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(CNN) -- Former President Alfonso Portillo of Guatemala faces money-laundering charges in the United States, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.
The indictment charges Portillo with embezzling tens of millions of dollars in public funds, "a portion of which he then laundered through bank accounts located, among other places, in the United States and Europe," the indictment says.
A grand jury indicted Portillo in U.S. District Court in New York.
Portillo engineered an embezzlement with co-conspirators that occurred from about 2000 through about 2003, the indictment says. Prosecutors allege the money-laundering took place through at least 2006.
Portillo was the president of Guatemala from 2000 to 2004.
Authorities in Guatemala started searching for him after the United States requested his extradition, a spokesman for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala told CNN en Español on Sunday.
They executed search warrants in four locations but had not found him as of Sunday night, officials said.
Portillo came into power promising to clean up corruption, but found his own government mired in the same accusations as his predecessors.
According to the indictment, in one instance in 2000, Portillo funneled $1.5 million worth of donations for a literacy project from Taiwan into accounts in Europe controlled by his ex-wife and daughter.
In that case, the indictment alleges, Portillo endorsed three $500,000 checks destined for a program to purchase books for libraries, but diverted the funds into a bank in Miami, Florida. That money was eventually laundered into his family's accounts in Europe, the court document states.
In short, "this money was diverted, in a series of transactions and transfers designed to conceal the sources and origin of the funds," the indictment states.
There was a second instance where Portillo allegedly embezzled money given to Guatemala by the Taiwanese, according to the document.
In addition, Portillo is accused of embezzling money from his defense ministry in 2001. With the help of others, Portillo made large cash transactions that ended up in accounts belonging to him and his co-conspirators, the document says.
Some of the money that Portillo took went to buy expensive watches and cars, the indictment says.
|
[
"what is his name?",
"What is the name of the former Guatemalan president?",
"who is accused in US courts?",
"has he been found?",
"what was the former Guatemalan president charged with?"
] |
[
"Alfonso Portillo",
"Alfonso Portillo",
"Alfonso Portillo",
"locations but had not",
"money-laundering charges"
] |
question: what is his name?, answer: Alfonso Portillo | question: What is the name of the former Guatemalan president?, answer: Alfonso Portillo | question: who is accused in US courts?, answer: Alfonso Portillo | question: has he been found?, answer: locations but had not | question: what was the former Guatemalan president charged with?, answer: money-laundering charges
|
(CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton said Thursday he thinks that Barack Obama will win big in the upcoming presidential election.
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama chat at Clinton's Harlem office.
"I predict that Sen. Obama will win and win handily," Clinton said when asked his opinion on the state of the race.
Obama smiled at Clinton's prediction, saying, "There you go, you can take it from the president of the United States. He knows a little something about politics."
The two men chatted with reporters in a photo-op at Clinton's Harlem office before sitting down for a private lunch.
According to CNN's average of national polls, John McCain currently holds a 1-point lead over Obama, 46-45 percent. iReport.com: Still undecided?
The poll of polls, released Thursday afternoon, is composed of the following five national general election surveys: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics (September 8-9), NBC/Wall Street Journal (September 6-8), American Research Group (September 6-8), Gallup (September 8-10), and Diageo/Hotline (September 8-10). It does not have a sampling error.
Clinton is scheduled to campaign for Obama in Florida once he wraps up some business with his Clinton Global Initiative. According to aides, the former president will do a mix of fundraisers and public appearances on behalf of the Democratic ticket throughout the fall.
"We're putting him to work," said Obama.
"I've agreed to do a substantial number of things, whatever I'm asked to do," Clinton said. Watch Clinton make his prediction »
The image of the two men meeting comes as a relief to many Democrats who have been hoping to put to rest the "Clinton-Obama rift" storyline. Both sides agreed a face-to-face meeting with the former president would go a long way toward putting the contentious primary season behind them.
Hillary Clinton campaigned for Obama earlier in the week in Florida and will campaign in Ohio this weekend.
Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, spoke Thursday with first responders in Parma, Ohio.
He opened up the event by telling everyone he did not plan to talk politics.
"Let's pull together, let's say together. This is nothing to do with Democrats, Republicans -- it's about Americans," he said.
Obama and McCain also put aside politics Thursday to commemorate the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The two appeared together at ground zero in New York City to lay roses at the 9/11 memorial and speak with first responders and family members of victims. They were joined by Cindy McCain and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. iReport.com: See photos from the scene
Later Thursday, Obama and McCain will share the stage briefly as they appear back-to-back at the ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum at Columbia University in New York.
Meanwhile, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin headed home to Alaska after spending the week campaigning with McCain.
The pair drew a crowd of more than 20,000 in the sturdily Democratic county of Fairfax, Virginia, on Wednesday. That was their largest crowd to date.
After that event, Palin returned home so she could attend her son's deployment ceremony on Thursday. Track Palin enlisted in the U.S. army exactly one year ago. His brigade is going to Iraq. Watch more on Palin's return to Alaska »
Later Thursday, Palin will give her first television interview with a national media outlet since being named as McCain's running mate.
The Alaska governor will spend two days with ABC's Charlie Gibson. The interview will be part sit-down, part walk-and-talk at various locations in Alaska.
So far, Palin has taken no questions from reporters traveling with her on the campaign trail.
An issue that could come up in the interview is the controversy that emerged this week over her per diem charges as governor.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Palin had billed the state a per diem for 312
|
[
"What did Barack Obama lay at ground zero?",
"What did the politicians place at ground zero?",
"Who spoke with first responders?",
"who attended their son's deployment ceremony?",
"Where did Biden speak to first responders?",
"Where were roses laid?",
"What is the name of Sarah Palin's son?",
"What do polls in key battleground states show?",
"Where did Palin attend a cermony?",
"Where did Biden speak with first responders?"
] |
[
"roses",
"roses",
"Joe Biden,",
"Palin",
"Parma, Ohio.",
"9/11 memorial",
"Track",
"John McCain currently holds a 1-point lead over Obama,",
"Alaska",
"Parma, Ohio."
] |
question: What did Barack Obama lay at ground zero?, answer: roses | question: What did the politicians place at ground zero?, answer: roses | question: Who spoke with first responders?, answer: Joe Biden, | question: who attended their son's deployment ceremony?, answer: Palin | question: Where did Biden speak to first responders?, answer: Parma, Ohio. | question: Where were roses laid?, answer: 9/11 memorial | question: What is the name of Sarah Palin's son?, answer: Track | question: What do polls in key battleground states show?, answer: John McCain currently holds a 1-point lead over Obama, | question: Where did Palin attend a cermony?, answer: Alaska | question: Where did Biden speak with first responders?, answer: Parma, Ohio.
|
(CNN) -- Former President Clinton on Monday complained about attacks from Sen. Barack Obama on Sen. Hillary Clinton in the latest back-and-forth bickering between the two rival Democratic presidential campaigns.
Obama accuses Clinton of rewriting history in her complaints about his voting record on Iraq.
"I've got before me a list of 80 attacks on Hillary that are quite personal by Sen. Obama and his campaign going back six months that I've had pulled," he said, speaking to CNN contributor Roland Martin on WVON-AM's "The Roland S. Martin Show" based in Chicago, Illinois.
At a campaign rally Monday in Reno, Nevada, Obama said he is "concerned about the tenor the campaign has taken in the last couple days."
"I think that I may disagree with Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards on how to get things done, but we share the same goals. We're all democrats, we all believe in civil rights, we all believe in equal rights," said Obama.
"I think they're good people, they are patriots and they are running because they think they can lead this country to a better place and I don't want the campaign in this stage to degenerate into so much tit-for-tat back-and-forth that we lose sight of why all of us are doing this."
Obama also warned his supporters to play fair.
"If I hear my own supporters engaging in talk that I think is ungenerous or misleading or in some way is unfair then I will speak out forcefully against them and I hope the other campaigns take the same approach," he said.
A recording of comments Sunday by Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson that appeared to criticize Obama's admitted past drug use were played on Martin's show.
Johnson later said he was referring to Obama's community organizing efforts.
"When you listen to that tone and the inflection, he was not talking about community organizing. It seemed to be very clear what he was implying," Martin said.
The former president said Johnson needs to be "taken at his word," adding that "nobody knew" what he would say and "it wasn't part of any planned strategy." Watch Martin's take on the interview »
"This, to me, is another example of [the Obama campaign] wanting a double standard," he said. Watch the latest on the war of words »
Clinton went on to say comments from Obama's campaign in the aftermath of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination were "a lot worse" than what Johnson said.
Obama's campaign implied that some of Hillary Clinton's foreign policy decisions helped exacerbate problems in Pakistan.
The ex-president called the attack "appalling" and said his wife did not try to turn it into a larger issue, but instead "said 'I disagree' and moved on."
Hillary Clinton did respond then, saying she regretted that Obama's campaign "would be politicizing this tragedy, and especially at a time when we do need to figure out a way forward."
Johnson, a Hillary Clinton supporter, made his remarks Sunday at Columbia College in South Carolina, a state with a large share of African-American voters that holds its Democratic primary on January 26.
Hillary Clinton also has accused Obama's campaign of distorting recent remarks by her and her husband that have touched off concerns among some African-American voters.
Johnson said he has held fund-raisers for Obama but was unhappy with criticisms of the former first lady by Obama's campaign.
"As an African-American, I'm frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that -- I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book," Johnson said while campaigning at the largely black Northminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
In Obama
|
[
"Which president spoke out during the campaign?",
"who accuses the Obama camp of distorting her remarks on civil rights?",
"who speaks out in latest back-and-forth between campaigns?",
"Whats the BET founder called?",
"who founded BET?",
"Who accused the Obaam camp of distorting her remark?"
] |
[
"Clinton",
"Hillary Clinton",
"President Clinton",
"Bob Johnson",
"Bob Johnson",
"Hillary Clinton"
] |
question: Which president spoke out during the campaign?, answer: Clinton | question: who accuses the Obama camp of distorting her remarks on civil rights?, answer: Hillary Clinton | question: who speaks out in latest back-and-forth between campaigns?, answer: President Clinton | question: Whats the BET founder called?, answer: Bob Johnson | question: who founded BET?, answer: Bob Johnson | question: Who accused the Obaam camp of distorting her remark?, answer: Hillary Clinton
|
(CNN) -- Former President John F. Kennedy saw a proposed ban on above-ground nuclear tests as a way to thaw U.S.-Soviet relations after the Cuban Missile Crisis, according to recordings released Thursday.
President John F. Kennedy expresses a desire to thaw U.S.-Soviet relatations, on newly released recordings.
"If it does represent a possibility of avoiding the kind of collision that we had last fall in Cuba, which was quite close, and Berlin in 1961, we should seize the chance," Kennedy said in a July 1963 meeting with top government scientists. He signed a treaty with the Soviets and the British the following month that banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater or in space.
Kennedy's presidential library in Boston, Massachusetts, released the four-minute recording of the meeting, held just four months before his assassination. The scientists taking part included John Foster and Norris Bradbury, the directors of two of the top U.S. nuclear laboratories; Glenn Seaborg, then-head of the Atomic Energy Commission; and a member of the commission, John Palfrey.
Kennedy expressed hope that the treaty could produce "the possibility of a detente" between Washington and Moscow, "which may not come to anything but which quite possibly could come to something."
The meeting took place just nine months after the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba brought the world's major nuclear powers to the brink of war. Kennedy said the Soviets were having "domestic, internal economic problems" and he was worried about the rise of China after a major diplomatic split in 1960.
"I don't think anybody can say with any precision, but there isn't any doubt that the dispute with China is certainly a factor," Kennedy said, adding, "They want to avoid a nuclear struggle or ... they want to lessen the chances of conflict with us."
But he said the rising nuclear ambitions of China, which would conduct its first tests the following year, could force the United States to resume its own tests.
"It may be that the Chinese test in the next year, 18 months, 2 years, and we would then make the judgment to see if we should go back to testing," he said.
|
[
"What was Kennedy hoping for?",
"When was the recording made?",
"What did Kennedy say in the recording?",
"What did Kennedy say?",
"When was the meeting held?",
"What did the library release?"
] |
[
"that the treaty could produce \"the possibility of a detente\" between Washington and Moscow,",
"four months before his assassination.",
"expresses a desire to thaw U.S.-Soviet relatations,",
"\"If it does represent a possibility of avoiding the kind of collision that we had last fall in Cuba, which was quite close, and Berlin in 1961, we should seize the chance,\"",
"July 1963",
"recordings"
] |
question: What was Kennedy hoping for?, answer: that the treaty could produce "the possibility of a detente" between Washington and Moscow, | question: When was the recording made?, answer: four months before his assassination. | question: What did Kennedy say in the recording?, answer: expresses a desire to thaw U.S.-Soviet relatations, | question: What did Kennedy say?, answer: "If it does represent a possibility of avoiding the kind of collision that we had last fall in Cuba, which was quite close, and Berlin in 1961, we should seize the chance," | question: When was the meeting held?, answer: July 1963 | question: What did the library release?, answer: recordings
|
(CNN) -- Former Real Madrid and Monaco striker Fernando Morientes has returned to French football after joining Marseille on a free transfer
Morientes has joined Marseille after enduring a disappointing spell with Primera Liga side Valencia.
The 33-year-old, who was released by cash-strapped Primera Liga side Valencia at the end of last season, links-up again with Marseille coach Didier Deschamp, who brought the forward to Monaco in a loan spell in 2003/04.
During that time, Morientes built up a great relationship with Deschamps as the principality club reached the final of the Champions League, losing 3-0 to Porto.
Top 20 summer transfer targets
Morientes has also played for Albacete, Real Zaragoza and Liverpool. He left Liverpool in 2006 to join Valencia but made only 19 league appearances for Los Che last season, scoring one goal.
Deschamps has been busy in the summer transfer market as he prepares his side for life in the Champions League following their second-placed Ligue One finish to Bordeaux last season.
Moreintes is Deschamps' eighth summer recruit after Lucho Gonzalez, Stephane Mbia, Souleymane Diawara, Edouard Cisse, Cyril Rool, Elinton Andrade and Charley Fomen.
Morientes has not trained since being released by Valencia but the former Spanish international striker believes he will be fully fit in time for the new season.
"I have stopped for two months but I hope to be good in two weeks, fit in quickly and bring my qualities," Morientes told a news conference. "At 33-years-old I have a lot of experience, I can bring a lot on the pitch and in the dressing room."
|
[
"What team was Morientes transfered to?",
"When will former Spanish international released?",
"Who was Monaco's coach?",
"Who released him?",
"Who was his Monaco coach?",
"What team released the former Spanish international?",
"What did Fernando Morientes completed?"
] |
[
"Marseille",
"in 2003/04.",
"Didier Deschamp,",
"Valencia",
"Didier Deschamp,",
"cash-strapped Primera Liga side Valencia",
"joining Marseille on a free transfer"
] |
question: What team was Morientes transfered to?, answer: Marseille | question: When will former Spanish international released?, answer: in 2003/04. | question: Who was Monaco's coach?, answer: Didier Deschamp, | question: Who released him?, answer: Valencia | question: Who was his Monaco coach?, answer: Didier Deschamp, | question: What team released the former Spanish international?, answer: cash-strapped Primera Liga side Valencia | question: What did Fernando Morientes completed?, answer: joining Marseille on a free transfer
|
(CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described Moammar Gadhafi's crush on her as "weird and a bit creepy," saying she breathed a sigh of relief when she realized a video he made of her was not raunchy.
In her new book, "No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington," Rice said the ruler once played her a video montage of herself set to a tune called "African Flower in the White House."
A Libyan composer wrote the song, she said.
Earlier this year, anti-Gadhafi fighters ransacking his compound in Tripoli found an album of photos of the former top Bush administration official.
"Quite extraordinary, weird and a bit creepy, " Rice told CNN's Piers Morgan on Wednesday night about the scrapbook. "I had actually known that he had this fixation on me."
Rice said when Gadhafi showed her the video montage years ago in Libya, she tried to keep the conversation on business.
"My job was to go there and do diplomatic business and get out, so that's what I did," she said. "But I have to say I did have that terrible moment when he said that he had the video. I am just glad that it all came out all right."
Gadhafi was captured and killed in October, ending a Libyan revolution that started in February against his regime.
Rice also weighed in on GOP presidential contender Herman Cain's claims that racism is behind the recent surfacing of old sexual harassment allegations against him.
"I actually don't like playing the race card on either side," Rice said. "I don't like it when people say that the criticism of President (Barack) Obama is because he is black. The criticism is because he is the president, and we tend to criticize our presidents."
Rice said Cain is "an interesting person. He has an interesting background. Obviously, a lot of business experience. He is sort of shaking up the race. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing."
Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here.
|
[
"Where did Rice visit?",
"what was the melody of Mount Video",
"Who showed Rice the montage?",
"What tune was used in the montage?"
] |
[
"Libya,",
"\"African Flower in the White House.\"",
"Moammar Gadhafi's",
"\"African Flower in the White House.\""
] |
question: Where did Rice visit?, answer: Libya, | question: what was the melody of Mount Video, answer: "African Flower in the White House." | question: Who showed Rice the montage?, answer: Moammar Gadhafi's | question: What tune was used in the montage?, answer: "African Flower in the White House."
|
(CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is using his claims of a successful rocket launch to shore up his political strength within his country.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discusses North Korea on CNN's "American Morning" on Tuesday.
Albright, who was secretary of state in the Clinton administration, told CNN's "American Morning" that "it was a huge mistake for the United States to stop talking to North Korea" when the Bush administration took over.
The communist nation launched the rocket over the weekend in defiance of international opposition. Satellite images released Monday appear to show the rocket in flight, according to a nonprofit institution that focuses on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.
The following is a transcript of Albright's conversation with CNN's Carol Costello.
Carol Costello, CNN: We do have this video from North Korea of this rocket taking off. What do you make of that?
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: Well, I think that the North Korean leadership is living in a parallel universe of acting as if the launch was a success, when tracking and everything has shown that in fact, it is a failure.
And I think it proves a point, which is that the North Koreans, Kim Jong-Il is doing this for his own internal reasons -- because on Thursday, tomorrow, there will be a rubber stamp by the parliament of his leadership -- and the problems that he's generally had since he had his stroke. So this is part of their kind of Orwellian approach of saying that "This is what happened, and wasn't it a success," when we know it wasn't.
Costello: The U.N. Security Council hasn't been able to come up with any sort of resolution because apparently that body is split. President Obama made a really big deal of this and said this was like a clear violation. It sort of seems like the United States is stuck, and it can't do anything about North Korea.
Albright: Well, I don't think that's true, because what has happened is there have been individual condemnations by leaders of various countries. And I have to say from my own experience of the United Nations, it does take a while to get the 15 members [of the Security Council] together. But the saddest for me is the fact that the U.N. passed a resolution, 1718, which said that this was not acceptable. So the truth is that the U.N. has to live up to its own resolutions.
And Ambassador Rice, I think, is working very hard up there in order to get some action, but there have been condemnations already throughout the world. And the bottom line here is that President Obama's speech, for instance, in Prague, when he talked about the importance of cooperation generally on a whole nonproliferation regime -- it's very clear that there's going to have to be a lot of work on that and that President Obama laid out a very, very important set of goals.
amFIX: Your thoughts on the rocket launch
Costello: And, you know, there has been some criticism that President Obama turned to the U.N. to try to solve this crisis. I want to read you a quote from Politico. It interviewed Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House. I want to read you his quote. Newt Gingrich said, "The embarrassing repudiation of the United States appeal to the United Nations Security Council Sunday afternoon is a vivid demonstration of weakness. This is beginning to resemble the Carter administration's weakness in foreign policy." How would you respond to that?
Albright: Well, I think that it's just kind of typical of Newt Gingrich, frankly. But the bottom line here is, I think the United States and President Obama has made very clear the leadership of the United States, his concern about, generally, proliferation issues.
I think his trip, for instance, laid out a whole set of issues that prove that American leadership is essential, the respect that he gained for
|
[
"What was the result?",
"Who were they talking to?",
"What is Jong-Il using for political reasons?",
"What does Madeleine Albright say about North Korean leader?",
"What does Kim Jong-II do?",
"Who made a huge mistake?"
] |
[
"a huge mistake",
"North Korea\"",
"his claims of a successful rocket launch",
"using his claims of a successful rocket launch to shore up his political strength within his country.",
"using his claims of a successful rocket launch to shore up his political strength within his country.",
"United States"
] |
question: What was the result?, answer: a huge mistake | question: Who were they talking to?, answer: North Korea" | question: What is Jong-Il using for political reasons?, answer: his claims of a successful rocket launch | question: What does Madeleine Albright say about North Korean leader?, answer: using his claims of a successful rocket launch to shore up his political strength within his country. | question: What does Kim Jong-II do?, answer: using his claims of a successful rocket launch to shore up his political strength within his country. | question: Who made a huge mistake?, answer: United States
|
(CNN) -- Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic was Thursday found not guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo by a U.N. tribunal.
Milan Milutinovic had was cleared of war crimes in Kosovo.
Five other former high-ranking Serb officials -- Nikola Sainovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic, Nebojsa Pavkovic, Vladimir Lazarevic and Sreten Lukic -- were found guilty on all or some of the same charges.
The judgment was the first by The Hague, Netherlands-based tribunal for crimes by the former Yugoslav and Serbian forces during a military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in 1999.
Their crimes took place during a Serb-led military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population during the first six months of 1999 before a NATO bombing campaign forced a halt to the operation.
Sainovic, former Yugoslav deputy prime minister and Pavkovic, a former Yugoslav army general were each sentenced to 22 years in prison for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Watch Milutinovic receive not guilty verdict »
Lazarevic, another ex-general and Ojdanic, who was chief of general staff, were each sentenced to 15 years on charges of forced deportation of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had heard during the two year tribunal how military forces of the former Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia waged a campaign of terror against Kosovo Albanians.
The court said Milutinovic didn't have "direct individual control" over the army and that "in practice" then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic "exercised actual command authority" over the army during the NATO campaign.
Milosevic eventually surrendered to Serbian authorities in 2001 and had been extradited to The Hague, where he was on trial between 2002 and 2006 for the alleged offences in Kosovo and for alleged crimes in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He died from natural causes in March 2006 before the trial ended and before a judgment was made. He was the first sitting head of state to be charged for war crimes when he was indicted in 1999.
Kosovo's government declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008 after being administered by the United Nations since 1999. The U.S., Britain and France have recognized Kosovo's independence, but China and Russia joined Serbia in opposing the move.
|
[
"Where did the alleged offences occur",
"Who has been cleared of war crimes",
"Who does the U.N. tribunl clear?",
"Who faces charges of crimes against humanity?",
"What happened in Kosovo in 1999?",
"What is Milan MIlutinovic cleared of?",
"What are allegations centered on?",
"What year the campaign take place"
] |
[
"Kosovo",
"Serbian President Milan Milutinovic",
"Milan Milutinovic",
"Serbian President Milan Milutinovic",
"war crimes",
"war crimes",
"crimes by the former Yugoslav and Serbian forces during a military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in 1999.",
"1999."
] |
question: Where did the alleged offences occur, answer: Kosovo | question: Who has been cleared of war crimes, answer: Serbian President Milan Milutinovic | question: Who does the U.N. tribunl clear?, answer: Milan Milutinovic | question: Who faces charges of crimes against humanity?, answer: Serbian President Milan Milutinovic | question: What happened in Kosovo in 1999?, answer: war crimes | question: What is Milan MIlutinovic cleared of?, answer: war crimes | question: What are allegations centered on?, answer: crimes by the former Yugoslav and Serbian forces during a military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in 1999. | question: What year the campaign take place, answer: 1999.
|
(CNN) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela toiled for 27 years in South African prisons before gaining his freedom and leading his nation from white minority rule to full democracy. In the process, he became an international symbol of strength and hope.
Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1984.
This month he celebrates his 90th birthday with a lavish, star-studded concert in London that confirms his enduring status as a revered global icon. But his journey from young protester to political prisoner to leader of his nation has not been without heartache and personal loss.
Mandela was born in 1918 in the South African village Qunu.
He was the son of the chief councilor to a Thembu chief, and he soon became passionate about political reformation, founding the African National Congress Youth League in 1944 with lifelong friend Oliver Tambo.
Mandela's natural leadership skills pushed him front and center during the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign, which urged South African citizens not to cooperate with certain laws deemed discriminatory.
Mandela urged nonviolent solutions to the South African government's political, economic and social oppression of the nation's black majority.
His commitment to nonviolent change was tested, however, in March of 1960 when black protestors in the township of Sharpeville were fired upon by South African police as they gathered to protest a law that required all black citizens to carry passbooks at all times.
Sixty-nine people were killed and more than 180 were injured in the clash.
The Sharpeville Massacre sparked riots, strikes and protest demonstrations across South Africa, and the government declared a state of emergency.
But the massacre also highlighted the tragedy of apartheid to the rest of the world. The United Nations condemned the massacre, and its security council convened on April 1, 1960, to consider the ravaging effects of apartheid on South Africa's people.
Inside the country, Mandela and his colleagues reconsidered the use of violence to further their cause for freedom. Mandela formed the revolutionary group Spear of the Nation In 1961 and was named its commander in chief. He slipped out of South Africa for military training in Algeria in 1962 but was arrested soon after he returned. See pictures of Mandela's life »
Mandela had several previous run-ins with police, and he was eventually sentenced to life in prison for his actions protesting South Africa's apartheid government.
At the time of his sentence Mandela made a dramatic statement that illustrated his overarching commitment to freedom: "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people," he said.
"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." Listen to famous speech »
During his long incarceration, Mandela nearly became a myth. He smuggled out notes of encouragement to his followers that read like pronouncements.
"Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose," one note said.
He might have been condemned to hard labor in a limestone quarry, but Mandela's unyielding moral stance held him high on a pedestal to his followers.
In 1990, it became clear to then-South African President F.W. de Klerk that Mandela's release was necessary for the nation to heal.
Mandela was 71 years old when he walked free from Victor Verster prison, his clenched fist held high.
He'd lived a life of protest for a cause for which he'd been prepared to die. And now he would lead a nation on the brink of civil war to democracy.
Three years later, de Klerk and Mandela would share the Nobel Peace Prize.
"The policy of reconciliation that Nelson R. Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk represent provides hope not only for South Africa; it is also a shining example for the world that there are ways out of the vicious circle of violence
|
[
"When was he elected president?",
"He spent how long in prison?",
"Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president in?",
"The anti-apartheid leader spent how many years in prison?",
"Mandela was born in what year?",
"What year was Mandela born?",
"Whne was Mandela born?",
"Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president in which year?",
"How many years did Mandela spend in prison?"
] |
[
"1984.",
"27 years",
"1984.",
"27",
"1918",
"1918",
"1918",
"1984.",
"27"
] |
question: When was he elected president?, answer: 1984. | question: He spent how long in prison?, answer: 27 years | question: Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president in?, answer: 1984. | question: The anti-apartheid leader spent how many years in prison?, answer: 27 | question: Mandela was born in what year?, answer: 1918 | question: What year was Mandela born?, answer: 1918 | question: Whne was Mandela born?, answer: 1918 | question: Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president in which year?, answer: 1984. | question: How many years did Mandela spend in prison?, answer: 27
|
(CNN) -- Former South African rugby World Cup winner Ruben Kruger has passed away following a long battle with brain cancer.
The ex-Cheetahs and Bulls flanker was first diagnosed with the illness during the early 2000s at the end of a successful career that saw him earn 36 Springboks caps.
Kruger, who was just two months short of his 40th birthday, made his debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires during 1993 and was named South African Rugby Player of the Year in 1995 -- the year the country lifted the World Cup.
"Ruben Kruger was the epitome of the Springbok flanker, tough, indomitable and with an outstanding work ethic," Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), told reporters.
"When Ruben was on the field you always knew that the Springboks would not be beaten without a tremendous battle.
"Our prayers have been with him through his battles against illness and it is very sad to hear of his early passing. Our thoughts are with his young family and we extend to them our sincerest condolences."
Kruger made his final appearance in the green and gold against New Zealand in 1999.
|
[
"Who was the winner?",
"Who was named the player of the year?",
"What was his nationality?",
"Who passed away?",
"What age did the flanker die at?",
"What age was the flanker?",
"What was Kruger named?",
"What was he sick with?"
] |
[
"Ruben Kruger",
"Ruben Kruger",
"South African",
"Ruben Kruger",
"two months short of his 40th birthday,",
"two months short of his 40th birthday,",
"South African Rugby Player of the Year",
"brain cancer."
] |
question: Who was the winner?, answer: Ruben Kruger | question: Who was named the player of the year?, answer: Ruben Kruger | question: What was his nationality?, answer: South African | question: Who passed away?, answer: Ruben Kruger | question: What age did the flanker die at?, answer: two months short of his 40th birthday, | question: What age was the flanker?, answer: two months short of his 40th birthday, | question: What was Kruger named?, answer: South African Rugby Player of the Year | question: What was he sick with?, answer: brain cancer.
|
(CNN) -- Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, a key architect of the U.S. war in Vietnam under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, has died at age 93, according to his family.
Robert McNamara took a lead role in managing the U.S. military commitment in Vietnam.
McNamara was a member of Kennedy's inner circle during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the United States and the Soviet Union stood on the brink of nuclear war.
But he became a public lightning rod for his management of the war in Vietnam, overseeing the U.S. military commitment there as it grew from fewer than 1,000 advisers to more than half a million troops.
Though the increasingly unpopular conflict was sometimes dubbed "McNamara's War," he later said both administrations were "terribly wrong" to have pursued military action beyond 1963.
"External military force cannot reconstruct a failed state, and Vietnam, during much of that period, was a failed state politically," he told CNN in a 1996 interview for the "Cold War" documentary series. "We didn't recognize it as such."
A native of San Francisco, McNamara studied economics at the University of California and earned a master's degree in business from Harvard. He was a staff officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II, when he studied the results of American bombing raids on Germany and Japan in search of ways to improve their accuracy and efficiency.
After the war, he joined the Ford Motor Company and became its president in November 1960 -- the first person to lead the company from outside its founding family. A month later, the newly elected Kennedy asked him to become secretary of defense, making him one of the "whiz kids" who joined the young president's administration.
In October 1962, after the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, McNamara was one of Kennedy's top advisers in the standoff that followed. The United States imposed a naval "quarantine" on Cuba, a Soviet ally, and prepared for possible airstrikes or an invasion. The Soviets withdrew the missiles in exchange for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba, a step that allowed Soviet premier Nikita Kruschev to present the pullback as a success to his own people.
In the 2003 documentary "The Fog of War," McNamara told filmmaker Errol Morris that the experience taught American policymakers to "put ourselves inside their skin and look at us through their eyes." But he added, "In the end, we lucked out. It was luck that prevented nuclear war."
McNamara is credited with using the management techniques he mastered as a corporate executive to streamline the Pentagon, computerizing and smoothing out much of the U.S. military's vast purchasing and personnel system. And in Vietnam, he attempted to use those techniques to measure the progress of the war.
Metrics such as use of "body counts" and scientific solutions such as using the herbicide Agent Orange to defoliate jungles in which communist guerrillas hid became trademarks of the conflict. McNamara made several trips to South Vietnam to study the situation firsthand.
He, Johnson and other U.S. officials portrayed the war as a necessary battle in the Cold War, a proxy struggle to prevent communism from taking control of all of Southeast Asia. But while they saw the conflict as another front in the standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, which backed communist North Vietnam, McNamara acknowledged later that they underestimated Vietnamese nationalism and opposition to the U.S.-backed government in Saigon.
"The conflict within South Vietnam itself had all of the characteristics of a civil war, and we didn't look upon it as largely a civil war, and we weren't measuring our progress as one would have in what was largely a civil war," he told CNN.
Casualties mounted, as did domestic opposition to the war. In 1965, a Quaker anti-war protester, Norman Morrison, set himself on fire outside McNamara's office window. In 1967, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched on the Pentagon, which was ringed with troops.
By November 1967, McNamara told Johnson that there was "no reasonable
|
[
"where Robert McNamara was key architect of war in?",
"What was his job title when working with President Kennedy?",
"what McNamara became lightning rod for his management of?",
"Who became a lightning rod for his management of that war?",
"Which president's circle was he a part of?",
"What number of presidents did McNamara architect under?",
"Which Crisis was McNamara in?",
"Who was the key architect of war?",
"He was a member of which president's inner circle during the Cuban Missile Crisis?",
"Who was the key architect of war in Vietnam under two presidents?",
"What was the name of the crisis?",
"Which president was McNamara with?"
] |
[
"in Vietnam",
"U.S. Defense Secretary",
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"Robert McNamara,",
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"Cuban Missile",
"Former",
"McNamara was a member of Kennedy's inner circle during the Cuban Missile Crisis",
"U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara,",
"Cuban Missile",
"John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson,"
] |
question: where Robert McNamara was key architect of war in?, answer: in Vietnam | question: What was his job title when working with President Kennedy?, answer: U.S. Defense Secretary | question: what McNamara became lightning rod for his management of?, answer: of the war in Vietnam, | question: Who became a lightning rod for his management of that war?, answer: Robert McNamara, | question: Which president's circle was he a part of?, answer: a member of Kennedy's inner | question: What number of presidents did McNamara architect under?, answer: Lyndon Johnson, | question: Which Crisis was McNamara in?, answer: Cuban Missile | question: Who was the key architect of war?, answer: Former | question: He was a member of which president's inner circle during the Cuban Missile Crisis?, answer: McNamara was a member of Kennedy's inner circle during the Cuban Missile Crisis | question: Who was the key architect of war in Vietnam under two presidents?, answer: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, | question: What was the name of the crisis?, answer: Cuban Missile | question: Which president was McNamara with?, answer: John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson,
|
(CNN) -- Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has spoken of his relief at finally making public the fact he is gay -- and now wants to become a role model for gay people in sport.
Speaking to British news channel ITN, Thomas revealed why it has taken him so long to speak openly about his sexuality.
"Every gay man will tell you that 'coming out' is like a weight lifted from your shoulders and beng able to walk down the street knowing that there is nothing for me to hide has been a liberating experience, " admitted Thomas -- the most capped player in Wales history with 100 appearances for his country.
"I knew I was gay at 18, but to come out then would have meant I would not have achieved what I did in rugby. I loved rugby so much and it was so important to me that I made the decision to keep my sexuality secret. People may disagree with that, but it was my belief and my decision.
"Since my announcement I have had an amazing response and have not had one negative comment or any abuse. I think it proves there is a place for gay men in every walk of life.
"Gay men are accepted in films, music and politics because people came out and broke the mould and stereotype in those industries.
"What I am trying to do is break the trend in rugby and sport in general and show any aspiring sportsman, regardless of his age, that the mould has been broken.
"It is not an issue if a straight man plays rugby -- and I hope my decision will ensure it is not an issue if a gay man plays rugby."
|
[
"how many appearances for his country?",
"What sexuality is Thomas?",
"Who is Wales' former rugby captain?",
"what The 35-year-old Thomas now wants?",
"Who is the most capped player in Wales rugby history?",
"who has spoken of his relief at making public the fact he is gay?",
"The 35-year-old Thomas now wants"
] |
[
"100",
"gay",
"Gareth Thomas",
"to become a role model for gay people in sport.",
"Gareth Thomas",
"Gareth Thomas",
"to become a role model for gay people in sport."
] |
question: how many appearances for his country?, answer: 100 | question: What sexuality is Thomas?, answer: gay | question: Who is Wales' former rugby captain?, answer: Gareth Thomas | question: what The 35-year-old Thomas now wants?, answer: to become a role model for gay people in sport. | question: Who is the most capped player in Wales rugby history?, answer: Gareth Thomas | question: who has spoken of his relief at making public the fact he is gay?, answer: Gareth Thomas | question: The 35-year-old Thomas now wants, answer: to become a role model for gay people in sport.
|
(CNN) -- Former Weather Underground militant Bill Ayers will appear at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday after a federal judge ruled he can't be barred from speaking on campus.
U.S. District Judge William Downes ordered Tuesday that the university must take "all prudent steps" to guarantee Ayers' security at his lecture.
The university had argued that "serious threats" prompted it to cancel the appearance by Ayers, who is now a University of Illinois education professor.
Downes' two-page order requires university officials to take "all prudent steps to maintain order and provide for the security of participants and spectators." University officials won't appeal the order, said spokeswoman Jessica Lowell.
University President Tom Buchanan said the school "will do everything in our power to provide a safe and secure environment for his visit."
Ayers became a footnote to the 2008 presidential campaign because of his history of violent opposition to the Vietnam War and his acquaintance with then-candidate Barack Obama.
Some prominent Republicans suggested that Ayers was a shadowy influence on Obama during his 2008 presidential bid. GOP presidential candidate John McCain urged Obama to "come clean" about his relationship with Ayers and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists."
Ayers and Obama served on the Annenberg Challenge board and on the board of another Chicago, Illinois, charitable foundation, the Woods Fund, in the 1990s. A CNN review of the two men's history found nothing inappropriate in their dealings, and Ayers later called the attacks "a profoundly dishonest narrative."
David Lane, a lawyer for Ayers and University of Wyoming student Meghan Lanker, called Tuesday's ruling "inspirational" and "a huge victory for the First Amendment."
Ayers was scheduled to speak on education issues at the university in early April, but the longstanding invitation drew controversy as the date neared. Republican candidates for governor condemned the school for inviting him, and in court papers Lanker stated she was told Ayers' appearance "would inflame public sentiments" and hurt the university.
But university officials said they pulled the plug because they had "serious threats and other information concerning potential violence" and argued that Ayers could speak freely somewhere else.
"The UW administration did not bar Ayers from campus, but denied permission to rent space for a large event on university property because of serious security concerns," Buchanan said on the school's website.
Ayers was a leader of the Weather Underground, a radical anti-war group that claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and about 20 other targets. No one died in those attacks, though three Weather Underground members blew themselves up building another bomb in 1970.
Ayers and his wife, fellow Weather Underground member Bernadine Dohrn, spent a decade on the run before surrendering to authorities in 1980. The charges against him were dropped due to illegal wiretaps and prosecutorial misconduct.
|
[
"What university is William Ayers going to speak at?",
"who is the former leader of the Weather Underground?",
"What is Ayers the former leader of?",
"What caused the speech to be canceled?",
"what was canceled over security concerns?",
"what is Ayers is former leader of ?",
"who orders university to allow ex-radical William Ayers to speak?"
] |
[
"of Wyoming",
"Bill Ayers",
"the Weather Underground,",
"\"serious threats\"",
"the appearance by Ayers,",
"Weather Underground",
"Downes"
] |
question: What university is William Ayers going to speak at?, answer: of Wyoming | question: who is the former leader of the Weather Underground?, answer: Bill Ayers | question: What is Ayers the former leader of?, answer: the Weather Underground, | question: What caused the speech to be canceled?, answer: "serious threats" | question: what was canceled over security concerns?, answer: the appearance by Ayers, | question: what is Ayers is former leader of ?, answer: Weather Underground | question: who orders university to allow ex-radical William Ayers to speak?, answer: Downes
|
(CNN) -- Former captain Ricky Ponting insists he can still be a key player for Australia after becoming the third cricketer to score 13,000 Test runs on the opening day of the fourth and final match against India.
Doubts were raised about Ponting's international future when he stood down as skipper early last year, but the 37-year-old has now scored two centuries in this series after a barren run with the bat.
With Australia holding a 3-0 lead going into the Adelaide match, the tourists are facing a whitewash after Ponting and his successor Michael Clarke put on a record-breaking 252 runs on Tuesday.
Ponting was on 137 and Clarke 140 at stumps as Australia reached 335-3 in hot conditions, breaking their own record for the fourth wicket against India at the venue.
Ponting joined Indian opponents Sachin Tendulkar (15,432) and Rahul Dravid (13,262) as the only players to have passed the 13,000 milestone, ending the day 56 runs past that mark.
It was his 41st Test century, putting him level with South Africa's second-placed Jacques Kallis and 10 behind Tendulkar.
"Am I still the player I was? I'm not sure," Ponting told reporters. "You guys can answer that, you've seen me over a long period of time, but at the end of the day I think if I can keep making Test match hundreds or having an impact on winning games for Australia, then that's what I'm all about at the moment.
"It is interesting to ask the same question about Sachin or Dravid or Kallis, the guys the same sort of age as me that are still out there playing Test cricket.
"We've probably all realized that we can't play the same way forever, right through our careers, and I don't think there's been anybody that has been able to do that through 160 Test matches.
"But I'm giving it my best shot to be the best player I can be, and to win games for Australia, and if I can keep playing like I did today then hopefully there's more runs around the corner."
Ponting scored 134 in Australia's innings victory in the second Test in Sydney, where Clarke posted an unbeaten 329 as they added 288 together.
"I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney as well, probably a better wicket to bat on than Sydney was -- there wasn't much in it for the Indian bowlers, no sideways movement for the quicks, not a lot of spin, a little bit of reverse swing during the middle of the day," Ponting said.
He revealed he has adapted to his new role at No. 4, having dropped down a spot in the order.
"I know my place in the team, Michael's the leader now and I've stepped back from all that responsibility I once had," Ponting said.
"The last couple of years being the captain and batting at three was getting more and more difficult for me. Not being the captain now and having that little bit of extra time between change of innings to sit back and relax and take it all in has probably been good for me."
|
[
"What score was reached at stumps",
"What did Ricky Ponting achieve?",
"What is the name of the highest run scorer?",
"who scored his 41st Test century and passes 13,000 runs",
"who added 252 for the second wicket with the captain",
"What is teh age of Ricky Ponting?"
] |
[
"on 137 and Clarke 140",
"score 13,000 Test runs",
"Ricky Ponting",
"Ricky Ponting",
"Michael Clarke",
"37-year-old"
] |
question: What score was reached at stumps, answer: on 137 and Clarke 140 | question: What did Ricky Ponting achieve?, answer: score 13,000 Test runs | question: What is the name of the highest run scorer?, answer: Ricky Ponting | question: who scored his 41st Test century and passes 13,000 runs, answer: Ricky Ponting | question: who added 252 for the second wicket with the captain, answer: Michael Clarke | question: What is teh age of Ricky Ponting?, answer: 37-year-old
|
(CNN) -- Former child actor Gary Coleman remained in a Utah jail Monday after being booked on an outstanding arrest warrant relating to a domestic violence case, authorities said.
"He's still our guest here," Utah County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Dennis Harris said Monday afternoon.
Police visited Coleman's Santaquin City, Utah, home Sunday in response to a civil disturbance call, but no criminal charges were filed, a police spokeswoman said.
A computer check, however, revealed a misdemeanor failure to appear in court warrant for the former "Diff'rent Strokes" star stemming from a domestic violence incident last year, the spokeswoman said.
Coleman, 41, was arrested and booked without incident Sunday in the county jail in Spanish Fork, the spokesman said.
Coleman could get out of jail by posting a $1,725 bail, but that has not happened, Harris said.
Coleman's mug shot released by the jail showed that he was "not too happy," Harris said.
Police did not release details about the previous case related to the arrest warrant.
CNN's Alan Duke and Jack Hannah contributed to this report.
|
[
"For what reason did police visit the actor's home?",
"Where was Gary Coleman arrested?",
"What did he do to get in jail if no charges were filed?",
"Is it a felony or misdemeanour?",
"Warrant from what incident?",
"What amount bail must Coleman post?"
] |
[
"civil disturbance call,",
"Santaquin City, Utah, home",
"outstanding",
"misdemeanor",
"a domestic violence case,",
"$1,725"
] |
question: For what reason did police visit the actor's home?, answer: civil disturbance call, | question: Where was Gary Coleman arrested?, answer: Santaquin City, Utah, home | question: What did he do to get in jail if no charges were filed?, answer: outstanding | question: Is it a felony or misdemeanour?, answer: misdemeanor | question: Warrant from what incident?, answer: a domestic violence case, | question: What amount bail must Coleman post?, answer: $1,725
|
(CNN) -- Former college and pro football star Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith, who went on to an acting career after his retirement from sports, was found dead at his home, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said Wednesday. He was 66.
Police and fire officials were called to Smith's home after "he was found unresponsive" and pronounced him dead, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of operations and investigation for the coroner.
An autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death, Winter said. However, asked if there was any reason to believe the death was due to anything other than natural causes, he replied, "Not at this time."
An imposing 6 foot 8 and 260 pounds, Smith was considered one of the most fearsome pass rushers of his day. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 National Football League draft, he played nine seasons in the NFL -- for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers.
Sports Illustrated gallery: The NFL goes Hollywood
He played for the Colts in two Super Bowls and was also a two-time Pro Bowl pick.
Smith was one of the anchors of an overwhelming defense that was heavily favored to win Super Bowl III. Nonetheless, the New York Jets, led by Joe Namath, defeated the Colts in the 1969 championship of pro football, widely considered one of the biggest upsets in U.S. sports history.
The Colts atoned for that embarrassment -- somewhat -- two years later in a 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V, but Smith reportedly said he was so dismayed by the game's sloppiness that he never wore his Super Bowl ring.
Smith was sidelined by a severe knee injury during an exhibition game in 1972, and the next season joined the Raiders. He told Sports Illustrated in 1973 that "not playing was terrible. I didn't want to show my face in public. I don't know if it was that we were losing or what, but it almost drove me crazy."
After retiring from pro football in 1975, Smith landed small roles on TV series such as "Good Times," "Charlie's Angels" and "Semi-Tough," according to IMDb, before landing his signature role as Lt. Moses Hightower in the first "Police Academy" movie in 1984. He reprised the role in all six movies in the popular comedy franchise.
Smith was a two-time All-America defensive end at Michigan State University. He played in what the national media dubbed "the game of the century" between Michigan State and Notre Dame in 1966, a 10-10 tie that resulted in the two teams' splitting the vote for that year's national championship.
Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988, an event he called "the jewel in my crown, for my collegiate days were very special to me."
Smith was born on February 28, 1945, in Beaumont Texas. His father was a high school football coach and his mother had earned two college degrees. According to his member biography on the College Football Hall of Fame website, he said he took his parents with him when he went to speak to youth groups "to demonstrate my respect for them."
|
[
"Charles Aaron \"Bubba\" Smith, 66, was found",
"What age was Smith when he died?",
"What did he act in?",
"How many Super Bowls did he play in?",
"In which films did he have starring roles?",
"How many superbowls did he play in?",
"Who was found dead in his LA home?",
"He played in two Super Bowls for the"
] |
[
"dead",
"66.",
"\"Good Times,\" \"Charlie's Angels\"",
"two",
"\"Police Academy\"",
"two",
"Charles Aaron \"Bubba\" Smith,",
"Colts"
] |
question: Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith, 66, was found, answer: dead | question: What age was Smith when he died?, answer: 66. | question: What did he act in?, answer: "Good Times," "Charlie's Angels" | question: How many Super Bowls did he play in?, answer: two | question: In which films did he have starring roles?, answer: "Police Academy" | question: How many superbowls did he play in?, answer: two | question: Who was found dead in his LA home?, answer: Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith, | question: He played in two Super Bowls for the, answer: Colts
|
(CNN) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was admitted Saturday to a hospital in Texas for routine tests, a spokeswoman said.
"Mrs Bush is in for some routine tests, not an emergency of any kind," said Jim Appleby, spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush.
The former first lady was taken to Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. She had not been feeling well for about a week, said Jean Becker, the chief of staff for Bush's husband.
Bush, 84, is expected to stay at the hospital for a day or two, Becker said. Details on the testing were not immediately available.
Becker, the chief of staff for former President George H.W. Bush, said her hospitalization is "not serious at all."
Last year, Bush underwent open-heart surgery during which doctors replaced her aortic valve with a biologic valve. She spent nine days in the hospital afterward.
Her recent hospitalization is "not related" to the surgery, Becker said.
In November 2008, Bush underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer.
CNN's Leslie Tripp and Ed Henry contributed to this report.
|
[
"What operation did Bush had last year ?",
"What is she undergoing at the hospital ?",
"Where was Bush hospitalized?",
"When did Bush have her surgery?",
"Where has Barbara Bush been hospitalized ?",
"What surgery did Bush have?"
] |
[
"open-heart surgery",
"routine tests,",
"Texas",
"Saturday",
"Texas",
"open-heart"
] |
question: What operation did Bush had last year ?, answer: open-heart surgery | question: What is she undergoing at the hospital ?, answer: routine tests, | question: Where was Bush hospitalized?, answer: Texas | question: When did Bush have her surgery?, answer: Saturday | question: Where has Barbara Bush been hospitalized ?, answer: Texas | question: What surgery did Bush have?, answer: open-heart
|
(CNN) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was moved out of the intensive care unit of a Houston, Texas, hospital into a regular room Thursday after surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Ex-first lady Barbara Bush has been moved out of ICU and into a regular room.
Bush, 83, was in good spirits and was joking with hospital staffers, the Methodist Hospital spokeswoman said. She was being fed intravenously.
Her doctor said earlier she will be allowed no food by mouth for about a week, to avoid possibly stretching her abdominal area.
The former first lady showed up at Methodist's emergency room Tuesday night complaining of severe abdominal pain, Dr. Patrick Reardon, who performed the surgery, told reporters Wednesday.
Doctors determined Bush had a perforated ulcer in her duodenum, the first portion of the small intestine after the stomach, he said.
In the operating room, doctors thoroughly cleaned her abdominal cavity of any contaminants that had leaked through the hole, described by the hospital as being one centimeter in diameter.
Then, doctors repaired the ulcer and sewed a piece of the fat tissue in the abdomen, on top of it to seal it, Reardon said.
Bush's husband, former President George H.W. Bush, was with her Thursday morning, but was leaving to attend Thanksgiving dinner with his son Neil, the Methodist Hospital spokeswoman told CNN.
The ulcer was biopsied and is benign, Reardon said Wednesday. He suggested it might have been caused by anti-inflammatory medications.
CNN's Sean Callebs contributed to this report.
|
[
"How is she being fed?",
"What medical procedure did Barbara Bush undergo?",
"How old is Barbara Bush?",
"What was the result of the biopsy?",
"What did Barbara Bush have surgery for?",
"What precaution was taken to avoid stretching abdomen?",
"How was the former first lady being fed?",
"What did tests reveal about the ulcer?",
"What was the biopsy result?",
"Why did Bush have surgery?",
"Who is Barbara Bush's husband?",
"What was benign?",
"Why did Barbara Bush have surgery?",
"What is the state of the ulcer?",
"What did Bush have a surgery to repair?",
"Who was 83 and in good spirits?",
"How old is Barbara Bush?",
"What is Barbara Bush's age?",
"What health problems did Barbara Bush have?",
"Why was the first lady fed intravenously?",
"What was biopsied and benign?",
"Who had surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer?"
] |
[
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"83,",
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"The ulcer",
"Barbara Bush"
] |
question: How is she being fed?, answer: intravenously. | question: What medical procedure did Barbara Bush undergo?, answer: surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, | question: How old is Barbara Bush?, answer: 83, | question: What was the result of the biopsy?, answer: benign, | question: What did Barbara Bush have surgery for?, answer: to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, | question: What precaution was taken to avoid stretching abdomen?, answer: she will be allowed no food by mouth for about a week, | question: How was the former first lady being fed?, answer: intravenously. | question: What did tests reveal about the ulcer?, answer: The ulcer was biopsied and is benign, | question: What was the biopsy result?, answer: benign, | question: Why did Bush have surgery?, answer: to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, | question: Who is Barbara Bush's husband?, answer: former President George H.W. | question: What was benign?, answer: The ulcer | question: Why did Barbara Bush have surgery?, answer: to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, | question: What is the state of the ulcer?, answer: perforated | question: What did Bush have a surgery to repair?, answer: a perforated ulcer, | question: Who was 83 and in good spirits?, answer: Barbara Bush | question: How old is Barbara Bush?, answer: 83, | question: What is Barbara Bush's age?, answer: 83, | question: What health problems did Barbara Bush have?, answer: a perforated ulcer, | question: Why was the first lady fed intravenously?, answer: to avoid possibly stretching her abdominal area. | question: What was biopsied and benign?, answer: The ulcer | question: Who had surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer?, answer: Barbara Bush
|
(CNN) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush will spend the night in a Houston, Texas, hospital Tuesday night after falling ill, according to a family spokeswoman.
Former first lady Barbara Bush has been admitted to a Houston, Texas, hospital.
Spokeswoman Jean Becker said Bush, 83, was admitted to Methodist Hospital for testing after complaining of stomach pain for several days.
She arrived at the emergency room at about 5:30 p.m. Central Time.
After feeling ill, Bush called her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, at his office urging him to take her to the hospital.
The former president's Secret Service detail drove them both to the hospital, Becker said.
Jim McGrath, a spokesman for Bush's husband said all of the tests were negative.
"She's fine," McGrath said.
Bush has been diagnosed with the thyroid condition Graves' Disease. It was not known whether the condition had any relation to her hospitalization on Tuesday.
Bush, the mother of President George W. Bush, was first lady during her husband's term as president from January 1989 to January 1993.
Born in New York in 1925, Bush, born Barbara Pierce, married her husband in 1945. She is the great-great-great niece of Franklin Pierce, who served as president from 1853 to 1857.
She and the former president split their time between Houston and Kennebunkport, Maine.
|
[
"Where is the former first lady?",
"Is Barbara Bush expected to recover?",
"What did the spokesman say?",
"Where will the former first lady spend the night?",
"What was she complaining about recently?",
"What did her tests say?"
] |
[
"Houston, Texas,",
"\"She's fine,\"",
"said all of the tests were negative.",
"Houston, Texas, hospital",
"stomach pain",
"negative."
] |
question: Where is the former first lady?, answer: Houston, Texas, | question: Is Barbara Bush expected to recover?, answer: "She's fine," | question: What did the spokesman say?, answer: said all of the tests were negative. | question: Where will the former first lady spend the night?, answer: Houston, Texas, hospital | question: What was she complaining about recently?, answer: stomach pain | question: What did her tests say?, answer: negative.
|
(CNN) -- Former first lady Nancy Reagan has been released from a hospital after fracturing her pelvis during a fall at home last week, a spokeswoman said Friday.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan is shown at an event in the nation's capital in September.
Reagan, 87, returned to her Bel Air, California, home, spokeswoman Joanne Drake said.
Doctors expect a full recovery, prescribing a regimen of daily physical therapy and a reduced public schedule, Drake said in a written release.
The former first lady admitted herself to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday after experiencing what Drake described as "persistent pain." Tests revealed a fractured pelvis and sacrum, the triangular bone within the pelvis.
She also was hospitalized for two days in February after a fall.
President Reagan died in June 2004 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Since his death, Nancy Reagan has remained involved with the national Alzheimer's Association and its affiliate, the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute in Chicago, Illinois. However, she has appeared in public only rarely in recent years.
Reagan expressed her thanks in the release Friday to all those who prayed for her and sent cards, flowers, phone calls and e-mails.
|
[
"Who admitted herself to hospital?",
"Nancy Regan is how old?",
"will she be fine",
"When was she previously hospitalized?",
"what happened to regan?",
"when was the last time she was hospitalized?",
"what is the age of reagan?"
] |
[
"Nancy Reagan",
"87,",
"Doctors expect a full recovery,",
"February",
"fracturing her pelvis",
"in February",
"87,"
] |
question: Who admitted herself to hospital?, answer: Nancy Reagan | question: Nancy Regan is how old?, answer: 87, | question: will she be fine, answer: Doctors expect a full recovery, | question: When was she previously hospitalized?, answer: February | question: what happened to regan?, answer: fracturing her pelvis | question: when was the last time she was hospitalized?, answer: in February | question: what is the age of reagan?, answer: 87,
|
(CNN) -- Former rugby superstar Jonah Lomu has revealed that he is poised to make a shock playing comeback at the age of 34 with French third-division club Marseille Vitrolles.
Jonah Lomu pictured in action for New Zealand's All Blacks during the 1999 World Cup in France.
The giant New Zealander, who became a global name after an electrifying series of performances on the wing for the All Blacks at the 1995 World Cup, retired in 2007 after a succession of injuries hampered his attempt to return following a kidney transplant.
He played 63 internationals, the last of them in 2002, but was never able to regain his previous dominance even after regaining full health.
"Marseille Vitrolles is on the point of finalizing the transfer of the greatest legend in world rugby," said statement on the club's Web site.
Lomu, who is featuring in a new worldwide advertising campaign for sportswear manufacturer adidas called "Nothing Is Impossible", was also quoted as confirming his desire to return to the playing field.
"I took a sabbatical year to be at my pregnant partner's side and to fully enjoy this important moment in any man's life," he said on the Web site.
"Everyone thought I had ended my playing career, but that was wrong. I still feel the desire to play and it will be me alone who decides when to call it a day.
"My ambition is to help a club like Marseille join the group of top clubs in France."
Lomu was first diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a rare and serious kidney disorder, at the end of 1996.
He successfully returned to the game after treatment, but in May 2003 he was put on dialysis three times a week due to deterioration in his kidney function, with the treatment's side effects leaving him with severe nerve damage in his feet and legs.
Lomu faced life in a wheelchair if a kidney transplant was not performed, so underwent the operation.
He signed a two-year contract with New Zealand province North Harbour in 2005, and also played for Welsh club Cardiff Blues during the southern hemisphere's off-season.
However, he was unable to achieve his goal of being selected in the All Blacks squad for the 2007 World Cup in France, having suffered a shoulder injury.
Lomu agreed to play in a charity match in England last year, but withdrew after injuring his ankle in training.
|
[
"Player Age ?",
"Who will join French third-division club?",
"What is his nationality?",
"Which side will he play for?",
"When did the 34-year old supposedly retire?",
"What is the name of the former All Blacks winger?",
"When did the New Zealander become rugby's first global superstar?",
"What age is this player?",
"What sport is being talked about?",
"What sport are the All Blacks from?",
"When did he previously return to playing?",
"What club is he joining now?",
"What is Marseille Vitrolles?"
] |
[
"34",
"Jonah Lomu",
"New Zealander,",
"Marseille Vitrolles.",
"2007",
"Jonah Lomu",
"1995",
"34",
"rugby",
"rugby",
"after treatment,",
"Marseille Vitrolles.",
"French third-division club"
] |
question: Player Age ?, answer: 34 | question: Who will join French third-division club?, answer: Jonah Lomu | question: What is his nationality?, answer: New Zealander, | question: Which side will he play for?, answer: Marseille Vitrolles. | question: When did the 34-year old supposedly retire?, answer: 2007 | question: What is the name of the former All Blacks winger?, answer: Jonah Lomu | question: When did the New Zealander become rugby's first global superstar?, answer: 1995 | question: What age is this player?, answer: 34 | question: What sport is being talked about?, answer: rugby | question: What sport are the All Blacks from?, answer: rugby | question: When did he previously return to playing?, answer: after treatment, | question: What club is he joining now?, answer: Marseille Vitrolles. | question: What is Marseille Vitrolles?, answer: French third-division club
|
(CNN) -- Former top Pakistani military officers Sunday called for Pakistan's former strongman to be allowed back without facing arrest and condemned what they called the "bashing" of the country's armed forces.
More than 100 former officers, most of them generals and admirals, signed their names to a letter calling for Pervez Musharraf to be allowed to return to Pakistan "and contest elections according to democratic norms." The retired brass included the retired Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan, once the head of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff during part of Musharraf's rule, and Adm. Shahid Karimullah, who served as head of the navy under Musharraf.
"We feel that Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf should be provided with a level playing field in the political arena and also provided protocol and security as befits any ex-president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," wrote the officers, who have formed a group they called "Pakistan First."
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, has been living in London and Dubai since resigning in 2008. He had announced plans to return from exile in late January and run in upcoming elections -- but his party said he was reassessing those plans when Pakistan's elected government warned that if he returned, he faced arrest in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
A U.N. report in 2010 accused Musharraf's government of failing to protect Bhutto, who had returned to Pakistan from her own exile to run for office. Musharraf has denied the allegations, arguing that Bhutto had police protection and took unnecessary risks, but a Pakistani court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, is now Pakistan's president. If Musharraf were to return, he would be walking into the middle of a public squabble between Pakistan's civilian and uniformed leadership that was sparked by a memo that allegedly asked for U.S. help to rein in the military.
In Sunday's letter, the ex-generals said they opposed the "bashing" of Pakistan's army and its powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
"We feel that erosion of these institutions can only lead to weakening of Pakistan's position as a sovereign and proud nation," they wrote. "This forum feels that while all state institutions must be allowed to function within the purview of their respective roles, the demands of national dignity and state security dictate that all organs of the state as well as the media persistently raise and maintain the prestige and morale of the nation and its armed forces, both at home and abroad."
Zardari faces his own legal problems. His prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, appeared before Pakistan's supreme court Thursday in a battle over corruption cases facing the president and other officials, telling reporters the president has "full immunity" from prosecution under an amnesty granted by Musharraf before Zardari and Bhutto returned in 2007.
In 2009, the justices ruled that amnesty was unconstitutional and called on the government to reopen the cases. The government has not done so, and the court has cited Gilani for contempt.
|
[
"What warned the current government?",
"Where has Musharraf lived in exile?",
"When plans to return to Pakistan?",
"When does he plan to return to Pakistan?",
"Since when Musharraf lives in exile?",
"When did Musharraf resign?",
"Where has he lived since resigning?"
] |
[
"that if he returned, he faced arrest in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.",
"London and Dubai",
"late January",
"late January",
"2008.",
"2008.",
"London and Dubai"
] |
question: What warned the current government?, answer: that if he returned, he faced arrest in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. | question: Where has Musharraf lived in exile?, answer: London and Dubai | question: When plans to return to Pakistan?, answer: late January | question: When does he plan to return to Pakistan?, answer: late January | question: Since when Musharraf lives in exile?, answer: 2008. | question: When did Musharraf resign?, answer: 2008. | question: Where has he lived since resigning?, answer: London and Dubai
|
(CNN) -- Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin joined the national battle over Arizona's controversial new immigration law Saturday, appearing with Gov. Jan Brewer in Phoenix to denounce the Obama administration's criticism of the law.
"It's time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say 'We're all Arizonans now and, in clear unity, we say Mr. President, do your job, secure our border,'" Palin said, standing beside Brewer at a Saturday afternoon press conference.
Brewer used the event to announce her first appointment to the state's new Joint Border Security Advisory Committee and the launch of a Website to combat what she said was a national misinformation campaign about the state's new law.
Palin and Brewer, both Republicans, decried plans by opponents of the new law to boycott the state in protest.
Passed in April, the law requires immigrants in Arizona to carry their registration documents at all times and allows police to question individuals' immigration status in the process of enforcing any other law or ordinance.
Critics say it will lead to racial profiling, while supporters deny that and say it is needed to crack down on increasing crime involving illegal immigrants.
President Obama has criticized the Arizona law, saying that in dealing with the immigration issue, "the answer isn't to undermine fundamental principles that define us as a nation."
"You can imagine if you are an Hispanic American in Arizona, your great grandparents may have been there before Arizona was even a state, but now suddenly if you don't have your papers, and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you're gonna be harassed," Obama said, referring to the statute at a April rally in Iowa.
"That's something that could potentially happen," he said. "That's not the right way to go."
Brewer signed a package of changes to the law shortly after it passed that she said addressed concerns about profiling, though critics said the changes made little difference.
Palin joined Brewer on Saturday in denying the statute would lead to racial profiling.
"I think for most American people the reaction to that would be, 'Why aren't (police) already doing that?'" the former Alaska governor said.
"And while Mexico's president has begun to crack down on the violent drug cartels and corruption in his own country," she continued, "It's time for the United States government to enforce the rule of law as well."
Brewer also took jabs at Obama and the federal government.
"Our border is being erased and our president apparently considers it a wonderful opportunity to divide people along racial lines for his personal political convenience," she said.
|
[
"Who did Sarah Palin join?",
"What do critics claim the law will do?",
"is a racial profiling necesary?",
"what did Sarah Palin say?",
"Who unveiled a website?",
"What state is Brewer from?"
] |
[
"national battle over Arizona's controversial",
"lead to racial profiling,",
"supporters deny that and say it is needed",
"\"It's time for Americans across this great country to stand up and",
"Brewer",
"Arizona"
] |
question: Who did Sarah Palin join?, answer: national battle over Arizona's controversial | question: What do critics claim the law will do?, answer: lead to racial profiling, | question: is a racial profiling necesary?, answer: supporters deny that and say it is needed | question: what did Sarah Palin say?, answer: "It's time for Americans across this great country to stand up and | question: Who unveiled a website?, answer: Brewer | question: What state is Brewer from?, answer: Arizona
|
(CNN) -- Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic overcame current top-ranked player Serena Williams in an epic clash to reach the final of the Italian Open on Friday.
However, hopes of an all-Serbian showdown were dashed when the return to form of another previous No. 1, Ana Ivanovic, was ended by Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez in the other semifinal in Rome.
Jankovic, who won the clay tournament in 2007 and 2008, followed up her quarterfinal victory over Serena's fourth-seeded older sister Venus by triumphing 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in two and three-quarter hours.
The seventh seed fought back from 3-0 and 4-2 down to save a match-point in the deciding tie-breaker as she overcame what seemed like delaying tactics by the American when serving on a vital point.
"I was just getting ready to serve and I was serving and all of a sudden she wasn't ready," Jankovic told reporters. "For me when the server comes to play the receiver has to be ready -- that's the rules.
"But unfortunately I had to hit another serve, regroup and refocus because I didn't want to waste my energy on that."
Williams was seeking to repeat her 2002 Rome triumph in what was her first tournament since winning the Australian Open in late January, injuring her knee in doing so.
"I almost feel like I won that match. I can't be really upset, but I am," she said.
"I feel I should have won -- I could have won. But I can't beat myself up over it, I've just come back and hadn't played a match since January."
Ivanovic, who has slumped to 58th in the rankings since winning the French Open in 2008, was seeking to reach her first WTA Tour final since March 2009.
But she was unable to show the form that this week knocked out ninth seed Victoria Azarenka and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva as she was crushed 6-4 6-2 by world No. 26 Martinez-Sanchez.
Her 27-year-old opponent followed up her own upset win over world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday by reaching her third WTA Tour final.
She won minor clay tournaments in Colombia and Sweden last year, and lost in the final in Barcelona the year before.
Martinez-Sanchez has played Jankovic only twice, winning on hardcourt in 2001 when the Serbian retired hurt and losing on clay last year in the Fed Cup teams event.
|
[
"Which years did Jankovic win the tournament?",
"Who will Jankovic play next?",
"Who beat Serena?",
"Who beats world No. 1?",
"Who did Jelena Jankovic beat in a three-set epic?",
"Who is seeking to win tournament?",
"Who is looking to win tournamet for the third time?"
] |
[
"2008,",
"Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez",
"Jelena Jankovic",
"Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez",
"Serena Williams",
"Jelena Jankovic",
"Caroline Wozniacki"
] |
question: Which years did Jankovic win the tournament?, answer: 2008, | question: Who will Jankovic play next?, answer: Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez | question: Who beat Serena?, answer: Jelena Jankovic | question: Who beats world No. 1?, answer: Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez | question: Who did Jelena Jankovic beat in a three-set epic?, answer: Serena Williams | question: Who is seeking to win tournament?, answer: Jelena Jankovic | question: Who is looking to win tournamet for the third time?, answer: Caroline Wozniacki
|
(CNN) -- Former world number one Tiger Woods scored the winning point in the Presidents Cup for the second competition in a row to help the United States retain their trophy against an International team in Melbourne on Sunday.
Woods claimed a comfortable four and three success over Australian Aaron Baddeley in their singles match to send the United States past the required 17 1/2 points total needed for victory.
Despite enduring a frustrating competition prior to the final day, Woods was able to rediscover some form to replicate the winning point he achieved in San Francisco in 2009.
Golfing presidents: Putting for politics
The American side held a healthy four-point lead going into the 12 singles matches, and those were eventually split 6-6 to ensure a 19-15 win for the visiting side -- their seventh success in nine Presidents Cup events so far.
Woods told reporters: "We didn't get off to a good start early on. We needed to get our point so we went out there and played really well -- putting a lot of heat on Badds (Baddeley)."
The success completed a dominant American display over the four days, as they won both foursomes, split a fourball and narrowly lost the second fourballs sessions.
On Sunday, Woods' victory was complimented by wins for Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney, Jim Furyk, David Toms and Steve Stricker -- with Furyk the only player to finish unbeaten in his five matches.
In response to critics who believe the Americans fail to bond together in golfing team events, Furyk told the official PGA Tour website: "This stuff about how we aren't close and how we can't come together as a group, it's just not accurate.
"We will win some of these events like the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, and we'll lose some. But whatever we do, we'll always do it as a team."
He continued: "Since I've started playing in these, I've always loved them. But so do all the guys. They all care. Look at Tiger and Phil (Mickelson) in his room. Do they look like they don't care about what we just accomplished?"
|
[
"Who retained the president's cup",
"Who did tiger woods defeat",
"What year did woods provide the winner",
"Who did Tiger Woods defeat to score the winning game?",
"What was the score in Melbourne",
"What year did the U.S. win",
"What cup did the United States retain?"
] |
[
"Tiger Woods",
"Aaron Baddeley",
"2009.",
"Aaron Baddeley",
"19-15",
"2009.",
"Presidents"
] |
question: Who retained the president's cup, answer: Tiger Woods | question: Who did tiger woods defeat, answer: Aaron Baddeley | question: What year did woods provide the winner, answer: 2009. | question: Who did Tiger Woods defeat to score the winning game?, answer: Aaron Baddeley | question: What was the score in Melbourne, answer: 19-15 | question: What year did the U.S. win, answer: 2009. | question: What cup did the United States retain?, answer: Presidents
|
(CNN) -- Formula One cars are a marvel of modern engineering, so much so, that many manufactuers who compete in the sport do so in order to benefit from the technical innovations race-honed research and development creates.
Car builders such as Renault, Ferrari, BMW, Toyota and McLaren have used technology -- developed to make single-seater race cars as competitive as possible -- to enhance their road-car products.
And who can blame them if you consider the performance such a machine can deliver to a driver? The average F1 car can reach 160km/h in under six seconds according to the official Formula One Web site and have top speeds in the region of 370 km/h.
Going fast is one thing, stopping is another, and controlling such velocity requires carbon brakes which, in any given race, will have an operating temperature that is over 600 degrees Celsius.
In general, the cars weigh around 600 kilograms in race trim, including the addition of KERS that some constructors use to increase performance. This system stores energy normally lost through braking and reuses it for speed boosts during the race.
Watch out for KERS powered cars -- including the Mclarens, BMW Saubers and Renault -- using their boost as the lights go green to start this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
|
[
"how much does the car weigh",
"what temperature can the breaks operate at",
"What car can reach 160",
"What speed can a Formula One car reach in under six seconds?",
"Who much do the cars weigh in race trim?",
"Over what temperature do F1 car brakes operate?",
"what its about this topic?"
] |
[
"around 600 kilograms in race trim,",
"over 600 degrees Celsius.",
"The average F1",
"160km/h",
"around 600 kilograms",
"600 degrees Celsius.",
"KERS powered cars"
] |
question: how much does the car weigh, answer: around 600 kilograms in race trim, | question: what temperature can the breaks operate at, answer: over 600 degrees Celsius. | question: What car can reach 160, answer: The average F1 | question: What speed can a Formula One car reach in under six seconds?, answer: 160km/h | question: Who much do the cars weigh in race trim?, answer: around 600 kilograms | question: Over what temperature do F1 car brakes operate?, answer: 600 degrees Celsius. | question: what its about this topic?, answer: KERS powered cars
|
(CNN) -- Formula One's big-name drivers have spoken of their desire to put on a sporting spectacle which Japan's motorsport fans can enjoy, as the country continues to recover from their devastating earthquake earlier this year.
Japan was hit by a catastrophic quake and tsunami in March which left 27,000 people dead or missing, and F1's drivers have been telling of their continued support for the nation ahead of Sunday's race at Suzuka.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will seal a second consecutive world championship if he finishes higher than 10th in the race and the German expressed his admiration for the Japanese people.
"The fans in Japan are special," Vettel, who has won the last two grands prix in Japan, told Formula One's official website. "What they have been through in recent times is something I cannot begin to imagine, but they are so impressive.
F1 title race: Vettel on the brink
"They are extremely patient and always polite and friendly and their stamina is amazing. I hope we can put on a good show for them this weekend."
McLaren's Jenson Button is the only other driver who can still mathematically overhaul Vettel and the 2009 title winner spoke of his fondness for Japan, saying the Asian country is a home away from home.
"I consider Japan my second home," Button, 31, said. "It's a place that's very close to my heart, and, obviously, it's going to be a very emotional experience for me to be racing in Japan for the first time since the events of last March.
"I'm very proud that the Formula One world championship will put Japan on the world's sporting stage this weekend: while the country is still collectively rebuilding itself.
"I hope we can put on a great race to bring further strength to the people of Japan. And to everyone in Japan, I say: 'Ganbatte! [Japanese for good luck]'"
Button's fellow-Briton and teammate Lewis Hamilton, a world champion in 2008, praised the Suzuka circuit and described it as one of his favorite Formula One destinations.
"The Japanese Grand Prix is one of the highlights of my season," Hamilton, 26, said. "I think Suzuka will play to my strengths: it's a track that really requires you to drive in an attacking way to be able to get a good lap time.
"It's an uncompromising place. But that's when the thrill of driving a Formula One car is at its highest."
Kamui Kobayashi will be the sole Japanese racer on the grid this weekend, with the Sauber driver excited by the prospect of competing in front of his home crowd.
"I am very proud of Suzuka as this is one of the really great circuits," the 25-year-old said. "It is always really enjoyable to drive here as well. Racing here is always great and really thanks to the many fans as they are always waiting for Formula One."
|
[
"Who expressed their support for japan?",
"McLaren's Jenson Button referred to Japan as what?",
"What month was the quake?",
"Sebastian Vettel said the fans in Japan are what?",
"Where did Button refer to as a second home?",
"Who referred to japan as second home?",
"What did Sebastian Vettel say?",
"F1's drivers have expressed their support for what?"
] |
[
"Formula",
"my second home,\"",
"March",
"in",
"Japan",
"Jenson Button",
"\"The fans in Japan are special,\"",
"the nation"
] |
question: Who expressed their support for japan?, answer: Formula | question: McLaren's Jenson Button referred to Japan as what?, answer: my second home," | question: What month was the quake?, answer: March | question: Sebastian Vettel said the fans in Japan are what?, answer: in | question: Where did Button refer to as a second home?, answer: Japan | question: Who referred to japan as second home?, answer: Jenson Button | question: What did Sebastian Vettel say?, answer: "The fans in Japan are special," | question: F1's drivers have expressed their support for what?, answer: the nation
|
(CNN) -- Formula One's new Team U.S. F1 will have the financial backing of YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley -- and the video sharing Web site's chief executive expects to make a big impact in motorsport.
Chad Hurley is hoping his start-up experience can help the US F1 team become a major player.
The American, who along with co-founders Steve Chen and Jawed Karim sold YouTube to internet giant Google for $1.65 billion in 2006, has faith in the team's prospects for the 2010 season.
It is fronted by engineer Ken Anderson, formerly involved with NASCAR team Haas CNC Racing, and Peter Windsor, a journalist who has worked with F1's Ferrari and Williams.
"I believe in Ken and Peter and the team that they have put together, and I believe that we have a chance to hopefully start from a clean slate and try to build a team in a different way," Hurley told Web site Autosport.com.
Hurley started YouTube from scratch, and sees parallels with his involvement with US F1.
"The business aspect of what attracted me to US F1 is just that, that it is a start-up," he said. "And it's a very similar situation to one that would be in Silicon Valley.
"It's a small team of talented, smart individuals trying to break the mould, trying to accomplish something that others think is impossible."
However, Hurley does not expect instant success for the new franchise, which will be the only F1 outfit based outside of Europe and comes into the sport in difficult economic times when sponsors are dropping out.
"Obviously we want to be competitive," he told Autosport.com. "I know there is going to be a lot of competition -- it's going to take quite a few years to ramp up this team and get the cars into a position where we are competing for the world championship, but ultimately that's our goal.
"We're not necessarily going to get involved and be satisfied with just getting a car onto the track. Our aspirations and goals go much farther than that."
While major manufacturers have been reviewing their participation in motorsport's premium category -- Honda withdrew at the end of last year and BMW will end its association with Sauber at the end of this season -- Hurley is confident that he can find other investors to back the American team.
"I hope so, and I hope it goes beyond Silicon Valley," he said. "I am definitely going to be involved in helping the team with sponsors, helping the team with business relationships, and helping the team with integrating technology -- ways that they can leverage and benefit from social media and the Internet broadly.
"So in many ways, I hope to add benefit to the team and what they are trying to accomplish."
|
[
"What is backed by Chad Hurley?",
"Formula One's new team is backed by who?",
"who is chad hurley",
"What company did Hurley sell You Tube to?",
"Hurley sold YouTube to google in what year?",
"which team is chad hurley",
"What year was You Tube sold?",
"What does Hurley hope?"
] |
[
"Formula",
"YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley",
"YouTube co-founder",
"Google",
"2006,",
"U.S. F1",
"2006,",
"his start-up experience can help the US F1 team become a major player."
] |
question: What is backed by Chad Hurley?, answer: Formula | question: Formula One's new team is backed by who?, answer: YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley | question: who is chad hurley, answer: YouTube co-founder | question: What company did Hurley sell You Tube to?, answer: Google | question: Hurley sold YouTube to google in what year?, answer: 2006, | question: which team is chad hurley, answer: U.S. F1 | question: What year was You Tube sold?, answer: 2006, | question: What does Hurley hope?, answer: his start-up experience can help the US F1 team become a major player.
|
(CNN) -- Forty years ago this week, three men in a tiny spacecraft slipped their earthly bonds and traveled where no one else had before, circling the moon 10 times and bringing back an iconic image of a blue-and-white Earth in the distance, solitary but bound as one against the black vastness beyond.
Host Nick Clooney (left) and astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders answer questions in October.
The voyage of Apollo 8 from December 21-27, 1968, marked humans' first venture to another heavenly body.
"We were flying to the moon for the first time," said Jim Lovell, one of the three astronauts aboard the historic flight. "Seeing the far side of the moon for the first time. Coming around and seeing the Earth as it really is -- a small fragile planet with a rather normal star, our sun."
But beyond the monumental aspects of such a scientific achievement, the feat was a major psychological and emotional boost for many Americans at the end of a particularly bad year in U.S. history.
The Tet offensive in January 1968 had left many Americans shocked and doubting that victory in Vietnam was possible. In April, the Rev. Martin Luther King was assassinated, and streets throughout the nation erupted in fire and fury. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down two months later.
That summer, the nation watched in horror as police and anti-war protesters battled in the streets of Chicago during the Democratic National Convention.
The launch of Apollo 7 in October was a major victory for NASA, putting the space program back on track after a 22-month interruption because of a launch pad fire that had killed three astronauts in January 1967.
Then came Apollo 8. Gallery: Images of the Apollo 8 mission »
"Providence happened to put everything together at the end of the year to give the American public an uplift after what had been a poor year," Lovell told CNN on Monday.
Reaching the moon was "a big psychological step," said Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham.
"The public said, 'Hey, human beings are going to another body in the solar system,' " Cunningham told CNN in a telephone interview from his home in Houston, Texas.
The mission produced one of the most famous photos from the space program, showing a large chunk of gray moon in the foreground and a dappled blue-and-white, three-quarter Earth rising in the distance.
Apollo 8 also produced what to many was one of the most inspirational and soothing moments in history when Lovell and crewmates Frank Borman and William A. Anders took turns reading from the Book of Genesis. It was Christmas Eve and the whole world was watching. NASA said at the time it was expected to be the largest TV audience to date.
The astronauts signed off with these words: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a merry Christmas and God bless all of you, all of you on the good earth."
The timing could not have been better, Lovell said.
"It happened that it all jelled," he said by telephone. "The fact that we circled the moon on Christmas Eve. A screenwriter couldn't have done a better job."
The success of the mission also gave the United States a major boost in its race against the Soviet Union to see who would get to the moon first. The United States would land two men on the moon in the summer of 1969 on Apollo 11, beating the Soviets and fulfilling a goal set by former President John F. Kennedy at the beginning of the decade.
"There was a great psychological significance of sending a spacecraft to the moon," Cunningham said. "It was not a psychological leap for any of us [astronauts] to go to the moon."
The astronauts, he said, were used to taking risks and knew they could do it. But NASA officials had some tough choices to make.
"For the people on the ground, it was
|
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] |
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"Book of Genesis.",
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"December 21-27, 1968,",
"from December 21-27, 1968,",
"Apollo 8",
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"8"
] |
question: What was the reading from?, answer: Book of Genesis. | question: What ended the year in a better note?, answer: The voyage of Apollo 8 | question: What did the astronauts circle?, answer: the moon | question: When did Apollo 8 come?, answer: December 21-27, 1968, | question: What day did astronauts circle the moon?, answer: from December 21-27, 1968, | question: What team were the first to circle the moon?, answer: Apollo 8 | question: Which year was Apollo 8?, answer: 1968, | question: What apollo flight circled the moon on Christmas Eve?, answer: 8
|
(CNN) -- Forty-four people were killed during an attack on a wedding party in Turkey's southeastern Mardin province Monday.
A child lies wounded on a stretcher following the attack by gunmen on the wedding party.
The casualties, which included the bride and groom, were slain while many of them were praying, authorities said.
Three others were injured and eight people were detained in the attack sparked by a feud between families, said Besir Atalay, Interior Minister of Turkey.
There were 17 women and six children among the dead, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"It is inhuman beyond words to open fire on people including a one-year old child who were having a wedding, living a happy moment, praying," Erdogan said.
"The fact that the eight suspects and the victims who died have the same surname increases cruelty of this murder."
The assailants attacked the party in the small village of Bilge with bombs and automatic weapons, according to the Cihan news agency.
With only 32 households in the village there were too many victims to fit into the local morgue, authorities said. Some of the victims had the same last name, Celebi, as the suspects who were detained, Atalay added.
The bride, Sevgi Celebi, and groom, Habip Ari, both died in the attack, Anatolian Agency, Turkey's semi-official news agency, reported.
The chief and the former chief of the village were among those killed in the attack, the agency added.
Police have blocked access to the village while they conduct their investigation.
Mardin Mayor Besir Ayanoglu told Turkish television network NTV that the incident was not terror related.
CNN's Ivan Watson and Yesmin Comert contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who died in the attack?",
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question: Who died in the attack?, answer: people | question: Where did the attacks happen?, answer: Mardin province | question: How many women and children were among the dead?, answer: 17 | question: How many children died?, answer: six | question: What were used in the attack?, answer: bombs and automatic weapons, | question: What weapons were used?, answer: bombs and automatic | question: Which province was this in?, answer: Mardin
|
(CNN) -- Forty-three soldiers suffered heat-related illnesses Friday during a 12-mile road march at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, an Army spokesman said.
The march was the culmination of a week of "expert field medical badge training," during which soldiers are tested on their medic and general soldier skills in order to receive an "expert" badge, Fort Bragg spokesman Benjamin Abel said.
Sixty soldiers were on the march, which started at 6 a.m., and they were carrying backpacks, helmets, weapons and other combat gear, Abel said.
About an hour and a half into the march, the people running the event noticed some personnel "were having difficulties," and medical transports were begun, he said.
Eighteen of the soldiers were transported to Womack Army Medical Center, and one was admitted to the intensive care unit, he said.
Humidity levels Friday morning were higher than expected, but "this is odd, out of the norm, to have this many people treated," Abel added.
The expert field medical badge is deemed by the Army as "the utmost challenge to the professional competence and physical endurance of the soldier medic," Fort Bragg officials said in a statement earlier this week.
"It is the most sought-after peacetime award in the Army Medical Department, and while the combat medical badge is the 'portrait of courage' in wartime, the expert field medical badge is undoubtedly the 'portrait of excellence' in the Army all of the time," officials said.
"To wear the EFMB means you passed a grueling series of hands-on-tests on communications, common skill tasks, emergency medical treatment, evacuation of the sick and wounded, litter obstacle course, day/night land navigation courses, comprehensive written test, 12-mile foot march, CPR, physical fitness test, and weapons qualification," the base said.
In June 1965, the Department of the Army established the badge as a special skill award for the recognition of exceptional competence and outstanding performance by field medical personnel.
|
[
"How many soldiers were being tested?",
"What number of soldiers were being tested?",
"What proportion of them suffered heat-related illnesses?",
"What makes this badge so difficult to obtain?",
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"How many suffer from heat-related illnesses?",
"How many are in intensive care?",
"What is the name of the difficult to obtain badge?"
] |
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"Sixty",
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"heat-related illnesses",
"Forty-three",
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"expert field medical"
] |
question: How many soldiers were being tested?, answer: Sixty | question: What number of soldiers were being tested?, answer: Sixty | question: What proportion of them suffered heat-related illnesses?, answer: Forty-three | question: What makes this badge so difficult to obtain?, answer: a grueling series of hands-on-tests on communications, common skill tasks, emergency medical treatment, evacuation of the sick and wounded, litter obstacle course, day/night land navigation courses, comprehensive written test, 12-mile foot march, CPR, physical fitness test, and weapons qualification," | question: What did 43 of them suffer?, answer: heat-related illnesses | question: How many suffer from heat-related illnesses?, answer: Forty-three | question: How many are in intensive care?, answer: Eighteen | question: What is the name of the difficult to obtain badge?, answer: expert field medical
|
(CNN) -- Four British soldiers have been killed in one day in separate attacks in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defense announced Friday.
A British marine with an opium haul in Helmand province, where the four soldiers were killed.
The deaths happened in three incidents in the southern Helmand province, the ministry said.
Two soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing that happened Thursday afternoon during a patrol in Gereshk, the ministry said. One was a member of the Royal Gurkha Rifles and the other served with the Royal Military Police.
"With heavy heart we report another extremely sad situation, where lives of our courageous soldiers have been sacrificed for the greater good of the Afghan people," said Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. "Our deepest and heartfelt sympathies go to their families and loved ones and we offer our thoughts and prayers to them all at this most painful and distressing time."
Thursday evening, another soldier was killed by an explosion as he traveled in a Jackal 4x4 patrol vehicle, the ministry said. He served in the 2nd Battalion The Rifles. Watch Afghanistan's president talk on U.S. troops withdrawals »
Earlier in the day, a soldier from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland was killed by a gunshot wound, the ministry said. He had been on patrol with the Afghan National Army in the vicinity of Woqab, close to Musa Qala.
|
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question: Who died in one day?, answer: Four | question: where was the bombing, answer: Gereshk, | question: how many soldiers died, answer: Four | question: What province was it, answer: Helmand | question: Where did the deaths occur?, answer: Afghanistan, | question: where did the soldiers die, answer: Afghanistan, | question: how many incidents, answer: three | question: How many incidents were there?, answer: three
|
(CNN) -- Four Virginia men were arrested Tuesday on allegations of bribery and kickbacks in what prosecutors describe as an elaborate scheme thought to involve hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts connected to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The suspects include two long-time Corps employees charged in an alleged conspiracy involving more than $20 million in bribes and kickbacks, as well as a plan to try to steer a $780 million contract to a favored contractor, the U.S. Justice Department reported. Another of the defendants is director of contracts for a company that did business with the federal government, the Justice Department said.
Corps employees Michael Alexander, 55, and Kerry Khan, 53, as well as Khan's son, Lee, 30, and Harold Babb, 60, were all indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aiding and abetting, according to a Justice Department statement.
Both Kerry Khan and Alexander also face one count each of receipt of a bribe by a public official. If convicted, both men could each face a maximum 40-year sentence behind bars.
Babb, meanwhile, also was handed a charge related to unlawful kickbacks, and could face up to 35 years in prison. He was director of contracts at Eyak Tek, an Alaska Native-owned small business based in Dulles, Virginia.
Lee Khan, who controlled a consulting company with his father, faces a sentence of up to 25 years if convicted, according to the Justice Department.
All four men pleaded not guilty in federal court in Washington Tuesday afternoon.
Thought to have used their positions within the Corps, the elder Khan and his colleague Alexander are suspected of having funneled more than $45 million in payments by way of a federal contract that they oversaw, according to the indictment.
About $20 million in fraudulent expenses were built into those invoices, which were then diverted to all four defendants, prosecutors say..
Authorities are in the process of seizing funds in 29 bank accounts, as well as three luxury vehicles and seven high-end watches, and are pursing a forfeiture allegation against 16 real properties financed in whole or in part with proceeds from the alleged crimes, the Justice Department said..
It was not clear Tuesday whether the suspects have retained legal counsel.
|
[
"What did the defendants allegedly plan to do?",
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"What are the two defendants accused of doing?",
"What tow are suspected of using their postions to try to funnel contracts?",
"What are the two defendants employees of?",
"The two are suspecting of using their positions to do what?",
"What did the defendants allagedly plan to steer?",
"The two defendants are employees of what?"
] |
[
"steer a $780 million contract to a favored contractor,",
"Michael Alexander, 55, and Kerry Khan, 53,",
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] |
question: What did the defendants allegedly plan to do?, answer: steer a $780 million contract to a favored contractor, | question: What two defendents are employees of the Army Corps of Engineers?, answer: Michael Alexander, 55, and Kerry Khan, 53, | question: What are the two defendants accused of doing?, answer: an alleged conspiracy involving more than $20 million in bribes and kickbacks, as well as a plan to try to steer a $780 million contract to a favored contractor, | question: What tow are suspected of using their postions to try to funnel contracts?, answer: company that did business with the federal government, | question: What are the two defendants employees of?, answer: Corps | question: The two are suspecting of using their positions to do what?, answer: steer a $780 million contract to a favored contractor, | question: What did the defendants allagedly plan to steer?, answer: $780 million contract | question: The two defendants are employees of what?, answer: Corps
|
(CNN) -- Four crew members died and one was missing in the frigid waters off Alaska's Aleutian Islands after their fishing vessel sank Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
A crew member of the Alaska Ranger is taken on board the Coast Guard Cutter Munro.
The Seattle, Washington-based Alaska Ranger was in 10-foot seas and winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour when it reported water was leaking into its steering gear compartment about 2:50 a.m. Sunday.
The trawler had 47 people on board, said Chief Petty Officer Barry Lane, a Coast Guard spokesman.
Four of those had been confirmed dead by late morning, Lane said.
One person is still unaccounted for, said another Coast Guard spokesman, Lt. Eric Eggen. Watch a report from Lt. Eggen »
The 180-foot processing trawler was about 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, in the remote Aleutian Islands, when the crew reported being "overwhelmed by water" and abandoned ship, Eggen said.
Most of the crew had survival suits to protect them from water that was near-freezing, said Cmdr. Todd Trimpert, a Coast Guard spokesman. No cause of death was immediately known for the four crew members who died, but "certainly, they were in the water a long time," Trimpert said.
"Without a survival suit, generally your survival time is less than 30 minutes," he said.
The company that owned the ship, The Fishing Company of Alaska Inc., identified the four who did not survive as Captain Eric Peter Jacobsen, Chief Engineer Daniel Cook, Mate David Silveira and Crewman Byron Carrillo.
"They were incredibly brave, hard-working men," the company said. "Our hearts are broken."
A nearby ship, the Alaska Warrior, rescued 25 crew members while the Coast Guard retrieved the rest of the crew, the company said.
"We do not have sufficient information to determine why the vessel foundered," the company said. "We will do everything possible to find out what occurred with the hope that something can be learned that will be of value to the fishing community."
Amy Roman, a niece of Daniel Cook, told CNN affiliate KING-TV that her uncle "died how he wanted to.
"If you're a fisherman, you want to die out at sea," she said. "If you're a true fisherman, this is how you want to go."
Survivors were being taken aboard the Coast Guard cutter Munro. A helicopter and a C-130 transport plane were also taking part in the effort, the Coast Guard reported.
The sinking left an unknown amount of diesel fuel on the surface of the Bering Sea, Lane said.
The fishing industry is perennially among the most deadly in the United States. In 2005, 48 fishermen died, up from 38 the year before, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That made it the nation's most dangerous occupation for the year, with a fatality rate of 118.4 per 100,000 -- nearly 30 times higher than the rate of the average worker. E-mail to a friend
|
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question: Who were the crew members of?, answer: Alaska Ranger | question: What did the spokesman say?, answer: The trawler had 47 people on board, | question: What is the number of crew members that died?, answer: Four | question: Who have died?, answer: crew members | question: What was 120 miles west?, answer: The 180-foot processing trawler | question: Where was the boat?, answer: off Alaska's Aleutian Islands | question: What is the number of people still unaccounted for?, answer: One | question: Who were rescued?, answer: 25 crew members | question: Where was the Alaska Ranger based?, answer: Seattle, Washington-based
|
(CNN) -- Four days after Haiti's massive earthquake, efforts are under way to bury the dead as thousands of bodies crumpled in the streets of Port-au-Prince lay exposed to the sun or draped in sheets and cardboard.
Throughout the city, people covered their noses from the stench and some resorted to face masks. CNN correspondents in Haiti reported efforts to remove the bodies, including the creation of a mass grave. It's still unclear how many people have been killed in Tuesday's earthquake; the prime minister suggested there could be several hundreds of thousands.
CNN's Anderson Cooper, reporting Friday from a mass grave on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, described seeing hundreds of bodies mixed with garbage in open pits. Some bodies were bulldozed into the half-filled pits.
"These people will vanish," Cooper said in a phone report. "No one will know what happened to them. That's one of the many horrors.
"There's no system in place here. Literally these people here are being collected off the streets, dumped into a dump truck, then brought out here and dumped in the pits," he said.
The fear of disease is frequently the reason for rapidly burying bodies in mass graves. But contrary to popular belief, bodies do not cause epidemics after natural disasters, experts said.
"The reality is that most of the disease that live in us -- once our body is dead they can't survive very long," said Oliver Morgan, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fecal matter from the deceased could contaminate the water supply, posing a risk, but "it's nowhere near the risk of all the survivors living in the streets with no sanitation," said Morgan, who contributed to the World Health Organization's guidelines on managing bodies after a natural disaster.
There has never been an epidemic after a natural disaster that was traced to exposure to bodies, according to the WHO.
The chief priority must lie with the living, experts said.
"Body collection is not the most urgent task after a natural disaster," according to the WHO's 2006 guidance on the Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters. "The priority is to care for survivors. There is no significant public health risk associated with the presence of bodies. Nevertheless, bodies should be collected as soon as possible and taken away for identification."
Mass graves, it warned, are "not justified on public health grounds. Rushing to dispose of bodies without proper identification traumatizes families and communities and may have serious legal consequences."
"There's always talks about mass graves because that's always the easiest solution," said Frank Ciaccio, vice president of commercial services at Kenyon International Emergency Services, a disaster management company that responds to mass fatality accidents. "We don't strongly recommend them. However, sometimes in situations in very developing nations, that's the only thing to do."
In cases of mass graves, teams should at least document or photograph the individual for future identification, he said. Kenyon has deployed an emergency response assessment team to Haiti. Ciaccio was part of the crew that responded to the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004 and New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Having bodies on the street is very distressing to survivors.
"That's going to be very stressful," Ciaccio said. "It's hot temperatures and that's not a pleasant sight. There's decomposed bodies. And the hotter the weather, the quicker the decomposition."
Decomposition starts as early as the day of death, bringing stench and pests.
"When you have bodies on the street that begin to decompose, you eventually get maggot infestation because of flies and you have a potential of rats," said Vernie Fountain, the disaster task force leader of the National Funeral Directors Association.
At one of the capital city's cemeteries, people opened up old crypts and shoved corpses of quake victims into them before resealing them. Workers loaded bodies -- piled on the sides of roads --
|
[
"Who does Anderson Cooper work for?",
"What is frequently the reason for rapidly burying bodies in mass graves?",
"Who reported on a mass grave with hundreds of bodies?",
"What is the reason for rapidly burying bodies in mass graves?",
"What is not justified on public health grounds?"
] |
[
"CNN's",
"fear of disease",
"Anderson Cooper,",
"The fear of disease",
"Mass graves,"
] |
question: Who does Anderson Cooper work for?, answer: CNN's | question: What is frequently the reason for rapidly burying bodies in mass graves?, answer: fear of disease | question: Who reported on a mass grave with hundreds of bodies?, answer: Anderson Cooper, | question: What is the reason for rapidly burying bodies in mass graves?, answer: The fear of disease | question: What is not justified on public health grounds?, answer: Mass graves,
|
(CNN) -- Four days of heavy rains triggered a landslide that killed 12 children and eight adults near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, authorities said Friday.
Five of the children were under six, said Suzan Kaganda, a police department spokeswoman.
The death toll could go up as rescue crews search the area for people reported missing, Kaganda said.
Most victims of the late Tuesday landslide live in the Kilimanjaro region near the mountain by the same name, Kaganda said.
The mountain is the highest peak in Africa and is a major tourist attraction.
U.N. officials warned last month that east Africa is facing mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases as a result of heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns.
Most east African countries have been water-starved in the past few years, exacerbating the results of floods, because a lot of greenery disappeared in the drought.
|
[
"Who warned east Africa of mudslides?",
"U.N. warned east Africa is facing what?",
"What were the destruction and waterborne diseases related to?",
"which is the major tourist attraction?",
"Where did most of the victims live?"
] |
[
"U.N. officials",
"mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases",
"heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns.",
"Mount Kilimanjaro",
"in the Kilimanjaro region near the mountain"
] |
question: Who warned east Africa of mudslides?, answer: U.N. officials | question: U.N. warned east Africa is facing what?, answer: mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases | question: What were the destruction and waterborne diseases related to?, answer: heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns. | question: which is the major tourist attraction?, answer: Mount Kilimanjaro | question: Where did most of the victims live?, answer: in the Kilimanjaro region near the mountain
|
(CNN) -- Four days of heavy rains triggered a landslide that killed 12 children and eight adults near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, authorities said Friday.
Five of the children were under six, said Suzan Kaganda, a police department spokeswoman.
The death toll could go up as rescue crews search the area for people reported missing, Kaganda said.
Most victims of the late Tuesday landslide live in the Kilimanjaro region near the mountain by the same name, Kaganda said.
The mountain is the highest peak in Africa and is a major tourist attraction.
U.N. officials warned last month that east Africa is facing mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases as a result of heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns.
Most east African countries have been water-starved in the past few years, exacerbating the results of floods, because a lot of greenery disappeared in the drought.
|
[
"What did the U.N. warn east Africa?",
"Where do most victims of the landslide live?",
"East Africa is facing what?",
"Where do most of the victims live?",
"What is the highest peak in Africa?",
"What are the destruction and diseases related to?"
] |
[
"is facing mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases as a result of heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns.",
"in the Kilimanjaro region",
"mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases",
"Kilimanjaro region",
"Mount Kilimanjaro",
"heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns."
] |
question: What did the U.N. warn east Africa?, answer: is facing mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases as a result of heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns. | question: Where do most victims of the landslide live?, answer: in the Kilimanjaro region | question: East Africa is facing what?, answer: mudslides, crop destruction and waterborne diseases | question: Where do most of the victims live?, answer: Kilimanjaro region | question: What is the highest peak in Africa?, answer: Mount Kilimanjaro | question: What are the destruction and diseases related to?, answer: heavy downpour triggered by El Nino weather patterns.
|
(CNN) -- Four groups that advocate for immigrant rights said Thursday they will challenge Arizona's new immigration law, which allows police to ask anyone for proof of legal U.S. residency.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona and the National Immigration Law Center held a news conference Thursday in Phoenix to announce the legal challenge.
"The Arizona community can be assured that a vigorous and sophisticated legal challenge will be mounted, in advance of SB1070's implementation, seeking to prevent this unconstitutional and discriminatory law from ever taking effect," said Thomas A. Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, known as MALDEF.
"This law will only make the rampant racial profiling of Latinos that is already going on in Arizona much worse," said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona. "If this law were implemented, citizens would effectively have to carry 'their papers' at all times to avoid arrest. It is a low point in modern America when a state law requires police to demand documents from people on the street."
Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law last week. It goes into effect 90 days after the close of the legislative session, which has not been determined.
Brewer and others who support the law say it does not involve racial profiling or any other illegal acts.
"Racial profiling is illegal," Brewer said after signing the bill Friday. "It is illegal in America, and it's certainly illegal in Arizona."
The National Coalition Of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders said Sunday it also planned legal action.
"Our churches and pastors in Arizona are outraged about the significant threat this anti-immigrant law will have in the lives of Arizona's Latinos," said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, the group's chairman.
"This policy violates the rights of American citizens, particularly the fast-growing Latino population of Arizona, by eliminating the basic right of due process, which we are certain that the courts will agree," Rivera said.
The law requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect they're in the United States illegally. The measure makes it a state crime to live or travel through Arizona illegally.
It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them.
In addition to signing the law, Brewer also issued an executive order that requires training for local officers on how to implement the law without engaging in racial profiling or discrimination.
"This training will include what does and does not constitute reasonable suspicion that a person is not legally present in the United States," she said.
Some officials in Arizona have expressed their displeasure with the measure. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said Thursday that he is "very disappointed."
He said he is concerned that calls to boycott Arizona businesses and tourism will harm the state.
"I'm very incredulous that our state leaders -- our so-called leaders -- have allowed our state to be split when we're suffering economic hardships," Gordon told CNN.
Other critics say the bill is unconstitutional and will trample residents' civil rights.
"Quite simply, this law is a civil rights disaster and an insult to American values," said Mary Bauer, legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center. "No one in our country should be required to produce their 'papers' or demand to prove their innocence. What kind of country are we becoming?"
But a national Republican leader said Thursday that Arizona is just filling a void left by the federal government.
"I think the people of Arizona have a right to pass their laws under the 10th Amendment," House Minority Leader John Boehner said. "I think it is clearly a result of the federal government's failure to secure our border and to enforce our laws."
Gordon said the real solution is comprehensive immigration reform that would allow more immigrants to legally enter the United States.
"This law doesn't
|
[
"How many groups were there?",
"Which law are the groups challenging?",
"4 groups announce what in Phoenix?",
"Which groups announced the challenge?",
"did they say law encourages racial profiling?",
"what did the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund object?"
] |
[
"Four",
"new immigration",
"new immigration law,",
"The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona and the National Immigration Law Center",
"of Latinos that is already going on in Arizona much worse,\" said Alessandra Soler Meetze,",
"new immigration law,"
] |
question: How many groups were there?, answer: Four | question: Which law are the groups challenging?, answer: new immigration | question: 4 groups announce what in Phoenix?, answer: new immigration law, | question: Which groups announced the challenge?, answer: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona and the National Immigration Law Center | question: did they say law encourages racial profiling?, answer: of Latinos that is already going on in Arizona much worse," said Alessandra Soler Meetze, | question: what did the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund object?, answer: new immigration law,
|
(CNN) -- Four members of Florida A&M University's fabled Marching 100 band have been arrested on hazing charges, a spokeswoman for the Tallahassee college said Friday.
The charges are unrelated to the November hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.
FAMU police arrested three of the students Thursday night; the fourth turned himself in Friday morning, said Sharon Saunders, the FAMU spokeswoman.
The students -- Hakeem Birch, Brandon Benson, Anthony Mingo and Denise Bailey -- were charged with hazing five Marching 100 band members who wanted to join a group in the clarinet section known as the "Clones."
The five told police they were made to line up according to height at the start of each meeting. Then they were punched, slapped and paddled, according to the arrest warrant.
One of the students, who quit the pledging process after the first meeting, took a digital photo of the bruising on her body.
The initiation meetings, which began last September, took place at the home of Birch and Benson, the warrant said.
Champion's death prompted FAMU's board of trustees to approve a three-part plan to tackle the issue of hazing on campus. The plan includes an independent blue-ribbon panel of experts to investigate.
Trustee Belinda Reed Shannon told board members the panel would take a "forward-looking" approach at hazing on campus, and would not conflict with any current investigations into the Marching 100 band.
Champion, 26, collapsed in Orlando on a bus carrying members of the band after a November football game that included a halftime performance by the group.
Christopher Chestnut, a lawyer for Champion's family, has charged that Champion died after receiving "some dramatic blows, perhaps (having an) elevated heart rate" tied to "a hazing ritual" that took place on the bus.
Some band members have said Champion died after taking part in a rite of passage called "crossing Bus C." One member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that students "walk from the front of the bus to the back of the bus backward while the bus is full of other band members, and you get beaten until you get to the back."
No one has been charged in Champion's death; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Orange County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also launched a separate investigation into band employees, who were allegedly engaged in financial fraud.
The medical examiner's office has said Champion "collapsed and died within an hour of a hazing incident during which he suffered multiple blunt trauma blows to his body."
An autopsy conducted after his death found "extensive contusions of his chest, arms, shoulder and back," as well as "evidence of crushing of areas of subcutaneous fat," which is the fatty tissue directly under a person's skin.
An attorney for the band's director, on paid administrative leave since shortly after Champion's death, said his client issued letters of suspension and withheld scholarships "of all students whose names were provided to him once the incident was reported."
Julian White also informed campus police, attorney Chuck Hobbs said in a written statement.
"Dr. White applauds the efforts of law enforcement to arrest individuals that he suspended for hazing and hopes that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," according to the statement. "Dr. White has been the leading anti-hazing advocate on the FAMU campus for years and his legal team continues to call upon President James Ammons to fully reinstate him to his position since the original reason for termination -- failure to report hazing -- is clearly unfounded by the record evidence."
White originally had been suspended with termination scheduled for December 22, but he was subsequently placed on leave until completion of the investigation into Champion's death.
CNN's Vivian Kuo contributed to this report.
|
[
"what is not not related to the November hazing death of Robert Champion",
"What is not related to the arrest?",
"How many students were charged?",
"What are the four students charged with?",
"The college is looking into how to address what problem?",
"what was the four students are charged for"
] |
[
"five Marching 100 band members who wanted to join a group in the clarinet section known as the \"Clones.\"",
"unrelated to the November hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.",
"Four",
"hazing",
"hazing on campus.",
"hazing five Marching 100 band members who wanted to join a group in the clarinet section known as the \"Clones.\""
] |
question: what is not not related to the November hazing death of Robert Champion, answer: five Marching 100 band members who wanted to join a group in the clarinet section known as the "Clones." | question: What is not related to the arrest?, answer: unrelated to the November hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. | question: How many students were charged?, answer: Four | question: What are the four students charged with?, answer: hazing | question: The college is looking into how to address what problem?, answer: hazing on campus. | question: what was the four students are charged for, answer: hazing five Marching 100 band members who wanted to join a group in the clarinet section known as the "Clones."
|
(CNN) -- Four men accused of involvement in a foiled terrorist plot against Western targets went on trial Wednesday in Germany.
Fritz Gelowicz appears in court on April 22 in Dusseldorf, northern Germany.
Three of the men -- two Germans and a Turk -- were arrested in September 2007. Authorities said they had begun mixing a huge amount of explosive material that could have resulted in a strong blast, bigger than the attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005.
The three -- Fritz Gelowicz, Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz -- are charged with membership in foreign and domestic terrorist groups, preparation of explosives, plotting to murder, and plotting to commit a crime using explosives, the court said.
Schneider is also accused of attempted murder, the court said.
The fourth person, identified in German media reports as Attila Selek, is a German citizen of Turkish descent. The German magazine Der Spiegel said prosecutors are still searching for a fifth man they believe played a central role in the alleged plot.
The trial is taking place at the Higher Regional Court in the northern city of Dusseldorf.
When Gelowicz, Schneider and Yilmaz were arrested, they were found with sophisticated and difficult-to-obtain detonators, authorities with knowledge of the arrests have said.
U.S. interests in Germany were among the targets of the plot, Michael Chertoff, who was the U.S. homeland security secretary, said at the time.
Gelowicz and Schneider are Germans who converted to Islam. Gelowicz was a leading member of a radical Islamist center in Ulm in southern Germany and was well known to German authorities, officials said.
The trial could last up to two years, Der Spiegel reported. The trial's paperwork reportedly fills some 530 folders and the prosecution plans to call 219 witnesses, the magazine said.
A little-known Uzbek militant group, the Islamic Jihad Union, claimed responsibility for the plot days after the arrests. It said the intention was to target both U.S. and Uzbek targets, said German Interior Ministry spokesman Christian Sachs.
German authorities had said the three men trained at the group's camps in northern Pakistan.
The group said it wanted to target the United States' Ramstein Air Base and other U.S. and Uzbek military and diplomatic installations in Germany, Sachs said.
Another of the group's goals, he said, was to force Germany to stop using an air base in Uzbekistan as a stopover point for moving equipment and personnel into and out of northern Afghanistan.
The group is believed to have ties to al Qaeda.
The Islamic Jihad Union was unknown until April 2004, when it conducted a series of suicide bombings in Uzbekistan, killing 47 people, according to the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, a non-profit organization funded by the Department of Homeland Security.
|
[
"what were among the targets?",
"what group claimed responsibility for the plot",
"What group claimed responsibility?",
"what men have been preparing for a huge amount of explosives",
"Who was among the targets of the plot?",
"Who prepared a large amount of explosive material?",
"what could have caused a big blast?",
"what could have caused a bigger blast than the attacks"
] |
[
"U.S. interests in Germany",
"Islamic Jihad Union,",
"Islamic Jihad Union,",
"Fritz Gelowicz, Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz",
"U.S. interests in Germany",
"Fritz Gelowicz, Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz",
"mixing a huge amount of explosive material",
"a huge amount of explosive material"
] |
question: what were among the targets?, answer: U.S. interests in Germany | question: what group claimed responsibility for the plot, answer: Islamic Jihad Union, | question: What group claimed responsibility?, answer: Islamic Jihad Union, | question: what men have been preparing for a huge amount of explosives, answer: Fritz Gelowicz, Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz | question: Who was among the targets of the plot?, answer: U.S. interests in Germany | question: Who prepared a large amount of explosive material?, answer: Fritz Gelowicz, Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz | question: what could have caused a big blast?, answer: mixing a huge amount of explosive material | question: what could have caused a bigger blast than the attacks, answer: a huge amount of explosive material
|
(CNN) -- Four minor boys are facing felony assault charges after a 13-year-old boy accused them of sexually assaulting him in the locker room of a Tampa, Florida, middle school, authorities said Friday.
The alleged victim told school officials he was assaulted with a broomstick and hockey stick at Walker Middle School, in southern Tampa, on April 30, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
Linda Cobbe with Hillsborough County Schools said police were contacted Wednesday afternoon after the boy reported the incident.
The four teenagers, 14 and 15 years old, were arrested at school Wednesday and charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment, the sheriff's office said. The victim said two boys held him down on the ground while the other two sexually assaulted him, the sheriff's office said.
The alleged victim had been "continually picked on and harassed by the suspects" before the incident, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
All four suspects have been suspended from school, Cobbe said.
On Thursday, the school's principal, Kathleen Hoffman, contacted students' parents through a recorded message, telling them the four would not be allowed to return to school "unless their legal issues are resolved."
Cobbe said the 13-year-old is back in classes at the school.
CNN's John Couwels contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who said he was assualted?",
"what age is the boy",
"who was suspended from school",
"What are the ages of the teens?",
"Where do the teens face charges?",
"Where was the 13-year-old boy assaulted?",
"Who has been suspended?",
"who faces felony charges",
"All four suspects have been what?"
] |
[
"a 13-year-old boy",
"13-year-old",
"All four suspects",
"14 and 15 years",
"Tampa, Florida,",
"in the locker room of a Tampa, Florida, middle school,",
"All four suspects",
"four teenagers, 14 and 15 years old,",
"suspended from school,"
] |
question: Who said he was assualted?, answer: a 13-year-old boy | question: what age is the boy, answer: 13-year-old | question: who was suspended from school, answer: All four suspects | question: What are the ages of the teens?, answer: 14 and 15 years | question: Where do the teens face charges?, answer: Tampa, Florida, | question: Where was the 13-year-old boy assaulted?, answer: in the locker room of a Tampa, Florida, middle school, | question: Who has been suspended?, answer: All four suspects | question: who faces felony charges, answer: four teenagers, 14 and 15 years old, | question: All four suspects have been what?, answer: suspended from school,
|
(CNN) -- Four months after he was escorted in his pajamas onto a military plane and flown out of the country, ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya could return to power within days, analysts said Friday.
Negotiators for Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti, the politician who was appointed president hours after Zelaya's June 28 removal, reached an agreement late Thursday to form a government of national reconciliation. The nation's congress, in consultation with the supreme court, must approve Zelaya's return to power.
The reconciliation government would rule until a new president, to be chosen in November 29 elections, takes office in January.
Micheletti announced the agreement in a televised speech to the nation Thursday night.
Zelaya said Friday his return to the presidency is "imminent" and should occur within days. He has been staying at the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, since secretly returning to the country September 21.
"At this moment we are trying to reach a consensus so we can reconstruct democracy," he told CNN en Español on Friday.
Although Zelaya's return to the presidency is not guaranteed in the eight-point pact, several analysts say they expect the congress will approve the measure.
"If Micheletti came forward with a public announcement, the odds of this being approved by congress are pretty good. It's a done deal," said Kevin Casas-Zamora, a senior foreign policy fellow at the non-partisan Brookings Institution and a former vice president of Costa Rica. "It would be a horrible letdown if congress did not approve the agreement."
Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue policy institute, also believes "they'll go ahead and vote for it."
Said Larry Birns, director of the liberal Council on Hemispheric Affairs: "There seems to be no other way."
The United States played a key role in the accord after weeks of stalemate. Thomas Shannon, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, and two other high-level U.S. officials arrived Wednesday and met separately with Zelaya and Micheletti. An agreement appeared possible Thursday when Shannon announced at a news conference that the U.S. delegation would stay another day.
A delegation from the Organization of American States had visited Honduras in early October but failed to obtain an agreement. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias had held consultations with both sides but did not get them to agree on a solution.
The OAS, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States condemned the military-backed coup and demanded that Zelaya be reinstated. The United States and others imposed economic sanctions, which some analysts say have started to hurt Honduras.
"The dark secret here is that the Honduran economy has been devastated," Birns said. "Huge numbers of Hondurans have crossed over into Mexico and are desperate for jobs."
Crumbling economic conditions left Micheletti little choice, Birns said.
"All along Micheletti was holding a diminishing deck," he said. "Not only the poor were being hurt. The cutoffs were hurting the nation's economic elite. So there was a very strong economic motive to reach a solution."
There also was a strong political motive, Hakim said.
"The candidates for president, the people looking forward, wanted to see the elections on November 29 as being legitimate," he said.
Birns agreed that "the candidates wanted a resolution because of legitimacy."
The United States and many other nations had said the elections would be considered illegitimate if held under Micheletti's rule.
"By far, the most important thing right now is not whether Zelaya will be reinstated, but that the U.S. is going to recognize the elections," said Heather Berkman, a Latin America analyst with the Eurasia Group consulting firm.
"The next president will be able to receive diplomatic recognition and much-needed access to international aid and financing, which will be crucial given the weakness of the economy and the fact that the government is running out of money," she said.
Zelaya also appeared to have little choice but to accept the pact,
|
[
"Who could be reinstated?",
"Did the negotiators reach a deal?",
"Who is Manuel Zelaya replaced with?",
"For whom do the negotiators work?",
"Manuel Zelaya is the president of what country?"
] |
[
"Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya",
"reached an agreement late Thursday to form a government of national reconciliation.",
"Roberto Micheletti,",
"Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti,",
"Honduran"
] |
question: Who could be reinstated?, answer: Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya | question: Did the negotiators reach a deal?, answer: reached an agreement late Thursday to form a government of national reconciliation. | question: Who is Manuel Zelaya replaced with?, answer: Roberto Micheletti, | question: For whom do the negotiators work?, answer: Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti, | question: Manuel Zelaya is the president of what country?, answer: Honduran
|
(CNN) -- Four of O.J. Simpson's accomplices in the 2007 robbery at a Las Vegas hotel were given suspended sentences Tuesday by Nevada District Judge Jackie Glass.
District Court Judge Jackie Glass sentenced four O.J. Simpson codefendants to probation on Tuesday.
The four -- Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander -- all turned on Simpson and cooperated in the case against him.
Simpson was sentenced last week to at least nine and as many as 33 years in prison in the case. Glass called him "arrogant" and "ignorant."
Before announcing the suspended sentences Tuesday, Glass said the actions of Cashmore, Erlich, McClinton and Alexander were "stupid but also criminal" when they accompanied the former football star to the Palace Station Hotel and Casino on September 13, 2007.
But she praised them for taking responsibility for their actions and for cooperating with the state's case against Simpson.
Should they violate the terms of their probation, the four could face prison time ranging from 12 months to 84 months, depending on the specific charges against them.
The four apologized to the state and the victims in the case before their sentences were read in court Tuesday.
Simpson, a former Heisman Trophy winner and record-setting NFL running back, had enlisted the help of Cashmore, Erlich, McClinton and Alexander, along with Clarence "C.J." Stewart, in an effort to get sports memorabilia items that Simpson claimed belong to him from dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley.
The six men confronted the dealers in a hotel room, brandishing weapons but not firing them.
Stewart received a sentence similar to Simpson's but will be eligible for parole in 7½ years. Watch how Simpson's conviction came down »
Glass ordered Fromong removed from the courtroom Tuesday after he made a comment during the sentencing of McClinton, who admitted brandishing a gun in the hotel room.
Glass still has to decide restitution in the case a schedule a hearing on that for Friday morning.
The four men sentenced Tuesday walked meekly from the courtroom to report to law enforcement officials and get details on their probation.
On Friday, Simpson was led from the courtroom in shackles. He'll remain jailed while an appeal is pending.
|
[
"How long are the prison terms they could face?",
"Who is in court?",
"How many accompanied Simpson?",
"Who accompanied Simpson and another man in robbery?",
"Number of people that accompanied Simpson during robbery?",
"What is going to be the sentence?",
"What did they rob?",
"Names of the four accomplices of OJ Simpson?",
"What is the judge still deciding in the case?",
"What must the judge in the case decide?",
"What must the judge still decide?",
"Who all is in court?"
] |
[
"12 months to 84 months,",
"Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander",
"Four",
"Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton",
"Four",
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"Las Vegas hotel",
"Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander",
"restitution",
"restitution",
"restitution",
"Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton"
] |
question: How long are the prison terms they could face?, answer: 12 months to 84 months, | question: Who is in court?, answer: Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander | question: How many accompanied Simpson?, answer: Four | question: Who accompanied Simpson and another man in robbery?, answer: Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton | question: Number of people that accompanied Simpson during robbery?, answer: Four | question: What is going to be the sentence?, answer: suspended | question: What did they rob?, answer: Las Vegas hotel | question: Names of the four accomplices of OJ Simpson?, answer: Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander | question: What is the judge still deciding in the case?, answer: restitution | question: What must the judge in the case decide?, answer: restitution | question: What must the judge still decide?, answer: restitution | question: Who all is in court?, answer: Charles Cashmore, Charles Erlich, Michael McClinton
|
(CNN) -- Four people died and another three were missing Monday after two avalanches in the Swiss Alps, Bern police said.
The avalanches occurred at 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET) and about noon Sunday in the Diemtigen Valley, 34 miles (55 km) south of Bern, said Thomas Jauch, a spokesman for police in Bern County.
In the first incident an avalanche buried one person who was with a party of eight cross-country skiers, Jauch said.
A nearby party of 25 skiers joined in the search and a physician, who was a member of a ski rescue team, was dropped into the area by one of two helicopters called in to help. As they were searching for the missing skier, a second avalanche buried 10 to 12 of them, Jauch said.
Nine were found alive, one was dead, he said. Three of the survivors died later in hospital, he added.
The doctor was among the dead, he said. It was not clear whether the original skier who was buried was among the survivors.
"It was not a high-risk day; not a high-risk situation," Jauch said.
Search efforts were suspended Monday because of the weather in the mountains. "There could be another avalanche," the police spokesman said.
|
[
"How many people were buried alive in the first avalanche?",
"Where did the avalanches occur on Sunday?",
"How many were buried in the second avalanche?",
"When did the event happen?",
"What happened to the party?",
"How many were buried?"
] |
[
"one person",
"Swiss Alps,",
"10 to 12",
"at 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET)",
"avalanche buried one person",
"one"
] |
question: How many people were buried alive in the first avalanche?, answer: one person | question: Where did the avalanches occur on Sunday?, answer: Swiss Alps, | question: How many were buried in the second avalanche?, answer: 10 to 12 | question: When did the event happen?, answer: at 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET) | question: What happened to the party?, answer: avalanche buried one person | question: How many were buried?, answer: one
|
(CNN) -- Four people, including a 12-year-old, died when an Amtrak train hit their car in Hardeeville, South Carolina, an official said Tuesday.
The accident occurred Monday night near the South Carolina-Georgia state line, not far from the intersection of South Carolina 46 and U.S. 17.
"It appears that the vehicle tried to go around the gate arms ... to beat the train across the tracks," said Ted Felder, Hardeeville's interim city manager.
The Jasper County, South Carolina, coroner has not released the names of the dead.
The car became wedged onto the front of the southbound train, which pushed it for a mile down the track, Felder said. The Hardeeville Fire Department received a call shortly before 9 p.m. ET Monday, but teams from various agencies reportedly were unable to detach the car until about midnight.
Felder said no one on the train was injured, and once the car was detached, a bus took passengers to the Amtrak station in Savannah, Georgia.
The train was en route from Charleston, South Carolina, to Savannah when the crash occurred.
|
[
"Who were killed?",
"How many were killed?",
"Were any passengers injured?",
"What hit the car?",
"Where did this happen?",
"Where was the car hit?",
"Where did the train crash?",
"How many were killed in the car?"
] |
[
"Four",
"people,",
"no one",
"Amtrak train",
"Hardeeville,",
"in Hardeeville,",
"South Carolina,",
"people,"
] |
question: Who were killed?, answer: Four | question: How many were killed?, answer: people, | question: Were any passengers injured?, answer: no one | question: What hit the car?, answer: Amtrak train | question: Where did this happen?, answer: Hardeeville, | question: Where was the car hit?, answer: in Hardeeville, | question: Where did the train crash?, answer: South Carolina, | question: How many were killed in the car?, answer: people,
|
(CNN) -- Four police officers fatally shot in a Washington coffee shop last month were "the best of who we can be," Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire told thousands of people gathered at the officers' memorial service on Tuesday.
Nearly 20,000 people -- mostly police officers from across the United States and Canada -- attended the service in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, CNN affiliate KIRO reported.
"Sgt. Mark Renninger [and] officers Tina Griswold, Ron Owens and Greg Richards were the best of who we can be: Dedicated leaders and citizens who cared for their community," Gregoire said at the service.
The Lakewood police officers -- Renninger, 39; Griswold, 40; Owens, 37; and Richards, 42 -- were fatally shot November 29 in a coffee shop near Lakewood by an Arkansas parolee with a lengthy criminal history, police said.
The suspect, Maurice Clemmons, 37, was shot dead by a Seattle, Washington, police officer two days later after a manhunt that stretched across the Seattle and Tacoma areas.
Before the service Tuesday, a procession of thousands of police vehicles went from McChord Air Force Base to the Tacoma Dome, taking several hours to complete, KIRO reported. In the dome, colleagues and relatives took to the podium to recall the fallen officers, each of whom had children.
KIRO: Local coverage of memorial
Renninger was recalled as a dedicated SWAT member who loved NASCAR. Owens and Griswold were remembered for their love of motorcycle rides, and Richards for jamming with a band.
"If these officers were here this afternoon, to an officer they would tell you, 'On November 29, I was doing my duty.' And there is no higher calling than to do one's duty, and they served well," Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson said.
Five people, including a man who identified himself as Clemmons' half-brother and neighbor, have been charged on suspicion of helping Clemmons elude police after the shooting, according to court documents.
|
[
"When were the officers fatally shot?",
"How many people attended?",
"What was held in Tacoma?",
"Officers were fatally shot where?",
"What did the mayor say?",
"Memorial will be held where?"
] |
[
"last month",
"Nearly 20,000",
"service",
"in a coffee shop near Lakewood",
"\"If these officers were here this afternoon, to an officer they would tell you, 'On November 29, I was doing my duty.' And there is no higher calling than to do one's duty, and they served well,\"",
"Tacoma Dome"
] |
question: When were the officers fatally shot?, answer: last month | question: How many people attended?, answer: Nearly 20,000 | question: What was held in Tacoma?, answer: service | question: Officers were fatally shot where?, answer: in a coffee shop near Lakewood | question: What did the mayor say?, answer: "If these officers were here this afternoon, to an officer they would tell you, 'On November 29, I was doing my duty.' And there is no higher calling than to do one's duty, and they served well," | question: Memorial will be held where?, answer: Tacoma Dome
|
(CNN) -- Four survivors of the US Airways Flight 1549 that went down in the Hudson River appeared on "Larry King Live" Thursday to discuss a recording of the pilot calmly telling an air traffic controller the plane would ditch.
Carl Bazarian, clockwise from left, Vince Spera, Alberto Panero and Brad Wentzell appeared on "Larry King Live."
"We're gonna be in the Hudson," pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger radioed on January 15, about three and a half minutes after the Airbus A320 took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration released the recording on Thursday, a day after the National Transportation Safety Board said both the plane's engines contained the remains of birds.
Larry King: Carl, what goes through you when you hear the recording, especially the calmness?
Carl Bazarian, survivor: You know, to me -- my son played it for me this morning. I found it incredibly stressful and sobering that we were so close to death. And that's the bad side. And I'm really not keen on hearing it too many more times. But on the other side, it's exhilarating. Again, we were blessed with the best feat in aviation, with the best pilot and co-pilot. That's all I can say.
King: Vince, what goes through your mind?
Vince Spera, survivor: Larry, the entire conversation that you hear going back and forth is just indicative of how the entire cabin was. It was calm, controlled, but tense. That's really what that conversation started to sound like to me. Listen to pilot's communication with flight controller »
King: Alberto?
Alberto Panero, survivor: It's filling in pieces to the puzzle. While everything was going on in the plane, we didn't have much information of what was going on actually. So hearing this now kind of fits into the puzzle, where we see where I was at the point when everything was happening in the plane.
King: Brad?
Brad Wentzell, survivor: It's an amazing thing to hear, not only from our perspective, when we were basically going for a ride, but to hear from the man who -- just him and the Good Lord had our lives in his hand.
King: How do you feel, Carl -- you'll see the whole crew with us Tuesday night -- when you hear the captain talk?
Bazarian: First thing, he's very honest about it. But I don't know how -- we all had disbelief. It was all surreal. How then he was so energized to exhibit the highest professionalism. I think it's an incredible aviation feat. And my fellow friends, they will comment. But how did he get that composure? Watch survivors react to hearing the tape »
We were all panicky. Not panicky, I think Vince is right. We were kind of cool, but concerned, overly concerned. How did he regain himself and do what he did? I don't know how he did it.
King: Vince, were there a lot of moments, Vince, when you thought you bought it?
Spera: Actually, no. There was never a point in time when I thought I was going to die. Obviously, I think the way the people in the cabin behaved contributed to my feeling that way. It was just a lot of control. We felt like the pilot was in control. Obviously, it all worked out. At no point did I feel like I was going to die. I'm very happy to hear the captain truly didn't feel that way either.
King: Alberto, how about when it hit the water? Did you think you were going to go under?
Panero: No. I think as soon as we hit the water, we realized that the worst was over and the most important thing was to get out as soon as possible, making sure that the doors got open quickly and that everybody stayed calm and tried to exit as calmly
|
[
"What pilot dealt with an emergency?",
"How many survivors reacted to the recording?",
"What was the pilot doing on the recording?",
"How many survived Flight 1549?",
"What did the survivors of Flight 1549 listen to?",
"At least, how many survived the crash of Flight 1549?",
"What flight crashed?"
] |
[
"Chesley B. \"Sully\" Sullenberger",
"Four",
"calmly telling an air traffic controller the plane would ditch.",
"Four",
"a recording of the pilot calmly telling an air traffic controller the plane would ditch.",
"Four",
"1549"
] |
question: What pilot dealt with an emergency?, answer: Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger | question: How many survivors reacted to the recording?, answer: Four | question: What was the pilot doing on the recording?, answer: calmly telling an air traffic controller the plane would ditch. | question: How many survived Flight 1549?, answer: Four | question: What did the survivors of Flight 1549 listen to?, answer: a recording of the pilot calmly telling an air traffic controller the plane would ditch. | question: At least, how many survived the crash of Flight 1549?, answer: Four | question: What flight crashed?, answer: 1549
|
(CNN) -- Four suspects are sought in connection with the shooting death over the weekend of a Houston, Texas, doctor, Austin County authorities said Monday.
Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales was found shot to death at his ranch in rural Texas on Saturday, police say.
Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzalez, 56, was chief of the critical care section at Houston's Methodist Hospital and "a pulmonary medicine leader," according to the hospital system's Web site.
He was found dead Saturday when deputies responded to a 911 call of a burglary in progress shortly after noon, said Austin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Paul Faircloth.
The responding officer was met by vehicles leaving the location, Faircloth said, and a person in one vehicle fired on the officer. The officer and his car were not struck, and the officer did not return fire, Faircloth said. The officer was able to provide a detailed description of the vehicles, he said.
At the home, which Faircloth said is in a rural, wooded and isolated area, officers found Gonzalez shot to death and another person wounded. The second victim was airlifted to an Austin, Texas, hospital. Watch Dr. Gonzalez's son talk about his father »
Gonzalez's wife and small child were found unharmed inside the home, Faircloth said. CNN affiliate KHOU identified the woman as Charleen Gonzalez, 29, and the couple's 2-year-old son, and reported the two hid in a closet.
Authorities do not know whether the incident was a burglary or an intended home invasion, Faircloth said, and "we do not know if this is random or targeted." Several leads were being followed Monday morning, he said, and numerous agencies were involved in the investigation. The motive for the killing had not been determined on Monday.
The slaying took place at Gonzalez's ranch outside Bellville, Texas, said Lisa Block, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Gonzalez, his wife and child arrived at the ranch about 11 a.m. Saturday, she said, and "the suspects were at the house when they arrived." Gonzalez's wife ran inside with the child and called 911, she said.
Ranch worker Noel Galvan was the second victim, Block said. He was listed in critical condition, she said.
Faircloth said earlier Monday five suspects were being sought, but later said police were seeking four.
The vehicles seen leaving the home were a late '90s white Ford F-150 pickup, occupied by two Hispanic males, Faircloth said, and a red Honda or Acura with dark tinted windows sitting low to the ground, with one Hispanic male inside. The shots were fired from the white pickup, he said.
Another vehicle mentioned earlier Monday was a two-toned silver and black Ford F-150 that had two Hispanic males inside. Faircloth said Monday afternoon that vehicle had been located and was not thought to be involved.
However, police released a video of a gray Lexus on Monday, and would like to question its owners, Faircloth said. The drivers are believed to be an older couple. The car was seen before the officer encountered the white and red vehicles.
"The manhunt continues on the ground," Faircloth said. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous, he said.
Faircloth said he had no information on whether the home had surveillance equipment.
Family members told KHOU that Gonzalez went to the ranch nearly every weekend.
"It's deeply saddening for all of us," an older son of Gonzalez, Juan Mauricio Gonzalez, told KHOU. "We are a tight-knit family and he was just a perfect man, a perfect father and a great physician."
The Methodist Hospital System said Gonzalez will be missed, "both as a friend and an outstanding clinician and researcher. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family during this tragedy."
"This man had nothing to do with anybody," Juan Gonzalez told KHOU. "He was a peaceful man. He was a wise man. He was just here to make people better and nothing else."
|
[
"Who was at the doctor's house?",
"What did police find?",
"Who was hiding in the closet when the police arrived?",
"Who did the police find shot?",
"What was the crime?",
"What did police respond to?",
"Who was shot to death?"
] |
[
"Gonzalez's wife and small child",
"Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales was found shot to death at his ranch in rural Texas",
"Charleen Gonzalez, 29, and the couple's 2-year-old son,",
"Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales",
"burglary or an intended home invasion,",
"911 call of a burglary in progress",
"Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales"
] |
question: Who was at the doctor's house?, answer: Gonzalez's wife and small child | question: What did police find?, answer: Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales was found shot to death at his ranch in rural Texas | question: Who was hiding in the closet when the police arrived?, answer: Charleen Gonzalez, 29, and the couple's 2-year-old son, | question: Who did the police find shot?, answer: Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales | question: What was the crime?, answer: burglary or an intended home invasion, | question: What did police respond to?, answer: 911 call of a burglary in progress | question: Who was shot to death?, answer: Dr. Jorge Mario Gonzales
|
(CNN) -- Four years ago, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kissed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the cheek before he was sworn in as Iran's new leader.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be in for a rocky second term as Iranian president, analysts say.
Song and prayer heralded a new start for Iran with the hard-line Tehran mayor, virtually unknown to the outside world in 2005. He promised to stamp out corruption and fight for justice.
With time, the world came to know the Iranian leader with his signature beige jacket and combative -- often anti-Israeli -- rhetoric.
Monday, Iran's supreme leader endorsed Ahmadinejad for a second term in office, but there was no hug or kiss this time around. Video from the event shows Ahmadinejad leaning toward Khamenei before the supreme leader raises his left hand to block him, leaving Ahmadinejad to gingerly kiss the cleric's robe.
The awkward scene seemed to only bolster the tensions that have emerged in the once strong relationship.
Under Iran's constitution, the incoming president must receive the supreme leader's approval before being sworn into office. Khamenei's endorsement is the first step in that process.
On Wednesday, Ahmadinejad will take the oath of office before Parliament. But he will begin his second term in a deeply fractured Iran, one in which the conservative leader finds himself under assault from the legions of pro-democracy supporters and the nation's powerful clerical establishment.
Given the unprecedented fissures in Iranian society, some longtime scholars and observers now doubt whether Ahmadinejad will finish his second term in office. Some question whether the clerical establishment will sacrifice him in order to save the Islamic republic.
Ahmadinejad's main political problem is "legitimacy," said Alex Vatanka, senior Middle East analyst at IHS Jane's, a provider of defense and security information.
"Can you operate for four years with huge questions over whether you are the rightful president?" Vatanka said. "I think that would undermine everything he does."
Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's June 12 election, but thousands took to the streets in the aftermath to protest what they believed was a rigged vote. They chanted the name of Ahmadinejad's chief rival, reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi, the crowds a sea of green, the color of the opposition candidate's campaign.
Since then, widespread demonstrations have plagued Iran's leaders, who have ordered security forces to crack down swiftly and violently. Iranians have been arrested and jailed, their treatment condemned by global human rights organizations such as Amnesty International.
Khamenei stood by his president, but strains in the relationship have surfaced in recent days after Ahmadinejad refused at first to heed the supreme leader's orders to change a controversial vice-presidential pick.
Iran's clerics have made it known they would like Ahmadinejad "to remain a powerful and popular president" and reminded Iran that the supreme leader's word is the last one in the Islamic Republic.
On the eve of his inauguration, Ahmadinejad sought to downplay any rift. In a public address, he compared his relationship with Khamenei to that of a father and son.
But Kazem Alamdari, lecturer in sociology at California State University, Northridge, said Ahmadinejad has alienated the clerics just as he has the reformists.
Alamdari said Ahmadinejad risks losing conservative supporters who may feel that Iran's system has been placed in danger and that the situation has "created an atmosphere for external forces to attack Iran."
If convinced the system is truly threatened, Khamenei could use his power to dismiss Ahmadinejad, Alamdari said. It wouldn't be the first time a supreme leader has made such a move.
The Islamic Society of Engineers, a conservative group and ally of Ahmadinejad, in a statement warned that he could suffer the same fate as Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq. He lost the support of the clerics, consequently the people, and eventually was deposed in a 1953 CIA-backed coup.
Iran's first president after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, was forced to flee the country after he stood against the clerics, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
|
[
"Who is Ahmadinejad?",
"The leader must have the support of who to stay in office?",
"What does the analyst say?",
"Who protested the election result?",
"Who is running for a second term as Iran president?",
"What was Ahmadinejad to be sworn in as?",
"Who is slated to be sworn in?"
] |
[
"Iran's new leader.",
"the incoming president",
"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be in for a rocky second term as Iranian president,",
"thousands",
"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad",
"Iran's new leader.",
"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad"
] |
question: Who is Ahmadinejad?, answer: Iran's new leader. | question: The leader must have the support of who to stay in office?, answer: the incoming president | question: What does the analyst say?, answer: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be in for a rocky second term as Iranian president, | question: Who protested the election result?, answer: thousands | question: Who is running for a second term as Iran president?, answer: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | question: What was Ahmadinejad to be sworn in as?, answer: Iran's new leader. | question: Who is slated to be sworn in?, answer: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
|
(CNN) -- Four years ago, if someone said "Robert Pattinson" or "Taylor Lautner" to you, nine out of 10 people would have shrugged their shoulders and said "Who?"
Now, they're pretty much among the most wanted and talked-about actors in Hollywood -- and it's all thanks to the whopping success of the "Twilight" franchise. And while the "Breaking Dawn" films will mark the end of that series, nearly everyone in the know has pegged "The Hunger Games" as the next "Twilight."
So, take note of these names: Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth -- the next young megastars who will face the gift and curse of instant Hollywood fame. As the two male leads in "Hunger," their careers will receive an instant injection of megawatt star power and credibility, they'll be remarkably wealthy and among the A-list ... but they'll also be scrutinized and trailed by the paparazzi and media everywhere they go.
That's the trade-off these days, where any form of success or notoriety means everything in your life is now fair game -- chum in the water for the media sharks. Most actors and Hollywood stars gradually work their way up the ladder, but with the cult teen followings of "Twilight" and "Hunger" -- and both series' decisions to go with less-than-well-known names as the leads (save for Jennifer Lawrence in "Games") -- the transition from working actor to on-the-cover-of-everything can be a tough one to swallow.
Thankfully for Hutcherson and Hemsworth, they have co-stars, girlfriends (Hemsworth has been dating Miley Cyrus on and off, and Hutcherson was linked to Vanessa Hudgens) friends and past co-workers who can help steer them through the blinding headlights of fame that are bearing down on them.
Their "Hunger" co-star Lawrence experienced the same instant rise last year when she was nominated for an Oscar for her turn in "Winter's Bone." She went from relatively unknown actress to hot-new during awards season and will surely serve as a fame coach for her male counterparts.
She recently opined on her methodology for avoiding the pitfalls of fame in a Washington Post interview, saying: "As long as you remember what you're here for -- you're here for the work, you're here to make a film. ... There seems to be some very bizarre habit where as soon as you become big and famous, you think that you don't have to work anymore. And it's just such a weird trend that I'm starting to see. But I run into grounded people all the time. Given, most of them are behind the camera. But I definitely by no means think I'm the only one."
So with that mindset, what can Josh and Liam do to stay (relatively) grounded once they become the next big things? Here's a good checklist.
1. Choose wisely: This should apply to every aspect of your life, from who you surround yourself with and who you date, to what movies you are thinking of tackling. All of the minutiae of your life is now in full view, and a certain portion of the media loves nothing more than to exploit every misstep. Take a look to your left or right the next time you're in a business meeting or out with friends and ask yourself: "Is this person here for me, or for their own benefit?"
2. Stay (somewhat) private: We've already discussed the nosy media, but now with Twitter and other social media, celebrities can live out every action, thought and event in real time for all of the world to see. Sure, it's a great promotional vehicle, but it's one more trap that is 100% avoidable. Don't want your Twitter account hacked where someone posts nasty things in your name? Well, don't have a Twitter account. If you keep access to yourself somewhat limited, when you do actually have something to say
|
[
"Who will see instant Hollywood fame after \"The Hunger Games\"?",
"who will see instant Hollywood fame?",
"who is hutcherson",
"Any form of what means everything in your life is fair game?",
"who was nominated for an Oscar?",
"who experienced an instant rise to fame?"
] |
[
"Liam Hemsworth",
"Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth",
"next young megastars",
"success or notoriety",
"Lawrence",
"\"Taylor Lautner\""
] |
question: Who will see instant Hollywood fame after "The Hunger Games"?, answer: Liam Hemsworth | question: who will see instant Hollywood fame?, answer: Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth | question: who is hutcherson, answer: next young megastars | question: Any form of what means everything in your life is fair game?, answer: success or notoriety | question: who was nominated for an Oscar?, answer: Lawrence | question: who experienced an instant rise to fame?, answer: "Taylor Lautner"
|
(CNN) -- Fourteen alleged members of the Gambino crime family have been indicted on charges including murder, racketeering, prostitution of minors and trying to locate and intimidate a sequestered jury, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Manhattan, New York, said Tuesday.
"Today, the Gambino family has lost one of its leaders, and many of its rising stars have now fallen," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. "We will continue to work with our partners at the FBI to eradicate the mafia and to keep organized crime from victimizing the businesses and the people of this city."
Twelve people, including Daniel Marino, named by the U.S. attorney as the current boss of the Gambino crime family, were arrested Tuesday morning. One was arrested last week, and another was at large Tuesday afternoon, Bharara's office said.
Marino has been charged with murder in various cases, including the 1989 killing of Thomas Spinelli, a member of the family who testified before a federal grand jury about the mafia's members and activities.
The other defendants, who authorities say include some high-ranking members of the Gambino crime family, also have serious charges brought against them.
Onofrio Modica is charged with jury tampering, which stems from 1992, when then-boss John J. Gotti was on trial on federal racketeering and murder charges. According to the U.S. attorney, Modica and other members of the Gambino family tried to locate the anonymous, sequestered jurors sitting on the trial. Modica was able to penetrate security measures and locate the hotel where the jury was sequestered, but the plan was called off after Gotti decided that the jury would not convict him, authorities allege.
The U.S. attorney alleges several of the defendants also operated a prostitution business from 2008 to 2009, where young women and girls as young as 15 allegedly were recruited to be prostitutes and advertised on websites such as Craigslist. According to Bharara, the defendants drove the women to their appointments and kept approximately half the money paid to them. The women allegedly were made available for sex to gamblers at weekly high-stakes poker games that authorities say were run by the defendants.
Read how rare it is for women and children to be involved
A press release from Bharara's office detailed the other charges against the defendants, including extortion; assault; trafficking of narcotics, such as cocaine, OxyContin and marijuana; wire fraud, which includes the alleged defrauding of several high-end New York restaurants by inflating invoice costs; loansharking; and gambling.
"This case shows that it's still about making money illegally, by whatever means," FBI Special Agent-in-Charge George Venizelos said. "No crime seemed too depraved to be exploited if it was a money-maker, including the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old."
According to the U.S. attorney's office, the fourteen defendants are Marino, Modica, Thomas Orefice, Dominick DiFiore, Anthony Manzella, Michael Scotto, Michael Scarpaci, Thomas Scarpaci, David Eisler, Salvatore Borgia, Steve Maiurro, Keith Dellitalia, Suzanne Porcelli and Anthony Vecchione.
Maiurro remains at large. The 13 defendants all entered not guilty pleas on Tuesday, according to the U.S. attorney's office, and they are expected to appear Wednesday before a federal judge who has been appointed to the case.
|
[
"Who was arrested?",
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"What are some of the defendants accused of?",
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] |
[
"alleged members of the Gambino crime family",
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"Daniel Marino,",
"murder, racketeering,",
"Daniel Marino,",
"Daniel Marino,",
"murder"
] |
question: Who was arrested?, answer: alleged members of the Gambino crime family | question: What was the crime ?, answer: murder, racketeering, prostitution of minors and trying to locate and intimidate a sequestered jury, | question: Who is the group's boss?, answer: Daniel Marino, | question: What are some of the defendants accused of?, answer: murder, racketeering, | question: what boss is arrested, answer: Daniel Marino, | question: Who was the groups boss ?, answer: Daniel Marino, | question: What was he charged with ?, answer: murder
|
(CNN) -- Fourteen people were missing after a cargo ship sank Monday in Egyptian waters, Red Sea Gov. Majdi Al Qubaisi told Egyptian television.
Nine survivors and the bodies of two crew members aboard the Cypriot-flagged Ibn Battuta cargo ship were recovered in separate operations Monday, the Nile TV News Web site said. A rescue boat was headed out to retrieve a 10th survivor.
The survivors were "on their way to the naval base, and preparations had been taken to carry out a medical check as soon as they arrive," the Web site said, citing an unnamed Egyptian official.
The Ibn Battuta's crew members are of Indian, Pakistani, Bengali, Somali, Iraqi and Sudanese nationalities, Nile TV News said.
The Ibn Battuta was carrying 6,500 tons of sand for use in the glass industry and was on its way from the Port of Abu Zenima in Egypt to the United Arab Emirates, the TV station reported.
The ship had experienced bad weather in the Red Sea, with low visibility and high waves.
The commercial ship Susan K retrieved the two bodies, while the survivors were rescued by the boat Sultan and an aircraft from an Egyptian Search and Rescue team, Nile TV News said.
-- CNN's Caroline Faraj and Yousef Rafayah contributed to this report.
|
[
"Number of crew missing after ship capsizes?",
"Amount of survivors recovered from Cypriot-flagged Ibn Battuta cargo ship?",
"What would the sand have been used for?",
"Where did the ship capsize?",
"Where did the ship experience bad weather?",
"What was the ship carrying?",
"How many tons of sand was the ship carrying?",
"What ship capsized?",
"What was the death toll of the incident at sea?"
] |
[
"Fourteen",
"Nine",
"in the glass industry",
"Egyptian waters,",
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"6,500 tons of sand",
"6,500",
"Ibn Battuta",
"two"
] |
question: Number of crew missing after ship capsizes?, answer: Fourteen | question: Amount of survivors recovered from Cypriot-flagged Ibn Battuta cargo ship?, answer: Nine | question: What would the sand have been used for?, answer: in the glass industry | question: Where did the ship capsize?, answer: Egyptian waters, | question: Where did the ship experience bad weather?, answer: Egyptian waters, | question: What was the ship carrying?, answer: 6,500 tons of sand | question: How many tons of sand was the ship carrying?, answer: 6,500 | question: What ship capsized?, answer: Ibn Battuta | question: What was the death toll of the incident at sea?, answer: two
|
(CNN) -- Fourteen thoroughbred horses dropped dead in a mysterious scene Sunday before a polo match near West Palm Beach, Florida, officials said.
Teams are trying to figure out what happened at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Florida.
State and local veterinary teams are trying to figure out what happened at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, as team Lechuza Caracas prepared to compete in a U.S. Open match.
Two horses initially collapsed, and as vets and team officials scrambled to revive them, five others became dizzy, said Tim O'Connor, spokesman for the polo club.
"A total of seven died on our property," O'Connor told CNN. Seven other horses died en route to a Wellington horse farm and a veterinary hospital.
The cause of the deaths has not been determined, and necropsies and blood tests were underway, he said.
O'Connor said each team brings between 40 to 60 horses for matches, and they are continuously switched out throughout a match to keep the horses from overexerting themselves.
A meeting will be held to determine whether Lechuza Caracas will compete at a later date, he said.
"Everybody is kind of in shock and trying to figure out what happened," he said. "Nobody can recall an incident in which this many horses have died at once."
CNN's Samira Simone contributed to this report.
|
[
"What Polo club's comment?",
"How many horses died?",
"Where were the races held?",
"Where was the match set?",
"What was the reason that horses die?",
"How many horsed died?"
] |
[
"\"A total of seven died on our property,\"",
"seven",
"International Polo Club Palm Beach in Florida.",
"West Palm Beach, Florida,",
"has not been determined,",
"Fourteen"
] |
question: What Polo club's comment?, answer: "A total of seven died on our property," | question: How many horses died?, answer: seven | question: Where were the races held?, answer: International Polo Club Palm Beach in Florida. | question: Where was the match set?, answer: West Palm Beach, Florida, | question: What was the reason that horses die?, answer: has not been determined, | question: How many horsed died?, answer: Fourteen
|
(CNN) -- Fourteen times in nine years, Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij had left his family behind and headed out on deployment as an Army Ranger, taking part in hundreds of combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, all before his 30th birthday.
His most recent tour turned out to be his last.
The veteran soldier's death rattled his commanders, as well as those in his native San Diego. His former football coach, Jeff Carpenter, remembered Domeij as diligent, funny, passionate and team-oriented.
"I told my classes that I was incredibly sad to begin with and incredibly angry," said Carpenter, who besides being an assistant coach the past 18 years is also a social sciences teacher at Rancho Bernardo High School. "Just the fact that it happened to someone like him -- it's hard."
Domeij, 1st Lt. Ashley White and Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Horns all died Saturday in Kandahar province when an improvised explosive device blew up near their assault force, according to a U.S. Army Special Operations Command news release.
The trio's death is far from unprecedented: According to CNN's count, based on U.S. military reports, there have been 1,811 U.S. troops killed during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan that began in October 2001.
Each person, each death, is unique. In Domeij's case, that translates to a man whom his unit commander described as "irreplaceable" -- on the battlefield and in life.
"He was one of those men who known by all as much for his humor, enthusiasm and loyal friendship as he was for his unparalleled skill and bravery under fire," said Lt. Col. David Hodne, head of the 75th Ranger Regiment's 2nd battalion. "This was a Ranger you wanted at your side when the chips were down."
Domeij distinguished himself as a person as much as he did as a player while in high school, his former coach recalled.
"He was just a great kid," Carpenter said, describing his great sense of humor and engaging personality. "And we knew, as coaches, that no matter what, this was a kid who was going to play hard and (all) out."
Carpenter said he wasn't surprised when Domeij told him he was going to enlist. "It made all the sense in the world," the coach said, given Domeij's proven dedication to and ability to thrive as a member of a team.
So Domeij joined the Army in July, a few months after graduating high school and not long before the September 11 terrorist attacks. Nine months later, he became part of the Ranger regiment.
Domeij was based at that unit's headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, where his role was as a joint terminal attack controller. The person in this position often advances into harm's way, directing allied combat aircraft on where and when to strike.
His regiment's commander, Col. Mark Odom, called Domeij "technically and tactically competent" as well as critically important.
"His ability to employ fire support platforms made him a game-changer on the battlefield -- an operator who, in real terms, had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield," Odom said in the news release.
The military culture is very much ingrained in the Southern California culture in which Domeij grew up. Much of the Pacific fleet is based there at U.S. Naval Base San Diego. A large Marine base at Camp Pendleton is about 30 miles northwest of Rancho Bernardo High, with the famed Marine Corps Air Station Miramar about 11 miles south.
The parents of many of that high school's students -- whose enrollment was about 3,000 when Domeij attended -- are in the military, Carpenter notes. Yet while multiple students enlist each year, Domeij's death is the first his coach can recall since Rancho Bernardo opened in 1990.
Carpenter said he'd kept in touch with his former player since graduation, knowing full well that was in Special Operations and in harm's way. But he said neither
|
[
"What did the coach say?",
"In which province was Doemij killed?",
"What has been hard on the community?",
"When did Domeij join the army?",
"Where was Domeij killed?",
"When did he join?",
"Where was he killed?"
] |
[
"\"I told my classes that I was incredibly sad to begin with and incredibly angry,\"",
"Kandahar",
"Domeij's death",
"July,",
"Kandahar province",
"July,",
"Kandahar province"
] |
question: What did the coach say?, answer: "I told my classes that I was incredibly sad to begin with and incredibly angry," | question: In which province was Doemij killed?, answer: Kandahar | question: What has been hard on the community?, answer: Domeij's death | question: When did Domeij join the army?, answer: July, | question: Where was Domeij killed?, answer: Kandahar province | question: When did he join?, answer: July, | question: Where was he killed?, answer: Kandahar province
|
(CNN) -- France and Britain plan to abstain from a Security Council vote on the Palestinians' bid for statehood, two U.N. diplomats said Thursday.
France told members of the U.N. Security Council about its intentions at a Thursday afternoon meeting of the admissions committee for new U.N. membership, a Security Council diplomat told CNN.
Another U.N. diplomat told CNN that Britain will also abstain, with one of its representatives likewise announcing its intentions at the same closed-door meeting.
The U.N. Security Council is set to meet November 11 to discuss a report about whether or not to admit a Palestinian state as a member of the international organization. The membership bid has been controversial, with Israel among those opposed.
Diplomats have said it appears unlikely the Palestinians will succeed in their bid, given that the United States -- one of five permanent security council members -- has warned it will veto the attempt.
However, a veto may not be necessary if a minimum of nine nations -- out of 15 on the U.N. council -- don't support the Palestinians' bid.
|
[
"Who said Britain similarly announced its intentions?",
"When was the meeting?",
"Who applied to the UN?",
"who has applied to become a U.N. member state?",
"when was the meeting held?",
"What day did France tell UN members their plans?",
"Who applied to become a UN member state?"
] |
[
"Another U.N. diplomat",
"Thursday.",
"Palestinian state",
"Palestinians'",
"Thursday afternoon",
"Thursday",
"Palestinian"
] |
question: Who said Britain similarly announced its intentions?, answer: Another U.N. diplomat | question: When was the meeting?, answer: Thursday. | question: Who applied to the UN?, answer: Palestinian state | question: who has applied to become a U.N. member state?, answer: Palestinians' | question: when was the meeting held?, answer: Thursday afternoon | question: What day did France tell UN members their plans?, answer: Thursday | question: Who applied to become a UN member state?, answer: Palestinian
|
(CNN) -- France beat heroic 14-man Wales 9-8 in Auckland Saturday to reach the final of the Rugby World Cup.
The match was overshadowed by the 18th minute dismissal of Wales captain Sam Warburton for a dangerous tackle.
It looked to be a harsh decision by Irish referee Alain Rolland and tipped the match in France's favor although they had to withstand a late Welsh onslaught to maintain their slender lead.
Wales had led 3-0 through a James Hook penalty before losing their skipper, but a pair of Morgan Parra penalties put France 6-3 ahead at the interval.
He increased that lead to 9-3 with his third penalty early in the second half only for Wales to hit back through a clever solo try by scrum half Mike Phillips.
Stephen Jones, a second half replacement for Hook, missed the conversion as it hit the post before Wales had a second chance to take the lead in the closing moments.
Fortunate to win a penalty on the halfway line, Leigh Halfpenny's kick was accurate but dipped just under the posts.
Wales spent the remainder of the match with the bulk of possession but were unable to work an opening to leave the French to contemplate a final against either hosts New Zealand or Australia who play the second semifinal Sunday on the same ground.
But at the end, the main talking point was the crucial red card for Warburton, whose tackle on Vincent Clerc lifted the French wing off his feet as he released a pass.
Blog: Why New Zealand must win the World Cup
Rolland believed the infringement merited dismissal rather than a sin-bin offense or warning but former World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar of South Africa thought otherwise. "It was a dangerous tackle, yes. Never a red card," he told ITV Sport.
"It killed the game," he added.
Warburton, who could miss next Friday's third place playoff match, was also amazed to have been sent off.
"I'm gutted. There was no malicious intent. I thought it was a normal tackle, the next thing I was walking off into the stands."
Wales have made only one previous appearance in the World Cup semifinals, losing 49-6 to New Zealand in Brisbane in 1987, but also had a man, Huw Richards, sent off in the defeat.
French coach Marc Lievremont praised the "amazingly brave" Wales, but believed Rolland, the 2007 World Cup final referee, had little choice but to dismiss Warburton.
"I don't care at all whether it was a good match or not, whether the Welsh deserve to be in the final, we have qualified for the final and that's all that counts."
Interest in the opening semifinal was intense and 60,000 fans crammed into the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch their Welsh heroes on giant big screens.
They trailed away disappointed, but the intensity is set to step up a gear for the clash between Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry believes the match his side's "biggest in 10 years" as they bid to win the World Cup for only the second time after a series of near misses.
Australia have improved after an opening pool defeat to Ireland, but will be without full-back Kurtley Beale, who has lost his race to be fit for the last four clash.
|
[
"who is Wales captain?",
"Where was the semi final rugby world cup held?",
"What was Sam Warburton sent off for?",
"who beat Wales?",
"who did beat Wales 9-8 in semifinal of Rugby?",
"What team does New Zealand play on Sunday?"
] |
[
"Sam Warburton",
"Auckland",
"dangerous tackle.",
"France",
"France",
"Australia"
] |
question: who is Wales captain?, answer: Sam Warburton | question: Where was the semi final rugby world cup held?, answer: Auckland | question: What was Sam Warburton sent off for?, answer: dangerous tackle. | question: who beat Wales?, answer: France | question: who did beat Wales 9-8 in semifinal of Rugby?, answer: France | question: What team does New Zealand play on Sunday?, answer: Australia
|
(CNN) -- France has awarded its highest decoration to veteran CNN correspondent Jim Bittermann.
CNN's Jim Bittermann at the special ceremony in Paris where he was made a chevalier.
At a special ceremony presided over by the Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris Tuesday, Bittermann was presented with the "chevalier" (knight) of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.
Bittermann, CNN's senior European correspondent based in Paris, said: "For the past 30 years, I've been explaining France and the French to the rest of the world."
During his career with CNN in Paris Bittermann has covered the death of Princess Diana, the last days of Yasser Arafat, the French triumph at the 1998 World Cup and the Concorde air disaster.
He joined CNN from ABC News, where he was a Paris news correspondent from 1990-1996; before that Bittermann was a European correspondent for NBC News. He began his career in broadcast journalism in 1970 in Milwaukee.
Founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize outstanding accomplishment, the chevalier is given annually to around 3,500 Frenchmen and women -- but few non-nationals.
Of the 13 honorees this year from outside France, two are American. Previous non-French recipients include former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, fillm legends Charles Chaplin and Orson Welles and Norman Schwarzkopf, who led allied forces against Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War.
Apart from his work for CNN, in recent years Bittermann has been a featured speaker at journalism events such as the International Diplomacy Institute, as well as lecturing and moderating panels at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In 1999 Bittermann was appointed a professor at the American University of Paris, teaching courses broadcast news, writing and production and politics and media among others.
|
[
"what is the rank of chevalier",
"What is the name of the journalist?",
"Are any Americans set to be awarded the rank of chevalier this year?",
"In what year did Bittermann join CNN?",
"The rank was first awarded by who?",
"Who is Jim Bittermann?",
"Which year did he join CNN?"
] |
[
"(knight)",
"Jim Bittermann.",
"two",
"1990-1996;",
"Napoleon Bonaparte",
"veteran CNN correspondent",
"1970"
] |
question: what is the rank of chevalier, answer: (knight) | question: What is the name of the journalist?, answer: Jim Bittermann. | question: Are any Americans set to be awarded the rank of chevalier this year?, answer: two | question: In what year did Bittermann join CNN?, answer: 1990-1996; | question: The rank was first awarded by who?, answer: Napoleon Bonaparte | question: Who is Jim Bittermann?, answer: veteran CNN correspondent | question: Which year did he join CNN?, answer: 1970
|
(CNN) -- France international footballer Patrice Evra is determined to follow up his complaint of racism against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, according to his club manager.
Manchester United defender Evra accused his Liverpool opponent of racially abusing him during Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw, and the English Football Association said it would investigate after match referee Andre Marriner reported the incident.
Suarez denied the claims in a statement on his Facebook page, but United manager Alex Ferguson told reporters on Monday that Evra stands by his comments to French television channel Canal Plus.
"I spoke to Patrice today. He is adamant he wants to follow it on," Ferguson said ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Romanian minnows Otelul Galati.
"It is not an easy one for us. It is not something we would want to level against Liverpool, and it is not against Liverpool. Obviously Patrice feels very aggrieved at what was said to him. It rests in the hands of the FA now."
Ask Samuel Eto'o and Roberto Carlos your questions
United and Liverpool are bitter rivals, and Ferguson appealed to both sets of fans before the match at Anfield, asking them not to sing abusive chants about the clubs' respective tragedies in Munich and Hillsborough.
Eight of United's players were killed in the 1958 German air crash that claimed 23 lives, while 96 Liverpool supporters died during an FA Cup semifinal in 1989.
"Saturday was terrific. Both sets of fans were good," Ferguson said. "There was not any of that silly chanting we have had in previous years. Both sets of fans deserve praise for that."
United midfielder Ashley Young was racially abused by Bulgaria fans during England's Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia in September, but Ferguson said there are no such problems in the Premier League.
"I am not aware of any instances in terms of British football," the 69-year-old Scot said.
"It doesn't happen in England. There are very few examples of that. Maybe this is what surprised Patrice Evra. He thought he was slighted on Saturday.
"We don't want to see it. It is as simple as that."
Ferguson said Evra would be in contention to play in Romania, with last season's Champions League finalists United seeking to kickstart a faltering European campaign after picking up just two points from two Group C matches.
"Yes, yes. There is no problem," he said, while confirming that England striker Wayne Rooney would play despite Sunday's top-of-the-table derby clash with Manchester City looming.
Rooney started on the bench against Liverpool following the news that he will be banned for all three of England's Euro 2012 finals group matches after his red card against Montenegro.
"When the initial news came through it was a definite blow for him. He didn't expect that. None of us did," Ferguson said.
In Tuesday's other Group C game, Swiss side Basel host Portugal's Benfica with both clubs on four points.
In Group B, Italy's Internazionale travel to French side Lille on the back of another domestic defeat at the weekend, while Turkey's Trabzonspor will seek to extend their lead at home to CSKA Moscow.
Group A leaders Bayern Munich visit Italy's Napoli in search of a third successive win, while Manchester City host Spain's Villarreal with both teams in search of a first victory.
Nine-time European champions Real Madrid will seek a third successive Group D victory at home to French side Lyon in the clubs' ninth meeting in six years.
Dutch club Ajax, whose fourth European title came in 1995, travel to Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb -- with neither team having won yet this season.
|
[
"Who is expected to play?",
"Who will continue his complaint?",
"where English FA is investigating after incidents in Liverpool-Manchester United game",
"Patrice Evra will continue his complaint of what?",
"Evra is expected to play in what league?",
"Who is investigating?"
] |
[
"Wayne Rooney",
"Patrice Evra",
"Football Association said it would investigate",
"racism",
"Champions",
"the English Football Association"
] |
question: Who is expected to play?, answer: Wayne Rooney | question: Who will continue his complaint?, answer: Patrice Evra | question: where English FA is investigating after incidents in Liverpool-Manchester United game, answer: Football Association said it would investigate | question: Patrice Evra will continue his complaint of what?, answer: racism | question: Evra is expected to play in what league?, answer: Champions | question: Who is investigating?, answer: the English Football Association
|
(CNN) -- France striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from the World Cup in South Africa following a row with national coach Raymond Domenech.
The French Football Federation released a statement on Saturday confirming that the 31-year-old had abused Domenech after being substituted during Friday's 2-0 defeat by Mexico, which left his team on the verge of elimination.
"Words spoken by Nicolas Anelka to the national coach, Raymond Domenech, are completely unacceptable to the FFF, French football and the values they defend," it said on its website.
"After being informed on Friday evening of the serious incident during halftime of the France-Mexico match, federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes asked Nicolas Anelka in the presence of captain Patrice Evra to present an official apology to the French public and to express regret for his remarks to Raymond Domenech, the staff and 23 players from the France team.
"Upon refusal by the player to deliver a public apology, he [Escalettes] made the decision -- in full agreement with the coach and members of the official delegation in Knysna -- to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the group.
"He will leave the Team France camp this evening."
The French, who won the World Cup in 1998 and lost in the final four years ago, have been disappointing in what is Domenech's last tournament before standing down, with former Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc to replace him.
An opening 0-0 draw with Uruguay followed by Friday's defeat has left "Les Bleus" needing to beat hosts South Africa on Tuesday and hope that Mexico and the South Americans do not draw, in order for Domenech's team to progress to the second round.
French media have speculated about dissension among the squad, with former star striker Thierry Henry reduced to a minor role as substitute and William Gallas reportedly unhappy about missing out on the captaincy, which was given to fellow defender Patrice Evra.
Anelka, who plays for English champions Chelsea, has a history of controversy on the international stage, having declared in 2002 that he would no longer be available for selection after being dropped by coach Jacques Santini when he refused a call-up.
He finally apologized to Santini in 2004, but missed out on the World Cup in Germany two years later.
Domenech brought him back into the France fold in 2007 and Anelka played at Euro 2008, where France crashed out in the first round.
He scored in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying playoff against the Republic of Ireland last November, and had been given the main striker's role in South Africa by Domenech but failed to impress in both matches.
Meanwhile, England striker Wayne Rooney has apologized after berating his team's fans following Friday night's disappointing 0-0 draw with Algeria.
The English players were booed as they left the pitch, having drawn for the second successive match, and Manchester United forward Rooney accused the supporters of being disloyal as he passed television cameras.
English FA complains after fan enters team dressing room
"Last night, on reflection I said things in the heat of the moment that came out of frustration of both our performance and the result," Rooney said in a statement issued by the English Football Association.
"For my part I apologize for any offense caused by my actions at the end of the game."
|
[
"who was unhappy?",
"what the federation said?",
"who banished from World Cup?",
"Who was Anelka's coach?",
"What was Anelka banished from",
"Who defeated Striker's team?",
"Where is Rooney from?"
] |
[
"William Gallas",
"\"Words spoken by Nicolas Anelka to the national coach, Raymond Domenech, are completely unacceptable to the FFF, French football and the values they defend,\"",
"Nicolas Anelka",
"Raymond Domenech.",
"World Cup",
"Mexico,",
"England"
] |
question: who was unhappy?, answer: William Gallas | question: what the federation said?, answer: "Words spoken by Nicolas Anelka to the national coach, Raymond Domenech, are completely unacceptable to the FFF, French football and the values they defend," | question: who banished from World Cup?, answer: Nicolas Anelka | question: Who was Anelka's coach?, answer: Raymond Domenech. | question: What was Anelka banished from, answer: World Cup | question: Who defeated Striker's team?, answer: Mexico, | question: Where is Rooney from?, answer: England
|
(CNN) -- France's reputation as rugby's Jekyll and Hyde team was reaffirmed on Saturday as Marc Lievremont's inconsistent side bounced back from two defeats to eliminate England and reach the World Cup semifinals.
Les Bleus avenged their 2007 semi defeat by the English on home soil with a 19-12 victory in Auckland, setting up a last-four clash with Wales -- who went through after beating Celtic neighbors Ireland 22-10.
With the other half of the drawing pitting hosts New Zealand against Argentina, and world champions South Africa versus Australia -- both games are on Sunday -- there could potentially be a repeat of the inaugural 1987 final when the All Blacks beat France.
Coach Lievremont will be replaced by Philippe Saint-Andre after the tournament, but he has the chance to help France to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time.
His team lost to New Zealand and Tonga in the group stage, but roared to a 16-0 halftime lead at Eden Park as wing Vincent Clerc and fullback Maxime Medard crossed for tries, while Dimitri Yachvili kicked two penalties.
England, the 2003 champions, rallied with second-half tries to fullback Ben Foden and wing Mark Cueto but a drop-goal by Francois Trinh-Duc in between those scores kept France safely ahead.
"You can't give a good team like France 16 points of a start. We had chances in the second half but they deserved to win," said England manager Martin Johnson, a World Cup winner as a player eight years ago.
France captain Thierry Dusautoir was glad to put the nightmare of the shock Tonga defeat behind him.
"We didn't want to go out like this. We wanted to show how we can play rugby," he said.
"I think we did it well. It was a great start for us and we are going to enjoy this victory. Now we need to keep it up and focus on the next game."
The French will take on Wales at Eden Park next Saturday after Warren Gatland's team handed Ireland a first defeat of the tournament to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1987.
The Group D runners-up scored three tries to one in Wellington as Ireland failed to capitalize on a wealth of first-half possession and crashed out at the last-eight stage for the fifth successive time.
Veteran winger Shane Williams put Wales ahead with a third-minute try that young flyhalf Rhys Priestland converted for a 10-3 lead at the break. Ronan O'Gara kicked Ireland's only points with a 24th-minute penalty before Leigh Halfpenny replied in kind just before the half hour.
Ireland leveled five minutes after the interval as O'Gara converted a try by wing Keith Earls, but Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips dotted down in the 51st minute and center Jonathan Davies made it safe on 64.
"We spent a lot of time in that first half in their 22 and we only came up with three points in the half," Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll said.
"It hurts a bit when you're going in at halftime having the opportunities and knocking on the door, but not really getting any points out of the territory.
"We needed to deliver a performance similar to the one against Australia or the one against Italy last week. We didn't do that today, we knocked on way too much ball."
Gatland backed his young team to go further in the tournament.
"They have no baggage and there's no fear factor," Gatland said. "We are in New Zealand and not in the bubble of Wales and listening to any of the negativity that is sometimes generated back home.
"We've worked so hard in the last three, four months. We aren't ready to go home yet."
|
[
"Who suffered first defeat of the tournament in New Zealand?",
"Where did the tournament take place?",
"When did Les Bleus last lose to England?",
"Who won the game 19-12 in the World Cup quarterfinals?",
"What was the score in semifinal game of Wales-Ireland?",
"What country defeated England in quarterfinals?"
] |
[
"Ireland",
"New Zealand",
"2007",
"Les Bleus",
"22-10.",
"France's"
] |
question: Who suffered first defeat of the tournament in New Zealand?, answer: Ireland | question: Where did the tournament take place?, answer: New Zealand | question: When did Les Bleus last lose to England?, answer: 2007 | question: Who won the game 19-12 in the World Cup quarterfinals?, answer: Les Bleus | question: What was the score in semifinal game of Wales-Ireland?, answer: 22-10. | question: What country defeated England in quarterfinals?, answer: France's
|
(CNN) -- Frances Reid, best known for her decades-long portrayal of Alice Horton on the soap opera "Days of our Lives," died Wednesday at the age of 95.
Reid played the role of the martriarch since the long-running soap series' first episode in 1965, and made her last appearance in 2007.
Reid was nominated twice for Daytime Emmys, and in 2004 she was awarded a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.
NBC said in a statement to CNN that the network "is deeply saddened by the passing of Frances Reid. She was a true icon of the daytime genre and while we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her long life and the tremendous talent she shared with her generations of fans. She will be sorely missed."
On Twitter, "Days" actress Alison Sweeney, who plays Sami, wrote, "I'm so sad to hear the news about Frances Reid. She was a truly talented actress and we are all lucky and proud to have known her."
|
[
"What did Reid win in 2004?",
"What few years old actress Frances Reid died?",
"When did Reid die?",
"Who died Wednesday at the age of 95?",
"What prize won in 2004?",
"What roles were carried fame?",
"What was she best known for?"
] |
[
"Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.",
"95.",
"Wednesday",
"Frances",
"Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.",
"Alice Horton",
"her decades-long portrayal of Alice Horton on"
] |
question: What did Reid win in 2004?, answer: Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. | question: What few years old actress Frances Reid died?, answer: 95. | question: When did Reid die?, answer: Wednesday | question: Who died Wednesday at the age of 95?, answer: Frances | question: What prize won in 2004?, answer: Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. | question: What roles were carried fame?, answer: Alice Horton | question: What was she best known for?, answer: her decades-long portrayal of Alice Horton on
|
(CNN) -- Fred Berretta was aboard US Airways Flight 1549 bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, when he heard a loud bang and the plane shook.
The New York Fire Department rescued passengers from the downed plane in the Hudson River.
"We were still on ascent, and the engine blew out," he said. "The pilot turned around and made a line for the river."
Passenger Alberto Panero said that immediately, he smelled smoke.
"All of a sudden, the captain came on and said brace for a landing, and that's when we knew we were going down," he said.
The Airbus A320, carrying Panero and more than 150 other passengers and crew, crash-landed in the Hudson River on Thursday after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Watch Jeff Kolodjay describe the crash »
A New Jersey State Police source told CNN the pilot radioed to air traffic controllers that he had experienced a bird strike and declared an emergency.
"We knew there wasn't a lot of time because we were quite close to the ground, and it felt as though the descent was somewhat rapid," said Berretta, who said he was sitting in seat 16A. Watch Berretta describe the landing »
As the plane headed down toward the river, the cabin was mostly silent, he said.
"After he told us prepare for impact, it was pretty evident we were not going to make the runway."
At first, it felt like the plane was gliding, Berretta said, as if no engines were working.
"People started praying, and there was a lot of silence, and the realization that we were going in was really hard to take in at that moment," he said.
As the plane started to go down, some passengers shouted to those in exit rows to be prepared to quickly open the doors.
Berretta spent that time contemplating the chances of surviving a water crash.
"I think that [it] certainly went through my mind that this probably very much could be it," he said.
Then the plane hit the water. Panero said the impact felt like a car crash.
Some said that as the plane hit, there were extremely loud noises.
"The plane was jockeying about, spinning a bit," Berretta said.
"Then all of a sudden, it was 'Get out, get out now,' " Panero said.
Jeff Kolodjay was sitting in seat 22A right next to the engine believed to have caused the plane to go down.
"The plane started filling with water pretty quick," he said. "It was scary. There was a lady with her baby on my left-hand shoulder, and she was crawling over the seats."
Upon impact, passengers left behind their coats and luggage. They grabbed life vests and seat cushions and headed toward the exits.
"It seemed like it lasted an eternity," Berretta said.
When the plane began to sink, some passengers began to panic, Panero said. Watch Panero describe what he saw and heard »
"But there was a couple of people who kind of took charge and just started yelling to calm down, just to get everybody out," he said. "Once people realized that we were going to be OK, everybody kind of calmed down and just tried to get out of the plane to safety."
Passengers began to group themselves on the wings to stay out of the frigid water.
When they were safely out of the plane, Berretta said, there was one more moment of fear.
"Our raft was tethered to the plane, and we worried we might go down with the plane," he said. "But we were able to get a knife off a rescue boat and cut the tether."
More than anything, passengers wanted to thank the crew. As Berretta exited the plane, he said that besides a few passengers remaining, the crew and pilot stayed behind to make sure everyone was out.
|
[
"What plane crash is being discussed?",
"What did Jeff Kolodjay say?",
"What were the passengers doing?",
"What did the woman do?",
"What did the woman with the baby try to do?",
"In what body of water did the plane crash?",
"What plane started filling with water?",
"What did the pilot say to the passengers?",
"What did the plane start to fill with?",
"What did a woman with a baby attempt?"
] |
[
"US Airways Flight 1549",
"\"The plane started filling with water pretty quick,\"",
"began to group themselves on the wings to stay out of the frigid water.",
"crawling over the seats.\"",
"crawling over the seats.\"",
"Hudson River.",
"US Airways Flight 1549",
"brace for a landing,",
"water",
"crawling over the seats.\""
] |
question: What plane crash is being discussed?, answer: US Airways Flight 1549 | question: What did Jeff Kolodjay say?, answer: "The plane started filling with water pretty quick," | question: What were the passengers doing?, answer: began to group themselves on the wings to stay out of the frigid water. | question: What did the woman do?, answer: crawling over the seats." | question: What did the woman with the baby try to do?, answer: crawling over the seats." | question: In what body of water did the plane crash?, answer: Hudson River. | question: What plane started filling with water?, answer: US Airways Flight 1549 | question: What did the pilot say to the passengers?, answer: brace for a landing, | question: What did the plane start to fill with?, answer: water | question: What did a woman with a baby attempt?, answer: crawling over the seats."
|
(CNN) -- Fred Wiseman has been at the forefront of the American documentary scene ever since his bombshell of a first film in 1967.
"Titicut Follies" may sound like a burlesque extravaganza, but in fact the film was a deeply disturbing expose of life inside a correctional institution for the criminally insane.
Since then, Wiseman has built up an extraordinary body of work. It includes nearly 40 feature films, many of them more than three hours long, largely preoccupied with examining the apparatus of social institutions: hospitals, high schools, parks and zoos. All of them are framed according to Wiseman's own rigorous observational style, which involves sustained scrutiny, no voice-over and no interviews. He's into process, not personality. With a Wiseman film, it's up to the viewer to supply the commentary.
That's easier when the subject concerns alleged inadequate welfare programs or dysfunctional government institutions. In his last few films, the septuagenarian director has turned his gaze on less overtly political matters: the esteemed Ballet de l'Opera company in "La Danse" (2009); an Austin, Texas, training facility in "Boxing Gym" (2010); and now, a Parisian cabaret, in "Crazy Horse."
In this loose-limbed documentary, Wiseman is more like an impressionist painter -- Degas is the obvious example -- than a social activist or a reporter. He's looking at the human body, at model physical specimens and at perceptions of beauty. "Crazy Horse" can be viewed as a series of nude studies built around the contrast between the dancers' casual nakedness backstage and the highly fetishistic, filtered nudity on stage. Surprisingly (and disappointingly), Wiseman foregrounds the latter; we scarcely learn the dancers' names and rarely hear them speak.
You might expect marked differences between a distinguished ballet company and a glorified strip club, but Wiseman seems to see them in much in the same light (not literally; the chromatic effects at the club are designed to dazzle, and they do). The Crazy Horse, or "Le Crazy" for short, aspires to art with almost comical sincerity. This is Paris, after all, and intellectuals are a prime target audience.
Like "La Danse," the new film dedicates most of its running time to rehearsal and performance, interspersed with sometimes tense exchanges behind the scenes involving the creative personnel (in this case, primarily director/choreographer Philippe Decoufle) and management (managing director Andree Deissenberg). The "artistes" always want more time, and the shareholders are invariably fixated on the bottom line. Which is understandable at the Crazy Horse, where dancing cheek to cheek means something very different from what Irving Berlin had in mind. (Or did he?)
At various points, the people who work there describe it as the best chic nude club in the world, and the classiest. A better description might be the kitschiest.
In one routine, Decoufle's dancers enact a "Barbarella" number as if it were "Solaris." In another, they parade around in Beefeater bearskin hats and not much else. (If the club had a uniform, it would be a thong -- though high heels and fishnets also feature strongly.) The music is mostly a cheesy mix of classic bump-and-grind and '70s Italian sex comedy. Once or twice, the choreography does break the mold -- to push into the exploratory eroticism of modern interpretative dance -- but at heart, the sensuality celebrated here is as safe and conventional as a Playboy bunny.
Does Wiseman disagree? Of course he never says so, but the film is laced with enough subtly suggestive ironies to prick all that oh-so-French pomposity and pretension, without ever undermining the discipline and commitment of dancers and choreographers.
"Be pretty, classy, relaxed -- and calm -- and push your buttocks out," recommends a stage manager to a group of new girls before their audition. "American Idol" this ain't.
Wiseman may be the one documentarian on Earth uninterested in revealing who makes the cut. Still, it's
|
[
"What does the film dedicate much of it's time to?",
"Who is more like an impressionist painter?",
"What can be viewed as a series of nude studies?",
"What is Fred Wiseman more like?"
] |
[
"rehearsal and performance,",
"Wiseman",
"\"Crazy Horse\"",
"impressionist painter"
] |
question: What does the film dedicate much of it's time to?, answer: rehearsal and performance, | question: Who is more like an impressionist painter?, answer: Wiseman | question: What can be viewed as a series of nude studies?, answer: "Crazy Horse" | question: What is Fred Wiseman more like?, answer: impressionist painter
|
(CNN) -- Freed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi thanked friends and family Tuesday for their support during her ordeal in an Iranian prison, and said she plans to spend the next few days relaxing.
Roxana Saberi smiles ouside her home in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday.
"I am, of course, very happy to be free and to be with my parents again," a smiling Saberi, 32, told reporters.
Saberi, who was dressed in a black tunic and a blue headscarf, said she was only now learning of a global support campaign on her behalf.
"I want to thank all the people all over the world, who, whether they knew me or not, helped me and my family during this period," she said. "I don't have any specific plans for the moment. I just want to be with my parents and my friends and to relax."
Reza Saberi, her father, said they plan to leave Iran soon.
Saberi was convicted last month on espionage charges in a one-day trial that was closed to the public. She was sentenced to eight years in prison after being accused of spying for the United States.
A judge changed Saberi's sentence during an appeal hearing Monday. The court agreed with her lawyers that, because Iran is not at war with the United States, Saberi cannot be punished for cooperating with agents of a hostile nation, according to Saberi's spokesman, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi.
Her sentence was changed to a two-year jail term, suspended for five years, Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported.
Saberi was detained in January after initially being accused of buying a bottle of wine and working as a journalist without proper accreditation, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an advocacy group. She was soon charged with espionage.
Saberi went on a hunger strike while imprisoned, but her father said she has since put on some weight.
|
[
"What did the father of Roxana Saberi say?",
"Who was convicted last month on espionage charges ?",
"What was Saberis sentence changed to?",
"What was her sentence reduced to?",
"What was her career?",
"What was Saberi convicted for?",
"What was changed to a two-year jail term, suspended for five years ?",
"Which relative ofRoxana Saberi says they plan to leave Iran soon ?"
] |
[
"they plan to leave Iran soon.",
"Saberi",
"a two-year jail term,",
"two-year jail term, suspended for five years,",
"journalist",
"espionage charges",
"Her sentence",
"her father,"
] |
question: What did the father of Roxana Saberi say?, answer: they plan to leave Iran soon. | question: Who was convicted last month on espionage charges ?, answer: Saberi | question: What was Saberis sentence changed to?, answer: a two-year jail term, | question: What was her sentence reduced to?, answer: two-year jail term, suspended for five years, | question: What was her career?, answer: journalist | question: What was Saberi convicted for?, answer: espionage charges | question: What was changed to a two-year jail term, suspended for five years ?, answer: Her sentence | question: Which relative ofRoxana Saberi says they plan to leave Iran soon ?, answer: her father,
|
(CNN) -- Freezing temperatures plagued much of the nation Thursday after a major storm moved into Canada, but another storm that will dump more snow in the Sierra Nevada was brewing, forecasters said.
That storm, which is expected to start overnight, should last several days and eventually make its way eastward, like its predecessor, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said. The Sierras, straddling California and Nevada, received more than 3 feet of snow in the last few days.
Crews in El Dorado County, California, have been working around the clock this week to restore power to residents who have been left in the dark and cold since Sunday, according to CNN affiliate KXTV. That county, near Lake Tahoe, has received more than 30 inches of snow.
Elsewhere, more than 18 inches of snow had accumulated in parts of the Midwest by Thursday, and high winds made the snow difficult to clear.
Unusually low temperatures were in store for much of the nation into Friday, the National Weather Service said.
"Almost the entire Lower 48 is below normal as far as temperatures. In some cases, 20, 30 degrees," CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said.
Freezing or below-freezing temperatures were recorded from Dallas, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Chicago, Illinois. The temperature in Detroit, Michigan, was 16; in Minneapolis it was minus 5; and in Chicago it was 1 degree.
Overnight temperatures were to dip to 17 in Denver, Colorado, and Kansas City, Missouri; 24 in Seattle, Washington; 31 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 32 in Las Vegas, Nevada; and 27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lake-effect snow warnings and advisories were in effect for western Michigan and the state's Upper Peninsula, areas that border Lake Michigan, according to the National Weather Service. Lake-effect snow forms when a mass of cold air moves over a body of warmer water.
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Tens of thousands of people were left in the dark in southeast Michigan, with temperatures that plunged well below freezing, after high winds blew down power lines, according to CNN affiliate WXYZ TV.
Schools and government offices were closed in many cities.
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jeanne Knurr took advantage of having her two children -- Sierra, 12, and Austin, 15 -- home.
"We told them we were going to put them to work," she told CNN affiliate WLUK on Wednesday. "We told them before they went to bed that they were going to have to help mom shovel because she's going to be all alone."
They didn't seem to mind.
"Well, I think shoveling snow's actually better because afterward you actually get to make forts and stuff," Sierra said. "Sleeping in is a lot better."
iReport: Thousands join campus snowball fight
High winds made snow removal difficult.
Wind gusts reached 50 mph in Omaha, Nebraska; 58 mph in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and 60 mph in Toledo, Ohio. In Omaha, as soon as plows cleared the snow, the wind blew more in their paths, noted former resident and CNN meteorologist Chad Myers as he watched a video clip.
Several states reported storm-related deaths.
In Northumberland, New York, authorities said a freight train struck a snowplow Wednesday, killing a passenger in the plow, reported CNN affiliate WTEN.
In Yale, Iowa, an elderly man was discovered dead Wednesday outside his truck, said Bret Voorhees, spokesman for the state's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
A 28-year-old woman was killed in Omaha on Tuesday night when a truck plowing snow in a parking lot backed into her, police spokesman Jacob Bettin said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
In northern Arizona, dozens of elk hunters were stranded this week by deep snow in the area's backwoods. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it has assisted or offered assistance to about 50 hunters Wednesday and Thursday, including some air evacuations.
The Arizona
|
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question: How much snow has fallen?, answer: 3 feet | question: what do forecasters say, answer: another storm that will dump more snow in the Sierra Nevada was brewing, | question: What do forecasters say about U.S. temperatures?, answer: Unusually low | question: Where did the major storm move into?, answer: Canada, | question: Where is another storm brewing?, answer: Sierra Nevada | question: what amount of snow has fallen, answer: 3 feet | question: What is the amount of snow that has fallen in parts of the Midwest?, answer: 18 inches | question: where are the storms, answer: Sierra Nevada
|
(CNN) -- French Open champion Roger Federer dramatically withdrew from the Halle Open tournament on Tuesday saying he was "overwhelmed and exhausted" after his Paris triumph.
Roger Federer quits the Halle Open saying he is "overwhelmed and exhausted" after his Paris triumph.
Federer beat Swede Robin Soderling in Sunday's Roland Garros final to complete his Grand Slam haul and equal the record 14 'major' wins by Pete Sampras.
He traditionally uses the German follow-up event as his warm-up for Wimbledon which starts on June 22.
"I sincerely apologise to the tournament organisers, my competitors, and my fans in Germany," Swiss world number two Federer said in a statement on his Web site.
"I only hope they will understand that I still feel emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted by the incredible events of the past few days.
"It is hard for me to admit, but I simply cannot imagine giving my best effort in another tournament right away and I don't want to risk injury if I am not 100 percent prepared.
"I need to rest and recuperate, but I look forward to returning to Halle in 2010 to go for my sixth title."
Serb Novak Djokovic, who scored a straight sets win over Italy's Simone Bolelli 7-5 6-2 in 84 minutes earlier in the day, has now been promoted to top seed.
"For my first game here, I was pretty happy," said Djokovic, who faces France's Florent Serra in the second round.
Djokovic is using the grass-court tournament to prepare for the next Grand Slam tournament -- and he hopes injury worry Rafael Nadal will be at Wimbledon to defend his crown.
Nadal withdrew from the Queen's tournament this week with a knee injury and the Spaniard says he will travel to London next week before making a final decision.
"I hope he makes it, it would be a shame for the tournament if the defending champion and world number one doesn't play through injury," said Djokovic.
Earlier, third-seeded Fernando Verdasco suffered a first round exit when he was beaten by Germany's Philipp Petzschner 3-6 7-6 6-4.
Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt tipped Federer to set a new Grand Slam record at Wimbledon after easing into the second round at Queen's.
Australian Hewitt took just 44 minutes to sink Argentine Eduardo Schwank 6-1 6-0 and then turned his thoughts to Federer whose triumph in Paris saw him draw level with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slam wins.
"It was an amazing achievement," said Hewitt. "His record speaks for itself. From what I saw of the match, he played his best tennis in the final.
"There was a lot of pressure and expectation on him. He came out and played one of his best matches. I think coming to Wimbledon is probably his favorite tournament of the year, so he's going to be feeling pretty confident."
He added: "Roger's going to be the one to beat. But Andy Murray has got a good chance, no doubt about that, both here and Wimbledon. He's number three in the world at the moment and plays extremely well on this surface."
Britain's Murray, who is the top seed in the singles, and Hewitt won their opening doubles 3-6 6-3 12-10 on a match tie-break after dropping the first set to U.S. duo Rajeev Ram and Andy Roddick.
Second-seeded Roddick began his challenge for a record fifth Queen's title with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 second round victory over Kristof Vliegen.
|
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"Roger Federer",
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question: Who is overwhelmed and exhausted?, answer: Roger Federer | question: What was his reason?, answer: "overwhelmed and exhausted" | question: What did Federer use the German follow-up event as a warm-up for?, answer: Wimbledon | question: Who withdrew from Halle Open?, answer: Roger Federer | question: Who is the French Open champion?, answer: Roger Federer | question: What is traditionally used as a German followup event?, answer: his warm-up for Wimbledon
|
(CNN) -- French Prime Minister Francois Fillon unveiled further details Monday of a 26 billion-euro ($33 billion) business stimulus package which his government hopes can stall falling growth and prevent the country joining other major European economies in recession.
Up to 1,000 projects will benefit from the package, which was first proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy in December and approved by French lawmakers last week.
Around 20 billion euros of the total amount will be spent over the next 12 months. Businesses will receive 11.4 billion euros while the same amount will be invested in public projects with social housing identified as a priority. The final 4 billion euros will be spent on improving France's transport, energy and postal service infrastructure.
The package is expected to stimulate economic growth of around 1.3 percent, Fillon said. France has so far avoided the worst of the recession that has gripped many of its western European neighbors, including Germany and the UK.
But unemployment rose by a further 45,000 in December after surging by 64,000 in November, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday, adding that she would be "very surprised" if France experienced positive growth in 2009.
Speaking to CNN this weekend at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Lagarde, defended the case for public spending in the face of fears that stimulus packages amounted to storing up unmanageable debts for future generations.
"When the house is on fire we don't look at what can be built, Lagarde said. "We need to kick start (the economy) and we need to restore confidence."
|
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question: What did PM Fillion hope to stimulate?, answer: economic growth | question: Who is the French PM?, answer: Francois Fillon | question: What rose in December?, answer: unemployment | question: Who hopes the package will stimulate the economy?, answer: Prime Minister Francois Fillon | question: How much will the government spend to bolster economy?, answer: ($33 billion) | question: Number that unemployment rose by in December?, answer: 45,000 | question: Amount the french government spent?, answer: 26 billion-euro | question: By how much did unemployment rise in France in December?, answer: 45,000 | question: Who is the French finance minister?, answer: Christine Lagarde | question: How much money was the French government spending to help their economy?, answer: 26 billion-euro | question: What did the French government do?, answer: unveiled further details Monday of a 26 billion-euro | question: How much did unemployment rise by in December?, answer: 45,000
|
(CNN) -- French fishermen suspended their blockade at three English Channel ports Thursday, allowing ferry traffic and freight to move through after two days of disruption, union leaders said.
French fishing boats blockade the port of Boulogne.
The French ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne were open again after French unions met Thursday and agreed to stop the blockade.
Union leaders have yet to agree on how the rest of their protest will develop, and whether the suspension will become permanent.
The fishermen began their blockade of the three ports Tuesday to protest European Union fishing quotas, which they say threaten their livelihoods.
The flotillas forced a halt to all cross-Channel traffic, including passenger ferries and freighters, stranding tourists on both sides of the waterway and causing a backlog of freight trucks.
P&O, the largest ferry operator on the Channel, said it had resumed running normal services to Calais.
"It is our hope that we'll be able to continue doing that throughout the day," spokeswoman Michelle Ulyatt said.
LD Ferries, which operates services to Boulogne, said it had canceled four sailings Thursday as a result of the dispute.
"We do not yet have any information on whether any of our services will be affected beyond 16th April," the company said in a statement.
French fishermen held four hours of talks with Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier in Paris on Wednesday, the French news agency Agence France-Press reported. Barnier offered the local industry €4 million ($5.3 million) in aid, but refused to budge on the fishermen's key demand that the European Union increase fishing quotas, AFP reported.
Both France and the European Union have ruled out any renegotiation, pointing out that French cod quotas have already been raised 30 percent since 2008, AFP said.
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question: Where were the blockades lifted?, answer: at three English Channel ports | question: What did P&O say?, answer: it had resumed running normal services to Calais. | question: What are they protesting?, answer: European Union fishing quotas, | question: Who are protesting?, answer: French | question: who will lift blockades?, answer: French | question: What are fishermen protesting about?, answer: European Union fishing quotas, | question: Where have port blockades been lifted?, answer: Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne | question: What did the blockades do?, answer: forced a halt to all cross-Channel traffic, including passenger ferries and freighters, stranding tourists on both sides of the waterway and causing a backlog of freight trucks. | question: What services were affected?, answer: passenger ferries and freighters,
|
(CNN) -- French parachutist Michel Fournier vowed Tuesday to try again to launch a record-breaking skydive in August, hours after a "freak" accident over Canada aborted his second attempt to do so.
Michel Fournier tests his equipment a few days before his attempt to break four world records.
"I'm not about to give up," the 64-year-old adventurer said of his shot at setting a world record for the highest jump and fastest, longest free fall by a man riding a balloon.
Tuesday's attempt was thwarted when an electrical charge broke the cable connecting the balloon to the gondola, causing it to slip away from his ground crew and rise into the Saskatchewan skies over North Battleford.
"The question is, why was it electrically activated?" said Michel Chevalet, a balloon expert working on Fournier's technical team.
He suggested that static electricity may have been to blame but that it had been an unforeseen possibility. "Unexpected freak accidents do happen," he said. Watch report on Michel Fournier's failed free-fall quest »
Fournier said the failure came as a blow. "It was like having a hammer over the head," he said. Watch Fournier talk about trying again »
The former paratrooper had hoped his "Big Jump" would start 40 kilometers (25 miles) above the Earth's surface.
But his hopes dissipated over the Canadian prairie shortly after 5 a.m. (7 a.m. ET), when the balloon took off before his capsule could be attached.
Still clad in his bright yellow pressure suit, a visibly frustrated Fournier waved away cameras after his balloon's abrupt departure. It drifted back to the ground about 40 km away.
Fournier says he spent nearly 12.7 million euros ($20 million) on his quest, a risky endeavor that French authorities refused to allow him to attempt over France. Canadian authorities approved the mission over the town of North Battleford, in sparsely populated Saskatchewan.
The town's mayor, Julian Sadlowski, said Monday's failure was "a disappointment."
"I thought this was going to be the day that we saw history made in the Battlefords," he said.
Balloon trouble also doomed Fournier's effort to break the record in 2003.
Fournier holds the French record for the highest parachute jump at 12,000 meters (40,000 feet). He says his next chance is in August because that is when the jet stream will next be favorable.
The "Big Jump" will collect data that will help astronauts and others survive at high altitudes, he says.
Fournier estimated that Tuesday's failed effort cost him and his sponsors about 600,000 euros ($946,000).
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question: What age is Michel Fournier?, answer: 64-year-old | question: What does Fournier do?, answer: parachutist | question: what was broken?, answer: the cable connecting the balloon to the gondola, | question: What is his nationality?, answer: French | question: who will be jumping?, answer: parachutist Michel Fournier | question: what record was attempted?, answer: the highest jump and fastest, longest free fall by a man riding a balloon. | question: Will he try for the record again?, answer: "I'm not about to give up," | question: What was the free fall record?, answer: 12,000 meters (40,000 feet).
|
(CNN) -- French researchers have identified a new human immunodeficiency virus, the first derived from gorillas, a report said Monday.
A new virus is difficult to detect by tests because it is not closely related to the other three HIV variants.
The three previous HIV variants came from chimpanzees. The new findings indicate that gorillas, in addition to chimpanzees, are likely sources of HIV, the researchers concluded in a report published in the weekly Nature Medicine journal.
The new virus, called RBF 168, was detected in a 62-year-old woman who moved to Paris, France, from the western Africa nation of Cameroon, the report says. She tested positive for HIV in 2004, and researchers led by Jean-Christophe Plantier identified the virus as being closely related to a recently discovered simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).
The new gorilla virus "has many of the biological properties necessary for human infection," the report says.
"The human case described here does not seem to be an isolated incident, as before coming to Paris the subject had lived in the semiurban area of Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, and reported no contact with apes or bush meat," the researchers said.
That would indicate that the woman contracted the virus from another human.
The significance of the latest findings is difficult to determine without more information, said Robert C. Gallo, who co-discovered HIV in 1984.
"It's yet to be known," Gallo said. "It could be zero. ... Let's see a more full report on this individual and let's see wider testing."
Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, calls the latest HIV variant "an oddity" but said it's not surprising that it cropped up, because the virus has been circulating in non-human primates for centuries.
The three previous HIV variants are labeled M, N and O. The new one has been classified P. The N and O variants, Fauci said, are extremely rare.
"It's not significant unless it establishes itself as a predominant strain," he said. "We have not seen that with N and O."
Fauci lumps the new P variant with the rare group because it has been detected in only one patient.
If it were widespread, Fauci said, "we would already know about it. When these things happen, you see a lot of them around."
Even if the new variant proves lethal, it's not likely to increase AIDS infections, said Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. There are so many HIV variations, he said, that one more is not likely to make a difference.
The new virus is difficult to detect by conventional tests because it is not closely related to the other three HIV variants.
"This demonstrates that HIV evolution is an ongoing process," co-researcher David Robertson of the University of Manchester said in a release. "The virus can jump from species to species, from primate to primate, and that includes us; pathogens have been with us for millions of years and routinely switch host species."
HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which attacks the body's immune system, giving rise to lethal infections. Patients diagnosed with HIV can take medications to delay or stop HIV from developing into AIDS. There are 33 million confirmed cases of AIDS worldwide.
The unnamed woman has no signs of AIDS and remains untreated, Nature Medicine said.
The most likely explanation for the emergence of the new virus is gorilla-to-human transmission, though researchers say they cannot rule out the possibility that the chimpanzee SIV gave rise to the new strain "either indirectly by transmission to gorillas and then to humans or directly by transmission to humans and also to gorillas."
Researchers said they don't know how widespread the virus is among humans.
"The human prevalence of this new lineage remains to be determined," the report says, adding that "it could be circulating unnoticed in Cameroon or
|
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[
"Paris, France,",
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"gorilla-to-human transmission,",
"gorillas,",
"Cameroon,"
] |
question: What did the old woman moved to?, answer: Paris, France, | question: Who was found to have RBF 168?, answer: a 62-year-old woman | question: What came from the gorillas?, answer: HIV variants | question: What is the likely explanation for the emergence of new virus?, answer: gorilla-to-human transmission, | question: What is the strain first known to be derived from?, answer: gorillas, | question: Where did the strain come from?, answer: Cameroon,
|
(CNN) -- French shoemaker Christian Louboutin is seeing red -- and will likely be seeing a lot more of it -- after a judge in Manhattan denied an injunction that would have kept fellow designer Yves Saint Laurent from selling shoes with red soles.
The lawsuit, filed in June, takes issue with four specific shoes from YSL's Cruise 2011 Collection: the Tribute, Tribtoo, Palais and Woodstock models, claiming the shoes violate Louboutin's trademarked "lacquered red sole."
"Everyone sees the flash of red and associates the red with Louboutin," attorney Harley Lewin said Thursday about his client.
In fact, Louboutin's red soles have graced many a red carpets, adorning the feet of celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Heidi Klum and Sarah Jessica Parker. In 2009, Jennifer Lopez wrote a song about them, "But it's the last time, I'm movin' on, I'm throwing on my Louboutins."
In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero acknowleded that in choosing a red sole for his shoes, Louboutin had "departed from longstanding conventions and norms of his industry," to create a product, "so eccentric and striking that it is easily perceived and remembered."
However, Marrero went on to say that, "Louboutin's claim to the 'the color red' is, without some limitation, overly broad and inconsistent with the scene of trademark registration."
"This was a trademark that never should've been issued," David Bernstein, attorney for the defendant, Yves Saint Laurent said.
He adds, "YSL has been using red since the 1970s, other designers have used red on the soles of their shoes. They aren't doing so to confuse people, but because it's a design aesthetic."
Lewin thinks the judge went too far.
"This is no longer about the case," he said.
Judge Marrero's decision drew parallels between painters and fashion designers, calling them both members of a creative industry where no one should be barred from using color to achieve their aesthetic. Doing so could, "interfere with creativity and stifle competition."
Bernstein agrees. "No designer should be able to monopolize a color."
There have been cases when companies have copyrighted color.
Owens Corning, for example, has the trademark for pink fiberglass. Marrero said industrial products are different because the application of color is simply to distinguish one manufacturer from another.
Lewin says his client "separated his shoes from everyone else's by using a red sole."
Lewin said he's never had such an outpouring from his fellow attorneys, law professors and members of the fashion industry, telling him, "This [verdict] is an abomination. Tell your client to appeal."
On August 17, both sides will meet for a case management conference, and Lewin says he will announce his plans to do just that.
"This is not over," Lewin said, "Not by a long shot."
|
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] |
question: Who asked the judge to do this?, answer: Christian Louboutin | question: What did the attorney say?, answer: "Everyone sees the flash of red and associates the red with Louboutin," | question: who is christian laubutin, answer: French | question: Who won't stop YSL from selling shoes with red soles?, answer: judge in Manhattan | question: Who says color red is associated with Louboutin?, answer: Harley Lewin | question: Who asked YSL to stop selling shoes with red soles?, answer: Christian Louboutin | question: What won't the judge do?, answer: injunction that would have kept fellow designer Yves Saint Laurent from selling shoes with red soles.
|
(CNN) -- Fresh faced and pictured wearing a crisp military uniform, the photo of a young Jim Tuckwell looks like it was taken before he'd seen action. But in fact, at the age of just 22, he had already experienced the full horrors of war.
World War II veteran Jim Tuckwell as a young soldier.
Shot twice on Gold beach during the Normandy Invasion or "D-Day landings," Tuckwell was later deafened by a shell that blew off his friend's legs nearby.
By the end of the war, the British soldier had been promoted to the rank of full sergeant, as he put it, simply because so many of his seniors had been killed.
Now 86-years-old, he and many of his former comrades will remember the 65th anniversary of the landings Saturday at ceremonies along the French coast.
It was a massive air and sea operation that marked the turning point of the war in Europe. And he knows how lucky he is to be alive.
"My mate Jimmy went up the beach with two cases of bombs. I never saw him again. If I hadn't been hit, who's to say I wouldn't have been in the same position as he was when he was killed?"
With bullet wounds to his chest and arm, Tuckwell collapsed unconscious on the beach. It was more than nine hours later that he was picked up by the stretcher-bearers.
Incredibly, he was back fighting within six weeks. Watch Tuckwell tell his story »
So much time has passed since then, but the pain is still etched into his face.
Sitting there in full military uniform, blazer adorned with half a dozen medals, his voice frequently cracks with emotion.
He frequently tails off as he relives the past. "Every time I go back to Normandy I go to his grave, and it brings a tear to me eye even now. We were going do so much after the war ... but it never happened."
Tuckwell, who saw action with the 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment, has since formed a close friendship with Frank Rosier; they are members of the Normandy Veterans Association.
Both men say their experiences were so commonplace among their generation that none were able to talk about it until 40 years later.
Rosier told me that what he and the veterans discuss among themselves is very different to what is said in television interviews; but when pushed, he describes what it's like to kill another man.
"We could never get our fathers to talk about the first World War, because they were involved in close combat. And twice in the second World War it happened to me.
"I came face to face with a German, and I beat him to the draw. I killed him. I sat on the grass and was sick and I cried ... he was some mother's son."
I get the sense that there was a great deal of respect between these soldiers and the Germans on the other side.
Younger generations try to relate to the scale and the carnage of D-Day through movies like "Saving Private Ryan."
The veterans talk of the noise, "big battleships firing, rocket ships firing, mortars landing, planes strafing, floating artillery and the Germans were totally unsociable about it, they were firing back at us, so there was a hell of a lot of noise there," recalls Rosier.
They are lighthearted at times, citing the fact that British troops are renowned for their humor -- even in the darkest hours. But it is impossible to gloss over the horror and the danger they faced.
Standing together in one of the landing crafts at the D-Day museum in Portsmouth, England, Rosier described what it was like to approach Gold beach. Watch Rosier's full interview »
He spoke of the bullets thundering into the sides of the craft, a ramp on one side hitting a mine and being disabled, and the knowledge that when the front ramp was dropped, the troops inside would be peppered with machine gun fire
|
[
"Who remembers the horrors of war and fallen comrades?",
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] |
[
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question: Who remembers the horrors of war and fallen comrades?, answer: Jim Tuckwell | question: Who is attending the 65th anniversary services in France Saturday?, answer: Jim Tuckwell | question: What do D-Day soldiers remember?, answer: 65th anniversary of the landings | question: Who is attending the 65th anniversary services?, answer: he and many of his former comrades | question: What is being held in France Saturday?, answer: the 65th anniversary of the landings | question: What was one storming?, answer: Normandy
|
(CNN) -- Friday marks the passage of one month since a magnitude-7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti. As thousands of Haitians gathered in the center of Port-au-Prince to remember what was lost that day, Ann Veneman, executive director of UNICEF, spoke to CNN's "American Morning" about the situation.
"We don't know how many actually were orphaned by the earthquake. There are so many children in Haiti without parental supervision who need to be cared for, who need to be fed, clothed and so forth and protected," she said.
Tracking down the actual numbers in Haiti can be tough given the circumstances.
Fact check: One month after the earthquake, what numbers are available to tell the story of devastation and recovery?
• Human toll: The Haitian government says the quake claimed the lives of more than 212,000 people and injured more than 300,000. The U.S. Agency for International Development estimates that 3 million people were affected by the quake and 700,000 in Port-au-Prince were displaced.
• Aid agencies: The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that more than 400 agencies were registered with the Haitian government to do work in Haiti before the quake. Because some of the non-governmental organizations are small and work in remote, rural areas, their presence may not even be known to the Haitian government.
• Aid given: According to the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, more than 2.3 million people have received food aid from the World Food Programme and their partners, and more than 10,300 mosquito nets, 23,000 family tents, 26,500 kitchen sets and 79,500 blankets have been distributed.
• Sanitation: The World Health Organization estimated this week that less than 5 percent of the need for latrines has been meet. However, there has not been an increase in reported infectious diseases. More than 900,000 people have access to safe drinking water, but that still falls short of the goal of providing water to 1.1 million.
• Children: About 5,000 schools were destroyed or damaged in the quake. According to the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, the Haitian government aims to have all schools open again before the end of March.
Kathleen Strottman, executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, estimates that there were more than 900 orphans in the process of being adopted into American homes when the quake struck.
Bottom line: One month after the most devastating earthquake in Haiti's history, the available numbers show a nation with great needs. However, the numbers also show that aid is reaching a large percentage of the people.
Got something that needs checking? E-mail us at [email protected].
CNN Radio's Steve Kastenbaum and CNN Weather Anchor Chad Myers contributed to this report.
|
[
"What number of schools were destroyed?",
"How many people were killed?",
"How many schools were destroyed?",
"What number of people were believed killed?",
"Who was registered to work in Haiti before quake struck?",
"Where was the earthquake?"
] |
[
"5,000",
"212,000",
"5,000",
"212,000",
"more than 400 agencies",
"Haiti."
] |
question: What number of schools were destroyed?, answer: 5,000 | question: How many people were killed?, answer: 212,000 | question: How many schools were destroyed?, answer: 5,000 | question: What number of people were believed killed?, answer: 212,000 | question: Who was registered to work in Haiti before quake struck?, answer: more than 400 agencies | question: Where was the earthquake?, answer: Haiti.
|
(CNN) -- Friday, January 22
10:37 p.m. -- CNN's Brian Todd reports on a fire at what is believed to be a textile factory in Port-au-Prince. Watch
9:02 p.m. -- Israeli rescuers pulled a 22-year-old man from the ruins of a three-story building in Port-au-Prince on Friday, 10 days after the January 12 earthquake. The man, who was not immediately identified, was rescued near the quake-ravaged presidential residence south of the capital, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The rescuers "were able to release him whole and healthy" and take him to an IDF field hospital in stable condition for further treatment," Maj. Zohar Moshe said.
8:41 p.m. -- Thousands of earthquake victims' bodies have been buried in mass graves northwest of Port-au-Prince, a manager at the site tells CNN's Brian Todd. Watch
7:39 p.m. -- Haitians have to be in the driver's seat as they try to rebuild their country, the head of the International Monetary Fund says. "We can provide resources, but there must be ownership by the Haitians themselves and especially by the Haitian authorities," Dominique Strauss-Kahn told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. He previously has called for some kind of Marshall Plan like the one that rebuilt Western Europe after World War II.
7:10 p.m. -- About 4 million pounds of food are being sent by barge from Puerto Rico to Haiti, CNN's Mike M. Ahlers reports. Puerto Rican authorities say that when it arrives in Haiti on Monday morning, it will be the single largest shipment of aid to arrive there to date. The food is said to be enough to feed the people of Port-au-Prince for a week. Organizers say it would take 150 planes to carry as much cargo.
6:42 p.m. -- About 250,000 people in Haiti are in urgent need of aid and another 3 million have been affected, according to the European Union, whose commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, Karel De Gucht, got a firsthand view of the situation in Port-au-Prince this week. The EU has estimated the death toll in Haiti to be at 200,000.
5:31 p.m. -- A Haitian woman who was trapped in her collapsed house for five days with her 20-year-old daughter talks about her desperate, unsuccessful attempts to keep the daughter alive. Read
5:13 p.m. -- A man was killed, apparently by someone striking him with a concrete block, on one of the busiest streets in Port-au-Prince today. Witnesses say the man was trying to steal people's money. One person called it "citizen justice." Read
4:55 p.m. -- Yele Haiti, the nonprofit formed by musician Wyclef Jean, says it hired an accounting firm in the wake of increased public scrutiny of its finances, CNNMoney.com reports. The announcement comes days after Jean tearfully denied allegations that he misappropriated funds from his charity. The accusations emerged after the Haitian native returned to the U.S. following several days of relief work in Port-au-Prince in the wake of the January 12 earthquake. Read
1:39 p.m. -- The international aid organization Partners in Health reports it has 24 operating rooms established and working 24 hours a day in Haiti. More than 140 surgeons, nurses, anesthetists and other specialists were involved in the organization's quake relief effort, it said.
1:20 p.m. -- CNN's Ivan Watson speaks to a fisherman in Petit Paradis, Haiti, who describes a tsunami from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake more than 12 feet high. The water swept away his father and at least three other people in the fishing village, the fisherman tells Watson.
12:24 p.m. -- As of Thursday evening more than $355 million in donations had been raised for relief efforts, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper covering nonprofit organizations. The estimate is based on a survey of 35 charities contributing the largest amounts of money to Haiti.
11:57 a.m. -- Corporate donations to Haiti earthquake relief have surpassed $100 million, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center. The center reports the $106 million donated so far is
|
[
"in which country the earthquake",
"Who has complete special coverage of the Haiti earthquake?"
] |
[
"Haiti,",
"(CNN)"
] |
question: in which country the earthquake, answer: Haiti, | question: Who has complete special coverage of the Haiti earthquake?, answer: (CNN)
|
(CNN) -- Friends and colleagues of Apple founder Steve Jobs sent their condolences Wednesday after his death at the age of 56.
On its homepage, Google carried a small notation, "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011." Clicking on Jobs' name took users to the Apple website and its tribute to Jobs.
U.S. House Leader Eric Cantor, R-Virginia:
"There is not a day that goes by, and often not an hour, that a Steve Jobs invention does not better my family's life. Thank you Steve."
U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio:
"Steve Jobs changed the world for the better (with) his innovations & genius. R.I.P."
San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee:
"Steve Jobs was a giant in the world of technology and established the Bay Area as a global center for innovation. He has inspired and changed the Bay Area and the world forever. Steve Jobs was born in San Francisco and his values were reflected in his generous support for results-driven education reform, 21st century philanthropy and bridging the digital divide for our diverse communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene, his family and friends."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg:
"Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve's passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In New York City's government, everyone from street construction inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple's products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively. Tonight our city -- a city that has always had such respect and admiration for creative genius -- joins with people around the planet in remembering a great man and keeping Laurene and the rest of the Jobs family in our thoughts and prayers."
California Attorney General Kamala Harris:
"California has lost a great leader with the passing of Steve Jobs. His character, intelligence, and creativity changed how the world works and how the world imagines itself. We are forever grateful and inspired by the gift he has given us. I send my thoughts and sympathies to Laurene and the entire Jobs family."
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
"Steve Jobs is an inspiration to American entrepreneurs. He will be missed."
John Lasseter, chief creative officer, and Ed Catmull, president, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios
"Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time."
Meg Whitman, president and chief executive of Hewlett-Packard:
"Steve Jobs was an iconic entrepreneur and businessman whose impact on technology was felt beyond Silicon Valley. He will be remembered for the innovation he brought to market and the inspiration he brought to the world."
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt:
"Today is very sad for all of us. Steve defined a generation of style and technology that's unlikely to be matched again. Steve was so charismatically brilliant that he inspired people to do the impossible, and he will be remembered as the greatest computer innovator in history."
Google co-founder Sergey Brin:
"From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision
|
[
"Who is the mayor of New York?",
"Who called him a genius?",
"Who is among the greatest innovators?",
"What country lost a genius?"
] |
[
"Michael Bloomberg:",
"U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio:",
"Steve Jobs",
"America"
] |
question: Who is the mayor of New York?, answer: Michael Bloomberg: | question: Who called him a genius?, answer: U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio: | question: Who is among the greatest innovators?, answer: Steve Jobs | question: What country lost a genius?, answer: America
|
(CNN) -- Friends and family planned a memorial service in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday for Thor Hesla, who died in Monday's attack on a luxury hotel in Afghanistan.
Friends describe Thor Hesla as a "passionate believer" and "larger than life."
Hesla, 45, loved a game of ultimate Frisbee, a motorcycle ride and a great adventure. Friends say he found no adventure greater than helping people.
He set off for another adventure in October, this time to Afghanistan to work with the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, to help build civil society.
"Thor Hesla was a passionate believer in what is possible in the world ," said a statement posted online by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, a friend of 20 years.
The Taliban said it was behind the attack that killed him, carried out by suicide bombers and gunmen. Six other people were killed at Kabul's Serena hotel that day.
Six days after Hesla arrived in Afghanistan, he had e-mailed details of his new surroundings to his far-away friends.
Despite the violence wracking the nation, Hesla described Kabul as a city with potential and "astonishing beauty."
He said he was struck by glimpses of "desperately poor" Afghans. "I saw a man moving down the street who was, literally, wearing only rags yesterday," Hesla wrote.
He expressed pride in his work and the American effort to rebuild Afghanistan, writing, "You are forcibly reminded how good and inspirational Americans can be."
Life in Kabul isn't easy. Diplomats and contractors in Afghanistan are under strict security and their travel is severely restricted.
A witness to Monday's attack said terrorists forced their way into the hotel gym and shot three or four people who were working out. Watch witness describe the attack »
Hesla's friends said he joined the hotel's gym and spa as a diversion from his limited daily routine.
"You're always, always, always, reminded how great a blessing it is to come from a land which has never known -- since 1865 -- serious war," Hesla wrote his friends, referring to the Civil War. "It's really difficult to calculate how damaging all-out war can be on a society."
"He was very passionate about everything," said friend Stefan Tigges, according to CNN affiliate WGCL. "He was very generous. He was very spirited, very kind."
Tigges told the Atlanta TV station his friend was "larger than life in every way in terms of his sense of humor, his intellect, his capacity to love, all these things."
At Atlanta's Emory University, Hesla studied English literature and played rugby. He also worked for the Atlanta Olympic Committee and various Democratic political campaigns, including the 2000 campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley.
In countries such as Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Antigua, Barbados and Aruba, Hesla tried to build bridges between feuding groups, and worked on political campaigns seeking to fight crime and corruption, create jobs and improve education, his friends said.
For more than three years, Hesla had worked in war-ravaged Kosovo, where he helped reform economic systems.
After taking time off to travel and write both a screenplay and a novel, he had set off for Afghanistan to work as a contractor for USAID in its "capacity building" program, helping government institutions, social organizations and universities with financial matters.
"We mourn the loss of our fellow employee, Thor Hesla, " said Elizabeth Palmer of BearingPoint, Hesla's employer. "He was a loving son and brother and an important part of our BearingPoint family. His commitment to helping the people of Afghanistan was well known, and we will miss him terribly."
Following Thursday's services in Georgia, another is planned for Hesla in Washington D.C., which friends said was his "adopted home." E-mail to a friend
CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report.
|
[
"who is responsible for the bombing",
"on what place are the Memorials planned?",
"where was the bombing",
"What happened to an Atlanta native named Thor Hesla?",
"where had astonishing beauty",
"where was thor from"
] |
[
"The Taliban",
"Atlanta, Georgia,",
"Afghanistan.",
"died in Monday's attack on a luxury hotel in Afghanistan.",
"Kabul",
"Atlanta, Georgia,"
] |
question: who is responsible for the bombing, answer: The Taliban | question: on what place are the Memorials planned?, answer: Atlanta, Georgia, | question: where was the bombing, answer: Afghanistan. | question: What happened to an Atlanta native named Thor Hesla?, answer: died in Monday's attack on a luxury hotel in Afghanistan. | question: where had astonishing beauty, answer: Kabul | question: where was thor from, answer: Atlanta, Georgia,
|
(CNN) -- Friends and strangers across the country gathered on the streets and in schools, churches, bars and auditoriums to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States.
A diverse crowd in Los Angeles, California, cheers as Barack Obama takes the oath of office Tuesday.
"It's a great day to be an American," iReporter Roger Germann said at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, where revelers watched the inauguration on television monitors among exhibits of sharks and otters.
Tuesday's inauguration brought together Americans from different walks of life, united in their hope that Obama will deliver on his promise to change the nation's course. Click the links to read views on President Obama's inauguration from people across the country.
Reaction to speech What Obama means to Americans Hopes for Obama
Reaction to speech
Public inauguration-viewing parties were held in auditoriums, schools and arenas across the country, where the atmosphere mirrored the excitement in Washington. Watch people react at viewing parties »
"People are cheering here as if they were there," Irene Koehler of Fremont, California, said of the atmosphere in Oakland's Oracle Arena.
More than 200 parishioners from the First AME Church, the largest African-American Church in Los Angeles, gathered in the recreation hall to pray together and share in the excitement of an historic moment
Dressed in Obama shirts and hats, the level of audience participation had the effect of transporting the crowd to Washington.
They stood when Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked the crowd to "please stand" and bowed their heads in prayer. They sang along with Aretha Franklin and even took pictures of the screen when Obama appeared.
A handful of viewers had tears in their eyes, but most were filled with "pure joy."
"On Election Night, I was full of tears. I am all cried out -- it is all about joy now," said 72-year-old Shirley Turner-Haymer, the granddaughter of a former slave.
Even young parishioners derived some significance from the event.
"It's really inspirational that we have a black president now ... because now I could see I can do whatever I want," said David Colvin, 10.
Lynn Gabriel Thomas, far right, says she is watching the inauguration in honor of her father.
Lynn Gabriel Thomas, daughter of Tuskegee Airman Daniel Moore, was one of about 300 people who crammed into the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena, California, to watch the inauguration.
"My father would be so thrilled to see this, Barack Obama being sworn in." Thomas said. "He loved parades, and he hated crowds. I'm here for him."
Across the country in New York's Bronx borough, students huddled in the halls of a school to watch the ceremony on a projection screen.
"They were cheering; they were clapping; they were in awe because everything we had talked about they were able to see," teacher Marta Rendon said.
"When they heard Obama's speech, they were right there clapping and screaming with the rest of us. It was really something. It was really amazing. Watch Obama promise hope over fear »
More than 100 people gathered at the central library in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, to watch the ceremony.
"It was really exciting to see people being excited about the country and really happy about there being a new president. And it was great to see such a collective sense of community ... hope and happiness," said Jessica Namakkal, a 29-year-old graduate student from Minneapolis.
"I think Obama's speech was great and that he really addressed the past eight years in a diplomatic and fair way, while also sort of pushing forward in a good way."
The unusually bitter cold affected the turnout at Daytona Beach, Florida's, outdoor inauguration celebration, forcing people to take shelter at a local bar.
Sean Mingo and his mother, Joan, watched the inauguration in Daytona Beach, Florida.
More than 50 people packed into Mai Tai
|
[
"What inspiration did Obama provide?",
"when did this happen",
"What does the republican hope?"
] |
[
"I could see I can do whatever I want,\"",
"Tuesday.",
"that Obama will deliver on his promise to change the nation's course."
] |
question: What inspiration did Obama provide?, answer: I could see I can do whatever I want," | question: when did this happen, answer: Tuesday. | question: What does the republican hope?, answer: that Obama will deliver on his promise to change the nation's course.
|
(CNN) -- From "Mississippi Masala" to "Vanity Fair," Mira Nair's movies have entranced audiences in India and the West. CNN spoke to the director of "Monsoon Wedding" and "Salaam Bombay!" at the Bollywood Movie Awards in Long Island about filmmaking in India and America and her adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel about loss and family, "The Namesake."
...............................
Film director Mira Nair
CNN: What inspired you to make "The Namesake"?
Mira Nair: I happened to read "The Namesake" on a plane in early 2004, when I traveled from New York to Jo'berg to finish the filming of "Vanity Fair." I read "Namesake" while in huge grief with the death of a beloved person to me [Mira's mother in law]. It was at that state of mourning that I picked up this novel, and in it Jhumpa writes really acutely of a loss of a parent in a foreign country, and I thought I had been understood by someone.
It was also a story that linked the two cities in which I had grown up -- Calcutta and New York City -- and it was almost certainly the road that I had traveled. It just spoke to me and I felt compelled to do this film. A few months later we were shooting it.
CNN: It's filmed in both India and New York, such different cultures. Tell us about the universal themes involved during the film.
Nair: Well, the story of movement and crossings is as old as the hills. It's a tale of millions of us that have left one home for another, and tried to find out who we are through these places. Then when we have children, life gets more interesting. It is about growing up through our adult lives and our children's lives.
It is also equally a love story between two people who come from a culture who don't send roses and diamonds for love; who sit at a kitchen table and look at each other. It's about that generation of parents who have that stillness about one another, versus the clang and hustle of young Gogol who is 15 and grows up in an American world because he wishes to be American. That flow -- that see-saw between parents and children, that's what "The Namesake" is about.
CNN: Tell us about casting the role of Gogol.
Nair: Well, Kal Penn plays Gogol and he's known as a comic star, but I had no idea that he existed until my 15-year-old son said, "This has to be your Gogol." I didn't take him seriously at all until every night the campaign mounted at home: "Tell me in the morning it's Kal Penn!" he would say. And then Kal wrote to me and told me he became an actor because he had seen "Mississippi Masala" when he was eight years old and realized people on the screen could look like him, and other such seductive things. He came to my office and auditioned and he was just so appealing, and so much the real thing, that I cast him as Gogol.
CNN: How have Indian audiences reacted to your heavily western-influenced films?
Nair: It's not that different a kind of audience, that's what pleases me. "Salaam Bombay!" we really made for the children on the streets and the kids who really love that Bollywood stuff, and also with "Deeply Alternative," which ran for 27 weeks. "Monsoon Wedding" was also a big hit in India. But no, they don't come to my films for Bollywood fare; it's a completely alternative thing. In terms of audiences on both sides, I've been blessed: the films have been really well received and highly anticipated.
CNN: "The Namesake" was filmed in America and India. What differences were there in the two locations?
Nair: In India it is more about orchestrating chaos, and it's about sifting the chaos, but I get especially excited about the throb and
|
[
"What other films has Nair directed?",
"Jhumpa Lahiri's novel is the basis for which movie?",
"what Nair directed \"Monsoon Wedding,\"?",
"Nair directed which filds?"
] |
[
"\"Salaam Bombay!\"",
"\"The Namesake.\"",
"Mira",
"\"Monsoon Wedding\" and \"Salaam Bombay!\""
] |
question: What other films has Nair directed?, answer: "Salaam Bombay!" | question: Jhumpa Lahiri's novel is the basis for which movie?, answer: "The Namesake." | question: what Nair directed "Monsoon Wedding,"?, answer: Mira | question: Nair directed which filds?, answer: "Monsoon Wedding" and "Salaam Bombay!"
|
(CNN) -- From Captain Kirk on "Star Trek" to Denny Crane on "Boston Legal," William Shatner has been a fixture on television for decades.
William Shatner has a new talk show and has written an autobiography.
Even as his latest series comes to an end, the actor is busier than ever.
He has written an autobiography, "Up Till Now," and he has a new talk show -- "Shatner's Raw Nerve" on the Biography channel --billed as an "edgy and off-beat celebrity interview series."
Shatner talked with CNN's Kyra Phillips about his career, past and present.
CNN: "Boston Legal," what a finale: a wedding between Denny and fellow lawyer and best friend Alan. Don't they know that Proposition 8 [passed]?
Shatner: It was all a financial guise, as you learned to your dismay. There was nothing sexual about our marriage. It was all designed to bequeath my fortune to him as [my character] got ready to die.
CNN: "Boston Legal" was a brilliant show: the writing, your famous wit. You must have had a blast doing the show.
Shatner: We laughed our way through five years of great joy, great entertainment, and we got some wonderful awards during the years and the beauty of it all was that when we came in this season, we knew we were going to do 13 shows and be out. So the writing reflected the fact that we knew we were ending and it wrapped the whole show up.
CNN: I cannot believe you have a porn queen [Jenna Jameson] on your talk show.
Shatner: We like to call her an adult film star. She turns out to be highly sensitive, vulnerable. ... This is a remarkable interview of a woman who is terribly vulnerable and expresses it. It was so good, we're doing a two-parter.
CNN: Who has been your favorite leading lady?
Shatner: They go down in the hoary mists of history. The effects of age -- they all meld into one and it looks like my wife.
CNN: You reveal a lot in your book. Who would you say your ultimate mentor has been through your life?
Shatner: I've thought about that over the years and it comes up that I don't have anybody who ever mentored me, ever was particularly interested in furthering my career. I had to do it stumbling around, trying to do it as most people do themselves.
|
[
"What show did Shatner laugh his way through?",
"How many years was Boston Legal on?",
"What is the name of Shatner's book?",
"What has the actor also written?",
"What is the name of his autobiography?",
"What does Shatner say about his time on Boston Legal?",
"On what channel is Shatner's show appearing?",
"Who is the host of Shatner's Raw Nerve?"
] |
[
"\"Boston Legal\"",
"five",
"\"Up Till Now,\"",
"an autobiography.",
"\"Up Till Now,\"",
"We laughed our way through five years of great joy, great entertainment, and we got some wonderful awards during the years and the beauty of it all was that when we came in this season, we knew we were going to do 13 shows and be out. So the writing reflected the fact that we knew we were ending and it wrapped the whole show up.",
"Biography",
"William"
] |
question: What show did Shatner laugh his way through?, answer: "Boston Legal" | question: How many years was Boston Legal on?, answer: five | question: What is the name of Shatner's book?, answer: "Up Till Now," | question: What has the actor also written?, answer: an autobiography. | question: What is the name of his autobiography?, answer: "Up Till Now," | question: What does Shatner say about his time on Boston Legal?, answer: We laughed our way through five years of great joy, great entertainment, and we got some wonderful awards during the years and the beauty of it all was that when we came in this season, we knew we were going to do 13 shows and be out. So the writing reflected the fact that we knew we were ending and it wrapped the whole show up. | question: On what channel is Shatner's show appearing?, answer: Biography | question: Who is the host of Shatner's Raw Nerve?, answer: William
|
(CNN) -- From Woodstock and a man on the moon to the Manson murders and the Stonewall riots, the summer of 1969 was a tumultuous and eventful time. Listed below are a few of the historic and memorable moments from that summer.
April 23 | Sirhan Sirhan sentenced Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of murdering New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign, is sentenced to death a week after being found guilty. Three years later, his sentence is commuted to life in prison after California abolishes the death penalty.
May 18 | Apollo 10 The Apollo 10 mission is a dress rehearsal for the lunar landing module. This mission tested "all aspects of the lunar landing mission exactly as it would be performed, except for the actual landing," according to NASA. It also transmitted the first color pictures of Earth from space.
May 23 | The Who releases "Tommy" The Who, a key band of the 1960s British Invasion, releases the rock opera "Tommy." The double album features songs like "Pinball Wizard" and "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"
May 24 | Beatles' "Get Back" is No. 1 "Get Back" by the Beatles becomes the top song on Billboard's list and stays there for five weeks. Released as a single, the song later appeared on the "Let it be" album. "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in" by the Fifth Dimension was the second song on the list for that week.
May 25 | "Midnight Cowboy" released John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy," starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, is released with an X rating, the first ever in wide release. The film received seven Academy Award nominations and won three, including best picture. Other notable movies released during that year include "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Easy Rider" and "True Grit."
June 3 | Last episode of 'Star Trek' airs The last episode of the original "Star Trek" airs on NBC. During the episode, titled "Turnabout Intruder," one of Captain Kirk's former lovers steals his body.
June 6 | Joe Namath briefly retires Joe Namath, the star New York Jets quarterback who famously guaranteed a Super Bowl victory, briefly retires from the National Football League over a conflict with league Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
June 8 | Nixon and Vietnam President Nixon, after being elected on a campaign pledge to pull troops out of Southeast Asia, announces the withdrawal of 25,000 U.S. troops from Vietnam.
June 9 / June 23 | Burger becomes chief justice Appointed by President Nixon, Warren Burger is confirmed as the chief justice of the Supreme Court on June 9, succeeding Earl Warren. Two weeks later, he is sworn in. In 1973, Burger votes with the majority in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, establishing a woman's right to an abortion.
June 28 | Stonewall riots A confrontation between gay rights activists and police outside the Stonewall Inn -- a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City -- escalates into a riot. Over the next four decades, the riots act as a symbolic force for the burgeoning gay rights movement.
July 25 | Sen. Kennedy and Chappaquiddick Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy receives a two-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Mary Jo Kopechne, once a campaign worker for Sen. Robert Kennedy, drowned in the July 18 accident in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts.
July 20 | Moon landing Apollo 11, carrying three U.S. astronauts, lands on the moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon; crewmate Buzz Aldrin also walked on the moon. The third man on the mission was Michael Collins. Six lunar landings followed.
July 24 | Muhammad Ali convicted Boxing champion Muhammad Ali is convicted of evading the draft after he refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army. Two years earlier, Ali applied for an exemption as a conscientious objector but was denied. He was stripped of his fighting license and title. He returned to the ring in 1970, and his conviction was overturned by the
|
[
"Where were troops withdrawn from?",
"When did man land on the moon?",
"What made news in sports?",
"Which apollo mission was it?",
"What boxer made news?",
"On what date did the Apollo 11 mission land on the moon?"
] |
[
"Vietnam.",
"of 1969",
"Joe Namath briefly retires",
"10",
"Muhammad Ali",
"July 20"
] |
question: Where were troops withdrawn from?, answer: Vietnam. | question: When did man land on the moon?, answer: of 1969 | question: What made news in sports?, answer: Joe Namath briefly retires | question: Which apollo mission was it?, answer: 10 | question: What boxer made news?, answer: Muhammad Ali | question: On what date did the Apollo 11 mission land on the moon?, answer: July 20
|
(CNN) -- From Yellowstone National Park to the Everglades, America's 391 national parks are in need of repair -- and thanks to the economic stimulus signed into law, help is now underway.
President Obama and his family visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona, a national park.
President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan passed in February and designated $750 million dollars to the national parks.
But not all of the stimulus money is being used -- and the parks are facing a $9 billion backlog in maintenance projects. So far, nearly 10 percent is in the pipeline.
"We are picking away at it as much as we can and we've been fortunate to have the recovery act money," said Jeffrey Olson of the National Park Service.
Olson said half of the $9 billion is slated to go for road repairs.
"Half of that [$9 billion] is roads and about $2 billion of that are the most pressing needs -- those we get some help from the stimulus. The president's budget proposal is calling for more maintenance and construction money," Olsen said.
Dan Wenk, the acting director of the National Park Service says most of those pressing needs include, "camp grounds, camp sites, it's amphitheaters for evening programs. It's the bathrooms. It's literally everything we have to make our visits enjoyable."
And those needs, Ranger Rocky Schroeder hopes, will be fulfilled soon. Watch more on the national parks facelift »
Schroeder patrols Prince William Park, about 35 miles outside the nation's capital. It has more than a dozen historic cabins slated for repair and is just one of the 250 national parks getting a face lift because of the stimulus package.
"The stimulus will help keep our visitors here, keep them happy and keep them coming back," Schroeder added.
And the numbers are good for national parks.
As of the end of July, attendance at the parks is up roughly 3 percent from the same time last year, according to the parks service. In 2008, nearly 275 million people visited the national parks compared to 272 million in 2006.
At Prince William Forest park, officials are hoping to start putting the money to use next month -- and said they've had overwhelming interest. For these stimulus projects, they need to hire six additional people. So far, they've received nearly 200 applications.
The Interior Department estimates the stimulus allocation will create around 8,000 jobs over two years -- though many will be temporary.
"It's stimulus because we are putting people to work ... but it's also stimulus because we're creating a better place ... increasing the visitor experience," Wenk said.
Some Republicans, however, are skeptical.
"Clearly we need to improve our national parks ... but nobody should confuse that with economic stimulus. I mean frankly that's just false advertising," Rep. Jeb Hensarlin, R-Texas, says.
For Ron Tipton of the National Parks Conservation Association, the funding is vital.
"We must ensure our national parks are well funded to address the parks' crumbling historic buildings and trails, enhance the Park Service's ability to protect wildlife, and provide needed public education and services," he said on the association's Web site.
Olson believes that when economic times are tough -- especially during the current recession -- parks are an economically friendly alternative to more expensive getaways.
"We rise above other things like theme parks," he says. "When times are tough economically, people turn inward and ask some really basic questions and there is nothing like being in a national park to ask those questions."
Olson adds that 147 parks in the United States and in the nation's territories have an entry fee, which ranges from $5 to $25; 244 do not have an entry fee.
But when it comes to this money, the key question being asked: How is the stimulus money being used?
Nearly $56 million is for Washington landmarks, which some say are in dire need
|
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question: The plan designated $750M dollars to what?, answer: national parks. | question: how much was designated?, answer: $750 million dollars | question: how many national parks are there, answer: 391 | question: There are how many national parks across the country?, answer: 391 | question: how much is the backlog?, answer: $9 billion | question: What is the figure for backlog maintenance, answer: $9 billion | question: how many parks in the us?, answer: 391
|
(CNN) -- From a country which brought the world brands like Sony and Toyota, there's another name that's crept quietly to global prominence. Hello Kitty, the moon-faced cat with a bow in her hair and no mouth.
Shintaro Tsuji, CEO of Sanrio, famous for its Hello Kitty brand, speaks in The Boardroom.
She's one of 450 characters developed by Japan's Sanrio Group, but she's by far most popular -- the embodiment of what's known in Japan as Kawaii, or the culture of cute.
Her image adorns some 50,000 objects, from cute, of course, to downright crazy. But there's nothing cute about the numbers. Hello Kitty is responsible for more than half of Sanrio's billion dollar annual turnover.
Her creator and founder of Sanrio is the effervescent 79-year-old Shintaro Tsuji. He told The Boardroom's Andrew Stevens what he thinks is the marketing secret behind a cultural icon.
Tsuji: Selling something which people want to buy is one of the ways of doing business. But I thought, goods that I want are also something other people want. So we wanted to make goods which people want to send to somebody else as a gift. The idea is that goods are for social communication purposes and that has been accepted worldwide.
In addition, to give Hello Kitty goods as a present is very thoughtful. Our three concepts of friendship, cuteness and thoughtfulness have been reaching out to people. It conveys the importance of being friendly. Such gestures are necessary for the Japanese nation. You care about other people by sending some gifts. Those concepts have been accepted worldwide.
Stevens: My first question to you is Sanrio has developed something like 450 characters. Why it is Hello Kitty has stood out so much more than the others? What is the secret of its success?
Tsuji: At first we were using characters which were created by outsiders, such as cartoonists or artists, but in this case we had to pay the royalty. So we decided to create our own characters. We hired many artists and asked them to create various characters. According to our own research, the most popular animal character was a dog then a white cat and the third one was a bear. Snoopy already existed as a dog character -- that's why we went for the second most popular character. We asked the artists to design a character based on a white cat.
Stevens: Let me just ask you a question about your life, growing up. Reading your autobiography, you lost your mother when you were 13 years old. You went to live with your auntie. And you describe your life; your childhood, has been a quite lonely. How do you think that has shaped you in your business life?
Tsuji: I felt that the most important thing in your life is to have someone whom you can open up your heart to and talk about anything; to have many friends whom you can talk with your heart is the most blessed thing in your life. Then I asked myself how can you make friends -- in what way people can make a friend with those people. That is not just to avoid behaving, which makes people uncomfortable. But do something, which makes people happy. In this way people can make friends.
For example, when people are ill, you can say something to them, or when people did something for you, you say thank you to them. For those kinds of occasions, you send a small present rather than an expensive gift. It is important to show your appreciation since you are able to make good friends in this way. This idea has formed as a business. As a result, Hello Kitty was created. Hello Kitty has become known among everybody and it means that people are becoming friends. I am pleased with this phenomenon.
Stevens: What, in your business career, is the most important lesson you think you've learnt?
Tsuji: A good company means that, first of all, its sale increases each year and secondly it makes profits each year. This is what people
|
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question: Who is the most famous character?, answer: Hello Kitty | question: Who speaks in the boardroom?, answer: Shintaro Tsuji, | question: What is Sanrio's most famous character?, answer: Hello Kitty | question: Who spoke to Andrew Stevens?, answer: Shintaro Tsuji. | question: What is responsible for more than half of Sanrio's billion dollar turnover?, answer: Hello Kitty | question: Who speaks to Andrew Stevens in The Boardroom?, answer: Shintaro Tsuji, | question: Who is responsible for more than half of Sanrio's billion dollar turnover?, answer: Hello Kitty | question: Who is sanrio's most famous character?, answer: Hello Kitty | question: Who is reponsible for more than half of turnover?, answer: Hello Kitty
|
(CNN) -- From a distance, he appears to be taking a nap. His long, delicate eyelashes are closed as his head rests on a blanket.
The 10-year-old boy, however, is not asleep.
The turn of his gauze-wrapped head reveals a mass of blood. Maher al-Husseini is dead, reportedly from a sniper bullet.
He bled to death.
In his own home.
"What is the fault of this child?" asks a man, whose voice rises in anger on a video posted Friday on YouTube. He kneels down and gestures to the boy, whose hands and ankles are tied.
"What did this child do that they hit him inside his house? This is unacceptable."
Friday was a day of protest, pain and sorrow in Homs, a center of demonstrations and death in Syria. At least 17 people were reported slain in the city, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an activist group.
Women, children and dissident soldiers were among those killed Friday in Syria, the group said.
The United Nations said last week that more than 4,000 people have died in Syria since a brutal government crackdown against protesters erupted in mid-March.
The unidentified narrator of the video starts the tour of the home upstairs, pointing to a bullet hole on a window frame, then blood on the chair beneath it.
He leads the cameraman down blood-spattered stairs to the body of Maher, lying in the family sitting room.
The boy wears a maroon sweatshirt featuring a comic character.
"We could not aid the child, we did not know where to take him because of the firing in the neighborhood," the agitated man said. "He kept bleeding for half an hour and we could not aid him."
The speaker blamed Maher's death on "thugs" who fired upon the home in the Mreiji neighborhood.
Another man sits in a chair, his head in his hands.
"We are not safe, this government is murderous," the narrator says. "It is killing people, it is killing its own people."
Near the end of the video, the man leans down and kisses the boy.
Watch the YouTube video. WARNING: Graphic content.
A longer version of the video shows a woman crying over the boy. Others can be heard in background wailing. The boy is wrapped in a white sheet and carried by men in street towards a cemetery. Some of the men chant "The martyrs blood will not be lost in vain," as the lifeless boy is carried.
As the men walk towards the cemetery gunfire can be heard.
They get to the cemetery and start digging as gunfire continues to ring out.
Another video posted on YouTube features another scene from Homs, a city wracked by eight months of violence.
Three shrouded bodies are being carried into a mosque to be laid out alongside Friday worshippers. One is of a boy identified as Nasser Mohammed, 12.
A chorus of voices rises as they are brought in. Some shout "Allahu Akbar!" (Allah is the greatest).
CNN could not independently confirm what was depicted in the videos. Western networks are not allowed inside the embattled country.
Out on the streets Friday, Syrian tanks rolled past the wreckage of past confrontations and gunfire echoed.
The street battles and demonstrations come as the United Nations and the Arab League continue to press the government of President Bashar al-Assad to allow monitors or observers on the ground. The regime continues to resist those calls -- as it maintains the conflict is with armed terrorists and its own security forces and supporters are the victims.
In a rare interview this week with a U.S. television network, al-Assad said he is not responsible for the crackdown.
The nation's military forces "are not my forces," al-Assad told ABC's Barbara Walters.
CNN's Jim Clancy reported from Beirut, Lebanon.
|
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question: An agitated man describes the death of a boy where?, answer: in the Mreiji neighborhood. | question: How many people in total died in Homs?, answer: 17 | question: How many died in Homs?, answer: At least 17 people | question: What age was the boy when he died?, answer: 10-year-old | question: What was the boy struck by?, answer: sniper bullet. | question: Where did the death of the boy occur?, answer: In his own home.
|
(CNN) -- From anti-apartheid activist to climate change champion, Kumi Naidoo is a man born to make a change. He's the new International Executive Director of environmental action group Greenpeace, and he takes on his role on the eve of the critical climate talks in Copenhagen.
The 44 year-old grew up in Johannesburg and had an early introduction to the world of activism.
"I was defiantly the product of the society I was born in, which was apartheid South Africa...I do think that many of us who might have exceptional or out-of-the-ordinary backgrounds are not because we ourselves are exceptional people but because we were born in context of adversity and been able to somehow rise above that adversity," he told CNN.
Naidoo was arrested numerous times for civil disobedience against the apartheid regime during the 1980s. He eventually left for the UK in 1987 and earned a doctorate in political sociology at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.
After Nelson Mandela was released in 1990, Kumi returned to South Africa and worked with and founded a number of civil society NGOs. Until last year Naidoo was for 10 years the General Secretary of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
One of the first high profile campaigns Naidoo worked on was Make Poverty History in 2005 that gained widespread coverage and a number of celebrity supporters.
After several years in the anti-poverty movement, Naidoo has come to see that struggle against poverty and combating climate change are two-sides of same coin.
Since becoming head of Greenpeace in November, Naidoo is focused on using his skills as an activist to move issues from the fringes into the mainstream.
"[Another] feature of activism is being able to choose the right tools and tactics for the right moment... If you can win through dialogue and engagement then that's great but sadly those with power in both government and business do not have the propensity to do the right thing unless they are pushed and that's why you have to have tools like non-violent direct action," he told CNN.
Connecting individuals to ideas and in turn connecting those ideas to a greater audience is one of the things Naidoo is hoping to achieve in Copenhagen.
"I don't want history to judge us as sleepwalking into a crisis when all the scientific evidence is saying that we have to stop and take notice of the way that we are living on this planet.
"I feel that right now we are all at risk and being severely judged by future generation."
Watch Kumi Naidoo on CNN's African Voices on Saturday, December 12, 11.30 and 18.30 GMT and Sunday, December 13, 17.00 GMT
|
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"Greenpeace,",
"poverty and combating climate change",
"Kumi Naidoo",
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] |
question: In what country did Naidoo grow up?, answer: South Africa...I | question: Naidoo is the International Executive Director of what group?, answer: Greenpeace, | question: What is part of the same struggle?, answer: poverty and combating climate change | question: Who grew up in apartheid South Africa?, answer: Kumi Naidoo | question: what are the tasks of the summit, answer: Connecting individuals to ideas and in turn connecting those ideas to a greater audience | question: Who is the International Executive Director of Greenpeace?, answer: Kumi Naidoo
|
(CNN) -- From baby deliveries to unexpected deaths, Mike Bowes, a 911 dispatcher from Quincy, Massachusetts, has handled a wide range of emergency calls.
Emergency dispatcher Mike Bowes received a call that his home was in flames Monday night.
But Monday night, the 44-year-old received an unexpected call from his neighbor: His own house was on fire.
The 911 call came in about 10:45 p.m. Monday, a little more than an hour before Mike Bowes' shift ended.
My neighbor's house just blew up, the caller said.
"What's the address?" Mike Bowes asked patiently, just as he did with every emergency call for the past 11 years with the Quincy Police Department.
The caller frantically relayed the address, Bowes' home address for 20 years.
"It was shocking," Mike Bowes said. "I thought she was kidding. It's a long shot. I mean, what's the chances it will be your house?"
Out of 90,000 people who reside in Quincy, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, Mike Bowes' was the home in flames, and he had answered the emergency call.
Thoughts raced through his mind: Are my parents OK? Are the neighbors safe? What about my stuff?
Following procedure, Mike Bowes transferred the call to the fire department. Soon, dozens of calls about the fire from other neighbors began to pour into the control room. Watch Mike Bowes talk about the fire »
One of the callers was his mother, Elizabeth Bowes, 68. She and her husband, Donald Bowes, 72, had escaped unharmed.
About 10:45 p.m., Elizabeth Bowes was reading a novel in the kitchen when she heard the explosion and saw flames shoot through the kitchen window. She ran to wake her husband in a first-floor bedroom.
There was also a landlord living in upstairs. Firefighters arrived within minutes and helped her to safety.
Within five minutes of receiving the call, police escorted Mike Bowes to his home. He could see the fire light up the dark sky from afar. Anxious neighbors gathered in the park nearby. He was relieved to find his parents together on the sidewalk.
"My parents are alive; my neighbors are alive," he said. "It's an inconvenience, but we'll get through it."
In another coincidence, one of the first firefighters to arrive on scene was Mike Bowes' cousin, Tom Bowes.
Tom Bowes, a firefighter for the past eight years, scrambled into the house to salvage old albums with wedding and baby photos amid the flames.
But everything else -- the clothes, electronics and furniture -- were destroyed.
No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters have yet to determine what caused the blaze. They say it started in the garage, about 15 feet from the home.
Mike Bowes says his job prepared him to deal with the challenging circumstances. Bowes and his family are living in a hotel, and local police officers and firefighters have donated clothes and money.
"A lot of people think dispatchers are strange because I've been joking about what happened," he said. "I say, 'If I'm not laughing, I'll start crying.' This is what I have to do."
|
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question: What was the neighbor's call about?, answer: His own house | question: Who called about the burning home?, answer: his neighbor: | question: Who escaped from it ?, answer: Elizabeth Bowes, | question: who answered neighbours call?, answer: Mike Bowes | question: What helps him cope with losing a home?, answer: Mike Bowes says his job prepared | question: what helped him cope?, answer: his job
|
(CNN) -- From color-popping dresses to bold prints and shapes, Afro-centric designs have been storming catwalks in recent years, catching the eye of fashionistas across the world.
But for many international consumers, especially those with no access to shops dedicated to African brands, it can often be hard to get their hands on designer garments from the continent.
As a result, more and more African designers are taking their lines to the web in a bid to reach out to a larger market. And while many are setting up their own websites, others rely on internet boutiques which have more experience navigating the online market.
One such store is My Asho -- launched in June 2009, this UK-based web boutique carries the work of established and up-and-coming African designers, giving them a chance to showcase their creations to a wider audience.
Founder Dolapo Shobanjo says she started My Asho -- taken from the Yoruba word "aso" which means cloth -- when she realized that African designers were not getting the promotion they deserved.
"I contacted the top designers, I spoke to them and asked them about their struggle and how difficult it is for them," says Shobanjo. "That's really how it got started, so to create that credible infrastructure is to show the global demand for the products and that will kick start the productions."
Today, My Asho stocks a variety of womenswear, children's clothes and accessories from more than 30 African designers. Shobanjo says she is very careful when it comes to selecting new designers, making sure they have high professional standards.
"We're very happy to add new people in the site but we have to ensure that the designers we add are serious," she says.
"There are a lot of people out there who claim to be African designers but it's more like 'oh, I have a tailor who can sew very well and who can copy items,' so we have to distinguish between copy-cats and people doing this as a hobby."
One of the designers featured on the site is Erzumah Ackerson who runs clothing label Bestow Elan. She says My Asho is an ideal platform for her work, helping her to make her creations more visible as well as boost demand.
"I think there's still an element of investment that still needs to be done so we are recognized on an international as well as mainstream platform but I think My Asho is a perfect platform because since I've been on there, I've had a lot of international buyers and got into mainstream magazines."
And as this digital expansion is helping create more demand, many African designers are now having to keep up in their supply.
Titi Ademola, a Ghana-based designer who is the founder of the KIKI Clothing brand, says the biggest challenge for many fashion designers is manufacturing.
"You get a lot of excitement from so many places but once you get an order, how do you manufacture in large quantities?" says Ademola.
"So, that's the issue that I'm facing, trying to focus on quality control and trying to ensure that you consistently provide quality and appealing garments to other companies and other markets," she adds.
With clients in more than 50 countries, Shobanjo's goal is to create a sustainable business model for My Asho. At the same time, she also wants her company to help her continent by supporting local African communities where the clothes are manufactured.
As a result, Shobanjo's prioritized working with ethical brands that show a commitment to fair labor practices and create opportunities for their communities.
"I'm supporting Africa, helping it grow and creating jobs but it's not to say that a certain percentage of x is going to here because I don't think that is a sustainable business model," says Shobanjo.
"I think it is better to create from the start ethical principles and work with designers who pay their tailors well, who are investing in helping their communities grow and then once you grow as a business then you know that they
|
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question: What is the online store?, answer: My Asho | question: where are the clothes made?, answer: African communities | question: where the online store is?, answer: UK-based | question: Who is the founder?, answer: Dolapo Shobanjo | question: What is My Asho?, answer: UK-based web boutique | question: how many designers stock the store?, answer: more than 30 | question: How many different African designers?, answer: more than 30
|
(CNN) -- From cyberspace to college campuses, many young conservatives are worried that Sen. John McCain is not appealing to their generation.
Sen. John McCain says he knows how important young voters are.
At a town hall meeting in Ohio this month, a student told McCain that Republicans were a dying breed on his campus.
"I understand the challenge I have, and I understand that this election is really all about the people of your generation," McCain said.
Many young Republicans said Sen. Barack Obama, the 46-year-old junior senator from Illinois, is inspiring voters their age, but McCain, the 71-year-old Arizona senator who has been in office since the early '80s, is not.
Eric Perlmutter, a Republican and student at the at the University of Southern California, said the roaring enthusiasm that follows Obama is missing among conservatives his age.
"We try to get people out to our college Republican meetings, but ... we can't seem to draw the same kind of vocal support," he said.
At the July town hall meeting in Portsmouth, Ohio, McCain said he knows that he has "a lot of work to do" with the younger voters.
The senator said he needs young conservatives to help spread his message for him, because "there's nothing that convinces young people like other young people."
McCain also acknowledged the importance of using the Internet to reach out to a generation that stays in touch via social networking sites.
On MySpace, Obama has more than 427,000 friends, compared with fewer than 60,000 for McCain.
Perlmutter said he cringed when McCain admitted he doesn't use e-mail. Obama, however, is frequently seen with Blackberry in hand.
Additionally, Perlmutter pointed out that the images used in McCain's campaign -- such as a message about small businesses showing a barber shop with a traditional red and blue pole -- hardly connect to the younger generation.
"Well, when you see the Main Street barber shop image, you think of 1950s America. An entrepreneur, a Silicon Valley guy would definitely make him more attractive," he said.
Obama also has increased his college-age appeal by holding rallies and giving speeches at hundreds of campuses.
McCain has said he recognizes that he needs to get out to those venues "where young people are engaged and receiving their information and forming their opinions."
"Sen. McCain should demand that these same colleges and universities host him or else their tax-exempt status could be in jeopardy," said Jason Mattera, spokesman for Young America's Foundation, a conservative outreach group.
McCain must work to connect young voters to conservative principles, Mattera said.
"So if they are suspicious of Uncle Sam telling them what Internet sites they can view, they should be equally suspicious of the federal government telling them what health care plan they are going to be a part of," he said.
According to a Pew Research Center study conducted between October and March, McCain has a big numbers gap to close.
The study found that the current generation of young voters, those who came of age during the President Bush years, are giving the Democrats a wide edge.
Fifty-eight percent of voters under 30 identified or leaned toward the Democratic Party, compared with 33 percent who said they identified or leaned toward the Republican Party.
The McCain campaign said it plans to increase the senator's presence on sites such as Facebook and MySpace in addition to the candidate making appearance on shows that appeal to younger viewers, such as "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and the "Late Show with David Letterman."
In past elections, both parties have tended to put less focus on younger voters because historically, their turnout has been low.
With fewer than four months until the November election, McCain said he's confident he can convince young voters that he is the candidate for them.
"I believe that I can convince them that I have the plan of action and the ideals and the
|
[
"What is missing the the young GOP voter age group?",
"Who has a big MySpace presence?",
"What is missing among young GOP voters?",
"What does McCain not use?",
"Who doesn't use email?"
] |
[
"roaring enthusiasm",
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] |
question: What is missing the the young GOP voter age group?, answer: roaring enthusiasm | question: Who has a big MySpace presence?, answer: Obama | question: What is missing among young GOP voters?, answer: roaring enthusiasm | question: What does McCain not use?, answer: e-mail. | question: Who doesn't use email?, answer: Sen. John McCain
|
(CNN) -- From his neatly-trimmed goatee to his love of fast cars and flight, it's not hard to see why Indian industrialist Vijay Mallya is often referred to as his country's Richard Branson.
He's immensely rich and is frequently photographed at lavish events promoting his Kingfisher brand as a lifestyle choice for India's younger, mobile middle classes.
Like Branson, Mallya's stable of businesses also includes an airline -- Kingfisher Airlines -- which risks nose-diving into a sea of debt unless the billionaire can cut costs and lighten its loans.
On Tuesday, Mallya said recent flight cancellations reflected the airline's move out of loss-making routes and should not be interpreted as a sign of impending doom, despite a doubling of the airline's second quarter losses announced earlier in the day.
Who is Vijay Mallya?
The fast-living playboy son of one of India's most successful industrialists was just 28 when he took over the chairmanship of his father's massive beer company in the early 1980s.
"Everybody thought that I'd fritter away what I had inherited. But I was determined to prove people wrong," Mallya told CNN in 2007.
United Breweries is now one of the world's biggest brewers. It holds about half of the market share for beer in India and claims that every single one of the country's tens of thousands of beer outlets stocks at least one of its brands. Kingfisher Premium Lager is also sold in 52 countries worldwide.
But United Breweries is about much more than beer. As well as Kingfisher Airlines, the holding company includes the world's biggest spirits group, United Spirits, as well as interests in the fertilizer business, engineering, property and broadcasting.
Of all its brands, Kingfisher is the most iconic. It's the name of a discontinued beer label that the young Vijay stumbled upon when he was going through the UB archives after his father bought the company in 1947.
"Something excited me about Kingfisher, you know, the bird. I saw color, I saw vibrancy, I saw movement, I saw a bit of cheekiness, you know, the kingfisher sort of fishing," Mallya said.
He revived the beer and later put the bird on the tail of Kingfisher Airlines, which was launched in 2005 and has so far failed to fly into profit.
What's up with the airline?
Results released Tuesday show the airline's second quarter net loss doubled to 4.69 billion rupees ($93 million). Revenue rose 11 % as the company sought to cut costs, but it was nowhere near enough to deal with the airline's reported debt of 65 billion rupees ($1.3B).
Anxious investors have been ditching Kingfisher shares, prompting the company to deny on November 11 that it had sought government aid. It admitted it had asked banks to raise its lending limits, but added that "Kingfisher does not see any risk to its future or long term viability."
Flights have been canceled as the company tries desperately to reduce operating costs inflated by rising fuel prices. The cuts have angered travelers as well as employees whose pay was delayed.
Despite soaring costs, Indian airlines have been slashing fares to compete with discount prices offered by state-owned Air India. Kingfisher has also invested heavily in the future, ordering five Airbus A380s, the first of which is due to be delivered in 2016.
Is it just Kingfisher?
Despite a huge rise in the number of Indians taking to the skies, the extra traffic has failed to translate into profits. Private airlines are engaged in a price war with Air India, which is being propped up by government funds. Air India is reported to have asked for another 65 billion rupees ($1.3B) in federal aid, and to have agreed with lenders to cut its annual interest payments by 13 billion rupees, according to Bloomberg.
Jet Airways is also reported to be seeking to raise up to $350 million from the sale and leaseback of aircraft this quarter and other asset sales, according to Daily News & Analysis.
The industry's struggles come despite impressive figures
|
[
"What plagues Indian airlines?",
"What includes brewery business, airline, F1 and cricket teams?",
"Who is often referred to as India's Richard Branson?",
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"who is struggling under debt?",
"What does the empire include?",
"who is considered India's richard branson?"
] |
[
"flight cancellations",
"Mallya's stable of businesses",
"Vijay Mallya",
"Kingfisher",
"his country's Richard Branson.",
"Kingfisher Airlines",
"Kingfisher Airlines",
"Vijay Mallya"
] |
question: What plagues Indian airlines?, answer: flight cancellations | question: What includes brewery business, airline, F1 and cricket teams?, answer: Mallya's stable of businesses | question: Who is often referred to as India's Richard Branson?, answer: Vijay Mallya | question: Which airline is struggling under mountain of debt?, answer: Kingfisher | question: What is Vijay Mallya is often referred to?, answer: his country's Richard Branson. | question: who is struggling under debt?, answer: Kingfisher Airlines | question: What does the empire include?, answer: Kingfisher Airlines | question: who is considered India's richard branson?, answer: Vijay Mallya
|
(CNN) -- From songs to poems to sayings on the side of coffee cups, everyone tries to define love in words.
Liz Kelly donated her kidney to her fiance after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
But often, it's the extraordinary actions we take in the name of love that really define it.
Liz Kelly's fiance, Matt House, needed a kidney after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
In order to get him to the top of the donor list, Kelly signed up to donate hers. At first, she never dreamed she would actually be a match, but it turned out she was.
The Springfield, Massachusetts, couple (he's 31, she's 29) spoke with CNN's Nicole Lapin about whether Kelly thought fate played a hand in finding him a donor match.
The following is an edited transcript of the interview:
Nicole Lapin: Liz, I didn't know about the donor process, until we started talking to you guys. The donor process works whereby a friend or a family member can donate a kidney to get Matt higher on the list, so you decided that you were going to do that. Why did you decide to do that? Watch Nicole Lapin's interview with Liz Kelly and Matt House »
Liz Kelly: It was pretty much a no-brainer, I think. His sister was actually going to donate at first. But she didn't work out for health reasons. It's obviously better to have, you know, a family member donate a kidney, too.
But since that wasn't going to work out, his stepfather stepped in because they were the same blood type. And that ended up not working out either.
He had some heart issues and some other health issues. So, I said, you know what, I'll just donate to the list. And that's what I was intending on doing. And then I found out that we were actually a match, and it was amazing.
Lapin: It was amazing, I'm sure, to get that phone call, because you did it just so that you could get higher on the list. A lot of people on our Web site are fascinated by your story, guys. [A viewer] has a question for you right now, Liz: Have you ever had any surgeries before this one? If not, how did your prepare yourself for this?
Kelly: No. This was my first surgery, so that definitely made me very nervous. That was the definitely scariest part for me, just not knowing what to expect. But, Matt has been through several surgeries before. So I know I had him in my corner. And I looked up a lot online. I found out a lot of great information online. So that's definitely how I prepared.
Lapin: And [another viewer] has a question in for Matt, actually: Were you scared that perhaps your body might reject Liz's kidney or were you always confident that the surgery would be a success?
Matt House: I think I was pretty confident with her being the same blood type or us matching is pretty phenomenal, so I didn't expect it to reject it anyway. Maybe after the surgery if I would have a little pain down there or something like that, I would get a little nervous and think that it was going to reject, that there's something wrong.
But that would just pass. It was me just being a little overanxious, I guess, but not really, no. I was pretty confident everything would go well overall. We're both pretty healthy for the most part. And being the same blood type was just you know really great, so it worked out good. So, I wasn't really worried at all.
Lapin: Fate, some may say?
House: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Lapin: Yours is a lot bigger. You're a little girl, but you happen to have a kidney that is perfect for Matt. Do you think it was
|
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"What had he been diagnosed with?",
"Who offered to donate kidney to move her ill fiance higher on donor list?",
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] |
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] |
question: What had House been diagnosed with?, answer: congestive heart failure. | question: What disease does House have?, answer: congestive heart failure. | question: who donated the kidney, answer: Liz Kelly | question: what medical issues were there, answer: congestive heart failure. | question: What did Kelly offer?, answer: kidney | question: What did she offer to donate?, answer: kidney | question: What is the name of his fiance?, answer: Matt House, | question: Who is Matt House?, answer: Liz Kelly's fiance, | question: Who offered to donate a kidney?, answer: Liz Kelly | question: What had he been diagnosed with?, answer: congestive heart failure. | question: Who offered to donate kidney to move her ill fiance higher on donor list?, answer: Liz Kelly | question: What was Matt House diagnosed with?, answer: congestive heart failure. | question: Because of what were they unable to donate?, answer: same blood type.
|
(CNN) -- From soup kitchen director Rita Baldwin's perspective, the notion that "homeless people are the scum of the earth" has returned to her Gulf Coast town, which still struggles four years after Hurricane Katrina.
Loaves and Fishes executive director Rita Baldwin poses with her son, Scott Blain, who works at the kitchen.
Baldwin -- formerly homeless herself -- found that "the storm was a great neutralizer. It put us all on the same level." That social pendulum is swinging back to the pre-Katrina world, she said, but she added that the community has shown a renewed sense of compassion.
Baldwin, executive director of the Loaves and Fishes community kitchen in Biloxi, Mississippi, lost her home in Katrina as the storm barreled into the coastal community in 2005.
She said she watched with sadness as storm victims she dubbed "amateurs" -- "people who didn't know how to be homeless" -- attempted to survive after losing everything.
Homeless people who were accustomed to living in the woods and on the streets used their wherewithal to make it through each day, said Baldwin, who relied on the kitchen's services herself before she was hired there.
Biloxi was one of the cities that Katrina hit hardest. And though the city has made progress rebuilding, the 26-year-old kitchen has seen steady increases in clients each year since the storm. With few residents in the city shortly after Katrina, there was little activity. But the kitchen reports serving 55,281 meals in 2007, 64,825 meals in 2008 and 38,877 in the first seven months of 2009.
Loaves and Fishes nearly closed this summer because of lack of funding, until the public was reminded of the need to feed the hungry. After the Biloxi Sun-Herald reported in late June that the kitchen could close its doors, more than $50,000 in donations poured in, and it is now funded until around March.
"I certainly had never gotten that kind of response before. So it just made me realize that they just didn't know" about the hunger problem, Baldwin said.
After spending time focusing on themselves and picking up the pieces, the more fortunate Biloxi residents are starting to return to a more philanthropic frame of mind, according to Biloxi Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel.
"There's been a reawakening. People are getting in a closer position where they can help others," he said.
'Hitting us with both fists'
Loaves and Fishes hit a "really bad financial crunch," Baldwin said, because its federal grants for disaster relief had run out. She used to provide other services for the homeless, but when the money disappeared, she had to eliminate the additional assistance.
"The economy really didn't get bad for those of us in Katrina areas because so much money was flushed into these areas to help us get back up on our feet. And now those funds are gone, so the ... poor economy and the unemployment is hitting us with both fists now," Baldwin said.
Baldwin's clients include the expanding homeless population, day laborers, the elderly and other poor people in the area.
Terry, 59, who asked that his last name not be used, was homeless for about three years after losing his Gulfport, Mississippi, home in Katrina. He now rents a bedroom and regularly eats at Loaves and Fishes.
"Most everyone just tries to keep to themselves right now," Terry said of the atmosphere there. "[We] struggle, try and get everything back in order. However, the community is binding together and helping each other. So that's a good thing."
Terry learned about six years ago that he had bone cancer, but only recently began receiving disability checks. Before that, it was hard to get work despite all the post-Katrina construction because outside contractors were not hiring locals, he said.
Loaves and Fishes also serves down-on-their luck visitors to Biloxi's casinos.
"A lot of people that come in here ... have gambled up their money," Baldwin said
|
[
"What storm is the city recovering from?",
"What is the city recovering from?",
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"What are homeless, day laborers and gamblers visiting more often?"
] |
[
"Hurricane Katrina.",
"Hurricane Katrina.",
"Loaves and Fishes",
"soup kitchen"
] |
question: What storm is the city recovering from?, answer: Hurricane Katrina. | question: What is the city recovering from?, answer: Hurricane Katrina. | question: Who sees more visitors as the city recovers from Katrina?, answer: Loaves and Fishes | question: What are homeless, day laborers and gamblers visiting more often?, answer: soup kitchen
|
(CNN) -- From street corners, buses and subways to phone calls, e-mails, text messages, online posts and tweets, people around the world commented, pondered, and paid tribute to pop legend Michael Jackson, who died Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Pedestrians in Sydney, Australia, watch a TV screen announcing Michael Jackson's death on Friday.
Around midnight at London's Leicester Square, as news of Jackson's death spread, Luis Carlos Ameida and his friends were surrounding a car listening to the star's music.
Ameida said he'd gotten tickets to see Jackson at his "This Is It" concerts beginning on July 13 in London.
"From a young age, you know, I used to have the video game," said Ameida. "I used to have the white suit, and I'd wear it on my birthday. I used to moonwalk ... I remember my mum used to send me to lessons to be like Michael Jackson. And when I heard the news, I had tears in my eyes because of that connection I had because of all the songs he used to play."
In Glastonbury, southern England, where one of the world's largest music festivals was to kick off Friday morning, initial rumors and then confirmation of Jackson's death added to confusion and then shock among festival goers. Watch British fans react »
"As I was walking back through the crowd it was the word on everyone's lips," Sally Anne Aldous, 29, told CNN over the phone. Reaction from around the world in pictures »
Backstage, Michael Jackson songs were being played in tribute, and fans talked of an impromptu memorial for the late singer at the "Stone Circle," a neolithic monument in the grounds of the venue.
In Adelaide, Australia, Christos Winter of the MJ Fan Club had organized a petition to bring Jackson to tour there. "It didn't matter if you were 60, 40 or 20 like I am. Michael Jackson's music just spoke to everyone ... It was always uplifting and happy music," Winter told CNN.
On a street in New Delhi, India, 31-year-old Sachina Verma said on Friday, "Any of the baby boomer generation or, you know, people from my age or our time, I mean they have grown up on his music. Literally, people have been inspired by his dance movements, by his music.
Tributes appeared on YouTube and CNN's iReport.
"I remember growing up in the Middle East, influenced, enjoying his music, waiting for his albums," CNN iReporter Rany Freeman, an Egyptian living in Canada, said in a video submission. "Regardless to his strange behaviors or questionable events that happened to his life, let's remember him as the great entertainer he was."
Another iReporter, Peter Maiyoh, a Kenyan student studying in the U.S. city of Kansas, Missouri, called Jackson "the voice of change," saying "he was there before Tiger Woods, before Michael Jordan, even before Barack Obama ... I hope people remember him for the work he did."
On a Facebook page dedicated to Michael Jackson, fans across the world left hundreds of messages in languages ranging from French and Spanish to Japanese and Hebrew. Watch fan reaction in Tokyo, Japan »
"SHANGHAI WILL MISS YOU! NOT JUST SHANGHAI!..EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD WILL MISS YOU! WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL!!!" wrote Vrishti Bhowmik.
Kase Ng, a 24-year-old manicurist and member of the Michael Jackson Hong Kong Fan Club, told CNN by phone she had been planning to go with four friends to his August 1 concert in London. Watch fans in Hong Kong, China, react »
Expressing sadness and shock over Jackson's death, Ng recalled being inspired by an interview he once gave to Oprah Winfrey. "He said if you have power, try to give it back and help the others, and I will try to do that," she said.
At a music store in Beijing, China, Jackson
|
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] |
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] |
question: Where are people posting concern over Jackson?, answer: phone calls, e-mails, text messages, online posts | question: What did iReporter say?, answer: "I remember growing up in the Middle East, influenced, enjoying his music, waiting for his albums," | question: Where are Jackson's fans from?, answer: London. | question: Where did the iReporter grow up?, answer: Middle East, | question: who says "I remember growing up in the Middle East ... waiting for his albums,"?, answer: Rany Freeman, | question: what Fans across the world remark on Jackson's music?, answer: WILL MISS YOU! WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL!!!" | question: What did fans remark about?, answer: talked of an impromptu memorial for the late singer at the "Stone Circle,"
|
(CNN) -- From supermarkets to the office supply store, it's hard to miss those tiny bottles of 5-hour Energy.
The makers of 5-Hour Energy call it a "no-nonsense drink."
"It would be easier for me to tell you where we didn't sell them in the U.S. than list all the places we do," said Carl Sperber, spokesman for Living Essentials, the Detroit, Michigan-based manufacturer of 5-hour Energy shot.
The small, shot-glass size bottles promise to provide energy and alertness without jitters to fatigued Americans. Unlike other popular energy drinks that market to college students, 5-Hour Energy's audience is multitasking, working professionals. The market demand has skyrocketed since the product hit store shelves in 2004. The company expects to move more than 350 million shots this year, Sperber said, up from 174 million in 2008.
"This is a no-nonsense drink," Sperber said. "It is not a fashion statement. It doesn't have a cool name; it is just a simple grab-and-go product to help busy adults when they can't afford a letdown."
Each 2-ounce bottle contains zero grams of sugar, 4 calories and about the same amount of caffeine as a small coffee. It also contains about a dozen ingredients that are broken down into B vitamins (B3, B6, B9, B12) and what the manufacturer lists as an "energy blend."
But don't expect superhuman results, one expert said.
"The B vitamins are given at extraordinarily high levels, and people need to know they are not some magic potion that's going to immediately raise your energy level," said Dr. Brent Bauer, Mayo Clinic director of complementary and integrative medicine. "There is no data that show that."
The overall health impact of the shots' energy blend is a little fuzzy, according to some experts, because little data has been collected about the effectiveness or safety of the natural compounds. The blend contains: citicoline, tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, malic acid, glucuronolactone and caffeine. Phenylalanine, taurine, tyrosine are all amino acids our bodies naturally produce. Malic acid is a natural chemical substance found in food. Glucuronolactone is a byproduct of glucose produced in the liver. Citicoline is a natural compound that produces a chemical in the brain.
"These energy shots have over a dozen ingredients all together, and consumers are ingesting them at very high doses but there is no research of how the ingredients react all together," Bauer said.
"It's plausible if you put these 12 things together you will get a good result but it's also possible for them to cause major interactions to medications, or have a negative impact on the liver or kidney. We just don't know at this point." Watch Dr. Gupta talk about the the safety of 5-hour Energy »
Consumers of 5-hour Energy probably won't ever drink enough shots to reach toxic levels of the B vitamins, experts said, but side effects can occur. The maker notes on its Web site the potential "niacin flush reaction" from vitamin B3.
It would be noticeable but temporary, one expert said. "If you have too much B3 it can cause tingling in your whole body. You will turn red, flush, but it would only last for about 30 minutes," said Jim White, spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "Research also shows high doses of vitamin B6 can cause nerve spasm, also temporary trouble with muscle coordination."
5-hour Energy's spokesman says that his company doesn't have safety data on the specific blend of ingredients in its product, but believes that side effects are "rare."
"None of our ingredients are synthetic drugs," Sperber said. 5-hour Energy also advises consumers to check with their health care provider before taking the booster.
Medical experts acknowledged that if taken modestly, the products are unlikely to have a negative impact on health.
"In moderation, it can give you energy. But the problem is people drink coffee, then take these energy shots,
|
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] |
question: What did the expert says?, answer: don't expect superhuman results, | question: What is energy blend?, answer: contains: citicoline, tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, malic acid, glucuronolactone and caffeine. | question: What is the name of the vitamins?, answer: (B3, B6, B9, B12) | question: What substance is noted for giving energy?, answer: 5-Hour | question: The experts say?, answer: don't expect superhuman results,
|
(CNN) -- From the mid-1980s, Hungarian-born investor and philanthropist George Soros pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into foundations in Eastern Europe dedicated to promoting the idea of the "open society" and challenging the region's Soviet-backed regimes. Here, writing exclusively for CNN.com, he describes how the work of his foundations ultimately contributed to the collapse of communism.
A Soviet tank rolls through Budapest during the failed 1956 Hungarian uprising against communist domination.
I set up my first foundation in Hungary in 1984. The idea behind it was simple. The state dogma, promoted by the ruling communists, was false and by providing an alternative we could expose its falsehood. Accordingly we supported every cultural initiative that was not an expression of the established dogma.
I was guided by the concept of the "open society," which I adopted from the philosopher Karl Popper. I saw the open society as a more sophisticated form of social organization than the totalitarian closed societies of the Soviet bloc.
The latter were trying to implement central plans; in an open society every individual or organization was supposed to implement their own plan. To make the transition from a closed to an open society would require outside help and that was what my foundations sought to provide.
In Hungary the authorities insisted on having a controlling presence on the foundation's board. We eventually agreed to appoint two chief executives, one nominated by them and one by me.
The project succeeded beyond my expectations. With very small amounts of money people could engage in a wide variety of civic initiatives ranging from self-governing student colleges to zither clubs.
One of our first projects was to offer photocopying machines to cultural and scientific institutions in exchange for local currency. We used the money to give out local grants and support all kinds of unofficial initiatives, but the photocopying machines also did a lot of good.
Up until then, the few existing copy machines were literally held under lock and key -- as more and more became available, the Party apparatus lost control of the machines and the dissemination of information.
We did not have to exercise direct control. Civil society watched over the foundation. For instance, we were warned that a blind association, to whom we gave a grant for talking books, was stealing some of the money. With a budget of $3 million, the foundation had more influence on the cultural life of Hungary than the Ministry of Culture.
Carried away my success in Hungary, by 1988 I had set up foundations in Poland, China and the Soviet Union. I think that I could have influenced General Jaruzelski in Poland to change his attitude toward the opposition and to see that dissidents such as Adam Michnik and Jacek Kuron were also patriots despite their criticism of the ruling party.
As the Soviet empire collapsed, and eventually the Soviet Union and also Yugoslavia disintegrated, we continued to expand. By 1992 there were foundations in 22 countries and expenditure had reached $53 million. A year later we were spending nearly $184 million.
Right at the beginning, I had a disagreement with the Polish board about the way the foundation should be run. But that taught me a lesson. They were right and I was wrong. I realized that the people living there understood their country better than I did and I deferred to their judgment.
It did not always work. In Bulgaria, a board member who made his name as a human rights activist turned out to be a racist. A Latvian businessman sought to hijack the foundation for nationalist purposes. It was the Russian foundation that gave us the most trouble; we had to reorganize it twice.
But the foundations were the first out of the gate everywhere. I remembered the lesson my father who had lived through the Russian Revolution in Siberia taught me: In revolutionary times things that are normally impossible become possible.
In Ukraine, we set up the Ukrainian Renaissance Foundation before Ukraine became independent. In Tajikistan, we persevered with the foundation during the five-year civil war although we had no way of controlling its activities. Our impact was the greatest during that turbulent period.
When
|
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"What becomes possible in revolutionary times?"
] |
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"George Soros",
"Hungary",
"22",
"Hungary",
"Hungarian-born",
"things that are normally impossible"
] |
question: When was the first foundation set up?, answer: 1984. | question: What was funded in the 1980s?, answer: promoting the idea of the "open society" and challenging the region's Soviet-backed regimes. | question: What is the financier's name?, answer: George Soros | question: Who funded dissident groups?, answer: George Soros | question: When did Soros set up first Hungarian foundation?, answer: 1984. | question: What did George Soros do?, answer: of millions of dollars into foundations in Eastern Europe dedicated to promoting the idea of the "open society" and challenging the region's Soviet-backed regimes. | question: Who funded eastern European dissident groups in the 1980's?, answer: George Soros | question: Where did Soros set up his first foundation?, answer: Hungary | question: In how many countries did Soros set up foundations?, answer: 22 | question: Where was the first foundation?, answer: Hungary | question: Where is George Soros from?, answer: Hungarian-born | question: What becomes possible in revolutionary times?, answer: things that are normally impossible
|
(CNN) -- From the time she was an 11-year-old, blue-eyed, freckle-faced blonde until she was a 29-year-old woman with two children, Jaycee Dugard was kept locked away in a backyard compound of sheds and tarps by a couple who police say abducted her.
Jaycee Dugard was locked in a shed tucked under a blue tarp in her alleged captor's backyard.
She was more than 160 miles from home, and her family had no idea where she was.
Nobody else knew she was there except the couple who snatched her off the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991, and took her straight to the soundproof shed, police said.
Dugard's pocket of Phillip and Nancy Garrido's backyard in Antioch, California, was so overgrown no one even knew it existed.
The details about Dugard's time in captivity emerged Thursday after one of Northern California's most enduring mysteries was solved and the Garridos were arrested and accused of her kidnapping.
Anyone who came across the couple's backyard, littered with garbage cans and a dishwasher, would assume that it ended at a 6-foot fence. Watch aerial images of the backyard compound »
"You could walk through the backyard and never know there was another set of living circumstances," said Fred Kollar, undersheriff of El Dorado County. "There was nothing that would cause you to question it. You can't see it from either adjoining property. It was presumably well arranged."
But tucked away beyond the tangle of bushes, high grass and trees was a blue tarp that concealed the only world Dugard had known since her abduction.
Kollar said the property had "a hidden backyard within a backyard." It included several sheds no taller than 6 feet, two tents and several outbuildings, "where Jaycee and the girls spent most of their lives."
It also held a vehicle that matched the description of the car used in Dugard's kidnapping, Kollar said.
The "secondary" backyard was inside the first and was "screened from view." One of the sheds was soundproof, he said.
In it were sheds and tarps, a makeshift bathroom and shower, along with electricity supplied by extension cords. Kollar compared the primitive conditions to camping.
Dugard lived for several years there by herself. The sheds were locked from the outside.
She grew up and had her captor's children there, and raised them there.
"None of them have ever been to school, they've never been to a doctor," Kollar said. "They were kept in complete isolation in this compound, if you will, at the rear of the house," he said. "They were born there."
The children, both girls, are now 15 and 11.
"They are all in good health," Kollar said in response to a question about how Dugard and her children are doing. "But living in a backyard for the last 18 years does take its toll."
|
[
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"Did Dugard have children during captivity?",
"Where was Jaycee Dugard locked in?"
] |
[
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"18 years",
"18 years",
"18 years",
"two",
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] |
question: What authorities said about this case?, answer: Nobody else knew she was there | question: Where were they kept?, answer: locked away in a backyard compound of sheds and tarps by a couple who police say abducted her. | question: What did authorities have to say?, answer: Nobody else knew she was there except the couple who snatched her off the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991, and took her straight | question: How long was Jaycee Dugard held captive?, answer: 18 years | question: How long was she held captive?, answer: 18 years | question: For how long Jaycee Dugard has been locked in sheds?, answer: 18 years | question: Did Dugard have children during captivity?, answer: two | question: Where was Jaycee Dugard locked in?, answer: in a shed tucked under a blue tarp
|
(CNN) -- From the time she was an 11-year-old, blue-eyed, freckle-faced blonde until she was a 29-year-old woman with two children, Jaycee Dugard was kept locked away in a backyard compound of sheds and tarps by a couple who police say abducted her.
Jaycee Dugard was locked in a shed tucked under a blue tarp in her alleged captor's backyard.
She was more than 160 miles from home, and her family had no idea where she was.
Nobody else knew she was there except the couple who snatched her off the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991, and took her straight to the soundproof shed, police said.
Dugard's pocket of Phillip and Nancy Garrido's backyard in Antioch, California, was so overgrown no one even knew it existed.
The details about Dugard's time in captivity emerged Thursday after one of Northern California's most enduring mysteries was solved and the Garridos were arrested and accused of her kidnapping.
Anyone who came across the couple's backyard, littered with garbage cans and a dishwasher, would assume that it ended at a 6-foot fence. Watch aerial images of the backyard compound »
"You could walk through the backyard and never know there was another set of living circumstances," said Fred Kollar, undersheriff of El Dorado County. "There was nothing that would cause you to question it. You can't see it from either adjoining property. It was presumably well arranged."
But tucked away beyond the tangle of bushes, high grass and trees was a blue tarp that concealed the only world Dugard had known since her abduction.
Kollar said the property had "a hidden backyard within a backyard." It included several sheds no taller than 6 feet, two tents and several outbuildings, "where Jaycee and the girls spent most of their lives."
It also held a vehicle that matched the description of the car used in Dugard's kidnapping, Kollar said.
The "secondary" backyard was inside the first and was "screened from view." One of the sheds was soundproof, he said.
In it were sheds and tarps, a makeshift bathroom and shower, along with electricity supplied by extension cords. Kollar compared the primitive conditions to camping.
Dugard lived for several years there by herself. The sheds were locked from the outside.
She grew up and had her captor's children there, and raised them there.
"None of them have ever been to school, they've never been to a doctor," Kollar said. "They were kept in complete isolation in this compound, if you will, at the rear of the house," he said. "They were born there."
The children, both girls, are now 15 and 11.
"They are all in good health," Kollar said in response to a question about how Dugard and her children are doing. "But living in a backyard for the last 18 years does take its toll."
Dugard's presence behind Garrido's home apparently went unnoticed by many in the neighborhood, where homes on one-fourth to one-half-acre lots typically sell for less than $200,000. Watch neighbors react »
"My dad said he never saw a young woman," said Kathy Russo, whose father has lived two houses away from the Garridos for 33 years.
She said the one-story house's backyard was obscured by trees and ringed by a wooden fence. Her 94-year-old father considered Garrido to be a "kind of strange, reclusive, kind of an angry kind of guy," Russo said.
But one man who lives in the neighborhood told CNN that he called the local sheriff's department a few years ago after seeing what he thought were several children living in the backyard.
The man said authorities came out and had a brief conversation with the Garrido family, but nothing ever happened.
|
[
"How long was Jaycee Dugar in captivity?",
"How long had Jaycee Dugard been locked in soundproof sheds?",
"What was found in the shed?",
"What did authorities say about Dugard?",
"What did the neighbor say he did after seeing children in the backyard?",
"What did authorities say was Dugard's living condition?"
] |
[
"18 years",
"the time she was an 11-year-old, blue-eyed, freckle-faced blonde until she was a 29-year-old",
"Jaycee Dugard",
"Nobody else knew she was there except the couple who snatched her off the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991, and took her straight to the soundproof shed, police said.",
"called the local sheriff's department",
"\"They were kept in complete isolation in this compound,"
] |
question: How long was Jaycee Dugar in captivity?, answer: 18 years | question: How long had Jaycee Dugard been locked in soundproof sheds?, answer: the time she was an 11-year-old, blue-eyed, freckle-faced blonde until she was a 29-year-old | question: What was found in the shed?, answer: Jaycee Dugard | question: What did authorities say about Dugard?, answer: Nobody else knew she was there except the couple who snatched her off the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991, and took her straight to the soundproof shed, police said. | question: What did the neighbor say he did after seeing children in the backyard?, answer: called the local sheriff's department | question: What did authorities say was Dugard's living condition?, answer: "They were kept in complete isolation in this compound,
|
(CNN) -- From the world's biggest manufacturer of mobile phone batteries to a car company with global pretensions, BYD is a Chinese company that has roared onto the international stage energized by its workaholic founder Wang Chuanfu.
Building his own dreams: Wang Chuanfu has turned BYD into an international company in less than 15 years.
Wang's hands-on approach to running a business with 130,000 employees -- he still eats in the company canteen and lives in a BYD-owned housing complex -- isn't too far removed from how he built the company from scratch in 1995 when he was 29 years old.
Wang trained as an engineer and studied the patents of other companies' mobile phone batteries, even taking them apart to see how they were made. He raised some start-up capital from a relative to create his own mobile phone battery-making business in Shenzhen, the special economic zone just north of Hong Kong.
BYD's business approach differed from the likes of Sony and Sanyo by substituting an automated system for one of China's biggest resources, physical labor.
Employing thousands of people was cheaper than installing expensive robotic assembly lines, and by 2000 BYD had become the biggest mobile phone battery maker in the world.
Wang bought a failing Chinese car company in 2003 to enter the automobile market, and BYD now has a number of models available in China, including a plug-hybrid car cheaper than the market-leading Toyota Prius.
The success of BYD has attracted plenty of attention from industry analysts and investors from the West, including Warren Buffet. The billionaire American has invested $250 million in BYD, making even more people in the West sit up and take note of the company.
Wang isn't content to just compete in the hybrid and electric car market in China; he aims to keep BYD's meteoric rise going and make it the world's biggest car maker by 2025.
"It is a big ambition. In January and February 2009 China was the world's biggest automobile consuming market for those months. So based on this, China can sell more than 10 million automobiles this year. So maybe China can exceed the USA and become the biggest market in the world," Wang told CNN.
BYD stands for "Build Your Dreams" and Wang is trying to fulfill the aspiration among many in China of creating a national champion; a brand with international respect and reputation of quality.
Wang believes the electric car can be that product, and BYD the company to do it.
"For new energy vehicles...China is on the same level or even leading other countries. In the field of new energy cars, China hopes that Chinese companies can catch up with the rest of the world and catch up with the pace," said Wang.
But the term "Made in China" still has a stigma attached to it. The scandals of tainted milk and toys that had to be recalled rocked China in 2008 and diminished the reputation of Chinese products abroad.
"This kind of 'Made in China' is different from other types of 'Made in China.' Our products have never been recalled, unlike many of our competitors. Judging from that, products made in China are sometimes better that those made elsewhere. As long as there are high-standards, Chinese manufacturing companies can definitely meet those standards," said Wang.
China also has acute environmental problems. It is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and Wang is aware that being an entrepreneur also means having an eye on the environmental impact of his business.
"As an entrepreneur, I think I have to consider both aspects. One part is the creation of a new business mode, or the revelation of new business competition. The other is that it's for social responsibility, making our Earth bluer.
"Urban pollution, reliance on petroleum and emission of carbon dioxide are three problems that entrepreneurs have to consider for basic social responsibility," said Wang.
|
[
"What are company BYD's claims?",
"Who was the founder?",
"When did Wang Chuanfu start the company?",
"How much was invested?",
"How much money has Warren Buffet invested in the company?"
] |
[
"Our products have never been recalled,",
"Wang Chuanfu.",
"in 1995",
"$250 million",
"$250 million in BYD,"
] |
question: What are company BYD's claims?, answer: Our products have never been recalled, | question: Who was the founder?, answer: Wang Chuanfu. | question: When did Wang Chuanfu start the company?, answer: in 1995 | question: How much was invested?, answer: $250 million | question: How much money has Warren Buffet invested in the company?, answer: $250 million in BYD,
|
(CNN) -- Frozen winter conditions are helping slow the spread of a pipeline leak on Alaska's North Slope, an environmental official said.
An estimated 46,000 gallons of a water-and-oil mixture was spilled before the source of the leak -- a pipe rupture -- was identified Monday, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC).
The ruptured 18-inch line, owned by oil company BP and which usually carries a mixture of 75 percent water and 25 percent oil, has been repaired.
The frozen conditions make the spill less mobile, Matthew Carr of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said late Wednesday.
"Any spill is regrettable," Steve Reinhart, a BP spokesman in Anchorage, told CNN. "We will clean this up thoroughly and our investigation will find out what happened so that we can ensure this doesn't happen again."
Reinhart said the spill, which occurred entirely on land, has had no impact on production or wildlife in the area, and is contained to a small fraction of the much larger Prudhoe Bay oil field.
"It is not a pool of oil spreading out across the ground," Reinhart said, comparing its consistency to that of a snow cone. "It's a partially solidified mass that's piled up in one area, and as we speak, truckloads of this material is being moved off this site and to a collection depot."
According to officials, the rupture was approximately 24 inches lengthwise, running along the bottom of the pipeline.
In an incident report on its Web site Wednesday, ADEC described the rupture as being "consistent with an overpressure scenario," caused by ice inside the pipe.
The leak was discovered early November 29 by a BP worker conducting a routine inspection.
The North Slope's biggest spill to date happened in 2006 when a corroded pipeline dumped 200,000 gallons of crude oil.
CNN's Nick Valencia contributed to this report.
|
[
"What led to the Alaskan pipeline rupture?",
"What lead to a pipeline rupture in Alaska",
"what caused the spill",
"How many gallons of water and oil mixture spilled entirely on land?",
"what has led to the rupture",
"Spill not believed to have any effect on production and what?",
"How much spilled?",
"how many gallons of water and oil"
] |
[
"ice",
"winter conditions",
"pipe rupture",
"46,000",
"an overpressure scenario,\" caused by ice inside the pipe.",
"wildlife",
"46,000 gallons",
"46,000"
] |
question: What led to the Alaskan pipeline rupture?, answer: ice | question: What lead to a pipeline rupture in Alaska, answer: winter conditions | question: what caused the spill, answer: pipe rupture | question: How many gallons of water and oil mixture spilled entirely on land?, answer: 46,000 | question: what has led to the rupture, answer: an overpressure scenario," caused by ice inside the pipe. | question: Spill not believed to have any effect on production and what?, answer: wildlife | question: How much spilled?, answer: 46,000 gallons | question: how many gallons of water and oil, answer: 46,000
|
(CNN) -- Gabon's President Omar Bongo, Africa's longest-serving ruler, died Monday morning, the country's prime minister said, settling conflicting reports from government and media accounts.
Gabon's President Omar Bongo, who died Monday, was Africa's longest-serving ruler.
Calm was reported after the announcement, but Gabon's Ministry of Defense nonetheless announced it was closing all of the country's land, air and sea ports, according to a ministry statement.
The statement, which was broadcast on state television and radio, said that in "the best interest of the nation, the Ministry of Defense calls on the population to increase their vigilance and patriotism during this difficult and painful time the country is facing."
In a statement, Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong said Bongo suffered cardiac arrest at a hospital in Barcelona, Spain.
"He dedicated his political life to his country and the Gabonese people, always cultivating the unity and cohesion of the Gabonese toward a true peace," Ndong said.
The government declared a 30-day national period of mourning.
Bongo, 73, had been receiving treatment for intestinal cancer at the Quiron clinic in Barcelona, Spain, according to the Gabonews agency.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister strongly refuted initial French news reports of Bongo's death. He had vowed to lodge a protest with the French authorities about "repeated leaks in the French press."
Shortly afterward, hospital officials reported Bongo's passing to Gabonese officials.
Bongo took power in 1967, seven years after the West African country's independence from France.
He imposed one-party rule a year after succeeding the country's first president, who died in office.
He allowed multiparty elections after a new constitution in 1991, but his party has retained control of the government since then.
President Obama said Bongo "played a key role in developing and shaping the strong bilateral relationship that exists between Gabon and the United States today."
"President Bongo consistently emphasized the importance of seeking compromise and striving for peace, and made protecting Gabon's natural treasures a priority," Obama said in a statement Monday. "His work in conservation in his country and his commitment to conflict resolution across the continent are an important part of his legacy and will be remembered with respect."
CNN's Per Nyberg and Al Goodman contributed to this report.
|
[
"What year did Bongo take power?",
"What was Bongo being treated in Spain for?",
"how long closed ports",
"What id the Defense Ministry closing?",
"Which country was Bongo the leader of?",
"When did Bongo take power?"
] |
[
"1967,",
"intestinal cancer",
"30-day",
"all of the country's land, air and sea ports,",
"Gabon's",
"1967,"
] |
question: What year did Bongo take power?, answer: 1967, | question: What was Bongo being treated in Spain for?, answer: intestinal cancer | question: how long closed ports, answer: 30-day | question: What id the Defense Ministry closing?, answer: all of the country's land, air and sea ports, | question: Which country was Bongo the leader of?, answer: Gabon's | question: When did Bongo take power?, answer: 1967,
|
(CNN) -- Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head during a shooting rampage in January, appeared in her first television interview late Monday night, clearly understanding the questions put to her but able to respond only in simple words.
"I cried," she told ABC's Diane Sawyer in response to a question about how she felt when her husband told her what had happened.
"Died," she said.
"Sad," said her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly.
"Sad," Giffords agreed. "I cried. A lot of people died."
She said she has no memory of the incident.
"That day is gone?" Sawyer asked.
"Gone," Giffords replied.
Giffords also doesn't remember the next 13 days at a hospital in Tucson before she was flown to Houston. She said she remembers the flight "a little bit."
"She said she felt like a --" Kelly said.
"A zombie," Giffords said, finishing the sentence.
Giffords also said she never got angry about what happened.
"No," she said. "No. No. No."
She paused.
"Life," she said, then shrugged. "Life."
Jared Loughner, 23, is accused of wounding Giffords and 12 others and killing six people in the shooting at a meet-and-greet event for the congresswoman outside a Tucson, Arizona, shopping center.
Giffords, a Democrat, posted an audio message to her constituents Tuesday on her Facebook page, saying she missed them and Tuscon: "The mountains, the blue skies, even the heat.
"I'm getting stronger, I'm getting better," she says, adding that she wants to go back to work.
She sat with her husband on a couch for the ABC interview, wearing a lime green jacket. She wore her hair short and smiled often.
When Sawyer asked Giffords how she feels, the congresswoman responded, "Pretty good."
Sawyer asked Giffords if it was painful to move her right arm. Giffords said it was not.
"Difficult," she said twice, then grinned and swung her left arm.
"Strong!" she said, getting a laugh from Sawyer. "Strong, strong!"
Giffords was shot in the head, with the bullet passing through the left side of her brain, which controls the right half of the body.
Her right arm lay unused on her lap during the interview.
But before the interview began, she leaned over to fix Sawyer's hair with her left hand.
Giffords has made what doctors call a miraculous recovery since the shooting.
Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Dong Kim, told CNN Tuesday that Giffords' thought process is normal -- a remarkable feat for someone with the kind of injuries she suffered.
As a sign of her stunning recovery, Kim told CNN's Elizabeth Cohen that Giffords recently spoke two sentences in a row to him. "Wow, you have a suit on today," she said to him when he walked in to see her. Then she added, "What's with the necktie?"
The ABC report showed Giffords in therapy, struggling to come up with a word when asked what she would use to tell time.
"W....," the therapist prompts.
"Wwwwwwatch!" Giffords says, to the delight of the therapist.
She and Kelly told Sawyer she did two hours of therapy a day in their home.
Giffords has clearly retained a sense of humor; her husband teases her when Sawyer asks what she loves by interjecting: "Football! Gabby loves the NFL."
"No, no, no," she giggles. "Stinks!"
Loughner is in mental health treatment and will be re-evaluated early next year to determine his competency to stand trial.
|
[
"what happened to giffords",
"who is charged with wounding her",
"what Jared Loughner is charged with ?",
"who felt like a \"zombie\"?",
"who doesn't remember the shooting?"
] |
[
"was shot in the head during a shooting rampage",
"Jared Loughner,",
"wounding Giffords and 12 others and killing six people",
"Gabrielle",
"Giffords"
] |
question: what happened to giffords, answer: was shot in the head during a shooting rampage | question: who is charged with wounding her, answer: Jared Loughner, | question: what Jared Loughner is charged with ?, answer: wounding Giffords and 12 others and killing six people | question: who felt like a "zombie"?, answer: Gabrielle | question: who doesn't remember the shooting?, answer: Giffords
|
(CNN) -- Garrison Keillor, author and host of the folksy radio show "A Prairie Home Companion," was being treated Wednesday for a minor stroke he suffered over the weekend, a hospital spokesman said.
Author Garrison Keillor attends an event in New York on November 18, 2008.
Keillor, who turned 67 last month, was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on Sunday night, spokesman Karl Oestreich said in a news release.
"He is up and moving around, speaking sensibly, working at a laptop, and it's expected he'll be released on Friday," Oestreich said.
"He plans to resume a normal schedule next week."
The live variety show "A Prairie Home Companion" is aired on Minnesota Public Radio.
Keillor launched the program on July 6, 1974, in a St. Paul, Minnesota, college theater before an audience of 12 people.
According to a "Backstage Chat" on the show, Keillor got the idea for it from watching the Grand Ole Opry.
Keillor, also a storyteller and satirist, has written 11 books, including three for children. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.
|
[
"Who was admitted to the hospital on Sunday?",
"Who was admitted to a hospital?",
"Who will resume a normal schedule?",
"When does be plan to resume to normal schedule?",
"Who is expected to be released fom hospital on Friday?",
"What is Garrison's age?",
"Who was admitted to a hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, on Sunday?",
"When will he be released?"
] |
[
"Author Garrison Keillor",
"Garrison",
"Garrison Keillor",
"next week.\"",
"Garrison",
"67",
"Garrison Keillor",
"Friday,\""
] |
question: Who was admitted to the hospital on Sunday?, answer: Author Garrison Keillor | question: Who was admitted to a hospital?, answer: Garrison | question: Who will resume a normal schedule?, answer: Garrison Keillor | question: When does be plan to resume to normal schedule?, answer: next week." | question: Who is expected to be released fom hospital on Friday?, answer: Garrison | question: What is Garrison's age?, answer: 67 | question: Who was admitted to a hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, on Sunday?, answer: Garrison Keillor | question: When will he be released?, answer: Friday,"
|
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