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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Picture this : The European champions and current highest-ranked soccer team in the world , Spain , are beaten 3-0 ... by a team of robots . On the way : Robots are developing steadily towards the goal of beating humans at football . It may sound ridiculous , but robot developers in Asia , the U.S. and Europe are dreaming of that very goal . Working under the umbrella organizations FIRA -LRB- Federation of Robot-Soccer Association -RRB- and the RoboCup Federation , researchers and developers are aiming to advance robot technology to the point that a team of humanoids can beat the best humans in the sport by 2050 . Since robot soccer competitions began in the mid-1990s , researchers have already made significant developments towards their goal . Phil Culverhouse of the Center for Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the University of Plymouth told CNN that the first robots in competition were controlled by humans and many were on wheels or four-legged , but that is changing . `` Since 2007 the team have progressed to bipedal robots that have cameras on board , '' he said . `` Our robots are autonomous -- they have no control from outside sources . The cameras try to work out where the goal is , where the ball is and where the other players are . '' Further robotic developments appear to be close . Researchers at Carlos III University of Madrid released a study in the March 2009 online edition of ` Expert Systems with Applications , ' showing they had refined a technique known as machine-learning . Basically , the scientists were able to teach a virtual player simple reactions to visual stimuli -- based upon how real humans react in the same situation . Do you think robots will one day be able to beat humans at football ? Sound Off box below . This year robots will go head-to-head at both the RoboCup event in Austria in June/July and the FIRA RoboWorld Cup in Korea in August . The most advanced classes at present are the bipedal classes for ` humanoid ' robots . Co-chair of RoboCup 2009 , Gerald Steinbauer , told CNN this year 's event was the 13th edition of the cup , and he was impressed by progress by advances since the competitions began . `` At the last RoboCup in China 2008 we had games of teams of three humanoid playing attractive soccer . They walk on two feet , fight for the ball and of course score ... so we are approaching the goal , '' he said . Culverhouse said interest in both events had steadily grown , especially since the two-legged robots had been introduced . This year up to 3,000 competitors from 40 countries are expected at RoboCup . `` This has been extremely effective in gaining interest . These are much more exciting to watch . We have seen a steep level of change in interest from not just young people but everybody . '' Despite the increasing profile , Culverhouse said there are still plenty of major challenges before the humanoids can seriously compete with humans . `` This is still a long way from competing against humans . The next big challenge to be met is to get robots walking like humans and then running like humans . `` One of the most challenging things is getting a robot to walk on uneven terrain without falling over , '' he said , explaining that some fall over after kicking at goal . -LRB- Although , it 's not hard to think of professional footballers who have suffered the same problem . -RRB- . The University of Plymouth team is currently researching how robot 's feet can be improved , and hope to release a concept later this year that could usher in a new era of in foot design . For Steinbauer , the critical issues are that of perception and cognitive abilities . `` Perception is one of our major problems . It is important that a robot is able to understand a scene like a human does . If you enter a complete unknown room you are able to recognize the important things like furniture and also relations and functions of objects very fast , '' he said . `` Despite huge progress in this area we are far behind the capabilities of animals or humans . `` And of course there 's cognitive capabilities . To reason about new , uncertain or even inconsistent facts is easy for a human but very hard for a robot , '' Steinbauer said . Size and cost are other limiting issues . `` In order to make this affordable we are developing robots 50 to 60 centimeters high . At that size each robot costs about 10,000 pounds to make . At full human size each would cost about 50,000 pounds , '' Culverhouse said . Soccer is an ideal testing ground for robotics as it encompasses many different elements including movement , vision and strategy , Steinbauer said . But the applications developed in these robots could serve a greater purpose . Steinbauer said robot technologies could be used for entertainment or performing simple tasks around the home and office . They also could be used in rescue scenarios -- where robots could be sent into dangerous situations in place of humans , he said . | FIRA and RoboCup organizations promoting development of robots . Robots have been competing in regular soccer contests since the mid - '90s . Scientists hope to be able to beat world 's top team of humans by 2050 . Robotics developments tested in robo-soccer have uses in other fields . | [[664, 712], [506, 657], [4693, 4767]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Conjoined Egyptian twin boys Hassan and Mahmoud , who were successfully separated in Saudi Arabia Saturday , are recovering and are expected to lead normal lives , officials said . Conjoined twins Hassan , left , and Mahmud rest the day before separation surgery in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia . `` The twins ' vital signs are good ; they 're doing excellent , '' said Sami Al-Shalan , spokesman for the King Abdulaziz Medical City facility in Riyadh where the surgery took place . `` The twins still have about 24 hours before a progress report can be issued . The anesthesia consultants are happy with the progress of the children . '' The boys are less than a year old and were brought to the kingdom on February 10 . The delicate surgery took a little more than 15 hours . `` The twins ' parents have visited them in the -LSB- pediatric intensive care unit -RSB- , but they ca n't stay there long . They come and go , '' Al-Shalan said . Separating the boys ' urinary system was a major challenge , Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah , the Saudi minister of health , told CNN . So was separating the siblings ' local veins and arteries , he said . `` We had to identify the arteries and the blood veins between each baby , '' Al-Rabeeah said . Watch Al-Rabeeah explain the operation '' The procedure was the 21st of its kind to be performed in the kingdom . The surgeries are performed free as part of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz 's philanthropic initiative . CNN 's Mohammed Jamjoom contributed to this report . | Egyptian twin boys are less than a year old . 21st procedure of this type to be performed in the kingdom . 15-hour delicate surgery declared successful , surgeon says . Surgery free as part of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz 's philanthropic initiative . | [[651, 684], [1292, 1330], [1319, 1363], [734, 789], [1364, 1466]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The agency that owns the space where the World Trade Center towers stood is freeing itself of the term `` freedom '' to describe the signature skyscraper replacing the buildings destroyed on September 11 , 2001 . The One World Trade Center skyscraper is expected to be completed in late 2013 . The change from Freedom Tower was revealed Thursday at a news conference where the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the signing of the first commercial lease in the building to a Chinese company . The building is expected to be completed in late 2013 . `` We 've referred to the primary building planned for the site as One World Trade Center -- its legal name and street address -- for almost two years now , as well as using the name the Freedom Tower , '' said Stephen Sigmund , a spokesman for the Port Authority , in a statement released to CNN . `` Many will always refer to it as the Freedom Tower , but as the building moves out of the planning stage and into full construction and leasing , we believe that going forward it is most practical to market the building as One World Trade Center . '' Ten of the building 's planned 108 above-ground floors have been built . `` The fact is , more than $ 3 billion of public money is invested in that building , and , as a public agency , we have the responsibility to make sure it is completed and that we utilize the best strategy to make certain it is fully occupied , '' Sigmund added . He noted that the agency lost 84 colleagues in the September 11 attacks . Mary Fetchet , founding director of Voices of September 11th , a group that commemorates the lives of those killed in the attack , said she was not familiar with the decision made by the Port Authority and was not willing to make a statement . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , on the John Gambling radio show taped Friday morning , said he was not upset by the Port Authority 's decision . `` It 's up to the Port Authority , '' he said . `` I have no idea what the commercial aspects are , and we can say , ` Oh , we should n't worry about that , ' but of course you have to , particularly now . `` I would like to see it stay the Freedom Tower , but it 's their building , and they do n't need me dumping on it . If they could rent the whole thing by changing the name , I guess they 're going to do that , and they probably , from a responsible point of view , should . From a patriotic point of view , is it going to make any difference ? '' He added , `` one of the things is , we call things what we want to call them . So , Avenue of the Americas is a good example , for it 's Sixth Avenue to most people . Very few people use Avenue of the Americas . If they name this One World Trade Center , people will still call it the Freedom Tower . '' The building was named the Freedom Tower in the first `` ground zero '' master plan . Officials said at the time that the tallest , most symbolic of five planned towers at the site would demonstrate the country 's triumph over terrorism . Representatives of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Vantone Industrial Co. announced Thursday the signing of a lease that will create the China Center , a 190,810-square-foot business and cultural facility , to be on portions of the 64th floor and the entire 65th through 69th floors of One World Trade Center . Hailing it as a great day for the Port Authority and its partners in the China center , Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward added , `` this is the first step in a long journey as downtown is finally rebuilt . '' The lease is for 20 years and nine months , beginning when the building is completed , with rents starting at $ 80 per square foot and escalating afterward . The China Center also will have the right to lease up to two additional contiguous floors under the same terms , an option that expires at the end of 2009 . The Port Authority also has commitments for more than a million square feet of leased office space in One World Trade Center from the U.S. General Services Administration and the New York State Office of General Services . Leases for these two public agencies are being finalized . These commitments , coupled with the China Center lease , represent nearly 50 percent of the office space in the building . The China Center at One World Trade Center is expected to represent the elite of China 's business and cultural communities and serve as a hub for Chinese firms developing United States operations , as well as for U.S. companies that wish to conduct business in China or expand operations . One World Trade Center will include 2.6 million gross square feet of office space on 70 office floors , a public lobby with a 50-foot-high ceiling , an observation deck 1,265 feet above ground , a skyline restaurant , a wide array of shopping and parking . The building itself will be 1,368 feet tall , and a spire at the top will bring the total height to 1,776 feet . Beijing Vantone Industrial is one of the first private corporations established in China . Today , the company is one of China 's largest private real estate investment companies with 13 subsidiaries , including one publicly traded company , Beijing Vantone Real Estate Co. . | New skyscraper will be known as One World Trade Center . Port Authority : `` It is most practical to market the building '' under address name . The building was named the Freedom Tower in the first `` ground zero '' master plan . Agency says it has signed first commercial lease to Chinese company . | [[241, 293], [307, 321], [241, 278], [291, 321], [2722, 2759], [952, 967], [1041, 1142], [2811, 2896], [377, 394], [401, 537]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Five days of gunbattles between the Indian army and separatist militants in Indian-administered Kashmir have left at least 25 dead -- eight Indian army troopers , including one officer , and 17 militants , the Indian military said Tuesday . An Indian army soldier lays a wreath during the funeral of a slain soldier , northeast of Srinagar on Tuesday . Defense Minister A.K. Antony , meeting with India 's military chiefs in Delhi , reviewed the situation in the Himalayan region and told the Army to deal with the situation in the Himalayan region with `` utmost firmness . '' Kashmir has been in the throes of a violent separatist campaign for nearly two decades during which authorities say 43,000 people have been killed . However , various NGOs and rights groups put the number of dead at twice the official count . In Srinigar , Kashmir , Army spokesman Lt. Col. J.S. Brar told CNN the Army was moving against the militants `` based on sound intelligence inputs as well as human intelligence provided by our own sources . '' The battles in the Shamsbhari forests of north Kashmir Kupwara district have caused `` minimum collateral damage to property , '' Brar said . The spokesman denied media reports that helicopter gunships and heavy weapons had been used by the army during these operations against the militants . This month 's encounter between the Indian Army and the militants is the second longest in Kashmir this year . In January , a fierce encounter raged for seven days in the Poonch district of Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir . Two soldiers , a policeman and four militants were killed in that encounter . Kashmir has been the source of bitter dispute and two wars between India and neighboring Pakistan . Both control parts of the region which is predominantly Muslim . | NEW : 25 dead in Kashmir gunfights between Indian troops , separatist militants . Incident comes after India accuses Pakistani troops of firing on Indian troops . Kashmir has been in throes of separatist campaign for 20 years . | [[0, 15], [95, 101], [102, 203], [597, 683]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Manchester United went five points clear at the top of the Premier League as goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar set a new English record for minutes in not conceding a goal in the 1-0 victory over Everton . Van der Sar was left to celebrate a United win and a new goalkeeping record . Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the winning goal with a 44th minute penalty but once again it was United 's rock-solid defense and keeper that made sure of the vital three points . Everton 's failure to score by the 73rd minute at Old Trafford left van der Sar unbeaten for 1,104 minutes . The Dutch international was breaking the previous record set by Reading 's Steve Death 30 years ago . He had taken Petr Cech 's Premier League record in the 5-0 win at West Bromwich Albion last week and has now had 12 straight clean sheets . With title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool playing each other on Sunday and Aston Villa being held 0-0 at home by Wigan , the record was the icing on the cake for Alex Ferguson 's defending champions . World footballer of the year Ronaldo had hit the post in the first half before converting from the spot after Michael Carrick was tripped by Mikel Arteta . In truth , Everton , missing three strikers through injury , rarely troubled van der Sar with most of the action at the other end . Carrick had appeals for a second penalty turned down after appearing to be brought down by Joleon Lescott , but referee Mark Halsey ignored his pleas . Carlos Tevez shot wide from Park ji-Sung 's right wing cross and Tim Howard later had to save smartly from a deflected free kick from the Argentine star . United manager Alex Ferguson was delighted with yet another clean sheet and the three points . `` It 's a fantastic performance from the boys . I could n't believe it when I read that the last goal we conceded was against Arsenal in October , '' he told Setanta Sports . `` Van der Sar brings calmness and assurance . Over the last 12 games we have changed the back four I do n't know how many times so you have to give great credit to them . '' | Record breaker Edwin van der Sar has now kept 12 clean sheets for United . 1-0 win over sixth-placed Everton sees United go five points clear in Premier League . Closest rivals Chelsea and Liverpool play each other in title showdown on Sunday . | [[684, 686], [785, 823], [19, 112], [169, 219], [842, 892]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Self-confessed BlackBerry addict President Barack Obama may not have to kick the thumbing habit after all , despite the concerns of a notoriously technophobic White House . Obama was a self-confessed BlackBerry addict during his White House campaign . `` The president has a BlackBerry , '' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday , clearing up weeks of speculation about whether President Obama would be able to hold on to a cherished method of communicating . The decision to allow Obama to keep a smartphone is `` a compromise that allows him to stay in touch with senior staff and a small group of personal friends , '' Gibbs told the media in his first press conference since the inauguration . `` Use will be limited and the security is enhanced to ensure his ability to communicate but to do so effectively , '' Gibbs also said . `` And to do so in a way that is protected . '' The press secretary refused to provide more details about the new president 's device , already being called the `` BarackBerry . '' Watch CNN 's Errol Barnett reports on the president 's new phone '' Obama was often seen hunched over the mobile e-mail cell phone device during his election campaign and even featured at No. 2 on one celebrity Web site 's list of obsessive BlackBerry users . But , like previous Oval Office incumbents , Obama had been expected to take a vow of technological celibacy following his inaugural oath on Tuesday , despite telling CNBC in an interview that security officials would have to `` pry it out of my hands . '' He said a mobile device would help him stay in touch with the real world . Should President Obama be allowed to keep his BlackBerry ? Tell us what you think . E-mail has long been treated with suspicion by the Secret Service because of fears it could be hacked into by foreign espionage agencies , or that sensitive information could reach the public domain via a single mistaken strike of the `` send '' key . President George W. Bush was forced to give up using e-mail when he took charge , while President Bill Clinton sent just two e-mails during his administration -- one to test that the system worked and the second to veteran astronaut John Glenn before his trip into space in 1998 . There are also concerns that mobile devices such as the BlackBerry , which contain built-in GPS technology , could be hacked , revealing the president 's location within a few feet . But according to reports Thursday , Obama may actually have been issued a spy-proof alternative to his favorite toy . Writing on his blog for the Atlantic magazine , Marc Ambinder reports that the National Security Agency has approved a $ 3,350 smartphone -- inevitably dubbed the `` BarackBerry '' -- for Obama 's use . The exclusive Sectera Edge , made by General Dynamics , is reportedly capable of encrypting top secret voice conversations and handling classified documents . But Obama may have pushed his Secret Service handlers ' technological patience far enough . Ambinder also reports that instant messaging in the White House will still be a definite no-no . CNN 's Martina Stewart contributed to this report . | Report : Security officials approve $ 3,350 smartphone for Barack Obama . Obama was an inveterate BlackBerry user during his campaign . Security concerns that e-mail could be hacked , or GPS used to locate president . Phone capable of encrypting voice conversations , handling classified documents . | [[2610, 2758], [0, 124], [192, 270], [1120, 1125], [1130, 1218], [1728, 1810], [1805, 1864], [2765, 2791], [2821, 2923]] |
BOULDER , Colorado -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Blake Jones ' business plan for his company , Namaste Solar Electric , was so unusual , he confounded a lot of business experts . Typical home solar systems cost about $ 12,000 up front , but supporters say they pay off in the long run . `` We did have a lot of skeptical , raised eyebrows at the beginning , '' Jones said of his company , which installs solar power systems in Colorado . `` We even have had business schools bring teams of MBA students to come to do a case study , '' he said . Outsiders were baffled by some of these company plans : . • Environmental concerns would be a driving force in every aspect of the company . • Six weeks of paid time off . • A concept called FOH -- frank , open and honest -- to help eliminate gossip and grudges . • Employees , no matter what their job description , have the same pay scale . • One percent of yearly revenues goes to solar systems donated to community groups . • All major decisions would be made by consensus of all company employees . Jones had done a serious turnabout in his own career that inspired some of the unusual principles of Namaste . Namaste is a Sanskrit greeting meaning `` to bow to you . '' The civil engineer spent five years working in the Middle East for Brown and Root , a subsidiary of Halliburton , in the oil and gas industry . `` But something in me realized there is something more . I did n't like the overdependence that we have on oil and gas . I think oil and gas , even coal are always going to be a very big part of our lives . But I think what we need to do , is we need a more balanced portfolio . I had a gradual awakening to wanting passionately to work with renewable energy because I thought there was a better way , '' Jones said . He moved from the Middle East to Nepal , where he spent three years installing solar and hydroelectric systems in remote areas . Although the clients and the mission are very different in Colorado , solar power is becoming a more popular long-term investment in the state . Jones picked a place where residents are open to doing things a different way . Boulder is tree-hugger heaven by anyone 's standards . The city has lots of incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy . `` There is more interest in solar in Boulder then anywhere else in Colorado . That 's one example of how environmentally focused our community is , '' said Sarah Vanpelt , environmental sustainability coordinator for the city . In 2004 , Colorado voters approved state incentives for the use of alternative energy . `` And Boulder provides a rebate on a portion of the sales and use tax that property owners pay to purchase and install a system , and we use those funds to provide grants to nonprofits to install solar on affordable housing , low-income housing , and on nonprofit facilities , '' Vanpelt said . `` So I think we will continue to see growth in the green industry and in renewable energy , both solar and wind , '' she said . Namaste is in the process of remodeling a 15,000-square-foot warehouse for its offices . Watch more about the unique project '' And it is doing it to the highest of green building standards , the LEED , or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification . That involves everything from the use of natural light to the recycling of building materials to the access to the building by public transportation . And yes , all the building 's electricity will be provided by a solar system Namaste installs . Most of the panels will be on the roof , but there will also be a solar awning . Construction manager Marc Smerekanicz did some of his own head-scratching with some of the requests to meet LEED standards . `` Thinking in a different way than what I was brought up to think of as the construction process , that 's the way of the future , '' Smerekanicz said . For some customers , it is rising energy prices as much as concern for the environment that is prompting them to consider solar power for their homes and businesses . Namaste just installed solar panels on the home of Hal Stuber . `` It 's become more reasonably priced , and on top of that there are the incentives from the utility company , also the federal tax credits . So , all in all , the economics really look excellent , '' Stuber said . `` For every $ 3 of cost , from rebates and tax credits I 'm getting about $ 2 back , and yeah , that 's a big incentive . I doubt that I would have done this had it not been for the rebates and tax incentives , '' he said . Stuber plans to use some of his solar power for a plug-in motorbike . And when his system produces more power than he uses , his electric meter runs backward . At the end of the year , he may get money back from the utility . Even with rebates , Jones said , a typical solar system costs a homeowner about $ 12,000 up front . But he said that as a long-term investment , it pays off . He said that 's why the company 's community involvement comes in the form of solar installations , not cash . `` We consider a solar system to be a gift that keeps on giving . If we give them a solar system , then it will save their electricity bills each year for the next 30 years , compared to if we just give them money , it will contribute to their budget for that one year only , '' Jones said . So how 's that crazy business plan working ? In the past 3 1/2 years , Namaste has installed more solar systems than any other company in Colorado . Three original employees have grown to 45 . And the company has been growing by triple-digit percentages every year . `` Whatever perspective you look at , we 're being profitable , and it 's exactly what we need to do to prove that our business experiment , that our company model is going to work , '' Jones said . | Businessman Blake Jones seeks to develop renewable energy sources . Jones ' passion for solar sparked a radical career shift during time in Mideast . Home solar system costs $ 12,000 , but Jones says it pays off in long run . Boulder , Colorado , offers rebates , grants for home solar power systems . | [[168, 223], [230, 275], [4792, 4802], [4805, 4871], [4876, 4930]] |
SEATTLE , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 16-year-old girl was found dead and another girl was found unconscious in an Army barracks at Fort Lewis near Tacoma , Washington , during the weekend , a base spokesman said Monday . `` Neither of the two women had any outward signs of trauma on them , '' said Fort Lewis spokesman Joseph Piek . He said that an Army solider who was `` allegedly an acquaintance '' of the two 16-year-olds was questioned by investigators , but no arrests had been made . The spokesman said the name and rank of the soldier who had been questioned was not being released . According to an Army news release , the names of the two girls `` are not being released due to their ages , their civilian status , and the nature of the ongoing investigation . '' The Fort Lewis Criminal Investigation Division is trying to determine why the two girls were in the barracks , where soldiers live , and what led to their conditions when they were found . Emergency personnel from the base responded to a 911 call about 3:30 a.m. Sunday and found the two girls in one of the barracks . A doctor declared one of the girls dead on the scene , and the second girl was transported to Madigan Army Hospital , where she was in stable condition Monday . The Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy , Piek said , and it will be at least a week before results are complete . Both girls are from the nearby South Puget Sound area but were not related to anyone living on base , Piek said . Both girls ' families had been notified , he said . Although Fort Lewis is not open to civilians , they can be escorted in by a soldier living there if they have identification and a reason for coming onto the facility . The circumstances of how the girls came unto the base are under investigation , Piek said , but there was no evidence that security had been compromised . About 30,000 military personnel are based at Fort Lewis . Barracks where soldiers live are usually split into rooms for one to three soldiers , Piek said . Details about the barracks where the girls where found were not released . | Second girl found unconscious in barracks at Fort Lewis , Washington . Soldier has been questioned , but no arrests have been made . The two teens had no outward signs of trauma on them , spokesman says . Fort Lewis not open to civilians but can be escorted onto base by personnel . | [[74, 146], [969, 1002], [1054, 1098], [339, 489], [352, 463], [470, 496], [534, 548], [553, 572], [226, 293], [1583, 1618], [1619, 1657]] |
LAKE WALES , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Does jumping out of a plane show love ? For one family in Florida it does . Trevor Muir -LRB- left -RRB- , 23 ; Darcy Shepard , 18 ; Harriett Shepard , 94 ; and Dave Shepard , 74 , are ready to jump . Last Saturday , four generations of Darcy Shepard 's family went skydiving for her 18th birthday . The oldest jumper was Shepard 's 94-year-old great-grandmother , Harriett Shepard . Skydiving is becoming a Shepard family rite of passage . Two members of the family had jumped before -- including family matriarch Harriett . Harriett Shepard jumped three years ago , at age 91 , because she wanted to know what it felt like . She is an inspiration to her great-granddaughter . `` If she can do it at 91 , then I could , too , '' Darcy says , explaining that she was n't allowed to jump three years ago because she had n't reached age 18 . As Darcy planned the adventure , her brother , cousins , father and grandfather decided to join her in skydiving . At first , the family invited 94-year-old Harriett to watch everyone skydive in central Florida . But Harriett , known to the family as `` Honeynun , '' did n't want to watch . She wanted to jump . Watch Harriett and kin soar across the sky '' Adventure is n't new to this bunch . In the past the family has gone scuba diving and hang gliding together . Jumping out of the plane were Harriett ; Darcy ; Harriett 's 74-year-old son Dave ; Dave 's 45-year-old son Dallas , who is Darcy 's dad ; two cousins ; a girlfriend ; and a future father-in-law . As she suited up , Harriett said she found it `` exciting to be doing this with the family . '' The eight uncertified skydivers were trained and paired with tandem instructors at Florida Skydiving Center at the Lake Wales Airport . The center required Harriett to be cleared by a doctor prior to jumping . Florida Skydiving says Harriett Shepard is the oldest person to jump at the center . As jump time nears , Harriett is fearless . `` I 'm never scared up there , '' she says . `` My husband and I had a plane . I 'm never afraid . '' See photos of the family 's skydiving day '' Great-grandson Trevor Muir , another of the jumpers , says he has water-skied , jumped on a trampoline and climbed giant tree forts with his great-grandmother . `` So what 's skydiving ? Just another notch in the pole , '' says the 23-year-old Trevor . `` We 've done a lot of crazy things . '' The plane , a DeHavilland Twin Otter , takes the group to an altitude of 14,000 feet . The rear door opens . Pilot Eric Weaver announces over the radio : `` Attention any traffic in the Lake Wales area . There will be skydiving over the Lake Wales Airport . '' First to jump is 94-year-old Harriett , with her instructor David `` Pip '' Perry . The skydivers free-fall at speeds between 120 and 150 mph before deploying their parachute . `` Honeynun '' slowly floats to the ground , wearing her cozy buckle-up sandals that she feels are more comfortable than closed-toe shoes . After landing , Harriett -- who has battled skin cancer -- is more fearful of the sun than jumping from the plane . One skydiver after the other lands safely to fanfare from anxious family members on the ground . Eighteen-year-old Darcy is greeted with a chorus of `` Happy Birthday . '' There are lots of high-fives , family photos and exclamations of `` awesome . '' Darcy hugs her great-grandmom : `` Yay , Honeynun . '' Darcy 's father , Dallas Shepard , deems it `` an incredible jump that was a lot of fun . '' Dallas says that skydiving with his grandmother was `` kind of neat , just being able to do it with her -- but she is living life , and that 's the best part . '' His father , Dave Shepard , calls it an experience he will remember for a long time . `` It was something special , where we had four generations . '' Harriett Shepard confesses that her late husband would not be happy . `` He would have never let me do this , '' she says . `` He took care of me -- that 's why I 'm this old . '' Yet Harriett , who has lived a long and full life as an author , photographer and architect , is concerned about the publicity . `` She 's worried , '' Dave Shepard says of his mom , `` that the only thing people will remember her for is jumping out of an airplane . '' | Four generations , in age from 18 to 94 , jump out of plane at 14,000 feet . Great-grandmother Harriett Shepard jumped once before -- at age 91 . Jumpers included family members age 94 , 74 , 45 and 18 . `` I 'm never scared up there , '' great-grandmother says . | [[241, 254], [257, 339], [340, 402], [880, 910], [913, 994], [2424, 2433], [2463, 2510], [340, 402], [481, 565], [566, 605], [608, 617], [620, 654], [241, 254], [257, 339], [340, 402], [481, 565], [566, 605], [608, 617], [620, 654], [880, 910], [913, 994], [1433, 1456], [1470, 1485], [1875, 1936], [2685, 2722], [3778, 3787], [3804, 3829], [1984, 2010]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nicole Nagy had gone back to school hoping that a new career would lead to a better job . When she was turned down for financial aid , Nagy was told she could , as a song goes , `` sing for the money . '' She was directed to a contest called Careereoki . Nicole Nagy enlisted the help of her children and her husband to make her videotape . Anyone brave enough to videotape themselves singing -- and sometimes dancing -- about their dream career karaoke-style was qualified to enter the competition . More than 60 videos were submitted , from which five finalists were chosen to compete for online votes that will determine the winner . Most contestants were from Central Florida , likely because the grand prize includes tuition for a certificate program at an Orange County technical school . Nagy , a mother of three , was laid off in 2007 . When she could n't find a job , her husband supported her decision to enroll in nursing school . But tuition and books are costly , and the Nagys are a month behind on the mortgage payment . So risking embarrassment , Nagy decided a better future might lie in her music video . `` I ca n't sing to save my life , but I will go ahead and try this because I am willing to do anything to get school paid for , '' Nagy said . Her husband , obviously a good sport , appears in the video along with her children . Watch the contestants ' videos '' Dressed in a bathrobe , she sits on the couch with her kids as her husband starts the video with the bad news , `` OK guys , I have to go to work . Sorry we ca n't send you to nursing school , Mom . We just do n't have the money . '' Nagy replies , `` Ahh man . '' Addressing her children , she says , `` know what we can do instead , we can sing about it . '' Nagy takes off the robe , revealing a nursing uniform and the stethoscope which acts as her microphone . Nagy then dances around her living room , belting out her tune , `` Doctor , doctor give me the news ; I got a bad case of nursing blues . '' She sings her original lyrics to Robert Palmer 's `` Bad Case of Loving You '' as her young , obedient children wait for the song to end . Nagy 's video was good enough to gain her a spot as a Careereoki finalist . But winning the contest wo n't be as easy as making it to the finals . The Careereoki competition is stiff . American Idol judging it was not for this first-time contest . To choose the final five videos , judges considered three categories . Points were awarded based 50 percent on the contestant 's originality , 25 percent on creativity and 25 percent on the video 's humor . Whether Nagy 's performance will be good enough to win will depend on how many people vote for her on local radio station WPYO 's Web site where the videos are posted . Fans of the musical Grease may feel inclined to vote for Julia Langston of Lake Mary , Florida . Langston does a nice job singing what is supposed to be a duet , `` Summer Nights . '' She creatively sings , `` Unemployment happened so fast , never thought this recession would last . '' Langston was laid off a few months ago after working for 15 years as an office manager . As with her fellow contestants , the grand prize would be a huge help for her . She is living off the money she had set aside to remodel her kitchen . Finalist Jennifer Faulk of Deltona , Florida , sums up the recurring theme of the five still standing : `` The day does not go by that I do n't go online and look for something and there 's just nothing out there . '' The Careereoki contest was sponsored by the Orange County School Board ; Workforce Central Florida , an Orlando-area job placement organization ; and a local advertising agency . Workforce Vice President Kimberly Cornett said her organization 's participation in the singing contest helped spread the word on their `` no-cost services '' to the community . `` It was a way to connect to job seekers , and also for job seekers to take a little break from the stress of unemployment , '' Cornett said . She said she sees that stress first hand ; the Orlando organization she works for offers job placement . Unemployment in Central Florida is the highest it has been in 16 years , according to Cornett . The grand prize is worth $ 8,000 and includes a career training scholarship , personal and resume makeovers and a $ 100 gas card . Two first-place winners will also get tuition help , resume makeovers and $ 50 gas cards . The finalists are keeping their fingers crossed that the song in their heart does n't end up a song sung blue . The winner will be announced on Monday . | People invited to sing for job help in `` Careereoki '' contest . Best videotape of singing contestant will earn prize worth $ 8,000 . Central Florida contest sponsored by school board , job-placement agency . | [[244, 273], [4224, 4256], [3522, 3592]] |
BARCELONA , Spain -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Google launched the latest salvo in the cellphone wars Tuesday with the unveiling of the newest handset to carry its Android platform . Google 's Android platform goes head to head with Apple 's iPhone . Unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona , Vodafone 's HTC Magic smartphone will make its European bow in the UK , Spain , France and Germany in the coming months . In Italy it will be available under a non-exclusive contract . The Google-run handsets are regarded as the chief rivals to Apple 's iPhones in the battle for the next generation of mobile devices . Google 's latest foray into the cell phone market is seen by many as the beginnings of the Internet giant 's attempts to dominate the industry . Some have expressed concerns that cell phone manufacturers , network operators and users will have little control over what data Google will be able to utilise from its software . Among critics is the LiMo Foundation , representing Linux-based operating system LiMo , which has launched its own cell phone platform , according to Congress organizer Groupe Speciale Mobile Association 's daily newsletter . `` A lot of operators still harbor some questions over whether they will have the control over services and how much of the data that is going out and coming from a Google device goes to Google and how much to you -LSB- the operator -RSB- , '' LiMo 's Andrew Shikiar told Mobile Business Briefing . Users of both the Apple and Google models can download applications developed by third-parties from open-source software , potentially giving them the capability of small handheld computers . The first Android-capable handset , the G1 , was launched last year . It partnered with T-Mobile for its UK launch , its first foray into the European market . The HTC Magic includes a 3.2-inch QVGA touch screen display , navigational buttons and a trackball . It also comes with several Google applications including Google Mail , Google Maps and Google Search as well as YouTube , which is owned by Google . Andy Rubin , Senior Director of Mobile Platforms at Google , said that the launch of the HTC Magic was an important step for Android . `` With it , Vodafone is opening up the mobile web for consumers across Europe and giving more third-party developers a platform on which they can build the next wave of killer applications , '' Rubin said . CNN 's Adrian Finighan , who is at the congress , said that as an iPhone user he had spent much of his time at this year 's event looking for something to rival his device . `` The Magic is , well , magic ! I think I 've found it . It really is the first device that I could consider swapping my beloved Apple device for . '' | Vodafone 's HTC Magic handset will launch in western Europe in the next few months . The first Android-capable handset , T-Mobile 's G1 , was launched last year . New device includes a 3.2-inch touch screen display , navigational buttons , trackball . | [[294, 392], [396, 415], [1656, 1689], [1701, 1725], [1816, 1916]] |
PARIS , France -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- France is sending four state police units to its overseas department of Guadeloupe after a month of sometimes violent demonstrations , Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Thursday . French gendarmes face-off against Guadeloupe protesters . `` The pillaging ... the violence against people , are not tolerable and will not be tolerated , '' Alliot-Marie told the French radio station RTL . `` It 's no longer simply a question of containing the protests . ... This mission of honor will continue to be undertaken , but we also have to fight against the violence . '' French President Nicolas Sarkozy planned to meet with elected officials from overseas departments , including Guadeloupe , Thursday afternoon , his office announced . A general strike over low wages and living conditions in the Caribbean island has included demonstrations and clashes with police . At least one civilian has been killed in the riots , officials said . Hospitals and emergency services continue to function and the main international airport is open , but petrol stations , schools , and most businesses -- including supermarkets and car rental offices -- are closed , the British Foreign Office said in a travel advisory . Hotels are open , but the strike is causing daily cuts to electricity and water supplies , the Foreign Office said . French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Thursday he is ready to approve a compromise that would give nearly a $ 200 -LRB- $ 254 -RRB- monthly supplement to workers in Guadeloupe with low-paying jobs . `` This crisis is serious , and profound , but it 's not new , '' Fillon said , adding that it 's linked to `` the lifelessness of the economy in the Antilles , aggravated by the global economic crisis . '' Sending supplementary police forces is justified , Fillon said , because `` we can not accept what has happened '' in the department . He was referring to the attacks on businesses , the roadblocks in the streets and above all , the death of the civilian , who he said was a union leader . Agence France-Presse identified the victim as union representative Jacques Bino . He was shot dead Tuesday night when he drove past a roadblock manned by armed youths in the city of Pointe-a-Pitre . His car was hit three times by shotgun fire , prosecutors told AFP . Three police who accompanied emergency services trying to help the dying man were lightly wounded , officials said , according to AFP . Speaking with RTL on Wednesday , one demonstrator denied he was fanning the flames of unrest . `` We have always called for calm , '' Elie Domota , leader of the Coalition against Exploitation , said . `` We have told the young people to go to their homes and continue to protest peacefully , but the police yesterday beat protesters and called them racist names , so the situation escalated . '' CNN 's Alanne Orjoux in Atlanta , Georgia , contributed to this report . | French police reinforcements being posted to Guadeloupe . Island wracked by a month of sometimes violent protests over living conditions . Protest leader denies encouraging violence . Guadeloupe is French overseas territory . | [[34, 166], [34, 166], [775, 906], [2503, 2564], [34, 166]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The moment I saw that guinea pig 's corpse , I made up my mind . I would not tell my son Checkers was dead ... at least not that night . Drew had five tests within the next two days . I was n't going to let grief jeopardize his grades . Checkers , on the left , enjoys a bit of kale with Andrea . I realize instantly the challenges of my decision . How could I keep this secret in a 10-by-12 room in which the guinea pig chalet was almost as big as the twin bed ? I 'd already goofed by yelping , `` Oh , my ! '' when I saw the body . Drew heard me from his bathroom . `` What 's wrong , Mommy ? Are you OK ? '' `` I 'm fine , '' I reply . But he recognizes that I have n't answered both questions . `` But what 's wrong ? '' `` Nothing . '' `` Well , why did you say that ? Is it the guinea pigs ? '' I feel panicked . No sloshing ! He 's drying off ! Pajamas are next ! I realize I 'm holding my breath , and in my head , I 'm yelling , `` Move , Christy ! Move ! '' I exhale as I lie . `` Everything 's OK . '' In what seemed like one move , I reach in the closet , dump shoes out of a box , grab Checkers , plunk the stiff in the box , run downstairs , stuff the cardboard casket into a plastic bag , dash to the garage trash can , finish rapid hand-washing and make it upstairs as my third-grader steps into the hall . `` We 're having storytime in my bed tonight ! '' I say breathlessly . My bed is off-limits except for nightmares , illness or Saturday morning . Drew 's so excited about the treat , he runs for the king-sized sanctum without asking questions . We read and pray , and then I give him a piggyback ride into his dark bedroom . It 's Wednesday , 7:45 p.m. , and for now , I 'm in the clear . By the time Drew wakes the next morning , I have a plan : darkness and distraction . We 're always 30 minutes into our commute before the sun rises . Between a disabled circuit breaker to prevent lights in his room from working , piggyback rides up and down the stairs , dressing in mom 's room -LRB- where the lights work -RRB- while we review potential bonus words , multiplication drills , Scripture recitation for the Bible test , questions science and reading lessons , there are enough morning distractions to safeguard my secret . Thursday evening is a challenge . In our house , TV is for weekends only . It 's cold and drizzly outside ; Andrew has beaten me in chess -- twice . I pull out the biggest distraction of all . `` I 'm going to let you see a video tonight . You need to relax a bit from those tests today , '' I say . His eyebrows make a big V on his forehead . `` But it 's a school night , Mommy . '' I assure him it 's OK . He 's suspicious , but TV is as awesome as getting in Mom 's bed , so no more questions . My co-workers split into camps . The Grief Gurus ream me for concealing the death . Andrew loves Checkers . He deserves timely notice of death . I care more about grades than his emotional health . Bad things will happen to Drew at inopportune times in his life , and he has to learn to juggle difficulties . I 'm delaying his development . Whatever . The Practical Posse has opinions , too . That guinea pig still will be dead Friday . Andrew will be just as sad after his tests with fewer consequences than if he 's sad before the tests . Make sure you 're honest about why you delayed telling him . After school Friday , I break the news . There 's a shriek and then loads of tears . I 'll never forget the long drawn-out wail , `` I loved her like a daughter ! '' I 'm convinced that boy 's been reading William Faulkner , because there is way too much drama that follows . We must wear black for three days . The only song we can listen to on the `` High School Musical 2 '' CD is the duet after Gabriella and Troy break up . It 's the saddest one . He cancels Happy Meal Friday , because there is nothing happy about this day . I answer the questions . She was on her side at the end of the ramp . Her mouth was open with her two big teeth protruding . No , it did n't look like she suffered . Maybe a lung problem killed her . I think Andrea -LRB- the cage mate -RRB- will be fine . No , it was n't your care that killed her . And then finally , `` She died Wednesday . '' Tears stop . Voice strengthens . `` Wednesday ?! '' `` Honey , you had a science test . You needed to know your binominal nomenclature . You had a math unit test , a reading test . You had to do your scripture recitation and a Bible test . You see how upset you are now ? I could n't let you go to school and take tests feeling like this . '' There 's a long pause . And then he says the words that make giving piggyback rides on a spine with bad discs and disabling circuit breakers worth it . He stares deeply and says , `` Thank you , Mommy . '' Maybe the Grief Gurus are right . Maybe Drew deserved to know sooner . But he seems fine . I 'm certain he 'll develop into a man who can handle more than one problem at a time . And Checkers , rest in peace . | Mom discovers young boy 's guinea pig has died suddenly . She decides to keep it a secret because he faces several school tests . Co-workers divided on whether mom 's actions are correct . | [[4521, 4588], [2769, 2801]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Despite the steady drum-beat of economic news , therapists say money is still one of the most taboo subjects for American families . Keli Lauric , 30 , and her grandmother , Evelyn Gloer , 79 , view money based on life experience . `` It 's easier to talk about sex than it is to talk about money in our societies , '' says Dr. Nancy Molitor , a psychologist in Illinois . And that 's too bad , because all of us have something to learn from each other , says Molitor . Often , generations seem like they 're speaking different languages when it comes to saving and spending money . Older people tend to save , while younger generations wrestle with the fallout from overspending . Experts say people 's spending habits often reflect the environment in which they grew up . To find out how families view money during the economic recession , CNN.com sat down with two multigenerational families . The four-generation Merriweather family worries its younger members may have been spoiled by the economic high tide of the 1990s and early 2000s . Marvin Merriweather , 65 , says a person 's spending habits are derived from life experience . If your life was hard , you save ; if you 've got it made , you tend to spend , he says . Watch the Merriweather family talk about money '' `` I think a lot of the fault falls to us as the older generation by not teaching -LSB- financial skills -RSB- , because we try so hard to make it better for our children . '' The three-generation Gloer family says families need to remember to lean on each other during the hard times . `` Life 's what you make it . I still say that , '' says Evelyn Gloer , 79 . `` I mean , you do n't have to be rich to have a happy home . '' Olivia Mellon , a money coach who organizes multigenerational family retreats to talk about spending , says older generations are more inclined to hoard money because they 've lived through difficult times . Now , `` we have a culture of addictive overspenders , '' she says . But , with the recession , there are signs spending habits are trending back toward the Depression era , she says . `` Some people are getting much more frugal and much more risk-averse , '' Mellon says . Keli Lauric , Gloer 's 30-year-old granddaughter , says she spent her money freely in her 20s , living in New York . Now in Atlanta , Georgia , she owns two houses because she ca n't find a way to sell or rent one of them . Like many people , she 's had to cut back . The recession has `` made everyone realize you have to live on a budget all the time , even when times are good , '' she said . Dr. April Benson , a psychologist and author of books on compulsive spending , said this is a good time for families to bond over experiences instead of purchases . Molitor , the family therapist , said many Baby Boomers grew up with a sense of entitlement about money . Now , many of them are terrified because they may have to put off retirement because their savings accounts dwindled as markets fell . Older generations tend to save more , she said . Many avoid credit because they remember hard times after the Great Depression . iReport.com : What have you learned from past generations ? Families can use the economic recession as a chance to band together and learn from each other , she says . `` This is an opportunity . As much as this is very painful , many people are actually using this as a challenge and they 're actually rising above this , '' she says . Molitor said children should be involved in financial planning from an early age . At about age 8 , they should be able to understand if the family is under financial stress , so it 's best to see what they can contribute . Dr. Barbara Lips , on the other hand , says children should be involved in financial planning , but should not be made aware of family money problems at a young age . `` If -LSB- children -RSB- have a sense that mom and dad are OK then they are OK , '' says Lips , a psychologist in Iowa . `` Mom and dad being OK really is their sense of security . '' Molitor says she 's seen a wave of families come to her to talk about money and the stress it 's causing them . Often , what they need is to talk to each other , says Molitor . The Gloer family agrees . Melanie Burns , Evelyn 's 53-year-old daughter , says families should band together in hard times . `` That 's what family 's for ... We 're here to support each other if we need it . '' `` Right , when somebody falls down we pick them up , '' Evelyn Gloer responded . | Therapists say money is still more taboo in American families than sex . Generational differences and life experiences can shade a person 's view of money . Older generations tend to save more ; younger people tend to rely on credit . Experts say generations can learn from each other during recession . | [[67, 151], [602, 627], [1727, 1740], [1830, 1885], [1835, 1934], [3011, 3046], [422, 471], [1513, 1584], [3200, 3294]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A roadside bomb attack Thursday in the Somali capital , Mogadishu , injured the nation 's interior minister and killed one of his secretaries , according to a source close to the minister . The Bakaraha market in Somalia 's capital is one of the most dangerous areas of the city . The mid-day attack on Abdukadir Ali Omar , a member of the transitional government , left him with shrapnel wounds to his leg . The extent of his injuries was unclear , said the source , who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media . The explosion occurred about noon at the Bakaraha market , in one of the most dangerous areas of the city . The interior minister is a popular moderate who led assaults against Ethiopian forces during their invasion of Somalia . Ethiopian troops invaded the country at its request in December 2006 . The Ethiopian invasion ousted the Islamic Courts Union , an Islamic movement that had claimed control of Mogadishu earlier that year . Thursday 's attack on Ali Omar fueled concerns that moderate Islamists would strike out against the hardline Al-Shabab , which is suspected in the explosion . Al-Shabab -- which the United States has designated a terror organization -- warmly welcomed a recent call for the overthrow of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed , Somalia 's new president . The call , delivered via an audio recording , purportedly came from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden . -- Journalist Mohamed Amin Adow contributed to this report . | Attack on Abdukadir Ali Omar left him with shrapnel wounds to his leg . Explosion occurred about noon at the Bakaraha market in Mogadishu . Interior minister is a popular moderate in Somalia . Fueled concerns moderate Islamists would strike against hardline Al-Shabab . | [[300, 340], [385, 427], [561, 617], [669, 789], [996, 1114]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British TV channels could advertise abortion services for the first time under new advertising rules proposed Thursday by an ad industry group . The new proposals will also allow condoms to be advertised more widely on television . The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice , the industry body responsible for writing and enforcing advertising rules in Britain , said the commercials would be for pregnancy advisory services that give information about a range of options to pregnant women , including abortion . If an organization does not offer information about abortion , it would have to make that clear in the ad , BCAP spokeswoman Lynsay Taffe said . Abortion clinics , which require referrals from doctors or hospitals , would not be allowed to advertise under the proposed rules , Taffe said . There would be no restrictions on when such ads could air on British television , she said , but programmers would have to keep the sensitive topic in mind and not schedule the ads around religious programs , for example . `` It 's a sensitive product , so it would have to be scheduled sensitively , '' Taffe told CNN . The proposal is among a number of updates to current advertising standards that the Committee for Advertising Practice and BCAP , its broadcasting arm , published Thursday after an 18-month review . `` Each year the British public -LRB- sees -RRB- millions of advertisements , many of which are memorable , '' the committee said . `` The advertising codes aim to make sure that they are memorable for the right reasons . '' The public now has until June 19 to comment on the proposals before they come into force , likely in 2010 , the committee said . The new proposals also contain a change on advertising condoms on television . Under current rules , condoms generally can not be advertised on TV before 9 p.m. in order to protect younger viewers , the committee said . New rules would relax the restrictions on advertising condoms , with the only requirement that they not be shown around programs intended for children younger than 10 . The change came after Joyce Gould , a member of the House of Lords , requested the change and noted that Britain had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe along with spiraling rates of sexually transmitted diseases , the committee said . Gould reported a survey that showed young people believed TV was one of the most effective ways of encouraging them to use condoms . `` The presence of condom advertisements on television continues to be a subject of complaint to the -LRB- Advertising Standards Authority -RRB- , but numbers are very low , '' the committee said . `` Nevertheless , BCAP has to balance public sensitivities against a public health problem that is clearly urgent . '' | British TV channels could advertise abortion services under new proposals . Industry group says commercials would be for pregnancy advisory services . They give information about options for pregnant women , including abortion . | [[9, 32], [36, 136], [181, 198], [223, 267], [879, 924], [927, 935], [268, 315], [405, 466], [439, 466], [472, 531], [517, 531], [534, 554]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- What he lacks in technique , Steve Wozniak makes up for in geeks . Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak and his partner show off their moves on `` Dancing With the Stars . '' The Apple Inc. co-founder has managed to transform his less-than-graceful moves on ABC 's `` Dancing With the Stars '' into enough votes to keep hope alive on the competitive ballroom-dance show . `` Woz , '' as he is known by friends and fans alike , and partner Katarina Smirnoff have had some of the lowest scores from the trio of judges since the show premiered on March 9 . But the judges , who are experts in the field of competitive dance , are n't the only deciding factor . Viewers can vote online , via phone calls or by text messaging , and those votes comprise 50 percent of each couple 's score . The dance team with the lowest combined score is then voted off the show -- a fate that may await Wozniak on Tuesday night . Wozniak and Smirnoff are up against a bevy of entertainers , including an Olympian , an NFL Hall of Famer , the most successful female rapper in hip-hop history and an actor whose claim to fame is appearing naked in the film `` Sex and the City . '' But all that star power has so far been matched by the power of computer geeks who are using what they know best to keep the rhythmically challenged Silicon Valley icon in the game . Chris Harrington , technology director for the Charlotte , North Carolina-based advertising , public relations and new media firm Luquire George Andrews , set up VoteWoz.com and a similarly named Twitter account , which so far has more than 55,000 followers . Harrington -- who began rallying the techie troops almost as soon as ABC announced that Wozniak would be competing -- said he is rooting for the philanthropist because `` he puts more heart and more passion in what he 's doing than some of the other dancers . '' `` When you have beautiful athletes , movie stars and TV personalities , and then you mix in a geek , there 's something a little strange and entertaining , '' Harrington said . `` Being a fellow geek myself , I thought now is the time to work with the technologies that we know and start pushing for the vote . '' That means lots and lots of social networking to spread the love -- and the word of Woz . Joe Patane is a longtime friend of Wozniak 's and one of the officers for the official `` Vote for Woz on ABC 's ` Dancing With the Stars ' '' Facebook group . Patane shares his friend 's passion for philanthropy and runs his own foundation and the site joesworld.org . He also knows a bit about reality television . A former cast member of MTV 's `` The Real World : Miami , '' Patane was instrumental in convincing his bud to sign on to the show and said the lovable -LRB- though some might argue lumbering -RRB- Wozniak has garnered fans both young and old . `` He loves his fans , and he 's completely flattered by the fan response , '' Patane said . `` He 's a shy guy , and he 's doing a crazy , unique and different thing in his life that he wants to share with the world . '' Patane , who is also executive producer of the documentary `` Camp Woz : The Admirable Lunacy of Philanthropy , '' said he enjoys watching his friend dance each week . `` He 's the most uniquely giving , loving , happy man , '' Patane said . `` With so many people watching this show , it 's a good , infectious way to spread love , joy and hope . '' Aaron Petrey of Stanford , Kentucky , is one viewer who has fully embraced the Wozniak mania . He won an autographed copy of the book `` iWoz '' for submitting a video of himself imitating Wozniak 's dance moves to VoteWoz.com . Petrey said it 's only natural that fans of Woz would turn to the Internet to support him . `` Without -LSB- Wozniak -RSB- there probably would n't be a YouTube , Twitter or Facebook , '' Petrey said . `` He 's the reason why we even have a computer . I like seeing him on the show . '' Unfortunately , the `` Dancing With the Stars '' judges do n't seem to feel the same way . Despite dancing through injuries -- including a pulled hamstring that sent him to the hospital in an ambulance last week -- Wozniak failed to impress the experts Monday night . While he did manage to score a perfect 10 , it was a collective 10 out of a possible 30 . At one point during Wozniak 's and Smirnoff 's samba , judge Bruno Tonioli put his face in his hands . Wozniak capped their routine by doing his version of the break-dance move known as `` the worm , '' but even that failed to save his lackluster performance . `` At some point the novelty wears off , '' said judge Carrie Ann Inaba , often cited as the kindest of the three . Wozniak , who beat out former Go-Go 's lead singer Belinda Carlisle after a dance-off in an earlier round , kept his smile throughout the storm of criticism . `` I enjoy it , '' he said on the show afterward . `` I 'm going to try to bring my form of entertainment to the world . '' | Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak scores this season on `` Dancing With the Stars '' Fellow `` geeks '' are supporting Wozniak via voting and social-networking sites . Wozniak friend : He 's a shy guy `` doing a crazy , unique and different thing '' Despite dancing through injuries , Wozniak has n't been a hit with judges . | [[193, 329], [2969, 3029], [4031, 4095], [4155, 4207]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An elderly British couple who died together at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland died `` peacefully '' after receiving `` wonderful and humbling care '' from their doctors , the couple 's family said . Peter and Penelope Duff from Bath , England , died in Zurich on February 27 , according to a statement released Thursday by their family and reported by Britain 's Press Association . Both had terminal cancer , the statement said . `` Penny had fought a rare cancer , GIST , since 1992 and Peter 's colon cancer had spread to his liver , '' the statement said . `` Their decision in no way reflected on the wonderful and humbling care they have received from their consultant , doctors and nurses , for which the family , and they , were so appreciative . '' Peter Duff , who was reported to be 80 , was the executive chairman of Alcohol in Moderation , a nonprofit group that advocates a `` sensible drinking ethos . '' His daughter , Helena Conibear , is executive director of AIM Digest , a monthly publication . Conibear and AIM could not be reached for comment Friday . The Press Association said Penelope Duff was 70 . Her condition , GIST , stands for gastrointestinal stromal tumor , a rare type of cancer found in the digestive system . Dignity in Dying , a British charity that advocates the choice of assisted death for terminally ill patients , said it was `` extremely sad '' that the Duffs had to travel abroad to die . `` Had they had the option of an assisted death in this country they may still be alive , as their physical ability to travel would not have been a factor , '' said Sarah Wootton , chief executive of Dignity in Dying . Wootton called on Parliament to modernize laws on suicide to allow for assisted dying . Phyllis Bowman , executive director of Right to Life , which opposes euthanasia , also said the Duffs ' case was sad . `` I think it 's very sad , particularly as they could have gone together into a hospice . A hospice with cancer -- there is not uncontrollable pain , '' Bowman told CNN . `` I think that with the euthanasia lobby , they feed on despair and they encourage despair rather than hope . '' | Peter and Penelope Duff from Bath , England , died in Zurich on February 27 . Penny had fought a rare cancer , GIST , since 1992 and Peter had colon cancer . Dignity in Dying charity : `` Extremely sad '' the Duffs had to travel abroad to die . They called on UK to modernize laws on suicide to allow for assisted dying . | [[246, 279], [292, 321], [478, 511], [521, 531], [1311, 1328], [1403, 1439], [1440, 1479], [1787, 1801], [1874, 1905], [1699, 1756], [1741, 1745], [1757, 1786]] |
JERUSALEM -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Israeli military 's firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the Gaza offensive `` was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes , '' Human Rights Watch -LRB- HRW -RRB- said in a report on Wednesday . Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorus shells over populated areas in Gaza . `` In Gaza , the Israeli military did n't just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops , '' said Fred Abrahams , a HRW senior emergencies researcher . `` It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas , even when its troops were n't in the area and safer smoke shells were available . As a result , civilians needlessly suffered and died . '' Entitled `` Rain of Fire : Israel 's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza , '' the 71-page report provides `` witness accounts '' and `` presents ballistics evidence , photographs , and satellite imagery , as well as documents from the Israeli military and government . '' HRW is an independent international organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights . The group urged Israel and the United States to investigate the attacks . Israel should prosecute those who carried them out and the U.S. government , which supplied Israel , should look into the issue . HRW said white phosphorous was a chemical substance dispersed in artillery shells , bombs and rockets , used primarily to obscure military operations . '' -LRB- While -RRB- it is not considered a chemical weapon and is not banned per se , it ignites and burns on contact with oxygen and creates a smokescreen at night or during the day to mask the visual movement of troops . `` It also interferes with infra-red optics and weapon-tracking systems , thus protecting military forces from guided weapons such as anti-tank missiles . When WP comes into contact with people or objects , though , it creates an intense and persistent burn . It can also be used as a weapon against military targets , '' the group said . In response , the Israeli military said `` smoke shells are not an incendiary weapon '' and defended its actions . The Israel Defense Forces said it was close to completing its probe into `` the use of ammunition containing elements of phosphorous . '' '' -LRB- The invesitgation -RRB- is dealing with the use of ammunition containing elements of phosphorous , including , among others , the 155mm smoke shells which were referred to in the HRW report . This type of ammunition disperses in the atmosphere and creates an effective smoke screen . It is used by many Western armies . `` It is already possible to conclude that the IDF 's use of smoke shells was in accordance with international law . These shells were used for specific operational needs only and in accord with international humanitarian law . The claim that smoke shells were used indiscriminately , or to threaten the civilian population , is baseless , '' the IDF said . It said `` that weapons intended for screening are not classed as incendiary weapons . '' But Abrahams said past IDF investigations into allegations of wrongdoing suggest their inquiry would be neither thorough nor impartial . `` That 's why an international investigation is required into serious laws of war violations by all parties . `` For the needless civilian deaths caused by white phosphorus , senior commanders should be held to account , '' Abrahams said . The report said white phosphorus munitions were n't illegal when deployed properly in open areas , but it determined that the IDF repeatedly used them `` unlawfully over populated neighborhoods , killing and wounding civilians and damaging civilian structures , including a school , a market , a humanitarian aid warehouse and a hospital . '' `` First , the repeated use of air-burst white phosphorus in populated areas until the last days of the operation reveals a pattern or policy of conduct rather than incidental or accidental usage . Second , the IDF was well aware of the effects of white phosphorus and the dangers it poses to civilians . Third , the IDF failed to use safer available alternatives for smokescreens , '' the report said . A medical report prepared during the recent hostilities by the Israeli Health Ministry said that white phosphorus `` can cause serious injury and death when it comes into contact with the skin , is inhaled or is swallowed . '' The report said that the IDF could have used a non-lethal smoke shells produced by an Israeli company if it wanted to provide a `` smokescreen '' for its troops . Israel launched the offensive in late December to take on militants from Hamas , who had been shelling southern Israeli communities for months from Gaza . The offensive , called Operation Cast Lead , was launched December 27 and ended January 17 with a cease-fire . Of the 1,453 people estimated killed in the conflict , 1,440 were Palestinian , including 431 children and 114 women , a U.N. report recently said . The 13 Israelis killed included three civilians and six soldiers killed by Hamas , and four soldiers killed by friendly fire , it said . HRW also said it found no evidence that the Hamas militants Israel was targeting in Gaza were using human shields `` in the vicinity at the time of the attacks . '' Israel has said Hamas militants used civilians as human shields and fought from civilian locations , HRW points out . `` In some areas Palestinian fighters appear to have been present , but this does not justify the indiscriminate use of white phosphorus in a populated area . '' | Israel 's use of phosphorus shells over during Gaza offensive `` indiscriminate '' Human Rights Watch says shelling `` evidence of war crimes '' Group says phosphorus shells cause an `` intense and persistent burn '' | [[0, 25], [145, 163], [266, 356], [290, 356], [3550, 3786], [5491, 5577], [266, 356], [1855, 1904], [1916, 1959]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The numbers were good for `` Knowing . '' In `` Knowing , '' a physics professor -LRB- Nicolas Cage -RRB- ponders patterns in a list of numbers . The film , about a physics professor who sees clues for disastrous events in a time capsule 's list of digits , overcame some pretty long odds at the box office -- going against the Paul Rudd-Jason Segel comedy `` I Love You , Man , '' the Julia Roberts-Clive Owen romantic thriller `` Duplicity '' and some fairly scathing reviews -- to emerge as the weekend 's No. 1 film . Though star Nicolas Cage would n't have predicted the outcome , in an interview before the film 's release , he did talk about the power of positive thinking . `` I 'm a huge believer of the human spirit , '' he told CNN . `` I think people are amazing . I think what we have accomplished is incredible . ... If you think positive and you apply the guts and ingenuity that mankind has been doing forever , at least in our existence , I believe we get through anything . '' Cage 's character , John Koestler , is a science professor whom Cage describes as `` someone who is reawakening to his faith . '' He begins the film believing that everything is random , but as the film continues -- and he seeks to alert the world of a coming catastrophe -- `` he believes there is cause and effect and perhaps even a divine mind , '' Cage said . The film begins in 1959 , with students burying items in a time capsule at an elementary school . One of the children , however , creates an image of seemingly random numbers . Fifty years later , when the capsule is opened , Koestler 's son receives the page of numbers , and his father realizes that they correspond to major disasters of the past half-century . Koestler determines that three events have yet to occur and sets out to meet the clairvoyant child 's now grown daughter . The final event threatens life on Earth itself , and the group begins a race against time , with unusual consequences . Critics were not impressed . The film earned a 25 percent rating on the review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com , with some reviewers in full-on mockery mode . Watch Mr. Moviefone review `` Knowing '' and other films '' `` It 's increasingly hard to believe that Cage won an Oscar in 1996 -LRB- for ` Leaving Las Vegas ' -RRB- , '' wrote USA Today 's Claudia Puig in a 1 1/2 - star review . `` In the past decade , he has made some awful choices , and his range has seemed to grow more limited . '' `` It 's so inept that you may wish you were watching an M. Night Shyamalan version of the very same premise , '' wrote Entertainment Weekly 's Owen Gleiberman , referring to the director whose last two films , `` Lady in the Water '' and `` The Happening , '' were two of the most detested films of recent years . But the film 's apocalyptic theme obviously strikes a chord , something director Alex Proyas -LRB- `` Dark City '' -RRB- saw early on . Proyas told CNN in a pre-release interview that `` you can read -LSB- the film -RSB- as biblical if you choose to , '' but he prefers to see it as `` spiritual . '' `` I try to leave it very open-ended , '' he said . `` I try to think of it as more a spiritual place than a biblical one . '' Cage 's character , he said , is on a spiritual quest in the midst of what could be global destruction . Rose Byrne , who plays the clairvoyant child 's daughter , Diana , called the film `` kind of a theological discussion . '' `` That 's always an exciting topic , '' she said . `` It 's bridging the gap between science and spirituality . That always makes things thought-provoking , and I like that with any piece of art . '' Byrne said that `` Knowing '' taps into some of the end-times anxiety that 's been in the air in recent years , which perhaps could help find an audience . -LRB- As she was talking before the film 's release , she did n't realize how much of an audience . -RRB- . `` I think it 's a common thing in life , '' she said of end-of-the-world fears , referencing one of the latest making the rounds -- the Mayan calendar 's Long Count end in 2012 -- in making her point . Proyas observes that given such worries , the film can be a wake-up call for such concerns as global climate change . `` There is a symbolic aspect to what is happening and what the story is about , and to get people to pay attention to what could happen , '' he said . But , he adds , it 's also just a movie . `` I believe in the entertainment value of movies -- very much so , '' he said . `` I ... want to make it good for the audience . I really want people to be there and experience something powerful and resident , both in terms of ideas and emotions ... and also with this film trying to do something different . It 's a challenging film , and it takes some unexpected turns . '' | `` Knowing '' was weekend 's No. 1 film . Apocalyptic thriller stars Nicolas Cage as professor who sees clues in numbers . Film taps into themes of religion , spirituality , end-times concerns , say makers . | [[477, 505], [509, 549], [191, 210], [215, 283], [3663, 3732]] |
JAKARTA , Indonesia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Islamic parties in Indonesia will not get enough votes in the coming election to nominate a presidential candidate , according to polls , analysts and an Islamic party official . Supporters of Indonesia 's Democratic Party of Struggle take part in a campaign event in Jakarta on March 24 . Nevertheless , the influence of Islam on politics in Indonesia -- the world 's most populous Muslim country -- has many nationalist parties changing their strategy . The April 9 national elections will determine the makeup of Indonesia 's 550-seat parliament , as well as its regional representation council , provincial , county and city assemblies . More than 38 parties are vying for these seats , but very few are expected to get the 20 percent of parliamentary seats needed to nominate a presidential candidate in the July election . In fact , the only party expected to meet the 20 percent threshold is President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono 's Democratic Party . Other parties will have to join alliances to nominate a president . Yudyohono 's `` charming '' personality , and his government 's ability to weather the current worldwide financial downturn , have kept him on top of the polls , according to James Castle , who analyzes Indonesian politics and economy . Castle said despite the influence of Islam on Indonesian politics , voters are more concerned about economic issues . `` Like everywhere in the world , economics is the key factor , '' he said . `` It 's quite clear from all these surveys , when inflation was high , the president 's popularity is low . Now that inflation has come down , the president 's popularity is high , and he and his party are doing very well in the polls coming into the election . '' So far , Indonesia has not felt the impact of the global recession , partly because its economy is more isolated than other countries ' . But the government has taken steps to protect the currency and the economy from the downturn , Castle said . `` This will probably just be a speed bump for Indonesia , '' he said . Although financial issues are the main concern for voters in Indonesia -- where poverty is rampant -- Yudyohono 's Democratic Party has recently had to bow to pressure from Islamic groups . Andi Mallarangang , a spokesman for the president , acknowledged that the party 's support for an anti-pornography bill -- which was passed in October -- was a `` symbolic gesture '' to the Islamic groups that had called for the measure . `` During the process of legislation , -LRB- the government -RRB- made sure we do not support pornography , '' Mallarangang said . `` But there should be no limitation on freedom of arts and expression '' He noted that the final law was not as strong as the initially proposed bill . Another issue that has made headlines in the Indonesian media is the government 's position on Ahmadiyah , a Muslim sect that does not believe Mohammad is the last prophet . The government recently restricted the freedoms of the group , but has so far refused to ban the group . `` In Indonesia , one group of Islamic radicals would like the government to ban Ahmadiyah ... so the government 's using the middle approach in which we will not ban Ahmadiyah because they have a right , '' Mallarangang said . `` But there are certain things that are sensitive to -LRB- their -RRB- operation that are regulated by government . '' One of those groups that has been outspoken in its rejection of Ahmadiyah is Indonesia 's Ulama Council . The chairman of the council , Amidhan , disputed media reports that the council has given Yudyohono 's government a deadline to ban the sect or it will issue an edict against voting for Yudyohono . Amidhan -- who goes by one name -- said the council 's fatwa against Ahmadiyah was first issued in 1980 , but it had to reissue the edict last year because of complaints that the sect was trying to convert other Muslims . `` We agree Ahmadiyah must be a new religion , not part of Islam , '' Amidhan said . The council is an independent organization , but remains very influential . In January , it issued several new fatwas -- including bans on smoking for children and pregnant women , and chanting during yoga . A fatwa is a legal pronouncement for Muslims , but the council said it has no authority to enforce them . Indonesia 's Islamic parties are also adopting more moderate positions to attract more voters , which has caused internal divisions -- particularly for PKS , translated as the Prosperous Justice Party . PKS legislator Zulkieflimansyah , known as Bang Zul , said the party `` is between a rock and a hard place . '' `` We have to behave like a political party and also an Islamic movement , '' he said . That has led to a split between the hard-liners and the moderates in the PKS . `` We are using the elections as a test , '' Bang Zul said . `` Hopefully , if we are able to convince the public , PKS will continue to be a significant player in politics . '' Another Islamic party , the National Awakening Party , or PKB , said it intends to use the 2009 election to position itself for the next election in five years . `` All parties want to reach the 20 percent threshold -LRB- to nominate a presidential candidate -RRB- , PKB included , '' said the party 's vice secretary-general , Helmy Faishal Zaini . `` But realistically almost no party will be able to nominate on its own . '' That does not mean that a small party like PKB can not succeed , he said . Zaini said PKB hopes it can put forward a vice presidential candidate who could possibly run for the top spot in the 2014 election . `` We need to build a foundation now , '' he said . `` So one way to do this is to join one of the senior people -LRB- politicians -RRB- with a junior person this time . ... `` 2009 could be the beginning of the new generation '' of politicians . | April 9 elections will determine the makeup of Indonesia 's 550-seat parliament . Few of over 38 parties expected to get enough seats for a candidate in July election . Analysts : Islamic parties wo n't get enough votes to nominate a presidential candidate . Influence of Islam on politics has many nationalist parties changing their strategy . | [[495, 680], [0, 7], [10, 116], [344, 391], [440, 494], [2182, 2224], [2229, 2269]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Air Force F-22A fighter jet crashed Wednesday near Edwards Air Force Base in California , killing the test pilot , the Air Force said . An F-22A fighter jet similar to this one crashed Wednesday during a test mission in California . The single-seater crashed about 10:30 a.m. -LRB- 1:30 p.m. ET -RRB- for unknown reasons , Air Force officials said . Lockheed Martin said the test pilot , David Cooley , 49 , of Palmdale , California , joined the company in 2003 and was a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force . The fighter was on a test mission when it crashed about 35 miles northeast of Edwards AFB , where it was stationed , the Air Force said in a news release . At $ 150 million apiece , the F-22A is the most expensive Air Force fighter . In 2004 , an F-22 Raptor crashed on a training mission in the Nevada desert . The pilot ejected and was not hurt , though the jet was destroyed . The plane was designed in the 1980s to provide a stealthy method to enter Soviet air space and strike Soviet bombers if the USSR attempted a nuclear strike . Once the Cold War ended , the Air Force found a new mission for the F-22 as a long-range fighter with a sophisticated stealth design and state-of-the-art equipment that no other plane could rival . However , the rising cost of the plane and numerous design and software problems threatened the program , which was almost eliminated by Congress . In the end , the aircraft survived , and most of the problems were fixed -- except for the price tag , which forced the Air Force to buy fewer aircraft . | NEW : Test pilot David Cooley , 49 , of Palmdale , California , dies in crash . F-22A fighter jet crashes 35 miles northeast of Edwards AFB around 10:30 a.m. The one-seater jet was on a test mission when it crashed . At $ 150 million apiece , the F-22A is the most expensive Air Force fighter . | [[383, 452], [0, 20], [61, 106], [169, 265], [266, 333], [584, 634], [169, 265], [779, 786], [789, 856], [701, 724], [727, 778]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As Iraqi officials speak loftily of ethnic and political reconciliation , Abu Wissam seethes . In April 2006 , two Iraqis mourn a relative slain in sectarian violence in the city of Falluja . He wants cold , hard justice for the killers of his son , Raed , a 25-year-old business school graduate , `` cut to pieces '' by Mehdi Army militia members in their Baghdad neighborhood . The Wissams are among the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis caught in the maelstrom of the militia violence that rippled across Iraq after the 2006 bombing in Samarra of the Askariya Mosque , a Shiite shrine . The kind of trauma and pain endured by the Wissam family is kindling an interest in a social healing process adopted by countries around the world -- truth commissions . They are bodies across the globe that have provided a forum for victims and perpetrators to give cathartic public testimony on human rights abuses and come up with policy recommendations to correct the root cause of the abuses . `` Iraq , like many Arab cultures , is an intensely rich narrative culture , '' said Miranda Sissons , Iraq director of the International Center for Transitional Justice , which helps countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocities and human rights abuses . `` The idea of standing up and witnessing is tremendously appealing , the kind of act and mechanism they can understand . '' Watch how the `` business of death '' continues to thrive '' The U.S. Institute of Peace -- one of the independent agencies behind the all-important Iraq Study Group report in 2006 -- is backing an initiative in Iraq to generate understanding and `` spark public dialogue on the usefulness of the truth commission process . '' The institute is teaming up with Iraq 's Ministry of Human Rights to screen a USIP film across Iraq about the work of four different commissions . Called `` Confronting The Truth : Truth Commissions and Societies in Transition , '' the film -- produced by York Zimmerman and Peter Ackerman -- explores the workings of such commissions in South Africa , Peru , Morocco and East Timor . The film is getting some good reviews among Iraqis . `` The truth commission process is one in which you encourage folks to directly confront that past and how to get behind it , '' said Sermid Al-Sarraf , the executive director of the International Institute for the Rule of Law , a group that manages USIP 's rule of law programs in Iraq . Truth commissions and other conflict-resolution strategies have been on Iraq 's radar for years . Oral history projects have emerged , one being the Iraq History Project -- which `` gathers and analyzes personal narratives from victims , their families , witnesses , perpetrators and others '' about the `` torture , massacres , assassinations , rape , chemical weapons attacks , disappearances , and other acts of systematic repression '' during the Saddam Hussein regime . That project is managed by the International Human Rights Law Institute of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and is run by an all-Iraqi in-country staff . Last year , Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari 's Crisis Management Initiative and a conflict-resolution initiative at the University of Massachusetts Boston were behind an effort to forge the so-called Helsinki agreement -- a statement of reconciliation principles among a wide range of Iraqi politicians . That process was notable because former antagonists in Northern Ireland and South Africa worked with the Iraqis . Padraig O'Malley , a UMass conflict-resolution professor involved in the Helsinki process , is planning a three-day forum in April for `` divided cities , '' where officials from ethnically tense Kirkuk in Iraq will discuss common problems with officials from Derry/Londonderry and Belfast in Northern Ireland , Nicosia in Cyprus , and Mitrovica in Kosovo . The International Center for Transitional Justice says Coalition Provisional Authority officials initially proposed a `` truth-seeking commission '' for Iraq in 2003 but eventually decided to `` delay the process '' in order for Iraqis to rigorously study other truth-telling efforts , as advocated by the center . In 2005 , the center also discussed the establishment of a center for the missing and disappeared . As for truth commissions today , some observers say there has n't been the political will on the part of the national government to pursue one . So says Joost Hilterman , International Crisis Group deputy program director for the Middle East and North Africa . He has argued in the past for the establishment of a truth commission process and believes such a process , for example , would have been the proper way to deal with the challenge of de-Baathification . `` I 'm not against floating the idea , '' Hilterman said , but there 's `` no chance in hell '' it would happen anytime soon . Eduardo Gonzalez , the Americas deputy director of the transitional justice center , had been a staffer on the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission , where he was responsible for public hearings and victims and witnesses protection . He was interviewed in the USIP video , which featured touching testimony from victims of the warfare between government troops and Shining Path guerrillas between 1980 and 2000 . Gonzalez stressed the need to produce an accurate account of abuses , provide explanations for what happened , provide the proper opportunity for victims to be recognized , and help the society steer a new course for the future . Truth commissions do n't function as courts , and there are only rare occasions , such as in East Timor , where punishment would be meted out . `` Truth commissions , done right , could created a public dialogue , '' he said . He thinks a national Iraqi truth commission would probably be a few years down the road . But he thinks it 's more likely that a particular city , province or region could pursue them . One particular truth commission , in Morocco , has been cited as one that Iraq could study . That 's because it was the first one in the Arab world and it detailed human rights abuses from 1956 to 1999 under King Hassan II . Gonzalez said Iraq can benefit from studying all models , but he notes they share one thing -- a commitment to objectivity . The ICTJ 's Sissons notes that the British explored the idea of a truth commission as well , but experts told them Iraqis and not outsiders are the ones who need to pursue such an idea . She also said `` the scale of violence '' in Iraq and the `` nature and complexity '' of it `` is so vast '' that the German war crimes tribunals after World War II and the reparations to Holocaust victims come to mind . But if a truth initiative is to be effective , it would have to be rigorously designed and properly framed , with a `` distinct focus '' and an `` achievable mandate , '' she said . There must be commitment , goals , dedication and governmental support in areas such as subpoenaing records . `` You do n't just tell the truth , hold hands and sing ` Kumbaya , ' '' she said . But they can be very useful in Iraq , an `` evidence-rich environment . '' She said truth-telling commissions there could lead to many improvements in society , such as better detention registration policies , higher forensic standards , a freedom of information law , and a far-reaching reparations strategy . As for the man on the street , people who gather at Abu Wissam 's house to talk about the violence they 've endured do n't talk of forgiveness . They want the killers of their kin to be put to death . Al-Sarraf and others all agree justice must be served in cases of heinous crime . But he seized on the concept of forgiveness . It 's an Islamic virtue , and it could play a powerful role in a truth-telling initiative . `` Even though there is the principle of ` eye for an eye , ' there is also the higher ideal of mercy , '' he said . CNN 's Arwa Damon contributed to this report . | Relatives of slain Iraqis struggle with feelings of grief , revenge . Truth commissions provide forums for victims to be heard , perpetrators to testify . Process lets participants `` directly confront '' the past . Truth commissions could lead to other societal improvements , backers say . | [[793, 809], [815, 865], [841, 923], [5309, 5462], [2165, 2288], [7161, 7396], [7170, 7396]] |
LAGOS , Nigeria -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 200 people have died of meningitis in the past week alone in Niger and Nigeria , according to the World Health Organization . A health care worker vaccinates a child during an earlier outbreak of meningitis in Niger . The disease is an epidemic in 76 areas of the two countries , the health agency reported Wednesday . A spokesman for W.H.O. in Nigeria , Dr. Olaokun Soyinka , said Saturday that the outbreak is bigger than usual and stretches across the African meningitis belt from east - to west-sub-Saharan Africa . The outbreak began around the start of the year , Soyinka told CNN . It usually peaks in the dry season because of dust , winds and cold nights , before dipping around May when the rains come , he said . A shortage of vaccines means officials are relying on `` effective prevention , '' in which they watch for outbreaks and then vaccinate people in the epicenter and surrounding areas , Soyinka told CNN . There have been nearly 25,000 suspected cases and more than 1,500 deaths in the meningitis belt in the first 11 weeks of the year , W.H.O. reported . More than 85 percent of those cases happened in northern Nigeria and Niger . Nigeria 's Ministry of Health has reported 17,462 suspected cases of meningococcal disease , including 960 deaths , the world health agency said . In the past week , it reported 4,164 suspected cases with 171 deaths . Sixty-six local government areas in Nigeria have crossed the epidemic threshold . Epidemic thresholds are a way the W.H.O. confirms the emergence of an epidemic so it can step up vaccinations and other management measures . Niger 's Ministry of Health has reported 4,513 suspected cases of meningococcal disease , including 169 deaths , since the start of the year . In the past week , 1,071 suspected cases and 30 deaths have been reported , the W.H.O. said . Ten of Niger 's 42 districts have crossed the epidemic threshold . By comparison , other countries are reporting fewer than 50 cases a week . Meningitis is an infection of the meninges , the thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord . Several different bacteria can cause meningitis but Neisseria meningitidis -- which is to blame for this outbreak -- is one of the most significant because of its potential to cause epidemics . Health authorities have released 2.3 million doses of vaccine to Nigeria and 1.9 million doses to Niger , the W.H.O. said . CNN 's Christian Purefoy in Lagos , Nigeria , contributed to this report . | W.H.O. : Meningitis killed more than 200 people in the past week in Niger and Nigeria . Outbreak stretches across African `` meningitis belt , '' at epidemic levels in 76 areas . Vaccine shortage forces an `` effective prevention '' approach . 25,000 suspected cases , 1,500 deaths in the belt in the first 11 weeks of 2009 . | [[0, 5], [8, 123], [8, 31], [126, 170], [1641, 1751], [1784, 1800], [1803, 1857], [1784, 1800], [1860, 1877], [263, 322], [364, 397], [422, 564], [1417, 1498], [769, 846], [0, 5], [8, 123], [972, 1101], [1199, 1312], [1641, 1751]] |
FARGO , North Dakota -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fifteen helicopters from the U.S. Northern Command along with active-duty military personnel are being sent to Fargo , North Dakota , to assist the state as it prepares for record flooding , a U.S. military official told CNN . Valley Water Rescue volunteers patrol the Fargo area in search of people who need help evacuating Friday . The military personnel being sent to Fargo are from a `` contingency response force '' made up of active-duty troops , the official said . Above-freezing temperatures , followed by heavy rains this week , caused the Red River to swell and surpass its 1897 record of 40.1 feet early Friday morning . The swollen river threatened to rise further as the city 's mayor vowed to `` go down swinging . `` Right now , we think the river is beginning to crest , '' said Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker . `` As long as we stay under 42 feet , I think we got a chance ; if we go over 42 , there 's going to be some more evacuations . '' As of 8:15 p.m. , the river churned at 40.78 feet , nearly 22 feet above flood stage and almost a foot above the previous record of 40.1 feet , set in 1897 . Watch Fargo 's mayor explain why disaster could be averted '' Sandbagging operations , which have churned furiously throughout the week , continued Friday , drawing praise from local and state officials , including North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven . `` North Dakotans have come together in a big , big way . Our volunteers are doing a magnificent job building this flood protection and we want to say thank you to them , '' he said . `` There 's a sense of perseverance and resolve and determination . '' Buses and evacuation staging areas have been staged west of Fargo , Hoeven said , and hundreds of people already have evacuated Fargo neighborhoods , hospitals and a nursing home . Watch how volunteers are battling the rising water '' Fargo Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney said authorities were evacuating the city 's `` vulnerable populations '' and were asking for voluntary evacuations in sites near retaining dikes . The National Weather Service predicted the river would reach 42 feet Saturday , and forecasts indicated it would remain there into next week . But the weather service warned the river might reach 43 feet -- the height to which most of the city 's dikes have been raised -- if warmer temperatures expected in the middle of next week melt the record snowfall . Watch Fargo residents fight back '' `` What 's going on here really is an inspiration for the country , '' said Sen. Kent Conrad , D-North Dakota . `` The eyes of America are on Fargo , North Dakota , and they 're getting a very good impression of what the people of North Dakota are like . '' Authorities would not try to raise the city 's dikes above 43 feet , Walaker said . Sandbags are used to bolster dikes in residential areas around the city , while the city dikes are reinforced with clay . `` We have most of the south side of Fargo , and along the river , good to 43 , so we 're not going to proceed with trying to get it to 44 , '' he said at a news conference Friday morning . `` Now is that a gamble ? We do n't think so . '' See map of affected area '' National Weather Service spokesman Patrick Slattery in Kansas City , Missouri , said the river 's level means uncertainty for officials and volunteers who are scrambling to mitigate the flooding in the area . Emergency responders can extrapolate the effects of the rising river , he said , but they can not know for sure how accurate the predictions are because they have never seen the river so high . `` At some point , especially when you 're dealing with record levels , you reach a point when there 's nothing else you can do , '' Slattery said . `` Start alerting people to be ready to get out of there . '' Lt. Gen. Russel Honore , who led the military response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2007 , warned that sandbags can only buy time . `` You can not depend on a sandbag dike to save your life ; you put it up to try to save your property , '' he said . `` Once you put it up , you need to leave , because that sandbag dike could break at any given time . '' Sandbags also are less effective against cold water , Honore said . Read the full interview with Honore . Water began seeping Friday under a dike that runs across a partially submerged athletic field , prompting officials to ask volunteer sandbaggers to come help . About 150 people showed up as the water on the other side of the dike continued to rise . `` We 're going to be OK . We 're going to be fine , '' Melanie Engel Unger said as she passed 40-pound sandbags from her left to her right . Daryl Braham said he was confident the volunteers would be able to maintain the dike 's integrity . He was hopeful the cold weather -- temperatures were well below freezing Friday -- remained . `` It 's kind of a blessing in disguise because it 's slowing things down , '' he said . Fargo officials early Friday evacuated a neighborhood of about 150 homes after they found cracks in a levee , according to a city news release . Capt. Tod Dahle said the residents were evacuated because the neighborhood lies between a primary and contingency levee . About 100 people were evacuated Thursday from a nursing home , as were 40 others from a nearby neighborhood . No one was in immediate danger , officials said . See photos of flooding '' `` We were disappointed yesterday and early this morning about the two areas that we had to evacuate , '' Walaker said . `` Is that going to be it -LSB- for evacuations -RSB- ? We do n't know . We do n't have any real crystal ball to look into . '' MeritCare Hospital and MeritCare South University had evacuated 177 patients as of Friday , MeritCare Health System spokeswoman Carrie Haug said . Some were taken to hospitals elsewhere in North Dakota ; others were taken across the river to Minnesota , she said . Monday , the health system canceled elective procedures to reduce its patient numbers ahead of the evacuations , Haug said . Across the Red River from Fargo , a U.S. senator said some homes had been lost in Moorhead , Minnesota . Emphasizing that there are two states dealing with the river 's rise , Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minnesota , said , `` This is a time at which the forces of nature , of the Red River , will meet the forces of the human spirit . '' Clay County emergency center spokesman Dan Olson said some residents in Moorhead were being asked to evacuate . He called it a `` directed evacuation , '' rather than a mandatory one . It also applied to large parts of nearby Oakport Township , he said . The emergency center is setting up a call center where evacuees can register to be tracked . A spokeswoman at the city 's emergency call center said she would put the number of evacuees in the `` high hundreds . '' `` We know our highways are pretty congested '' with people leaving , Kasey Cummings said . Minnesota State University at Moorhead and Concordia College had voluntarily closed , she said . To the west , about 1,500 people who evacuated North Dakota 's capital , Bismarck , on Wednesday were able to return home Thursday , after the Missouri River dropped more than 3 feet , the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services said . CNN 's Barbara Starr , Chris Welch , Kara Devlin , Nicole Saidi , Greg Morrison , Susan Roesgen and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report . | NEW : Gov. John Hoeven praises volunteers for perseverance , resolve , determination . Helicopters , active-duty military sent to help prepare for possible flooding . National Weather Service data says river will reach 42 feet on Saturday . Fargo neighborhood evacuated after cracks found in levee . | [[1586, 1652], [8, 156], [174, 193], [452, 490], [2070, 2147], [4952, 5059]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Protesters draped themselves in the colorful flag of Tibet and shouted slogans at the Chinese embassy in London on Saturday at the start of a demonstration to mark the 50th anniversary since the Tibetan uprising against China . Protesters have gathered in London to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tibet uprising . `` Tibetans in Tibet -- we are with you ! '' they shouted . `` China , China , China -- out , out , out ! '' The small but fervent group marched from the embassy through west London to Trafalgar Square , where they were due to hear a speech by Thomas Shao Jiang , a Chinese dissident who was one of the student organizers of the Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing in 1989 . `` I think it 's important that Tibet is kept in the world 's eye , '' protester Chris Last told CNN amid placards declaring `` 50 years too long '' and `` We are Tibetans , not Chinese . '' While Tibet is technically autonomous from the central Chinese government , its current government is directed from Beijing . The Dalai Lama , traditionally the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan Buddhists , lives in exile in India . Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Beijing 's rule that sent the Dalai Lama into exile . Protest organizers said the march was meant to draw public attention to what they say is a deepening crisis a year after China cracked down on protests across Tibet . '' -LRB- British Prime Minister -RRB- Gordon Brown and other world leaders must respond urgently and publicly to the Tibet crisis by taking immediate action , '' said Stephanie Brigden , director of Free Tibet . `` They should demand that China calls off its security stranglehold in Tibet as an essential first step towards backing the Dalai Lama 's initiative in finding a long-term and negotiated settlement to China 's occupation . '' Tibetan Buddhists say they resent the slow erosion of their culture amid an influx of Han Chinese , the largest ethnic group in China . That resentment spilled over last March , when Buddhist monks initiated peaceful anti-Chinese protests in the regional capital , Lhasa , on the 49th anniversary of the uprising . The protests soon turned violent , with demonstrators burning vehicles and shops . Some protesters advocated independence from China , while others demonstrated against the growing influence of the Han Chinese in the area and other regions of China with ethnic Tibetan populations . The subsequent crackdown left 18 civilians and one police officer dead , according to the Chinese government . Tibet 's self-proclaimed government-in-exile put the death toll from the protests at 140 . China accuses the Dalai Lama of fomenting the discord in his homeland -- a charge he denies . `` The Dalai Lama demanded the establishment of the so-called ` Greater Tibetan area ' on a quarter of the Chinese territory , to drive away Chinese army stationed there guarding the Chinese territory , and to drive away Chinese people of other ethnic groups who lived there for generations . Is such a person a religious figure ? '' Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday . `` The conflict between him and us is not religious conflict , human rights conflict , ethnic conflict , nor cultural conflict , '' Yang said . `` The conflict is whether or not to maintain China 's unification , and whether or not to permit Tibet to be separated from the Chinese territory . '' The Dalai Lama has said he does not advocate violence or a separate and independent Tibet . He has said he wants a genuine autonomy that preserves the cultural heritage of the region . `` I 'm just disgusted with the way the Chinese behave towards the Tibetans . Even if you accept that Tibet has been swallowed up by China , why ca n't they give to them autonomy , respect their religion , their culture ? '' protester Bob Hunt said Saturday . `` These are peaceable people , one of the most peaceable people in the world . '' Protester Shobha Trivedi said she hoped the protest march would make people more aware of the situation inside Tibet . `` I feel as a human being , what -LRB- the -RRB- Chinese are doing for 50 years , nobody 's bothering with it , '' she said . `` And it 's a real shame on everyone . '' | London protesters marking 50th anniversary of Tibetan uprising against China . Dalai Lama , traditional spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhists , in exile . Protesters claim situation in Tibet is getting worse . | [[9, 32], [99, 263], [264, 351], [264, 274], [299, 351], [1163, 1247], [1044, 1058], [1137, 1162]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With a chance of winning an Oscar on Sunday , the director of `` The Final Inch '' says she hopes her documentary will shed light on the often over-looked issue of polio eradication . The more doses of the vaccination a child receives , the better protected the child is from contracting polio . `` I felt like I was looking at something that no one in the world talks about , '' Irene Taylor Brodsky , who also helped produce the film , said in a recent interview . Filming the short documentary was an `` eye-opening experience , '' she said , particularly for one of her co-producers who had to wear a bulletproof vest during filming in Afghanistan . `` The Final Inch '' is a testament of the health workers around the world laboring to make polio the second globally eliminated disease behind small pox , Brodsky said . The 37-minute film , which is scheduled to air on HBO on April 1 , has been nominated for an Academy Award in the best documentary short subject category . The awards ceremony is Sunday night . The film focuses on `` the final stages of a 20 year initiative '' to eradicate polio around the world , Brodsky said . Polio is a highly infectious disease which lingers in the poor water systems of India , Pakistan , Nigeria and Afghanistan . The more doses of the vaccination a child receives , the better protected the child is from contracting polio . `` The Final Inch '' focuses on the polio vaccine efforts in India and Pakistan . Brodsky said she hoped to include Afghanistan , but that became impossible because of the threat of violence and social barriers . Producer Tom Grant had to wear a bulletproof vest while filming in the war-torn country . He was unable to capture compelling footage because of familial protocol that forbids a man from entering a home full of women while no husband is present . Thus , Grant was often denied access , Brodsky said . In many countries , people are hesitant to vaccinate their children against polio because of a distrust of the government . Some civilians believe the vaccination to be `` something more sinister like a sterilizing drug '' produced to curtail their population , Brodsky explained . She said she often ran into `` the skepticism that some communities have against our government in cooperation with their own government . '' `` It never occurred to me that U.S. foreign policies could affect young children living in the most densely populated areas , '' she said . Although it has been 50 years since the United States developed a vaccination for polio , millions of children abroad remain unprotected . `` Ordinary American people have forgotten polio , '' Brodsky said . And , although the number of polio cases have been reduced by 99 percent , the highly infectious disease is still very real . `` It really limits the opportunities a child might have as an adult , '' said Oliver Rosenbauer , a spokesman for the World Health Organization 's Global Polio Eradication Initiative . As part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative , 20 million volunteers deliver vaccinations to schools , bus stops and rail stations across the world on a daily basis . Only four countries had recorded cases of polio in 2008 , down from 125 countries 10 years ago , according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative . This year , there have been 26 recorded cases of polio around the world , compared with 46 people who were infected with polio last year . `` But we 're only in mid-February . That does n't say much , '' Rosenbauer said . He said that he is most concerned that a child suffering from polio will have a difficult time integrating into society , building friendships and finding a job . `` So it 's much more than just the fact that this child will be physically disabled for the rest of his or her life , '' he added . `` It is the opportunity that is lost from the life they might have led . '' CNN and HBO are both part of Time Warner . | ` The Final Inch ' focuses on the polio vaccine efforts in India and Pakistan . Millions of children abroad remain unprotected from polio . This year , there have been 26 recorded cases of polio around the world . | [[1395, 1476], [2564, 2612], [3319, 3390]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President-elect Barack Obama , President Bush and all of the surviving past presidents got together Wednesday for a historic meeting at the White House . Barack Obama meets with President Bush and past presidents in the Oval Office on Wednesday . `` One message that I have , and I think we all share , is that we want you to succeed . Whether we 're Democrat or Republican , we care deeply about this country , '' Bush told Obama before lunch with the former presidents . Bush and Obama were joined by Jimmy Carter , George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton . Obama thanked the president for hosting them and said he was grateful for the opportunity to get `` advice , good counsel and fellowship '' from the group . Watch what Obama says about the meeting '' Obama 's press secretary said the presidents had a `` very constructive conversation '' and Obama appreciated `` the spirit of bipartisanship they showed '' in wishing him success . `` The president and the former presidents had helpful advice on managing the office , as well as thoughts on the critical issues facing the country right now . The president-elect is anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years , '' Robert Gibbs said . Presidential historian Doug Brinkley said it 's `` very smart politics for Obama to keep a channel open '' with the former presidents . `` If he has a policy initiative that he wants to lead the country behind ... if he could get the signatures , the green light from all of the ex-presidents to say , ` Not only am I for this , but I have all of the ex-presidents backing me ' -- that 's powerful , '' he said . White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the last time all of the living presidents got together at the White House was in 1981 , and she called Wednesday 's meeting a `` historic moment . '' She said the president was `` delighted '' to host the luncheon . `` Each of them expressed their desire for President-elect Obama to have a very successful presidency . During the lunch , they had a wide-ranging discussion on many different issues facing the United States , and they all look forward to remaining in contact in the future , '' Perino said . The meeting marked the second time Bush has hosted Obama since the election . Obama suggested the meeting with all of the former presidents when he and Bush first met in November . Perino said earlier she did n't know what they would talk about , but she said she 'd love to be able to hear it . `` I 'm sure all of us would love to be flies on the wall and listening to that conversation , '' Perino said during Tuesday 's daily news briefing . Perino speculated that they would discuss what it 's like to raise children in the White House and how to protect them . Brinkley predicted that first and foremost , the presidents would recall what it was like to be president . `` All of them will have little anecdotes . They 'll see something in the White House that will bring back a memory . They 'll try to bring some levity to this -- make it a very special and engaging and actually a fun afternoon for Barack Obama , '' he said . Secondly , Brinkley said , the conversation would probably turn to what 's going on in the Middle East . Brinkley said that all of the men will be on their `` best behavior , '' but , given the personalities at the luncheon , there could be some tension . `` The friction , if there is any , is between Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter , who are known to not like each other at all , '' he said , pointing out that the Clinton team did not like Carter `` parachuting for peace into Bosnia , North Korea and Haiti '' during Clinton 's administration . `` That 's the relationship that is not warm , it 's not good , and if you are a body language expert , you might home in on that , '' he said . President Bush may find himself the odd man out at the meeting , at least in terms of popularity . Bush registered only a 27 percent approval rating in a December CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey . In contrast , Obama had an 82 percent approval rating . A new poll out Wednesday indicates that 69 percent of adult Americans approved of how Clinton handled his job as president , while 64 percent of adult Americans gave a thumbs up to Carter and 60 percent approved of George H.W. Bush . CNN 's Lauren Kornreich contributed to this report . | Historian calls meeting `` smart politics , '' says it 'll be light , but could be tense . Obama and Bush meet with Bill Clinton , George H.W. Bush , Jimmy Carter . Obama says he 's grateful for chance to get `` advice , good counsel and fellowship '' Last time all the living presidents met at White House was in 1981 , Perino says . | [[1226, 1361], [3351, 3380], [0, 172], [173, 265], [492, 572], [573, 578], [622, 662], [647, 650], [663, 729], [1639, 1766]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Smoking cessation programs make up $ 75 million of the economic stimulus bill making its way through the Senate , according to Sen. Tom Harkin , D-Iowa , who sponsored the funding . Sen. Tom Harkin 's office says smoking causes $ 110 billion in health costs each year . Harkin said the programs were an attempt to bolster the economy by lowering the soaring health-care costs smoking causes each year . The money will be used to bolster existing anti-smoking campaigns run by the Department of Health and Human Services and to buy new equipment at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which tests the contents of cigarettes . Harkin 's office cited figures that smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths and causes $ 110 billion in heath costs every year . Harkin believes prevention will go a long way to boosting the health of Americans while boosting health of the American economy . Watch Harkin describe how anti-smoking programs help economy '' The U.S. House on Wednesday evening passed the $ 819 billion economic stimulus package on a party-line vote , despite President Barack Obama 's efforts to achieve bipartisan support for the bill , CNNMoney.com reports . The final vote was 244 to 188 . No Republicans voted for the bill , while 11 Democrats voted against it . The Senate is likely to take up the bill next week . | $ 75 million would go toward smoking cessation programs , says Sen. Tom Harkin . Programs are effort to bolster economy by lowering soaring health-care costs . U.S. House passes $ 819 billion economic stimulus package . | [[30, 107], [0, 26], [144, 172], [300, 413], [1002, 1109]] |
-LRB- Entertainment Weekly -RRB- -- Watching Iain Softley 's motley , jewel-toned adaptation of `` Inkheart , '' the best-selling 2003 young-adult novel by Cornelia Funke , I had the distinct sensation of being a young bookworm again , falling into a world as vividly real as it is impossible . Brendan Fraser stars as Mo , a literature lover who brings characters to life when he reads aloud . In Funke 's universe -- given voice in a screenplay by fantasy-friendly playwright David Lindsay-Abaire -- a literature lover named Mo -LRB- Brendan Fraser -RRB- possesses a dangerous talent for bringing characters from books to life when he reads aloud . The downside ? When a fictional figure comes alive , a real person must disappear into the book 's pages . That explains the extended absence of Mo 's wife , Resa -LRB- Sienna Guillory -RRB- . Mo has not yet told the truth about Resa 's disappearance to their intrepid young daughter , Meggie -LRB- Eliza Hope Bennett -RRB- , just as many a movie adult before him annoyingly withheld information from their children for dramatic effect . -LRB- Maybe Fraser 's Mo , a pleasantly square-framed American among a population of Brits , just ca n't bring himself to utter the word '' Mummy . '' -RRB- . It also explains the presence of a rambunctious crowd of fictional interlopers . These include a soulful fire juggler -LRB- Paul Bettany -RRB- who yearns for home -LRB- and why not , when real-life wife Jennifer Connelly appears briefly as the juggler 's fairy-tale missus -RRB- , and an acquisitive villain named Capricorn -LRB- Andy Serkis , always welcome even without his Gollum suit -RRB- . A unicorn and `` The Wizard of Oz 's '' flying monkeys also make appearances -- as does , briefly , Toto too . The story is a whirl , a jumble , an effusion -- sometimes flowing smoothly , other times jerking along as if the filmmaker -LRB- `` Backbeat , '' `` The Wings of the Dove '' -RRB- has been given advice he resents regarding pacing and the balance of sweetness and danger . There are close calls , weird whispers , amusing throwaway lines , the ditherings of a distractible author -LRB- Jim Broadbent -RRB- , and cartoon violence undertaken by misshapen scary-comic evil henchmen . But most deliciously madcap of all , there are the grand gestures and imperious pronouncements of Helen Mirren as Meggie 's flesh-and-blood great-aunt Elinor , a creature of pencil-thin eyebrows and luscious costumery who caws and squawks with very unqueenly abandon . Mirren 's all-out display in this distinctly British absurdo-literary extravaganza had me wishing Elinor were my own fabulous auntie and that she 'd lend me some magic items from her closet . EW Grade : B . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . Copyright 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | Entertainment Weekly reviews Iain Softley 's adaptation of `` Inkheart '' `` Inkheart '' is best-selling 2003 young-adult novel by Cornelia Funke . Literature lover has dangerous talent for bringing characters from books to life . Film stars Brendan Fraser , Paul Bettany , Helen Mirren and Eliza Hope Bennett . | [[0, 32], [36, 107], [122, 170], [324, 342], [347, 394], [395, 415], [502, 520], [530, 628], [567, 620], [629, 636]] |
In our Behind the Scenes series , CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events . CNN 's Jay Kernis reports on what it was like inside the Kodak Theatre at the Academy Awards . Hugh Jackman , the host of the 81st Academy Awards , speaks to the audience at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday . LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When you 're at home , you can sit back and be critical . When you 're inside the theater , the whole show seems to work , especially the big production numbers . Maybe it was a particularly well-produced show this year , but when you 're in the audience , you feel part of it -- even way up in the second mezzanine . I 've been at the Oscars to cover them , but this is the first time I 've ever been inside the ceremonies . I was there with my 17-year-old son , Noah . When you arrive on the red carpet , you enter a security tent and show your ticket and driver 's license . You notice that the tent is bisected by red velvet ropes and , with a friendly and practiced technique , celebrities are moved to the left of the rope and others to the right . This way , celebs leave the tent closer to the cameras and the fantasy that you might have that everybody in a gown or tux are somehow equals on one night sort of disappears . View scenes from the Oscars '' If you ever were curious about what happens during the commercial breaks : Stagehands with really powerful flashlights guide the changing of the sets and curtains ; they make sure empty orchestra seats are filled ; host Hugh Jackman introduces his parents ; they show a short film about the power of the movies that got cut from the show in progress ; Jackman hands his wife a plate of cookies , thinking she probably was hungry ; and he later points out that the guy playing the cello on stage in the Academy Award Orchestra was actor Dermot Mulroney . Who knew ? Watch a report on the night 's big winners '' The show was best when it demonstrated that Hollywood can still do what it has always done well : getting your attention and holding it -- seeing five Best Actors presenting Oscars on the same stage was pretty amazing . So is Best Actor Sean Penn 's self-awareness . The Oscars can still astonish : They still know how to put on the big musical number , with a hundred dancing performers in top hats , moving with Busby Berkeley precision . They still know how to break your heart : Heath Ledger 's parents and sister received his Academy Award and said that they did so in celebration . But I bet they 'd rather have had him accept it . And for all of the breathtaking special effects that Hollywood can muster , for all the star power in the theater last night , there was something remarkable about seeing Philippe Petit in person -- the wire walker who , in 1974 , hovered between the World Trade Center towers for 45 minutes . There was something joyous about watching him balance an Oscar statue on his chin . | When you 're inside the theater , the whole show seems to work , and you feel part of it . Stagehands guide the changing of the sets during the commercial breaks . Seeing five Best Actors presenting Oscars on the same stage was pretty amazing . The Oscars can still astonish -- they still know how to put on the big musical number . | [[444, 475], [478, 506], [612, 640], [643, 662], [2105, 2178], [2092, 2094], [2098, 2121], [2226, 2246], [2226, 2236], [2241, 2255], [2258, 2262], [2258, 2358]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Venus Williams is most often seen wiping perspiration from her brow as she thunders around the court contesting championship tennis matches . Venus Williams steps off the tennis court and into the pool in a series of photos to be featured in Italian Marie Claire . These photos show the world number six in a more reflective mood , posing for a 16-page fashion spread in the Italian edition of Marie Claire . They were taken in Miami , Florida in December last year by her friend and photographer Koto Bolofo . `` I love working with Koto , '' Venus told CNN in an interview for `` Revealed . '' `` I think he 's my biggest fan and he believes in me , I 'm not sure why , but he does so I 've got to accept that , '' she laughed . They planned to shoot 20 outfits in one day , a hectic schedule that included one photo that had been two years in the making . See video of the photo shoot '' `` I 've got it pictured in my mind that she 's going to be playing tennis underwater , '' Bolofo told CNN . When the sun finally emerged from behind a cloud , Bolofo ordered Venus into her bathers . `` I 'm excited it 's my first underwater tennis venture , so I feel a little nervous , but I think I 'll come through , '' Venus said . `` I want her smiling and making it look as if it 's natural and it 's not an effort , '' Bolofo explained . `` It 's going to be whimsical and fun . That 's the fun part of the shoot . '' Fashion is an important part of Venus Williams ' life . She has her own clothing company , EleVen , which produces tennis outfits and casual clothing . She sketches ideas , but says she 's not the chief designer , by any stretch . `` There are other people designing stuff . I could n't do it on my own , '' she said , adding , `` I do n't do technical drawing , I hated it in school . I refuse to do this on the computer . I 'd rather just do it by hand . '' Venus ' status in the ranks of the world 's top tennis players gives her a unique position to be able to market her products and she often wears them on court . Then there 's her interior design company ; Venus launched V Starr Interiors while still in her early twenties . Despite her public business interests , Venus told CNN she 's not interested in seizing the spotlight for any reason other than as one of the world 's best tennis players . `` Fame has never been important to me . My goals have always been to excel in tennis , and to win championships . Fame has never been my focus and I do n't really try to grow it at all , '' she said . Venus ' relaxed attitude has earned her respect beyond the world of tennis . Hip hop star Wyclef Jean released a song in her honor last year called `` I 'm Ready . '' Listen to the song '' '' -LSB- It 's like -RSB- when a painter is inspired , '' Jean told CNN . `` When I 'm inspired by an individual I just write a song about them ... I said her name is Venus , ruler of the universe . '' Venus was thrilled . `` I 've got it on my computer , all the different instrumentals , the different versions , the different cuts . I love it , '' she told CNN . Venus Williams is back on court this week at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships . Naturally , she 's hoping to win after a disappointing early exit from the Australian Open in January . While tennis remains her prime obsession , Venus told CNN it 's not the most important thing in her life . `` I would say definitely the most important thing in my life is growing spiritually . And doing what God requires of me -- that 's always a learning experience day in and day out , '' she said . Watch Venus Williams on Revealed this week at the times below : . ALL TIMES GMT Wednesday , February 18 : 0930 , 1830 Saturday , February 21 : 0830 , 1900 Sunday , February 22 : 0530 , 1830 Monday , February 23 : 0400 . | Venus Williams poses in fashion photos to be featured in Italian Marie Claire . The 16-page spread includes a photo of Venus playing tennis underwater . The tennis champion has her own clothing & interior design companies . Watch Venus Williams on Revealed this week at the times below . | [[224, 225], [236, 283], [362, 427], [362, 427], [1492, 1565], [1500, 1524], [1542, 1587], [2057, 2098]] |
COMO , Mississippi -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mary Dowden smiles when she thinks about this moment in history . At 80 years old , she 's the granddaughter of a slave who was born in a cotton field outside of Como , Mississippi . Mary Dowden , 80 , is the granddaughter of a slave . Barack Obama is bringing white and blacks together , she says . It 's difficult to put into words how she feels about Barack Obama , the issues so complex for a black country girl who lost both her parents by the age of 18 and then had to work a hard-scrabble life as a sharecropper . `` I was really afraid for him , because I did n't want nobody to kill him , '' she says when asked about casting her ballot for Obama . But she pauses and smiles . `` I 'm awfully proud of him , as a black person . '' Watch `` white and black is coming together '' '' Did she ever think she would see this moment ? `` No , I did n't , '' she says . `` I always thought that , you know , the white was over the black , that they was the leading folks , that one nation is gon na be over another one , and that would be the white over the black . I never thought it would be a black president . '' With Obama 's election , CNN.com traveled to the town of Como to talk with African-Americans about their experience growing up black in Mississippi and what this moment in history means to them . Como is a town of 1,400 people 45 miles south of Memphis , Tennessee , along Interstate 55 . It is a hard-hit rural community , home to a school with the dubious distinction of being among the worst-performing schools in the nation . In 2007 , the IRS froze the town 's bank accounts for not paying payroll taxes . A railroad track cuts through the middle of town . Even to this day , blacks largely live on one side of the track ; whites on the other side . See the hard-scrabble life of a slave 's grandson '' Dowden is a living testament to a life of struggle , sacrifice and ultimately success . When she was 10 years old , her mom cooked a dewberry pie after working the cotton fields all day . She then went to a friend 's house and died . `` It was real devastating , '' Dowden says softly . `` I was 10 . My sister was 12 , and we did n't know how to do nothing . And we had to take care of our little brother . '' She missed one year of schooling because her father , Moses Wilson , could n't afford schoolbooks . He died four days after she turned 18 . She had two photos of her parents , but they were lost over the years . She knows even less about her grandparents . `` All I know is , he said that his momma was sold . She was auctioned off , '' Dowden says . `` I do n't know where she was from . I do n't know anything about her . '' Dowden is a mother of 12 . One son died when he was 3 ; another died when he was 47 . `` It was hard both ways . '' Across town , a group of African-Americans have gathered at Cistern Hill Church to talk about the good times and the hard times -- and hope for a better future . They range in age from 74 to 18 . Watch `` I started working when I was 6 years old '' '' Aubrey `` Bill '' Turner , 26 , perks up when talking about Obama . `` He 's going to bring a sense of respect in Mississippi , that it 's not just a white man 's country . You can be young , you can be black , and you can do anything that you want to do , '' Turner says . `` You do have a chance . And he 's gon na put that all on the table for us . '' Turner has a tattoo across his neck that reads `` Mr. Ssippi . '' His grandfather was well-known fife musician Otha Turner , whose music was featured in the movie `` Gangs of New York . '' His grandfather , he said , always taught him `` to respect white people , because one day you 're gon na want that respect , too . '' Others nod with excitement about the prospects of a black president . They point out that they 've supported white presidents over the years and always voted for them . `` It just happened to be a black man -LSB- this time -RSB- that was qualified to be president and enough people wanted him in that position and voted for him , '' says William C. Wilbourn , 59 . But Wilbourn acknowledges , as a black man , it 's an awesome moment in the nation 's history . `` It feels real good . '' Elnora Jackson , 74 , says she was robbed of the privilege to vote for decades . So whenever there 's an election , she votes `` every time I get a chance . '' Those gathered here chuckle when they talk about the town of Como . It was , they say , always a bit different than the rest of Mississippi . The downtown strip was built in such a way that there were n't really any back doors . Blacks could walk in the front doors of businesses in the old days . That 's not to say it was a honeymoon , either . There was a white water fountain in town that was guarded ; blacks could cook at a burger stand , but they could n't buy food there . School buses with white kids would pass black children walking to and from school . They 'd hurl bricks and insults at them . `` When I was growing up , it was painful , '' says Arilla Kerney , 63 . `` I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive them . '' There 's one day that all the elders remember well . It was in June 1966 . The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. swung through Como on a march through Mississippi to motivate black people to register to vote . Black children had been told to stay away for fear of any reprisals . But Lucy Thomas , a 4-foot , 8-inch woman with a `` small frame and big voice , '' gathered about 20 black children . They walked hand-in-hand , barefoot and dirty , down the road to the intersection of Highways 51 and 310 , where King and the Freedom Marchers were huddled . Descendant of slave owners crosses the tracks . One by one , the children shook King 's hand . `` It was just amazing to see Dr. King come through Como , Mississippi ! '' says Dorothy Kerney-Wilbourn , who was among the children that day . She says that about 20 miles down the road , there was a peach orchard where white men were up in trees with guns . `` We were walking down the highway , marching and singing freedom songs , and they were up in trees with guns . That was a frightening moment , '' Kerney-Wilbourn says with a laugh . `` Their concept of the blacks was just so different . But we showed them that we were there for peace . '' Mary Dowden remembers that day , too . She said a white man said to her , `` They should send all the black boys back to Africa . '' Dowden got in the man 's face . `` I told him , ` You ca n't send me back to Africa , because I did n't come from Africa ! I was born and raised here . Where you gon na send me back to ? ' '' She smiles . `` He did n't like that . ... He did n't say nothing . He shut his mouth up . '' Obama has helped change the conversation in these parts like few others . Dowden , the granddaughter of a slave , holds her chin high . Referring to Obama , she says , `` It 's his time . '' He has n't taken office yet , but he 's already brought change . `` Right now , I think the white and black is coming together . '' | Mary Dowden , 80 , is the granddaughter of a slave . She says she was afraid for Barack Obama because `` I did n't want nobody to kill him '' CNN.com traveled to Como , Mississippi , to talk with blacks about Obama . Obama 's inspiration : `` You can be young , you can be black , and you can do anything '' | [[104, 119], [122, 157], [221, 232], [240, 273], [562, 589], [592, 633], [1181, 1271]] |
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed Friday there was `` a conspiracy with certain international forces '' to belittle his government 's military victories against Tamil Tiger rebels . Sri Lankan army troops have had there most decisive victories against the Tamil Tigers in recent weeks . The aim of these conspirators , he said in an address to the nation , `` is to level unfounded charges against the army commander who works with greatest dedication to achieve these victories . '' He also used the address to formally announce the recapture of the northern town of Elephant Pass , the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula . It had remained in rebel hands for over nine years . The recapture enable the government to use the A-9 highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies . Until now it was done either by air or by sea . Rajapaksa 's remarks came amid mounting attacks on the media . On Tuesday a group armed with rifles , pistols and grenades attacked the country 's most popular privately owned television channel MTV . The main control room equipment costing more than $ 1.7 million was damaged . On Thursday , Lasantha Wickrematunga , chief editor of The Sunday Leader , a newspaper which had exposed corruption and criticized aspects of ongoing military operations , was shot dead . Earlier Friday , the leader of the main opposition United National Party -LRB- UNP -RRB- , Ranil Wickremasinghe , accused military and security officials of the attacks , saying the government could not control them . `` Armed forces members are shocked about these incidents . The armed forces says due to the activities of few intelligence sections , the reputation of the country is being ruined . That is the team which the government has no control of , '' he told parliament . Rajapaksa said there were efforts to belittle military victories `` to turn the attention of the people to other directions . '' He said such `` conspiracies arise when a country moves ahead without giving in to external pressures . '' He added `` one must not mistake these conspiracies as being against me or my government . This is a conspiracy against the entire country by those who have been driven to fear due to the successes of our security forces . '' Meanwhile , fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government and rebel forces escalated on several fronts Friday , while Tamil Tiger rebels killed seven people in a roadside bombing . Three members of the Sri Lankan air force and four civilians died when rebels exploded a claymore landmine in the village of Morawewa , near the northeastern port city of Trincomalee , police said . The strategic port town is located about 240km -LRB- 150 miles -RRB- north of the capital , Colombo . Friday 's incident came as troops pursued their military campaign in the northern Wanni region to recapture remaining rebel strongholds , military sources said . Government troops were said to be meeting fierce resistance as they advanced on the Tamil stronghold of Mullaitivu and a naval blockade remained in the northeastern seas . The 25-year long civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead . The U.S. State Department has designated the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization . | Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa makes conspiracy claims . Sri Lankan government troops continue advance into rebel territory . Civil war with Tamil Tigers has killed more than 65,000 . | [[0, 7], [10, 35], [39, 154], [2840, 2934], [2867, 2975], [3174, 3240]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Antarctica is warming in line with the rest of the world , according to a new study on climate change in Antarctica . Temperatures across Antarctica have traditionally varied between east and west , scientists say . Rather than being the last bastion to resist global warming , U.S. research has found that for the past 50 years much of the continent of Antarctica has been getting warmer . For years common belief among scientists studying climate change was that a large part of Antarctica , the East Antarctic Ice Sheet , has been getting colder while the rest of the world has warmed . However the new research from the University of Washington has found that warming in West Antarctica exceeded one-tenth of a degree Celsius per decade for the past 50 years , which more than offsets the cooling in East Antarctica . `` West Antarctica is a very different place than East Antarctica , and there is a physical barrier , the Transantarctic Mountains , that separates the two , '' said Professor Eric Steig , lead author of the research paper . The study 's findings appeared in Thursday 's issue of the scientific journal Nature . At 6,000 feet -LRB- 1,829 meters -RRB- above sea level the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is around 4,000 feet lower than East Antarctica and subject to warm , moist storms and more snowfall . In gathering the data Steig and fellow researchers used information from satellites , which was crucial in providing new insight into patterns of temperature change across the continent . Previous research on climate in Antarctica that relied solely on Antarctic weather stations , in place since 1957 , could not get as much information about conditions on the interior of the continent as most are placed within a short distance of the coast . `` Simple explanations do n't capture the complexity of climate , '' Steig said . `` The thing you hear all the time is that Antarctica is cooling and that 's not the case . If anything it 's the reverse , but it 's more complex than that . Antarctica is n't warming at the same rate everywhere , and while some areas have been cooling for a long time the evidence shows the continent as a whole is getting warmer . '' A major reason most of Antarctica was thought to be cooling was because of a hole in the ozone layer that appears during the spring months in the Southern Hemisphere 's polar region . Steig noted that it is well established that the ozone hole has contributed to cooling in East Antarctica . `` However , it seems to have been assumed that the ozone hole was affecting the entire continent when there was n't any evidence to support that idea , or even any theory to support it , '' he said . `` In any case , efforts to repair the ozone layer eventually will begin taking effect and the hole could be eliminated by the middle of this century . If that happens , all of Antarctica could begin warming on a par with the rest of the world . '' | Common belief that Antarctica is getting colder debunked by new report . Evidence that western Antarctica is warming , offsetting Eastern Antarctic cooling . Satellite data used to determine that West Antarctica warmed in last 50 years . Antarctica is n't warming at the same rate everywhere , according to research . | [[0, 15], [78, 136], [297, 409], [410, 608], [297, 409], [410, 608], [617, 781], [297, 409], [617, 781], [1353, 1423], [1413, 1423], [1432, 1527], [0, 15], [78, 136], [410, 608]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Brazilian star Kaka is leading the campaign for David Beckham to stay at Italian giants AC Milan beyond his agreed loan spell . Former England captain David Beckham has made an immediate impact with his contribution at AC Milan . The England midfielder is due to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in March but playmaker Kaka said Beckham had already shown his star qualities . The 33-year-old played 89 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Roma on Sunday following a friendly outing against Hamburg . `` David has shown that he is a player ready to run the extra mile , '' Kaka told a news conference in Zurich ahead of FIFA 's world player of the year gala . `` The first matches showed quite clearly what his qualities are and his passing ability and his capacity to play well . `` Perhaps these first two months will lead to six months or to one year , to more contracts . I certainly would like to play more with him . '' Beckham 's advisers have stressed that there are no plans for him to stay at AC Milan beyond March 9 . However , former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas last week expressed fears that Beckham could be tempted to bring an early end to his time in the U.S. AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed Beckham 's attitude and intelligence had won him a place in the starting side in Rome where he had been expected to start on the bench . `` He did well , '' said Ancelotti . `` I chose Beckham to start because he proved in recent days to be a very intelligent player and serious . `` The appearance against Roma is a small reward for him because he worked very hard and has adapted well to the team . `` This was only his second game with us and he will improve . I believe everyone is happy to have Beckham here . '' Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said : `` We have to compliment him . He has done a good job and he grew in the game . He still needs to improve but I think he can be very satisfied with what he has done after two months of not playing . '' Roma stand-in captain Daniele De Rossi suggested Milan had made a shrewd move in capturing the 33-year-old . `` From a media standpoint Beckham is impressive , '' De Rossi said . `` He is a nice guy , has a beautiful wife , has won so many trophies in his career and perhaps this penalises him as a player although I believe he has the feet and the determination . '' Beckham , meanwhile , forecast that Sunday 's double goalscorer Alexandre Pato of Brazil is destined for greatness . `` I have seen him in training and on the pitch . He is only 19 years of age and I think he can become one of the greatest players in the world , '' said Beckham . Milan are nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter going into Saturday 's home game against Fiorentina with Beckham seemingly set to retain his starting slot . | Brazilian star Kaka wants David Beckham to extend his loan at AC Milan . England midfielder Beckham due to return to Los Angeles Galaxy in March . Beckham 's advisers say no plans for him to stay beyond agreed deadline . | [[0, 15], [19, 126], [67, 146], [249, 323], [936, 1038], [975, 1038]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Every time her cell phone rings , Christy Harness thinks of her husband . More consumers download ringtones to their cell phones than full-length songs . The 34-year-old native of Jackson County , Georgia , set her ringtone to Sugarland 's `` All I Wan na Do , '' a song that , she says , perfectly expresses the way she feels about him . `` I kind of put myself in -LSB- the singer 's -RSB- place because ... she 's in love with this guy . If he 's not around , she misses him . Basically , I think the song relates to me and -LSB- my husband -RSB- and our relationship , '' Harness said . These days , ringtones do much more than alert mobile phone users of a call . Ringtones seem to have become vital fashion statements , a way for people to showcase their personalities and even their feelings about who is calling . According to a 2008 study by Ipsos MediaCT , a marketing research company , approximately one-third of mobile phone users download ringtones , and about 40 percent of users change their ringtones frequently . Ipsos research shows that ringtones are the most common type of mobile music content downloaded by users , compared to full-length songs and ringback tones , tones that replace the typical ringing signal heard by the caller . `` I find regular ringtones kind of dull , so I wanted something exciting , '' said Gordy King , a 51-year-old from Salt Lake City , Utah . King said he gets a kick out of annoying his mostly Republican co-workers with his Barack Obama ringtones , even playing them over the intercom at the electrical supply warehouse where he works . `` It 's fake news people saying ` Barack Obama has won the election , ' '' he said . `` I really like Barack Obama . I think -LSB- my ringtone -RSB- probably says that I 'm nonconventional and it says I lean a little more liberal . I do n't know anyone else who has that ringtone . '' Using a ringtone creator application on Facebook , King said he also makes his own ringtones by downloading sound files onto his computer and editing them to be shorter and louder or softer . Donald Kaplan found a perfect fit with his ringtone choice . Kaplan , of New York , changed his ringtones often before finally settling on the theme song from `` The Good , The Bad , and The Ugly . '' `` I 'm thinking of sticking with it . I notice that when people hear my phone ring they get amused ... I think that people really connect with that movie , '' Kaplan said . But that 's not always the case . Kaplan said one of his co-workers was n't exactly pleased with the ringtone . The co-worker sent a mass e-mail to the office , telling everyone to keep their cell phones on silent . `` The ringtone drove him crazy and he tried to be tactful but I knew that -LSB- the e-mail -RSB- was directed specifically to me , '' Kaplan said . `` I could tell that this particular ringtone just drove him up the wall ... just the repetition of the sound . '' For some , one ringtone simply is n't enough . Many mobile phone users set specific tones to specific people so that the tones act as audible caller IDs . `` I group people , '' said Natasha Khan , a 26-year-old from McLean , Virginia . `` I group all my best girlfriends together , the people I do n't want to talk to together , work contacts together , and family together . '' Khan said when her best friends call she hears `` Girls Just Wan na Have Fun , '' by Cyndi Lauper , and when she gets a call from people she does n't particularly like , her phone rings `` Bugaboo '' by Destiny 's Child . `` Bugaboo , '' about a woman irritated by a male caller , contains such lines as , `` It 's not hot that you be callin ' me . '' `` The ` Bugaboo ' ringtone has gotten me in trouble , '' Khan said with a laugh . `` This guy -- I forgot that he was on that list and I told him I needed his number and he said , ` Oh , I 'll call you ' and he realized he was on the list . '' Customizing a phone with multiple ringtones can be expensive . Depending on the wireless carrier or the service plan , ringtones cost anywhere from $ 0.99 to $ 2.99 . That may not deter cell phone users . Analysts at Screen Digest , a UK-based firm covering global media markets , predicted that mobile music sales will double from $ 1.6 billion in 2008 to $ 3.2 billion in 2012 . But there are also free ways to get ringtones , like the ringtone creator application on Facebook -- one of several ringtone applications on the social-networking Web site -- that make setting ringtones all the more appealing . `` The ringtone creator was fun , '' said King . `` No matter how big or little the song or sound effect ... you could select a snippet and edit it . '' Many mobile phone users like to be creative and have fun with their ringtones , and their ringtone choice can reveal much about their personalities . Khan 's default ringtone , she said , is typically an upbeat dance song like her current one , `` Forever '' by Chris Brown . `` I think the day can be so mundane and work can bog you down , so I like any chance I can get to get some joy , '' Khan said . `` It 's just a break in the day to feel good randomly . '' | Ringtones are one way for people to showcase their personalities and feelings . One third of cell-phone users download ringtones ; 40 percent change ringtones often . Virginia woman uses Destiny 's Child 's `` Bugaboo '' as ringtone for dreaded callers . Utah man customized a pro-Obama ringtone to annoy Republican co-workers . | [[755, 817], [4764, 4833], [93, 172], [988, 1049], [3680, 3729], [1416, 1594], [2499, 2576]] |
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sri Lankan soldiers seized a key rebel stronghold over the weekend , as humanitarian agencies feared for the safety of civilians . Sri Lankan troops at Elephant Pass , the isthmus that connects north Jaffna peninsula to rest of the country . `` It 's an incredibly serious situation , '' James Elder , a U.N. spokesman , said Monday . `` We have a very large number of people , including tens of thousands of children , trapped in a fast-shrinking conflict zone . '' Government forces took the area in a surprise attack early Sunday , the head of Sri Lanka 's army announced . Troops crossed a lagoon and entered the town of Mullaittivu before encountering heavy resistance from Tamil fighters , according to the government-run news agency . `` Our troops fought their way through a 40 km -LRB- 25 mile -RRB- thick jungle track , '' Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a televised address Sunday . `` This is the long-awaited victory and I am happy to say that our heroic forces today captured the Mullaittivu town after 12 years , '' he said . There has been no confirmation from the rebels that the strategic garrison has been overtaken . The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -LRB- LTTE -RRB- -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country 's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983 . The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead . The rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there , according to the government . In recent days , the military has made significant progress in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds . Earlier this month , troops regained control of the northern town of Elephant Pass , the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula . It had been in rebel hands for more than nine years . The recapture enabled the government to use a highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies . Previously , it was done by air and sea . `` The area that the LTTE has dominated has shrank phenomenally , '' Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India , C.R Jayasinghe , told CNN . `` They lost ... about 90 percent of what they had . '' Despite major government gains , critics point to ongoing civilian casualties resultant from the conflict . `` This is a critical moment in the conflict when the space for these people has shrunk , '' Elder said . The United Nations is `` calling on the ... Tamil Tigers to meet their international responsibilities and guarantee that these very large civilian populations to move freely and then can move away from the conflict and to areas where they can receive appropriate assistance , '' Elder said . `` Some Sri Lankan U.N. staff are trapped there , '' he said in a Sunday interview . `` Convoys are going to the area , delivering emergency supplies , but these are not sufficient for the number of people in need . '' Sri Lankan authorities are barring journalists and humanitarian aid workers from areas where heavy fighting is taking place . Amnesty International spokesman Shuransu Mishra estimated that `` over a quarter of a million of the population , mostly Tamils , are trapped between the two sides . '' The organization says greater access and protection for aid workers and journalists are needed as news agencies struggle to report an accurate picture of the conflict . `` The Sri Lankan authorities are doing little to ensure the safety of the country 's media , or to prosecute those responsible for murdering or attacking them , '' Amnesty International spokeswoman Yolanda Foster said in a written statement on Friday . The Sri Lankan authorities `` are also directly responsible for subjecting journalists to harassment and interrogation , '' she said . At least 14 journalists have been killed since the start of 2006 , according to the statement . Others have been driven from the country by death threats , or in fear of detention and torture by government authorities , it said . | Government forces took the area in a surprise attack early Sunday . Rebel Tamil Tigers gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 . Earlier this month troops regained control of key northern town of Elephant Pass . Tamils want independent homeland , war since 1983 has left more than 70,000 dead . | [[10, 35], [39, 105], [506, 571], [1419, 1469], [1653, 1671], [1674, 1735], [1176, 1229], [1261, 1364], [1365, 1418]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Raul Gonzalez became the leading scorer in Real Madrid history after scoring twice in the 4-0 Primera Liga victory at Sporting Gijon on Sunday . Raul celebrates in familiar style after breaking Di Stefano 's Real Madrid record against Sporting Gijon . The 31-year-old moved two goals ahead of the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano with his 308th and 309th strikes in the famous white shirt . Raul is also the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League and has helped the capital club claim six Primera Liga crowns during almost 15 years ' service at the Bernabeu . His first goal , in the 15th minute , came when Sergio Ramos found space down the right before crossing for Raul to volley home . Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had not scored for Real since his 20 million euro move from Ajax , but finally broke his duck with a neat finish on 37 minutes to double Real 's advantage . Brazilian Marcelo skilfully slotted home the third goal to wrap the game up early in the second half before Raul netted again to complete a comfortable victory . The win was Real 's eighth consecutive Premier Liga success and ensured the defending champions closed the gap to runaway leaders Barcelona to 10 points . On Saturday , Barca had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Real Betis with Samuel Eto'o scoring both goals to take his tally to 23 goals for the season . | Raul Gonzalez scores two as Real Madrid beat Sporting Gijon 4-0 on Sunday . The goals ensure the 31-year-old breaks Aldfredo Di Stefano 's scoring record . Real 's eighth consecutive win closes gap on leaders Barcelona to 10 points . | [[0, 9], [19, 163], [0, 15], [82, 101], [1013, 1066], [271, 344], [1067, 1126], [1067, 1074], [1131, 1221]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British reality TV star Jade Goody married Sunday after being told by doctors last week that her cancer is terminal . Jade Goody , pictured with fiance Jack Tweed Saturday , before Sunday 's wedding . Goody , 27 tied the knot with boyfriend Jack Tweed , 21 , in Hatfield Heath , Essex , east of London , UK media reported . After the ceremony Max Clifford , the couple 's publicist , told waiting reporters that there had been `` lots of tears and smiles and laughter '' and that the congregation gave the newlyweds a standing ovation after the signing of the register . Goody sprung to fame in `` Big Brother '' in 2002 , going on to launch a range of her own products and host TV shows . But her return to the celebrity edition of the show in 2007 ended in international ignominy , after her taunting of Indian Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty . Goody 's behavior resulted in more than 40,000 complaints and sparked protests in India . Shetty said last week that she was unable to attend the wedding due to filming commitments but was praying for Goody . Read blog about how media covered wedding . In August 2008 Goody appeared on the Indian version of `` Big Brother , '' only to fly home after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer . News of Goody 's condition has sparked massive interest in the UK , both from the media -- which bid for rights to her story -- and among the public , who have contacted charities for information about cervical cancer . Critics have attacked Goody 's decision to sell rights to what may be her final weeks , although the star has told British media that she wants to leave her children by a previous relationship -- sons , Bobby , five , and Freddie , four -- financially secure . Watch Jade Goody 's wedding preparations '' But Clifford told ITN : `` Ironically , a big part of what she 's doing now is to fund her children 's education . To give them the education she never had . '' Charity Cancer Research UK said in a statement earlier this month that daily visits to its Web site had increased two - to three-fold since news of Goody 's illness was announced . `` The publicity around Jade 's diagnosis has led many more people to ask questions and seek information about cervical cancer , '' spokeswoman Emma Gilgunn-Jones said . Shetty , writing on her blog earlier this week , said that Goody had invited her to the wedding but had been unable to attend due to filming commitments in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . `` Read an article on Jade Goody 's deteriorating condition , '' wrote Shetty . `` It disturbed me 'cause the last time I spoke to her , she seemed very positive and we were all expecting that the doctors would be able to curb the cancer from spreading . This piece of news came as a shock - so I called her hoping it was only a rumor but she confirmed it . Shetty added that she was praying for Goody and that she hoped God `` gives her the strength to cope with this pain . '' `` She wants the best for her kids , '' Shetty wrote . `` I hope Jack makes a good father to them . I also hope for a miracle to happen for her children 's sake . '' On Friday the UK 's Ministry of Justice said it would allow Tweed , who was jailed in September 2008 for assault , to spend his wedding night with his bride , the Press Association reported . `` We are absolutely thrilled , '' the agency reported Clifford as saying . `` It will be the dream finish to her dream day , and it makes so much difference . Tweed , who was released early from jail in January , has to wear a tag and is subject to a 1900 GMT curfew . `` We 'll get married if I have to drag her wheelchair down the aisle , '' he told ITN last week . The wedding dress , which media reports say included a pouch to hold Goody 's medication , was donated by Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed . Goody 's bridesmaids were seen with the TV star Saturday , wearing plastic bald caps in a show of solidarity at the impact of her chemotherapy treatment . | Publicist : Couple receive standing ovation , lots of tears , laughter , smiles . British ` Big Brother ' star fast-tracked plans to get married after cancer spread . Shetty says she was invited to ceremony but unable due to film commitments . Charities report marked increase in public seeking details about condition . | [[360, 391], [394, 397], [420, 551], [516, 606], [970, 1060], [2309, 2315], [2358, 2477], [1404, 1422], [1427, 1491], [2139, 2265]] |
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Polish authorities in Pakistan say they are monitoring local reports that Taliban militants have executed a kidnapped Polish engineer . Pakistani Taliban militants offer prayers in Mamouzai area of . Orakzai Agency in November . Piotr Stancza was kidnapped September 28 from the city of Attock in Punjab province . Stancza had been based there for a Polish survey company searching for natural gas . Local reports and TV station Dawn News reported Stancza 's execution Saturday . Polish Embassy spokesman Peter Adams said his offices were aware of local media reports but were waiting to hear officially from Pakistani authorities . He said all efforts had been made by Polish authorities to pressure the Pakistani government to do whatever it could to secure Stancza 's release . `` From the Polish side , we did whatever we could , pressuring the Pakistani government on the presidential and prime minister level , '' Adams said . `` Problem was , this was solely Pakistan 's responsibility . Demands were only towards -LSB- the -RSB- Pakistan government . '' Adams said there had been no demands for ransom . The Taliban had demanded the release of Taliban prisoners being held by the government and a pullout of government security forces from the tribal areas . Although there were assurances that the Pakistani government was doing everything it could and that Stancza would be freed soon , Adams said it was never clear what the government was actually doing to secure his release . `` We are waiting for confirmation and waiting for any answer -LSB- about -RSB- how this happened and why did this happen , '' Adams said . A spokesman for Pakistan 's interior ministry said that the reports of Stancza 's death have yet to be confirmed and that the case of his kidnapping was a high priority for the government . Shahid Ullah Baig said the government had been working hard to retrieve Stancza unharmed but did not give details . `` The Pakistan government is doing its level best to secure his release , '' he said , adding , `` Human life is more important to us than anything else . '' Kidnappings and attacks against foreigners have risen sharply in recent months throughout the country . Most recently , an American working for the United Nations was kidnapped in Quetta , and Peshawar has been the scene of various attacks against foreign diplomats and journalists . | Piotr Stancza kidnapped September 28 from Attock in Punjab province . Polish authorities in Pakistan checking local reports . Taliban had demanded release of prisoners , pullout of forces . | [[269, 354], [0, 9], [12, 131], [75, 175], [520, 607], [1152, 1209], [1189, 1306]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Strange lights in the sky , mysterious flashes , dozens of witnesses , a missing wind turbine blade and a tabloid splash featuring the pun : E.T. farm harm . The Sun tabloid newspaper 's UFO splash . Let 's hope there is n't intelligent life out there watching us . Britain 's tabloid Sun newspaper Thursday proclaimed from its front page that a wind turbine was ruined after a UFO hit one of its 20 meter-long blades in Conisholme , Lincolnshire . Dorothy Willows , who lives near the damaged turbine , told The Sun she was in her car when she saw strange lights in the sky . `` The lights were moving across the sky towards the wind farm . Then I saw a low flying object . It was skimming across the sky towards the turbines . '' Apparently , hours later , she and her husband were woken by a big bang ; one of the turbine 's three blades had gone . It , was , however , on the ground below . Other locals told the newspaper that the lights looked like `` balls of flames . '' Russ Kellett , a UFO expert , told the newspaper : `` Balls of light were seen in the sky and the MoD -LSB- Ministry of Defence -RSB- has no explanation . It must have taken a pretty massive object . We are very , very , very excited . '' However , The Guardian newspaper 's Web site content director Emily Bell had a simple explanation for all those `` balls of light '' in the sky . She told The Guardian the lights were fireworks her brother Tim had bought at the local garden center for the 80th birthday party of dad Peter Bell . `` It was a medium-sized fireworks display with absolutely no ballistics , and the fireworks were mostly dropping over my parents ' house . But we were laughing that we could have broken the wind turbine , '' Emily said . `` There we are in the middle of a scoop and we 're beaten to it by a red-top tabloid , '' Emily 's mother Bridget , 74 , told The Guardian . Later Thursday , the British Press Association reported the blade may have come off after a mechanical failure . Fraser McLachlan , chief executive of GCube , which insures more than 25,000 wind turbines worldwide , told PA that although it was unusual , this kind of incident happened up to six times a year . `` It does happen that a blade will sometimes just come off a machine for one reason or another , '' he said . `` The main reason is the blade may shear . `` We do n't normally see things like aircraft -- or UFOs -- hitting them . It 's usually a mechanical failure that causes the blade to separate from the main hub . '' He said the cold weather was another possible cause . Dr Peter Schubel , an expert in the design and manufacture of wind turbine blades at the University of Nottingham , agreed . He told the BBC that if the turbine blade was still , it would take a 10-tonne load to remove a blade , but if it was rotating the force could be a lot less . `` It 's definitely not a bird . It could be ice thrown from a neighbouring turbine that struck it . '' Aliens out of control or simple mechanical failure ? A case for Mulder and Scully ? What do you think ? | British tabloid blames UFO for destroying wind turbine blade . Newspaper quotes locals saying there were `` strange lights '' in the sky . Second newspaper says lights were fireworks from staff member 's family celebration . | [[302, 467], [842, 887], [1817, 1857], [1400, 1459]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Britain 's accident prone `` Octopus UFO '' is just one of hundreds of unexplained sightings in the same area where a wind turbine was wrecked over the weekend , according to the latest reports . The Sun tabloid newspaper 's UFO splash . Britain 's tabloid Sun newspaper Thursday proclaimed from its front page that a wind turbine was ruined after a UFO hit one of its 20 meter-long blades in Conisholme , Lincolnshire . It quoted residents who saw strange balls of lights in the sky and heard a loud bang . However , another British national newspaper said the lights were just fireworks from a staff member 's dad 's birthday celebration . Turbine experts suggested it was a simple mechanical failure . The plot thickened further Friday , with The Sun saying it had been `` bombarded '' with reports of UFO sightings from hundreds of witnesses in the area where the turbine was destroyed . Watch video on the UFO incident . `` There have been reports of flying saucers for more than six months , '' the newspaper said . Local John Harrison , 32 , told The Sun he looked out of his window and saw `` a massive ball of light with tentacles going right down to the ground . '' The newspaper said `` other respected witnesses , such as local council chairman Robert Palmer and GP Jenny Watson , described seeing ` streaking white lights ' . '' Quoting unnamed Ministry of Defence `` insiders , '' The Sun said the UFO sightings may be an unmanned stealth bomber on test flights . It said the Taranis `` black delta-wing craft '' was being developed nearby to deliver bombs undetected in war zones ; back to the testing board then ? However , initial reports when the Taranis contract was let last year said it would take at least four years to develop with flight testing due 2010 ... in Australia . CNN has also been `` bombarded '' with messages , but mainly from people less than convinced . J. Kale believed there was a very simple explanation . `` The octopus thing obviously thought the wind turbine was a female doing a mating dance and tried to mate with it . '' Trevor Brown was worried the aliens did not `` know how to drive a flying octopus . '' Mono was worried what the aliens might think about the fuss . `` Well , let 's hope there is intelligent life watching us . It would at least prove there is intelligence somewhere . '' Maxim , who lives near the turbines , had a simple explanation for the lights . `` On Sunday there was a very spectacular meteor shower , like fireworks on the horizontal . '' Lilia was unimpressed with some of the explanations -- and your writer . `` Listen , just report the story and follow through . Think you can do that ? Without screwing up ? The plausible explanations are absurd . You are going to tell me that the residents of the area are not going to recognize fireworks ? This is a ridiculous and insulting explanation and it sounds exactly like that , offensive and ridiculous . I do n't know if there was a UFO or not , but it is all rather odd . What I do know is that the arrogant tone has got to stop . '' Is it life Jim but not as we know it ? Beam us up your thoughts . | British tabloid blames UFO for destroying wind turbine blade . `` Octopus UFO '' may have been unmanned stealth bomber on test flight , paper says . CNN readers remain skeptical about role of UFO in turbine 's ruination . | [[274, 439], [1428, 1513]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- This month , Just Imagine focused on the future of nature and the ways in which it can inspire solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing humanity today . A digital representation of the human genome . Yet as scientists gain a greater understanding of biological processes , they 're also learning how to manipulate them , including the very essence of what makes us human -- our DNA . Biotechnology advances are already helping scientists find groundbreaking ways to create personalized medicine , detect illnesses and eradicate disease . And this , according to futurist Ray Kurzweil , is only the beginning . In the future , humans will be able to reverse the aging process , replace dying organs with younger ones grown from an individual 's own DNA and even genetically engineer unborn children , he said . But some , like the UK-based group Human Genetics Alert , worry the ability to reprogram our biochemistry could lead mankind into unknown territory with dangerous ramifications for the future , including genetic discrimination and even a redefinition of what it means to be human . We want to hear your views . To what extent should we be able to alter our genetic makeup ? Should there be a limit ? And how should it be determined exactly what that limit is ? Post your comments in the Sound Off box below . We 'll publish the best . | We ask , to what extent should we be able to alter our own DNA ? Ray Kurzweil : Reprogramming DNA could expand human potential . Human Genetics Alert says could lead to genetic discrimination , social issues . What do you think ? Post your views in the Sound Off box below . | [[1151, 1213], [1173, 1213], [844, 848], [898, 1101], [1122, 1150], [1301, 1348]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Indiana judge Monday froze the assets of Marcus Schrenker , a suburban Indianapolis financial manager who authorities say tried to fake his own death by crashing his private plane into a Florida swamp . Marcus Schrenker exited his small plane before it crashed , and investigators are looking for him , police say . Investigators looking into his business dealings for possible securities violations requested the temporary restraining order in Hamilton County Superior Court , said Jim Gavin , spokesman for the Indiana Secretary of State . He said the order , which also applies to Schrenker 's wife , Michelle , and to his three companies , is aimed at protecting investors , and is related to a receivership filing . He did n't elaborate . Heritage Wealth Management , Heritage Insurance Services and Icon Wealth Management are `` the subjects of an active investigation by the Indiana Securities Division , '' Gavin said . Public documents list Schrenker as president of Heritage Wealth Management in Fishers , Indiana . A search warrant related to the inquiry was served December 31 , Gavin said . According to The Herald Bulletin in Anderson , Indiana , Michelle Schrenker filed for divorce in Hamilton Superior Court on December 30 . A hearing was set for February 5 . Schrenker , 38 , took off alone Sunday night in a corporate plane , a Piper PA-46 , from Anderson , Indiana , en route to Destin , Florida . Authorities said the Fisher , Indiana , businessman parachuted to the ground before letting the plane crash in the Florida panhandle . The craft came down near the Blackwater River , only 50 to 75 yards from homes , said Sgt. Scott Haines of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff 's Office . Watch more about the mysterious flight '' `` It is a neighborhood -- some very nice waterfront property , '' he said . Military aircraft from Whiting Field , which were dispatched to intercept the plane after Schrenker reported an emergency , witnessed the crash about 9:15 p.m. CT. . The crews fired flares and noticed the plane 's door was open and the cockpit was dark , Haines said in a news release . They got no response . Haines said the plane appeared to have been put on autopilot at around 2,000 feet , over the Birmingham , Alabama , area , before the pilot parachuted to the ground . Schrenker had contacted air traffic controllers , saying that the windshield imploded . `` The pilot stated that he was bleeding profusely , '' the news release said . `` Radio contact with the plane was not able to be established after that point . When deputies located the plane at the crash site , no blood was present and the door to the plane was open . '' The Childersburg , Alabama , Police Department reported that Schrenker approached one of its officers shortly before 2:30 a.m. , `` and said that he had been in a canoeing accident with some friends , '' a news release said . Childersburg is about 35 miles southeast of Birmingham . Childersburg officers , unaware of the plane crash , took Schrenker to a hotel in nearby Harpersville . After hearing about the crash , they went back to the hotel , where they found that Schrenker had checked into the hotel under a fictitious name . `` When authorities entered Schrenker 's room , he was not there , '' the release said . Authorities said Schrenker checked in under a fake name , put on a black cap and fled into a wooded area . Hotel manager Yogi Patel , who identified Schrenker on surveillance video , told CNN that Schrenker was the only guest overnight . He signed in as Jason Galouzs of Bolingbrook , Illinois , Patel said . A hotel employee said Schrenker went up to his room , but did n't enter before leaving the building . iReport.com : Are you near the crash site ? Tell us about it . Steve Darlington , manager of Anderson Municipal Airport , told CNN the plane was in fine condition at takeoff , and said Schrenker is `` an accomplished pilot '' who owns `` a couple of airplanes '' and flies regularly . No agency has come forward to lead the probe . `` The FBI is looking into the matter , along with other agencies , '' said Paul Draymond , of the Birmingham FBI office . Kathleen Bergen , spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration , said several factors indicated the pilot likely left the plane before the crash : a `` detailed review of radar data , '' the fact that the plane was switched to autopilot before it crashed , the sighting by military jet crews and the fact that the cockpit was found mostly intact with no one inside . After the pilot alerted air traffic controllers about the alleged problems with his plane , authorities tried to persuade him to land in Pell City , Alabama , east of Birmingham , Haines said . Schrenker also flew an acrobatic plane , and made a video featured on a YouTube site . A message preceding the video warns , `` No pilot should attempt this stunt . You will get yourself killed . Pilot specially trained to fly unlimited acrobatics and shows . '' CNN 's Josh Levs contributed to this report . | Authorities say pilot tried to fake his own death by crashing his private plane . Officials searching for Marcus Schrenker , who they say parachuted out of plane . Investigators looking into possible securities violations request the restraining order . Manager in Alabama says Schrenker was his only guest at hotel overnight . | [[82, 123], [144, 224], [0, 5], [172, 224], [225, 282], [1440, 1574], [1480, 1574], [2283, 2319], [338, 497], [338, 421], [500, 514], [3413, 3437], [3489, 3543]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At least 23 people died Saturday when a protest rally turned violent outside Madagascar 's Presidential Palace , a fire official at the main hospital said . People duck to avoid gunfire Saturday in Antananarivo , the capital of Madagascar . The official said 83 people were injured during the demonstration in the capital city of Antananarivo , according to journalist Dregoire Pourtier , who passed the information to CNN . The International Committee of the Red Cross helped at least 18 injured people , press officer Mbola Ramamanana said . Brittany Martin , an American who is a Harvard Fellow and lives near the palace , said she could hear the crowd cheering amid intermittent gunshots and noises that may have been tear gas canisters . iReport.com : Are you there ? `` From the window I can see military cars and ambulances driving by , '' Martin said . `` Nothing is up in smoke . We know there have been people killed from French and Malagasy news reports . `` We can see the back of the president 's palace . This morning was totally peaceful . We knew that Andry -LSB- Rajoelina -RSB- was unveiling his new government at the May 13th Plaza , which was peaceful , '' she said , citing a friend who was there . Madagascar 's government is in flux . President Marc Ravalomanana fired Rajoelina as mayor of Antananarivo and put someone else in the job , but Rajoelina is still technically mayor and claims to head a transitional national government . Martin said she heard gunshots starting about 2 p.m. , after the protesters marched from the plaza to the palace . She said it was unclear where the shots were coming from . Some media reports blamed foreign mercenaries for the shootings ; others said army guards were responsible or that the army was firing at the mercenaries to protect the crowd . Violence in Madagascar began January 26 , when protesters stormed state-run television and radio stations in Antananarivo . Hours earlier , the government had shut down a radio station owned by Rajoelina and , weeks before , had similarly shut down Rajoelina 's television station after it aired an interview with ex-President Didier Ratsiraka . Ravalomanana took power in 2001 after ousting Ratsiraka in a tense , hotly contested election . Ratsiraka fled to France afterward . Loyalists blame Ratsiraka 's family members for inciting the recent trouble . There is also anger in Madagascar -- where the World Bank says the average person earns about $ 320 a year -- over reports that Ravalomanana recently bought a $ 60 million airplane . Last Saturday , Rajoelina took to the streets , declaring himself the nation 's leader after a week of violence and looting that killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 300 . Rajoelina urged supporters to demand the resignation of Ravalomanana and said he planned to take charge until a transition government can be established in the island nation off Africa 's southeastern coast . Map '' `` What we 've been pushing for is dialogue the whole time , '' said Rodney Ford , a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy . He said he received reports that palace guards used tear gas and shot into the air to try to disperse the crowd . `` I do n't think anyone wanted violence . '' According to the U.S. State Department , Madagascar has about 20 million people with ethnic origins in Africa and Asia . It was administered by the British Empire during much of the 19th century until it came under the control of France , from which it gained independence in 1960 . | Gunfire heard near presidential palace , site of anti-government rally . President and fired mayor of capital city are locked in a power struggle . Rally started peacefully , American in capital says . | [[1277, 1345]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United Nations is urging countries to invest in green jobs working with `` sustainable forest management '' to address the growing problem of unemployment worldwide . A deforested area appears in a rain forest in Brazil 's Para state in October . At least 10 million such jobs could be created , the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization will say in a report to be released this week . The report does not mention any countries but is aimed at `` mainly regions with substantial rural unemployment and degraded land areas , '' said C.T.S. Nair , chief economist in the U.N. Forestry Department and one of the authors of the report . While all countries could benefit from investing in these green jobs , Nair said , Asia and Africa -- and to some extent Latin America -- could benefit the most . India , China and almost all countries in Africa stand to benefit , he added . The United Nations said it already is seeing indications that some countries -- such as the United States , India and South Korea -- are interested and taking action to invest in sustainable forest management by making it part of their economic stimulus plans . Sustainable forestry aims to prevent depletion of forests by managing them and making sure their use does not interfere with natural benefits or the local environment . For example , in forests where wood is being removed , the United Nations is suggesting that people be hired to monitor and manage how much wood is taken out to ensure the forest does not become depleted and can grow back fully . Managers also would make sure the wood harvest would n't affect biodiversity and the water supply . The report will be discussed and analyzed next week at the U.N. Committee on Forestry meeting in Rome , Italy . The Food and Agriculture Organization has designated next week as World Forest Week . | U.N. says countries should invest in green jobs for `` sustainable forest management '' Sustainable forestry aims to prevent depletion of forests . Asia and Africa could benefit the most from such jobs , report co-author says . Report will be discussed next week at meeting in Italy . | [[0, 15], [19, 130], [1161, 1329], [740, 777], [784, 819], [820, 885], [1660, 1670], [1693, 1753]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The BBC is refusing to broadcast a plea from leading British charities for aid to Gaza , saying the ad would compromise the public broadcaster 's appearance of impartiality . Demonstrators protest at the BBC 's central London offices Saturday against the broadcaster 's decision . The decision prompted weekend protests in England and Scotland , with one group saying Sunday that 100 people had occupied the foyer of the BBC building in Glasgow , Scotland and would not leave until the BBC runs the ad . The Disasters Emergency Committee , which includes the British Red Cross , Oxfam , Save the Children and 10 other charities , plans to launch the ad on Monday . British broadcasters , led by the BBC , originally declined to air the appeal -- but in the face of criticism from government ministers and others , ITV , Channel 4 and Channel 5 changed their minds . CNN was not approached to broadcast the ad , a DEC spokesman said . About 5,000 people demonstrated in front of the BBC 's Broadcasting House in central London on Saturday over the broadcaster 's stance . Seven people were arrested . Watch protest against BBC decision '' In Glasgow , the London-based Stop the War Coalition said Sunday its supporters had moved into the foyer of the BBC building in what the group described as a peaceful protest . The group did not plan to move beyond the foyer but intended to stay there until the BBC changes its decision , said Keith Boyd , a coalition member who called CNN on Sunday . `` Primarily we are asking that the ad be shown , '' Boyd said . The BBC press office would not confirm whether its Glasgow office was being occupied or if protesters were even there . `` We do n't comment on individual demonstrations , '' a statement from the BBC press office said . The BBC is standing by its decision to not air the ad , director general Mark Thompson wrote in a blog post on the corporation 's Web site . `` We concluded that we could not broadcast a free-standing appeal , no matter how carefully constructed , without running the risk of reducing public confidence in the BBC 's impartiality in its wider coverage of the story , '' he wrote Saturday . `` Inevitably an appeal would use pictures which are the same or similar to those we would be using in our news programs but would do so with the objective of encouraging public donations . The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story , '' Thompson said . `` Gaza remains a major ongoing news story , in which humanitarian issues -- the suffering and distress of civilians and combatants on both sides of the conflict , the debate about who is responsible for causing it and what should be done about it -- are both at the heart of the story and contentious , '' he added . The BBC , which is funded by an obligatory license fee paid by every British household with a television , is required by its charter to be impartial . It does not carry commercial advertising but does broadcast charity appeals . The DEC is `` disappointed that the BBC declined to support the Gaza appeal , '' the spokesman told CNN . `` It might limit the reach of our key message to the general public . '' The spokesman , who asked not to be named , said the BBC had to make its own decision about impartiality . `` That is a decision they must make . We have no view on that subject , '' he said . Many readers of Thompson 's blog post did have a view , however . The statement got hundreds of comments , most of them critical of the BBC . A commenter who signed in as `` bully -- baiter '' said the BBC was taking a side , no matter what it did . `` Sorry Mr. Thompson but you can not have it both ways . If deciding to accede to the DEC request would be seen as political then deciding not to accede to it is also political . Do n't insult me with your disingenuous attempts to suggest it is otherwise , '' the commenter wrote . Other commenters simply rejected Thompson 's position out of hand . `` I think the reasons for blocking help for a grave humanitarian disaster are simply astounding , '' `` brit -- proud '' wrote . `` How can simply bringing food , medicines and homes to hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians be seen as political impartiality ? How stupid do the BBC think the British public are ? '' But the corporation had its defenders as well . `` The last thing I want to do , is fund the BBC to broadcast propaganda , '' `` SternG '' wrote : `` There 's no way I will pay the BBC to air the DEC 's politically-motivated ` appeal ' for Gaza . Gaza is run by a government which is internationally recognized as a terrorist group , including by the EU . There is no doubt that some aid/fund will be ` procured ' by Hamas . ... Good decision BBC . '' British broadcasters have refused to air some previous DEC appeals , the umbrella organization 's spokesman said . A planned 2006 appeal for aid to victims of the war in Lebanon was scrapped because `` there were genuine concerns , shared by the aid agencies , about the deliverability of aid . '' Thompson cited doubts about whether DEC members could get aid to Gaza as a secondary reason for declining to take the ad . | NEW : Protesters occupy part of BBC building in Scotland , group says . U.K. charity group Disasters Emergency Committee to launch appeal for Gaza aid . BBC refuses to broadcast ad , says would compromise appearance of impartiality . BBC , funded by obligatory license fee , is required by charter to be impartial . | [[387, 480], [1174, 1184], [1187, 1208], [1227, 1316], [1639, 1676], [540, 573], [666, 700], [9, 16], [36, 122], [9, 32], [125, 210], [701, 738], [741, 778], [1835, 1865], [1953, 2176], [2392, 2497], [2866, 2941], [2837, 2891], [2931, 2941], [2944, 2970], [2959, 2962], [2971, 2988]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The first photos of Tiger Woods cradling his new baby boy have been released amid speculation the injured world number one could announce a return to competitive golf `` any day now . '' Tiger Woods poses with his family including new son Charlie and dogs Yogi and Taz . Charlie Axel Woods was born on Sunday , February 8 , and is the second child for Woods and his wife Elin . He is pictured here with his 20-month-old sister Sam their dogs Yogi and Taz , who is seen planting a well-timed lick on Tiger 's face . Woods had been waiting for the birth of his second child before making public any decision about a return to the Tour in 2009 . His long-time caddie Steve Williams told Television New Zealand an announcement could come `` any day now , '' and that Woods could return to competitive golf `` in the next few weeks . '' `` He 's probably 95 percent of the way there . He was waiting for the birth of his second child which came about last week so he 's ready to go , just needs a little bit more walking , '' Williams told TVNZ . `` He has n't been able to walk too well . But anytime in the next few weeks he 's going to tee it up . '' Williams said Woods `` definitely '' wants to play a couple of tournaments before the U.S. Masters at Augusta in early April . The world number one has been out of the game since winning his 14th major title at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last June . He underwent reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a week later ruled himself out for the rest of the 2008 season . Williams told TVNZ that Tiger had been practicing six hours a day , and that the only concession he has made to his injury was to adjust his swing . `` He 's had to modify his swing a little bit to accommodate his knee but the guy always finds a way , '' Williams said . He added : `` Nine months out of the game after a major operation is a long time . But he 's a hell of a competitor and one of the best we 've ever seen in this game so I would suspect that he 'll carry right on , but time will tell that . '' Last month , Woods issued a statement saying that he was practicing and making progress towards at a return to the PGA tour . He said after January 1 , he started hitting longer irons and his driver , although was not swinging as hard as he could , adding `` I 'm working towards that goal . '' Earlier this month he predicted the new addition to the family would make it a `` hectic Spring '' and said that he 'd be taking it `` tournament-to-tournament . '' | Golfing legend Tiger Woods poses with his family , including new son Charlie . Charlie Axel Woods was born on February 8 , a brother to 20-month-old Sam . Woods had been waiting for his son 's birth before announcing a return to golf . World No. 1 has been sidelined since June 2008 after undergoing knee surgery . | [[223, 306], [246, 274], [551, 678], [916, 964]] |
MALMO , Sweden -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The breathy vocals of Nina Persson helped launch The Cardigans onto the music scene in the 1990s . The band developed its dreamy pop sound in the Southern Swedish town of Malmo . Singer Nina Persson finds musical inspiration in love and relationships . They were catapulted to international success in 1997 , when the single `` Lovefool '' appeared on the soundtrack for `` Romeo and Juliet , '' starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes . The song 's chorus -LRB- `` Love me , love me , say that you love me '' -RRB- became a pop anthem . In addition to fronting The Cardigans , Persson , 34 , has worked on solo projects under the name A Camp . Now , after a near decade long hiatus , her second A Camp album , `` Colonia , '' is due out later this month . Persson , who splits her time between New York and Malmo , talks to CNN 's `` My City , My Life '' about music , inspiration and life after `` Lovefool . '' CNN : How did The Cardigans start ? Nina Persson : We formed the band in this town where we are all originally from -- Jonkoping -- and that was in 1992 . Magnus and Peter were the two guys who actually met and wanted to form the band . And then they recruited people and I was one of the first to be recruited , along with a friend of mine who played guitar in the first version of The Cardigans . I had not sung before that really . I was sort of hired because they knew they wanted a girl singing . And I was like ` I 'm a girl ' and I guess we got along well and I was willing to learn to sing . So that 's how it started really . Watch Nina take CNN on a tour of her favorite Malmo spots '' CNN : How big was music in your life before you joined the band ? Nina Persson : I 've loved music my whole life . But I never really listened to a record and thought that was something that I wanted to do . I was interested in becoming a painter , an architect , a designer . Those are the things I was interested in . But music , I never took instrument classes -- it was a random thing to start doing . CNN : Sometime a career finds you ? Nina Persson : Yeah and I was a person who was really helped by it . I was looking for something but I did n't know what it was and it proved to fulfill what I needed at the time . CNN : How is A Camp different from The Cardigans ? Nina Persson : It 's hard to say what makes it different because I 'm still doing the same thing -- I 'm still writing songs and singing them -- but it feels like it 's a bigger freedom because I am in charge in A Camp . I like both . Both serve good purposes . I like to be in the collective , being part of the machinery , but I also really enjoy being dictator . CNN : How do you define yourself as a musician now ? Nina Persson : Well I 'm not . I 'm not one of these people who live and breathe music . In the beginning I was a reluctant musician -- I still have n't bothered to learn an instrument . I 'm still only a singer and that 's how I write my songs . I 'm always superstitious that if I do learn an instrument I would pop the bubble a bit . CNN : Is there anything else you would have liked to have done if you had n't done singing ? Nina Persson : At the time when I was found , picked up by the band , I was into art . I was really good at drawing , really creative . I made stuff , I built stuff , I sewed stuff . I thought I would end up in that world somewhere . Photography was a big thing for me . In retrospect , I 'm sure that could have been a good career for me . But recently I 've started to wish that I could start over and dedicate my life to medicine . I would have loved to go to med school . I do n't think I will because I do n't want to spend seven or eight years in training , but I dream about working in a hospital . CNN : What were your inspirations over the years ? Nina Persson : That 's an incredibly difficult question to answer , but I think I 'm a sucker for constantly going back to the subject of love and relationships . It also varies very much from project to project and month to month . I 'm very emotional when it comes to the music . I want to make people cry . CNN : Tell us the story of how the band ended up in Malmo . See photos of Nina in Malmo '' Nina Persson : We moved here because we started to record in Tambourine Studios which was here . Most studios are in Stockholm so sort of all roads wanted to drag us to Stockholm but we did persist and came here . CNN : When you came to Malmo , what was it like starting out in the early days ? Nina Persson : Our parents helped us move down here which was really sweet . They sort of dropped us off and waved goodbye and we moved in . We really did hang out , the five of us , quite exclusively in the beginning . CNN : What was the area like back then ? Has it changed ? Nina Persson : Well actually the area where I now live has n't changed that much . A lot of Malmo has moved away from the blue collar past it has , but not that area . It has strangely remained the same , and I like it . CNN : Do you think the gritty atmosphere of Malmo has helped you stay grounded ? Nina Persson : Well it 's hard to say how much has to do with the people we are or how much to do with Malmo . But there certainly is something here that does not encourage big headedness . CNN : The musical heritage of Malmo is quite rocky . How did you guys fit in ? Nina Persson : People thought we were really ridiculous when we came to this totally rock place and played pop music . So we did n't fit in at all -- we were never part of the scene here . CNN : You were happy to be outsiders of the rocky heritage ? Nina Persson : I think we felt sort of cool about doing our own thing . We thought we knew something that the others did n't understand . CNN : Is there something about Malmo that helps shape your music or influence you ? Nina Persson : I think Malmo did have a big influence on us . Obviously we came here for the sound , and we got the sound we wanted . We were away from the industry -- that was great for us . I really did appreciate being in a place where there is not a lot whole of press and industry . Nina takes . CNN : So you also live in New York . What brings you back to Malmo ? Nina Persson : For me , I love Malmo very much because of my friendships . In Malmo I get the intimacy and get to run into my friends in the street once in a while which is a lovely feeling and I get to have a great grocery store just around the corner . CNN : If Malmo was a person , what kind of person would it be ? Nina Persson : It would be somebody who has been around for a while and survived a lot of hardships -- somebody you do n't mess with , somebody really intelligent , stubborn , with a lot of beauty on the inside . | Cardigans ' singer discusses Malmo , the group 's adopted hometown . The band moved to the Southern Swedish city for a particular sound , she says . Persson talks about the `` bigger freedom '' that comes with her solo projects . Inspired by love and relationships , she wants her music `` to make people cry '' | [[133, 212], [5907, 5943], [576, 578], [616, 623], [626, 673], [213, 286], [4110, 4137]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lights went off across the world Saturday as millions of homes and businesses went dark for one hour in a symbolic gesture highlighting concerns over climate change . The lights go off Saturday at the Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben clock tower in central London . More than 2,800 cities and towns worldwide dimmed their lights at 8:30 p.m. local time for the third annual Earth Hour -- a day-long energy-saving marathon spanning 83 countries and 24 time zones . In New York , the Empire State Building , Central Park and the George Washington Bridge went dark at 8:30 p.m. ET . The Philippines topped this year 's participation for Asia , with more than 650 communities taking part in the event , according to Earth Hour 's Web site . The light illuminating the face of the landmark Big Ben clock tower in London , England , went out at 8:30 p.m. -LRB- 4:30 p.m. ET -RRB- . In Dubai , iReporter Sharad Agarwal turned out the lights and sat down to a candlelit dinner with his family . `` I personally believe in going green and everything that goes with it , '' Agarwal told CNN . In Australia , floodlights of the Sydney Opera House were extinguished as the city 's iconic harbor kicked off events for Earth Hour . The event 's Web site reported that hundreds of people lined the harbor for a glimpse of the dimming skyline at 8:30 pm . Sydney became the birthplace of the Earth Hour campaign in 2007 when 2.2 million turned off their lights , igniting a grass-roots movement that has become a global phenomenon . In China , illuminations at major buildings including the `` Bird 's Nest '' Olympic Stadium and the Water Cube were extinguished as 20 cities joined in , according to the official Xinhua news agency . Other landmarks around the world expected to join the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event were the Egyptian pyramids , Vatican , Niagara Falls , the Eiffel Tower , the Empire State Building , the Acropolis in Athens and the Las Vegas casino strip . CNN iReporter Marie Sager of Los Angeles , California , said she planned to hike up to the Griffith Observatory to experience the massive lights-out event . `` A good portion of the city is participating . We 'll see the Capital Records sign go out . A lot of these places have n't turned out their lights in awhile , '' Sager said . Event sponsors hoped participating U.S. cities would set an example for the rest of the world . Watch actor Edward Norton and Carter Roberts of the World Wildlife Fund discuss event '' `` We think we are going to have 100 million people around the world sending a message that climate change is real , and we need to take action now , '' World Wildlife Fund CEO Carter Roberts told CNN . `` The world is watching to see what America is going to do , '' he said , `` because if America acts on climate change , the world will follow . '' Earth Hour events got off to an unofficial start in the remote Chatham Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean where locals switched off their diesel generators , organizers said . Shortly afterward , 44 New Zealand cities and town joined in the event . Organizers say they hope this year 's event will send a message to world leaders meeting Copenhagen , Denmark , in December for a major summit on climate change . `` We are asking one billion people to take part in what is essentially the first global vote for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour and casting a vote for earth , '' said executive director Andy Ridley . | Lights go out over Sydney Harbor as city launches Earth Hour . 650 communities in Philippines flip the switch . Millions of homes and businesses were expected to join event . Organizers hope event will send message on climate change to world leaders . | [[1106, 1118], [1121, 1205], [1180, 1240], [669, 719], [669, 694], [722, 759], [19, 96], [123, 185], [2325, 2420], [3114, 3259]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mount Redoubt volcano in southern Alaska erupted four times on Friday , shooting ash as high as 51,000 feet , scientists said . A series of eruptions has been rattling Alaska 's Mount Redoubt volcano since Sunday . The latest eruption took place at 8:30 p.m. -LRB- 12:30 a.m. Saturday ET -RRB- , according to the National Weather Service . That eruption followed three other ones earlier Friday . The eruptions are the latest in a series that began Sunday . The Alaska Volcano Observatory said the alert level remains at its highest possible designation -- red -- indicating that an eruption is under way or imminent and that the eruption will produce a `` significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere . '' The weather service said the ash is drifting north and northeast . However , only `` very light '' amounts are expected to fall Friday in the Anchorage area , about 100 miles east-northeast of the volcano . Alaska Airlines limited flights to and from Anchorage on Friday , according to the airline 's Web site . It canceled all its Thursday flights to and from Anchorage after an eruption earlier in the day sent an ash cloud 65,000 feet high . | NEW : Four eruptions jolt Alaska 's Mount Redoubt on Friday . Alert level remains at highest possible designation . Mount Redoubt has been erupting since Sunday . Alaska Airlines limits Friday flights to and from Anchorage . | [[0, 15], [60, 88], [359, 415], [477, 734], [513, 572], [147, 233], [945, 998]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A fishing boat carrying two NFL players and two other men capsized last month because it was improperly anchored , a Florida agency reported Friday . Nick Schuyler clings to an overturned boat in this Coast Guard photo . One man survived ; the other three are still missing . Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper , NFL free agent Corey Smith and former University of South Florida players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler went overboard February 28 during a fishing trip . Schuyler survived the accident , which happened 35 miles west of St. Petersburg , Florida , in the Gulf of Mexico . The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the men were unable to pull up the anchor of their boat to head back to port . Cooper tried to rev the boat forward to free the anchor , but the 21-foot single engine craft then capsized . The report said that the `` improper anchoring '' to a portside bracket , the attempt to throttle the boat forward to release the anchor , and the `` failure to leave enough slack anchor line to compensate for top-water Gulf conditions '' caused the accident . Schuyler told his rescuers that the boat was anchored in the evening when it was overturned by waves during a storm . He told them that all four men were clinging to the boat for a time , but became separated . The four men embarked in a 21-foot single-engine boat from the Seminole Boat Ramp near Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. February 28 , the Coast Guard said . | Florida agency rules bad anchoring , revving engine made boat capsize . Raiders ' Marquis Cooper , NFL free agent Corey Smith , William Bleakley missing . Nick Schuyler survived the February 28 accident in Gulf of Mexico . | [[63, 131], [134, 168], [815, 862], [863, 1020], [295, 369], [434, 498], [499, 614]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Twenty-six year old Brazilian footballer Kaka is at the subject of negotiations about a salary that could see him earn nearly 95 times more than what Barack Obama will be paid when he enters the White House . Pay rise : Kaka could soon be earning $ 726,000 per week . Reports circulated Wednesday that the AC Milan midfielder is being offered a # 500,000 -LRB- $ 726,000 -RRB- per WEEK salary by English Premier League club Manchester City . A statement on Italy 's Mediaset Web site appeared to suggest he will turn down the offer , however Manchester City officials insist the talks are ongoing . Even if he declines the move , the offer is far beyond the pay for many other high-profile jobs . For example , the U.S. President receives about $ 7690 per week , while British Prime Minister Gordon Brown receives around $ 5233 . What do you think of these salaries ? Should footballers be paid more than world leaders ? Tell us in the Sound Off box below . A comparison of a variety of salaries shows just how highly footballers , and professional sportsmen and women are paid in relation to other jobs . Even current football salaries dwarf the pay for most executive positions and public offices . WEEKLY INCOME -LRB- approximate -RRB- . U.S. President : $ 7690 . British PM Gordon Brown : $ 5233 . Band 5 nurse in Britain : $ 567 . Director-General of BBC : $ 22,800 . Average U.S. teacher : $ 915 . Cristiano Ronaldo : $ 177,345 . Lewis Hamilton : $ 391,593 . Kaka 's reported offer : $ 726,881 . If Kaka 's deal does proceed , he will earn more than triple the Premier League 's current highest-paid player , Robinho . The Brazilian , also with Manchester City , earns approximately $ 232,580 per week . Manchester City is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi , a man believed to be worth about $ 22 billion -- so funding the salary should n't be a problem . Kaka 's current salary at AC Milan was believed to be about $ 208,000 per week . | European media reports suggest Kaka is being offered a $ 726,000 weekly pay . The U.S. President earns about $ 7690 per week -LRB- plus other benefits -RRB- . World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is paid $ 177,000 a week . | [[256, 303], [304, 470], [338, 477]] |
TROUTVILLE , Virginia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For the past year , Donna Chamberlain has worked at a fuel center here in Virginia 's Roanoke Valley . It pays roughly half of what her old job did , but after being out of work for 14 months , she feels lucky to have it . Wachovia , which distributes the debit cards , would not comment on how much it receives for their use . Adding to her concerns , she and her husband , Steve , are now the custodial parents of their 7-year-old special-needs grandson , Cayden . The family needs every penny it can collect . So when state officials replaced the roughly $ 40-a-week child support check with a debit card , Donna read the fine print -- and left it on the table . `` It was automatically generated , and had my name on it , '' she told CNN . `` This thing had 10 fees . '' Watch Chamberlain discuss the hidden fees . Virginia is one of two dozen states that use debit cards as one means of distributing child support payments , a move that allows them to reduce the amount of money spent issuing and mailing checks . But the fees attached to the debit cards can accumulate quickly : 50 cents to make a telephone balance inquiry ; 65 cents to make an ATM withdrawal after two free withdrawals are taken ; and $ 2.75 if the card is used at an out-of-network bank . Chamberlain found one charge particularly galling . North Carolina-based banking giant Wachovia , which distributes the funds on Virginia 's behalf , said it would deduct $ 2.50 from her account for more than one face-to-face visit at one of its banks . `` If you should go to the bank teller window , you get to go once a month , '' she said . `` But if you want to talk to anybody about your money more than once a month , it 's going to cost us $ 2.50 to walk in the door of the bank . '' Wachovia would not comment on how much it receives from the program , and referred CNN to Virginia state officials . But with an increasing number of states turning to debit cards to distribute money for programs such as child support , the fees attached to those cards are drawing criticism from consumer advocates . `` These cards can come with hidden fees , subject to identify theft and unauthorized charges , '' said Lauren Saunders , an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center in Washington . `` And , unlike a credit card , you do n't get a regular statement , so you ca n't check on these charges . Some of them have gotchas like overdraft fees that are added on . So , there 's dangers , and if these cards are structured unfairly , they can be a problem . '' Many recipients are n't aware of the fees , even though they are usually sent a list of the charges along with a new debit card , Saunders said . Virginia allows child support recipients to receive payment via debit card , direct deposit or check . But it has been pushing the use of debit cards since 2006 , said Nick Young , the head of Virginia 's Department of Social Services . In 2008 , approximately $ 279 million in child support payments were distributed via the Wachovia debit cards . Young told CNN that he had no idea how much money Wachovia made from debit card fees , but said most of them could be avoided with `` wise '' use of the cards . `` I will admit that if somebody takes their $ 300 out , $ 10 at a time , they will in essence defeat the purpose of the card , '' he told CNN . `` And they will suffer . '' In 2008 , about 52 percent of child support recipients used direct deposit , Young said . A little more than 41 percent chose debit cards . Only 1,877 people chose to get money by check last year in the state , he said . Virginia also uses debit cards to distribute state retiree payments , and it is one of 30 states to use them to pay unemployment benefits , according to the U.S. Department of Labor . In a CNN report on the practice earlier this month , the Labor Department said debit cards are safer and more secure than checks , allow the unemployed to avoid check-cashing fees and frees them from keeping excess cash around . In Pennsylvania , divorce attorney Susan E. Murray advises clients in her state to turn down the debit cards for child support . `` They will nickel-and-dime you to death , '' she said . `` If someone is getting $ 200 a month in child support , the fees really start cutting into their money . '' The program is `` horrible '' for families , she said . `` It 's a win for the state , it 's a win for the bank , but the kids lose . Children are the losers under this program . It 's unconscionable . '' Back in Virginia , Chamberlain 's debit card is still stuck to the letter the state sent to her home . She 'll stick with a check , thank you . | Virginia is one of two dozen states that use debit cards to distribute child support . Fees include 50 cents for telephone balance inquiry , $ 2.75 at out-of-network bank . Lawyer advises against using debit cards : `` They will nickel-and-dime you to death '' Child-support recipients in Virginia can choose debit cards , direct deposit or checks . | [[860, 895], [879, 895], [901, 968], [1948, 2032], [2720, 2822], [2035, 2115], [2116, 2166], [4038, 4053], [4056, 4166], [4170, 4208], [2720, 2822], [2750, 2822]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mother Nature provided a little bit of everything in several parts of the country on Saturday . Vehicles jam a buckled road in Mobile , Alabama , on Saturday after heavy rains . Heavy winds wreaked havoc on a shopping center in central Tennessee , blowing out windows and damaging the roof , Murfreesboro police spokesman Kyle Evans told CNN Radio . Glass storefronts at the Jackson Heights Shopping Center were blown out 100 to 150 yards into the parking lot , Evans said . Evans said three people were treated for minor injuries from flying glass and metal . Residents in northwest Murfreesboro lost power Saturday night and police warned residents to stay indoors until traffic caused by the incident cleared up . Elsewhere , a blizzard dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the Plains on Saturday . The blizzard cut power , stranding drivers and prompting governors in Kansas and Oklahoma to issue disaster declarations . The heaviest snow and ice accumulated in south central and southwest Kansas . In Pratt County , 28 inches of snow fell , with snowdrifts reported up to 6 feet deep . At least nine other counties reported 2 feet of snow , the Kansas Adjutant General 's office said . About 17,000 customers in Kansas lost electricity , more than half of those in Sedgwick County . The storm left some travelers stranded and in need of last-minute hotel accommodations , according to the front desk manager at the Econolodge in McPherson . `` We have two honeymoon suites open , but other than that we 're fully booked . We normally have 84 rooms , '' iReporter Sally Kelley said . The housekeepers who made it to work were all outside shoveling , but they struggled to keep up with the snow as it continued falling Saturday afternoon . `` We have n't had people getting mad at us . The people have been great but I think they 're really frustrated . '' The state Adjutant General 's office said whiteout conditions and blowing snow made driving hazardous . The Kansas Department of Transportation shut down several roads in the western and south central part of the state . National Guard Humvees were used to move medical personnel and patients to a hospital in Seward County . In Oklahoma , where more than a foot of snow fell , Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency in 50 counties . The state Department of Transportation had several roads blocked in the state and others remained impassable . `` The only people who can get out of their driveways have 4-wheel drive , '' said iReporter Mark Rennie of Alva , Oklahoma . Meanwhile , rain along the Gulf Coast battered areas around Mobile , Alabama , and Biloxi , Mississippi . Watch how the rain is blocking roads in Mobile , Alabama '' Mobile County Emergency Management Director Walter Dickerson said 4 to 6 inches of rain fell on already saturated ground . Fifteen to 20 roads around Mobile were closed , and several people had to be rescued after flash flooding trapped their cars . In Mobile , heavy rains caused a section of roadway to collapse . Three cars ended up in a large sinkhole , including one vehicle that landed on top of another . No serious injuries were reported . Dickerson said a temporary shelter may be opened for residents displaced by the high waters . In nearby Baldwin County , Alabama , an apartment complex was evacuated and some main roads were closed . The main roadway leading into Biloxi , the Interstate 10 loop , was closed for several hours early Saturday before waters receded and allowed traffic to resume . But more than a dozen other roads around Harrison County remained blocked . Roads were also impassable in some parts of the Florida Panhandle . Officials in the Atlanta , Georgia , metro area , which was under flood watches and warnings , were keeping an eye on surging rivers and creeks . | Strong winds damage Tennessee shopping center . Blizzard drops more than 2 feet of snow , strands travelers in Kansas , Oklahoma . Mobile , Alabama , and Biloxi , Mississippi , regions hardest hit by rain . | [[197, 264], [197, 208], [267, 286], [197, 208], [291, 308], [736, 745], [748, 827], [828, 894], [828, 840], [853, 950], [951, 1028], [1029, 1044], [1047, 1069], [1314, 1352], [2212, 2223], [2232, 2261], [2264, 2273], [2564, 2573], [2576, 2653]] |
Men who are circumcised are less likely to get sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus -LRB- HPV -RRB- , but not syphilis , according to a study of adult African men published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine . Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe , but they 've been on the decline . The finding adds to the evidence that there are health benefits to circumcision . It was already known that circumcision can reduce the risk of penile cancer , a relatively rare disease . In a previous study , the same research team found that adult circumcision could reduce the risk of HIV infection . Efforts to increase the practice of male circumcision in areas with high rates of sexually transmitted infections , including Africa , could have a tremendous benefit , say the study 's authors . Genital herpes has been associated with an increased risk of HIV , and HPV can cause genital warts as well as a higher risk of anal , cervical -LRB- in women -RRB- , and penile cancers . Health.com : Is your partner cheating ? How to protect yourself . In the United States , infant circumcision is declining . About 64 percent of American male infants were circumcised in 1995 , down from more than 90 percent in the 1970s . Rates tend to be higher in whites -LRB- 81percent -RRB- than in blacks -LRB- 65 percent -RRB- or Hispanics -LRB- 54 percent -RRB- . Some opponents say the removal of the foreskin is an unnecessary surgical procedure that may reduce sexual sensitivity in adulthood . In Jewish and Muslim cultures , young or infant boys are routinely circumcised for religious reasons . Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe , but the American Academy of Pediatrics currently says that the medical benefits are insufficient to recommend circumcision for all baby boys . In the new study , a research team at the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Uganda -- in collaboration with researchers from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore , Maryland , and Makerere University in Uganda -- conducted two clinical trials involving 3,393 uncircumcised men ages 15 to 49 . All the men were negative for HIV and genital herpes -LRB- also known as herpes simplex virus type 2 -RRB- ; a subgroup of men also tested negative for HPV . Roughly half of the men underwent medically supervised circumcision at the start of the trial , while the other half were circumcised two years later . Overall , circumcision reduced the men 's risk of genital herpes by 28 percent -LRB- 10.3 percent of uncircumcised men developed genital herpes compared with 7.8 percent of circumcised men -RRB- and HPV infection by 35 percent -LRB- 27.8 percent of uncircumcised men were infected with HPV compared with 18 percent of circumcised men -RRB- . Circumcision did not , however , protect against syphilis . -LRB- About 2 percent of men in both groups contracted syphilis . -RRB- Health.com : A sexual risk taker comes to terms with drinking , depression , and STDs . Study coauthor Thomas C. Quinn , M.D. , professor of global health at Johns Hopkins University , says that choosing circumcision , whether it 's the parents of an infant or an adult male for himself , is and should remain an individual decision . `` But the critics need to really look at the benefits versus the risks , '' he adds . `` By now a large body of evidence has shown that the health benefits clearly outweigh the minor risk associated with the surgery . In our study , we did n't see any adverse effects or mutilation . We 're recommending supervised , safe , sterile environments -- not circumcision out in an open field with rusty instruments . '' Increasing circumcision rates in Africa may not only help men , but would likely protect women too , possibly lowering the rates of female cervical cancer , the authors say . Ronald H. Gray , M.D. , professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University and study coauthor , says that the researchers plan to look at whether male circumcision reduces the transmission of HPV to female sexual partners . Health.com : 10 questions to ask a new partner before having sex . Even in the United States , this study has relevance , says Anthony Fauci , M.D. , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -LRB- which funded one of the trials -RRB- . `` In this country , circumcision for infant boys remains a personal decision for the parents , '' he says . `` This makes us rethink whether doctors should be more aggressive in recommending that it at least be considered . If parents say no just because generations before them have said no , they should learn more about the significant health benefits before making that choice . '' Roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults have had at least one HPV infection , according to an editorial by Matthew R. Golden , M.D. , and Judith N. Wasserheit , M.D. , both of the University of Washington . Although vaccines against some of the most dangerous HPV strains have been approved for girls ages 13 to 26 , the vaccines are expensive and routine Pap tests are still necessary to pick up cervical cancers . Health.com : How to tell your ex you have an STD . Golden and Wasserheit note that `` rates of circumcision are declining and are lowest among black and Hispanic patients , groups in whom rates of HIV , herpes , and cervical cancer are disproportionately high . '' Medicaid , which insures many low-income patients in these populations , does not pay for routine infant circumcision in 16 states . The study authors hope that this growing evidence in favor of circumcision will persuade policy-making bodies , both in the United States and in other countries , to officially recommend the procedure -- which could make patient education and insurance coverage more likely . It 's not clear why circumcision may affect infection rates . But the study authors suggest that penile foreskin may provide a moist , favorable environment for herpes and HPV to survive and enter cells on the skin 's surface . Once the foreskin is surgically removed , the risk of infection may be reduced . Health.com : Men can lose their sex drives too . They also note , however , that male circumcision is not completely effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections . Safe sex practices , including consistent condom use , are still necessary to provide the best protection . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Study : Circumcision reduces risk of HPV infection and herpes , but not syphilis . Circumcision known to reduce risk of HIV infection and penile cancer . 64 percent of American baby boys circumcised in ' 95 , down from 90 percent in 70s . | [[0, 161], [0, 161], [381, 462], [419, 462], [463, 477], [484, 538], [463, 465], [470, 538], [569, 588], [591, 684], [6133, 6172], [6175, 6213], [1134, 1154], [1157, 1191], [1192, 1258]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two leading Jewish watchdog groups are denouncing a prominent cartoonist 's illustration about Israel 's offensive in Gaza , saying it uses anti-Semitic imagery . The cartoon was published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet . The Anti-Defamation League , which has been fighting anti-Semitism since it was founded in 1913 , called the syndicated cartoon by Pulitzer Prize-winning Pat Oliphant `` hideously anti-Semitic . '' The Simon Wiesenthal Center , which , among other things , fights anti-Semitism and educates people about the Holocaust , said `` the cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras . '' Published Wednesday in newspapers and on the Internet , the cartoon shows the small figure of a woman , labeled Gaza , carrying a child . She is being pursued by a headless , jackbooted figure wielding a sword , marching in an apparent goose-step and pushing a fanged Jewish star on a wheel . The Anti-Defamation League said the cartoon used `` Nazi-like imagery '' and a `` hateful evocation of the Star of David . '' Abraham H. Foxman , the ADL 's national director , said the cartoon 's `` outlandish and offensive use of the Star of David in combination with Nazi-like imagery is hideously anti-Semitic . '' `` It employs Nazi imagery by portraying Israel as a jack-booted , goose-stepping headless apparition , '' Foxman said . `` The implication is of an Israeli policy without a head or a heart . Israel 's defensive military operation to protect the lives of its men , women and children who are being continuously bombarded by Hamas rocket attacks has been turned on its head to show the victims as heartless , headless aggressors . '' The Wiesenthal Center , which also issued its statement Wednesday , said it urged The New York Times Web site and other Web sites to remove the cartoon . `` There is nothing about Oliphant 's cartoon not meant to denigrate and demonize the Jewish state , from the headless goose-stepping soldier to the horrific depiction of the Star of David about to devour a cowering innocent Gazan woman holding a baby , '' Rabbi Marvin Hier , the group 's dean , and Rabbi Abraham Cooper , the group 's associate dean , said in a joint statement . `` The imagery in this cartoon mimics the venomous anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazi and Soviet eras . It is cartoons like this that inspired millions of people to hate in the 1930 's and help set the stage for the Nazi genocide , '' the statement said . A spokeswoman for Universal Press Syndicate , which distributes Oliphant 's work , issued a statement defending him , saying he , `` like all editorial cartoonists , uses his art to comment on important issues of the day widely reported in the worldwide media -- in this case , the conflict over Gaza . That his cartoons sometimes spark intense debate is a testament to his talent . '' Universal said no media outlet had informed the syndicate that it removed the cartoon , but `` Oliphant 's clients are not contractually bound to inform us . '' A New York Times spokeswoman said , `` We did not run the cartoon in the newspaper , nor do we plan to do so . '' She said NYTimes.com has , by contract with uclick.com , an `` Oliphant '' button on the cartoons page . `` Yesterday , those who clicked on it saw the cartoon you mentioned , which is now relegated to the Oliphant archive , '' she said . Imagery and rhetoric comparing Israel to Nazis have been deployed by Israel 's persistent critics , who decry the Jewish state 's treatment of Palestinians as oppressive and brutal . Israel and its supporters defend the state as humane and say it has properly defended itself against attacks . There has been sharp criticism of Israel 's offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza who launched rockets into southern Israeli towns . Human Rights Watch said Wednesday the Israeli military 's firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the offensive `` was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes , '' a claim denied by Israel . Israel has said that Hamas militants situated themselves among civilians during the offensive . Oliphant , who won the Pulitzer in 1967 , has been a dominant figure in the editorial cartoon world . His work has been distributed since 1980 by Universal Press Syndicate , which calls the Australian native one of the `` sharpest , most daring practitioners '' among editorial cartoonists . He has received many honors , and his cartoons have been exhibited across the world . `` In 1998 , the Library of Congress commemorated the acquisition of 60 of his works with a special exhibition at the Library 's Great Hall , '' according to an Oliphant biography on the Universal Web site . This is n't the first time Oliphant 's cartoons have drawn criticism . The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in 2005 `` wrote to the San Francisco Chronicle and Universal Press Syndicate to communicate concern over racist depictions of Arabs , '' according to the group 's Web site , and the Asian American Journalists Association criticized offensive stereotypes in cartoons in 1999 , 2001 and 2007 . Debates over offensive editorial cartoons are not uncommon . Keith Woods , dean of faculty at the Poynter Institute , a journalism school in St. Petersburg , Florida , was asked to comment on the reaction to the cartoon , whether the cartoon was improper , and at what point in the editorial process an editor can say a product has gone too far . He said he understands the positions the Jewish groups and Israeli policy critics bring to the table . He said he believes Oliphant is saying that `` Israel is behaving toward the Palestinians the way the Nazis behaved toward the Jews '' and that he is stating an opinion shared by many in the Middle East and the world . `` I believe that like the caricatures they are , editorial cartoons by their nature exaggerate their messages , so I do n't think Oliphant is suggesting a one-to-one comparison . So I get the message , instead , that Israel is acting brutally toward the Palestinians . '' He also believes the ADL and the Wiesenthal Center `` are saying that the cartoon is at least doing unintentional harm -LRB- if not more calculated harm -RRB- . '' `` I see their point . There are symbols -- and the Nazi extermination of the Jews is surely one of them -- that can only truly be analogized to their equals . Unadulterated evil compared with unadulterated evil . Israel 's ongoing battles with its Arab neighbors may be many things , but it is not The Final Solution . '' As for the question of how news organizations should handle and discuss such a cartoon , Woods said that `` Oliphant clearly has the right to provoke or offend . The question for him is : Do you truly wish to conflate a complex , historic conflict with one of the most evil acts in history ? And for the newspapers that carry the cartoon -- and their behavior here is equally open to critique -- do you wish to perpetuate such a comparison ? '' | NEW : Cartoon 's distributor defends cartoonist , cites his talent to stir debate . Work by Pulitzer-winning cartoonist shows jack-booted figure , Jewish star with fangs . Anti-Defamation League , Simon Wiesenthal Center say it uses anti-Semitic imagery . Critics compare Israeli actions to Nazi aggression ; Israel says it must defended itself . | [[2509, 2552], [2592, 2624], [2812, 2860], [2812, 2891], [254, 280], [352, 420], [1297, 1301], [1310, 1384], [0, 15], [144, 181], [452, 479], [574, 667], [964, 1086], [3409, 3506], [3592, 3617], [3649, 3702], [3703, 3788]] |
-LRB- Tribune Media Services -RRB- -- Be forewarned , Ireland is seductive . Traditions are strong and stress is a foreign word . I fell in love with the friendliest land this side of Sicily . It all happened in a Gaeltacht . As you explore the lush Dingle Peninsula , you 'll see how the Emerald Isle got its name . Gaeltachts are national parks for the traditional culture , where the government protects the old Irish ways . Shaded green on many maps , these regions brighten the west coast of the Emerald Isle . Gaeltacht means a place where Gaelic -LRB- or Irish -RRB- is spoken . But the Irish culture is more than just the language . You 'll find it tilling the rocky fields , singing in the pubs , and lingering in the pride of the small-town preschool that brags `` All Gaelic . '' The Dingle Peninsula -- green , rugged , and untouched -- is my favorite Gaeltacht . While the big tour buses clog the neighboring Ring of Kerry before heading east to kiss the Blarney Stone , in Dingle it still feels like the fish and the farm actually matter . Fishing boats still sail from Dingle , and a nostalgic whiff of peat scents its nighttime air , offering visitors an escape into pure Ireland . For 30 years my Irish dreams have been set here , on this sparse but lush peninsula where locals are fond of saying , `` The next parish is Boston . '' Of the peninsula 's 10,000 residents , 1,500 live in Dingle Town . Its few streets , lined with ramshackle but gaily painted shops and pubs , run up from a rain-stung harbor , home to a friendly dolphin . You 'll see teenagers -- already working on ruddy beer-glow cheeks -- roll kegs up the streets and into the pubs in preparation for another night of music and craic -LRB- fun conversation and atmosphere -RRB- . The Dingle Peninsula is worth exploring by bike or car . It 's 10 miles wide and runs 40 miles from Tralee to Slea Head . The top of its mountainous spine is Mount Brandon , at 3,130 feet , the second-tallest mountain in Ireland . While only tiny villages lie west of Dingle Town , the peninsula is home to 500,000 sheep . The weather on this distant tip of Ireland is often misty , foggy , and rainy . But do n't complain -- as locals will explain , there is no bad weather ... only inappropriate clothing . Leaving Dingle Town by car or bike , it becomes clear that the peninsula is an open-air museum . It 's littered with monuments reminding visitors that the town has been the choice of Bronze Age settlers , Dark Age monks , English landlords , and Hollywood directors -LRB- `` Ryan 's Daughter , '' and `` Far and Away '' -RRB- . The Milestone B&B decorates its front yard not with a pink flamingo , but with an ancient pillar stone -- one of more than 2,000 stony pieces in the puzzle of prehistoric life here . Near the red , two-room schoolhouse , a street sign warns Taisteal go Mall -- Slow Down . Near the playground , students hide out in circular remains of a late Stone Age ring fort . In 500 B.C. it was a petty Celtic chieftain 's headquarters , a stone-and-earth stockade filled with little stone houses . Many of these ring forts survived the centuries because of superstitious beliefs that they were `` fairy forts . '' The wet sod of Dingle is soaked with medieval history . In the darkest depths of the Dark Ages , when literate life almost died in Europe , peace-loving , bookwormish monks fled the chaos of barbarian raids on the continent . They sailed to this drizzly fringe of the known world and lived their monastic lives in lonely stone igloos or `` beehive huts , '' which you 'll see dotting the landscape . Several groups of these mysterious huts , called clochans , line the road . Built without mortar by seventh-century monks , these huts take you back . Climb into one . You 're all alone , surrounded by dank mist and the realization that it was these monks who kept literacy alive in Europe . To give you an idea of their importance , Charlemagne , who ruled much of Europe in the year 800 , imported Irish monks to be his scribes . Rounding Slea Head , the point in Europe closest to America , the rugged coastline offers smashing views of deadly black-rock cliffs and the distant Blasket Islands . The crashing surf races in like white horses , while longhaired sheep graze peacefully on the green hillside . Study the highest fields , untouched since the planting of 1845 , when the potatoes never matured and rotted in the ground . The great famine of that year , through starvation or emigration , nearly halved Ireland 's population . Because its endearing people have endured so much , Ireland is called `` The Terrible Beauty . '' Take your time at the Gallaras Oratory , circa A.D. 800 , the sightseeing highlight of your peninsula tour . One of Ireland 's best-preserved early Christian churches , its shape is reminiscent of an upturned boat . Its watertight dry-stone walls have sheltered travelers and pilgrims for 1,200 years . From the Oratory , continue up the rugged one-lane road to the crest of the hill and then coast back to Dingle Town -- hungry , thirsty , and ready for a pint . Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio . E-mail him at [email protected], or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009 , Edmonds , Wash. 98020 . Copyright 2009 RICK STEVES , DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES , INC. . | Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows . His TV series , `` Rick Steves ' Europe , '' airs on PBS stations . Steves ' company , Europe Through the Back Door , conducts European tours . | [[5109, 5171], [5159, 5177]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Prominent Chicago defense lawyer Ed Genson said Friday he intends to resign as attorney for embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the criminal case against the governor . Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 's impeachment trial is scheduled to start on Monday . `` I never require a client to do what I say but I do require them to at least listen to what I say . ... I wish the governor good luck and godspeed , '' Genson said in brief remarks to reporters . Genson would not elaborate on his reasons for withdrawing from the case or any conversations he had with Blagojevich about his leaving the case . Genson had headed Blagojevich 's defense team since soon after the governor was arrested on December 9 on federal corruption charges . Among other allegations , federal prosecutors said the governor tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Obama . Genson represented Blagojevich during proceedings in the Illinois state House in which legislators voted to impeach the governor . But on January 16 , the U.S. attorney 's office in the Northern District of Illinois said Genson would not represent Blagojevich in his state Senate impeachment trial . No explanation was given . Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing and said the House impeachment vote was politically motivated . Watch Blagojevich ask for fair trial '' On Thursday , the outspoken Blagojevich called the Senate trial `` a sham '' and said the Senate is not allowing him to call witnesses in the trial , which is scheduled to begin Monday . The Chicago Tribune reported that Genson said his inability to call witnesses or to know the identities of some parties in alleged schemes made it impossible to defend Blagojevich in the impeachment trial . After Genson announced Friday he would leave Blagojevich 's criminal defense effort , another of Blagojevich 's attorneys , Sheldon Sorosky , said he was continuing to work on the case . `` I 'm on the case , absolutely , '' Sorosky , whose law firm is separate from Genson 's firm , said at an impromptu sidewalk news conference as he was leaving an office building . `` I was aware of Mr. Genson 's position , and he 's a good friend , '' said Sorosky . `` The governor 's a friend , and I understand his position and that 's that . '' iReport.com : Do you trust your political leaders ? Sorosky , who has worked on Blagojevich 's defense since the arrest , would not elaborate . Asked by a reporter if he would recommend to Blagojevich that the talkative governor curtail his public comments , Sorosky said , `` You ca n't tell the governor what to do or not to do . '' | Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 's top attorney to resign from defense team . Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell Senate seat vacated by President Obama . Blagojevich 's impeachment trial set to start on Monday . | [[0, 15], [19, 194], [1750, 1833], [759, 782], [785, 886], [195, 279], [195, 245], [259, 279], [1491, 1505], [1512, 1542]] |
HARARE , Zimbabwe -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Some of Zimbabwe 's children are `` wasting away '' as political turmoil and economic crisis have caused a severe food shortage , according to a report from Save the Children . Children sleep in rough conditions on the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa . The number of acute child malnutrition cases has risen by almost two-thirds in the past year , the report from the UK-based agency said in its appeal to world donors for help . `` There is no excuse for failing to provide this food , '' program director Lynn Walker said . `` The innocent people of Zimbabwe should not be made to suffer for a political situation that is out of their control . '' Five million Zimbabweans -- out of a population of about 12 million -- are in need of food aid now , the report said . The group is appealing for 18,000 tons of food for next month . `` We have already been forced to reduce the rations of emergency food we are delivering because there is n't enough to go around , '' the report said . `` If , as we fear , the food aid pipeline into Zimbabwe begins to fail in the new year the millions of people who rely on emergency food aid will suffer . '' Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since its independence from Great Britain 28 years ago . There is an acute shortage of all essentials such as cash , fuel , medical drugs , electricity and food . President Robert Mugabe blames the crisis on the sanctions imposed on him and his cronies by the West for allegedly disregarding human rights . But Mugabe 's critics attribute the crisis to his economic policies . As the economy has faltered for almost a decade now , a cholera epidemic is raging , fueled by the collapse of health , sanitation and water services in Zimbabwe . The epidemic has claimed more than 1,100 lives and infected more than 20,000 people since its outbreak in August . Health experts have warned that the water-borne disease could infect more than 60,000 unless its spread is halted . The political crisis rose to a boil in this year when the opposition party claimed that it won the presidential election , but Mugabe 's government refused to recognize the result . Instead , the race was thrown to a runoff , which was boycotted by the opposition . Mugabe signed an agreement with the opposition in September to form a unity government , but a bitter dispute over the division of cabinet seats has prevented its formation . Inflation is so severe that the government was forced to print $ 10 billion currency notes last week , with each expected to buy just 20 loaves of bread . | Some Zimbabwean children `` wasting away '' amid food shortage , aid group says . Severe malnutrition cases rise two-thirds in year , Save the Children warns . Almost half of 12 million Zimbabweans need food aid now , report says . Country facing worst economic , humanitarian crisis since independence in 1980 . | [[9, 27], [167, 198], [299, 391], [696, 763], [767, 794], [1191, 1309]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.S. military says a recent raid uncovered a detailed letter from an al Qaeda in Iraq militant to the group 's leader about how the insurgent network should continue to generate economic chaos and `` psychological conflict '' and must bear down against American-backed Sunni militias . An Iraqi mother and daughter are helped Tuesday after a car bombing in Baquba blamed on al Qaeda in Iraq . Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday about a letter to Abu Ayyub al-Masri , the head of al Qaeda in Iraq , from a militant named Abu Safyan . The document was posted on the Multi-National Forces-Iraq Web site . The sentiments reflect the tenacity of and continuing challenges posed by the predominantly Sunni militant network believed to be responsible for bombings that erupted across Iraq on Tuesday . Bergner said it `` provides further evidence about the strategy and tactics of violence '' the group is pursuing . Bergner said a March 5 raid northwest of Baghdad resulted in three insurgents killed , including Abu Safyan , and three others captured . Troops seized a suicide vest , computer material and a stack of documents , including the document from Abu Safyan -- who was believed to be from Diyala province . Abu Safyan lays out a variety of tactics that militants should pursue . `` We must always leave the enemy in psychological conflict '' so that `` they can never have stability , '' according to the document . With such instability , they `` will not all unite against us , '' it adds . Bergner said that while authorities are investigating Tuesday 's bombings in Baghdad , Ramadi , Mosul , and Baquba that killed 60 people and wounded more than 100 others , the strikes have the `` hallmark '' of being perpetuated by al Qaeda in Iraq . The group has been considered the coalition 's top foe in Iraq , even though troops have been distracted in recent weeks by fighting rogue Shiite militias . Al Qaeda in Iraq has been described by military officials as having a largely foreign leadership but made up of Iraqis . It is distinct from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan , but it is not clear how closely both the Iraqi and the South Asian al Qaeda groups cooperate . The letter details the need for fostering `` security chaos '' among the anti-al Qaeda in Iraq and mostly Sunni awakening groups , Shiites and Kurds , the coalition forces , and the government . `` This will lead to weaken them , particularly the Maliki Shia government , by wisely , intelligently and cautiously spreading sedition among them , '' the letter said , referring to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki . In the letter , Abu Safyan considers awakening groups a top threat to al Qaeda in Iraq and proposes a media campaign that would discredit the awakening forces by passing along false information about them . The jihadi says al Qaeda in Iraq militants should consider infiltrating the government and security forces to foster trust . That atmosphere would enable militants to conduct attacks , including strikes against Shiites . `` We will work against them and attack them as they fight among themselves , '' Abu Safyan is quoted as saying . Abu Safyan also calls for the disrupting the economy by attacking gas and oil fields , pipelines , tankers , electric stations and power lines . He suggests contaminating water lines and lakes . Such sabotage would serve to `` halt payment of the military and police salaries and the awakening movement associated with the occupier and Maliki 's malignant government . Even the American Army will weaken since it depends on the Iraqi oil and gas wealth . The enemy will gradually drown step by step . '' Abu Safyan talks about the need to `` bring many brothers who have sharia knowledge and abide by the teachings of Islam from the outside of Iraq . '' `` They will explain to the people why we are fighting and whom we are fighting with , we must explain to them whom the mujahideen are and who are the people we 're fighting . '' The militant also called for good protection of communities under their control . `` We must dig trenches around the villages and cities to prevent the enemy from entering our areas , '' the document said . Abu Safyan also called for organizing fighting groups by having an emir as commander with sniper , assassination and martyrs ' groups . It also cautions vigilance against allowing the `` enemy '' to infiltrate its apparatus and exhorts its fighters to keep silent about operations . Sometimes , `` they speak of our operations and area 's secrets among their families and their wives in their houses , which unfortunately lead to the spread of our secrets . '' E-mail to a friend . | Letter from al Qaeda in Iraq militant found after he was slain , U.S. says . Letter urges al Qaeda in Iraq to fight against American-backed Sunni militias . Document also cautions vigilance against infiltrators . | [[0, 7], [10, 30], [34, 323], [4386, 4388], [4394, 4445], [4403, 4485]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -- Going back to work after my wife had our first child was an emotional roller coaster . The author says that being `` Mr. Mom '' is appealing , but putting the idea into practice is harder than it looks . I forced myself out of bed , shaved my beard and got dressed on the morning of my return . I performed these work week rituals while cursing the fact that I matched only one number on my last lottery ticket , so I had to show up that day . After being out of the office for a little more than two weeks on paternity leave , I knew the transition back to work would be tough . I coped with this fact , like any rational new parent would , by increasing the number of lottery tickets that I purchased . Saying goodbye took a while . I made several trips up and down the stairs to get one more glimpse of my daughter before succumbing to the inevitable : my commute , fighting traffic and reintegrating to cubicle culture . I arrived at the office still thinking of my family at home without me . I found myself misty-eyed at the water cooler while I waited for Outlook to load several hundred unread e-mails . At that moment , I wanted nothing more than to be at home with my daughter . The idea of being a stay-at-home dad , like Michael Keaton in `` Mr. Mom , '' always appealed to me . For the uninitiated , the 1983 comedy is about an out-of-work father faced with domestic challenges while his wife gets a job . A memorable scene has the title character , Jack Butler , trying to sound like he knows what he 's talking about to his wife 's new boss . He tells him that he plans to wire a new wing of his house in `` 220 , 221 , whatever it takes . '' I identify with the latter part of his character 's claim . It 's not like me to pretend to know anything about home improvement , but when it comes to caring for my family while balancing my responsibilities at work , I plan on doing whatever it takes . In 2007 , 37 percent of working dads admitted that they would leave their jobs if their family could afford it , according to CareerBuilder.com . The `` if '' in that statistic is a big one . Unlike the characters in `` Mr. Mom , '' my wife and I both need to work . A good sequel to this film may have explored the hijinks that ensued from an overwhelmed parent caring for a newborn while working from home . Nowadays , there 's support for all of the Jack Butlers out there . Web sites such as AtHomeDad.org and Rebeldad.com have established online communities dedicated to providing tips and resources for fatherhood . These forums represent a growing fellowship where those with experience can help new dads . Personally , I have n't utilized them much yet because of that old Groucho Marx joke about not wanting to be a member of a club that would have a person like me as a member . Available resources and social acceptance for stay-at-home dads have come a long way since `` Mr. Mom 's '' portrayal of them . In fact , Salary.com calculated that a stay-at-home dad was worth $ 125,340 a year for the dad portion of his work in 2006 . This analysis took into account tasks that range from cooking and cleaning to teaching and serving as a child psychologist . Since I ca n't convince anyone to pay me my estimated worth as an at-home dad -- and living on one salary is n't an option for my family -- I 've considered working from home a couple of hours a week when necessary . Flexible work schedules make sense because they benefit a company by allowing employees to be more productive on their terms . Nevertheless , working from home may not be for everyone . I work for a news Web site , facilitating advertisement opportunities . A lot of my job 's communication occurs via e-mail , which is something I can do at home . I 'd worked from home before , but not with a newborn in the house . My first test was only for a couple of hours when the baby was about 3 weeks old . My wife had an early appointment , and I was going to watch the baby sleep , hopefully , and then go into the office after she got home . I had e-mail to check and two conference calls scheduled back-to-back during that time . I did n't expect this to be too difficult . I caught up on the e-mail much earlier than if I had gone into the office that morning . Unfettered from the restriction of the morning rituals , my productivity was already soaring and I was ahead of schedule . Then disaster struck . As I called into my first meeting , the baby started to stir , squirm and make her signature sounds -LRB- a primal series of grunts , snorts and whimpers -RRB- . She was telling me that her diaper needed to be changed and that she was probably hungry , too . So I did what any multi-tasker would do : I put the phone under my ear , stuck her bottle under the tap , muted the phone , ran up the stairs with her in a tucked football position , unmuted the phone , answered a question , muted again , changed her diaper and ran down the stairs to get the bottle . My wife called while I was juggling the baby , diaper , bottle and meeting to let me know that she was running late . I screamed to myself , `` I need help NOW ! '' Allowing the nervous breakdown to run its course , I continued to pace across my living room floor -- regretting that I had n't chosen decaf that morning . A few minutes later , I jumped out of the first meeting to call into the second . I said , `` Hello , this is Josh , I 'm here on mute , OK , thanks . '' As I listened in on mute , I shushed my baby to calm her -- to no avail . Her cries became increasingly louder . My boss asked , `` Josh , are you there ? '' I unmuted my phone and right on cue , my daughter screamed at the top of her little lungs . The conference room on the other end of the phone erupted with laughter , and I told them that I 'd have to get back to them . My wife arrived home shortly after the conference-call debacle . I told her that I did n't think it would be a good idea for me to work from home anymore . I realize that the ability to work and be a nanny simultaneously is a skill requiring practice . One trial run as a telecommuter with a newborn has caused me to question the feasibility of being able to do it on a regular basis . Perhaps it 's time for me to forget about that old Groucho Marx joke and accept some help . Wait , the baby 's crying , sorry , got ta go . | Poll : 37 percent of working dads would quit jobs if their families could afford it . Stay-at-home dad 's work worth $ 125,340 a year , according to Salary.com . Author talks about caring for infant daughter during work conference call . `` Mr Mom '' line , `` 220 , 221 , whatever it takes '' inspires work-from-home dad . | [[1934, 1941], [1944, 2079], [2961, 3075]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Faith Hill will sing `` America the Beautiful '' during the pregame show at the Super Bowl next month , according to the National Football League . Faith Hill is a Grammy Award-winning artist and the voice of `` Sunday Night Football 's '' theme song . The NFL announced Wednesday that singer-actress Jennifer Hudson will deliver the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1 . The NFL already had announced that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would perform at halftime at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa , Florida . Hill , a Grammy Award-winning artist and the voice of the theme song for NBC 's `` Sunday Night Football , '' delivered the national anthem before Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta , Georgia , in 2000 . The only other artists who have sung `` America the Beautiful '' before a Super Bowl are Vikki Carr -LRB- Super Bowl XI -RRB- , Ray Charles -LRB- Super Bowl XXXV -RRB- and Alicia Keys -LRB- Super Bowl XXXIX -RRB- . The 2009 Super Bowl will be broadcast in 230 countries and territories , the NFL said . More than 148 million American viewers watched the 2008 game , it said . | Faith Hill is the voice of theme song of NBC 's `` Sunday Night Football '' Jennifer Hudson will deliver national anthem before the start of Super Bowl . Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band also will perform at halftime . The Super Bowl will be broadcast February 1 . | [[167, 264], [272, 421], [300, 421], [422, 560]] |
Editor 's note : This is the first story in an ongoing series of reports CNN is doing about economic survival in this time of financial crisis . Sean , Brooke and Courtney with their parents , Donna and Robert LeBlanc , in a 2008 Christmas photo . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Donna LeBlanc gave her husband , a former restaurant manager , the stark ultimatum : become a pizza delivery man or their family `` would n't make it . '' The Lafayette , Louisiana , family of six was struggling with $ 45,000 of mounting medical debt from Donna LeBlanc 's unexpected case of pneumonia and tonsillitis a year earlier . The family savings account had dwindled to $ 100 . `` It 's embarrassing for my husband to take a job he is overqualified for , and I know he feels ashamed at times , '' says Donna LeBlanc , a 35-year-old mother with four children . `` But this is what we have to do and we 're going to make the best out of it . '' She watched her husband , Rob LeBlanc , 35 , load Domino 's pizza boxes into their family car and deliver orders until near dawn for $ 10 an hour . The family first told their story of falling on hard times on iReport.com . Share your economic survivor story with CNN . Until last summer , Rob LeBlanc had worked as a manager at a truck stop restaurant , making $ 55,000 a year . He lost that job to the falling economy . Rob LeBlanc says he noticed business at the truck stop getting sluggish a year ago . Then the spike in gas prices last summer exacerbated the restaurant 's dire circumstances . Many penny-pinching truck drivers avoided his restaurant altogether , he says . Rob LeBlanc filed for unemployment compensation immediately after he lost his job . More than 4.6 million Americans were collecting unemployment benefits as of early January , according to the Labor Department . In Lafayette , a quiet city of about 114,000 tucked away in southern Louisiana , many of the jobs center around servicing the oil and gas industry , but Rob LeBlanc was unwilling to work offshore and away from his family . When he applied for other jobs , he was told he was either under-qualified or had too much experience . After several weeks of searching , he took the only job he could get -- a Domino 's pizza delivery man , a job that would cover the family 's expenses . `` I had to swallow my pride and take whatever I could get , '' Rob LeBlanc says . `` I kept telling myself one of these days something better will come along . '' He spent nearly five months delivering pizzas at Domino 's . He admits he fell into depression during that time . But the family received good news Friday , when a private security company hired Rob LeBlanc to be a security officer . He says the company offers many opportunities to move up to a managerial position . `` My first thought was to tell my wife right away , '' he says . `` I could hear the relief in her voice . '' Taking a job as a pizza man was n't the only sacrifice he 's made for his family -- he 's also selling his beloved 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle . Donna LeBlanc earns a few hundred dollars a week exterminating mosquitoes for a bug control company . Before her husband lost his job , she had talked of going back to school to pursue a biology degree at Louisiana State University . The LeBlanc family lives lean in their five-bedroom , three-bathroom house with its $ 440 a month mortgage . The couple is teaching their children about budgeting and bargaining while relying on coupons and sales . They no longer eat out and no longer have cable TV . For entertainment , they attend free movies at a church . Donna LeBlanc takes pride that they have no credit card debt . Their children Brooke , 9 , Christopher , 14 , and Courtney , 13 , no longer receive allowances . Soon after her father 's job loss , Courtney started cleaning houses and baby-sitting and earned enough money to buy a dress for her first school dance -- off the clearance rack . The LeBlancs ' oldest child , Sean , 16 , who attends high school , still has n't found a job . He says the competition has gotten stiff , with many older workers in the area out of jobs . `` I 'm trying , '' said Sean , who has been looking for a job since October . `` There are just no openings . '' The LeBlancs have found some unexpected happiness . Donna LeBlanc says her husband now spends more time at home . Not being able to leave the house for entertainment has brought the children closer together over books , games and conversation . `` This experience has given us time to reconnect with each other , '' Donna LeBlanc says . `` And it 's taught us to just keep trying and believe that things will get better . '' | Rob LeBlanc lost his $ 55,000 manager job because of the troubled economy . To keep family out of debt , he took a $ 10 per hour pizza delivery job . The couple and their four children learned to budget and save . Mom : The experience has `` bought the family closer together '' | [[1208, 1219], [1273, 1297], [1298, 1339], [1318, 1339], [1663, 1680], [918, 921], [1016, 1065], [2136, 2168], [2171, 2238], [3367, 3472], [4473, 4538]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Just west of Seville in Spain , a sea of giant mirrors is reflecting the sun 's energy to provide `` concentrated solar power '' -LRB- CSP -RRB- while illuminating the path to a new wave of green energy projects . Shining beacon : The concentrated solar power plant in Sanlucar , Spain is the first of its kind . The 624 carefully positioned mirrors reflect the sun 's heat towards a 50 meter-tall central tower where it is concentrated and used to boil water into steam . The superheated steam is then used to turn a turbine that can produce up to 11 megawatts of electricity -- enough power for 6,000 homes -- according Solucar , the Spanish company that has built the power plant . While traditional solar panels , photovoltaic cells , convert the sun 's power directly into electricity , CSP focuses power from a wide area and uses the vast heat generated to make electricity in a similar way to that produced from coal or oil . The Spanish tower , known as PS10 , is the first phase of an ambitious development . By 2013 it is hoped that additional towers will create a `` solar farm '' with an output of 300 megawatts , which would be enough power for 180,000 homes , or equivalent to the entire population of nearby Seville . This $ 1.5 billion project is the largest commercial CSP station in the world -- so far . But many believe the technology will soon take off in areas of continuous hot sun and clear skies , offering a cheaper and more efficient alternative to photovoltaic cells , and bringing jobs and money to arid , often depressed areas . CSP also produces no greenhouses gasses and the only pollution is visual . The European Union has invested over $ 31 million in CSP research over the last ten years . At least 50 CSP projects have been given permission to begin construction across Spain . By 2015 the country may be producing two gigawatts of electricity from CSP , and employing thousands in the industry . One of the strengths of CSP is that it allows the construction of power stations on a scale that can match many fossil fuel based plants , and for an investment far less than that required to install the equivalent wattage of photovoltaic cells . There is also the possibility that production can keep going around the clock -- even when the sun has gone down . Solucar is currently testing technology at a plant near Granada that will pump 50 percent of the electricity generated in the day into the Spanish national grid , and use the other 50 percent to melt salt , which will then act as a kind of battery , storing the sun 's power . When dusk falls , the heat stored in the molten salt can be used to generate power through the night . `` These technologies excite me , '' says Dr Jeff Hardy , Network Manager at the UK Energy Research Council . `` One of the real advantages is that you can get a decent sized power plant . `` The main challenge with the technology is working with extreme heat , but then a lot of the back-end is very similar to a traditional fossil-fuel generation ; you are after all just dealing with water heated to make steam and drive a turbine . '' Concentrating on promoting CSP worldwide . As America looks to increase the contribution of renewables to its overall energy mix -- a key part of the Obama plan before the recession turbocharged Government funding for such `` green '' infrastructure projects -- the potential of CSP technology is obvious . The Spanish company responsible for the Sanlucar la Mayor plant has seen the potential and created Solucar Power , Inc. , a subsidiary aiming to develop the market in the USA . There is already a huge Solar Energy Generating Systems ' CSP station in the Mojave Desert , California ; Spanish firm Acciona has built a plant near Las Vegas . Many more are surely on their way . One bold projection estimates that a single plant 100 miles by 100 miles located in the American South West could generate enough electricity for the whole country . It would obviously be a huge undertaking -- politically , financially and scientifically -- but it 's not hard to imagine such a scheme finding a home in the nation 's vast , empty quarter . Other equally arid areas may also find themselves transformed , and CSP may be able to offer valuable foreign earnings for drought-stricken Africa -- while giving Europe the green energy it needs . According to Dr Hardy the technology has a ready application , given the right political , environmental and economic context . `` Concentrated Solar Power is proven to do well in countries like Spain with a favorable government policies and the right climate , '' he says . `` I can certainly see the potential for extended networks linking together , and the idea of a North African grid linking renewable resources is a real possibility . '' Providing power , jobs and money . The Sahara , the world 's largest desert , is fringed by some of the poorest countries in the world and the harsh environment has always been seen as a problem , with it 's vast , waterless interior regularly reaching temperatures of over 45 degrees Celsius . But with large-scale CSP projects , suddenly all that empty space , with its year-round clear skies and hot sun , has a value that could transform local economies . It could potentially turn Africa into a net exporter of energy to power-hungry Europe , and perhaps even do for countries in North Africa what oil did for Saudi Arabia . The sums are dizzying . Estimates vary , but one projection from the German Aerospace Agency puts the amount of solar energy stored in just one per cent of the Sahara -- 35,000 square miles , or a piece of land slightly smaller than Portugal -- as having the potential to yield more power than all the world 's existing power plants combined . Already Spanish firms are exporting CSP technology to Morocco and Algeria , and a British consortium , the Sahara Forest Project , is testing the technology in the deserts of Oman . Costs and benefits . However , there is a problem : at the moment costs are still very high . But they are falling as plants get bigger , the technology is perfected and economies of scale kick in . Even so , any plans to power Europe from the Sahara would require a vast infrastructure of CSP plants and cables laid across the Mediterranean -- requiring billions upon billions of dollars in investment . Such sums will only be possible through international co-operation on a huge scale . But on a smaller , more local scale a simple change in the way electricity generators are paid has been hugely effective in boosting renewable power . In Spain and other European countries investment has been encouraged by Governments creating what 's known as a `` feed in tariff , '' which pays companies a premium for power sold to the national grid generated by renewable means for a fixed period of time . This enables investors to pay back up front costs more quickly . Where they have been introduced they have brought about a huge increase in renewable power : Germany has 200 times as much solar energy as Britain , generates 12 percent of its electricity from renewables , and has created a quarter of a million jobs in the sector . We 're a long way from a future where the Sahara becomes the world 's largest source of renewable electricity , and the American South West is covered in mirrors lighting and powering cities across the continent . There are many huge issues yet to resolve , but with small steps , we may be moving towards it . | Concentrated solar power projects in Spain leading field in that form of green energy . Potential of CSP in desert regions around the globe ; more benefits than power . Plans to transform Sara ha would involve huge costs ; small projects breaking through . | [[3982, 4092]] |
CNN -- Years ago , a frustrated boy with a violent temper attacked his own mother with a hammer -LRB- his older brother restrained him -RRB- . He stabbed a schoolmate over a dispute about which radio station to listen to ; the knife blade luckily hit a belt buckle . Carson wants to continue educational efforts and find ways to reform the health care system when he retires . That brash teen today is a world-renowned neurosurgeon and the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children 's Center . Dr. Benjamin S. Carson made medical history in 1987 by performing the first successful surgery that separated twins conjoined at the back of the head . He also became known for his expertise in pediatric brain tumors and methods of controlling seizures . In 2008 , he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom , this country 's highest civilian honor . Having come up from the streets of Detroit , Michigan , to receiving an award at the White House , Carson , 56 , works to spread his gospel of education and hard work to motivate others . He and his wife , Candy , started a scholarship foundation to help children with strong academics and humanitarian qualities to pay for college . `` I have at least 100,000 letters from kids and adults from around the world ... telling me how it changed their lives , '' Carson said . Their tales of transformations and redemption inspire him to keep talking about educational empowerment and overcoming adversity , he said . An obstacle is a hurdle , and `` you jump over it , '' Carson said . `` Every time you see a hurdle , you jump over it , and it strengthens you for the next one . And if that 's the case , you lead a victorious life , because whatever comes before you , you know you 're going to get around it . '' Carson was raised in Detroit , majored in psychology at Yale University and attended medical school at the University of Michigan , where he studied neurosurgery . Carson 's life has been told through plays , books and movies , including a TNT made-for-TV movie called `` Gifted Hands , '' which airs Saturday . -LRB- TNT is part of Turner Broadcasting , which also owns CNN . -RRB- The biopic stars Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carson . `` I think he 's an angel , a gift from God , '' Gooding said . `` He has touched a lot of people 's lives . '' Carson holds more than 50 honorary doctorates and hundreds of other awards . He 's fortunate , he acknowledges , but this doctor does not believe in luck . `` I always say you make your own luck by being prepared , '' he said . His mom pushed him hard . Sonya Carson `` would not accept the victim mentality . She would n't let us accept the victim mentality . No excuses . She did n't make excuses , and she did n't accept excuses , '' Carson said . She turned off the TV , sent Carson and his brother to the library and made them write weekly book reports . Meanwhile , she worked several jobs to support her two sons . She is now 80 and lives with Carson in Baltimore , Maryland . When Carson was young , he was influenced by stories about Booker T. Washington , a former slave who taught himself to read and later advised presidents , and the biblical character Joseph , who persevered though his brothers sold him into slavery . `` Those kinds of stories had an impact on me and helped me to believe it 's not where you started , it 's where you end that counts . And you have a whole lot to do with that , '' he said . `` Everybody has problems . They just come in different forms . If that problem for you becomes a containing fence , then you become a victim . Once you think you 're a victim , you are one , and you 're not going anywhere . '' In the same way , Carson 's biography has resonated with people like 22-year-old Douglas Nivens II of Baltimore , Maryland . Nivens ' mother was killed when he was 4 years old , and his father was imprisoned for her murder . His aunt raised him , and he endured relentless teasing for his interest in academics while attending public schools in Baltimore City . During middle school , Nivens picked up Carson 's autobiography , `` Gifted Hands , '' and immediately identified with it . `` It was a relief to see someone grew up in the city and did n't have a luxurious life but overcame it all , '' he said . `` I love stories about underdogs , those who overcome adversity and do something . '' When he was in middle school , Nivens won two $ 1,000 scholarships from the Carson Scholars Fund , which helps children with strong academics pay for college . `` When it came to times of doubt during high school , when I talked to my adviser , they would say , ` You got this award . Not everyone gets it . You 're not dumb . You have the tools to be successful in life , ' '' Nivens said . `` That 's what really helped me in terms of self-esteem and management in high school . '' He graduated with honors from the University of Maryland , Baltimore County in May . `` I probably should not be where I am , '' said Nivens , a budget analyst for the U.S. Social Security Administration . `` I went to Baltimore public schools . My father 's in jail ; my mother is dead . Statistically , I should not be here . I should be on parole somewhere or even dead . I never looked at it that way . I made it through . '' Carson said he 's heartened by stories pf people who 've been inspired by his biography . `` My message is that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you , '' Carson said . `` Not somebody else , and not the environment . If you have a normal brain , you 're capable of incredible things . '' | Doctor overcame troubled youth to head pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins . Carson won Medal of Freedom and shares his biography to motivate others . Surgeon 's biography inspired Baltimore , Maryland , teen that anything is possible . | [[768, 775], [778, 823], [1034, 1054], [3695, 3710], [3713, 3806]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When it comes to the Academy Awards , Hollywood has some biases . The late Heath Ledger won a Golden Globe for his performance as The Joker in `` The Dark Knight . '' Summer blockbusters get short shrift . Comedies are n't taken seriously . And animated features ? They almost never get drawn . Which , on the surface , does n't bode well for three of the biggest movie stories of the year : `` The Dark Knight , '' Robert Downey Jr. 's performance in `` Tropic Thunder , '' and Pixar 's latest marvel , `` WALL-E . '' Each earned critical plaudits and box office success . And each faces an uphill struggle nabbing major-category Oscar nominations when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its shortlists Thursday morning . Awards expert Tom O'Neil , who follows the Oscars for the Los Angeles Times ' TheEnvelope.com , says the best-picture front-runners are `` Frost/Nixon , '' `` The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , '' `` Milk '' and Golden Globe best drama winner `` Slumdog Millionaire . '' Barring a completely out-of-the-box surprise , that leaves `` Dark Knight , '' `` The Reader , '' Clint Eastwood 's fast-gaining `` Gran Torino '' and possibly `` Doubt '' or `` Revolutionary Road '' to battle for the final slot . Watch who took home the Globes '' O'Neil believes `` Dark Knight , '' the year 's top box office draw , has `` an excellent shot '' of making the best-picture list . `` We know that because Oscar voters belong to guilds that have their own awards , ` Dark Knight ' has a strong chance , '' he says , noting that the Directors Guild , Producers Guild and Writers Guild have all nominated `` Dark Knight '' for their top awards . Read what EW 's Dave Karger has to say about that . `` WALL-E , '' however , is almost certainly out of the best-picture race , he says . Animated features , no matter how successful , have fared poorly in general categories . Indeed , only one animated feature -- 1991 's `` Beauty and the Beast '' -- has ever been nominated for best picture . With the addition of the best animated feature category in 2001 , it 's doubtful that even the best Pixar has to offer will cross over to best picture , particularly since the Academy ignored classics including `` Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , '' `` Fantasia '' and `` Toy Story . '' `` Oscar voters like reality , '' says O'Neil . Either way , the Oscars could probably use the ratings help a box office success can bring to its broadcast . In recent years , the Academy has nominated several independent or low-budget films for top awards , many of which did n't crack the $ 100 million mark at the box office . Oscar ratings have tumbled ; last year 's numbers for `` the Super Bowl for women '' -- as the Oscar broadcast is known by advertisers -- were the lowest on record and a far cry from 1998 , when more than 55 million people watched all-time box office king `` Titanic '' take home the top prize . That 's not to downgrade the expected front-runners , especially since the Oscars ' intention is to honor some of the year 's best films and performances -LRB- though critics have carped they 've often not done so -RRB- . Still , it might behoove the Academy to pay attention to box office as well as prestige , particularly when several films have garnered both . Almost three-quarters of the respondents to an unscientific USA Today Internet survey have said they 'd be more likely to watch the Oscar ceremony February 22 if `` The Dark Knight '' is nominated for best picture . `` If a film is very successful , it should n't be automatically relegated to the minor leagues , '' producer Peter Guber told The Associated Press . -LRB- Ironically , Guber co-produced the 1989 `` Batman , '' which , despite big box office and Jack Nicholson 's Joker , was nominated for just one Oscar -- for Anton Furst 's set design . It won . -RRB- . Historically , summer blockbusters have n't always been ignored . `` Jaws , '' considered the first of the modern summer blockbusters , was nominated for best picture , as were `` Star Wars , '' `` Raiders of the Lost Ark '' and `` The Fugitive . '' And there 's something to be said for giving visibility to smaller films , says John Martin , president and CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas , an upscale theater chain based in Austin , Texas . iReport.com : Share your thoughts on Oscar nominations . `` As an exhibitor , we would love to see those -LSB- smaller niche -RSB- films make it as well , '' he says . `` They would have legs -LSB- box office longevity -RSB- if nominated . '' Martin , a former film executive , was pleased that `` Slumdog '' and `` The Wrestler '' -- two films his chain got behind -- fared so well at the Golden Globes , and he has high hopes for both films at the Oscars . `` The Wrestler 's '' lead , Mickey Rourke , earned a Globe for best dramatic actor , and is now a leading candidate to win best actor at the Oscars . O'Neil sees Rourke as the front-runner in the category , which should be `` a real slugfest , '' he says . `` Milk 's '' Sean Penn was considered the early leader , with his main competition `` Frost/Nixon 's '' Frank Langella . But now Rourke is in the picture , which could mean trouble for Brad Pitt -LRB- `` Benjamin Button '' -RRB- , Leonardo DiCaprio -LRB- `` Revolutionary Road '' -RRB- , Clint Eastwood -LRB- `` Gran Torino '' -RRB- and Richard Jenkins -LRB- `` The Visitor '' -RRB- . Watch Eastwood talk about `` Gran Torino '' '' And Kate Winslet , a double winner at the Globes , could fall between the cracks in the Oscar balloting , O'Neil adds . Other awards let the performers or studios designate whether roles are leading or supporting ; the Academy decides on its own , which means that Winslet 's performances in `` Revolutionary Road '' and `` The Reader '' could split her support , whether for lead or supporting actress . Heath Ledger should have no such problems . The late actor , whose performance as The Joker in `` The Dark Knight '' has been considered Oscar material since the film came out in July , is believed to be a shoo-in for best supporting actor . Ironically , he could be competing against Downey -- 2008 's big comeback story -- for a performance as an actor who takes his Method a little too seriously in `` Tropic Thunder . '' Though comedies have n't received much nomination recognition , comedic performers have received some recognition , including `` Blazing Saddles ' '' Madeline Kahn , `` Heaven Can Wait 's '' Dyan Cannon and `` A Fish Called Wanda 's '' Kevin Kline , which ca n't hurt Downey . There 's also his personal story , says O'Neil : After drug abuse nearly killed his career , he starred in `` Thunder '' and `` Iron Man , '' two of 2008 's biggest hits . `` He 's a hopeful spin on the Ledger story , '' O'Neil says . Martin believes Ledger is a lock . `` I would n't be surprised if he wins -LSB- outright -RSB- , '' he says . But `` Dark Knight '' ? Hollywood will have to get past its disdain for `` comic-book movies . '' Which , O'Neil says , it should . `` This is n't just a superhero movie , '' says O'Neil . `` It 's come to the rescue of Hollywood during a dark time . '' | `` The Dark Knight '' was year 's top box office film , also critically praised . Oscar nominations tend to go to `` prestige '' works . One observer believes `` Knight 's '' prospects for best picture nod are `` excellent '' Other strong possibilities : `` Slumdog Millionaire , '' Mickey Rourke , Heath Ledger . | [[538, 592], [1381, 1435]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fifteen crew members of a South African Airways flight spent the night in jail after customs officials found marijuana and cocaine worth nearly half a million dollars hidden aboard a long-distance flight to London , British customs officials said Wednesday . South African Airways said it has a zero-tolerance approach towards any criminal activity . The 10 women and five men -- who include three pilots -- were detained on arrival from Johannesburg , South Africa , after customs officials found 50 kilograms -LRB- 110 pounds -RRB- of marijuana and 4 kilograms -LRB- 8.8 pounds -RRB- of cocaine in three pieces of baggage , HM Revenue and Customs said . The drugs are estimated to be worth a total of # 310,000 -LRB- $ 428,000 -RRB- , customs officials added . Border agents arrested the crew at London 's Heathrow Airport on suspicion of involvement in smuggling prohibited drugs into the United Kingdom , customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said . He said he was not able to disclose what led investigators to believe the suitcases belonged to the crew members . Customs officials interviewed the crew members overnight , and all were released on bail Wednesday pending further inquiries , Gaiger said . They were not charged , according to the airline . South African Airways said it launched its own investigation involving the airline 's security and the South African Police Service . `` SAA has a zero-tolerance approach towards the use of the airline 's services for any criminal activity , '' airline spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers said . | 10 women and 5 men were detained on arrival from Johannesburg . London customs officials found marijuana and cocaine in baggage . Officials : The drugs are estimated to be worth $ 428,000 . South African Airways said it launched its own investigation . | [[404, 412], [420, 486], [387, 412], [434, 486], [9, 32], [91, 166], [121, 186], [252, 294], [510, 659], [692, 701], [716, 770], [1288, 1421]] |
MADRID , Spain -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A bomb inside a van exploded in northeastern Madrid Monday , after a warning call by the Basque separatist group ETA . The blast caused damage but there were no immediate reports of injury . Policemen inspect the area after a van loaded with a bomb exploded in northeast Madrid . The Red Cross received a call at 7:37 a.m. -LRB- 1:37 a.m. ET -RRB- , in the name of ETA , warning of the bomb . The Red Cross immediately contacted police , who cordoned off the area , a Red Cross spokeswoman told CNN . The blast occurred shortly after 9 a.m. -LRB- 3 a.m. ET -RRB- outside the building of a construction company , CNN partner network CNN + reported . The company , Ferrovial Agroman , is involved in building a high-speed train line in the Basque region , which ETA opposes . The attack came just hours after Spain 's Supreme Court declined to allow two new leftist Basque parties to compete in the March 1 Basque regional elections in northern Spain . Authorities allege the new parties are simply new names for other leftist Basque parties already outlawed for their links to ETA . `` What ETA did this morning ratifies the Supreme Court decision last night , '' Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba told reporters , at the scene of the explosion . At least 30 vehicles parked in the street were damaged , as well as the construction company offices , the Spanish police said in a statement . The bomb , it added , was placed in a van stolen last night in the Madrid area . Exactly four years ago , on Feb. 9 , 2005 , ETA placed a bomb in the same Madrid neighborhood that was hit on Monday . That attack caused dozens of injuries , and damaged a different glass-façade office building . ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for Basque independence . It is listed as a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States . | Bomb inside van explodes in northeastern Madrid after ETA warning . Blast occurs outside HQ of company building high-speed Basque rail link . 30 vehicles damaged ; attack comes 4 years after blast in same neighborhood . Earlier , court bars new leftist Basque parties from competing in regional elections . | [[9, 30], [48, 92], [95, 140], [276, 313], [1432, 1440], [1443, 1512], [535, 643], [683, 694], [707, 785], [1288, 1342], [1288, 1329], [1391, 1431], [1513, 1535], [1538, 1547], [1557, 1606], [808, 912]] |
UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Murder and justice have always been hallmarks of the `` Law & Order '' stable of TV shows , but never before have the fictional New York City crimes guided the show 's detectives and attorneys to the United Nations -- until now . `` Law & Order : SVU '' co-star Christopher Meloni says the show 's intent is to `` shine light in the dark places . '' The U.N. recently opened the gates of its New York headquarters to the NBC Universal show `` Law & Order : Special Victims Unit '' for the filming of an episode scheduled to air Tuesday . The taping marked the first time in its nearly 60-year history that the United Nations has allowed its iconic location to be used as a setting in a major network television production . Previously , the United Nations granted permission for the 2005 motion picture `` The Interpreter '' to film on location , making it the first feature film to shoot on the grounds of the U.N. Series stars Stephanie March , who plays Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot , and Christopher Meloni , along with nearly 200 other cast and crew members , came to the U.N. on March 7 to film an episode revolving around child soldiers , refugees , warlords and the International Criminal Court . `` Law & Order : SVU '' traditionally involves difficult subject matter such as kidnapping , rape and homicide . Emmy-nominated actor Meloni , who plays Detective Elliot Stabler on the show , explained that the intent behind the issues raised on the program has always been to `` shine light in the dark places that no one wants to go or talk about because there 's usually a lot of shame and denial about it . '' Meloni described how the U.N. episode `` really does kind of revolve around child soldiers , how they 've been brainwashed , the horrible journeys that they 've had to endure and how they can be assimilated back and be productive . And I think in this particular episode , we 're trying to carry on with whatever clout we may possess . We have the medium to shine the light out there and tell this story . '' Considering the `` ripped-from-the-headlines '' and complicated themes regarding conflict in Africa and the ICC , `` Special Victims Unit '' writers and actors relied on Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast as a consultant throughout the filming . The Enough Project is an advocacy group committed to preventing genocide , crimes against humanity and other atrocities in six historically tumultuous African nations . Prendergast explained that he perceived the episode as `` one where reality dovetailed quite neatly with fiction , and hopefully more people will understand now what is happening in real life with President Bashir and Sudan , and then the accountability for war crimes because they saw it on ` Law & Order . ' '' On March 4 , the International Criminal Court indicted Sudan 's president , Omar al-Bashir , with war crimes and crimes against humanity . This was the first time such charges have been leveled against a sitting head of state . The `` Special Victims Unit '' filming was the first official project within Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 's newly formed Creative Community Outreach Initiative . The intent of the program is to establish a relationship with international film and television industries to enhance the image of the United Nations and to `` raise the profile of critical global issues , '' according to a U.N. representative . Eric Falt , director of the U.N. 's outreach initiative , elaborated : `` We 're starting a program where we 're going to say to filmmakers , people who produce television series , that we are essentially open for business . You want to come to the U.N. ? Talk to us . We 'll make it happen . '' In addition to the `` Law & Order '' film shoot , the United Nations has hosted two other high-profile events in March through the initiative . Celebrities and recording artists including Akon , Phylicia Rashad , Peter Buffet and Whoopi Goldberg commemorated victims of the of the trans-Atlantic slave trade March 25 with a concert in the U.N. General Assembly Hall . The show was directed by celebrated musician Nile Rodgers and was the first such event held at the United Nations . Goldberg also moderated a discussion March 17 at U.N. headquarters stemming from the complex topics presented in the popular television show `` Battlestar Galactica . '' The panel featured series stars Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell , along with the series creators and assorted U.N. personnel speaking about a variety of subjects prevalent both in the show and in today 's world . Topics included abortion , suicide bombings and post-conflict resolution . Goldberg summed up the purpose of the occasion , saying , `` much like the fictional ships and planets in the ` BSG ' universe , the U.N. is an imperfect place , but the fight for justice , equality and understanding remains fundamental to both . '' Despite the imperfections of the United Nations , `` SVU 's '' March could not have been more thrilled with her experience filming at the U.N. . When asked what she would like to be doing if she were n't putting away fictional bad guys as assistant DA Cabot , March said , `` I would love to work for the United Nations . I have a great job , but really all I want to do is actually work in the U.N. I 'm pretty excited to be here . It 's been a lifelong dream to be a part of it in some way . '' The `` Law & Order : Special Victims Unit '' episode is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday on NBC . | TV show is the first to film at U.N. 's New York headquarters . Tuesday 's episode centers on child soldiers . It 's first project in U.N. 's Creative Community Outreach Initiative . `` SVU '' writers , cast relied on guidance from advocacy group . | [[635, 757], [771, 789], [881, 949], [534, 571], [3041, 3204], [3118, 3204], [2191, 2330]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Seattle man has been charged with insurance fraud for allegedly sinking his own yacht because of `` financial pressure and frustration with the maintenance '' of the vessel , authorities said . The Jubilee sank in Puget Sound Bay last year . On March 22 , 2008 , Brian Lewis , 50 , scuttled the Jubilee in the Puget Sound Bay , then rowed a borrowed dinghy back to shore , according to court documents filed in February by prosecutors in King County , Washington . Later that day , Lewis boarded a flight to take him to his job in Kodiak , Alaska , as a petty officer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , according to court documents . Three days later , Lewis filed an insurance claim with USAA Insurance reporting the Jubilee sank accidentally `` due to unknown causes . '' However , due to environmental concerns , the Washington State Department of Natural Resources salvaged the vessel at a cost to the state of $ 2,866 . An inspection found a hole was drilled into the bottom of the Jubilee , and that two main engine sea strainers appeared to have been broken with a hammer . `` The vessel appeared to have been deliberately sunk , '' authorities said in their probable cause affidavit . Confronted by investigators , Lewis admitted he intentionally sank his vessel , saying the financial strain `` caused him extreme anxiety and frustration . '' Lewis told investigators `` the engine trouble he experienced caused him to lose his temper . In his rage , he smashed the sea strainers with a hammer and drilled the hole to sink the vessel , '' the affidavit said . '' -LSB- He -RSB- wanted to clarify that his motive for sinking the vessel was anger and frustration , not greed , '' it added . Prior to its sinking , the Jubilee had been listed for sale with Mahina Yachts for $ 28,500 . Jack Bateman , a broker with Mahina , remembers the Jubilee as a `` beautiful '' 1967 Chris Craft Cavalier . He said the Mahina has only seen this type of case one other time in its 30 years of operation . `` This is a very rare , not common occurrence '' he says . Bateman added that Mahina has yet to see any real distress sales due to the bad economy . The King County Prosecutor 's Office has charged Lewis with making a fraudulent insurance claim . Lewis filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2004 . Messages left for him were not returned . | Insurance fraud charges were filed against Seattle man accused of scuttling yacht . Brian Lewis filed claim saying Jubilee sank `` due to unknown causes '' Inspection found hole was drilled into bottom of vessel . Lewis filed told authorities he sank yacht out of anger and frustration . | [[0, 15], [19, 106], [2193, 2290], [2242, 2290], [970, 1080], [0, 15], [19, 106], [55, 64], [75, 193], [1268, 1315], [1268, 1273], [1318, 1393], [1491, 1502], [1505, 1507], [1552, 1587], [1614, 1728]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States , the wish list that has been building abroad may have grown longer than he or anyone else can deliver . The world 's newspapers marked Barack Obama 's election win . Now , world governments want him to act . There are the apparently eternal conflicts of the Middle East and Kashmir , between India and Pakistan , that have already reared their ugly heads almost as a warning even before Obama took office . Between them , they engulf most of the grievances and violence that shape the Islamic world and its relations with the United States . Intense U.S. involvement will be needed to help resolve both of the conflicts . This will require imagination , creative out-of-the-box diplomacy , and the courage to see it through both from the United States and leaders on the ground . Going back even to the status-quo ante will no longer be sufficient . The 30-year-old rupture in relations between the United States and Iran is also expected to be addressed as a key priority by the new administration . Both the president-elect and his secretary of state-designate have said they want to abandon the silent treatment and isolation of previous administrations and try engaging Iran , as a way of resolving difficult issues such as its nuclear program and its influence in Iraq and Afghanistan . Watch Amanpour talk about world views of Obama '' The United States remains bogged down in hot wars in both of those countries . While the Obama administration plans to increase troops and nation-building in Afghanistan , it is also signaling it will not give President Hamid Karzai 's government the `` free ride '' he is thought to have received from the Bush administration . Karzai will be expected to root out corruption and better address the needs of the Afghan people . The new administration will also try to revive nuclear arms agreements that have been abandoned over the last eight years and try to forge a more constructive relationship with Russia , while persuading that country to meet its international obligations too . While many allies -- and adversaries -- welcome the new U.S. administration 's declaration to use diplomacy and soft power , the question remains : Will Washington 's allies also pull their weight in helping set their common agenda ? Many nations and governments say they welcome America 's vital global leadership , and the question at the start of the Obama administration is : Will they rise robustly to the occasion , and not just carp from the sidelines ? While much is expected from Obama , much , too , will be expected from his allies . | World has long wish list for Barack Obama when he becomes president . Solving problems will need creative diplomacy and courage , Amanpour says . Middle East , Iran and Kashmir all need attention . Amanpour asks if world nations will rise to help U.S. or just carp from sidelines . | [[19, 167], [715, 798], [943, 1093], [2558, 2583]] |
Editor 's note : A nationally syndicated columnist , Roland S. Martin is the author of `` Listening to the Spirit Within : 50 Perspectives on Faith '' and `` Speak , Brother ! A Black Man 's View of America . '' Visit his Web site for more information . Roland S. Martin says Sasha Obama is from a generation raised in a diverse world and open to possibility . WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- There are so many things that we could take away and remember forever regarding the inauguration of the first African-American president in the history of the United States , but I 'll always remember the laughter of a little girl . Shortly after President-elect Barack Obama finished the oath and became President Barack Obama , he joined hands with his family and waved to the cheering voices of 1.8 million people packed from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial . People cried , others hugged , celebrities and everyday folks snapped photos to capture the moment . There really was an amazing energy that permeated the crowd as we all witnessed a barrier come tumbling down before our eyes . But what stood out for me was a moment when President Obama looked down at his 7-year-old daughter , Sasha , and she said something to him , and then let out this huge laugh . I do n't know whether it was her statement or his response , but the bubbly child was having the time of her life . The sheer joy that was on her face as she grinned from ear to ear caused me to just start laughing as I watched her reaction . I was shooting photos from the CNN platform just across from where he spoke , and one of the many images was of a beaming Sasha alongside her mom and 10-year-old sister , Malia . Can you imagine what was going through this young girl 's mind , to see her father stand there and take the oath of office ? As I saw her that day , and later bouncing along a sidewalk as she walked with her father , my niece Anastacia came to mind . Their smiles and bouncy walk are so much alike , and both are the same age . These young girls , and countless other black children , among others , will grow up in an America where what they can imagine is backed up by what they see . Despite the reality that racism has n't left us , these children have the advantage of not being burdened with being separated by race . So much has been written about today 's generation living in a world where hip-hop music brought them all together in one room , coupled with the diverse images on television and movies . Their reality is not the reality of their parents , and we will see that play out a lot in the future . What also is most compelling about this age of Obama is how he has been received thus far internationally . Many political experts are simply stunned that a man who has only been on the national stage for five years would have so much good will across the pond . Of course , a lot of that has to do with the fact that President George W. Bush and his team were seen as running roughshod over their international partners , praising them when they needed something , and savaging them when they disagreed with the U.S. position . Yet what we also ca n't ignore is that Obama 's skin tone also plays a central role . Americans may be shocked to find out that people of color make up two-thirds of the world population . They know all too well about America 's pathetic and violent history of enslaving and later oppressing African-Americans , and it was always seen as ridiculous for U.S. officials to condemn human rights abuses abroad while racial and other forms of discrimination existed in their own backyard . Obama 's election sends a powerful signal to the world that Americans are backing up their rhetoric and ideals with action , and Obama serves as that powerful symbol . Barack Hussein Obama now has the opportunity to show those who voted for him -- and those who did n't -- that the change he often spoke about can come to pass . If he is able to fulfill many of the promises he made during the campaign , he will go down as one of America 's most successful presidents , looked at fondly by the American people . And if he does , maybe we 'll end up having the same smile he received courtesy of Sasha . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin . | Roland Martin : Sasha Obama laughed joyously after her father took the oath . He says her generation wo n't have the same racial burden as its parents . Martin : Sasha is growing up in a world of diversity , with great possibilities . Martin : In a diverse world , Obama 's skin tone strengthens America . | [[1090, 1261], [2221, 2307], [296, 346], [3168, 3186], [3192, 3214]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Forests in the Pacific Northwest are dying twice as fast as they were 17 years ago , and scientists blame warming temperatures for the trend , according to a new study . This photo of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado shows dying pines and firs among healthy trees . The study , to be released Friday in the journal Science , is the first large-scale analysis of environmental changes as contributing factors in the mortality of coniferous forests . The data for this research was gathered by generations of scientists over a 50-year period at multiple sites in Oregon , Washington , California , Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia . Seventy-six forest plots , all more than 200 years old , were monitored by scientists doing some of the most rudimentary research -- counting trees . `` It 's not a happy story , but , an important one , '' said Phillip van Mantgem , a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the lead author of the study . `` These are beautiful places . They do change and respond to their environment , sometimes quickly . '' `` If in your hometown where you live , the death rates of your friends and neighbors doubled and there are no compensating birth rates , would n't you want to figure out what 's going on ? '' said Nathan Stephenson , research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the authors of the report . The study primarily focused on three types of coniferous trees : pines , firs and hemlocks . Older-growth forests -- some up to 500 years old -- have trees of all ages , and researchers found that mortality rates have increased for all age groups . Since mortality rates went up across the board , scientists ruled out a number of other possible causes , including ozone-related air pollution , long-term effects of fire suppression and normal forest dynamics . In the end , California had the highest tree death rate . Of the three types of coniferous trees studied , pines were found to be dying at the fastest rate . Ultimately , higher tree mortality may lead to significant shifts in forest structure and function , the report states . `` Much of the world 's population in North America , Europe , most of China and large portions of Russia live near temperate forests , so what happens in these forests has global importance , '' said Jerry Franklin , a professor of forest resources at the University of Washington whose work was instrumental in maintaining the research plots . `` My guess is that forest loss has the potential to greatly exceed forest establishment , '' he added . The new findings concern scientists who see the study as further confirmation of the harmful effects of climate change on ecosystems . According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , a scientific intergovernmental body , concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are now at their highest levels for at least 650,000 years . Scientists on the panel say the increase began with the birth of the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago . The new research also suggests that as trees die , they actually emit more carbon than they absorb . Trees are key players in regulating climate because they convert carbon dioxide , which they store in their trunks and roots , to oxygen . Changes in climatic conditions or various diseases can cause the gradual dying of plant shoots . `` The concern here is that these might be early warning signs of dieback , '' said Stephenson . Some scientists say that tree species unable to tolerate warmer conditions might just re-establish themselves in cooler areas . Given the speed at which warming appears to be occurring , it 's not clear whether tree species will be able to migrate fast enough to survive , said van Mantgem of the U.S. Geological Survey . `` Warmer temperatures cause earlier summer droughts , less snow pack , and cause ideal breeding grounds for invasive species and pathogens , '' he added . `` One hypothesis is that warmer climates can make it easier for invasive species to reproduce and grow in these temperate forests . If the trees are already under a lot of environmental stress , they are more prone to serious insect attack , '' he said . Scientists say forests in the Western U.S. have been increasingly damaged in recent years by invasive insect species such as the bark beetle -- a sign that rising temperatures are having an adverse effect . Bark beetles are known to attack trees already weakened by other environmental factors . `` Many of these beetles can not survive in cold temperatures , and it 's getting warmer , '' said Tim Barnett , a research marine physicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California , San Diego . Barnett authored a research paper linking drought conditions in the American West to increased human activity . `` It is perfectly reasonable to assume that this problem is going to get worse , not better , '' he said . | Forests in the Pacific Northwest are dying twice as fast as they were 17 years ago . Scientists blame warming temperatures for the trend , according to a new study . Data was gathered over a 50-year period at sites in the Western U.S. and Canada . Scientists : study confirms the harmful effects of rising temperatures on ecosystems . | [[0, 15], [52, 101], [108, 159], [108, 124], [162, 188], [476, 690], [108, 124], [162, 188], [2643, 2653], [2658, 2752], [4383, 4389], [4395, 4445]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A NASA satellite crashed back to Earth about three minutes after launch early Tuesday , officials said . NASA launches a rocket from California 's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Tuesday . `` We could not make orbit , '' NASA program manager John Brunschwyler said . `` Initial indications are the vehicle did not have enough -LSB- force -RSB- to reach orbit and landed just short of Antarctica in the ocean . '' `` Certainly for the science community , it 's a huge disappointment . '' The satellite , which would have monitored greenhouse gases to study how they affect the Earth 's climate , was launched on a Taurus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 1:55 a.m. PT -LRB- 4:55 a.m. ET -RRB- . But the payload fairing -- a clamshell-shaped structure that allows the satellite to travel through space -- failed to separate from the rocket , NASA officials said . See video of launch '' The weight of the fairing caused the rocket and the satellite to come crashing down to Earth about three minutes later . A team of investigators will look into what caused the payload fairing to fail to separate . `` We 'll get back to flying at a pace that allows us to do so successfully , '' said Chuck Dovale , NASA Launch Director , at a press briefing after the failed launch . The $ 273 million satellite , called the Orbiting Carbon Observatory , would have collected global measurements of carbon dioxide -LRB- CO2 -RRB- in the Earth 's atmosphere to help better forecast changes in carbon-dioxide levels and their effect on the Earth 's climate . Carbon dioxide is considered a greenhouse gas because it traps heat , which scientists believe contributes to the warming of the planet . Carbon dioxide also absorbs wavelengths of light , and the NASA observatory would have measured levels of the gas partly by using instruments to analyze light reflected off the Earth . The OCO also would have provided information about CO2 `` sinks '' -- areas , like oceans or landfills , that absorb and store carbon dioxide . NASA officials said all measurements would be combined with the findings of ground observation stations , providing a more complete account of the human and natural sources of CO2 . The OCO project took eight years to develop , said Michael Frelich , director of the NASA Earth Science Division . Its failure is a great loss for the science community , he said . | NEW : Satellite crashed into ocean near Antarctica minutes after launch , NASA says . $ 273 million project was intended to study effect of greenhouse gases . NASA : Investigators will probe why fairing failed to separate from rocket . | [[0, 15], [19, 20], [36, 96], [379, 425], [973, 1045], [503, 608], [503, 516], [546, 665], [503, 575], [601, 690], [1309, 1336], [1339, 1377], [738, 757], [843, 877], [1046, 1138], [1046, 1069], [1085, 1138]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Passengers on the US Airways flight that crash-landed into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon praised the actions and courage of the pilot , a safety consultant with 40 years of experience in the aviation industry . Chesley B. `` Sully '' Sullenberger , a former Air Force fighter pilot , has been with US Airways since 1980 . Sources tell CNN that Chesley B. `` Sully '' Sullenberger was piloting US Airways flight 1549 from New York 's LaGuardia airport to Charlotte , North Carolina , when at least one of the plane 's engines failed . Passenger Jeff Kolodjay offered `` kudos '' to Sullenberger for a landing that minimized damage to the aircraft and its 155 passengers and crew . `` All of a sudden the captain came on and he told us to brace ourselves and probably brace ourselves pretty hard . But he did an amazing job -- kudos to him on that landing , '' said Kolodjay , who was sitting in seat 22A . Sullenberger 's wife told CNN that she was stunned to hear the news from her husband after it was all over . `` I had n't been watching the news . I 've heard Sully say to people , ` It 's rare for an airline pilot to have an incident in their career , ' '' said Lori Sullenberger of Danville , California . `` When he called me he said , ` There 's been an accident . ' At first I thought it was something minor , but then he told me the circumstances and my body started shaking and I rushed to get our daughters out of school . '' US Airways said all 155 passengers and crew are alive and safely off the plane . The crash-landing has also earned the former fighter pilot and private safety consultant accolades from state and government officials . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg commended the pilot for not leaving the plane without checking to make sure every passenger had been evacuated . `` It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and then making sure that everybody got out , '' Bloomberg said at a press conference Thursday . `` I had a long conversation with the pilot . He walked the plane twice after everybody else was off and tried to verify that there was nobody else on board -- and assures us there was not . '' Sullenberger apparently was forced to make an emergency landing after geese were sucked into one or both of the jet 's engines . An eyewitness working on the west side of Manhattan said the belly of the plane touched the water first . An official who heard tape recordings of the radio traffic from Flight 1549 reported the pilot was extraordinarily calm during the event . `` There was no panic , no hysterics , '' the official said . `` It was professional , it was calm , it was methodical . It was everything you hoped it could be . '' The pilot and air traffic controller discussed options , including landing at Teterboro airport in New Jersey , the official said . Then there was a `` period of time where there was no communications back , and I 'm assuming he was concentrating on more important things . '' Sullenberger 's background in aviation appeared to have prepared him for such a situation . He has been a pilot with US Airways since 1980 , following seven years in the U.S. Air Force . His resume -- posted on the Web site for his safety consulting firm , Safety Reliability Methods , Inc. -- lists piloting procedures , technical safety strategies , emergency management and operations improvement , as areas of industry expertise . He served as an instructor and Air Line Pilots Association safety chairman , accident investigator and national technical committee member , according to a biography on the site . He participated in several USAF and National Transportation Safety Board accident investigations , and worked with NASA scientists on a paper on error and aviation , his site says . For the passengers on flight 1549 , Sullenberger 's skill and expertise were apparent . iReport.com : Did you see the crash-landing ? Send images . `` I 've flown in a lot of planes and that was a phenomenal landing , '' said passenger Fred Berretta said . Berretta was sitting in seat 16A right over one of the engines when it failed and the pilot turned the plane to align it with the Hudson River . He described silence in the plane as the passengers waited to hear from the crew . A few moments later , the direction to brace for landing came . `` It was an amazing piece of airmanship , '' said Peter Goelz , a former NTSB managing director . | NEW : Chesley B. `` Sully '' Sullenberger has been a pilot with US Airways since 1980 . NEW : Former Air Force fighter pilot has worked with NASA as safety consultant NYC mayor says pilot checked plane twice for passengers before leaving `` I 've flown in a lot of planes and that was a phenomenal landing , '' passenger said . | [[236, 271], [301, 346], [3116, 3162], [1682, 1806], [2059, 2169], [3975, 4002]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Ohio man who was suspended as the drum major of a band for giving President Obama a nod during last week 's inaugural parade is calling it quits . John Coleman quit his band after it suspended him for nodding to President Obama last week . John Coleman resigned from the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums a week after the parade in Washington . Publicity about his suspension had gotten to be too much , he told CNN affiliate WEWS . `` It 's come to a point where I do n't want embarrassment anymore between the pipe band and myself , '' Coleman , who is a firefighter , told WEWS on Tuesday . Coleman was seen during the nationally televised January 20 parade nodding toward the new president while marching with the band . A few steps later , he appeared to wave briefly . He told WEWS that as the band was marching past the grandstand where Obama was sitting , he made eye contact with the president . `` Contact was made with our eyes both together and he smiled and waved at the band , '' he told the station . `` And just as a gesture , I nodded my head . I gave him a slight wave and went on . '' Watch parade and explanation '' Representatives from the group did not return calls from CNN . But bandleader Mike Engle told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Coleman was suspended because he ignored military protocol . `` We had gone over and over time and again with everyone in the band that this was a military parade , '' Engle told the newspaper . `` Protocol and proper decorum had to be followed at all times . Unfortunately , John chose to ignore that . '' Coleman had been suspended from the band for six months . In a written statement , band manager Ken Rybka said Coleman 's resignation from the group `` comes as a shock and surprise . '' The band has been inundated with phone calls , e-mails and messages on its Internet pages -- almost all of them critical -- since the story first broke on Monday , Rybka said . iReport.com : ` Pretty cool thing that he acknowledged the president ' `` It is unfortunate that an internal band issue has raised so much discussion and ire from the general public , '' Rybka said in the statement . `` It has disheartened me more than you can imagine . '' Rybka said that he will be taking a leave of absence from the band because of the furor . `` The ` afterglow ' of participating in the inaugural parade is gone , '' he said . | Ohio man quits band after it suspended him for nodding at President Obama . John Coleman cites publicity over suspension as reason for leaving . Coleman was band 's drum major when it marched in inaugural parade . Coleman ignored military protocol , band leader tells newspaper . | [[16, 30], [35, 103], [0, 5], [77, 146], [169, 261], [202, 261], [379, 435], [2252, 2330], [1237, 1356], [1461, 1490], [1556, 1569], [1572, 1602]] |
UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday expressing its intent to , eventually , send U.N. peacekeeping forces back to the fractured , unstable nation of Somalia . Islamist insurgents display their weaponry Friday in Mogadishu during a parade . The resolution was sponsored by the U.S. , in one of the final Bush Administration initiatives at the United Nations . The passage of the resolution follows the exit of a U.N.-backed , Ethiopian peacekeeping force that completed a two-year deployment in Somalia Thursday . There is wide-spread concern among diplomats and regional leaders in the Horn of Africa that , with the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces , a power vacuum will be filled in Somalia by regional Islamic extremist groups , some with links to al-Qaeda . The U.N. resolution sets forth a process that aims to bring stability and sovereignty to Somalia , which has been racked by violence and lawlessness since the government was overthrown in 1991 . First , the resolution expresses renewed support that an African Union force currently deployed in Somalia -- known as AMISOM -- remains on the ground . The A.U. contingent is currently comprised of 2,600 troops . The U.N. resolution calls on the African Union to strengthen those levels to 8,000 . The resolution then requests that U.N. Secretary-General , Ban Ki-Moon , submit a report by April 15 , 2009 updating the situation in Somalia , and it asks that he develop the mandate for a U.N. peacekeeping force . Finally , a decision on U.N. peacekeeping is requested by June 1 , 2009 . However , the process is off to a rocky start . Last month , Ban said that requests to U.N. member nations for peacekeeping forces for Somalia were received negatively . Also , throughout , one of the key players in the Somalia decisions will likely be Susan Rice , President-Elect Obama 's nominee for new U.S. - U.N. Ambassador , and a specialist on African issues . At her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Thursday , Rice told senators that she is `` skeptical about the wisdom of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Somalia at this time . '' | Resolution expresses intent to send U.N. peacekeeping forces to Somalia . The resolution in war-torn country was sponsored by the United States . Ethiopian peacekeeping force completed two-year deployment in Somalia . Regional leaders fear vacuum will be filled by Islamic extremist groups . | [[0, 24], [34, 136], [0, 30], [150, 232], [314, 354], [499, 527], [533, 586], [587, 674], [722, 801]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Scottish fish and chip shop visited by Prince William , Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks has been crowned the best place in Britain to eat the national dish . Robert and Alison Smith , the owners of the Anstrhuther Fishbar in Fife , celebrate their success . The UK is in recession , but the nation 's traditional takeaway dish is showing no sign of a downturn . Sales rose at 9,500 chippies in Britain by 1.7 percent last year , according to Seafish , a seafood industry group . The Anstrhuther Fishbar in Fife , Scotland was crowned the best chippy of 2008 following a rigorous selection procedure that included a customer vote , taste tests and two intense rounds of shop inspections . `` Fish and chip shops are well-placed to prosper in the current economic climate as they offer value for money and a quality product with a feel-good factor , '' competition judge Andy Gray said . `` Despite the credit crunch , people still want to enjoy small luxuries . Fish and chips are a national institution which have survived the test of time and will be around for many years to come . '' Fishbar owner Robert Smith said that the start of 2009 had been the busiest January since the harbor front shop opened in 2003 . Smith , who also owns a fish processing business , said dedication was the key to the shop 's success . `` We are passionate about our business and we just do it right , '' he said . Fish and chips is the most popular hot takeaway in Britain , with 276 million meals eaten every year , according to Seafish figures . | Scottish fish and chip shop visited by Prince William named best in UK . Sales of UK 's national dish up despite country slipping into recession . 276 million meals eaten every year in UK , according to industry figures . | [[1434, 1517], [1500, 1534], [1500, 1517], [1537, 1567]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Vivienne Tam has become well known for creating clothes that appeal to all ages , ethnicities , and income levels . She has earned the reputation for offering a stylish and high-quality product while at the same time inviting the consumer to experience the inspiration behind it . As a designer of clothing that `` suggests tolerance , global acumen , and a Fourth of July faith in individual expression , '' Tam , in the words of fashion critic and curator Richard Martin , possesses an `` idealistic globalism that transcends politics and offers a more enchanted , peaceful world . '' Born in Canton , China , Vivienne Tam moved to Hong Kong when she was three years old . Her bi-cultural upbringing in the then British colony was the first stage in the development of her signature East-meets-West style . After graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Vivienne Tam moved to New York where she thrived on the excitement and energy of the fashion world . New York became a home for her and a continuing source of stimulation for her designs . In 1994 , Vivienne Tam launched her signature collection of Eastern inspired clothing with a modern edge on the New York runways . In 1995 , she introduced the influential Mao collection that triumphantly crossed over from the fashion world into the art world . Then in 1997 Vivienne Tam launched the Buddha collection . The public and celebrities around the world quickly embraced both collections . Some of the images became so popular that scores of designers even adopted the look into their designs . Pieces of the collections were ultimately incorporated into the permanent archives of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh , The Museum of FIT and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York , and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London . In an era where the fashion industry is populated by numerous names and emerging new talents , Vivienne Tam has shown that she can consistently appeal to everyone from high-society to urban to teens , offering them fresh collections every season . She is poised to become the next multi-tasking , multi-successful designer and businesswoman . E-mail to a friend . | Vivienne Tam was born in Canton , China , moved to Hong Kong when she was three . Her Mao and Buddha collections were launched in 1995 and 1997 . Items of her work are featured in museums in New York , Pittsburgh and London . | [[606, 620], [631, 693], [1205, 1212], [1215, 1335], [1336, 1394]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Russia will begin the construction of a new naval base this year in Georgia 's pro-Russian separatist region of Abkhazia , according to a Russian media report Monday . Russia 's Black Sea fleet is based in Sevastopol under a lease agreement with Ukraine that expires in 2017 . Russia 's Itar-Tass news agency quoted an unnamed official at Russian naval headquarters as saying it wanted to station vessels at the Abkhaz port of Ochamchire on the Black Sea , Reuters.com reported . `` The fundamental decision on creating a Black Sea Fleet base in Ochamchire has been taken , '' the official told Tass , in quotes carried by Reuters.com . `` This year we will begin practical work , including dredging , along Abkhazia 's coast . `` It will take more than a year to implement all works . '' The official added that the deployment was to protect the breakaway region from Georgian attacks . Georgia launched a campaign against South Ossetia , a Russian-backed separatist territory , on August 7 last year . The following day , Russian tanks , troops and armored vehicles poured into South Ossetia and Abkhazia , advancing into Georgian cities outside the rebel regions . The two sides blamed each other for starting the conflict and have made accusations of ethnic cleansing . Moscow has since recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent regions -- a move which angered many Western governments who suspect Russia of acting to thwart Georgia 's ambitions of joining NATO . This latest development comes despite comments made last year by Abkhazia 's leader that his territory would not be hosting Russian military bases . `` There will be no new bases , '' Sergei Bagapsh told Russia 's Novosti news agency , adding that Russia 's Black Sea Fleet will not be based in the republic either . `` Only units of Russia 's ground forces that have always been based here will continue to be stationed in Abkhazia , '' he said . Russia 's Black Sea Fleet is currently based in the port of Sevastopol which belongs to Ukraine -- another former Soviet state which , like Georgia , aspires to NATO membership . The fleet is due to leave Ukraine for good in 2017 , in line with a 20-year lease deal signed in 1997 . However , Russia 's diplomats and military have said they want the fleet to stay at its traditional home base after the expiry of the deadline , Reuters.com reported . | Official : Russia to station vessels at Abkhaz port of Ochamchire on Black Sea . Moscow recognizes Abkhazia as independent region following war with Georgia . Georgia and Russia blame each other for starting last year 's conflict . Russia 's Black Sea Fleet is currently based at the port of Sevastopol , Ukraine . | [[296, 469], [296, 311], [385, 473], [1293, 1299], [1310, 1370], [1187, 1244], [187, 272], [1946, 1984], [1991, 2016], [1946, 1971], [1975, 2016]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Dubai could lose its place on the Women 's Tennis Association Tour calendar after Israeli Shahar Peer was denied entry to compete at this week 's event , the WTA supremo warned Monday . Shahar Peer told CNN she learned of her visa ban Saturday , just before her scheduled flight to Dubai . Peer was scheduled to fly into the United Arab Emirates on Sunday , but was informed Saturday night by telephone that she would not be granted a visa . WTA Chairman and CEO Larry Scott said the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour `` will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament . '' Scott added : `` The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly , and has a clear rule and policy , that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking . '' Peer , who had just finished playing in the Pattaya Open in Thailand , where she reached the semifinal , said she is `` very , very disappointed '' to have been denied the opportunity to play in Dubai . `` They really stopped my momentum because now I 'm not going to play for two weeks and because they waited for the last minute I could n't go to another tournament either , '' Peer said from Tel Aviv . `` So it 's very disappointing , and I think it 's not fair . '' Watch Peer describe her disappointment '' Scott , meanwhile , confirmed : `` Following various consultations , the Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week , pending further review by the Tour 's Board of Directors . `` Ms. Peer and her family are obviously extremely upset and disappointed by the decision of the UAE and its impact on her personally and professionally , and the Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Peer . '' Scott said Peer 's visa refusal has precedence : Last year an Israeli men 's doubles team was denied entry to Dubai . He said the Emirate cited security reasons following recent unrest in the region . `` At that time I was in Dubai . I made it clear to the authorities , the representatives of the government , that next year when our top players wanted to play this very prestigious tournament all of them had to be allowed to play , '' Scott said . `` They had a year to work on it and solve it . We 've spent time through the year discussing it . We were given assurances that it had gone to the highest levels of government , '' Scott said . `` I was optimistic they would solve it . And we 've made crystal clear to the government , to the tournament organizers that there could be grave repercussions not just for tennis in the UAE but sports beyond that . '' Watch CNN 's interview with Larry Scott '' The Dubai government issued a short statement through the state-owned news agency , saying that Peer was informed while in Thailand that she would not receive a visa . The agency quoted an official source in the organizing committee saying , `` The tournament is sponsored by several national organizations and they all care to be part of a successful tournament , considering the developments that the region had been through . '' Earlier an official source who did not want to be named , said , `` We should check what happened in New Zealand , when Peer was playing there with all the demonstrations against Israel during the attacks on Gaza . We have to consider securing the players and the tournament . '' In January , a small group of about 20 protestors waved placards and shouted anti-Israel slogans outside the main entrance to the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland . They were moved on before Peer played her match . The Israeli player said she 's received phone calls of support from her fellow players . '' ` All the players support Shahar , '' world No. 6 Venus Williams told The New York Times , adding , `` We are all athletes , and we stand for tennis . '' Peer is uncertain of her next move . She said the last-minute decision had left her at a loose end . She said she was concerned about her points and ranking and may go to the U.S. this week to try to take part in another tournament . `` I do n't think it should happen , '' she said . `` I think sport and politics needs to stay on the side and not be involved . I really hope it 's not going to happen again , not only to me but to any other athlete . '' CNN Dubai bureau chief Caroline Faraj contributed to this report . | Israeli tennis player back in Tel Aviv after being denied entry for Dubai event . Shahar Peer told night before tournament she would not be granted visa by UAE . WTA chief Larry Scott warned Dubai tournament could lose place on calendar . Scott : `` This runs counter to everything we were promised and is a setback '' | [[101, 170], [994, 1051], [101, 170], [205, 262], [226, 262], [265, 308], [309, 313], [381, 421], [427, 460], [2701, 2721], [2785, 2868], [16, 94], [173, 204], [461, 619], [2227, 2242], [2422, 2437]] |
BEDFORD HEIGHTS , Ohio -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After two years of traveling around the country and criticizing President Bush , President-elect Barack Obama said Friday that he `` always thought -LSB- Bush -RSB- was a good guy . '' Barack Obama tells CNN 's John King that it was `` tough '' for him to request the additional bailout funds . `` I mean , I think personally he is a good man who loves his family and loves his country , '' Obama said in an exclusive interview with CNN 's John King . During the election season , Obama frequently campaigned against what he called Bush 's `` failed policies '' and promised a `` clean break '' from the past eight years . Asked if there was anything he wanted to take back , now that he has spent more time with the president , Obama praised Bush 's team for helping with a smooth transition and said part of what America is about is being able to have `` disagreements politically and yet treat each other civilly . '' Obama also said he thought Bush made `` the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances . '' `` That does not detract from my assessment that over the last several years , we have made a series of bad choices and we are now going to be inheriting the consequences of a lot of those bad choices , '' Obama said . In addition to his relationship with Bush , Obama also discussed some key issues that he will face in the first days of his administration , including national security and the economy . Even before taking the oath of office , Obama has already faced a showdown with Congress over releasing what remains of the $ 700 bailout bill that Bush and Congress authorized before the election . The $ 350 billion that the Senate approved will come with specific conditions , Obama said . `` There 's nothing wrong with us placing some conditions , making sure that the money 's not going to executive compensation , making sure you 're not seeing big dividend payoffs to shareholders and making sure that money is being left so that we can get credit flowing again , not just for individual homeowners who are losing their homes , but also small businesses who are the lifeblood of this economy . `` If they ca n't get credit , then they end up having to shutter their doors . And when they shutter their doors , people lose jobs . They then ca n't pay their mortgage , and you start down the road that we 're on . We want to reverse that path , and that means that 's the way we use the next $ 350 billion that Congress voted on , and that was a very tough vote for a lot of people . And it was tough for me to have to request it , '' he said . Obama sat down with King after he took a factory tour in Bedford Heights , Ohio . | Barack Obama says Bush made `` the best decisions that he could at times '' Obama campaigned against what he called Bush 's `` failed policies '' Obama says it was `` tough '' to have to request bailout funds . | [[963, 968], [974, 1021], [1003, 1021], [1030, 1086], [494, 520], [523, 603], [494, 520], [523, 528], [608, 664], [227, 336], [268, 286], [291, 336], [2585, 2630]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama weighed in Thursday on the conflict between Israel and Hamas , urging Israel to open Gaza border crossings and telling the Islamic fundamentalist organization to stop rocket fire into the Jewish state . President Obama called on both Israel and Hamas to make changes toward Mideast peace . He urged Israel to allow the flow of aid and commerce into the Palestinian territory . `` Our hearts go out to Palestinian civilians who are in need of immediate food , clean water and basic medical care , '' he said . The crossings should be opened with an `` appropriate monitoring , '' he added . Obama said Hamas leaders , for their part , must put an end to rocket attacks . He said he will send former Sen. George Mitchell , who was appointed Thursday as special envoy for Middle East peace , to the region as soon as possible . Earlier , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived at her new office in the State Department , promising a renewed emphasis on candor and `` robust diplomacy '' as the primary means for advancing American interests around the world . America 's new chief diplomat walked through the front doors of the State Department lobby shortly after 9 a.m. ET to thunderous applause from an overflow crowd of about 1,000 career diplomats and other department employees . `` I believe with all of my heart that this is a new era for America , '' Clinton told her colleagues . `` President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address . ... Robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America 's future . '' Watch Clinton greet her new employees '' In remarks that could be interpreted as a rebuke of the departed Bush administration , Clinton also said that the Obama administration would not `` tolerate the divisiveness and paralysis that has undermined our ability to get things done for America . '' Clinton also called for a new sense of candor and free exchange of ideas . She urged the country 's diplomatic corps to think `` outside the proverbial box . '' `` There 's nothing I welcome more than a good debate and the kind of dialogue that will make us better , '' she said . Clinton later attended an intelligence briefing and a meeting with members of the Diplomatic Security Service . She also walked through various State Department offices , including the operations center . Clinton also phoned international leaders , according to acting State Department spokesman Robert Wood . She is expected to call Asian leaders later Thursday . Clinton will also visit the U.S. Agency for International Development , which she praised `` for the work they 've done on behalf of development through some very difficult years . '' During her confirmation hearing , Clinton pledged to secure more resources for the State Department and USAID , which has seen a lot of its development work fall to the Pentagon during the Bush administration . Clinton is the 67th U.S. secretary of state . CNN 's Elise Labott contributed to this report . | NEW : President Obama urges Israel to open Gaza border crossings . Hillary Clinton receives intelligence briefing on first day at State . Clinton greets employees at the State Department . Clinton was confirmed as secretary of state Wednesday . | [[0, 10], [30, 113], [0, 26], [116, 211], [2195, 2306], [1617, 1657]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Supreme Court has blocked further consideration of a federal law designed to keep sexual material from underage users of the Web . The justices without comment Wednesday rejected an appeal from the federal government to reinstate the Child Online Protection Act -LRB- COPA -RRB- , passed by Congress in 1998 . The high court and subsequent federal courts said the law -- which has never taken effect -- had serious free speech problems . The Bush administration was a strong supporter of the law and the Justice Department led the fight in court to revive it . The justices issued their ruling a day after all nine were on hand for the inauguration of President Barack Obama . Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor also attended the ceremony . The case tested the free speech rights of adults against the power of Congress to control Internet commerce . The Supreme Court twice ruled against COPA , arguing that it represented government censorship rather than lawful regulation of adult-themed pornography businesses . The law would have prevented private businesses from creating and distributing `` harmful '' content that minors could access on the Internet . Free speech advocates said adults would be barred access to otherwise legal material and that parental-control devices and various filtering technology are less intrusive ways to protect children . The high court in 2004 upheld a preliminary injunction against the law and sent the case back to lower courts for consideration of the arguments . In their opinion at the time , the 5-4 majority concluded COPA `` likely violates the First Amendment . '' `` The government has not shown that the less restrictive alternatives proposed ... should be disregarded , '' Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the 2004 decision . `` Those alternatives , indeed , may be more effective '' than the law passed by Congress . `` Filters are less restrictive '' he said , and thus pose less risk of muzzling free speech . `` They impose selective restrictions on speech at the receiving end , not universal restrictions at the source . '' He added , `` There is a potential for extraordinary harm and a serious chill upon protected speech '' if the law takes effect . '' In reconsidering the law , a federal appeals court in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , again ruled the law unconstitutional . | Justices reject appeal to reinstate the Child Online Protection Act . COPA violates the First Amendment right to free speech , justices say . COPA would have kept businesses from distributing `` harmful '' content to minors . In 2004 ruling , justice said parental filters are less restrictive on free speech . | [[165, 301], [344, 471], [1541, 1569], [1572, 1632], [1052, 1152]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Most of us know we should n't be talking on a handheld cell phone while driving . But recent studies suggest that hands-free devices are just as dangerous on the road . Studies suggest that talking on a hands-free cell phone while driving is just as dangerous as a handheld one . Engaging in a phone conversation on a mobile device while driving distracts the brain and delays reaction times , experts said . Drivers are more likely to swerve between lanes , slow down and miss important signs . `` When you 're on a call , even if both hands are on the wheel , your head is in the call , '' said Janet Froetscher , president of the National Safety Council , which in January urged legislators in all 50 states to pass laws prohibiting motorists from using cell phone devices . A recent University of Utah study found that drivers engaging in a cell phone conversation on a headset were more likely to make errors behind the wheel than a driver talking to a front-seat passenger . `` It does n't matter what kind of cell phone device they are using , because the impairments are so large , '' said University of Utah professor David Strayer , who used a high-tech driving simulator for his experiment . Strayer 's study , published in December , concluded that conversations with a front-seat passenger can actually mitigate accidents , because the passenger can help observe road conditions and warn the driver of possible hazards . In Strayer 's previous studies , he found driving while talking on a mobile device is `` just as bad as driving drunk . '' The risk of getting into a car accident while talking on a wireless device -- including headsets and vehicles with built-in communication systems -- is growing as the number of cell phone subscribers increases . There are 270 million cell phone subscribers in the United States , up from 76 million in 1999 , according to CTIA -- The Wireless Association , an organization representing the wireless communications industry . In a survey by Nationwide Insurance , 80 percent of people admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving . About 45 percent of drivers said they have been hit or nearly hit by someone using a cell phone , according to Nationwide 's survey , conducted in 2006 . Some experts said drivers talking on cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash than those who do n't talk on their phones behind the wheel . One study from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that 636,000 traffic accidents each year -- about 6 percent of all accidents -- are caused by drivers using their cell phones , resulting in an estimated 2,600 deaths . Elderly and younger drivers are most at risk of getting into an accident when they talk on a mobile device while driving , said Arthur Kramer , a psychology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . `` I do n't think legislation alone is the answer , '' Kramer said . `` Education needs to go along with the legislation to encourage people that these are risky habits for yourself and for others . '' There is no federal law against using handheld devices on the road , but six states and the District of Columbia have such laws , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures , a group that tracks legislative data trends . No states ban the use of hands-free or wireless communication devices , experts said . Some private industries , such as trucking and bus companies , prohibit their employees from using cell phones on the road . Other states restrict teenagers from talking on cell phones while driving . Anne Teigen , a policy specialist on transportation issues for the National Conference of State Legislatures , says states are moving to ban handheld cell phone use . Almost all states have debated the issue , but many governments are reluctant to pass restrictions because they say there is n't enough research . They point out that talking on a mobile device is n't the only distraction . Other distractions , such as reaching for the glove compartment , changing the radio station or putting on makeup , also can cause accidents . The popularity of smart phones equipped with Internet , text messaging and e-mail present drivers with even more distractions . Such new technology also makes it difficult for states to keep their laws updated . `` Then there is the final question of whether these laws are enforceable or not , '' Teigen said . Some members of the cell phone industry are advising drivers to stop using cell phones on the road , but few have taken a stance on hands-free devices , because research has been limited . Verizon Wireless was one of the first cellular phone companies to support hands-free driving laws in the early 2000s . The company is focusing on promoting laws against text-messaging while driving . So far , only a handful of states ban the practice . Aegis Mobility , a Vancouver , Canada , company , has created a device that would reduce cell phone usage in cars . The product , DriveAssist , set to launch this fall with a major network carrier in the United States , will enable cell phones to automatically detect when a mobile user is driving . Users can subscribe to DriveAssist 's service , which manages incoming and outgoing calls , text messages and e-mails electronically . Callers get a message that the recipient is driving but can leave an emergency message alerting the driver to pull over and return the call . `` People find it hard to stop talking on their cell phones because we 've been conditioned our entire life to answer the phone , '' said David Teater of Spring Lake , Michigan , one of the product 's backers . Five years ago , Teater 's seventh-grade son died in a daytime car accident after a woman talking on her cell phone ran a red light . `` Her life was ruined as well , '' Teater said . `` She had no idea what she was doing was so dangerous . The vast majority of drivers have no idea that it 's dangerous . '' | Study : Talking on a hands-free cell phone while driving is still dangerous . Drivers on cell phones are involved in an estimated 636,000 traffic accidents a year . Six states and District of Columbia ban handheld cell phones by drivers . DriveAssist service can help drivers stay off the phone by managing calls . | [[105, 187], [188, 298], [188, 195], [204, 243], [299, 350], [797, 999], [2660, 2687], [2705, 2766], [730, 796], [3154, 3208], [5217, 5239], [5248, 5311]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's a frightening scenario , almost a staple of action movies : Someone has fallen onto subway tracks , and a train is rumbling into the station . iReporter Stuart Gordon spotted rescuers after a woman fell onto subway tracks in Washington . For a heart-stopping moment , the train is certain to strike the fallen person , until rescue comes at the last possible second . But at a Washington Metro station near the National Mall on Tuesday , it was an all-too-real scenario , and all the more frightening . A 68-year-old woman from Nashville , Tennessee , in Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama , fell off the platform at the Gallery Place-Chinatown stop . Houston Metro Officer Eliot Swainson , deputized to assist with the huge crowds for the inauguration , was aiding another rider when he heard shouts that someone was on the track . Watch Swainson describe what happened '' `` I turned around and saw a lady standing in the track area , '' Swainson said . The former Houston police officer rushed into action . He and another Metro rider tried to pull the woman to safety , but with a Red Line train bearing down on the station , they did n't have the time . iReport.com : See photos of the rescue operation . `` The train was coming down the tunnel there , '' Swainson said . `` It was coming in closer . I pushed her down and got her tucked down under the platform . '' Swainson cited training from Metro staff for giving him the information he used to get the woman out of danger . The woman , who was not identified , huddled beneath the lip of the granite platform as the train passed . An emergency response crew brought her back up onto the platform and took her to Washington Hospital Center , where hospital staff said she was treated and released . No further details were provided . Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority spokeswoman Taryn McNeil said Tuesday that the woman had sustained cuts and bruises from the fall . The agency said transit officers from 18 locations across the country were in Washington to assist with the inauguration crowds . Ridership records were shattered Tuesday : There were more than 1.5 million trips across all the authority 's platforms , including more than 1.1 million on the subway system . The Tennessee woman 's accident was the only one reported on the transit line , the authority said . iReport.com : Are you there ? Send your photos . As for Swainson , Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn said he did exactly the right thing . `` Due to Officer Swainson 's quick response , the woman was not seriously injured , '' Taborn said . `` He did exactly what was expected , and we are enormously grateful for his actions . '' McNeil said the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop was reopened not long after the accident and trains were moving through it , although there were delays . CNN 's Larry Lazo and Kelly Marshall contributed to this report . | Woman , 68 , fell off platform at Metro 's Gallery Place-Chinatown stop . Houston Metro Officer Eliot Swainson , another rider tried to pull her up . When they could n't grab her , Swainson helped tuck her under platform . Woman safely huddled beneath platform lip as train passed . | [[226, 273], [539, 585], [641, 693], [1060, 1120], [1355, 1356], [1377, 1417], [1355, 1356], [1377, 1417], [1534, 1543], [1571, 1618], [1622, 1640]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- German billionaire Adolf Merckle , one of the richest men in the world , committed suicide Monday after his business empire got into trouble in the wake of the international financial crisis , Merckle 's family said Tuesday in a statement . Merckle , 74 , was hit by a train in the southwestern town of Ulm , police said . His family said the economic crisis had `` broken '' Merckle . He was number 94 on the Forbes list of the world 's richest people . He had fallen from number 44 on the Forbes 2007 rich list as his fortune declined from $ 12.8 billion to $ 9.2 billion in 2008 . Merckle 's business empire included interests as diverse as cement-maker HeidelbergCement and generic drug-maker Ratiopharm . But he lost hundreds of millions of dollars , including company capital , betting against Volkswagen stock last year . The state government of Baden-Wuerttemberg rejected his petition for financial assistance , and he entered bailout talks with several German banks . `` The financial troubles of his companies , induced by the international financial crisis and the uncertainty and powerlessness to act independently which the financial problems brought about , broke the passionate family business man , and he took his own life , '' his family wrote in the news release . An employee of Germany 's railroad company found the body on the tracks at about 7 p.m. Monday and notified authorities . Merckle 's family had already reported him missing earlier in the day after he walked out of the house and did not return . Authorities are currently conducting DNA tests to confirm his identity . CNN 's Frederik Pleitgen in Germany and Alysen Miller in London , England , contributed to this report . | Adolf Merckle was No. 94 on Forbes list of world 's richest people . Merckle 's net worth estimated to be $ 9.2 billion . Billionaire was killed by a train in German town of Ulm . Family says financial woes `` broke the passionate family business man '' | [[405, 473], [260, 267], [270, 272], [275, 325], [342, 404], [358, 404], [1192, 1232]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two children and one adult were killed Friday after a man with a painted face launched a knife attack at a children 's daycare center in Belgium . Police look at a hearse parked in front of the childcare centre in Dendermonde where the attack took place . Officials said two adults and 10 children , some of whom were in a critical condition , were being treated in hospital following the attack in Dendermonde , 25 kilometers -LRB- 16 miles -RRB- northwest of Brussels . `` The guy just went crazy , '' local official Theo Janssens said , according to Agence France-Presse news agency . He was arrested an hour and a half afterwards , according to the Interior Ministry . Reports said he was trying to make his escape on a bicycle . The attacker entered the day care center in Dendermonde , about 16 miles northwest of Brussels , around 10 a.m. -LRB- 4 a.m. ET -RRB- and began stabbing children and staff , the ministry said . Local journalist Bart Bekaert told CNN that the attacker 's face was painted black and white . Hear Bekaert describe the attack '' `` Witnesses say he looked calm . There was no security and he just walked straight in , '' he added . AFP reported that the man was not known to staff at the nursery . `` You do n't expect such acts happening in a daycare center , '' Dendermonde deputy prosecutor Jan Kerkhofs told CNN . `` It is not like a prison so there are no bars on the doors or security systems . '' | 2 children , 1 adult killed in knife attack at creche , Belgian Interior Ministry says . Three others reported seriously injured in attack in town of Dendermonde . Attacker `` had painted face , '' local journalist tells CNN . | [[0, 96], [82, 165], [607, 609], [655, 691], [233, 244], [251, 274], [351, 429], [947, 1041], [986, 1041]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A crusading Sri Lankan journalist shot dead last week knew he would be killed -- he said so in a dramatic , posthumously published column touching a raw nerve in his war-torn island nation . A candlelight vigil in the Sri Lankan capital in memory of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga . Lasantha Wickrematunga , editor-in-chief of The Sunday Leader , was gunned down execution-style January 8 but spoke from the grave three days later when the newspaper published `` And Then They Came For Me . '' That posthumous column anticipated his slaying by government forces and defended the craft of journalism in his country , a profession under fire during its bitter civil war . `` Diplomats , recognizing the risk journalists face in Sri Lanka , have offered me safe passage and the right of residence in their countries . Whatever else I may have been stuck for , I have not been stuck for choice . But there is a calling that is yet above high office , fame , lucre and security . It is the call of conscience , '' Wickrematunga wrote . `` People often ask me why I take such risks and tell me it 's a matter of time before I am bumped off . '' Wickrematunga wrote that he was twice assaulted and his house was fired upon . `` Despite the government 's sanctimonious assurances , there was never a serious police inquiry into the perpetrators of these attacks , and the attackers were never apprehended . `` In all of these cases , I have reason to believe the attacks were inspired by the government . When finally I am killed , it will be the government that kills me , '' he wrote . Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapaksa , asked about threats to journalists , voiced assurance that no journalist or media institution had cause to fear any threats or attacks by the government , according to a statement on the government 's official Web site . Watch Sri Lanka 's foreign minister discuss press freedom '' `` The government had no interest whatever in seeking disgrace through any attacks on the media , '' he said , and he assured media leaders that the culprits would be captured and brought to justice , the statement said . Hostility against journalists and their institutions has been high as the Sinhalese-dominated government forces work to eradicate the last vestiges of Tamil Tiger separatists in the Jaffna peninsula , the rebel-held northern region . The 25-year-old civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead . Sunanda Deshapriya , spokesman for Sri Lanka 's Free Media Movement , said harassment of journalists has been common , and cited these examples from the past year : two journalists killed , another journalist shot at , more than 50 reports of intimidations and threats , 12 media personnel arrested , 16 journalists physically assaulted , one tortured , one assaulted in an abduction attempt , the circulation of a list with 27 journalists targeted for killings , the proposal of a censorship law , and the naming of some journalists as terrorists or terrorist supporters . On January 6 , 15 masked gunmen entered Maharajah TV studios outside the capital , Colombo . The journalism watchdog group Committee to Protect Journalists said the attackers shot at and destroyed broadcast equipment , held staff members at gunpoint , and attempted to burn down the station 's facilities . CNN on Wednesday interviewed the head of Maharajah TV , Chevaan Daniel , about the incident . Afterward , Sri Lanka 's defense secretary , Gotabhaya Rajapaksa , called for the arrest of a person who had talked to CNN , Deshapriya said . CPJ said the government-run media has criticized Maharajah TV for its coverage of a suicide bombing in the capital and `` undermining '' a presidential victory speech after government troops took Kilinochchi -- which had been the de facto capital of the Tamil Tigers movement . Government officials have condemned strikes on Colombo and have ordered probes . Bob Dietz , CPJ 's Asia program director , said that `` far too often the government or its unofficial allies have been prime suspects behind attacks on journalists and media organizations , '' despite government condemnations and investigations . As the civil warfare first unfolded , Tamil journalists were targeted , Dietz said . But in the past year and a half , mainstream journalists , such as those who raise questions about the government 's military activity , have been facing a crackdown -- even if they are from the majority Sinhalese ethnic group or sharply critical of the Tamil rebel movement . This includes Wickrematunga , who questioned the government 's successes and value of its military actions . `` That really got under the skin of the government , '' Dietz said . `` It 's one thing to insult the president , but another thing to insult the military during wartime . '' `` This killing is the worst , '' said Dietz , who compared it to the impact that would be felt if a New York Times or Washington Post columnist were killed in the United States . Wickrematunga 's killing spurred a demonstration in Colombo by 4,000 people , which Reporters Without Borders said was the largest since the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa took power three years ago . Another protest was to be held on Thursday in London . The title of Wickrematunga 's column was inspired by a poem by a German theologian about how Germans failed to react to Nazism in the past century before it was too late . In his rendition of the poem , Wickrematunga wrote : `` First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew . Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist . Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist . Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me . '' Wickrematunga pronounces his pride in his profession 's attempt to chronicle life in a country at war and his paper 's work to bravely represent all people -- `` Sinhalese , Tamil , Muslim , low-caste , homosexual , dissident or disabled . '' He casts the paper as an independent organ that faithfully records events . He said the paper lacks a political agenda and wants to see Sri Lanka as a `` transparent , secular , liberal democracy . '' `` No other profession calls on its practitioners to lay down their lives for their art save the armed forces and , in Sri Lanka , journalism , '' he wrote , adding that `` countless journalists have been harassed , threatened and killed . It has been my honor to belong to all those categories and now especially the last . '' `` I have the satisfaction of knowing that I walked tall and bowed to no man . And I have not traveled this journey alone . Fellow journalists in other branches of the media walked with me : most of them are now dead , imprisoned without trial or exiled in far-off lands . '' He also castigates the country 's president , who had been a long-time friend . `` In the wake of my death I know you will make all the usual sanctimonious noises and call upon the police to hold a swift and thorough inquiry . But like all the inquiries you have ordered in the past , nothing will come of this one too . '' | Lasantha Wickrematunga gunned down execution-style January 8 . Posthumous column anticipated his slaying by government forces . Govt. : Says no journalist , media institution should fear attack by government . Civil war with Tamil Tigers has killed more than 65,000 . | [[311, 333], [375, 416], [100, 209], [522, 589], [1525, 1591], [1608, 1647], [1687, 1870], [3931, 3940], [3974, 4119], [2388, 2453]] |
LONDON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iran offered to stop attacking coalition troops in Iraq nearly four years ago in an attempt to get the West to accept Tehran 's nuclear program , a British diplomat told the BBC in an interview aired Saturday . John Sawers , British ambassador to the U.N. , told BBC of Iran approaching Western nations with offer . `` The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program -- ` We stop killing you in Iraq , stop undermining the political process there , you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program without let or hindrance , '' said John Sawers , now the British ambassador to the United Nations , in the documentary , `` Iran and the West : Nuclear Confrontation . '' The United States and other Western nations believe Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program , but Iran says it is developing nuclear capability to produce energy . Iran also has been accused of sponsoring terrorists and supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgents . The latter prompted a warning from the United States that such behavior by Tehran `` would be regarded by us as enemy action , '' Philip Zelikow , a State Department counselor , told the BBC . Then , Iran began shopping its offer around Europe , Sawers said . Sawers , Britain 's political director at the time , reveals the behind-the-scene talks from 2005 -- when roadside bombing against British and American soldiers in Iraq peaked -- were held with British , French and German diplomats at hotels in London , Paris and Berlin . `` And then we 'd compare notes among the three of us , '' Sawers told the BBC . The British government dismissed the offer and Iran 's nuclear enrichment program restarted once again , the BBC reports . Iran has denied offering any such deal and reiterated its position Saturday . `` Iran 's high officials have repeatedly stated that Iran has not had any part in attacks against American and British forces , and there is no evidence to support these baseless accusations , '' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said , according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency . Interviews with top brass from former President Bush 's administration and British envoys indicate that Iran and the West had neared agreements several times in the past few years , but never reached success . Nick Burns , who was in charge of the Bush administration 's State Department policy with Iran , said taking a tough approach with Iran did n't seem effective . `` We had advocated regime change , '' Burns told the BBC . `` We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years . It did n't produce any movement whatsoever . '' The documentary aired a day after the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report stating that Iranian scientists have reached `` nuclear weapons breakout capability . '' The report analyzed the finding of the U.N. 's nuclear watchdog agency , the International Atomic Energy Agency -LRB- IAEA -RRB- . However , an IAEA official who asked not to be named cautioned against drawing such dramatic conclusions from the data , saying Iran 's stock of low-enriched uranium would have to be turned into highly enriched uranium -LRB- HEU -RRB- in order to be weapons-grade material . That has n't been done , the official said . Meanwhile , Iran 's relationship with the West continues to be strained , though both sides have indicated interest in holding direct talks . President Obama , in his first prime-time news conference held earlier this month , said the United States is looking for opportunities for `` face-to-face '' talks with Iran after an absence of diplomatic ties for nearly three decades . `` There 's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years , so it 's not going to happen overnight , '' he said . And Iran 's powerful parliament speaker and former nuclear negotiator , Ali Larijani , has called the Obama administration `` an exceptional opportunity for Americans . '' | Iran approached diplomats with offer nearly four years ago , BBC told . Diplomat : Iran offered to stand down in Iraq if West would accept its nuke program . Iran denies involvement in fighting in Iraq , says allegations are `` baseless '' Despite strained relations , Obama administration has hinted at direct talks . | [[26, 117], [237, 248], [284, 328], [1798, 1815], [107, 109], [118, 169], [1816, 1820], [1859, 1893], [1894, 2047], [3414, 3423], [3426, 3485], [3556, 3571], [3640, 3783]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Guantanamo Bay 's legacy of torture will hurt the United States even if President Obama makes good on a pledge to close the prison camp , a former inmate says . Moazzam Begg says that during intense interrogations at Guantanamo Bay , he would have confessed to anything . Justice will be impossible to mete out to the alleged terrorists and war criminals held there because any confessions must be tainted by the methods used to obtain them , ex-prisoner Moazzam Begg told CNN . Begg says he would have confessed to anything during interrogations while he was held at Guantanamo for nearly three years . `` What procedure can you use on people who have been systematically tortured including waterboarding , including being stripped naked and beaten ? What sort of evidence can be admitted into a court of law that has been extracted under that process ? '' asked Begg . Watch what Begg thinks of Guantanamo '' The new administration has said that waterboarding , which causes the feeling of drowning , is torture . Begg , who is British , was captured during the war in Afghanistan and accused of aiding the Taliban regime . His family has always maintained he was a victim of mistaken identity . He was sent back to his home in Britain by the Bush administration in 2005 and never prosecuted . President Obama on Wednesday moved closer to making good on his campaign promise . The administration is drafting executive orders calling for the detention facility 's closure , officials said . Earlier in the day , a judge granted Obama 's request for a 120-day suspension of prosecutions so a review of all cases of suspected terrorists could take place . During his inaugural speech , he stressed that ideals of justice did not need to be thrown out to ensure the nation 's safety . `` Our Founding Fathers , faced with perils we can scarcely imagine , drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man , a charter expanded by the blood of generations . Those ideals still light the world , and we will not give them up for expedience 's sake , '' Obama said . Watch what could be next for Guantanamo '' Legal issues are already complicating the cases of some of the most important terror suspects , like Mohamed al-Qahtani , the so-called 20th hijacker , who has been accused of helping to plan and possibly participate in the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks . Earlier this month , the retired judge in charge of determining which Guantanamo detainees should be tried by a U.S. military commission told The Washington Post that al-Qahtani was tortured and therefore could not be put forward for prosecution . `` Guantanamo Bay is the most notorious prison on earth , '' Begg said . He said he believes Guantanamo is a radicalizing force for militants around the world . Looking beyond high-profile suspects , human rights campaigners say there is little evidence to prosecute dozens of Guantanamo inmates still being held . They argue that keeping those detainees locked up will not help keep al Qaeda at bay . `` I think it 's actually one of the most harmful myths about it , that we ca n't let people go because we 've got the tiger by the tail , '' said Cori Crider of the human rights organization Reprieve . Chris Arendt , a former guard at Guantanamo Bay , says the Obama administration must rethink and reform the way it detains and prosecutes future terror suspects -- and do more than just close Guantanamo . `` We 're focused on this one camp that has become the star of the whole show . But there are camps everywhere , '' he said . `` There are camps in Iraq , in Afghanistan -- every country that American or the coalition forces have set their feet . None of those detainees are seeing any justice . '' | NEW : Obama administration drafting executive orders calling for camp 's closure . President Obama suspends prosecutions at Guantanamo Bay prison camp . Ex-inmate says torture at the camp has made justice unattainable . Former guard says detainees at Guantanamo , other camps get no justice . | [[1415, 1508], [174, 196], [3727, 3775]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In her first interview since giving birth , the teenage daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said having a child is not `` glamorous , '' and that telling young people to be abstinent is `` not realistic at all . '' Bristol Palin says `` everyone should just wait 10 years '' to have a baby , rather than when you 're young . `` It 's just , like , I 'm not living for myself anymore . It 's , like , for another person , so it 's different , '' Bristol Palin told Fox News ' Greta Van Susteren . `` And just you 're up all night . And it 's not glamorous at all , '' she said . `` Like , your whole priorities change after having a baby . '' The 18-year-old , who gave birth in late December , said she is being helped tremendously by her mother , grandmother , cousins and other family members . She is engaged to teen father Levi Johnston , who is now working for his father and trying to complete school , but said she wishes that she waited another 10 years to have a baby . It was `` harder than labor '' telling her parents she was pregnant . `` Well , we were sitting on the couch , my best friend and Levi , and we had my parents come and sit on the couch , too . And we had my sisters go upstairs , '' Bristol said . `` And we just sat them down , and I just -- I could n't even say it . I was just sick to my stomach . `` And so finally , my best friend just , like , blurted it out . And it was just , like -- I do n't even remember it because it was just , like , something I do n't want to remember . '' Todd and Sarah Palin were `` scared just because I have to -- I had to grow up a lot faster than they ever would have imagined , '' Bristol said . Her parents insisted that she and her boyfriend hash out a `` game plan '' immediately . And now her parents and relatives are all pitching in to help take care of the child , particularly when Bristol is at school during the day . Van Susteren was delicate with the teenager but pointedly asked if `` contraception is an issue here . '' `` Is that something that you were just lazy about or not interested , or do you have philosophical or religious opposition to it , '' Van Susteren asked . Bristol quickly answered that she did n't want to get into specifics . The best option is abstinence , the teen said , but added that she did n't think that was `` realistic . '' Watch Bristol Palin say that abstinence is `` not realistic at all '' '' While her mother was running for vice president , the teenager said her treatment in the media was `` evil . '' She said she read some of the tabloids that wrote about her . People did n't understand , she said , and some media reports perpetuated falsehoods about her experience . `` They thought that , like , my mom was going to make me have the baby , and it was my choice to have the baby , '' she said . `` And it 's just -- that kind of stuff just bothered me . '' Van Susteren asked , `` But this is your issue ? This is your decision ? '' Bristol answered yes . '' -LRB- It -RRB- does n't matter what my mom 's views are on it . It was my decision , and I wish people would realize that , too , '' she said . The network interview was Bristol 's idea , the teen said . And she apparently sprung the news to her parents that she was going to speak publicly the day before the network taping . The teen said she wanted to tell her story so that other young people might think twice about having sex . `` I 'd love to -LSB- be -RSB- an advocate to prevent teen pregnancy because it 's not , like , a situation that you would want to strive for , I guess , '' Bristol said . Gov. Palin made an unexpected appearance during the interview in Alaska , and Van Susteren asked her about her daughter 's pregnancy . `` Not the most ideal situation , certainly you make the most of it , '' the governor said . Bristol is a `` strong and bold woman , and she is an amazing mom , '' Palin said . `` And this little baby is very lucky to have her as a mama . He 's going to be just fine . '' | Bristol Palin said she wishes she had waited 10 years to have a baby . 18-year-old is getting a lot of help from family , says baby son is `` awesome '' Palin said she 's hoping to encourage young people to wait to have sex . | [[816, 819], [932, 997], [661, 676], [713, 815], [1772, 1856], [3330, 3436], [3344, 3436]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Piracy off the coast of Somalia ca n't be stopped until there is some authority to bring pirates to justice , according to the commander of the U.S. Navy 's Fifth Fleet , based in Bahrain . U.S. Vice Admiral William Gortney : Need to hold pirates off Africa 's east coast accountable . Because there is no working government in Somalia and no country is willing to take captured pirates , bring them to trial and detain them , there is no deterrent for pirates to stop attacking ships , Vice Admiral William Gortney said at a Pentagon briefing Thursday . `` The problem is there 's not a way to -- until we have a mechanism -LSB- to hold them -RSB- accountable and try them for their actions , there 's no way to -- to finish the problem , '' Gortney said . The United States is making a deal with a country in the eastern Africa region to hold and try pirates captured by the U.S.-led Combined Task Force 151 , a new maritime anti-piracy mission started earlier this month . He said an official announcement would be made after the deal with the country is official . In the past three months , piracy attacks have averaged about 12 to 14 a month off the east coast of Africa . As of mid-January , the attack numbers are already at the average of the past three months , according to Gortney . `` That -LSB- number -RSB- should tell you that we 're not -- we 're not being 100 percent successful on the deterrence of the attempt . And that 's where we have to go after , '' Gortney said . The United States is expecting other nations to join the anti-piracy task force , but at the moment , the United States is the only country in the task force with just three ships off of the waters of Somalia . There are ships from some European and Asian countries patrolling the waters independently as well , primarily guarding cargo ships from their own countries . Pirates attacked nearly 100 vessels and hijacked as many as 40 in the waters off the coast of Somalia in 2008 , according to the International Maritime Bureau . See how pirate attacks peaked in 2008 '' Pirating off of Somalia has increased during the past four to five years as fishermen from Somalia realize that pirating is more lucrative than fishing . Additionally , pirates are able to get away with the crimes because of the lack of government and overall lawlessness in the country . Gortney said statistically the chances of ships being pirated off of Somalia less than one percent , but it wo n't be stopped until piracy is `` disincentivized . '' | Gortney : No working Somali government , country willing to detain , try accused pirates . U.S. currently only nation with ships dedicated to anti-pirate task force . Asian , European nations have own ships independently patrolling region . | [[370, 380], [419, 454], [1606, 1619], [1622, 1730], [1731, 1785]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The e-mail arrived from Uzbekistan on February 26 . It was titled `` Bad News . '' Abdul Dadahanov had intended to study business , but changed his mind after 9/11 , his academic adviser said . `` Dear Mama Judy , '' a young woman named Aziza Dadahanov wrote in shaky English . `` Very very bad news !!! Abdul is given 8 years of prison . Today was the verdict . Now i feel myself very bad . And i ca n't write now . I am shocked . '' `` It was like being kicked in the stomach , '' recalled Judy Skartvedt , a retired flight attendant living in Easton , Connecticut . She knew Dadahanov 's husband , Abdul Dadahanov , as an Uzbek exchange student who had wanted to help heal people after the 9/11 attacks . She thought of him as an open-minded Muslim whom her family had hosted when he came on a scholarship to study at Fairfield University in 2001 . `` We were totally shocked that someone like Abdul could be arrested for anything , '' Skartvedt said . `` We have n't stopped worrying about his safety . '' The 32-year-old faces eight years in a labor camp for participation in what the Uzbekistan government says is an extremist religious organization , according to Forum 18 , a religious freedom watchdog organization . The group says that Uzbek security forces arrested Dadahanov and four other men -- Bakhrom Ibrahimov , Davron Kabilov , Rovshanbek Favoyev and Botyrbek Eshkuziyev -- last summer after the men had written for an Islamic journal called Irmoq . The National Security Service reportedly claimed the magazine was `` sponsored by a Turkish radical religious movement . '' Officials from the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington have refused to comment on the case . Forum 18 says Dadahanov and the four other Uzbek men were convicted of `` dissemination of information and materials containing ideas of religious extremism , separatism and fundamentalism , calls for pogroms or violent eviction of individuals aimed at creating panic among the population . '' Human rights organizations say the convictions appear to be part of a broader crackdown in the former Soviet republic , targeting members of `` Nurchilar , '' a moderate Muslim movement of Turkish origin , which follows the writing of a 19th-century Sufi Muslim theologian . `` Unfortunately this is not an unusual case , '' said Igor Vorontsov , a researcher with Human Rights Watch in St. Petersburg . `` The -LSB- Uzbek -RSB- government has persisted in its persecution of independent Muslims . '' Thousands of miles from the Republic of Uzbekistan , news of Dadahanov 's jail sentence has stunned academics and Christian community leaders in Connecticut . They fondly describe a committed social activist and observant Muslim , who rode between work and classes on a secondhand bicycle and spent more than a year distributing food to soup kitchens in one of America 's poorer cities . `` He had a naive trust in the goodness of human beings , '' said Patty Jenson , an administrator at the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport . `` I am shocked . I know he is there -LSB- in prison -RSB- unjustly . What is happening is unjust . '' `` He was a man of his word , he was gentle and kind , '' said Charlene Chambers , the director of King 's Pantry , a nonprofit organization that distributes food to homeless people in Bridgeport . `` Our common bond was feeding people who ca n't feed themselves and clothing those people who ca n't clothe themselves . '' Dadahanov 's academic adviser , Katherine Kidd , said the young Uzbek originally intended to study business when he arrived at Fairfield University on a scholarship from the Open Society Institute of the Soros Foundation . That changed September 11 , 2001 . Kidd choked up as she recalled his visit to her office , hours after the terrorist attacks . `` He said , ` Dr. Kidd , I have to do something to tell people that this is not what Islam is about . ' He said , ' I want to be part of things that are done here to bring healing to people after 9/11 . ' '' Dadahanov began working closely with Kidd 's husband , Pastor John Kidd , who was a Lutheran minister and the executive director of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport . Pastor Kidd helped Dadahanov tour churches and work with synagogues , giving lectures on his interpretation of Islam . Dadahanov also appeared before audiences dressed in traditional Central Asian attire , in an effort to spread cultural awareness about Uzbekistan . Advisers say the young Uzbek was inspired by his interaction with church and community groups . Gradually , he shifted his academic focus from business to grassroots community service and education reform . `` He would regularly say ` Wow , how can I do this in Uzbekistan , and make my country and my community better and stronger ? ' '' Katherine Kidd explained . Dadahanov helped establish a small prayer room for Muslim students at Fairfield University . He also launched a book drive , shipping secondhand books to Uzbekistan to help teach English in his home country . And he was eventually hired at the Council of Churches , and tasked with distributing Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to 26 feeding programs across Bridgeport . `` He wanted to be involved in the frontline programs , '' John Kidd said . `` Ultimately , it 's sad that all these things he came to see in terms of how you build a community , how you take responsibility for the life of a community , is at least in part what put him at odds with the authorities in Uzbekistan . '' When he returned to Uzbekistan in 2004 after two and a half years in Connecticut , Dadahanov set up an English-language school with friends . The school offered English lessons to young Uzbeks at an affordable price -- a remarkable achievement in a society in which the government controls almost all facets of the economy . There is little tolerance for independent grassroots activism in Uzbekistan . The country has had the same authoritarian president , Islam Karimov , since it won independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 . The State Department 's recently published 2008 human rights report states `` torture remain systemic in -LSB- Uzbekistan 's -RSB- law enforcement ... human rights activists and journalists who criticized the government continued to be subjected to harassment , arbitrary arrest , politically motivated prosecution , forced psychiatric treatment and physical attack . '' Uzbek security forces frequently target religious activists . `` The government has almost a paranoia of any independent religious activity , particularly those related to Islam , '' said Sean Roberts , a Central Asia expert at George Washington University . `` The Uzbek government tries to control the religious sector very similar to the way the Soviets did . They have a state Muslim board that oversees what is proper Islam - anything that falls out of that scope is seen as threatening and seditious . '' The Uzbek government says it `` views the ensuring of human rights and freedoms of its citizens as its highest priority . '' A statement posted on the Web site of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington cited the passage of more then 120 laws and 60 international treaties aimed at improving the country 's human rights record . The Uzbek government says it is making reforms of its judicial and penitentiary system , aimed at `` prosecuting and punishing for the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment . '' Dadahanov 's former professors invited him to return on a scholarship to the United States after his arrest , and two families offered to house Dadahanov , his wife Aziza and young son Abdulrahman . Dr. Orin Grossman , Fairfield University 's academic vice president , hoped the graduate school offer would allow Uzbek authorities to release Dadahanov . `` It obviously did n't work , '' he wrote in an e-mail to CNN . Accounts of appalling conditions in Uzbek prisons have worried Dadahanov 's American friends , who remember how the slim Uzbek rode to barbecues on his bicycle , carrying a giant watermelon in a backpack as a gift . The hardest part has been trying to get information from Dadahanov 's family in Tashkent . `` The government is tapping their phone and tracking their e-mail , '' Katherine Kidd said . `` We 're pretty much sure neither of those is secure from the government . '' | Abdul Dadahanov jailed in Uzbekistan , accused of extremist religious activities . American family recalls how the man wanted to aid healing after 9/11 . Rights groups say Dadahanov is victim of crackdown on `` independent Muslims '' Friends in the U.S. fear for health of `` gentle , kind '' man in Uzbek prisons . | [[1029, 1174], [638, 666], [671, 726], [1998, 2151], [975, 1025], [7883, 7975]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Diplomats edged closer to finding a way to end the fighting in Gaza on Friday as the United States and Israel signed an agreement designed to stop arms smuggling into the Palestinian territory . Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni says European nations and NATO will be helping with anti-smuggling efforts . U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni signed a memorandum of understanding that calls for an international effort to stem the flow of weaponry and explosives . The agreement outlines a plan to share information and provide technical assistance to stop the smuggling of arms to the militants . The meeting in Washington was one of several diplomatic moves afoot to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza . The diplomatic moves came as Israel 's offensive against Hamas militants continued , with Israeli airstrikes pounding the northern and southern sections of Gaza . Watch more on the latest fighting in Gaza '' U.S. and Israeli diplomats said the agreement includes intelligence coordination to prevent arms from Iran from entering Gaza , maritime efforts to identify ships carrying weaponry , and the sharing of U.S. and European technologies to discover and prevent the use of weapons-smuggling tunnels . Rice said the steps spelled out in the memorandum will `` stem the flow of weapons and explosives into Gaza . '' `` The United States is reaching out to its partners as well . Together , the steps that we and other members of the international community can take will contribute to a durable cease-fire , '' said Rice , noting that `` there must be an international consensus that Gaza never be used as a launching pad against Israeli cities . '' Livni said that ending the fighting in Gaza wo n't be `` achieved by agreements with terror , but with effective arrangements against it '' -- a unified effort by the international community . She said a `` durable '' end to hostilities requires a stop to weapons smuggling into Gaza . `` We have agreed on a series of actions with regional and international players in order to complement Egyptian actions and end the flow of weapons to Gaza , '' Livni said . She said European nations and NATO would be helping with the anti-smuggling efforts . The Bush administration has been consulting with the Barack Obama team about the memorandum of understanding and efforts to forge a cease-fire . Rice has spoken with President-elect Obama , incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and incoming National Security Adviser James Jones . Israel on Thursday dispatched senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad to Cairo to discuss a cease-fire proposal , and Gilad was continuing talks in Cairo . A Hamas delegation is also in the Egyptian capital , talking with leaders there who are trying to hammer out a temporary truce . Egypt has hosted peace talks with leaders from Israel and the Palestinian Authority , and has acted as an intermediary between Hamas and Israel . Arab and regional diplomats and leaders also have been meeting to deal with the crisis , but there is no unified Arab stand . The state of Qatar held an emergency summit Friday in an attempt to find a unified Arab voice on Gaza . The meeting brought together some regional leaders , including the presidents of Iran and Syria and the leader of Hamas , Khaled Meshaal . Egypt , Saudi Arabia , Kuwait and the Palestinian Authority were not in attendance . They plan to attend the regular annual Arab League summit scheduled for next week in Kuwait devoted to Gaza . Arab League foreign ministers were meeting in Kuwait City on Friday and were planning the groundwork for next week 's meeting . Six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council -- Saudi Arabia , Bahrain , Kuwait , Oman , Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- focused on Gaza at their emergency summit Thursday in Riyadh . Also , U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon continued his trip through the region as part of the diplomatic effort to secure a truce . He has called for an immediate cease-fire between Hamas and Israel and said he is encouraged that the Egyptian government is trying to broker a truce . He met with Israeli officials Thursday and condemned an Israeli strike that damaged the U.N. Relief and Works Agency 's compound in Gaza City , sparked a massive fire and injured three people . Once the fighting stops , the two sides can `` discuss how to make this cease-fire durable and sustainable , '' he said . CNN 's Elise Labott and Caroline Faraj contributed to this report . | Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni , U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meet . Agreement reached on measures to stop flow of Hamas weapons . Arms smuggling is a key issue for Israel ahead of any cease-fire . Israeli airstrikes continue to pound northern and southern sections of Gaza . | [[100, 213], [2150, 2181], [788, 870], [878, 950]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nearly 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries have been attacked and have become part of a computer espionage network apparently based in China , security experts alleged in two reports Sunday . The network was discovered after computers at the Dalai Lama 's office were hacked , researchers say . Computers -- including machines at NATO , governments and embassies -- are infected with software that lets attackers gain complete control of them , according to the reports . One was issued by the University of Toronto 's Munk Centre for International Studies in conjunction with the Ottawa , Canada-based think tank The SecDev Group ; the second came from the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory . Researchers have dubbed the network GhostNet . The network can not only search a computer but see and hear the people using it , according to the Canadian report . `` GhostNet is capable of taking full control of infected computers , including searching and downloading specific files , and covertly operating attached devices , including microphones and web cameras , '' the report says . The discovery of GhostNet grew out of suspicions that the office of the Dalai Lama had been hacked . His staff sent a foreign diplomat an e-mail invitation to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader , but before the Dalai Lama 's people could follow up with a phone call , `` the diplomat 's office was contacted by the Chinese government and warned not to go ahead with the meeting , '' according to the Cambridge report . Watch CNN 's John Vause report on the network '' An investigation resulted in both reports . Both found links to computers in China , but the researchers did not conclude who they thought was behind the `` malware , '' or malicious software . `` Chinese cyber espionage is a major global concern ... -LSB- b -RSB- ut attributing all Chinese malware to deliberate or targeted intelligence gathering operations by the Chinese state is wrong and misleading , '' according to the Canadian report titled , `` Tracking GhostNet : Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network . '' `` The sheer number of young digital natives online can more than account for the increase in Chinese malware , '' it adds . But the report also points out that China is among a handful of countries , including the United States , Israel and United Kingdom , that are `` assumed '' to have considerable computer espionage capabilities . Attempts by CNN to contact the Chinese government in Beijing and its American embassy and consulate offices were unsuccessful on Sunday , as the offices were closed . However , a spokesman for the Chinese consulate in New York dismissed the idea China was involved when speaking to The New York Times . `` These are old stories and they are nonsense , '' Wenqi Gao told the Times . `` The Chinese government is opposed to and strictly forbids any cyber crime . '' Hackers gained access to computers in the Dalai Lama 's office by tricking computer users into downloading e-mail attachments that had been carefully engineered to appear safe , according to the authors of the Cambridge report , titled , `` The Snooping Dragon : Social-malware Surveillance of the Tibetan Movement . '' `` The attackers took the trouble to write e-mails that appeared to come from fellow Tibetans and indeed from co-workers , '' according to the report , authored by Shishir Nagaraja and Ross Anderson . Once the attackers gained an initial foothold , `` they also stole mail in transit and replaced the attachments with toxic ones , '' the report adds . The Dalai Lama investigation led to the discovery of hundreds more infected machines in locations from The Associated Press in Britain and Deloitte and Touche in New York , to the ministries of foreign affairs in Indonesia , Iran and the Philippines . The office of the prime minister of Laos was also snared , as was a single non-secure computer at NATO , according to the Canadian report . Infected computers `` checked in '' with control servers as early as May 2007 and as recently as March 12 of this year , the report adds . Attempts by CNN to verify the reports ' allegations with NATO , the Laotian government and the Dalai Lama 's organization in India were not immediately successful on Sunday . The attack has broader implications , Nagaraja and Anderson warn , since a single person could carry out a similar one . `` Even a capable motivated individual could have carried out the attacks we describe here , '' they say . The computer systems of businesses are almost certain to be hacked by similar means , if they have not been already , the experts claim . `` Social malware will be used for fraud , and the typical company really has no defense against it , '' since it is so expensive and inconvenient , for example , to keep sensitive information or processes on computers with no Internet access . `` We expect that many crooks will get rich before effective countermeasures are widely deployed . '' The Information Warfare Monitor Web site , where the Canadian report was released , was down Sunday afternoon . GhostNet is not affiliated with GhostNet Inc. , a business technology company . | Researchers : Dalai Lama 's office , NATO , governments among targets . Network , dubbed `` GhostNet , '' can take control of computers , search files . Researchers link network to China , but do n't conclude who is responsible . Investigation finds hundreds of infected machines in more than 100 countries . | [[1137, 1237], [1191, 1237], [427, 435], [441, 485], [747, 793], [794, 809], [819, 836], [911, 1113], [1693, 1797], [0, 6], [9, 157], [3597, 3767]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Illinois state Senate on Monday began its impeachment trial against Gov. Rod Blagojevich without the governor present . Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich denies any wrongdoing . Blagojevich said he expects lawmakers to vote to convict him . He is facing federal corruption allegations , including trying to trade or sell the Senate seat that became vacant after Barack Obama was elected president . The second-term Democratic governor has denied wrongdoing . Instead of attending the trial , Blagojevich hit the media circuit Monday . He appeared on ABC 's `` Good Morning America '' and `` The View , '' and was scheduled to give his first live prime-time interview Monday night on CNN 's `` Larry King Live . '' Speaking on `` Good Morning America , '' Blagojevich restated his complaints about what he called the `` unconstitutional '' impeachment trial , which he said `` denies me the right to call witnesses to defend myself and prove my innocence . '' Watch Blagojevich say he 's done `` nothing wrong '' '' He said he is certain the Illinois Senate will vote to remove him from office and said he expects they will demand he step down `` relatively soon . '' Earlier this month , the Illinois House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach him . Blagojevich has said the vote was politically motivated . Under the Illinois Constitution , the House can vote to impeach an executive or judicial officer , but it is the Senate that conducts the trial . A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is required to convict an officer of an impeachable offense . According to a federal complaint issued in December , Blagojevich and his chief of staff , John Harris -- who also was arrested on federal corruption charges -- were `` conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits '' for the governor by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a U.S. senator to replace Obama . `` I 've got this thing and it 's -LSB- expletive -RSB- golden , '' Blagojevich allegedly said in one recorded phone conversation , referring to his authority to appoint , according to the complaint . `` I 'm just not giving it up for -LSB- expletive -RSB- nothing . '' When asked about those alleged quotes , Blagojevich told ABC that federal prosecutors `` took snippets of conversations completely out of context . '' `` When the whole story comes out , you 'll see that the effort was to work to have a senator who can best represent Illinois , '' he said . Blagojevich has said his rights are being violated because he can not challenge assertions in the House impeachment report . Watch Blagojevich demand a fair trial '' Blagojevich also is asking for a change in a Senate trial rule that he said is preventing him from calling witnesses such as Valerie Jarrett , a confidant of Obama 's ; Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. ; and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel . Emanuel , claimed Blagojevich , agrees that he did not break any laws . State Sen. Matt Murphy , part of the nine-member committee that put the Senate trial rules together , called Blagojevich 's complaints `` the theater of the absurd . '' iReport.com : Do you trust your political leaders ? `` What you 've seen here ... is a cynical effort on the part of this governor that 's perfectly consistent with his actions over the last six years , to try and further undermine the faith in this process that the people already have , '' Murphy said . He said the House prosecution team responsible for presenting the impeachment case to the Senate is operating under the same restrictions as Blagojevich with regard to calling witnesses . Murphy said on `` Good Morning America '' that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has asked both sides to `` defer to the criminal prosecution '' of Blagojevich and `` limit witnesses . '' He noted that the governor has every right to submit `` positive statements that the governor says exonerate him '' -- such as those from Jarrett , Jackson and Emanuel -- as evidence in the Senate trial . `` We have lowered the standard for the admission of evidence for the governor to bend over backward to make this fair , '' Murphy said . `` The suggestion that this is somehow unfair to the governor is the most self-serving , ludicrous statement I have ever heard in my life . It could n't be fairer for this guy . '' Blagojevich missed deadlines this month for answering the impeachment charge and for filing a motion to dismiss , a spokesman for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton has said . | Impeachment trial proceedings for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich begin . Illinois governor says impeachment trial is `` unconstitutional '' Blagojevich scheduled multiple television appearances Monday . Blagojevich accused of scheming to sell Barack Obama 's ex-Senate seat . | [[0, 15], [55, 111], [771, 875], [478, 485], [511, 553], [260, 355]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Watch out ! Lock up your loved ones ! Another bloated , over-produced , high-concept monstrosity has escaped from the labs at Dreamworks Animation , and it 's out to devour your kids . Susan , aka `` Ginormica , '' has to save the world in `` Monsters vs. Aliens . '' But do n't be too alarmed . `` Monsters vs. Aliens '' is relatively harmless -- a toothless satire with a knee-jerk feminist theme and a sorry excuse for a plot . That sounds harsh , I know . Who does n't want to see a 50-foot woman careening through San Francisco on skates that turn out to be automobiles -- the ultimate demolition roller derby ? But think about that , just for a second . Roller skates work because they have fixed wheels . Try it with motorcars and you wo n't get very far . Is that too picky ? Perhaps , but you would n't find Pixar playing so fast and loose with the laws of physics , and that kind of inattention to detail is typical of the lackadaisical storytelling here and in other Dreamworks animated features . -LRB- The talent pool for this one includes the directors of `` Shrek 2 '' and `` Shark Tale '' and the writers of `` Kung Fu Panda '' and `` The Rocker , '' incidentally . -RRB- High concepts , top-notch voice talent and scattershot pop cultural references are no compensation for a coherent script . The XXXL lady in question -- dubbed `` Ginormica '' by her U.S. military guards -- starts out plain and petite Susan Murphy -LRB- voiced by Reese Witherspoon -RRB- , until a meteorite hits her just minutes before she 's supposed to tie the knot with unctuous chauvinist Derek -LRB- Paul Rudd -RRB- . Her rapid growth spurt saves her from that particular fate worse than death , even if at first glance her new roommates do n't look like much of an improvement . There 's Dr. Cockroach -LRB- Hugh Laurie -RRB- , a mad scientist who semi-advertently mutated with a bug ; B.O.B. -LRB- Seth Rogen -RRB- an amorphous blue jelly-like blob who gets on just fine without a brain ; Missing Link -LRB- Will Arnett -RRB- , a gung-ho amphibian who 's all mouth ; and a giant dust mite called Insectosaurus who is n't voiced by anyone because he does n't have anything to say . Sci-fi fans will have fun counting off the references to myriad classics -- `` Close Encounters of the Third Kind , '' `` Invaders from Mars , '' `` The Fly , '' `` The Creature from the Black Lagoon , '' `` The Blob , '' `` Mothra '' and `` Attack of the 50-Foot Woman , '' for starters -- and noting a few clever bits and pieces -LRB- Kiefer Sutherland , as General W.R. Monger , riffs on George C. Scott in `` Dr. Strangelove '' -RRB- . The trouble is , once the introductions are over , the filmmakers can only launch their desperately limp plot : The White House turns to these monstrous superheroes to save the planet from evil Gallaxhar -LRB- Rainn Wilson -RRB- , a squidlike creature with four eyes and twice as many legs , and a one-eyed tin robot to do his dirty work for him . Ginormica gets a kick-butt finale , and is a much stronger character -- in any number of ways -- than the movie 's president . -LRB- In a genuinely witty casting touch he 's voiced by Stephen Colbert . -RRB- . That may be good politics or at least a sound marketing decision from the studio 's perspective -- it 's been awhile since a family animated feature produced a genuinely strong female character -LRB- unless you count `` Coraline , '' which was way too scary for my family -RRB- -- but Susan 's self-esteem is an awfully long time coming . iReport.com : What do you think of ` Monsters vs. Aliens ' ? -LRB- Bizarrely -- and maybe it 's just my imagination -- Gallaxhar bears a passing resemblance to President Obama . I wonder ... would that make Susan/Ginormica a surrogate for Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton ? -RRB- . Visually , too , `` Monsters vs Aliens '' is undistinguished , although its shortcomings may be disguised if you seek out the 3-D version . Funny how 3-D movies tend to produce two-dimensional characters , with `` Coraline '' again the exception to the rule . Jocular and unpretentiously trashy , `` Monsters vs. Aliens '' should be a lot of fun -- and it is , in places . But the truth is it 's as hung up on itself as Susan 's preening fiance . Hand on heart , I had a better time at `` Space Chimps . '' `` Monsters vs. Aliens '' runs 94 minutes and is rated PG . For Entertainment Weekly 's take , click here . | `` Monsters vs. Aliens '' about Earth-born `` monsters '' taking on megalomaniacal alien . Film 's main character is almost 50-foot woman voiced by Reese Witherspoon . `` Monsters '' has great talent but no script to speak of , says Tom Charity . | [[1434, 1493]] |
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