs children like her son -lrb- right -rrb- , whom she called a blessing . ` i will not stoop to an insulting . level , ' she said . ` what i have to say is about tolerance , . acceptance and respect for kids with special needs . ' begley . addressed the noise complaints cited in the callous letter she had . received , saying that all children make noise , not just ones with . special needs . in the case of her son , the sounds he emits is the only . way he can express himself . ` if . max 's sounds bother someone , i 'd hope that person would let us know in a . respectful way , ' begley said . ` give us a chance to handle it instead . of being cowardly about it . ' the . 44-year-old mother went on to say that she prefers when people openly . address her son 's disability , like kids in the neighborhood who come up . to her and ask why max talks ` funny . ' ` the . parents are embarrassed . but if the mom is n't going to talk properly to . a child , or teach him that kids with autism are not contagious , i . will ! ' she told the blog . ` it 's important to help kids understand . and not be fearful from a young age . ` i 'll . tell children , `` he has autism and he has trouble with speech , but you . can say ` hi ' to him . '' and then i 'll have max say ` hi ' back and it 's ok . i 'd rather kids ask than grow up to be the sort of people who write .<doc-sep>by . associated press reporter . and zoe szathmary . democratic vice president joe biden appeared to cross party lines at the national urban league conference on thursday when he said he wished he had a republican child . speaking at the cincinnati conference , biden said ' i should have had one republican kid grow up and make money , ' to laughter from the audience . ` but um - so if they put me in a home i get a window with a view , you know what i mean ? ' he joked . scroll down for video . having regrets ? speaking at the cincinnati conference , biden said ' i should have had one republican kid grow up and make money ' ` but my daughter is a social worker . graduate school at penn and runs an at-risk program , an at-risk youth program for kids getting out of prison and young men getting out of prison , ' biden said . the vice president was referring to his daughter ashley biden . her 2012 wedding announcement said she worked at the delaware department of services for children , youth and their families . biden 's son beau serves as delaware 's attorney general , and son hunter is a practicing attorney who is also on the board of directors for a ukrainian gas company . speaking at the conference , whose theme is ` one nation underemployed , ' biden said the keys to putting more people in better-paying jobs and spurring economic growth in cities are workforce training to meet today 's business needs and improving roads , bridges and other transportation . ` this is a new era , ' biden said . ` we are better-positioned than anybody in the world , but we need to invest in infrastructure and skilled job training . ' | <t> biden says gop advocates for special needs kids should support stem cell research . </t> <t> mccain camp says biden `` sunk to a new low '' with comments . </t> <t> gop vp pick palin has a son with down syndrome , opposes stem cell research . </t> <t> biden spokesman says vice presidential nominee did not target palin . </t> | biden 's comments on special needs kids called ` new low '<T> |
washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the dramatic drop in violence in iraq is due in large part to a secret program the u.s. military has used to kill terrorists , according to a new book by pulitzer prize-winning journalist bob woodward . bob woodward 's book , `` the war within : secret white house history 2006-2008 , '' came out monday . the program -- which woodward compares to the world war ii era manhattan project that developed the atomic bomb -- must remain secret for now or it would `` get people killed , '' woodward said monday on cnn 's larry king live . `` it is a wonderful example of american ingenuity solving a problem in war , as we often have , '' woodward said . in `` the war within : secret white house history 2006-2008 , '' woodward disclosed the existence of secret operational capabilities developed by the military to locate , target and kill leaders of al qaeda in iraq and other insurgent leaders .<doc-sep>national security adviser stephen hadley , in a written statement reacting to woodward 's book , acknowledged the new strategy . yet he disputed woodward 's conclusion that the `` surge '' of 30,000 u.s. troops into iraq was not the primary reason for the decline in violent attacks . `` it was the surge that provided more resources and a security context to support newly developed techniques and operations , '' hadley wrote . woodward , associate editor of the washington post , wrote that along with the surge and the new covert tactics , two other factors helped reduce the violence . watch bob woodward explain the strategy '' one was the decision of militant cleric muqtada al-sadr to order a cease-fire by his mehdi army . the other was the `` anbar awakening '' movement that saw sunni tribes aligning with u.s. troops to battle al qaeda in iraq . woodward told larry king that while there is a debate over how much credit the new secret operations should get for the drop in violence , he concluded it `` accounts for a good portion . ''<doc-sep>`` i would somewhat compare it to the manhattan project in world war ii , '' he said `` it 's a ski slope right down in a matter of months , cutting the violence in half . this is n't going to happen with the bunch of joint security stations or the surge . '' the top secret operations , he said , will `` some day in history ... be described to people 's amazement . '' while he would not reveal the details , woodward said the terrorists who have been targeted were already aware of the capabilities . `` the enemy has a heads up because they 've been getting wiped out and a lot of them have been killed , '' he said . `` it 's not news to them . `` if you were a member of al qaeda or the resistance or some extremist militia , you would be wise to get your rear end out of town , '' woodward said . `` it is very dangerous . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- journalist bob woodward describes in his new book a secret u.s. program to assassinate terrorists in iraq . cnn 's michael ware says , `` the u.s. subcontracted out an assassination program against al qaeda ... in early 2006 . '' woodward , an associate editor of the washington post , says in `` the war within : a secret white house history 2006-2008 '' that the assassination program , not the 2007 increase in u.s. forces in the war zone known as `` the surge , '' is primarily responsible for the reduction of violence in iraq . cnn baghdad correspondent michael ware cast doubt on woodward 's assertion tuesday in a conversation with `` american morning '' host john roberts . watch larry king on his talk with woodward '' john roberts : what do you think of what woodward is saying ? michael ware : let 's say that these `` fusion teams , '' as they 're being called , have come into effect . the first thing to say is , `` well , about time . '' on the ground you 've seen the lack of coordination as the left hand of one agency is not with the right hand of another agency within the american effort . but by and large , to suggest that anything like this being done now has been the major reason for the decline in violence is a bit rich .<doc-sep>london -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iran offered to stop attacking coalition troops in iraq nearly four years ago in an attempt to get the west to accept tehran 's nuclear program , a british diplomat told the bbc in an interview aired saturday . john sawers , british ambassador to the u.n. , told bbc of iran approaching western nations with offer . `` the iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program -- ` we stop killing you in iraq , stop undermining the political process there , you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program without let or hindrance , '' said john sawers , now the british ambassador to the united nations , in the documentary , `` iran and the west : nuclear confrontation . '' the united states and other western nations believe iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program , but iran says it is developing nuclear capability to produce energy . iran also has been accused of sponsoring terrorists and supplying weapons to iraqi insurgents . the latter prompted a warning from the united states that such behavior by tehran `` would be regarded by us as enemy action , '' philip zelikow , a state department counselor , told the bbc . then , iran began shopping its offer around europe , sawers said .<doc-sep>felt died in 2008 at age 95 . on monday , woodward and bernstein spoke of felt 's contribution to their coverage . `` we had uncovered the story , '' bernstein said at a program put on by the post . `` he did contribute key details at various points . '' `` he gave us this assurance that we knew we were right , '' bernstein added . `` he confirmed these things and it eliminated a lot of doubt that i think we might have had . '' but woodward said bernstein 's discovery of the bookkeeper for nixon 's re-election campaign was `` the real turning point in the coverage of watergate . ''<doc-sep>london -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- iran offered to stop attacking coalition troops in iraq nearly four years ago in an attempt to get the west to accept tehran 's nuclear program , a british diplomat told the bbc in an interview aired saturday . john sawers , british ambassador to the u.n. , told bbc of iran approaching western nations with offer . `` the iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program -- ` we stop killing you in iraq , stop undermining the political process there , you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program without let or hindrance , '' said john sawers , now the british ambassador to the united nations , in the documentary , `` iran and the west : nuclear confrontation . '' the united states and other western nations believe iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program , but iran says it is developing nuclear capability to produce energy . iran also has been accused of sponsoring terrorists and supplying weapons to iraqi insurgents . the latter prompted a warning from the united states that such behavior by tehran `` would be regarded by us as enemy action , '' philip zelikow , a state department counselor , told the bbc . then , iran began shopping its offer around europe , sawers said . sawers , britain 's political director at the time , reveals the behind-the-scene talks from 2005 -- when roadside bombing against british and american soldiers in iraq peaked -- were held with british , french and german diplomats at hotels in london , paris and berlin . `` and then we 'd compare notes among the three of us , '' sawers told the bbc . the british government dismissed the offer and iran 's nuclear enrichment program restarted once again , the bbc reports . iran has denied offering any such deal and reiterated its position saturday . `` iran 's high officials have repeatedly stated that iran has not had any part in attacks against american and british forces , and there is no evidence to support these baseless accusations , '' iranian foreign ministry spokesman hassan qashqavi said , according to the semi-official mehr news agency . | <t> program likened to wwii-era manhattan project that developed the atomic bomb . </t> <t> author discloses the existence of secret operational capabilities in latest book . </t> <t> national security advisor disputes woodward 's conclusion about the iraq surge . </t> | secret killing program is key in iraq , woodward says<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- journalist bob woodward describes in his new book a secret u.s. program to assassinate terrorists in iraq . cnn 's michael ware says , `` the u.s. subcontracted out an assassination program against al qaeda ... in early 2006 . '' woodward , an associate editor of the washington post , says in `` the war within : a secret white house history 2006-2008 '' that the assassination program , not the 2007 increase in u.s. forces in the war zone known as `` the surge , '' is primarily responsible for the reduction of violence in iraq . cnn baghdad correspondent michael ware cast doubt on woodward 's assertion tuesday in a conversation with `` american morning '' host john roberts . watch larry king on his talk with woodward '' john roberts : what do you think of what woodward is saying ? michael ware : let 's say that these `` fusion teams , '' as they 're being called , have come into effect . the first thing to say is , `` well , about time . '' on the ground you 've seen the lack of coordination as the left hand of one agency is not with the right hand of another agency within the american effort . but by and large , to suggest that anything like this being done now has been the major reason for the decline in violence is a bit rich .<doc-sep>i mean , the u.s. subcontracted out an assassination program against al qaeda way back in early 2006 . and this was conceded by the then-chief of military intelligence in baghdad and by -lsb- u.s. -rsb- ambassador zalmay khalilzad himself . that 's what broke the back of al qaeda . then when america put 100,000-plus insurgents on the u.s. government payroll , including members of al qaeda , that not only took them out of the field , but it also let them run their own assassination programs against the iranian-backed militias . roberts : so it sounds like assassination was a real part of the program here , but was that the only thing that worked ? what about the addition of these troops and these neighborhood stations that were set up ? did it all kind of work together ? ware : it does work together . but the key to the downturn in violence that we 're seeing now is not so much the surge of 30,000 troops in itself . what it 's been is the segregation of baghdad into these enclaves . it 's been cutting a deal with muqtada al-sadr , the leader of the iranian-backed militia . and primarily it 's been putting your enemy on your payroll -- the sunni insurgents and many members of al qaeda . that 's what 's brought down the violence . this is your american militia , the counterbalance to the iranian militias . so if there 's new teams out there with new technology , great . but they 're riding the wave of previous success .<doc-sep>by . tara brady . a bullying boyfriend was jailed today for attacking an heroic soldier who saved his girlfriend from drowning . army captain mark gold , 43 , was strolling along the river taff in cardiff city centre when he saw martin edwards , 43 , pushing girlfriend leanne ware , 31 , into the freezing water . captain gold rang 999 and rushed into the water to drag miss ware 's lifeless body from the swollen river in february . caught : martin edwards , 43 , -lrb- left -rrb- pushed girlfriend leanne ware , 31 , -lrb- right -rrb- into the freezing water . but he was punched by raging edwards as he dragged her limp body to safety . a court heard edwards lashed out and screamed at the soldier : ` f**k off , leave her alone , she 's my girlfriend . i 'll sort her out . ' captain gold fought off the attack and pulled unconscious miss ware to the river bank .<doc-sep>he then brought her back from the dead by performing cpr . hero soldier captain mark gold , 43 -lrb- pictured -rrb- who saved a woman from drowning . prosecutor john philpotts said miss ware was face down in the fast flowing river for around three minutes before army medic captain gold managed to reach her lifeless body on the riverbank . mr philpotts told cardiff crown court : ` edwards told captain gold to `` f**k off '' and was flailing his arms about . ` captain gold managed to pull miss ware 's head out of the water but took a blow to his face for the trouble from edwards . ` by now miss ware had been in the water for sometime . she was blue and appeared to be unresponsive . ` captain gold shouted at edwards to release miss ware and told him she was dead because that is how it appeared to him . ` edwards stopped behaving aggressively at that point . maybe he realised what he was doing . ' the court heard miss ware was effectively dead and was at the lowest level a human can possibly be on the glasgow coma scale .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the dramatic drop in violence in iraq is due in large part to a secret program the u.s. military has used to kill terrorists , according to a new book by pulitzer prize-winning journalist bob woodward . bob woodward 's book , `` the war within : secret white house history 2006-2008 , '' came out monday . the program -- which woodward compares to the world war ii era manhattan project that developed the atomic bomb -- must remain secret for now or it would `` get people killed , '' woodward said monday on cnn 's larry king live . `` it is a wonderful example of american ingenuity solving a problem in war , as we often have , '' woodward said . in `` the war within : secret white house history 2006-2008 , '' woodward disclosed the existence of secret operational capabilities developed by the military to locate , target and kill leaders of al qaeda in iraq and other insurgent leaders .<doc-sep>but holmes suggested there 's a chance al-maliki and iraq will survive this crisis . `` this could be a good test of nuri al-maliki and the security forces . they 're going to have to stand up at some point ; maybe this is a time to see how they do . '' ware doubts the security forces can prevent a meltdown . `` this is a window into the future of iraq after the american withdrawal , '' ware said . `` what many people suggest is that we 're looking at a situation that will be akin to lebanon in the 1980s , with vicious , well-armed militia proxy wars where all the factions are supported by one foreign sponsor or another . `` but this will be lebanon on steroids . '' e-mail to a friend . | <t> bob woodward credits assassination teams in large part for lower violence in iraq . </t> <t> cnn baghdad correspondent michael ware says that 's not all of it . </t> <t> co-opting of insurgents and al qaeda in iraq had bigger impact , ware says . </t> <t> deal with muqtada al-sadr , leader of iranian-backed militia , also key , ware says . </t> | ware : woodward 's iraq claims off the mark<T> |
-lrb- cnn traveller -rrb- -- when the roman emperor hadrian came to power in 117ad he inherited an empire that was overstretched militarily and creaking at the seams . a massive bust of hadrian 's head unearthed only last year is part of the exhibition at the british museum . one of his first acts was to pull the troops out of mesopotamia , modern-day iraq , a fact that is sure to resonate with visitors to the british museum `` s superb exhibition `` hadrian : empire and conflict '' which opens on 24 july under the imposing classical dome of the reading room . curator torsten opper says : `` no matter what our take is on the conflict in iraq today , we can relate to hadrian 's decision . maybe 10 or 15 years ago , it would n't have mattered so much . now it does . '' hadrian was born in rome to a noble family whose origins lay in spain . one of the greatest of rome 's emperors , he consolidated imperial power , was a patron of architecture and travelled extensively across his lands . though married , he also took a homosexual lover , antinous , whose drowning in the river nile on the very day egyptians were celebrating the death in a similar manner of the god osiris remains one of ancient history 's great unsolved mysteries . the range of exhibits and their rarity means that this exhibition is going to be extremely well-attended . visitors will , for example , be the first members of the public anywhere to see a huge head of the emperor that was dug up recently at sagalassos in central turkey and would have once crowned a statue that was over five metres high .<doc-sep>`` a year ago , this was still lying buried in the ground , '' says opper . `` it `` s proof that roman history is n't done and dusted ; that we are still able to rethink the past and evaluate it . '' the exhibition brings together 180 objects , from 31 sources in 11 different countries . `` it has n't been an easy thing to do , '' adds opper . `` many of these objects leave huge gaps in their home collection and many are extremely delicate . this is n't an exhibition that can travel . people will only be able to view it for these three months . '' many of the most delicate objects are also those that give the most dramatic insight into hadrian 's reign . between 132ad and 135/6ad the jews of judea rebelled against roman rule . some of the insurgents took refuge in a cave in the desert , called the cave of letters , in which they were trapped by roman troops . few made it out alive . the climatic conditions of the cave have preserved objects in astonishing condition . there is a letter written by jewish leader simon bar kokhba -lrb- enquiring about a delivery of supplies -rrb- , as well as mirrors , a jewellery box and an astonishingly delicate glass plate , probably made in alexandria , that somehow survived flight into the desert and the perilous climb up a cliff to the cave . then there are three house keys , their wooden handles preserved , looking as if they would still open the locks for which they were made .<doc-sep>opper says : `` they `` re immediately touching -- these were used by people to lock their homes thinking they `` d be back in a week or two , but of course they were n't -- they all perished . and there are still many refugees now who still have keys to the homes they once lived in . it `` s a potent symbol of conflict . '' to the british hadrian will always be associated with the wall that was built across northern england , an 117km rampart with a fortification every 1.6 km . in schoolroom history this has traditionally been seen as a defence against the barbarian tribes to the north , but it was n't necessarily so . `` the wall was a ruthlessly efficient symbol of oppression and in the end it broke the back of the local tribes , '' says opper . confirmation of this , perhaps , comes from two small writing tablets from the fortress of vindolanda , the oldest surviving hand-written documents in the british isles . in one an officer , presumably writing to a colleague who is taking over his post , derides the locals as the `` little british , '' not worthy of worrying about very much - brief , battered and faded the letter may be , but as an example of high-handed imperialism it is hard to beat . click here to subscribe to cnn traveller . copyright © 2008 ink publishing and cable news network , lp , lllp , a time warner company . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>martin luther king jr. . day will be observed across the country monday . dozens of students from an elementary school in washington took turns friday reciting king 's '' ' i have a dream '' speech . `` we are humbled to be here today in honor of dr. martin luther king jr. and the enduring legacy of his vision for a nation united by respect , integrity and justice , '' said watkins elementary school assistant principal suriya douglas williams . `` our fifth-graders have studied and prepared diligently to share dr. king 's message with you , a message which still resonates today , nearly five decades after he first delivered it . '' cnn 's greg clary contributed to this report .<doc-sep>2014 has seen another 12 months of tantalising sporting action . from events such as the world cup to the commonwealth games and ryder cup - there has been a plethora of moments that have captivated us all . sportsmail have captured these historic moments step-by-step through our own brilliant photography team . below , sportsmail 's andy hooper picks out his favourite taken images from 2014 . video scroll down to see the making of sportsmail 's andy hooper 's iconic commonwealth games image . sportsmail 's andy hooper photographed some of england 's stars ahead of this summer 's commonwealth games held in glasgow . the favourite of my images this year has to be hadrian 's wall , not because it 's my best image but because it 's creative , took a lot of planning , was technical to shoot and retouch . this image was used as a preview to the glasgow 2014 commonwealth games in the summer . it 's supposed to be a bit of fun with participating athletes dressed up in st george 's cross kilts and kit ! i wanted the english team to look warrior-like and invading the games by leaping over hadrian 's wall . including preparation , planning and shooting this image took three months . athletes are spread all over the country and were involved in heavy training in the lead up to the games so i could only photograph them individually at their respective training camps . as these were all elite athletes it was impossible to get them to hadrian 's wall , they only get one day off a week and the last thing they want to be doing is spend it travelling to scotland . the invictus games took place in september celebrating the sporting achievements of men and women who have been injured in battle .<doc-sep>by . victoria woollaston . published : . 05:21 est , 21 august 2013 . | . updated : . 11:16 est , 21 august 2013 . a network of tunnels that make up what appears to be an underground city have been discovered buried deep beneath the villa of emperor hadrian near rome . archaeospeleologists have begun charting the underground roads and believe the passageways would have been used by carts and wagons pulled by oxen to transport slaves , food and other goods below the estate 's 296 acres of land out of sight from the emperor . the villa at tivoli , near rome , was built by emperor hadrian in the 2nd century ad and was made up of 30 buildings such as palaces , living quarters , spas , pavilions and libraries , each surrounded by ornate gardens , pools and fountains . archaeologists have mapped more than a mile of tunnels , right , discovered beneath hadrian 's villa in rome used to transport slaves , cattle and food out of sight from the emperor hadrian . the main tunnel , pictured left , runs for half a mile to a 700 metre circular spur that may have been used to turn carts around . this map shows the layout of hadrian 's villa estate . the first tunnels to be discovered at the start of this century are marked in blue and travel from the piazza to the grand trapeze . the second , red tunnels travel away from the grand trapeze . the green roads travel underground from the entrance hall to the piazza . the yellow line is the newly-discovered tunnel that is 2.4-metres wide and dubbed the great underground road . the main tunnel , mapped by caver marco placidi and a team from the sotteranei di roma association of archaeospeleologists including vittoria fressi , is 10-foot wide , runs for more than half a mile in a north-easterly direction before switching south and leads to a 700-metre circular spur . experts believe this spur may have been used as a turning circle for the carts and wagons . the passage has been dubbed strafa carrabile , which means great underground road in italian , and is larger than the other tunnels previously discovered under the estate . it was uncovered when archaeologists found a hole buried beneath bushes and plants along a pathway to the main gallery . because some sections of the tunnel are blocked by debris and rocks that have fallen into them over time , the archaeologists also used wire-controlled robots fitted with cameras to explore regions they could n't reach . another , larger tunnel was also found during the exploration that is 16-foot wide and could have been used as a dual road . the main tunnel , mapped by caver marco placidi , pictured , and a team from the sotteranei di roma association runs in a north-easterly direction before switching south beneath the 296 acres of the hadrian villa 's estate . hadrian 's villa was built at tibur , which is now known as tivoli , around 20 miles to the east of rome . it was used as a retreat for roman emperor hadrian during 2nd century ad . the villa was started in 117ad . towards the end of his reign , hadrian governed the empire from the villa and built a court in order to have official meetings . when the . roman empire fell the palace was looted and damaged but the underground . network is ` almost intact ' . the estate is made of over 30 building covering around 296 acres and includes palaces , thermae 's -lrb- spas -rrb- , theatres , temples , libraries , slave and courtier quarters . there is also a pool and an artificial grotto named canopus and serapeum , respectively -lrb- pictured -rrb- . it was named after the egyptian city of canopus where a temple , called serapeum , was dedicated to the god serapis . in 1998 , archaeologists discovered a temple built in honour of god antinous . the villa was declared a world heritage . site by unesco in 1999 and officials are working to clear the tunnels . and offer tours of the passageways by the end of the year . however , there was too much soil and debris in the tunnel for the explorers to enter and will be cleared at a later date to see where it leads to . the villa was declared a world heritage site by unesco in 1999 and officials are working to clear the tunnels so they can offer tours of the passageways by the end of the year . archaeologists realised there was a network of roads under the estate because wells were situated along the paths every 50ft in a uniform pattern . it was originally believed that a single road travelled from the terrace of the venus of cnidus statue in the grounds to the circular spur . the new tunnel entrance discovered suggests that there were also alternative underground routes . other discoveries include the footprint of a baby on the cover plate at the end of one tunnel as well as a shell from the red sea found beneath the serapeum , or religious temple . some of the tunnels under hadrian 's villa were too small for the team to fully explore so the archaeospeleologists used wire-mounted robots fitted with cameras to track and map the areas they could n't reach . one of the many thermae , or spas , located in the ground of hadrian 's villa . when the roman empire fell the palace was looted and damaged but the underground network is ` almost intact ' archaeologists realised there was a network of roads under the estate because wells were situated along the paths every 50ft in a uniform pattern . experts believe these decorated dishes may have been used to serve to the emperor , or used as souvenirs . emperor hadrian , who also built hadrian 's wall in the north of england , designed his villa based on palaces he 'd seen in egypt and greece . the villa was started in 117ad . when the roman empire fell the palace was looted and damaged but the underground network is ` almost intact ' . vittoria fresi told il messagero newspaper , ` the underground network helps us to understand the structures that are . above ground . ' ` all the majesty of the villa is reflected in the subsoil . an authentic villa parading parallel below , designed by hadrian , which served to make even more spectacular monuments . ' archaeologists have mapped more than a mile of tunnels discovered beneath hadrian 's villa in tivoli , pictured , that was used to transport slaves , cattle and food out of sight from the emperor hadrian . the main tunnel is 2.4 metres wide and runs for half a mile to a 700 metre circular spur that may have been used to turn carts around .<doc-sep>it is the largest monument from the ancient era in northern europe , but hadrian 's wall in fact has an older and more northern brother . archaeologists have been carrying out research into a huge late fist century ad defence system , which stretches 120 miles across scotland . a total of 14 forts and several fortlets , which formed part of a defensive network built in the ad 70s , have so far been investigated over the past decade by the team , led by dr birgitta hoffmann and dr david wolliscroft , both of the university of liverpool . archaeologists have been carrying out research into a huge defence system , which is believed to have been built in the ad 70s and stretches 120 miles across scotland . the structure is not believed to be a continuous wall or ditch , but instead consist of 20 forts , a dozen fortlets and up to 30 watchtowers in total , the bbc history magazine has reported . the network , which is thought to have run from montrose or stonehaven , south of aberdeen , on the north sea coast to the firth or clyde , was built some 50 years before hadrian 's wall , and is an extra 20 years older than antonine wall . the team , who have carried out surveys of seven of the largest forts over the last five years , are hunting for the missing fortlets and towers . the forts are believed to have been manned by more troops than previously thought and it is also believed many were cavalry units . the bbc has reported the defensive line was built by the romans in an attempt to keep hold of the land they had invaded in around 69 or 70 ad from hostile northern caledonian tribes . it also thought however that the . fortress protected the friendly lowland tribes from cattle-raiders , . fostering good relations which led to large civilian settlements being . set up near the forts . according to the bbc , these settlements could have been made up of merchants , craftsmen and possibly girlfriends of the troops . hadrian 's wall -lrb- pictured -rrb- is the largest monument from the ancient era in northern europe , but archaeologists have been carrying out research into its older brother . hadrian 's wall remained in use until the early fifth century . although the romans in scotland had good . relations with many of the locals , they did have tensions with the . northern caledonian tribes , which is thought to have eventually erupted . into major conflict in ad 83 or 84 . it is thought the two sides clashed at the battle of ` mons graupis ' , with up to 30,000 men fighting on either side . the precise location of the battle is still unknown , however it is possible the research along the scottish fortress , abandoned by the romans in about ad 87 , could lead to its discovery . hadrian 's wall , which stretches across northern england , was built in 122 ad on the orders of the roman emperor hadrian to mark his empire 's northern frontier . it took eight years to build the 73 mile-long wall from the solway firth to wallsend on the tyne . it is believed to have provided a barrier between roman britain and scotland and is thought to have been where the army could determine who was allowed access to the empire . it remained in use until the early fifth century when , with the empire collapsing and the city of rome itself under threat , the romans left british shores . it is the largest monument from the ancient era in northern europe and is a unesco world heritage site . when emperor hadrian built hadrian 's wall nearly 2,000 years ago , it extended 73 miles coast to coast across northern england from the solway firth to wallsend on the tyne . standing 16ft high and up to 12ft wide , it was an extraordinary feat of engineering which was completed in eight years . it was built in ad 122 after emperor hadrian ordered his soldiers to build a barrier between roman britain and scotland . according to the hadrian 's wall trust , a chief function of the wall was probably frontier control , where the army enforced the regulations which determined access to the empire . it is believed people could only enter the empire at certain points and would have been forced to travel unarmed and under military escort to markets or other specified places . it is also believed to have helped to prevent raiding . it was believed to have been the first of two fortifications built across great britain . the antonine wall , however , is the lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident . as well as being a strong military fortification , it is believed the wall featured a number of gates which would have served as customs posts . it is the largest monument from the ancient era in northern europe and is a unesco world heritage site . | <t> london exhibition based on roman emperor hadrian features new treasures . </t> <t> huge bust of hadrian 's head discovered only last year a feature . </t> <t> emperor inherited a shambolic roman empire and rebuilt it . </t> | hadrian 's legacy resonates through the ages<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- canada announced wednesday that it will dispatch a warship to somalia 's coast to protect u.n. aid ships from pirate attacks . the canadian frigate hmcs ville de quebec will escort ships carrying food aid to somalia . `` canada is stepping up to the plate by tasking ville de quebec with the role of escorting world food programme ships to ensure their safe arrival at designated ports , '' canadian defense minister peter mackay said in a government news release . the united nations hunger program praised canada for answering its call for help , and said it hoped other governments would step forward to take over from canada once it completes its mission in a few weeks . the hmcs ville de quebec is a 440-foot frigate armed with torpedoes , surface-to-air missiles and other weapons , and carries a twin-engine sea king anti-submarine helicopter . ville de quebec , which can travel at speeds greater than 27 knots , will be dispatched after somalia 's transitional government formally authorizes the mission , the government 's news release said . wfp asked the world 's naval powers in mid-june to help its ships reach the more than 2 million people in need of aid . it put out the request weeks before french , danish and dutch warships ended their escort missions , which began in november . pirate attacks on unescorted ships have been a growing problem in somalia . three european freighters were hijacked off the horn of africa in june , adding to the 27 other reported attacks this year , according to the international maritime bureau , which tracks piracy . wfp delivers 80 percent of its aid to somalia by sea , and wfp spokesman peter smerdon said that if there are no warships to escort the food supply , the program will have to rely on ground or air travel to deliver the food . but both are dangerous and expensive . the agency said that if there is no assistance from naval powers , piracy will increase , and so will death and malnutrition . smerdon said that although somalia 's food crisis has n't yet reached the devastation of the early 1990s , `` we 're worried it will be . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- canada announced wednesday that it will dispatch a warship to somalia 's coast to protect u.n. aid ships from pirate attacks . the canadian frigate hmcs ville de quebec will escort ships carrying food aid to somalia . `` canada is stepping up to the plate by tasking ville de quebec with the role of escorting world food programme ships to ensure their safe arrival at designated ports , '' canadian defense minister peter mackay said in a government news release . the united nations hunger program praised canada for answering its call for help , and said it hoped other governments would step forward to take over from canada once it completes its mission in a few weeks . the hmcs ville de quebec is a 440-foot frigate armed with torpedoes , surface-to-air missiles and other weapons , and carries a twin-engine sea king anti-submarine helicopter . ville de quebec , which can travel at speeds greater than 27 knots , will be dispatched after somalia 's transitional government formally authorizes the mission , the government 's news release said .<doc-sep>the pirates hijacked the ship off the coast of somalia september 25 . the faina had been headed to the kenyan port of mombasa after departing from nikolayev , ukraine , and was seized not far from its destination . the faina is owned and operated by kaalbye shipping ukraine , and its crew includes citizens of ukraine , russia and latvia , the navy said . abdi salan khalif , commissioner of the coastal town of harardhere , told cnn the pirates told a group of town elders that one crew member had died of high blood pressure problems . attacks by pirates have increased dramatically in the waters off somalia 's northern coast in the past year , prompting the u.s. and other coalition warships to widen their patrols in the region . three ships were hijacked on august 21 in that area , the `` worst number of attacks '' in a single day in many years , capt. pottengal mukudan of the international maritime bureau told cnn . after the spate of attacks , the u.s. navy 's fifth fleet in bahrain announced that it would begin patrolling a newly established shipping corridor in the gulf of aden in an attempt to protect international shipping . canada also sent a warship through the end of september . the international maritime bureau said in april that 49 pirate attacks on ships were reported in the first three months of 2008 , compared with 41 for the same period last year . it recorded 263 pirates attacks last year , up from 239 the year before and the first increase in three years .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- five people were detained off somalia 's coast wednesday after pirates mistook a french ship involved in an anti-piracy operation for a commercial vessel , the french defense ministry said . a german-flagged warship taking part in the eu 's anti-piracy mission is pictured in this april 2009 file photo . there were no injuries as a result of the attack on the bcr somme , the ministry said . the pirates opened fire at midnight local time , about 250 nautical miles -lrb- 463 kilometers -rrb- off somalia 's coast , officials added .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- seven suspected pirates rescued by a danish warship were turned over to authorities in yemen early friday , two days after they were picked up in the pirate-plagued gulf of aden . the french frigate nivose escorts commercial ships in the gulf of aden on november 28 , 2008 . the men were rescued by the hdms absalon on wednesday after being found in a powerless skiff with rocket-propelled grenades and ak-47s aboard , danish navy spokesman jesper lynge told cnn . they were found approximately 75 nautical miles -lrb- 140 km -rrb- off the coast of yemen following a distress call , lynge said . `` these guys had been without propulsion on their small boat for several days without food or drinking water , '' he added . after receiving medical treatment aboard the absalon , the ship 's crew turned them over to yemen 's coast guard friday morning , said rasmus tantholt , a reporter for denmark 's tv2 , who was aboard the warship . the skiff 's small engine was broken , and the danish vessel sank the boat in order to prevent any hazard to sea traffic . watch how nato is fighting piracy '' the men are suspected to be pirates because of the weapons on board , lynge said . pirates frequently use small boats to attack commercial vessels with small arms and grenades , but lynge said absalon crew could not connect the men `` directly with another pirate attack in the area , '' lynge said . lynge said the skiff was found in yemeni waters , and the absalon crew was instructed to hand over the men to the yemen coast guard . yemeni authorities must conduct any investigation because the episode took place in their jurisdiction , he said . cnn was unable to obtain an immediate comment from yemeni authorities . pirates have seized many ships in recent weeks in the waters of the gulf of aden , which separates yemen from somalia . so far this year , pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off the coast of somalia and successfully hijacked nearly 40 , according to the international maritime bureau . a multinational fleet , including vessels from the united states , nato member states , russia and india , has been patrolling waters of indian ocean near the gulf , which connects the red sea and the arabian sea . around 20,000 oil tankers , freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year . cnn 's katy byron contributed to this report . | <t> canada to send 440-foot frigate to help aid reach ports safely . </t> <t> mission must be authorized by somalia 's transitional government . </t> <t> 80 percent of u.n. 's food aid to somalia sent by ship . </t> <t> heavily armed pirates frequently hijack cargo ships off horn of africa . </t> | canadian warship to protect food from pirates off somalia<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in focus -- gulf football interests . news of an english football deal sent the british media into a frenzy this week , when a private abu dhabi group announced a planned takeover of manchester city . sheikha hanadi al thani talks about the real estate bubble in qatar . with the likes of emirates , etihad and saudi telecom , the gulf has long had an interest in english football . are they sound investments or a matter of prestige ? mme investigates . facetime with sheikha hanadi al thani , ceo , al waab city real estate development . since 2005 when the world economic forum named her the `` young global leader of the year , '' sheikha hanadi al thani has become an inspiration to women across the arab world . she founded the first firm in qatar to conduct investment banking and is now the ceo of al wa'ab city , a property development that 's set to open in 2010 . she talks to mme about the real estate bubble in qatar and being a businesswoman in the gulf . watch the show this week at the times -lrb- gmt -rrb- below : friday : 0815 , 1845 saturday : 0545 sunday 0715 .<doc-sep>facetime : ferit sahenk , chairman , dogus holding . one country that has tapped into russia 's market of 142 million consumers is turkey 's garanti bank . with operations in the country since the early 1990s , marketplace middle east sat down with ferit sahenk the ceo of the bank and chairman of its parent company dogus holding and asked him about doing business in russia . in focus : arab-russian ties . historically ties between russia and the middle east have been largely focused on the political sphere , but this week marketplace middle east finds out how the region has the potential to warm up with the siberian economy . showtimes marketplace middle east airs weekly at the following times -lrb- all gmt -rrb- : fridays : 0845 , 1645 , saturdays : 0615 , sundays : 0515 , 1745 , mondays : 0045 .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the middle east and the new silk road . from ancient passage ways to modern trade routes , this week , in a special edition , marketplace middle east travels along the new silk road and looks at how the economies of the middle east are re-defining global growth .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- this week marketplace middle east focuses on the relationship between israel and the `` new '' egypt . in focus : egypt 's ramadan professions .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- facetime : dubai airshow special . middle east carriers were again the big spenders at the dubai airshow . this week mme speaks to the key people behind the deals , emirates chairman sheikh ahmed bin saeed al maktoum and boeing 's jim albaugh . in focus : middle east defense spending . despite rising fuel costs affecting commercial airlines , one sector that is not witnessing a downturn is defense . growing tension over iran is driving regional governments to boost their weaponry . this week mme takes a look at arms spending . marketplace middle east airs weekly at the following times -lrb- all gmt -rrb- : . | <t> on this week 's mme we look at gulf interests in english football . </t> <t> we talk to sheikha hanadi al thani , ceo , al waab city real estate development . </t> <t> al thani , who started the first investment bank in qatar , talks about property . </t> | this week on marketplace middle east<T> |
arbil , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two united arab emirates based companies announced on tuesday that they will be investing in the iraq 's autonomous region of kurdistan . nechirvan barzani , prime minister of the kurdish regional government , called the project `` a significant contribution to the iraqi economy . '' four hundred and sixty one million square feet have been officially assigned to `` gas cities llc , '' a joint venture between dana gas and crescent petroleum , both sharjah-based companies , to establish a new venture : `` kurdistan gas city . ''<doc-sep>kurdistan gas city will include industrial , residential and commercial buildings in an integrated city . the expected initial investment in basic infrastructure is estimated at $ 3 billion , with further foreign direct investment exceeding $ 40 billion during the operations phase . work will start on the project , which is designed to promote private sector investment in a variety of gas-related industries , on september 21 . gas city is structured to hold over 20 varieties of world scale petrochemical and heavy manufacturing plants , and hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises -lrb- smes -rrb- , served by state-of-the-art facilities .<doc-sep>mr nechirvan barzani , prime minister of the kurdistan regional government , said : `` dana gas and crescent petroleum have made a significant contribution to the iraqi economy through their work in the kurdistan region of iraq thus far , we are making significant progress in spurring on economic growth and creating opportunity for our people . '' hamid jafar , executive chairman of dana gas , explained the importance of this achievement saying : `` the kurdistan gas city is an enormous step forward in dana gas ' strategy across the middle east , north africa and south asia . '' the kurdistan gas city is projected to generate job opportunities for nearly 200,000 iraqi citizens in infrastructure , industrial projects , support services and other business activities .<doc-sep>this is not the first project for dana gas and crescent petroleum in iraq 's kurdistan region , the two companies are committed to a service agreement signed in april 2007 with the kurdistan regional government to build 180 kilometers of natural gas pipeline and two liquefied petroleum gas -lrb- lpg -rrb- plants , which are 80 percent complete . the project is on track and will start pumping 150 million cubic feet of gas per day in the coming weeks , rising to 300 million cubic feet by early 2009 . other companies from the uae showed similar interest in kurdistan region `` damac properties '' one of the major private developers in the regions revealed on june 3 plans for a $ 16 billion residential , commercial and recreational project .<doc-sep>at least nine people have died in clashes between protesters and police turkey as demonstrations against isis 's advance on a town on the syrian-turkish border turned violent . turkey 's pro-kurdish peoples ' democratic party had called for citizens to protest the assault on kobane , where the situation turned ` extremely critical ' overnight . officers were forced to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in turkey 's predominantly kurdish eastern and southeastern provinces , as well as the capital ankara and in istanbul , where cars were set on fire and demonstrators threw rocks and fireworks at police . scroll down for video . burning streets : kurdish protesters are pictured in a street in the southeastern city of diyarbakir as the anti-isis demonstrations across turkey on tuesday continue into the night . explosions : protesters throw fireworks at riot police on the streets of istanbul on tuesday evening . day of violence : smokes rises from the gaziosmanpasa district in istanbul on tuesday afternoon . five people were killed in diyarbakir , the largest kurdish city in the southeast , which saw clashes between protesters and police . a 25-year-old man died in varto , a town in the eastern province of mus , and at least half a dozen people were wounded there in clashes between police and protesters , local media reported . two people died in southeastern siirt province , the governor was quoted as saying by cnn turk television , and another died in neighbouring batman . curfews were imposed in five predominantly kurdish southeastern provinces after the protests , in which shops and banks were damaged . interior minister efkan ala called for an end to the protests . ` violence is not the solution . violence triggers reprisals . this irrational attitude should come to an end immediately , ' he told reporters . taking ction : protesters throw stones at police in ankara during a demonstration against lack of action by the turkish government in defending kobane against isis . city on fire : a bus burned by kurdish protesters is pictured at the gaziosmanpasa district in istanbul . fighting back : demonstrator flee as police use tear gas and water cannons in istanbul . protest : an activist in ankara wearing a gas mask wades through tear gas holding a flag . violence : turkey 's pro-kurdish peoples ' democratic party had called for democratic action against the assault on kobane by isis . street battle : a protester is hit by a water cannon in ankara during tuesday 's violent anti-isis protest .<doc-sep>istanbul -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- mounting tensions between the government and members of turkey 's kurdish ethnic minority erupted on the streets of the country 's largest city thursday , after kurdish activists clashed with riot police at a protest organized by the main kurdish nationalist political party . scores of kurdish youths , many of them covering their face with bandannas , hurled stones and petrol bombs as security forces fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowds in istanbul . amid the chaos near the banks of the marmara sea , a cnn producer witnessed a man collapse , apparently overwhelmed by the clouds of noxious tear gas . nearby , flowers littered the pavement where a women 's flower stand had been overturned . the peace and democracy party -lrb- bdp -rrb- , turkey 's main kurdish political party , organized rallies in istanbul and other turkish cities thursday to mark `` world peace day . '' but the rallies come within weeks of a fresh turkish military bombing campaign of kurdish separatist rebels who have long operated out of camps and bases across the border in northern iraq . tensions escalated after a bdp official , yildirim ayhan , was killed sunday during clashes with security forces on the turkish side of the border . ayhan was reportedly part of a group of kurdish activists marching toward iraq to serve as human shields against the turkish aerial and artillery bombardment .<doc-sep>arbil , iraq -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- two united arab emirates based companies announced on tuesday that they will be investing in the iraq 's autonomous region of kurdistan . nechirvan barzani , prime minister of the kurdish regional government , called the project `` a significant contribution to the iraqi economy . '' four hundred and sixty one million square feet have been officially assigned to `` gas cities llc , '' a joint venture between dana gas and crescent petroleum , both sharjah-based companies , to establish a new venture : `` kurdistan gas city . ''<doc-sep>interior minister efkan ala called for an end to the protests . ` violence is not the solution . violence triggers reprisals . this irrational attitude should come to an end immediately , ' he told reporters . city on fire : a bus burned by kurdish protesters is pictured at the gaziosmanpasa district in istanbul . fighting back : demonstrator flee as police use tear gas and water cannons in istanbul . violence : turkey 's pro-kurdish peoples ' democratic party had called for democratic action against the assault on kobane by isis . some european countries are arming the kurds , and the american-led coalition is carrying out airstrikes against the islamic extremists , but protesters say it is not enough . tensions are especially high in turkey , where kurds have fought a three-decade-long battle for autonomy and where syria 's violence has taken an especially heavy toll . protests were reported in cities across turkey on tuesday , after isis fighters backed by tanks and artillery engaged in heavy street battles in kobane . police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators in istanbul and in the desert town of kucuk kenderciler , near kobane on the turkish side of the border . one person in istanbul was hospitalized after being hit in the head by a gas canister , dogan reported . some protesters shouted ` murderer isis ! ' and accused turkey 's government of collaborating with the islamic militants . authorities declared a curfew in six towns in the southeastern province of mardin , the anadolu agency reported . tension in turkey : protesters are seen hurling rocks and stones at police in ankara , the capital of turkey . supporting the kurds : protests were held across turkey in support for the kurdish fighters in kobane . several protesters in ankara -lrb- pictured -rrb- and istanbul covered their faces with scarves or gas masks . | <t> emirati companies making significant investments in kurdistan . </t> <t> kurdistan gas city will include industrial , residential and commercial buildings . </t> <t> work will start on the project on september 21 . </t> | ` gas city ' launched by kurdish government<T> |
`` everything can be improved . '' -- ross lovegrove . designer ross lovegrove . fiercely original and unapologetically innovative , ross lovegrove describes himself , somewhat reluctantly , as an industrial designer . `` it 's not as grimy , it 's not as deep and dark as that sounds , '' he says . famous for his tactile and sensual fluid forms , he takes his inspiration from nature to create an organic minimalism that he calls `` fat free '' design . `` nature is a very big part of my work and always has been . i 've never seen it as a trend or a fashion , '' he told cnn .<doc-sep>in the early 1980s , with frog design in west germany , he worked on projects including sony walkmans and apple computers . he later moved to paris as a consultant to knoll international . since returning to london in 1986 , lovegrove has worked with a wide range of clients including airbus industries , peugeot , apple computers , issey miyake , olympus cameras , tag heuer , herman miller , japan airlines and toyo ito architects in japan , as well as a host of top design brands . see some of ross lovegrove 's designs . '' away from his client work , one of lovegrove 's projects is the `` car on a stick , '' an electric bubble car that turns into an elevated streetlight at night .<doc-sep>`` i 'm interested in developing an aesthetic for the 21st century which comes from the intelligent use of resources , materials and structures , '' he says . lovegrove 's methods blend organic inspiration , a fresh approach to function , cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and cross-application of techniques . `` in my own work , i 'll learn from doing a super-lightweight suitcase in osaka , '' he says . `` then i 'll think , ` how can i use that super-lightweight technology to do the chassis of a car ? ' it 's transfer and exchange of knowledge . ''<doc-sep>his work has been extensively published and exhibited internationally and is held in permanent collections of various design museums around the world , including the museum of modern art in new york -lrb- moma -rrb- , the design museum in london and the vitra design museum weil am rhein , basel , switzerland . ... . what do you think of ross lovegrove 's work ? what do you make of his `` car on a stick '' ? share your views -- or read others ' thoughts in the just imagine forum .<doc-sep>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ross lovegrove is widely regarded as one of the most important and innovative contemporary industrial designers . ross lovegrove with a model of the capsule to be built on moritz craffonara 's private mountain in italy . and he does n't disappoint on the innovation front with his latest project . lovegrove -- famous for his tactile and fluid sensual forms -- has teamed up with a private client who dreams of sleeping under the stars atop his private mountain in the alps . with money seemingly no object , lovegrove has designed what he calls an '' alpine capsule , '' to fulfill the wishes of restaurateur and club owner moritz craffonara , who has lived in the badia region of italy for more than 40 years . the capsule bed will be mirrored on the outside but transparent on the inside to take advantage of a 360 degree view of the breathtaking landscape . lovegrove describes the capsule bed as an `` incredible ethereal space . you lie on this irregular shaped bed , maybe you can play classical music or something that is going to stimulate your senses and then you are going to marvel at this 360 degree view around you , i could n't think of a better way to wake up in the morning , '' he tells cnn . the bed will be built within a couple of years according to the designer , who hopes that it will attract people from all over the world . see some of ross lovegrove 's designs . '' placing a seemingly incongruous space-age pod on a mountain top in the middle of the alps is something lovegrove has no qualms about doing .<doc-sep>designer ross lovegrove is known for his clean , organic designs with flowing lines seemingly effortlessly merged with function . cnn spoke to him about water bottles , bubble cars and his approach to design . cnn : how would you describe what you do ? ross lovegrove : what am i ? i 'm a designer , but of course that 's a loose term these days . and often when i meet people and say i 'm a designer , they say , `` oh , a fashion designer . '' which is not a bad thing i suppose , a bit groovy . but i 'm a designer and i work with industry , so i suppose i 'm an industrial designer . it 's not as grimy , not as deep and dark as that sounds , 'cause industry these days is very different . i 'm also a humanist and i 'm a sort of evolutionist in some ways , because what i do conforms to the concept of evolution , progress , adaptation within the field of making objects that we use everyday . cnn : why did you choose design as a career ? ross lovegrove : this was the profession where you could converge invention with the art of drawing and communication . i 'm involved in everything from highly progressive lighting systems to airline interiors . in the field of transportation i can go from the micro to the macro : architecture , transportation , industrial product design , right across the board . it 's russian dollism , because they all interrelate : one goes into the other . cnn : tell us about some of your designs . ross lovegrove : i did the world 's first commercial transparent product . it sounds a bit superficial but looking inside objects celebrates every aspect of them and that 's a very beautiful thing . i did the world 's first digitally generated global product , my water bottle -lsb- for ty nant -rsb- . i worked on the first airbus a380 program . the world 's lightest suitcase , the world 's first bamboo bicycle , the world 's first ceramic-bladed razor -- it lasts 25 times longer than a bic -- the world 's first solar-powered commercial light , ten years ago . see some of ross lovegrove 's designs . cnn : is design a profession that 's always moving forward ?<doc-sep>london , england -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- ross lovegrove is widely regarded as one of the most important and innovative contemporary industrial designers . ross lovegrove with a model of the capsule to be built on moritz craffonara 's private mountain in italy . and he does n't disappoint on the innovation front with his latest project . lovegrove -- famous for his tactile and fluid sensual forms -- has teamed up with a private client who dreams of sleeping under the stars atop his private mountain in the alps . with money seemingly no object , lovegrove has designed what he calls an '' alpine capsule , '' to fulfill the wishes of restaurateur and club owner moritz craffonara , who has lived in the badia region of italy for more than 40 years . the capsule bed will be mirrored on the outside but transparent on the inside to take advantage of a 360 degree view of the breathtaking landscape . lovegrove describes the capsule bed as an `` incredible ethereal space . you lie on this irregular shaped bed , maybe you can play classical music or something that is going to stimulate your senses and then you are going to marvel at this 360 degree view around you , i could n't think of a better way to wake up in the morning , '' he tells cnn . the bed will be built within a couple of years according to the designer , who hopes that it will attract people from all over the world . see some of ross lovegrove 's designs . '' placing a seemingly incongruous space-age pod on a mountain top in the middle of the alps is something lovegrove has no qualms about doing . he said : `` in areas like this where they predominantly build from wood and you see the very old buildings , they are very beautiful , they work in total harmony with their environment and i 'm not looking to interfere with that at all . it 's worse for me to design a hybrid type of structure that is trying to tastefully fit in . '' for him , the capsule is part of what he calls `` a new nature , '' -- a man-made situation `` that brings in the positive aspects of man 's material and technological potential . '' `` i 'm interested in developing an aesthetic for the 21st century which comes from the intelligent use of resources , materials and structures , '' he says . away from his client work , one of lovegrove 's projects is the `` car on a stick , '' an electric bubble car that turns into an elevated streetlight at night . this style typifies lovegrove 's methods of blending organic inspiration with a fresh approach to function , cutting-edge manufacturing technologies . in the early 1980s , he worked on the sony walkman and and the apple imac and over his long and varied career , has worked with a wide range of influential clients including airbus industries , peugeot , issey miyake , tag heuer , herman miller . above all , the common theme of lovegrove 's design is the passion that imbues them .<doc-sep>cnn : what 's your aim in life ? ross lovegrove : i 'm interested in developing an aesthetic for the 21st century which comes from the intelligent use of resources , materials and structures . i 'm not interested in copying the past just 'cause there was a funky chair done in the 50s , i 'm interested in absolutely brand new , newborn , virgin ideas for things : lightness , transparency , things that you see in nature . nature is fat free , it 's fit . you tell me what you see in society that 's fit , in terms of objects , products , people often . cnn : do you think that 's changing ? ross lovegrove : maybe in the next 15 years we 'll see a fitness coming through , we 'll see blending of ideas into everyday objects where we 've got to make everything go a bit further , work a bit better . we 've got to challenge 20th century values , which shifted from need to desire . cnn : how do you see that happening ? ross lovegrove : i think people need to be less passive . they need to voice their opinions more . things are very different now because of the way we communicate through the internet , so maybe those big changes will not come from corporations , which are steeped in other ambitions . maybe the future is in the hands of individuals and smaller people . and now with the internet , even if it 's a small product you can sell a different way , rather than slogging away at large corporations . cnn : your designs are extremely innovative . how do you persuade people in industry to take such brave steps ? ross lovegrove : you sow the seeds in the hope that maybe somebody enlightened within the corporation would want to put their neck on the line to try to develop something which everybody would benefit from . | <t> industrial designer ross lovegrove is known for his organic , flowing forms . </t> <t> his designs range from pens to solar lights to airline interiors . </t> <t> lovegrove 's work is held in design museums including new york 's moma . </t> | biography : ross lovegrove<T> |
los angeles , california -lrb- ap -rrb- -- the shoe phone on tv 's `` get smart '' was n't just a sneaky spy gadget , it was a technological marvel : a wireless , portable telephone that could be used anywhere -- though it did require a dime to make a call . today , almost everyone has a pocket-sized version that also takes photos , shoots video , sends e-mail and surfs the internet . about the only thing it does n't do is protect your feet . `` get smart '' comes to the big screen next week , along with a spate of new spy gadgets to help maxwell smart , agent 99 and the other spies at control . the gadgets are just as goofy as they were in the original tv series , but because technology has caught up with the writers ' imaginations , there 's a big difference : many of the movie 's doo-dads actually exist . `` our favorite thing is to take something that does sort of exist and just exaggerate it a little bit , '' said matt ember , who co-wrote the script .<doc-sep>the film shows a tiny ipod alongside spy-worthy stuff such as a two-way tooth radio and a digital `` spy fly '' -- all of which are available now . `` it 's pushed to a level of success that perhaps it has n't achieved in the real world , but it 's real , it 's out there , so that 's fun '' added co-writer tom j. astle , a self-described science nut . director peter segal said he originally could n't believe such devices were real . `` i said , ` that 's too silly . i do n't think people will buy it , '' ' he recalled telling the writers . `` then they googled it and it came up as an actual thing . '' astle and ember saw the tooth radio in a magazine and thought it was a perfect fit for the film .<doc-sep>`` that 's an example of taking inspiration from the old series in spirit , '' astle said . `` the inherent comedy of having a microphone in your mouth -- it 's really close to your voice and it 's easy to yell and be too loud . '' the inextricable link between gadgets and spy movies began with james bond in 1962 , said tv historian tim brooks , author of `` the complete directory to prime time network and cable tv shows . '' the often-preposterous devices bond used added levity to a genre that `` had always been deadly serious '' during the early years of the cold war , brooks said . back in the day , `` get smart '' ratcheted up the goofiness level with bulletproof pajamas , a bunsen-burner phone and other wacky gadgets that often did n't work . when the show debuted in 1965 , the nation was future-focused and obsessed with the promise of technology . the show played on that obsession , brooks said , introducing dozens of covert gadgets and props designed to make life easier for cold war-era secret agents . a cigarette lighter doubled as a .22 - caliber gun . a lipstick could record conversations or release poisonous gas . then there was the famous shoe phone and the always-dysfunctional `` cone of silence '' that could -lrb- theoretically -rrb- keep conversations private , even in a crowded room . `` it 's nothing that you would expect to find or would even make sense in real life , and that 's the gag , '' brooks said . `` it was part of what the show was about . you 'd watch wondering what 's next , where 's the phone going to be next time . ... it was like a satire of our fixation with gadgets . ''<doc-sep>the movie also takes liberties with some familiar devices , such as portable lasers , retinal scanners and a tricked-out swiss army knife equipped with a flame-thrower and a mini crossbow . despite living in a high-tech world , movie fans still love spy gadgets , the filmmakers said : just look at the success of the bond franchise , which will soon introduce its 22nd installment , and spy spoofs such as `` austin powers . '' part of it is the undercover element , part of it is a cultural love for technology , and part of it is wishful thinking . `` human beings are tool-users , '' astle said . `` we would like to believe that our government -- the good guys -- have within their power tools and electronic gadgets that will protect us that are beyond what we could do . '' `` there is some reality to it , '' ember said . `` we do have facial-recognition software , but on the other hand , i 'm not allowed to bring shampoo on an airplane . ''<doc-sep>from smart glasses and invisibility cloaks to hover bikes in star wars , a lot of futuristic innovations dreamed up in sci-fi novels now exist . and while these gadgets might be cool , a study has revealed that people would most like to see medicine that can cure all illnesses developed in the next 100 years . humans are also keen to let robots take care of mundane daily tasks , with wrinkle-free clothes and a robot that does the housework among the top five ` dreams for the future . ' one pill cures all : a new study has revealed that people would most like to see medicine that can cure all illnesses developed in the next 100 years -lrb- illustrated with stock image -rrb- . people are more keen on medical developments than on shiny gadgets . two thirds of those polled hope for a cure-all pill above all over possible innovations , according to the survey of 1,000 people for philips . one in five people claim that they would give up their computer , tv or headphones in order to see more health-related innovations . almost two per cent of people would like to see robots doing the housework or a time machine developed in the next century , while a fifth of those surveyed simply want a cure for baldness .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- from airbnb to gasbuddy to shopkick , lots of apps and websites help consumers save money . but how do we spend less on technology itself -- that digital drug we ca n't seem to get enough of ? how can we save money on electronic gadgets and services ... so that we can buy more gadgets ? here are 10 ways to stretch your tech budget this year : . 1 . employ smart strips . surge protectors have saved countless gadgets from being electrocuted over the years . but new ones like take charge 's power saver smart strip are even better because they save money on your monthly power bill by killing standby power -lrb- aka vampire or phantom power -rrb- that most electronics consume even when turned off . in my case , after installing two smart strips -lrb- one in my office , the other on the entertainment center -rrb- , i 've saved at least $ 10 per month on my power bill since august -- more than enough to justify the $ 30 cost of each . 2 . buy less computer -lrb- or data -rrb- . processing power , bandwidth and chipsets used to mean a lot when deciding on a computer or internet provider . but most computers and data plans today are really fast . even when they 're not , software developers have made perceptible gains in making gadgets and data feel faster than they really are . so instead of paying for a top-of-the-line machine , blazingly fast speeds or unlimited data , consider a lower-powered but still functional alternative . you 'd be surprised how many people are buying too much computer or data for their needs . 3 . see gadgets as assets . this is what i call my perpetual technology fund . it works like this : two or three times a year , i identify gadgets , handhelds , old phones , laptops and gaming devices i no longer use -lrb- follow the dust -rrb- and/or have no intention of using over the next 12 months . the ones with value that i choose not to give away , i 'll resell on craigslist , ebay , or similar classifieds like gazelle.com . in some cases , you can expect several hundred dollars in `` returns , '' which , of course , can then be used to subsidize your next tech purchase . 4 . cut cable tv -lrb- and buy your own cable modem -rrb- . like many tips on my list , this one , too , requires additional effort , but the savings can be immeasurable . first , stop renting a cable or internet modem if you have n't already . they cost less than $ 50 on average and quickly recoup the $ 5/month leasing fee . next , see if you can find your favorite shows and programs on streaming websites such as netflix , amazon and hulu . you may have to make a few sacrifices , but $ 100 a month in savings ai n't a bad consolation prize .<doc-sep>5 fun and odd gadgets from ces . the event kicked off with a skit featuring young actors playing stereotypes of the most annoying people you 've ever been stuck behind in a starbucks line . an omg-spouting popular girl , a gamer geek who talks like a surfer and a silicon valley wannabe entrepreneur . what tied these characters together was the theme of the event : they were all `` born mobile . '' the primarily mobile phenomenon is international . according to jacobs , 84 % of people worldwide say they ca n't go a day without their mobile device . the smartphone interface is so commonplace , people now want it on their other devices . the android mobile operating system is already expanding beyond smartphones and tablets to smart tvs , cameras and google 's project glass smart glasses . qualcomm 's chips have an even broader reach , appearing in smart tvs , game consoles , home automation devices and even cars . during its keynote qualcomm showed how its technology can be used to enable wireless charging for electric vehicles . the tech industry assumes that eventually , everything will be connected to the internet , with cars , household appliances and mobile devices all communicating with each other . the concept , called the `` internet of things , '' has been kicking around for many years , but a recent boom in low-cost sensors and popular gadgets like the nest smart thermostat have led to more gadgets that successfully add web connectivity .<doc-sep>by . mark duell . published : . 23:07 est , 15 april 2013 . | . updated : . 01:42 est , 16 april 2013 . microsoft designers are working on a touch-enabled watch as the company aims to cash in on the anticipated boom in wearable electronics , it has been claimed . the computing giant reportedly asked asian suppliers to ship 1.5 in displays for a potential watch - style device and one supply executive said he had met with microsoft researchers and developers . whether microsoft will actually end up producing the watch is uncertain , but some investors and technology firms are expecting a boom in wearable electronics , reported the wall street journal . it 's time : microsoft chairman bill gates shows off the firm 's smartwatch technology in 2004 . now it has been claimed the company has asked asian firms to ship 1.5-inch displays for a potential watch-style device . the u.s. company experimented with smartwatches in 2004 with a product called spot , which used fm radio signals to send instant messages and view news headlines , reported cnn . but production ceased four years later and the spot project , which stood for smart personal object technology , was eventually pulled last year . smartwatches come with a 37-year history . some new gadgets such as nike 's fuelband are intended to measure physical exercise , while others can perform similar functions to a smartphone such as receiving text messages or taking photos . california-based startup firm pebble technology now makes a watch that wirelessly synchronises with smartphones and vibrates to alert users of incoming phone calls , emails and twitter posts . high tech : microsoft experimented with smartwatches in 2004 with a product called spot , which used fm radio signals to send instant messages and view news headlines . and google is developing a smartwatch as well as its eyewear gadget google glass . the search giant is set to use its android software and will battle against apple 's iwatch and a samsung gadget . ` we see growing demand for wearable gadgets as the size of the smartphone has become too big to carry around ' wanli wang , rbs analyst . ` we see growing demand for wearable gadgets as the size of the smartphone has become too big to carry around , ' analyst wanli wang told the wall street journal . ` a smartwatch that is compatible with a smartphone and other electronics devices would be attractive to consumers . ' one research firm anticipates the market for wearable smart electronics to be a # 7billion industry within just three years . | <t> new film `` get smart '' comes to the big screen next week . </t> <t> co-writer says the film exaggerates many gadgets that can be bought online . </t> <t> the original tv show debuted in 1965 , when the nation was `` future-focused '' </t> <t> tv historian says the show was a satire of america 's fixation with gadgets . </t> | ` get smart ' gadgets actually exist<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- the u.s. , european union and international security organizations friday called for an end to fighting between georgia and militant separatists that has dragged in russian forces . russia 's channel 1 shows heavy tanks purported to be on their way to south ossetia . president george bush and russian prime minister vladimir putin discussed the conflict in georgia , the white house confirmed . both men were attending the opening of the summer olympics in the chinese capital and spoke during a luncheon hosted by chinese president hu jintao . white house spokesman tony fratto did not provide any additional details . but putin , according to his spokesman , said : `` there are lots of volunteers being gathered in the region , and it 's very hard to withhold them from taking part . a real war is going on . '' white house spokeswoman dana perino said : `` i want to reiterate on -lsb- president bush 's -rsb- behalf that the united states supports georgia 's territorial integrity and we call for an immediate cease fire . `` we urge all parties , georgians , south ossetians and russians to de-escalate the tension and avoid conflict . we are working on mediation efforts to secure a cease fire and we are urging the parties to restart their dialogue . '' the u.s. military was also reviewing plans for the possible evacuation of the more than 2,000 of its citizens in the republic of georgia , two military officials said friday .<doc-sep>russian foreign minister sergei lavrov told his counterparts in the united states and germany and the european union 's foreign policy chief that georgia was the aggressor and should immediately withdraw its troops from south ossetia . the eu and the organization for security and co-operation in europe -lrb- osce -rrb- are sending envoys to georgia to secure a cease-fire , but a senior u.s. state department official said the united states would only send a representative after a cease-fire is in place . the european union said it was working with other parties `` towards a ceasefire in order to prevent further escalation of this conflict . '' eu spokeswoman christina gallach told cnn : `` we think it is not acceptable to see these scenes of bloodshed and destruction . '' osce chairman-in-office , finnish foreign minister alexander stubb , said : `` the intense fighting in the south ossetian conflict zone risks escalation into a full-fledged war . `` war would have a devastating impact for the entire region . i urge the georgians , south ossetians and russians to cease fire , end military action and stop further escalation . we need to pull back from the brink of a full-fledged war . '' nato secretary-general jaap de hoop scheffer issued a statement friday saying he was seriously concerned about the recent events in the region , and he called on all sides to end armed clashes and begin direct talks . watch more about nato 's attempts to help georgia '' carmen romero , a nato spokeswoman in brussels , said nato was in regular contact with georgia 's president and was talking to russia .<doc-sep>britain also urged all sides to bring an immediate end to the violence . `` we are monitoring developments . we urge an immediate cease-fire in the fighting in south ossetia and for a resumption of direct dialogue between all parties . '' georgia , formerly part of the soviet union , is now looking west and has ambitions of joining nato . south ossetia has longed for and sometimes fought for independence since the 1920s when the soviet government made it an autonomous region within georgia . after the collapse of the soviet union , georgia broke away from moscow in 1991 and south ossetia voted overwhelmingly for its own independence . violence has been mounting in the region in recent days , with sporadic clashes between georgian forces and south ossetian separatists . georgian troops launched new attacks in south ossetia late thursday after a top government official said a unilateral cease-fire offer was met with separatist artillery fire . an emergency session of the u.n. security council on friday discussed the dramatic escalation of violence . the session ended friday morning without a statement about the fighting . copyright 2008 cnn . all rights reserved.this material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . associated press contributed to this report .<doc-sep>when told that many diplomats in the united states and europe blame russia for provoking the conflict and for invading georgia , putin said russia had no choice but to invade georgia after dozens of its peacekeepers in south ossetia were killed . he told chance it was to avert a human calamity . ireport.com : first-person accounts from the center of the conflict . the former russian president , still considered the most powerful man in the country , said he was disappointed that the u.s. had not done more to stop georgia 's attack . putin recalled that he was watching the situation in georgia and south ossetia unfold when he was at the opening ceremony of the beijing olympic games on august 8 . he said he spoke to u.s. president bush , also attending , who told the russian prime minister he did n't want war , but putin spoke of his disappointment that the u.s. administration did n't do more to stop georgia early in the conflict . also thursday , putin announced economic measures that he said were unrelated to the fighting with georgia . nineteen u.s. poultry meat companies would be banned from exporting their products to russia because they had failed health and safety tests , and 29 other companies had been warned to improve their standards or face the same ban , putin said . putin said russia 's health and agricultural ministries had randomly tested the poultry products and found them to be full of antibiotics and arsenic . putin repeated that the bans were not related to the georgian conflict , but they indicate the measures that some western countries -- particularly in europe -- fear if russia goes on a diplomatic offensive . watch analysis of russia 's relationship with the west . '' russia is trying to counterbalance mounting pressure from the west over its military action in georgia and its recognition of the breakaway regions of abkhazia and south ossetia .<doc-sep>`` these actions jeopardize russians ' relations ... with the united states and europe , '' bush said . earlier monday , russian prime minister vladimir putin said his nation will take its efforts to their `` logical conclusion . '' russian officials insisted their efforts were aimed at stopping georgian military actions against russian peacekeepers in the breakaway regions and against ossetians loyal to russia . over several years , russia has given passports to many residents of south ossetia -- which borders russia -- and declared them russian citizens . georgia 's ambassador to washington said he hopes putin `` will listen to what president bush had to say . '' `` the time is very critical for my country , '' vasil sikharulidze said . `` georgia faces extinction under this brutal russian invasion . '' the conflict began last week after georgia said it launched a military operation thursday in south ossetia after artillery fire from separatists killed 10 people . russia sent its forces there friday , accusing georgia of plotting to wipe out ossetians loyal to russia . by the weekend , russia had sent forces to abkhazia , a second breakaway georgian territory . georgia has contended that russia merely wants control of an oil pipeline , and georgian president mikheil saakashvili said monday that russia seeks to stamp out his country 's `` democratic ambitions . '' south ossetia 's capital , tskhinvali , lay in smoldering ruins monday after four days of fighting . each side accused the other of killing large numbers of civilians . russia said at least 2,000 people had been killed in tskhinvali .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush condemned the escalated violence between russia and u.s.-backed georgia on sunday , while vice president dick cheney said aggression against georgia `` must not go unanswered . '' president bush chats with russian prime minister vladmir putin at the start of the olympic opening ceremonies . `` my administration has been engaged with both sides of this trying to get a ceasefire , '' bush told nbc 's bob costas in an interview in beijing , china , where the president has attended olympic events . bush was filmed speaking to russian prime minister vladimir putin during friday 's opening ceremonies and said sunday that he `` was firm with vladimir putin '' and that `` this violence is unacceptable . '' violence has continued to rage between russia and the western ally since thursday , when georgia launched an operation to crack down on separatists in south ossetia territory . russia said it wanted to protect its peacekeepers already in south ossetia following ceasefires in years past . but georgia called it a full-on invasion . and while russia has accused georgia of a genocidal plot to cleanse the region of ethnic ossetians loyal to russia , georgia accuses russia of executing a long-planned war with the aim of taking control of the region -- including a key pipeline that carries asian oil to black sea ports . `` i expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of russia , '' bush said of his talk with putin . `` we strongly condemn bombing outside of south ossetia . '' putin says he 's concerned about the flood of refugees arriving in russia from south ossetia . russian officials said more than 30,000 refugees have left south ossetia and crossed into russia over the past two days , interfax reported .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- president bush condemned the escalated violence between russia and u.s.-backed georgia on sunday , while vice president dick cheney said aggression against georgia `` must not go unanswered . '' president bush chats with russian prime minister vladmir putin at the start of the olympic opening ceremonies . `` my administration has been engaged with both sides of this trying to get a ceasefire , '' bush told nbc 's bob costas in an interview in beijing , china , where the president has attended olympic events . bush was filmed speaking to russian prime minister vladimir putin during friday 's opening ceremonies and said sunday that he `` was firm with vladimir putin '' and that `` this violence is unacceptable . '' violence has continued to rage between russia and the western ally since thursday , when georgia launched an operation to crack down on separatists in south ossetia territory . russia said it wanted to protect its peacekeepers already in south ossetia following ceasefires in years past . but georgia called it a full-on invasion . and while russia has accused georgia of a genocidal plot to cleanse the region of ethnic ossetians loyal to russia , georgia accuses russia of executing a long-planned war with the aim of taking control of the region -- including a key pipeline that carries asian oil to black sea ports . | <t> international organizations call for end to fighting in breakaway georgia region . </t> <t> fighting in south ossetia escalated friday ; russian tanks moved to the region . </t> <t> president bush : the united states supports georgia 's territorial integrity . </t> <t> georgia , formerly part of the soviet union , now has ambitions of joining nato . </t> | bush meets putin over georgia fighting<T> |
nairobi , kenya -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- one of the fbi 's most wanted terrorists escaped a raid over the weekend , kenyan police said monday . fazul abdullah mohammed , a suspected terrorist , is shown in photos released by the fbi . fazul abdullah mohammed , indicted in the united states for alleged involvement in the 1998 bombings of u.s. embassies in kenya and tanzania , managed to evade police in a raid saturday morning in malindi , along kenya 's coast , said police spokesman eric kiraithe . the united states calls mohammed a senior al qaeda operative in east africa . u.s. officials accuse him of being an architect of the embassy bombings that killed 225 people . they also believe mohammed was involved in attacks on an israeli-owned hotel and airliner in kenya in 2002 . kiraithe said kenyan authorities received information from `` local intelligence networks '' that led them to conduct the raid , which involved no foreign intelligence officials .<doc-sep>he said police know mohammed had , in fact , been at the location they raided , because they found two passports under names mohammed has used . kiraithe did not say what countries the passports were from . a massive manhunt is under way for mohammed in malindi and surrounding areas , `` more intensive than ever before because we would n't want to miss him now , '' kiraithe said . the u.s. offers a reward of up to $ 5 million for information leading to his apprehension or conviction . mohammed has escaped capture and attacks before . early last year a u.s.-led air strike in somalia failed to kill him . in 2003 , kenyan police said he escaped authorities . in december 2007 , the u.n. security council amended a list of 25 al qaeda suspects subject to sanctions , including mohammed . the description of mohammed offered numerous aliases and said he had `` reportedly undergone plastic surgery . '' the fbi description says mohammed was born in the comoros islands , and has used birth dates indicating he was born in either 1972 or 1974 . he also has citizenship in kenya , the description says . it adds , `` mohammed likes to wear baseball caps and tends to dress casually . he is very good with computers . ''<doc-sep>the u.s. congress allocated $ 40 million to rebuild parts of nairobi and provide `` humanitarian assistance '' to victims , but no financial compensation . `` this indeed has been very painful to the victims -- and the survivors , for that matter , '' said douglas sidialo , who was left blinded by the bombing . sidialo was driving by the embassy and says the last thing he saw was the truck carrying the bomb turn toward the embassy gates . watch more about the fallout from the bombings 10 years on '' last weekend kenyan police said that fazul abdullah mohammed , indicted in the united states for alleged involvement in the bombings , managed to evade police in a raid in malindi , along kenya 's coast . the united states calls mohammed a senior al qaeda operative in east africa and believes he was also involved in attacks on an israeli-owned hotel and airliner in kenya in 2002 . it has offered a reward of up to $ 5 million for information leading to the apprehension or conviction of mohammed , who is on fbi 's most wanted .<doc-sep>cia joins man-hunt to stop ` british extremist ' samantha lewthwaite . suspect escaped dramatic raid with bomb fuses and u.s. banknotes - and is now on the loose . the widow of 7/7 / bomber is ` linked to groups planning attacks on uk soil ' her distraught father begs her to come home . by . rebecca evans and mario ledwith . updated : . 02:51 est , 6 march 2012 . var twittervia = ` dailymailus ' ; . dm.has -lrb- ` sharelinktop ' , ` sharelinks ' , -lcb- . ` id ' : ' 2108005 ' , . ` title ' : ` cia hunting 7\/7 bomber \ 's convert widow on the run with 500 bomb fuses and bundles of bank-notes after al qaeda plot to blow up mombasa ' , . ` url ' : ` http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108005/widow-7-7-bomber-hunted-police-suspected-terror-plot-kenya.html' , . ` etwitterstatus ' : ' % 27widow + of +7 % 2f7 + bomber % 27 + hunted + by + police + over + a + suspected + terror + plot + in + kenya http :\ / \ / bit.ly \ / akcvgt via @ ' + twittervia , . ` articlechannelfollowbutton ' : ` mailonline ' , . ` ischannel ' : false , . ` placement ' : ` top ' -rcb- -rrb- ; . 68 . view comments . the cia has joined an international man-hunt to find the convert widow of a 7/7 bomber , who is believed to be on the run with more than 500 bomb fuses and bundles of u.s. cash following a raid on an al qaeda gang plotting a terrorist attack in kenya . fugitive samantha lewthwaite - once a fresh-faced school girl in aylesbury - is thought to be travelling with a variety of aliases after dramatically escaping capture as anti-terrorist police foiled a bomb plot on a packed shopping mall in the african coastal town of mombasa . the gang is believed to be planning more ' 7/7 ' - style attacks in britain , and police are urgently tracking the 28-year-old , who is believed to have links to al-qaeda as well as extremists in the uk . lewthwaite was in an arranged marriage with jermaine lindsay , the king cross bomber who blew himself in the 2005 terror attack near russell square , which cost 26 people their lives . urgent hunt : the false passport of ` natalie faye webb ' - thought to be terror widow samantha lewthwaite - who has allegedly escaped from mombasa with bomb fuses . raid in mombasa : the suspect managed to escape this property in mombasa just before anti-terrorist police swooped in to stop a suspected terror attack . the international man-hunt is . focusing on the woman who escaped from an extraordinary raid in . december . she is carrying a passport in the name of samantha lewthwaite , . and police in both kenya and britain ` strongly suspect ' she is the 7/7 . terrorist 's widow , rather than another woman using lewthwaite 's details . police say their suspect has used a passport with a photo bearing a . striking resemblance to the 28-year-old muslim convert but with the name . of a south african-born nurse , natalie faye webb , 26 , from essex . missing : samantha lewthwaite during her school days . her family in aylesbury , buckinghamshire , say they have not seen her for several years . there are fears that up to 50 british . islamic militants are receiving terrorist training in kenya and . neighbouring somalia , described by experts as a ` destination of choice ' for would-be terrorists . following the 7/7 bombings , . lewthwaite described her husband 's actions as ` abhorrent ' , and her family . are adamant she is not involved in terrorist activities . her father andy , 56 , a builder and . former soldier , has begged his daughter to come home , saying ` samantha . would not be involved in anything to do with terrorism . ` she was badly affected by what happened before and would have nothing to do with it . i am sure of that . ' however the cia , scotland yard and . anti-terror forces around the world are treating her capture as a huge . priority . sources say she is ` no small fish ' in terrorist circles , describing her role as a ` financier ' . another londoner , jermaine grant , was . captured during the mombasa raid on december 19 , but lewthwaite fled . the scene with a laptop and the bomb parts . her escape was described as so extraordinary , that police are holding an internal probe to see if she had ` inside ' help . horrific : this was the carnage left onboard a train between king 's cross and russell square tube stations in london after a bomb blast during the july 7 attacks . kenyan police say the woman they are hunting fled the gang 's hideout .<doc-sep>special forces were waiting for orders to capture ahmed abu khattalah , part of the ansar al-sharia militia , but the mission failed to materialize according to cnn . the order never came after a terrorist wanted over the 1998 attack on the u.s. embassy in kenya was seized in the libyan capital tripoli . attack : a protester shouts outside the burning u.s. consulate in benghazi where four americans were killed in september 2012 . wanted : the fbi has released the images of three men caught on security cameras at the compound before the attack that it wants to question . publicity surrounding the october 5 capture of abu anas al-libi , a suspect in the 1998 terror attack , put the imminent khattalah . mission in jeopardy , according . to some officials . it was feared that a second u.s. raid in libya could destabilize the country 's already fragile government .<doc-sep>convert . ghani and lewthwaite are also charged with a second count of . conspiracy to cause an explosion . the maximum sentences for both charges . are seven years each . the collection of large-calibre rounds found at the villa rented by terror suspect samantha in shenzu , mombasa . explosive : chemicals for bomb making were found during a raid in the bakarani region of mombasa in kenya . ` samantha lewthwaite was charged in absentia and a warrant of arrest . issued against her , '' said jacob ondari , kenya 's assistant director of . public prosecutions . prosecutor jacob ondari said he believed university-educated . lewthwaite was linked to the plot and was the main financier . he told the mail : ` samantha lewthwaite . is linked to grant . it is the same bomb plot and they were working . together . she is wanted by police over this plot . we believe she was the . main financier . ' the cocktail of bomb-making chemicals found . | <t> suspect indicted in u.s. for 1998 bombings of u.s. embassies in kenya , tanzania . </t> <t> u.s : fazul abdullah mohammed is a senior al qaeda operative in e. africa . </t> <t> he managed to evade police in a raid saturday in malindi , say kenyan police . </t> <t> authorities received information about him from `` local intelligence networks '' </t> | kenya : u.s. embassy bomb suspect flees raid<T> |
-lrb- cnn traveller -rrb- -- natural beauty , outdoor living and fine dining -- wendy saunt crams one week 's activities into one memorable day . sydney 's opera house is recognized instantly the world over , but there are plenty of hidden gems to be found . 08.00 : chinese food for breakfast might seem like something you would only do with a hangover , but yum cha -- think chinese tapas on trolleys -- is a sydney tradition . head down to china town in haymarket and take your pick -- east ocean -lrb- 421-429 sussex street -rrb- is a favorite with sydneysiders . 09.00 : walk off your breakfast with some shopping . you will see many international designers and a plethora of great home-grown ones too , from sass & bide to collette dinnigan . sieve through the grand queen victoria building -lrb- known as the qvb -rrb- and david jones department store in town , then head east across hyde park -- stopping off at the art deco anzac war memorial - -- towards oxford street , where there are some great boutiques . sydney is also a good place to buy opals and pearls . 11.30 : continue east to the chi-chi ` old sydney ' suburbs of paddington and woollahra , where you will find some of the city 's most beautiful architecture . here the wrought iron balconies and the palm trees of the victorian terrace houses lend the city a seductive , new orleans feel . stop for a coffee in one of the many fine coffee houses , then make your way up back up to oxford street and jump on the number 380 bus to bondi . 12.30 : for the best view of bondi -- the quintessentialsydney beach -- get off the bus as it comes down the hill . from here , it is a short walk to icebergs restaurant . from its vantage point on the coastal cliffs at the southern end -- overlooking the sweep of bondi beach , the raging surf , and the gleaming white of the outdoor pool -- icebergs is sydney at its best . tables at this renowned restaurant are hard to come by , so book ahead -lrb- www.idrb.com -rrb- . after lunch , do the bondi-to-coogee coastal walk , which traces three bays -- clovelly , tamarama and gordon 's -lrb- a great snorkeling spot -rrb- -- and affords cliff-top views before finishing up , an hour or so later , at coogee , a beach to the south . once there , take your weary self down to wylie 's baths , an outdoor sea water pool that has not changed since its inception in 1907 , and get an al fresco massage -lrb- www.massagebythesea.com.au . from $ 25 -rrb- . 16.00 : the best way to see the city -- which is laid out along the contours of a vast and beautiful natural harbor -- is from the air . depending on your budget , you can take in the views from sydney tower -lrb- 100 market street , $ 24.50 -rrb- , climb the harbor bridge -lrb- www.bridgeclimb.com , from $ 179 -rrb- , or charter a helicopter -lrb- www.sydneyhelicopters.com.au , from $ 180 -rrb- . if you want to see it from the ` ground ' , charter a yacht and join the harbor 's fray -lrb- www.eastsail.com.au , from $ 625 -rrb- .<doc-sep>18.00 : after a quick change , head down to circular quay for sun downers at the opera bar . with the harbor bridge to your left and the grand old opera house to your right , it is easy to see why it is the place for evening drinks . house brut is a steal at aus$ 34 -lrb- $ 32 -rrb- ; the bucket-sized portions of fries a snip at aus$ 7 -lrb- $ 6.50 -rrb- . do not be late , though -- the view here at dusk is enough to make you want to stay in sydney forever . 19.00 : while in the vicinity , see what is on at the opera house -- there is a huge program , from world music to musicals too . -lrb- www.sydneyoperahouse.com -rrb- . if that is not your scene , it is still worth taking a tour of the iconic building -- the last one is at 5pm , though -lrb- $ 32 -rrb- . 21.00 : with sydney famed for its cuisine , dining options are not in short supply . billy kwong 's is one of the city 's foremost places , dishing up vast portions of fresh , light and ever-so-tasty chinese food in a tiny shanghai tearoom-style restaurant -lrb- 355 crown street , surry hills -rrb- . for a taste of modern australian , take a taxi to the bathers ' pavilion , a seafood restaurant in the western suburb of balmoral -lrb- 4 the esplanade , balmoral beach -rrb- . finally , tetsuya 's -- with its famed $ 195 10-course degustation menu -- is ranked by restaurant magazine as the fourth best restaurant in the world -lrb- 529 kent street , sydney -rrb- . to sit at its hallowed tables , you need to book several months -- possibly even a year -- in advance . 11.00 : still standing ? then hit the late-night bars . the loft by the water -lrb- 3 lime street , kings street wharf , sydney -rrb- , arthouse hotel in the cbd -lrb- 275 pitt street , sydney -rrb- , ruby rabbit in city 's clubbing district -lrb- 231 oxford street , darlinghurst -rrb- and the tilbury in one of sydney 's smartest suburbs -lrb- 12 nicholson street , woolloomooloo -rrb- are all good choices . and if you are at the latter , finish off your night with a pie at harry 's cafe de wheels -lrb- cowper wharf road -rrb- -- another sydney institution . click here to subscribe to cnn traveller . copyright © 2008 ink publishing and cable news network , lp , lllp , a time warner company . all rights reserved .<doc-sep>8.00 pm , 31st december 2013 , sydney : start off the evening in sydney , celebrating at the city 's most exclusive party spots including nye party at the house - an exclusive party at the sydney opera house.party until past 1.00 am on new year 's day , as it 's just a short 12km drive from sydney opera house to sydney kingsford smith airport , which offers 24-hour access for private jets . 2.00 am , 1st january 2014 , sydney : depart in the gulfstream g550 . the flight time from sydney to los angeles is 13 hours and 15 minutes . 8.15 pm , 31st december 2013 , los angeles : party all over again ... carol . cork , marketing director of privatefly.com , said : ` this is the ultimate . way to see in 2014 , in two of the world 's most exciting party cities . los angeles is 19 hours behind sydney - just over 13 hours away in a . long range private jet .<doc-sep>jyah divall , 12 , has been found after he went missing from a sydney train station more than 24 hours earlier . the boy from penrith in southwestern sydney was last seen leaving a train at redfern railway station in sydney 's inner-city just after 6.30 pm on thursday and had not been seen since . however , jyah was located in the neighbouring suburb of waterloo at 8.45 pm on friday .<doc-sep>black clouds , spectacular lightning strikes and howling thunder have rolled across sydney , signalling an end to a glorious weekend stretch of hot , sunny weather . the weather turned quickly on monday afternoon as apocalyptic-looking clouds descended on the city - and more is expected along australia 's east coast over the next 24 hours . it comes as hilarious footage emerged of a woman reacting to a huge lightning strike during a storm - and went viral after it was uploaded to youtube . when mother nature put on a dramatic display last week over newcastle , north of sydney , the woman could n't contain herself , shrieking as she ran inside for cover . scroll down for video . ready for action . a cameraman gets set to record the wild weather across the harbour city . getting a head start on the commute ? the weather turned quickly from bright and sunny to dark and stormy . spectacular lightning was seen across sydney on monday afternoon . sydney streets are clogged with traffic this afternoon as the storm clouds roll across the city . an eerie build-up beyond the city as a swirl of clouds seems to swallow up the last of the day 's sunlight . sweeping through . the view from an apartment block as the dark clouds move in as a severe storm cell prepares to hit sydney for the second time in 24 hours .<doc-sep>jyah divall , 12 , has been found safe and well after in the waterloo area more than 24 hours later . jyah was last seen at sydney 's redfern station at 6.30 pm on thursday before found in a neighbouring suburb on friday night . | <t> chinese food for breakfast -- yum cha -- is a sydney tradition . </t> <t> climb the harbor bridge for great views of the city . </t> <t> dine at tetsuya , ranked by restaurant magazine as the 4th best in the world . </t> | 24 hours in sydney<T> |
-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a magazine photo spread of taliban fighters posing in the uniforms of 10 french soldiers killed last month has sparked an angry response . one of the pictures in the french magazine paris match that has stirred controversy . the latest edition of paris match includes photos of the taliban fighters and their commander , `` farouki , '' wearing french uniforms , helmets and using french assault rifles and walkie-talkies . farouki , aged 30-35 , claims in the accompanying story to have led his group in the august 18 ambush which killed 10 french troops and injured a further 21 in the sarobi district , 40 miles east of kabul . it was the french army 's single highest death toll in 25 years .<doc-sep>he said the area was `` our territory '' and the attack was a `` legitimate '' part of its defense . farouki said it did not need a lot of planning , with the french soldiers only spotted a short time before the assault . he said the soldiers had died for '' -lsb- george w. -rsb- bush 's '' cause and that if france did not return the rest of its troops home they would all be killed . farouki said they would continue fighting till the last man . see more on paris match 's web site .<doc-sep>french defense minister herve morin accused the magazine of helping the taliban . `` should we be doing the taliban 's promotion for them ? '' he asked in the french daily newspaper liberation . joel le pahun , father of one of the killed soldiers , told the newspaper the pictures were `` despicable . ''<doc-sep>green mp daniel cohn-bendit called them `` voyeurism . '' however , paris match editor laurent valdiguie defended the publication , saying it was `` legitimate '' given the importance of the story . the story 's author , eric de lavarène , said only he and photographer véronique de viguerie met the group and he asked his questions via their `` fixer . ''<doc-sep>this sickening image shows armed taliban militants standing over decapitated heads which they claim belong to soldiers they killed in clashes on the pakistan border . the pakistani taliban released a video showing what appeared to be the severed heads of a dozen soldiers today as security officials said 15 troops were missing following fighting with insurgents . the clashes on tuesday came as part of a pakistan army operation to repel taliban militants who had crossed over from kunar province in afghanistan last friday and occupied the village of batwar in the bajaur tribal district . horrendous : taliban militants stand over a dozen . decapitated heads which they claim belong to soldiers they killed in . clashes on the pakistan border . ` at least 15 of our soldiers are still missing , ' a senior security official told afp . another security official said ` more or less ' that many soldiers were missing but declined to give the exact total . tehreek-e-taliban pakistan -lrb- ttp -rrb- spokesman sirajud din sent afp a video showing a militant commander posing with 12 heads arranged on the ground which he claimed were from soldiers they had killed . ` praise be to god that the mujahideen in bajaur agency have managed to kill the infidel soldiers of pakistan , ' he says . ` many of them were killed by bullets , 12 of them as you see have been beheaded , you see 12 heads here , and more heads are on the way . ' the commander , his face unmasked and wearing traditional tribal dress , is flanked in the footage by around a dozen armed men including one wielding a huge axe . the video showed belongings from the dead men laid out on a sheet , including pakistani identity cards , camouflage pattern helmets , pakistani currency , mobile phones and bank cards . military sources have so far not said whether they are the missing soldiers or confirmed that those shown in the video are pakistani troops . killed : mullah dadullah , seen right , a regional .<doc-sep>four soldiers are dead after the taliban used a remote-controlled bomb to blow-up a bus in afghanistan today . the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack which was the latest in an onslaught on afghan security forces ahead of the withdrawal of foreign combat forces at the end of this year . the soldiers were on their way to work when the bomb , buried in the road , was detonated as it passed by in southwestern kabul , ministry of defence spokesman general zahir azimi said . scroll down for video . a solider stands guard in front of the bus which the taliban has claimed responsibility for bombing resulting in the deaths of four afghan soldiers and the wounding of 12 other passengers . an afghan national army soldier has a blackened face after surviving the blast . the bomb , buried in the road , was detonated as the bus passed by in southwestern kabul . the bombing is the latest in a series of attacks against afghan troops ahead of the withdrawal of foreign forces later this year . twelve people were wounded in the blast , including six soldiers and six civilian passers-by , he said . taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid said the group were behind the attack ` on the slave soldiers ' bus ' . the taliban are fighting to expel foreign forces and oust the u.s.-backed government . a soldier caught-up in the blast is assisted by other army personnel to clean soot from his face . the taliban claimed responsibility for the attack ` on the slave soldiers bus ' ; the soldiers were travelling to work . afghan army personnel tow away the bus which had its windows blown out in the bomb blast . an afghan policeman stands guards at the scene while onlookers wait behind a police cordon . casualties among afghan army and police have soared in the past year as national forces have taken over most of the fight against the taliban and their jihadist allies . the number of soldiers killed last year nearly quadrupled to 4,451 over the previous year for the afghan calendar that ends in march , according to ministry of defence statistics .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- in late november , u.s. soldiers were supervising artillery training for afghan troops in nangarhar province , close to the pakistan border . after they climbed a ridge to assess the impact area , an afghan border policeman suddenly turned on them and opened fire . seconds later , six americans and their assailant were dead . it was one of the deadliest incidents of what the military call `` green on blue '' -- a euphemism for attacks by members of the afghan security forces on their allies in the international force known as isaf . they have risen sharply over the past year , raising fears that the taliban are infiltrating the afghan national army and police force . but military analysts and intelligence officials say the reality is more complicated . the taliban said they had recruited the border policeman , but his real motive was never established , and it transpired that he 'd had an argument with his father over his choice of bride . in an even deadlier incident , an afghan air force officer shot dead eight u.s. air force personnel and a u.s. contractor at kabul international airport in march . but there is little to suggest he was a taliban infiltrator either . according to a nato analysis seen by cnn , `` green on blue '' attacks have killed 52 u.s. and allied soldiers since 2005 , many of them in the past year .<doc-sep>streatfeild has written a book attacking the mod over equipment failures and tactics used against the taliban . ` honourable warriors ' will be serialised in the mail on sunday . killed : lance corporal michael pritchard was 22 . streatfeild says : ` on the night of lance corporal michael pritchard 's death , the section commander 's radio stopped working and none of the soldiers on pritchard 's patrol had a back-up radio capable of sending a message to the british sniper before he fired the fatal shot which killed pritch . ` he thought he was shooting at taliban fighters who appeared to preparing a roadside explosive device 2,500 ft away . ` actually he was shooting at his own men -- pritch and another soldier who survived the incident . ' at an inquest , a coroner blamed military ` failures ' for pritchard 's death . ` to use a bomb detector effectively when you 're under enemy fire takes hundreds of hours of practice , ' streatfeild says . due to kit shortages only three devices , known as vallons , were available to his 140 men to train on before they deployed to afghanistan . he adds : ` so my soldiers had less time to use the equipment . waving a stick was no substitute for practising with a bomb detector . ' in sangin , one in four vallon operators , including rifleman martin kinggett , were killed or seriously injured . ` i sent 25 soldiers on driving courses so they could use the mastiff , an armoured vehicle which provides protection against mines , ' says streatfeild . ` when we got to sangin there was not one armoured or mine-proof vehicle in our base . we were furious and felt bitterly let down , having been told that we would be able to use mastiffs . this was a disgrace -- these vehicles would have saved lives . so for months we walked everywhere and were very vulnerable . ' | <t> photos of taliban in the uniforms of dead french soldiers provokes outrage . </t> <t> magazine paris match features photos of taliban and their commander . </t> <t> 10 french troops were killed and a further 21 injured in an ambush . </t> | furor over pics of taliban in dead soldiers ' kit<T> |
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