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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fernando Verdasco denied fellow Spaniard David Ferrer a third successive final appearance at the Barcelona Open after coming from behind to win a tense last-four clash on Saturday . Fifth seed Verdasco , the losing finalist last weekend in Monte Carlo , triumphed 6-7 -LRB- 3-7 -RRB- 7-5 6-1 to set up a title showdown with second seed Robin Soderling on Sunday . Verdasco was a break down as he trailed 4-3 in the second set , but battled back to win in more than two and half hours in the claycourt event . Ferrer had been hoping to make up for his past two final defeats against Rafael Nadal , who opted to rest this week after crushing Verdasco to win a record-equaling sixth title in Monte Carlo , but the eighth seed was soon 5-0 down in the decider . Verdasco is through to his third final this year , having won the SAP Open tournament in San Jose in February . The 26-year-old has won only once in five meetings with Soderling , who crushed young Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-1 6-4 in Saturday 's second semifinal . The Swede needed just one hour and 16 minutes to end the challenge of the 21-year-old , who fought back to make the scoreline respectable after trailing 4-0 in the second set . De Bakker , who has risen to a career-high 67th in the world rankings this month , upset third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals to follow up his earlier win over clay specialist and former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero . | Fernando Verdasco reaches second final in a week with victory at Barcelona Open . Verdasco denies compatriot David Ferrer third successive final outing in Spanish event . Fifth seed comes from behind to triumph 6-7 -LRB- 3-7 -RRB- 7-5 6-1 in Saturday 's first semifinal . He will face second seed Robin Soderling in final after Swede crushed Thiemo de Bakker . | [[19, 155], [19, 155], [131, 200], [201, 220], [273, 382], [383, 391], [451, 527], [201, 220], [273, 382], [945, 954], [961, 993]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A New York taxi driver pleaded guilty Friday to involvement in a plot to blow up crowded subway trains . After entering his plea Zarein Ahmedzay delivered a message : `` I strongly urge the American people to stop supporting the war against Islam , '' he said , adding , `` I am thankful for myself that I did not do anything to harm anyone but fear someone else will do the same thing . '' Prosecutors said Ahmedzay and another man , Adis Medunjanin , conspired with Najibullah Zazi on the attack in mid-September 2009 , which authorities thwarted . Zazi pleaded guilty and has been cooperating with authorities , investigators have said . Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty . During Ahmedzay 's hearing , prosecutors for the first time revealed the names of the two al Qaeda leaders who , officials said , ordered the plot : Saleh al-Somali , head of international operations for al Qaeda , and Rashid Rauf , a key operative . U.S. officials said both al Qaeda figures were killed in drone in attacks in Waziristan , the tribal region along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan . Rauf was reported killed in a drone attack in Waziristan in November 2008 ; al-Somali was reported killed in December 2009 , U.S. officials said . U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder , in a written statement , said the facts disclosed Friday `` add chilling details to what we know was a deadly plot hatched by al Qaeda leaders overseas to kill scores of Americans in the New York City subway system in September 2009 . This plot , as well as others we have encountered , makes clear we face a continued threat from al Qaeda and its affiliates overseas . '' `` Prosecution underscores the importance of using every tool we have available to both disrupt plots against our nation and hold suspected terrorists accountable , '' Holder said . Ahmedzay previously pleaded not guilty to making false statements to the FBI about the plot . But Friday , appearing before before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold in U.S. District Court , he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use a weapon of mass of destruction against people in the United States ; conspiracy to commit murder ; and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization . Ahmedzay told the court that he , Zazi and a third man traveled to Pakistan in August 2008 to join jihadists fighting in Afghanistan , but they were turned away . But al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan told the group they would be more helpful to the jihad cause if they conducted suicide attacks in New York . `` We discussed the matter amongst ourselves , and we agreed to go forward with the plan , '' he said . `` I personally believed that conducting an operation in the United States would be the best way to end the wars . '' At one point , Ahmedzay said , he began to have second thoughts but ultimately committed to the plan . He said his primary input was to develop targets because he was a taxi driver and knew the city well . Eventually , the three settled on an attack on subway trains during the month of Ramadan , but abandoned that plan when they believed law enforcement was watching them . Ahmedzay concluded his statement to the court with his belief that `` Zionist Jews '' are `` the real enemies of this country '' who are `` destroying this country from within '' and `` want a permanent shadow government within the government of the United States . '' He faces a sentence of up to life in prison . He is scheduled to be sentenced at the end of July . `` Ahmedzay 's plea makes clear that he betrayed his adopted country and its people by providing support to al Qaeda and planning to bring deadly violence to New York , '' said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller in a written statement . Robert Gottlieb , attorney for Medunjanin , said Friday 's developments do not change his client 's plans to proceed to trial . `` The evidence and the facts as they pertain to him will come out in court , '' Gottlieb said . No trial date has been set for Medunjanin . CNN 's Jennifer Rizzo , Susan Candiotti and Terry Frieden contributed to this report . | Zarein Ahmedzay pleads guilty to conspiracy , faces possible life sentence . After plea , he urges people in U.S. `` to stop supporting the war against Islam '' Prosecutors reveal names of two al Qaeda leaders thought to have ordered the plot . The two , Saleh al-Somali and Rashid Rauf , both were killed in U.S. drone attacks . | [[3433, 3478], [198, 274], [705, 731], [734, 811], [956, 1115], [971, 1043], [1116, 1120], [1134, 1189]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- I wish the titans of Wall Street could meet Mark Dalton . Not that it would be likely to change anything . But I wish the leaders of Goldman Sachs and of the other big banking firms could talk to Mark Dalton for just a few minutes . They might learn a few things about how to better connect with the American people . I did n't know Dalton 's last name until a few days ago . For almost two years , I 've held onto something he mailed to me . There was no reason not to throw it out , yet I had a feeling that someday I 'd want to refer to it . That day is now . With the public 's wariness of Wall Street growing , with Goldman Sachs being accused of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission -LRB- even as Goldman was announcing first-quarter profits of $ 3.46 billion , nearly twice as much as in the first quarter a year ago -RRB- , with investors wondering if they 're being given a fair shake by the firms to which they have entrusted their money , Mark Dalton 's way of doing business might be worthy of at least a moment 's attention . I came across him quite by chance . I occasionally purchase used books -- titles that have gone out of print . Sometimes I will place my orders through Amazon.com , which offers an online marketplace for local used-book merchants around the country . In 2008 , I found a book I was looking for on that Amazon marketplace , and submitted an order . The price was more than reasonable : $ 6.95 for the used hardcover . Used books are not shipped by Amazon itself , but by the local booksellers . A week or so after I placed the order , the package arrived , from High View Books in Smithfield , Rhode Island . The book seemed to be in good shape . I was pleased . But with it was a personal letter to me . It said : . `` Thank your for your recent book order . I have enclosed a check to you for $ 2.95 . The reason for this is that this book is only in ` Very Good ' condition , while I mistakenly described it as being in ` Near Fine ' condition in my listing . Please accept my apologies for the error . -LRB- Also , please note , the soiling that you see on the dust jacket is actually on the Mylar and not the dust jacket itself . -RRB- '' He wrote that he hoped his apology and the refund were satisfactory . Sure enough , tucked into the book was a check made out to me , for $ 2.95 . I was surprised by the gesture . Yes , in his online listing for the book he had said it was in `` Near Fine '' condition , but who really knows what those designations mean ? You see them all the time describing used books : `` Fair , '' `` Good , '' `` Very Good , '' `` Near Fine , '' `` Fine '' -- they would seem to be approximations . I had no complaints about the condition of the book I had bought from him . If I had paid $ 6.95 , and he had refunded $ 2.95 , and Amazon had taken its commission , how was he supposed to make a living ? I mailed his check back to him , thanking him for it and telling him how impressed I was with the way he did business . I told him I could not accept the refund . And for some reason , I could n't toss the letter . It made me feel hopeful about certain things . With Wall Street losing people 's confidence in recent days over the way it is alleged to treat its customers ' money , I got the letter out again . He had just signed it `` Mark at High View Books '' ; I was able to find him in Smithfield , which is how I found out that he was Mark Dalton . He seemed as surprised to be hearing from me as I was when I had gotten his refund check . He 's 42 years old ; High View Drive is the street on which he lives , and his used books -- about 4,000 of them at last count -- are kept in his garage . Business , he said , is not so good . `` I 'm pretty small-time , '' he said . `` When I first started doing this about three years ago , I was selling 15 or 20 books a day . But now , that 's down to 15 or 20 books every few days . '' He said that his wife is a schoolteacher ; without her salary , he could n't make it . He said he tries to run his business professionally and in good faith , but is finding that the results `` are pretty pathetic , dollar-wise . '' I asked him the question that had been in the back of my mind since I first heard from him : As he was struggling to make a living , why , exactly , on my $ 6.95 order , had he decided to send me that refund check for $ 2.95 ? He could n't have been making much of a profit on the order in the first place . `` I just try to do things right , '' he said . `` When I went to mail that book to you , I must have noticed that it was n't in as good a condition as I had promised on my Amazon listing . I want my customers to be happy and to believe I 'm being fair with them . '' Such a simple proposition . Yet with the financial news we 've become conditioned to reading about ... . I asked Dalton if he had been following the recent reports from Wall Street . He said he had . `` I suppose if you 're in charge of a multi-billion dollar bank -- billions in profits , millions in bonuses -- maybe you can lose sight of where you came from , '' he said . As for his own business : `` I know I 'm doing it right in how I treat my customers , and that gives me peace of mind , but it 's not generating the results I had hoped . '' He said he is considering looking for some other kind of work . I thanked him again for that letter he had sent to me two years ago , and he thanked me again for remembering . By his own admission , as a businessman he lacks the killer instinct , the appetite for working the angles ; he would undoubtedly be an abject failure on Wall Street . If only it were n't so . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene . | Bob Greene : Wall Street is being accused of shady business practices . Greene : Book dealer demonstrates how a business can care for customers . Greene says the dealer sent an unsolicited refund when there was really no need to do so . Book dealer says he wants customers to be happy and to believe he 's fair . | [[4029, 4098], [4673, 4747], [4680, 4708], [4673, 4674], [4709, 4747]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Paul Schaefer , a former Nazi who fled Germany in 1961 and founded a cult-like commune in Chile , died Saturday in a prison hospital . He was 88 . Schaefer was serving a 20-year sentence at the national penitentiary in Santiago for sexually abusing children at the notorious commune known as Colonia Dignidad -LRB- The Dignity Colony -RRB- . The commune in southern Chile , also called Villa Baviera , was created as a place to safeguard Germanic traditions . Under Schaefer 's rule , contact with outsiders was largely forbidden . Some of Schaefer 's crimes date to the 1970s and 1980s , during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet , who had visited the commune . Former members of the colony have admitted that human rights violations and sexual abuse of children occurred there , saying in a 2006 letter published in a leading Chilean newspaper that they were led by Schaefer 's influence . Schaefer had been in prison since 2006 when he was extradited to Chile from Argentina , where he had been living in hiding . Schaefer died Saturday morning of cardiopulmonary arrest , the penitentiary said . CNN Chile 's Christian Pino contributed to this report . | Former Nazi officer Paul Schaefer dies in Chile of cardiopulmonary arrest . Schaefer died in prison hospital , where he was serving a 20-year sentence . Schaefer was convicted of sexually abusing children Colonia Dignidad commune . Some of Schaefer 's crimes date to the 1970s and '80s during Pinochet era . | [[1047, 1103], [0, 15], [117, 153], [166, 276], [166, 276], [251, 301]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Monday he wo n't appeal the six-game suspension imposed by the National Football League and apologized to his teammates and fans for a night out that left him under a Georgia prosecutor 's microscope . `` Missing games will be devastating for me , '' Roethlisberger said in a statement issued through the team . `` I am sorry to let down my teammates and the entire Steelers fan base . I am disappointed that I have reached this point and will not put myself in this situation again . '' Roethlisberger , who led the Steelers to Super Bowl titles in 2006 and 2009 , faced the threat of criminal charges after a woman accused him of raping her in a Milledgeville , Georgia , bar during a night of drinking in March . The quarterback 's lawyer said no sexual assault took place , and prosecutors decided earlier this month that they could not prove a crime had been committed . But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell slapped the quarterback with a six-game suspension for `` conduct detrimental to the NFL '' last week , ordering him to undergo a `` comprehensive behavioral evaluation by medical professionals , '' follow their recommendations and `` avoid situations that can cause legal or other problems . '' If Roethlisberger complies , the suspension could be cut to four games , or it could be extended if he does n't , the league said . In his statement , Roethlisberger said the suspension imposed last week `` speaks clearly that more is expected of me , '' and he promised to `` make the necessary improvements '' in his behavior . `` Though I have committed no crime , I regret that I have fallen short of the values instilled in me by my family , '' he said . `` I will not appeal the suspension and will comply with what is asked of me -- and more . '' The 28-year-old quarterback owns a home at a lake near Milledgeville , Georgia , about 115 miles southeast of Atlanta . Fred Bright , the district attorney in Milledgeville , told reporters at a news conference announcing the decision that Roethlisberger should `` grow up . '' But he added , `` We do not prosecute morals . We prosecute crimes . '' | Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback wo n't appeal six-game suspension . Ben Roethlisberger also apologizes to his teammates and his fans . Woman had accused him of raping her in a Milledgeville , Georgia , bar . DA on not pursuing charges : `` We do not prosecute morals . We prosecute crimes . '' | [[0, 15], [70, 122], [75, 162], [955, 1036], [0, 15], [167, 215], [390, 460], [563, 577], [641, 691], [684, 752], [2118, 2126], [2130, 2160], [2129, 2160], [2161, 2182]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bush administration lawyers who wrote `` torture '' memos have been cleared of allegations of professional misconduct after a Justice Department internal investigation , which recommends no legal consequences for their actions . The report by the Justice Department concludes the high-ranking lawyers who developed controversial legal guidance on waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques may have exercised poor judgment , but not professional misconduct . The conclusion resulted from a decision by top career Justice Department executive David Margolis to reverse a recommendation of investigators that found the two lawyers ' legal memos did constitute professional misconduct . That tentative conclusion , which was overruled by Margolis , said the lawyers should be referred to their state bar associations for potential disbarment . But in the final report , the examination of the legal guidance written by Justice Department lawyers John Yoo and Jay Bybee found they did not constitute a professional breach that could have led to state disbarment . The report by the Justice Department ethics office , called the Office of Professional Responsibility , also examined and cleared attorney Steven Bradbury . He headed the Office of Legal Counsel , which provided legal guidance to the executive branch during President George W. Bush 's second term . The often-delayed release of the report came late Friday after it was sent to lawmakers on the House and Senate Judiciary committees , who made the findings public . In addition to the content itself , the constantly delayed release of the politically sensitive report had become an issue . Issuance of the report was repeatedly postponed for more than a year , prompting lawmakers and civil liberties groups to press for publication of the investigation 's findings . In November , Holder told Congress the report would be made public `` by the end of the month . '' Reaction to the Justice Department investigation largely fell along party lines , with liberal Democrats unhappy with the conclusions , and highlighting criticism of the Bush Administration lawyers . `` While the report concludes the lawyers did not breach their minimal professional obligations , I certainly hold top lawyers at the Justice Department -RSB- to a higher standard than that , as all Americans should , '' said Rep. John Conyers , D-Michigan . Conyers , who chairs the House Judiciary Committee focused on the lawyers ' `` poor judgments , '' and said , `` Today 's report makes plain that those memos were legally flawed and fundamentally unsound . '' Meanwhile , conservative lawmakers applauded the decision not to recommend action against the Bush administration officials who proposed enhanced interrogation techniques . `` It is important that future government lawyers know that their efforts to protect Americans will not be criminalized by future administrations , '' said Rep. Lamar Smith , R-Texas , the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee . `` We know that the decision of these attorneys to approve enhanced interrogation tactics in the wake of 9/11 saved lives , '' he declared . | DoJ : No professional misconduct by lawyers who wrote `` torture memos '' Conclusion reversed recommended referral of lawyers for disbarment . John Yoo and Jay Bybee developed legal guidance on enhanced interrogation . Also cleared was Steven Bradbury , who headed the Office of Legal Counsel . | [[50, 57], [62, 87], [0, 26], [79, 197], [154, 197], [206, 258], [259, 503], [2182, 2268], [306, 314], [315, 434], [306, 330], [335, 434], [931, 1010], [1105, 1155], [1227, 1261], [1262, 1299]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The diabetes drug Avandia is linked with tens of thousands of heart attacks , and drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline knew of the risks for years but worked to keep them from the public , according to a Senate committee report released Saturday . The 334-page report by the Senate Finance Committee also criticized the Food and Drug Administration , saying that the federal agency that regulates food , tobacco and medications overlooked or overrode safety concerns found by its staff . `` Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them , '' said U.S. Senator Max Baucus , a Democrat and committee chairman . `` Patients trust drug companies with their health and their lives and GlaxoSmithKline abused that trust . '' The bipartisan report also was signed by Sen. Chuck Grassley , the top-ranking Republican on the committee . GlaxoSmithKline rejected any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe . `` We disagree with the conclusions in the report , '' company spokeswoman Nancy Pekarek told CNN . `` The FDA had reviewed the data and concluded that the drug should be on the market . '' Seven clinical trials on the drug prove that it is not linked to heart attacks , Pekarek said . `` None of that data shows a statistically significant correlation between Avandia and myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction -LSB- heart attack -RSB- , '' she said . Ischemia is a condition in which blood flow and oxygen are blocked from going to certain parts of the body . The Senate committee investigation stems from concerns that Avandia and other high-profile drugs put `` public safety at risk because the FDA has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks , '' the report states . FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said she is waiting for the recommendations of an advisory committee that will hear reports on the drug this summer . `` Meanwhile , '' Hamburg said in a statement , `` I am reviewing the inquiry made by Senators Baucus and Grassley and I am reaching out to ensure that I have a complete understanding and awareness of all of the data and issues involved . '' The Senate report was developed over the past two years by committee investigators who reviewed more than 250,000 pages of documents provided by GlaxoSmithKline , the FDA and several research institutes . Committee investigators also conducted numerous interviews and phone calls with GlaxoSmithKline , the FDA and anonymous whistleblowers . According to the Senate report : . • FDA scientists estimated in July 2007 that Avandia was associated with approximately 83,000 heart attacks since the drug came to market . `` Had GSK considered Avandia 's potential increased cardiovascular risk more seriously when the issue was first raised in 1999 ... some of these heart attacks may have been avoided , '' the report states . • GlaxoSmithKline undertook attempts to undermine information critical of Avandia . `` GSK executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians , focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk , '' the report says . As an example , committee investigators say they found that GlaxoSmithKline experts verified an outside study showing the cardiac problem , but the company publicly attacked the findings as incorrect . • Two FDA safety officials sounded a clear alarm in October 2008 writing , `` There is strong evidence that rosiglitazone -LSB- Avandia -RSB- confers an increased risk of -LSB- heart attacks -RSB- and heart failure compared to pioglitazone -LSB- rival drug on market -RSB- . '' They concluded and trials comparing the two would be `` unethical and exploitive . '' Yet , the trial is still under way , the senators say . GlaxoSmithKline counters that the Senate report relies on outdated information . `` In essence , the report is a compilation of information and events that took place years ago , '' spokeswoman Pekarek said . `` There 's no new data there . '' The FDA has evaluated at the drug , Pekarek said , and updated product labeling in 2007 to say information on Avandia 's relationship to myocardial ischemia is inconclusive . `` The FDA exists to ensure patient safety , '' she said . `` That is their purpose . '' Avandia has been under scrutiny for years . The New England Journal of Medicine called the drug 's safety into question in 2007 . The Journal of the American Medical Association also questioned whether Avandia was safe in 2007 . `` Among patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes , rosiglitazone use for at least 12 months is associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure , without a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality , '' the AMA journal wrote , adding that the `` findings have potential regulatory and clinical implications . '' `` Regulatory agencies ought to re-evaluate whether rosiglitazone should be allowed to remain on the market , '' the report said . `` Health plans and physicians should not wait for regulatory actions . They should avoid using rosiglitazone in patients with diabetes who are at risk of cardiovascular events , especially since safer treatment alternatives are available . '' Read the report . In 2007 , an FDA panel recommended by a vote of 22-1 that Avandia should remain on the market despite an analysis showing links to increased risk of heart attack . The vote was not binding , but a suggestion to FDA regulators . The panel also voted 20-3 at the same meeting in support of data that showed Avandia increased the risk of cardiac ischemia in patients with the most common type of diabetes . The Senate report does not address the issue of whether Avandia should be removed from the market . CNN 's Lisa Desjardins , Saundra Young , Miriam Falco and Arthur Brice contributed to this report . | Avandia linked to heart disease , Senate committee report says . GlaxoSmithKline tried to hide risks from public , according to report . Company rejects reports conclusions , denies its drug causes heart problems . FDA `` too cozy '' with drug manufacturers , report says . | [[0, 15], [19, 94], [101, 126], [197, 235], [210, 255], [2651, 2681], [3243, 3288], [5646, 5707], [101, 126], [159, 194], [101, 126], [197, 235], [3033, 3116], [930, 1006], [1007, 1056], [3548, 3605], [1635, 1751], [1892, 1894], [1899, 1914], [3383, 3403], [5261, 5281]] |
Moscow , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thousands of opposition demonstrators marched in front of the parliament building in Kiev , Ukraine , Saturday , protesting a deal reached earlier this week to extend Russia 's military presence in the former Soviet Republic , national news media reported . Parliamentary opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko -- the former prime minister who lost to Viktor Yanukovych in the presidential election run-off in February -- told protesters Saturday that the ratification of the treaty must be prevented at all costs . She claimed that Yanukovych is `` selling out '' Ukraine , has `` openly embarked on the path of destruction of -LSB- Ukraine 's -RSB- national interests , and has actually begun the process of eliminating the state 's sovereignty , '' according to a transcript of the speech on her website . After the deal was signed Wednesday by Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev , Tymoshenko said it violated part of the Ukrainian Constitution , which forbids the country from hosting foreign military bases after 2017 . Saturday , protesters reportedly adopted a resolution calling the agreement an `` unprecedented act of national treason and disgrace , '' and calling on all opposition groups to unite against it . According to Tymoshenko 's website , some 10,000 people gathered at the rally . But Ukrainian national news agency UNIAN estimated the number of protesters at 5,000 . The deal extends Russia 's lease of a major naval base in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol , Ukraine , for an additional 25 years , in exchange for a 30 percent cut in the price of natural gas that Russia sells to Ukraine . The agreement may bring an end to years of disputes over natural gas prices , which culminated in Russia turning off the pipeline to Ukraine . The dispute affected not only Ukrainians , but many Europeans who depend on Russian gas pumped through Ukraine . The two countries had been at odds ever since the `` Orange Revolution '' swept Yanukovych 's fiercely anti-Russian predecessor Viktor Yushchenko to power in 2005 . Throughout his time in office , Yushchenko repeatedly threatened to expel Russia 's Black Sea Fleet from Sevastopol . The Russian military lease there was scheduled to expire in 2017 . `` The prolongation of the Black Sea Fleet 's presence in Sevastopol is essential to Russia , '' Yanukovych said Wednesday . `` We understand that the Black Sea Fleet will be one of the guarantors of security on the Black Sea . '' The Kremlin-friendly Yanukovych , who hails from predominantly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine , trounced Yushchenko in national elections last January . The Russian president said the new deal added a `` concrete and pragmatic dimension '' to centuries of relations between Ukrainians and Russians . Opposition groups in Ukraine , however , were quick to denounce the agreement . Yuschenko 's `` Our Ukraine '' party said the treaty would lead to the `` Russification '' of Ukraine . Opposition activists decided Saturday to stage another protest in front of parliament April 27 , when the deal will be put to a ratification vote . CNN 's Ivan Watson and Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report . | Opposition demonstrators march in Kiev protesting deal over Russian military presence . Deal extends Russia 's lease of naval base in Black Sea port for 25 years . In exchange , Ukraine gets 30 percent cut in price of natural gas from Russia . Ukraine and Russia had been at odds during previous Ukraine administration . | [[48, 124], [9, 31], [148, 259], [2797, 2825], [2838, 2876], [9, 31], [148, 259], [1434, 1534], [1582, 1626]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mikkel Kessler is the new World Boxing Council -LRB- WBC -RRB- super-middleweight champion after out-pointing Briton Carl Froch in a bruising encounter in his native Denmark on Saturday night . Despite being previously unbeaten after 26 fights , the 32-year-old Froch never looked comfortable against his durable opponent , who was given the decision on all three of the judges scorecards after 12 brutal rounds in front of a partisan and passionate crowd at the MCH Messecenter in Herning . Froch had Kessler on the canvas in the fifth round , but the referee ruled that the Dane had slipped , and the challenger eventually wore the champion down with a combination of hooks and jabs to take the belt by a margin of 117-111 , 115-113 and 116-112 . The result means 31-year-old Kessler , who has lost just twice in 45 fights , is a world champion again just five months after losing his World Boxing Association -LRB- WBA -RRB- title to Andre Ward . Although gracious in defeat , Froch questioned if the decision would have gone Kessler 's way if the fight had taken place in his hometown of Nottingham , England . `` I feel terrible that I lost my title , absolutely gutted , '' Froch told ringside reporters after the fight . `` I do n't want to make a mockery of anything but I feel if it was at home in my town , the decision would have gone the other way . '' He added : `` I took some big punches off a big puncher and I 've got to give Kessler the credit he deserves . He stayed in there and is a strong , proud warrior . '' | Mikkel Kessler defeats Carl Froch to win the WBC super-middleweight title . Kessler secures unanimous points decision after 12 rounds in Herning , Denmark . The defeat means Briton Froch loses his unbeaten record in his 27th fight . | [[19, 192], [213, 220], [227, 262]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cristiano Ronaldo is to play in a special benefit match for the victims of the Madeira floods and mudslides which have claimed the lives of at least 42 people . The world 's most expensive player has made himself available for a game between Portuguese champions Porto and a joint team from Madeira-based clubs Nacional and Maritimo . No date has yet been set for the match , but Ronaldo has said he will help in `` whatever possible way '' after the tragic events of the weekend . Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira added : `` Porto want to express their condolences for all that has happened and , as a club , do everything necessary to help Madeira . '' Real Madrid forward Ronaldo was born and grew up in Madeira and has a special football center named after him , which is next to the Nacional stadium . The 24-year-old paid his own tribute after scoring the first goal in Real 's 6-2 rout of Villarreal on Sunday , lifting his shirt to reveal a t-shirt bearing the name `` Madeira '' on the chest . `` Nobody can be indifferent to such a tragedy , especially me , '' Ronaldo told the official Real Madrid Web site , www.realmadrid.com . `` I was born and raised on the island . It 's given me so much . This is why I want to make myself available to help in whatever possible way . `` I would like to help official bodies and organizations to minimize the effects of this great tragedy and to get over them as soon as possible . '' Former World Player of the Year Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United in the summer for a record $ 120 million fee . | Cristiano Ronaldo to play in special benefit match for victims of the Madeira floods . Ronaldo will turn out for a joint Nacional-Maritimo team against Portugal champions Porto . Ronaldo was born and grew up on the Portuguese holiday island . | [[19, 126], [180, 353], [180, 353], [310, 317], [318, 353], [671, 698], [712, 730]] |
Mexico City , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Leaders of more than 30 Latin American and Caribbean nations are meeting in Mexico from Monday to launch a group that will serve as an alternative to the Organization of American States . The main difference between the OAS and the yet-to-be-named organization will be that the United States and Canada will not be members . Leaders of Latin American countries have been meeting almost every year since 1986 when the Rio Group was created by countries including Brazil , Argentina , Mexico , Colombia and Venezuela . This year 's summit is intended to take the Rio Group to a new level by creating the organization . Among the main topics to be discussed at the summit is whether to recognize Porfirio Lobo as the legitimate president of Honduras . Lobo , who took office in late January , was elected under a de facto government that resulted from a coup in June against then-president Manuel Zelaya . The ousted leader was then forced out of the country . Other topics on the agenda include the creation of a long-term plan to help Haiti recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and Argentina 's conflict with Great Britain over oil drilling offshore from the Falkland Islands . The Unity Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean will be held in Cancun . | Leaders from more than 30 nations meet at regional summit in Cancun . Objective of summit is to create alternative to OAS with U.S. , Canada . Summit will discuss recgnizing Porfirio Lobo as legitimate president of Honduras . | [[1235, 1311], [0, 11], [135, 227], [657, 678], [709, 788]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- While the horrors inflicted by the Nazis during World War II are well documented , `` Defiance '' director Edward Zwick wanted to make sure the stories of those who fought back are n't overlooked . Liev Schreiber , left , and Daniel Craig play freedom fighters in `` Defiance . '' `` There is this misperception that the Jews only went willingly to the slaughter , '' Zwick said . `` And in fact , the new history and scholarship tells us that there was so much resistance . This is just one instance . '' His new film , which goes into wide release Friday , tells the tale of the three Bielski brothers , who led a Jewish resistance group after escaping into the woods of Belarus in Eastern Europe . The movie stars Daniel Craig -- best known for his work as the latest James Bond -- Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell as the trio who took up arms against the Nazis and helped save the lives of more than 1,000 Jewish refugees fleeing occupied Poland . Portraying a slice of Jewish history was somewhat familiar territory for Craig , who plays brother Tuvia Bielski in the movie . He also co-starred as an Israeli agent in Steven Spielberg 's `` Munich , '' the dramatization of the murder of 11 athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics . Craig said the characters ' religion had nothing to do with his interest ; both roles were just fascinating parts that attracted him . `` I think someone said , ` You did something similar to that in ` Munich , ' '' he recalled . `` I said , well it 's kind of not . It 's a different period in history and I do n't think religion is something that should hold me back . '' Watch Craig talk about the movie 's power '' Schreiber , who is Jewish , said bringing the story of the heroic yet complex brothers to the big screen gave him `` a sense of pride '' and he found inspiration in their bravery . `` It was in these guys ' DNA , '' said Schreiber , who plays Zus Bielski . `` But I also think that it is in our DNA as human beings ... that courage exists , that passion exists , that tenacity to love exists . It 's just that we do n't experience the kinds of tests nowadays that they did in the 1930s in Eastern Europe -- particularly if you were Jewish . '' Filming in Lithuania just across the border from Belarus added an element of realism to the role , Schreiber said . `` We shot in the woods in the middle of winter , but I think as an actor you 're always grateful of these little reminders of where you are and what you 're doing , especially when you 're doing something on film when it 's so naturalistic , '' he said . `` When your hands are frozen and you can barely load a machine gun then you know you 're on to something with the character . '' Jamie Bell , best known for playing the title role in `` Billy Elliot , '' rounds out the cast as younger brother Asael Bielski . He said the bleak setting helped him understand `` the minutiae of what these people actually went through . '' Bell had considered himself pretty knowledgeable about the Holocaust and World War II before learning about the project . `` But when I read the script I felt kind of embarrassed that I did n't know about the Bielski brothers and about the Jewish resistance across the board , '' he said . Heralding the triumph of the Bielski brothers to those who are unaware is just what director Zwick had in mind . He also had a hand in writing the `` Defiance '' screenplay and is no stranger to heroes in history , having directed the critically acclaimed `` Glory . '' With this new film , Zwick said he found inspiration in the courage displayed by the Bielskis , who were fighting against incredible odds . `` You know , that 's what 's beautiful about their story , '' he said . `` They were unprepared . They were unsophisticated ; nothing they had ever done would have led one to expect that they were capable of this . I think that speaks to all of us : what we are able to find within us that is fine , even magnificent within ourselves when called upon . '' CNN 's Matt Carey contributed to this story . | `` Defiance '' is about three brothers who helped rescue Jews during WWII . Star Liev Schreiber : Courage `` was in these guys ' DNA '' Movie has wide release Friday . | [[525, 539], [578, 622], [1857, 1877], [1937, 1938], [1944, 2011], [525, 537], [546, 575]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti , who died on Thursday at the age of 71 , was one of opera 's most adaptable and ebullient performers , appearing on stage with singers as varied as Dame Joan Sutherland , U2 's Bono and Liza Minnelli . Much as the star power of Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov revived widespread interest in classical ballet in the 1970s and 1980s , Pavarotti 's beaming charisma and bravura style captured the attention of the late-20th-century audience for opera . Widely considered the greatest tenor of his time , Pavarotti began his life modestly in Modena , the son of Fernando , a baker and amateur singer , and Adele , who worked at the local tobacco factory . `` I dreamed to become a singer when I was four and I hear my father singing in the church with a beautiful tenor voice , '' he told CNN in a 1991 interview . `` And I say to myself , well , let 's try to do something . '' The young Pavarotti -- who played soccer with his town 's junior team -- joined the church choir with his father and traveled with him to Wales , where the singing group won first prize at the Llangollen International singing competition . Although the experience left Pavarotti enthralled with singing , he graduated from the local teaching institute in 1955 and taught elementary school for two years , then worked as an insurance salesman . He continued his vocal studies , however , working first with with Arrigo Pola and then with Ettore Campogalliani . Then , in 1961 , Pavarotti won the prestigious Concorso Internazionale and made his operatic debut at the Reggio Emilia Theater as Rodolfo in Giacomo Puccini 's `` La Boheme . '' His fame spread throughout Italy and then throughout the European continent as he made his international debut in Giuseppe Verdi 's `` La Traviata '' in Belgrade . When Dame Joan Sutherland brought him on-stage with her during a performance of Gaetano Donizetti 's `` Lucia di Lammermoor '' with the Greater Miami Opera in 1965 , Pavarotti began his American career . He debuted at New York 's Metropolitan Opera House three years later , and eventually marked 379 performances there , including his final opera , Puccini 's `` Tosca '' in 2004 , in which he performed as the painter Mario Cavaradossi . In between Pavarotti sold millions of records and raised millions of dollars for charity through benefit concerts , often sharing the stage with pop stars as well as other opera singers . Of his recordings , 1990 's `` The Essential Pavarotti '' was the first classical album to reach No. 1 on Britain 's pop charts , where it remained for five weeks . 1994 's `` The Three Tenors in Concert , '' with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras , remains the best selling classical album of all time . Pavarotti joined with Domingo and Carreras in 1990 , and although critics complained that Pavarotti 's vocal skills were waning , the trio performed together for 14 years . Among his charities were a 1995 `` Concert for Bosnia '' that raised $ 8.5 million and other concerts that raised $ 3.3 million for refugees from Afghanistan and $ 1 million for refugees from Kosovo . In artistic terms , Pavarotti brought to the stage a voice neatly suited to the traditional bel canto , or `` beautiful singing '' style , essential to 17th-century Italian opera . As much about intensity as pitch , bel canto focuses the voice , concentrating the sound with both outstanding warmth and agility . So demanding is this work even of the best singers that Pavarotti in concert recital could be seen rising to the balls of his feet during the most challenging passages . A long , white handkerchief always hung from one hand as he sang , his eyebrows arched high in the effort , forming an expression seemingly of surprise at his own success . From his small beginnings , Pavarotti rose to great heights , performing in front of 500,000 people in New York 's Central Park -- a concert seen by millions on television -- and before another 300,000 at Paris ' Eiffel Tower . He won countless awards and honors -- including five Grammies -- and was named United Nations Messenger for Peace by then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan . He launched an international competition , The Pavarotti International Voice Competition , in 1982 . He even founded a teaching facility for young singers in his home town . His signature aria , Puccini 's `` Nessun Dorma '' from `` Turandot , '' was chosen as the theme music for the 1990 soccer World Cup , hosted by Italy . He also performed the aria at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin . The great singer was also known as an equestrian expert , organizing one of the international show jumping circuit 's most important competitions , the Pavarotti International , in Modena . Coinciding with that event , Pavarotti also staged an annual charity concert , Pavarotti and Friends . The portly singer retired from staged opera in 2004 , but was on a `` farewell tour '' of concerts when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006 and underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor . Although the remaining concerts of his tour were canceled , his management said that he hoped to resume the tour in 2007 . When cancer finally stopped Pavarotti from singing , it was only the second interruption of his career . `` I think I just stopped for one year when from a kid I become a man and the voice is changing , '' he said in 1991 . `` I was an alto and became a tenor and that is the only time I think I remember to have stopped singing . Otherwise I have sung all my life . '' E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Porter Anderson contributed to this report . | Luciano Pavarotti widely considered the greatest tenor of his time . The Italian 's charisma and bravura style attracted a new audience to opera . Singer retired from staged opera in 2004 ; diagnosed with cancer in 2006 . | [[10, 15], [19, 48], [507, 555], [390, 506], [4889, 4940], [4988, 5040], [5218, 5268], [5271, 5322]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One of the great headaches of the American dream is about to get less painful . The road to college promises to be a little easier with the coming shorter FAFSA forms . Millions of parents and students will have much shorter federal applications for financial aid to pay for college . The form , known as FAFSA , is infamous for its detail and is considered by critics to be more painful and complex than a tax return . The Department of Education plans to unveil a shorter FAFSA on Wednesday , cutting out more than a quarter of the questions and slashing the online version from 30 screens down to just 10 . And in a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service , many families will be able to automatically download their tax data into online FAFSA forms starting in January . Education Secretary Arne Duncan is expected to announce those changes for the 2010-2011 school year at the daily White House briefing Wednesday , along with a proposal for Congress to cut even more bulk from the FAFSA . In a statement obtained by CNN Radio , the Obama appointee linked the slash in paperwork to the administration 's economic push . `` We have to educate our way to a better economy , '' Duncan said . `` Young people and adult learners deserve the chance to go to college and to know the money they need is available . '' The changes to the FAFSA are often commonsense , dropping obscure specifics that affect few students ' status , such as `` special combat pay . '' Likewise , the agency is cutting through queries dripping in bureaucrat-ese . For example , the question , `` At any time ... did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless ? '' will instead be , `` Are you homeless ? '' The FAFSA overhaul has been a long time in the making . Last year , Democrats in Congress pushed through student loan reforms that included some requirements for shorter , more user-friendly versions of FAFSA . One of the captains of that effort , House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller , D-California , is ready for more . In a statement , Miller said he looks forward to working with Duncan , `` to make college more affordable by making student loans more reliable , effective and efficient for families and taxpayers . '' Duncan will need Miller 's help . The education chief wants Congress to cut out a number of questions that either affect very few students or are impossible to verify , including a particularly stress-inducing series about parental assets . In addition to lowering blood pressure during student loan season , the effort could save countless hours of work . According the Department of Education , some 15 million parents and students trudge through the FAFSA every year , as a required step toward scholarships , grants and loans . | FAFSA has been dreaded for its complexity and length . Department of Education will cut out more than a quarter of the questions . The online version will be slashed from 30 screens down to just 10 . Changes to the FAFSA will take effect for the 2010-2011 school year . | [[315, 340], [343, 369], [315, 340], [399, 449], [450, 477], [525, 621], [450, 477], [525, 621]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When President Obama called for a world free of nuclear weapons in Prague , Czech Republic , this spring , many dismissed this part of his speech as idealistic rhetoric . But the abolition of nuclear weapons is not an unrealistic fantasy . It is a practical necessity if the American people are to have a secure future . President Obama should use his Nobel speech this week to reaffirm his commitment to this essential and obtainable goal . It is essential because a world armed with nuclear weapons is simply too dangerous for us to countenance . Since the end of the Cold War we have tended to act as though the threat of nuclear war had gone away . It has n't . It is only our awareness of this danger that has faded . In fact , there are some 25,000 nuclear weapons in the world today ; 95 percent of them are in the arsenals of the United States and Russia . Just this past weekend , the START treaty limiting the number of U.S. and Russian warheads expired . Negotiators in Geneva , Switzerland , have not yet been able to work out the details of a follow-up treaty . We must hope they will be able to agree to deep reductions . A recent study by Physicians for Social Responsibility showed that if only 300 of the weapons in the Russian arsenal attacked targets in American cities , 90 million people would die in the first half hour . A comparable U.S. attack on Russia would produce similar devastation . Further , these attacks would destroy the entire economic , communications and transportation infrastructure on which the rest of the population depends for survival . In the ensuing months the vast majority of people who survived the initial attacks in both countries would die of disease , exposure and starvation . The destruction of the United States and Russia would be only part of the story . An attack of this magnitude would lift millions of tons of soot and dust into the upper levels of the atmosphere , blocking out sunlight and dropping temperatures across the globe . In fact , if the entire Russian and U.S. strategic arsenals were involved in the fighting , average surface temperature worldwide would fall 10 degrees Centigrade to levels not seen on Earth since the depth of the last ice age 18,000 years ago . For three years there would not be a single day in the Northern Hemisphere free of frost . Agriculture would stop , ecosystems would collapse and many species , perhaps even our own , would become extinct . This is not just some theoretical scenario ; it is a real and present danger . On January 25 , 1995 , we came within minutes of nuclear war when Russian military radar mistook a Norwegian-U.S. scientific rocket for a possible attack on Moscow . President Yeltsin , a man reportedly suffering from alcoholism and other major medical problems , was notified and given five minutes to decide how to respond . Then as now , both the United States and Russia maintained a policy of `` launch on warning , '' authorizing the launch of nuclear missiles when an enemy attack is believed to be under way . We do n't know exactly what happened in the Kremlin that morning , but someone decided not to launch Russian missiles and we did not have a nuclear war . January 25 , 1995 , was five years after the end of the Cold War . There were no unusual crises anywhere in the world that day . It was a relatively good day in a time much less dangerous than our own . And we almost blew up the world . That was 15 years ago and the United States and Russia still maintain more than 2,000 warheads on high alert ready to be launched in 15 minutes and to destroy each other 's cities 30 minutes later . Nuclear weapons are the only military threat from which U.S. armed forces can not protect us . It is urgently in our national security interest to eliminate these instruments of mass annihilation from the arsenals of potential adversaries . If we have to get rid of our own nuclear weapons to achieve this , it is a deal well worth making . Make no mistake , the elimination of nuclear weapons is an attainable goal . These bombs are not some force of nature . They are the work of our hand . We built them and we can take them apart . Some governments falsely see these weapons as safeguards of their security . It will not be easy to convince them that true safety requires that we abolish them . Nor will it be easy to design the verification regime needed to assure that the weapons are dismantled and that no new weapons are built . Yet national security experts in the United States and around the world say that it can be done and it must be done . If politics is the art of the possible , then statesmanship is the art of the necessary . And if ever there was a time that cried out for statesmanship it is now . There are many important issues that demand our attention -- health care reform , energy policy , creating more jobs -- but none is as urgent as eliminating the threat of nuclear war . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ira Helfand . | Ira Helfand : Abolishing nuclear weapons is not an unrealistic fantasy . Helfand : Threat of nuclear war still real , still terrifying and did not go away with the Cold War . Helfand : About 25,000 nuclear weapons in world ; 95 percent in U.S. and Russia . Helfand : Many important issues , but none as urgent as eliminating threat of nuclear war . | [[194, 258], [811, 883], [4776, 4917], [4900, 4960]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The average temperature in Bloomington , Minnesota , in January was 6.4 degrees Fahrenheit . But that did n't stop Adam Frey from grilling outdoors and burning through 80 pounds of charcoal during the month . Leroy and Judy McMillin of Spring , Texas , own three Big Green Eggs and built an outdoor kitchen to house them . Frey received a Big Green Egg -- a ceramic cooker that serves as a smoker , grill and oven -- for Christmas last year . Since then , he has devotedly grilled six or seven days a week . `` Extreme cold is n't an issue as long as you dress warm , '' Frey said . `` I have and will continue to cook out every day if possible . '' The oval-shaped grill has amassed a cult-like following since it was born in Atlanta , Georgia , in 1974 . Fans of the grill call themselves Eggheads . Tell us about your grill of choice . Frey began grilling more than 20 years ago but got his first Egg in 2008 . `` It changed everything , '' he said . He now owns two Eggs and calls himself a `` grill junkie . '' `` When you find yourself waking up , thinking about what you 're going to grill that night , you 're pretty addicted , '' Frey said . iReport.com : See photos of Frey 's grilled meals . With a hefty price tag and weight -- some Eggs cost up to $ 900 and weigh more than 200 pounds -- the uninitiated may question whether the cookers are worth it . Eggheads , though , are quick to spread the gospel . Frey , who shared his story on iReport.com as part of CNN 's `` grill masters '' assignment , was n't the only one to express devotion to the ceramic cooker . Other iReporters shared photos , videos and stories about their egg-centricity . `` I am an Egghead . They should pay me , because I constantly encourage people to buy one , '' joked Brad Cates . Cates , an insurance and financial consultant in Ocean Springs , Mississippi , raves about the ease of heat control and versatility of his Egg . Fueled by charcoal , the Big Green Egg can reach up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit to sear a steak within minutes or cook a slow and low brisket for hours . `` It is better than any other grill or smoker I 've had , '' Cates said . `` I 've had numerous gas grills , and there is absolutely no comparison there . '' Cates tends to `` cook in spurts , '' firing up the grill for two or three days some weeks . Ribs , covered in his secret homemade rub , are his specialty . `` I try to do at least three racks at a time , and they are gone within minutes , '' he said . Thanks to Cates ' enthusiasm , co-worker John Lindsey decided to purchase a Big Green Egg . Now he , too , raves about it . `` The grill is like no other , '' Lindsey boasted . `` I have owned all types of grills , from the tiny charcoal grill to the giant stainless steel gas grills . But the BGE is by far my favorite . '' Lindsey , 34 , grills three or four times a week . His specialty is `` pork in general '' ; baby back ribs , pork tenderloin and pulled pork are some of his favorite dishes . He owns an XL Egg , which , according to the manufacturer , can cook 24 burgers , 12 steaks or 11 whole chickens at a time . iReport.com : See some XL Egg creations . More than a million Eggs have been sold since the company began , spokeswoman Donna Myers said . `` Word of mouth literally made the Egg what it is today , '' Myers said . She noted that BGE founder Ed Fisher began the company with little advertising revenue . `` For many years , these devoted Eggheads became the company 's primary sales force , '' Myers said . Perhaps the biggest Eggheads in the iReport community are Leroy and Judy McMillin of Spring , Texas . The couple owns three Eggs and built an outdoor kitchen to house them . `` I think it 's easy to see that we love our Eggs , '' Leroy McMillin said . McMillin bought his first Egg , which he calls Lily , in 1999 . He has two smaller versions -- named Shirley and Maggie -- that he purchased in 2006 and 2007 , respectively . His three ovoid `` girls '' are housed in their own hand-built outdoor kitchen called `` The Coop , '' complete with a sink , mini refrigerator , countless chicken decorations and a red light to indicate when the grills are in use . McMillin and his wife keep the chicken/egg theme going by referring to themselves as `` Spring Chicken '' and `` Spring Hen . '' iReport.com : Take a video tour of `` The Coop '' McMillin , 68 , is retired and considers himself one of the elder Egg enthusiasts . `` There are a few Eggheads older than me and a whole bunch younger than me , '' he said . `` I envy their enthusiasm and creativity . They seem to want to take ` Egg 'n' to the next level . '' The McMillins recently attended a nearby Big Green Egg demonstration and cookout . Leroy , wearing his `` I 'm an Egghead '' shirt , proselytized to potential buyers . `` We just wanted to pass on to any prospective Eggheads how enjoyable cooking on the Egg can be , '' McMillin explained . In fact , he says , many friends have purchased their own green grill , thanks to his encouragement . The couple is headed to Atlanta in October for the annual EGGtoberfest , an annual event where more than 1,000 Eggheads converge to share recipes , meet fellow fanatics and purchase additional Eggs . McMillin says he enjoys both barbecuing and grilling and uses his Eggs , on average , six times a week . His wife , Judy , joins in the action , too . `` We both enjoy the ` Eggsperience ' together , '' McMillin said . `` Cooking has n't been a chore since we got our first Egg . '' | Big Green Egg fanatics call themselves `` Eggheads , '' spread the gospel . Adam Frey grilled outdoors everyday in six degree weather . Leroy McMillin built a `` coop '' for his three Eggs . iReport.com : Are you a grill master ? Show us your custom grills . | [[1384, 1392], [1404, 1436], [121, 178], [462, 472], [475, 526], [3634, 3660], [821, 857]] |
Cape Town , South Africa -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As natural habitats disappear in South Africa , baboons and humans are increasingly coming into close contact , and conflict . In South Africa 's Cape Peninsula there has been a large-scale transformation of wild baboons ' natural habitat into land for housing , industry and agriculture , according to the University of Cape Town Baboon Research Unit . The result is that wild baboons are surrounded by humans , which the researchers say is causing human-baboon conflict to escalate . But the problem is n't confined only to the Cape , as baboons are increasingly venturing into towns and villages across southern Africa in search of food , often leaving a trail of damage in their wake . In the farming village of Barrydale , a four-hour drive from Cape Town , baboons are a growing problem . While some local farmers say they want to shoot baboons found in the village , others favor a more sustainable solution . Report : Central African gorillas may go extinct . Jenny Trethowan , of advocacy group Baboon Matters , is known as the `` Baboon Lady '' back in Cape Town . She has spent her career trying to protect the primates in the Cape Peninsula , of which there are more than 400 . In Barrydale , she sees an opportunity to tackle the problem before it gets out of hand . `` What is so exciting about the Barrydale scenario is the fact that they are being extremely proactive , '' Trethowan told CNN . `` In many of the other areas it 's been a long time , where baboons have become habituated and trained . Now in Barrydale they are saying ` let 's stop this behavior quickly before it gets started , ' and that 's enormously exciting for me . '' Trethowan has pinned her hopes on implementing a baboon-monitoring program in the village . At the Joshua Baboon Rehabilitation Project , just outside Barrydale , Baboon Matters is training locals to be baboon monitors . The monitors are tasked with patrolling Barrydale and herding baboons away from homes and farms . `` If we can get the monitoring program going quickly before the baboons are habituated I believe we stand a good chance of success here , '' said Trethowan . Nola Frazier runs the Joshua Baboon Rehabilitation Project and supports the village 's monitoring program . `` I do n't think the baboon problem is going to go away , '' Frazier told CNN . `` It 's a learning curve . It 's something that 's happening here ; it 's happening all over South Africa . '' An existing monitoring program on the Cape is yielding benefits . Statistics from the Baboon Research Unit show human-induced injuries to baboons are at their lowest for five years . Deaths are also down , and the baboon population is up , which means encounters with humans are more likely . African football academy creates future stars . When she 's not helping to run monitoring programs , Trethowan takes tourists on walks around the Cape Peninsula to see baboons in what she hopes will be their natural habitat . But despite the monitors ' best efforts , the baboons sometimes stray from their natural environment . The smell of cooking , and windows left open , are practically an invitation to hungry baboons , whose food raids can result in damage to property . `` When I take people to walk , I never describe baboons as something they are not , '' said Trethowan . `` They do cause incredible damage , and the ideal thing would be for them to be on the mountain and not in the village . `` The monitors can struggle without a doubt . What 's frustrating to me is to see the residents make little effort to help the monitors . If they were working with the monitors more , the monitors would be more efficient . '' When it comes to taking on one of the continent 's most opportunistic animals , researchers and advocates say there are no easy answers . `` Baboons are definitely incredibly opportunistic and incredibly adaptable , so from a management point of view it makes it incredibly difficult , '' said Trethowan . But she said it 's these same characteristics that drew her into a life of advocacy for baboons . `` It is hugely amazing to watch how these baboons will adapt to a situation and will seize an opportunity and work with whatever they 've got , '' she told CNN . `` I think we 've got a lot to learn from them , in hopes of showing more people the positives in an animal so often labeled a problem . '' Robyn Curnow and Mark Tutton contributed to this report . | Disappearing natural habitats are causing conflict between baboons and humans . Baboons raid towns and villages in search of food . Baboon Matters organizes teams of monitors to herd baboons away from villages . Monitoring programs can reduce human-induced injuries to baboons . | [[47, 99], [448, 454], [483, 518], [494, 529], [584, 665], [734, 769], [807, 838], [3178, 3195], [3204, 3249], [1921, 2018], [1921, 1933], [1945, 1990], [1921, 1933], [1975, 2018], [2591, 2661]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Kajal Kumar knows the value of a good education . She 's a career woman who poured years of her life into studying to become a certified public accountant with an MBA . But after nearly two decades climbing the corporate ladder in New York , the 46-year-old stopped managing employees and began micromanaging her two daughters . Instead of overseeing company accounts , Kumar organizes piano lessons , SAT preparation courses and Advanced Placement class homework assignments . She wants to give her daughters a shot at a top-notch college education . `` I had a very good , promising career , '' Kumar said . `` But it was n't as important as making sure my kids did well and just setting them up for the future . '' Stay-at-home parenting is nothing new . About 5.1 million mothers stay at home full time , according to the U.S. Census Bureau . But Kumar 's decision to quit her job came at an unconventional time -- when her children were grown teenagers and had entered high school . Unlike maternity leave , think of Kumar 's time off as a college-prep leave , say college admissions counselors . She represents a group of highly educated mothers who are sacrificing careers to usher their children through the increasingly competitive college admissions process . There are no statistics counting how many mothers compromise their careers to help their teens with college admissions , but college counselors say they 've witnessed more cases of mothers pausing their jobs or completely quitting their jobs . Over the past five years , Jeannie Borin , president of College Connections , says she saw a 10 percent uptick in mothers who quit or postponed their career to get their teens into college . Her counseling company offers services in 32 states . These mothers , who can afford to quit their jobs , may stop working for months , a year or several years leading up to the admission process , say researchers and college admissions counselors . They reduce their full-time hours to part time or request a temporary leave . Because many of them have jobs that require advanced degrees and specific skills , it 's usually easier for them to transition back into the work force . `` They know it 's going to be an intense year and they take a leave to that effect , '' Borin said . `` The college frenzy has affected the entire family . '' Since the mid-1990s , there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of time college-educated mothers are spending with their older children , according to a March study from the University of California , San Diego . Women spent six hours a week on child care in the mid-1990s , but that number jumped to about 12 hours a week after 2005 , the study said . Economics professors Garey and Valerie Ramey , who headed the UCSD study , theorized the rising amount of time spent on child care by a parent likely is associated with difficulty in the college admission process and juggling college preparatory activities . They found that college-educated parents have more resources and are better equipped to help their children with the process . `` We were shocked to find other mothers who had graduate degrees and had given up their careers and devoted their time to their children , '' said Valerie Ramey . The panic of getting her 17-year-old daughter into a highly ranked university hit Rebecca Marder hard . Marder , 56 , of Los Angeles , California , holds two master 's degrees in counseling that took her nearly 5 1/2 years to earn . But a year-and-a-half ago , during daughter 's junior year in high school , she put her private counseling practice on hold to help her through the college application process . Junior year is a crunch time for high schoolers , as they compile college wish lists and tour campuses . She became her daughter 's college applications manager , scheduling campus tours and researching academic programs . She also became a videographer , recording her 17-year-old at each college visit as she weighed the pros and cons in front of each school . Marder has three older children , ages 25 , 23 , and 19 , but she said this is the first time she stopped working , because she saw that expectations of high school students had grown since her eldest child entered college . Marder said it is a dilemma . `` We can be seen by others and , more importantly , by ourselves , as ` irresponsible ' for not taking an active role in our child 's application process , or as driven and overprotective if we do get involved . '' She was relieved to learn this month that her daughter had been accepted by her top choice , New York University . She immediately reopened her practice , which was crucial , she said , because she had gone into debt during her time off . Managing a child 's college application process can be similar to a corporate job , says Hilary Levey , a fellow at Harvard University who specializes in family studies . Levey conducted dozens of interviews with mothers who stopped working and stayed at home for their children . She says she talked to mothers who used their Blackberry devices to organize schedules and help their teens craft resumes . `` Raising the child sometimes becomes a career in itself , '' Levey said . `` Instead of getting a promotion and measuring progress in professional sense , a way to measure how well you are doing is how well your child is doing . '' But guiding a teen is a very different experience than raising a newborn or young child , say some mothers who have given up their advanced degrees to become full-time moms . Several moms say their decision to stay at home with their teens as allowed them to strengthen those relationships . Cherie Rodgers , 57 , of Santa Monica , California , found herself sharing special moments with her daughter when the stress of writing essays became too daunting . Together , they would take a break and enjoy an episode of a reality TV show together . `` If I had to do it all over again , I would do the same thing , '' said Rodgers , who put her career in family law on hold for four months last fall . She said she considers her decision a success : Her daughter is juggling admissions offers from four selective colleges . Even so , she said , her daughter probably could have gotten through the process without her . For Kajal Kumar in New York , her relationship with her college-bound high school senior also deepened . Kumar does miss getting dressed up for work and commuting into bustling Manhattan , but her decision has eased the stress on her family . Her husband continues to work . `` We wanted to make sure we could give her all the tools she needed to succeed , '' Kumar said . Her eldest daughter is headed to Vanderbilt University this fall . But the family 's college admissions process will start all over again when the youngest daughter , who is in high school , begins eyeing colleges . And Kumar will be staying at home . | Some moms with advanced degrees are quitting their jobs to help their teens get into college . A University of California , San Diego study found moms are spending more time with their children . The college admissions process has gotten more competitive for high school students , experts say . Moms say taking a `` college-prep leave '' can be beneficial for mother-child bonding . | [[1147, 1198], [1147, 1170], [1175, 1288], [1299, 1407], [1647, 1654], [1667, 1723], [5489, 5573], [2388, 2393], [2511, 2571], [2726, 2770], [2801, 2875], [3213, 3249], [1147, 1170], [1175, 1288]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday deflected concerns that the state 's new immigration law will hurt economic development , saying many businesses have long wanted tougher action . The new law requires Arizona police to determine whether people are in the United States legally if there is a reason to suspect they are n't . Brewer signed the controversial legislation into law on Friday . `` The bottom line is that when I go about meeting with businesses that come into Arizona ... they want to know that we have a safe and secure environment into which to move their businesses here , '' Brewer said at an Arizona Town Hall event in Tucson . `` They want to know that their employees are going to have a quality of life that they 've had in the places where they 're moving from to move here . '' `` I believe it 's not going to have the kind of economic impact that some people think that it might , '' Brewer , a Republican , said . Would you boycott Arizona over immigration law ? The law , scheduled to go into effect 90 days after the close of the state 's legislative session , would require immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times . Previously , officers could check someone 's immigration status only if that person was suspected in another crime . Critics say the law could foster racial profiling and prompt businesses , conventions and tourists to stay away from the state . The bill has prompted rallies by opponents and supporters , and some prominent politicians in Washington and Arizona have criticized the measure , including Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon , who has said he 'll file a lawsuit to block the law . People have been protesting the bill outside the state Capitol since Friday , CNN affiliate KTVK reported . `` People are going to be stopped just because of the color of -LSB- their -RSB- skin . And it ai n't right , '' protester Jose Acosta told CNN on Sunday . `` Are they going to be looking for Europeans as well , or is it just the brown people ? '' Supporters say the measure is needed because the federal government has failed to enforce its own immigration laws . In Tucson on Monday , Brewer said she has written to the federal government five times about the issue in the past year and a half . '' -LSB- The letters -RSB- have been met with complete , total disrespect to the people of Arizona . I mean , we do n't even get an answer back from our letters in regard to securing our border , '' Brewer said . `` So , given that , I think it was time that Arizonans did step up , and that was one reason why I think that -LSB- the new state legislation -RSB- was signed . '' Brewer emphasized an executive order she issued last week to accompany the law will require additional training for local officers on how to implement the law without engaging in racial profiling . `` I want you all to know that racial profiling is illegal . It 's the law , '' she said Monday . `` We are going to be very diligent , and we 're going to make absolutely sure that that law ... will be implemented properly and respectfully . '' Gordon , Phoenix 's mayor and a Democrat , said his office hopes the City Council will authorize the city to file a lawsuit Tuesday . `` Convention -LSB- and -RSB- tourist business groups have already gotten dozens of calls . We 're pleading with them not to boycott Phoenix or the state because of -LSB- the bill -RSB- , '' Gordon said Monday on CNN 's `` The Situation Room . '' `` There will be court challenges . I 'm confident that the federal courts will enjoin it at least until it is determined -LSB- whether it 's -RSB- constitutional and how to enforce it so that officers do n't get sued by individuals alleging civil rights violations . '' President Obama last week called the legislation `` misguided '' and said the federal government must act on the immigration issue . `` Our failure to act responsible at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others . That includes , for example , the recent efforts in Arizona , which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans , as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe , '' the president said in Washington at a naturalization ceremony for 24 members of the military . CNN 's Casey Wian contributed to this report . | Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer : Businesses have long asked for tougher immigration action . But law 's opponents argue it will cause tourists , businesses to stay away . New law requires police to determine whether a person is in U.S. legally . Phoenix , Arizona , mayor says he 'll sue to block the law . | [[77, 109], [143, 199], [1307, 1435], [1319, 1405], [1381, 1435], [200, 296], [1500, 1618], [1583, 1620], [1625, 1655], [1634, 1674], [3103, 3109], [3112, 3143], [3146, 3236]] |
-LRB- The Frisky -RRB- -- Actress Amanda Seyfried has been pretty candid about her disdain for dieting . She recently spoke up on The Huffington Post site about how unfortunate it is that near starvation is often necessary for success in Hollywood : . `` I clearly like being fit , but it 's not thin without a hell of a lot of work -- I run and I exercise a lot and then I eat ... I 'm not going to deny that I do n't think about it every day , it 's always on my mind . I have to stay in shape because I 'm an actress . `` It 's twisted , but I would n't get the roles otherwise . If I 'd been bigger , I do n't think they would have cast me for ` Mamma Mia ' ! If I have to diet , it 's salad with protein , salmon and broccoli , no dessert . But what kind of life is that ? '' Yeah , what kind of life is that ? I 'm eating dessert for breakfast right now and feel pretty OK about it , but for people whose chosen profession is acting , it 's a big issue . Here are a few celebs who have whined about this unfair standard of beauty . Sandra Bullock says she is paid to be thin . Sandra Bullock once said , `` People ask , ` How do actresses do it ? ' Um , they pay us to do this in order to look good on film , '' Bullock confessed to InStyle . When she was younger , Bullock did some yo-yo dieting and says of her mentality at the time , `` I 'm going to get really fat . Then I 'm going to complain about how fat I 've got , then I 'll have to go on a diet , then I 'll complain about being on a diet . It 's just a vicious circle . I 've been a junk food junkie most of my life . '' The Frisky : Learn from Sandra Bullock 's up/down love life . Beyonce was `` dying '' to be thin . When Beyonce had to drop 20 pounds for `` Dreamgirls , '' she did a Master Cleanse , and said this about it in FHM magazine : `` I lived on water , cayenne pepper and maple syrup for 14 days . It was tough ; everyone was eating and I was dying . `` After that I ate waffles , fried chicken , cheeseburgers , french fries , everything I could find . That was the best time of my life . I 've gained twelve pounds . '' `` Baywatch '' babe Nicole Eggert says being skinny is `` unrealistic '' Former `` Baywatch '' and `` Celebrity Fit Club '' actress Nicole Eggert fought back against tabloid criticism over her weight gain , telling ThatsFit.com , `` to maintain this Hollywood figure is really , really unrealistic . Is your heart healthy ? Is your mind healthy ? Do you feel good ? That 's it . Period . This skinny-minnie-waify look that has taken over is unrealistic . '' But , just in case , she lost all that weight and is pimping that QuickTrim stuff Kim Kardashian is so fond of . The Frisky : Amanda Seyfried 's raunchy tattoo . Demi Moore does n't call herself `` thin '' Demi Moore also had her share of body issues and hopes she has n't passed them on to her daughters . She told Vanity Fair , `` When I was living that idea that if I was thinner I would be better and more accepted and more attractive , I stopped looking at it as being thin or skinny ... I have three daughters with three very different types of bodies ... I just try to encourage them to find the beauty in who they are and what they have , as opposed to focusing on what they 're not . I want them to know that being thin does not equate to happiness . '' Demi Moore schools Kim Kardashian on `` pimping '' Jennifer Aniston 's lost it for `` Friends '' When she started her career , Jennifer Aniston was told that she needed to lose 20 pounds to be on `` Friends . '' She managed to lose the weight but complained about it publicly : `` You 're damned if you 're too thin and you 're damned if you 're too heavy . According to the press , I 've been both . It 's impossible to satisfy everyone and I suggest we stop trying . '' InStyle.com : 9 summer films you 'll want to see . Celebrity men complain , too . Men are n't immune to the weight game . Ricky Gervais recently spoke out in response to suggestions that he lost weight to `` kick start his film career . '' Gervais said to The Telegraph : `` The Hollywood pressure is that you do have to be of a certain standard or a certain type . I see everyone doing it , even good character actors . I think , ` Why are you starving yourself ? ' I remember when a newspaper said , ` He 's lost three stone for Hollywood . ' `` I went , ` No , I have n't lost three stone and I would never do it for Hollywood . I did it ` cos I work out and I wan na be fit . ' And that annoys me . '' Kelly Osbourne : Being fat was worse than drugs . Kelly Osbourne made a really good point when she told Us Weekly , `` I took more hell for being fat than I did for being an absolute raging drug addict . I will never understand that . Now I 've actually read in some magazines that I 'm too skinny . You can never ever ever win . '' Why is it so much worse to be fat than risking your life daily with drugs ? Jessica Simpson beaten up over 10 pounds . After the mom jeans debacle , Jessica Simpson shared her feelings on weight with Oprah Winfrey : `` The fact I was famous last year for gaining 10 pounds is ridiculous and really sad ... Just the pressure that women feel to be thin ... The pressure that the media puts on women is so unfair , and so disgusting . '' TM & © 2010 TMV , Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | Sandra Bullock says , `` They pay us to do this in order to look good on film '' Jennifer Aniston was told she needed to lose 20 pounds to be on `` Friends '' Kelly Osbourne says she took more heat for being fat than for being a drug addict . | [[1038, 1082], [1160, 1191], [1160, 1164], [1192, 1212], [3424, 3451], [3454, 3535], [4624, 4699]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Oklahoma Senate voted Tuesday to override the governor 's vetoes and pass two strong anti-abortion measures . One law requires women to undergo an ultrasound examination and listen to a description of what it shows before getting an abortion . Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee , a Republican , said Tuesday 's vote shows lawmakers listened to Oklahoma 's residents and `` made a bold statement in support of the sanctity of life . '' But Democratic Gov. Brad Henry has called the legislation `` an unconstitutional attempt by the Oklahoma legislature to insert government into the private lives and decisions of its citizens . '' Henry vetoed the bill and another abortion-related measure Friday , but the state House on Monday overwhelmingly voted to override both vetoes , with House Speaker Chris Benge , a Republican , lauding his colleagues for moving quickly . The Senate 's 36-12 vote Tuesday was the final step required to make the bills laws . `` Those who rallied behind this cause reflected the core values of Oklahoma citizens , and I applaud my colleagues in providing more safeguards for the life of the unborn , '' Coffee said . Henry said he was disappointed by Tuesday 's vote . `` It signals the beginning of another costly and possibly futile legal battle for the state of Oklahoma . Both laws will be challenged and , in all likelihood , overturned by the courts as unconstitutional , '' he said . `` I fear this entire exercise will ultimately be a waste of taxpayers ' time and money . '' In a statement issued after his vetoes Friday , Henry sharply criticized the laws . `` State policymakers should never mandate that a citizen be forced to undergo any medical procedure against his or her will , especially when such a procedure could cause physical or mental trauma , '' Henry said . `` To do so amounts to an unconstitutional invasion of privacy . '' Henry said one of the flaws of the ultrasound bill was that it lacked an exemption for rape and incest victims . Henry vetoed similar legislation in 2008 . His veto was overridden . The State Supreme Court struck down the legislation because it contained multiple subjects , a violation of the state Constitution requiring measures to deal with a single subject , Bennett said . The Center for Reproductive Rights said it had filed a lawsuit challenging the new law after Tuesday 's Senate vote . `` Oklahoma has now passed the most burdensome ultrasound law in the country , '' Nancy Northup , the organization 's president , told CNN . `` Until Oklahoma stops harassing women who are seeking abortions , we will continue to sue the state on these unconstitutional restrictions . '' Coffee said challenging the new laws in court would go against what Oklahoma residents want . `` The voice of the people has spoken twice now this session in the Senate and twice in the House , and I sincerely hope those who would reverse the people 's voice would think twice before acting , '' he said . The other measure approved by legislators Tuesday prohibits pregnant women and their families from seeking legal damages if physicians `` knowingly and negligently '' withhold key information or provide inaccurate information about their pregnancies . Henry , in opposing the bill , said it would be `` unconscionable to grant a physician legal protection to mislead or misinform a pregnant woman in an effort to impose his or her personal beliefs on his patient . '' Such an issue would be particularly relevant to fetuses with disabilities . `` By prohibiting recovery of damages in wrongful birth and life malpractice actions , the legislation would allow unscrupulous , reckless or negligent physicians to knowingly withhold information or negligently provide inaccurate information to pregnant women without facing the potential of legal consequences , '' the governor said . The House voted to override the veto of the ultrasound bill by an 81 to 14 vote , well above the three-fourths majority required . State Rep. Lisa Billy , a Republican , said the bill `` does nothing more than give women as much information as possible before they make the life-altering decision to have an abortion . '' `` I do n't want a single woman to go through the lifelong torture of having an abortion without having all the relevant information , '' Billy said . The House voted 84 to 12 to override the veto over the legal damages prohibition . State Rep. Dan Sullivan , a Republican , said the bill `` simply states that a doctor can not be sued based on the opinion after birth that a child would have been better off if he or she had been aborted . '' `` A bipartisan coalition of members supported this bill the first time , and I am pleased they did again today , '' Sullivan said . Benge , the House speaker , said , `` We must move to stop the degradation of human life seen in recent years and stand up for those who can not defend themselves . '' CNN 's Joe Sterling and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report . | One law requires ultrasound , listening to description of what it shows before abortion . Center for Reproductive Rights says it had filed a lawsuit challenging the new law . Other law protects doctors who withhold data or give inaccurate information about pregnancies . Laws ' critics cite privacy , negligence issues ; backers say the people have spoken . | [[133, 266], [150, 192], [133, 140], [197, 266], [2290, 2407], [2330, 2407], [3001, 3042], [3125, 3135], [3196, 3252], [3304, 3410], [3632, 3787], [3757, 3805]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- World number one Roger Federer has crashed out in the second round of the clay-court Rome Masters event , losing in three sets to unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis . The top seed looked set to cruise through after taking the opening set , but Gulbis fought back in the next two sets and , despite wasting six previous match points , the world number 40 eventually went through 2-6 6-1 7-5 in a match littered with unforced errors . Federer , who will defend his French Open title at Roland Garros next month , looked woefully out of form and made under 50 per cent of his first serves as he slumped to defeat in just over two hours . The win continued Gulbis ' impressive 2010 , which has seen him claim his first ever ATP Tour title at Delray Beach in February . `` It 's incredible , I was shocked after the match , it 's a great feeling : indescribable , '' Gulbis told reporters . It was Federer 's first opening round loss at the Foro Italico since losing to Andrea Gaudenzi in 2002 -- and the first time since the 2000 Monte Carlo Masters that the Swiss maestro had lost his first clay-court match of the season . `` I hope I can bounce back , it 's usually what I do after a loss like this , '' said Federer . `` When you lose , you understand how difficult it is to dominate this Tour . `` This knockout format is brutal -- one week you are great and the next week you are terrible , '' Federer told reporters . There were no such problems for second seed and 2008 champion Novak Djokovic , who took under an hour to demolish Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-1 6-1 . And fourth seed Andy Murray also cruised through , easing to a 6-2 6-4 victory over home favorite Andrea Seppi . However , 16th seed Juan Monaco was beaten 7-6 6-4 by Romanian Victor Hanescu , while ninth seed Mikhail Youzhny lost 6-4 4-6 6-3 to former world number one Lleyton Hewitt . | Top seed Roger Federer crashes out in second round of the Rome Masters . The world number one is beaten 2-6 6-1 7-5 by Latvian Ernests Gulbis . Second seed Novak Djokovic cruises through after beating Jeremy Chardy 6-1 6-1 . | [[0, 15], [19, 122], [0, 15], [125, 182], [1437, 1513], [1485, 1513], [1520, 1584]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is arguably best-known for his role as maverick captain Jack Sparrow in the wildly popular `` Pirates of the Caribbean '' franchise . Now , he has taken things a step further with his own pirate-inspired ship in the Caribbean . It may not be as creepy as the `` Pirates of the Caribbean 's '' `` Black Pearl , '' but Depp 's ship `` Vajoliroja '' has more than a hint of the swashbuckler about it . Depp has completely refitted the ship to his taste , with velvet wall hangings and furniture in rich burgundies and gold . Wannabe pirates can test their sea legs on Depp 's yacht , which is available for charter , although it 's not cheap . One week aboard the ship , which hosts up to 11 guests and eight crew , costs a cool $ 130,000 . But help is on hand to distract visiting landlubbers from the dent in their booty : `` Vajoliroja '' boasts all the latest gadgets , including two speed boats , kayaks , wind surfs , water skis , wakeboards and more . | `` Vajoliroja '' is Johnny Depp 's pirate-themed yacht in the Caribbean . In 2008 , Depp completely refitted the ship with velvet drapes and furniture in rich burgundies and gold . Wannabe swashbucklers can charter the boat for $ 130,000 a week . | [[181, 274], [227, 241], [242, 274], [446, 496], [569, 625], [612, 625], [634, 658], [688, 712], [760, 784]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Wayne Rooney insists he will be fit to lead England 's charge for the World Cup after injury curtailed the Manchester United striker 's English Premier League season . The 24-year-old is currently sidelined with a groin injury but after picking up the Premier League 's player of the year award -- voted for by his fellow professionals -- he said there is no way he will miss out on the tournament in South Africa . Rooney has been in lethal goalscoring form this season , netting 40 goals for club and country , and has been pinpointed as the key player in England 's bid to lift the World Cup for only the second time in their history . `` The groin will be fine for the World Cup , there are no worries about that , '' he told the Professional Footballers ' Association awards in London . `` I 'm hoping to play for United in the last game of the season . '' It is the first time Rooney has won the PFA award , though he has twice scooped the young player of the year award . He said : `` I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year award . I saw the players winning the main one and it 's something I 've aimed for since . '' Rooney paid tribute to his club manager , Alex Ferguson , who insists he has no plans to retire from the game , at 68 . `` Sir Alex is a great manager who has really brought me on as a player since I joined United , Rooney said . `` His hunger passes through to the players . `` It 's great to see that he 's pushing 70 and he has n't changed a bit . I 'm sure he 'll be at United a long time yet . '' Rooney is hoping Manchester United can secure a fourth straight Premier League crown , but they remain one point behind Chelsea after Carlo Ancelotti 's side thrashed Stoke 7-0 on Sunday . Chelsea travel to Liverpool next weekend in a game that could have a huge bearing on the destination of the title and Rooney is confident the Reds can do his side a favor . `` I 'm sure Liverpool will want to beat Chelsea , '' said Rooney . `` The pride they 've got and the history they 've got , I 'm sure they 'll want to win that game . They are fighting to get into the Europa League . '' Aston Villa 's James Milner -- another member of England coach Fabio Capello 's squad -- picked up the young player of the year award . | England striker Wayne Rooney insists he 'll be fit for the World Cup finals . Rooney is currently sidelined with a groin injury . The Manchester United striker was voted Premier League player of the season . | [[19, 111], [187, 202], [206, 245], [187, 202], [250, 313]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has revealed he is set to miss the entire Major League Soccer -LRB- MLS -RRB- season with the Achilles injury that ended his 2010 World Cup dream . The former England captain has said he will not be able to start running on his ankle for another three months , and is now targeting a November return . `` I wo n't be running for another three months so I wo n't be playing again until probably November , '' Beckham told American broadcaster ABC . With the U.S. season set to reach its conclusion on November 21 , it looks unlikely that the 34-year-old will feature for the Galaxy this term . While Beckham accepts his injury needs time to heal , he admitted there is a temptation to push along his recovery . `` This is an injury that 's going to take time to heal , '' he said to MLSsoccer.com . `` I started therapy 10 days ago and I 'm just doing that everyday . I kind of want to push it , but with this kind of injury you ca n't . You just have to wait for it to heal and move on . '' The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star also spoke of his frustration at having to wear a protective boot , or use crutches , at all times . `` If I have n't got the boot on , which I did n't today for a few interviews , I have to use crutches , '' said Beckham . `` It 's either one or the other at the moment , which is a pain . It 's not easy moving around but I have to protect it . '' Beckham sustained the injury last month while playing on loan for Italian giants AC Milan , shattering his hopes of playing in a fourth consecutive World Cup finals for England . It led to speculation that the former Manchester United star would retire , but he clearly remains determined to return to action after having surgery on the injury . | David Beckham has revealed he is set to miss the entire MLS season . Beckham suffered an Achilles tendon injury during a loan spell with Italian side AC Milan . The former England captain hopes to return to action in November . The injury ruled Beckham out of a fourth straigth World Cup finals with England . | [[0, 15], [49, 172], [1454, 1537], [1454, 1461], [1500, 1543], [211, 237], [328, 334], [345, 364], [211, 237], [331, 364], [416, 465], [153, 172], [178, 210], [1454, 1461], [1546, 1632]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Federal Aviation Administration is changing a generations-old policy banning pilots from taking antidepressants , saying the new policy will improve safety by bringing to the surface pilots who either ignore signs of depression or lie about their use of medication for fear of losing their licenses to fly . Beginning Monday , pilots with mild to moderate depression will be allowed to fly while taking antidepressants if they can demonstrate they have been satisfactorily treated for at least 12 months . The FAA also will begin a six-month amnesty period , during which pilots who use antidepressants can step forward without fear of penalties . The pilots will be grounded until they can demonstrate they have been stable for a year , although those who can prove a history of successful medical treatment should be able to fly `` within a few months , '' the FAA said . The new policy will `` absolutely '' improve safety , said Randy Babbitt , head of the FAA and a former airline pilot and union chief . `` The concern that we have today is we have people who are either self-medicating or not seeking a diagnosis . Either of those is unacceptable , '' Babbitt said . `` This change ... will allow those people to get the treatment , allow us to monitor and return them to the cockpit -LSB- as -RSB- safer , better pilots . '' FAA officials said that they do not know the extent of depression among pilots but that pilots are probably representative of the larger population , in which 10 percent are believed to suffer from depression . Nor does the FAA know how many pilots have removed themselves from flying status because they suffer from depression , a condition that now bars them from flying . Nor do they know how many take antidepressants in violation of FAA policy . Commercial pilots under the age of 40 are required to undergo a medical exam by an FAA-certified physician every year ; those over 40 , every six months . But the examination focuses largely on the pilots ' physical health , and there is no formal assessment of the pilots ' mental health . The FAA says pilots have a regulatory duty and professional responsibility to not fly if they know they have a physical or mental condition that makes them unsafe to fly . But the FAA concedes pilots are n't always forthcoming , especially if honesty could cost them their job . `` We know that there are people out there who are not taking antidepressants because they know they would be grounded if they are . We know there are people out there who are taking them and lying to us about that , '' said Dr. Fred Tilton , the FAA 's federal air surgeon . `` We think it 's safer to -LSB- make sure pilots are treated for depression -RSB- than to continue to drive it underground , '' he said . Under the new policy , the FAA will , on a case-by-case basis , issue special medical certificates to pilots who take one of four antidepressants : fluoxetine -LRB- Prozac -RRB- , sertraline -LRB- Zoloft -RRB- , citalopram -LRB- Celexa -RRB- and escitalopram -LRB- Lexapro -RRB- . All four drugs can be used safely without side effects , the FAA said , and other medications will be considered as the agency gains experience and data under its new policy . FAA officials say that they have been studying the issue for a decade , and that the change comes with improvements in medication and as the stigma of depression has diminished . One of the concerns is the risk of suicide by airplane . Between 1993 and 2002 , there were 16 `` aircraft-assisted suicides , '' according to a National Transportation Safety Board report , as recounted in a recent FAA medical bulletin . All involved smaller aircraft . In addition , the NTSB ruled that in 1999 , the pilot caused the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 by forcing the plane into the Atlantic Ocean , although the board could not determine the pilot 's motives and did not use the term `` suicide . '' The pilot 's medical certificate had been renewed 10 days before the crash . All 217 on board were killed . `` Depression is a disease , and it 's treatable just like any other disease . And there is a stigma out there that we want to remove . We want to make the skies safer , and we believe that this change in the policy will benefit that and achieve that , '' Babbitt said . Said Tilton : `` We believe it 's the right thing to do . We also have support from all of the scientific organizations that understand the treatment of depression and the safety of the airspace . '' The new policy is consistent with recommendations from a host of aviation and medical organizations , including the Aerospace Medical Association , the International Civil Aviation Organization , the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Air Line Pilots Association , the FAA said . Babbitt acknowledged that pilots face some risk by stepping forward , but he said they also face risk if they do n't . `` If it -LSB- unauthorized use of medication -RSB- was ever discovered , it would be the end of their license and their career , period , '' he said . The FAA said the policy is being posted on the Federal Register , where the public can make comments until May 3 . Officials said because it is changing a policy , and not a rule , pre-publication in the Federal Register was not necessary . | FAA cites safety concerns , says policy applies to pilots with mild to moderate depression . To fly while on antidepressants , pilots must have been treated for at least 12 months . FAA says policy will expose pilots who ignore depression or lie about medication use . For 6 months , pilots who use antidepressants will be able to step forward without penalties . | [[453, 539], [205, 223], [235, 332], [342, 452], [540, 547], [553, 590], [564, 590], [600, 681]] |
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Less than a day after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and scolded the country 's media for being too `` negative , '' police stormed the offices of a television station early Sunday , AAJ-TV 's director of news and current affairs said . Pakistani policemen patrol the streets of Islamabad , Pakistan , Saturday . Armed with guns , the two dozen police said they had orders to take the station 's equipment , including a van that the station uses to broadcast live coverage , Talat Hussain said . `` We resisted , '' Hussain said . `` We said show us the papers . '' The police did n't have proof their demands were legitimate , he said , adding the officers said only that they had orders `` from the highest authority . '' `` They said , ` We 'll do it the nice way or the other way , ' '' Hussain said . A brief scuffle between the policemen and about 40 journalists in the station followed , but no one was hurt , he said . During the confrontation , two AAJ journalists were able to drive the news van away from the station , Hussain said . Police later left the building , but remained outside , Hussain said . The raid followed a government directive to the media , warning journalists that any criticism of the president or prime minister would be punishable by three years in jail and a fine of up to $ 70,000 , Hussain said . Earlier , in a Saturday night televised address to the Pakistani public aimed at explaining why he had declared a countrywide state of emergency and suspended the constitution , Musharraf was critical of the country 's media , saying they had `` added insult to injury . '' `` The media could not lend a helping hand to improve the situation , '' Musharraf said , describing `` the situation '' in Pakistan as fraught with tension and constrained by the spread of terrorism . `` I said frequently that the media should not be negative , '' Musharraf said . Shortly after private networks reported Saturday that Musharraf 's declaration of a state of emergency was imminent , most media channels went off the air in an apparent blackout , although some flickered off and on . E-mail to a friend . | Police say they had orders `` from the highest authority '' to take equipment . News director : Police said `` We 'll do it the nice way or the other way '' Government warns of jail , fines if president or prime minister are criticized . Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf : Media have `` added insult to injury '' | [[433, 499], [642, 645], [704, 706], [714, 796], [815, 855], [1192, 1200], [1248, 1393], [1421, 1434], [1589, 1635], [1589, 1598], [1638, 1681]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sweden 's parliament on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage legislation , according to the parliament 's Web site . Previously , two people of the same sex could register their partnership , but with this vote , sex will no longer matter when two people want to get married . The new `` sex-neutral '' law will take effect on May 1 . Couples who already had a registered partnership can now either stay in that union or transform it into a marriage if they wish , the Web site said . The `` yes '' votes numbered 261 , while 22 members of parliament voted `` no '' and 16 chose not to vote . The Christian Democrats was the only party opposed to the new law . `` Unfortunately this is not an April Fool 's Day joke , this is reality , '' Yvonne Andersson , member of the Swedish parliament for the Christian Democrats , wrote on the party 's Web site following the vote . The party had instead proposed a law that would remove the word `` marriage '' from Swedish law and replace it with a legally binding union between two persons , thus separating it from the Christian ceremony that the church conducts . Asa Regner , secretary general of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education , told CNN that Wednesday 's vote meant a very important change in Swedish law . `` This was the last area where same sex couples were treated differently , '' she said . | Sweden 's parliament approves legislation allowing same-sex marriage . Legislation was passed by strong majority in parliament . Christian Democrats was only party opposed to measure . | [[612, 679], [640, 679]] |
London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown described himself as a `` penitent sinner '' on Wednesday after personally apologizing to a voter he described as a `` bigoted woman . '' Brown visited the home of Gillian Duffy in Rochdale , northwestern England , after he was caught on microphone describing in blunt terms his encounter with the 65-year-old widow whom he met on the election campaign trail . The Labour party leader had had a discussion with Duffy about the size of Britain 's national debt , tax and immigration . Brown then got into his car and was driven away but he was still wearing a radio microphone , allowing broadcasters to pick up his conversation with an aide . `` That was a disaster , '' Brown said about the encounter seconds earlier . `` Should never have put me with that woman -- whose idea was that ? '' He added : `` She was just a sort of bigoted woman . '' Why Brown 's gaffe could get worse . The woman , Gillian Duffy , told reporters she wanted an apology from Brown over his `` very upsetting '' comments . Brown later visited Duffy at her home , emerging to tell reporters : `` I am mortified by what has happened . I have given her my sincere apologies . I misunderstood what she said . She has accepted that there was a misunderstanding and she has accepted my apology . `` If you like , I am a penitent sinner . '' The encounter was immediately seized on by users of social networking sites , with opinions polarized between those who said it would damage Labour in the May 6 general election and those who believed it could help the party , currently trailing the opposition Conservatives in opinion polls . One Twitter user , Thermalsocks , said : `` Gordon Brown has created a total survailance society . Glad to see he got caught out , now he knows how we all feel . '' Another user , urbantaoist85 , said : `` Anyone else up for making all politicians wear a microphone at all times ? '' Ririnyan added : `` I wonder if that was the final nail in the coffin for Labour this time . '' Andy_Francis said : `` I think GB has just kissed goodbye to any chances Labour had left . '' However CupCate wrote : `` I 'd be more concerned if Brown had said , `` What that brilliant woman said about all those damn immigrants , too right ! '' After his public apology , Brown telephoned Duffy to apologize personally . The prime minister 's spokesman said : `` Gordon has apologized to Mrs. Duffy personally by phone . He does not think that she is bigoted . `` He was letting off steam in the car after a difficult conversation . But this is exactly the sort of conversation that is important in an election campaign and which he will continue to have with voters . '' Asked about Brown 's comments , Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg , who has surged in the opinion polls following his appearance in the televised election debates with the other two leaders , told the Press Association : `` You should always try to answer the questions as best you can . '' He added : `` He has been recorded saying what he has said and will have to answer for that . '' But one Twitter user , SusanCalman , spoke for many when she said : `` I feel sorry for Gordon Brown . If people I 've met knew half the things I 'd said about them when I left I would be stabbed and left for dead . '' | UK PM Gordon Brown describes woman who spoke to him as `` bigoted '' Labour party leader had discussion with elderly widow about immigration . He got into car but forgot to remove microphone allowing broadcasters to hear comments . Brown later visited Gillian Duffy to apologize , calling himself `` penitent sinner '' | [[157, 164], [168, 201], [859, 867], [871, 911], [870, 911], [551, 578], [131, 164], [205, 256], [1069, 1106], [1179, 1218], [1353, 1377]] |
Phoenix , Arizona -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At a vigil protesting the passage of Arizona 's tough new illegal immigration law , a young man in Army fatigues and a beret lit a candle at a makeshift shrine . Pfc. Jose Medina , an Army medic , came to the Arizona capitol while on leave , to express his sadness over the law , signed by Arizona 's governor on Friday . `` I 'm here because this is something that 's close to my heart , '' said Medina . `` I went off to protect this country , to protect my family . That 's what hurts . '' The new law requires immigrants to carry their registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect that they 're in the country illegally . Critics fear the law will result in racial profiling . The bill `` strengthens the laws of our state . It protects all of us , every Arizona citizen , and everyone here in our state lawfully . And it does so while ensuring that the constitutional rights of all in Arizona remain solid , stable and steadfast , '' Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said . Medina , 20 , is from El Mirage , a working class Latino community northwest of Phoenix . `` When I first joined the military , they would ask us where you from , and I would say ` I 'm from the great state of Arizona , ' '' Medina reflected . `` I was raised here , I grew up here . Now I do n't know if I can say that so proudly . I do n't know if I want to live here anymore . '' Medina says he came to the United States from Mexico illegally when he was 2 years old . When he was 11 years old he became a legal resident of the United States and now has a green card . `` I felt I had a huge debt to this country that 's given me so much , '' Medina said . `` When I heard the law that passed , I could n't believe it . Because the America I know , freedom , liberties we enjoy , are for everyone and then this law passes and I 'm like ` wow . ' It 's a shame ; it 's a state that does n't even want you here ? If I take this uniform off I 'm just another person who came here illegally . '' Just six hours before shipping off , Medina 's family and friends gathered for a farewell feast . The Mexican barbecue could be smelled a block away . Impassioned conversation about the controversial law could be heard over the scratching of forks and knives on plates of tangy barbecue . `` You may go to Afghanistan , you may go to Iraq , '' said Medina 's close family friend Victor , who did not want his full name used . `` After this night man , we may not see you again . You can give your life for this country . But your mom may be stopped by Joe Arpaio -LRB- the Maricopa County , Arizona , sheriff known for aggressive policing . -RRB- . `` That 's true , '' Medina answered . `` But it 's my duty to go . '' `` You 're Mexican , '' Victor said . `` I am of Mexican descent , '' said Medina . `` But I have grown to be an American . '' Ricky , 22 , a friend who served in Iraq and Afghanistan , is white and stops eating . `` We are all brothers over there , '' said Ricky , who did not want his full name used . Before the sun rose over Arizona on Sunday morning , Medina left El Mirage for deployment to Germany . Jose Medina wondered if some of his family members or friends , some of whom are undocumented , would still be in El Mirage when he returned . `` I worry will my family live in peace , '' he said . `` What good is keeping us safe here ... if we lose a part of what makes America so great ? If we drive fear into our own peoples ' hearts ? '' | Pfc. Jose Medina expressed his concern over Arizona 's new immigration law . Medina 's friends and family talked about new law during his farewell feast . Medina wondered if some of his undocumented friends , family would leave the area . | [[204, 215], [279, 314], [2062, 2096], [2099, 2159], [2213, 2350], [3189, 3312]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thailand and Cambodia have called for dialogue as tensions continued to escalate over an ancient border temple on disputed land . Cambodian soldiers stand guard near Preah Vihear temple , close to the Thai border . The countries agreed to meet Monday even as each side deployed more troops to the site of the Preah Vihear temple , the national Thai News Agency reported Thursday . Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple , which sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side . The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 , but the 1.8 square mile -LRB- 4.6 sq. km -RRB- area around it was never fully demarcated . Last week , the United Nations approved Cambodia 's application to have the temple listed as a World Heritage Site -- places the U.N. says have outstanding universal value . The decision re-ignited tensions , with some in Thailand fearing it will make it difficult for their country to lay claim to disputed land around the temple . Opposition parties in Thailand used the issue to attack the government , which initially backed the heritage listing . Watch Thai villagers block anti-government demonstrators '' A Thai court overturned the pact , prompting the resignation of Thailand 's foreign minister , Noppadon Pattama . He had endorsed the application . Cambodia , meanwhile , is preparing for general elections on July 27 . And Prime Minister Hun Sen , who has been in power since the mid-1980s , has portrayed the U.N. recognition as a national triumph . The current flare-up began Tuesday , when Cambodian guards briefly detained three Thais who crossed into the area . Once they were let go , the trio refused to leave the territory , the Thai News Agency said . The Cambodian state-run news agency , AKP , said that Thailand sent troops to retrieve the men and gradually built up their numbers . Thailand denies the charge , saying its troops are deployed in Thai territory . The standoff continued Thursday , with each side asking troops to withhold fire unless they are fired upon , the news agencies said . Thailand has put its Air Force on standby to evacuate its nationals from Cambodia if tensions worsen , TNA said . So far , the only casualty has been a Thai soldier who was injured Tuesday by a landmine -- possibly left over from the time the Khmer Rouge occupied the area . The Khmer Rouge , a radical communist movement that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 , won power through a guerrilla war . It is remembered for the deaths of as many as 1.5 million Cambodians . | Both agreed to meet as each side deployed more troops to Preah Vihear temple . Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to the 11th century temple . The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 . Current row began when Cambodia briefly held 3 Thais who crossed into the area . | [[234, 347], [400, 463], [400, 417], [440, 463], [512, 563], [564, 637], [1594, 1628], [1631, 1681], [1636, 1709]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday stripped China of a bronze medal in the women 's team event at the 2000 Olympic Games after finding one of the team 's athletes was underage . The United States will be awarded the bronze medal instead , the IOC said in a news release . The International Gymnastics Federation -LRB- FIG -RRB- in February decided to cancel all results obtained by gymnast Dong Fangxiao at the Sydney , Australia , Games . `` The FIG conducted an inquiry which showed that the athlete was only 14 years old during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games , '' the IOC said . Under FIG qualification rules , athletes must be 16 in the year of the Games in order to compete . The IOC 's executive board on Wednesday decided to reallocate the results of the events that Dong participated in . She had placed sixth in the women 's individual floor exercises and seventh in the women 's individual vault . Dong has been disqualified from all the events she participated in , which also included the women 's individual uneven bars , the women 's individual all-around and the women 's individual balance beam . | China stripped of bronze medal from women 's team event at 2000 Olympics . Gymnast Dong Fangxiao found to be underage during the Games in Sydney . Dong 's results canceled as United States awarded bronze medal in China 's place . | [[0, 15], [68, 107], [476, 593], [211, 261], [305, 464]] |
Mount Everest , Nepal -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Even from more than 21,000 feet up the world 's tallest mountain , 13-year-old Jordan Romero could n't resist the opportunity to greet his mother in a live television broadcast Monday . `` Hi , Mom , '' Romero said with a wave of his hand during the interview broadcast on CNN from the advance base camp on Mount Everest in Nepal . The interview followed the first day of real climbing in Romero 's attempt to become the youngest person ever to reach the summit of Everest , 29,028 feet -LRB- 8,847 meters -RRB- above sea level . Accompanied by his father and his father 's girlfriend , and backed by a team of sherpas and yaks that helped transport their 2,000 kilograms -LRB- 4,400 pounds -RRB- of gear , Romero needed 13 days just to reach the point where real climbing began . Paul Romero , Jordan 's father , said the first day of the actual ascent Monday required technical climbing in tough weather conditions , including ice and snow . For Jordan , it 's all part of the journey . `` It could take ... a couple of weeks or a couple of years , '' he said , sitting in a tent wearing a parka and fluorescent yellow cap , and with a blue sleeping bag over his legs . `` This is the first of many attempts . '' His initial impressions ? The trip is both hard and great . `` It 's Mount Everest . It 's a tough mountain . The altitude is tough , '' Romero said . `` It 's both physically and technically hard . There 's a lot of new things . '' At the same time , `` I 've been able to see Mount Everest from wherever I go . I 'm already happy with that . '' In addition , Romero said , he was learning `` a lot about culture , politics , religion , people , everything about Nepal and China . '' `` So it 's been such a great trip , and I 've learned so much from it , '' he said . Paul Romero praised his son 's climbing Monday , noting that they spent 10 hours on ice and snow . `` Knock on wood , everybody 's healthy , '' the elder Romero said , adding : `` Jordan today had a stellar day . '' Before they started , Jordan said he wanted to climb Everest for himself and to inspire more young people to get outdoors . `` Obese children are the future of America , the way things are going , '' he said on April 9 in Kathmandu . `` I am hoping to change that by doing what I do : climbing and motivational speaking . I want to motivate children and inspire them to get outdoors . '' With a smile , he added : `` I am doing this a little for myself , too , to do something big . '' Romero has climbed five of the seven highest peaks on seven continents , known as the Seven Summits . Having a very encouraging father and his girlfriend , who have gone around the world participating in climbing expeditions and competing in endurance racing competitions , certainly helps . `` This is not an isolated vacation , '' Paul Romero said before the climbing began . `` This is a lifestyle . We travel everywhere and climb together . '' The family started tackling the Seven Summits in summer 2005 . Jordan was just 9 when they climbed the 19,341 feet to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania . Since there is a debate about whether the tallest mountain in Oceania is Kosciuszko in mainland Australia or Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia , Jordan and his family climbed both . The only peak left for the adventurers to climb after Everest is the Vinson Massif in Antarctica ; a trip is planned for December . The idea to climb the Seven Summits came to Jordan when he saw a mural of the mountains in the hallway of his school when he was 9 . Before sharing his dream with his father , he did all the necessary research and only two weeks later told him of his ambition . `` I was very shocked he even knew what the Seven Summits were , '' Paul Romero recalled . `` But then , he is a complete nature fanatic . '' Jordan 's father and his girlfriend , Karen Lundgren , went to Kathmandu for the first time last year to see whether Jordan could make the Everest summit from the south face in Nepal . They decided instead to start their climb in the north , in China . `` The mountaineering world and Jordan may have their concerns about Jordan 's age , but the boy is as strong and skilled a mountaineer as many of the people climbing , '' Paul Romero said . `` There is a proficient support and safety system about him . '' The highest peak Jordan has climbed is Aconcagua in Argentina , which stands at 22,841 feet . He spent weeks preparing for the ascent of Everest . `` I have been exercising hard , concentrating on cardio training and endurance training , '' Jordan said before the trip . `` I have been sleeping in an altitude simulator tent for the past month to get my lungs ready . '' Jordan has been an outdoor person all his life and takes kids to climb mountains in the Big Bear region of California , where he lives . Despite his achievements , Jordan wants to be seen as a regular kid . `` I try to seem like an average kid who happens to be climbing , '' he said this month . `` But I 'm not really fitting in . '' | 13-year-old Californian aims to become youngest to climb world 's highest mountain . `` It 's both physically and technically hard , '' he says . But he is learning a lot about culture and people of China , Nepal . | [[448, 570], [1408, 1420], [1814, 1826], [1617, 1628], [1631, 1737]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Los Angeles , California , art dealer , federal authorities say , thought she 'd done the math : Pay an art restorer $ 1,000 to create a knock-off of Pablo Picasso 's 1902 pastel , `` The Woman in the Blue Hat . '' Then sell the fake as an original for $ 2 million . She may have not counted on the feds getting involved . That woman , 70-year-old Tatiana Khan , agreed to plead guilty to federal charges related to the sale of the phony Picasso , authorities said Tuesday . The woman is scheduled to appear in federal court next month to plead guilty to felony counts of making false statements to the FBI and witness tampering , federal authorities said . `` Khan falsely told an FBI agent who was investigating the sale that Khan had obtained the drawing from an acquaintance , '' a Department of Justice statement said . `` Khan also admitted that she told the art restorer to lie to the FBI by saying that she only did restoration work for Khan and did not do any copying work . '' Khan faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison but the plea agreement recommends a maximum prison sentence of 21 months , according to the Justice Department . | Tatiana Khan agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the sale of the phony Picasso . Khan paid art restorer $ 1,000 to create fake '' Woman in the Blue Hat , '' authorities say . Khan 's plan was to sell the knock-off for $ 2 million , according to authorities . | [[344, 354], [384, 425], [410, 466], [0, 15], [118, 199], [236, 287]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A federal appeals court has certified the largest class-action employment lawsuit in U.S. history , in a long-standing dispute against retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. over alleged gender bias in pay and promotions . The divided 6-5 ruling by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday allows the combined multiparty litigation to move ahead to trial , where a decision against the company could result in billions in damages . The Arkansas-based chain of stores has the option of appealing Monday 's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court for review . At issue is whether more than a million current and former Wal-Mart employees can band together in their claims of discrimination , which they say has occurred over the past decade , at least . The plaintiffs allege that women were paid less than , and were given fewer opportunities for promotion than , their male counterparts . They seek back pay and punitive damages against the world 's largest retailer . The lawsuit alleges that the company 's `` strong , centralized structure fosters or facilitates gender stereotyping and discrimination . '' The workers bringing suit also say women make up more than 70 percent of Wal-Mart 's hourly work force but in the past decade made up less than one-third of its store management . The suit was first filed by Betty Dukes , a store greeter in Pittsburg , California , along with five of her co-workers in 2001 . `` It has taken a very long time , and a tremendous amount of work , but it looks like we 're finally going to get our day in court , '' Dukes said after the ruling was announced . `` That 's all we 've ever asked for . '' `` We disagree with the decision of the sharply divided 6-5 court to uphold portions of the certification order , and are considering our options , including seeking review from the Supreme Court , '' Wal-Mart said in a statement . `` We do not believe the claims alleged by the six individuals who brought this suit are representative of the experiences of our female associates . Walmart is an excellent place for women to work and fosters female leadership among our associates and in the larger business world . '' The federal appeals court concluded that there was enough merit in the claims to proceed to trial on a class-action track . Since the lawsuit was filed , both sides of the dispute have held so-called discovery hearings , in which preliminary testimony was taken to establish facts . Judge Susan Graber of the appeals court said that although `` the size of this class action is large , mere size does not render a case unmanageable . '' The company has protested the size of the class action , which it called `` historic '' in scope , saying it would be too onerous to litigate . The company has more than 3,400 stores in 41 regions . Declaring class-action status for the lawsuit raises the financial and judicial stakes considerably , since more individual plaintiffs can now join , and creates greater potential liability for the company being sued . In federal courts , such certification must generally follow well-established principles to ensure that it does not become so large as to be impracticable and allows the parties to fairly represent the common interests of the larger class of plaintiffs . `` Wal-Mart tries to project an improved image as a good corporate citizen , '' said Brad Seligman , a Berkeley , California , lawyer representing the female workers . `` But no amount of -LSB- public relations -RSB- is going to work until it addresses the claims of its female employees . '' Wal-Mart has been accused in separate lawsuits of discrimination against African-American truck drivers and workers with disabilities . In 2001 , the company settled 13 lawsuits by paying out $ 6 million . Beyond this particular suit , most workplace discrimination lawsuits fail to reach a court for resolution , according to data compiled by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . In 2003 , when the Wal-Mart litigation was in its preliminary court stages , about 27,000 sex discrimination claims nationwide were resolved administratively by the EEOC , little changed from the prior decade . More than 57 percent -- 15,000 claims -- were ruled administratively to have `` no reasonable cause , '' and those usually were dismissed . Just over 10 percent were judged to have merit , resulting in a total of $ 94.2 million in settlements , or $ 34,200 on average per case , according to the data , which include all such claims , not just those involving Wal-Mart . The current case is Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores , Inc. -LRB- 04-16688 -RRB- . | NEW : `` Walmart is an excellent place for women to work , '' company says . Lawsuits say company paid women less and promoted them less . Hundreds of thousands of current , former works can band together in lawsuit . A decision against world 's largest retailer could cost billions . | [[1882, 1915], [2066, 2199], [793, 845], [793, 807], [846, 929], [599, 728], [397, 402], [405, 479], [930, 1009]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hungary awoke Monday to a new political landscape after the center-right opposition Fidesz party took decisive election victory , ending eight years of Socialist rule . Fidesz won two-thirds of the votes in Sunday 's second round of parliamentary elections , gaining 263 of the 386 seats -- enough to allow it to govern without forming alliances . Fidesz leader Viktor Orban characterized the vote -- which also saw gains by the far-right -- as a `` revolution '' in the Eastern European country that was under Soviet control from 1945 to 1991 . `` Today there was revolution in the polling booths , '' Fidesz leader Viktor Orban told a crowd of supporters , according to Hungary 's MTI news agency . `` Hungarians have overthrown the system and created a new one . The old system of leaders misusing their power was replaced by one of national unity . '' While the Socialist party took second place with 59 seats , it was closely followed by the far-right Jobbik party , making its parliamentary debut . Jobbik has come under international criticism for what many perceive as anti-Semitic statements and for its verbal attacks on the country 's gypsy , or Roma , minority . Ahead of the vote , the Socialists has seen their support dwindle as they struggled to push through a broad reform program , tackling the country 's education and health care systems . Their problems were compounded when the global recession hit Hungary hard . In late 2008 , it had to borrow $ 27 billion from the International Monetary Fund as unemployment climbed into the double digits and the economy shrunk . The party was also derailed by scandals and accusations of corruption . In 2006 , Hungarian radio played a leaked tape where former Prime Minister and Socialist Party member Ferenc Gyurcsany admitted that his party lied to the public to win that year 's general election . Journalist Fanny Facsar contributed to this report . | Fidesz won 263 of the 386 seats in parliament . The Socialists won 59 . A second round of balloting was held in 57 constituencies where no clear winner emerged . Fidesz promising tax cuts , new jobs to address Hungary 's economic problems . Hungary was forced to take $ 27 billion loan in 2008 from the IMF to keep its economy afloat . | [[188, 194], [278, 306], [881, 932], [1455, 1467], [1470, 1536], [1470, 1472], [1477, 1576]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sen. John McCain was touting U.S.-Canadian economic and energy ties in a visit north Friday , while Sen. Barack Obama hammered his GOP opponent for embracing offshore drilling and other energy policies . Sen. John McCain is in Canada on Friday , while Sen. Barack Obama talks to Democratic governors . Obama , speaking to Democratic governors in Chicago , Illinois , hit McCain hard for his support of the gas tax `` holiday '' as well as drilling off the U.S. coasts . Obama told the 16 governors attending an economic summit at the Chicago History Museum that McCain `` has essentially embraced '' President Bush 's energy policy . `` When I hear McCain say that he is now in favor of the same oil drilling off the coast that he was opposed to just a week ago , what he does n't tell you is that George Bush 's own energy department has said that this would have no impact on consumers until 2030 , '' he said , `` no appreciable impact for the next 22 years . Something they 're not telling consumers . '' Watch more of Obama 's speech '' At an afternoon news conference in Jacksonville , Florida , Obama continued to lash out at McCain 's oil drilling policy . `` John McCain 's proposal , George Bush 's proposal to drill offshore here in Florida , and other places around the country , would not provide families with any relief , this year , next year , five years from now , '' he said . `` Believe me , if I thought there was any evidence at all that drilling could save people money who are struggling to fill up their gas tanks by this summer or the next few years , I would consider it , but it wo n't . '' At the Chicago summit , several governors touched on the economic woes affecting their respective states . `` There is a deep recession , and frankly , I believe it 's actually gathering momentum . I do n't think we 're halfway through this , '' New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said . Ted Strickland , governor of the swing state of Ohio , pledged his support to Obama to `` make sure that you 're the next president . '' The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said , `` What you need , I believe , is a partner in Washington that understands your people , understands the hopes and dreams of the American people , and is not expected to solve every one of their problems but is willing to give them the tools they need to succeed and prosper and live out the American dream . '' Also Friday , the Obama camp announced he would make a campaign appearance with Sen. Hillary Clinton on June 27 . The campaigning will follow a Democratic fundraiser Thursday that will mark the first time the former rivals have appeared together publicly since the New York senator ended her presidential bid . Watch more on next week 's campaign event '' This week , Obama said , `` I have not had conversations with Sen. Clinton because she has been getting a well-deserved vacation . And we will be speaking , I think , in the next few days , certainly within the next week , and we 'll be having an ongoing conversation . '' The Obama campaign said details of the pair 's itinerary would be released later . Meanwhile , the presumptive GOP nominee was in Canada on Friday , focusing on U.S. relations with its northern neighbor . At the Economic Club of Toronto in Ottawa , McCain said that although there `` are n't any electoral votes to be won up here in the middle of a presidential election ... there are many shared interests that require our attention today , and many Canadians here I am very proud to call friends . '' `` And today , the strength of that partnership is more vital than ever . The economic community we have founded , together with our alliance and the values we hold in common , have served our people for decades and has served us well . It will fall to the next president to strengthen these ties still further , adding to the security and prosperity of all of North America . '' McCain said he will seek to expand trade and diplomatic ties if elected . Watch more on McCain 's speech in Canada '' David Axelrod , chief strategist for the Obama campaign , blasted McCain 's policy speech in Canada . `` Sen. McCain is making his case in Canada . He ought to come and make it here in the United States and listen to what people around this country are saying , '' he said . McCain also talked about energy and environmental problems , including global warming . `` We must also work to ensure reliable energy supplies and increase sources of renewable energy . ... Canada is America 's largest energy supplier . Not only does Canada have the second-largest proven oil reserves in the world , 60 percent of the energy produced in Canada is hydroelectric , clean energy . We stand much to gain by harmonizing our energy policies , just as we have gained by cooperating in trade through NAFTA . '' While McCain supports the North American Free Trade Agreement , it has remained a hot-button issue for Democratic voters . Before the Ohio primary in March , the battle between Obama and Clinton morphed into a fierce debate over free trade , a clash that seemed to hinge on which candidate could appear more anti-NAFTA . But in a recent interview with Fortune magazine , Obama appears to be backing off his tough talk on trade . `` Sometimes during campaigns , the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified , '' he said . McCain insisted several times after his speech in Ottawa that the trip was not political , and he refused to answer any questions about Obama . Asked how the trip could be deemed nonpolitical when his campaign organized and executed it , McCain said the visit took place in the middle of campaigning and he did n't want taxpayers to pay for it . Meanwhile , a new CNN `` poll of polls '' released Friday evening shows Obama leading McCain by 6 percentage points , 46 percent to 40 percent . The national general election `` poll of polls '' consists of three surveys : Newsweek -LRB- June 18-19 -RRB- , Gallup tracking -LRB- June 16-19 -RRB- and Fox News/Opinion Dynamics -LRB- June 17-18 -RRB- . The poll of polls does not have a sampling error . CNN 's Dana Bash , Ed Hornick , Peter Hamby , Alexander Marquardt and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report . | Obama blasts McCain , Bush offshore oil policy at a stop in Florida . Obama , Sen. Hillary Clinton will campaign together next week . Sen. John McCain touts U.S.-Canada ties , including energy policy , NAFTA . CNN `` poll of polls '' shows Obama leading McCain by 6 percentage points . | [[119, 166], [321, 326], [386, 488], [1061, 1108], [1121, 1183], [2437, 2536], [0, 15], [19, 110], [3147, 3174], [3201, 3256], [5714, 5723], [5726, 5755], [5765, 5831]] |
MIAMI , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A federal judge on Tuesday approved the extradition of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to France , where he faces a 10-year sentence on a conviction in absentia on money-laundering charges . Manuel Noriega , in a 1989 file photo , leaves his headquarters in Panama City , Panama . Magistrate William Turnoff agreed with the government 's case for extraditing Noriega to France and issued a `` certificate of extradability . '' Noriega 's lawyer , Frank Rubino , said he would continue to fight the extradition . He had said Noriega hoped to return to Panama to be closer to his family . The issue has emerged because Noriega is scheduled to complete his Florida prison term on September 9 . The former Panamanian strongman was captured in the 1989 U.S. military invasion of Panama and was convicted in 1992 of racketeering for accepting bribes to allow drugs to be shipped through Panama destined for the United States . His attorneys had argued that his status as a prisoner of war meant he should be returned to Panama , but a separate court ruling last Friday rejected that argument . `` This court never intended for the proclamation of defendant as a POW to shield him from all future prosecutions for serious crimes he is alleged to have committed , '' Senior U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler wrote in Friday 's 12-page opinion . `` It appears that the extradition proceedings should proceed uninterrupted . '' Hoeveler noted that Noriega `` has not always sought repatriation , '' and had , at one time , asked to be allowed to go to a third country . Noriega also faces possible prison time in Panama , where he is accused of kidnapping , extortion and the murder of political opponents . Though the charges are more serious , if the 69-year-old Noriega is convicted of murder , he would likely serve much of his sentence under home detention in Panama . Panamanian law provides home detention for anyone 74 years old or older . The Panamanian constitution would also forbid his extradition to France . Next month , Noriega will have served nearly 17 1/2 years of an original 40-year sentence in the United States . The sentence was later reduced to 30 years , and further shortened for good behavior . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Patrick Oppmann in Miami and Jim Bittermann in Paris contributed to this report . | NEW : Judge issues `` certificate of extraditability '' ; Noriega 's lawyer vows to fight . France wants him extradited to serve a money-laundering sentence . Ex-Panamanian dictator is set to get out of federal prison September 9 . Lawyers have argued he should be returned to Panama . | [[326, 352], [426, 468], [472, 489], [507, 556], [135, 141], [150, 235], [632, 735], [654, 735], [736, 767], [819, 903], [966, 1095]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police in Belgium arrested 14 Muslim extremists on Friday after uncovering a plot to free an al Qaeda suspect from prison using weapons and explosives . Nizar Trabelsi appeared before a correctional court in 2005 for assault and battery against a prison warden . Security across the small European state was stepped up in the wake of the alleged conspiracy , a spokeswoman for Belgium 's federal prosecutors told a news conference . Lieve Pellens said the conspirators planned to liberate Nizar Trabelsi , a Tunisian terrorist suspect who has been in custody since his arrest two days after the September 11 attacks on New York in 2001 . Trabelsi , a former professional soccer player in Germany , was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for planning to blow up a NATO military base in Belgium that housed American soldiers . The 37-year-old admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at Kleine Brogel , an air base where about 100 American military personnel are stationed . Trabelsi , who testified to a Belgium court that he intended kill American soldiers , claimed to have met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan after joining anal Qaeda group . Pellens said most of the arrests were in the capital Brussels . In the wake of the arrests , she said extra police were being deployed on transport networks , at railway stations and airports and commercial centers to guard against a terrorist attack over the busy holiday period . `` Since it is not excluded that this group developed other projects and because the state of emergency in this period of the year is higher , the federal prosecutor and the examining magistrate decided to take no risks and intervene in the biggest possible way , '' Pellens told the news conference that was broadcast on Belgium television . On its Web site , the U.S. Embassy in Brussels issued an alert to American citizens in Belgium to maintain a high level of vigilance , especially in crowded public places . However , it said it had `` no information to indicate that U.S. citizens or facilities are an intended target . '' E-mail to a friend . | Belgian officials say 14 Muslims arrested for trying to free terrorist from prison . Nizar Trabelsi was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for trying to bomb an air base . He admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at Kleine Brogel . | [[674, 682], [734, 765], [674, 682], [766, 821], [854, 941]] |
-LRB- Mental Floss -RRB- -- Having a disease named after you is a decidedly mixed bag . On the one hand , your scientific developments are forever commemorated . On the other hand , though , you 're stuck with the knowledge that no patient will ever be happy upon hearing your name . Who are the scientists and doctors behind some of our most famous diseases and conditions , though ? Here are a few of the physicians and their eponymous ailments : . 1 . Crohn 's disease . The inflammatory digestive disease could just have easily ended up with the name Ginzburg 's disease or Oppenheimer 's disease . In 1932 , three New York physicians named Burrill Bernard Crohn , Leon Ginzburg , and Gordon Oppenheimer published a paper describing a new sort of intestinal inflammation . Since Crohn 's name was listed first alphabetically , the condition ended up bearing his name . 2 . Salmonellosis . Yes , the salmonella menace that haunts undercooked chicken is named after a person . Daniel Elmer Salmon was a veterinary pathologist who ran a USDA microorganism research program during the late 19th century . Although Salmon did n't actually discover the type of bacterium that now bears his name -- famed epidemiologist Theobald Smith isolated the bacteria in 1885 -- he ran the research program in which the discovery occurred . Smith and his colleagues named the bacteria salmonella in honor of their boss . Mental Floss : Margherita pizza , other foods named after people . 3 . Parkinson 's disease . James Parkinson was a busy fellow . While the English apothecary had a booming medical business , he also dabbled in geology , paleontology , and politics ; Parkinson even published a three-volume scientific study of fossils . Following a late-18th-century foray into British politics where he advocated a number of social causes and found himself briefly ensnared in an alleged plot to assassinate King George III , Parkinson turned his attention to medicine . Parkinson did some research on gout and peritonitis , but it was his landmark 1817 study `` An Essay on the Shaking Palsy '' that affixed his name to Parkinson 's disease . 4 . Huntington 's disease . George Huntington was n't the most prolific researcher , but he made his papers count . In 1872 , a fresh-out-of-med-school Huntington published one of two research papers he would write in his life . In the paper , Huntington described the effects of the neurodegenerative disorder that now bears his name after examining several generations of family that all suffered from the genetic condition . 5 . Alzheimer 's disease . In 1901 , German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer began observing an odd patient at a Frankfurt asylum . The 51-year-old woman , Mrs. Auguste Deter , had no short-term memory and behaved strangely . When Mrs. Deter died in 1906 , Alzheimer began to dissect the patient 's brain , and he presented his findings that November in what was the first formal description of presenile dementia . Mental Floss : 4 people with super memory . 6 . Tourette syndrome . Credit George Gilles de la Tourette for his modesty . When the French neurologist first described the illness that now bears his name in 1884 , he did n't name it after himself . Instead , he referred to the condition as `` maladie des tics . '' Tourette 's mentor and contemporary Jean-Martin Charcot renamed the illness after Tourette . Tourette did n't have such great luck with patients , though . In 1893 , a deluded former patient shot the doctor in the head . The woman claimed that she lost her sanity after Tourette hypnotized her . Tourette survived the attack . 7 . Hodgkin 's lymphoma . British pathologist Thomas Hodgkin first described the cancer that now bears his name while working at Guy 's Hospital in London in 1832 . Hodgkin published the study `` On Some Morbid Appearances of the Absorbent Glands and Spleen '' that year , but the condition did n't bear his name until a fellow physician , Samuel Wilks , rediscovered Hodgkin 's work . 8 . Bright 's disease . The kidney disease bears the name of Richard Bright , an English physician and colleague of Hodgkin 's at Guy 's Hospital . Bright began looking into the causes of kidney trouble during the 1920s , and in 1927 he described an array of kidney ailments that eventually became known as Bright 's disease . Today , doctors understand many of the symptoms historically clumped together as Bright 's disease are in fact different maladies , so the term is rarely used . 9 . Addison 's disease . Guy 's Hospital was apparently the place to work in the 19th century if you wanted to have a disease named after you . Thomas Addison , a colleague of Bright and Hodgkin at Guy 's Hospital , first described the adrenal disorder we call Addison 's disease in 1855 . On top of this discovery , Addison also published an early study of appendicitis . Mental Floss : 11 celebrities who overcame dyslexia . 10 . Tay-Sachs disease . Although both of their names are attached to this genetic disorder , Warren Tay and Bernard Sachs did n't work together . In fact , they did n't even work in the same country . Tay , a British opthalmologist , first described the disease 's characteristic red spot on the retina in 1881 . In 1887 Bernard Sachs , a colleague of Burrill Crohn at Mount Sinai Hospital , described the cellular effects of the disease and its prevalence among Ashkenazi Jews . 11 . Turner syndrome . The chromosomal disorder got its name from Oklahoma doctor Henry Turner , who first described the condition in 1938 . 12 . Klinefelter 's syndrome . The genetic condition in which males have an extra X chromosome bears the name of Harry Klinefelter , a young Boston endocrinologist who published a landmark study while working under the tutelage of endocrinology star Dr. Fuller Albright in 1942 . Albright pushed his young protégé to be the lead author of the paper that described the condition , so the young Klinefelter 's name is forever associated with the syndrome . 13 . Asperger 's syndrome . Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger first described the syndrome that now bears his name in 1944 after observing a group of over 400 children who suffered from what Asperger described as `` autistic psychopathy . '' Interestingly , since Asperger 's research was all written in German , his contributions to the literature went unrecognized until much later . The term `` Asperger 's syndrome '' did n't come into widespread usage until 1981 . For more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com . Entire contents of this article copyright , Mental Floss LLC . All rights reserved . | Alzheimer , Addison and Crohn used to be just names of people . But they are now attached to the diseases that they identified or studied . Austrian Dr. Hans Asperger described autistic syndrome in 1944 . Crohn 's name linked to disease because it was listed first among 3 authors of study . | [[777, 813]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A federal appeals court on Monday affirmed the conviction and life sentence for convicted terrorist and 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui . Moussaoui had agreed to plead guilty in 2005 to six criminal conspiracy charges arising from the al Qaeda terror plot to use commercial aircraft to strike key U.S. targets on September 11 , 2001 , in the worst domestic terror attack in American history . A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit concluded Moussaoui 's trial was fair , despite the defendant representing himself against the advice of the trial judge and his own lawyers . The judges said a life sentence imposed by the jury was appropriate . `` Moussaoui , having pled guilty , has waived all nonjurisdictional errors leading up to his conviction except those affecting the adequacy of his pleas , '' the panel said . Moussaoui has been held by the government since August 2001 , and was the first person charged in the United States in connection with the 9/11 attacks . He was indicted in December 2001 , accused of being part of a broader terror conspiracy in the months leading up to 9/11 . Several other accused top al Qaeda officials -- including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- are awaiting transfer into federal custody and future prosecution in civilian courts , the same as Moussaoui . Government sources have told CNN that three top al Qaeda detainees have told their interrogators that Moussaoui was not meant for the 9/11 plot , but for a future terror operation . Moussaoui had said as much in open court , admitting allegiance to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden , but denying he was to have been part of the 9/11 hijacking of planes . Prosecutors had questioned the validity of some of his claims . The 41-year-old faced the death penalty , but was instead given life in prison , and serves his sentence at the so-called `` Supermax '' correctional facility in Colorado . His trial was delayed for many months over whether the French citizen of Moroccan descent had the right to introduce testimony from the three top al Qaeda leaders who he said may have evidence that could clear him . The court agreed but said no direct access was allowed , only written summaries of the interrogations . That evidence was the key basis of Moussaoui 's current appeal . `` We find it significant that Moussaoui never sought to rescind the admissions he had just made '' at his March 2005 guilty plea , wrote the judges , `` nor to withdraw his guilty plea during the nearly three-year long period that elapsed between his -LSB- initial -RSB- appeal and the conclusion of the sentencing proceeding . '' Moussaoui tried to use bin Laden 's own words to help his case . The Saudi leader -- reportedly in hiding in Pakistan or Afghanistan -- said in an audio message , `` I was responsible for entrusting the 19 brothers -- Allah have mercy upon them -- with those raids ... and I did not assign brother Zacarias to be with them on that mission . '' Those 19 Muslim men were the al-Qaeda members aboard the planes that crashed one 9/11 . At the same time , the defendant also claimed he was supposed to fly a fifth plane into the White House , and that Richard Reid , the so-called `` shoe bomber '' was supposed to be on his hijacking team . Only four planes were involved in the 9/11 attacks . But after his May 2006 sentencing , Moussaoui claimed he lied on the stand . His erratic behavior at trial , including his frequent outbursts and threats and his insistence of representing himself for a time , led to calls for a mistrial by his legal team . In his last public appearance at his sentencing , Moussaoui waved the `` V '' victory sign , and attacked the United States . `` We will come back another day , '' Moussaoui told the court . `` As long as you do n't hear , America , you will feel . ... God curse America . God bless Osama bin Laden . You will never get him . '' Moussaoui now has the option of asking the full appeals court to hear his case or of going directly to the Supreme Court . The justices had earlier refused to stop his trial from going ahead . The case is Moussaoui v. U.S. -LRB- 06-4494 -RRB- . . | Convicted terrorist and 9/11 co-conspirator remains in maximum security prison . He was first person charged in the U.S. in connection with 9/11 attacks . In appeal , he said he should have been allowed to give evidence from al Qaeda leaders . | [[888, 897], [954, 1041], [2102, 2137], [2142, 2190], [2295, 2359]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iran should release seven Baha'i prisoners accused of espionage because it does not have any evidence against them , their lawyer Shirin Ebadi told CNN on Saturday . Attorneys Abdolfattah Soltani , left , and Shirin Ebadi , shown in Tehran in 2004 . `` In the files , in the case basically , there is nothing , no reason that basically convicts them , '' said Ebadi , a Nobel Peace Prize laureate . The trial will begin Tuesday despite the fact that one of their lawyers is behind bars and Ebadi is outside the country . Other attorneys can be appointed , Hassan Haddad of the Prosecutor 's Office in Tehran told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency . But the court must recognize the replacements , who are colleagues of Ebadi at her Tehran-based Defenders of Human Rights Center , not appoint other lawyers , Ebadi said . The imprisoned lawyer , Abdolfattah Soltani , is a well-known advocate with the human rights center . He was arrested in the aftermath of Iran 's disputed June 12 presidential election and is being held at Evin prison , the same place where his clients are detained , according to the International Campaign for Human Rights . He is being held on charges of taking `` measures against national security , '' Ebadi said . `` Mr. Soltani is completely innocent . '' Soltani had an opportunity to leave prison , but under conditions he chose not to accept , Ebadi said . Along with not giving any interviews after his release , Soltani would also have to end his work with the human rights center and no longer support Ebadi , she said . In another attack on the law firm , a lawyer was arrested after agents entered the center with guns , searched each room and then declared that they found opium on the premises , Ebadi said . That lawyer , whose family had been harassed by police , accused the agents of planting the opium , she said . Ebadi was on a speaking tour when Soltani was arrested and has not returned to Iran . The firm founded by Ebadi took up the case of the seven Baha'is last year . They are accused of spying for Israel , spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and committing religious offenses . The Baha'i International Community , which has a delegation to the United Nations , denies the allegations . The evidence against the defendants includes communication from Israel , but that is because the Baha'i World Center has its headquarters in Israel , said Kit Bigelow , director of external affairs at the American Baha'i Community . Prosecutors are calling that communication espionage , she said . Human rights groups have demanded the release of the prisoners and accused the government of targeting them because of their religious beliefs . The Baha'i faith originated in 19th-century Persia , and while modern-day Iran does not recognize it , the government denies any mistreatment of the members of the largest non-Muslim religious minority . The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has reported a rise in persecution of Baha'is in recent years , including cemetery desecration , arbitrary detention , home raids , property confiscation , work expulsion and denial of basic civil rights . The case of the seven Baha'is has drawn global attention . Roxana Saberi , the Iranian-American journalist freed from Evin prison earlier this year , spoke on their behalf , as have Human Rights Watch and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , an independent bipartisan federal commission . The defendants face the death penalty if convicted . Six of the defendants were arrested in May 2008 at their Tehran homes , and one was arrested in the eastern city of Mashad in March 2008 , said Diane Ala'i , the Baha'i International Community 's representative to the United Nations . The defendants were held under solitary confinement for the first five months of their incarceration , she said . The investigation into the charges against the prisoners concluded months ago and the trial was initially scheduled to start in July . Iran has continued to hold them in Evin prison without access to their lawyers and with minimal contact with their families , Ala'i said . CNN 's Moni Basu contributed to this report . | Seven Baha'i prisoners accused of espionage to go on trial Tuesday in Iran . Baha'is are accused of spying for Israel , spreading propaganda against Iran . One of defendants ' attorneys is in jail ; another is outside the country . Case of the seven Baha'is has drawn global attention . | [[2049, 2086], [2049, 2053], [2089, 2174], [418, 539], [509, 539], [3190, 3248]] |
University Park , Pennsylvania -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The fatal explosions at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia and the Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the Louisiana coast drive home important truths about our country 's energy supplies . The first is that energy extracted from these sources is so valuable for our society that companies can afford to pay their workers premiums to risk their lives in dangerous circumstances . Massey Coal was extracting coal at Upper Big Branch at a cost of $ 35 per ton , and selling it for $ 60 per ton . BP and Transocean were extracting oil from Deepwater Horizon at a cost of $ 50 per barrel and selling it for $ 80 per barrel . The second is that there are no simple solutions to U.S. energy challenges . Wherever we get our energy , the price we pay for it is high . We should consider this seemingly obvious fact when we talk about moving toward an economy that uses less carbon in order to combat climate change . Make no mistake : This move will be costly and is not likely to happen any time soon . Scholars at Resources for the Futures , a Washington , D.C. , environmental think tank , estimate that enactment of the Waxman-Markey bill -LRB- the American Clean Energy and Security Act -RRB- currently pending before the Senate will cost the average ratepayer anywhere from $ 136 to $ 413 per year . The reality is our economy is set up to burn coal for electricity and gasoline for cars , and moving away from this will be difficult , time consuming , and will compel consumers to decide whether they think it is worth it . Almost half of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal , which is cheap , plentiful and secure . Yet besides the dangers to coal miners , coal comes with its own costs . Burning it for electricity creates sulfur dioxide , nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide . Scientists and engineers are working on making coal cleaner . One promising approach is carbon sequestration , in which carbon is separated out after burning coal . But once the carbon is separated , it is not clear what will be done with it . The best ideas involve storing it underground in former natural gas reservoirs . Making such storage facilities viable , however , will involve laying pipelines to transport highly compressed carbon dioxide hundreds of miles , likely against strong local opposition . Thus , for the foreseeable future , we are going to be using a lot of dirty coal . Oil has its own deficiencies in terms of pollution and safety of extraction . Burning oil creates a variety of noxious chemicals , as well as carbon dioxide . And , as the oil spill from Deepwater Horizon demonstrates , we will never be able to eliminate environmental threats from drilling . But right now , it is the only thing we have to propel most of our cars . Someday , electric cars may be able to take us farther than the local shopping mall . But even then , we 'll have to get the needed power from an already overburdened electricity grid . Many have held up wind and solar power as the saving solutions for our energy future . But these energy sources , which provide about 2 percent of the nation 's electricity , have their own drawbacks and hurdles . For example , promising offshore wind projects have been canceled because of local environmental concerns . Indeed , Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is scheduled to make a decision on a wind power project off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts this week that has faced opposition from fisherman , local Indian tribes and tourism concerns . After years of discussion , there have still been no offshore wind turbines built in the U.S. And by itself , solar power is clean . But the needed rare-earth elements -LRB- such as dysprosium and terbium -RRB- are extracted through processes that are less than green . For example , extracting the elements from the raw materials mined requires a great deal of difficult-to-dispose-of and highly dangerous acids . -LRB- Rare-earth elements are also used in hybrid car motors . -RRB- Further , these elements come from China , giving the Chinese government power over our energy policies . But beyond that , there may be limits -- at least for the foreseeable future -- to how much our electricity grid can depend on wind and solar power . This all revolves around a particular word : `` intermittency . '' A modern society requires that nonstorable electricity be available at all times to meet electricity demand , without a significant threat of blackouts . Unfortunately , wind and solar power are intermittent -- they depend on weather conditions , which can vary . Given this , there is a serious question as to how much the electricity grid can rely on these energy sources . Whether consumers will be willing to pay for green energy remains an open question . One example comes from Pennsylvania 's restructured electricity markets . In these markets , residential customers have the option of paying for `` green '' power , mostly from wind sources , and somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of residential customers do so . This green power , however , raises electricity bills about 15 to 20 percent . Moving toward a greener economy will further raise these costs , as it will become harder and harder to find green power sources . If we want to address our country 's energy concerns , we have to be willing to face one important fact : that creating such solutions will not be cheap . Different forms of energy are available , but using them will result in raising our electricity and gasoline bills significantly . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrew Kleit . | Andrew Kleit says recent coal and oil extraction disasters point up truth of our energy needs . Coal mining , oil drilling are costly , dangerous , but economy bound to it , he says , for cars , electricity . Switch to low-carbon sources not imminent , he says ; it 's expensive , has own problems . Kleit : Americans should face energy facts : Switching to clean energy will cost us . | [[265, 331], [1356, 1367], [1371, 1443], [1700, 1703], [1741, 1772], [983, 1009], [985, 994], [1014, 1053], [1700, 1703], [1741, 1772], [3099, 3119], [3183, 3221], [784, 817], [983, 1009], [5183, 5245]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Authorities believe that a registered sex offender who this month admitted killing two California teenagers attempted to follow an 11-year-old girl walking home from school the day before one of the teens disappeared , according to documents filed in the case . John Albert Gardner , 31 , pleaded guilty April 16 to killing Chelsea King , 17 , and Amber Dubois , 14 . He also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to commit rape in a December incident involving a third woman . King was last seen leaving Poway High School in suburban San Diego , California , on February 25 . Her car , with her cell phone inside , was found at Rancho Bernardo Community Park . King was known to run on the park 's trails . Her disappearance triggered a massive search that ended a few days later , when King 's remains were found in the park . Dubois disappeared in February 2009 while walking to school in Escondido , California . She was considered a missing person for more than a year until her remains were found in March . Prosecutors said Gardner led police to Dubois ' body after being assured that it would not be used against him in court . Gardner avoided the death penalty with his guilty plea but will be sentenced June 1 to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole , under terms of the plea deal with prosecutors . On February 24 , a day before King went missing , an 11-year-old girl reported that she was walking home from school when she heard a vehicle slowly approaching her from behind , according to an affidavit requesting a police search of Gardner 's home , posted on the website of CNN affiliate KTLA-TV . The documents were unsealed Monday , KTLA reported . The girl told police the vehicle drove past her and then parked about 30 feet in front of her , the documents said . The driver stayed in the vehicle , the girl said , and did not attempt to speak to her . But a woman pulled up next to the girl and told her the person in the vehicle `` seemed very suspicious '' and offered to follow her home , according to the affidavit . The man , who was in a black car , then made a U-turn and left , and the woman followed the girl the remaining two blocks to her house , the documents said . The girl 's mother called police after her daughter told her what happened . The girl 's mother told authorities that after seeing a photo of Gardner following his arrest in the King case , her daughter said Gardner was `` the guy in the car , '' the affidavit said . Gardner 's girlfriend drives a black 2002 Nissan Sentra , according to the documents . The documents also detail the December assault on the third woman near where King 's car was found at the park . She told authorities she was on a hiking trail and a man walked past her , the affidavit said . She told him , `` Good morning , '' and he returned the greeting , but then tackled her from the side as he passed her , knocking her to the ground on her back . The man pinned her to the ground , and she screamed while struggling with him , the affidavit said . He told her to `` shut up , '' and she said , `` You 're going to have to kill me . '' `` That can be arranged , '' he responded . The man then demanded money from her , the affidavit said . She was able to sit up and used her elbow to strike him in the nose , telling police she felt `` the crunch of cartilage . '' The man let go of her and grabbed his nose , she said , and she ran . A woman also told police that she saw Gardner on the jogging trails near the park on the day King disappeared , the affidavit said . She said he was sitting and drinking a beer and had several empty beer cans around him . He warned her about a rattlesnake that was nearby , and they spoke briefly . The woman said she ran past the man and then talked to him some more on her return trip . The man was wearing blue jeans and a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt , she said , according to the affidavit . A second woman also recalled seeing a man in the Hard Rock Cafe shirt on a trail that day about 3 p.m. , about an hour and a half after the first woman said she saw him , the affidavit said . The same woman believes she saw King on the trail as well . Both women told police they were 100 percent sure the man they saw was Gardner , the affidavit said . The area where the second woman recalled seeing Gardner was `` 300 yards from where the panties of Chelsea King were found and about a mile from where the body of Chelsea King was found , '' the affidavit said . At the time of his arrest , Gardner was a registered sex offender . In 2000 he was convicted of two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and a count of false imprisonment , according to a probation officer 's report . The victim in that case was a 13-year-old girl , who was molested and beaten when she tried to resist , the report said . `` The defendant ... manifests marked predatory traits and is not seen as a suitable candidate for sex offender treatment insofar as he refuses to accept any responsibility for what he has done , '' according to the 2000 report . Gardner knew the girl and was a former neighbor of hers , the report said . `` The fact that he would try to force himself on her sexually is indefensible but then to beat her as he did out of frustration ... represents a qualitative leap to extremely serious criminal behavior . '' The report recommended that Gardner be sentenced to six years in prison . KTLA reported that he served five years before being paroled . | Officials say John Albert Gardner III followed girl , 11 , but was scared off . Gardner admitted killing Chelsea King , 17 , and Amber Dubois , 14 . Jogger who was attacked also identified Gardner , documents show . Probation report reveals details of earlier sexual assault of teenage neighbor . | [[19, 235], [281, 300], [308, 360], [332, 386], [4600, 4602], [4717, 4761]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Green living is a spiritual calling for a group of Christian women in the upper Midwest . Call it a heavenly approach to being good stewards of the Earth . While most people do n't think about sustainable buildings in a spiritual light , the Benedictine Women of Madison , Wisconsin , believe they should . The ecumenical order 's new Holy Wisdom Monastery scored the highest number of points ever awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council 's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -LRB- LEED -RRB- rating system for new construction . Holy Wisdom Monastery is run by three Benedictine sisters . The idea that they wanted to build the most sustainable , cutting-edge , eco-friendly building in the United States is surprising to some ; but given the order 's mission , it 's an obvious fit for the women . `` People who know us see it as falling out of our mission . They see it as something they would expect from us , '' Sister Mary David Walgenbach said . One of the order 's core values is `` Care for the Earth . '' `` People who do n't know us , who come into the building , are surprised by its elegance and simplicity . And they ask the same question : ` Why would a small community of women do such a thing ? ' '' said Walgenbach . `` But when we talk to them about who we are and why we think it 's important to do this , and , in our day and age , why it 's even more important that our religious people think about caring of the Earth , then they 're very open to that . '' Also surprising : the building 's sustainability statistics . Holy Wisdom Monastery sits on 130 rural acres , just outside Madison . The original building , once a Catholic high school for girls , was torn down and 99.75 percent of the material was either reused or recycled . Hoffman LLC designed and built the monastery at a cost of $ 246 per square foot , or just over $ 7.5 million for demolition through construction . `` There 's a long list of reasons this building is the greenest in the U.S. right now , '' said company owner Paul Hoffman . `` For one , the building is projected to save at least 60 percent on energy costs alone . '' That 's because the heating and cooling systems are powered by 39 geothermal wells , closed-loop wells sunk deep in the earth . Hoffman says the geothermal wells work so efficiently that on some days , the monastery actually sells energy to the utility , instead of buying it . Photovoltaic lights , which are cells that convert sunlight into electricity , are used in the parking lot . Another set of photovoltaic cells on the monastery 's roof generates 15 percent of the building 's energy needs . Eventually the monastery hopes to generate all of its own energy from on-site renewable sources . The windows in the monastery are unique . They were specially designed for the building using a new technique . `` We used Andersen wood windows and they developed a special highly sustainable window with special glazing , '' Hoffman said . `` So there 's absolutely no blinds , shades , or draperies in the building because the glass is the thing that transmits the light , but eliminates the glare , yet grabs the solar heat gains . '' Hoffman hired the green consulting firm Vertegy , based in St. Louis , Missouri , to help coordinate the many complex aspects involved in constructing a sustainable building and completing the very complicated U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification process . Construction methods for a green building are very different from traditional ones , according to Thomas Taylor , Vertegy 's general manager . `` The person who designs the structure of the building , the person who designs the mechanical systems like the air conditioning , the people who design the plumbing , and even the outside landscape , they all have to work together , '' he said . `` In recent times in design and construction , they have n't worked together . They 've worked kind of in a bubble . '' Then , Taylor added , `` one person brings it all together , puts it on a drawing and then the contractor goes out and builds it . '' That process does n't work very well for green projects , he said . `` This is a situation where we tried to take the talents of all those people , integrate them so they 're doing their work at one time , and they 're really being mindful of each other and supportive of each other 's disciplines and needs , in order to maximize the energy efficiency , the water efficiency , the impact on the environment that their own discipline might have '' as the building is being constructed , Taylor said . While the monastery officially opened last August , the Benedictine sisters just found out last month their building achieved the highest LEED Platinum rating ever awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for a new construction building , 63 out of a possible 69 points . And that gives the Benedictine sisters a heavenly end to their monastery construction project . | Benedictine Women in Wisconsin win award for greenest new building in U.S. Monastery features geothermal heating , photovoltaic lights , specially designed windows . Building is projected to save at least 60 percent on energy costs alone . Hoffman LLC designed and built monastery at a cost of just over $ 7.5 million . | [[2756, 2797], [2905, 2976], [2076, 2153], [1790, 1801], [1815, 1936]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two men have been arrested in a bold and bizarre jewelry store robbery involving crooks who disguised themselves in Hasidic Jewish attire , complete with hats and false beards , police announced Tuesday . But all was not as it seemed , according to police . The heist was actually an elaborate inside job set up by the store 's owners , who were $ 1 million in debt and six months behind on their rent , police said . The New York Police Department announced Tuesday that Atul Shah , 43 , and Mahaveer Kankariya , 43 , both of New Jersey , have been arrested on charges of grand larceny , insurance fraud and falsifying business records . The two men , co-owners of the Dialite Imports jewelry store in Manhattan 's diamond district , are in custody , authorities said . The costumed robbers connected to the crime remain at large . According to NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne , two armed men casually walked into the commercial office building where Dialite Imports was located on the afternoon of December 31 , 2008 . They were dressed in traditional looking Orthodox-style clothing and quickly gained access to the store 's safe , spray-painting two security cameras in the process . The two thieves appeared to make off with about $ 4 million in diamonds and other jewels . Immediately after the robbery , Shah told the New York Post that his insurance company had instructed him to refrain from commenting about the heist . `` They told me I can not say anything right now , '' he said at the time . But police said Tuesday that investigators became suspicious of the incident when it was discovered that Shah and Kankariya got a new insurance policy just before the apparent robbery . The owners of the jewelry company hired the two men `` to play the armed robbers and dressed them up as Hasidic Jews to avoid causing suspicion , '' Browne said . The robbery and security camera footage of the two supposed orthodox outlaws gained particular attention because of the similarities between the staged robbery and the 2000 movie `` Snatch , '' in which diamond thieves donned similar outfits for their burglary . | On New Year 's Eve 2008 , two people disguised as Hasidic Jews robbed jewelry store . Heist was actually an elaborate inside job set up by the store 's owners , police say . NYPD says co-owners were $ 1 million in debt and six months behind on their rent . Two men charged with grand larceny , insurance fraud , falsifying business records . | [[0, 18], [28, 98], [58, 203], [286, 362], [432, 445], [343, 362], [369, 429], [500, 539], [559, 666]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 50 children have been abducted in Haiti since the beginning of the year , adding to a trend of kidnappings in countries affected by violence , according to a United Nations Children 's Fund report . Haitians demonstrate June 4 in Port-au-Prince against the kidnappings and acts of violence in Haiti . `` It is everyone 's duty to ensure children are safe from harm , and governments have a responsibility to enact and enforce measures that provide a protective environment for all children , '' the agency said in a statement released Friday . In countries torn by war , like the Central African Republic , Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq , food shortages and poverty have added to the already hellish conditions children live in . The youngest in unstable countries have become primary targets for armed groups who see them as commodities , the agency said . In Haiti , UNICEF and local officials report that kidnapped children are being raped , tortured and murdered . The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti has been working with the national police force to try to halt such crimes . They suspect that criminal gangs are responsible . The agency reports that as many as 2,000 children a year are trafficked to the Dominican Republic , often with their parents ' support . And about 1,000 children are working as spies , messengers or soldiers for armed gangs in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince . Earlier in the month , a demonstration was held in Haiti 's capital after a 16-year-old hostage was murdered and other hostages had been raped and lynched , including infants , UNICEF said . The agency urged officials to take action . `` There is no acceptable motive or rationale for these crimes , as there is no acceptable excuse that they should be allowed to continue with flagrant impunity , '' UNICEF 's Haiti representative , Annamaria Laurini , said in a statement . The agency recently received reports that Iraqi children have been recruited by militia and insurgent groups . `` Girls are increasingly subject to murder , kidnapping and rape , or are being abducted and trafficked within or outside Iraq for sexual exploitation , '' according to the report . In the Central African Republic , the agency reports that armed gangs terrorize farms and communities , kidnapping children and holding them for ransom . Souleimane Garga , in Paoua , recounts to UNICEF how bandits broke into his home nearly two years ago and kidnapped his wife , newborn baby and two other children -- Harouna and Beldo -- after killing older family members , including an uncle and a grandfather . `` It was two in the morning when they came . There were many of them , and they knocked down the doors , '' Garga tells UNICEF in a video posted on the agency 's Web site . Garga was shot in the back during the attack , UNICEF said . `` They had Kalashnikovs , and the bullets came down like rain , '' he said . For two years , now-5-year-old Harouna and his 7-year-old sister , Beldo , were held in bush camps because their father could n't afford to be in a position where he might have to pay a ransom . It had financially broken him when he paid to free his wife and newborn baby , UNICEF said . Garga tells UNICEF that the children lived in horrible conditions that included beatings . `` Harouna still wakes up at night ; he shouts and cries . '' When someone mentions kidnapping , Beldo stops talking . `` Whenever she hears that word , she stops talking ; she tells us to ` keep quiet of such things ' and asks for peace , '' her father said . `` We were afraid , but we kept thinking our father would come soon , '' Harouna told the agency . '' ` I 'm happy to come back home . ... Thanks , we 're free . ' '' Although some children are returned to their homes , other kidnapped children may never return . They are instead used as muscle behind rebel militias in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo . The agency added that many children are also held in captivity and used as sexual slaves . In a July 2006 UNICEF report on child soldiers in the nation , the agency reported that `` as many as 30,000 children may be associated with armed forces or groups as fighters , sexual slaves and camp-followers . '' Of those children , the report estimates , `` 30 to 40 percent of children associated with armed forces are girls . '' | UNICEF : Children are often victims of murder , kidnappings in war-torn nations . Report says 2,000 children a year are trafficked to the Dominican Republic . More than 50 kids in Haiti have been abducted since January . In the Central African Republic , children are kidnapped and held for ransom . | [[0, 15], [172, 227], [899, 907], [910, 1009], [0, 15], [172, 227], [1188, 1324], [1215, 1285], [0, 15], [19, 100], [2225, 2256], [2259, 2378]] |
Denver , Colorado -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- During emergency drills at Deer Creek Middle School , teacher David Benke used to tell his students that if anything ever happened , he wanted to be able to `` do something about it . '' When he saw a man shooting at students as they were leaving the Littleton , Colorado , school on Tuesday , `` What was going through my mind , '' Benke said , `` was that I promised . '' Benke tackled the gunman , who had shot and wounded two students , and with the help of another teacher and some bus drivers , was able to hold him until police arrived . `` I noticed that he was working a bolt-action rifle , '' he said . `` I noticed that and realized that I had time to get him before he could chamber another round . '' Still , Benke told reporters Wednesday , `` it bothers me that I was a little bit late . It bothers me that he got the second shot off '' and struck a second student . Authorities identified the suspect as Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood , 32 . Eastwood , who police said had been a student at the school in the 1990s , was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder . He appeared in court via video link from jail Wednesday morning . CNN affiliate KUSA reported a judge ordered him held on $ 1 million bond . If he does post bond , the court ordered that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and said he must seek mental health treatment , KUSA reported . It also said that if he posts bond , he can not possess alcohol , drugs or firearms and must be monitored by GPS . The affiliate said Eastwood 's next court appearance is March 2 . Authorities released no information about a motive in the shooting , saying the case was still under investigation . Deer Creek is two miles from Columbine High School , site of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history , where 12 students and one teacher were killed in 1999 . The two gunmen , both Columbine students , then turned their guns on themselves . The students wounded Tuesday , a boy and a girl , were taken to Littleton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries , a sheriff 's office spokeswoman said . Principal Rob Hoover said one is doing well and the other was `` progressing well '' but was still hospitalized . Both students were eighth-graders , the school district said . KUSA reported one was Reagan Weber , who was treated and released from Littleton Adventist Hospital . The other , Matthew Thieu , was in serious condition at Children 's Hospital . In a written statement , his mother expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support , but asked for privacy as she focuses on his recovery . She said her son was recovering from a fractured rib and a lung injury . Eastwood 's father , War Eagle Eastwood , told KUSA that his son had struggled with mental illness , was behind on bills and could n't hold a job because of his `` not really knowing what he 's doing half the time . '' His son , who heard voices , tried to seek help , he said , but had no money to pay for it . Bruco Eastwood had been cooperative with investigators , said Jefferson County sheriff 's spokeswoman Jacki Kelley . Eastwood had been living with his father for about five years , and was unemployed other than working as `` kind of a ranch hand '' for his father , she said . He had been attending a community college attempting to get his GED . The rifle used belonged to Eastwood 's father , she said . Authorities found additional rounds around the school property . School officials could not give many details to reporters Wednesday because of an ongoing police investigation , but Hoover said the suspect had come inside the school earlier and signed in . `` We know he did that much , but then we know he left , and that was all we knew at that point . '' Assistant Principal Becky Brown told reporters she ran outside after hearing `` the pop '' and saw Benke tackle the suspect . `` When I saw Dr. Benke and the look on his face , I knew that we needed to help , '' she said . While Benke and the suspect struggled on the ground , she grabbed the gun `` and got it out of there , '' she said . Benke said the suspect threatened to sue him during the struggle , saying he was using excessive force . Asked why she ran toward gunshots when others might flee , Brown grew emotional as she said , `` Those kids are my kids , and it 's important , and my teachers , we 're like family . '' `` You 're just doing what you can do to try and protect your kids , '' Benke said . CNN 's Andy Rose contributed to this report . | Teacher says he promised students he 'd protect them if something happened . David Benke tackled gunman , but says he wishes he 'd done it earlier . Suspect Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood , 32 , held on $ 1 million bail . Shooting takes place two miles from Columbine High School , scene of 1999 rampage . | [[91, 220], [411, 437], [919, 983], [1195, 1269], [1223, 1269], [1718, 1768]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Catholic bishop of South Bend , Indiana , will not attend graduation ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame because he disagrees with the stem-cell research and abortion views of the commencement speaker -- President Obama . The University of Notre Dame says its invitation does n't mean the university agrees with all of Obama 's positions . Bishop John D'Arcy , whose diocese includes Fort Wayne , Indiana , as well as the university town , said Tuesday in a written statement that `` after much prayer '' he has decided not to attend the ceremony . `` President Obama has recently reaffirmed , and has now placed in public policy , his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred , '' D'Arcy said . `` While claiming to separate politics from science , he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government , for the first time in history , into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life . '' Earlier this month , Obama reversed a federal ban on embryonic stem-cell research . Many scientists say the research could lead to advances in treating conditions like Alzheimer 's disease and Parkinson 's disease , while some abortion opponents believe destroying embryos in the research amounts to ending a human life . Watch Obama called `` premier promoter of baby-killing '' '' In January , Obama lifted a Bush administration restriction on funding for organizations that provide or promote abortion overseas . D'Arcy 's announcement comes as anti-abortion groups have launched campaigns attempting to persuade the Catholic university to rescind Obama 's invitation . In a letter to Notre Dame , Anthony J. Lauinger , National Right to Life Committee vice president , called Obama `` the abortion president '' and said his invitation `` is a betrayal of the university 's mission and an affront to all who believe in the sanctity and dignity of human life . '' The conservative Cardinal Newman Society has launched a Web site -- notredamescandal.com -- that , according to the site , has drawn 50,000 signatures to a petition opposing Obama 's appearance at the May 17 ceremony , at which Obama also is to receive an honorary degree . A White House statement released Tuesday said Obama is honored to be speaking at the university and welcomes the exchange of ideas on the hot-button topics . `` While he is honored to have the support of millions of people of all faiths , including Catholics with their rich tradition of recognizing the dignity of people , he does not govern with the expectation that everyone sees eye to eye with him on every position , '' the White House said . '' -LSB- T -RSB- he spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country . '' Obama will become the ninth sitting president to give the commencement speech at Notre Dame . Most recently , presidents Jimmy Carter , Ronald Reagan , George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush have spoken there . In a written statement on Tuesday , Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins noted that the university has been host to Democratic and Republican presidents and said the invitation does not mean the university agrees with all of Obama 's positions . `` We will honor Mr. Obama as an inspiring leader who faces many challenges -- the economy , two wars , and health care , immigration and education reform -- and is addressing them with intelligence , courage and honesty , '' he said . `` It is of special significance that we will hear from our first African-American president , a person who has spoken eloquently and movingly about race in this nation . `` Racial prejudice has been a deep wound in America , and Mr. Obama has been a healer . '' On abortion and stem-cell research , Jenkins said he views the invitation as `` a basis for further positive engagement . '' | Bishop John D'Arcy cites Obama 's views about stem-cell research , abortion . Obama has `` separated science from ethics , '' bishop says . Obama scheduled to be commencement speaker , get honorary degree . University president : Obama invitation `` a basis for further positive engagement '' | [[2139, 2158], [2170, 2175], [2181, 2215], [3749, 3783], [3786, 3870]] |
HONG KONG , China -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jackie Chan : A-list Asian megastar , iconic kung fu hero to millions and basically a really famous guy . We had been pursuing an in-depth interview with him for months through `` The JC Group , '' Jackie 's all-conquering management company . Gaining access to Jackie Chan 's personal `` museum '' uncovered many gems during filming . Schedules conflicted , dates came and went - then finally a breakthrough . He was setting aside an afternoon in between a dizzying array of international commitments . Better still , we would be filming in Jackie 's Hong Kong den -- his office which is home to a private `` museum '' of memorabilia and awards collected over the years . Jackie Inc. is a sprawling , multi-tentacled empire with offices all over the world - but his hideaway is in a particularly charmless area of Hong Kong . Once inside the dreary office block , you pass a team of people working on JC merchandise and into Jackie 's inner sanctum . The first thing that confronts you is the ordered chaos in his suite of rooms . Clearly incapable of throwing anything away , his office is littered with props , costumes , trophies -LRB- including several for his bowling skills -RRB- , CDs , and -- some might say -- junk . He is also a compulsive collector . As he later tells us , if a friend gives him a gift such as a tea cup , he begins amassing tea cups until he has to build glass display cases to house his out-of-control collection . Another obsession is antique locks , including one vast , heavy model he hand-carried back from Turkey . Our first sighting of Jackie is odd . We were told he is a very late riser and the main challenge of the shoot for his staff was getting him out of bed . Instead , he arrives early , unannounced and on his own - a rarity with film stars . We are still setting up and he stares at us blankly through thick glasses , then disappears into his gym without a word . We begin to wonder if he actually knows about the interview . Introductions are finally made and the effusive , likeable Jackie Chan is alive and well . He throws himself into the idea of us filming him working out - putting on a bright yellow sweat suit , then pouring out the sweat from his sleeve after 40 minutes on the cross trainer . During the interview , he is animated and a great story teller , discussing brushes with the triads and the last time he saw Bruce Lee alive . As China 's Olympic poster boy , he was clearly uncomfortable discussing Tibet and drew the distinction between sport and politics currently favored by the IOC . Our eventual guided tour took in his room of autographed film star photographs -LRB- Robert De Niro his most treasured -RRB- and his personal walk-in wine chiller , which was naturally behind a false wall . His business drive is evident . His merchandising arm produces clothes , glasses and Jackie Chan action figures , while he also dabbles in gizmos that interest him - he owns the distribution rights to the Segway in Hong Kong and cheerfully taught Anjali how to ride one . Exhausted , we took our leave after a five hour shoot while Jackie still appeared to be warming up . The following day he left for Japan - ahead of Olympic duties on the Great Wall of China and a quick skip over to India . Unarguably `` the hardest working man in showbusiness '' -- when awake . E-mail to a friend . | Rare treat to film in Jackie 's Hong Kong den . Personal office looked like organized chaos and revealed his many collections . Action superstar was still raring to go after exhausting five-hour shoot . | [[541, 553], [556, 602], [989, 1004], [1010, 1068], [989, 1068], [3085, 3126]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Christie 's is the world 's leading art business with global auction sales in 2007 that totalled $ 6.3 billion , marking the highest total in company and in art auction history . A Christie 's employee holds the painting ` La Surprise ' at Christie 's auction house in London on July 4 , 2008 . Founded in 1766 by James Christie , Christie 's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th , 19th and 20th centuries , and today remains a popular showcase for unique artworks as well as international glamour . Christie 's offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories , including all areas of fine and decorative arts , jewelry , photographs , collectibles , wine , cars and more . Prices range from $ 200 to over $ 80 million . Christie 's has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including London , New York , Los Angeles , Paris , Geneva , Milan , Amsterdam , Tel Aviv , Dubai and Hong Kong . Most recently , Christie 's has expanded initiatives in emerging markets such as China , India and the United Arab Emirates , with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing , Dubai , Mumbai and Russia . Christie 's also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through its real-time online bidding service Christie 's LIVE . | Christie 's global auction sales in 2007 totalled $ 6.3 billion . Christie 's was founded in 1766 by James Christie . Sales categories include fine arts , jewelry , photography , collectibles , wine , cars . | [[19, 101], [73, 87], [97, 101], [107, 129], [314, 347], [350, 431], [314, 347], [350, 361], [438, 525], [526, 537], [577, 590], [593, 693]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Congressional Republicans offered what they call a `` centrist , practical '' plan to overhaul the U.S. health care system Tuesday , one they say would be the cheapest of any option proposed so far . House Republicans say their health care plan is a better package than the Senate version . Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk said the package put together by moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives would be far cheaper than a plan being drawn up in the Senate . A preliminary review of that plan by the Congressional Budget Office found it would cost about $ 1 trillion over 10 years to extend health insurance to 16 million people who otherwise would not be covered -- about a third of the roughly 45 million now uninsured . `` I think this plan that we put forward is more centrist , more bipartisan and would be at significantly lower cost , '' Kirk said . He said no cost estimate had been prepared for the measures he put forth Tuesday , but asserted its elements would require less money from taxpayers than other proposals . The package announced by the GOP `` Tuesday Group '' includes some perennial Republican favorites such as regulatory relief , an individual tax break for purchasing health insurance and limits on malpractice lawsuits . It also would encourage insurers to pool their coverage to a greater extent than currently allowed , which Kirk and other supporters say has worked well in California . But it also emphasizes preventive care , computerizing patient records and reducing `` defensive medicine '' by promoting treatments proven effective -- all principles the White House has endorsed , as well . The centerpiece of the plan , Kirk said , is a `` Medical Rights Act '' that would keep government out of `` decisions made by you and your doctor . '' He said the plans were drawn up during four months of talks with dozens of groups , including patient advocates , doctors , nurses , employers and `` other interested groups . '' The proposal came as the conservative GOP leadership in the House stepped up attacks on the proposal being drafted by Senate Democrats . House Minority Leader John Boehner , R-Ohio , said Monday 's budget office report showed `` millions of Americans '' would lose their current insurance . `` President Obama says the problem with our health care is that we spend too much , and if you look at all the proposals , clearly they are going to spend trillions of dollars of additional money that we do n't have -- that we 're going to have to borrow -- in order to finance their scheme , '' Boehner told reporters . The report projected that the number of people covered by employer-based health care plans would fall by about 15 million by 2017 . In the same year , about 39 million people would be covered by policies purchased through a health insurance `` exchange '' of the type Obama has proposed . White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday that a bill is still being drafted and `` has many twists and turns to go . '' `` One incomplete older proposal I do n't think is indicative of where we are now , '' he said . | Rep. Mark Kirk says GOP proposal would be far cheaper than Senate plan . Plan keeps government out of `` decisions made by you and your doctor , '' Kirk said . Preliminary review of Senate plan finds it would cost about $ 1 trillion over 10 years . Robert Gibbs says bill still being drafted ; `` has many twists and turns to go '' | [[321, 463], [762, 875], [878, 892], [1768, 1810], [495, 616], [570, 643], [584, 610], [617, 664], [2895, 3028], [2958, 2964], [2968, 2987], [2992, 3010]] |
-LRB- Oprah.com -RRB- -- In 1977 , my friend Brenda and I went for dinner at a little Chinese restaurant called Empress Garden . She had the lemon chicken , I had the shrimp har kow , and we each had an egg roll because in 1977 you could eat sugar and fat and deep-fried everything without its signifying that the apocalypse is at hand . Our waiter placed the entrées in front of us and ceremoniously lifted the shiny silver domes . Brenda 's chicken was crunchy on the outside , moist on the inside , lemony all over , and I knew in an instant that I 'd made a hideous error in judgment -- I should 've gone with the chicken . I tell you this story to illustrate my willingness to admit when I 've made a mistake . In fact , I 've rarely ordered a breakfast , lunch , or dinner I did n't regret ; at this very moment , I 'm wishing I had an iced tea instead of a Diet Coke . But aside from the food thing and one very adorable guy in the early '80s who was all you 'd want in a man except for the fact that he was also looking for all you 'd want in a man , I am never , ever wrong . Now , I 'm not saying I always take my own advice or trust my own instincts . I 'm merely suggesting that the world would be a much better place if everyone else were to do exactly what I tell them to do . Arrogant ? You bet . Narcissistic ? I suppose . But c'mon , admit it , you 've had the very same thought kicking around for years . Still , I 'm the one with the column -- so now without further ado ... Everything I know about the world and how you -LRB- yes , you ! -RRB- should live your life : . 1 . If you ca n't get a babysitter , for the love of God , stay home ! I do n't want to be sitting next to little Charlotte and Duncan as they fight over a Raisinet at the midnight screening of Atonement . You wanted kids , so suck it up , walk it off , subscribe to Netflix . 2 . If your outgoing phone message is longer than , let 's say , the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian of the Year segment of the Oscars ® , it 's time to rerecord . 3 . Calling to let your friend know you 're running late does not excuse your constantly running late . 4 . I 'd like to say a few words to every crabby traveler who responds with disgust whenever a baby cries on an airplane . Perhaps you do n't know how babies work , but there 's been a study , and it turns out that giving a 4-month-old the stink eye does n't actually accomplish anything . Either have a little compassion or a little Ambien . 5 . Here 's something for any gentleman who may be reading this : If you look good in a Speedo , you will look even better in virtually any other kind of swimsuit . 6 . I am a cynic . I am a pessimist . I came of age with the Watergate hearings playing on the tiny TV in our avocado green kitchen . But every four years , I wrestle my apathy into submission , read up on the issues , and cast my ballot . You must vote . I do n't care who you vote for -LRB- that 's not really true -- I think you should be penciling in my name -RRB- , but you 've got ta get in the game . 7 . One word : Floss . 8 . Any man who begins a conversation with , `` I do n't want to hurt your feelings ... '' is about to hurt your feelings . It 's the kind of phrase that 's never followed by , '' ... but I just do n't think you 're eating enough . Please have more lasagna while I get you a brownie . '' Other opening gambits that pretty much scream duck-and-cover include : `` Do n't take this the wrong way ... , '' `` You can feel free to say no ... , '' and the always popular `` Look ... '' 9 . Enough with celeb gossip . The problems of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears should not be competing for the headline space in our brains . We have to be smarter than that , and if we 're not , we have to pretend that we are . 10 . Get so excellent at something -LRB- long division , friendship , Parcheesi , removing cranberry juice stains , decoupage -- it does n't matter what -RRB- that your genius will be impossible to ignore and your legendary expertise at removing cranberry juice stains while dividing six-digit numbers by 37 will either bring you glory beyond your wildest dreams or , at the very least , help you feel vaguely competent as you make your way through the world . 11 . Allow me to demystify the entire real estate market for you : Gracious means ridiculously small . Quaint means a total wreck and ridiculously small . Spacious , airy , luxurious , and grand all mean ridiculously small . 12 . I like a plastic bag and a bottle of water as much as the next self-involved me monkey , but it takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million grocery bags , and if I were capable of doing even the most basic arithmetic , I 'd say -- well , who are we kidding ? I 'm not capable of doing even the most basic arithmetic -- just know that we 're in great danger of making Al Gore really , really mad . 13 . Words matter . It 's time to stop prettifying the ugly stuff . Spousal abuse means wife beating . Global warming means the Earth is toast . Enhanced interrogation means torture . And here 's a bit of trivia for you : The Bush administration did not coin the phrase enhanced interrogation . Nor did it come from Jack Bauer on `` 24 . '' Nope , it was the Gestapo that originated that little bon mot back in 1937 . 14 . To quote Elmer Fudd , `` Be bwave , widdoe wabbit . '' Take a chance , wear your heart on your sleeve , ask the most attractive man in the room to dance , say what you want , demand what you 're entitled to . There 's a pretty decent chance that you wo n't get it , but who will you be if you never even try ? Note : Only attempt the dance invitation if there 's actual music playing . 15 . Sometimes I worry that we 've all become workaholics -- because getting through life can be really hard work . But -LRB- with apologies to the fine people who pay my salary every week here at the fabulous Hearst Corporation -RRB- we need to log off , go home , and remember what it is to have dinner , conversation , and sex ... not necessarily in that order . By Lisa Kogan from `` O , The Oprah Magazine , '' March 2008 . Subscribe to O , The Oprah Magazine for up to 75 % off the newsstand price . That 's like getting 18 issues FREE . Subscribe now ! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions , Inc. . All Rights Reserved . | Highly opinionated columnist offers advice on wide range of topics . An apology does n't cut it if you 're always running late . All men would look better in something other than a Speedo . Take a chance , wear your heart on your sleeve to get what you want . | [[2030, 2103], [2045, 2129], [2030, 2129], [5354, 5358], [5370, 5400], [5354, 5367], [5454, 5502]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A disabled punk band has launched a campaign to fight for the rights of disabled people to be able to party late . Heavy Load are a UK-based punk band with three out of five members who are disabled . `` Heavy Load , '' describe themselves as an `` anarcho-garage-punk '' band and are made up of five musicians , one of whom has Downs Syndrome and two who have unspecified learning disabilities . Their campaign , `` Stay Up Late , '' encourages carers to support disabled people who want to stay out past 10pm . Heavy Load 's manager and bass guitarist , Paul Richards , 39 , told CNN : `` The Stay Up Late '' campaign is to raise awareness , and tackle the issue where disabled gig-goers end up going home at 9pm , therefore missing most of the evening , because their support workers finish their shifts at 10pm . `` We started the campaign because we 'd be playing a gig and something strange happens at 9pm when people would start to go home . We were also frustrated with asking to go on earlier in the evening so that our fans would still be there . It 's not very punk to go on at 8.30 pm , '' he added . `` Stay up Late '' has received widespread support from disabled people and the UK government , Richards said . Even carers who may be required to work later if the campaign is successful have offered their support . `` So far , we 've only had one or two support workers say that they do n't think they should be required to work unsociable hours , '' Richards said . The group has also partnered with the UK 's leading learning disabilities charity Mencap , who they say have really helped to relay their message to a wider audience . Mencap and Heavy Load teamed up last week where the band headlined a concert in London for people with learning disabilities , giving them an opportunity to be involved in running a club night . See images from the concert '' They concert was held in conjunction with London venue Proud Camden , and around 400 people attended the event which finished at 1am . Everyone at the event , from the door girl , to bar staff and cloakroom attendants , were people with learning disabilities , venue owner Alex Proud told CNN . `` It 's the first event of its kind for people with a learning disability and there was a real buzz about how people with learning disability are an untapped source in the entertainment industry . '' He said : `` At these nights there is a lack of inhibitions . They tend to let their hair down and really know how to party ; it 's a hell of a lot of fun for all involved . Proud is eager to put on events that include people with a learning disability and to make the public more aware of this often overlooked group . `` Young people with learning disabilities want to go out , but they are not catered for in the entertainment industry , '' he added . Heavy Load have been together for 13 years since meeting at the Southdown housing in England , a non-profit assisted-living community for people with learning disabilities . Vocalist Jimmy Nicholls , 62 , posted an advert and a week later the band including Michael White , 47 -LRB- drums -RRB- Simon barker , 37 -LRB- lead vocals -RRB- and Mick Williams , 47 -LRB- guitar and vocals -RRB- was formed . Since then the band has gained many disabled and non-disabled fans and a successful documentary , `` Heavy Load , '' has been made about their lives . Now they are looking forward to setting up the `` Stay Up Late '' campaign around the world . Richards said : `` When we visited New York last year we were surprised to find that it 's an issue for people with learning disabilities to get out much at all -- so there is definitely a need there . `` We 've also been asked to go to Russia , Serbia , other parts of the U.S. , Scotland and Czech Republic to play and promote the campaign -- which we 'd love to do , but money 's tight , '' he added . However , Richards insists the campaign is not about partying late every night . `` We do n't insist on people staying up late against their will -- just having the choice to do what they want to do ! '' | Disabled punk bank Heavy Load have launched the `` Stay Up Late '' campaign . The band want disabled concert-goers to be able to enjoy gigs until the end . Disabled people often have to leave gigs early when their carers ' shifts end . Heavy Load played last week at a London club night run by disabled people . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [47, 123], [707, 725], [763, 790], [793, 852], [1718, 1727], [1734, 1783], [1912, 1979]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Glynis McCants looks at Michael Jackson 's life , she sees the number five . Numerologist Glynis McCants says that with his numbers , Jackson was a draw to fans . Jackson 's talent was discovered when he was 5 years old , he came to fame as a member of the Jackson 5 and he planned a series of 50 concert dates in London , England , as part of a comeback tour before he died on June 25 at the age of 50 . For McCants , a noted numerologist and author , those facts are very telling : `` Five is the number for drama , and it was in his life his whole life . '' For many fans , the lure of Michael Jackson as a performer and pop icon was magical . Those who deal in the paranormal are tuned in to that magic . Numerology deals with the influence of numbers on personal characteristics and human affairs . McCants -- who has appeared on nationally syndicated television and radio shows and is known as the `` Numbers Lady '' -- said that by taking Jackson 's birth date -LRB- August 29 , 1958 , or 8/29/1958 -RRB- she could chart his personality . His was `` six life path , '' she said , meaning he was magnetic and drew people to him . That , coupled with the fact that he was born on a two day made him irresistible , she said . `` If you are born on a two day and are a six life path then America and the world seem to fall in love with you , '' McCants said . `` It 's almost as if you always get a shot with that energy if you shoot for stardom , and then you can sabotage it , '' McCants said . `` Britney Spears was born on a two day , and she 's a six life path ; Lindsay Lohan was born on a two day , and she 's a six life path ; and Sarah Palin was born on a two day , and is a six life path . '' Such people , McCants said , thrive on the attention . Psychic Eddie Conner said Jackson could n't help but attract such attention , even if it resulted in a life of isolation . `` He 's an old soul with an enormous amount of creative artistic energy that pours to him and from him , '' said Conner , who works as a `` soul intuitive '' in Los Angeles , California , and whose clients include celebrities he declines to name . `` Whenever he 's doing his magic he 's untouchable , and I think that 's the reason everybody gravitates toward him . '' And despite all of Jackson 's troubles , Conner said he believes the star will have an opportunity at success and fame again . Unlike other souls that stay in the nonphysical realm anywhere from 70 to 150 years , he said , he believes the singer 's soul will return quickly -- within the next 20 years -- because Jackson was such a perfectionist that he will want to `` pick up where he left off . '' `` If not as a performer , then a Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson/whoever , the top producers that get mass -LSB- music -RSB- out to the world to uplift them , '' Conner said . Fans continue to gravitate toward Jackson even as they try to make sense of his passing because mourning him reinvigorates the energy and attention surrounding him , Conner said . `` He was untouchable when he was connected to his soul and what he came to this planet to do , '' Conner said . `` The average person looks at that and they believe that if they can touch it -- or have him touch them -- then maybe some of it would rub off . '' The desire for such a connection can cause devastation now that Jackson is gone , said psychic consultant Jack Rourke , who has worked extensively in paranormal research and consulted for major Hollywood studios . `` Even though we 've never met Michael , people create a symbiotic relationship with this image or this person , '' Rourke said . `` We project all of the positive aspects of ourselves , all of the wonderful things onto this image of perfection or near perfection that we see , and we imagine subconsciously that this person is in agreement with the deepest part of ourselves . `` When this is no longer possible because this person is gone , it creates a vacuum within us , so people need to maintain a psychological or even a spiritual stability by creating a fixed image of Jackson , '' he said . Rourke said he fully expects people to come forward claiming to have communicated with Jackson , but that any credible professional psychic or medium will not attempt to connect with Jackson for at least six months to a year and will only do so at the behest of a family member or an intimate friend of the singer . In the meantime , Conner said fans can still reach out to the singer 's energy in a simple way : `` The greatest way to connect with Michael is through listening to his music . '' | Numerologist says Michael Jackson 's numbers add up to charisma . Paranormal professionals see Jackson as out of this world . Psychic believes Jackson will be reincarnated within 20 years . Loss of Jackson `` creates a vacuum '' psychic consultant says . | [[126, 211], [2517, 2524], [2527, 2605]] |
ARLINGTON , Virginia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund , Jim Laychak has been involved in nearly aspect of the project 's planning . Stainless steel benches are oriented according to whether the victim was on the plane or in the Pentagon . The only thing he has not done is visit the bench dedicated to his brother , Dave Laychak , who died on September 11 , 2001 , when a passenger airplane hit the Pentagon . `` I want to hold off and go and see his bench and touch his bench that day , '' said Laychak . `` I wanted to save something special for me personally on September 11 when we dedicate the memorial , so I can spend some time with it then . '' Laychak is one of many looking forward to the dedication of the memorial , which is being built to honor the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon . `` This is hallowed ground for a lot of the family members , and the essence of this place will be about them , those that we lost , '' Laychak said . Watch how visitors react to the memorial '' After more than five years of fundraising , the organizers are about $ 13 million short of their goal . They plan to have the memorial finished and dedicated on the seventh anniversary of the attacks . The park , which cost $ 22 million to build , needs another $ 10 million in endowment funds to make sure it 's always properly maintained . So far , the Pentagon Memorial Fund has raised $ 19 million from sources as diverse as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld , NBA star -LSB- and Navy veteran -RSB- David Robinson and the government of Taiwan . The focus of the memorial is 184 cantilevered benches built over a pool of lighted water . Each bench is engraved on the end with the name of one of the 184 people who died on board Flight 77 or in the Pentagon that day . The benches are arranged by age , with the bench of the youngest victim , 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg , in the far southeast corner and the bench honoring 71-year-old John Yamnicky in the northwest corner . For Wendy Ploger , whose father and stepmother died aboard Flight 77 , the benches add special meaning to the memorial . `` I do n't know how to describe it , but it tells the story of what happened , which is sort of what helps me to heal , '' said Ploger , whose relatives were on their honeymoon when they died . The benches for the 59 victims on board the plane are arranged so that someone reading the name on the end of the bench will face the sky where the plane came from . The 125 benches for the victims inside the Pentagon face the opposite direction , so someone reading the name will look up and see the south facade of the Pentagon , where the jet hit that day . `` The way the bench is facing , my father 's bench , if you read his name on the end of it , you are facing the same direction that the plane was flying -LSB- from -RSB- as it impacted the Pentagon , '' said Ploger , whose parents were originally scheduled to take a different flight but changed their plans . `` At first I felt a little strange sitting on it . But then , it 's comfort and it feels good and I feel like I 'm close to my loved one , '' she said . Some of the original plans have changed since construction started in June 2006 . Originally , the benches were to be made of aluminum . But aluminum can oxidize , leaving pits and white residue . The builders chose to use marine-grade stainless steel , which wo n't rust and can withstand the elements . The benches are inlaid with black and gold granite mined in Spain and cut in Canada . A perimeter wall around the park is built of the same Spanish granite . Black granite was originally chosen for the top of a perimeter wall around the park , but builders learned the hard way that on warm and sunny days , the black granite gets so hot `` it could burn your tuchis , '' one worker said . Ploger and Laychak say they are not sure how others will respond to the memorial , but for them , it brings a sense of peace . `` For me , it just makes it so real , '' Ploger said . `` This is sort of the closest I 've been to the event and to that day . '' | Pentagon memorial slated for dedication on seventh anniversary of attack . Memorial features benches engraved with names of victims over pool of lighted water . Relative says memorial helps her to heal . | [[1169, 1173], [1179, 1266], [1650, 1711], [1712, 1784]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In Pennsylvania , Tyler Dix , a 16-year-old movie buff , is wide awake by 7 a.m. to cook breakfast for his younger siblings . Moranda Hern and Kaylei Deakin started Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs , or battle dress uniforms . In Georgia , Tucker Simmons , a 14-year old novice guitarist , prepares ice packs for his mother whenever her chronic lower back pain kicks in . In California , Kaylei Deakin , an avid 17-year old rock climber , disciplines her little sisters when they act out . Tyler , Tucker and Kaylei are three teenagers from across the country who have very different interests , but one experience that bonds them : They grew up fast -- sometimes too quickly -- to fill the shoes of mom or dad when their parent was shipped off to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . As the death toll from the two wars has risen over the last eight years , the fight has also affected a growing number of children left at home to cope without a parent . Whether it 's raising their siblings or getting an after-school job , teens with parents in the military feel pressure to step up . `` These teens are expected to take on the responsibility the deployed parent used to take care of , '' said Mary Carolyn Voght , director of programs for Our Military Kids , a nonprofit organization that provides support to children with a deployed parent in the National Guard . `` There 's usually the expectation that they will pitch in and help out more . '' More than 30,000 teens between 12 and 18 have at least one parent in the National Guard deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan , according to the Department of Defense . When all military branches are taken into consideration , the American Psychological Association estimates about 700,000 children under the age of 18 have a parent deployed overseas for military duty . Playing mom and dad . `` This is nothing , '' said Tyler Dix modestly , describing his daily task of taking his 9-year-old sister Tayana to ballet and violin lessons and being a crying shoulder for his 13-year-old brother , Tevin , when he misses dad . `` It 's a lot of responsibility , but I do n't really have a choice . My dad told me I am the man of the house , and I have to act like it , '' he said . Last December , Tyler 's father , Darryl Dix , was called to serve in Iraq . The family had a tearful goodbye at the Olive Garden , his father 's favorite restaurant . Tyler talks to his father by phone , from once a week to several times , updating him on how the rest of the family is doing . If military teens adjust well to deployment , they can be more adaptive and resilient than their peers , said Angela Huebner , associate professor of human development at Virginia Tech . The wars have changed the military course for National Guard members , many who joined under the slogan `` one weekend a month , two weeks a year . '' Guard member families say they anticipated their loved one would be gone occasionally to help with domestic disasters , but not to an international war that has lasted this long . Reserve Guard members are serving for longer periods of time -- up to 15 months -- and sometimes have multiple deployments . `` Multiple deployments have multiple effects , '' said Darrell Partee , chief of the service support division in the Georgia National Guard . `` It 's not like this is a latchkey kid or a parent who is traveling on business . We may not know for a long time what kind of impact these deployments are having on our children . '' Fifteen-year-old Tucker Simmons ' father was sent to Iraq in 2007 for three months , and will leave again next month . While his father was gone , he learned to fix leaky plumbing in the house . He comforted his younger sister Julia when the family cat passed away , holding her hand all the way home from the vet . Tucker says he missed hanging out with his father , joking around and playing Xbox games together . `` We chose the perspective that it 's our duty to share our daddy , '' Tucker 's mom Joy Simmons said . `` That feels much better than being sad all the time . But of course we miss him . '' Coping without a parent . Deployment can cause a child to become depressed angry and isolated , some studies show . Last year , Department of Defense documents showed a spike in the number of military children who have undergone out-patient counseling since 9/11 . Dealing with a parent 's absence is no easier for teenagers , who are already confronting the growing pains of adolescence . `` All across the board , these kids are carrying an enormous burden , '' explained Patricia Barron , who runs the youth initiative programs at the nonprofit National Military Families Association . Kari McLevy of Jacksonville , Florida , recalled going through trouble after her mother , a single parent , was deployed to Iraq in 2007 for a year . Kari , 16 at the time , and her younger sister were sent to live with a family friend . Kari became reclusive and confused . It did n't help that the media was blitzed with images of war . Just a few months after her mother left , she was arrested for shoplifting . `` I pretty much realized I had to stop being a child , '' said Kari , who has graduated from high school . When her mother was at war , she got a job at a deli , saving up money to get her own apartment and attend community college . `` I ca n't just rely on my parents and I have to learn to do it myself . '' The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs . Having a parent in the National Guard comes with its own challenges . National Guard members live civilian lives , so their families are often geographically isolated from others like them -- but the children of career military members live near and attend school with other kids whose parents may be sent overseas . High school student Kaylei Deakin of California remembered being teased when she wore her father 's jacket to school after he was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2007 . Jokingly , students without parents in the military asked her , `` Was your dad shot at ? '' Kaylei felt alone , thinking no one could understand her , especially when her mother became depressed shortly after her father left . But Deakin said she kept busy babysitting her sisters , 8 and 3 at the time . `` I was emotional but I tried not to be in front of my sisters , '' Kaylei said . This summer , while their friends were busy deciding what to wear to the pool , Kaylei and Moranda Hern , another 17-year-old California teen with a father deployed to Afghanistan with the National Guard , created the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs , short for `` battle dress uniform . '' They 've planned a 2010 conference that will bring together 400 military girls from across the state to address the issues of being a military child . In organizing the conference , the two assumed responsibilities many college students have yet to experience : filling out tax exemption forms , developing a curriculum for participants , soliciting donations from major companies . `` If you pass by us , we do n't really have a normal teenage conversation , '' said Moranda in a high-pitched bubbly voice . She 's been working on the project the entire summer . `` We sound like 35-year-old businessmen . '' | Children of parents deployed to wars overseas assume adult responsibilities . Deployments cause stress but also force teens to become more resilient . `` My dad told me I am the man of the house , and I have to act like it , '' says Tyler Dix , 16 . Teens created the Sisterhood of the BDUs to bring girls together . | [[619, 649], [698, 797], [1039, 1100], [1101, 1178], [3176, 3221], [2154, 2194], [2201, 2222], [145, 245], [6345, 6356], [6425, 6448], [6551, 6623]] |
Los Angeles , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Felony fraud charges against actor Randy Quaid and his wife , Evi , were dropped Wednesday after she accepted a deal on a misdemeanor offense , a California prosecutor said . The Quaids were facing felony charges of defrauding an innkeeper and skipping out on a $ 10,000 hotel bill in Santa Barbara , California , in September 2009 . The couple have paid the bill in full , according to Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Arnie Tolks . After Evi Quaid entered a plea of no contest to one misdemeanor count of defrauding an innkeeper , she was sentenced to three years probation and 240 hours of community service , Tolks said . The Quaids were first arrested in Texas in September on a warrant issued by a Santa Barbara judge . They missed several court dates since then , prompting the judge to order them to jail on Monday unless they posted $ 100,000 bail each , which they did . After the couple showed up for a court hearing on Monday , their lawyer negotiated a plea deal . While investigators had circumstantial evidence against Randy Quaid , they could not prove his direct involvement in dealing with the hotel or the credit card transaction , Tolks said . Evidence showed it was Evi Quaid who handled the business with the hotel , he said . Quaid , 56 , is known for his roles in several films , including the `` National Lampoon 's Vacation '' movies , `` Kingpin '' and `` Brokeback Mountain . '' His younger brother is actor Dennis Quaid . CNN 's Brittany Kaplan contributed to this report . | Felony charges dropped against actor and his wife . They were accused of skipping out on $ 10,000 hotel bill . Evi Quaid agrees to misdemeanor charge , probation and community service . | [[219, 342], [0, 11], [14, 40], [112, 185], [491, 667], [491, 587], [670, 682]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Weather Underground militant Bill Ayers will appear at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday after a federal judge ruled he ca n'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 wo n'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 . | Federal judge orders university to allow ex-radical William Ayers to speak . Judge also orders University of Wyoming to ensure his safety . Speech was canceled over security concerns , university officials say . Ayers is former leader of Weather Underground . | [[0, 15], [55, 141], [126, 193], [194, 345], [296, 345], [346, 444], [2259, 2363], [2285, 2454], [2458, 2479], [2516, 2625], [2672, 2717]] |
Lagos , Nigeria -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ailing President Umaru Musa Yar ` Adua has returned home to Nigeria , though it was not immediately clear whether he was well enough to resume duties . Abdullah Aminchi , Nigeria 's ambassador to Saudi Arabia -- where Yar ` Adua has been receiving medical treatment since November -- said the president 's health had improved considerably and that he went back to Nigeria on Tuesday . He was treated for inflammation of tissue around the heart , a condition that was diagnosed last fall after he complained of chest pain . He was taken to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia , where he had undergone his last checkup in August , his doctor said . His absence had created a power vacuum in Africa 's most populous nation , observers said . It also sparked demonstrations in the nation 's capital , Abuja , where protesters demanded a constitutional order on his absence and evidence about his true state of health . Explainer : Will Nigeria 's leader return to power ? As a fix , Nigerian lawmakers voted earlier this month to install the country 's Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as head of state . A statement from the U.S. assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs Wednesday welcomed the news of Yar ` Adua 's return , but said he hoped that it was not `` an effort by his senior advisors to upset Nigeria 's stability and create renewed uncertainty in the democratic process . '' `` Nigeria is an extraordinarily important country to its friends and partners , and all those in positions of responsibility should put the health of the president and the best interests of the country and people of Nigeria above personal ambition or gain , '' said the statement from Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson . `` As a nation of 150 million people , Nigeria 's democracy and its continued adherence to constitutional rule should be the highest priority , '' the statement added . | Unclear whether Umaru Musa Yar ` Adua will resume duties . Yar ` Adua has been treated for inflammation of tissue around the heart . His three month absence created a power vacuum in Nigeria . | [[112, 186], [420, 478], [723, 795]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho claims Barcelona 's `` obsession '' with winning the Champions League on the ground of their arch-rivals Real Madrid will hinder their chances of beating his side in their semifinal second showdown . Inter hold a 3-1 lead going into Wednesday 's match at the Nou Camp and Mourinho could not resist a pre-match swipe at the Catalan giants , who would become the first side to retain the Champions League in its present format . But Mourinho , an acknowledged master in pre-match `` mind games '' , is convinced that the pressure of expectation will work against last season 's triple winners . `` We have a team of older players , with many over 30 , and we hope that we will be able to cope with the atmosphere . It is one thing , though , to follow a dream and it is another to have an obsession , '' he told gathered reporters . Schalke 's Magath set to work a new miracle . `` For Barca it is an obsession , '' added Mourinho , who was accompanied by tight security as he returned to the club where he began his coaching career under Bobby Robson . `` A dream is more pure than an obsession , an obsession is more about pride . Barca achieved a dream winning the Champions League in Paris and Rome last year but this time it is more about Madrid and playing at the Santiago Bernabeu , this is an obsession . '' Mourinho , who claimed the Champions League during his spell at Portuguese giants Porto , realizes that Inter are also desperate to triumph in Europe 's premier club competition having last won it in 1965 . `` I ca n't say for me it is a personal dream as I have won it before but I want to win it for Inter as it is more than 40 years since they got to the final . `` If I can help Mr Moratti -LRB- the Inter president -RRB- , if I can help the players and if I can contribute a little bit as coach to achieve this dream then I would be very happy . '' Inter will be without the suspended Dejan Stankovic but Mourinho indicated that he would likely take a gamble on key midfielder Wesley Sneijder , who has a slight hamstring strain . `` We will see if he can play for 90 minutes as there is still a small problem . We have other important games in the league but I am ready to risk him as everything will be decided tomorrow , '' said Mourinho . Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said his team were merely focused on earning a final clash against Bayern Munich , who beat Lyon 4-0 on aggregate in the first semifinal . `` It 's a game of football , not a magic night , and we have to be ourselves -- we will go out and try to generate as many chances as we always do , '' he said . `` We do n't know if we are capable of turning this around , but we will give everything against a great team to try and get to the final , '' he added . | Inter Milan hold 3-1 lead ahead of Champs League semifinal 2nd leg against Barcelona . Inter coach Jose Mourinho says Barca are ` obsessed ' with winning final at Real Madrid 's home ground . Barcelona would become first club to retain Champions League in current format . Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola refuses to be drawn on Mourinho 's comments . | [[251, 331], [0, 15], [19, 167], [367, 390], [395, 477]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The aid package being negotiated to bail out Greece is worth 120 billion euros -LRB- about $ 160 billion -RRB- through 2012 , according to Vassilis Papadimitriou , a spokesman for Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou . But the International Monetary Fund and European Union are demanding further austerity measures as a price for the bailout , according to a top Greek labor union official . Greece will be required to cut civil servants ' salaries , freeze their pay increases , reduce their pension payments , change tax rates and increase the value-added tax consumers pay on purchases , according to Ilias Iliopoulos , the general secretary of the public sector union ADEDY . The International Monetary Fund did not respond immediately to a CNN request for confirmation of the value of the package . Its head , Dominique Strauss-Kahn , said Wednesday the agency did not release information about deals in the works until they were done . `` Until we reach this point there is no precise information to give because the information does n't exist , '' he said . Greece 's credit rating has been slashed twice in the past two weeks -- most recently being downgraded to `` junk '' -- raising fears for the euro currency used by 16 nations across Europe . Markets worldwide tumbled when Standard & Poor 's downgraded Greece earlier this week . It 's the first European country to fall below investment grade . What Greece 's debt rating downgrade means . The downgrade -- which makes it harder and more expensive for a country to borrow money -- was a major problem for Athens as it struggles to crawl out from beneath the country 's massive debt . The national debt of 300 billion euros -LRB- $ 394 billion -RRB- is bigger than the country 's economy , and some estimates predict it will reach 120 percent of gross domestic product in 2010 . Germany is expected to contribute the lion 's share of EU funding to bail out Greece . German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday her country will do what it can to help Greece out of its financial crisis , `` but also Greece has to do its part . '' She was meeting with Strauss-Kahn to hammer out specifics of the deal . `` Obviously what Greece has to do is a difficult thing , but I think they are committed to doing it , '' he said in an appearance with the German leader . Merkel is being pulled in two directions -- toward bailing out Greece in order to stabilize the euro , and away from forking out cash because it is unpopular with German voters , with local elections coming up soon . Former Greek Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said Thursday that German taxpayers have nothing to worry about . `` German taxpayers are going to make money '' when Greece repays the loans , he said on CNN 's `` Quest Means Business . '' `` Greece will never default , '' he added . He said the country needed the aid package because it no longer had the options it used to have for raising funds . `` The markets have closed , we can not rely on the markets as we have relied on the markets for so many years , '' he said . Standard & Poor 's slashed Spain 's debt to a `` AA '' rating Wednesday , down from `` AA + , '' as Merkel and Strauss-Kahn focused on Greece . Who are the credit rating agencies ? Spain 's economy is among the largest in the European Union , significantly bigger than Greece 's . Greek civil servants and private sector workers are planning a 24-hour strike May 5 to protest government austerity measures , the unions announced Wednesday . Sporadic demonstrations have already taken place in several cities , with sometimes violent clashes between police and protesters angry about the coming changes . Journalist Mary Retiniotis contributed to this report . | IMF , EU are seeking further austerity measures , Greek spokesman says . Greece 's credit rating has been slashed twice in the past two weeks . Greece is negotiating for aid package worth 120 billion euros -LRB- $ 160 billion -RRB- . Germany expected to contribute the lion 's share of EU funding . | [[244, 362], [244, 294], [365, 412], [1086, 1154], [1158, 1202], [1277, 1364], [0, 15], [71, 142], [1864, 1950], [1864, 1871], [1884, 1950]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday approved the nation 's first offshore wind farm , signing off on a project that has bitterly divided Cape Cod over the last nine years . The 130 turbines are to be located several miles from the Massachusetts shore in the iconic waters of Nantucket Sound . The interior secretary said Cape Wind , as the project is known , is the start of a `` new energy frontier . '' `` The United States is leading a clean energy revolution that is reshaping our future , '' Salazar told reporters in Boston . `` Cape Wind is an opening of a new chapter in that future , and we are all part of that history . '' `` Cape Wind will be the nation 's first offshore wind farm , supplying clean power to homes and businesses in Massachusetts , plus creating good jobs here in America , '' he said . `` This will be the first of many projects up and down the Atlantic coast . '' `` Thank you for this decision , '' said Gov. Deval Patrick . `` With this project , Massachusetts will lead the nation . This day has been a long time coming . '' The location of the wind farm has stirred heated emotions over the years . Cape Wind became one of the most heavily vetted energy projects in the world . Seventeen state and federal agencies weighed in , reviewing everything from its impact on shipping , aviation and fisheries . Salazar visited the Cape earlier this year . At the time , he pledged to cut through the nine years of regulatory red tape and make a final decision by the end of April . At Wednesday 's news conference , the interior secretary said the process took far too long and future offshore projects would follow a `` more rational and orderly '' process . There is no reason , he said , `` why an offshore wind permit should take a decade to review and approve . '' The most notable opponent of Cape Wind was the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , a champion of green energy who , to the dismay of environmentalists , fought against the wind farm . The Kennedy compound will have a view of the wind turbines . See how the views on the Cape will change . Other opponents ranged from billionaire energy giant William Koch to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney . American Indians in the region also objected , saying the wind farm would be located on sacred ancestral grounds and disturb important sunrise ceremonies . `` I am strongly opposed to the administration 's misguided decision to move forward with Cape Wind , '' Sen. Scott Brown said Wednesday . `` While I support the concept of wind power as an alternative source of energy , Nantucket Sound is a national treasure that should be protected from industrialization . '' In announcing his decision , Salazar said Cape Wind must follow stringent measures during construction , and it must conduct additional marine and archeological assessments of its impact . The company must also explore ways to make the wind turbines less visible from shore . `` The smart responsible development of wind potential on Horseshoe Shoal need not conflict with the history and tradition of Nantucket Sound , '' Salazar said . Greenpeace , the Sierra Club and nearly every major environmental group in the nation supported the project , saying it 's necessary in moving the nation forward . Six governors in the region also backed Cape Wind . `` Even though we enjoy overwhelming majority support , it 's not a popularity contest , '' Cape Wind CEO Jim Gordon told CNN . `` This decision needs to be made on the merits . And the record shows that it is in the public interest . '' In an editorial today , the Boston Globe said simply : `` Make clean energy a reality ; approve Cape Wind now . '' The New York Times earlier this week also endorsed the project . `` Offshore wind farms are a common sight in Europe but not here , '' the Times wrote . `` Cape Wind would be this country 's first -- sending , finally , a signal to the world about America 's resolve to fight global warming and reduce its dependence on foreign oil . '' The wind farm would bring hundreds of jobs and provide up to 75 percent of the power needed by the Cape and islands of Martha 's Vineyard and Nantucket , according to Cape Wind . Estimates of the project have ranged from $ 800 million to $ 1 billion ; Cape Wind has not released how much it believes the wind farm will cost . See the location of the wind farm . The 130 turbines , spaced a third - to a half-mile apart , will cover about 25 of the 500 square miles of Nantucket Sound . They will stand more than 40 stories tall , well over 10 times bigger than nearly every other structure around the Cape . Cape Wind has said the project will not necessarily bring cheaper energy , but will bring cleaner electricity and become a model for offshore wind energy . The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound , the project 's chief nemesis , has vowed to file suit to continue to try to block it . The project already has withstood multiple court challenges . Buddy Vanderhoop , a member of the Wampanoag Tribe , harshly criticized the decision to go ahead with the project . `` This is a federal embarrassment and a slap in the face not only to the tribes ... but it 's also a slap in the face to the people who make their living '' off fishing in the area of the wind farm 's location , Vanderhoop said . Barbara Hill has long supported Cape Wind as the executive director of the grassroots organization Clean Power Now . `` We 're going to be partying later on tonight , '' she said . `` We applaud Secretary Salazar for his vision and leadership in making this landmark decision and look forward to the day when the wind farm in Nantucket Sound will be producing the majority of the electrical needs of the Cape and islands . '' Wind farms produce roughly 2 percent of the nation 's energy , all from land-based facilities in California , Texas , Oklahoma , Wyoming and a few other states . Locations offshore are considered optimal because the winds are stronger and more consistent . A 2008 Energy Department report calls for `` 20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030 . '' It said 18 percent of the nation 's wind energy should come from offshore sites . Cape Wind first sought a permit in fall 2001 . During that time , China built its first offshore wind farm . Nine other countries have offshore farms : Belgium , Denmark , Finland , Germany , Ireland , the Netherlands , Norway , Sweden and the United Kingdom . On Wednesday , Gov. Patrick said Cape Wind will now allow the United States to join the offshore wind race . `` America now has a chance to turn that around . '' | NEW : Interior Secretary Ken Salazar : Cape Cod wind farm is start of `` new energy frontier '' Salazar approves nation 's first offshore wind farm . Battle over the 130 wind turbines has raged for nine years in Cape Cod . The wind farm will cover about 25 square miles of Nantucket Sound . | [[320, 342], [386, 428], [559, 617], [0, 15], [63, 110], [661, 720], [128, 137], [143, 199], [1086, 1160], [200, 319], [4386, 4442], [4445, 4509]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A rabbi walks into St. Peter 's Square , meets the pope , and tells the Holy Father that one way to defuse the sex abuse scandal plaguing the church is for the Vatican to begin promoting a secular version of Shabbat dinner , the traditional Jewish Friday meal . It 's no joke . A prominent American rabbi , Shmuley Boteach , spoke briefly to Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday about encouraging parents to eat dinner with their children as a way for the Vatican to re-establish its pro-family image , which has been battered by the priest sex abuse scandal , Boteach said . The brief exchange came after the pope 's regular Wednesday address at the Vatican , during which Boteach was seated on a dais along with other Vatican guests . When he met Benedict on a receiving line afterward , Boteach pitched him on his family dinner initiative , called `` Turn Friday Night into Family Night . '' `` I said ... ` If the church embraces an initiative like this , which is positive , it could put a lot of the scandal behind it , ' '' Boteach said , recounting his chat with the pope . `` People will see the church does n't just speak about opposition to gay marriage and abortion . ' '' The pope appeared to be receptive to the idea , Boteach said . '' ` We have to work together on this , we have to work together on this , ' '' Boteach quoted the pope as saying . But , Benedict did not make a firm commitment to the family dinner initiative , the rabbi said . The Vatican was not immediately available for comment . `` The church is now perceived as not being a champion of families because the scandal has hit with so much force , '' Boteach said . `` I came -LRB- to the Vatican -RRB- as a friend and as someone who is critical as well . Because my criticism is real , the church knows my friendship is real . '' Following his talk with the pope , Boteach said he was invited to meet with Cardinal Walter Kasper , who spearheads the Vatican 's Jewish outreach , with whom Boteach fleshed out his criticism of the church 's response to priestly sex abuse . Boteach was invited to the Vatican to look over documents related to Pope Pius XII , the Holocaust-era church leader who Benedict has signaled he would like to move closer to sainthood . The rabbi has been a spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson , who died last year , and a frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey 's talk show . A number of recent Vatican actions have caused tensions between the church and the Jewish world . Last year , Benedict lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop , Richard Williamson . Earlier this month , the pope 's personal preacher compared the fury over sexual abuse within the church to anti-Semitism , though the priest , the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa , later apologized . But Boteach has been impressed by the Vatican 's overtures to him and to other Jewish leaders . `` I thinks he 's a friend to the Jews -- a very close friend , '' Boteach said of the pope . Boteach said that the Vatican had shown him documents from its private archive showing that Pius XII , a controversial figure among Jews , rescued Italian Jews during the Holocaust . But Boteach remains critical of Pius , saying he displayed `` absolute silence in condemning the Nazi Holocaust outright , which might have gone to great lengths to prevent it . '' The church has said that Pius would have put more Jews in danger by publicly condemning the Holocaust because it would have provoked the Nazis . | American rabbi Shmuley Boteach spoke to Pope Benedict XVI about dinner idea . Boteach calls his proposal `` Turn Friday Night into Family Night '' Pope seemed receptive to idea , but made no firm commitments , Boteach said . | [[750, 800], [803, 854], [750, 800], [803, 854], [750, 800], [803, 810], [857, 863], [865, 904], [1041, 1056], [1059, 1094], [1198, 1243], [1383, 1454], [2947, 2976]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Peter Jackson , the Oscar-winning writer and director of `` The Lord of the Rings '' trilogy , was knighted in his native New Zealand . The knighthood was conferred on Jackson on Wednesday for his services to film at a ceremony at the Premier House in Wellington . New Zealand 's head of state Gov. Gen. Sir Anand Satyanand honored Jackson in place of Queen Elizabeth II . New Zealand 's knights and dames are sanctioned by the queen , the country 's official head of state . `` The Lord Of The Rings '' trilogy , which won 17 Academy Awards , including best director , adapted screenplay and best picture for Jackson for the final chapter , `` The Return of the King , '' was largely filmed in New Zealand and showcased the country 's natural scenery . The project broke box-office records around the world and prompted a spike in tourism to New Zealand . Jackson grew up in Pukerua Bay on the North Island of the country . Jackson is currently working with Mexican director Guillermo del Toro on `` The Hobbit , '' a two-movie prequel to `` The Lord of the Rings . '' `` The Hobbit '' is based on a book by author J.R.R. Tolkien . | `` Lord of the Rings '' writer/director Peter Jackson knighted in New Zealand . `` Lord Of The Rings '' trilogy was largely filmed in New Zealand . Jackson is currently working on `` The Hobbit '' | [[0, 32], [104, 154], [155, 283], [689, 725]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Inter Milan came from behind to win for the second time in a week to keep their Italian title hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Atalanta on Saturday . Jose Mourinho 's team followed up the stunning midweek victory over European champions Barcelona to move two points clear of second-placed Roma , who host Sampdoria on Sunday . But key Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder is in doubt for the second leg of the Champions League semifinal in Spain on Wednesday after coming off at halftime with a thigh injury . Atalanta , third from bottom with three matches to play , took a shock fifth-minute lead through Simone Tiribocchi but Inter hit back with three unanswered goals as they did against Barca . Argentina striker Diego Milito scored his 20th Serie A goal of the season to level with a lob in the 24th minute , then Kenyan midfielder McDonald Mariga scored his first for the defending champions with a shot that deflected in off teammate Sulley Muntari . Cristian Chivu , playing at left-back in a revamped defense due to absent Brazilian right-back Maicon 's dental problems , sealed victory with 13 minutes to play with a super long-range shot to extend the Nerazzurri 's unbeaten home run to 40 league games . The Romanian was delighted after scoring his first goal for Inter following his move from Roma in 2007 . `` We 're pleased with the victory . It was n't easy because we were behind , but we knew how to react , '' he told the club 's Web site . `` It was an important goal for me and the team : for me because it has n't been an easy period for me , and for the team because we have to keep winning until the end . Roma 's game tomorrow ? I wo n't watch it . The last time I watched Roma , they won . `` From tomorrow we will start thinking about Barcelona . It 's a historic moment for us . We have to give our all . '' Third-placed AC Milan crashed to a 3-1 defeat at European hopefuls Palermo in Saturday 's late match , and now trail their city rivals by nine points with three matches to play . Palermo moved above Sampdoria into fourth spot after going 2-0 up in the first 18 minutes with goals from defender Cesare Bovo and Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez . Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf pulled one back for the visitors 10 minutes after halftime , but striker Fabrizio Miccoli restored the Sicilians ' two-goal cushion on 66 . | Inter Milan go two points clear of second-placed Roma with 3-1 win over lowly Atalanta . Wesley Sneijder in doubt for Wednesday 's trip to Barcelona due to thigh injury . Inter come from behind with goals to Diego Milito , McDonald Mariga and Cristian Chivu . Third-placed AC Milan crash 3-1 at Palermo , who move above Sampdoria into fourth . | [[194, 337], [375, 498], [375, 402], [499, 549], [0, 15], [19, 84], [669, 739], [1877, 1977], [2056, 2221]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Glasgow Rangers won their 53rd Scottish title and ninth under manager Walter Smith as a 1-0 win over Hibernian on Sunday gave them an unassailable points advantage over city rivals Celtic . Kyle Lafferty scored his third goal in four games to secure the three points for Rangers , who were the defending champions . Earlier , Celtic beat Dundee United 2-0 with Senegalese striker Diomansy Kamara and Robbie Keane , with a last-minute penalty , scoring the goals . It was their fifth straight league win under interim manager Neil Lennon , but Rangers ' title triumph was a formality which was confirmed later at Easter Road . Lafferty was on target after 17 minutes as Kenny Miller set him on his way to score with an angled drive . Smith , who won his first seven Scottish titles with Rangers in his first spell at the club , savored the latest victory which has come against the backdrop of financial worries and uncertainty over the future ownership of the famous club . `` You always feel grateful for the fact that you 've won a trophy and you are in this position , as Rangers teams are a lot of the time , '' he told gathered reporters . In Bundesliga action on Sunday , Europa League semifinalists Hamburg were thrashed 5-1 at Hoffenheim . Strikers Chinedu Obasi and Vedad Ibisevic both scored twice for the hosts in the rout which followed Hamburg 's goalless draw with Fulham in the first leg of their last four Europa clash on Thursday and ahead of next week 's return . In Spain 's La Liga , Valencia kept their third grip on third place with a 1-0 win over Deportivo la Coruna as David Villa scored a first half penalty . Athletico Madrid warmed up for their Europa League semifinal second leg against Liverpool by beating Tenerife 3-1 , with Sergio Aguero scoring their third . Atletico lead Liverpool 1-0 going to Anfield on Thursday . A dramatic late penalty from Daniel Parejo gave Getafe a 4-3 victory over Sevilla in the late match in Spain . Sevilla could have taken advantage of Mallorca 's surprise 1-1 draw against Malaga to claim fourth place . Siem de Jong 's early double gave Ajax a 2-0 lead after the Dutch Cup final first leg against Feyenoord . The Dutch under-21 midfielder scored in the sixth and seventh minutes at the Amsterdam Arena for Martin Jol 's men . Marseille are closing on the French league title as Mathieu Valbuena scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win over St Etienne . With just four games remaining they are five points clear of Auxerre , who beat Toulouse 3-0 in an earlier match . | Glasgow Rangers wrap up their 53rd Scottish title with 1-0 win over Hibernian . Europa League semifinalists Hamburg thrashed 5-1 by Hoffenheim in Bundesliga . Valencia consolidate third in Spain with 1-0 win over Deportivo . Ajax take 2-0 lead after first leg of Dutch Cup final against Feyenoord . | [[0, 15], [19, 64], [1164, 1194], [1197, 1266], [1501, 1520], [1523, 1568], [2088, 2193]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A major nor'easter is expected to bring blizzard conditions to interior New England and heavy rain and near-hurricane-force wind gusts to Northeastern coastal areas Wednesday through Friday . Little , if any , snow will fall in Boston , Massachusetts , while Washington , New York and Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , could see as much as 5 inches of snow with locally higher amounts , CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said . Record snowfall totals of 30 inches or more will be possible across upstate New York , Vermont , New Hampshire and Maine , Morris said . Very strong winds will combine with the heavy snow to produce dangerous white-out conditions and widespread power outages . Share your winter weather videos and pics . Hurricane-force wind gusts combined with heavy rain are likely to cause significant flight delays and cancellations at all major airports along the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday and Friday , Morris said . Another storm was bringing heavy , wet snow Wednesday morning from Connecticut to Massachusetts . The National Weather Service predicted the weight of the snow would bring down tree limbs and power lines , causing scattered power outages . Scattered outages already were being reported in parts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts , where snowfall totals in the Berkshire Mountains could reach 24 inches by Wednesday night , the weather service said . Meanwhile , central Texas was digging out from up to 4 inches of snow after setting records with more than a foot less than two weeks ago . Sunshine was predicted for Wednesday , but CNN iReport contributor Robert Huntington of Austin , Texas , said the snow was falling hard in his neighborhood Tuesday . '' -LSB- They 're -RSB- really big flakes , I mean , unusually large flakes , '' he said . `` It 's Texas . Everything 's bigger in Texas . '' CNN 's Jim Kavanagh , Sean Morris and Mallory Simon contributed to this report . | Nor'easter expected to bring blizzard conditions , near-hurricane winds . Upstate New York , Vermont , New Hampshire and Maine could get 30 inches of snow . Little snow expected in Boston ; New York , Philadelphia and Washington may see more . | [[0, 15], [19, 183], [576, 699], [612, 699], [744, 795], [948, 1045], [439, 559], [229, 316]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee plans to unleash a withering attack Wednesday on private contractors working for the company formerly known as Blackwater in Afghanistan , accusing them of flouting regulations and endangering the U.S. mission . Key to beating the Taliban in Afghanistan will be the ability of U.S. forces to win support from the Afghan people , many of whom do not distinguish between U.S. contractors and the U.S. military , Sen. Carl Levin will say , according to an advance text of his remarks . `` If we are going to win that struggle , we need to know that our contractor personnel are adequately screened , supervised and held accountable -- because in the end , the Afghan people will hold us responsible for their actions , '' the Michigan Democrat will say . `` If we do n't fix the problems of oversight and make sure contractors like Blackwater play by the rules and live up to their commitments -- we 'll be doing a disservice to our troops by making their already difficult and dangerous job even more so . '' See agenda of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday hearing . Though more than 100,000 contractors operate for a variety of contractors in Afghanistan , Levin singled out Paravant , a company that had `` no meaningful distinction '' from the company formerly known as Blackwater , which is currently known as Xe Services , he said in the advance text . Shooting at Camp Darulaman . Levin cited a December 9 , 2008 , shooting at the U.S. military 's range at Camp Darulaman during which a Paravant program manager carrying an AK-47 got on the back of a moving car , then shot and wounded a Paravant trainer on his team when the car hit a bump , Levin said . Though the program manager lost his job , the others on his team who allowed his activities did not , he said . Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan , a multinational military formation that trains the Afghan National Army , did not appear to have investigated the incident , he said . Had it done so , the U.S. Army `` would have seen that Paravant personnel were using weapons improperly and unsafely , with inadequate supervision , and that they were carrying weapons that they were n't even supposed to have , '' according to Levin . Two civilians killed . He also cited a widely reported May 5 , 2009 , incident in which two Paravant personnel fired their weapons , killing two Afghan civilians and wounding a third . The two men have been charged with murder in the shootings . An Army investigation appeared to find that the contract personnel had `` violated alcohol consumption policies , were not authorized to possess weapons , violated use-of-force rules and violated movement-control policies , '' said Levin , who cited as his source the man who then led the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan . Paravant 's contract required it to `` ensure that its personnel ... behave at all times in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards , '' Levin said . Records for the two men responsible for the May 5 shooting show the company failed to properly vet them , Levin said . One man 's military record `` apparently included assault , insubordinate conduct , absence without leave , failure to obey order or regulation , larceny and wrongful appropriation , '' he said . And his criminal record showed convictions for reckless driving , disturbing the peace , assault and battery , driving while intoxicated , resisting arrest and trespassing . The other man was cited in a news report for having been discharged from the U.S. military after being absent without leave for 22 days and testing positive for cocaine , Levin said . Other Paravant personnel were fired for alcohol use and drug use , he said . Company looks forward to testifying . In a written statement , a spokesman for Xe Services said the company is looking forward to testifying Wednesday . `` Xe 's new management was taking steps to address shortcomings in the Paravant program when the tragic May 5 incident occurred , '' said Mark Corallo of Corallo Comstock Communications . `` One of those shortcomings discovered was that the former management of Paravant had provided weapons to personnel for personal protection without first obtaining the proper authorization from DoD . `` Though Raytheon , the prime contractor , and the DoD customer were both aware of Paravant management 's decision , and were working to obtain authorization , contractors should not have been armed without the proper approvals . That said , the individual independent contractors ' actions the night of May 5 clearly violated clear company policies and they are being held accountable . '' After the May 2009 shooting , Raytheon -- which had subcontracted the work to Paravant -- accused the company of having failed to properly oversee its personnel . Paravant responded that it would need more money to do that , Levin said , calling the company 's response `` deeply troubling '' since its contractual obligation already called for that . In addition , Paravant called its personnel `` independent contractors , '' despite `` compelling evidence '' that they were company employees , Levin said . That meant that the company withheld no income taxes and paid no Social Security , Medicare or unemployment tax for them , he said . The Internal Revenue Service is considering Paravant 's classification . U.S. Army also criticized . Levin also took to task the U.S. Army for `` apparent lack of contractor oversight . '' Before last May 's shooting , the Army said it had no contracting officer representative in the area , telling the committee that it relied on a Dutch contractor to oversee the project . The Army said it also monitored the contractors from an office in Florida by calling the chief of training and education for the Afghan National Security Forces at Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan . But the chief has told the committee that he did not travel to the training sites to observe Paravant 's personnel , Levin said . On December 3 , 2008 , before the first shooting incident , Raytheon told the Army by e-mail that Paravant workers had weapons without authority , Levin said , but the Army `` apparently failed to take action . '' A separate report released earlier this month by the inspectors general of the Department of Defense and the State Department criticizes the State Department for its oversight of Afghan training contracts , specifically a $ 1 billion contract to train Afghan National Police . The State Department failed to keep track of the money and materials , including weapons , and failed to prepare the police to fight off insurgents , the report said . Additionally , Levin said a key mission of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is to train and equip Afghan security forces to take the lead in the war , adding that they use a U.S.-operated facility near Kabul to store weapons for the Afghan forces . Though no policy exists that allows contractors or subcontractors to use weapons stored at the site , called Bunker 22 , Blackwater personnel `` acquired several hundred weapons , including more than 500 AK-47s , from the facility on multiple occasions , '' Levin said . Though the company said last June that it had returned them all , Levin said that was not the case , citing one AK-47 that was not returned until late last month . `` These are weapons that belonged to the Afghan National Police -- not Blackwater , '' he said . `` And it is only on the eve of this hearing that the company is giving the majority of them back to the Afghan government . '' Levin concluded the advance text by saying that the contractors need to understand that they have an impact on how the U.S. military is perceived . `` Even one irresponsible act by contractor personnel can hurt the mission and put our troops in harm 's way , '' he said . `` If we do n't fix the problems of oversight and make sure contractors like Blackwater play by the rules and live up to their commitments -- we 'll be doing a disservice to our troops by making their already difficult and dangerous job even more so . '' CNN 's Charley Keyes contributed to this story . | Sen. Carl Levin , D-Michigan , is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee . In prepared text , he sharply criticizes private contractors that worked for Blackwater . Levin cites two shooting incidents and lax control over weapons . He says contractors play key role in perception of U.S. military by Afghan people . | [[0, 26], [82, 174], [492, 516], [519, 564], [1394, 1423], [2368, 2410], [7655, 7660], [7671, 7802]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Early each morning , millions of farmers around the world rise to toil in their fields . By night , gangs of mobsters scheme and legions of poker players shuffle up and deal . Sure , none of it 's real . But the overwhelming popularity of so-called social gaming -- simple games that let people play with their friends on networking sites such as Facebook -- is changing the face of video games , experts say . And as the maker of popular titles like FarmVille and Mafia Wars , San Francisco , California-based Zynga has ridden the games ' skyrocketing popularity to the top of that emerging market . For Zynga founder Mark Pincus , the formula for gaming success on Facebook , MySpace and other sites was as simple as it might seem counterintuitive : create simple games that people like but can easily set aside . `` We built the games so they could be played in a tab on your browser while you 're on a conference call , '' said Pincus , a veteran Web entrepreneur who created Zynga in 2007 . Of course , they 've been helped by the massive growth of Facebook , where the games are so popular they 've spawned `` fan '' pages devoted to complaining about having to watch friends play them . Facebook , with its 400 million users , is where the vast majority of people play FarmVille and Mafia Wars along with other Zynga titles like FishVille , Vampires , Café World , YoVille and Zynga Poker . In all , more than 65 million people play Zynga games every day , according to media tracking company Developer Analytics . Zynga 's top title , FarmVille , is played by an estimated 75 million people each month -- roughly equal to the number who have played the classic arcade and desktop game Tetris during its entire existence . The massive growth was satisfying but not altogether surprising to Pincus , whose previous startups had included Freeloader , a Web-based information-gathering service ; tech-support company SupportSoft ; and Tribe.net , an early social networking site from 2003 . He said that starting the game company , which he named after his late English bulldog , was an effort to fill what he considered a surprising void in most people 's daily Internet use . `` I thought in 2007 that something had gone oddly wrong with the whole Internet experience , '' Pincus said . `` I would have thought games would have been one of the top two or three experiences people had on the Internet . '' What Pincus got right , according to gaming expert Scott Steinberg , was a sort of return to the `` golden era '' of games like Pac-man and Super Mario Bros. . `` Video games actually appealed to a huge cross-section . They appealed to everybody , '' said Steinberg , publisher of DigitalTrends.com . `` What happened is , as we went through the mid - '80s to the mid-2000s , you started to see gaming become more incestuous in terms of 18 - to 34-year-old males making games for people just like them . '' By contrast , three of Zynga 's top five games -- FarmVille , Café World and FishVille -- have mostly female players , with many players outside the traditional 18 - to 34-year-old range . Those games all operate on the same basic premise . Starting with a simple farm , fish tank or restaurant , the player works to make it bigger and fancier , sharing items with friends and helping each other along the way . Some of Zynga 's early titles simply mirrored existing board and card games . It was Mafia Wars -- in which players team up to whack other gangs -- that first exhibited what would become the hallmarks of social gaming : simple , single-player action that 's enhanced by teamwork . With FarmVille , that formula would become complete . Players plant virtual crops that can be harvested hours , or days , later . Along the way , they invite online friends to become their neighbors and help each other by sending gifts or helping with the farming . There 's no way to `` win , '' but players take satisfaction in building big , fancy farms that they can showcase to their friends . `` A farm is something that is internationally understood and known . It 's cross-cultural , cross-gender , cross-age , '' Pincus said . `` A great social game should be like a great cocktail party . If you want it to appeal to absolutely everyone you invite , it has to be broad in its content so that everyone gets it . '' Not that Zynga 's success has come without criticism . With hundreds of smaller companies vying for a piece of the social gaming market , some rivals have accused Zynga of using its hefty venture capital to crowd out less-financed competitors . Many of its most popular games , including FarmVille , are similar to pre-existing games from smaller companies , a fact Pincus dismisses by noting that video games have always fallen into genres with similar titles from competing companies . Psycho Monkey LLC , the makers of Mob Wars , filed a lawsuit claiming that Mafia Wars ripped them off . Zynga settled that case in August , said a spokeswoman for the company . Zynga also was hit with complaints and lawsuits over its original business model , which let players earn in-game rewards for things like signing up for a credit card or video-rental membership . Critics said some of the offers amounted to scams , leading players to download unwanted software or unwittingly sign up for memberships that appeared stealthily on their phone bills . Pincus has acknowledged not being vigilant enough with the automated ads that appeared on Zynga games during the company 's early days . `` We were playing whack-a-mole , '' Pincus said . `` Every time we found one of these or got a complaint , we would take them down . Eventually ... we realized we had to take a much more aggressive stance than a normal Web site . '' In November , Zynga removed all `` lead-generating '' ads , relying for revenue instead on the roughly 1 to 3 percent of the player base that pays for in-game items , such as a barn in FarmVille . It has since been putting the advertisements back in , with a new system that lets it more closely monitor what kind of ads show up , Pincus said . `` We 'll see where this goes for the entire industry , '' Pincus said . `` It was really important to us to maintain a trusted position with our users . We wanted to do the right thing , and I think we did . '' Pincus offers a ray of hope for another vocal group of critics : the social-media users who say they 're tired of seeing all of their friends ' updates about Zynga and other social games . On Facebook , a group called `` I dont care about your farm , or your fish , or your park , or your mafia !!! '' had more than 5.2 million members recently . `` Please . No more of this stuff , '' wrote one member . `` I 've had all I can take . About to hang up FACEBOOK . Just want a nice cozy place to talk with my friends ! '' Pincus said he hopes that messages from games can eventually be targeted to a more select audience . `` We have to evolve , '' Pincus said `` I think it 's heading to a place that 's more narrow-casting . I think you 'll get to a place where Facebook will be better about showing feeds to people who have a registered interest in them . '' For example , he said , there might eventually be a way to send game notifications only to people who play social games themselves . `` It 's not just games . It 's going to be true for music , for pictures , for status updates , '' Pincus said . `` I think , over time , these networks are going to start to shape more to ... your -LSB- registered interests -RSB- . '' Meanwhile , Zynga will be among the developers continuing to change how people look at video gaming . It 's a change that Steinberg , the gaming guru , says will be for the better . While heavyweights like Electronic Arts and the popular Civilization series are making inroads into social gaming , Steinberg said , the genre is also opening up opportunities for smaller developers . `` We 're seeing , in many ways , a second renaissance for games , '' Steinberg said . `` There 's been an epiphany among the developer community saying , ` Look at these millions of users that we 've forgotten to speak to for years . ' This can only be a good thing for the gaming industry in the end . '' | Zynga games like FarmVille , Mafia Wars are played by millions every day on Facebook . Expert says social gaming succeeds by appealing to women , other non-traditional gamers . Zynga founder says key to success was games that can be played during conference call . Backlash leads to FB group of 5 million saying they 're tired of seeing games . | [[1213, 1221], [1253, 1416], [1541, 1559], [1562, 1628]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An icy asteroid orbiting the sun between Mars and Saturn is adding credence to theories that Earth 's water was delivered from space , according to a report published in the new issue of the science journal Nature . Two teams of scientists found their evidence when looking at 24 Themis , a asteroid about 479 million kilometers -LRB- 300 million miles -RRB- from the sun , or roughly three times the average distance from Earth to the sun . Using the infrared telescope at Mauna Kea , Hawaii , they were surprised to find not only water on 24 Themis , but organic compounds as well . Asteroids were thought to be devoid of water because they sit too close to the sun , while comets have been the water bearers of the universe because they form farther out in space . `` Astronomers have looked at dozens of asteroids with this technique , but this is the first time we 've seen ice on the surface and organics , '' astronomer Andrew Rivkin of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel , Maryland , told Nature.com . The scientific teams from Johns Hopkins and the University of Central Florida that looked at 24 Themis speculate that the ice may be held in a reservoir under the asteroid 's surface . They speculate that the water is brought to the surface as small bodies in the asteroid belt hit the surface of 24 Themis . The findings on 24 Themis lend weight to the idea that asteroids and comets are the source of Earth 's water and organic material . Geochemists believe that early Earth went through a molten phase that would have removed any organic molecules , meaning any new organic material would have had to come to the planet at a later time , said Humberto Campins at UCF . `` I believe our findings are linked to the origin of life on Earth , '' he added . Scientists now plan to scan the asteroid belt for more evidence of water and organic materials , hoping to determine if 24 Themis is just an interloper -- possibly a comet that got caught in the asteroid belt -- or the first of many water-bearing asteroids that will change the way astronomers look at the solar system . `` The old-fashioned picture of the solar system in which asteroids are asteroids and comets are comets is getting harder to sustain , '' Rivkin said . | Report : Scientists find first evidence of water on asteroid . Organic compounds were also found on 24 Themis . Asteroids were once thought not to contain water because they were too close to sun . | [[514, 593], [604, 686]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Iranian navy plane that approached a U.S. aircraft carrier last week was flying as low as 300 feet as it neared the USS Eisenhower , U.S. military officials said Wednesday . The incident , first reported by CNN on Tuesday , came as Iran was beginning a series of military exercises last week meant to show off their military prowess . The Eisenhower was on duty in the Gulf of Oman in the northern Arabian Sea , in support of the Afghanistan war efforts , when the Iranian maritime patrol aircraft flew within 1,000 yards of the vessel , according to military officials . While the encounter was not threatening , it was unusual . U.S. navy ships have regularly encountered Iranian aircraft in the Persian Gulf in recent years , but this encounter took place in the Gulf of Oman , in an area where Iranian jets are seen much less frequently , several Navy officials said . The officials declined to be identified , citing the extremely sensitive nature of any U.S. military interaction with Iranian forces . Adm. Gary Roughead , the top Navy officer , confirmed the April 21 incident . The Iranians were `` not provocative or threatening . As long as they are professional and not threatening or reckless , it 's international space , '' he said . Radar on the Eisenhower and other U.S. ships in the vicinity closely tracked the Iranian aircraft as it approached the aircraft carrier to ensure it maintained a nonthreatening path , Roughead said . A senior U.S. military official said the Iranian plane was tracked by U.S. units for nearly 100 miles before it reached the Eisenhower . The Iranian aircraft was a Fokker F27 that was unarmed , officials said . It remained in the vicinity of the Eisenhower for about 20 minutes before leaving the area , according to the senior official . The Eisenhower had just finished a series of carrier aircraft flight operations and a resupply at sea mission . U.S. officials believe the Iranians wanted a close look at the carrier , but they could not say if the Iranians took photos of the ship . One of the officials also said Iran may simply have been trying to demonstrate its aerial capabilities to the United States . U.S. military officials continue to emphasize that recent encounters with Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf have been professional and without confrontation or problems . The U.S. Navy takes great care to try to stay out of the way of any Iranian forces in the region , officials said . | U.S. officials believe the Iranians wanted a close look at the carrier . Plane flew as low as 300 feet , officials say . Iranians were `` not provocative or threatening , '' U.S. admiral says . | [[1932, 2002], [0, 26], [102, 163], [1675, 1691], [2473, 2489], [1119, 1172], [1184, 1237]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Chinese government has lifted a 20-year-old rule that banned foreigners with HIV and AIDS , sexually transmitted diseases and leprosy from entering the country , according to the country 's state news agency . State-run news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday that China 's State Council decided to repeal the ban after realizing it did little to prevent the spread of disease and caused problems when the country was hosting international events . The revision came days before the opening of the six-month Shanghai World Expo , which organizers expect will draw 70 million people . The government had previously lifted the ban temporarily for other large-scale events , including the 2008 Olympics in Beijing . Xinhua said the health ministry estimates the number of people living with HIV in China had reached 740,000 by October 2009 , with deaths caused by AIDS totaling 49,845 since the first case was reported in 1985 . China 's decision comes several months after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed HIV infection from the list of diseases that prevent non-U.S. citizens from entering the country . Until January , the U.S. was one of seven countries with laws barring entry of people with HIV , according to amfAR , an AIDS research organization . | China lifts ban on foreigners with HIV , AIDs , sexually transmitted diseases , leprosy . Entry ban lifted after it was realized it did little to prevent the spread of disease . Ban also caused problems when hosting international events in the country . Health ministry estimated by October 2009 , 740,000 people were living with HIV in China . | [[0, 15], [19, 182], [233, 348], [284, 395], [333, 415], [349, 351], [400, 467], [732, 794], [814, 855]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Some of the most powerful leaders in American politics came together Thursday to remember Dorothy Height , a woman who dedicated her life to civil rights and justice for the least powerful members of society . President Obama , Vice President Joe Biden , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder led mourners at a memorial service for Height at a packed National Cathedral . Height , a civil rights pioneer , died last week at the age of 98 . She had been chair and president emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women and worked alongside civil rights leaders including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. , future U.S. Rep. John Lewis and A. Philip Randolph . She was on the platform when King delivered his `` I Have a Dream '' speech at the 1963 March on Washington . Height 's life was an `` unambiguous record of righteous work , '' Obama said in the service 's eulogy . She `` deserves a place of honor in America 's memory . '' She was a woman of `` quiet , dogged , dignified persistence . '' Height was born in an era when `` Jim Crow ruled the South -LRB- and -RRB- the Klan was on the rise , '' Obama said . `` Progress came slowly . That progress came from the collective efforts of multiple generations of Americans . ... Men and women like Dr. Height took it upon themselves -- often at great risk -- to change this country for the better . '' `` May God bless Dorothy Height and the union that she made more perfect , '' he said . Mourners at the service participated in renditions of `` The Battle Hymn of the Republic '' and the gospel song `` We Are Climbing Jacob 's Ladder . '' Referred to as the `` godmother '' of the civil rights movement , Height was at the center of countless heated debates over social justice in a changing country beginning in the early days of President Franklin Roosevelt 's administration . Among other awards , Height received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 from President Clinton and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004 . Height led the National Council of Negro Women from 1957 to 1988 , when she became the group 's chair and president emeritus . She was also a key figure in the YWCA beginning in the 1930s . Height was born in Richmond , Virginia , and grew up in Rankin , Pennsylvania . Her civil rights work began in 1933 when she became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America . She fought to stop lynchings and worked to desegregate the armed forces . Under Height 's leadership , the council worked to help women and low-income families by promoting programs to alleviate hunger and build more affordable housing . The organization also spearheaded voter registration drives and started `` Wednesdays in Mississippi '' in which female interracial groups helped at Freedom Schools , institutions meant to empower African-Americans and address inequalities in how the races were educated . She experienced personal discrimination , writing in her memoir about being rejected from New York 's Barnard College because she was black . `` Although I had been accepted , they could not admit me , '' she wrote in `` Open Wide the Freedom Gates . '' `` It took me a while to realize that their decision was a racial matter : Barnard had a quota of two Negro students per year , and two others had already taken the spots . '' At its 1980 commencement ceremonies , Barnard College awarded Height its highest honor , the Barnard Medal of Distinction . | Memorial service held for civil rights icon Dorothy Height , who died last week at 98 . Obama , Biden , Clinton among the mourners at packed National Cathedral . Obama calls Height 's life an `` unambiguous record of righteous work '' | [[497, 503], [531, 564], [240, 496], [895, 956]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Springwood teenagers Dean , Kris , Jesse , Nancy and Quentin are having trouble not sleeping : They 're knocking back coffee , popping pills , anything to delay another date with their dream stalker -LRB- which may explain why these high school students look like college grads -RRB- . When one of them does drop off , the bedsheets turn red . Wes Craven 's 1984 slumber party massacre started from scratch -- it was a low-budget item from what was then a genuine independent studio , New Line -- and became the iconic horror franchise of the decade . With his battered fedora , a striped sweater , a razor-glove and a face like Sal 's Famous , Freddy Krueger was the most personable boogie man Hollywood had come up with in a long time , so what if he was also a child abuser ? A recurring nightmare who stalked teenagers as they slept , Freddy preyed on the defenseless and played fast and loose with physics : If Salvador Dali had created a slasher movie villain , he might have come up with someone like Freddy . After eight movies , a TV series and a comic book , you might think Mr. Krueger had been done to death . It 's been seven years since Freddy put Jason Vorhees in his place -LRB- in `` Freddy vs Jason '' -RRB- . But you ca n't keep a good bad guy down , and at the rate Hollywood is cannibalizing its horror back catalogue , we 'll be seeing remakes of the remakes any day now . Directed by pop video director Samuel Bayer and written by Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer , the new `` A Nightmare on Elm Street '' is actually a lot like the old one . So much so , for a while you wonder why they did n't just re-release it . -LRB- You 'll wish they had . -RRB- . Surprisingly , Bayer does n't go the Michael Bay route and give it a high-gloss , ADD tempo , but in duplicating the most memorable bits from the original -LRB- the glove in the bath , for instance , and the face coming through the wallpaper -RRB- , he fails to put his own stamp on it . As Freddy , Jackie Earle Haley , who was Oscar nominated for playing a sex offender in `` Little Children '' -LRB- and who went on to play Rorschach in `` Watchmen '' and the battered psychopath Noyce in `` Shutter Island '' -RRB- finds Robert Englund a tough act to follow . Haley drops his voice an octave and comes on heavy -- this Freddy mostly keeps his quips to himself -- but he 's significantly shorter than Englund , and the make-up suggests nothing so much as Ray Bolger in `` The Wizard of Oz '' : the scarecrow who did n't even scare the crows . iReporter gives new `` Nightmare '' an `` A '' Branching out tentatively toward something new , the film toys with repressed memory syndrome and the intriguing suggestion that maybe Freddy was innocent ; that he has every right to be angry about the lynch mob that incinerated him . I 'll leave you to imagine how far the filmmakers go with that radical notion , but maybe a prequel would have been a more rewarding way to go ? The new `` Nightmare '' also proudly introduces a clinical-sounding term called `` micro-naps , '' a side effect of sleep deprivation that handily justifies more shock effects even as the number of survivors is whittled down to two -LRB- gratifyingly , they 're the least synthetic of the young cast members -RRB- . But is it scary ? Barely . In the wake of `` Paranormal Activity , '' Freddy 's grandstanding theatrics seem pretty old hat . There is nothing about this redundant remake to give anyone sleepless nights , unless it 's threat of yet more of the same old same old . Enough with the `` re-imagining , '' Hollywood ; just imagine ! | Director Samuel Bayer struggles to put own stamp on Wes Craven 's 1984 original . Jackie Earle Haley , as Freddy , finds Robert Englund a tough act to follow . In wake of `` Paranormal Activity , '' Freddy 's theatrics seem pretty old hat . | [[1947, 1984], [2207, 2248], [2237, 2260], [3314, 3351], [3354, 3412]] |
MADRID , Spain -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Unemployment in Spain has reached 20 percent , meaning 4.6 million people are out of work , the Spanish government announced Friday . The figure , from the first quarter , is up from 19 percent and 4.3 million people in the previous quarter . It represents the second-highest unemployment rate in the European Union , after Latvia , according to figures Friday from Eurostat , the EU 's statistics service . Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Parliament on Wednesday he believes the jobless rate has peaked and will now start to decline . The first quarter of the year is traditionally poor for Spain because of a drop in labor-intensive activity like construction , agriculture and tourism . This week , Standard & Poor 's downgraded Spain 's long-term credit rating and said the outlook is negative . `` We now believe that the Spanish economy 's shift away from credit-fuelled economic growth is likely to result in a more protracted period of sluggish activity than we previously assumed , '' Standard & Poor 's credit analyst Marko Mrsnik said . Gross domestic product growth in Spain is expected to average 0.7 percent annually through 2016 , compared with previous expectations of 1 percent annually , he said . Spain 's economic problems are closely tied to the housing bust there , according to The Economist magazine . Many of the newly unemployed worked in construction , it said . The recession revealed how dependent public finances were on housing-related tax revenues , it said . Another problem in Spain is that wages are set centrally and most jobs are protected , making it hard to shift skilled workers from one industry to another , the magazine said . Average unemployment for the 27-member European Union stayed stable in March at 9.6 percent , Eurostat said Friday . That percentage represents 23 million people , it said . The lowest national unemployment rates were in the Netherlands and Austria , which had 4.1 and 4.9 percent respectively , Eurostat said . -- CNN 's Al Goodman contributed to this report . | Government says 4.6 million people are out of work in Spain . Figure is up from 19 percent and 4.3 million people in the previous quarter . Spain 's unemployment rate is second highest in Europe after Latvia . | [[9, 30], [81, 123], [168, 203], [206, 276], [277, 349]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Amid all the talk about storm clouds gathering over the U.S. economy , it 's easy to forget there are other places in the world where the sun is still shining . A shortage of housing is contributing to an inflation rate of almost 14 percent in Qatar . Take Qatar , for example ; a small emirate in the Gulf whose economy is booming . When the final figures come in , Qatar 's economy is expected to have grown 17.8 percent in 2007 . Qatar National Bank predicts growth to slow in 2008 , but at 16.5 percent who could complain ? Well , consumers for one . While growth has steamed ahead , so has inflation . At the end of 2007 , Qatar 's official inflation rate was nearing 14 percent -- the highest in the region . Three major factors are contributing to Qatar 's soaring inflation rate : High levels of government spending ; growing demand for housing , which is pushing up house prices and rent , and the riyal 's peg with the dollar , which is pushing down interest rates . The U.S. Federal Reserve exacerbated the latter problem by slashing U.S. interest rates twice in the past eight days to three percent . Gulf States with currencies linked to the U.S. dollar were under pressure to follow suit . Qatar reduced its deposit rate to 3.5 percent , but left its lending rate at 5.5 percent . Liz Martins , Head of MENA , Business Monitor International says Qatar is facing a serious problem . `` You 've huge a amount of monetary easing and if you think that that 's not even going to feed through properly for six to nine months then , you 've got a really dangerous inflationary outlook , '' she says . `` The only policy option really that they have is to revalue the exchange rate . '' Kuwait did just that in May , ditching the dollar-peg for a basket of currencies , and speculation is growing that other GCC -LRB- Gulf Cooperation Council -RRB- countries will do the same . Tristan Cooper , Vice President and Senior Analyst at Moody 's Middle East , says the argument for revaluation is becoming more convincing . `` The economic justification for revaluation is growing stronger as inflation multiplies and the government increases expenditure . '' He says any move by Gulf governments to curb public spending would not be welcomed by locals facing higher living costs . In Qatar 's instance , new housing stock is expected to come onto the market to help ease inflation in the rental market . `` There is some hope that prices will begin to slow as that supply comes onto the market , but that 's not guaranteed , '' Tristan Cooper says . So that leaves a currency revaluation . `` The easier policy option would presumably be to revalue , but that also has political difficulties . It involves to some extent coordinating with GCC members . '' In the past , Saudi Arabia has ruled out any change to its dollar-peg . Qatar has made it clear that it prefers any move to be made with a GCC consensus . In an interview with Marketplace Middle East , Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani said that the emirate is `` studying all options '' in relation to the dollar-peg . `` Every country has to see its way out of this , but only after a consultation with the GCC , '' he said . `` For us , our wish is that it 's a policy to be taken by the whole GCC , to either basket or revalue our currency . I can not see a decision . Even in Qatar , we have no decision up to now . '' This week , one of Qatar 's leading economic advisors was quoted as saying any policy change would have to be substantial . In an interview with Reuters news agency , Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim said , `` change should be major ; minor change wo n't solve the problem . '' He ruled out any potential moves to float the Qatari riyal . `` As a small country we can not float our currency ... it has to be tied , '' he said . One of the main reasons GCC members are reluctant to abandon their dollar link is because they 're working towards their own monetary union . A policy diversion now may make it more difficult to unite again under a common currency by the nominated deadline of 2010 . There 's widespread skepticism that that deadline can be reached . `` The timeframe of 2010 is rather unlikely now , and the project itself seems to be facing increasing difficulties given the pressure on individual states to go their own way and revalue , '' Tristan Cooper says . E-mail to a friend . | Qatar 's economy is booming , but emirate has the highest inflation rate in Gulf . Two recent cuts in U.S. interest rates putting pressure on Gulf currencies . Qatari PM says `` studying all options '' on dollar-peg , GCC consensus ideal . Members reluctant to drop the dollar-peg despite growing inflationary pressure . | [[1033, 1036], [1052, 1131], [1132, 1159], [1186, 1205], [2849, 2931], [2878, 2931], [2932, 2976], [2979, 3117], [3836, 3914]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When it comes to fast food , the big chains ca n't help going over the top . April brought consumers the Double Down heard around the world -- a bunless bomb o ' meat from KFC touting the slogan `` It 's real . '' Bloggers taste-tested it , The New York Times 's restaurant critic reviewed it , it was a top trending topic Twitter alongside the likes of Justin Bieber - and after two weeks , did the company 's Double Down wager pay off ? The stakes are high indeed , especially after KFC 's sales fell 5.8 percent in 2009 , according to food industry research firm , Technomic . `` Unfortunately , we are not able to provide sales information , '' KFC 's Public Relations Manager , Rick Maynard , told CNN . Those numbers only become available from Yum ! Brands , the chain 's parent company that also owns Taco Bell and Pizza Hut , during its quarterly reporting . `` It -LSB- the Double Down -RSB- continues to generate a tremendous amount of online buzz , from videotaped taste tests on YouTube to real-time , in-store reviews via Twitter . If social media is an indication , the Double Down is developing quite a cult following . '' Maynard said . But does the adage `` any publicity is good publicity '' hold true ? `` Stunt food has been a part of restaurant life probably since the first time a chef put a napkin over a customer 's head in order to serve him a whole , rare , roasted ortolan , '' -LRB- a legendarily decadent meal of a fatty bird , bones and all -RRB- wrote Sam Sifton , The New York Times restaurant critic . If the past is any indicator , the Evil Knievels of the fast food realm have worked . Though their calorie count is a lot more Evil than Knievel . St. Louis-based Hardee 's Food Systems Inc. rolled out its now-infamous Monster Thickburger in 2004 . The self-proclaimed `` monument to decadence '' features two 1/3 pound Angus beef patties , four bacon strips , three slices of American cheese , and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun - and clocks in at approximately 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat . For Hardee 's , the sales for the fast food chain have risen steadily since it found its niche in behemoth burgers . The Monster Thickburger produced an 8 percent growth in sales during its first year alone . `` And I have to give KFC credit for doing something to get rid of all that grilled chicken , '' said Jenna Petroff , public relations and social media manager of Hardee 's Food Systems . `` Oh , and we 've been doing that non-bread-as-a-carrier-thing since 2003 with the Low Carb Thickburger and Low Carb Six Dollar Burger . '' Lettuce replaces the bun in these creations . In 2005 , Burger King went against the fast food industry trend of offering more healthy choices by introducing the Enormous Omelet Sandwich -- two eggs , two slices of cheese and three slices of bacon and sausage on a large bun . The 760-calorie no-utensils-required meal helped increase Burger King 's breakfast sales by 20 percent . The sandwich has since been discontinued in United States stores . Though these successes contain one thing the Double Down is fairly modest in : calorie count . The Double Down weighs in at 540 calories , 32 grams of fat , and 1,380 milligrams of sodium . While that 's still well over half the average adult 's recommended recommended daily allowance of sodium and nearly half a day 's fat intake , it 's practically a novelty compared to other chains ' dietary assaults . According to Advertising Age , this type of product could muddy KFC 's image after the chain heavily promoted the ostensibly healthful release of its grilled chicken in 2009 and most recently , its `` Buckets for the Cure '' affiliation with cancer-fighting charity powerhouse , the Susan G. Komen Foundation . `` The series of stunts drove buzz and the introduction of grilled chicken spiked short-term sales , the moves also contributed to a lack of consistent brand positioning and a distraction from KFC 's flagship product -- both of which have hurt the chain , '' said Emily Bryson York . Despite the buzz , the Double Down is still planned for a limited time only release -- through May 23 . | KFC launched its a bunless bomb o ' meat -- but did Double Down boost sales ? Advertising Age : KFC stunts contributed to a lack of consistent brand positioning . But Hardees got a boost in sales from its Monster Thickburger . In 2005 , Burger King got a boost from its Enormous Omelet Sandwich . | [[3460, 3488], [3872, 3881], [3887, 3987]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A body found Monday beside a North Carolina road is that of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis , who was reported missing a week ago , police said Tuesday . The official cause of death was undetermined as of Tuesday afternoon , Fayetteville police said in written statement . An announced afternoon media briefing was rescheduled for Wednesday morning . Earlier Tuesday , police said additional charges are expected in connection with the case and any charges will be made public as soon as they are filed . Shaniya 's mother , Antoinette Nicole Davis , has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses . Davis was `` prostituting her child , '' police spokeswoman Teresa Chance said after Davis ' arrest over the weekend . Another suspect , Mario Andrette McNeill , has been charged with kidnapping in the case . Shaniya 's father , Bradley Lockhart , made a tearful appeal before reporters Tuesday afternoon , asking that `` everybody makes it a point not to ignore , to look past a situation where a person , a child , or anybody might be in danger ... so that we do n't have another tragedy like Shaniya . '' He said authorities have given him limited information , but he was to meet with them later . `` It 's not the result I wanted , it 's not the result any father or family would want for their children , '' he said . `` But God has a greater calling for all of us . '' Shaniya 's mother reported her missing from their Fayetteville home in a mobile home park on November 10 . According to police , surveillance video taken that day from a hotel in Sanford shows Shaniya in the company of McNeill . `` The investigation at this point indicates that Shaniya Davis was alive at the time she left the Sanford hotel , '' police said in the statement Tuesday . The road where the body was found is near Sanford , which is about 30 miles northwest of Fayetteville . Shaniya 's half-sister , Cheyenne Lockhart , said on HLN 's `` Nancy Grace '' Monday that she found it difficult to believe Davis had treated her daughter so poorly . `` She seemed like the sweetest woman . She did n't come from much , but ... she had the sweetest voice , she had the sweetest personality , and especially toward me . I would never think that she would do anything like that , '' said Lockhart , who shared a father with Shaniya . Their father said Shaniya went to her mother 's home on October 9 . CNN 's Gabriel Falcon contributed to this report . | NEW : Grieving father , speaking to media , urges people not to ignore children in peril . Shaniya Davis , 5 , was reported missing last week . Mother Antoinette Nicole Davis faces human trafficking , other charges . Davis was `` prostituting her child , '' police spokeswoman says . | [[833, 850], [872, 928], [76, 105], [110, 141], [1400, 1506], [517, 534], [555, 623], [624, 659], [662, 742]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Andrea Agnelli will become the new president of Juventus at the end of the current season -- the Italian giants confirmed on their official Web site . The 34-year-old , who will replace Jean-Claude Blanc in the position , continues in his family 's long-standing links with the Turin-based club -- and comes 48 years after his father , Umberto , was president . It is the second presidential change Juventus have made this season after Blanc replaced Giovanni Cobolli Gigli in October . Blanc will revert to the position of chief executive when Agnelli takes over at the end of the season . Agnelli told www.Juventus.It : `` I think I can give an important contribution to the development of this club . `` It is a complicated route , which first and foremost will see the strengthening of the structure on all levels , both as a company and as a sports club . `` The history of my family is linked to this team and began 84 years ago . My father was president nearly 50 years ago , . `` I do now want to make any comparisons with those times . We must think of tomorrow . I am proud to give my contribution . '' Meanwhile , German Bundesliga strugglers Bochum have sacked coach Heiko Herrlich , who has paid the price for a run of 10 matches without a win . Assistant coach Dariusz Wosz will take charge for the final two games of the season , starting with the dauting trip to Champions League finalists Bayern Munich on Saturday . | Andrea Agnelli will become the new president of Juventus at the end of the current season . Agnelli takes over from Jean-Claude Blanc , who reverts to chief executive . Bundesliga strugglers Bochum sack coach Heiko Herrlich after a poor run of form . | [[0, 15], [19, 108], [564, 609], [506, 609], [1132, 1141], [1144, 1212]] |
Mexico City , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mexico City , the country 's capital , is one of the world 's important cultural centers -- showcasing Latin America 's rich history and traditions . `` I love its uniqueness , '' CNN 's Armando Talamantes said of the city where he lives and works . `` The weather is never too hot and never too cold . '' What 's just right is the city 's endless supply of music , local food and art museums . With a population of 8.8 million people , Mexico City is one of the most densely populated areas in the country and one of the richest cities in the world . It 's also a huge attraction for soccer fans and bullfighting enthusiasts . From eating out any time of the night to enjoying a day in the `` Mexican Venice , '' or Xochimilco , to visiting the pyramids just outside the city , Talamantes says Mexico City is a constant surprise and delight . Here , he offers some insider tips on traveling to his hometown : . Where can you get the best view of the city ? If you 're downtown , go to the top of Torre Latinoamericana . It was the tallest skyscraper in Mexico City for many years . Now , it 's kind of old but keeps its charm . If you 're on Reforma , Mexico 's most beautiful avenue , try to step into Piso 51 in Torre Mayor , the tallest skyscraper in Latin America . Beware : It is a private club , and you will be asked to join . Which restaurant would you take your loved one to for an anniversary or other special occasion ? Taberna del León in Plaza Loreto offers traditional Mexican cuisine in a cozy environment . It 's managed by Mónica Patiño , the famous Mexican chef . Where is the best place to people watch ? Try barrio La Condesa -- its streets are full of bars and restaurants attracting a very interesting crowd , especially on nights and weekends . Also , you can go to Emilio Castelar , a street in Polanco full of life and good-looking people . What is your favorite neighborhood ? Why ? Colonia Roma is becoming the `` Mexican Soho , '' with lots of galleries , restaurants , bars , boutique hotels , fountains and squares . It is antique , so you can find old buildings , but it 's also transforming into a more modern area . It is close to La Condesa , which is also a very cool place , full of young people . What 's the biggest misconception about your city ? You wo n't believe how many trees are in the city . And the robberies are n't that common , either . Where do you go to relax ? Espacio Escultórico at the UNAM , Mexico 's biggest university campus , offers a collection of sculptures by famous artists . That is a little farther south of the city . If you 're not willing to travel that much , go into Bosque de Chapultepec 's audiorama , where you can sit on a bench and listen to some good music . What essential thing should visitors see or experience if they have only a few hours ? Go inside Museo de Antropología , which showcases the very DNA of Mexico . If you do n't want to step into a museum , go downtown to see El Zocalo -LRB- Mexico City 's main square -RRB- and Templo Mayor , the remains of an ancient Aztec temple . What 's the biggest tourist trap ? Is there a `` tourist trap '' that 's actually worth seeing ? The biggest tourist trap is Plaza Garibaldi , were the mariachis are awful and you can get mugged . A trap that could be worth seeing is the area called Xochimilco , often called `` Mexican Venice '' because of a series of canals . Where was your most memorable meal ? Where 's your favorite place to spend a night out on the town ? Zinco bar , on Cinco de Mayo Street in downtown , has great jazz music and a very cheerful crowd . Are there local specialty dishes or drinks that visitors must try ? Not really . Just stick to the tacos and tequila as if you were any place in Mexico . If you want something fancy , try duck enchiladas in Izote restaurant on Avenue Presidente Masaryk , Mexico 's most expensive street . What is a good local souvenir ? Rag dolls sold by the local natives in the streets . | Espacio Escultórico at Mexico 's biggest university campus has a relaxing collection of sculptures . Stick to the tacos and tequila as if you were anywhere in Mexico . Zinco bar , on Cinco de Mayo Street downtown , has great jazz music , cheerful crowd . | [[2455, 2486], [2489, 2495], [2527, 2580], [3720, 3792], [3762, 3792], [3540, 3549], [3552, 3563], [3590, 3638]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Protesters rallied in downtown New York City Thursday to voice their anger over what they perceive as the roles Wall Street and big banks played in America 's economic crisis . Marching from City Hall to Wall Street , the protesters chanted `` good jobs for all , '' and held signs with messages including `` Hold banks accountable , '' `` Make Wall Street Pay , '' and `` Reclaim America . '' The AFL-CIO organized the rally , and union President Richard Trumka addressed the crowd , saying , `` How long will we allow the spirit of greed to continue to drive us into economic holes ? '' The National People 's Action , a group that was involved in organizing the protest , said in a news release that demonstrators represented unemployed workers , foreclosure victims and community activists . Protester Gerard Pettine said he just wants Wall Street to be held accountable for its involvement in the economic collapse . `` They need to have some integrity and some honor and do the right thing , '' Pettine told CNN . Protester Elizabeth Soto , who came with her brother to the rally , was concerned about the lack of job creation . `` We are here to say Wall Street 's got to help Main Street , '' she said . `` We supported the stimulus bill , which bailed out Wall Street , but we expected the jobs to come back to Main Street . '' The New York Police Department estimated that 6,000 people participated in the rally . Earlier Thursday , as part of a larger `` day of action '' against Wall Street , protesters descended upon the headquarters of two New York City banks -- JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo -- leaving letters for the banks ' chief executive officers . The letters , according to the news release from the National People 's Action , said that the banks have an opportunity `` to step up to the plate and be leaders in rebuilding the American economy . '' JP Morgan spokesperson Mike Fusco declined to comment on the letter , but said that there were a `` couple dozen '' protesters who were in the building for less than a half hour . Fran Durst of Wells Fargo said that about 100 protesters flooded their building 's lobby and tried to deliver their letter to the bank 's CEO . Durst said the event did n't cause a major disruption to the bank . Other protests were scheduled in San Francisco , California ; Kansas City , Missouri ; and Charlotte , North Carolina , according to the National People 's Action news release . CNN 's Mary Snow , Jennifer Rizzo , Cassie Spodak , and Kristen Hamill contributed to this report . | Thousands of protesters hit streets , demand Wall Street accountability . Group blames financial institutions for lingering recession . Protesters deliver letters to CEOs for JP Morgan Chase , Wells Fargo . | [[28, 165], [824, 949], [854, 949], [1411, 1451], [156, 204], [824, 949], [854, 949], [1533, 1637], [1641, 1699], [2083, 2226], [2119, 2139], [2176, 2226]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama will deliver the eulogy Thursday at the funeral of civil rights leader Dorothy Height , White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday . Height 's funeral is set for 10 a.m. ET Thursday at Washington National Cathedral . Height died last week at the age of 98 . The lasting impact of her life was reflected Tuesday evening by the hundreds of people who came out to pay their respects at her viewing at the National Council of Negro Women , an organization that she served as national president for 41 years . People lined three city blocks in Washington to attend the viewing and praised Height as a leader . `` To me she 's a part of history for women 's rights and the civil rights movement , '' Delores Levalle said while waiting to enter the building . Many of the people attending the viewing emphasized how inspirational she was as a woman and as a leader of the civil rights movement , a woman who stood beside Martin Luther King Jr. during his famous `` I Have a Dream '' speech . Patricia Green , who worked with Height in the 1970s , said she believes `` this outpouring of affection for her is an understanding of the unique contribution she has made not just to African-American history , but to American history in general . '' CNN 's Hunter Burgarella contributed to this report . | President Obama will deliver the eulogy for civil rights leader Dorothy Height . The funeral is set for 10 a.m. E.T. Thursday at Washington National Cathedral . Height , 98 , was a former president of the National Council of Negro Women . People lined three city blocks to attend a viewing in Washington on Tuesday . | [[30, 116], [184, 267], [268, 308], [389, 395], [400, 484], [556, 622]] |
CAIRO , Egypt -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Egyptian real estate mogul and a former police officer pleaded not guilty Saturday to the murder of a rising Lebanese pop singer who was found slain in her United Arab Emirates apartment . Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim was found slain in her apartment in Dubai in July . Prosecutors allege that Hisham Talaat Moustafa , a Parliament member for the ruling National Democratic Party , paid Muhsen el Sukkari $ 2 million to kill Suzanne Tamim . Both have denied the charges . Tamim , 30 , was found in her Dubai apartment in July with her throat slit . Moustafa 's lawyer told CNN his client loved the singer , but could not take Tamim as a second wife because his family objected . Polygamy is legal in Egypt , and it not unusual for men -- such as Moustafa , a married father of three -- to take on additional wives . The prosecutors say the murder was a `` means of taking revenge '' but have not elaborated . Watch report on murder trial '' `` It did not happen and I have presented all the evidence that I am not guilty , '' Moustafa said in the courtroom Saturday , according to Reuters . `` It did not happen , '' Sukkari said , according to Reuters . `` By Almighty God , my blood is innocent of her . '' Although Tamim was killed in the United Arab Emirates , the Egyptian judiciary is trying the case in Cairo because Egyptian law does not allow its citizens to be extradited for trials in other countries . The defendants appeared Saturday in cages -- as is typical in Egypt -- before three judges in a crowded downtown courtroom . Heavy security surrounded the building , amid a crush of reporters and onlookers . The case , with its high-profile victim and defendant , has captivated Egypt and the region . After his arrest in September , Egyptian authorities indicted Moustafa , stripped him of his parliamentary immunity and jailed him pending trial . He also resigned as chairman of Talaat Moustafa Group -- a conglomerate with construction and real estate arms that was founded by his father , Talaat Moustafa . Moustafa 's brother , Tarek Talaat Moustafa , now chairs the company . The case will resume on November 15 . The defendants will remain jailed until then . | Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim found with throat slit in Dubai apartment . Hisham Moustafa , Egyptian tycoon and lawmaker , tells court he did not order murder . Egyptian chief prosecutor alleges former police officer paid to carry out killing . Case creates strong interest in the Middle East . | [[136, 224], [133, 164], [169, 224], [225, 306], [225, 254], [265, 306], [509, 514], [517, 519], [522, 562], [1255, 1299], [1659, 1712], [1715, 1752]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A tsunami advisory announced shortly after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan 's Ryukyu Islands early Saturday has been canceled , Japan 's Meteorological Agency reported . There was no tsunami damage `` though there may be slight sea level changes from now on , '' it said , referring to the areas affected by the advisory -- the Okinawa Islands , the Amami Islands and the Tokara Islands . The quake was centered 10 kilometers -LRB- 6.2 miles -RRB- deep and struck at 5:31 a.m. -LRB- 3:31 p.m. ET Friday -RRB- about 85 kilometers -LRB- 53 miles -RRB- from Okinawa . The quake was felt on Okinawa , with shaking that lasted about 15 seconds , said Lt. Col. Daniel King of the U.S. Pacific Command . He told CNN that commanders in Japan and Hawaii were trying to get damage and casualty reports from U.S. military stations on Okinawa , but had heard nothing in the immediate aftermath . About 20,000 U.S. troops -- mostly Marines , along with Navy and Air Force personnel -- are stationed on eight bases on Okinawa , he said . Are you there ? Send photos , video . iReporter Kristina Donaldson , who lives in central Okinawa , said the quake `` seemed to last longer than other ones we have experienced here . '' `` We felt the quake pretty good this morning , '' she said , but life there was largely unaffected . `` I just walked down to the coastline and the kids are walking to school as they always do . No sirens , or any destruction from where we are . '' Okinawa resident Eric Shepherd said his grandmother-in-law described it as the strongest quake she had felt in her 90 years on the island . `` It felt like some really bad airplane turbulence , '' Shepherd said , adding that one of his two children slept through what seemed like a minute-long `` rumble . '' `` I had no problem walking to the kids ' room to check on them '' during the quake , he said . CNN 's Mike Mount contributed to this report . | NEW : Japan 's Meteorological Agency cancels tsunami advisory . NEW : `` There may be slight sea level changes from now on , '' agency says . Quake centered about 6 miles deep , 53 miles east of Okinawa . | [[228, 284], [416, 425], [484, 576]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- 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 does n't accomplish that , '' he said . `` It does n't do anything on that . '' President Obama has called on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform law this year . CNN has learned that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democratic senators will unveil the outlines of that legislation late Thursday . But Boehner said at a briefing Thursday that `` there 's not a chance '' that Congress will approve the measure this year , especially after the recent passage of a health care reform bill . `` I 've been out here for a little while and know that in the middle of an election year , after we 've had bills like health care shoved down our throats and the process twisted , tortured , pressured , bribed , you can not do a serious piece of legislation of this size , with this difficulty , in this environment , '' he said . `` And it 's nothing more than a cynical ploy to try and engage voters , some segment of voters , to show up in this November 's elections . '' The Arizona measure has drawn sharp criticism from the Mexican government , which issued an advisory to its citizens this week . The secretary general of the Organization of American States and some member states also expressed concerns about the law Wednesday . `` This is an issue of concern to all citizens of the Americas , beginning with the citizens of the United States , a country with a very rich tradition of immigration and respect for immigrants who have come to lead a better life , '' OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said . `` The rich tradition we all admire , of recognizing immigrants in the United States , has been harmed , undermined . '' The uproar caused by the law has even spread to the nation 's pastime . Protesters plan to demonstrate against the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team Thursday outside Wrigley Field in Chicago , Illinois . In Arizona , two popular singers also will voice their opposition . Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer Shakira is scheduled to meet with Gordon on Thursday evening . Singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt , an Arizona native of Mexican and German descent , also attended the Thursday afternoon rally with the immigrant rights groups . `` What Gov. Brewer signed into law last week is a piece of legislation that threatens the very heart of this great state , '' Ronstadt said . `` We must come together and stop SB1070 from pitting neighbor against neighbor to the detriment of us all . '' Federal officials estimate there are about 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States , of which about 6.6 million come from Mexico and 760,000 from the rest of Latin America . About 1 million come from Asia . Arizona , which is on the Mexican border , has about 460,000 undocumented immigrants , the federal government says . At least five other states , including California , with 2.6 million , have more undocumented immigrants , the government says . The other states with more illegal immigrants than Arizona are Texas , Florida , New York and Georgia . A Pew Research Center survey late last year found that Americans believe Latinos are discriminated against more than any other major racial or ethnic group in American society . The Pew survey also indicated that about one-third of the nation 's Latinos say they or someone they know has experienced discrimination . About 9 percent said they had been stopped by police or other authorities and asked about their immigration status in the year before the survey . Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said they worried that they , a family member or a close friend could be deported . | NEW : 4 groups announce legal challenge in Phoenix . American Civil Liberties Union , ACLU of Arizona , National Immigration Law Center slam law . Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund also objects to it . They say law encourages racial profiling , but supporters say it does n't involve any illegal acts . | [[435, 671], [1654, 1756], [5277, 5350], [1393, 1410], [1431, 1499]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- AC Milan coach Leonardo has admitted his relationship with club owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is `` difficult . '' Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reported Berlusconi as saying the former Brazil international would be leaving at the end of a season in which Milan failed to make a title bid and were thrashed in the second round of the European Champions League by English club Manchester United . Although Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani refuted the quotes from Berlusconi on Italian television , a denial from the prime minister has not yet been forthcoming . At a news conference on Friday Leonardo told reporters : `` I do n't know what Berlusconi said but , aside from this , I ca n't deny that our relationship is difficult . `` We are very different , perhaps we are incompatible , but the important thing is the next three games and I care about them too much . `` I believe I am headstrong . I believe in my ideas and I do so with passion . It 's an incompatibility on a style level and a way of being . `` If someone says that I have said something that I have n't said , I deny it . But the relationship will go forward . `` I have never spoken about the future because I have never considered it to be the moment for obvious reasons , and I do n't consider it to be today either . '' Leonardo has been linked with a return to South America but he insisted he has received no offers to return to Brazil . He said : `` I can say that I have never spoken with anyone at Flamengo , the Brazilian FA and the 2014 World Cup organizing committee . I have no official offer from anyone . '' AC Milan play Fiorentina at the San Siro in Serie A on Sunday . | Milan coach Leonardo admits his relationship with club owner Silvio Berlusconi is `` difficult '' Berlusconi was quoted by Italian media saying Leonardo would be going in the summer . Leonardo says he and the Italian Prime Minister are `` incompatible '' | [[0, 15], [19, 115], [93, 151], [615, 638], [734, 784], [155, 295], [820, 839]] |
The Hague , Netherlands -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Prosecutors in the long-awaited war crimes trial of Radovan Karadzic said they will push ahead Tuesday , though the Bosnian Serb leader is expected to be a no-show once again . On Monday -- the opening day of the trial -- the court was forced to adjourn after Karadzic refused to appear , saying he did not have enough time to prepare . Karadzic , who is accused of masterminding the worst massacre in Europe since World War II , is representing himself . `` Obviously , it is the court 's preference for Karadzic to attend , '' said Nerma Jelacic , spokeswoman for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia . `` But if he chooses not to attend , then some facility will be provided to him to allow him to watch the court 's proceedings from his prison cell . '' The court can not force a defendant to appear . Karadzic , as a `` self-representing accused , '' is the only one who can cross-examine witnesses and speak in court about the substance of the charges against him . However , judges can impose a lawyer on Karadzic if he continues to refuse to cooperate . Karadzic faces 11 counts of genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity against Bosnian Muslims , Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbian civilians during the brutal and bloody dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s . Bosnia and Herzegovina were a part of Yugoslavia at the time . The conflict introduced the phrase `` ethnic cleansing '' into the lexicon describing war crimes , as different factions in multi-ethnic Yugoslavia sought to kill or drive out other groups . Karadzic was arrested last year after more than a decade on the run and was found to have been living in Belgrade , the capital of Serbia , and practicing alternative medicine in disguise . In a letter dated Wednesday and made public Thursday , Karadzic complained to the International Criminal Tribunal that he had not received the relevant case material on time . He also said there was too much material to go through , even had he received it promptly . `` I ask Your Excellencies -- why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to literally bury me under a million of pages , only to start disclosing relevant material many months after my arrest ? '' he wrote . `` Why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to file its final indictment against me on the eve of the planned trial date ? '' He promised to continue his preparations in `` the most intensive way '' and inform the court when he is ready . The genocide charges against Karadzic stem partly from killings in Srebrenica , the most notorious massacre of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina . Memories of the massacre remain raw . Watch the video . Prosecutors at the U.N. war crimes tribunal accuse Karadzic of responsibility . `` On 8 March 1995 , Karadzic instructed Bosnian Serb forces under his command to create an unbearable situation of total insecurity with no hope of further survival for the inhabitants of Srebrenica , amongst other places , '' the tribunal said in a statement this month . The Hague indictment also said Karadzic committed genocide when forces under his command killed non-Serbs during and after attacks in more than a dozen Bosnian municipalities early in the war . Karadzic , who faces life in prison if he is convicted , denies the charges . The court can not impose the death penalty . The 1992-95 Bosnian war was the longest of the wars spawned by the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s . Backed by the government of then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic , Bosnian Serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the Muslim and Croat populations . Karadzic was removed from power in 1995 , when the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war barred anyone accused of war crimes from holding office . Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial at The Hague . | Court spokeswoman : Radovan Karadzic can watch trial from cell . Ex-Bosnian Serb leader on genocide charges at International Criminal Tribunal . Prosecutors seek to impose lawyer on Karadzic if he refuses to cooperate . Karadzic was arrested last year in Belgrade after more than a decade on the run . | [[710, 822], [3101, 3121], [3127, 3217]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A major winter storm walloped the Northeast on Friday , a day after heavy snow closed schools and roads and caused dangerous conditions . The storm knocked out power to nearly 240,000 homes and businesses in New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania , slowed traffic and could prompt authorities to cancel up to 1,000 flights at airports serving New York and New Jersey . The storm also frustrated people such as Lulis Leal , a medical office manager who was working from her home in Cedar Grove , New Jersey . She was planning to help her son move into an apartment when she peered out the window Friday morning to see her car covered in snow . `` I ca n't even move it out of my driveway , '' she said . `` The snow is up over my knee . '' She ventured out amid the snow Thursday , saw several wrecks and added a half-hour to her trip by avoiding a snow-covered hill . `` It 's very pretty to look at , but it 's like , come on , enough already , '' she said . `` I 'm very much looking forward to spring . '' The rough weather prompted officials to suspend bus service in northern New Jersey . About 225,000 homes and businesses were without power Friday in New York , said Jim Denn of the New York State Public Service Commission . The storm left 10,638 homes and businesses without power in New Jersey and knocked out electrical services to about 3,000 homes and businesses in Pennsylvania , officials in those states said . A snow-covered tree limb fell Thursday in New York 's Central Park and killed a 46-year-old man . The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation warned residents to stay out of city parks after the death . Forecasters said parts of New York state could get up to a foot of snow , and public schools were closed Friday in New York City . `` The heavy , wet snow will be sufficient to bring down trees and power lines and could also cause roof collapses , '' the National Weather Service said . The storm is the third to hit the region this month . Early Friday , American Airlines had canceled 42 flights out of New York , a spokeswoman said . Delta Air Lines canceled 300 flights from airports in New York and Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . U.S. Airways had canceled 80 flights from airports in and around New York , a spokesman said . Steve Coleman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said authorities expect roughly 1,000 flights to be canceled from the three major airports serving New York and parts of New Jersey . More cancellations were expected for other airlines Friday , according to airport officials . The storm prompted the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights at New York-area airports Thursday , said Port Authority spokesman John Kelly . Buried in snow ? Send pictures , video . Parts of New York had received from 22 to 30 inches of snow by Thursday evening , the weather service said . Massachusetts was averaging 22 inches across the state . Parts of Pennsylvania had as much as 12 inches . Areas in Vermont received as much as 38 inches of snow . For some , any more snow was just too much . `` I 've just been shoveling , '' a weary man told CNN affiliate WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania . `` And it looks like I 'll be doing some more shoveling . '' CNN 's Emily Anderson and Mark Bixler contributed to this report . | NEW : Nearly 240,000 homes and businesses without power in three states , officials say . `` It 's very pretty to look at , but it 's like , come on , enough already , '' woman says . Dozens of flights canceled early Friday , with more likely . Parts of New York could get as much as a foot of snow ; storm is third to hit Northeast in month . | [[157, 282], [1113, 1185], [1113, 1147], [1188, 1251], [708, 721], [925, 935], [938, 945], [965, 978], [157, 166], [287, 387], [1999, 2004], [2014, 2071], [2355, 2483], [2484, 2542], [2484, 2502], [2545, 2577], [1658, 1721], [1675, 1729], [1945, 1998], [1958, 1998]] |
LINCOLN , Nebraska -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lincoln Industries looks like a typical blue-collar plant : workers cutting , bending , plating and polishing steel for products such as motorcycle tailpipes and truck exhausts amid the din of machinery . Howard Tegtmeier , right , leads co-workers in stretching before their shift starts at Lincoln Industries . But the 565-employee Nebraska company is different . Lincoln Industries has three full-time employees devoted to `` wellness '' and offers on-site massages and pre-shift stretching . Most unusual of all : The company requires all employees to undergo quarterly checkups measuring weight , body fat and flexibility . It also conducts annual blood , vision and hearing tests . `` When you get the encouragement from somebody to help you with nutrition and to help with a more active lifestyle , it makes it easier to be able to attain a lifestyle that most people want to attain anyway , '' says Hank Orme , president of Lincoln Industries . The program has been in place 16 years . The company ranks workers on their fitness , from platinum , gold and silver down to `` non-medal . '' To achieve platinum , they must reach fitness goals and be nonsmokers -- and the company offers smoking cessation classes . For employees , reaching platinum means a three-day , company-paid trip each summer to climb a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado . This year , 103 qualified , the most ever . And 70 made the climb . For the company , the payoff is significantly lower health-care costs . The company pays less than $ 4,000 per employee , about half the regional average and a savings of more than $ 2 million . That makes the $ 400,000 Lincoln Industries spends each year on wellness a bargain . Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta on wellness at work '' `` The return on investment is extraordinary , '' Orme says . The investment in `` wellness '' pays other dividends , according to Orme . He says fitter workers are more productive , have better morale and are safer . As evidence , he points to worker 's compensation claims . Ongoing safety training and an increasingly fit work force have pushed worker 's comp costs down from $ 500,000 five years ago to less than $ 10,000 so far this year . Seven years ago , shift leader Howard Tegtmeier was in the non-medal category . The 49-year-old smoked , drank , was overweight and took 12 pills a day to treat high blood pressure , high cholesterol and diabetes . `` I just made the decision it was time to change my life , and the wellness program showed me ways to do that , '' Tegtmeier says . Tegtmeier says he no longer smokes or drinks . His weight is down from 230 to 180 , thanks to diet and exercise . His cholesterol and blood pressure are also down , and he says he no longer needs medication . Tonya Vyhlidal , Wellness and Life Enhancement director , says Lincoln Industries does n't pressure workers who do n't want to participate . But sooner or later , she says , the company 's `` culture '' attracts most employees to live healthier lives . The company sponsors races , helps with gym memberships or exercise equipment , offers healthy choices in the vending machines and hosts classes on health and nutrition . `` There 's a way to engage everyone . Even those that are really resistant , '' Vyhlidal says , adding that she 'll offer employees suggestions based on what makes them feel fulfilled : `` Do you like to ride a bike ? Ride a bike . Do you like to cook ? You may need a different cookbook . '' This month , Tegtmeier and 69 co-workers climbed Mount Bierstadt , a 14,060-foot mountain . All of them reached the summit . It was Tegtmeier 's fourth climb with the company . `` The view up here is wonderful , '' he said . | Nebraska company grades employees on how healthy they are . All employees have quarterly checks of weight , body fat and flexibility . Firm 's per-employee health-care cost is $ 4,000 annually , about half regional average . Company president : Fitter workers more productive , have better morale , are safer . | [[1032, 1074], [556, 666], [1525, 1647], [1917, 1980]] |
-LRB- Tribune Media Services -RRB- -- Who says college kids have all the fun ? I 've spent spring breaks hunting for the `` perfect '' Sand Dollar on a Sanibel Island beach , watching major leaguers at spring training games , along with my little leaguers , and exploring the Grand Canyon with a couple of young hikers who were thrilled to become Junior Rangers . So , if you think spring break is only for college kids , think again . While more college students opt to do volunteer work on their breaks -LRB- and you can certainly find a family volunteer project , too -RRB- families have discovered that it is easier -- and often cheaper -- to get away in the spring than in the summer when camps and summer jobs -- not to mention work schedules and peak travel season perils -- wreak havoc with family vacation planning . That 's why despite the recession you can expect to see parents and kids racing down ski slopes all around the country . In Vermont , try a smaller , less expensive area like Bolton Valley . California 's Northstar-at-Tahoe offers deep family discounts . Kids can ski two days here for $ 30 and you get half-off a second kids ' ski lessons . Or choose instead to cheer on your favorite teams at spring training games in Florida and Arizona . Look for deals like at the InterContinental Tampa , which is close to George Steinbrenner 's Legends Field . Here you 'll save 25 percent on the best rate and get a `` Fan Tool Kit , '' which includes a baseball for signing , a box of Cracker Jack and a lot more . -LRB- The kids will love this ! -RRB- . In Arizona , the historic Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa offers an overnight spring training escape package starting at just $ 219 , plus resort credits , while the W Scottsdale Hotel & Residences , a hip downtown property , promises the chance to mingle with the players at practice , suite accommodations , signed baseball gear and buy-one-get-one tickets -- as long as you can afford $ 1,000 per night . Throughout March and April , look for deals in Hawaii like those at Maui 's Honua Kai Resort & Spa . Honua offers up to 35 percent off the room rate , which starts at just $ 260/night for a one-bedroom suite . Or try the Caribbean -LRB- look for kids up to 15 free deals available now at Club Med as long as you book by March 1 . -RRB- If sailing is more your style , share dinner with grandparents on mega cruise ships while happily comparing notes at what a great deal you scored . `` In past years , many of these ships and categories would be sold out by now , '' according to Heidi Allison-Shane from Cruise Compete.com . She notes that while prices are up from last year , they still remain 10 percent lower than 2008 with especially good deals on the ultra deluxe liners . `` There is great availability right now as consumers are waiting until the last minute to book , '' she adds . You certainly do n't have to bust the budget either . Take a short cruise , for example , from a port near your home -LRB- Norwegian Cruise Line is launching Nickelodeon-themed cruises from New York City in late April -RRB- or head to a ski resort touting free nights and lift tickets -LRB- The Canyons , for example , in Utah gives two lift tickets for every room booked -RRB- . Take the train -LRB- kids travel at a deep discount on Amtrak -RRB- and explore a nearby city . Go with one child if the others have to stay home . Go solo if your significant other ca n't get away . Use the opportunity to try something new . Learn to scuba dive or snowboard , explore a museum devoted to sport like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield , Massachusetts , where basketball was first invented , or music -LRB- the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland , Ohio , -RRB- or spies -LRB- the International Spy Museum in Washington , D.C. -RRB- . So many families come to Orlando for spring break -- 2.6 million visitors in March and April -- that you 'll see more kids here than at any other time of year , except summer . And it wo n't be nearly as hot . -LRB- Check out the new Super Deal program and new Magicard offers on everything from Disney World attractions to accommodations and restaurants -RRB- . Buy three nights and get two more free , including a week 's unlimited admission to Universal Studios ' two parks where the much anticipated `` Wizarding World of Harry Potter '' will open later this spring -- less than $ 800 for two adults and two parents . You may even score free admission to see The Mouse himself at Walt Disney World , if your family spends a day volunteering . Look for hotel packages in Orlando and elsewhere , especially for families . In honor of Holiday Inn Club Vacations in Orlando , Florida 's , first anniversary , for example , guests can score an upgrade to a two-bedroom villa , a $ 250 resort credit , lazy river tubes , mini golf and more . Or you can avoid hotels entirely . One friend checks www.craigslist.com for apartment rentals in cities where she wants to visit and proposes what she 'd like to pay , typically scoring a deal -- at half the going rate , she boasted . Also try sites like www.vrbo.com and www.homeaway.com where you can also negotiate directly with a homeowner or check out www.perfectfamilyvacation.com for good deals on digs in resort locales with multi-bedrooms . Travelocity has more than 100 hotels for under $ 100 per night . Hotels are where the values are this spring with rates down 10 percent or more in destinations like Orlando , Cancun , Honolulu , South Florida and Tampa/St . Petersburg , reports Travelocity 's Genevieve Brown . Last spring break -- my daughter Mel 's last before she went away to college -- I let her lead the way straight to Austria 's Oetztal Valley , about an hour from Innsbruck . We holed up in the Hotel Regina , a small , quaint hotel , and skied every day , traversing glaciers , viewing the Alps and stopping at traditional wooden huts for hearty lunches of homemade sausage and apple strudel . Mel , an avid skier , was thrilled by the mountains and by the fact that she could drink legally . I was thrilled to have her all to myself for a few days . `` Good bonding time , '' she told me . Exactly what a spring break should be -- wherever you go . | Families have discovered it 's often easier and cheaper to vacation in the spring . Parents and kids can race down ski slopes in Vermont or California . Use the opportunity to try something new like scuba diving or a museum . | [[436, 463], [565, 640], [633, 640], [644, 688], [846, 946], [3446, 3488], [3446, 3449], [3454, 3488], [3489, 3521], [3524, 3623]] |
Baghdad , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A series of bomb attacks disrupted voting as the polls opened in Iraq 's national elections Thursday , leaving a total of 12 people dead and another 47 wounded . There had been warnings of insurgent attacks around the vote , which is intended to install a 325-member parliament and select Iraq 's next government . Early voting began Thursday for those who will be unable to cast their ballots in Sunday 's election , including thousands of army and security personnel . In the first of three attacks , five civilians were killed and 22 injured when a bomb went off in the Hurriya neighborhood of northern Baghdad , an interior ministry official said . The bomb had been placed about 500 meters -LRB- 546 yards -RRB- away from a polling center that was going to be used Sunday , but was not open for Thursday 's early voting , the official said . It was not clear whether the polling center was the target , as hundreds of them will be open Sunday , most within 500 meters of each other . Are you voting in Iraq ? Send us your story , images . In the al-Mansour district of western Baghdad , at least three people were killed and 25 wounded in a suicide bombing outside a polling center , an interior ministry official said . Most of the casualties were Iraqi army soldiers , the official said . The suicide bomber struck the forces as they were assembling outside the polling center to vote , the official said . The bomber was disguised as an Iraqi police officer and stopped before reaching the polling center , according to a U.S. military statement . A second suicide attacker struck another Iraqi army gathering on its way to vote in the Bab Al-Muadham area of central Baghdad , the ministry said . Four soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded in the attack . Thousands of army and security personnel are among those taking part in Thursday 's voting , which is for those who will unable to cast their ballots Sunday . Others voting Thursday include detainees , hospital staff and patients . As many as 700,000 security forces are expected to vote , according to the U.N. Assistance Mission to Iraq . There was heavy security around polling centers Thursday , with Iraqi forces blocking streets around them and not allowing any vehicles in . At one polling center , voters and personnel entering on foot had to go through a number of body searches . Iraqi Air Force helicopters have been active in the skies all day and snipers can be seen on rooftops near polling centers . A public holiday began Thursday and will run until Monday because of the elections . U.S. and Iraqi officials had warned of expected violence ahead of the vote . On Wednesday , three suicide attacks in Baquba , northeast of the capital , killed at least 33 people and wounded dozens more . It is Iraq 's fifth nationwide vote since 2003 , but only the second for a full four-year-term parliament with its 325 seats . `` The conduct and outcome of the election will be the most decisive moment for Iraqis ' future since 2003 , '' Ad Melkert , the head of the U.N. mission in Iraq , said Monday . Authorities on Iraqi state television announced special measures for the days surrounding the vote . Since Monday , there has been a ban on motorcycles and bicycles in Baghdad until further notice , and a two-day ban on any vehicles in cities begins Sunday , they said . Provincial borders will be sealed , preventing movements between provinces , from Saturday to Monday . And international borders and all airports will be shut from midnight Saturday . A curfew will be in place in cities from midnight to 5 a.m. on Saturday , Sunday and Monday , officials said . Civilians may not carry weapons on those days , they said . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh and Yousif Bassil contributed to this report . | NEW : 12 people dead and dozens wounded in series of bomb attacks . Attacks coincide with early voting in Iraq 's national election . Security is tight after insurgent groups vowed to disrupt the vote . Vote will install a 325-member parliament and select Iraq 's next government . | [[10, 30], [137, 195], [568, 647], [2680, 2692], [2695, 2726], [2786, 2807], [79, 134], [349, 386], [196, 256], [2144, 2200], [241, 258], [265, 348]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The death toll from severe storms in northern Arkansas has been lowered to one person , emergency officials said early Saturday . Officials had initially said three people were killed when the storm and possible tornadoes walloped Van Buren County on Friday . The number of injuries in the county was also less than previously reported , said Rene Preslar , a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management . There were 10 people injured in the county instead of the 25 previously reported , Preslar said . `` We are still looking at a number of damages , but fortunately the human impact is lower than previously thought . '' A total of 23 people were injured statewide , Preslar said . CNN 's Patty Lane contributed to this report . | One person , not three , were killed Friday in Van Buren County , Arkansas . Number of injuries in the county also less than previously reported , spokeswoman says . A total of 23 people were injured statewide , she said . | [[0, 15], [56, 104], [279, 354], [663, 706]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Marie Osmond 's 18-year-old son Michael Blosil has died , a family spokesman said Saturday . `` My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time , '' the entertainer said in a statement through spokesman Alan Nierob . Brian Elias of the Los Angeles Coroner 's Office said the death is under investigation . Her Web site , written last September , describes her as `` the proud mother of eight beautiful children who are always her greatest treasures . '' Marie Osmond and her brother Donny hosted the national television variety show `` The Donny & Marie Show '' from 1976 to 1981 . Afterward , she had acting and singing careers . She recently competed in a season of `` Dancing With the Stars . '' In 2001 , she wrote `` Behind the Smile , '' about her experience with postpartum depression . | `` My family and I are devastated and in deep shock , '' singer says in brief statement . Michael Blosil was 18 years old , one of Osmond 's eight children . Death is under investigation , coroner 's office official says . | [[129, 163], [129, 130], [207, 312], [274, 344], [345, 433], [399, 433]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rep. Charles Rangel , D-New York , will be formally admonished Friday by the House 's ethics committee for violating rules on receiving gifts , the committee announced Thursday . The issue centers on who paid for his and several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus ' 2007 and 2008 travel to the Caribbean . While the committee found that the other five caucus members committed no wrongdoing , Rangel `` violated the House gift rules by accepting payment for reimbursement for travel to the 2007 and 2008 conferences , '' it said in a written statement . Rangel 's staff knew corporations had given money to the Carib News , which sponsored the events , the statement said . That fact had not been divulged to the ethics committee when Rangel asked for and received approval to accept the trip , the statement said . The ethics committee also found that Rangel did not know of the contributions . Nonetheless , he would be held responsible . `` The committee does not find sufficient evidence to conclude , nor does it believe that it would discover additional evidence to alter its conclusion , that Representative Rangel had actual knowledge of the memoranda written by his staff . However , the report finds that Representative Rangel was responsible for the knowledge and actions of his staff in the performance of their official duties . '' The powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee -- the lead body for writing tax law in the House -- will have to repay the costs of the trips , according to the statement , which did not indicate how much that would be . `` I do n't want to be critical of the committee but common sense dictates that members of Congress should not be held responsible for what could be the wrongdoing or mistakes or errors of staff unless there 's reason to believe that the member knew or should have known , '' Rangel told reporters late Thursday night . `` And there 's nothing in the record to indicate the latter . '' Rangel told reporters he would meet with his lawyer to discuss the report -- which calls itself a service of `` public admonishment '' -- and how it is that he is being held responsible for his staff 's actions . He will refund the costs as directed by the ethics committee , Rangel spokesmen Elbert Garcia and Emile Milne said in a written statement . Two staff members knew of the corporate funding and one was `` discharged , '' Rangel said . He did not provide further details . Asked about the matter , House Minority Leader John Boehner said he did n't know all the facts . But , when reminded that he had previously called for Rangel to step aside , he said : `` He should step aside until all this stuff in the ethics committee is resolved . '' An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said , `` It 's to soon to say anything '' regarding whether Rangel will stay chairman of the committee . `` We have received nothing from ethics , '' said Brendan Daly . A nonprofit ethics group voiced its opinion on the statement Thursday , saying Rangel should n't be the only person admonished . `` The ethics committee 's decision makes no sense , '' Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 's Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a written statement . `` There is simply no reason for Rep. Rangel alone to be held accountable for taking this trip when a number of other members were also present . '' The ethics committee first announced its investigation into the Caribbean travel in June . The five other Congressional members investigated -- Reps. Bennie Thompson , Yvette Clarke , Donald Payne , Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Donna Christensen -- did not `` knowingly violate '' rules because they were provided false information , the statement said . They will still have to repay the costs of their trips . For Rangel , the Carib News affair follows a string of entanglements with the ethics committee over several issues , including failure to report assets and pay taxes . CNN 's Brianna Keilar contributed to this story . | Rep. Charles Rangel will be formally admonished Friday by House , Thursday . Issue concerns who paid for travel he and others took to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008 . Rangel says ethics committee approved the travel . A nonprofit ethics group says Rangel should n't be the only person admonished . | [[0, 15], [47, 121], [198, 337], [219, 337], [767, 773], [788, 824], [2959, 3019], [3038, 3044], [2959, 2983], [3031, 3087]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama 's punch lines targeted a diverse group Saturday -- from teen sensations the Jonas Brothers to comedian Jay Leno , whom he described as the only person with worse ratings than his . `` Jonas Brothers are here tonight , '' the president said at the annual White House Correspondents ' dinner . Daughters `` Sasha and Malia are huge fans . But boys , do n't get any ideas . Two words : predator drones . '' Obama said he was happy to address the crowd before Leno , who headlined the annual event . `` Glad to see the only person whose ratings fell more than mine last year . ... I 'm also glad that I 'm speaking first , '' he said . `` We 've seen what happens when someone takes the time slot after Leno , '' the president added , referring to comedian Conan O'Brien leaving NBC after an unsuccessful stint hosting `` The Tonight Show . '' Members of the Obama administration , including Vice President Joe Biden and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel , were not safe from the zingers either . Former rivals and volatile current issues were also part of the stand-up . The president noted that Arizona Sen. John McCain did not identify himself as a maverick this year -- a title he frequently touted when he was running for presidency against Obama . `` And we all know what happens in Arizona when you do n't have an ID . ... Adios amigos , '' Obama said . The president 's quip referred to a new immigration law requiring officers in the state to question people about their immigration status if they think they 're in the country illegally . Arizona is McCain 's home state . Leno also took a dig at the Arizona law . `` I got stuck behind the Arizona congressional delegation -- luckily all their papers were in order so I did n't have any trouble getting in , '' the comedian said while describing the event 's tight security . On the president , Leno said he 's not as antisocial as some critics accuse him of being . `` He loves to socialize ... health care , car companies , things of that nature , '' Leno said . The first White House Correspondents ' Association dinner was held in 1920 to boost communication between the press and the president , according to the association 's website . It was open only to men until 1962 , when President John F. Kennedy said he would not attend unless women were invited . Saturday 's glitzy event featured various big names , including lawmakers , celebrities and journalists . | Celebrities from journalism , politics and showbiz gather at annual dinner . Obama kids Jay Leno about their shared problem -- sinking ratings . Both gets in digs at new Arizona immigration law . | [[2362, 2467], [2396, 2413], [2416, 2435], [1398, 1453], [1620, 1624], [1630, 1661]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When animal rights activist Jasmin Singer found herself face to face with a scientist who conducts animal testing , a cupcake was exchanged instead of harsh words . `` A good vegan cupcake has the power to transform everything for the better , '' Singer said . `` It 's almost like a political statement with icing . '' Singer was co-hosting a vegan bake sale in New York last week as part of the second annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale . More than 120 groups across six continents are holding vegan bake sales from April 24 through May 2 . Bake sale participants see the sweet treats as a way to introduce those unfamiliar with a vegan diet to some of the flavorful foods they can eat . While vegetarians stay away from meat but may consume dairy and eggs , vegans give up all animal products . Some people become vegan for animal welfare reasons . Others view it as a way to reduce their carbon footprint . Still others choose the plant-based diet as part of a healthier lifestyle . Ruxandra Costescu , of Bucharest , Romania , said most attendees at the bake sales she helped organize were n't vegan . One person who showed up could n't decide what he wanted , so he took one of everything , she said , adding that he came back later to buy more of his favorites for his family . `` It 's really nice to have people who eat anything really appreciate the vegan treats , '' Costescu said . `` Usually people are amazed that they 're so tasty . '' In Sydney , Australia , Amanda Salles was inspired to start regularly holding vegan bake sales after joining the first worldwide bake sale last year . She has never gone to an animal rights rally , but she tries to make a difference by baking vegan desserts like gingerbread cookies . `` I know a lot of people probably think it 's not enough or that you should be going to protests or demonstrations , '' she said . `` But it 's a good way to participate . It 's not very aggressive . '' Some approaches to vegan outreach are less subtle . People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has had half-naked activists campaign against meat consumption by covering themselves in fake blood and lying in human-sized meat packages . PETA 's theatrics may seem a far cry from a bake sale , but the organization sees the sales and protests as means of reaching the same goal . `` Even if -LSB- people -RSB- do n't like the medium that we 're using to get things across , we really just try to make sure they understand why we 're doing it , '' said PETA senior campaigner Ashley Byrne . Gary Loewenthal , director of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale , said he believes bake sales can be a nice change of pace for people used to more confrontational forms of activism . `` I liked it because it combined this time-honored , well-liked tradition with vegan outreach , '' he said . He started planning last year 's event from his home in Falls Church , Virginia , after brainstorming fundraising opportunities with Compassion for Animals , the animal advocacy group he helps run . Loewenthal sent invitations to cities all over the world and soon generated a buzz online . In 2009 , the event had close to 100 participants and raised more than $ 25,000 . Each group decides where to direct the proceeds of its own bake sale . While the money is not required to go to any specific type of organization , many opt to donate to nonprofit groups . Two events in Seattle , Washington , last week raised $ 1,770 for Pigs Peace Sanctuary , where Edgar , a potbellied pig , is being treated for a broken leg . Funds from a vegan bake sale in California on Sunday will benefit breast cancer research and education through the Avon Foundation . A group in Louisiana will send its proceeds to Food For Life , a vegan hunger-relief organization . When Loewenthal started researching vegan bake sales in 2008 , a Google search yielded few results . Now , he says , one can find at least a handful of them taking place in any given month . In late January , more than 25 U.S. cities held vegan bake sales to raise money for Haiti hurricane relief . They were able to donate more than $ 75,000 , according to organizer Isa Moskowitz , author of a number of vegan cookbooks . The growing popularity of vegan bake sales makes Loewenthal think about the future of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale . `` We 've got some ideas going forward about how to keep it fresh , '' he said . `` But we 're also prepared for it to be obsolete . ... We can call it a success and go on to something else . '' | Second annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale runs from April 24 to May 2 . More than 120 groups worldwide selling tasty treats that contain no animal products . Animal rights activist : `` It 's almost like a political statement with icing '' | [[339, 457], [458, 559], [458, 559], [281, 335]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thousands of protesters in cities across the United States waved American flags as they rallied Saturday against Arizona 's tough new immigration law and pushed for national immigration reform . `` Si se puede , '' `` Yes we can '' and `` Boycott Arizona '' were common refrains for groups protesting from Los Angeles , California , to New York City . May 1 is traditionally a rallying day for supporters of immigration reform . But protesters across the country said they were galvanized by Arizona 's recent passage of a law cracking down on illegal immigration . The new Arizona 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 are in the United States illegally . Critics say it will lead to discrimination and racial profiling . But Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has said the law is necessary because the federal government has failed to enforce border security with Mexico , allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to move into the state . She said changes to the law she approved Friday , which clarify that police could only stop suspected illegal immigrants while enforcing some other law or ordinance , should eliminate concerns about racial profiling . But criticism of the law was clear among tens of thousands of protesters flooding the streets of Los Angeles on Saturday , where organizers said they hoped to send a strong message with the number of people turning out . `` Does my face look illegal ? '' one sign read . Karen Rayner , a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department , said 50,000 people marched at the demonstration 's peak . Rayner said the rally was `` very peaceful '' and no one was arrested . Police arrested about 20 protesters -- including a U.S. congressman -- at Saturday 's rally in Washington . Rep. Luis Gutierrez , D-Illinois , was among a group of protesters who were arrested for blocking the sidewalk outside the White House in what they said was a planned act of civil disobedience . The protesters wore T-shirts that read `` ARREST ME NOT MY FAMILY '' and `` ARREST ME NOT MY FRIENDS . '' A smaller group of about 200 people rallied outside the State Capitol in Phoenix , protesting the new law and asking the federal government to step in to stop it . About 1,000 people gathered in New York City 's Union Square on Saturday afternoon . Cesar Mack , an international studies student at City College of New York , told CNN he was an undocumented immigrant from Peru . `` I 've been living in this country six years and I 'm still fighting for immigration reform , '' he said . CNN iReporter Julio Ortiz-Teissonniere said he saw signs in Arabic , French , Spanish and English at the New York rally . One sign in the crowd particularly caught his eye : `` Todos somos Arizona '' -- `` We are all Arizona . '' `` They were trying to convey that message that it 's a city and nation based on immigration . Everybody came from somewhere else , '' he said . CNN 's Susan Candiotti , Ted Rowlands , Ione Molinares and Casey Wian contributed to this report . | Rallies unfold in cities across the U.S. against Arizona 's new immigration . U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez , D-Illinois , was arrested during a rally in Washington . Gutierrez and others were protesting outside the White House on Saturday . About 1,000 people gathered in New York City 's Union Square on Saturday afternoon . | [[1766, 1833], [2339, 2423]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nearly two weeks after an explosion aboard an oil rig caused a leak from an undersea oil well off Louisiana , the impact is just beginning to unfold . Though the widening pool of oil remained offshore Monday , it was already a presence for some coastal areas . John Kelly , administrator of Gulfport , Mississippi , said he had been able to smell it since Friday . `` I got $ 3 million worth of boats sitting here , '' said Capt. Louis Skrmetta , who ferries tourists from Gulfport to the state 's pristine barrier islands . `` What am I going to do with them ? '' BP 's ruptured undersea well continues to spew about 210,000 gallons -- or 5,000 barrels -- of crude per day into the Gulf of Mexico . Efforts to contain or curtail the spill have been unsuccessful . The sheen extends up to 60 miles across and threatens the coasts of Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama , as well as the Florida Panhandle , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . That 's an area nearly as large as the state of Delaware . The slick was nine miles off the Louisiana coast Monday , said Adm. Thad Allen , commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and incident commander . BP chief executive Tony Hayward vowed that the oil giant would `` absolutely be paying for the cleanup operation '' of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico . `` Where legitimate claims are made , we will be good for them , '' he told NPR 's `` Morning Edition . '' The U.S. government was leaving little to chance . Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday that Justice Department employees were in the Gulf region `` to ensure that BP is held liable . '' Allen said BP `` is the responsible party '' and `` will bear all the costs '' of the cleanup . Still , the promises failed to quell the fears . `` I hope we can weather the storm , '' said Keith Delcambre , owner of seafood market Bozo 's in Pascagoula , Mississippi . WLOX : Pass Christian Harbor in Mississippi prepares for oil . He said the nature of the current disaster could exact more of a toll on seafood than Hurricane Katrina , which savaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005 . `` We weathered Katrina , but shrimp after Katrina was good , '' he said . `` Seafood after Katrina was good . With all the oil out there , I do n't know what to expect . This is brand new . '' In Gulfport , officials worried that a drop in tourism from the slick would chill the city 's post-Katrina rebound , which includes half a billion dollars in new construction , $ 30 million of which has been spent on the harbor . `` This could not have happened at a worse time in our history , '' Kelly , the city 's administrator , said . Katrina left equipment operator Daniel Schepens out of work for a month , but the oil slick could prove worse , he said . `` The warehouses are empty . No trucks , no imports , no exports . '' `` If it threatens the commercial sea lanes , that 's a concern , because if ships do n't come in and ships are n't able to go out , that stops commerce , '' said Donald Allee , CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority . WWL : Fishermen try to help contain oil slick . For now , the harbor is being used as a loading point for hundreds of miles of booms that are intended to defend against the slick 's arrival . But the booms may not protect the coast any more than the levees protected New Orleans during Katrina : Rough seas have already broken apart some of the booms . WDSU : Rush to save Lake Pontchartrain . Meanwhile , Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday extended a state of emergency to 13 coastal counties in his state and said he might extend it to two more on Tuesday . He had issued an emergency declaration last week for six counties on the western end of the Florida Panhandle ; Monday 's declaration added the rest of the Panhandle , and counties on the Gulf Coast of the main Florida peninsula as far south as Sarasota . `` In the event that the oil does come to our shores , I want us to be ahead of it as much as humanly possible , '' he told reporters . Preparations continue on strategies to stop the leak , though each plan has drawbacks . One plan is to lower a dome over the wellhead next week to capture the spewing oil , said Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection Michael Sole . `` That would stop the flow -- if successful , '' he said . `` Unfortunately , it 's never been tried at 5,000 feet below the surface of the water . '' Officials warn of possible catastrophe . BP also is having a contractor drill a relief well that would allow workers to plug the first well . `` Unfortunately , that 's a two - to three-month operation , '' Sole said . Interior Secretary Ken Salazar , Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other Obama White House officials met Monday afternoon with Hayward and BP America President Lamar McKay to discuss the response efforts . On Sunday , federal officials banned fishing for at least 10 days in the northern Gulf of Mexico from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana to waters off Florida 's Pensacola Bay . The Gulf Coast 's commercial fishing industry brings in about $ 2.4 billion to the region . WDSU : Oil spill closes fishing waters . The spill cast a pall over the annual boat blessing ceremony in St. Bernard , Louisiana , where fishermen have observed the tradition for decades to usher in the shrimp season . On Monday , Sen. David Vitter , R-Louisiana , joined Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser on a conference call with President Obama and Coast Guard officials . Officials are fighting the spill on three fronts , Napolitano said Monday . `` One is to cap the well '' that is leaking the oil , she said . Authorities are also fighting the slick at sea before it reaches land , and preparing to clean it up immediately if it does make landfall , she said . In Venice , Louisiana , Obama told reporters Sunday that his administration has launched a `` relentless response '' to the spill , but the problem might not be solved for many days . WDSU : Fishermen to help oil cleanup . The oil spill started April 20 , after an explosion on BP contractor Transocean Ltd. 's Deepwater Horizon drilling platform left 11 men presumed dead . The spill will have `` a multidecade impact , '' a `` long-term poisoning '' of the area , said Richard Charter of the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife . Booms were strung across the mouths of delta estuaries in Louisiana and inlets along the Mississippi coast . In Alabama , National Guard troops helped lay them out off Dauphin Island , at the southern end of Mobile Bay . The cause of the blast remains unknown . BP says a device known as a `` blowout preventer '' failed and has not responded to repeated attempts to activate it using remotely operated submarines . How the oil spill crisis could affect BP . Frustration with BP has been growing across the Gulf states , and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has said the company 's response has been inadequate . Some 200 vessels , including skimmers , tugboats and nine remotely operated underwater vehicles are on or near the site , BP 's Chief Operating Officer Douglas Suttles told reporters . BP spokeswoman Marti Powers said the company was trying to use the submarines to activate the blowout preventer at the ocean floor and spreading dispersants on and under the water to break up the slick . The company has put out about 300,000 feet -- roughly 60 miles -- of floating booms to keep the oil away from ecologically sensitive shorelines , she said . But she said efforts to skim oil off the surface were put off because of bad weather . `` Some of the vessels ca n't get out , '' she said . `` But they are still making the effort . '' CNN 's David Mattingly , Ted Barrett , Dana Bash , Brian Todd , Sarah Hoye , Saeed Ahmed , Mark Biello and Richard Lui contributed to this report . | NEW : Administration officials meet with BP execs to discuss spill response . Florida governor extends emergency declaration to 16 more coastal counties . Oil slick was nine miles off coast Monday . Feds ban fishing for at least the next 10 days in part of the northern Gulf of Mexico . | [[4658, 4878], [3488, 3497], [3500, 3602], [188, 237], [1062, 1117], [4879, 4888], [4891, 5028]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The 2009 snooker world champion John Higgins has said his `` conscience is clear '' following allegations of match fixing . British newspaper The News of the World claimed the 34-year-old accepted a $ 398,000 bribe to throw frames in future matches during a meeting with undercover reporters in Kiev , Ukraine . However , in a statement read out on the BBC , the Scotsman denied ever intentionally losing a match or taking a bribe at any point in his career . `` My conscience is 100 percent clear , '' said Higgins . `` I have never been involved in any form of snooker match fixing ... I have never deliberately missed a shot , never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match . '' Snooker 's governing body -- The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association -LRB- WPBSA -RRB- -- announced through an official statement that Higgins had been suspended from future tournaments pending an investigation . The same statement confirmed his manager , Pat Mooney , resigned from his position on the board of the WPBSA after he was alleged to have been at the meeting with Higgins in Kiev . The three-time world champion claimed clearing his name will be the biggest challenge of his career and he will assist snooker authorities with the forthcoming investigation . `` Today is the start of the biggest match of my life . I will co-operate fully with the snooker authorities . I have built my reputation on honesty and integrity . '' Higgins is one of the most successful snooker players in history and has won game 's top prize on three occasions , taking last year 's championship in addition to previous triumphs in 1998 and 2007 . This is not the first time controversy of this kind has hit the sport . In 2006 Australian Quinten Hann was given an eight-year ban from the sport when he was found guilty of breaking rules relating to match-fixing . Match fixing in sport is frequently linked to illegal betting syndicates , where bribes are offered to influence the outcomes of sporting events . Simon Clare , a spokesperson for British-based bookmakers Coral , believes worldwide regulations on gambling would prevent illegal betting . `` The sports betting market is absolutely immense , it 's millions -LSB- of dollars -RSB- a week being bet . When there is those sums of money changing hands , if it 's not a regulated betting market , if people are n't license holders , then there 's more to gain for them '' said Clare . With the British betting market heavily regulated , Clare believes there would be no benefit for companies like Coral in taking these risks . It is in coutries where gambling is illegal that Clare says the problem lies . `` There 's nothing to gain for a legal , licensed firm to be involved in corruption because it would be the end of a very lucrative business for them . '' | A British newspaper claims John Higgins accepted a bribe to throw frames in future matches . `` My conscience is 100 per cent clear , '' said Higgins . The Scotsman denies taking a bribe at any point in his career . | [[143, 284], [216, 318], [0, 15], [51, 142], [479, 516], [519, 536], [341, 355], [378, 478]] |
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