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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gunmen shot and killed a food monitor for the United Nations ' World Food Program on Thursday , the second killing of a WFP humanitarian worker in Somalia in three days , a spokesman for the agency said Thursday . Mohamud Omar Moallim , a food monitor for the United Nations , was killed in Somalia on Thursday , the U.N. says . Peter Smerdon said Mohamud Omar Moallim , 49 , was shot by unidentified gunmen while distributing food to displaced people at Daynile , 6 miles -LRB- 10 kilometers -RRB- northwest of Mogadishu . The gunmen put Moallim 's body in a WFP vehicle and drove away , then pushed the corpse from the vehicle and drove on , Smerdon said . Moallim joined WFP in 1993 and worked until 1995 as a logistics assistant . He rejoined the agency in May 2006 as a food monitor . He was abducted in September 2008 for 16 hours outside Mogadishu . He leaves two wives and 11 children . Colleagues said Moallim was calm , extremely hard-working and highly responsible and was often consulted for advice and support by other staff members . On Tuesday , three masked men shot and killed 44-year-old Somali national Ibrahim Hussein Duale while he was monitoring food distribution at a school in Yubsan village , near the Gedo regional capital of Garbahare , the WFP said . Witnesses say the gunmen approached Duale while he was seated , ordered him to stand up and then shot him , according to the account on the WFP Web site . Duale leaves a wife and five children . He joined WFP in 2006 as a food monitor in the Gedo region , which borders Kenya and Ethiopia . | U.N. aid worker shot by unidentified gunman while handing out food , U.N. says . Attackers threw body in car , drove off , then dumped body , says U.N. spokesman . Another aid worker shot on Tuesday while distributing food at a school , U.N. says . Both the slain humanitarian workers leave behind families . | [[332, 347], [367, 387], [390, 481], [1067, 1077], [1080, 1096], [1106, 1148], [1163, 1234], [190, 232], [332, 347], [543, 590], [543, 553], [652, 660], [332, 347], [367, 387], [390, 481], [1067, 1077], [1080, 1096], [1106, 1148], [1163, 1234]] |
PARIS , France -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Opposition lawmakers Tuesday ridiculed President Nicolas Sarkozy for taking France back into NATO 's military command after more than 40 years , but were unable to stop the move when it came to a vote . French troops on patrol with the Afghan army as part of the NATO mission in Afghanistan . The National Assembly voted in favor of Sarkozy 's plan , 329-238 . Socialist Laurent Fabius , a former prime minister , told Prime Minister Francois Fillon : `` You tell us this would mean more independence and more influence . It would probably mean less independence and less influence . '' The move did not technically require parliamentary approval , but the president 's party scheduled the debate to give opponents a chance to voice their opinions -- and to show a majority backed it . Asking the National Assembly to vote on the issue also showed how sensitive the matter is in France . France was a founding member of the NATO alliance in 1949 but it left the military structure in 1966 amid friction with the United States . `` To cooperate is to lose your independence , '' French President Charles de Gaulle said at the time . For the next 43 years , even though France selectively participated in NATO military operations , de Gaulle 's principle remained the governing cornerstone of French foreign policy . If Paris took orders from NATO military commanders , it was reasoned , the nation would no longer have complete control of its destiny . Sarkozy , however , believes the opposite -- that cooperation in NATO is a guarantee of French independence . Rejoining NATO 's military command , he argued , will give France a seat at the table for decision-making . From its earliest years , the organization 's trans-Atlantic ties were strained because U.S. analysts warned that if the European allies failed to increase their contributions to the alliance , they risked losing the support of the United States , according to NATO . Meanwhile , the European nations felt the United States was trying to dominate the organization , according to NATO . De Gaulle 's 1966 decision meant no French forces could be under permanent allied command and that France would have no participation in defense planning . In 1995 , France rejoined NATO 's military committee , which advises NATO 's political authorities on military policy and strategy and provides guidance on military matters to NATO 's strategic commanders . While France was still not a part of the military command , it contributed troops and funding to NATO activities , including actions in Kosovo and Afghanistan . Half of all French troops outside the country are assigned to NATO military operations . Opponents of Sarkozy 's move -- who include some members of his party -- believe de Gaulle , not Sarkozy , had it right . They started a last-minute petition drive to stop his march back into NATO . `` With this decision , France will return as a subordinate country and will lose its ability to represent another image in the world , '' said Nicolas Dupont-Aignan , a member of the French National Assembly . The president 's allies calculate Sarkozy 's move will strengthen Europe 's hand on defense issues . `` There will be more European weight in the way decisions will be made , '' said Louis Giscard d'Estaing , a member of the National Assembly 's U.S. Friendship Committee . `` Therefore , the balance of power between the USA and Europe will be re-established within this French move . '' CNN 's Sunaina Karkarey and Jim Bittermann contributed to this report . | French National Assembly backs president 's plan to rejoin NATO . President Nicolas Sarkozy 's plan is politically sensitive . France was a founding member of NATO but left in 1966 . President Charles de Gaulle said in 1966 membership meant losing independence . | [[327, 394], [820, 869], [875, 921], [922, 979], [984, 1061], [1062, 1106], [1109, 1165]] |
-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]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An apartment left untouched since before the fall of the Berlin Wall has been discovered by a developer in the eastern German city of Leipzig , German media reports said Thursday . The fall of the Berlin Wall heralded the end of the communist regime in East Germany in 1989 . The discovery , made by architect Mark Aretz , revealed a small one-bedroom apartment evidently abandoned quickly by its occupants as the Communist East German state disintegrated in 1989 , Spiegel Online reported . A wall calendar showed August 1988 , and the kitchen cupboard and drawers contained plastic crockery and aluminium cutlery along with communist-era food brands such as `` Vita '' Cola , `` Marella '' margarine , `` Juwel '' cigarettes and a bottle of `` Kristall '' vodka . `` When we opened the door we felt like Howard Carter when he found the grave of Tutankhamen , '' Aretz told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper . `` Everything was a mess but it was like a historic treasure trove , a portal into an age long gone . '' According to Aretz -- a developer who renovates properties in eastern Germany -- the occupant appears to have been a 24-year-old man from Leipzig who had been in trouble with the authorities , judging by personal documents left behind . The most recent document was dated May , 1989 -- a police search warrant for a caravan . There was also a stamped and addressed postcard written by the occupant , but he had never sent it , Spiegel said . | Apartment found by developer in eastern German city of Leipzig . Occupant left in a hurry as East German state crumbled in 1989 . Communist-era food brands such as `` Vita '' Cola , `` Marella '' margarine found . | [[200, 294], [295, 339], [342, 460], [429, 482], [552, 694]] |
ROME , Italy -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Italian capital Rome was spared major damage Saturday as some of the heaviest flooding in the past century reached its peak without bursting the banks of the Tiber river . A rescue boat patrols the swollen River Tiber in central Rome early Friday . Italian Civil Protection officials said the river will take several days to return to normal levels but there was no longer a risk of flooding . Civil Protection teams were also coordinating the removal of two barges that crashed against bridges after breaking their moorings on Friday . Italian media report that last night a young man from Ireland fell in the Tiber , but his body has not been found yet . Hundreds of volunteers and officials had been deployed around Rome ahead of the flood 's peak , while sandbags were lined up to contain any possible river overflow . Firefighters Thursday had to rescue dozens of motorists stranded in their cars . Because of the intense rain , the streets of some northern Rome neighborhoods were already flooded by water and covered in thick brown mud . One woman died near Rome early Thursday when her car was submerged by a wave of water and mud in an underpass . The body of a second victim was found in the southern region of Calabria after a bridge collapsed . Earlier this month , much of the Italian city of Venice was underwater as some of the heaviest floods for several decades burst the city 's famed canal networks and inundated historic landmarks such as St. Mark 's Square . | Flood waters subside in Rome . Italy has been hit by a wave of bad weather that has claimed two lives . One woman died near Rome when her car was submerged by a wave of water . Body of a second victim was found in Calabria region after a bridge collapsed . | [[1081, 1192], [1121, 1192], [1193, 1292], [1272, 1292]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Los Angeles police are searching for a serial killer dubbed the `` Grim Sleeper , '' who is thought to have killed 11 people . Alicia Alexander was one of the Grim Sleeper 's victims in the 1980s . The killer , who police say murdered from 1985 to 2007 , was nicknamed the Grim Sleeper because he seemed to take a break between homicides , police said . Authorities this week released a 9-1-1 tape recorded shortly after a killing in 1987 , in the hope of producing clues . `` Yes ... I 'd like to report a murder , '' an anonymous caller says on the tape . `` The guy that dropped her off was driving a white and blue Dodge van . He threw her out . ... He threw a gas tank on top of her . All that you can see sticking out is her feet . '' Watch the hunt for a serial killer '' Police found the scene just as the caller described and found the van . But they are still searching for the caller and members of the now-defunct church that owned the van . The killer is wanted in 11 deaths and another homicide attempt , police say . Detectives say they have the Grim Sleeper 's DNA , and a $ 500,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest and prosecution . The killer shot his victims , police said . Porter Alexander has waited two decades for the Grim Sleeper 's arrest . His daughter Alicia Alexander became the Grim Sleeper 's eighth victim in 1988 , police say . `` No one should have to face anything like this , '' he said . `` To experience their daughters or sons taken away as early as she was . '' CNN 's Kara Finnstrom contributed to this report . | L.A. police this week released old 9-1-1 call : `` Yes ... I 'd like to report a murder '' Police have Grim Sleeper 's DNA and are offering $ 500,000 reward for information . Nickname given because killer took a break between murders , police say . | [[373, 492], [404, 457], [504, 532], [1051, 1099], [1102, 1157], [217, 271], [274, 356]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The chief executive of American Airlines , which has grounded almost 2,500 flights over the past three days , accepted `` full responsibility '' Thursday for failing to meet government inspection standards . `` I am profoundly sorry that we 've gotten ourselves into this situation , and I thank our customers for their patience under very difficult circumstances , '' American CEO Gerard Arpey said Thursday afternoon . The airline canceled 933 flights on MD-80 jets Thursday and announced 570 would be scrapped Friday . Potential wiring hazards in wheel wells that could cause fires or problems with landing gear prompted the action . American canceled several hundred flights for the same reason about two weeks ago . Earlier Thursday , American said it expected all of its MD-80 jets to be flight-worthy by Saturday night . The airline has offered to make amends to travelers with refunds , vouchers and compensation for overnight stays . The cancellations have delayed and stranded more than 140,000 passengers . Roger Frizzell , an airline spokesman , said the inspections involve technical compliance as opposed to flight safety . Watch how air travelers deal with disruptions '' Although American was most affected by the inspections , the Federal Aviation Administration 's orders for safety checks have also affected Southwest Airlines , United Airlines , Delta Air Lines , Alaska Airlines and Midwest Airlines , which was the latest airline to ground planes : 13 on Thursday . The FAA launched its inspection campaign in March , after CNN obtained documents given to congressional investigators that showed more than 100 Southwest aircraft had not had mandatory safety inspections . At a Capitol Hill hearing Thursday , the head of the Federal Aviation Administration 's safety division , Nicholas Sabatini , was told that his agency 's performance was woeful . `` I think -LSB- it 's -RSB- approaching losing the confidence of the American people and the Congress , '' said Sen. Jay Rockefeller , D-West Virginia . Lawmakers said the agency has become too close to the airline industry . Sabatini defended the FAA 's record but said any lapse was cause for concern . `` We found we had achieved 99 percent safety compliance , '' he told lawmakers . But , he added , `` It 's the other 1 percent that keeps me up at night . '' Passengers scheduled to fly on an American Airlines MD-80 between Tuesday and Friday can receive a full refund or apply the value of their ticket to a future flight , the airline said . People who stayed overnight as a result of a canceled flight can go to the company 's Web site to inquire about receiving compensation . Arpey said that the MD-80 has been a great plane for American Airlines and that the inspection problems should have `` no impact on our long-term fleet plan . '' `` The FAA is stepping up their surveillance and doing their job , '' Arpey said . `` In this case , we failed to get it right , and we 're trying very hard to get it right . '' He said American plans to hire an independent consultant to examine the company 's inspection system . Meanwhile , airports are doing their best to keep frustrated travelers happy . `` Getting stuck at the airport is not like a day at the beach , but we sure are trying to make passengers as comfortable as possible , '' said Ken Capps , vice president of public affairs for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas . Eateries were staying open all night , some provided free pastries and coffee , and some even handed out diapers . The situation at American 's hub at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago , Illinois , `` was what you might see on a normal Thursday morning , '' CNN 's Susan Roesgen reported . American employees handing out free coffee and granola bars found few takers . Watch a report from O'Hare '' At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta , Georgia , American passengers reported frustration but complimented the carrier 's efforts to get them to their destinations . `` We were rerouted , '' said Chad Duncan of San Angelo , Texas , who was in Georgia to watch practice rounds of the Masters golf tournament . `` They were very helpful and everything , but it 's frustrating . Instead of having one stopover , we now have three . '' E-mail to a friend . | NEW : American Airlines says 570 flights will be canceled Friday . `` I am profoundly sorry , '' chief executive of American Airlines says . American expects all of its MD-80 jets to be flight-worthy by Saturday night . Alaska Airlines , Midwest Airlines cancel flights Thursday for safety checks . | [[39, 61], [68, 126], [440, 451], [500, 519], [510, 540], [385, 439], [759, 838], [792, 801], [807, 846], [1423, 1439], [1448, 1487], [1263, 1439]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- U.S.-led forces captured two men believed to be senior al Qaeda in Iraq leaders , including one suspected of planning the 2006 kidnapping of U.S. journalist Jill Carroll , a military statement said . Jill Carroll , seen here in an interview following her 2006 release , was held for nearly three months in Iraq . Coalition forces captured the suspects in Baghdad on August 11 and 17 , according to the statement . The suspects were identified as Salim Abdallah Ashur al-Shujayri , also known as Abu Uthman , and Ali Rash Nasir Jiyad al-Shammari , also known as Abu Tiba . Abu Uthman is suspected of masterminding Carroll 's abduction , the statement said . Carroll , a freelance reporter for The Christian Science Monitor , was abducted in January 2006 and freed unharmed in March of that year . Both men are suspected of overseeing car or suicide bombings targeting Iraqis with the intent of inciting sectarian violence , the statement said . Abu Tiba is suspected to have been in charge of as many 15 al Qaeda in Iraq `` attack cells , '' providing them with money , weapons and explosives , according to the statement . The men were also suspected of being connected to other kidnappings , the statement said . `` The capture of Abu Tiba and Abu Uthman eliminates two of the few remaining experienced leaders in the AQI -LSB- al Qaeda in Iraq -RSB- network , '' the statement said . | Abu Uthman suspected of masterminding Jill Carroll 's 2006 kidnapping . Uthman and another al Qaeda in Iraq suspect captured this month , military says . Carroll , a U.S. journalist , was abducted in 2006 but released unharmed weeks later . | [[0, 7], [10, 30], [34, 203], [606, 667], [0, 7], [10, 30], [34, 203], [691, 698], [791, 829]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Austrian man who allegedly held his daughter as a sex slave for 24 years has been charged with murdering one of their children , prosecutors say . Josef Fritzl is accused of fathering seven children by his daughter during her 24-year captivity . Austrian State Prosecutor Gerhard Sedlacek told CNN Thursday that Josef Fritzl , 73 , was charged with murder because one of the seven children died in infancy . The other six children survived . Fritzl , a retired electrician from Amstetten , 75 kilometers -LRB- 46 miles -RRB- west of Vienna , was also charged with rape , incest , false imprisonment and slavery . The murder charge stems from the death of Fritzl 's infant son , Michael Fritzl , who died from lack of medical care , the prosecutor said . Watch as Fritzl is charged with murder '' `` Although he realized how life-threatening M.F. 's situation was after being born , Josef F. did not call out for help , '' Sedlacek said , explaining the charge . The trial is expected to begin early in 2009 and if convicted of murder Fritzl could face 10 to 20 years in prison . Austria , like other European countries , has no death penalty . Prosecutors say psychiatric tests show that Fritzl is mentally fit to stand trial but Sedlacek has asked that Fritzl be confined to a `` mental asylum . '' Fritzl kept the daughter and all but three of the children in a cellar beneath his home in Amstetten , Austria , west of Vienna , officials say . Three of the children lived upstairs in the home Fritzl shared with his wife and several of their own children . Fritzl has been in custody since the case came to light in April , sparking worldwide attention . He had explained Elizabeth 's disappearance in 1984 by saying the 18-year-old girl had run away from home , a story backed up by letters he forced Elisabeth to write , including one that begged her parents not to look for her . When Elizabeth gained her freedom , she told police her father began sexually abusing her at age 11 . On August 8 , 1984 -- weeks before she was reported missing -- her father enticed her into the basement , where he drugged her , put her in handcuffs and locked her in a room , she told police . For the next 24 years , she was constantly raped by her father , resulting in seven children , she said , according to the police statement . Fritzl 's daughter and her children have since been receiving counseling although doctors warn that they will take years to recover . Members of the Fritzl family will also be offered the chance to adopt new identities in an effort to help them lead normal lives , officials said . Psychiatrist Max Friedrich , who treated the abducted Austrian teenager Natascha Kampusch , estimated it would take `` between five and eight years '' for the children to recover from their experiences . | Austrian man who allegedly held daughter for 24 years charged with murder . Prosecutors charge Josef Fritzl with murder because one of the 7 children died . Experts say infant might have survived if Fritzl had arranged for medical care . | [[19, 34], [39, 94], [782, 817], [0, 15], [89, 148], [334, 346], [349, 429], [635, 697], [776, 814], [782, 817]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Shortly after midnight on January 24 , a 16-year old boy from Powder Springs , Georgia , crashed his car into an oncoming vehicle . Garrett Reed , a star football player at Harrison High School , died instantly . Police believe he had been drinking . Kecia Evangela Whitfield , 43 , is charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor and reckless conduct . According to police , the investigation revealed that a classmate 's mother served alcohol to Reed . Police charged 43-year-old Kecia Evangela Whitfield with furnishing alcohol to a minor and reckless conduct , both misdemeanors . Whitfield was released on a $ 10,000 bond and awaits a court date in April . Records on file with the Cobb County solicitor general 's office indictate she has not yet entered a plea or obtained a lawyer . She did not return CNN 's phone calls . If convicted , she could receive up to a year in jail and fines totaling thousands of dollars . Toxicology reports for Reed will be released in six weeks , officials said . His death stunned the small community of Powder Springs and sounded an alarm for parents . `` What we have to realize is that our kids do think they are invincible , '' said Patti Agatston , a mother of another Harrison High School teenager who lives in Reed 's neighborhood . `` We ca n't be enablers . We 've got to be adults and say ` no . ' '' At least ten states including Virginia , Minnesota and New Mexico-and Georgia , where Garrett 's accident occurred , allow parents to give their own child alcohol , according to the Alcohol Policy Information System , a federal website that tracks alcohol laws . The alcohol can typically be given to the minor in the guardian 's home or a private setting and there are no age limits , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . However , nowhere is it legal to give alcohol to other people 's children . Officials say teen binge drinking is reaching epidemic proportions , and states and municipalities are scrambling to implement `` social hosting '' laws that carry stiff fines for parents whose homes are used for drinking parties , whether they know about them or not . At least 24 states have enacted social hosting laws that fine parents several thousand dollars for each offense , said Jim Mosher , an expert tracking alcohol policies at the National Conference of State Legislatures . The fines , he said , are an effective deterrent . A 2005 study conducted by the American Medical Association reported that about one-third of teens said it was `` easy to obtain alcohol '' from their parents . That figure jumps to 40 percent when it comes to getting alcohol from a friend 's parent . One out of four teens said they had attended a party where minors were drinking in front of parents . Some communities are using their zoning powers to create local social hosting laws . These laws usually result in misdemeanor charges and jail time is rare . Prosecutors ' offices are often busy with other cases and do n't bother to charge unless there is a serious incident or accident , policy experts said . `` It 's very difficult for us to knock on a random door and say ` are you drinking ? ' '' said Sgt. Dana Pierce of the Cobb County Police Department , the agency responsible for investigating Reed 's case . `` We usually have to respond to some kind of nuisance call . '' In Massachusetts in January , a court sentenced a mother to jail for serving alcohol to minors at a party in her home . A teenage boy died in an auto accident after leaving her party . In Charlottesville , Virginia , two adults served jail time in 2007 for providing alcohol at their son 's 16th birthday party . Some parents consider giving a teenager a drink a rite of passage -- and that contributes to high teenage drinking rates , said Richard Yoast , director of the Department of Healthy Lifestyles and Primary Prevention at the American Medical Association . `` It 's a myth that adults and children are buying into , and it creates pressure on the child to drink , '' Yoast said . `` The biggest problem to overcome is the fact that parents feel like they are helping their kids , '' said Denise Thames , director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Georgia , `` They often forget they are in fact breaking the law . '' The affluent suburbs near Powder Springs , where Reed 's accident took place , are not immune . Police say there were several teenagers hanging out with Reed the night he died , including Whitfield 's stepson . Several of Reed 's close friends at Harrison High School said alcohol is easy to get in their community and students can find a drinking party each weekend if they want to . It is easier to get alcohol from older friends and relatives or parents than buying it with a fake ID , they said . `` As long as you have money , you can get it , '' said Eric Stallworth , a senior at Harrison High School , who was close friends with Reed . He described his friend as a charismatic and popular boy , who was fiercely competitive when it came to sports and dreamed of playing college football . While there is no county or city ordinance on social hosting in Powder Springs , or in Georgia , some parents are fighting back . The Cobb Alcohol Task Force , which also serves Powder Springs , is a volunteer group working to reduce teens ' access to alcohol . The group launched a campaign called `` Adults Who Host Lose the Most '' to educate the public about the dangers of illegally providing teens with liquor . Surveys in Cobb County show the campaigns are working slowly , said Cathy Finck , Cobb Alcohol Task Force coordinator . In 2007 , 68 percent of 10th grade students said obtaining alcohol was easy , a decrease from 73 percent the previous year . But that may not be enough to stop a fatal accident such as Reed 's . `` Unless you get everyone to do it , kids will find out one place where they can get alcohol and you will have these kinds of incidences , '' Finck said . `` Everyone has to get on board . '' Ultimately , parents need to step up and take responsibility , said Shawna Snapp of Blue River , Oregon . Her son , Ryan Snapp , nicknamed `` Snapper , '' died two years ago in a car accident . He was 17 and the teenage driver had been drinking alcohol obtained from an adult . `` We 're not here as parents to be their best friends , '' Snapp said . `` We are here to guide them for life . '' | Star football player dies in crash that followed night of drinking . Classmate 's mother is charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor . AMA : A third of teens say it 's `` easy to obtain alcohol '' from parents . At least 24 states have enacted social hosting laws carrying stiff fines . | [[250, 287], [265, 287], [3507, 3571], [6191, 6232], [288, 312], [315, 388], [411, 489], [2647, 2700], [2450, 2609], [2523, 2609], [2647, 2700], [4701, 4802], [5651, 5658], [5661, 5726], [2055, 2062], [2068, 2097], [2180, 2231], [2212, 2291]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama mixed jokes with serious discussion Thursday during an appearance on `` The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . '' President Obama chats it up with Jay Leno on `` The Tonight Show '' on Thursday . While presidential candidates have used comedy shows for campaigning as far back as Richard Nixon 's performance on `` Rowan & Martin 's Laugh-In '' in 1968 , Obama became the first sitting president to appear before a late-night talk show studio audience . Obama complimented guitarist Kevin Eubanks on his suit , and he cracked jokes about the Secret Service and `` American Idol '' host Simon Cowell . Obama also remarked on his poor bowling skills , which were evident during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania . He told Leno that he bowled 129 in the White House bowling alley and said his bowling skills are `` like Special Olympics or something . '' Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president 's remarks were not meant to poke fun of the Special Olympics . `` The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics , '' Burton said . `` He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world . '' Obama later moved on to topical discussions of the economic crisis and the AIG bonus scandal . Watch some of Obama 's appearance '' `` The problem with AIG was that it owed so much and was tangled up with so many banks and institutions that if you had allowed it to just liquidate , to go into bankruptcy , it could have brought the whole financial system down . So it was the right thing to do to intervene in AIG , '' Obama said . Obama said earlier this week that he 'll `` take responsibility '' for AIG executives receiving those controversial bonuses -- roughly $ 165 million -- while the company took $ 173 billion in government bailouts . Congress is looking for ways to recoup all or some of that money . `` The larger problem is we 've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough , and people have a sense of responsibility and they understand that their actions are going to have an impact on everybody , '' he said . `` If we can get back to those values that built America , then I think we 're going to be OK . '' Obama also said he was confident in his embattled Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner . `` I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job . I think that we have a big mess on our hands , '' he said . `` It 's not going to be solved immediately , but it is going to get solved . '' Obama taped the show Thursday afternoon during a two-day swing through the Los Angeles area for town hall meetings focusing on the economy . iReport.com : Nice to see the `` real '' Obama . Obama also discussed the `` life in the bubble , '' musing over how Secret Service agents would not let him walk 750 yards from Air Force One to the Costa Mesa fairgrounds , where some of the day 's activities were to take place . Obama said flying in Air Force One is `` pretty cool , '' especially because `` they give you the jacket with the -LSB- presidential -RSB- seal on it , '' he said . The only time Leno appeared to stop Obama in his tracks was when he asked the president whether he thought people intentionally lose basketball games when they play with him . `` I do n't see why they would throw the game , except for all those Secret Service guys with guns around , '' he said . There 's some political risk for Obama , according to Washington Post media columnist Howard Kurtz , who also hosts CNN 's `` Reliable Sources . '' AC360 blog : Laughing through the pain . `` He has to be very careful about his tone , because if he yuks it up too much and seems to be having too good a time , it will be quite a contrast there with the pain the people are feeling with the crumbling economy , '' Kurtz said . CNN 's Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report . | President compliments Kevin Eubanks ' suit , pokes fun at Simon Cowell . Obama on more serious topic : `` The problem with AIG is it owed so much '' He says bonuses are problem , but larger issue is people feel lack of responsibility . President must be careful not to trivialize economic pain , media observer cautions . | [[508, 562], [1491, 1506]] |
GLEN BURNIE , Maryland -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At his GM dealership in suburban Washington , Maury Wilkins exudes calm as he gears up for an enormous challenge : protecting his decades-old family business . Zero-percent financing is one way Maury Wilkins and other GM dealers are trying to lure new buyers . With General Motors teetering on the edge of bankruptcy , Wilkins says luring customers back into his showroom boils down to two factors . `` Everything is confidence and perception , '' Wilkins told CNN in a recent interview . Confidence in the beleaguered General Motors Corp. is exactly what President Obama hopes to restore . Even as he forced out GM 's CEO Rick Wagoner in late March , the president also made an extraordinary pledge . `` If you buy a car from Chrysler or General Motors , you will be able to get your car serviced and repaired , just like always , '' Obama announced from the White House a week ago . `` Starting today , the United States government will stand behind your warranty , '' the president said . Some critics have blasted that promise as untenable . `` That 's pie-in-the-sky , '' says William Holstein , author of `` Why GM Matters : Inside the Race to Transform an American Icon . '' `` If General Motors goes away , how is the government ever going to maintain the network of suppliers ? '' asks Holstein . Noting there are `` four or five thousand moving parts in a vehicle , '' Holstein wonders , `` How is the government going to maintain this incredible infrastructure of suppliers to make sure that every part , every body panel is available for years after General Motors goes away ? ... It 's impossible . '' GM dealer Wilkins sees the government 's guarantee as a consumer confidence-builder . Still , he 's concerned about slumping sales figures . Nationwide , auto sales dropped 37 percent in March compared with a year ago . Wilkins ' business was not immune . Though he says he 's not in crisis mode , he does have contingency plans . Watch report from CNN 's Elaine Quijano on Wilkins '' `` Our business model is ` what if , what if , what if , ' '' Wilkins said , adding , `` if all these things are outside of our control , how do we make sure that we maintain our profitability ? '' That means extra attention to facets of his business besides new-car sales , including used-car sales , service and parts , and collision repair . Already , Wilkins believes car sales have turned a corner . He says February was one of his dealership 's best months . It was the result , he believes , of business adjustments he made , including altering inventory stocks . Wilkins also says credit for car buyers is finally beginning to loosen . Potential customer Jim Lally says that 's what drew him into the showroom the day CNN visited . `` I heard about the zero-percent financing and the exceptional deals that are being offered right now , '' Lally said . While Lally had n't decided on whether to buy a GM , his visit was another reason for Wilkins ' cautious optimism , as his business tries to weather the economic storm . | Suburban Washington GM dealer Maury Wilkins trying to lure back customers . He supports Obama 's guarantee : `` Everything is confidence and perception '' Wilkins focuses on used-car sales , collision repair , service and parts . Wilkins says adjustments started paying off in February , one of his best months . | [[442, 484], [1657, 1742], [2317, 2386], [2447, 2506], [2455, 2506]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Radical Islamist fighters seized control of the seat of Somalia 's U.N.-backed transitional government Monday , raiding the parliament building and demanding that several lawmakers publicly surrender , according to a journalist who witnessed the spectacle . Members of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament are meeting in the neighboring country of Djibouti . Al-Shabab fighters took over the parliament building and the presidential palace in Baidoa , in the southwestern part of the country , a day after the Ethiopian troops who had backed up the transitional government left the country . The insurgents captured five members of parliament and paraded them through the city streets , with hundreds of residents looking on , the reporter said . The five were released after publicly surrendering . The situation left Somali lawmakers stranded in the neighboring country of Djibouti , where they often convene and where talks on forming a new government are under way . `` We have nowhere to return to , '' Parliament Speaker Aden Mohamed Nur told fellow lawmakers there . Somalia 's U.N.-backed transitional government took office after Ethiopian troops invaded the country at its request in December 2006 . The Ethiopian invasion ousted the Islamic Courts Union , an Islamist movement that had claimed control of the capital Mogadishu earlier that year . Ethiopia 's invasion had the blessing of the United States , which accused the Islamic Courts Union of harboring fugitives from al Qaeda . But various Islamist groups -- including the hard-line Al-Shabab , which the United States has designated a terror organization -- rejected the presence of Ethiopian forces and mounted an insurgent campaign against the Ethiopians and the transitional government . Ethiopia announced on Sunday that all its forces have left Somalia . Last week , as Ethiopian troops began pulling out of the Somali capital , forces from different Islamist groups -- including Al-Shabab -- took control of bases the Ethiopians abandoned around Mogadishu . The transitional government maintained very little control outside of Baidoa , even with the support of the Ethiopian forces . It has also been wracked by an internal power struggle between Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed , who resigned in December . In Washington , the State Department said U.S. officials are working to independently confirm the reports from Baidoa . But State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said members of one of the major Islamic factions , which signed a peace agreement in October in Djibouti , are already joining the transitional government . Duguid said the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia , another offshoot of the ICU , will choose up to 200 new members of the transitional parliament . Another 75 members will be drawn from other opposition groups , and the expanded parliament is expected to elect a new president soon . `` We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in southern Somalia , which continues to claim innocent lives , '' Duguid said . `` Lasting peace and stability in Somalia can only be established through the reconciliation process underway through the Djibouti Agreement and rejection of extremism . '' With Monday 's takeover of Baidoa , the transitional government only has control of the presidential palace in the Somali capital of Mogadishu and the road to the airport in the capital city , which it holds with the help of African Union forces . CNN 's Ben Brumfield and journalists Mohamed Amiin Adow and Omar Faruk Osman contributed to this report . | Islamist fighters seize control of Baidoa , Somalia . Baidoa is headquarters of Somalia 's U.N.-backed government . Town 's seizure leaves country 's lawmakers stranded in nation of Djibouti . | [[19, 128], [384, 474], [1099, 1234], [277, 383], [825, 908]] |
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Efforts by government troops to secure control of a main highway that links mainland Sri Lanka to the northern Jaffna peninsula came a step closer Thursday when they re-captured Pallai , a palm-fringed village under rebel control . Sri Lankan army troops have had there most decisive victories against the Tamil Tigers in recent weeks . The village is located past Elephant Pass , described as a gateway to the Jaffna peninsula , which the army re-captured on Wednesday . Whilst a column of troops are moving northwards from this town , another column that advanced from the outer fringes of the government-controlled peninsula advanced southwards to recapture Pallai . `` When the two columns meet we would have captured the entire A-9 highway , '' a senior army source told CNN . He spoke on grounds of anonymity since he is not authorized to talk to media . The A-9 highway links the hill city Kandy with Jaffna . The only stretch that remains to be recaptured is the area between Elephant Pass and Jaffna . Earlier this month , President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and end a quarter-century of civil war . Before he made that request government troops retook the separatists ' former capital , Kilinochchi . Rajapaksa called the recapture of Kilinochchi `` a victory against separatism . '' `` The time is not far off when people of the north can breathe freedom again , '' Rajapaksa said . He invited the Tigers -- who have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka 's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983 -- to surrender as government troops closed in on their last remaining strongholds . The 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 government troops continue advance into rebel territory . Troops capture village on main highway linking mainland to Jaffna peninsula . Civil war with Tamil Tigers has killed more than 65,000 . | [[89, 103], [109, 166], [900, 955], [1675, 1728]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The World Bank cut China 's economic growth forecast in 2009 to 6.5 percent Wednesday , down a full percentage point from November 's projection . Workers assemble toys on a production line at a factory in Shantou , in China 's Guangdong province . Despite the downgrade , `` China is a relative bright spot in an otherwise gloomy global economy , '' said the World Bank 's David Dollar . Last week , Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated projections that the nation 's economy will grow by 8 percent in 2009 , despite doubts expressed by domestic and international economic analysts . Some have forecast growth as low as 5 percent . `` I will admit it will be a difficult job -LSB- to reach 8 percent -RSB- . This being said , I also believe with considerable efforts it 's possible for us to obtain this goal , '' Wen said at a news conference following the annual session of the country 's rubber-stamp legislature . China has seen a sharp decline in demand for its exports since November as other major economies have struggled . In February , Chinese exports plunged 25.7 percent compared with the previous year 's , Beijing reported last week . Even with the slowdown , China 's economy -- the third largest in the world -- has gone from white-hot to merely robust . In 2007 , China 's gross domestic product grew at 13 percent . The two largest economies -- the United States and Japan -- are in recession . `` So a lot of things will go down in 2009 globally , '' Dollar said . `` But we see China 's contribution as being very positive in keeping many markets from going down as far as they would otherwise . '' The World Bank expects China 's economy to outgrow most others in 2009 . In November , China announced plans to inject $ 586 billion -LRB- 4 trillion yuan -RRB- into its economy to offset declines in industrial and export growth . That economic stimulus plan included the loosening of credit restrictions , tax cuts and massive infrastructure spending . | World Bank cuts China 's economic growth forecast in 2009 to 6.5 percent . Reduction is down a full percentage point from November 's projection . Last week , Chinese Premier projected nation 's economy would grow by 8 % in 2009 . China has seen a sharp decline in demand for its exports since November . | [[0, 5], [19, 79], [408, 417], [420, 527], [939, 995]] |
KABUL , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Up to 30,000 additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan next year , military officials said Saturday . Helicopters are the main transportation of the U.S. military in Afghanistan , with its high mountain terrain . Roughly 31,000 U.S. troops currently are in Afghanistan . Of the additional troops , 20,000 will comprise four ground/maneuvering brigades , said Col. Gregory Julian , spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan . That number is consistent with what Gen. David McKiernan , the U.S. commander in Afghanistan , called for in October , he said . The additional 10,000 likely refers to support personnel , Julian said . McKiernan requested the additional 20,000 troops be sent to fight the increasing violence by the resurgent Taliban forces in the southern and eastern parts of the country . On Friday , military officials said Defense Secretary Robert Gates signed a deployment order to move an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan next year . Those troops will be part of a combat aviation brigade , the latest approved by Gates for the expected buildup of U.S. troops in the country in 2009 . The brigade will send a number of much-needed helicopters to the region . Helicopters are the main mode of transportation for the U.S. military in Afghanistan , where high mountain roads and passes make it difficult for large transport vehicles to move troops and supplies . The additional troops would nearly double the level of U.S. troops in Afghanistan . Troop levels are likely to be maintained at this increased level for three to four years , Julian said Saturday , as U.S. forces continue to try to `` clear and hold '' more parts of Afghanistan from insurgents and militants and train Afghan military and police to be self-sufficient . | 20,000 in four ground/maneuvering brigades , said U.S. forces spokesman . The additional 10,000 likely refers to support personnel , said spokesman . On Friday , Defense Secretary ordered 3,000 troops to Afghanistan for next year . | [[345, 400], [347, 353], [403, 472], [602, 658], [848, 857], [860, 940], [884, 1002]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II reflected Thursday on the economic and political crises sweeping the globe , acknowledging in her Christmas Day message their impact on holiday festivities . Queen Elizabeth II attends a Christmas Day service at Sandringham in Norfolk , England . `` Christmas is a time for celebration , but this year it is a more somber occasion for many . Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain , and naturally give rise to feelings of insecurity , '' she told Britons in a televised appearance from Buckingham Palace . `` People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world -- whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land , the effects can be keenly felt at home . '' In her nine-minute message , she encouraged Britons to look for happiness and courage through helping others , and singled out World War I veterans and current troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of courage and sacrifice . Military veterans of the First World War recently commemorated the `` service and enormous sacrifice of their own generation , '' the queen said . The families of soldiers now serving overseas carry an extra burden of worry while they are away , she added . `` In such times as these , we can all learn some lessons from the past . We might begin to see things in a new perspective , and certainly we begin to ask ourselves where it is that we can find lasting happiness . '' Watch excerpts of the queen 's address '' It appears , she noted , that people who seem most contented and fulfilled are `` the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives -- the kind of people who are generous with their talents or their time ... those who use their prosperity or good fortune for the benefit of others . '' `` When life seems hard , the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat . Instead , they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future , '' the queen said . `` I think we have a huge amount to learn from individuals such as these . '' She expressed pride in her son , Prince Charles , who turned 60 last month and is one of the longest-serving heirs to the throne . He was baptized in the music room where the queen spoke , she said . Several clips -- including a few with the queen playing with Charles , as a toddler -- were shown throughout her comments . Charles has helped and supported young people through various charities , and his sons , princes William and Harry , are following his lead , the queen said . She closed her message with references to Jesus Christ , who she said lived an unselfish and sacrificial life , despite circumstances of great adversity . `` He makes it clear that genuine human happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving , more in serving than in being served . `` We can surely be grateful that 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus , so many of us are able to draw inspiration from his life and message . '' | Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II was giving her Christmas Day speech . Queen : Economic , political crises sweeping globe impacted on celebrations . She encouraged Britons to look for happiness and courage through helping others . Message was recorded from her Buckingham Palace residence . | [[9, 32], [66, 121], [88, 140], [713, 767], [814, 840], [843, 922], [555, 557], [562, 625]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Playing the Nintendo Wii Fit could improve balance and help avoid falls in seniors , researchers taking part in a new study suggest . Researchers in Aberdeen think playing Wii Fit may improve the elderly 's balance and lower risks of falling . The University of Aberdeen , Scotland and the UK 's National Health Service -LRB- NHS -RRB- have embarked on a four month study on people over 70 to observe any changes in balance after regular use of the Wii Fit . The video game has different activities including yoga poses , push ups , strength , balance and aerobic exercises . The Wii Fit includes a balance board that records movements and gives feedback on performance . Dr Marie Fraser , a specialist registrar at Woodend Hospital in Scotland , UK , is carrying out the research . She told CNN : `` Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury in older people and the most common cause of accidental deaths in 75-year-olds and over . '' It is hoped that using the Wii Fit 's balance board can improve elderly people 's balance and confidence . Dr Alison Stewart , who devised the study said she came up with the idea while working in the Osteoporosis department at the University of Aberdeen , after seeing a large number of fractures in old people who had fallen . Stewart , a commercial research manager with the NHS , said she then decided to research how to improve older people 's balance . She told CNN : `` There exists a medical fitness device that improves balance , but it is expensive and I could not get the funding . `` That 's when I looked up the Wii and discovered it is very similar to the other equipment , but less expensive . `` What is great about the Wii is it also has an entertainment value . The fact that it is enjoyable also makes the compliance rate higher . '' The latest study comes as another pilot study at Southern Cross University , Australia looked at the benefits of using the Wii to help Parkinson 's sufferers . A group of seven older people with and without the degenerative condition took part in the pilot project , and were put through an almost daily regime of playing the Nintendo Wii . Associate Professor Rick van der Zwan who led the research said initial results were `` positive . '' They ultimately hope to determine the effectiveness of computer games in developing muscle strength and co-ordination and reducing the risk of falls for people with Parkinson 's . `` People generally start to develop the disease in their 50s or 60s . It leads to inertia and people become unstable on their feet , '' said Van der Zwan in a media statement . `` What we are trying to do is reduce the risk of serious harm . These people are nine times more likely to fall over than someone without the disease and falls in this older age group can be very serious . '' Van der Zwan now wants to recruit 15 more research participants to broaden the study . Since its launch in 2006 the Nintendo Wii has seen a huge rise in the number of elderly players . At one senior citizen home in north-east England , staff introduced the popular games console at Christmas in all five of its homes . `` Everyone loves it and we noticed it has improved the physical fitness of residents who play , '' Rachel Todd of McArdle Care told CNN . Todd believes the device 's entertainment value not only improves residents ' fitness levels , but also their mental fitness . Among the Wii Fit fans at the home are 74-year-old Ian Fisher and 86-year-old Betty Dennis . `` I always loved sports , particularly football '' Dennis told CNN . `` But I had a stroke six months ago and am now in a wheelchair . '' `` Since the Wii I really feel movement in my right arm has improved , which is all I need to play skittles . '' Her bowling partner Fisher told CNN he recently played the boxing game on Wii Fit with his four-year-old great-grandson . `` It really spans all ages , although my great-grandson knocked me out twice , '' the former bricklayer said . | Researchers study whether Wii Fit can can improve older people 's balance . Residents in English nursing home feel the physical and mental benefits of Wii . Falls are the most common cause of accidental deaths in elderly , says researcher . | [[9, 32], [61, 86], [170, 279], [200, 279], [280, 494], [1312, 1319], [1367, 1441], [3191, 3251], [3305, 3431], [835, 979]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The photograph is a jarring image that shows Nazi Party members , shovels in hand , digging up graves of American soldiers held as slaves by Nazi Germany during World War II . Members of the Nazi Party are forced to dig up mass graves of U.S. soldiers while American GIs look on . While the men dig up the site , U.S. soldiers investigating war crimes stand over them . Two crosses with helmets placed atop them -- the sign of a fallen soldier -- are visible . Two Germans are knee deep in mud . Another , with a handlebar mustache , has the look of a defeated man . The bodies of 22 American soldiers were found in at least seven graves , according to the photographer . On the back of the photo is written , `` Nazi Party members digging up American bodies at Berga . '' Berga an der Elster was a slave labor camp where 350 U.S. soldiers were beaten , starved , and forced to work in tunnels for the German government . The soldiers were singled out for `` looking like Jews '' or `` sounding like Jews , '' or dubbed as undesirables , according to survivors . More than 100 soldiers perished at the camp or on a forced death march . It was on this day six decades ago , April 23 , 1945 , when most of the slave labor camp soldiers were liberated by advancing U.S. troops . The emaciated soldiers , many weighing just 80 pounds , had been forced by Nazi commanders to march more than 150 miles before their rescue . Watch survivor break down in tears over liberation '' The new photograph was likely taken in May or June 1945 when U.S. war crimes investigators combed Berga . It was donated earlier this month to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum by Jim Martin and his family , whose father , Elmore `` Bud '' Martin , is believed to have snapped the picture as part of the war crimes investigation team . The photo and dozens of others sat for years in Jim Martin 's closet . Some of the photos , including graphic images of American corpses , were placed on record at the National Archives years ago . See shocking photos of the slave camp '' But the image of Nazi Party members digging up graves does n't appear to be part of that collection . Martin said he was proud to hand over the photos . `` People have to see these . This is something that 's history and it belongs with something that 's historical to tell that story . It does n't belong in my closet . '' `` To be honest , I 'm kind of sorry I have n't done it sooner . We did n't realize what it was . '' Elmore Martin , who won a Silver Star for his valor in capturing images during the war , was 28 when he shot the photographs . Before the war , he worked as a photographer for the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press . Martin 's son said his dad , who died several years ago , struggled to keep a job when he returned home . `` I now see where it all started , '' he said . What Elmore Martin and the war crimes soldiers seen in the photo could n't have known that day was how the case would evolve . The two Berga commanders -- Erwin Metz and his superior , Hauptmann Ludwig Merz -- were tried for war crimes and initially sentenced to die by hanging . But the U.S. government commuted their death sentences in 1948 , and both men were eventually released in the 1950s . One other Berga commander , Lt. Willy Hack , was executed , but not by the United States . He died by hanging , justice carried out by the Soviets . Jim Martin said his father would have been upset at the freeing of the Berga commanders after the atrocities he documented . `` He knew it happened and to see that these people were released would be pretty devastating . '' Efraim Zuroff , who has spent nearly 30 years hunting Nazis responsible for the Holocaust , said the U.S. government commuted the sentences and freed hundreds of war criminals like those at Berga after the war , as the Cold War began to intensify . `` They were more concerned about keeping out Communists than admitting victims of the Nazis , '' he said . `` The realities out there were very conducive of letting these people off the hook . '' How should Americans feel six decades later that the government freed the Nazi commanders responsible for atrocities against U.S. soldiers ? `` We 're supposed to feel very pissed off about that , to be perfectly honest , and that feeling is very justified , '' Zuroff said . The German government has since made reparations to the soldiers held at Berga . Zuroff said now it 's time for the U.S. government to do `` the right thing . '' `` To apologize , '' he said . The Army said it is trying to figure out the best way to honor the Berga soldiers . There are about 20 known survivors still living . `` The U.S. Army honors the service and sacrifice of all veterans who have fought our nation 's wars . The Army is working to identify the most dignified and personal way to honor the soldiers held at the Nazi slave camp , known as Berga , '' Army spokesman Lt. Col. Willie Harris said in a written statement . The Army refused to answer further questions about the Berga case . Listen in as an elderly man learns about his brother 's death at the camp '' Survivors have long wanted to know why the sentences of the commanders were commuted . In a letter dated June 11 , 1948 , to an attorney whose nephew died at Berga , the U.S. War Department said the sentences of Metz and Merz were commuted because they were `` underlings . '' The letter goes on to say that Metz `` though guilty of a generally cruel course of conduct toward prisoners was not directly responsible for the death of any prisoners , except one who was killed during the course of an attempt to escape . '' That soldier was Morton Goldstein . Survivors say Goldstein tried to escape but was captured . They say Metz stood him against a wall , walked up to him and shot him , execution-style , through the head . As his body lay on the ground , guards riddled him with bullets , according to survivors . The soldiers who survived were not called to testify at the war crimes trial against Metz and Merz , instead prosecutors relied on about a dozen soldiers ' statements gathered through the course of the investigation . At the trial , Metz blamed any deaths at the camp on U.S. medics . `` They bore the sole responsibility for the medical care , '' Metz told the court , according to the book `` Given Up for Dead , '' by Flint Whitlock , citing trial transcripts . `` I ask you : Who must bear the responsibility ? The answer is obvious : The U.S. medics . '' Those comments do n't sit well with Berga survivors . `` He was terrible , absolutely terrible . He lied , '' said Tony Acevedo , a U.S. medic who catalogued the deaths in a diary at the camp . `` Everybody hated his guts . '' `` Even the German guards were scared of him . '' Flip through Acevedo 's diary from the slave camp '' Berga survivors say they await any recognition from the Army that may come , especially after all these years . Morton Brooks , 83 , said he constantly thinks about the day he was liberated . He was rail thin and had walked by political prisoners shot in the head during the forced death march . In the final hours before his rescue , his attitude was , `` Let them kill us , '' he said . `` I think all the time that I 'm a survivor of this and I 'm still around , '' said Brooks . `` To me , it just amazes me . I do n't know how I got through . '' Jim Martin said he 's still trying to process his father 's role as a forgotten American war hero , armed not with a gun , but a camera . `` The worst part is I 'm just finding it out , '' he said . | New photo surfaces of Nazi slave labor camp where U.S. soldiers held during WWII . Photo donated to U.S. Holocaust museum by family of U.S. war crimes photographer . `` People have to see these . This is something that 's history , '' Jim Martin says . Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of the soldiers held at the camp . | [[142, 212], [2044, 2081], [1615, 1686], [2241, 2267], [2268, 2301], [2306, 2350], [2322, 2371]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency Thursday for a coastal county where a wildfire has consumed thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of homes . Scott Vereen sprays water on his family 's home Thursday near Conway , South Carolina . `` This has already proved to be a devastating event for Horry County , and it is n't over , '' Sanford said in a written statement . The county includes some of the state 's most popular tourist spots , including the Myrtle Beach area . By late afternoon , however , officials in North Myrtle Beach said the fire there was mostly contained . `` The fire is very contained on our end right now , '' said the city 's director of public safety , William Bailey . `` We have hot spots . I would say we 're about 75 to 80 percent -LSB- contained -RSB- . '' But as he gestured toward the dark clouds behind him , he told people who had been evacuated : `` As you see with the smoke and activity behind us , we still got some issues that we 're concerned about . We 're doing everything we can to get you home . '' Authorities began alerting people in the city 's Barefoot Resort area early Thursday after the fire jumped a highway and began consuming some houses . As of about 6 p.m. ET Thursday , the fire had consumed 15,500 acres , destroyed 69 homes and damaged 100 others , according to the Horry County Emergency Operations Center . While no fatalities or injuries were reported , some 2,500 people have been evacuated , officials said . About 440 people were in two shelters at the House of Blues and at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic Center , the operations center said . Both the Barefoot Resort and the Pelican Bay subdivisions had been evacuated . In addition , three schools were evacuated because of heavy smoke . Eight vehicles had been destroyed as of Thursday afternoon , said Mayor Marilyn Hatley . Watch footage of coastal areas in flames '' Bailey said authorities were hopeful the weather would continue to cooperate . Low humidity had persisted for most of the day . `` We have the resources , we just need to get a weather break , '' he said . Authorities said the fire has been unpredictable . `` When we got our last report -LSB- Wednesday -RSB- , we had no idea that it would be crossing over into the Barefoot Resort area , '' Hatley said at the morning news conference . `` The fire kind of created its own weather , and it just started the wind spinning . '' Nick Gentile , 64 , told The Myrtle Beach Sun News that he left his Barefoot Resort home around 2 a.m. Thursday . `` They came around with a police car with a loudspeaker , '' he told the newspaper , still wearing his blue-plaid pajamas . `` You always read about stuff like this , but you never know when you are going to be in it . '' Helicopters were conducting water drops over portions of the area , Hatley said . The National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory for the county until 3 a.m. Friday . Thick plumes billowed high above buildings , prompting North Myrtle Beach school officials to close school Thursday , CNN affiliate WPDE-TV reported . Officials have not determined a cause for the fire , which began about noon Wednesday in Conway . CNN 's Samuel Gardner contributed to this report . | Wildfire has consumed 15,500 acres in Horry County , South Carolina . Area is home to popular tourist spots , including Myrtle Beach . South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declares state of emergency in county . No injuries are reported , but fire damages dozens of homes . | [[95, 111], [118, 160], [1274, 1308], [415, 518], [456, 482], [485, 518], [0, 15], [19, 111], [95, 96], [118, 128], [165, 192], [1181, 1189], [1211, 1240], [1274, 1282], [1311, 1329], [1415, 1460], [1463, 1500], [1415, 1460], [1503, 1519]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Stop , speed racers , stop . Police say the cars were pulled over on a dangerous stretch of Highway 18 near Grand Ronde , Oregon . So said Oregon State Senior Trooper David Petersen after he was able to catch up with six exotic sports cars on a stretch of Highway 18 near Grand Ronde on Thursday , according to a news release . Perhaps a more amazing feat was that he stopped all the cars simultaneously . `` They just were all good little soldiers and pulled right over , '' Oregon State Police spokesman Lt. Gregg Hastings told CNN . One of the drivers was later cited again on a different highway . The drivers of the cars -- consisting of Ferraris , a Lamborghini and an Acura NSX -- told Petersen they were part of a group of 20 similar cars making an annual road trip , the news release said . They were all cordial and cooperative , and were cited with speed racing , a class A traffic violation that can command a fine of $ 627 , Hastings said . After receiving reports Thursday morning that several sports cars were speeding and passing in no-pass zones west of Grand Ronde , Petersen set up east of the casino town , near McMinnville , and waited . Five of the cars soon blew past him , running about 100 mph in a 55-mph zone , Hastings said . As Petersen pulled onto Highway 18 in pursuit , a sixth car passed him . `` I guess when you 're going too fast , you 're in a rock and a hard place , '' Hastings said . Highway 18 runs from Dayton , Oregon , in the Willamette Valley to the Pacific coast . The stretch where the cars were cited is considered particularly dangerous and the Oregon Department of Transportation provides additional funding to enforce traffic laws there , Hastings said . About two hours after the incident , another trooper pulled over the Lamborghini from the group in Multnomah Falls , about 90 miles east . The driver of the car , which bore the the license plate `` BADBUL , '' was cited for driving 90 in a 65-mph zone , according to a news release . | Police : 6 exotic sport cars , mostly Ferraris , pulled over `` like good little soldiers '' Polite drivers reportedly told police they were making annual road trip . Fine for speed racing is $ 627 , police say . Lamborghini with tag `` BADBUL '' pulled over again later in day , police say . | [[150, 314], [636, 644], [648, 670], [892, 921], [927, 954], [1725, 1759], [1762, 1839], [1878, 1885], [1894, 1930]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- The little two-passenger smart fortwo is the most fuel-efficient car -LRB- not counting hybrids -RRB- in the U.S. market , with EPA fuel economy ratings of 33 mpg city , 41 highway . For high-mileage frugality , it appears to beat the five-passenger Toyota Yaris and its 29/35-mpg ratings by a long shot . Look at the inside of your car 's fuel door to find out whether you 're required to use a certain octane gasoline . But wait ! Premium fuel -- which cost about 12 percent more than regular at U.S. pumps last month -- is required for the fortwo . Suddenly the gap closes and the Smart no longer looks like as strong of a fuel-budget buster . And with the requirement , they mean it : smart says you 'll lose your warranty coverage if you do n't ante up . With premium fuel averaging about 24 cents more per gallon than regular , your choices at the pump can add up very quickly . If you drive a 20-mpg vehicle 15,000 miles a year , that 's an extra $ 180 , each year , toward those extra few octane points . If you have a thirstier truck or SUV or cover more mileage , it could amount to hundreds of dollars a year . New-car buyers , take notice . Add fuel requirements to your shopping checklist , because it will impact your wallet with every visit to the gas station , for years of ownership . The expensive stuff is typically recommended -- though not always required -- for luxury and high-performance cars , while less-expensive sedans , coupes , and SUVs only require 87-octane . But there are plenty of exceptions . Alan Hall , a spokesman for Ford , says that the automaker no longer has any models that require premium grade and only a few for which it 's recommended . Regular unleaded is fine across all the models of Ford 's Lincoln luxury brand , says Hall , so `` as a luxury car buyer you do n't have that added premium of premium fuel . '' Ford now does all of its engine development and vehicle testing on 87-octane , regular-grade fuel . `` We do n't want to give you a product that will have durability issues , '' explains Hall , if premium-grade is n't available everywhere . Another exception in the luxury-car realm is Hyundai ; the automaker chose to tune the new high-performance V-8 engine in its Genesis sedan for premium fuel , but it also certified it for regular-grade . The automaker is the first to list power figures both with premium -LRB- 375 hp -RRB- and regular -LRB- 368 hp -RRB- , letting owners opt for either top performance or a substantial savings at the pump . For the record , there 's no measurable difference in fuel economy between the two grades , or any greater potential for damage , according to Hyundai . `` We wanted to give customers the choice , '' explained Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson . `` If you want a few extra horsepower , go ahead and spend a little more at the pump . '' Along with several European automakers , the BMW Group recommends premium fuel for all of its vehicles -- including the economical MINI Cooper -- yet Ford does n't even recommend premium for its sporty , V-8-powered Mustang GT . The high-performance , 540-hp Shelby GT500 is the only new Ford vehicle to carry the recommendation for premium ... and Hall concedes the engine will get a `` slight boost '' from premium . Throwing money away ? You might have been led to believe at some point that your vehicle will do better with premium , but with most newer vehicles , that 's simply not true . Provided yours just calls for 87-octane , chances are you wo n't notice the difference , according to a number of experts , and you 're essentially throwing the money away . The best way to tell , advises John Nielsen , director of AAA 's Auto Repair and Buying Network , is to simply look at the inside of the fuel door ; if it says , `` use premium fuel only , '' and specifies a higher octane number -LRB- regular is typically 87 , premium is 91 or higher -RRB- , then the expensive stuff is actually required for the vehicle . But for people with vehicles only requiring 87-octane , Nielsen advises , `` Do n't do it ; it 's a waste of money . '' Do n't let the filthy images get to you either . If you 've seen commercials for gasoline , you 've likely heard that premium-grade will keep maintain your vehicle 's full power and smoothness , and otherwise your valves and injectors will become clogged with ` gunk , ' and you 'll have to shoulder premature repairs . Typically , within the same brand of gasoline , between regular and premium , `` the difference is really just octane , '' confirms Prentiss Searles , Marketing Issues Manager at the American Petroleum Institute . To call a fuel regular , midgrade , or premium , Searles explains , only relates to octane ; there 's no other requirement that assures greater purity , more detergents , or better additives . Nielsen says that the emphasis on detergents and additives for premium fuels is also misleading because in most fuels you have plenty of detergents to keep modern computer-controlled engines clean . `` Unleaded is just fine , '' he insists . More drivers are discovering that . Last year , as gasoline prices crept past four dollars a gallon for regular grade and approached five dollars in some places for premium , many motorists with rapidly emptying wallets broke the premium habit and filled up their vehicle with regular for the first time . The market share of premium gas has been on a downward trend for many years -- going from 16.6 percent percent of U.S. sales in 1997 to just 9.5 percent in 2007 , according to the Energy Information Administration -- and although 2008 data has n't yet been released , it 's anticipated that last year even more turned to the less-expensive nozzle . Pinging is a thing of the past . For cars made several decades ago , it was up to you to listen for deadly knocking or pinging sounds -- a sign that the fuel was prematurely detonating and could quickly cause damage to engine components . But since the 1980s , most vehicles have had knock sensors . These little microphones listen for the telltale ` ping ' of early detonation and your car 's electronics automatically retard ignition timing to smooth it out . You do n't even need to worry that your knock sensors have broken , Nielsen says , because it would set off the ` check engine ' light . The actual heat energy in gasoline is typically the same whether it 's regular or premium , but the higher octane rating means it can burn in a more controlled fashion -- useful only if the engine can take advantage of it . `` Higher-octane gasoline does n't make any more power , but it enables higher compression , or enables the turbochargers to produce more boost , '' says Nielsen . For vehicles that only require 87-octane , using a higher-octane fuel wo n't yield any noticeable difference from the driver 's seat . It 's a bit more complicated when premium is recommended . Look at the language in your owner 's manual first , and if it mentions that regular is acceptable there will still likely be cautions of compromised performance ; if it cautions against the regular use of regular you might be compromising your warranty . Honda spokesman Chris Martin advises against using regular for any vehicle for which premium is recommended . `` There could be some short-term knocking or pinging , but nothing lasting , '' he says . `` I would n't recommend it for the long term . '' Nielsen , of AAA , adds that drivers of high-performance or luxury vehicles for which 91-octane is recommended might actually negate their savings with regular depending on their driving style , seeing lower fuel economy . In a lot of cases , Nielsen sums , the fuel specs are simply an engineering issue ; the engine was designed and tested with premium fuel , and they did n't design it to run on premium -- although it might do just fine . If your car was n't built with an appetite for premium , save yourself the money . | Fuel octane requirements can be found on inside of car 's fuel door . Using a higher-than-required octane wo n't make car run better , experts say . Ford says it does all vehicle development on regular-grade fuel now . Check the gas requirements for new fuel-efficient car to maximize savings . | [[331, 446], [395, 446], [3639, 3659], [3740, 3785], [3507, 3588], [6563, 6617], [6770, 6861], [1887, 1986]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michigan authorities are investigating whether foul play led to the death of a 9-year-old quadriplegic girl whose body was found inside a public storage facility . Shylea Thomas , 9 , of Flint , Michigan , was quadriplegic and used a feeding tube . `` This is a very sad and tragic case that hurts all of us involved in the ongoing investigation , '' Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton said at a news conference Wednesday . Shylea Myza Thomas of Flint , Michigan , had n't been seen in six weeks , and relatives reported her missing Tuesday , Leyton 's office said . Her adoptive mother , who is also her aunt , is in custody as a suspect , special assistant prosecuting attorney John Potbury told CNN . No charges have been filed pending the results of the autopsy , he said . Because of her physical disabilities , Shylea used a feeding tube . She suffered from quadriplegia because of a `` suffocation issue '' in her crib at 3 weeks of age , Leyton said . On Wednesday , Flint police found her body stuffed inside a garbage bag in a public storage facility in Vienna Township , near Flint , Leyton said . The bag was covered in mothballs `` in an apparent attempt to mask odors from the dead body , '' his office said in a news release . `` For her to have to live like that , and then to die and be stuffed into a bag and plastic bin in a storage facility , just breaks my heart , '' the prosecutor said . CNN affiliate WJRT reported that the suspect could face charges including murder , first-degree child abuse and welfare fraud . The station also reported that investigators are trying to determine why the girl 's disappearance was n't reported until six weeks after she went missing . Relatives told WJRT that they remember Shylea as a happy child , who loved music and whose smile was infectious . Watch a family in shock '' `` The last memory I actually have of Shylea is seeing her when she was in my care , '' said her second cousin , Josette Thomas . `` She was on the bed listening to the radio and smiling . Those are actually the memories I want to keep in my head . I do n't want that memory to leave me . '' | NEW : Child 's adoptive mother is in custody as a suspect , official says . Relatives told police they had n't seen Shylea Thomas in weeks . Child had `` suffocation issue '' in crib at 3 weeks of age , was quadriplegic . Body was found stuffed in trash bag , covered with mothballs . | [[590, 609], [635, 661], [447, 474], [488, 518], [93, 182], [183, 211], [225, 241], [869, 966], [983, 995], [998, 1102], [1132, 1190]] |
JOHANNESBURG , South Africa -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- South Africans waited on election results Thursday in a ballot that the ruling African National Congress party appeared on course to win in a landslide . ANC leader Jacob Zuma is expected to be South Africa 's next president . South African media reported Thursday that the ANC had won around 65 percent of the vote with one third of ballots counted . Reports suggested the opposition Democratic Alliance could be on course to claim control of Western Cape province -- but the ANC was ahead in the country 's eight other provinces . `` This party is an elephant . You can not actually topple an elephant , '' presidential candidate Jacob Zuma told thousands of supporters at ANC headquarters in central Johannesburg , according to Reuters.com . Zuma , who danced and sang his trademark `` Bring me my machine gun '' anti-apartheid anthem , stressed the ANC was `` not yet celebrating victory . '' Final results are not expected until Saturday . All counting is done by hand in the country , which has 23 million registered voters . Members of parliament will elect the country 's president next month . The Independent Electoral Commission said the number of people voting on Wednesday created long lines and a shortage of ballot boxes and papers in some districts and voting stations . Watch as South Africa waits for a winner '' `` We thank voters for their enthusiasm and patience as they waited to exercise their democratic right to vote , '' commission Chairwoman Brigalia Bam said Wednesday . Although the ANC is widely expected to win , it remains to be seen how much ground the two main opposition parties -- the Democratic Alliance and the Congress of the People -- will gain , and whether the ANC will be able to hold onto its two-thirds parliamentary majority . The ANC has gained votes in every election since 1994 , when the country held its first democratic election . But the Congress of the People -- a breakaway faction of the ANC -- threatens the ruling party 's grip on power . Voter shares feelings about ANC and new rival '' The ANC has been dogged by allegations of corruption and has been accused of failing to deliver services to the poor . And Zuma until recently faced fraud and corruption charges . The country 's prosecuting authority dropped the charges two weeks before the elections , citing alleged political interference in the case . That decision sparked widespread outrage , with opposition parties accusing prosecutors of buckling under political pressure . Twenty-six parties vied in Wednesday 's election . They included Islamic and Christian parties , and right-wing Afrikaaner and socialist groups . Learn more about some of South Africa 's political parties . More than 5,000 domestic and international observers are monitoring the election , according to the electoral commission . CNN 's Nkepile Mabuse contributed to this report . | African National Congress on course for landslide , South African media reports . Reports says ANC has 65 percent of vote ; official results expected Saturday . Opposition Democratic Alliance could claim control of Western Cape province . Controversial ANC leader Jacob Zuma expected to become president . | [[115, 200], [274, 388], [1555, 1588], [274, 388], [944, 991], [399, 512], [201, 273], [201, 222], [235, 273]] |
UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bolivian President Evo Morales said Wednesday he does not regret expelling the U.S. ambassador last year , maintaining again that the envoy was plotting with opposition politicians . Bolivian President Evo Morales maintains the U.S. ambassador was plotting against Morales ' government . Bolivia declared U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg persona non grata in September and ordered him to leave . Goldberg denied that he encouraged anti-government demonstrators to commit violent acts . `` I do n't regret having expelled the ambassador , Mr. Goldberg , '' Morales said in an exclusive interview Wednesday with CNN en Español . `` And now , with the events we are seeing and we are finding , it is confirmed that he was conspiring against the government , conspiring against the national territory . He is an expert in dividing countries , with external groups and in Bolivia . '' Morales also expelled a lower-level U.S. diplomat last month , accusing him of contacting opposition groups . Morales indicated Wednesday , however , that he is open to reviewing the issue since President Obama is in office . `` With the new times , '' he said , `` we expect to improve diplomatic relations . So we have to revise our politics . You ca n't conspire against us nor blackmail us . But if there 's mutual respect , welcome . '' Morales also said an assassination plot against him and other government officials that he alleged last week was real . Three gunmen were killed and two others were arrested Thursday after a 30-minute firefight in the city of Santa Cruz . At least two of the gunmen were foreigners , Bolivian authorities said . Morales said last week he had been aware of the assassination plot , which was verified after the arrest of the gunmen . Opposition politicians expressed doubt about the plot , saying Morales had made similar allegations in the past based on flimsy evidence . The gunmen , he said Wednesday , wanted `` to take power violently and also undemocratically . But also , if they could not take power , divide a region of the country . ... And for that , they had to take lives . '' Morales did not mention who might want to divide the country , but five resource-rich eastern regions and the eastern province of Gran Chaco have been seeking greater autonomy . Earlier Wednesday , Morales addressed the United Nations in observance of Earth Day . He called for the nations of the world to accept a set of principles that would protect the planet 's resources and `` right to life . '' Morales , the first indigenous president in Bolivia 's history , told the U.N. General Assembly that people can not put their interests above those of the Earth . `` Not just human beings have rights , but the planet has rights , '' he said . `` What 's happening with climate change is that the rights of Mother Earth are not being respected . '' Telling the U.N. delegates that `` we have the challenge to agree on a universal declaration for the rights of Mother Earth , '' Morales outlined four principles that he asked them to consider : . Morales pointed out how indigenous people in Bolivia have rites and rituals to honor the Earth . `` We now must begin to realize that the Earth does not belong to us , '' he said . `` It 's the other way around . We belong to the Earth . '' Earth Day was started in 1970 in the United States as a way to bring awareness to the ecological problems plaguing the planet . It is celebrated in many parts of the world . | NEW : Bolivia 's Evo Morales says ordering ambassador to leave was right move . NEW : Morales open to reviewing stances now that Barack Obama is president . Morales speaking on Earth Day : People ca n't put their interests above Earth . With climate change , `` rights of Mother Earth are not being respected , '' Morales says . | [[0, 20], [34, 138], [322, 329], [406, 428], [1068, 1070], [1079, 1138], [2342, 2407], [2546, 2553], [2611, 2708], [2789, 2890], [2838, 2890], [2891, 2893]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An estimated one percent of adults have active epilepsy , and many of them are getting insufficient treatment , according to a 19-state survey released Thursday . `` This is the first time that we actually have data from multiple states , '' said Rosemarie Kobau , lead author of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study , in a telephone interview . `` What we learned is that , among adults with active epilepsy , more than a third of them reported not seeing a specialist for their epilepsy , and that 's really unacceptable . '' A follow-up survey is planned to determine why so many people with seizure disorders said they had not seen a specialist in the past year , Kobau said . `` This is a highly specialized field , '' said Eric Hargis , the president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation , which collaborated with the authors of the study . `` It 's not possible to get state-of-the-art care '' for the disorder from primary care doctors . One in six -LRB- 16.1 percent -RRB- adults with active epilepsy with recent seizures said they were not taking their medication and two-thirds -LRB- 65.1 percent -RRB- said they had had more than one seizure during the prior month . More than a fifth -LRB- 20.4 percent -RRB- said cost was a barrier to seeking care from their doctor . Access to high-quality care is key to quality of life , Kobau said . People with recurrent seizures face substantial impairments in their daily activities ; many are not allowed to drive and , as a result , depend on public transportation . In some areas , particularly rural ones , that can present a barrier to full participation in life , she said . That 's not all . In addition to carrying stigma , people with epilepsy were more likely to live in households with the lowest annual incomes and to report being unemployed and unable to work . According to the 2005 findings , 1.65 percent of the population said they had been told by a doctor that they had epilepsy or a seizure disorder , the report said . Half of that group -LRB- 0.84 percent -RRB- said they had active epilepsy -- defined as having had one or more seizures during the prior three months or currently taking medication . If the findings translate to the general population , that means a stadium filled with 60,000 people would contain 480 people with active epilepsy , Kobau noted , adding , `` Epilepsy is not rare . '' But that view was disputed by Dr. James King , a family physician in Selmer , Tennessee , and president of the American Association of Family Physicians . `` There are patients that can be managed fairly simply with seizure disorder , '' he said in a telephone interview . `` In my own personal practice , I 'd say that I can manage at least half , if not more , of the patients that have seizure disorder . '' Many of the others are able to get by with just a one-time visit to a neurologist , said King , whose practice is 50 miles from the nearest neurologist , and 100 miles from the nearest neurologist who accepts Medicaid , the government program for the poor . `` There 's only a handful of patients that are managed in my area by the neurologist . '' He said financial barriers -- from insurance to the cost of anti-seizure medication -- are a bigger problem . `` If you ca n't afford to buy it -- which is what I run into with a lot of the seizure medicine -- it does n't really matter '' if patients see a neurologist or a family physician , he said . Many patients , forced to choose between paying their light bill or taking their anti-seizure medication , choose the former , King said . Epilepsy is a condition in which the normal activity of the brain malfunctions , causing recurrent seizures -- electrical storms in the brain -- that can be characterized by a range of symptoms , including sudden change in awareness , movement or sensation . Each year , about 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease , as was Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts after he suffered a seizure last year at his Maine vacation home . `` Many people with epilepsy do lead normal , productive lives despite the hardship of having this disorder , '' Kobau said . The study , conducted by the federal government and published in the CDC 's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , estimates that 2.7 million people in the United States have epilepsy , and that it costs some $ 15.5 billion in medical care and lost or reduced earnings or productivity each year . Hargis said the incidence of the disorder is expected to climb among veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan , where head injuries are common . `` When you have a head injury , it 's common for epilepsy to develop after a gestational period -- it could be a couple of months or it could be years , '' he said . And the aging population is also expected to boost the incidence of epilepsy . Conditions of aging , such as stroke and Alzheimer 's Disease , are also associated with a higher incidence of epilepsy . The study was based on data from more than 120,000 adults in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System . | One in six adults with epilepsy who had recent seizures were not on medication . Epilepsy is a condition in which the normal activity of the brain malfunctions . Study says about 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease . | [[3613, 3754], [3872, 3881], [3884, 3956]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The bodies of seven of eight snowmobilers missing after Sunday 's avalanches in southeastern British Columbia have been found , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Monday . Authorities found seven bodies a day after avalanches in British Columbia , Canada . One man still was missing , but rescue personnel suspended their search near Fernie , British Columbia , at mid-afternoon Monday because of heavy snowfall and dense low clouds , the RCMP said . The search will resume Tuesday morning , authorities said . All eight men -- and three others who escaped -- faced two avalanches Sunday afternoon about 20 kilometers -LRB- 12.4 miles -RRB- east of Fernie , a town in the Canadian Rockies about 300 kilometers -LRB- 186 miles -RRB- southwest of Calgary , Alberta . The three survivors suffered minor injuries , and one of them was hospitalized overnight . The men had been in an area called Harvey Pass , which police called a popular backcountry snowmobile destination . Officials said an avalanche buried part of the group , and a second buried the rest as they tried to assist . `` Two of the buried riders managed to self-rescue within about 20 minutes . These two used their avalanche beacons to locate a third buried victim who they rescued after an additional 20 minutes of digging , '' police said . iReport.com : Wyoming avalanche training covers pulling people out of snow . A search command post was set up Sunday , but darkness and avalanche hazards prompted authorities to postpone the search until Monday . On Monday morning , before the bodies were found , authorities said searchers and police dogs were being dispatched to the rugged , snowy area , and crews would dig into any sites where searchers thought they might find any of the missing men . The snowmobilers resided in Sparwood , a small town just north of Fernie . Sparwood 's mayor , David Wilks , said Monday morning that `` it certainly does n't look good '' for the missing . `` Reality tells us if you 're stuck in the snow for about 24 hours , bad things can happen , '' he said . The region has had previous coal mine disasters , `` but in recent memory , this is the largest single tragic event to hit this community , '' Wilks said . iReport.com : Are you there ? Share photos , video . He said the snowmobilers are men in their mid - to late 20s and described them as upstanding citizens , most of them working in coal mines or as businessmen . `` All were well aware of the dangers involved in snowmobiling . All are very cautious with what was going on , '' Wilks said . The mayor said temperatures had been as low as minus-30 degrees Fahrenheit in recent weeks , but the air had warmed up in the last two or three days to 25 degrees Fahrenheit . CNN 's Nick Valencia contributed to this report . | NEW : Seven found dead a day after Canadian avalanches . NEW : Search for eighth missing snowmobiler to resume Tuesday . Group had been snowmobiling in southeastern British Columbia , Canada . Two of 11 buried riders managed to rescue themselves , find third victim . | [[195, 268], [42, 128], [474, 512], [1105, 1181], [1182, 1252]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were dancing their way through 10 official inaugural balls after a day of pomp and circumstance that saw his first presidential address and excitement about her inaugural dress . Michelle Obama , dressed in Jason Wu , and President Obama at the Home State Ball Tuesday night . The Obamas were serenaded by Beyoncé during their first dance at the Neighborhood Ball Tuesday night . Beyoncé sang Etta James ' `` At Last , '' from her role in the movie `` Cadillac Records '' as the couple laughed and took their first spin around the dance floor . Before the dance , Obama addressed the crowd , which erupted in applause when he entered the room . `` First of all , how good-looking is my wife ? '' Obama joked . Watch the Obamas at the first ball of the night '' All eyes certainly were on Michelle Obama , who had kept her choice of a designer and dress style a secret until the moment she entered the dance floor . The first lady was clad in a long white gown designed by up-and-coming designer Jason Wu , 26 . The gown made especially for the first lady is made of ivory silk chiffon , embellished with organza and Swarovski crystal rhinestones and silver thread embroidery , according to one of Wu 's publicists . Wu told CNN he did n't know that she had chosen his gown until her first ball appearance Tuesday night . `` It 's thrilling . ... For a young designer , I could n't ask for any more than this , '' said Wu , whose design style combines modern lifestyle dressing and haute couture , according to his Web site . He designed and delivered the dress at the request of Michelle Obama 's aides in December , according to fashion expert Mary Alice Stephenson , contributing editor at Harper 's Bazaar . Wu -- who has been in the business for three years , according to InStyle.com fashion director Joe Berean -- said he intended the gown to stand for everything that she and President Obama are about . Listen to Berean critique Michelle Obama 's inauguration outfits '' `` It 's about hope . It 's about newness , '' he said . `` It 's all a little dreamlike , and we 're making history , and I wanted to really reflect that . '' The Neighborhood Ball , a first of its kind and one of the balls open to the public , was the first of 10 official balls that the Obamas were scheduled to attend . For the new president , the first was particularly important . `` I cut my teeth doing neighborhood work and this campaign was organized neighborhood by neighborhood , '' he said . For that reason `` this ball is the one that captures best the spirit of this campaign , '' Obama said . The Obamas then moved to their second ball -- the Home State Ball , for Illinois and Hawaii -- at the Convention Center . After greeting the crowd by saying `` Aloha , '' the president thanked many in the crowd who he said were old friends who had been part of the couple 's lives for awhile . `` This is a special ball because it represents our roots , '' he said . The couple laughed and embraced as they danced . President Obama even let loose after his long day , twirling his wife around in a circle -- a move the crowd cheered . Time : See the glamour of past balls . Next , the Obamas made their way to the Commander-in-Chief Ball , attended by many members of the military , including wounded veterans . `` It is wonderful to be surrounded by some of the very best and bravest Americans , '' Obama said . `` Your courage , your grace and your patriotism inspire us all . '' Obama told the crowd that there is `` no greater honor or responsibility than serving as your commander in chief . '' Watch the Obamas as the Commander-in-Chief Ball '' Obama then introduced members of the military from Illinois stationed in Kabul , Afghanistan . After thanking them , Obama took time for lighter banter , polling the members of the military about whether they were Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox baseball fans . `` Terrible ! '' quipped Obama , known to be a huge White Sox fan , as most said they were Cubs fans . Then Obama introduced his wife , who took a moment to emerge from backstage . `` I may have been stood up , '' he joked , before she came out for their next dance . Next , the Obamas turned their attention to the Youth Inaugural Ball , where people between the ages of 18 and 35 gathered . `` When you look at the history of this campaign , what started out as an improbable journey -- when nobody gave us a chance -- was carried forward , was inspired by , was driven by , was energized by , young people all across America , '' Obama said . The president thanked the young people who came out to vote in dramatically high numbers , especially compared to past elections . He said a new generation inspired an older generation , and `` that 's how change happens in America . '' Afterward , the Obamas moved to the Home State Ball for Delaware and Pennsylvania , honoring Vice President Joe Biden . `` We are grateful to you , not only for the trust you bestowed , but also for a guy named Joe Biden , '' Obama said . Biden was born in Pennsylvania and later moved to Delaware , which he represented in the U.S. Senate . The Obamas then visited the rest of the parties earlier than scheduled and in quick succession , spending about five minutes each at the Mid-Atlantic , Western , Midwest , Southern and Eastern regional balls . At the Western Ball , singer Marc Anthony helped entertain about 11,500 guests , including film director Ron Howard and `` Curb Your Enthusiasm '' actress Cheryl Hines . When the Obamas arrived , someone shouted `` I love you '' to the president . `` I love you back , '' Obama responded . `` Michelle loves you , too . '' Before the couple 's dance at the Midwest Ball , the president introduced the first lady by saying he 'd `` like to dance with the one who brung me , and who does everything I do except ... in high heels . '' The first couple 's last dance of the night -- at the Eastern Ball -- happened shortly after 12:35 a.m. Wednesday . Melanie Roussell , a spokeswoman for the committee , said that in keeping with tradition , the Obamas and Biden and his wife , Jill , would make appearances at each of the official balls . Quiz : First ladies gowns . There was more than chips and dip for the new president and his fellow partygoers . `` We will have a little more than light fare , '' said Roussell , who listed such menu items as penne Italiano and chilled chicken roulades with tomatoes , artichokes and pine nuts . The balls also featured plenty of music to suit just about everyone 's taste . In addition to Beyoncé , the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center included recording artists Jay-Z , Faith Hill , Shakira and Alicia Keys . iReport.com : Are you in Washington ? Share your story . Those not lucky enough to score a ticket or an invitation could watch on television . `` We are trying to make this the most accessible inauguration in history , '' Roussell said . `` We are encouraging people to plan parties in their own neighborhoods , and they can tune in and celebrate along with the president . '' CNN 's Lisa Respers France , Mallory Simon and Rebecca Sinderbrand contributed to this report . | Obama thanks youth for helping inspire , energize `` improbable journey '' Obama says at military ball there is `` no greater honor '' than being commander . Michelle Obama wears silk chiffon Jason Wu gown with crystal rhinestones . Celebrities attending include Beyoncé , Jay-Z , Faith Hill . | [[3543, 3657], [251, 265], [268, 287], [1014, 1075], [1083, 1091], [1112, 1156], [1138, 1156], [1159, 1246], [6648, 6799]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama said in an interview aired Sunday that the hardest decision he 's made since taking office was to send more troops to Afghanistan . In a `` 60 Minutes '' interview , President Obama said , `` I fundamentally disagree with Dick Cheney . '' Also in the interview on CBS ' `` 60 Minutes , '' Obama defended his decision to shut down the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and he countered criticism from former vice president Dick Cheney . `` I fundamentally disagree with Dick Cheney -- not surprisingly , '' Obama said . `` I think that Vice President Cheney has been at the head of a movement whose notion is somehow that we ca n't reconcile our core values , our Constitution , our belief that we do n't torture , with our national security interests . I think he 's drawing the wrong lesson from history . '' Obama was responding to comments Cheney made to CNN 's `` State of the Union '' on March 15 , when he said the president is making the nation less safe by closing the Guantanamo prison and ending interrogation practices that Bush administration critics consider torture for terror suspects . Just a month into office , Obama ordered 17,000 troops to Afghanistan , the original front in the `` war on terrorism '' sparked by the September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington . `` I think it 's the right thing to do . But it 's a weighty decision because we actually had to make the decision prior to the completion of the strategic review that we were conducting , '' Obama said . Coming off a tumultuous week over the millions in bonuses paid out to employees of AIG , Obama said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner 's job is secure despite critics calling for his resignation . Obama joked that even if Geithner were to tender his resignation , the president would tell him , `` Sorry buddy , you 've still got the job . '' Geithner has come under fire over the $ 165 million in bonuses AIG paid its top executives after the insurance giant received more than $ 170 billion in federal bailout money . A loophole in the recently approved economic stimulus bill , included at the behest of the Treasury , allowed AIG to pay the bonuses . `` It 's going to take a little bit more time than we would like to make sure that we get this plan just right , '' Obama said . The president also stressed that his administration wo n't endorse a House bill that would levy a 90 percent tax on bonuses paid out by companies that receive bailout money . `` As a general proposition , you do n't want to be passing laws that are just targeting a handful of individuals , '' Obama said . `` You want to pass laws that have some broad applicability ... you certainly do n't want to use the tax code to punish people . '' | Dick Cheney has drawn ` the wrong lesson from history , ' president said . Obama said his hardest decision so far is sending more troops to Afghanistan . He would n't accept resignation from Treasury Secretary Geithner , Obama said . Obama said he would n't endorse a 90 percent tax on bonuses , targeting just a few . | [[279, 318], [321, 461], [412, 475], [543, 558], [793, 846], [801, 846], [1519, 1534], [2305, 2320], [2612, 2627], [19, 61], [69, 111], [43, 94], [74, 166], [1624, 1733], [2321, 2334], [2340, 2400], [2354, 2433]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's no secret that `` American Idol '' judge Simon Cowell often shows no mercy toward aspiring singers . Quirky , tattooed contestant Megan Joy Corkrey discovered that Wednesday night during the elimination round on the popular singing competition . Megan Joy said she and Simon Cowell remain on good terms . Megan Joy , who dropped her last name , told Cowell that she `` did n't really care '' about his criticisms of her Tuesday night performance of Bob Marley 's `` Turn The Lights Down Low , '' which he described as `` boring , indulgent and monotonous . '' Those comments sealed the 23-year-old single mother 's fate . Host Ryan Seacrest asked Cowell if he would be using the `` save '' rule in Megan 's case . Cowell demurred : `` Megan , with the greatest respect , when you said that you do n't care -- nor do we . So I 'm not going to pretend that we 're even going to contemplate saving you , '' replied Cowell . `` I do n't care that Simon did n't like that song , '' Joy said in an interview with CNN on Friday . `` I truly did n't and I still do n't . I still loved it , I sang it the way I wanted to . '' Watch what CNN 's Michelle Wright said about Megan Joy '' Despite all the bickering , Joy says that she and Cowell remain on good terms . After Wednesday 's program , she says they both laughed and he told her that he enjoyed watching her . Watch what CNN 's Lisa Respers France thought of performance '' Furthermore , the self-described `` dork '' says her `` American Idol '' experience has opened new doors to her future . `` Before all this competition , I thought I was just going to be a stay-at-home mom , '' Joy said . `` Now , I am interested to see all sorts of different things I could possibly try and dabble . ... I 'm excited to just see what 's out there . '' And those bizarre moments onstage Wednesday when she flapped her arms and squawked like a bird ? Joy says that 's just her personality . `` I do a lot of sound effects all the time , bird noises , animal noises , '' she said . `` Wednesday , I kind of had a feeling it was going to be me ... so I decided that I 'm just going to be myself and be silly out there . '' | Megan Joy dropped from `` American Idol '' on Wednesday night . She had dismissed judge Simon Cowell 's criticism ; Cowell dismissed her . Joy says `` Idol '' has opened up new worlds for her . | [[1486, 1592]] |
-LRB- CNET -RRB- -- Compact-camera manufacturers have begun testing the waters with a wealth of high-end features as they search for new ways to gain revenue , market share , and recognition . A prototype of Olympus ' Micro Four Thirds model , one of several small cameras with big features . In earlier digital photography days , a camera with an extra megapixel of resolution , face recognition , or image stabilization could stand apart from the herd . But now that herd has grown larger , most folks who 'll buy a digital camera already have done so , the economy has put consumer spending on ice -- and camera makers are making some bolder bets with high-end features . Among them : Nikon 's built-in GPS support to record where a photo was taken , Casio 's high-speed video , and the Micro Four Thirds camera system from Panasonic and Olympus . Premium features are n't an easy sell . They tend to appeal to market niches rather than the mainstream . Early implementations are often rough around the edges . And it 's hard enough to convince people to buy a new camera , much less one with the higher price of premium features . But winning those customers can have a good payoff with better profit margins . And that 's critical in this day and age . Market research firm IDC expects that after years of growth , the shipments of digital cameras will decline in 2009 . `` It 's crowded , and it 's getting crowdeder , '' IDC analyst Ron Glaz said of the digital camera market . `` We 're anticipating that with the slowdown in economy and disposable income , we 'll start seeing consolidation of the vendors . '' In other words , even though something in the neighborhood of 38 million digital cameras are sold annually , some companies will throw in the towel . Even as the compact-digital market saturated in recent years , digital SLRs showed strong market growth . Some high-end compact models are geared for those thinking of buying an SLR , but who want something less bulky and complicated . Another type : SLR owners who need something they can slip into a pocket or easily take on a trip . Dethroning Canon . The company to dethrone here is Canon , the leader of the compact camera market . Not only does it have seemingly innumerable cameras for every variation of consumer , but it also has long offered its G series for enthusiasts who are willing to pay a premium for high-end features . The current PowerShot G10 offers 14.7 megapixels of resolution , full manual controls , support for raw image format , a durable body , and a relatively fast lens . `` There have always been competitive products for the G-series . However , the range of competitors has expanded recently . Now , not only high-end point-and-shoot , but also low-end DSLR products are priced about the same as the G10 , '' Canon said in a statement . The company has offered a new G-series model each year since 2006 , and Canon believes the G10 to be the leading high-end compact camera in the United States . Canon shares dominance in the SLR market with Nikon , and in the compact market , Nikon 's Coolpix P6000 is aimed straight at Canon 's G10 . The P6000 's chief distinguishing feature is its built-in GPS receiver , which enables the camera to know where it is when a photo is taken . That location data is written into the image file through a process called geotagging that lets people sort their photos not just by when they were taken or by what folder on a computer they were stuffed into , but also by where they were taken . `` Having GPS in the camera makes all the sense in the world to me , '' Glaz said . `` People are now capturing thousands of pictures a year . There are only a few things they remember about them -- I was in Paris , it was around the holidays . '' So location data is important , especially as software arrives that can convert a photo 's latitude-longitude information into a place name . That will let people search for photos by typing in text , not just by looking at image thumbnails on a map . The Micro Four Thirds contenders . The P6000 and G10 are self-contained , one-off cameras . If you do n't like them , you can wait a couple years and buy the next model in the category . But Olympus and Panasonic are trying something much more ambitious in the market : the Micro Four Thirds standard . The two companies already sell SLRs that use the earlier Four Thirds standard , which governs the sensor size along with the interchangeable lenses mounting system and communication with the camera body . Micro Four Thirds is a smaller variation that employs the same size sensor but smaller lenses , and cameras forsake SLRs ' space-consuming flip-up mirror . `` We 're looking at -LRB- Micro Four Thirds -RRB- as the ability to offer a high-end interchangeable lens camera in an extremely small , compact body at an affordable price that would appeal to individuals coming up from the point-ad-shoot space , looking for a more sophisticated camera system they could grow with , '' said Sally Smith Clemens , product manager for Olympus Imaging America . It 's for the person who demands high image quality but wants to be able to fit a camera and three lenses in a small fanny pack . Casio 's EX-FH20 camera can shoot slow-motion video . This one slows down time by a factor of 14 but has a native resolution of only 224x168 pixels . At 1000 frames per second , it 's a 224x56 strip . So far , Olympus has only shown a slim Micro Four Thirds concept model , and despite some speculation to the contrary , that 's all it 'll show at the Photo Marketing Show in March , Smith Clemens added . But Panasonic already has its first first Micro Four Thirds model for sale , the $ 670 Lumix DMC-G1 . While Olympus ' Micro Four Thirds effort is steered initially toward small models resembling the rangefinder cameras from the film era , Panasonic 's G1 is relatively expensive and bulky , smaller than an SLR but not something that fits into a pocket easily . Some wags have called the G1 a `` Barbie SLR . '' But it shows what can be done with Micro Four Thirds , leading Popular Photography magazine to name the G1 camera of the year . DxO Labs has found the G1 's sensor quality to be superior to that of Canon 's G10 , boding well for Micro Four Thirds models . Sensor size has a lot to do with image quality -- and price -- and Micro Four Thirds sensors , at 17.3 mm by 13mm are vastly larger that those used in compact cameras . That 's important when shooting in dim conditions and when trying to get the best range of colors and tones . Panasonic 's ambition . Panasonic , which has n't had much success with its Four Thirds SLR line against giants Canon and Nikon , is eagerly pursuing the Micro Four Thirds direction . Along with the G1 and two lenses , a 14-45mm model and a 45-200mm model -LRB- the equivalent of 28-90mm and 90-400mm in 35mm camera terms -RRB- , Panasonic plans to release three more lenses this year : a 7-14mm f4 , a fast 20mm f1 .7 , and an image-stabilized 14-140mm f4-5 .6 . `` I do see this being a big part of our future , '' said David Briganti , Panasonic 's national marketing manager for imaging . `` The only people having extreme success in the true digital SLR world are Canon and Nikon . Sony is a huge player in the digital compact camera space , but even Sony has struggled despite the huge efforts with their Alpha line . We 'll still have Four Thirds models , and there will be potential for new models in the future , but we feel there 's a huge opportunity that 's been missed by camera manufacturers today , '' the step-up from ordinary compact cameras . Panasonic believes there are 23 million people in the market who are willing to buy digital SLRs , but only 7 million have done so , and Micro Four Thirds is aimed at the other 16 million . Micro Four Thirds , though , is a hybrid technology that remains unproven in the market , Glaz said . `` Nobody knows if people will buy them . The G1 is kind of in a no-man 's land at this point , '' he said . Why not make things even easier by skipping the interchangeable lenses altogether and shipping an model with a big zoom range ? In short , physics constraints preclude ultrazoom cameras with large image sensors , Briganti said . In general , the larger the sensor , the larger the lenses to support it must be . There is room for improvement , though . The G1 ca n't shoot video -- despite not being encumbered by the mirror that makes video in SLRs so difficult . But Panasonic plans a new model this year that will support high-definition video , Briganti said . Casio 's need for speed . Casio has long had a niche with its very slim compact cameras , but in 2008 it started offering a new selling point : super-high-speed video . Most digital cameras shoot video at 30 frames per second , but Casio 's $ 1,000 EX-F1 can shoot much faster : 512x384-pixel resolution at 300 frames per second or 336x96 at 1,200 frames per second , for example . Later came the EX-FH20 , which at $ 600 is n't as expensive , then at the Consumer Electronics Show , the still cheaper EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 . These cameras also will take a high-speed burst of full-resolution still images , making it easier at least in theory to capture that exact moment when the your son 's bat hits the baseball . `` The megapixel wars have peaked out , '' said Bill Heuer , head of Casio 's digital camera division . `` We challenged R&D to come up with something to use technology to do things that have n't been done before ... Our goal is to establish categories that are profitable to us and to the retailer . '' With the camera industry now operating at the breakneck speed of computing technology , it 's certain other camera makers will try to stake their claims with high-end options . Fujifilm 's $ 400 F200EXR has a sensor designed to work better in low-light conditions . But it 's not just a research and development challenge . The industry now has to convince budget-constrained consumers that the new high-end features are n't just gimmicks but are actually advances worth spending money on . © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. . All rights reserved . CNET , CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. . Used by permission . | Compact-camera makers are testing the waters with high-end features like GPS . Premium features like high-speed video are n't an easy sell in a tough economy . After years of growth , shipments of digital cameras are expected to decline in 2009 . The company to dethrone here is Canon , leader of the compact camera market . | [[0, 16], [28, 141], [608, 674], [851, 890], [1258, 1375], [1296, 1375], [2106, 2124], [2125, 2162]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The fourteenth suspicious fire in a month 's time hit a small community near Philadelphia before dawn Sunday . A huge fire spread through more than a dozen homes Sunday outside Philadelphia , authorities said . The seven-alarm fire in Coatesville , Pennsylvania , damaged more than a dozen homes and caused nearly $ 2 million in damage , according to city spokeswoman Kristin Geiger . No residents were injured , she said . It took 150 firefighters three hours to bring the blaze under control , and one firefighter broke his ankle , CNN affiliate WPVI reported . Watch a town fearful of what 's next '' Authorities in the city announced a state of emergency on Sunday . In a statement , Coatesville City Manager Harry Walker said the declaration would allow him to `` promulgate whatever special rules and regulations necessary to protect '' citizens . It would also let him request assistance from other municipalities and `` enter into contracts , employ temporary personnel , rent equipment , purchase supplies without regard to the normal procedures and formalities prescribed by law , '' Walker wrote . Authorities have been imploring residents to remove anything flammable from outside their homes -- including porch furniture and trash . Standing outside the latest blaze early Sunday , resident Janet Jackson said it had broken out just behind her house . `` I woke up and everything was in flames , '' she said , adding , `` It 's really scary . ... I mean we 're all afraid to even be in our houses right now . '' Francis Dorsheimer said he had just arrived home when his family told him they needed to leave right away because a neighbor 's house was on fire . He ran outside and saw flames `` shooting off the roof . '' `` Must have been like 15-foot flames or higher , '' he said . `` It was just unbelievable . All the smoke in the air -- you could hardly breathe . '' Watch the flames eat away at homes '' Beverly Rivera watched firefighters put out the blaze at the home that she had recently moved out of . She still had possessions inside . `` Whoever 's doing this , this is just absolutely ludicrous , '' she said . Referring to suggestions that the fires may be the result of gang activity , Rivera said , `` If it 's a gang , please stop , and find something else to do . Because this is , this is terrible . This is absolutely unreal . '' `` I never thought Coatesville would be on the map for something like this , '' she added . `` It 's just awful . Just awful . '' Thirteen previous suspected arsons have occurred since the start of the year in Coatesville . Fifteen suspected arsons happened in 2008 -- including one that killed an 83-year-old woman , Geiger said . The fires do not appear to follow a clear pattern , she said . Three suspects were arrested in December , and confessed to some of the fires , said Geiger . The suspects -- two adults and one juvenile -- are still in custody , she said . A $ 5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to whomever has been setting the latest fires . Federal officials have joined the investigation , WPVI reported . Two homes were first spotted in flames at 11:30 p.m. . The blazes spread and burned 15 homes , causing damage estimated at about $ 120,000 per home or a total of $ 1.8 million . City officials expect a huge turnout at a city council meeting Monday when the fires will be discussed . Coatesville , about 45 miles west of Philadelphia , has about 11,000 residents , according to the U.S. Census Bureau . | NEW : Authorities in Coatesville , Pennsylvania , declare state of emergency . Since start of year , 14 suspicious fires have happened in a town near Philadelphia . WPVI : Federal investigators are now part of a probe into the possible arsons . No residents were injured in a fire Sunday that damaged 15 homes , authorities said . | [[623, 689], [0, 15], [69, 129], [3058, 3105], [130, 208], [230, 265], [283, 314], [404, 429], [3179, 3189], [3201, 3216]] |
Editor 's note : Jeffrey D. Sachs is director of the Earth Institute and a professor at Columbia University . He also serves as special advisor to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals . From 2002 to 2006 , he was director of the U.N. Millennium Project . He is president and co-founder of Millennium Promise , a nonprofit organization aimed at ending extreme global poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals . He has twice been named among the 100 most influential leaders in the world by Time magazine and is the author of the bestsellers `` Common Wealth '' and `` The End of Poverty . '' Jeff Sachs says the G-20 countries must take steps to cushion the poor from the financial crisis . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The G-20 meeting in London , England , on April 2 will be watched by the entire world with urgency and with a yearning for hope , vision and programmatic clarity . The preparatory work is not adequate . The G-20 discussions do not move sufficiently beyond financial regulation . I would like to suggest the following main points for G-20 leadership in the global recovery . The G-20 needs to combine stimulus , economic development and sustainability : stimulus to get the world recession reversed , development to ensure that all of the world -LRB- not merely the rich countries or the G-20 -RRB- shares in the benefits , and sustainability to address the world 's grave risks of climate change , water stress and loss of biodiversity . The world 's 3 billion poor , especially the 1 billion poorest of the poor , are suffering powerful and destabilizing blows from the crisis , and these will get worse and threaten global security unless there is specific attention and action . The G-20 can not limit its focus to regulating the financial sector , reforming the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank , avoiding protectionism and reciting the measures that individual countries are taking . This would leave the world gasping for direction and hope . The G-20 must offer a vision that is big enough to quell global fears and action bold enough to protect the desperately poor while guiding the cooperative decision-making of the world 's economic authorities . The G-20 must push forward based on real policy coordination . The world does not have a system of effective cooperation . The United States , for example , does not engage in comprehensive and deep coordination with other countries . The poor countries , with half the world 's population , and the poorest countries , with roughly one-fifth of the world 's population , have not been brought into the equation . The G-20 package for stimulus should include : . First , fulfillment by all countries of stimulus measures already announced and a commitment to undertake new joint stimulus measures , especially priority public outlays on infrastructure , the social safety net and sustainable energy , as may be needed during the coming years . Second , establishment of a high-level G-20 coordination group , backed especially by China , the European Union , Japan and the United States , to work full-time on coordinating monetary , fiscal and financial policies for stimulus and long-term recovery . Such cooperative macroeconomic programming does not now exist . Third , increased currency support extended from the world 's five major central banks -LRB- the U.S. Federal Reserve , the European Central Bank , the Bank of England , the Bank of Japan and the People 's Bank of China -RRB- for emerging market economies facing the loss of loans from international banks -LRB- e.g. Eastern Europe -RRB- . The Fed 's currency swap lines to Brazil , Mexico , Korea and Singapore last fall played an important stabilizing role . The other central banks can and should do more , as can the Fed vis-à-vis other countries . Fourth , a G-20 commitment to gradual and orderly currency readjustments to help rebalance the world 's financial and trade flows . The Asian currencies should gradually appreciate against the euro , which in turn should appreciate gradually against the dollar . Squabbling about bilateral rates between the dollar and Chinese renmenbi should be put to rest . G-20 actions for the poor should include : . First , establishment of an urgent special food security program , which would make grants to low-income , food-deficit countries -LRB- including Africa , Haiti , Afghanistan and elsewhere -RRB- to ensure that impoverished farmers can get the basic input they need -LRB- such as fertilizer and high-yield seeds -RRB- to grow more food . United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Spain 's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero have joined to propose this new program and have mobilized backing from about a dozen countries . The United States ' contribution should be at least $ 200 million per year over five years -LRB- $ 1 billion total -RRB- , matching Spain , the largest donor country , and sending a powerful message of solidarity from the United States to the world . The hunger crisis is now afflicting 1 billion people and contributing to the deaths of millions of children each year . Second , full funding of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria , which is facing a critical and potentially devastating cash shortfall during 2009-11 . An incremental U.S. contribution of $ 350 million in 2009 would close the most urgent cash-flow gap and put the United States in the clear lead of protecting the Global Fund and championing the fight against the three pandemic diseases . Third , special urgent long-term financing of clean energy investments in the poor countries , especially solar , geothermal , wind and hydro , as a direct stimulus to the supplier countries -LRB- including the United States -RRB- , a development boost for the recipient countries -LRB- notably in Africa and Central Asia -RRB- and a major spur to climate control and success in negotiations this year . Fourth , accelerated distribution by the World Bank and the regional development banks of their unused financing capacities , directed at infrastructure and the Millennium Development Goals . The G-20 would commit to accelerate the replenishment of those funds on an expedited and as-needed basis . Fifth , urgently completing the pending injection of capital for regional development banks to bolster their lending and grants . -LRB- The Asian Development Bank , for example , is in the process of a recapitalization , which should be strongly supported by the United States and the rest of the G-20 . -RRB- . Sixth , an urgent easing of the conditions the IMF sets on its grants and loans to poor countries . This will ensure that those countries can receive and utilize greatly increased IMF financial backing to preserve trade finance and to have the room to undertake needed stimulus measures . Seventh , an explicit commitment by all parties to take the steps needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 , the world 's internationally agreed goals to fight extreme poverty , hunger and disease . -LRB- See http://www.milleniumpromise.org for details and ways to achieve them . -RRB- All parties should underscore their commitments to the goals , and the United States should emphasize its resolve to increase aid markedly by 2015 . G-20 actions for sustainability should include : . First , a determination to `` green '' the stimulus in each country and to expand the development financing for sustainable infrastructure in the developing world , including solar power and efficient water use in sub-Saharan Africa . Second , a commitment to reach a climate agreement in Copenhagen , Denmark , which will steer large-scale investments in sustainable energy , next-generation automobiles , green buildings and so forth as a key plank of global recovery . Follow-up . I recommend that the United States offer to host the next G-20 meeting in September in advance of the U.N. General Assembly . China would be a logical host for the fourth G-20 meeting during early 2010 . To enhance global coverage and legitimacy , the G-20 should be enlarged to be the G-22 , to include representation of East and West Africa . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jeffrey Sachs . | Jeffrey Sachs : When G-20 meets , it must do more than just financial regulation . He says the world 's 3 billion poor are suffering from global economic crisis . Sachs : World needs food security plan for poor nations with aid from U.S. , others . He says health and clean energy should be key priorities for the G-20 . | [[1743, 1810], [1499, 1528], [1576, 1638]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.S. Navy has captured seven suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden , the first arrests by a U.S.-led task force set up to curb rampant piracy off the Horn of Africa , a Navy spokesman said Wednesday . Seven men suspected of trying to pirate a tanker raise their hands before their arrest in the Gulf of Aden . Sailors from the cruiser USS Vella Gulf arrested the men Wednesday in the western Gulf of Aden -- a waterway between Africa and the Middle East -- after a distress call from the 420-foot -LRB- 128-meter -RRB- tanker Polaris . The tanker reported that men aboard a small skiff were attempting to board the ship using ladders , but its crew removed them before the would-be hijackers could get aboard , the Navy said . The Vella Gulf found and boarded the skiff , and the tanker 's crew identified the men aboard the skiff as their would-be hijackers . The skiff 's men were taken aboard the Vella Gulf , the flagship of the task force now patrolling the western Gulf of Aden , and eventually will be transferred to Kenya for trial , said Lt. Nate Christensen , a spokesman for the U.S. 5th Fleet . Piracy has become a chronic problem off the Horn of Africa in recent years , with some pirates operating from largely lawless Somalia . 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 . The task force led by the Vella Gulf was set up in January in an effort to clamp down on the attacks in the region , the southern approach to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal . | Seven men captured after failed attack on ship , U.S. Navy says . Men tried to board tanker from skiff , but crew removed ladders , Navy says . Navy cruiser found skiff after tanker made distress call . Cruiser was patrolling Gulf of Aden as part of U.S.-led , antipiracy task force . | [[0, 15], [19, 89], [559, 656], [663, 714], [113, 187]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A woman in rural Papua New Guinea was bound and gagged , tied to a log and set ablaze on a pile of tires this week , possibly because villagers suspected her of being a witch , police said Thursday . Her death adds to a growing list of men and women who have been accused of sorcery and then tortured or killed in the South Pacific island nation , where traditional beliefs hold sway in many regions . The victims are often scapegoats for someone else 's unexplained death , and bands of tribesmen collude to mete out justice to them for their supposed magical powers , police said . `` We have had difficulties in a number of previous incidents convincing people to come forward with information , '' said Simon Kauba , assistant commissioner of police and commander of the Highlands region , where the killing occurred . `` We are trying to persuade them to help . Somebody lost their mother or daughter or sister Tuesday morning . '' Early Tuesday , a group of people dragged the woman , believed to be in her late teens to early 20s , to a dumping ground outside the city of Mount Hagen . They stripped her naked , bound her hands and legs , stuffed a cloth in her mouth , tied her to a log and set her on fire , Kauba said . `` When the people living nearby went to the dump site to investigate what caused the fire , they found a human being burning in the flames , '' he said . `` It was ugly . '' The country 's Post-Courier newspaper reported Thursday that more than 50 people were killed in two Highlands provinces last year for allegedly practicing sorcery . In a well-publicized case last year , a pregnant woman gave birth to a baby girl while struggling to free herself from a tree . Villagers had dragged the woman from her house and hung her from the tree , accusing her of sorcery after her neighbor suddenly died . She and the baby survived , according to media reports . The killing of witches , or sangumas , is not a new phenomenon in rural areas of the country . Emory University anthropology professor Bruce Knauft , who lived in a village in the western province of Papua New Guinea in the early 1980s , traced family histories for 42 years and found that one in three adult deaths were homicides -- `` the bulk of these being collective killings of suspected sorcerers , '' he wrote in his book , `` From Primitive to Postcolonial in Melanesia and Anthropology . '' In recent years , as AIDS has taken a toll in the nation of 6.7 million people , villagers have blamed suspected witches -- and not the virus -- for the deaths . According to the United Nations , Papua New Guinea accounts for 90 percent of the Pacific region 's HIV cases and is one of four Asia-Pacific countries with an epidemic . `` We 've had a number of cases where people were killed because they were accused of spreading HIV or AIDS , '' Kauba said . While there is plenty of speculation why Tuesday 's victim was killed , police said they are focused more on who committed the crime . `` If it is phobias about alleged HIV/AIDS or claims of a sexual affair , we must urge the police and judiciary to throw the book at the offenders , '' the Post-Courier wrote in an editorial . `` There are remedies far , far better than to torture and immolate a young woman before she can be judged by a lawful system . '' | Woman suspected to be witch in Papua New Guinea burned alive . Death adds to growing list of people accused of sorcery tortured or killed . Victims are often scapegoats for someone else 's unexplained death . | [[153, 193], [3197, 3205], [3256, 3324], [219, 268], [421, 442], [454, 491]] |
UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rapes targeting girls as young as seven are on the increase in Afghanistan where conditions for women are little better than under the Taliban , the U.N. and rights groups say . Conditions for women are little better than they were under the hardline Taliban regime , the U.N. says . In its annual report on human rights , the U.N. warned conditions were deteriorating in the war-ravaged country despite U.S.-led efforts after the 2001 removal from power of the hardline militia . `` Violence is tolerated or condoned within the family and community , within traditional and religious leadership circles , as well as the formal and informal justice system , '' said Navi Pillay , the U.N. high commissioner for human rights . The `` Afghan government has failed to adequately protect the rights of women despite constitutional guarantees . '' With a resurgent Taliban targeting NATO forces , government security forces and civilians , violence has been on the increase in Afghanistan . . The number of civilian casualties in 2008 totaled 2,118 -- the highest number recorded since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001 , the U.N. said , urging greater protecting for ordinary Afghans . Violence against women comes in the form of rape , `` honor killings , '' early and forced marriages , sexual abuse and slavery , the report says . `` The security is the big issue , '' said Suraya Pakzad , founder of the Voice of Women Organization , which promotes education and awareness of women 's rights and protects women and girls at risk in Afghanistan . `` Because of security we , unfortunately , day by day , we have to pull out of areas where last year we operated , we have our operations . We were able to work with the women , but this year we can not , '' she said . `` We have to leave the area because security is getting worse day by day . '' `` Rapes in the country have been growing tremendously , particularly child rapes within the ages of 9 , 8 , 7 , even lesser than that , '' said Wazhma Frogh , director of Global Rights Afghanistan . `` So these are the issues that are all born by this lack of security where women have no place in ... security decisions . '' Domestic violence against child brides is widespread , said Suraya Pakzad , the founder of the Voice of Women organization , who was married at age 14 and has six children . She said girls as young as 10 face `` violation '' by husbands 40 years their senior . `` By the end ... women , or girls , run away . '' But women without husbands , especially widows , may have it even worse in Afghanistan , the report says . Without a spouse , the women are reduced to begging to feed their children . Options outside the home are limited where the Taliban holds sway in Afghanistan . The Taliban 's interpretation of strict Islamic law , or sharia , has included banning girls from school and the workplace . Even in areas not overrun by the Taliban , women face risks outside the home . `` The assassination of the most prominent national female senior police officer , in Kandahar in September 2008 , underscores the tremendous risks faced by women in public life , '' the report says . | Afghan women 's rights are little better than under Taliban , report says . Rights group says girls as young as seven are regularly raped . United Nations calls for better protection for civilians . | [[97, 108], [115, 176], [212, 299], [34, 73], [1151, 1164], [1167, 1215], [1022, 1025], [1151, 1159], [1167, 1215]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rioting has flared near Belfast on Saturday after the arrests of three men in the killings of two soldiers in Northern Ireland last week , police said . Two people in masks prepare to throw petrol bombs Saturday in Lurgan , Northern Ireland . Petrol bombs have been hurled at police in Lurgan , a town in County Armagh , 20 miles west of Belfast , police in Northern Ireland said . There are gangs of youths on the streets , authorities said , but there have been no arrests or injuries . Police announced the arrests on Saturday and said the three men have been taken to the police service 's Serious Crime Suite in County Antrim . One of them , a dissident republican named Colin Duffy , is from Lurgan . They are the first arrests in connection with the March 7 shootings , which were the first fatal attack on British troops in the province for more than 12 years . The two British soldiers were shot dead at a base in Massereene , in Antrim , as they were preparing to ship out for duty in Afghanistan . The soldiers , Cengiz `` Pat '' Azimkar , 21 , and Mark Quinsey , 23 , had already packed their bags and changed into desert uniforms , authorities said . Two masked gunmen with automatic rifles shot them as the soldiers picked up a pizza delivery at the barracks , authorities said . Two other soldiers and the two pizza delivery men were seriously wounded . The shooting has sparked fears of a return to the sectarian violence that Northern Ireland suffered until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 , a period known as The Troubles . A militant splinter group , the Real IRA , reportedly claimed it had carried out the attack on the soldiers . Two days after the soldiers were killed , a police officer was killed in a shooting southwest of Belfast . Constable Stephen Carroll was one of four officers who were responding to call in Craigavon when his vehicle came under fire and he was killed . Three people have been arrested in connection with the police officer 's death . The Continuity IRA , a republican splinter group that does not accept the Good Friday Agreement , said it had killed Carroll , Britain 's Press Association reported . Politicians from across the political spectrum have condemned the killings , with Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness calling the killers `` traitors to the island of Ireland . '' Sinn Fein is a predominantly Catholic party that wants Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and become part of the Republic of Ireland . The party is widely thought to be linked to the Irish Republican Army . Danny Kennedy , deputy leader of the loyalist Ulster Unionist Party , which wants Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom , also condemned the attack as `` wicked and murderous . '' | NEW : Petrol bombs hurled at police after arrests in connection with soldiers ' killings . Three arrested over slayings of two soldiers in Northern Ireland last week . Three men also being held in Monday 's killing of police officer . Two republican groups have reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings . | [[262, 311], [19, 155], [1673, 1779], [1925, 2005], [1563, 1588], [1606, 1672]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The risk of being jolted by 1,500 volts of electricity has n't scared them off . Neither have fears of falling off the speeding electric trains . Thousands of passengers ride on overloaded trains in Jakarta every day . So Indonesian railway officials on Monday will unleash a new weapon on commuters who squat on top of railway cars : spray them with colored dye , a local newspaper reported . The state transit agency told the English-language newspaper Jakarta Post that it hopes the `` unique approach '' will deter passengers riding illegally on rooftops . Trains are the cheapest and fastest form of transportation for office workers commuting between the capital city Jakarta and neighboring towns . Throngs of thousands cram the trains during the morning and evening rush hours , making it impossible for everyone to snag space inside packed cars . Under the new plan , security officials at each station will `` mark '' roof riders with dye as trains depart . When the passengers disembark at their destination , officials can then easily identify them . `` We will confiscate their IDs and give them a ticket , '' Akhmand Sujadi , regional spokesman for the transit agency Kerata Api , told the newspaper . `` We will send a copy of the ticket to their family , their local neighborhood unit head , their employer , or , if they 're students , their headmasters . '' The offenders can reclaim their ID cards once they write a letter `` regarding their behavior , to be signed by the person who received their ticket . '' More than 320,000 passengers rode trains to and from work every day last year , the newspaper reported . The crush of passengers meant revenues of 248 billion Rupiahs -LRB- $ 26.8 million -RRB- for the system . But many commuters prefer to ride on top of passenger cars -- either due to a lack of space inside or because they ca n't afford the ticket , which start at 1,000 Rupiahs -LRB- $ 0.11 -RRB- . At least 53 rooftop riders died in the last two years , the newspaper reported . E-mail to a friend . | Commuters who squat on train roofs in Indonesia targeted with colored dye . Officials hope `` unique approach '' will deter passengers riding illegally . Security officials at stations will `` mark '' roof riders with dye as trains depart . When passengers disembark at destination , officials can easily identify them . | [[309, 318], [323, 351], [354, 381], [413, 579], [492, 526], [501, 579], [875, 893], [896, 937], [987, 1037], [1040, 1081]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After a lifetime of playing characters past-their-prime , Clint Eastwood appears to still be enjoying his own . Clint Eastwood stars as inspector Harry Callahan in `` Dirty Harry '' -LRB- 1971 -RRB- . Just last week the 78-year-old actor , best-known for his portrayal of `` tough guys '' like `` Dirty Harry , '' was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival . The American film-maker accepted the Palme d'Or -LRB- only the second they 've ever given for lifetime achievement -RRB- , while he was in town promoting his new film `` Gran Torino . '' What is your favorite Clint Eastwood movie ? Tell us below in the SoundOff box . Eastwood both directs and co-stars in `` Gran Torino , '' as a prejudiced Korean war veteran who comes to the rescue of troubled Asian teens who live next door . For Eastwood the honor caps a 40 year career acting , directing , producing and composing . During this time , he has won five Academy Awards , five Golden Globes and received many more nominations . The Hollywood veteran earned perhaps most acclaim for two films : `` Unforgiven '' -LRB- 1992 -RRB- and `` Million Dollar Baby '' -LRB- 2004 -RRB- . For each of these films he was awarded both Best Director and Best Picture Oscars , as well as being nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role . Eastwood got his break in 1959 , landing the role of Rowdy Yates in the television series `` Rawhide . '' A successful seven-year run helped turn Eastwood into a household name and landed him several other roles in so-called Spaghetti Western films , including the hit `` A Fist Full of Dollars '' -LRB- 1964 -RRB- , directed by Sergio Leone . Leone then re-hired Eastwood for two more successful films : `` For a Few More Dollars '' -LRB- 1965 -RRB- and `` The Good , the Bad and the Ugly '' -LRB- 1966 -RRB- . The trilogy earned Eastwood greater fame and a reputation for playing tough-guy , gun-slinging cowboys . Eastwood found another friend in director Don Siegel who gave him perhaps his most iconic role , starring in `` Dirty Harry '' -LRB- 1971 -RRB- as no-nonsense , `` loose-cannon '' cop Harry Callahan . The film was such a hit that it four spin off sequels were made : `` Magnum Force '' -LRB- 1973 -RRB- , `` The Enforcer '' -LRB- 1976 -RRB- , `` Sudden Impact '' -LRB- 1983 -RRB- -LRB- the highest grossing film of the series -RRB- , and `` The Dead Pool '' -LRB- 1988 -RRB- . In the 1990s Eastwood returned to westerns -- this time as director as well as star -- earning critical acclaim and a monumental nine Oscar nominations for `` Unforgiven '' -LRB- 1992 -RRB- . Throughout the decade he also had considerable success helming blockbuster projects , like `` In the Line of Fire '' -LRB- 1993 -RRB- , `` Bridges of Madison County '' -LRB- 1995 -RRB- and `` True Crime '' -LRB- 1999 -RRB- . In 2000 Eastwood co-starred in the box-office hit `` Space Cowboys . '' In 2004 , he put employed his entire array of movie skills directing , producing , scoring and co-starring alongside Hillary Swank in boxing drama `` Million Dollar Baby . '' Until his most recent return to the screen in `` Gran Torino , '' Eastwood had been concentrating on directing , releasing two films about World War II in 2006 , `` Flags of our Fathers '' and `` Letters from Iwo Jima '' and directing Angelina Jolie to BAFTA , Golden Globe and Oscar nominations this year in `` Changeling . '' Swedish director Ingmar Bergman is the only other film-maker to have received the Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement from the Cannes Film Festival . | Clint Eastwood wins a Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement . Ingmar Berman is the only other filmmaker to have received this honor . Eastwood directs and stars in his new film `` Gran Torino '' `` Dirty Harry '' star still enjoys playing gun-slinging `` tough guys '' | [[237, 251], [347, 438], [3450, 3599], [3482, 3599], [1876, 1980], [1921, 1922], [1934, 1980]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama is planning to issue three executive orders Thursday , including one demanding the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay be closed within a year , according to a senior administration official and a congressional aide . A guard keeps watch from a tower at the military facility at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . A second executive order will formally ban torture by requiring the Army field manual be used as the guide for terror interrogations , essentially ending the Bush administration 's CIA program of enhanced interrogation methods . A third executive order , according to the officials , will order a systematic review of detention policies and procedures and a review of all individual cases . The officials said new White House Counsel Greg Craig was briefing congressional Republicans Wednesday afternoon about the three executive orders . `` We 've always said the process would include consultation , '' the senior administration official said of the closed-door meeting informing Republicans of the moves . The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay became a lightning rod for critics who charged that the Bush administration had used torture on terror detainees . President George W. Bush and other senior officials repeatedly denied that the U.S. government had used torture to extract intelligence from terror suspects . Obama 's move will set off a fierce legal struggle over where the prison 's detainees will go next . Watch experts debate the Gitmo dilemma '' `` The key question is where do you put these terrorists , '' House Minority Leader John Boehner , R-Ohio , said in a statement issued Wednesday . `` Do you bring them inside our borders ? Do you release them back into the battlefield ? '' The meeting with Craig did not address how the administration plans to handle Guantanamo detainees , said Rep. Bill Young of Florida , the top Republican on the Defense Appropriations Committee . The executive orders `` will leave some wiggle room for the administration , '' he said . Young said he has `` quite a bit of anxiety '' about transferring detainees to United States facilities . `` Number one , they 're dangerous , '' he said . `` Secondly , once they become present in the United States , what is their legal status ? What is their constitutional status ? I worry about that , because I do n't want them to have the same constitutional rights that you and I have . They 're our enemy . '' Watch what may happen to Gitmo 's inmates '' He said he asked Craig what the government plans to do with two recently built facilities at Guantanamo , which he said cost $ 500 million . He said Craig had no answer , but pledged to discuss the issue further . Young said he suggested reopening Alcatraz , the closed federal prison on an island outside San Francisco , California -- in Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's district . `` Put them in Alcatraz , where supposedly they ca n't escape from , '' Young said , but added the suggestion `` did n't go over well . '' The revelation coincided with a judge 's decision on Wednesday to halt the September 11 terrorism cases at the behest of President Obama . On Tuesday , he directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ask prosecutors to seek stays for 120 days so terrorism cases at the facility can be reviewed , according to a military official close to the proceedings . CNN 's Susan Candiotti and Laurie Ure contributed to this report . | NEW : Obama to issue 3 orders Thursday that break from Bush administration . NEW : Order 2 will ban torture by requiring use of Army field manual for interrogations . NEW : 3rd order will mandate review of detention policies and procedures . Military judge grants Obama 's request to stay cases for 120 days . | [[30, 131], [371, 421], [371, 395], [422, 456], [425, 503], [600, 761], [3110, 3195]] |
Editor 's note : This is the first in a series of planned collaborations between CNN and the online investigative journalism organization , ProPublica.org . Silver State Bank grew impressively under CEO Tod Little . He says he was forced out for favoring slow growth . LAS VEGAS , Nevada -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sitting back in his leather chair , working as a consultant for a small Las Vegas bank , Tod Little is sure of one thing : Practically anyone , he says , could have made money as a banker in the go-go days of real estate in Nevada . Go-go days that lasted until the fall of 2008 . `` It did n't take a rocket scientist to run a bank in this town for the past 10 years , '' Little told CNN . CNN 's Special Investigations Unit and the online investigative journalism organization ProPublica.org got a brief look inside the collapse of a regional bank . What the two organizations learned was both old and new : bankers giving themselves large salaries and generous bonuses , at the same time they are lending millions of dollars on what , according to one lawsuit , were essentially parcels of bare dirt with little potential of big income . Silver State Bank had been in business in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson for 10 years when Little , the bank 's founder and CEO left . The bank had grown impressively under his guidance , but Little said his managers wanted more and he was forced out . `` They wanted bigger salaries , bigger lifestyle , fancier offices . Whatever . However you want to view that , '' Little told CNN . One of those managers was new bank president Corey Johnson , who declined to answer any questions . Three other managers declined comment to CNN , as well . Silver State and others loaned money on the promise of Las Vegas ' commercial real estate boom with the belief that undeveloped land would be turned into shopping centers , hotels and offices . Records show that land and houses were being `` flipped '' or resold over and over at huge profits . Bill Martin , a Las Vegas banker who once worked as a regulator for the Comptroller of the Currency in Washington , said what was happening to Silver State was clear . `` They were over-advancing on construction , you know , more liberal advances on construction , '' Martin said . `` It all worked last year -LSB- and -RSB- the year before and the year before . So they just kept doing it . '' Banking regulators issued repeated so-called `` mild '' warnings to banks concerned they were amassing large amounts of commercial development loans and lowering lending standards . But Martin says those warnings -- delivered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation personnel often on a quarterly or semi-annual basis in their field visits to Silver State -- were ignored . One Silver State loan that turned out to be especially poor was to a Las Vegas developer who had been a longtime customer of the bank . According to bank records , a developer named Thomas Jurbala , received almost $ 100 million from Silver State during a 10-year period . In 2008 , Jurbala came calling again and the bank approved a $ 24 million loan for a piece of ground in North Las Vegas far from the Last Vegas strip , supposedly valued at $ 48 million . It was a so-called `` interest reserve loan '' in which the bank not only loaned the principle amount but the interest , as well . Then , according to bank records , it booked the interest as revenue . Regulators say those sorts of deals are not uncommon in construction loans . But this particular piece of land was undeveloped with only a permit to build a casino there one day . It is near the Las Vegas Speedway and in court papers the developer said he hoped a casino could be built . However , the entire project was scrapped before a spade was ever turned , and the land sits empty surrounded by a fence . The project was scrapped because Silver State went under . Doug French , the man who made that loan , reluctantly agreed to sit down with CNN for a taped interview . He is now vice president at a Libertarian think tank in Auburn , Alabama . French told CNN that at `` the time '' he believed the land was `` very valuable . '' But when it all went up in smoke , he says , `` It 's very humbling , believe me . '' French says mistakes at Silver State Bank were `` preventable , '' but according to a lawsuit filed by the developer , the loans were part of a series of loans , each one preceding the other -- to different corporations . At the time French left Silver State Bank , the bank told reporters he had resigned for `` personal reasons . '' But French told CNN he was fired from Silver State . According to Securities and Exchange Commission documents , he sold $ 1.8 million in Silver State stock from November 2007 through February 2008 . That was on top of his $ 650,000 in salary and bonuses , according to bank records . He left the bank in March 2008 . In September 2008 , when Silver State Bank collapsed , a group of elderly Las Vegas deaf residents was especially hurt . The local chapter of the Deaf Seniors Association put an estimated $ 400,000 into certificates of deposit sold by Silver State . That money was to be used to help fund the group 's annual national convention in Las Vegas in 2009 . The group lost half of its money . The FDIC said after it seized Silver State that it did not have enough capital to cover business activities . `` I just ca n't believe it happened , '' one woman told CNN through a sign language interpreter . `` We 're just so frustrated . '' The group is trying to raise funds in a more traditional manner by making quilts . They have a very long road ahead , its members say . Silver State Bank was the 25th bank to fail in the United States in 2008 . As a result , the FDIC was left to cover more than a half-billion dollars in Silver State liabilities . Already this year , three U.S. banks have collapsed and experts predict many more will tumble as the economy continues to suffer . | Bank CEO says he was forced out for favoring slow growth , not being powerhouse . Former regulator : Silver State ignored repeated warnings from banking regulators . Silver State one of 27 that failed in 2008 ; many bankers believe 2009 will be worse . | [[216, 268], [224, 268], [1384, 1403], [2385, 2458], [3867, 3892], [5666, 5740]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The nation 's new `` first dog '' has heightened interest in its breed -- Portuguese water dog -- but not necessarily a thorough understanding of the dogs ' needs , a pair of owners and breeders told CNN . Bo the Portuguese water dog meets the camera . Bo was a gift to the Obama girls from Sen. Ted Kennedy . The dog , Bo , has triggered `` the most publicity the breed has ever had since its introduction into the U.S. in the late 1960s , '' the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America said in a news release . President Obama and his family welcomed Bo into the White House this week . Shortly afterward , the club 's Web site was receiving a million hits an hour , said Susan Teasley , a club member . Jane Harding , a fellow member of the club , said she has `` received about a 10 percent increase in calls '' since Tuesday , and some of the other breeders she knows also have reported more calls . `` Thankfully , people want to know more about the breed , '' Teasley said . `` But water dogs are not for everybody , and it would be sad to see people getting the dog without doing the proper research . '' Portuguese water dogs are `` active athletes , '' far from couch potatoes , she explained . In fact , they are more likely to rip a couch into pieces than lounge on it , Harding said , recalling a friend who had lost a sofa that way . Watch more water dog fun '' Portuguese water dogs can be miserable and destructive when alone , Teasley said . And do n't think you can close the door and keep them out . `` They want to be with you at all times -- even if it 's in the bathroom or your bed , '' she said . Teasley and her husband breed Portuguese water dogs and often allow them to run free on the two and a half acres of land they own . They are `` not apartment dogs , '' she said . Harding agreed . `` They are n't for people who want a tie-out dog or an apartment dog . For people like that , '' she joked , `` we recommend a stuffed dog . '' Portuguese water dogs love the outdoors , particularly if they have a garden to eat from , Teasley said as she wrestled to keep 7-month-old Misty Morning from eating the family 's flowers . Harding said she believes the first family will be successful with their new dog because `` they have access to the best trainers , and they want to make this work . '' For other Americans thinking about following suit , she cautioned , `` Buyers beware . Do your homework and first read the information on the breed . '' Teasley wants people to understand the breed to help avoid what she called the `` Dalmatian syndrome . '' After the movie `` 101 Dalmatians '' came out in 1996 , `` thousands of people rushed to get the dog , and thousands of dogs ended up in rescue kennels , '' Teasley said . What those who followed the Dalmatian trend may not have known is that Dalmatians shed profusely and they develop hearing problems , making it hard to train and call them , she said . Both Teasley and Harding advised owners to get a mentor , as they expect Sen. Ted Kennedy to be to the Obama family . Kennedy owns Portuguese water dogs himself and recommended the breed to the Obamas . Watch Obamas introduce dog '' `` For the first six to seven months of the puppy 's life , they need training , '' Harding said . She has diligently trained 8-year-old champion Bessie , who she said `` produces phenomenal litters ... and has multiple titles '' from the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America . Such organizations provide guidance to first-time dog owners . But it takes time to get a membership , Teasley said . Prospective members must apply for a one-year associate membership before they can receive a permanent one , she explained . That provides a cushion while they decide whether the dog is the right fit . `` It sounds like I 'm trying to discourage people from getting -LRB- a Portuguese water dog -RRB- , '' Teasley said , `` But I 'm not . We just do n't want dogs to come back because owners do n't know what they are doing . '' | Breeders fear too many people will try to get dog like the Obamas ' Bo . Breeder : Portuguese water dogs are `` active athletes , '' not couch potatoes . They are more likely to rip up couch than to lounge on it . Dogs bond quickly with family and want to be with them all the time . | [[1129, 1173], [1231, 1296], [1538, 1575]] |
NEW DELHI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Suspected Maoist rebels in eastern India who held up a train carrying 300 passengers Wednesday ended their siege after a four-hour standoff , officials said . An election official in Maharashtra Wednesday . Maoist rebels seized the train as India continued to vote . No one was hurt , said A.K. Chandra of India 's east-central railway . The suspected rebels seized the train , apparently to protest that some former comrades are taking part in general elections that are under way in the country . The Maoists did n't want the former rebels `` to join the mainstream and , therefore , stopped this train , '' said Sarvendu Tathagat , deputy commission of the Latehar district in the state of Jharkhand . Jharkhand is a mineral-rich state where rebels -- known as the Naxalites -- claim to be fighting for the rights of the poor and the dispossessed who have not benefited from the state 's resources . About 300 men , apparently unarmed , boarded the train , disabling its braking system as it passed through a dense forest . The hijackers released the train after `` persuasion '' by area villagers and railway officials , Chandra said . `` They wanted your -LRB- media -RRB- presence , '' he said of the hijackers ' possible motive . Jharkhand has seen stepped-up deadly attacks by rebels while the country is in the midst of month-long general elections . The second round of the elections begin Thursday . On April 16 , when the voting began , suspected rebels triggered an explosion that forced a bus carrying border security troops to stop in the same Latehar district . When the troops stepped out , the attackers killed at least six in a three-hour gun battle . And in neighboring Bihar state , suspected Maoists , who had called for a general strike , set eight trucks on fire , shot dead a driver , and blew up a government office on Wednesday , police said . The Maoist insurgency has claimed more than 6,000 lives since the late 1960s . Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called the rebels India 's biggest security threat . The elections , covering more than 3 million square kilometers of the planet , will run until next month in several stages of scattered polling . Then , elections officials will count the vote electronically in a single day -- on May 16 , three days after the last round of polling . It is an exercise that India undertakes every five years for its 1 billion-plus population . This year , the country is voting in 543 boroughs of the Lok Sabha , or the lower house of the Indian parliament . In the elections this year , 714 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots . The number is up 43 million from the last vote . | 300 suspected Maoist rebels stop train as it passed through a forest in Jharkhand . Official : Train was `` stopped , '' not hijacked in region that has seen rebel attacks . Maoist insurgency has claimed more than 6,000 lives since the late 1960s . Incident comes as India is in the midst of month-long general elections . | [[64, 77], [82, 131], [536, 547], [623, 641], [940, 953], [977, 994], [1026, 1063], [940, 953], [997, 1063], [536, 547], [623, 641], [1274, 1328], [1908, 1986], [244, 303], [482, 499], [505, 535], [1335, 1396], [2081, 2094], [2151, 2157], [2160, 2226]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Earth Day may fall later this week , but as far as former NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell and other UFO enthusiasts are concerned , the real story is happening elsewhere . Astronaut Edgar Mitchell , shown after his Apollo mission in 1971 , claims there `` is no doubt we are being visited . '' Mitchell , who was part of the 1971 Apollo 14 moon mission , asserted Monday that extraterrestrial life exists , and that the truth is being concealed by the U.S. and other governments . He delivered his remarks during an appearance at the National Press Club following the conclusion of the fifth annual X-Conference , a meeting of UFO activists and researchers studying the possibility of alien life forms . Mankind has long wondered if we 're `` alone in the universe . -LSB- But -RSB- only in our period do we really have evidence . No , we 're not alone , '' Mitchell said . `` Our destiny , in my opinion , and we might as well get started with it , is -LSB- to -RSB- become a part of the planetary community . ... We should be ready to reach out beyond our planet and beyond our solar system to find out what is really going on out there . '' Mitchell grew up in Roswell , New Mexico , which some UFO believers maintain was the site of a UFO crash in 1947 . He said residents of his hometown `` had been hushed and told not to talk about their experience by military authorities . '' They had been warned of `` dire consequences '' if they did so . But , he claimed , they `` did n't want to go to the grave with their story . They wanted to tell somebody reliable . And being a local boy and having been to the moon , they considered me reliable enough to whisper in my ear their particular story . '' Roughly 10 years ago , Mitchell claimed , he was finally given an appointment at Pentagon to discuss what he had been told . An unnamed admiral working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff promised to uncover the truth behind the Roswell story , Mitchell said . The stories of a UFO crash `` were confirmed , '' but the admiral was then denied access when he `` tried to get into the inner workings of that process . '' The same admiral , Mitchell claimed , now denies the story . `` I urge those who are doubtful : Read the books , read the lore , start to understand what has really been going on . Because there really is no doubt we are being visited , '' he said . `` The universe that we live in is much more wondrous , exciting , complex and far-reaching than we were ever able to know up to this point in time . '' A NASA spokesman denied any cover-up . `` NASA does not track UFOs . NASA is not involved in any sort of cover-up about alien life on this planet or anywhere else -- period , '' Michael Cabbage said Monday . Debates have continued about what happened at Roswell . The U.S. Air Force said in 1994 that wreckage recovered there in 1947 was most likely from a balloon-launched classified government project . Stephen Bassett , head of the Paradigm Research Group -LRB- PRG -RRB- , which hosted the X-Conference , said that the truth about extraterrestrial life is being suppressed because it is politically explosive . `` There is a third rail -LSB- in American politics -RSB- , and that is the UFO question . It is many magnitudes more radioactive than Social Security ever dreamed to be , '' Bassett said . | He says governments are concealing evidence that extraterrestrials exist . The astronaut is from Roswell , New Mexico , the site of an alleged UFO crash . Mitchell : Roswell residents `` told not to talk about their experience '' by military . | [[311, 319], [372, 421], [428, 497], [2943, 2958], [3047, 3152], [1161, 1188], [1191, 1201], [1238, 1275], [1276, 1328], [1276, 1278], [1333, 1398]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A polar bear falls through thin Arctic ice while searching for food for his family . A humpback whale guides her calf on a perilous 4,000-mile journey . A herd of African elephants in search of water battles a sandstorm in the Kalahari Desert . `` Earth , '' a documentary in theaters Wednesday , follows families of polar bears and other animals . These dramatic scenes await viewers in `` Earth , '' a feature-length documentary hitting theaters Wednesday for Earth Day . For British filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield , surveying the whole planet for Earth 's most exotic species and magnificent landscapes was a daunting task . `` We wanted to tell an epic story about the whole planet , '' co-director Fothergill told CNN in an interview . `` We spent a record 2,000 days in the field . We filmed in 46 countries worldwide , on every continent . '' Fothergill and Linfield shot the footage for the film while making `` Planet Earth , '' the Emmy-award-winning nature series that aired on the BBC and the Discovery Channel in 2007 . See photos from `` Planet Earth '' '' But the filmmakers say `` Earth '' is not just a remix of the previous project . `` The movie has over 40 percent original footage . It has a very distinctly different story line than the TV series , '' said Fothergill , who believes small TV screens do n't do justice to the images he and Linfield captured . Watch directors give behind-the-scenes look at ` Earth ' '' `` It 's very hard -LSB- on TV -RSB- to give people a true sense of what it 's like to be there , '' he said . `` What we think is very special about the movie is its surround sound . When the lions roar , you get a real feeling for being there . '' `` Earth '' is the first of a series of movies set to be released under the newly branded Disneynature label -- a spin-off of `` True-Life Adventure , '' Disney 's first nature documentary series of the '40s and '50s . Nature movies have made a big impression on national and international audiences in recent years . The 2005 documentary `` March of the Penguins '' cost roughly $ 3 million to make and sold over $ 127.4 million in tickets worldwide . Disney plans to release one feature-length film a year . The next one is `` Oceans '' in 2010 followed by `` Big Cats '' and `` Chimpanzees . '' In honor of Earth Day 2009 , Disney promised to plant a tree for each person who goes to see the movie on its opening weekend . `` Earth '' examines the resilience of life in the face of ever-present danger through three stories of mothers and their young : polar bears in the Arctic , elephants in Africa 's Kalahari Desert and humpback whales in the tropical oceans . Thirty-nine other exotic species from all corners of the world get supporting roles . The film is narrated by James Earl Jones , and George Fenton composed the score , which is performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . iReport.com : Tell us about nature and environmental issues near you . Over the course of five years , the filmmakers collected video footage from some of the most remote places on the planet , including the Aurora Australis in Antarctica , the peaks of the Himalayas , and the tropical birds of Papua New Guinea , to reveal the earth 's intrinsic beauty and harsh realities . Central to the movie 's storyline is the constant tug-of-war between the animal `` actors '' and their ever-changing environment . See iReporters ' photos and video of local ecological issues '' `` Although the elephants and the humpback whales and polar bears are the animal stars , the other big star of the movie is the earth -- the planet itself , '' said Fothergill . `` Really the one thing that unites all of our planet and all the animals that live on it is the seasonality of it . '' Without the earth 's 23.5-degree tilt to the sun there would be no seasons , no variation in daylight and darkness , said Fothergill . Fothergill and Linfield used state-of-the-art camera technology to capture nature 's predator-prey interplay from great distances without disrupting the hunt . Aerial shots of the elephant herd , for example , were shot using a gyro-stabilized Cineflex aerial camera system mounted to the bottom of a helicopter . `` A lot of the breathtaking cinematography in the movie was only achieved through this special camera system , '' Fothergill said . `` We were ... almost a mile away from our action and we could still get all the close-ups we needed . '' The filmmakers used this technology to film a sequence of a wolf chasing a herd of caribou . `` Wolves are very shy animals and they run very fast . If you are on the ground , you can never keep up with the action . We filmed the whole hunt from our helicopters and because we were flying so high , the wolves could hardly hear us , '' added Fothergill . The filmmakers also used infrared cameras to film a dramatic nighttime sequence of 30 lions in Botswana joining forces to attack an elephant . Fothergill and Linfield could n't use lights or normal cameras because they would have frightened away the animals . `` Probably the most dangerous single situation was filming the lions at night attacking the elephant , '' Fothergill said . `` Apart from the woman who was looking through an infrared sensitive camera , nobody else could see anything . We were right in the middle of the action and there was a constant concern that the elephants would come charging through our vehicle . That was pretty hairy . '' Another high-speed , high-definition camera , originally developed to film car crash tests , was used to capture an eye-popping scene of a Great White shark leaping out of the water to devour a seal in midair . The camera was able to film shots at 1,000 frames per second , slowing shots by as much as 40 times their original speed . The images were captured directly onto a computer allowing for an endless stream of video while maintaining the detail and clarity of the shot . `` In normal speeds it 's gone in seconds , but in slow motion , when you see it lasting 40 seconds to a minute , you get a real sense of the beauty , the scale and the size and power of that shot which is exactly what we wanted , '' Fothergill said . Not a single image in the film was computer generated , Fothergill said . Time-lapse camera technology allowed the filmmakers to condense a year 's worth of seasonal changes into a seamless 30-second shot . Fothergill says his formula for movie-making success is simple : `` A lot of waiting around , a lot of patience and a lot of failure . '' The filmmaker believes those failures -- missed opportunities , days of waiting for animals to appear -- paid off in the end . He hopes audiences will be entertained while escaping into the wonders of a world they do n't often see . `` We wanted to give people this wonderful journey and say , ` Look , it 's a really beautiful planet and it 's still ... worth preserving . '' | `` Earth , '' a movie about animals and their dramatic journeys , hits theaters Earth Day . The documentary was shot by the same filmmakers who made `` Planet Earth '' The movie is the first released under Disney 's newly branded Disneynature label . Disney vowed to plant a tree for everyone who sees the film opening week . | [[421, 492], [887, 969], [2326, 2352], [2355, 2402], [2391, 2402], [2407, 2453]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Iranian human-rights activist and Nobel laureate has joined the legal team of an Iranian-American journalist convicted of spying and jailed in Iran . Shirin Ebadi , a civil rights leader in Iran , was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 . Shirin Ebadi , who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 , took up the case of Roxana Saberi at the request of Saberi 's family , her father , Reza Saberi , told CNN Wednesday . Ebadi heads the Center for Defenders of Human Rights in Iran . Saberi , 31 , was sentenced Saturday to eight years in prison after a one-day trial that was closed to the public . President Obama , as well as other U.S. and international officials sharply denounced the decision . The Rev. Jesse Jackson has offered to travel to Iran to help seek Saberi 's release . `` If our voices are heard in Iran today , I would be anxious to travel with a delegation to Iran , if we are permitted , and make an appeal for her freedom , '' said the longtime civil rights activist , according to his Rainbow PUSH Coalition . Jackson , 67 , spoke Tuesday at a peace conference in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . `` Whenever we 've brought people out of captivity , whether in Syria , Cuba , Iraq or Yugoslavia , or Liberia , it 's always opened a diplomatic door to reduce tensions , '' he said . Saberi 's attorneys said they will appeal her conviction . Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi ordered the head of Tehran 's Justice Department to make sure the appeals process is quick and fair . Jackson has offered in the past to help release American hostages , most recently in 2005 . At that time , he said he was willing to use his role as a religious leader to help secure the release of Roy Hallums , who was kidnapped along with five others in Baghdad in November 2004 . Hallums was freed in September 2005 when U.S. troops raided the farmhouse where he being held outside Baghdad . In 1984 , Jackson secured the release of a Navy pilot held in Syria . In 1991 , he helped secure the release of 500 `` international guests '' held in Iraq . And in 1999 , he persuaded Yugoslavia to release three U.S. soldiers held there during the Kosovo conflict . Obama has called for Saberi 's release , saying he is `` gravely concerned with her safety and well-being . '' Watch how U.S.-Iranian relations are complicated '' `` We are working to make sure that she is properly treated , and to get more information about the disposition of her case , '' Obama said Sunday . `` She is an American citizen , and I have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage . '' Iranian officials initially said Saberi was held for buying a bottle of wine . The Foreign Ministry later said she was detained for reporting without proper credentials . Saberi , who comes from North Dakota , has been living in Iran since 2003 , said the Committee to Protect Journalists , a journalists ' advocacy group . She has freelanced for National Public Radio and other news organizations , and was writing a book about Iranian culture . Iranian authorities revoked her press credentials in 2006 , but Saberi continued to file short news items without permission , the journalists ' group said . Saberi was detained in January , although no formal charges were disclosed . On April 9 , word emerged that Saberi had been charged with espionage . `` Without press credentials and under the name of being a reporter , she was carrying out espionage activities , '' Hassan Haddad , a deputy public prosecutor , told the Iranian Students News Agency . Authorities also said Saberi had confessed . Her father said he thinks she was coerced into making damaging statements . CNN 's Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report . | 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi offers to help in Iran . Ebadi heads the Center for Defenders of Human Rights in Iran . Journalist Roxana Saberi worked for NPR , was writing a book , accused of spying . Rev. Jesse Jackson offers to go to Iran to help negotiate Saberi 's release . | [[172, 184], [219, 262], [263, 275], [282, 313], [435, 497], [2934, 2937], [3008, 3056], [3292, 3302], [3305, 3363], [715, 800], [715, 737], [763, 800]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thousands of visitors lined Constitution Avenue in Washington on Saturday morning for the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade . The annual two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through April 12 . `` Jeopardy! '' host Alex Trebek served as the parade 's grand marshal , waving to crowds from the back of a convertible . `` American Idol '' finalist Kimberly Locke , the cast of the musical `` Chicago '' and D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton were among the parade 's stars . The cherry blossom trees were a gift of friendship to the U.S. government from Japan in 1912 , according to the National Park Service . Their blooming has come to represent the definitive beginning of springtime in the nation 's capital . The parade is part of the annual two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival , which is timed around the projected peak bloom period of the famous trees . This year , the trees reached their peak bloom this week , according to the park service . Many high school groups and marching bands also participated in the parade . Near the National Mall , large crowds mingled under the branches of the blossoming trees that line the Tidal Basin . On an unusually blustery day , the delicate pink and white blossoms blew from their branches like snowflakes . `` It 's like being in a fairy tale , '' said Maria Podonyi , a visiting professor from Hungary . Podonyi brought her parents , who are visiting the United States from Hungary , to the festival . `` They have n't seen anything like this before , '' she said . `` It 's wonderful . The festival is scheduled to run through April 12 . | `` Jeopardy! '' host Alex Trebek serves as parade 's grand marshal . Cherry blossom trees were a gift to U.S. government from Japan in 1912 . National Cherry Blossom Festival marks the arrival of spring . | [[259, 316], [531, 623]] |
SEOUL , South Korea -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has been making the the rounds of major industrial facilities in the country 's north , state-run media reported Thursday . North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il meets people at a library in the country 's north . It was the second time in as many days that state media reported Kim 's activities . State media reported Wednesday that Kim had visited a steel company and expressed `` great satisfaction '' with workers ' efforts . The steel factory tour generated no pictures , but his stops at a library and an electronics research facility in Jagang Province the day before did . Kim was shown bundled up in a parka with matching thick gloves . He was also wearing a fur hat and his signature dark sunglasses . The photos showed Kim engaged in conversation and active . South Korean media noted it was the first time since Kim reappeared in public October 4 -- after a hiatus of nearly 60 days -- that his activities have been reported two days in a row . Kim 's disappearance during that period raised speculation about the North Korean leader 's health . South Korean analysts said they believe the new reports are an attempt by the North Korean leadership to show Kim is healthy and in control . Last week , Francois-Xavier Roux , a French neurosurgeon at Saint-Anne Hospital in Paris , told a French newspaper that Kim had suffered a stroke , but is now better . The doctor said he last treated Kim in late October . The North has denied its leader was ever ill and state media has issued a series of reports portraying Kim as healthy and active . | North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has appeared in public again . Pictures show Kim healthy and active at library , research facility . Surgeon claimed he treated Kim for a stroke , North Korea denies any illness . | [[195, 278], [890, 924], [928, 960], [195, 278], [547, 625], [634, 646], [778, 836], [1266, 1275], [1278, 1298], [1357, 1411], [1488, 1532]] |
TAMPA , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Don Stratton says he 's just a good ol' boy . He 's simple and plainspoken . But he has a painful past he ca n't leave behind . When he talks about it , the old emotions surface . Don Stratton says he and others were abused at the Florida School for Boys during the 1960s . Stratton attended a Florida reform school as a teenager in the early 1960s . Nearly half a century later , he 's telling a chilling tale of alleged beatings , sexual abuse and violent death at the hands of reform school workers . He said he believes the bodies of slain boys are buried in unnamed graves on the grounds of the former reform school in Marianna , Florida . `` These men are animals and need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law , '' Stratton told CNN in an interview at his attorney 's office in Tampa . Stratton wore a black cowboy hat with a Harley Davidson logo . Despite his tough exterior , he fought back tears as he recounted how he was physically and sexually assaulted . Stratton is among a group of men , now in their 60s , who are suing state agencies in Florida as well as two former reform school workers over alleged abuse they received as teenagers . The suit was filed this month . `` At 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning , you 'd hear a boy crying , '' Stratton told CNN . `` And then the door would open and you 'd see these guys come in and come up to somebody they liked , and they 'd just tell you , ` Come on with me , you 're mine for tonight . You 're my boy for tonight . ' And they would take you and do what they wanted to do with you . '' `` They would take a leather strap , six inches wide and three feet long , '' he added , swinging his arm in a downward motion . `` It 's like a shotgun going off . And they beat you until you 're bloody . '' Stratton 's attorneys said they 've interviewed 80 former students who say they were abused . Stratton and the other alleged abuse victims who spoke with CNN all said the beatings took place in a small white cement building they called `` the white house . '' Gov. Charlie Crist has ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse . He has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to uncover records , interview students and find former administrators . The agency also was asked to determine who , if anyone , is buried beneath the 31 rusting white crosses on the school grounds . `` Whatever is below those crosses is crying out -- and it 's screaming for us to bring justice , '' Stratton said . The truth of what happened at the Florida School for Boys may ultimately be lost to time . But investigators said they 're making progress . `` There are challenges due to the length of time that has passed , '' said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Heather Smith . `` We are confident that we can conduct a thorough and methodical investigation and establish , as much as we can , what happened here and what lies beneath in those grave sites . '' Smith said it was much too early in the investigation to say whether there would be an exhumation . Investigators said that , so far , the search for records from 50 years ago has been productive . They also have met with many of the men who have come forward . When they meet with Stratton , they will hear his claim that he witnessed the violent death of one boy who exposed himself to reform school workers on a dare . The boy was taken to `` the white house . '' Stratton said that later , while he was working in the kitchen , he saw a brown 1949 Ford pull up . `` They opened the back door and they carried him out and threw him in the back of the car , '' said Stratton , fighting tears . `` They took him out there and buried him in the woods , '' he said . `` I know they buried him somewhere , 'cause he never showed up again . '' Investigators will also hear Stratton 's claim that he and many of the other boys were sexually assaulted . His story is so graphic that it can not be repeated . He tearfully apologized to CNN . `` I do n't pull no punches , but it 's hard doing this on camera . See what I 'm saying ? This is tough , fellas , '' he said . `` We 're all men here , know what I mean ? I 'm not ashamed of it , but I was 13 years old and I had no choice ... and it haunts me today . '' CNN has tried to find many of the men who are alleged to have committed the beatings and sexual assaults . Some have died . The lawsuit names former worker Troy Tidwell , a one-armed man who still lives near the reform school grounds in Marianna . It alleges he participated in physical assaults and failed to report the abuse . Tidwell refused to meet with CNN in December to respond to the allegations , but he recently told the Miami Herald that the boys were `` spanked '' but not injured . '' Kids that were chronic cases , getting in trouble all the time , running away and what have you , they used that as a last resort , '' Tidwell told the Herald . `` We would take them to a little building near the dining room and spank the boys there when we felt it was necessary . '' Tidwell , in his 80s , has hired a law firm to represent him in the lawsuit . In court filings , his lawyers are trying to get the suit thrown out . His attorney did not return CNN 's calls for comment . `` You 've got to realize what these guys did , '' Stratton said . `` They mentally abused us , and they beat us . Is that something you should say : ` I 'm sorry fellas . You 're an old man now , live out the rest of your life in a rocking chair . ' Well , no way . '' | Lawsuit alleges abuse at Florida reform school during 1960s . Attorneys say they have spoken to more than 80 former residents . Former resident Don Stratton says he was beaten , saw boy carried away . Governor has ordered investigation of what lies beneath 31 white crosses . | [[215, 308], [228, 308], [309, 385], [386, 413], [416, 538], [1055, 1064], [1071, 1169], [1156, 1198], [1805, 1871], [1838, 1898], [386, 413], [416, 538], [3239, 3341], [2065, 2137], [2266, 2276], [2292, 2393]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A pedestrian was struck twice by vehicles in Queens and dragged for 17 miles by the second vehicle before police found him dead in Brooklyn , New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters Wednesday . Surveillance video shows a body in the middle of the street . The badly mangled body was discovered under a van after several passing motorists motioned the driver to pull over , Kelly said . Police had not identified the victim Wednesday evening , he said . The first driver called 911 to report he thought he had struck a pedestrian but did not see anyone . It turned out the second driver , in a van , had driven over the man , whose body became lodged under its chassis , according to police . Kelly said the van driver stopped at one point during the drive on New York City 's highways and roads because he noticed the vehicle was not driving properly . But he failed to find anything unusual , Kelly said . Police are retracing the route the van drove in an attempt to find body parts , he said . No charges have been filed , Kelly told reporters Wednesday afternoon . | Pedestrian struck twice , dragged 17 miles by second vehicle , New York police say . Man struck in Queens , van stopped in Brooklyn , police say . Body was lodged under van 's chassis , according to police . Police retrace van 's route , seeking body parts . | [[28, 79], [0, 18], [84, 126], [28, 79], [303, 393], [662, 669], [683, 714], [662, 669], [717, 738], [954, 1012]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The death of actress Natasha Richardson , who sustained a fatal head injury while skiing , has reignited the perennial debate around the safety of the sport . Head injuries are the most common cause of death among skiers . The 45 year-old died Wednesday , two days after falling on a beginners slope while having a private lesson at Canada 's Mont Tremblant resort . While full details of the circumstances surrounding Richardson 's death are not yet known , head injuries are the most common cause of fatalities among skiers worldwide . `` A typical death is a high speed collision with a static object after losing control -- a tree or a person , '' Dr Mike Langran a GP who works in Aviemore , Scotland and runs Ski-injury . com told CNN . `` Most ski deaths involve multi-trauma , but a head injury is by far the most common reason . `` There might be injuries to the abdomen or the chest or the neck but there nearly always is a head trauma as well . '' However , Langran , along with many other industry experts , maintains that skiing is a relatively safe sport . `` I do n't regard skiing and snowboarding as a dangerous sport , '' he said . `` It 's like many activities in life -- there are people who do silly things but in general these sports are safe . '' There are an estimated 200 million skiers in the world , and in the U.S. -LRB- one of the few countries to keep reliable data on skiers and ski injuries -RRB- an estimated 55 million people ski . Each year there are 39 deaths , which equates to about 2 deaths per million skiers . While children and beginners are most at risk of being injured while skiing , it 's those more experienced on the slopes who are most likely to be involved in a fatal accident . `` When you look at fatalities it does tend to be younger males and often of better skiing ability who are maybe pushing limits a little bit harder , traveling a little bit faster , '' Langran said . In Austria , earlier this year a huge debate over the safety of skiing was sparked by a high-profile incident on the slopes , which involved a German politician . Deiter Althaus , minister-president of Thuringia state was charged with manslaughter after colliding with another skier , Beata Christandl , a 41 year-old Slovakian mother of four , who later died from multiple head injuries . He was accused by Austrian prosecutors of entering onto a slope against the direction of traffic while skiing at high speed . Althaus was left with a fractured skull and has no recollection of the accident . Althaus ' accident may be typical of the kind that cause deaths in skiers but , The Austria Ski Federation says Althaus ' case is very unusual . Each year , an estimated 10 million people ski in Austria 's resorts and there are between 10 and 50 deaths during this time , according to Thomas Woldrich , Head of Leisure Skiing at the federation . `` There 's a minimal risk to get hurt when skiing , '' Woldrich told CNN . `` When you 're skiing approximately 14 days a year , the risk of having an injury is one in 55 years . '' Even so , a law was recently passed in Austria making it compulsory for children to wear helmets on Austrian ski slopes . `` We do have an extraordinary trend towards wearing helmets , '' said Woldrich . `` We have , especially among children , almost 100 percent of skiers wearing helmets on Austrian ski slopes . '' Whether or not skiers should be forced by law to wear helmets is a debate that continues energetically in many countries . The big question is do they make skiers safer . Langran says that while there is evidence to suggest that helmets will provide a moderate degree of protection for low speed impacts , there is no evidence for high speed collisions . `` As far as I 'm aware there is no evidence that for high speed impacts -- you 're talking about 30 mph plus impacts , which sounds a lot but that 's the average speed of a good intermediate skier on the slopes -- there 's no evidence that if you hit a tree at that kind of speed a helmet will protect you against a fatality . '' Indeed , there is evidence that wearing a helmet can give some skiers a feeling of invincibility , which can make them ski faster and more recklessly . So , what can skiers do to make themselves safer ? It 's all about knowing the risks and making informed choices , according to Sean Langmuir , a trained ski instructor who has coached both the Canadian National Ski Team and the British National Ski Team . `` People need to be better informed but they need to seek out that information for themselves , '' said Langmuir who is also Training Manager for British Association of Snowsport Instructors -LRB- BASI -RRB- . `` A lot of people go on ski holidays and they ca n't ski very well and they wo n't go for a lesson immediately . It can help so much to get all that basic information . '' It is also important to have properly fitting equipment , according to Langmuir . `` It 's not just a helmet , it can be the skis or the snowboard that you use can make a big difference to how you manage to control yourself . It 's quite important to gain information from professionals before you go out about what equipment you will need . '' Skiers can also refer to the the International Ski Federation -LRB- FIS -RRB- Rules of Conduct as a guide for safety on the slopes . `` The single most important piece of advice is to ski or snowboard within limits of your ability , '' Langran told CNN . `` Do n't go faster than you are able to and do n't try slopes you should n't . '' FIS Rules of Conduct . 1 . Respect for others A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that does not endanger or prejudice others . 2 . Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding A skier or snowboarder must move in control -- adapt speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain , snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic . 3 . Choice of route A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose a route in such a way to not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead . 4 . Overtaking A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided enough space is available for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement . 5 . Entering , starting and moving upwards A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run , starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes to ensure no one is put at risk . 6 . Stopping on the piste Unless absolutely necessary , a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted . After a fall in such a place , a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible . 7 . Climbing and descending on foot A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste . 8 . Respect for signs and markings A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings . 9 . Assistance At accidents , every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist . 10 . Identification Every skier or snowboarder and witness , whether a responsible party or not , must exchange names and addresses following an accident . Additional reporting by Hilary Whiteman . | The death of Natasha Richardson on the slopes has reignited skiing safety debate . Head injuries are the most common cause of deaths among skiers . Industry experts maintain that skiing is a relatively safe sport . Awareness , good training and well-fitted equipment can help keep skiers safer . | [[49, 75], [82, 124], [0, 6], [9, 32], [118, 194], [1965, 1975], [1978, 2088], [195, 258], [403, 492], [495, 573], [825, 873], [1005, 1053], [1056, 1106], [2910, 2959], [3556, 3580], [4830, 4885], [4889, 4944]] |
-LRB- OPRAH.COM -RRB- -- Here 's a little fact of life that took me by surprise : Roughly 23 million women in this country are 40 to 49 years of age and about 6,000 of us turn 50 every single day . We are a thoroughly undefined constituency . Some of us are what the wonderful Wendy Wasserstein used to call `` bachelor girls , '' some of us are married , and a lot of us have had trial separations that seemed to go just fine ... at least for the husband -LRB- with the struggling rock band -RRB- , who went on to become the ex-husband -LRB- with the thriving law practice -RRB- . Many of us have demanding kids or aging parents or a little of each . We juggle jobs , mortgages , student loans , and cancer treatments with low-fat diets , low-impact aerobics , low-grade depressions , a strong sense of irony , a dark sense of humor , and a full-bodied cabernet . We are tired . We are very tired -- we 've thought seriously about penciling in a nervous breakdown for ourselves , but we 've been through everything the world has to throw at us so many times that it 's damn near impossible to get nervous about much of anything . Despite -LRB- or perhaps because of -RRB- all the coulda , woulda , shoulda moments that have come and gone , we 've learned how to have a good laugh , an impromptu party , and an impure thought -LRB- or two -RRB- on a semiregular basis . We consider our options , our alternatives , our exit strategies . We take notes , we plan ahead , but we always leave room for serendipity . We are an entire generation of women who are making up our lives as we go along . Oprah.com : What Oprah has learned though the years . I know that it 's human nature to want to glorify the past and preserve it in a delicious , if often inaccurate , cotton-candied haze . But the truth is that part of me -LRB- that would be the part of me that now needs an underwire bra and a pair of Spanx -RRB- really does miss my 20s . I still had that new car smell . I still thought terrorism would stay confined to the other side of the world . On the home front , I still kept standing up for brides -LRB- as if they needed my assistance to stand -RRB- while waiting politely for it to be my turn . And because it never occurred to me that my turn would n't come , I devoted an inordinate amount of time to trying to decide whether my wedding gown should be white or ecru -- by the time I hit 35 , I 'd have been okay with paisley . The Web had not gone mainstream when I was in my 20s , so any surfing I did -LRB- and coming from Detroit , that was n't much -RRB- was in the ocean . And I grant you , my rearview mirror might be a little bit rose-tinted , but if memory serves , those oceans were fairly clean . Come to think of it , the glaciers were glacial , the bees were alive and well , a can of tuna did n't require a warning from the surgeon general , and the climate was n't making any sudden moves . Color me crazy , but I 've always been a sucker for a nice solid layer of ozone parking itself between me and a death ray . I 'm also a great believer in time off for good behavior . I crave solitude . I like being unreachable once in a while , and in those days it was no big deal if somebody could n't track you down for half an hour . You see , in the 1980s , we did n't know from e-mail or cell phones or Facebook or GPS , and a BlackBerry was nothing more complicated than a healthy treat that was high in antioxidants -- only guess what ? Nobody had ever heard of antioxidants . I did n't need a baby aspirin every night or a Lipitor every morning . And I swear to God -LRB- that 's another thing , God was still around when I was in my 20s -RRB- , the closest anybody seemed to come to a genuine eating disorder was picking at a mixed green salad on a blind date until it was okay to go home and scarf down the contents of your refrigerator . But before I start turning into my great-uncle Saul , who never fails to tell me how he could 've bought the entire Upper East Side of Manhattan for $ 225 back in 1936 -LRB- `` when an ear of corn still tasted like an ear of corn '' -RRB- , let me say this : As much as I miss those days , I 'm delighted and relieved to be done with being young . One quick glance in the mirror is all I need to know that time is most definitely a thief . Wait , strike that : One glance and I usually think I 'm holding up pretty well -- it 's upon closer inspection , that moment when I take a deep breath , put on my glasses , and turn up the dimmer switch , that I 'm reminded gravity is not my friend . But if time has robbed me of a little elasticity and a lot of naïveté , it 's left a few things in their place . Thanks to nearly 48 years at the big dance , a million mistakes , and one extraordinary psychiatrist , I 've finally achieved the occasional touch of clarity . I 'm getting to be resourceful . I 'm getting to be resilient , and I hope that on my better days , I 'm getting to be a little more calm , a little more contemplative , a little more compassionate . Oprah.com : How to make your midlife matter . Sometimes I think being middle-aged is n't about learning a lot of new lessons so much as learning the same old ones again and again . Here are a few of the lessons I keep learning : . • It is never a good thing when a shrinking portion of the population controls a growing portion of the money . It tends to make incredibly decent , hardworking , middle-class people sort of jumpy , and the next thing you know Kirsten Dunst is playing Marie Antoinette in a Sofia Coppola extravaganza . • Anyone who looks okay in ochre will look even better not in ochre . • War and famine bad , James Franco and spaghetti carbonara good . • What does n't kill me does not make me stronger . It makes me anxious , bitchy , and vulnerable ... but nobody wants to see that embroidered on a pillow . • This is n't exactly an old lesson I keep learning , but given that I 'm lucky enough to have my own column , I 'd like to use it to set right an unfortunate mistake . Remember a few years ago when we all got together and decided that sleep was the new sex ? I 've come to believe that we were dead wrong . What do you say we make actual ouch-you 're - on-my-hair , did-you-hear-the-baby , jeez-that-was-my-eye , messy , intimate , life-affirming , really , really fun sex the new sex ?! Because here 's the thing : Between the economy , the environment , and the powder keg that is Pakistan , nobody 's getting any sleep anyway -- so as long as we 're all lying there wide awake ... • Dorothy Parker was a genius . She wrote a gem of a poem called `` Indian Summer . '' It 's very short , but I 'm low on space , so I 'll just cut to the end : . But now I know the things I know , . And do the things I do ; . And if you do not like me so , . To hell , my love , with you ! Bravo , Ms. Parker . And , finally , deep into my 40s , I could n't agree with you more . By Lisa Kogan from O , The Oprah Magazine , February 2009 . Subscribe to O , The Oprah Magazine for up to 75 % off the newsstand price . That 's like getting 18 issues FREE . Subscribe now ! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions , Inc. . All Rights Reserved . | Columnist Lisa Kogan heads toward 50s with fond look back at younger years . Back then , she still had her `` new car smell '' and could enjoy solitude . Says women in her generation are tired , considering scheduling a breakdown . But since no one is sleeping these days , she 'd like life-affirming , really fun sex . | [[1936, 1968], [865, 879], [880, 897], [901, 978], [6166, 6345], [6453, 6480]] |
LITTLE ROCK , Arkansas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Carlotta Walls LaNier points out the only two African-Americans in her senior class as she flips through her high school yearbook . She pauses when she sees the picture on a page dedicated to `` Integration . '' Carlotta Walls LaNier and eight other members of the Little Rock Nine are invited to Obama 's inauguration . It 's been nearly five decades since LaNier graduated from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas . `` It shows how the 101st were on the grounds of the school , '' says LaNier . In 1957 , soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division , an elite Army unit , escorted LaNier and eight other African-American students into the all-white public high school . The students , who became known as the Little Rock Nine , were taunted and threatened by an angry mob . `` We knew we could not participate in extracurricular activities , '' recalls LaNier . `` There was one who could have been in the band , one who could have been on track . I was the one who played basketball ... I could n't do that . '' Back then , LaNier thought once the doors of equality were open it would n't be long before an African-American became president . `` I had hoped to see something like that in the next 10 or 15 years when I was in high school but that did n't happen , '' says LaNier . What has happened is a new generation of students walks the halls at Central High . Even though the exterior looks the same as it did during integration -- the interior would be almost unrecognizable to LaNier and the other Little Rock Nine . Student : I ca n't believe it happened here , but I 'm glad it did '' Today , the sea of mostly white faces has disappeared . The hallways are now filled with a more racially diverse student body . Students take a class to learn about the school 's history and many say it 's given them a greater appreciation for racial tolerance . `` Now it 's definitely hard to imagine -- you walk into the halls and you see people of all different races are in the hallway . And in addition , the majority of our school is African-American now , '' points out Afshar Sanati , student body president . `` It is hard for me to walk inside the school every day and see how this place could have been such a hostile environment for nine African-American students . '' LaNier is still humble when she reflects on her experience . `` We all knew that we were giving up something for a bigger cause and -LSB- we were -RSB- happy that we did it , '' says LaNier . `` Because it has been 51 years , I think they were baby steps now . But they were big steps then . '' The steps taken by the Little Rock Nine were so big , in fact , they received personal invitations to attend President-elect Barack Obama 's inauguration . `` I think the Little Rock Nine set the foundation , '' says student Sarah Karney . `` I do n't think -LSB- Obama 's election -RSB- could have happened without them . '' Today , many students at Central High see themselves as the beneficiaries of an Obama presidency . `` Him being president means there actually is a chance for anyone to do what they want to do if they work hard enough , '' says Helena Liu , who says she does n't see race when she looks at Obama . `` It does n't depend on your race -- it depends on who you are , the quality of your character , '' says DeIvory Howard . '' -LSB- We 've -RSB- got to get past just the color of our skins being newsworthy . It 's really about all the things we knew we could do for this country and now we have the opportunity to show it and it 's going to come through his leadership , '' says LaNier . `` And , we 're looking forward to that . '' Senior Chris Bell could n't agree more . `` This election proves that this America is just not the old America . It shows that America is ready for something different , '' says Bell . `` I just think ... that 's amazing . '' | Carlotta Walls LaNier , eight others integrated Little Rock Central High School . In 1957 school was all-white ; today it 's predominantly African-American . `` Little Rock Nine set the foundation '' student says of Obama presidency . LaNier hopes Americans will focus on a person 's ability ; not their race . | [[254, 362], [547, 554], [557, 598], [622, 719], [2056, 2106], [2781, 2828]] |
HOLLYWOOD , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Director Antoine Fuqua , the force behind films such as `` Training Day '' and `` Shooter , '' turned his focus to creating CNN 's exclusive short film `` From MLK to Today , '' which airs at 7 p.m. ET Monday . Filmmaker Antoine Fuqua , 43 , says he did n't believe he would see an African-American president in his lifetime . Before flying off to the Sundance Film Festival to premiere his latest action-thriller , `` Brooklyn 's Finest , '' starring Richard Gere , Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle , Fuqua , 43 , stopped by the CNN newsroom in Hollywood to discuss the making of this film . He outlined his vision for the piece , which chronicles America 's civil rights journey from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama . CNN : As a filmmaker , you work with people like Don Cheadle , Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington . Why are you sitting here in our edit bay doing this project ? Antoine Fuqua : Because it 's Martin Luther King , and because it 's Barack Obama 's story . And because it 's CNN . It 's important to be a part of history , and a part of inspiring people today . I think this is one of the biggest times in my life -- besides my children . So why would n't I be here ? What else would I be doing except flying to Sundance to promote my movie ! -LSB- Laughs -RSB- Watch a clip from `` From MLK to Today '' '' CNN : You were born in the '60s , so you were very young during the civil rights movement . You were barely out of diapers when Martin Luther King was assassinated . Fuqua : I am familiar with the history because I love history . African-Americans -- I feel we can not ever forget our past . Not in an angry or negative way -- just to know where we come from , so we get a better sense of where we 're going , and how to get there , and what not to do . I do n't think you can ever forget Martin Luther King and many other people who sacrificed , whose names we do n't even know . CNN : What do you remember from your childhood ? Fuqua : I remember being afraid at times . I remember the Black Panthers . When I was a little boy , the men that were around me were part of a movement . There was a lot of tension . There were a lot of weapons around . There was talk of FBI . I was a little kid , you know -- 6 , 5 years old . I did n't really know what it meant . But there was a lot of fear -- a lot of fear of police , or of leaving your neighborhood . CNN : Did you experience much racism growing up in Pittsburgh ? Fuqua : I remember a lot of racism . I mean , we used to get beat up by the police . We used to go to certain areas , and cops would slap you around , and grab you by your collar and treat you a certain way . I remember getting on a bus and drivers would treat us disrespectfully , assuming we were going to misbehave . And we were just going to school . I got into fights at school . ... No real reason , except for color of the skin . I do n't think they even understood really . CNN : Did you understand ? Fuqua : Not really . I did n't really understand it . I was used to it . I had an understanding of it at that age , which was I was black and they were white , and I was poor and they had money . CNN : Did you think there were certain things you could n't accomplish because you were black ? What about being a director ? Fuqua : When I was a little kid , I used to sleep in my grandmother 's basement , and I would read magazines , and books and things -- and I would dream of places I would go . I remember thinking , `` Well , if it 's just a matter of money to leave my neighborhood , then I have to make money . '' Then I read something about craftsmanship -- which is not a word you used often in that time in the ghettos . If you learn a craft , then you can make a living for the rest of your life . So I went to school to be an electrical engineer . And when I was in school , I took a Baroque art class . They were talking about Caravaggio , who was a Baroque painter . Now he was from the streets in Italy , and he used to paint these very provocative paintings of people he lived with on the streets -- beggars , and prostitutes and things . It reminded me of my world -- in the sense of being a young kid on the streets , growing up , seeing a lot of provocative images that I was probably too young to see -- and I would express them , and I would do little illustrations or I would paint on a wall . Then I started to study -LSB- Akira -RSB- Kurosawa , who was a painter as well as a director . I saw his movies -- `` The Seven Samurai '' and all that -- and I thought , `` Wow , that 's even more interesting , because it 's a moving picture and you get to tell a story . '' CNN : And now you 're telling the story of Martin Luther King and Barack Obama . Did you ever think you 'd see an African-American president of the United States ? Fuqua : Never . Never . Not in my time . I thought somewhere down the line it would happen , but not in my time -- because I still deal with racial situations . Sometimes people do n't do it blatantly . They 'll say something , or they 'll behave a certain way when I know they do n't normally behave that way . As a director , you run into walls where they say , `` Well , it does n't translate well overseas . You know , you need to have a white movie star in it . '' There 's some truth to that . So if Hollywood 's not ready to embrace more stories about African-Americans -- and that 's based on the money that the movies make -- then would the country really be ready to embrace a president ? You know , the CEO of the country ? And obviously , we are . We are ready . CNN : As a director , you have this story about an unbelievable presidential election , where a first-term senator wins . Would you have cast Barack Obama in that role ? Fuqua : In a heartbeat , in a heartbeat . He 's like a movie star . Look at the guy . He 's dashing , he 's charming , he 's got a little swagger about him . He reminds me of Denzel in their way . -LSB- Fuqua directed Washington in the 2001 action-thriller `` Training Day . '' -RSB- I was with Denzel over Christmas , and they 're very similar -- their mannerisms at times . CNN : In the short film you 're directing for us , you 've drawn the parallel between Obama and Martin Luther King . Fuqua : It is the passing of the torch between Martin Luther King and Barack Obama . I think Barack Obama is the `` dream . '' I mean , we 're all the dream . I think it 's a bigger picture than one man . CNN : What 's the message you want to convey with your short film ? Fuqua : Hope . A sense of the past . But more than anything , I would love people to walk away feeling like we 've just begun . | Director Antoine Fuqua is filmmaker behind CNN 's `` From MLK to Today '' Fuqua discusses life , experiences with racism and the hope Barack Obama brings . Fuqua , director of `` Training Day , '' compares Obama with Denzel Washington . Fuqua 's latest feature-length project , `` Brooklyn 's Finest , '' screened at Sundance fest . | [[369, 455]] |
-LRB- CNET -RRB- -- Well , here 's what we 've all been waiting for . Apple put out a couple of announcements on Tuesday related to its desktop computers . Apple on Tuesday announced a new Mac Pro high-end desktop powered by Intel 's `` Nehalem '' processor . The company unveiled a new Mac Pro high-end desktop powered by Intel 's `` Nehalem '' processor , a new and more graphics-intensive Mac Mini machine , and updated iMacs that include the lowest price point yet for the consumer desktops . Let 's look at the new Mac Pro first : priced at $ 2,499 for the quad-core version and $ 3,299 for the eight-core version , those Intel `` Nehalem '' Xeon processors run at 2.93 GHz , and the interior of the machine has been cleaned up to make physical expansions easier . On the green front , it meets the new Energy Star 5.0 requirements that will go into effect later this year . The new iMac desktop is a 24 '' machine that is priced at $ 1,499 , the cost of Apple 's previous 20 '' iMac . The 20-inch is now $ 1,199 . The 20 '' is powered by a 2.66 GHz processor ; the 24 '' has processor speed options of 2.66 GHz , 2.93 GHz -LRB- for $ 1,799 -RRB- , or 3.02 GHz -LRB- for $ 2,199 -RRB- . The 24 '' comes with a 640GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM expandable to 8GB ; the 20 '' comes with a 320GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM expandable to 8GB . `` Our flagship 24-inch iMac with twice the memory and twice the storage is now available for just $ 1,499 , '' Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook , currently standing in at the helm of the company in place of iconic CEO Steve Jobs , said in a release . `` The Mac mini is not only our most affordable Mac , it 's also the world 's most energy efficient desktop computer . '' As for the new Mac Mini , the big upgrade is NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics that Apple says will improve its graphics performance as much as fivefold . The monitor-free machine costs either $ 599 for a lower-end edition -LRB- 1GB RAM , 120GB hard drive -RRB- or $ 799 for the higher-end -LRB- 2GB RAM , 320GB hard drive -RRB- . All these machines , like the new Mac Pro , meet Energy Star 5.0 requirements . Rumors of new Apple desktop computers were first reported at AppleInsider . © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. . All rights reserved . CNET , CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. . Used by permission . | Apple on Tuesday announced a new Mac Pro high-end desktop . Powered by Intel 's `` Nehalem '' processor , they 're priced at $ 2,499 and $ 3,299 . Apple also unveilved a new and more graphics-intensive Mac Mini machine . Updated 24-inch iMacs have twice the memory and twice the storage . | [[156, 213], [183, 259], [260, 355], [183, 259], [260, 355], [497, 527], [536, 618]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Emergency crews called off a search in Texas for the wreckage of a C-17 transport plane after reports Monday of a possible crash proved unfounded . Callers to the Olney Police Department said they saw a low-flying plane , and a spokesman for Sheppard AFB initially reported a crash , but then retracted the report . Air Force officials said an Air Force C-17 had been flying at low altitude near Olney , but the plane returned safely to Altus Air Force Base in southwest Oklahoma . CNN 's Mike Mount and Adam Levine contributed to this story . | Emergency crews call off search for C-17 transport plane . Initial Air Force reports of a crash were incorrect , Air Force spokesman says . Police reported that callers said a plane was flying low to ground , then crashed . | [[19, 106], [0, 15], [131, 166], [245, 300], [167, 238]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Russian naval ship rescued a Dutch container vessel under attack by suspected Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden , the head of the International Maritime Bureau said Wednesday . The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Sirius Star was recently released by pirates off Somalia . Two or three pirate speedboats were chasing the Dutch ship , with the goal of boarding it , when the Russians intervened , said Capt. Pottengal Mukundan , director of the International Maritime Bureau in London . He said the pirates fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the Dutch ship , but no injuries were reported . The incident occurred about midday Tuesday . The Russians chased one of the speedboats but the pirates got away , Mukundan said . He said he did not know where the Dutch ship was headed . `` It is important that the naval vessels continue to respond robustly to these pirates , '' he said . Watch how attacks peaked in 2008 '' Hijackings off the coast of East Africa have become a growing international concern , prompting a number of foreign navies to patrol the Gulf of Aden and neighboring coastal areas . The Gulf of Aden links the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea . About 20,000 oil tankers , freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route near Somalia each year . Most of the attacks are blamed on pirates based in largely lawless Somalia , a country racked by poverty and conflict . Watch CNN 's exclusive interview with a pirate . According to the United Nations , there were 115 reported pirate attacks off the Somali coast in 2008 , including 46 successful hijackings . Read blog on how CNN contacted a pirate . The troubling rise in Somali piracy has led the United Nations to step up efforts to tackle the crime . The first U.N. group to address piracy met Wednesday in New York . Mark Kimmitt , U.S. assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs chaired the `` contact group '' of two dozen nations and five multi-national organizations . He said the group was formed to `` establish a counter-piracy coordination mechanism , '' and the members believe more can be done to halt piracy . Still , Kimmitt noted that less than one percent of manifests off the Somali coast are attacked by pirates and only 50 percent of those have crew and passengers taken hostage . The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution in December expanding counter-piracy measures off the Horn of Africa , including a stipulation that allows national and regional military forces to chase pirates onshore in Somalia when in `` hot pursuit . '' | NEW : First United Nations group to address piracy meets in New York . Two or three speedboats were chasing the Dutch container ship , IMB says . IMB : The pirates fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the Dutch ship . Hijackings off East Africa have led international navies to patrol the Gulf of Aden . | [[1773, 1811], [1773, 1839], [307, 365], [520, 593], [955, 1038], [955, 994], [1041, 1136]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nine Hutu tribal fighters and several Rwandan and Congolese troops were killed in fighting in eastern Congo , a United Nations spokesman said , as the two governments continued an unprecedented partnership to combat ethnic violence . Laurent Nkunda , seen here in November 2008 , was reportedly arrested last week in Rwanda . The fighting against the Hutus in the Lubero region came a day after Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda , of the rival Tutsi ethnic group , was arrested by Rwandan authorities . U.N. spokesman Jean Paul Deitrich told CNN on Saturday that no further details about the fighting were immediately available . Lubero is about 200 kilometers -LRB- 124 miles -RRB- northeast of Goma , the regional capital . Nkunda 's arrest early Friday raised hopes for peace in the war-ravaged region . International observers hope it will lead the roughly 1,500 fighters that follow him to join with government forces . Hear how Nkunda tried to flee capture '' Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have traditionally been on different sides of the conflict in eastern Congo -- which pits ethnic Tutsis , supported by Rwanda , against Congo-backed Hutus . The fighting is effectively an extension of the Rwandan genocide of the early 1990s , when hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were killed in ethnic battles between minority Tutsi and majority Hutu . A United Nations report last month accused Rwanda and Congo of fighting a proxy war in the region , using the ethnic groups . It said both sides had used child soldiers , and committed executions and rape , in the conflict . CNN 's Katy Byron contributed to this report . | Fighting comes day after Rwanda arrests Tutsi rebel leader , Laurent Nkunda . Neighboring nations have been on different sides of the conflict in east Congo . Struggle pits Tutsis , supported by Rwanda , against the Congo-backed Hutu . The conflict is effectively an extension of the Rwandan genocide of the 1990s . | [[253, 267], [299, 344], [480, 525], [989, 1108], [1095, 1108], [1118, 1136], [1123, 1136], [1139, 1158], [1169, 1174], [1175, 1189], [1190, 1273]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A court has lifted a ban on identifying a man charged with one of a number of deadly wildfires that scorched southeastern Australia this month . A dirt track runs through the burnt out forest in the Kinglake region of Victoria state . The man , 39-year-old Brendan Sokaluk , did not appear in Monday 's hearing in Melbourne Magistrates ' Court , the Australian Associated Press reported . An order banning the publishing of Sokaluk 's street address or his image remains in place . Public passions are running high in the aftermath of the fires that have killed scores of people . One T-shirt says , `` The bastards who lit Victoria 's fires should : Burn in hell . '' Sokaluk is suspected of lighting a fire on February 7 . He was charged with arson causing death , intentionally or recklessly lighting a bush fire , and possessing child pornography , Victoria state police said last week . The fire Sokaluk is accused of setting killed at least 21 people in Gippsland . See map of fire-hit areas '' Sokaluk 's identity had already been revealed on social networking sites before the court lifted the suppression order on his name . There were 12 Facebook groups carrying details about Sokaluk , with one attracting more than 3,600 members . Watch more on arrest '' Robbie Shenton , who has joined one such group , told CNN : `` The judicial system had no right to suppress his name or photograph . '' Melbourne 's Age newspaper reported Police had contacted Facebook seeking removal of Sokaluk 's details . The death toll in a string of fires across Victoria climbed to 189 on Monday , police reported . The number of fires burning had dropped to six , from about a peak of about three dozen , the Country Fire Authority said . Watch a survivor tell his story '' Meanwhile , more than 150 detectives were working on the arson investigation , authorities said . The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and displaced about 7,000 people . Priyanka Deladia contributed to this report . | Court lifts ban on identifying man charged with starting deadly wildfire . Brendan Sokaluk , 39 , did not appear in Melbourne Magistrates ' Court . Order banning publishing of Sokaluk 's address or image remains in place . | [[0, 15], [19, 64], [1020, 1152], [1100, 1152], [254, 263], [294, 362], [408, 481], [408, 500]] |
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pakistan 's fired chief justice was reinstated in a flag-raising ceremony at his house Sunday after the government bowed to protesters ' demands following days of massive demonstrations . Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will not renew his oath of office . The flag-raising was ceremonial . Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will not renew his oath of office because his firing by former President Pervez Musharraf was deemed illegal . About 100 people gathered outside Chaudhry 's residence , some dancing , some beating drums in a boisterous celebration . A growing protest movement had demanded that Chaudhry and other judges that Musharraf fired be re-seated . Buckling under pressure , the government of current President Asif Ali Zardari agreed . Along with Chaudhry , most of the sixty others who had been fired have also returned to their posts . Watch people cheer after Chaudhry is reinstated '' Two unresolved matters will immediately test Chaudhry on his return to office : . Some experts have surmised that one reason Zardari delayed acting on Chaudhry 's return is because the Supreme Court wanted to look into the amnesty . Both Zardari and his late wife , one-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto , had been granted amnesty by Musharraf so they could return from exile in 2007 and participate in elections . The couple faced numerous charges of corruption . Bhutto was assassinated during a campaign rally . Her husband became head of her party and the new president of Pakistan . Zardari promised to reinstate the judges within 30 days of taking office . The deadline came and went . The political turmoil in Pakistan came just a year after the country celebrated a return to democracy . It has forced the government 's attention away from a deadly fundamentalist insurgency in its tribal areas and an economy that is on the verge of collapse . The Obama administration Monday praised the Pakistani government 's decision to reinstate Chaudhry , with the State Department saying the move `` brought Pakistan back from the brink . '' CNN 's Reza Sayah and Zein Basravi contributed to this report . | Celebrations outside chief justice 's home mark reinstatement . All judges fired by Pakistan 's former President Pervez Musharraf to get jobs back . U.S. said the move `` brought Pakistan back from the brink '' | [[2015, 2093]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- According to a Russian proverb , God makes the priests . Jesters come from the devil . Heath Ledger dominates as the Joker in `` The Dark Knight '' in a performance already garnering raves . You wo n't have any trouble believing that aphorism when you see Heath Ledger 's mesmerizing performance as the Joker in `` The Dark Knight , '' Christopher Nolan 's hotly anticipated and often brilliantly executed follow-up to `` Batman Begins . '' His face caked in cracked white greasepaint , his smile a grotesque red lipstick scar , kohl rimming his eyes , the Joker is a cruel kind of clown , the kind that is only interested in the last laugh . Slouched in his purple suit , Ledger gives him a lopsided shuffle , a permanently craning neck and an insinuating , deceptively neighborly voice . But there 's something reptilian about the way his tongue flicks through his pursed lips like a pickpocket . He 's hungry for trouble , a maniac for mayhem -- and in Gotham City , where crime is still running wild , he can make himself right at home . Ledger dominates this movie as a living presence , a live wire , dangerous and unpredictable . It 's an astonishing performance , as extravagant and free -LRB- `` deranged '' might be a better word -RRB- as his Ennis Del Mar in `` Brokeback Mountain '' was inhibited and tongue-tied . See how Ledger made the Joker his own '' And `` The Dark Knight '' takes him -- and its world -- very seriously . Even more than Batman himself , the Joker would usually scream `` camp '' -LRB- and has in the TV series and other movies -RRB- but Nolan refuses to go there . His Gotham is cement and glass , a `` real '' city not so different from what we might find in any contemporary action thriller . -LRB- Chicago doubles for Batman 's metropolis . -RRB- . Unlike Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher , who directed previous Batman films , Nolan favors location work over studio artifice , and he seems determined to keep the computer-generated imagery within the bounds of gravity . Even the fetishistic attention to Batman 's toys -- his suit , his weaponry and transport -- emphasizes utility and design ; this is not a superhero in the supernatural sense . -LRB- He may not be a hero , either , according to the serious-to-a-fault script by Nolan and his brother Jonathan . -RRB- . `` Batman Begins , '' which came out in 2005 , was about the politics of fear , the power of nightmares . Bruce Wayne -LRB- Christian Bale -RRB- overcame his own phobia to turn fear back on the fear mongers and restore hope to Gotham . In `` The Dark Knight '' -LRB- Nolan must have been tempted to add `` of the Soul '' to the title -RRB- , the Joker might be his shadow or his evil twin . In some sick way , they need each other . `` You complete me , '' the Joker lisps to Batman , mimicking -LRB- mocking ? -RRB- `` Jerry Maguire . '' Watch co-stars defend Ledger '' The word is nowhere stated , but this Joker is unmistakably a terrorist -- he blows up hospitals , rigs bombs to commuter ferries , burns his own ill-gotten gains . -LRB- He even manages to put Gotham 's crime syndicates under his thumb . -RRB- That makes Batman a kind of one-man Department of Homeland Security . And if he has to ride roughshod over civil liberties to get the job done -- eavesdropping on the entire city 's cell phone data , for example -- then so be it . To their credit , neither Nolan nor Bruce Wayne is comfortable with this glorified vigilante figure . However , the only legitimate alternative turns out to be a civic crusader , District Attorney Harvey Dent -LRB- Aaron Eckhart -RRB- . Dent , who carries around a double-headed coin , may seem honorable , but he was once known as `` Two-Faced Harvey . '' With whom will he cast his lot ? That 's the movie 's ultimate ideological battleground . iReport.com : Lining up for ` Batman ? ' Send photos , video . Unfortunately , if Dent gives the movie a classic character arc , Eckhart 's disappointingly bland performance fails to nail the narcissism that must be the flip side to his zeal , making his ultimate about-face hard to accept . That 's the film 's most obvious flaw . Whenever the Joker and Batman are in the vicinity , the movie hums with finely tuned dread and anticipation . But the longer it goes on -LRB- and yes , it does go on too long -RRB- , Dent triangulates the equation , ultimately pulling it out of whack . Still , for the most part , `` The Dark Knight '' is an exceptionally smart , brooding picture with some terrific performances . In a summer when action overwhelms intelligence -LRB- and even good sense -RRB- , here 's a movie that works on many levels . It even features the single most awesome truck stunt I 've ever seen . And though Ledger 's tragic death in January ca n't help but cast a morbid pall over the proceedings -- and that 's saying something , given some of the film 's plot points -- when he 's on the screen the movie lights up . It 's a bravura turn . I 'll be surprised if Ledger does n't get a posthumous Oscar for it . `` The Dark Knight '' runs 152 minutes and is rated PG-13 . For Entertainment Weekly 's take , click here . | CNN.com reviewer : `` Dark Knight '' is an exceptional follow-up to `` Batman Begins '' Heath Ledger is brilliant as the Joker in Oscar-worthy performance , reviewer says . Film pits Batman against the Joker , who 's come to wreak chaos . | [[398, 456], [106, 171], [210, 332], [226, 393]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- As long as people have been making cars , other people have been figuring out ways to evaluate what they 're worth . Kelley Blue Book offers one of the best online resources to find out how and why your car is worth X amount . In the case of Kelley Blue Book , they 've vehemently pursued vehicle values for over 80 years and offer one of the best online resources for companies and private individuals to understand how and why their cars are worth X amount of dollars . We talked with Jack Nerad , the executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KBB.com , to explain some of the best ways that you can evaluate your vehicle 's worth . Do n't fool yourself . Surprisingly , one of the problems in properly evaluating a vehicle 's worth has nothing to do with the vehicle . Think of the computer phrase IT guys like to use , `` It 's a PICNIC error . '' Which stands for `` Problem-In-Chair-Not-In-Computer , '' meaning that nothing is really wrong with the computer , the real issue is the person using it . Nerad says that some people trick themselves into thinking their vehicle is worth more than it actually is . `` Where we get into difficulty is when people start fooling themselves about the condition of their car -- that they believe it is in excellent or pristine condition when actually if it has two or three years on it , it 's going to have some miles on it , some wear and tear . '' AOL Autos : 2009 cars with best blue book values . You may have yelled at your family and friends every time they even considered bringing a coffee cup into the car , but it 's still a used vehicle , uh , I mean pre-owned vehicle . `` Even if you 've taken wonderful care of it , it 's not going to be as fresh as it was when it left the showroom -- that 's something people are going to have to keep in mind . '' Know the true condition . Although you have to be honest with yourself about how your car compares with others on the road , taking good care of it can pay off when selling . `` When you have a used car , condition , condition , condition are the three most important things , '' Nerad explained . AOL Autos : Best-selling sedans . `` So actually assessing your car 's condition is crucial to getting the right value , understanding the right value and arriving at the right value . The good news is that at our Web site we give you a checklist that you can essentially go through and it includes things like mileage , equipment levels and also an assessment of condition , which helps you arrive at the appropriate value . '' Nerad said that the values KBB gives are estimated ranges of what the vehicle is worth rather than an exact dollar amount because they are factored remotely . Still , an estimate from the Web site is one of the best and simplest ways to calculate your car 's worth . AOL Autos : 10 best cars of 2009 . Body shops can help , but a wash and wax might be better . `` Most often , it 's been our experience that you 're better off giving an honest discloser of the car 's condition and selling it as is opposed to doing things like cosmetic changes , which can be pretty expensive and are kind of in the eye of the beholder , '' Nerad said . AOL Autos : Cars with the worst values . He mentioned that the person purchasing your vehicle might not care as much about some of the minor cosmetic flaws and would rather hold onto their money than pay for a car in pristine condition . `` I do n't think too many people who are buying used cars , especially over a few years old , are expecting a car to be in perfect condition or even nearly pristine condition . I think they 're expecting to buy something that has a few miles on it in all senses of that term . '' AOL Autos : Car cleaning tips . There is a difference between taking your car to the body shop and taking your car to have a wash and wax job done , however . Appearance is still one of your car 's best selling points , and you should do everything you can , short of spending more than your car 's worth , to make it look good . `` I think the thing that most helps is appearance . It 's kind of like the curb value of your home . Appearance is going to catch people 's eyes , and it 's going to give off the impression that the car was taken care of . If the car is dirty and there are scratches on it , inside and out , if it does n't appear to be taken care of , that 's going to have a negative effect on what you 're liable to get for it , '' Nerad explained . `` The good news on that cosmetic stuff , washing the car , giving it a wax job , cleaning the tires , those kind of things are pretty inexpensive to do . Even cleaning the interior out helps the added value . It 's certainly worth doing to put your best foot forward that way . '' Understand the resale game . Since Kelley Blue Book released its 2008 resale value guide not too long ago , I asked Nerad about the assessment of car values . He explained that cars can have high resale values based on their actual resale value , their perceived resale value or simply their demand . The better you understand where your car fits into this system , the easier it will be to understand why your car is worth what is and how to sell it . `` For instance , a Honda , BMW or Volkswagen has a reputation for resale value in the marketplace , so it helps them to have good resale value , '' he said . Although not necessarily true for the brands just mentioned , Nerad notes that sometimes brand equity , the popularity of a particular brand , can override its current level of reliability , although it 's not common . `` What we 've found though , is there are really no major swings in this , there are changes , year to year changes and we adjust our site year to year , but they do n't really move in a volatile way , '' he said . `` It 's something that has a degree of predictability about it . '' Keep in mind that your car 's resale value is public information ; anyone can go online and look it up in 2 minutes . If you let the online experts do their job in evaluating your vehicle 's worth , you 're likely to sell the vehicle a lot faster than if you overprice it or exaggerate its condition . Keep it clean and happy selling . | Expert for Kelley Blue Book explains how to evaluate your car 's worth . People often fool themselves about the condition of the car , expert says . Appearance is one of your car 's best selling points so make sure to wash it . Resale values based on actual/perceived resale value or simply demand . | [[634, 679], [1052, 1160], [1068, 1143], [1201, 1265], [1981, 2030], [3899, 3957], [4073, 4122], [4510, 4546], [4549, 4564], [4961, 5089]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Long before fish swam in Macquariums , hipsters got Apple logo tattoos and thousands camped out for days to get into computer store openings , there was a machine . Danielle Brecker found this 1989 photo of friends on their Macs at Drexel University in Philadelphia . Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the original Macintosh , the first personal computer to draw masses , introduce the mouse and incorporate a graphical user interface , relying on images instead of text . The Apple Inc. watershed product entered American consciousness amid fanfare , with a $ 1.5 million commercial , made by Ridley Scott , wowing audiences during Super Bowl XVIII . The piece 's title , `` 1984 , '' invoked author George Orwell 's message and stood as a warning against conformity . Two days after the ad ran , the Macintosh became available and life , as people knew it , changed . No longer were computers viewed as toys with which to play primitive games or as untouchable tools reserved for degreed engineers . We began to think different . `` The Macintosh demonstrated that it was possible and profitable to create a machine to be used by millions and millions of people , '' said Alex Soojung-Kim Pang , research director for the Institute for the Future , a Palo Alto , California , think tank , and chief force behind `` Making the Macintosh : Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley , '' an online historical exhibit . `` The gold standard now for personal electronics is , ` Is it easy enough for my grandmother to use it ? ' People on the Macintosh project were the first people to talk about a product in that way . '' Pang , 44 , remembered being `` mesmerized '' by the computer when he first saw it up close in his college bookstore . He was n't alone . Read about how iReporters are preserving Mac history . For graphic designers like Zoë Korstvedt , now a Los Angeles creative director , the evolving Mac , with each added feature , was ripe with ah-ha moments . To tinker with a piece , play with the text , `` to visualize on your computer was just insane , '' she said . `` My colleagues and I wonder how we did it -LSB- their jobs -RSB- before . '' No wonder , then , that when Korstvedt , 44 , married her first husband in 1989 , she used half of their wedding money to buy her first home computer : a Mac SE/30 , for which she forked over extra bucks for an upgrade to a whopping 8 megabytes of RAM . Nothing compared to the 12 gigs she now has . `` I was styling , '' she said with a laugh . Jeremy Mehrle , 30 , of the St. Louis , Missouri , area is too young to know a world without Macs . This MacAddict began hoarding and tinkering with tossed-out computers , and then he discovered eBay . Today , the motion graphics designer 's 1,400 square-foot basement is a museum to Apple computers , all-white and in gallery-style with about 80 fully-functioning machines on display . `` Some people think it 's really cool . ... Others say ` It 's Jeremy 's thing , it 's a little weird , whatever , ' '' he said . `` I think if I had stacks everywhere , and you could n't move in my house , people would be worried . '' What 's Mehrle 's hobby , however , became a career for Dan Foust , 38 , of Bloomington , Illinois . `` Danapplemacman , '' as he 's known on eBay , makes a living out of buying , and when necessary resuscitating , these computers before hawking them online to customers/collectors in places as far-flung as Italy and Australia . So what would people pay for an original Macintosh ? `` A complete boxed system ? , '' he said . `` I ca n't put a price on that . '' The extremes to which people have gone in their love and loyalty for Apple -LRB- and specifically Macs -RRB- knows no bounds . Perhaps no one knows this better than Leander Kahney , news editor at Wired.com and author of Cult of Mac , as well as the more recently published Inside Steve 's Brain . That would be Apple co-founder Steve Jobs ' brain , of course . From his phone in a San Francisco coffee shop , Kahney told tales of people allotting their limited vacation time to Macworld conferences , a man who has traveled to 40 Apple store openings and those who shaved Apple logos into their heads . As for the Apple tattoos , those , at first , really bothered him . `` I 'm a bit of a leftie , '' he said . The idea of `` corporate worship '' did n't initially sit well with him -- although he 's not afraid to admit his own obsession . `` It 's a very deep relationship people have with their computers . ... If the computer 's not working , it 's more important than the car breaking down . '' Speaking of worship , Israeli filmmakers Ron and Kobi Shely created `` MacHEADS : The Movie , '' a 50-minute documentary that 'll be available next week on Amazon 's video on demand service and , soon after , on iTunes . The film includes footage from The Church of Mac in Los Angeles , where a preacher and congregants gathered to glorify the computer at a service that ended with , `` Praise Steve . '' `` Although we read a lot about the -LSB- Mac -RSB- phenomenon , '' Ron Shely said by phone from Tel Aviv of the two-year film project , `` we did n't realize how big this social movement really is . '' And that , beyond the products , is what has been so powerful about the Mac brand , said Peter Friess , president of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose , California . iReport.com : Got your own Mac Museum ? Show us ! Steve Jobs `` really has changed the world , '' Friess said . `` You hardly find people who changed cultures . He changed culture . '' Decades before Jobs ' health became a topic of discussion , Friess was lucky enough to meet the man . At the time , German-born Friess was a lowly watchmaker , repairing clocks in the basement of Munich 's Deutsches Museum , the largest science and technology museum in the world . The year was 1984 , and Friess thought a Macintosh might come in handy , so he called Apple Germany to see if he might be able to get one . The answer , as he recalled it , '' ` You 're very lucky . Steve Jobs is in town . We 'll come over and give you one . ' '' Ever since , he 's been amazed and exceedingly intrigued by every new computer . `` My wife goes crazy , '' Friess , 49 , admitted . `` Every Apple computer I buy , the first thing I do is take it apart , just to see what 's inside . '' For Gary Allen , 61 , of Berkeley , California , his interest is less inside than it is outside the company 's stores . He runs ifoAppleStore.com , the first three letters taken from his police dispatch days , meaning `` in front of . '' The site 's genesis dates back to 2001 when Apple store No. 9 opened , in Palo Alto , and he and his son went early . Way early -- as in the night before . The crowds , and natural community , grew on Allen , who began seeing new-found friends at other openings . They were like groupies chasing a band . So he started a Web site , to help fans keep in touch , and soon other Apple enthusiasts began writing from across the globe , sharing tips about new stores , as well as testimonies and photos . The site , he said , averages about 4 million visitors a month . Allen , who guessed he 's been to 22 store openings so far , once stood in the rain for days in Tokyo so he could snag the first spot in line . He 's seen old friends at openings in Germany and Italy . Last summer , he and his now 21-year-old son experienced what he called `` the perfect storm , '' hitting Boston , Beijing and Sydney . Next stop : Paris . He may not speak the same language as the thousands who surround him in these various cities , but that does n't much matter when people speak the same language of computer love . `` Apple enthusiasts , it turns out , '' Allen said , `` are the same wherever you go . '' | Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the first Macintosh computer . Apple launched the Mac in 1984 with Ridley Scott 's landmark Super Bowl XVIII ad . Steve Jobs is credited for cult-like worship seen in tattoos , collections , Macquariums . Fans flock to Macworld expos , Apple store openings and hoard eBay purchases . | [[287, 348], [581, 607], [610, 630], [631, 675], [58, 103], [3337, 3365], [3368, 3444]] |
MOSCOW , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two satellites , one Russian and one American , have collided some 800 kilometers -LRB- 500 miles -RRB- above Siberia , the Russian and U.S. space agencies , said Thursday . Debris from the collision poses no threat to the International Space Station . The collision on Tuesday produced two large debris clouds , NASA said . The satellites collided at 10 kilometers -LRB- 6 miles -RRB- per second , producing 500-600 new pieces of space debris , the U.S. Strategic Command said . That debris is not believed to pose a threat to the International Space Station as long as the clouds continue moving in a lower orbit , according to NASA and the Russian federal space agency , Roscosmos . `` There is some elevated risk , but it is considered to be very small to the ISS and to the other satellites that NASA has in orbit , '' NASA spokeswoman Beth Dickey told CNN . She said experts were still assessing the effects of the debris . Mikhail Martirosov , from Russian mission control center , told Interfax news agency that the real threat from the debris will become obvious next week , once experts can calculate the trajectory of the fragments ' descent . `` We have not received a warning of the possible danger to the ISS . The fragments may descend to the ISS orbit in several years , although I do not rule out that some fragments may go down within several days , '' Martirosov said . The Russian satellite was launched in 1993 and had been out of service at the time of the collision , Roscosmos said . The U.S. satellite was part of the Iridium global mobile communications system and is owned by a consortium headed by Motorola , the space agency said . It was launched in 1997 . Iridium said in a statement Wednesday it `` expects to implement a network solution by Friday , '' and will `` move one of its in-orbit spare satellites into the network constellation to permanently replace the lost satellite '' within the next 30 days . CNN is `` one of the larger non-government users '' of Iridium , said Arnie Christianson , operations manager for CNN Satellites and Transmission . `` We do rely on it for communication in high-risk areas like Iraq , Afghanistan , and other remote locations , '' he said . `` Because of this collision , there may be a slightly longer hole in the coverage from one satellite to the next , but only in a very small area and for a very small amount of time . This is a collision , not an internal failure of the satellite or the system . '' The satellite crash may result in `` brief , occasional outages '' that may slightly disrupt service , Iridium said in the statement , adding `` this event is not the result of a failure on the part of Iridium or its technology . '' Christianson questioned how U.S. government , which tracks all space junk larger than a football , did n't see this coming . But he said the system will continue to work without any noticeable problems . A representative of Iridium could not immediately be reached for comment . NASA 's Dickey said a collision like this one is very rare . `` This is the first impact between two intact satellites traveling at hypervelocity , '' she said . `` There have been some other occasions when things have accidentally collided in space , but they have been parts of rockets or parts of satellites and -LRB- produced -RRB- a very small cloud . '' Major Regina Winchester , of the U.S. Strategic Command , said : `` Space is getting pretty crowded . The fact that this has n't happened before -- maybe we were getting a little bit lucky . '' Winchester said Strategic Command tracks more than 18,000 pieces of manmade objects in space every day . `` Any time there 's an event that creates more debris , it 's a concern , '' she said . `` All countries who have assets in space are going to be concerned simply because when there 's more debris , there 's a higher chance it 's going to hit something . '' CNN 's Yuri Pushkin in Moscow and Melissa Gray in London contributed to this report . | One Russian and one U.S. satellite collide at 10 km per second . Collision is believed to be the first of its kind . NASA spokesman quoted as saying crash produced massive debris cloud . Wreckage from collision expected to burn up in the Earth 's atmosphere . | [[0, 6], [9, 152], [360, 431], [288, 345], [3708, 3716], [3722, 3741]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States is keeping a close eye on Pakistan after this week 's Taliban surge into the Buner district brought them just 60 miles from the capital , Islamabad . A Taliban fighter in the district of Buner , which is only 96 kilometers from Islamabad . A Pakistani government official said Friday that the insurgents had completely withdrawn from the district by the end of the week , but a human rights group said people in Buner were reporting that local Taliban remained in the district . And senior U.S. officials cautioned that any withdrawal by the Taliban was likely meaningless and that the fundamentalist group now holds large areas of the country with the government seemingly unable to stop them . `` We 're certainly moving closer to the tipping point , '' Adm. Mike Mullen , chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said on NBC 's `` Today '' show Friday . In the interview from Afghanistan , Mullen said he was `` extremely concerned '' about indications the Taliban is moving closer to Pakistan 's capital of Islamabad . Syed Mohammed Javed , commissioner of the Malakand Division that includes Buner , said the Taliban withdrew on Friday without any conditions . Earlier in the day , Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told CNN that the militants would pull back from the district . Pakistani Express TV showed live footage of armed and masked Taliban militants in Buner , loading pickup trucks and driving away . Sufi Muhammed , an Islamist fundamentalist leader who has been negotiating on behalf of the Taliban , was on scene overseeing the withdrawal , police said . U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus credited about 300 Pakistan 's Frontier Corps with driving Taliban militants out of Buner . The U.S. Central Command chief spoke to CNN on Friday after testifying before a Congressional panel about the need for the United States to boost its support for Pakistani counterinsurgency troops such as the Frontier Corps . But Amnesty International 's regional chief said people in Buner are reporting a different situation . `` What we 're hearing from people in Buner ... is that the Taliban that have moved out are the non-local ones , '' Sam Zarifi , Amnesty 's Asia Pacific director , told CNN . `` So the local branch of the Taliban are still in place in Buner . '' Amnesty International is concerned that those local Taliban will continue to enforce the Taliban 's `` abusive and repressive '' control of Buner . Girls over the age of 7 are forced to wear a burka , a head-to-toe covering that the Taliban say is required of Muslims under its radical interpretation of Islamic law , or sharia . `` I think we 're going to see those harsh edicts stay , '' Zarifi said . The Taliban installed strict Islamic law when it took over Afghanistan after a two-year fight with warlords , many of whom surrendered without a fight . They fought with a coalition of some of those warlords known as the Northern Alliance from 1996 until U.S. forces , seeking the leadership of al Qaeda after the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , added bombing raids to Northern Alliance ground operations and successfully drove the Taliban out of most of Afghanistan . iReport : Should the U.S. intercede in Pakistan ? But the Taliban regrouped in 2004 , launching a guerrilla war against the Afghan government while operating from the tribal areas of that country and Pakistan . Meanwhile , senior U.S. officials said that the `` retreat '' was likely meaningless . Control was the impetus behind the Taliban move into Buner , and the fundamentalist group now controls large areas of Pakistan , they said . The officials said , however , that they did not believe the Taliban 's goal was to take over the government of Pakistan but rather to create instability by taking advantage of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari 's apparent inability to cope with the situation . Zardari , they said , does not understand the gravity of the situation , remains distracted by domestic politics and appears unable to make critical decisions to deploy the army to stabilize the country . State Department envoy Richard Holbrooke has been on the phone `` nonstop '' with officials in Islamabad and Washington , the officials said , providing frequent information to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama . Holbrooke 's read on the situation , officials familiar with the conversation said , is that the Pakistani government does not know how to handle the situation and is looking to the United States for direction . A senior military official , however , presented a more dire case . Pakistan is `` rapidly deteriorating , '' he said . He said that he could not rule out the possibility of a military takeover in Islamabad , although he added that such a prospect was not in the immediate future . As for Pakistan 's nuclear arsenal , he said the weapons `` are safe for now '' but that the United States is monitoring the safety systems in place . Administration officials said that the Pakistani military had assured the United States it would not act without an express order from the civilian leadership . Earlier this week , Clinton warned that nuclear-armed Pakistan was in danger of falling into terrorist hands . Before the Taliban 's apparent withdrawal Friday , a local Pakistani official expressed doubt about whether the militants would leave , as they pledged to local elders on Thursday . `` Nobody can trust them , '' Sardar Hussain Babik , the provincial education minister , said by phone from Buner . The Taliban have broken promises before and probably would do so again , he said . Militants who swarmed into Buner subsequently locked up courthouses , seized court documents and battled Pakistani troops who were sent to protect residents . The militants said they took control of the district to ensure that Islamic law was properly imposed . The Pakistani government called the land grab a breach of a recent peace agreement . CNN 's Barbara Starr , Elise Labott , Ivan Watson , Tricia Escobedo and Samson Desta contributed to this report . | NEW : Pakistan situation `` rapidly deteriorating , '' says senior U.S. military official . NEW : U.S. officials : Any Taliban withdrawal from Pakistani territory likely meaningless . NEW : Fundamentalists hold large areas of the country , military officials say . Pakistan had reported Taliban withdrawal from captured district 60 miles from capital . | [[4567, 4593], [4606, 4634], [4635, 4671], [4648, 4671], [4674, 4676], [527, 743], [568, 620], [3424, 3433], [3436, 3510], [527, 743], [630, 711], [3576, 3637], [0, 20], [121, 183], [337, 417]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Defense Department will release `` a substantial number '' of photographs showing abuse of prisoners at prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan , according to the American Civil Liberties Union . Aggressive techniques to interrogate terror suspects are making headlines again . The release will be in response to an open-records lawsuit filed by the ACLU , the group said in a written statement . The statement released late Thursday said the photos were taken at facilities other than Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq . `` These photographs provide visual proof that prisoner abuse by U.S. personnel was not aberrational but widespread , reaching far beyond the walls of Abu Ghraib , '' Amrit Singh , an ACLU attorney , said in the release . The photos are to be released by May 28 , the ACLU said . The Department of Defense announced in a letter addressed to the federal court on Thursday that it would release the photos . In a copy of the letter posted on the ACLU 's Web site , acting U.S. Attorney Lev L. Dassin said that 21 photographs would be released and that the government `` also is processing for release a substantial number of other images . '' The lawsuit was filed in 2004 after the Bush administration denied a 2003 open-records request by the ACLU . The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled last year that the photos should be released . The Defense Department will not appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court , Dassin said in the letter . Attempts by CNN to reach the White House and Department of Defense for comment were not immediately successful . | Photos showing abuse of prisoners in Iraq , Afghanistan to be released , ACLU says . ACLU filed lawsuit in 2004 against Bush administration for access to photos . Defense Department says it will not appeal court ruling , will release pictures . ACLU : Pictures , taken at facilities other than Abu Ghraib , to be released by May 28 . | [[96, 169], [0, 26], [172, 221], [804, 819], [911, 945], [1344, 1380], [339, 380], [1181, 1289], [30, 107], [911, 945], [1344, 1380], [1381, 1454], [0, 26], [172, 221], [423, 539], [460, 539], [762, 801], [911, 945], [1344, 1380]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The sport of polo needs new oversight to protect its prized horses , the nation 's largest animal protection organization said after reports that a pharmacy 's mistake with medication may have killed 21 animals . People attend a memorial ceremony Thursday for 21 polo horses that died Sunday in Wellington , Florida . `` This tragedy has brought to light the absence of drug policies and regulation within the sport of polo , '' said Keith Dane , director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States . `` There are no prohibitions or testing requirements for the use of drugs or other performance-enhancing substances , '' Dane said in a statement . The HSUS statement called on the polo community `` to use this tragedy as a catalyst to begin implementing reforms to ensure that policies are enacted and enforced that will ensure better protection for the horses in its care . '' But a veteran Florida polo player is urging would-be reformers to take it slow . `` If you step back and look at the reality of the situation , it was a misformulation of a vitamin and mineral supplement that killed the horses , not performance-enhancing drugs , '' said Don Dufresne , who describes himself as an equine legal expert and horse lover . Watch what a pharmacy says happened '' `` If this were a pervasive problem in polo , and if this were to happen twice in the last year or something ... then yes , I think that -LRB- regulation -RRB- would be appropriate , '' said Dufresne , who is a member of the sport 's equine welfare committee but emphasized he was not speaking for the panel . `` I do n't see this as a pervasive problem , '' he said . `` We have no reports to my knowledge of anyone using performance-enhancing drugs other than vitamins and mineral supplements . '' The sport 's governing body , the U.S. Polo Association , has been considering taking up such testing for several years , John Wash , operations president of the club where the horses fell ill Sunday , said this week . `` People are calling for reform , and maybe that needs to happen , '' he said . A tearful memorial ceremony for the horses was held Thursday evening at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington , Florida . As part of the service , bagpipers played and people tossed flowers into a pond on the grounds . Watch scenes from the memorial '' Play resumed in the U.S. Open Polo Championship after matches were postponed by the horse disaster Sunday and rain Wednesday . A veterinary pharmacy in Florida acknowledged Thursday that it incorrectly prepared medication used to treat the 21 horses that died . An internal investigation by Franck 's Pharmacy in Ocala , Florida , `` concluded that the strength of an ingredient in the medication was incorrect . We will cooperate fully with the authorities as they continue their investigations , '' the company said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon . `` We extend our most sincere condolences to the horses ' owners , the Lechuza Polo team and the members of the United States Polo Association . We share their grief and sadness , '' the pharmacy 's chief operations officer , Jennifer Beckett , said in the statement . The pharmacy said it prepared medication for the horses on orders from a veterinarian . Many teams commonly give horses injections of vitamin B12 and other nutritional supplements before competitions to prevent muscle cramps and help them recover after the match , Dufresne said . `` When you talk about polo ponies , we consider them equine athletes , '' he said . `` A horse is so important to your game as a player , you want the horses to be as healthy as they can be , to last as long as they can . ... `` You do n't want to overexert a horse . A tired horse is an unsafe horse . '' The pharmacy that made the error is likely to be sued , which should put all pharmacies on sufficient notice to prevent future errors , he said . `` Everybody wants to ensure that what their horses are getting is correct and is not going to harm their horse . I thing everybody is going to become more aware of this and more cautious . '' Liz Compton , a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services , told CNN that the agency is awaiting toxicology results from the animals and could not comment on the pharmacy 's disclosure . `` Obviously , we are going to follow any and every potential lead to get to the bottom of this , '' she said . The horses were trained by Lechuza Polo , a Venezuela-based team . Its captain , Juan Martin Nero , told an Argentine newspaper earlier this week that he had `` no doubts '' vitamins administered to the animals were at fault . `` There were five horses that did not get the vitamin , and those were the only ones that survived , '' Nero said . Post-mortem examinations done by a University of Florida laboratory found significant hemorrhaging in several horses , but the findings did not single out a specific cause . CNN 's Jim Kavanagh and Kim Segal contributed to this report . | NEW : Regulation not necessary after simple mistake , polo veteran says . NEW : Likely lawsuit should prevent similar errors , equine legal expert says . Ponies ' deaths demand reform , head of organization 's equine unit says . Pharmacy in Ocala , Florida , says it made mistake with dosage . | [[1184, 1258], [2507, 2629]] |
ISTANBUL , Turkey -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fethiye Cetin was 25 years old when she discovered her beloved grandmother 's secret . Fethiye Cetin , with her grandmother , said she felt deceived when she learned her origins . The little old lady in the white headscarf was Armenian . Her real name was not Seher , but Heranus Gadarian . Cetin says at the age of nine , a Turkish gendarme captain ripped Heranus from the arms of her mother while they were on a brutal death march into the desert . A Turkish couple later adopted the Armenian girl , and gave her a Muslim name . When Cetin first learned about her grandmother 's Armenian origins , she was shocked . `` I felt deceived , '' she says . `` I felt like going out into the street and screaming ` they are lying to us . ' '' Instead Cetin , a Turkish human rights lawyer , wrote a book titled my `` My Grandmother . '' It describes the atrocities that Cetin 's grandmother witnessed and suppressed since childhood . It also recounts Cetin 's reunion , after her grandmother died , with Armenian relatives in the United States . The book , which has been translated into six languages , is helping chip away at a taboo in modern-day Turkey about what happened to the Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire . According to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul , in 1914 there were more then 2,000 Armenian churches scattered across what is now Turkey . Today , there are fewer then 50 . Between 1915 and 1918 , as Europe and the Middle East plunged head-long into World War I , Ottoman authorities organized mass deportations that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians living in eastern and central Anatolia . Watch more on this story '' Every April 24 , Armenians around the world commemorate the anniversary of what they call the `` Armenian genocide . '' They say more then a million Armenians were killed in the massacres . The Turkish government vehemently rejects the figure . `` The people of Turkey do not believe that their ancestors were criminals , were killers , '' says Onur Oymen , a former ambassador who is now a member of the Turkish parliament . `` The historical fact says that the Armenians killed during this period more then 500,000 Ottoman citizens , Turkish citizens . '' `` Regardless of whether 1,000 people were killed or one person was killed , it was still a human '' says Cetin . `` I wrote this book to say that people felt pain , people suffered in 1915 -- to look at the events from a humanitarian perspective . '' The battle over history continues to claim victims . On January 19 , 2007 , Cetin 's friend and client , Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink , stepped out of his office on to a busy boulevard in Istanbul to go to a nearby bank . He was gunned down in broad daylight by a 17-year-old Turkish ultra nationalist . Television cameras filmed Dink 's body that afternoon , lying on the sidewalk covered with newspapers . `` Hrant Dink was defending democratization . Hrant Dink was supporting dialogue . And at the same time Hrant Dink was destroying the taboos of the system , '' Cetin said . `` Therefore Hrant Dink was dangerous for them and he was an important target . '' Before his murder , Dink received a six-month suspended jail sentence for `` insulting Turkishness , '' after he wrote an essay urging Armenians and Turks to overcome their mutual distrust . He was battling another court case at the time of his death , after he labeled the massacres of 1915 `` genocide '' in an interview . He was quoted by the Reuters news agency saying : `` Of course I 'm saying it 's a genocide , because its consequences show it to be true and label it so . We see that people who had lived on this soil for 4,000 years were exterminated by these events . '' An estimated 100,000 Istanbul residents poured into the streets in solidarity after Dink 's murder , some of them chanting `` We are all Hrant Dink . '' But today , his surviving son is still defending himself in court for his father 's genocide comments . During his visit to Turkey this month , President Obama was asked whether he would follow through on a campaign pledge to recognize what happened to the Armenians nearly a century ago as genocide . Obama said his views had not changed on the subject , but added : `` What I want to do is not focus on my views right now but focus on the views of the Turkish and the Armenian people . If they can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic history , then I think the entire world should encourage them . '' Twenty-eight-year-old Aris Nalci , one of the new generation of Armenian journalists in Turkey inspired by Hrant Dink , said he opposed a proposed resolution in the U.S. Congress to formally recognize the Armenian genocide , arguing it would only hurt U.S.-Turkish relations . `` People and politicians in other countries are using this in a political way , '' says Nalci . `` It will not change the minds of the people walking in the streets and the people living here . '' But there is one area where the tiny -- and shrinking -- community of some 70,000 Armenians still living in Turkey is praying for American help . During a short meeting with Obama , Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Aram Atesyan urged him to do everything in his power to help Turkey and its northern neighbor Armenia normalize diplomatic relations . Borders between the two countries have been shut since 1993 , but the two countries have recently engaged in a diplomatic rapprochement . On April 16 , Turkey 's foreign minister traveled to the Armenian capital to attend a regional summit . `` Turkey is our motherland and Armenia is our fatherland , '' Atesyan explained . `` And we are like orphans , stuck in between . '' | Disagreement over events in 1915 continue to divide Turks and Armenians . Armenians say one million were killed in genocide . Turks reject claim that their forebears were involved in genocide . | [[1835, 1904], [1849, 1904], [1905, 1959], [1960, 2049]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The British government announced Friday that more than 4,000 former Gurkha soldiers are entitled to settle in Britain , but Gurkha supporters quickly denounced the measure as meaningless . Former Gurkha solider Tulbahadur Pun was awarded Britain 's highest honor for bravery , the Victoria Cross . Supporters have fought for years for more rights for the Gurkhas , Nepalese soldiers who have been part of the British Army for nearly 200 years . Gurkhas have fought alongside the British Armed Forces in every conflict in that period , including both world wars , and are known for their ferocity and pride . Despite their centuries of service , Gurkhas were not given the right to settle in the United Kingdom until 2004 . And even then the order applied only to those discharged after the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 , when the Gurkhas Brigade moved from Hong Kong to Britain . The government 's announcement Friday applies to all Gurkhas , including those who left the army before 1997 , if they meet one of five criteria . It also says around 6,000 of the Gurkhas ' dependents may be able to apply for settlement in Britain as well . `` The guidance honors the service , commitment , and gallantry of those who served with the Gurkhas Brigade , '' Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said in a written statement . The Gurkha Justice Campaign , however , said the government 's criteria for the Gurkhas ' resettlement are unrealistic and too difficult for many of the soldiers to meet . `` Only a tiny fraction of the Gurkhas who retired before 1997 will win settlement rights under the new policy , '' the campaign said . `` The campaign for full Gurkha justice will now be taken back into Parliament and the courts . The government needs to know they will have a huge campaign against them who will commit to righting this wrong . '' The High Court ruled last September that the 1997 cut-off date was fair , but added that caseworkers needed revised guidance on deciding the cases of Gurkhas discharged before that date . Under the guidance , Gurkhas discharged before 1997 must meet one of five criteria to be considered for resettlement in Britain : . • Have three years ' continuous residence in Britain , before or after service ; • Have close family settled in the United Kingdom ; • Have an award for gallantry , leadership , or bravery while in the brigade ; • Have a chronic medical condition attributable to or made worse by army service ; • Have served for 20 or more years . Actress Joanna Lumley , whose father served in the Gurkhas while she was a girl , has been an outspoken campaigner for their rights . She said the new criteria are harsher than she expected . `` They 've given five bullet points which virtually can not be met by the ordinary Gurkha soldier , '' Lumley told reporters Friday . `` This one page of criteria has taken the government four months to come up with . It has made me ashamed of our administration . '' She said most Gurkhas are allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for only two years , so three years of continuous residence is not possible . Most Gurkhas , she said , also have not been allowed to settle in Britain with their families . The requirement for having won an award discriminates against the ordinary soldier who has no award , she said . `` This sends out not only to the Gurkha soldiers , but to our own men fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq , the most appalling message : that unless you have been awarded a medal for gallantry , you 're not a real soldier , '' Lumley said . Only officers are allowed to serve 20 or more years , she said , so most riflemen will not qualify for the service requirement . And proving that an injury is related to army service will be nearly impossible for most , she said . `` How on earth are men who were injured in the 1940s , '50s , '60s going to be able to prove that their long-term chronic illness is attributable to injures received during their service ? '' she said . A Home Office spokesman said the government believes hundreds of Gurkhas will still be eligible to settle in Britain . `` We would not accept that , '' the spokesman said of Lumley 's criticisms . `` We would say that the criteria as we see it is fair and balanced . '' The Gurkha brigade originated in the 19th century with Nepalese soldiers who impressed British imperial troops with their ferocity and military ability . The first Gurkha units were formed in 1815 . They saw action in both world wars and were fundamental to the British military maintaining control of India in the 1800s . Today there are 3,400 troops in the Gurkha brigade , operating from bases in Great Britain . Most recently , Gurkha troops were used in the Persian Gulf War and the Balkan conflicts . | British government unveils moves to let more former Gurkha troops live in the UK . Gurkhas are part of British armed forces made up of Nepalese fighters . Campaigners say qualifying criteria mean most will not be able to settle in UK . First Gurkha units formed in 1815 and they fought in every campaign since . | [[9, 32], [36, 119], [1380, 1407], [1420, 1541], [3156, 3168], [3187, 3251], [481, 596], [4309, 4381], [4463, 4507]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -- On Earth Day on Wednesday , Dr. David Jentsch marched at the head of a column of UCLA students and faculty members to the chant of , `` Stand up for science ! '' Across the street a smaller but equally vocal group of animal rights advocates chanted , `` U-C-L-A , how many animals have you killed today ! '' Animal rights activists say large numbers of animals are killed each year during medical trials . Until recently , Jentsch had never dreamed he would lead a political demonstration . But Jentsch 's life took a sharp turn last month when his car was firebombed in his driveway . A radical group of animal rights activists claimed responsibility for the act . `` This is terror , '' Jentsch said . `` There is no two ways about it . It 's extremism . It 's an attempt to intimidate . '' It was the latest in a string of arson attacks against UCLA researchers who use animals in medical research projects . Since 2006 , there have been seven attacks aimed at researcher 's homes or cars . No arrests have been made in the cases , which are being investigated by an FBI lead task force on terrorism . `` We believe it 's just a matter of time before someone is going to be hurt , '' said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Salvador Hernandez . `` The intent of these groups is to intimidate and coerce . '' Hernandez heads up the task force investigating the series of attacks and says their actions qualify as terrorist attacks . But animal rights advocate Chris DeRose says nothing could be further from the truth . `` There has never been one human being in this country being killed or even hurt , '' he said . He believes the university researchers are the bad guys . `` What I do condemn is what goes on behind those walls , '' he says . DeRose , founder of Last Chance for Animals , says he does n't condone firebombing researchers ' homes , but he does n't condemn it either . Watch people against animal research at protest '' `` The reason these people are doing it is because they have been pushed ... nobody is listening ... over a hundred million animals a year are killed in universities and major hospitals in this country , '' he said . Jentsch argues that same medical research using lab animals has lead to many medical breakthroughs that benefit mankind . UCLA points to research advances in breast cancer treatments , Parkinson 's disease and artificial heart technology that relied on experiments involving lab animals at their California facilities . Jentsch 's own research involves studies aimed at treating drug addiction in humans . He studies the brains of monkeys that have been injected with methamphetamine . He says his experiments are peer-reviewed and adhere strictly to established rules for the treatment of lab animals . Watch supporters of animal research at protest '' Jentsch says that he hopes that this week 's dueling demonstrations can lead to a dialogue . He believes many of the protestors voicing opposition to the UCLA labs do not endorse the string of violent acts aimed against him and other researchers , `` but it is essential for them to repudiate this type of activity . '' In the meantime , Jentsch says he refuses to be intimidated . `` I 'm going to continue to live where I live , continue to educate people about my work , '' he said . `` I 'm not going to stop . '' | Dr. David Jentsch joins protest after his car was firebombed last month . Activists condemn use of animals as subjects for medical research . Since 2006 , there have been seven attacks aimed at researcher 's homes or cars . Jentsch : `` This is terror . There is no two ways about it . It 's extremism '' | [[523, 613], [940, 1021], [969, 1021], [3030, 3082], [694, 711], [714, 731], [732, 766], [767, 784]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Efraim Diveroli 's father hoped his son would become a doctor or lawyer . Efraim Diveroli , 22 , is doing his `` patriotic '' duty as an arms dealer , his grandfather says . What he got instead is a 22-year-old international arms dealer who faces a congressional inquiry for allegedly selling old Chinese ammunition to the U.S. military to equip allies in Afghanistan . Diveroli is president of AEY Inc. , a South Florida company which , according to U.S. government documents , has done more than $ 10 million of business with the U.S. government since 2004 . The papers also reveal the company struck it big in 2007 with contracts totaling more than $ 200 million to supply ammunition , assault rifles and other weapons to the Afghan National Army and police . The company 's contract said it would get the ammunition from Hungary . But Army investigators found what the Afghan military got included corroded ammunition made in China as long as 46 years ago . The New York Times reported Thursday that AEY shopped stockpiles and ammo dumps in old Soviet bloc allies , from Albania to Kazakhstan . Albania was a big customer for Chinese armaments in the 1960s and '70s , the Times reported . Angelo Diveroli , Efraim 's grandfather , told CNN affiliate WPLG-TV that his grandson is being targeted by `` jealous competitors '' in the international arms market . Since he was a boy , the grandfather said , Efraim Diveroli has known his way around weapons . Read the WPLG story . `` He 's a genius about anything to do with weapons , '' the 72-year-old says . `` Ever since he was a little boy , I would take him to gun shows and he could identify every model of guns . People would ask : How can he do that so young ? He has a gift , I would tell them . '' Michael Diveroli , Efraim 's father , told CNN affiliate WFOR-TV that he wished his son had turned his intellect elsewhere . He said Efraim was `` a boy genius '' who is `` hard to control . '' Read the WFOR story . `` I would prefer he became a nice Jewish doctor or lawyer rather than an arms dealer , '' WFOR quoted Michael Diveroli as saying . Watch how father says son runs his own show '' But his son seem to have a good idea of the circles he was running in . `` What goes on in the Albanian Defense Ministry , '' the New York Times quoted him as saying . `` Who 's clean ? Who 's dirty ? Do n't want to know about it . '' On a MySpace page Efraim Diveroli last updated in 2005 , he says `` I probably grew up way to -LRB- sic -RRB- fast . '' But in a hint of where the then-19-year-old 's future was heading , he wrote , `` I definately -LRB- sic -RRB- have the desire to be very successful in my business and this does take up alot -LRB- sic -RRB- of my time . '' The MySpace page also hints of his need for thrills . `` I 'm one of those guys who needs to be entertained and having lots of fun all the time so if your -LRB- sic -RRB- also an undiagnosed case of ADD look me up , '' it says . He lists the weapon-heavy films `` Heat '' and `` Scarface '' among his favorites . A CNN search of Diveroli 's Florida criminal record shows arrests , but no convictions , on offenses from misdemeanor battery to felony possession of stolen property . He has yet to appear in court on a March 3 arrest for driving under the influence . For now , relatives say Efraim Diveroli is out of the country . CNN attempts to contact him have not been successful . His grandfather told WPLG that Diveroli is now in Turkey or Albania doing his `` patriotic '' duty . `` He 's all over the world getting what the military needs , '' Angelo Diveroli says . But in a MySpace message exchange with Radar magazine , a person thought to be David Packouz , a 25-year-old who was AEY 's vice president , refers to Efraim Diveroli as `` my former scumbag partner '' and says he is motivated by money . `` Efraim Diveroli has a serious psychological illness called ` extreme greed , ' '' Radar quotes him as writing in a report on its Web site . Packouz would not discuss AEY with CNN on Friday , saying he had no comment `` because of the ongoing investigation . '' E-mail to a friend . | 22-year-old arms dealer faces congressional inquiry . Company supplied ammunition made in China decades ago . Company 's contract called for bullets made in Hungary . Grandfather says dealer , 22 , had `` gift '' for weaponry . | [[193, 355], [888, 980], [782, 853], [811, 853], [170, 192], [1381, 1399], [1402, 1422], [1425, 1475], [1423, 1475]] |
Editor 's note : Nancy G. Brinker is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure , named after her only sister , Susan , who died from breast cancer in 1980 . The organization describes itself as the `` world 's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives , empower people , ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures . '' Brinker served as Ambassador to Hungary in 2001 and Chief of Protocol of the United States during the Bush administration . Nancy Brinker says a bill by Sens. Ted Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison would renew the fight against cancer . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- During his first address to a joint session of Congress , President Obama urged a new effort `` to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American , including me , by seeking a cure for cancer in our time . '' It was a call to action that resonated for me , as it 's a cause I 've dedicated my life to pursuing . Nearly three decades ago I promised my sister , Suzy , who died at age 36 from breast cancer , that I would do everything I could to end the disease that took her life . A couple of years later , I too was diagnosed with breast cancer , at age 37 . Fortunately my cancer was detected and treated much earlier than Suzy 's , and it was much smaller and not nearly as aggressive . Following a mastectomy and four rounds of chemotherapy , I am now a 25-year survivor . We have made a lot of progress since the 1980s . We now have a basic understanding of breast cancer , which is the foundation for discovering the cures . And with this new understanding , we 're moving toward more personalized treatments -- as each patient and each tumor is different , their treatment must reflect those differences . Yet while we are in position to experience significant advances , the sad fact remains that we are still facing an enormous cancer crisis -- cancer will claim the lives of more than a half-million people this year -- about 1,500 people a day . In all , 40 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives , including approximately 1.4 million new cases this year alone . With the graying of the Baby Boom generation , we are about to experience a cancer tsunami . Thus I was inspired to hear our new president call for reigniting our nation 's war on cancer . And it did n't take long for a bipartisan group of senators to answer that challenge . The group , led by Sens. Edward Kennedy , D-Massachusetts , and Kay Bailey Hutchison , R-Texas , who have been working together and in close consultation and collaboration with the cancer community for more than a year , introduced the 21st Century Cancer ALERT -LRB- access to life-saving early detection , research and treatment -RRB- Act . This bill is an effort to address our shortcomings and renew our commitment to discovering and delivering the cures to cancer . In a period where Democrats control both the Congress and the White House and true bipartisanship is a rare and precious commodity , I am grateful to both senators , particularly Hutchison , for ensuring that this was a true partnership , and that everyone had a seat at the table . For Kennedy , this is obviously a personal issue . Hutchison has been with us in this fight since our early days , and this would not have happened without her leadership . The first step in saving lives is in detecting cancer early . If breast cancer is a guide , developing effective early detection techniques is critically important to increasing mortality rates . For example , when my sister died , only 77 percent of women who discovered their cancer before it spread beyond the breast survived at least five years . After nearly three decades of investments and advancements , the five-year survival rate has increased to 98 percent . Unfortunately , many cancers still do not have effective early detection methods . Ovarian cancer is a particularly devastating example : There is no screening diagnostic , thus a diagnosis is most often made after the cancer has spread . According to the American Cancer Society , when ovarian cancer is detected locally , the survival rate is 92 percent ; however , only 1 in 5 cases are detected at this stage , dropping the overall five-year survival rate to only 45 percent . Mortality rates are even more disturbing for lung and pancreatic cancers . This has to change . This legislation seeks to address this by placing an emphasis on early detection and promoting the discovery and development of biomarkers so cancers can be detected at the earliest possible stage , when cancer is most treatable . It will also strengthen the cancer research process by promoting public-private partnerships and collaboration between government agencies . And the bill stresses translational research , so new discoveries and breakthroughs in the laboratory make their way to patients ' bedsides as quickly as possible . At the same time , we have to remind ourselves as we push for science to develop the early detection methods that will save lives tomorrow , millions of our friends and loved ones do not have sufficient access to the detection and treatment methods available today . Tens of millions of people are uninsured and lack access to basic health care . Federal and state programs that provide support to underserved people with cancer are dramatically underfunded , leading to huge gaps in access . Even those with insurance often have difficulty accessing life-saving treatments , whether it is because they live in a rural community , have language barriers or are faced with roadblocks to participating in a clinical trial . The Cancer ALERT Act will begin to improve access to cancer care for underserved populations by expanding access to clinical trials and patient navigation services . One thing I 've learned over this journey is that we can do anything if we just put our minds to it and show that we are committed to success . This effort is an important and promising step in showing that discovering and delivering the cures for cancer is still a national priority , and that we are committed to seeing it through . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nancy Brinker . | Nancy Brinker : I made promise to my sister who died of breast cancer . A cancer survivor , Brinker says she 's dedicated herself to fighting the disease . She says new legislation would go far toward energizing fight against cancer . | [[98, 109], [124, 157], [977, 1022], [1013, 1022], [1036, 1069], [925, 965]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The homeless Florida woman who made a tearful plea for help from President Obama earlier this year is still jobless and struggling financially . President Obama greets Henrietta Hughes during a town hall meeting in Fort Myers , Florida , on February 10 . Henrietta Hughes caught the nation 's attention in February when she cried for help during one of Obama 's town hall meetings . After her plea , Hughes was given a free home to live in temporarily , but she is still struggling to find a job and might soon lose that home , CNN affiliate WINK reported Thursday . Hughes , who is in her 60s , faithfully goes to an employment center in Fort Myers in hopes of finding a job . `` It 's almost our second home , '' Hughes told WINK . She and her son have taken a computer class at the center to help land work . Hughes said she has applied for as many jobs as possible but has struck out . Her son has had no luck either . Now Hughes says she feels time is running out . The home she lives in was donated by the wife of a Florida lawmaker , Chene Thompson , who has been trying to sell the vacant home in the Fort Myers suburb of Lavelle since 2006 . Once the house sells , Hughes will have to leave . But Thompson told CNN that she will do everything in her power to make sure Hughes is not back out on the streets even if her house sells . `` I 've told Miss Hughes ... she will never again be homeless , even if I have to personally assist her with her rent , '' said Thompson , who is a longtime advocate of the homeless . Thompson said Hughes reminds her of her grandmother and that she and her son are `` upstanding , good-hearted people . '' `` Her concern is that she does n't want to be a freeloader , '' Thompson said , but Hughes and her son have helped deter vandals who have targeted vacant homes in the area . `` They really are a blessing for me , '' Thompson said . But Hughes told WINK that she worries that she could end up living in her truck again if she has to move without a job . Her plea to Obama came as he promoted his economic stimulus plan at a town hall meeting in southwest Florida . After talking about the plan , the president opened the floor to questions from the crowd . `` I have an urgent need -- unemployment and homelessness , a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in , '' Hughes said at the time . `` The housing authority has two years ' waiting lists , and we need something more than the vehicle and the parks to go to . We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom . Please help . '' Hughes said her son had lost his job , leaving them homeless . Obama gave Hughes a kiss on the cheek and a promise : `` We 're going to do everything we can to help you , but there are a lot of people like you . '' | Homeless Henrietta Hughes made tearful plea for help from President Obama . Hughes still jobless , was given a free home but fears she will lose it . Hughes and son striking out on jobs despite retraining , visits to job center . Obama told Hughes he would help , `` but there are a lot of people like you '' | [[19, 45], [50, 117], [274, 401], [339, 401], [0, 15], [118, 134], [402, 416], [419, 470], [477, 480], [484, 514], [477, 480], [525, 544], [477, 480], [484, 514], [586, 592], [615, 696], [831, 908], [831, 837], [892, 908], [909, 941], [2733, 2769]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Shahid Afridi claimed six victims to pave the way for Pakistan to claim victory by four wickets in their opening one-day international against Australia in Dubai . Career-best figures from Shahid Afridi helped steer Pakistan to victory in the first one-dayer against Australia . The all-rounder secured career-best figures of six for 38 as Australia could only manage a paltry 168 in an innings that lasted just 38.5 overs . The world champions again lost their way in the middle overs , losing eight for 27 at one stage as they wilted against Afridi 's spin . It could have been worse for the Australians who relied on a last-wicket stand of 46 runs between James Hopes -LRB- 48 not out -RRB- and Ben Hilfenhaus -LRB- four -RRB- to give their score some respectability . Pakistan 's reply always looked on track with Kamran Akmal hitting 48 at the top of the order before Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 from 68 balls . A near-capacity crowd filled the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium as the venue hosted international cricket for the first time . The postponed series , which was originally due to be played last year , had been moved from Pakistan to neutral turf because of security concerns . Meanwhile , a superb half-century from Adam Gilchrist set Deccan Chargers on their way to a 24-run win over Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League in Cape Town . The Australian smashed a quickfire 71 and Rohit Sharma contributed 52 as Deccan reached 184 for six from their 20 overs . Bangalore 's reply never really got going with captain Kevin Pietersen managing just 11 before he fell to a teasing delivery from Pragyan Ojha and a smart stumping from Gilchrist . Rahul Dravid gave them hope with a thumping 48 before holing out , and Virat Kohli posted 50 , but with precious little support from their team-mates their efforts proved in vain . | Shahid Afridi claims six victims to pave the way for Pakistan to beat Australia . Pakistan reach required target to win first one-dayer in Dubai by four wickets . Adam Gilchrist half-century helps Deccan Chargers beat Bangalore in the IPL . | [[19, 182], [183, 297], [298, 413], [19, 182], [183, 297], [1242, 1251], [1254, 1340]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At least seven Iraqis were killed and 23 wounded when a bomb exploded near a Shiite holy shrine in northern Baghdad on Wednesday morning , an Interior Ministry official said . The Imam Musa al-Kadhim shrine in Baghdad , Iraq , seen in 2007 , is holy to Shiite Muslims . The bomb detonated near the Imam Musa al-Kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiya district , the official said . The Kadhimiya shrine is one of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims around the world . On Tuesday , a parked car bomb killed at least nine people and wounded more than a dozen others , also in Kadhimiya . This is the third straight day of deadly attacks in the capital , striking mostly Shiite areas . On Monday , seven bombings in Baghdad left at least 32 people killed and more than 130 wounded . Iraqi officials have warned that they expect a rise in attacks . The country 's president and his deputies urged security forces to intensify their efforts to secure the country . The government has blamed the ousted Baath party and al Qaeda in Iraq for Monday 's attacks , saying they were meant to create sectarian divisions . The U.S. military also pointed the finger at al Qaeda . `` The nature of the attacks and targets are consistent with past al Qaeda in Iraq attacks . We see this as coordinated attack by terrorists against predominantly Shia targets that they gauge as vulnerable to instigate sectarian violence , '' the U.S. military said . | Three days of attacks in mainly Shiite areas of Baghdad leave dozens dead . Bomb near revered Shiite shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim kills 7 on Wednesday . Parked car bomb in same area of Baghdad kills at least 9 people on Tuesday . At least 32 killed on Monday in seven bombings around Iraqi capital . | [[614, 710], [614, 618], [680, 710], [711, 720], [723, 772], [757, 779], [0, 7], [10, 30], [43, 67], [72, 170], [210, 251], [276, 303], [304, 384], [496, 506], [509, 554], [496, 506], [509, 526], [559, 591], [711, 720], [723, 772], [757, 779]] |
LONDON , England -- Malaria is one of the world 's worst health problems and one of its biggest killers , with half a billion people affected every year , according to the Roll Back Malaria partnership . Around half a billion people are infected with malaria every year . Ninety percent of those cases are in Africa . Saturday marks World Malaria Day , when the world commemorates global efforts to eradicate the disease . Below CNN 's Vital Signs has produced a complete A - Z guide to how malaria spreads , the symptoms to look out for and how to protect yourself . A is for Anti-malarial drugs The history of anti-malarial medicine has been marked by a constant struggle between evolving drug-resistant parasites and the search for new drugs . Currently , anti-malaria experts are focusing on therapies that combine several drugs for better effects . B is for Blood stream Once a mosquito has bitten and the malaria parasites reach the liver , the parasites divide and create thousands of mature parasites . These are released into the blood and infect red blood cells . At that point , typical malaria symptoms such as fever and anemia develop . C is for Chloroquine Until recently , Chloroquine , an anti-malarial drug , was the first option for many people because of its relatively low price and effectiveness . However , resistance to Chloroquine in many parts of the world has rendered the drug ineffective . D is for Diagnosis After noting your symptoms and travel history , your doctor will likely obtain a sample of your blood for observation . Two blood samples , taken at six - and 12-hour intervals , can usually confirm the presence of the malaria parasite and its type . It is possible to be infected by more than one parasite at the same time . E is for Epidemic According to the World Health Organization -LRB- WHO -RRB- , large and devastating epidemics can occur when the mosquito-borne parasite is introduced into areas where people have had little prior contact with the infecting parasite . These epidemics can be triggered by wet weather conditions and further aggravated by floods or mass population movements driven by conflict . F is for Fever The most common symptom of all types of malarias is high fever , which is why doctors often misdiagnose malaria for flu . The fever is a reaction to toxins in the blood . It is therefore advised to tell your doctor you have been to a malaria affected zone , even if symptoms arise months after the trip . G is for Genome In 2002 , -- hundred years after it was discovered that mosquitoes transmit the malaria parasite -- the complete genetic codes of both the human malaria parasite and the mosquito that spreads it was cracked . This development brought scientists a step closer to developing drugs and vaccines to fight the disease , Nature magazine reported . H is for Hotspots Most cases and deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa , many of them occurring among children . However , Asia , Latin America , the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected . In 2006 , malaria was present in 109 countries and territories . I is for Immunity Travelers from malaria-free regions such as Europe and the United States , with little or no immunity , who go to areas with high disease rates , are particularly vulnerable . It is essential to take precautions by taking anti-malarial drugs prescribed by your doctor . J is for Julius Wagner-Jauregg Julius Wagner-Jauregg , a Viennese doctor , was the first to intentionally infect syphilis patients with malaria parasites . By controlling the subsequent malaria-related fever with an anti-malaria drug , the effects of both syphilis and malaria could be minimized . Jauregg received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1927 . K is for Killer Malaria is a life-threatening disease but it is preventable and curable if the right steps are taken . Education in recognizing the symptoms has reduced the number of cases in some areas by 20 percent . Recognizing the disease in the early stages can stop the disease from becoming a killer . L is for Laser gun U.S. scientists say they are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes . The laser fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of wings , the lead scientist on the project told CNN . The project is being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . M is for Mosquitoes Malaria is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquitoes . The mosquitoes bite between sunset and sunrise and parasites from the mosquito are then injected into the person 's skin and transported to the liver . About 170 species of such parasites exist , but only four cause malaria in humans . N is for Nets The distribution of mosquito nets with insecticide is a very effective method of malaria prevention , and it is also one of the most cost-effective methods . These nets can often be obtained for around $ 3 . Earlier this month , actor Ashton Kutcher won a Twitter race against CNN to reach 1 million followers . Kutcher had pledged 10,000 mosquito nets to charity if he beat CNN , and 1,000 if he lost . CNN agreed to do the same . O is for Obstacles In many endemic areas , access to health facilities , as well as drug costs , still present major obstacles . Humanitarian agency Medecins Sans Frontieres estimates that the cost of treating a malaria-infected person in an endemic country was between $ 0.25 and $ 2.40 per dose in 2002 . P is for Pandemic For malaria to become a pandemic -LRB- plague -RRB- in an area , several factors have to be present : high human population density ; high mosquito population density ; high rates of transmission from humans to mosquitoes and from mosquitoes to humans . Q is for Quinine Quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria in the 17th century . Since the 1940 's , many other anti-malarial drugs have appeared on the market and have taken precedent over quinine . But quinine is still being used to treat malaria in some cases . R is for Repellent The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says inspect repellents with DEET -LRB- most common active ingredient in strong insecticides -RRB- in them should be used on exposed skin and flying-insect spray can be used to kill mosquitoes in the sleeping area . DEET may be toxic , however and should be used with care . S is for Symptoms Fever is not the only symptom of malaria . Other symptoms can include shivers , headaches and nausea . Sweating and exhaustion is also common and in some cases , it can affect the brain or kidneys . T is for Tablets Malarone is a common anti-malaria drug among many travelers . It is said to have a 97 percent efficacy with relatively few side-effects . It can be given just one day before arrival in a malaria endemic country and only needs to be taken for another week after leaving . U is for Unborn child According to the WHO , pregnant women are at high risk of contracting malaria . The illness can result in high rates of miscarriages and cause more than 10 percent of maternal deaths annually . This figure can rise to 50 percent in cases of severe disease . V is for Vaccine Despite intensive research , no effective malaria vaccine has been developed to date . But according to a report in April 's New Scientist journal , a unique vaccine taken from the saliva of infected mosquitoes has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be tested in people . W is for World Malaria Day April 25 has become World Malaria Day to provide a global effort to control malaria around the world . The international malaria community only has two years left to meet the 2010 targets of delivering effective protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria , as called for by the UN Secretary-General , Ban Ki-Moon . X is for X-ray X-ray microscopes are used to find the presence of malaria in red blood cells and see how they interact with healthy cells . One of the advantages of this type of microscope is that it produces very-high-resolution images of the cell structure . Y is for Yellow fever Yellow fever is another disease transmitted by mosquitoes . Some countries , such as Peru , require a certificate showing yellow-fever vaccination before you can travel there . Z is for Zanzibar Zanzibar , part of the African republic of Tanzania , has had relative successes in combating malaria ; Africa 's biggest killer according to the New Scientist journal . The achievements are due to the widespread use of treated bed nets , along with the switch to new anti-malarial drugs instead of Chloroquine in 2004 . | World Malaria Day on April 25 highlights the danger of malaria and calls for action . According to the WHO there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006 . 880,000 people died of malaria in 2006 , a preventable and curable disease . | [[318, 350], [7453, 7488], [7462, 7544], [3796, 3825]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was back in operation late Thursday after lightning hit the control tower and severe storms knocked out power to the area . The control tower and three of the airport 's five runways were open , said Kathleen Bergen , a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration . All systems were running on emergency generator power . A ground stoppage was already in place for arriving or departing flights when lightning struck the tower at 8:45 p.m. , according to Bergen . People evacuated the tower and a smoky odor was investigated . At 9:10 p.m. , the all-clear was given and controllers returned to the tower , she said . But at 9:20 p.m. , the tower and parts of the airport were hit by a power outage . The outage affected all the airport 's runway lights , Bergen said . During the outage , planes headed to Atlanta from other airports were being held on the ground , Bergen said , and arrivals were circling or being diverted to other airports . Atlanta 's airport is one of the world 's busiest . | Lightning strikes a control tower at Hartsfield airport as people evacuated . Power outage follows lightning after severe storms roll through Atlanta area . Outage affects runway lights ; arriving planes diverted or told to circle . | [[0, 7], [10, 33], [89, 162], [131, 180], [561, 604], [131, 180], [167, 212], [797, 849], [866, 883], [886, 960], [981, 1006], [981, 989], [1007, 1041]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For most Americans , mosquitoes are pests whose bites leave behind itchy bumps . But in other parts of the world , mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria that kills more than a million people each year . Mosquitoes , especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa , may transmit malaria to humans . A new malaria vaccine that 's about to begin human clinical trials is dependent on mosquitoes -- a whole lot of them . Bioengineers have been growing millions of mosquitoes in a sterile environment , letting them feed on malaria-infected blood , irradiating the bugs , extracting the disease-causing parasites and storing them for use in vaccines . The announcement of the Food and Drug Administration 's approval for clinical trials comes just days before World Malaria Day , which is Saturday . Check out the World Health Organization 's site about malaria goals worldwide . The vaccine is unique among other candidates in that it uses the entire parasite and not just parts of it , said Dr. Stephen Hoffman , chief executive and scientific officer at Sanaria Inc. , the Maryland-based biotechnology firm developing the vaccine . This technique was first shown to be effective in the 1970s , but the technology did n't exist to mass-produce it for the millions of people who need it , said Dr. Kirsten Lyke , principal investigator in the clinical trial site at the University of Maryland School of Medicine . At that time , people were immunized by being bitten by the irradiated mosquitoes . `` That is the only effective vaccine that anyone has ever really developed that works and does complete protection , '' said John Dame , chair of Infectious Diseases and Pathology at the University of Florida , who is not involved with the Sanaria trials . The vaccine takes the same basic approach as standard vaccines in use for diseases such as measles and polio . In those vaccines against viruses , weakened bacteria is injected , creating an immune response without causing illness . In the Sanaria vaccine , the body recognizes the malaria parasite as a foreign material , Lyke said . It goes to the liver , where a lot of the immune response is generated , but does not develop into a disease because the mosquito was irradiated , she said . Clinical trials will begin in May , Hoffman said , and will include 80 immunized individuals and 24 controls . About 3,000 mosquitoes were used to produce the vaccines for the first clinical trials , he said . If these trials are successful , researchers will initiate trials on adults in Africa , and then children . Among other vaccines in clinical trials currently , the one that is furthest along is RTS , S , developed by GlaxoSmithKline PLC. . The company announced in December that this vaccine , based on a recombinant protein that uses part of the malaria parasite , was safely administered to African infants , with an efficacy of 65 percent in a three-month follow-up . Both the Sanaria and the GlaxoSmithKline projects receive support from the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative , a program at the nonprofit PATH established through an initial grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . Dame , who used to be involved with the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine , said he would guess the Sanaria vaccine will be more effective , but clinical trials will provide more information . He also noted that mass distribution to developing countries would require appropriate infrastructure , and may be more difficult depending on how long the immunization lasts . Each year , 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Most people who die from the disease are young children in Africa south of the Sahara . Symptoms of malaria include fever , chills and flu-like illness , the CDC said . Although preventive measures exist , such as insecticide-treated nets and medications , there is no licensed vaccine on the market . Moreover , effective treatments are largely too expensive for the people who need them in poor countries . The parasite has become resistant to cheaper treatments , Lyke said . `` Individuals living on $ 1 or $ 2 a day ca n't even afford $ 8 medication , '' Lyke said . The U.S. military also has a keen interest in a malaria vaccine . The antimalaria drugs available have side effects such as stomach aches , said Dr. Tom Richie , director of the Navy component of the U.S. military malaria vaccine program , who provides oversight to the clinical trials . `` Malaria has been one of the most significant infectious threats to our military personnel when we deploy to tropical areas , '' Richie said . The disease was the leading cause of casualties in the South Pacific theater during World War II , and also a major problem in the Vietnam War , he said . There are five species of the malaria parasite known to infect humans . One called Plasmodium falciparum causes the vast majority of cases . Malaria was eliminated in the United States in 1951 , but there are still cases in the country , mostly from people who acquired it in high-risk countries . In 2002 , there were 1,337 cases of malaria in the U.S. , and all but five had been acquired abroad . An international team at the Malaria Atlas Project recently published what researchers say is the most comprehensive map ever illustrating global malaria risk . Researchers told CNN the map offers hope that it is possible to eradicate the disease in many parts of the world . Hoffman , former head of a U.S. Navy malaria vaccine team , started the Sanaria effort himself in the breakfast room of his house in 2003 . The company now has a more official corporate headquarters in Rockville , Maryland . `` I thought that the world needed a malaria vaccine , there was no question this was the best way to make one , '' he said . | Sanaria Inc. is developing a malaria vaccine that uses the whole parasite . Concept is akin to live virus vaccines , such as those for polio and measles . The method had been tried in the 1970s but was n't feasible on mass scale . The most advanced malaria vaccine , by GlaxoSmithKline , has been tested in Africa . | [[943, 970], [2664, 2667], [2674, 2707]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Without seeing the water , the weather , or even his own boat , Dick Lancaster steered a 25-foot yacht to a silver medal at a sailing world championships this month . Crews from Italy and Australia do battle in the recent Blind Sailing World Championships in New Zealand . Lancaster 's remarkable feat came at the recent Blind Sailing World Championships on Lake Rotorua , New Zealand . His silver medal added to two golds he has won at previous championships . The New Zealander , who gradually lost sight until he became completely blind in the last couple of years , is also the chairman of Blind Sailing New Zealand . Lancaster told CNN that sailing for the blind and visually-impaired is growing around the world . There is also hope that the sport may get its own category at the Paralympics . `` This year 's event was as big as it has ever been . We had ten countries represented and most countries sent three teams . '' Attendance would have been stronger had it not been for the challenging financial climate , which had prevented some nations from traveling to New Zealand for the event , he said . Since the inaugural world championships in 1992 , events have been held in Australia , the U.S. , the United Kingdom , Italy and New Zealand . At this world championships Lancaster was sailing in the `` B1 '' class which is for the blind , while the `` B2 '' and `` B3 '' classes have lesser levels of visual impairment . So , how exactly do blind and visually-impaired people manage to sail a large racing boat ? Lancaster explained that it is not as difficult as it may sound . `` We sail with a four man crew . There is a blind person at the helm and another blind person on the mainsheet . There is also a sighted tactician , who 's not allowed to touch anything , and a fourth sighted crew member . `` The most challenging thing for me has been the last few years when I have gone from B2 to B1 -LRB- blind -RRB- . You have to rely on your feel a lot more now , `` he said . Even though he is unable to see , Lancaster says it 's not impossible . `` There are plenty of people who sail at night-time -- so it 's not too difficult . '' Contrary what many may presume , Lancaster said there were not too many crashes during races , though some areas of the course were challenging . `` At the start line and when you 're going around a mark it gets pretty exciting at times . There 's inevitably a few prangs on the water -- but I do n't know if there 's any more than in other sailing . '' New Zealand won the overall team trophy at the event . | The Blind Sailing World Championships were held in New Zealand this month . Blind and visually impaired sailors work with sighted crew aboard the vessels . The competition has been running since 1992 . | [[100, 202], [203, 308], [309, 406], [1146, 1288]] |
SEATTLE , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Saana Nyassi considers himself lucky . Saana Nyassi is a player for the Seattle Sounders soccer team . He is also a malaria survivor . He is fortunate not just because he has a natural talent for soccer and the dedication to rise through the ranks in his native Gambia and eventually go to the United States to play for the Seattle Sounders . Before leaving the tiny West African nation for America , Nyassi contracted malaria . `` It 's a killer disease , '' the midfielder , 20 , says . `` You lose appetite . You are throwing up all the time . Your body gets warm . It 's very serious . '' Nyassi recovered . But nearly a million people -- mostly young children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa -- do not survive the disease , according to the National Institutes of Health . On Saturday , before their game against the San Jose Earthquakes , Nyassi and his teammates will mark World Malaria Day by giving a check for $ 20,000 they raised for Nothing But Nets , a U.N. Foundation-sponsored campaign to supply anti-malarial bed nets to some of the poorest parts of the world . Watch how researchers are fighting malaria '' Nothing But Nets buys and delivers each bed net for about $ 10 . The nets prevent mosquitoes from biting people while they sleep and passing on the parasite that causes malaria . Even though malaria was been wiped out in the United States , it still rages in countries in Africa , Asia and other developing parts of the world . `` The challenge is enormous because of the size , '' says Dr. Regina Rabinovich , director of Infectious Diseases Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , which so far has dedicated over $ 1 billion to fighting and preventing malaria . Rabinovich , who also contracted malaria during a visit to Gambia , says the Gates Foundation is waging a war against the disease on several fronts . `` Keeping people from getting bitten by a mosquito , that 's what a bed net does , '' she says . `` Not having the mosquito thrive , that 's what insecticide does . By treating them , you keep someone else from being infected by another mosquito bite . '' While malaria can be treated , getting that treatment to people suffering from the disease who are often in remote places and with little access to health care is not always easy . There is no vaccine to prevent malaria . But Rabinovich argues that cases of malaria can be greatly reduced even before a vaccine is discovered . `` The really interesting thing about malaria is that they have n't depended on a magic silver bullet , '' she explains . `` Bed nets protect you about half the time , spraying protects you . It 's been the combination of prevention and treatment that 's effective . When we have a malaria vaccine it will join that toolbox . '' That malaria vaccine could potentially come from a temperature - and humidity-controlled vault nicknamed `` the swamp '' at the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute . There , larvae imported from India are carefully hatched into mosquitoes . Using funds from the Gates Foundation , Dr. Stefan Kappe is trying to genetically engineer the parasite that causes malaria and create a vaccine from it . With the vaccine that Kappe is working on , the malaria parasite would be unable to pass from the liver , where the parasites multiply , into the blood . `` We call this the ` you-can-check-in-but-cannot-check-out ' approach , '' Kappe says . `` The immune system learns -LSB- and -RSB- is trained to recognize it -- and when the real parasite comes in , the one that can infect you , your immune system is very quickly able to eliminate it . '' If it is successful , the vaccine that Kappe is formulating will aim to prevent malaria every time it is administered -- a crucial element to fighting a disease that is passed from person to person by mosquito bites . `` You need to break transmission , you need to break the ability of the parasite to move to the mosquito and from the mosquito back to humans , '' he says . `` This liver infection is a great place to attack . If you prevent infection right there , then humans do n't become infected , the mosquito that bites them the next time can also not become infected and can not bring the disease to another person . '' The vaccine has already been proven effective 100 percent of the time in studies with mice , Kappe says . Now the researcher will begin human trials of a potential vaccine . Or , as he calls it , taking the difficult leap `` from mice to men . '' Until there is a vaccine , prevention and remedies as simple as bed nets will be crucial . Success playing soccer means Sanna Nyassi no longer needs to be wary of malaria , but that has n't made him forget those that do . `` I was born poor , '' Nyassi says . `` But things are getting better for me . I have to look back at the other ones . '' | Professional soccer player is also survivor of malaria . Saana Nyassi and Seattle Sounders teammates raise funds to fight malaria . Researcher looks for vaccine that can break malaria 's transmission cycle . `` I have to look back at the other ones '' who are born poor , soccer player says . | [[143, 174], [4838, 4877]] |
LA PAZ , Bolivia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An agreement aimed at ending violence and bloodshed that has erupted in Bolivian provinces has been reached between President Evo Morales and provincial governors , officials announced Tuesday . Leopoldo Fernandez Ferreira , governor of Pando province , talks to reporters a day before his arrest . The announcement on Bolivian television came just hours after the military arrested the governor of one of five provinces where violent clashes have occurred in the past three weeks , saying he had committed genocide in the deaths of 30 peasants . Gov. Leopoldo Fernandez Ferreira of Pando province was picked up at his office in Cobija and placed on a military plane for La Paz , the Bolivian capital . He did not resist . Groups in Pando and four other Bolivian provinces , backed by the local governors , have demanded greater autonomy and clashed with supporters of the federal government . Federal authorities say the 30 people who were killed Friday were federal supporters . Bolivian President Evo Morales said the arrest was legal and constitutional . `` This arrest is within the framework of the state where it happened , within the constitutional framework and no one can oppose it , '' Morales said at a news conference at the presidential palace . Officials said more arrests are possible . `` We will work day and night to avoid any more deaths or terrorist acts , '' presidential minister Juan Ramon Quintana said in another news conference . `` We will do everything we can to arrest those who have committed terrorist acts . '' As news of Fernandez 's arrest spread across the country , many citizens talked about who else could be on the government 's `` black list , '' as they were calling it . Besides demanding greater autonomy , opposition leaders in the five provinces want the cancellation of a constitutional referendum that would give the president more power . The opposition also is angry over tax money that Morales is diverting from the provinces to fund programs for the elderly . Learn more about the Republic of Bolivia '' Morales has said the opposition leaders are trying to overthrow the government . `` This is a coup in the past few days by the leaders of some provinces , with the takeover of some institutions , the sacking and robbery of some government institutions and attempts to assault the national police and the armed forces , '' Morales previously said . Opposition leaders say they merely want their demands met . On Tuesday , they warned that Fernandez 's arrest could destroy a shaky truce with the government . The arrest came hours after Morales returned Monday night from a quick trip to Chile , where presidents of the 12-nation Union of South American Countries met to discuss the Bolivian crisis . Watch leaders meet to discuss Bolivia '' Confronting its first crisis , the four-month-old UNASUR voted to create a commission to support Morales ' democratically elected government , said Chile 's president , Michelle Bachelet . She read a nine-point statement on Chilean TV that calls for the support of human rights and democracy and the preservation of Bolivia 's territorial integrity . The statement condemns any attempts to overthrow the government . It also said the new commission will investigate the peasants ' deaths . UNASUR is modeled on the European Union and aims to politically and economically integrate South American countries . On Tuesday , the United States announced it is organizing emergency evacuation flights for Americans in Bolivia and urged them to leave if the situation permits . A statement from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz said U.S. citizens need to sign an agreement to pay later for the cost of the flight . The embassy said some commercial flights are still available , although American Airlines suspended some flights until Sunday . The United States also continued to urge Americans to delay traveling to Bolivia . Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador last week , accusing the American government of inciting the violence . The expelled ambassador , Philip Goldberg , called the charges `` false and baseless '' and said Bolivia was making a `` grave mistake . '' On Monday , the Peace Corps temporarily suspended operations in Bolivia because of `` growing instability '' there . All Peace Corps volunteers in the country have been moved to Peru . `` Our first priority is the safety and security of our volunteers , '' Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter said in a written statement . Protests started 21 days ago in Pando , Beni , Santa Cruz , Tarija and Chuquisaca provinces . The opposition groups have blockaded major roads and threaten to disrupt the nation 's natural gas shipments , particularly to Brazil and Argentina . Anti-government protesters also have clashed with police and taken over offices and buildings in the five provinces . Much of the violence has taken place in Pando , where Morales declared martial law Friday . Morales , Bolivia 's first indigenous president , was elected in December 2005 . | NEW : Deal aimed at ending weeks of violence . Bolivian military accuses governor of genocide . 30 peasants killed Friday in clashes in Pando province . U.S. urges its citizens to leave Bolivia , announces emergency evacuation flights . | [[36, 87], [463, 478], [519, 582], [930, 1016], [954, 1016], [4879, 4924], [3441, 3451], [3454, 3567], [3441, 3451], [3454, 3471], [3557, 3603]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Senior Bush administration officials authorized aggressive interrogation techniques -- including forced nudity and waterboarding -- on suspected terrorists , despite concerns from military psychologists and attorneys , according to a Senate report released Tuesday . The Senate report focuses on the authorization to use aggressive techniques to interrogate detainees . `` The fact is that senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques , redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality , and authorized their use against detainees , '' said the report , which reveals new details about prisoner treatment at U.S. military prisons in Cuba , Afghanistan and Iraq . `` Those efforts damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives , strengthened the hand of our enemies and compromised our moral authority , '' the report said . The full report on the Senate Armed Services Committee investigation was declassified Tuesday by the Defense Department , less than a week after the Obama administration released several Bush-era memos detailing the use of such techniques . `` In my judgment , the report represents a condemnation of both the Bush administration 's interrogation policies and of senior administration officials who attempted to shift the blame for abuse ... to low-ranking soldiers , '' Sen. Carl Levin , D-Michigan , chairman of the Senate committee , said Tuesday . `` Claims , such as that made by former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz that detainee abuses could be chalked up to the unauthorized acts of a ` few bad apples , ' were simply false . '' The Senate report said that in December 2001 the Defense Department 's General Counsel 's Office solicited information on the `` exploitation '' of detainees from the federal agency charged with training U.S. troops on how to withstand enemy interrogation techniques considered illegal by the Geneva Conventions . The inquiry to that agency , the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency , was submitted more than a month before then-President George Bush signed a memo stating that U.S. military personnel `` shall continue to treat detainees humanely and , to the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity , in a manner consistent with the principles of the Geneva Conventions . '' The Senate committee 's investigation was largely focused on the influence of a Joint Personnel program called `` Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape . '' The program is used to train U.S. soldiers how to resist enemy interrogation , and employs harsh techniques such as forced nudity , use of fear , sleep deprivation and -- until last year -- waterboarding . The Senate report said Bush administration officials green lighted the use of Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape techniques on detainees -- despite warnings from military psychologists against doing so . The report includes an e-mail from an Army psychologist . '' -LSB- T -RSB- he use of physical pressures brings with it a large number of potential negative side effects ... If individuals are put under enough discomfort , i.e. pain , they will eventually do whatever it takes to stop the pain , '' said Lt. Col. Morgan Banks , the senior Army Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape psychologist , in an October 2 , 2002 , e-mail to personnel at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . Levin said the program is supposed to prepare troops in the event they are captured and subjected to abusive interrogations , and that it was `` never intended to be used in the interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody . '' In a section titled , `` The Department of Justice Changes the Rules , '' the Senate report noted that less than a week after the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency sent the Defense Department information about the interrogation techniques , the Justice Department issued two legal opinions signed by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee . The first opinion `` presented a narrow interpretation of what constituted torture under U.S. law , '' the report said . The memo said that to constitute torture , physical pain would have to match the intensity of that accompanying `` serious physical injury , such as organ failure , impairment of bodily functions or even death . '' The opinion said the administration could defend itself against the federal anti-torture statute by arguing necessity or self-defense . The second opinion concerned the interrogation of a specific detainee , al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydeh , and concluded that 10 different techniques -- including sleep deprivation and waterboarding -- did not violate prohibitions against torture . Last week , the Obama administration released the second Bybee opinion -- which the Senate committee did not have access to during the investigation -- and three others written by then-Deputy Assistant Attorney General Steven Bradbury in May 2005 . Bradbury 's opinions concern hypothetical situations with the same interrogation techniques , as well as some others not mentioned in the 2002 memo . Those memos also conclude , for varying reasons , that the techniques did not violate prohibitions against torture . The Senate report reveals new information about Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape use on accused enemy combatants held at Guantanamo -- which President Obama plans to close within a year . `` By early October -LSB- 2002 -RSB- there was increasing pressure to get ` tougher ' with detainee interrogations '' at Guantanamo , according to testimony cited in the Senate report from a military behavioral scientist , Maj. Paul Burney , who worked with interrogators at the facility in Cuba . So , Burney and a colleague drafted a memo proposing aggressive interrogation techniques at the facility . The scientist testified that Guantanamo 's intelligence chief told him the memo needed to contain coercive techniques or it `` was n't going to get very far , '' the report said . Levin said that despite `` serious legal concerns raised by the military service lawyers , '' Defense Department General Counsel Jim Haynes recommended that then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approve 15 of the interrogation techniques -- including stress positions , removal of clothing , use of phobias -LRB- such as fear of dogs -RRB- and deprivation of light and auditory stimuli . After Rumsfeld 's December 2 , 2002 , approval , senior Guantanamo staff issued a memo on the use of aggressive techniques , saying , `` The premise behind this is that the interrogation tactics used at U.S. military SERE schools are appropriate for use in real-world interrogations , '' according to the report . The report details how Rumsfeld 's approval prompted interrogators in Afghanistan and Iraq to adopt the aggressive techniques . Military officials essentially copied and pasted interrogation policies from Guantanamo , and posted them as their own in Afghanistan and , ultimately , Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq . In September 2003 , U.S. Central Command lawyers raised concerns about the interrogation techniques authorized for Abu Ghraib , which included stress positions , sleep deprivation and exploiting fears of dogs , the report said . The report reveals a newly declassified September 16 , 2003 , e-mail from a CentCom lawyer , Maj. Carrie Ricci , who warned that `` Many of the techniques appear to violate -LSB- Geneva Conventions -RSB- III and IV and should not be used . ... '' Dozens of military personnel who served at Abu Ghraib confirmed that the interrogation techniques cleared by Rumsfeld had made their way to the prison , according to the Senate report . An Army dog handler at Abu Ghraib told military investigators in February 2004 that `` someone from -LSB- military intelligence -RSB- gave me a list of cells , for me to go see , and pretty much have my dog bark at them . ... Having the dogs bark at detainees was psychologically breaking them down for interrogation purposes . '' The Senate report said that an interrogator told military investigators in May 2004 that it was `` common to see detainees in cells without clothes or naked '' and said it was `` one of our approaches . '' Levin noted that , despite the revelation of widespread use of aggressive and abusive interrogation techniques , there is still the question of whether the senior officials who approved the policies should be held accountable . Obama on Tuesday left open the possibility of criminal prosecution , saying it would be up to Attorney General Eric Holder to decide whether to prosecute the former officials . `` With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions , I would say that is going to be more a decision for the attorney general within the parameter of various laws and I do n't want to prejudge that , '' Obama told reporters . `` There 's a host of very complicated issues involved there . As a general deal , I think we should be looking forward and not backwards . I do worry about this getting so politicized that we can not function effectively and it hampers our ability to carry out critical national security operations . '' | Lawyer 's e-mail says , `` Many of the techniques appear to violate '' Geneva Conventions . Investigator says `` one of our approaches '' was to keep detainees naked . Report : Officials encouraged use of stress positions , phobias , deprivation of light . Techniques came from program used to train troops to resist enemy interrogation . | [[1932, 2009], [7369, 7381], [7388, 7510], [8199, 8237], [389, 623], [2545, 2556], [2628, 2712], [6121, 6418], [7157, 7167], [7176, 7250], [2545, 2621]] |
Editor 's note : The following story about `` The Reader , '' by necessity , contains spoilers . If you 'd rather not know about the plot , stop reading now . Kate Winslet and David Cross star in `` The Reader , '' which has received criticism from some quarters . LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One major contender 's chances at Oscar gold may be damaged due to its sensitive subject matter . `` The Reader , '' which is up for five Oscars -- including best actress -LRB- for star Kate Winslet -RRB- and best picture -- is being slammed by `` Explaining Hitler '' author Ron Rosenbaum , who 's asked Academy members to shun the post-World War II drama because the film `` asks us to empathize with an unrepentant mass murderer . '' Rosenbaum , who wrote his commentary for Slate.com , said that 's not his only reason . `` It gives the impression that ordinary German people only learned the terrible things that happened in the death camps in the East after the war , '' he said in an interview with CNN . `` In fact , ordinary German people participated in Hitler 's final solution , the extermination of the Jews -- it was no secret . '' Read Rosenbaum 's essay . Based on the German book with the same title , `` The Reader '' stars Winslet as Hanna Schmitz , a former Nazi prison guard living in postwar Germany . She meets and has a secretive affair with teenager Michael Berg -LRB- David Cross -RRB- , who often reads aloud to her at her request . Unbeknownst to Michael , Hanna is illiterate . Their affair ends abruptly when she mysteriously disappears . Eight years later , Michael is a law student . One day , while observing Nazi war criminals on trial , he 's shocked to find Hanna as a defendant in the courtroom . The court finds her guilty of killing 300 Jewish women during the war and sentences her to life in prison . While behind bars , Michael sends her books on tape , which , over time , help Hanna finally learn to read . Therein lies the problem for Rosenbaum . `` What essentially it did , '' said Rosenbaum , `` was celebrate the enrichment of a life of a mass murderer when she learned how to read . ... Imagine if there were a film about Charles Manson learning how to play chess and what a better guy it made him . '' However , others in the Jewish community are applauding the film , including Ken Jacobson , deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League . Jacobson says `` The Reader '' opens itself up to criticism , but is worthy of an Oscar at the same time . `` I think it conveys a series of messages that actually are very powerful about the Holocaust , and it 's not in the usual way , '' Jacobson told CNN . `` As time goes on , as we have Holocaust deniers emerging more and more , we need people to be able to relate personally to what happened , '' said Jacobson . `` I think this film does this in a very powerful way . '' The Weinstein Company , the studio behind `` The Reader , '' says it is proud of the film . `` It is sad that some people misinterpreted the film 's message , '' the company said in a statement . `` It is not about the Holocaust , '' the company added , `` it is about what Germany did to itself and its future generations . '' Will Rosenbaum 's piece , and the backlash he touched off , affect `` The Reader 's '' Oscar chances Sunday ? Entertainment reporter Tom O'Neil , who follows awards shows for the Los Angeles Times ' TheEnvelope.com , does n't think so . Given `` The Reader 's '' five nominations , he believes Hollywood has already embraced the film . `` Oscar has taken special notice of ` The Reader ' because it 's not just your average Holocaust movie , '' said O'Neil . `` It does n't beg for forgiveness when dealing with Nazis . It makes you think . '' Still , Rosenbaum says any further accolades for the drama would be unfortunate . `` I would be very disappointed in the intelligence level of Hollywood if it gave the best picture award to ` The Reader , ' '' he said . | Plot of `` The Reader '' involves a former Nazi prison guard . Film is up for five Oscars , including best picture and best actress . Author says film asks audiences to `` empathize with ... mass murderer '' | [[1278, 1332], [423, 425], [432, 453], [447, 453], [457, 485], [614, 742]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The FBI has begun interviewing clients of deceased Garden City , New York , lawyer William Parente as part of an investigation into his financial dealings , according to FBI spokesman James Margolin . Stephanie Parente , 19 , was found dead along with her sister and parents in a Baltimore hotel Monday . Margolin said the investigation was launched at the request of police in Baltimore County , Maryland , where Parente , his wife and their two daughters were found dead in a hotel room earlier this week . `` We 're looking into Parente 's business interests and whether there 's any impropriety there and any crime was committed , '' Margolin said . Baltimore County police say Parente , 59 , killed his family before committing suicide . There have been allegations of financial impropriety in the course of the investigation , said police spokesman Cpl. Mike Hill at a news conference Wednesday . A law enforcement source told CNN a cell phone belonging to Parente was recovered in the hotel room where the bodies were found . In an attempt to locate surviving family members , investigators contacted people in the phone 's directory , and some of those people said they were Parente 's investment clients . The New York attorney general 's office confirmed it received a complaint alleging financial wrongdoing from attorney Bruce Montague of Queens , New York . CNN spoke with Montague 's law partner , Steve Drelich , who said he was speaking on Montague 's behalf because Montague is distraught over the death of Parente , whom he considered a personal friend as well as a financial adviser . Drelich confirmed Montague was a client of Parente 's , and said the two had known each other about six years and that Montague had been investing with Parente for about that long . Drelich said Montague 's estimated losses in investments with Parente total about $ 450,000 . Drelich said recently Montague `` got nervous and asked -LSB- Parente -RSB- for his money back , '' in light of highly publicized scandals involving other investors and financial advisers . Drelich said when Montague kept asking Parente about the money , he was told `` it was in a Canadian bank and -LSB- Parente -RSB- was having trouble getting the money back . '' Montague finally received six checks late last week , Drelich said . `` Four of the six checks bounced . We were told there was no money in the account . ... We were told by the bank that the checks were bouncing , '' Drelich told CNN . Drelich said he does n't know the amounts of the two checks that did clear for Montague . It was not until news broke about the Parente family deaths and apparent murder-suicide investigation that Montague contacted authorities , Drelich said . But Drelich emphasized that Montague was more upset with the deaths than any financial loss . `` You can always make more money , '' Drelich said . `` But Bruce is devastated about the family . He considered -LSB- Parente -RSB- a friend , but he 's especially concerned about the family . '' Drelich said his office received calls from at least five other people who said they invested money with Parente , with callers claiming more than $ 4 million in total investments with Parente . Drelich said his office referred those callers to the state attorney general 's office . Baltimore County police said Parente killed his wife , Betty , 58 , on Sunday , April 19 , using `` blunt force trauma '' and asphyxiation . Police said he killed his daughter Catherine , 11 , around the same time , using the same method . Later that day , his daughter Stephanie , 19 , a Loyola College sophomore , was killed also by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation , according to police . Citing hotel records , police said the room was accessed by its electronic key at around 4 p.m. on Sunday , making it plausible that Stephanie entered the room . Later that evening , police said , Stephanie 's college roommate , worried that she had an exam the next morning and had n't come home , called the room and spoke to William Parente . Parente told the roommate Stephanie would be spending the night . Police believe she was dead at the time . Parente died some time later by cutting himself , police said , but would not elaborate further on his death . | FBI looking for financial impropriety after man 's clients talked about money loss . Police say William Parente killed wife , two daughters in hotel room . Family ID 'd as William and Betty Parente , Stephanie , 19 , Catherine , 11 . Police say Parente , an attorney , fatally cut himself . | [[25, 182], [771, 858], [436, 536], [3333, 3421], [229, 246], [249, 251], [254, 332], [4182, 4189], [4211, 4229]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An adoptive mother has been charged with murdering her 9-year-old quadriplegic daughter , prosecutors in Michigan said Friday . An official says Shylea Thomas , 9 , had a `` suffocation issue '' at 3 weeks old that made her quadriplegic . Lorrie Thomas was charged with second-degree murder and child abuse in the death of Shylea Myza Thomas , said John Potbury , an assistant prosecutor with the Genesee County Prosecutor 's Office in Flint , Michigan . Thomas is also charged with tampering with evidence . Thomas , who is the girl 's biological aunt , made no immediate public statement . Police found the girl 's body this week , stuffed inside a garbage bag in a public storage facility in Vienna Township , near Flint , said Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton . The bag was covered in mothballs `` in an apparent attempt to mask odors from the dead body , '' Leyton 's office said in a news release . `` This is a very sad and tragic case that hurts all of us involved in the ongoing investigation , '' Leyton said . Shylea had not been seen in six weeks , but relatives did not report her missing until Tuesday , Leyton 's office said . Thomas had been taken into custody earlier this week and held as a suspect . Because of her physical disabilities , Shylea had to use a feeding tube . She suffered from quadriplegia because of a `` suffocation issue '' in her crib at 3 weeks of age , Leyton said . Leyton said Shylea and other relatives had lived in `` absolutely filthy '' conditions . Relatives told CNN affiliate WJRT that they remember Shylea as a happy child who loved music and had an infectious smile . `` The last memory I actually have of Shylea is seeing her when she was in my care , '' said her second cousin , Josette Thomas . `` She was on the bed listening to the radio and smiling . Those are actually the memories I want to keep in my head . I do n't want that memory to leave me . '' | NEW : Adoptive mom charged with murder of quadriplegic girl , 9 . Lorrie Thomas also was child 's biological aunt . Shylea had not been seen in six weeks , was reported missing Tuesday . Body was found in mothballs and trash bag at Michigan storage facility . | [[0, 15], [19, 106], [528, 534], [541, 571], [1046, 1083], [611, 617], [653, 729], [653, 729], [745, 790], [791, 849]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two senior Indian officials met with the Sri Lankan president Friday in Colombo to address the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn island nation . A Sri Lanka army photo of what it says are refugees fleeing a rebel area . Shiv Shankar Menon , the Indian foreign secretary and M.K. Narayanan , the national security adviser , met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa , according to A.M.J. Sadiq , a foreign ministry official in Sri Lanka . He did not provide further details . `` The Indian message was just short of reading the riot act , '' a source told CNN . Significant numbers of people have been killed or wounded in a Sri Lankan offensive against the faltering Tamil Tiger rebel movement , and thousands are trapped by the fighting , the United Nations said Wednesday . `` Given that the area has shrunk even further , the potential for further significant casualties still remains , '' the U.N. said in a statement . The Sri Lankan army launched an operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in the country 's northern area Monday , and a deadline for the rebels to surrender passed Tuesday . Government troops say they have rescued 39,000 civilians trapped in the area , but tens of thousands more remain wedged on the island 's northeastern coast . The area remains controlled by the rebels , the U.S. State Department said Tuesday . The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in Sri Lanka 's northeast since 1983 . As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began , and the group has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries , including the United States and the European Union . Thousands of civilians remained threatened , Pranab Mukherjee , India 's foreign affairs minister , said in a statement Thursday . He called for an end to hostilities in the area . The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said it is helping the government in the regions of Vavuniya and Jaffna , with emergency shelters and distribution of aid . There are about 38 internally displaced persons sites and authorities are working to come up with more land and buildings for more displaced people . `` UNHCR remains deeply concerned about the estimated 50,000 people who are still trapped inside the conflict zone where fighting is intensifying , '' the organization said . `` We urge the government to exercise extreme caution in its military actions and calls upon the LTTE to allow displaced people to leave the area immediately , '' the UNHCR said . | Senior Indian officials meet with the Sri Lankan president . U.N. says `` significant number '' of dead and wounded in Sri Lanka offensive . Humanitarian agency says aid cut off to more than 80,000 . | [[0, 15], [19, 165], [241, 309], [344, 380], [577, 623], [577, 606], [627, 709]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- TV talk show host Jay Leno fell ill and checked himself into a Los Angeles , California , hospital on Thursday , his representative said . NBC cancels tapings of `` The Tonight Show with Jay Leno '' on Thursday and Friday after Leno became ill . Tracy St. Pierre would not disclose the nature of Leno 's illness . Leno will be 59 on Tuesday . NBC canceled tapings of `` The Tonight Show with Jay Leno '' scheduled for Thursday and Friday , she said . The network will rerun the March 26 show on Thursday , which features a musical performance by Prince and interviews with actors Paul Giamatti and Emma Roberts , according to the show 's Web site . Actor Ryan Reynolds , animal trainer Jules Sylvester and swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy had been booked for Thursday 's show . CNN 's Anderson Cooper , anchor of `` Anderson Cooper 360 , '' was scheduled to appear on Friday 's show . The network did not announce which show would be broadcast on Friday . CNN 's Jack Hannah contributed to this report . | Jay Leno 's representative , Tracy St. Pierre , would not disclose illness . Network cancels tapings of Thursday and Friday night shows . Leno will be 59 years old on Tuesday . | [[290, 357], [183, 225], [387, 439], [358, 386]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man in northern Idaho says he has seen a massive hand of God in his life , and he is willing to share it with the highest bidder . Paul Grayhek says the `` Hand of God '' appeared in his backyard in March . Paul Grayhek , 52 , listed the rock formation he dubbed the `` Hand of God Rock Wall '' on the online auction Web site eBay . The highest bid was $ 250 early Sunday , with three days left to go in the auction . The hand-like formation , approximately 9 feet tall and 4 feet wide , appeared in Grayhek 's backyard after a rockfall during Lent on March 8 , he said . The Coeur d'Alene resident said he faced tough times after losing his job , and believed the rock was a sign . `` I prayed between licking my wounds and looking for a job , '' he said . `` We rarely get rockfalls and this formation is 20 feet from my house . It 's definitely a symbol of the hand of God in my life . '' However , the winning bidder on eBay should not start clearing out his backyard . Grayhek is not planning to part with the formation . The buyer will `` basically be buying the rights , complete and exclusive rights '' to the rock , including literary and movie rights , according to Grayhek . Grayhek said he plans to use the money from the sale to pursue an unpaid internship in counseling when he graduates with a master 's degree in social work in two years . `` People think I 'm some holier-than-thou person trying to get rich . I 'm not , '' Grayhek said . `` The purpose is to spread the story of God and eBay is just a vehicle . '' | Idaho man places `` Hand of God '' rock for sale on eBay . Paul Grayhek says hand-like formation appeared in his backyard during Lent . Winning bidder on eBay would get `` exclusive rights '' to rock . | [[228, 240], [248, 346], [152, 227], [170, 227], [439, 462], [509, 580], [1048, 1064], [1079, 1131], [1048, 1057], [1064, 1181]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Drugmaking giant GlaxoSmithKline -LRB- GSK -RRB- has agreed to buy independent U.S. skincare specialist Stiefel Laboratories for up to $ 3.6 billion . The new business will operate under the Stiefel identity within the GSK Group . In a statement Monday , the two companies said the deal would create a new world-leading specialist dermatology business with combined revenues of $ 1.5 billion . Under the terms of the agreement GSK will acquire the total share capital of Stiefel for $ 2.9 billion . GSK also expects to assume $ 400 million of net debt upon closing . A further $ 300 million cash payment will be made depending on future performance . GSK 's existing prescription dermatological products will be combined with Stiefel 's and the new specialist global business will operate under the Stiefel identity within the GSK Group . The new business will have a broad portfolio of dermatology products including Stiefel 's leading brands : Duac , for acne , Olux E for dermatitis and Soriatane for the treatment of severe psoriasis . GSK 's key dermatology brands include : Bactroban , Cutivate and the recently launched Altabax . Stiefel , part-owned by buyout firm Blackstone Group , is the world 's largest independent dermatology company , with a range of prescription and over-the-counter products . According to Reuters.com it was put up for sale a month ago and attracted interest from a number of large pharmaceutical companies , including Novartis and Johnson & Johnson . Following the announcement , GSK Chief Executive Andrew Witty said : `` As part of our strategy to grow and diversify GSK 's business , we are continuing to make new investments through targeted acquisitions . This transaction will create a new world-leading , specialist dermatology business and re-energize our existing dermatology products . `` The addition of Stiefel 's broad portfolio will provide immediate new revenue flows to GSK with significant opportunities to enhance growth through leveraging our existing global commercial infrastructure and manufacturing capability . We look forward to working with Stiefel to develop this exciting opportunity . '' | GSK is the world 's second-largest drugmaker . U.S.-based Stiefel is world 's largest independent dermatology company . GSK will acquire total share capital of Stiefel for $ 2.9 billion . Global business will operate under Stiefel identity within GSK Group . | [[1173, 1180], [1228, 1328], [430, 534], [187, 266], [773, 874]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- She said she was a scapegoat . She said she was just following orders . She said she was demoted unfairly . Retired Army Col. Janis Karpinski was one of two officers punished over Abu Ghraib . Now , retired Army Col. Janis Karpinski can say : I told you so . Karpinski was one of two officers punished over the aggressive interrogations at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq . Pictures of detainees caused outrage around the world when they were leaked to the news media in May 2004 . The photos showed naked prisoners stacked on top of each other or being threatened by dogs or hooded and wired up as if for electrocution . Throughout the ordeal , Karpinski maintained that she and her troops were following interrogation guidelines approved by top brass . Today , Karpinski has found validation in a few Bush-era memos released last week by the Obama administration . `` The outrage was over the photographs , because the photographs were living color of what those top-secret memorandums authorized , '' Karpinski said in an interview Wednesday . `` So , it is unfair ... the soldiers may have moved through -LSB- the military justice -RSB- system , but they never had a fair court-martial . Not any one of them , because they were condemned as one of the ` bad apples . ' '' Karpinski , then a brigadier general and commander of Abu Ghraib , was demoted to colonel because of the scandal . A second officer , Col. Thomas Pappas , the commander of the military intelligence unit assigned to Abu Ghraib when the offenses occurred , was relieved of duty and fined in May 2005 . Seven low-ranking guards and two military intelligence soldiers -- described by then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz as `` bad apples '' -- were disciplined . The memo , by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee and then-Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Steven G. Bradbury , allowed the use of such tactics as keeping a detainee naked and in some cases in a diaper , and putting detainees on a liquid diet . One memo said aggressive techniques such as waterboarding , sleep deprivation and slapping did not violate laws against torture absent the intent to cause severe pain . `` I will tell you that when I read those memorandums , when they were first released a few days ago , I did -- I did feel this sense of being able to exhale after five years , '' Karpinski said . `` That is what we have been saying from the very beginning , that , wait a minute , why are you inside pointing the finger at me , why are you pointing the fingers at the soldiers here ? There 's a bigger story here . '' The Senate Armed Forces Committee released a report Tuesday , five days after the memos were released , stating that senior Bush administration officials authorized aggressive interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists , despite concerns from military psychologists and attorneys . The report points to then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld 's approval of such techniques -- including stress positions , removal of clothing , use of phobias -LRB- such as fear of dogs -RRB- , and deprivation of light and auditory stimuli -- in December 2002 for detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . His OK prompted interrogators in Afghanistan and Iraq to adopt the aggressive techniques . The guidance was delivered to Abu Ghraib by then-Maj . Gen. Geoffrey Miller , who was summoned to Baghdad from Guantanamo to evaluate the prison system . `` We had a myriad of problems in our -- in the prison system , not with detainees who were undergoing interrogations , but with Iraqi criminal prisoners , '' Karpinski said . `` And instead of coming to give us support , he was sent specifically to work with the military intelligence interrogators to teach them the harsher techniques that were being used down in Guantanamo . '' Shortly before he left office in late 2006 , Rumsfeld said the day the Abu Ghraib scandal broke was the worst in his tenure as defense secretary . `` Clearly the worst day was Abu Ghraib , and seeing what went on there and feeling so deeply sorry that that happened , '' he said at the time . `` I remember being stunned by the news of the abuse . '' But Karpinski said the condition of detainees at the prison should have come as no surprise for the Bush administration . `` I think it was torture , absolutely . You know , I was never inside an interrogation room where they were conducting interrogations , but I read the memorandums many times over , '' she said . `` Waterboarding is torture . '' Karpinski said that while she was the commander of Abu Ghraib , she did n't personally witness any of the interrogation techniques . `` The first time I saw the photographs was at the end of January -LSB- 2004 -RSB- , '' she said . Karpinski said she was ordered by Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez , the U.S. commander of operations in Iraq at the time , not to discuss the photographs or the investigation with anybody . Now , despite any relief felt by the release of the memos and the Senate report , Karpinski said she will have a hard time shaking off the humiliation and disgrace brought on by the Abu Ghraib scandal . `` I think that , you know , you can not dismiss five years of having to live under these accusations , '' she said , `` and people associating my name and these soldiers ' names with what they were so unfairly accused of . '' CNN 's Rick Sanchez contributed to this report . | Retired Army Col. Janis Karpinski was punished over Abu Ghraib interrogations . Abu Ghraib photos showed naked prisoners and prisoners with dogs . Memos from Bush administration reccommended such tactics . Karpinski says she and other disciplined soldiers were treated unfairly . | [[212, 215], [218, 235], [509, 648], [782, 787], [790, 844]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- French scientists have unveiled a working prototype of a fully artificial heart which is based on the technology of satellites and airplanes . The artificial heart based on satellite and airplane technology was presented in Paris . The device could save millions of lives and beats almost exactly like the real thing using electronic sensors to regulate heart rate and blood flow . Developers Carmat , funded by the European space and defense group EADS , presented the device at a press conference in Paris on Monday . Carmat 's chief operating officer Patrick Coulombier told The Associated Press : `` it 's the same principle in the airplane as in the body . '' Coulombier explained that the same tiny sensors that measure air pressure and altitude in an airplane or satellite are also in the artificial heart . This should allow the device to respond immediately if the patient needs more or less blood . The French design has so far only been tested in animals , and now needs approval from its authorities before pushing ahead with clinical trials . Previous artificial hearts have been unable to automatically vary their pumping speed and must be tweaked externally . The French heart is also the most lifelike , with two pumps to send the blood into the lungs and the rest of the body , just like a real heart . Past artificial hearts have only had one pump . The French model is made from natural materials including polymer and pig tissue , which have already been used in heart valves implanted into people . The artificial heart would initially be for patients who had suffered a massive heart attack or who had heart failure , but might eventually be used in patients who are not that sick . Heart disease is the world 's top killer , claiming some 17 million lives a year . According to the American Heart Association , about 2,200 heart transplants were performed in the U.S. in 2006 . Thousands more patients would benefit if more donor hearts were available . The artificial heart is expected to cost about 150,000 euros or $ 192,140 . | French scientists have unveiled a working prototype of a fully artificial heart . The design is based on the technology of satellites and airplanes . It could save millions of lives as heart disease kills 17 million a year . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [36, 115], [179, 267], [88, 115], [122, 178], [179, 242], [179, 267], [1741, 1754], [1784, 1823]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Obama administration told a federal court late Friday it will maintain the Bush administration 's position that battlefield detainees held without charges by the United States in Afghanistan are not entitled to constitutional rights to challenge their detention . Former detainees pray near Kaubul in 2005 following their release from U.S. custody at Bagram Air Base . `` Having considered the matter , the government adheres to its previously articulated position , '' said a Justice Department document filed in federal court in Washington . In a controversial 5-4 vote , the Supreme Court last year ruled that detainees held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay had a right under the constitution to challenge their continued detention . However , the court did not say whether it applied to prisoners in other locations abroad , including Afghanistan . Five prisoners held at Bagram Air Base , backed by human rights groups , have gone to court to claim the same rights as the men detained in Guantanamo Bay . The new administration , which was given a month by a federal judge to declare whether the government wants to change its position , has now indicated it will continue to argue that it is against its security interests to release enemy combatants in a war zone . Barbara Olshansky , lead counsel for three of the detainee petitioners , said that the administration 's decision was `` deeply disappointing . '' `` We are trying to remain hopeful that the message being conveyed is that the new administration is still working on its position regarding the applicability of the laws of war -- the Geneva Conventions -- and international human rights treaties that apply to everyone in detention there , '' she said . The air base at Bagram , located north of the city of Kabul , houses between 600 and 650 detainees . Most were picked up for suspected ties to terrorism . | Justice Department : U.S. `` adheres to its previously articulated position '' Lead counsel for detainees in Afghanistan calls decision `` deeply disappointing '' New administration was given a month to review detainee rights in theater of war . | [[81, 224], [437, 498], [1315, 1332], [1388, 1458], [1052, 1119], [1185, 1192], [1203, 1270], [1052, 1119], [1189, 1270]] |
Could your cell phone be bad for your health ? Maybe . But not because it 's zapping your brain . More homes are using just the cell phones , which limits the CDC 's ability to collect health data . According to a report released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , as many as one-quarter of homes in certain areas , such as Oklahoma and Utah , lack a landline and are completely reliant on cell phones . While that 's terrific news for reducing the cost of phone bills , it may not be so great in terms of health -- or at least health care in general . The CDC often relies solely on landline phones when conducting large , state-based health surveys , conducted every year to determine sexual habits , childhood immunizations rates , and dozens of others factors related to American health . `` It does n't affect health per se , rather it has implications for how well the CDC and others can track the health of the nation , '' said Stephen Blumberg , senior scientist at the CDC 's National Center for Health Statistics . The federal government and states often use the survey information to set national health policies aimed at reducing the number of people who lack health insurance , decreasing high-risk behavior and determining immunization rates for children and teens , Blumberg said . The CDC 's report is the first to compare wireless phone -- only homes on a state-by-state basis . The new report is based on 2007 data , which found that Oklahoma had the highest percentage of cell phone -- only homes -LRB- at 26 percent -RRB- and Vermont has the lowest -LRB- 5 percent -RRB- . There are probably more landline-free homes now , as the rate has increased by 3 percentage points each year , said Blumberg . Health.com : Cell phone study suggests people are losing their wanderlust . `` I 'd expect today in 2009 the rate is probably 5 percentage points higher , perhaps even more , '' he said . Overall , about one in six American homes or about 18 percent , rely solely on wireless phones . The high rates of cell phone -- only homes were not that surprising , said Blumberg . What was surprising , he noted , was the wide variation from state to state . The rates of cell phone -- only homes are generally low in the Northeast ; for example , Connecticut -LRB- 5.6 percent -RRB- , New Jersey -LRB- 8.0 percent -RRB- and Delaware -LRB- 5.7 percent -RRB- have low rates . In other areas , it 's a different story - in Nebraska the rate is 23.2 percent , and in Arkansas it 's 22.6 percent . Check your state 's percentage of wireless phone -- only homes . The wide variation is due to factors such as income and age . Young adults living on their own in rentals , for instance , are less likely to have landlines . `` Households in poverty or near poverty are also more likely to be wireless-only , '' said Blumberg . While missing a pesky phone call from a CDC researcher asking probing questions about your private health information may seem like a good thing , it 's not , said Blumberg . `` As a result of missing all of these wireless-only households , those surveys can be biased , '' he explained . `` The potential for bias in Oklahoma is greater than the potential for bias in Vermont . '' Some major , national CDC surveys are done door-to-door , but many state surveys rely on landline phones . The CDC does n't use cell phones for a number of reasons , said Blumberg . Most callers are n't happy about using cell phone minutes to chat about a survey , and participants might want compensation for taking part in the survey . The Telephone Consumer Protection Act forbids the use of automated or computer-generated dialing to cell phone numbers . Researchers can do it by hand , but it costs more money . Researchers are considering finding ways to call cell phones or going back to an older method , in which surveys are mailed to specific addresses . It seems unlikely that Americans will be adding landlines back into the mix any time soon or ever , particularly given the added expense in a weak economy . Health.com : 10 ways to go from tired to terrific . `` All of the major surveys are already experimenting with methods of contacting the wireless only population , '' said Blumberg . `` It has to be done , but it requires additional money and experimentation to determine the best way to do it . '' Health.com : How exercise can help fibromyalgia . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | CDC relies on landline phones for health surveys , conducted every year . Survey used for national health policies for health insurance , immunization and etc. . 26 percent of Oklahoma were cell phone-only homes ; Vermont had 5 percent . | [[580, 677], [1052, 1150], [1096, 1189], [295, 368], [391, 430], [1450, 1459], [1468, 1572], [1532, 1619]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A bank that received $ 1.6 billion dollars of the government 's bailout money sponsored what reports are calling a lavish series of events in Los Angeles , California , last weekend . Northern Trust sponsored a Professional Golf Association tournament and associated client events . Northern Trust , based in Chicago , Illinois , spent an undisclosed amount of money sponsoring a Professional Golf Association tournament and associated client events , including concerts , dinners and parties , according to celebrity Web site TMZ.com . The bank spent millions of dollars on the event , which included -- on top of the sponsorship costs of the Northern Trust Open tournament -- concerts by Sheryl Crow and Earth Wind & Fire , a private party at music venue House of Blues and gift bags from Tiffany & Co. , the Web site said . Watch splashy concerts , parties '' According to TMZ.com 's report , employees and clients attending the tournament dined on seared salmon and petite Angus filet and stayed at some of Los Angeles ' most elegant and expensive hotels . Doug Holt , senior vice president of communication for Northern Trust , confirmed to CNN that his bank sponsored the tournament and its events but , he said , not at taxpayer expense . Holt told CNN that as a `` healthy '' bank , Northern Trust did not seek the $ 1.6 billion it received from the government as part of the U.S. Treasury 's Capital Purchase Program , but that it `` agreed to the government 's goal of gaining the participation of all major banks in the United States . '' `` This is the second year Northern Trust is sponsoring the Open as part of a five-year contract , '' Holt said . The contract was signed in 2007 , before the government 's Capital Purchase Program to aid banks came into existence . Holt also said that the sponsorship is an `` integral part of Northern Trust 's global marketing activities , '' and as with all marketing , advertising , corporate sponsorship or charitable activities , no taxpayer money was used to fund the weekend events . But that assurance does n't seem to be enough for some . Rep. Barney Frank , D-Massachusetts , the House Financial Services Committee chairman , is writing a letter to Northern Trust asking the bank to pay back the money it spent , according to Frank 's spokesman . `` We are asking Northern Trust to repay the government the equivalent of the funds they spent on the tournament and related events , '' Steve Adamske of Frank 's staff told CNN . Northern Trust announced it was laying off 450 employees in December of last year , with the bank saying the move was part of a number of actions `` to better position the company for improved profitability and continued global growth during these difficult economic conditions . '' Last year , Northern Trust earned an operating net income of $ 641 million . TMZ.com , like CNN , is owned by Time Warner . | Chicago-based Northern Trust received $ 1.6 billion from U.S. government . Web site TMZ.com says bank held lavish events in Los Angeles last weekend . Employees , clients dined on seared salmon and petite Angus filet , TMZ.com reports . U.S. Rep. Barney Frank says he wants bank to pay back money it spent on events . | [[19, 25], [31, 96], [302, 316], [319, 335], [0, 15], [83, 202], [882, 936], [915, 936], [947, 1007]] |
Editor 's note : Peter Bregman is chief executive of Bregman Partners , Inc. , a global management consulting firm , and the author of `` Point B : A Short Guide to Leading a Big Change '' . He writes a weekly column , How We Work , for HarvardBusiness.org . Peter Bregman says recession is an opportunity to reorient the focus of your working life to what you love to do . NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A friend of mine , a senior leader in a pharmaceutical company , spends all her spare time doing yoga , taking classes in comparative religions , reading about spirituality , speaking with others about their beliefs . Just talking about it energizes her . Which is not how she feels about her day job . `` Why do n't you leave your job and do something with this full time ? '' I asked her . `` I 've thought about it . But I could never make the kind of money I make now . '' She might be right . But the question is n't whether she could make as much money . Even if she stays in her job she 's unlikely to do that in this economy . The question is far broader and more interesting . What would her life look like -- in every dimension she values -- if she decided to pursue her passion full time ? She needs to consider the contribution she 'd make . The relationships she 'd foster . The fun she 'd have . The feelings she 'd carry with her throughout the day . Her engagement in her work . In short , what her life would mean . And , of course , also the money . Which , as it turns out , might actually be greater if she were more engaged in her work . Gallup has collected data on 5.4 million employees in over 137 countries and concluded that engaged employees are more productive and customer-focused . And more profitable . Which could mean more money for her . But why are we even having this conversation during the worst downturn this country has seen in the last 70 years ? Is n't she lucky simply to have a job ? Yes . And , because of that , she 's also stuck . For better and worse , she probably wo n't leave . But maybe you 're not so lucky -- you 've been laid off or might be soon ; you 're a student coming into the job market ; or like several people I know , you 've been thinking about a change . Well , this is your opportunity . You did n't want to risk a change when things were going well . There was too much to lose . But this downturn , this economic mess we 're in , could be your chance . When everything was going well , we spent money we did n't have thinking we would make more tomorrow . Well , tomorrow came . It 's easy to point a finger at Bernie Madoff -LRB- and he deserves the finger -RRB- , but the truth is , it 's not just him . We 're all victims of our own little Ponzi Schemes . But now we know . The life we 've been living , the debt we 've been incurring , is unsustainable . Maybe the layoff is a favor . You were treated as expendable . But were you , working those long hours to keep a job you did n't love , treating your self as expendable too ? Depressing ? Sure . But now that we know , we can do something about it . I do n't want to be cavalier ; I know food on the table is a necessity . We still need work and money . Here are our new rules for finding it : . Rule # 1 : Do n't spend too much time looking for your next job . As I discuss in my article for Harvard Business , `` Need to Find a Job ? Stop Looking So Hard , '' searching for a job more than 1-2 hours a day will actually make it less likely you 'll find one . Rule # 2 : Focus your time on what you 're truly passionate about . Get more training . Expand your comfort zone with new activities , new people . Studies show that 80 percent of jobs are found through networking . Which is what you 're doing when you pursue your passion with other people . So do it without guilt . Spend your newfound spare time doing what you enjoy with people whom you enjoy . Rule # 3 : Let those people know you want to make your money doing these things . Do n't hammer it in . Just mention it . Once . Successful people are passionate , obsessed . And obsession is n't motivated by money . It 's deeper than that . Find your obsession . Let it loose . Employers want to hire someone who is naturally driven . Self-motivated . You 'll work at your obsession all the time because you want to . And that kind of persistence , that kind of focus , is worth a lot of money . But do n't make the mistake of chasing the money . That 's what got us into this mess in the first place . Let the money chase you . iReport.com : Brown-bagging lunch to save money ? Send video . Most people are afraid to do that . Afraid of the risk . Afraid of the gap in their resume . They try to cover it up . Find ways to explain it away . But my advice to employers is hire for the gap . It 's often the most interesting part of a person 's life . What does a person do when they do n't have anything they have to do ? What do they do in their spare time ? If you can hire someone for that , you 'll find your star . This is n't the time to be afraid of risk . It 's too late . You 're already in the risk . You might not have chosen it , but why not take control and act as if you had ? Remember my friend working at the pharmaceutical company -- the one with the job ? By staying in work she does n't love , she 's taking a risk too . She 's risking her life . Imagine how great she would be , how much she would offer , how much she would gain , if she devoted herself to her passion ? Now how about you ? Let 's become a nation of people who love what we do . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Peter Bregman . | Peter Bregman : The recession provides an opportunity as well as a challenge . He says people who were working just for money now can rethink what they do . He says , if you were laid off , focus your time on what you love doing . Bregman : Spending time with people is best route to fulfilling new job . | [[259, 348], [2355, 2368], [2371, 2389], [2397, 2424], [259, 348], [259, 348], [294, 373], [3491, 3499], [3502, 3558], [3809, 3872]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bulgaria is a Turkish toilet , France is always on strike , Romania is a vampire theme-park and the UK ... Well the UK does n't exist . The piece `` Entropa '' shows Romania as a giant Dracula-inspired theme park . That 's the view of the European Union according to a controversial art installation by Czech artist David Cerny , commissioned by his government to mark its six-month presidency of the pan-continental body . The work , `` Entropa , '' frames various representations of each member state as components of a giant multimedia model kit . But the piece , scheduled to have its official unveiling Thursday at the EU headquarters in Brussels , has sparked controversy . Look at images of European nations '' Bulgaria 's foreign ministry has summoned the Czech ambassador in Sofia to lodge a protest about the piece , according to the Czech News Agency . What do you think about images ? And Betina Joteva , spokesperson of the Bulgarian permanent representation to the EU , said in comments reported by EUObserver.com : `` It -LSB- the work -RSB- is preposterous , a disgrace . It is a humiliation for the Bulgarian nation and an offence to -LSB- our -RSB- national dignity . '' Bulgaria is not the only nation to suffer an unflattering depiction . Germany is criss-crossed by a series of autobahns in what some critics say is a close approximation of a swastika ; Spain is a giant construction site in a dig at its building boom ; and Luxembourg is a gold covered nugget sporting a `` For Sale '' sign . The Netherlands is depicted as a submerged land with only minarets peeking through the waves in an apparent reference to its religious tensions . Poland recreates the WWII flag-raising at Iwo Jima , only with the U.S. Marines and the Stars and Stripes replaced with Catholic clergy brandishing the multi-colored gay pride flag . The UK is absent from the work -- possibly because of its on-off relationship with the rest of the continent . The Czech government said in a statement on its presidency Web site Tuesday that the original brief was for the work to be created by 27 artists representing all EU Member States -- and that it was `` unpleasantly surprised '' to learn that this was not the case . `` David Cerny bears full responsibility for not fulfilling his assignment and promise , '' said Alexandr Vondra , Deputy Prime Minister . `` In this situation we are now considering further steps . The government said it will issue a further statement Thursday . The comments were in contrast to a statement issued by Vondra Monday , when he said that `` sculpture , and art more generally , can speak where words fail . I am confident in Europe 's open mind and capacity to appreciate such a project . '' Cerny is no stranger to controversy . In 1991 he was arrested after painting pink a Soviet tank that served as a Prague war memorial . His Web site shows other examples of his work , including previous kit-style installations entitled `` Jesus Christ '' and `` Dead Raped Woman '' ; and a life-size bronze fountain that depicts two men standing opposite each other , urinating . Cerny , and his main collaborators Kristof Kintera and Tomas Pospiszyl apologized to Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and other government ministers Tuesday , according to a statement on the artist 's Web site , for '' not having informed them about what is true and for having misled them . The statement adds that Cerny and his colleagues initially wanted to use 27 European artists for `` Entropa '' , but fell short due to lack of time and money . Instead , they say , they decided to create fictional artists , some of whom have even been given their own Web sites . Cerny says he knew the truth would eventually come out but adds : `` We believe that the environment of Brussels is capable of ironic self-reflection , we believe in the sense of humor of European nations and their representatives . '' Try telling that to Bulgaria . | Czech Republic assumed six-month presidency of European Union this month . Czech artists has apologized for artwork that has sparked diplomatic protests . `` Entropa '' is due to be officially unveiled at EU HQ in Brussels Thursday . Bulgarian EU representative : A humiliation for the Bulgarian nation . | [[574, 670], [673, 698], [574, 670], [673, 698], [1107, 1204]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Bookatz , 32 , was walking home one night in January when he noticed a man walking toward him . Michael Bookatz as he looked when first responders arrived after he was attacked . `` Then he just suddenly ran up to me and punched me in the face , '' he said . `` He started stamping on me , kicking me . A friend of his came from the other side of the road and started stamping and kicking on me . And they said : ` This is because of what happened to the Palestinians in Gaza . ' '' The attack on Bookatz -- a Jew who wears a skullcap and lives in a particularly Jewish neighborhood of London -- is one of more than 250 assaults on Jewish targets in the United Kingdom since the beginning of the year , according to the Community Security Trust , a non-governmental organization which monitors anti-Semitism in Britain . The group recorded more than 200 incidents in the month of January alone , the highest monthly total it has seen since it began keeping records in 1984 . London 's Metropolitan Police `` report that since December , there have been four times as many anti-Semitic attacks as attacks on Muslims , even though there are seven or eight times the number of British Muslims as there are Jews , '' said British lawmaker Denis MacShane , who chaired the country 's first parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism . Against this backdrop , London hosted a two-day international conference on combating anti-Semitism Monday and Tuesday . Watch what Bookatz says of the attack on him '' MacShane called it the `` first conference of its type , '' bringing together lawmakers from at least 35 different countries . `` Parliaments now have to acknowledge that anti-Semitism is back . It 's a potent ideological force , causing fears to Jews in many different countries , and it has to be combated by all people that care about democracy , '' MacShane said . It is not only a problem for Jews to tackle , the lawmaker said . `` I 'm not Jewish . Most people at the conference are not Jewish , '' he said . The rise in attacks on Jewish targets comes amid heightened tension in the Middle East , the Community Security Trust noted . The incidents include arson and graffiti attacks on synagogues , verbal and physical abuse of Jews , and hate mail . Similar events were reported across Europe during Israel 's three-week military assault on Hamas in Gaza in December and January , the CST said in a statement . But Bookatz is not convinced Gaza is the real reason for the assaults on Jews . `` Anti-Semitism is around , '' he said . `` It has always been around . Throughout my life , I have experienced anti-Semitic attacks . `` Gaza was probably a focal point , something that triggered it : ` OK , now that Gaza is happening , we can use it as an excuse to attack people , ' '' Bookatz said . MacShane said lawmakers around the world needed to take a stand against anti-Semitism . `` We would like to get the police to take anti-Semitism seriously , to take Internet anti-Semitism seriously , '' he said . `` We need to say to countries that promote anti-Semitism : ` Drop that hate of Jews . ' '' He warned anti-Semitism was an indicator of other problems . `` Whenever anti-Semitism sinks roots , the world is heading in a disastrously wrong direction , '' he said . `` That is a lesson from history . If we do n't tackle anti-Semitism in the early stage , then it devours democracy . '' CNN 's Atika Shubert and Eileen Hsieh contributed to this report . | UK holding international conference to combat anti-Semitism . Watchdog says January saw highest ever number of anti-Semitic attacks in UK . Police : More Jewish attack victims than Muslims despite bigger Muslim population . Lawmaker : Anti-Semitism has to be combated by all -LRB- who -RRB- care about democracy . | [[1396, 1492], [527, 548], [640, 744], [865, 937], [938, 1018], [1823, 1862]] |
MEXICO CITY , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mexican authorities said they have arrested the leader of a drug cartel that set off two grenades during a public celebration in September , killing eight people and wounding more than 100 . Cesar Duarte , president of the federal chamber of deputies , says he supports the government plan on narcotrafficking . Alberto Espinoza Barron , known as `` the Strawberry , '' heads the `` Michoacan Family , '' which operates in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Mexico , authorities said . Officials say the cartel set off the two grenades September 15 in the public plaza in Morelia , the capital of Michoacan . Espinoza Barron 's arrest Monday , which officials did not confirm until Tuesday , came just days after Mexican officials arrested an army major assigned to a guard unit protecting Mexican President Felipe Calderon . The army major , Arturo Gonzalez Rodriguez , was paid as much as $ 100,000 a month for passing information to a drug cartel , officials said after the officer 's arrest Friday . Espinoza Barron 's arrest by the military as part of its permanent presence in Michoacan came at a time when some are questioning the military 's role in the war against narcotics traffickers . `` I believe that we need to totally change our strategies since the results have been awful , '' said Juan Francisco Rivera of the Mexican Commission on National Security . `` It 's not me who is saying that , because the president himself has recognized it . I do n't believe the country is willing to keep committing errors . '' Others believe that the military , known by the acronym SEDENA , is the only institution capable of confronting organized crime . `` The participation by SEDENA is necessary because there is a threat and harm to national security , '' said Guillermo Velasco , member of an organization called Better Society , Better Government . `` It 's known that many of the successes have come from the work done by military intelligence and investigation . '' Amid this debate , the secretary for national defense recently proposed a 60-year prison term for any military member linked to organized crime . `` We believe the national defense secretary 's position is adequate , '' said Cesar Duarte , president of the federal chamber of deputies . `` We support him with respect to implementing major punishment for elements that are infiltrated or compromised with narcotrafficking . '' In many parts of the country , narcotraffickers constantly recruit low-level soldiers . The secretary of defense has said that in the past seven years about 100,000 soldiers have quit to join the drug cartels . | Mexico arrests Alberto Espinoza Barron , known as `` the Strawberry '' He heads the `` Michoacan Family , '' accused of setting grenades that killed 8 . Some question military 's role in the war against narcotics traffickers . | [[352, 375], [378, 404], [181, 230], [407, 439], [1045, 1238], [1154, 1238]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For three years , the thieves crept into some of the poshest homes in the most exclusive enclaves in the nation . The gated community of Bel Air was one of several enclaves targeted by the so-called `` Hillside Burglars . '' Police said they finally have a break in the case , and wealthy residents of Los Angeles , California , are breathing a sigh of relief . `` These guys were real good , '' said L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss , who oversees Bel Air where some of the burglaries were committed . `` They were professionals . '' The thieves hauled away more than $ 10 million worth of valuables and cash from 150 homes in upscale neighborhoods such as Bel Air , Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills , police said . Homes of Hollywood celebrities , professional athletes and multimillionaires were hit . According to CNN affiliate KABC , country music stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing were among the victims . DNA evidence led the LAPD to suspected ringleader Troy Corsby Thomas , 45 , of Los Angeles . He was arrested near L.A. International Airport last weekend . Police say Thomas led a gang dubbed the `` Hillside Burglars '' that targeted the neighborhoods overlooking Sunset Boulevard . `` It 's a very euphoric , satisfying feeling that we got this person , '' said the police Lt. David McGill . `` It 's a very frustrating feeling to tell the victims , ` I 'm sorry I do n't have any news for you . ' Finally when we got some good detective work and breaks , things started lining up . '' Police are looking for more suspects linked to the three-year spree but are not naming them . Thomas is being held on $ 2 million bail , according to the L.A. County District Attorney 's Office . He is likely to stay in custody because he must reveal the origin of any funds used to pay the bail , authorities said . At a court appearance Tuesday , Thomas pleaded not guilty to two charges of residential burglary , one in January 2006 and another in March 2008 . The preliminary court date for Thomas will be set on January 29 and additional charges are expected to be filed , according to CNN affiliates KABC and KTLA . Police will not comment on Thomas ' background . The Los Angeles Times reported that Thomas told police he had been working as an auto broker . The Hillside Burglars have not struck since Thomas ' arrest , police said . `` Hallelujah ! '' said L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl , whose district includes Brentwood and Pacific Palisades . `` Even a crafty crook does make his mistake and that 's what happened to this one . '' Some residents are cautiously optimistic . `` We 're delighted , '' said Robert René , president of Brentwood Homeowners Association , which represents about 800 homes . `` We are very fortunate to have the due diligence of the Westside LAPD . '' Harvey I. Saferstein , president of the Bel Air Association , agreed , `` We are all obviously thankful and relieved . '' The financially strapped LAPD created a Hillside Burglars task force . People donated cameras and other equipment and police stepped up patrols . The outlay amounted to `` millions of dollars , '' Rosendahl said . Neighborhood watch groups formed . One in Bel Air donated $ 8,000 for infrared cameras that can spot burglars in the dark . Robert Ringler , president of the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council , hosted a community meeting with the LAPD at the five-star Bel Air Hotel a year and a half ago . As swans swam in ponds in the background , about 150 Westside residents sipped Perrier and vented their fears . `` It had gotten to be such an epidemic , '' Ringler said . The impressive mansions -- usually gated and hidden by walls and hedges -- dot the lush hillsides and canyons between the coast and the mountains . The qualities that make them so desirable also make them vulnerable . The seclusion that appeals to upscale homeowners also appeals to thieves . Because many of the homes are tucked into the sides of mountains and canyons , behind gates , it 's easy for a thief to escape unseen and hard for police to get there quickly . `` It 's the perfect target , '' Ringler said . `` You can access the property and nobody would ever see you . '' Frequently , maids , pool workers and gardeners have access to the property , which allows burglars to pass as the help and slip in unchallenged . According to police and media reports , the methods were sophisticated . Burglars waited till homeowners went on vacation or out for the night . They used lawn furniture and ladders to creep into the second floor , which often lacked alarms . They quickly went in , looked for jewelry , safes and cash , and ducked out with the goods . They never attacked any of the homeowners , preferring stealth to confrontation . Residents say they learned to keep jewelry and other valuables in safety deposit boxes and out of sight . Many added alarm systems and insured their belongings . `` It 's not just about money , '' said Robin Stevens , who lives with her husband and son in Brentwood . `` A lot of people lost things of sentimental value . '' Stevens , whose neighbors have been burglarized , said she feels safer knowing that police arrested Thomas , but will continue hiding her mother 's antique jewelry and locking the windows . During a two-week trip to the South Pacific last fall , Stevens made sure to e-mail her neighbors , notifying them that she would be gone so they could look out for strangers . Other residents remain skeptical . Pacific Palisades Community Council Chairman Richard G. Cohen said he feels relief but is waiting for a conviction . `` The arrest does n't mark the end of our concern , '' he said . With the economy in a tailspin , Steve Twining , who serves on the West Los Angeles Police advisory board , believes thefts will continue . `` In these dire economic times , I do n't think it 's going to dissuade others from trying to do the same thing , '' he said . `` The burglary situation will probably get worse before it gets better . '' | Wealthy Bel Air , Beverly Hills residents feel cautious relief . Police say Troy Thomas led gang that stole $ 10M from 150 upscale homes . Thomas in custody , pleads not guilty to felony burglary . | [[553, 721], [1136, 1164], [1147, 1199], [1884, 1913], [1916, 1980]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Roll out the pink carpet , grab a feather boa and throw open those Malibu Dream House doors . It 's Barbie 's 50th , and the iconic doll , unveiled today in her latest swimsuit , has plenty to celebrate . The classic 1959 Barbie strikes a pose in front of an early Malibu Barbie Camper . Only this American institution could have inspired Barbara Karleskint , 48 , to spend nearly $ 700 so she and one of her dolls could wear matching red chiffon gowns and capes at an annual collectors gathering . `` Look , we 're not as bad as the Star Trek convention people , '' Karleskint , who lives outside of Orlando , Florida , said with a laugh . Collecting Barbies `` brings me joy ; that 's all I can say . And life 's not worth living unless you have some joy . '' With 8 million active collectors dotting the globe , according to Mattel , Karleskint is hardly alone . Since Mattel introduced Barbie in 1959 , she has become a household name -- owned by 90 percent of American girls ages 3 to 10 and sold in 150 countries , said Lauren Dougherty , a Mattel spokeswoman . Barbie attracts 50 million visitors to her Web site each month , she added . See Barbie dolls from all over the world '' Along the way , she spawned a cosmetics line , apparel stores throughout Asia and an entertainment franchise that has sold more than 65 million DVDs . Watch old toys get new life '' Last week , a six-story flagship store opened in Shanghai , China . And a real-life Malibu Dream House , a temporary home tricked out for Barbie 's birthday -- including a chandelier made of her hair -- is currently on display in California . Not bad for a doll that , according to author Robin Gerber , was initially inspired by `` a sexually-themed gag toy for men . '' The now-legendary doll was conceived by Ruth Handler , a daughter of Polish immigrants , said Gerber , author of the newly published `` Barbie and Ruth : The Story of the World 's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her . '' She and her husband , Elliott , owned Mattel until a scandal involving accusations of cooked books drove them out in 1975 , Gerber said . Handler , who died in 2002 , used to watch her own daughter , Barbara , play with paper dolls . Then , on a trip to Europe , Barbara became fascinated with a buxom doll that Gerber said was based on a female German cartoon character , named Lilli , who used sex to get what she wanted . `` My guess is she did n't know what it was when she bought it , '' because at that point , four years after the Lilli doll 's release , it had landed in European toy stores , the author explained . Handler took the doll back to the states and insisted Mattel designers get to work . `` Who would have thought , '' Gerber said . Barbie was thought up by a woman and modeled on a cartoon character `` who was essentially a prostitute . '' Though the men at Mattel , a company that had never sold dolls before , were skeptical at best , Handler proved to be `` a corporate genius , '' Gerber said . In the three years after Barbie 's release , Mattel 's worth grew to $ 200 million , doubling the value earned in the first 20 years of business . Handler 's daughter , now Barbara Segal , 67 , is a bit dumbfounded by all the hype . `` It 's been quite an interesting ride , '' she said from her Los Angeles , California , area home . `` I ca n't believe this doll 's created all of this . '' Barbie 's collector line -LRB- not what 's seen on Wal-Mart shelves -RRB- is designed for the grown-ups who still relish Barbie . Many say Barbie is an antidote to adult woes , allowing them to recapture their youth and revisit simpler times . iReport.com : See , share Barbie collections . The woman behind Sandi Holder 's Doll Attic in Union City , California , strolled through her 3,000-square-foot warehouse and one-of-a-kind Barbie museum , home to thousands of dolls , and spoke of the visitors who flock through her doors each year . Tour an iReporter 's Barbie dream house '' She says the doll can evoke powerful emotions and has seen visitors weep for a lost sibling or childhood friend . But Holder , 51 , who gave up a nursing career to pursue her Barbie dream more than 20 years ago , said that while trips to the museum can be emotional , they 're also full of laughter and stories . `` No one leaves without sharing a fond portion of their childhood with me , '' said Holder , who once snagged a record for selling a doll at auction for $ 27,600 . Barbie , however , does n't conjure up smiles for everyone . Though the 11.5-inch doll ca n't be single-handedly blamed for the eating disorders and body-image issues that plague young women , Ellyn Kaschak , a psychology professor at San Jose Sate University in California , said Barbie , especially given her prevalence , is part of the problem . `` I do n't think the concerns are overblown at all , '' said Kaschak , one of the founders in the 1970s of the feminist psychology field . `` Blow her up to normal -LSB- human -RSB- size , and she 'd fall over , '' she said of Barbie 's unattainable figure . Still standing , however , is Cindy Jackson , a 53-year-old woman inspired by Barbie to do much more than collect dolls and splurge on matching outfits . Over the course of more than two decades , Jackson has gone under the knife for 13 full-scale operations , including multiple procedures each time , and hundreds of less intrusive cosmetic tune-ups in order to achieve the `` all-American beauty '' look she said Barbie represents . She grew up in rural Ohio , `` plain and unpopular , '' she said . `` Every real woman around me was a farmer 's wife , a factory worker , a mother or a school teacher . ... For me , it was soul-destroying . There was no glamour whatsoever . '' And then she met her first Barbie , a vintage doll sporting a bubble cut , `` a sidelong glance '' and dressed as Jackie Kennedy , she remembered . `` It was powerful , '' Jackson said from her London , England , home . `` I 'd never seen a real woman who looked like that , and I thought , ` That 's what I want to look like . ' '' Concern about Barbie 's looks and her values , including materialism -- she has worn about 1 billion outfits , Mattel 's Dougherty said -- has at times gained ire from more than feminists and psychologists . The recent release of Tattoo Barbie , for instance , has gotten under the skin of some parents . Watch video about the controversy '' But such criticism misses the point of what Barbie is all about , according to diehard fans . iReport.com : Barbie 's body is not the issue . `` It 's not about wanting to look like her . It 's about imagining what could be , '' said Nancy Parsons , of western Pennsylvania , who is chairwoman of the Barbie 50th Anniversary Gala , this year 's collectors convention planned for July . `` People who say it 's a bad influence -- they do n't know the imagination that goes into playing with dolls . ... My sister always pretended she was a nurse , and -LSB- now -RSB- she 's a nurse . '' All told , Barbie has held down 108 careers , Mattel says . She 's been a police officer , a doctor , a veterinarian , an astronaut and a presidential candidate . Women , by the way , are not the only ones drawn to Barbie . Up to 20 percent of annual convention attendees , who fly in from all over the world , are men , this year 's chairwoman , Parsons , said . In her own collector 's club there are two of them : `` One 's a hair dresser , and one 's an auto mechanic , '' she said . Scott Warren , 45 , of Orlando , Florida , will attend his seventh consecutive annual convention this summer . The `` novice fashion fan , '' as he described himself , has been collecting Barbies for about 14 years and counts among his favorites his Versace Barbie , Ralph Lauren Barbie and Diane von Fürstenberg Barbie . `` I know there 's no way I can afford a designer 's original , but I think it 's cool that my Barbies can , '' he said . See photos of Barbie dolls in designer clothes '' Barbie has had a long partnership with top designers , 50 of whom jumped at the chance to participate in the Barbie Runway Show in New York last month , bringing life-sized Barbie fashions to the catwalk . `` A lot of them say she was their first client , the first model they dressed , '' said Mattel 's Dougherty . `` We thought it was the perfect place to kick off her celebration . '' | Barbie , originally based on a ` sexually-themed gag toy for men , ' celebrates 50 years . 90 percent of American girls , ages 3 to 10 , own at least one , Mattel toy company says . Doll inspires with 108 careers and fosters 8 million collectors worldwide . One woman in London , England , had cosmetic surgery to look like Barbie . | [[113, 155], [158, 195], [113, 155], [198, 223], [1633, 1651], [1694, 1758], [885, 897], [924, 1011], [788, 831], [781, 785], [788, 813], [834, 853], [7035, 7067]] |
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