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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The family of a Somali-American man who died in Somalia have said they want to know who is responsible for recruiting him to join an al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency . Militia soldiers hold weapons as they train to prepare an attack in Mogadishu earlier this month . Jamal Bana is the third Somali-American from the city of Minneapolis to head to Somalia and die there . He is one of more than a dozen missing Somali-American men whose families believe have gone back to fight . `` Someone must have put something in his mind , '' Omar Jamal of Minneapolis ' Somali Justice Advocacy Center said at a Sunday news conference with Bana 's family . `` He must have been somewhat disillusioned and indoctrinated because he did n't have any clue about Somalia at all . So someone somewhere must be responsible for his disappearance . '' Watch as Bana 's family seeks answers '' The same day as the family 's news conference , Somalia 's president -- a former member of the Islamist movement himself -- issued a plea to Somali-Americans not to join the fight in his country . `` I call on the Somali-American community not to send their youth to Somalia to fight alongside al-Shabaab , '' President Sheik Sharif Ahmed said on Sunday . `` I am saying to those young men from abroad : ` Your families fled your home to America because of insecurity . You should not return here to ferment violence against your people . ' '' Al-Shabaab , a group that is on the U.S. government 's terror watch list , remains entrenched in the northeast and sections of the south of Somalia 's capital , Mogadishu . It has ties to al Qaeda and has recruited foreign fighters to join its battle to overthrow the Somali government . The U.S. government announced last month that it is providing weapons to Ahmed 's government as it tries to quell the insurgency . Fighting has uprooted more than 200,000 people in Mogadishu since early May , according to the United Nations . Many of the missing Somali-Americans are believed to have left for Somalia when Ethiopian forces were still on the ground . The presence of these foreign forces was an outrage to most Somalis , and became a rallying cry of al-Shabaab . But the Ethiopians have now withdrawn . Bana , who was one of those who heeded the call to return to fight , was only 1 when his parents left Somalia and eventually brought him to the United States . The oldest of seven children , Bana was a top student at Washburn High School in Minneapolis , Minnesota . He was studying engineering at two area colleges before he went missing in November . On Saturday , his family learned of his fate : a photo of his body appeared on a Web site , a casualty of the ongoing conflict in Somalia . Jamal spoke for the family with one arm around Bana 's distraught mother , who quietly wept , covering her face with her headscarf . The father was too upset to attend the news conference , Jamal said . The family is asking the United States government to help them bring his body back home . In October , Shirwa Ahmed , 27 , a Somali-American believed to have been radicalized by al-Shabaab , traveled from Minneapolis to Somalia and blew up himself and 29 others . The incident -- the first-ever suicide bombing by a naturalized U.S. citizen -- raised red flags throughout the U.S. intelligence community and sparked an investigation by the FBI . Burhan Hassan , a 17-year-old Somali-American high school student in Minneapolis , went missing eight months ago around the same time as Bana . Last month , his family learned that he was killed in Somalia . Neither family has any idea why the young males left the United States -- where they came as young boys -- or who is responsible for their deaths . Bana 's family believes he was being held against his will . `` Only one time he placed a phone call -LRB- in mid-November -RRB- , he did n't say much , '' Omar Jamal said . `` He spoke as if he was being held hostage . He could n't be speak freely . They asked him to cut the conversation short . `` The mother was asking him , ` Where are you ? Why did you -LRB- leave -RRB- ? ' He said , ' I can not talk to you , I just called to tell you I 'm here . I can not tell you anything . I 'll call you some other time . I 'm sorry I can not talk to you . ' '' E.K. Wilson , an FBI special agent and spokesman for the Minneapolis field office , could not confirm the exact number of missing Somali-American men or confirm the recent deaths , citing the agency 's ongoing investigation . But he said the number of missing men believed to be in Somalia is `` in the 10s . '' He said the possible recruitment of these men to fight alongside an al Qaeda-linked group is `` a significant concern . '' `` Counterterrorism is our number one priority in the FBI and in this particular field division , and our efforts since 9/11 have been geared in that direction and with the goal of preventing future terrorist attacks , '' he told CNN in a recent interview . `` So it is a significant concern and one that we 're giving our highest priority . '' Since Shirwa Ahmed 's death in October , Wilson said the FBI has further expanded its outreach program to the Somali-American community around the United States . So far , there is no indication that al-Shabaab is recruiting young men from Somali-American communities outside Minneapolis . Asha Ali and her husband Ali Yusuf Omar help resettle Somali refugees in the suburbs of Atlanta , Georgia . They spoke to CNN on Sunday shortly after news surfaced of Jamal Bana 's death , and said they are baffled by what is going on in Minneapolis . `` Of course I 'm scared , '' Asha Ali said . `` If that happened in Minneapolis , it could happen anywhere . '' Asha Ali works for Refugee Family Services and Ali Yusuf works for Georgia Somali Community , Inc. . They have five children , a 14-year-old daughter and four sons ages 10 , 12 , 20 and 22 . `` I have seen mothers talking , '' Asha said , referring to what 's going on in Minneapolis . `` I open my eyes now more . I watch my kids more closely . '' The couple came to the United States in their 20s in 1982 , and all five of their children were born in America . She said there have been no reports of any missing Somali-Americans among the tight-knit community which are centered in the towns of Stone Mountain and Clarkston , near Atlanta . Asha and Ali Yusuf attend various mosques , or masjids , in the Atlanta area -- which are the centers of the Somali-American community -- and say they all preach tolerance and demand that young people stay out of trouble . Asha said she can not figure out what led the young men in Minneapolis to want to return to Somalia . `` What is this ` al-Shabaab ' ? What does this word mean ? '' she said . Their fight against fellow Somalis , she said , does not make sense to many members of the expatriate community . Either way , Somali-Americans want to know why these young men and boys are going to the country that their parents struggled so hard to leave behind to provide a better life for their children . `` It 's a question mark who 's behind it , '' Asha Ali said . `` I 'd love more than you to find out . '' CNN 's David McKenzie and Tricia Escobedo contributed to this report . | Jamal Bana is third Somali-American to head to Somalia and die there . Bana 's family want to know who recruited him to join Islamist insurgency . President Sheik Sharif Ahmed says U.S.-Somalis joining Islamist rebels . Many Somalis went to U.S. after 1992 American intervention in Somalia . | [[33, 54], [59, 74], [289, 392], [289, 299], [381, 392], [0, 15], [67, 140], [85, 189], [853, 890], [862, 893]] |
MINGORA , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gen. Nadeem Ahmad swirls the helicopter over Pakistan 's ground zero . Below is the Swat Valley of North West Frontier Province . A Pakistani soldier patrols a ruined street in Mingora . From the air , the valley in the foothills of the Hindu Kush looks undisturbed . Green fields amid clusters of drab houses . A closer look at Swat reveals how well the Pakistani Army fared in its military campaign to wipe out the militants . The cost of success : massive destruction that is sure to hamper the lives of already suffering residents just starting to trickle back to the homes they fled . A few months ago , ferocious battles between Pakistan 's Army and Taliban fighters erupted here -- in Swat , Buner and Lower Dir districts . War 's remnants serve as a constant reminder . A destroyed bridge . Pockmarked houses . Hotels that look like they 've been abandoned for years . Nadeem maneuvers the chopper to circle Mingora , the largest city in the Swat Valley . From the hilltop Army sentry posts that come into view , soldiers survey the ground below , hard won from Taliban fighters . The militants , Nadeem says , have fled to nearby mountains . On the ground , he shows off a cache of weapons seized in the fighting . The soldiers are keen to boast their victory . Mingora remains on high alert . A curfew has been lifted for morning hours , although soldiers keep close watch on those who venture out . The city 's pain is plainly evident on its scarred , deserted streets . Many shops are shuttered or destroyed . Watch Stan Grant tour the shattered streets of Mingora '' The United Nations estimates that 375,000 Swat Valley residents fled their homes during the fighting . In all , 2.5 million Pakistanis were displaced in what was said to be one of the largest human migrations in recent history . About 260,000 people have been living in 21 refugee camps in neighboring Mardan , Swabi , Nowshera , Peshawar and Charssada districts , but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees say the `` vast majority '' of internally displaced Pakistanis have been staying with host families , rented houses or in schools . The government plans to return people first from the camps and then focus on those living elsewhere . But this week , the United Nations Children 's Fund -LRB- UNICEF -RRB- warned that as many as 1 million people could remain displaced until December because of the widespread destruction in their home towns , such as Mingora . Relief agencies have reported dire humanitarian conditions in Mingora : hospitals without electricity that are inundated with patients , an erratic supply of water and natural gas . One resident , who identified himself only as Abdullah , told CNN that returning people are facing shortages in food , water and basic supplies for survival . Some displaced families also expressed concerns about schooling for their children , reported the Integrated Regional Information Networks -LRB- IRIN -RRB- , the U.N. news agency focusing on humanitarian issues . Louis-Georges Arsenault , emergency office director for UNICEF , said 1 million children were at risk of not starting school by September , mainly due to the Taliban 's widespread destruction of schools and that 4,000 existing schools continue to shelter displaced people . Businessman Muhammad Khan , 40 , who recently returned to Mingora , voiced the despair of returning residents . He told IRIN that `` everything is in ruins . '' `` Everything is in ruins , '' IRIN quoted Khan as saying . `` It will take months for life to return to normality . '' But that normality will no longer include the Taliban , Pakistani soldiers say . The fight was hard , but it was victorious , they say . They point to an area in the city where they say the Taliban displayed the bodies of their victims , some beheaded . It became known as `` Slaughter Square . '' Slaughter Square 's name may be outdated for the time being , but residents like Abdullah say it will be a long time before life in Mingora returns to what it once was . `` I do n't like army . I do n't like Taliban , '' Abdullah says , standing among the ruins of what used to be a thriving market . `` I only want peace . '' | Pakistani forces in Swat Valley claim victory in fight against Taliban militants . Refugees trickling back to the region find towns , bridges destroyed . Up to 2.5 million Pakistanis estimated to have been displaced by conflict . Local businessman : `` Everything is in ruins . It will take months to return to normality '' | [[1262, 1274], [1284, 1308], [545, 615], [816, 836], [1618, 1720], [1721, 1727], [1730, 1846], [1520, 1530], [1548, 1559], [3326, 3351], [3394, 3437], [3438, 3483], [3446, 3483], [3487, 3512], [3548, 3603], [3971, 4052], [3999, 4055]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A single-engine plane crashed Saturday outside a bank in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , seriously injuring the five people on board , authorities said . A damaged airplane lies on the ground Saturday next to a busy road in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma . The pilot reported engine problems shortly after leaving the city 's Wiley Post Airport , about a mile away from the crash site , at midmorning , said Lynn Lunsford , spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration . The plane hit two trees as it came down , and video showed the damaged Beechcraft Bonanza resting on the grass near a busy thoroughfare in the northwest section of the city . Fire Department Deputy Chief Cecil Clay said the two men and three women on the plane were taken to hospitals . Lunsford said they suffered multiple injuries . Watch footage of the plane at the crash site '' The plane was headed to Enid , Oklahoma , about 100 miles north of Oklahoma City . The pilot tried to return to Wiley Post Airport after he recognized the engine trouble , Lunsford said . `` I heard what I thought was a Dumpster being unloaded in the complex , '' said Shaddy Ahmad , who manages the U-Haul business across the street from the bank . He said emergency responders used special equipment to extricate the people from the plane , the top of which was peeled back . `` They were very lucky because this is a high-traffic area , '' Ahmad said . `` You have the expressway , the bank and stores in the area . They were blessed to land how they did . '' | Single-engine Beechcraft makes hard landing near busy road . Plane developed engine problems shortly after takeoff , FAA official says . Fliers were headed for Enid , Oklahoma , about 100 miles north . | [[168, 251], [530, 658], [265, 352], [867, 942]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For Morris Murenzi , a visit to his native Rwanda always includes attending a gacaca court -- a local tribunal of villagers set up to try suspects in a 1994 genocide that killed 800,000 . The gacaca courts , as seen here in 2003 , are inspired by old village tribunals used to settle disputes . At the proceedings , he sits with his countrymen . Some tearfully confront their attackers and testify against them , their scars from the genocide still visible . Others -- like him -- quietly listen , their emotional scars invisible . They wait and hope for answers about how their relatives died as a nine-member panel questions suspects . `` Some of the witnesses who ask questions are disfigured , others are disabled , '' said the Dallas , Texas , resident whose last gacaca trial was in Kigali two years ago . `` The attackers have no place to hide . They are forced to address what they have done to the victims . '' Murenzi is one of thousands of people who attend gacaca courts all across Rwanda on any given day . Hearings are held in open fields in neighborhoods where the attacks occurred . There are no lawyers and no judges in robes . A panel of local villagers with no legal experience conducts the proceedings . `` For me , gacacas help me find closure and healing , '' Murenzi said . `` I am able to see up close how remorseful the attackers are . ... You never see that in real court . '' Gacaca courts were introduced in the central African nation after the April 1994 genocide , which raged for 100 days . The victims were mostly from the Tutsi ethnic minority , who were targeted by Hutus over a rivalry that dates to colonial days . Some moderates from the Hutu majority who support Tutsis were also killed . Murenzi , a Tutsi from the capital , Kigali , lost most of his extended family in the genocide . During the attacks , he was in neighboring Uganda with his parents , where he attended school at the time , the 37-year-old said . `` My mom 's sisters , brothers , my uncles , they were all killed and buried in mass graves , '' he said . The gacacas were originally formed to resolve minor disputes among villagers but were reinvented to hand out justice to the perpetrators of the genocide and help fast-track reconciliation efforts in the broken nation . `` You had about 130,000 people in jail . And there were many more outside , '' Rwandan President Paul Kagame said recently on CNN 's `` Fareed Zakaria GPS . '' The nation 's justice system and the International Criminal Tribunal set up to try genocide suspects were overwhelmed , and handling all the cases in those courts would have taken hundreds of years , according to the president . Watch Kagame justify gacacas '' `` If you went technically to try each one of them , as the law may suggest , then you would lose out on rebuilding a nation , on bringing people back together , '' he said . `` That 's why we had to say , let 's categorize responsibilities . '' The leaders and masterminds of the genocide are tried in ordinary courts , and civilians who contributed to attacks or loss of life directly or indirectly go to gacacas , Kagame said . The tribunals are lacking and fraught with problems , critics say . `` We 've had serious concerns about the gacaca process and whether it meets international fair trial standards , '' said Georgette Gagnon , Africa director for Human Rights Watch , which has offices in Rwanda . Some witnesses have been targeted for revenge after testifying , and due process falls short , Gagnon said , adding that the organization has suggested changes to the system to ensure basic human rights are met , but they have not been enforced . `` It is time for the process to end . And there needs to be a frank announcement on whether it has led to reconciliation , '' she said . Paul Rusesabagina , whose effort to save hundreds of Tutsis was featured in the 2004 movie `` Hotel Rwanda , '' calls gacacas `` the worst idea ever . '' `` Gacaca traditionally means justice on the grass . Elders sitting on the grass , handing justice to someone who stole a neighbor 's goat , '' Rusesabagina said . `` Judges are people who never went to school ... who do not know anything about law . '' Today , this justice is dealing with people who have committed a genocide , which is a much bigger issue , he said . There have been calls to abolish the tribunals , which have tried about 1.5 million cases since they started in 2001 , according to the Integrated Regional Information Networks , a U.N. agency . The government in June postponed plans to close gacacas . Some analysts say the system has its advantages , by reducing congestion in prisons and allowing survivors to hear first-hand what happened to their loved ones . Murenzi said he does not have all the answers about his relatives ' deaths , and he plans to attend more gacacas -- including during a trip to Rwanda at the end of the year . Despite the lack of information , he said , watching suspects struggle to come to terms with the attacks has brought an unusual form of comfort . `` They will never know peace . They have to live with the fact that they killed their neighbors for the rest of their lives , '' Murenzi said . `` While the survivors can move on , they -LRB- attackers -RRB- probably never will . '' | Hearings held in open fields in neighborhoods where the attacks occurred . Hearings have tried about 1.5 million cases since they started . Victims of 1994 genocide were mostly from the Tutsi ethnic minority . Gacacas originally formed to resolve minor disputes among villagers . | [[1039, 1088], [1075, 1088], [1095, 1117], [4344, 4349], [4366, 4433], [4369, 4392], [4399, 4460], [169, 184], [190, 206], [1541, 1595], [1565, 1597], [1602, 1639], [2082, 2109], [2117, 2158], [2082, 2093], [2099, 2158]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A surrogate mother gave birth to twin girls for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick , a publicist for the couple said . Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick are the new parents of twin daughters . `` The babies are doing beautifully , and the entire family is over the moon , '' the publicist said , adding that the girls were born Monday afternoon . The couple , married for 12 years , revealed in April that they were expecting twins `` with the generous help of a surrogate . '' It was not said whether the surrogate was the genetic mother of the twins or whether embryos from Parker , 44 , had been transferred to her . `` Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick weighed five pounds , 11 ounces and Tabitha Hodge Broderick weighed six pounds , '' the publicist said . `` Both Hodge and Elwell are family names on Parker 's side . '' Parker is best known for the popular television series and movie `` Sex and the City , '' while Broderick gained fame as the main character in the movie `` Ferris Bueller 's Day Off . '' They have a son , James Wilkie , 6 . He was named after Broderick 's father , actor James Broderick . | Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have twin daughters . The babies were born via a surrogate . Married for 12 years , the couple are also the parents of a 6-year-old boy . | [[0, 15], [19, 109], [146, 228], [0, 15], [19, 109], [383, 395], [419, 510], [383, 393], [396, 416], [1048, 1080]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For Brad Cohen , the barking and squealing noises he could not control began in the fifth grade . Fifty kids came to Camp Twitch and Shout 's first session . Director Brad Cohen says he hopes to double that figure . `` I remember eating lunch at school all by myself and the mean kids would parade around me and mock my noises . My teacher made me get up in front of the class and apologize to everybody for the noises I was making , '' Cohen recalls . More than 20 years later , Cohen is a camp director , celebrating the first year of Camp Twitch and Shout , a place for youngsters , who like Cohen , have Tourette syndrome . `` Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder which causes people to make noises and tics that they ca n't control , '' Cohen says . Fifty campers , between the ages of 7 and 18 , came from all over the country to spend a week in Winder , Georgia , about 45 miles east of Atlanta . They have plenty to do , from swimming and fishing to music and arts and crafts . Most have been teased or harassed in school , and the camp is a place just to have fun . `` It 's very nice to be able to let it all out and just not have to worry and not have people stare at you and think that you 're weird and think -- what 's wrong with that person ? '' says 16-year-old camper and black belt Tinsley Birchfield of Atlanta . Watch more from Camp Twist and Shout '' For other campers , such as Jacob McGee of Savannah , Georgia , just being outdoors is magical . `` My favorite part was when we climbed the tree . That was pretty awesome . I went as high as I could go . It was really fun , '' says the 11-year-old . According to experts , Twitch and Shout is one of only five weeklong camps in the country for children with Tourette syndrome . Atlanta-based child neurologist Howard Schub says such camps help children better cope with their condition . Some campers have never met another kid with Tourette syndrome . `` A child goes to camp , they see that they 're not the worst . ... There are others that are functioning pretty well with worse tics than they , '' Schub says . Cohen adds , `` They see that wow , ` There are other kids that are like me . ' They laugh , they tell the same jokes , they have the same interests . And what we hope is that their self-esteem goes up . '' Twitch and Shout campers display motor tics common to most kids with Tourette syndrome such as eye blinking , facial grimacing , shoulder shrugging , head jerking , and -- in a few rare cases -- cursing . Camp activities are filled with the sounds of typical vocal tics : sniffing , throat clearing , hooting , barking , hissing and squealing . But campers such as teenager Kevin Kardon of Athens , Georgia , say they 've just gotten used to it . `` It 's just kind of like you 're listening to music , and you hear something in the background and you do n't really hear it , '' Kevin says . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , three out of every 1,000 school-age children are believed to have Tourette syndrome . The cause is unknown , but genetics appear to play a role . Most children develop the condition between 7 and 10 , and if their tics are mild to moderate , they usually require no medicine to control them . Symptoms usually peak during the late teens or early 20s . `` Many children , as they get older , the tics become either much less prominent or certainly reduced to a single or just a few tics that are not as disabling , '' Schub says . That was certainly the case with Cohen . Barking is still his dominant tic , but when he was the age of his campers , he wrestled to control several others , including eye blinking , teeth chomping and arm twitching . In middle school , when his tics were at the height of their intensity , the principal approached him and asked if he 'd like to educate the student body about his condition . Cohen says this move changed his life . `` They gave me a standing ovation , and it was on that day that I realized the power of education . I wanted to be that teacher that I never had . And that was my dream . I wanted to be the teacher that focused on kids ' strengths , not weaknesses , '' he says . And that 's what he 's been trying to do in the classroom for more than 13 years . At 35 , Cohen is an elementary school teacher , the author of a book on Tourette syndrome and now a camp director . He says he hopes his campers find strength in knowing they are not alone and will carry this new confidence home with them to face the challenges of the upcoming school year . `` When they have tough times and they think they ca n't find success , it 's our goal that they will think back to their experience at Camp Twitch and Shout and say , ` You know what ? I can do it ; I can be successful because I did it at camp , ' '' Cohen says . Next summer , Cohen says he plans to recruit twice as many campers and hopes the experience will be as worthwhile for them as it was this year for 15-year-old Chris Wall of Athens . `` This camp was awesome because it had people just like me , '' says Chris , beaming . | Camp Twitch and Shout is a weeklong camp for kids with Tourette syndrome . Fifty campers , between 7 and 18 , came from all over the country to Georgia camp . Three out of every 1,000 school-age children have disorder , according to CDC . Camper : `` It 's very nice to be able to let it all out and just not have to worry '' | [[580, 602], [622, 646], [782, 795], [829, 930], [2915, 2974], [2977, 3062], [1103, 1209], [1105, 1115], [1121, 1219]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A girl who was shown on a videotape being sexually assaulted in Las Vegas has been found and is safe , officials in Nye County , Nevada , said Friday . Chester Arthur Stiles , 37 , is being sought as a suspect , police say . `` We have found the child , Madison . She 's safe . The detectives say she is in good condition , '' Nye County Sheriff Tony De Meo said . The girl , now 7 , was shown in a sex video made four years ago , Detective David Boruchowitz said at a news conference Friday night . She was found Friday with family in Las Vegas after thousands of tips poured in , thanks to an appeal by police to the news media to show the girl 's picture . CNN and other news organizations did so until the child was found , when De Meo asked them to stop showing the picture . `` The mother has cooperated with us , '' De Meo said . `` We believe that the mother was not aware of anything that went on with this young girl , '' he said . `` It was very sad for her to find this out . '' A former Las Vegas animal trainer , Chester Arthur Stiles , 37 , a resident of Pahrump , Nevada , has been identified as a suspect and is being sought in the case , De Meo said . Pahrump is about 60 miles west of Las Vegas . Watch what 's known about Stiles '' Stiles was a distant friend of the girl 's family , De Meo said . Someone close to Stiles has told investigators that Stiles is a `` survivalist type '' and always carries a weapon , Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett said . De Meo addressed Stiles directly : `` Turn yourself in to your local law enforcement agency , '' he said . `` Understand this : Law enforcement not only has a long arm , but a long memory . You will not be forgotten by members of this agency or any other law enforcement agency . '' The FBI is also seeking Stiles on state charges of sexual assault and lewdness with a minor under the age of 14 in a separate matter , De Meo said . Police , who had called Stiles a person of interest , began calling him a suspect late Friday . There appeared to be physical similarities between Stiles and the man in the videotape , De Meo said . `` Nothing that I have seen in my career comes close to what this girl has gone through . Whoever this person is is a predator that , as far as I 'm concerned , belongs in custody and , if successfully prosecuted , in jail for as long as the law allows , '' De Meo said earlier . Detectives said the child showed little emotion during the rapes , indicating she may have been brutalized before . Nevadan Darren Tuck recently gave police the videotape , saying he found it in the desert , De Meo said . Police said the tape was in his possession at least since May before he handed it over to authorities . He is being sought on a parole violation for failure to pay child support , but police -- who want to question him further -- have been unable to locate him . Tuck , who also allegedly showed the tape to others before giving it to police , faces a possible 10-years-to-life sentence for exhibiting pornography and another one to six years for possession of child pornography , De Meo said . Harry Kuehn , Tuck 's attorney , said this week on CNN 's `` Nancy Grace '' that Tuck was `` racked by indecision '' about what to do with the tape once he realized what it was . Asked why , Kuehn said , `` He 's explained that to us , and at this point , we 're not going to share that , because it goes to the defense of the matter . '' `` You have to consider what kind of concerns my client had ; He 's previously dealt with the sheriff 's office in Nye County ; it was previously unsatisfactory , '' the attorney said . E-mail to a friend . | Stiles described as `` survivalist type '' who carries a weapon . Mother has cooperated with police , sheriff says . Girl on tape , now 7 , found safe with family . Tape shows man sexually abusing the girl 4 years ago . | [[1337, 1423], [1389, 1395], [1428, 1451], [801, 836], [519, 588], [43, 92], [416, 447]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama signed an executive order granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees Wednesday , calling it `` a historic step '' but promising more action to come . President Obama has been criticized by gay rights activists for not doing more since taking office . `` We 've got more work to do to ensure that government treats all its citizens equally , to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms and to bring about that more perfect union , '' Obama said . The signing followed sharp criticism of the president over a Justice Department motion filed last week in support of the Defense of Marriage Act -- which effectively bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions . Obama said he still wants to repeal the act . `` I believe it 's discriminatory . I think it interferes with state 's rights , and we will work with Congress to overturn it , '' he said . The memorandum he signed Wednesday means same-sex partners of civil service employees can be added to the long-term care program , employees can use their sick leave to take care of domestic partners and children and same-sex partners of Foreign Service employees will be included in medical evacuations and housing allocations , according to the White House . But it does not grant full health-care coverage , which would require an act of Congress , White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said . As details of the impending memorandum began to filter out Wednesday , the reaction of some gay rights activists was not enthusiastic . `` I have to say , as a federal employee , I 'm really disappointed , '' Lisa Polyak , 48 , of Baltimore , Maryland , said of Obama 's expected memorandum . Polyak , who has worked for the federal government for more than two decades , is with the Army Medical Department . She was among the two dozen authors of the Dallas Principles , a set of eight statements that seek to guide the lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender community toward `` full civil equality , '' according to the document 's preamble . Watch CNN 's Paul Steinhauser discuss Obama 's intent on benefits to same-sex partners '' `` The benefits that the president might be announcing are already available , '' said Polyak , who has a partner and two children . `` This is n't new . This is n't different . '' She said federal employees are able to take sick leave for `` anyone that was the close approximation of family '' and said the long-term-care option has been available for people under the same category . Polyak said not having health insurance from the federal government for her partner of 27 years costs her family $ 4,000 to $ 5,000 a year , not including co-pays or deductibles . Asked in a conference call with reporters whether these benefits were already available to same-sex partners of federal employees , Berry said such benefits are `` subject to the whim of a supervisor . '' `` If you have an enlightened supervisor , yes , that is a possibility -LRB- that they have been available -RRB- , '' he said . `` What the president is doing today is making this no longer optional . He is making it mandatory . And he 's making it clear that this is now the policy of the federal government . '' Polyak disagreed , saying , `` The idea that this was a fly-by-night -LSB- is -RSB- ... not true . I used it routinely . '' She added , `` It was guidance that everyone took advantage of and continues to take advantage at this moment . '' Gay and lesbian advocates have also faulted the Obama administration for not moving to repeal the military 's `` Do n't Ask , Do n't Tell '' policy that bars officials from asking about a service member 's sexual orientation but also bars the service member from revealing it , and allows the dismissal of a service member if a same-sax orientation is discovered . `` There 's so little we can say until we know what it is , '' said Carisa Cunningham , a spokeswoman for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders , a legal advocacy group that is challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court in Massachusetts . Section 3 prevents the federal government from giving Social Security and other protections to same-sex married couples . `` Laws have to change ... and in particular , the Defense of Marriage Act needs to change , so whatever the few benefits that the president as an employer can grant , there wo n't be a lot of them , '' Cunningham said . President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996 . Obama rankled gay advocates in January when he selected mega-church pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration . Warren , in an interview with Beliefnet , likened homosexuality to bestiality and incest . He also supported California 's Proposition 8 , which banned same-sex marriage in that state . During the Warren controversy , Obama -- who frequently spoke out in favor of gay and lesbian rights during the campaign but has said he opposes same-sex marriage -- declared himself `` a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans . '' | NEW : Executive order does n't grant full health coverage , White House says . Move comes after criticism over Defense of Marriage Act . Obama frequently spoke in favor of gay and lesbian rights during campaign . | [[1269, 1299], [1304, 1388], [522, 608], [4866, 4895], [4898, 4903], [4911, 4986], [4866, 4895], [4898, 4903], [5032, 5101]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ventures lead guitarist Bob Bogle , whose fretwork on such instrumental hits such as `` Walk -- Do n't Run '' and `` Hawaii Five-O '' influenced countless bands , died Sunday in Vancouver , Washington . Bob Bogle -LRB- second from left -RRB- co-founded the Ventures , the highly influential instrumental band . He was 75 . The cause was non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma , according to Don Wilson , who co-founded the Ventures with Bogle in the 1950s . `` He had a special sound that nobody could ever re-create . He was totally unique as a guitar player , '' Wilson told CNNRadio . Wilson and Bogle learned how to play guitar while working as construction workers in the 1950s in their native Tacoma , Washington . The pair formed the Ventures in 1958 . `` We had a lot of time on our hands after work , so we 'd get together and play , '' Wilson recalled . `` A year and a half later , we had a number two hit called ` Walk -- Do n't Run . ' '' The group first heard the song on a Chet Atkins record . Several other hits followed , including `` Perfidia , '' `` Walk Do n't Run ' 64 '' and `` Diamond Head . '' The group took the theme of the TV show `` Hawaii Five-O '' into the Top Ten in 1969 and later supplied background music for the series . But the band , which played almost solely instrumentals , was perhaps more influential for its albums . Thirty-eight of the band 's long-players hit Billboard 's Top 200 chart , including albums that covered country songs , dance tunes and Christmas melodies . One of the band 's albums was titled `` Play Guitar with the Ventures , '' and countless did . `` I ca n't think of a better contribution for instrumental music on his style than ` Walk -- Do n't Run , ' '' Wilson said . `` A lot of good would-be guitar players and garage bands would go out and buy guitars just to learn that song . '' The Ventures were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 . At the induction ceremony , Creedence Clearwater Revival 's John Fogerty praised the group : `` It 's enough to say , the Ventures are the most popular instrumental band of all time , '' he said . Bogle fought his illness with dignity , Wilson said . `` His doctors gave him 10 years to live , and he lived 12 . The last two years were really tough . At least he lived to know the Ventures had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . '' Bogle is survived by his wife , Yumi . CNNRadio 's Ninette Sosa and Matt Cherry contributed to this story . | Bob Bogle , Ventures ' lead guitarist , dead at 75 . Ventures and Bogle influenced countless bands with guitar sound . Hits included `` Walk -- Do n't Run , '' `` Hawaii Five-O '' | [[19, 52], [330, 341], [882, 894], [897, 950]] |
LAHORE , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's hot and sweaty in a rat-infested room in Lahore 's historic red light district , a neighborhood of narrow alleyways lined with brothels . A dancer does the `` mujra , '' a traditional dance banned by a judge for being `` vulgar , '' in Lahore , Pakistan . A barefoot , long-haired woman is gyrating and twirling on the carpet , to the beat of a four-man band whose drummer sweats profusely as he pounds out a furious rhythm . The dancer , who only gives her first name , Beenish , is performing a kind of Pakistani belly-dance called the mujra . Her harmonium player , a skinny bald man who squints through coke-bottle glasses , has been performing like this for the past 50 years . But he says the art form is dying out . `` That spark , the way it was in the past , is no more , '' said Ghulam Sarwar . Last fall , a judge in Lahore 's high court declared the mujra dance `` vulgar '' and banned it from being performed on stage . Some here say the government is cracking down on easy , `` immoral '' targets in an attempt to appease religious hard-liners like the Taliban . Islamist militants are believed to be responsible for a recent wave of bomb attacks in Lahore , targeting cinemas , theaters and cafes where young men and women fraternize together . `` It is a gesture of good will to pacify the mullahs and the Taliban , '' said Samia Amjad , a lawmaker in the provincial assembly . Though she is a member of an opposition political party , she said she supported the crackdown on vulgarity . `` I see it as an essential part of Islam . '' Dancers are n't the only targets of the court censors . In late March , the Lahore high court banned two female singers from recording new albums after ruling that they sang sexually explicit lyrics . `` If the current circumstances persist in Pakistan , '' said Noora Lal , one of the banned singers , `` then singing will die out in this country . '' Pakistan is a deeply conservative Muslim nation , where the punishment for blasphemy is the death sentence . But there is one person in Lahore who openly mocks the conservative establishment : painter and restaurant owner Iqbal Hussain . Though he said he has received multiple death threats from Islamist fundamentalists , Hussain continues to be Pakistan 's most vocal defender of prostitutes . All of the models portrayed in his paintings are sex workers . `` I portray them on canvas , portray them as human beings , '' Hussain said , `` They feel pain . They want their children to be educated . '' Hussain knows the industry intimately . He was born to a family of sex workers . His mother , a former prostitute , passed away last month at the age of 98 . The small , soft-spoken painter has turned the house he grew up in , an old four-story building with ornate wooden balconies , into a popular restaurant for tourists and wealthy Pakistanis . On one side of the house there is a brothel , on the other side , the 17th century Badshahi Mosque , one of the largest mosques in the world . In his subversive paintings , which Hussain said sell for more than $ 10,000 each , he highlights the overlap between Lahore 's sex industry and its religious community . In one canvas , hundreds of worshippers are depicted prostrating themselves around the mosque , while in the foreground , two women apply lipstick and makeup on a balcony . Hussain explained that the prostitutes in the painting were preparing to receive new customers as soon as the prayers in the mosque were over . Watch the dance being called `` immoral '' in Pakistan '' The painter claimed that on religious festivals , the brothels and dance halls in his neighborhood overflow with customers . `` They come from the northern areas with their turbans , '' Iqbal said , laughing . `` All coming to this area . They 're not going to the mosque ... but to the brothels ! '' Nevertheless , the rising tide of the Taliban in northwestern Pakistan has some residents of Lahore 's red light district worried . `` May Allah keep us safe from them , '' said Beenish , the mujra dancer . `` We are poor , humble people . They should not target this place . '' Photography by CNN 's Farhad Shadravan . | In Lahore 's red light district , Iqbal Hussain mocks Pakistan 's religious establishment . `` I portray -LSB- sex workers -RSB- on canvas , portray them as human beings , '' Hussain said . Painter has turned home into popular restaurant for tourists and wealthy Pakistanis . Rising tide of Taliban and threat of violence has some residents worried . | [[2083, 2089], [2094, 2137], [2437, 2465], [3905, 4011]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rescuers have saved more than 50 whales and five dolphins that stranded themselves on a beach in Tasmania , officials said Monday . More than 190 whales washed ashore on King island . The 54 pilot whales were among a group of 192 that beached themselves a day earlier on King island , which lies between Tasmania and the southeastern tip of Australia . Tasmania 's Parks and Wildlife Service said the whales had been put back to sea at high tide . The rest perished . `` This means all the surviving whales have now been refloated , '' it said in a statement . Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Chris Arthur said it was not unusual for whales and dolphins to strand together . Watch rescuers haul creatures back out to sea '' In November 2004 , a group of 97 long-finned whales and bottle nosed dolphins beached at Sea Elephant Bay in King Island . All the animals died . Over 90 percent of Australia 's mass whale strandings occur in Tasmania , according to the Parks and Wildlife Service . `` This last summer has been a particularly demanding one , not only for the specialist Parks and Wildlife Service officers ... but also the volunteers and local communities who have worked together at four major strandings this summer , '' Arthur said . | 54 pilot whales among a group of 192 that beached themselves . King Island off Tasmania is a hotspot for whale beachings . Experts say it is not uncommon for whales and dolphins to beach together . | [[151, 202], [203, 248], [245, 248], [254, 301], [151, 202], [635, 687], [748, 759], [804, 870], [894, 965], [580, 698], [635, 687], [658, 698]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama should reach out to Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi as tensions in Iran over the disputed presidential elections continue to heighten , a former Bush administration official told CNN Sunday . Paul Wolfowitz was the deputy defense secretary in the Bush administration . `` I would certainly find out if he -LRB- Moussavi -RRB- wants a conversation , '' former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer . `` If he does n't , I certainly would n't push it . But I would make it clear that the phone is an open line . '' Obama on Saturday issued a written statement on the bloodshed across the streets of Tehran as demonstrators protest the election outcome , saying , `` The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching . We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost . `` We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people . The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected , and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights . '' However , Obama has been criticized by some lawmakers and analysts who say he should vocalize a stronger stance on the clashes . Watch the latest videos being leaked out of Iran '' `` I understand the concern about meddling in a way that seems to label the opposition as American tools , but the opposition made it very clear they want support from the world , '' said Wolfowitz , a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute . CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen added that , `` It would be useful for the president to show more forceful leadership internationally on this issue . '' He noted the graphic images emerging from Iran , including the fatal shooting of a young female protester identified as Neda , saying the violence calls for `` some kind of humanity from the West . '' Gergen and Wolfowitz said the United States should rally with other Western nations and even countries in the region -- including Afghanistan and Turkey , which have recognized incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the winner of the June 12 election -- to support the Iranian people . Ahmadinejad 's victory was declared by Iran 's election authority , the Guardian Council , spurring massive protests last week , with many demonstrators proclaiming their support for Moussavi . Moussavi and candidate Mehdi Karrubi have rejected the election as fraudulent and demanded a new one . Wolfowitz called Moussavi a `` very brave man , '' saying , `` He is resisting . He is putting his life at risk . '' | `` Opposition made it very clear they want support , '' Paul Wolfowitz tells CNN . Former deputy defense secretary also says he would n't push unwanted relationship . CNN analyst David Gergen says Obama should show more forceful leadership . Wolfowitz calls opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi `` a very brave man '' | [[410, 486], [1412, 1478], [253, 329], [410, 486], [507, 538], [1602, 1729], [1683, 1761], [2553, 2598]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police in the Northern California town of Tracy are pursuing hundreds of possible leads in the disappearance of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu , a police spokesman said Wednesday . Sandra Cantu , 8 , disappeared on Friday , according to police in Tracy , California . Police have received 477 tips since she disappeared Friday , 100 of them on Tuesday alone , Lt. Jeremy Watney of the Tracy Police Department told reporters . `` We 're following up on all of them , '' he said . `` It 's extremely frustrating . We want her back safe . That 's the bottom line . `` At this point , everything is still open . '' Authorities Tuesday afternoon impounded and searched a car -- the fourth one to be seized -- that was parked near the mobile home park where Sandra lives and was last seen . On Monday night , Tracy police and FBI agents searched six locations , some in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park and some in Tracy . All of the places were connected to two men who live in the mobile home park , officials said . Watch CNN report on Sandra 's disappearance '' Authorities have not called the men suspects and have not named them publicly . They did not say how or if they might be related to the case . On Friday afternoon , Sandra came home from school , kissed her mother and left to play with a friend who lives a couple of homes away . A short time later she left that home to go to another friend 's home , a spokeswoman for her family said Tuesday . The girl , who was wearing a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt and black leggings , has not been seen since , said the spokeswoman , Lisa Encarnacion . Her parents reported her missing about 8 p.m. Friday . Officials said surveillance camera footage recorded the girl playing in the park . A dozen agencies are involved in the search . The number of searchers swelled over the weekend , and a similar effort is likely Saturday and Sunday , Watney said . Police have said they doubt she ran away . The mobile home park has fewer than 100 units . There are about 80 registered sex offenders living in a five-mile radius around it . Tracy is about 60 miles east of San Francisco , California . | NEW : Police say they 've received 477 tips -- 100 on Tuesday . A fourth car near mobile home park is searched for clues . Sandra Cantu played with one friend on Friday , left for a second friend 's house . It 's not clear whether she ever got to the second house , family says . | [[280, 338], [623, 642], [667, 681], [1219, 1238], [1241, 1247], [1294, 1320], [1356, 1425]] |
Editor 's note : Ilya Shapiro is a senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute , a libertarian public policy research foundation , and editor-in-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review . Before joining Cato , he was special assistant/adviser to the Multi-National Force-Iraq and practiced law at Patton Boggs LLP and Cleary Gottlieb LLP . Earlier , Shapiro clerked for Judge E. Grady Jolly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit . Ilya Shapiro says the Sotomayor appointment is a case of identity politics rather than a choice on the merits . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In picking Sonia Sotomayor , President Obama has confirmed that identity politics matter to him more than merit . While Judge Sotomayor exemplifies the American Dream , she would not have even been on the short list if she were not Hispanic . She is not one of the leading lights of the federal judiciary , and far less qualified for a seat on the Supreme Court than Judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland or Solicitor General Elena Kagan . To be sure , Sotomayor has a compelling story : a daughter of working-class Puerto Ricans raised in Bronx public housing projects , diagnosed with diabetes at 8 , losing her father at 9 , accolades at Princeton and Yale Law , ending up on the federal bench . Still , in over 10 years on the Second Circuit , she has not issued any important decisions or made a name for herself as a legal scholar or particularly respected jurist . In picking a case to highlight during his introduction of the nominee , President Obama had to go back to her days as a trial judge and a technical ruling that ended the 1994-95 baseball strike . Moreover , Sotomayor has a mixed reputation among lawyers who have practiced before her , some questioning her abilities as a judicial craftsman , others her erratic temperament , according to a piece by Jeffrey Rosen in The New Republic , which itself has come in for criticism . Such anecdotal criticism is to be taken with a grain of salt -- while Justice Antonin Scalia 's bench-side manner is more vinegar than honey , even his detractors recognize his brilliance -- but it does need to be investigated . So , too , do certain statements she made in presentations at Berkeley and Duke , respectively , the former arguing that a Latina necessarily sees the law differently than a white man , the latter suggesting that , at least to some degree , judges make rather than interpret law . Again , this does not mean that Sotomayor is unqualified to be a judge -- or less qualified to be a Supreme Court justice than , say , Harriet Miers . It also does not detract from the history she would make as the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee -- if you do n't count Benjamin Cardozo , a descendant of Portuguese Jews . But a Supreme Court nomination is not a lifetime achievement award , and should not be treated as an opportunity to practice affirmative action . Ironically , it is race-based employment practices of another kind that will likely get this nomination in hottest water . Sotomayor was on a panel that summarily affirmed the dismissal of claims brought by firefighters , including one Hispanic , whose promotions were denied because they would be based on a -LRB- race-neutral -RRB- exam whose results did n't yield the `` right '' racial mix . Curiously , the Ricci v. DeStefano appellate panel issued a cursory `` unpublished '' opinion that failed to grapple with the complex legal issues presented in the case . Sotomayor 's colleague José Cabranes , a liberal Democrat , excoriated the panel , without expressing a view on the merits of the case . Cabranes ' dissent from the Second Circuit 's decision not to rehear the case caught the Supreme Court 's attention and , based on the oral argument , the court will probably reverse Sotomayor 's panel when it rules on the case next month . iReport.com : Sotomayor ` the new face of America ' We are thus likely to have the unusual scenario of a Supreme Court decision having a direct personal effect on a nominee 's confirmation process , which will not only force Sotomayor onto the defensive but cost the president significant political capital . It will also show that Obama 's calls for `` empathy , '' echoed by Sotomayor 's citing her personal experiences as a Latina , ring hollow . If Frank Ricci , a dyslexic fireman who sacrificed significant time and money and was denied promotion solely for his skin color , is not an empathetic figure , I 'm not sure who is . And that is the larger point : A jurisprudence of empathy is the antithesis of the rule of law . As then-Judge John Roberts said at his confirmation hearing : `` If the Constitution says that the little guy should win , then the little guy 's going to win in the court before me . But if the Constitution says that the big guy should win , well then the big guy 's going to win , because my obligation is to the Constitution . '' In any event , Senate Republicans will now have to decide what posture to take : combative or deferential , political or analytical . With the president still at the height of his popularity and solid Democratic control of the Senate -LRB- even without Arlen Specter and Al Franken -RRB- , the GOP is unlikely to sustain a filibuster or even , unless outrage over the Ricci case grows , vote Sotomayor down . iReport.com : Sotomayor pick a ` gimmick ' What they should do instead is force a full public debate about constitutional interpretation , probing Sotomayor 's judicial philosophy and refusing to accept nonresponsive answers that mouth platitudes or avoid taking firm legal positions . Now is the time to show the American people the stark differences between the two parties on one of the few issues on which the stated Republican view continues to command strong and steady support . If the party is serious about constitutionalism and the rule of law , it should use this opportunity for education , not grandstanding . And if Democrats insist on playing identity politics , I suggest a two-word response : Miguel Estrada , the Honduran immigrant with his own rags-to-riches story whose nomination to the D.C. Circuit Democrats successfully filibustered , effectively preventing George W. Bush from naming the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ilya Shapiro . | Ilya Shapiro : Choice of Sotomayor is based on identity politics , not merit . He says her life story is compelling but she should be thoroughly vetted . Shapiro : Sotomayor may suffer from failure to deal with issues in New Haven case . He says Republicans should educate public about differences over the law . | [[460, 571], [478, 571], [1044, 1076], [5628, 5742]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Prejudice is a funny thing . I was prepared not to like BMW 's M6 . Not that I thought it would be a bad car -- BMW , as a rule , is n't prone to making duff automobiles -- it 's just I was n't entirely sure what it was supposed to be . An executive coupe with a 5-liter V10 engine and 500 bhp ? With a price tag that could buy you a Porsche 911 or most of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage ? What fresh nonsense was this ? But prejudice is there to be challenged . The aggressive front air intakes , 19 '' alloy wheels and carbon fiber roof mean that this is n't any ordinary 6-Series . Taking delivery of the M6 at my home in Brighton , southern England , I felt the car looked ever so slightly out of place . After all I live in an electoral ward which elected three Green representatives to the City council and is predicted to deliver the first Green Party member to the national government at the next general election . Muscular sports cars are n't common sights on my street -LRB- someone once parked a Porsche Cayenne Turbo here but he got a dirty look for it -RRB- . An acquaintance , Kevin , strolled past . `` Hello , '' I said , `` it 's not mine '' . Second-guessing his likely prejudices I added , `` It 's rather ostentatious , I know . '' `` I do n't know , '' replied Kevin , `` I think it 's quite understated , quite elegant . '' One prejudice quashed . My wife and I then filled the surprisingly roomy trunk with our luggage and various gifts -LRB- the weekend being the occasion of my father-in-law 's 70th birthday -RRB- and prepared for our journey to the Staffordshire moorlands in central England . You can spend a lot of time preparing for a journey in an M6 . You can choose a location for the sat-nav to direct you to and whether the directions are displayed as a map or as a perspective diagram . You can choose to listen to CD , radio or an external audio source and then modify the acoustic properties with a graphic equalizer and various surround sound settings . You can program the `` M '' button on the steering wheel so that the various suspension , gearing and power settings can be switched between sedate motorway driving and utter lunacy . You can adjust the seat 's height and rake ; inflate , deflate and position the lumbar support so the small of your back is just so and adjust the seat wings to hold you as tight as a doting grandmother , should you wish . The car is started with a start/stop button . This is best done with the window open because the M6 is front-engined and the general cabin ambience is too refined to be invaded with the brutish noises of the 5-liter V10 . Even so , the hood 's sound insulation means that you never get the eviscerating snarl that juvenile men -- such as myself -- expect from a supercar . The automatic gearbox can be put in a fully-automatic mode , or gears can be selected by nudging the sequential gear lever , or flipping the paddle-shifts behind the steering wheel . The car is surprisingly civilized at low speeds . It does n't feel like you 're taming a monster . If anything there 's a slight lag between pushing the throttle and the forwards crawl . Navigational and speedometer readings are projected onto the windscreen by the head-up display , creating the impression of a floating screen a few feet in front of the car . This omnipresent reminder of speed is good news for my -LRB- unblemished -RRB- driving licence as it is horribly easily to drive way too fast in the M6 . It is so stable that 30 mph feels like a walking pace and I would n't want to incriminate myself by stating the speed I found myself doing on the public highway while thinking I was driving at just about the speed limit . Naturally the head-up display can also be customized and , in `` M '' mode displays speed and a graphic display of rev ranges , in favor of navigational instructions . Put simply the M6 is perfect on the highways , which would make up the majority of my journey -LRB- much of it , coincidentally , on a highway called the `` M6 '' -RRB- . You are under no compulsion to drive like a hooligan . With the power button off -LRB- meaning you have only 400 not 500 horses at your disposal -RRB- , and at its least-sporty setting , the M6 drives like a perfectly ordinary BMW -- composed , sturdy but able to accelerate out of trouble when necessary . On country roads it handles diligently , holding corners reassuringly but without the physical sensation you get driving smaller , lower sports cars . I 'm assured that you can drive the M6 like a hooligan if you wish , taking advantage of the M-Diff system -- a torque-sensing differential that can provide between zero and 100 per cent of the drive forces to either driven wheel -- and the MDynamic mode which allows the car to perform on the edge for as long as possible before kicking in the dynamic stability control to keep the car in line . Sadly time , conditions , and my wife 's insistence that we arrived in one piece , prevented me from testing these attributes . The point of the M6 , then , is that it 's both a refined , four-seater grand tourer and a sports car . It has , as the car wash attendant in a supermarket parking lot in Cheadle suggested `` too much electronics '' but those electronics are necessary for performing the car 's dual roles . The car 's not without niggles : the indicator stalk is too short -LRB- and would it hurt to put an indicator display on the head-up ? -RRB- . It 's very thirsty -LRB- officially 19 mpg , but we managed rather less -RRB- and the 70-liter tank is insufficient for long journeys . The lag between gear changes at low speed is rather annoying . And the compromise between sports car thrills and autobahn civility means that it does n't sound , or look , like a schoolboy 's fantasy . But perhaps that 's the point . Far from being ostentatious , the M6 is the devil dressed as middle-management : it does bad things very respectably . E-mail to a friend . | 500 bhp V10-engined variant of the BMW 6-Series . Seats four adults in comfort , while providing sports car thrills . Surprisingly practical , but offers disappointing fuel economy and range . | [[5049, 5068], [5078, 5152]] |
Editor 's note : Michael Eric Dyson is a professor of sociology at Georgetown University and the author of 16 books , including the New York Times bestseller , `` April 4 , 1968 : Martin Luther King , Jr. 's Death and How it Changed America '' . Michael Eric Dyson says the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. shows that the U.S. is not `` a post-racial paradise . '' -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Last Thursday , President Obama , in his fiery speech before the NAACP Convention , admitted that `` an African-American child is roughly five times as likely as a white child to see the inside of a prison . '' But he surely could n't have imagined that only a couple of hours before his oration , one of America 's most prominent scholars -- and a distinguished professor at Obama 's alma mater , Harvard University -- would breathe cruel and ironic life into that sad statistic . Henry Louis `` Skip '' Gates Jr. is simply the most powerful and influential black scholar in our nation 's history . He received a doctorate at Cambridge University long before the culture wars became au courant ; he was among the first group of figures to receive a MacArthur `` Genius Award '' Fellowship ; he wrote the finest work of literary criticism in a generation with `` Signifying Monkey '' ; he was named by Time magazine as one of the `` 25 Most Influential Americans '' ; he has a boatload of honorary degrees ; and he has been a ubiquitous media presence and thoughtful interpreter of race and culture for a quarter-century . But none of that made a bit of difference when Gates returned from a research trip to China to find the front door to his Harvard-owned house jammed and enlisted the assistance of his driver to muscle the door loose . By the time Gates was on the phone with his leasing company , a white policeman had arrived , summoned by a neighbor who spotted two black men looking as if they were unlawfully breaking into the house . Their stories diverge from here ; the policeman says he asked Gates to step outside , Gates refused , the officer entered the home and requested Gates ' ID , which he did n't initially produce , and finally had Gates arrested when he followed the officer outside , as Gates was `` exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior . '' Gates allegedly shouted , `` Is this how you treat a black man in America ? '' and `` You do n't know who you 're messing with . '' Gates says he showed the officer his ID , demanded that the officer identify himself , which he did n't , and then the professor followed the officer outside to get the policeman 's name and badge number when he was arrested by the gaggle of police who had gathered . Several features of the story scream the presence of lingering bias and racism . A black man in a tony neighborhood simply seems out of place , even to his neighbors . Had Gates been a white professor trying to get inside his home , and called on his driver to help him jar his door open , he probably would n't have as readily aroused the suspicion of neighbors . And when police arrived to check out the premises , they probably would n't have been nearly as ready to believe the worst about the occupant of a home who clearly was n't engaged in a criminal act . Whatever one believes about what happened , Gates clearly was n't the beneficiary of the benefit of the doubt , a reasonable expectation since he posed no visible threat . It is also striking that Gates seems to be the victim of a police mentality that chafes at a challenge of its implicit authority . While that may be true for folk of all races , it seems especially galling to cops to be questioned by a person of color . How dare black folk believe that , regardless of their station or privilege , they have permission to speak back -- or speak black -- to state-enforced authority , one that , not a decade ago , routinely ravaged black communities in blatant displays of wanton aggression . It is for good reason that police brutality is a constant concern for black folk ; the stakes are often high and harmful . The link between black vulnerability and racial profiling -- of setting in one 's collective imagination an image of black men as bad people who are liable to commit mayhem at any moment , and who must therefore always be suspected of wrong and subject to arbitrary forms of control and surveillance -- is evident in the pileup of black bodies , from Amadou Diallo to Sean Bell , that testify to the force of police to impose lethal limits on black survival . Gates rubbed up against the unspoken code that enforces black silence and often violently compels black compliance . In the end , Gates ' unjust treatment speaks volumes about the cynical assertion that we now live in a post-racial paradise . Gates ' crime appears to be a new one in the litany of crimes that black folk commit by virtue of their very existence -- in this case , HWB , or housing while black . If a famous and affluent black man in his own home can be accosted , arrested and humiliated , then all black folk can reasonably expect the same treatment . To Gates ' credit , he realizes that racial profiling happens regularly to poor black folk , and he has pledged to do something about it . But another famous black figure associated with Harvard must renew his pledge to get rid of racial profiling and spare the nation the illusion that his success represents a post-racial America . While it 's not likely he 'll be unjustly arrested in his House , he 's got to make sure that the same privilege extends to millions of other black folk who do n't live on Pennsylvania Avenue . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Michael Eric Dyson . | Michael Eric Dyson : Gates is an eminent intellectual and Harvard professor . He says Gates ' arrest in Cambridge shows that U.S. still grapples with racism . He says police are particularly sensitive to questioning from people of color . Dyson : Obama must renew his pledge to eliminate racial profiling . | [[598, 799], [246, 305], [270, 360], [5163, 5208], [5213, 5338]] |
Editor 's note : CNN executive producer Suzanne Simons is the author of `` Master of War : Blackwater 's Erik Prince and the Global Business of War . '' Private contractor Xe flies military personnel in Afghanistan and helps train Afghan border police . The company formerly known as Blackwater , now called Xe much to its chagrin , has been at the center of the contractor debate for years . From the time four of its men were ambushed and murdered in Fallujah , Iraq , in 2004 , to a shooting involving a team of its men in a Baghdad neighborhood in which at least 14 Iraqi civilians were killed in 2007 , the company has drawn unwanted headlines . Blackwater owner Erik Prince downsized the company earlier this year when business failed to keep pace with investment . He changed the company 's name after the Iraqi government banned it from doing business there . But those who thought contractors were going away under President Obama 's administration could n't be more wrong . According to the Department of Defense , there are some 68,000 contractors in Afghanistan today and more than 132,000 in Iraq . But those numbers are n't an accurate reflection of the total number of contractors because they do n't include those working for other government agencies such as the Department of State . Many of those tens of thousands are third-country nationals , meaning they were hired from a third country to go to Iraq . Many earn between $ 400 and $ 700 a month ; while Americans , particularly those performing dangerous security duties , can earn as much in a day . Despite being kicked out of Iraq , Xe still does a healthy business in Afghanistan , flying military personnel from one location to another and helping train Afghan border police charged with making the country 's massive , porous borders more secure . It 's one of the many jobs that the U.S. military just is n't staffed to tackle on its own . In fact , the U.S. military today is beefed up by a force of nearly a quarter million private contractors . There are even cases where contractors oversee the contractors . And that 's the problem . The U.S. has come to rely on them so heavily , in such a short period of time , that the government has come under fire for not managing them adequately . Even among the eight-member team that makes up the Wartime Contracting Commission , a congressionally mandated effort to review the contracting process in Iraq and Afghanistan , the question of whether the United States needs the contractors is n't even an issue . The issue , rather , is how well the government is managing this massive support force called up in the immediate aftermath of the war in Iraq . In its interim report released this month , the Commission found that `` neither the military nor the federal civilian acquisition workforces have expanded to keep pace with recent years ' enormous growth in the number and value of contingency contracts . '' The report also said , `` the government still lacks clear standards and policy on inherently governmental functions . The decision has immediate salience given the decisions to use contractors in armed-security and life-support tasks for military units . '' One of the biggest nightmares for legislators is that the force that has grown into such a critical modern-day military support structure was for a long time operating in a legal gray zone with no clear avenue of justice should something unsavory occur . That has led to some tough work for both prosecutors and the FBI , as they take on the task of investigating allegations of wrongdoing by contractors overseas . Doug Brooks , head of the IPOA , an industry-friendly voluntary organization made up of 62 companies , spends much of his time doing outreach and making sure member companies measure up to the internal standards . `` We have the power to kick people out of the association , '' Brooks said , but that 's about where it ends . They ca n't prosecute anyone . But to say that there has been no progress on the legal front would n't be fair . Legislation has been passed that essentially holds contractors accountable for their actions under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act , but with everything in this business , there was a hang-up with that , too . The legislation was written to cover contractors working in support of the Department of Defense , but there are even more contractors working in support of the State Department and other U.S. agencies . The Special Inspector General for Iraq , Stuart W. Bowen Jr. produced a report in February titled Hard Lessons : The Iraq Reconstruction Experience . He then testified before Congress that `` the United States government was unprepared and ill-equipped to mount a major contingency relief and reconstruction program in Iraq in 2003 . For the last six years we have been on a steep learning curve . '' He also told members of Congress that the United States relies too heavily on the hired help , testifying that `` outsourcing management to contractors should be limited because it complicates lines of authority in contingency reconstruction operations . '' Something that retired Lt. Gen. Richard Sanchez would undoubtedly agree with . Sanchez , who led the U.S. military operation in the early days of the Iraq war , has launched an information campaign aimed at bringing more accountability to the debate . He 's even called for a truth commission to investigate policies regarding the interrogation of detainees . Guess what . Contractors were involved in that scandal , too . As for Blackwater , scandal , or the suspicion of it , played a significant role in its downturn . Plagued by lawsuits and federal investigations , the company now called Xe is a shell of what Blackwater was five years ago . Most of Prince 's top executives are gone , budgets have been dramatically curtailed and the company has largely returned to its roots , as a training facility for law enforcement and special forces . Is Blackwater 's fate a sign that things are sour in the industry ? Hardly . As IPOA 's Brooks puts it , they 're here to stay , its about time we made it work . `` I think the other conclusion that companies have come to is that we 're going to be working with the private sector . Nobody wants soldiers to go back to flipping eggs , guarding gates , that kind of thing . '' | Blackwater , now Xe , has garnered unwanted attention over the past few years . Though kicked out of Iraq , Xe does a great deal of business in Afghanistan . Bottom line : U.S. relies heavily on private military contractors . The issue is how well U.S. government manages this support force . | [[254, 265], [284, 294], [297, 330], [606, 650], [809, 867], [1573, 1605], [1608, 1701], [1929, 2026], [2118, 2162], [4886, 4888], [4894, 4996], [2198, 2259], [2566, 2682]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mandy Moore stepped onto the small stage at Amoeba Records in Hollywood with a quick wave . Mandy Moore , now 25 , is following her bliss with her new album , `` Amanda Leigh . '' `` Hi , shoppers , '' she giggled somewhat self-consciously . The audience of several hundred , stuffed between the music racks at the landmark store , giggled back . `` This is so weird to be playing here . I live in the neighborhood , and this is where I get my CDs and my DVDs ! '' she said . Then she launched into selections from her sixth studio album , `` Amanda Leigh . '' Somewhere out of sight was her new husband , Ryan Adams -- the alt-country hero she married in March , after a one-month engagement . It 's been 10 years since Moore burst onto the pop scene as a lanky , blonde 15-year-old singing and dancing her way through a sweetly suggestive tune called `` Candy . '' Her musical fare now is more eclectic and stripped down -- even featuring vintage instruments such as the clavinet and melodica . Watch Moore talk candidly about her new direction '' Unlike such early contemporaries as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson , Moore has gone for cred over commercial success in both her music and movie careers , and it suits her well . There 's an authenticity there , as well as a genuine warmth and charm . Moore spoke about her artistic growth , a musical funk , and working with her new husband . The following is an edited version of the interview . CNN : A friend of mine made an interesting analogy , saying these last two albums of yours -LRB- including 2007 's folk-leaning `` Wild Hope '' -RRB- are to your music career what `` Saved ! '' was to your movie career , in terms of establishing yourself critically . Mandy Moore : I take that as a compliment . I mean , I sort of feel lucky to have the opportunity to do film stuff and music at the same time , because I love doing both . But ... if you make a move one way with one side of your career , you sort of have to balance it out on the other side . I feel like with the last two records , I have been in control creatively . They are probably more like some of the cooler indie movies that I have been lucky enough to get to do . CNN : You could have continued in the mainstream pop world , like some of the singers you came up with . Moore : I sort of started around the same time as a lot of my contemporaries , like the Britney Spearses and the Christina Aguileras of the world , and they are amazing and everybody is still around and doing their thing . I just never truly felt comfortable with the music that I was singing -- even back then . I mean , I was happy to have the opportunity , but I was still scratching my head , `` Well , there has got to be something else , there has got to be something more . '' ... It 's just about doing what you are truly passionate about and fighting for that . I could have stayed on the same path that I started on , and who knows what would have happened if I would have found success with that -- or none at all -- but I knew I would not have been happy if I had made that decision . And I 'm doing what I love now , and I think that 's more important than anything . CNN : The new album is called `` Amanda Leigh , '' which is your real name . So is this kind of a reintroduction to people about who you really are -- a grown-up Mandy Moore ? Moore : To be quite honest , even though the record is called `` Amanda Leigh , '' and that is my given name , there was n't a tremendous amount of thought behind the idea of `` This is the real me . Forget the Mandy Moore stuff . That 's kid stuff . '' No , it was kind of a simple , almost frivolous decision . My friend Mike Viola -LSB- of the Candy Butchers -RSB- , who I wrote the whole record with , called me Amanda Leigh when we were in the studio all the time . Like `` Amanda Leigh , come on , we 've got to get to work ! '' And I do n't know , it just sort of became synonymous with making the record to me . I had never really owned my name . It was just synonymous with my parents being mad at me . So I was like , `` All right , I 'm 25 , I 'm a woman , I 'm an adult . I think I can probably take ownership with that name now and be OK with it . '' But I 'm still happy to be Mandy at the end of the day . CNN : Well , you can actually change your name even further . You can go by Amanda Adams -LSB- her married name -RSB- these days . Moore : I 'm going to really throw people off and completely change my name . That will be the next record . You know , just to throw a real wrench into the situation . CNN : I 'm probably blowing it for you when you check into hotels under names that nobody would expect you to use . Moore : -LRB- Glancing over at her husband -RRB- Should I give my name ? I 'll have to change it , but it 's time for a new one . I was Cornish Gamehen for a while , which was bizarre . But for the last couple years , I have been Meryl Inch -- however , there is too much of a debacle going on there these days to continue that . So I have to come up with something creative . CNN : What 's it like to not be on a major label these days ? There must be some freedom attached to it , but then you do n't have the big bucks behind you , as well as the whole machinery . Moore : I do n't think you need the whole machine , the whole middleman behind you nowadays , like in terms of a big record label giving you a push . ... I think it has allowed me the creative freedom to truly make the kind of music that I want to by being on an indie label . ... I 'm much happier with this road . CNN : Was there a period of depression you went through that had you reworking things in your head , and trying to find out who you were ? Moore : I think the writing process for the last record , for `` Wild Hope , '' I found myself in a bit of a funk . I do n't know if I would necessarily classify it as a depression , but I was definitely in a very deeply , darkly place for me , and I had never really been there before . And there was a lot of investigation and questions bouncing around in my head that I found I could answer by kind of investing myself in music and writing . CNN : I would love to be a fly on the wall in your house , just to see the music that you and Ryan come up with . Moore : There is a lot of music in the house , whether someone is playing it , or there 's a record on or something . I 've been introduced to a lot of metal in my relationship , which is pretty cool , because my guy is a big metal fan , and it is n't something I would necessarily investigate on my own -- but I do like it . It 's just nice to have that truly built-in support system that someone is unbelievably understanding of what you do . CNN : Like a lot of people , I was shocked when I read you and Ryan had gotten married . Moore : Yeah , we sort of snuck it by a lot of people . Pretty handy . That 's how we roll . Life is good , and I 'm a really lucky girl , and I 'm very happy . It 's a very exciting time to be 25 years old and truly fulfilled in so many aspects . | Mandy Moore 's new album is `` Amanda Leigh , '' her given name . Moore has gone indie route with new album , happy to be on that path . Freshly married to Ryan Adams , singer looks forward to new things -- like metal ? | [[3228, 3269], [136, 147], [159, 200]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Judges in Texas and Florida have dropped military contractor KBR from lawsuits brought by the family of a soldier who was electrocuted in Iraq , the company announced Tuesday . Sgt. Christopher Everett was electrocuted in 2005 at an American base outside Ramadi , in western Iraq . Sgt. Christopher Everett died while using a power washer at an American base outside Ramadi , in western Iraq . His was one of nine electrocution deaths in Iraq blamed on `` improper grounding or faulty equipment , '' according to a Pentagon inspector-general 's report released Monday . KBR was one of the contractors Everett 's family has sued in connection with his death . But federal courts in Louisiana and Texas have thrown out the family 's claims against the Houston , Texas-based company , KBR announced Tuesday . `` The dismissal orders affirm that despite repeated criticism and statements made by several public officials on Capitol Hill and related media reports , KBR had no involvement in the factors that led to the tragic death of Sergeant Everett , '' Andrew D. Farley , the company 's senior vice president and general counsel , said in a written statement . KBR 's work in Iraq and Afghanistan has come under extensive criticism from members of Congress . The company has defended its performance and argued that it was not to blame for any fatalities . Monday 's report from the Pentagon 's inspector-general criticized the company in the death of another soldier , Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth , who was electrocuted in his shower in his Baghdad quarters . The report found that `` multiple systems and organizations failed , '' leaving Maseth `` exposed to unacceptable risk . '' It concluded that a water pump installed by KBR was not grounded , leading to Maseth 's electrocution when it short-circuited , and the company did not report improperly grounded equipment during routine maintenance . But it also found that Maseth 's commanders failed to ensure renovations to the palace had been properly done and the Army did not set electrical standards for jobs or contractors . Maseth 's family also has sued KBR . The company has had no comment on the inspector-general 's findings , but company spokeswoman Heather Browne says it was not responsible for Maseth 's death . The building where Maseth was quartered was one of Saddam Hussein 's former palaces , and Browne said the building `` had not been grounded or bonded by the contractors who built the structure . '' In addition , she said , KBR had warned the military about the hazard nine months before Maseth 's January 2008 death . `` Prior to that incident , the military never directed KBR to repair , upgrade or improve the grounding system in the building in which Maseth resided , nor was KBR directed to perform any preventative maintenance at this facility , '' she said in a statement issued to CNN . But Maseth 's mother said she was `` pleased '' by the finding that KBR installed the water pump blamed for her son 's death . `` The results are revealing and contrary to what KBR and its president have continuously stated over the past year , '' Cheryl Harris told CNN . | Sgt. Christopher Everett died using a power washer at U.S. base in western Iraq . Judges in Texas , Florida drop military contractor KBR from family 's lawsuits . KBR 's electrical work in Iraq , Afghanistan has come under criticism from Congress . Pentagon report criticizes Houston-based contractor in death of another soldier . | [[196, 200], [201, 280], [301, 305], [306, 412], [0, 15], [35, 97], [682, 798], [2099, 2115], [2121, 2135], [1180, 1277], [516, 570], [532, 588], [1376, 1486]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Real Madrid and Monaco striker Fernando Morientes has returned to French football after joining Marseille on a free transfer . Morientes has joined Marseille after enduring a disappointing spell with Primera Liga side Valencia . The 33-year-old , who was released by cash-strapped Primera Liga side Valencia at the end of last season , links-up again with Marseille coach Didier Deschamp , who brought the forward to Monaco in a loan spell in 2003/04 . During that time , Morientes built up a great relationship with Deschamps as the principality club reached the final of the Champions League , losing 3-0 to Porto . Top 20 summer transfer targets . Morientes has also played for Albacete , Real Zaragoza and Liverpool . He left Liverpool in 2006 to join Valencia but made only 19 league appearances for Los Che last season , scoring one goal . Deschamps has been busy in the summer transfer market as he prepares his side for life in the Champions League following their second-placed Ligue One finish to Bordeaux last season . Moreintes is Deschamps ' eighth summer recruit after Lucho Gonzalez , Stephane Mbia , Souleymane Diawara , Edouard Cisse , Cyril Rool , Elinton Andrade and Charley Fomen . Morientes has not trained since being released by Valencia but the former Spanish international striker believes he will be fully fit in time for the new season . `` I have stopped for two months but I hope to be good in two weeks , fit in quickly and bring my qualities , '' Morientes told a news conference . `` At 33-years-old I have a lot of experience , I can bring a lot on the pitch and in the dressing room . '' | Striker Fernando Morientes has completed his free transfer move to Marseille . Former Spanish international was released by Valencia at end of last season . Morientes links-up again with Didier Deschamps , who was his Monaco coach . | [[0, 152], [0, 15], [108, 152], [153, 254], [255, 272], [277, 359]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British airlines have put into effect measures to stop people with swine flu boarding flights in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading further . Medical screening for the swine flu virus has been introduced at many airports . British Airways said there had been a `` very small number of cases '' where people who had checked in with symptoms of H1N1 had been advised not to travel after having medical checks . Virgin Atlantic also said victims would not be allowed to board one of its planes without a fit-to-fly certificate from their doctor or a hospital , though there had been no cases yet . The World Health Organization declared the virus a global pandemic June 11 . More than 120 countries have reported cases of human infection . About 98,000 cases have been documented worldwide , with 440 deaths , according to the WHO . Watch as airlines ban sufferers '' With 29 deaths and a huge rise in the number of cases , Britain has the worst swine flu figures in Europe . Eight British schoolchildren remained in hospital in China on Monday after contracting swine flu on a trip to the country , the Foreign Office said . The teenagers were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus in Beijing . More than 50 of their classmates and teachers are also quarantined in a hotel . Watch as students are quarantined '' Medical screening for the swine flu virus has been introduced at many airports around the world for passengers arriving on international flights but there are concerns that many people may not be aware they are infected . Those who do have symptoms have been advised by Britain 's health authorities to delay their journeys until the signs have cleared up . `` We have a medical team within the airline as well as a contingency planning group which has met for the past few years to look at the issue of a flu pandemic , '' A British Airways spokeswoman said . `` We have a wide range of contingency plans in place which we can use depending on how the situation may evolve . `` If we have concerns about a customer or the customer is concerned , then we have a 24-hour medical service we can call to give advice to staff . `` They will speak to the customer and an assessment will be made about their fitness to fly . `` There have been a number of cases where we have advised customers not to fly on the basis of their diagnosis or symptoms of H1N1 . '' Watch as a CNN reporter is quarantined '' BA told CNN Monday though that it was `` business as usual '' and all flights were operating normally . Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles said : `` If there are signs of something being wrong , be it excessive sneezing or coughing , not looking well , high temperature , then the airport staff can call in a medical team for extra advice . `` If the medical team believe there are reasons not to fly , the passenger will be asked to produce a fit to fly certificate from their doctor or a hospital , and they will be put at our cost on to the next available flight . '' Swine flu has spread so rapidly and extensively around the globe that the World Health Organization is changing tactics against the H1N1 virus , including stopping a tally of cases and focusing on unusual patterns . `` At this point , further spread of the pandemic , within affected countries and to new countries , is considered inevitable , '' the WHO said . The counting of all cases is no longer essential because it is exhausting countries ' resources , the organization said . `` In some countries , this strategy is absorbing most national laboratory and response capacity , leaving little capacity for the monitoring and investigation of severe cases , and other exceptional events . '' Monitoring is still required , the organization urged , but should focus on exceptional patterns . `` Because the numbers of cases have increased in so many countries , it is very hard to keep up , '' Keiji Fukuda , WHO assistant director-general , said earlier this month . Laboratories have been inundated with testing requests and the virus is showing up in most lab tests in countries with major outbreaks , he said . The organization said it will not issue global tables showing confirmed cases for countries that have reported cases , according to the release . However , it will still report on nations that have not had cases so that its presence can be confirmed . `` WHO will continue to request that these countries report the first confirmed cases and , as far as feasible , provide weekly aggregated case numbers and descriptive epidemiology of the early cases . '' Meanwhile , governments should should be on the lookout for unusual patterns , the organization said . While most patients have reported mild symptoms , a rise in severe symptoms or respiratory ailments that require hospitalization should be cause for concern , it said . Governments should also pay attention to unusual patterns linked to fatal cases , the WHO said . Any changes in prevailing patterns should be flagged , including a rise in school and job absenteeism , and an increase in visits to the emergency room . An overwhelmed health system may mean there is a rise in severe cases , the organization said . | British airlines stop people with swine flu boarding flights . Around the world there have been 98,000 cases of swine flu in 120 countries . With 29 deaths , Britain has the worst swine flu figures in Europe . Medical screening for virus has been introduced at many airports . | [[9, 32], [36, 138], [337, 451], [452, 467], [473, 598], [873, 904], [2295, 2300], [2307, 2397], [715, 779], [780, 829], [780, 798], [850, 872], [964, 1015], [185, 265], [1345, 1455]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sometimes , the effects of fame can ripple like a stone dropped in a pond . A YouTube video shows a Minnesota wedding party dancing down the aisle . Take the case of Minnesota residents Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson . The couple had a fun idea for their wedding party to do a nontraditional procession to a catchy tune , `` Forever '' by Chris Brown . The joyous video of the group busting their loosely choreographed moves down the aisle went viral after the newlyweds posted it on YouTube . Soon they were being deluged by the media and flown to New York to appear on national television . Since then , millions have watched the funky wedding march and helped transform Heinz and Peterson into instant celebrities . Amy Carlson Gustafson , a pop culture reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press , reported on the story that she said has not only stirred up the hometown folks , but also showed a different side of Minnesota . `` I think people are loving it , '' she said . `` It 's really fun and it 's especially fun in Minnesota where a lot of people think we are a bunch of uptight Scandinavians who sit around and say ` You betcha . ' This video helps to debunk that a little bit . '' That sense of fun and whimsy has enchanted many and led to Heinz and Peterson being sought for interviews by everyone from their local publications to the major networks . Watch guests at the wedding discuss the experience '' But they have apparently also learned quickly about the downside of fame . The New York Post reported the pair was caught in the crossfire of the battle of the morning shows . According to the newspaper , ABC flew Heinz and Peterson to the Big Apple after booking them to appear on `` Good Morning America . '' Things soured , the paper 's Page Six column reported , after ABC learned the couple had also taped a segment for the rival `` Today '' show , which aired before the couple 's appearance on `` Good Morning America . '' Adding fuel to the fire was a planned live re-creation of the dance by the wedding party scheduled for Saturday morning on `` Today . '' When it appeared that Heinz and Peterson were n't adhering to the age-old `` dance with who brung ya '' rule , their ABC-sponsored hotel and flight home were canceled , the paper said . `` We 've been kicked out of our room , '' Heinz told the Post after the incident . `` New York is cutthroat . That 's what we 've learned . '' `` Today '' reportedly stepped in and secured a new room and flight for Heinz and Peterson . Reporter Gustafson said she spoke with mother-of-the-bride Marge Peterson , who said her daughter and new son-in-law were done talking to the media . `` They are not used to this type of publicity , '' Gustafson said . Shane Mercado can relate . The 27-year-old from New York posted a video last year of himself mimicking step-for-step Beyonce 's dance moves from her `` Single Ladies -LRB- Put A Ring On It -RRB- '' music video . Mercado said he did it at the suggestion of a friend and before he knew it , he was a YouTube sensation . `` Once I did it I thought ` What did I just do ? ' '' he recalled . `` The response was overwhelming . '' Soon , Mercado was a minor celebrity being asked for autographs and dancing his routine on the `` Bonnie Hunt Show . '' `` Extra '' even arranged for him to surprise Beyonce on the red carpet during the premier of her film `` Cadillac Records '' Not only did the superstar singer know who he was , Mercado said , but so did other celebs . `` The actress Gabrielle Union knew who I was , '' Mercado said . `` That just blew me away . ' Mercado said he does n't consider himself famous and finds the notoriety humbling . The loss of anonymity is challenging , he said . Suddenly , the number of people `` in your business '' dramatically increases . He said he can imagine how Heinz and Peterson are feeling : overwhelmed . `` That was their -LSB- wedding -RSB- and it was probably very private to them , '' Mercado said . `` It can be a bit much to handle and if they were not ready to handle it , then it 's not a good thing . '' Being sucked into a vortex of whirlwind publicity can be a heady experience , said Atlanta , Georgia-based photographer Ross Oscar Knight . Two years ago , Knight photographed an elaborately staged engagement planned by Robert Gray Jr. to surprise his girlfriend , Keisha Williams . Gray rented 10 rooms at the Ritz-Carlton , Buckhead , and filled them with rose petals , candles , and music . As Gray led Williams to each room , friends and family were waiting with well wishes and prayers , all leading up to his proposal . A slide show of Knight 's pictures of the moving event scored millions of hits and crashed several sites linking to it , the photographer said . `` I immediately started getting calls from all over the world , '' Knight said . `` We got an extra phone line because so many calls were coming in . '' Not only were people touched , but many also wanted to have their engagements documented , Knight said , so there are sure to be dancing-down-the-aisle videos to come . Knight said Gray and Williams , whose fairy-tale engagement attracted the attention of national publications like Essence Magazine , have married but decided to do so quietly after shutting down a Web site they had started to keep fans updated . `` They did a private ceremony because they did n't want any of that released to the media , '' Knight said . `` I think they got to see stardom and what can happen when there is so much of a focus put on you . '' Someone else who has also been thrust into the spotlight , albeit again , is singer Chris Brown , whose song the Heinz-Peterson wedding party danced to . Despite increased demand on iTunes for the single `` Forever '' and speculation by media outlets like Gawker.com that the wedding video could help rehabilitate Brown 's image , US Weekly staff editor Lindsay Powers said she does n't believe all will be forgiven . Brown , who has publicly apologized for assaulting his girlfriend , the singer Rihanna , has a long way to go before the tide of public opinion can be swayed , Powers said . `` I think that Chris Brown has had considerable career damage over these past couple of months , '' she said . `` I think that people are going to say that 's a catchy song , they 'll go to iTunes and download it to their iPods , but I do n't think that because people like the song they are going to like Chris Brown . '' | Minnesota couple instant stars after YouTube wedding video goes viral . Dancing wedding party garners fans , draws media attention . Fellow YouTube star says attention `` can be a bit much to handle '' Popularity of video has also sparked interest in the Chris Brown tune featured . | [[95, 167], [117, 167], [5106, 5123], [5154, 5224], [3991, 4024]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A group claiming to be the Indonesian arm of the al Qaeda terrorist network is purportedly taking responsibility for a pair of deadly bombs that exploded within minutes of each other at two luxury hotels in Jakarta . The JW Marriott in Jakarta , Indonesia , which was bombed July 17 , is guarded Wednesday . The July 17 blasts at Jakarta 's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels killed nine people , including at least two presumed suicide bombers , and wounded more than 50 . On Wednesday , Noordin M. Top -- the suspected leader of a small splinter group of the militant Jemaah Islamiyah , which has ties to al Qaeda -- purportedly issued statements claiming responsibility for the attacks on behalf of `` al Qaeda in Indonesia . '' Top purportedly signed the statements posted on radical Islamist Web sites as the head of al Qaeda in Indonesia . CNN could not independently authenticate the statements . One of the statements says the Ritz-Carlton attack was carried out by `` one of our mujahedeen warriors against the American lackeys and stooges visiting the hotel . '' `` God has given us a blessing for us to find a way to attack the biggest hotel that America owns in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta -- the Ritz-Carlton , where security was very tight making it very difficult to initiate the attack that we did , '' the statement says . The statement mentions members of Britain 's Manchester United soccer team , which had been scheduled to check into the Ritz-Carlton on July 19 but canceled its trip after the bombing . `` Those players are Christians and therefore do not deserve Muslims ' money and respect , '' the statement says . The other statement addressed the Marriott attack . It claims that the target in that bombing was Americans with ties to the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industries , known as Kadin . Police say a third bomb had been planted in an 18th floor room of the Marriott two days before the other two bombs exploded . The unexploded bomb -- which was timed to detonate on the upper floor before the first blast tore through the Marriott 's lobby area at 7:47 a.m. -- was found and defused , police said . | Group claiming to be `` al Qaeda in Indonesia '' purportedly claims responsibility . Bombs at two Jakarta hotels killed nine people , including two presumed bombers . `` American lackeys and stooges '' were targets , statement says . | [[19, 94], [509, 516], [639, 748], [0, 15], [77, 86], [95, 158], [146, 158], [164, 235], [327, 464], [924, 1081], [1719, 1837]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama often talks about all of the forces lining up against his health care plan . But there 's one critic who has remained relatively mum in the debate . Dr. David Scheiner was President Obama 's personal physician for 22 years . David Scheiner , a Chicago , Illinois-based doctor , has taken a hard look at the president 's prescription for health care reform and sees bad medicine . `` This is n't that kind of health care program that I think is going to work , '' he said . So what makes Scheiner so special ? He was Obama 's personal physician for 22 years , and voted for the former Illinois senator in the 2008 presidential election . Scheiner thinks the president 's plan does n't go far enough . In his mind , the worst part of the proposal is that `` private insurers continue to be a part of the health scheme . '' Watch Scheiner talk about his objections '' `` Everybody keeps saying we do n't want the government involved in health care , '' Scheiner said in an interview . `` But the government is involved in Medicare , and it works . '' Scheiner would rather see the nation adopt a single-payer system like the ones in Canada and Europe . The financing system relies on one `` payer '' -- which could be a government-run agency -- to fund all health care costs billed by doctors , hospitals and other health professionals . The benefits , advocates say , is that pricey administrative costs are cut , resulting in large savings to patients . It 's something that an up-and-coming coming state Sen. Obama talked about six years ago . `` I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan . ... But as all of you know , we may not get there immediately , because first we 've got to take back the White House , and we 've got take back the Senate , and we 've got to take back the House , '' Obama said in 2003 . But that position evolved during the campaign . `` If I were designing a system from scratch , then I 'd probably set up a single-payer system . But the problem is we 're not starting from scratch , '' Obama said in Albuquerque , New Mexico , in August 2008 . Now , the president favors giving Americans the option of joining a government-run plan that would compete with private insurers . Watch more on the health care debate '' `` Nobody is talking about some government takeover of health care . I 'm tired of hearing that , '' Obama said in Raleigh , North Carolina , on Thursday . But Scheiner says that nobody has seen the details of that option , making it a hard sell for the president . `` We do n't even fully know what the public option is going to be . If the public option is too good , patients who are sick will flock to it , and I 'm not sure it will be able to support itself . '' Scheiner almost had a chance to confront the president with his concerns . He was invited to a recent televised town hall meeting with Obama , but he says he was dropped from the program . `` I just hope that the Congress , the American public and the president will hear some of my words , '' he said . `` We 've got to do something better . '' Scheiner finally had a chance to have his say Thursday . He and other doctors who support a single-payer system gathered in Washington to meet with lawmakers and rally supporters . He may not be the president 's doctor anymore , but Scheiner says he 's trying to save the patient before it 's too late . CNN 's Ed Hornick and Brittany Cummings contributed to this report . | Dr. David Scheiner says president 's health care plan does n't go far enough . He 's worried that `` private insurers continue to be a part of the health scheme '' He 'd rather see the U.S. have a single-payer system like those in Canada , Europe . He says he was supposed to speak at Obama town hall but was dropped from it . | [[271, 285], [315, 401], [683, 745], [699, 745], [746, 757], [760, 863], [1094, 1195], [1120, 1195], [2935, 2976]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lucia Whalen strolled down a sidewalk near Harvard University , enjoying a lunchtime ritual she 'd repeated many times in her 15 years working in Cambridge , Massachusetts . But on this day , July 16 , her outing would become something else altogether -- the first steps in a national drama . President Obama has invited police Sgt. James Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates for beer . An older woman approached Whalen , worried that she 'd just witnessed two men breaking into a home . That 's when Whalen , a first-generation Portuguese-American , called 911 from her cell phone -- alerting police to 17 Ware St. -- the home , as it turns out , of renowned Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. . Whalen 's call -- now clearly the well-intentioned act of a passerby -- ignited a firestorm over race and police relations , a national debate that went all the way to the White House . It was a call she says she never expected to be `` analyzed by an entire nation . '' Gates was arrested by Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley for disorderly conduct , a charge that was later dropped . Exactly what happened inside Gates ' home may never be known , but it seems clear that the key players in this saga brought their own personal history with race to the moment . That was true of Gates and Crowley , as well as the nation 's first African-American president . All three will meet for a beer today at the White House to help chill the furor over Gates ' arrest and , in Obama 's words , try to turn the events of the past two weeks into a `` teachable moment . '' `` White woman '' targeted . It 's a bit ironic , said Whalen 's attorney Wendy Murphy , that the three people who `` reacted badly '' will sit down together while the `` one person who did not overreact '' will be at work Thursday . `` Maybe it 's a guy thing , '' Murphy said , adding of Whalen : `` She does n't like beer anyway . '' Watch Whalen describe `` painful '' criticism '' Gates ' arrest sparked heated rhetoric on TV , radio and the Internet . Initially , it seemed to break down along racial lines : African-Americans saw it as racial profiling by a white officer . Whites asked why the acclaimed scholar on black history did n't just show his ID to Crowley at the outset . Was n't the officer just doing his job ? Even Whalen , the Good Samaritan , got smeared in the initial response . The police report identifying her as a `` white woman '' resulted in a torrent of accusations that she racially profiled Gates and his driver when she first called 911 . But a review of the call showed she never identified the suspects as `` black '' -- and even told a police dispatcher she was n't sure it was a break-in . `` The criticism at first was so painful for me . ... I was frankly afraid to say anything , '' Whalen said Wednesday , fighting back tears . `` People called me racist and said I caused all the turmoil that followed , and some even said threatening things that made me fear for my safety . '' Whalen is sensitive to the issue of racial profiling , because of her own olive-skinned complexion , her attorney said . Two men ; two views . Inside 17 Ware St. , Gates and Crowley exchanged words as the officer sought to determine whether Gates belonged in the home . Each blamed the other for a situation that escalated ; each felt the other brought prejudices to the moment . Both had personal experience with racial profiling . iReport : Racial profiling , from both sides . Long before his acclaim as a scholar of black history , Gates had faced the prejudice of a white man . Gates was just 14 , and had suffered a hairline fracture in his hip . `` The white doctor who examined Gates shortly afterward questioned the boy about his injury as well as his career plans . When the young Gates replied that he wanted to be a doctor and then correctly answered many questions about science , the doctor made his diagnosis , '' according to a biography of Gates posted on Gale , an online research tool . `` He told Gates to stand and walk , and the young boy fell to the floor in intense pain . The doctor then turned to Gates 's mother and explained that her son 's problem was psychosomatic -- a black boy from Appalachia who wanted to be a doctor in the mid-1960s was an overachiever . '' Gates , now 58 , walks with a cane as a result . `` The most subtle and pernicious form of racism against blacks -LSB- is -RSB- doubt about our intellectual capacities , '' he once said . The typically soft-spoken Harvard professor is revered worldwide for being at the fore of African-American issues . His award-winning PBS documentaries have made him one of the most powerful forces of academia , admired by colleagues of all races . At the time of his arrest , Gates had just returned from China , where he had filmed the ancestral cemetery of Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma as part of an upcoming series on immigration in America . Gates told CNN 's Soledad O'Brien that his arrest was a wake-up call . `` What it made me realize was how vulnerable all black men are -- how vulnerable all people of color are and all poor people to capricious forces like a rogue policeman , '' he said . `` It was the fault of a policeman who could n't stand a black man standing up for his rights right in his face . '' Watch Gates describe arrest '' But those who know Crowley , including African-American colleagues , say not so fast . For years , Crowley taught a racial profiling class at a Massachusetts police academy -- hand-picked by an African-American police commissioner . He also tried to save the life of Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis in 1993 when the black athlete died during an off-season practice . `` I was n't working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star . I was n't working on a black man . I was working on another human being , '' he told the Boston Herald . Two black officers on the Cambridge force have stood solidly by their comrade . Sgt. Leon Lashley was outside Gates ' house when the professor was arrested . He has no problems with the way Crowley handled the situation . `` It happened to be a white officer on a black man , and the common call a lot of times is to call it a racist situation , '' said Lashley . `` This situation right here was not a racial-motivated situation . ... There 's nothing rogue about him . He was doing his job . '' Lashley acknowledged that if he , as a black officer , had entered the home first , it likely would 've been a different outcome . Kelly King , another African-American Cambridge officer , said she has known Crowley for more than a decade and that he 's `` a good police officer , a good man with character . '' Watch black cops stand by Crowley '' `` I think Professor Gates has done a very good job of throwing up a very effective smokescreen , calling race into this . It had nothing to do with it , '' she told CNN 's Don Lemon with Crowley at her side . She said people who have turned against Crowley need to `` keep their minds open and realize that we would not support someone that we felt wronged someone else . ... We would not support anyone in blue doing the wrong thing . '' When she finished speaking , she and Crowley embraced . `` You 've got to be touched by that , '' CNN 's Lemon said . The officer at the center of the controversy nodded his head , fighting off tears . Obama steps in . A third player ratcheted up the controversy and he , too , brought history to the moment . President Obama entered the fray when he said police `` acted stupidly . '' His comments outraged many in law enforcement , and he soon did a mea culpa , saying he could 've `` calibrated '' his words differently . Watch Obama say he helped ratchet up debate '' Obama is a friend of Gates . A graduate of Harvard Law School , the president also once studied under Charles Ogletree , the law professor who represents Gates . As state senator in Illinois , Obama pushed for a racial profiling bill in 2003 . According to the Chicago Tribune , the bill created a means for police to track the race of drivers stopped for traffic infractions over a period of years . In his 2006 book `` The Audacity of Hope , '' Obama said his status insulated him from the `` bumps and bruises '' of the typical black man in America . But , he said , `` I can recite the usual litany of petty slights that during my 45 years have been directed my way : security guards tailing me as I shop in department stores , white couples who toss me their car keys as I stand outside a restaurant waiting for the valet , police cars pulling me over for no apparent reason . '' `` I know what it 's like to have people tell me I ca n't do something because of my color , and I know the bitter swill of swallowed-back anger . '' As the three men sit down together at the White House , there are many lessons to be drawn from this most teachable moment . Not the least of which might be that race is still a major factor in perceptions , and misperceptions . As for Whalen , she says she would still make that 911 call if she had it to do over again . `` I would hope people would learn not to judge others , '' she said . She added , `` I was just trying to get lunch . '' | Harvard professor , Cambridge cop , Obama to sit down for beer at White House . Attorney for 911 caller notes irony in meeting of the three people who `` reacted badly '' Prof walks with cane as a result of white doctor 's misdiagnosis when he was 14 . Two black cops stand by Sgt. James Crowley , say race had nothing to do with arrest . | [[312, 405], [1394, 1493], [8783, 8833], [1626, 1644], [1647, 1683], [1686, 1767], [4313, 4318], [4330, 4361], [5887, 5966], [6696, 6729], [6696, 6732]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A pair of Georgia men faced more than a half-hour of skeptical questions from reporters Friday as they defended their claim that they stumbled upon the body of Bigfoot while hiking in a remote North Georgia forest . The thawed body of a creature reputed to be Bigfoot reportedly weighs more than 500 pounds . Introduced by a publicist and beside a man who promoted what turned out to be a fake Bigfoot discovery in 1995 , Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer repeatedly said that their claim is not a hoax and that scientific analysis will prove it . `` We were not looking for Bigfoot . ... We would n't know what we were doing if we did , '' said Whitton , a police officer on leave after being shot in the hand while making an arrest . `` I did n't believe in Bigfoot at the time . ... But you 've got to come to terms with it and realize you 've got something special . And that 's what it was . '' The men say they were hiking in early June when they discovered the body of a 7-foot-7 , 500-pound half-ape , half-human creature near a stream . They also claim to have spotted about three similar living creatures -- and showed reporters video stills of what they say is one of those creatures shadowing them through the woods . Watch report of scientist skeptical of Bigfoot claim '' The announcement , which the men first made on the Internet radio show `` Squatch Detective '' several weeks ago , has been greeted with healthy skepticism , even among some Bigfoot enthusiasts . Scientists , including the head of North Georgia College and State University 's biology department , have said it 's unlikely a tribe of 7-foot-tall creatures would have avoided discovery in a region popular among hikers , hunters and vacationers . Several Web sites have popped up questioning the claim and comparing a photo that the men say is the creature 's body inside a freezer to a widely available Bigfoot costume . On Friday , Whitton acknowledged creating a pair of videos posted on the Internet video site YouTube , one in which his brother poses as a scientist and another in which Whitton briefly seems to admit that the body is a fake . `` It seems that the stalkers have busted us in a hoax , '' he says in the video . But then adds , `` we still have a corpse . We just wanted to give you something to do for the weekend . '' At Friday 's news conference , Whitton first said that no video existed in which he calls the discovery a hoax . But after speaking to Tom Biscardi , the self-described `` Real Bigfoot Hunter '' who has been searching for the creature of legend since 1971 , he said the video was made `` to have a little fun with it '' and was originally intended to throw off the `` psychos '' who had stalked him and his family since the men first made their claim . iReport.com : Have you seen ` Bigfoot ' ? The two also promoted a Web site registered to Whitton on June 16 and said they plan to write a book about their experience . Friday 's news conference was held in Palo Alto , California , near the home of Biscardi . About 100 reporters and onlookers attended the event , in a hotel banquet room , including a man who shouted questions while wearing a gorilla suit . Dyer and Whitton said they were carrying a video camera during their hike to film wildlife . They said they handed the body over to Biscardi , who is keeping it at an undisclosed location until a team of scientists can examine it . One of the two photographs the men gave to reporters Friday showed what appears to be the creature 's mouth , an effort to disprove allegations that what 's in the photo is a costume . `` I want to get to the bottom of it , '' Biscardi said . `` I 'll tell you what I 've seen and what I 've touched and what I 've felt , what I 've prodded was not a mask sewed onto a bear hide , OK ? '' Biscardi acknowledged that he promoted a fake Bigfoot discovery in 1995 , saying the woman who claimed to have the body convinced his staff members before he visited her and discovered that she was mentally ill . Alleged Bigfoot sightings have surfaced from time to time for years , dating to at least the 1800s . The most famous was the so-called Patterson film from 1967 , which is purported to show a tall , furry , apelike creature walking along , at one point looking over its shoulder at the videographer . Most scientists who have studied the film say there 's no way to authenticate it , and many say the creature appears to be a man in a costume . CNN 's Doug Gross and Chuck Afflerback contributed to this report . | North Georgia men say they stumbled upon body while hiking in forest . They also claim to have spotted three similar living creatures . The body of the furry half man-half ape is 7 feet , 7 inches tall , they say . Men wo n't reveal Bigfoot den 's location because they do n't want others disturbed . | [[117, 234], [927, 1060], [1061, 1065], [1071, 1129], [927, 1060]] |
TEHRAN , Iran -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Security forces in Iran on Thursday confronted thousands of protesting Iranians across the city , first at a cemetery and later at a prayer venue and near a government building , witnesses and news reports said . Mourners gather around the grave of Neda Agh-Soltan in Beheshte Zahra Cemetery . Clashes erupted at the cemetery as two of Iran 's main opposition leaders tried to join the several thousand people at a memorial for the slain woman who became the symbol of Iran 's post-election violence , witnesses said . The gathering was banned , but participants ignored the government strictures . However , security forces barred opposition leaders Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karrubi from the gravesite of Neda Agha-Soltan , the 26-year-old woman shot in election protests on June 20 , witnesses and news reports said . More than 3,000 people were gathered at Agha-Soltan 's grave , a witness said . Mourners arrived on the religiously significant 40th day after the fatal shooting in Tehran . For Iranians , a predominantly Shiite Muslim population , the 40th day after a death marks the last official day of mourning . At the cemetery , security forces used tear gas to clear the area of demonstrators and mourners . A witness said riot police and Basij militia were at the scene , but the confrontations with people in the crowd involved the militia . Watch a report on the memorial clashes '' The witness spotted instances of the baton-wielding militia charging the gathering , and said as many as nine beatings were seen . Other people appeared to have been beaten as they ran from police , the witness said . One of the mourners had a bloody head and one woman said she was struck on the back of the neck . One security force member sustained some sort of injury to the head and was bloodied . It is unclear exactly how that person was injured . A confrontation between women protesters and police also was seen . The women shouted , `` Do n't beat up our young people . You , our Muslim brothers . It is a shame to beat up our young people . '' The crowd chanted `` Ya Hossein , Mir Hossein , '' the first a reference to the revered Shiite imam and the second a reference to Moussavi . Then there were more chants of `` Allah wa Akbar , '' or God is great . iReport.com : Share your photos , video , stories . Despite reports of arrests , none were seen on the mourning day . U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said using force to `` break up a group of people who were trying to exercise an important ritual in Islam , the mourning after 40 days , '' was `` particularly disturbing . '' `` We stand by the Iranian people who are exercising their universal right to self-expression and demonstrating peacefully , '' Kelly said . Iran 's state-run news agency , IRNA , reported that the mourners `` disrupted the order '' in the city and damaged public and private property and that security forces were merely trying to control the `` illegal activity '' of the group . IRNA also reported that Tehran residents in the area were angry with the constant protests and wanted a stronger response from the security forces . Another witness told CNN that police directing traffic at the cemetery were helpful and friendly , in stark contrast to the riot police and Revolutionary Guard members who were at the gravesites . From the cemetery , the mourners arrived at the Mossalla , a building under construction that is expected to be the main venue of Tehran 's Friday prayers , witnesses said . A couple thousand people demonstrated and police worked to disperse the crowd -- which also was defying a ban on such a gathering . `` The police tried to discourage drivers from driving the main highway that would lead to central Tehran , but very few listened , '' one witness said . `` Soldiers standing along the streets flashed the peace sign back at the honking cars with large smiles on their faces . It was obvious the soldiers and police forces were with the people . '' Thousands also marched and chanted along a prominent thoroughfare called Vali Asr Street , chanting slogans such as `` Death to the dictator '' amid the honking of car horns , a witness said . Amateur video posted Thursday on several Web sites and submitted to CNN 's iReport showed a security officer swinging a baton at a demonstrator . CNN can not confirm the circumstances of the images . Protesters gathered near the Interior Ministry building and trash cans were set ablaze , another witness said . Police on motorcycles attempted to break up the gathering , and one security officer was seen wielding a gun . Moussavi was the chief challenger of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June presidential elections , which the government said Ahmadinejad won in a landslide but many Iranians think was rigged . Moussavi had said on his Web site that he and fellow reform candidate Karrubi would commemorate Agha-Soltan 's death with her mother at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery . At the cemetery , a witness said a car identical to a vehicle belonging to Moussavi drove through the area . It was not clear if Moussavi was in the vehicle , but people were sitting atop and around the car as if to protect it . The car left the scene . In the days after the June vote , thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest the results . The government cracked down . Hundreds were detained in prison , among them 50 `` political figures '' accused of playing key roles in the street demonstrations that turned violent , Iranian media reported Wednesday . Among those still reportedly detained is Shahpour Kazemi , Moussavi 's brother-in-law , according to Moussavi 's wife . Others include Behzad Nabavi , a Moussavi ally , and Mostafa Tajzadeh , who served under Iranian President Mohammad Khatami -- a Moussavi supporter -- the Iranian Labor News Agency reported Tuesday . | Security forces confront protesters across Tehran . Some 3,000 mourners gather at the grave site of Neda Agha-Soltan . Agha-Soltan , 26 , was shot in street protests after election on June 20 . Security forces rough up , beat some mourners , witnesses say . | [[9, 29], [69, 128], [246, 326], [362, 476], [859, 919], [764, 822], [535, 551], [922, 938], [1436, 1447], [1525, 1566], [1635, 1653], [3526, 3542], [4199, 4215]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An eco-friendly French boat is hoping to successfully cross the perilous Arctic sea passage that links the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific . The old tug-boat , Le Manguier , has been converted into an eco-friendly vessel with three sails and solar panels . `` Le Manguier '' is attempting to navigate the icy , unpredictable Northern Sea Route , a 6,000 mile passage that skims the northern coast of Siberia . It is a trip that only a handful of leisure boats in history have successfully completed . Not only that , the modified tug boat is also attempting to do it ecologically . The boat 's crew is relying partly on wind-power to complete the route , parts of which are only free of ice for two short months during the Arctic summer . Three sails have been added to the tug boat , which normally runs on gas-guzzling motors . '' ` Le Manguier ' was the opposite of the ecological vessel , '' Philippe Hercher , captain and part-owner of the boat told CNN . `` What we wanted to do was create a symbol and show that even this type of boat can diversify its energy sources -- even in the most extreme conditions . '' Conditions on the route are treacherous : Vessels that enter its waters at the wrong time can get trapped in thick ice for months in temperatures that go as low as -50 C. Ironically for the eco-expedition , it is receding ice levels , thought to be caused by global warming , that has crossing the passage a possibility once again in the last few years . The voyage , which is projected to take about six months , started in the South of France in April and , if they make it through the route successfully , will end in Japan . The crew 's other ecological concessions include relying on solar panels for electricity and warm water , using only long-lasting LED light bulbs and eating only organic products during their journey . On-board are seven adults and two children , including a painter , two writers , a scientist and a historian . Currently , the team 's primary concern is not the fear of being trapped in ice and being forced to `` hibernate '' in Siberia 's frigid temperatures , but getting the required paperwork in time before the approaching colder months , which cause ice to harden in the passage . `` Le Manguier '' is in Tromso , Norway waiting for the green light from the Russian government , which rarely allows non-Russian vessels to enter the passage . Russian reluctance may stem from the time of the Russian revolution in 1917 , after which the Soviet Union was isolated from the West . The Northern Sea Route , which is the shortest passage between the West and the Far East , was also the only water the Russians could navigate without possible foreign interference . Luckily , the crew have help from veteran sailors in their race against the clock : Scientist Eric Brossier and sailor and France Pinczon Du Del who successfully sailed the Northern Sea Route during the first ever circumnavigation of the glacial Arctic Ocean in 2002 . In the meantime , `` Le Mangier '' is gaining increasing popularity with every port-of-call . The group is publicizing the cause ; inviting school children , academics and other tug boat sailors for workshops and tours of the boat . `` The most difficult challenge seems to be convincing hardened tug boat captains to partially switch to wind power , '' said Judith Puzzuoli , who is in charge of communication and press for `` Le Manguier . '' `` But change does n't happen in a day . '' Like Puzzuoli , each member of the team is responsible for delivering the message in a different way . Two books , written in the style of travel journals are in the works and a documentary is currently being filmed . Even the children have an important role -- reminding the adults why their mission is important . `` I get the feeling that the two girls are really discovering life on this boat . They are learning to live simply , but beautifully . '' | An eco-friendly French boat is attempting to cross the Northern Sea Route . Six-month voyage hoping to travel Arctic waters above Siberia to get to Japan . Boats can be trapped in ice for months in temperatures that go as low as -50 C . The tug boat has been modified with three sails and solar panels . | [[0, 6], [9, 127], [293, 379], [553, 617], [0, 6], [9, 127], [1510, 1566], [1569, 1608], [1197, 1300], [1288, 1300], [1306, 1325], [177, 193], [199, 292], [553, 617], [775, 818]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ten members of an international smuggling ring have been arrested and charged with paying more than $ 500,000 in bribes to smuggle millions of dollars in fake designer goods from China to the United States , according to the U.S. Justice Department . Authorities say a sting targeted a smuggling ring pushing counterfeit goods through a New Jersey port . The defendants were expected to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas . The counterfeit goods included designer jeans , Nike shoes , Burberry and Chanel handbags , and Polo and Baby Phat clothing , according to a news release from the U.S. attorney 's office for the Southern District of New York . The estimated value of the genuine versions of the goods would be more than $ 200 million , prompting U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia to describe the case as `` one of the largest counterfeit smuggling cases ever brought in United States history . '' The suspects arrested Wednesday are accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle scores of 40-foot-long shipping containers through the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in Elizabeth , New Jersey , since June 2006 . The Chinese-made knockoffs were placed in containers with false bills of lading , which are the shipping documents used to determine a cargo 's point of origin and destination . `` One bill of lading claimed a container held ` noodles , ' when in fact it contained counterfeit Nike sneakers , '' the news release said . After the bogus goods cleared inspection at the New Jersey port , they were transported to New York-area warehouses , where they awaited distribution to retail customers . According to the news release , the bribes were paid directly to an undercover agent whose `` near-daily '' conversations with the suspects were secretly recorded or monitored . The undercover agent posed as a `` corrupt longshoreman 's union official , stationed at Port Newark , who had the ability to clear imported cargo through the United States customs and border security measures without detection or seizure , '' the news release said . The 10 suspects are charged with conspiring to smuggle goods into the U.S. , smuggling goods into the U.S. and trafficking in counterfeit goods , the news release states . If convicted , they face up to 35 years in prison , at least $ 2.5 million in fines and an obligation to pay restitution to the manufacturers of the genuine versions of the goods . Among those arrested in the sting were Robin Huff , 46 , of New York , a federally licensed customs broker who is accused of using a Customs and Border Patrol database to help push goods through the port . Also arrested were Chi On Wong , 36 , and Man Wai Cheng , 34 , both of New York , who operated a Brooklyn-based trucking company , KT Express Inc. . Authorities allege Wong and Cheng charged smugglers a premium to transport goods around the New York area . On Wednesday , Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents raided a house in Brooklyn used as KT Express ' base of operations and three other locations . Federal agents seized $ 80,000 in cash and two KT Express trucks allegedly used in the operation , the news release said . Also arrested Wednesday were : . • Grace Quezon , 38 , of Jersey City , New Jersey , who is alleged to have paid at least $ 400,000 to the undercover agent . She also is accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle more than 25 containers of counterfeit goods . • Michael Chu , 70 , of New York , who is accused of paying more than $ 100,000 to the undercover agent and smuggling more than 20 containers through the port . • Hsi Feng Li , 61 , of New York , aka `` the General , '' who is accused of telling the federal agent he could send the agent 50 containers of bogus goods a month . • Yee Khiong Ting , 44 , of New York , who is accused of coordinating shipments , paying bribes to the federal agent and selling the goods once they cleared customs . • Troy King , 37 , of New York , who allegedly worked with Chu and Quezon , and whom authorities accuse of arranging payments and overseeing operations . • Wing Ki Lee , 36 , of Jersey City , who is accused of working with King to smuggle containers into the U.S. on behalf of a Chinese manufacturer who was a primary supplier of the counterfeit merchandise . • Dick Ong , 57 , of Bergenfield , New Jersey , who is accused of tracking containers , arranging pickups and monitoring the status of containers that moved through the New Jersey port . E-mail to a friend . | Officials say the original versions of the goods are worth more than $ 200 million . News release : One container said it was carrying `` noodles '' instead of fake Nikes . Feds : An undercover agent posed as a `` corrupt longshoreman 's union official '' Suspects include New York customs broker and trucking company operators . | [[700, 789], [1347, 1403], [1839, 1912], [1869, 1912], [1915, 1939], [2460, 2471], [2484, 2528], [2737, 2745], [2752, 2794]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actor and producer Anil Kapoor has long been a Bollywood luminary , but after his award-winning performance in global hit `` Slumdog Millionaire , '' he is set to become an international star . Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor . Kapoor says that `` Slumdog , '' a love story about a boy from a Mumbai slum who wins a fortune on quiz show `` Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ? , '' resembles his own life story . `` I also started from scratch , went from rags to riches , '' he told CNN . Anil is part of the Kapoor family that is a veritable Bollywood dynasty . His father Surinder and elder brother Boney are film producers , his daughter Sonam , sister-in-law Sridevi and his younger brother Sanjay are actors , while son-in-law Sandeep Marwah is a movie magnate and Anil 's son Harshvardhan is currently learning to direct movies in Los Angeles . But things were n't always so glamorous . Anil Kapoor was born on Christmas Eve 1959 and grew up in a tenement in the Mumbai suburb of Chembur , with eight people living together in a single room . His father Surinder had yet to make his name in the film industry , but young Anil clearly had movies in his blood . `` In my childhood I was surrounded by films , actors , film makers , directors and film talk . I would bunk school to watch movies , '' he said . He was cast in his first movie aged just seven . Although the film was never released , the experience was enough to convince Kapoor that his future lay in the movies . After finishing school he went to St Xavier 's College , where he acted in plays and won the Best Actor trophy at an inter-collegiate competition , before being expelled for non-attendance . Kapoor responded by enrolling in acting classes and taking singing and dance lessons . He made his Bollywood debut in 1979 's `` Hamare Tumhare , '' before moving on to Telugu-language movie `` Vamsa Vriksham '' in 1980 , and landing his first Bollywood starring role in 1983 's `` Woh 7 Din . '' Watch Anil Kapoor take CNN on a tour of Mumbai . '' Kapoor first met future wife Sunita Bhambhani in 1979 , when she was a successful model and he was still a struggling actor . He decided that he would propose marriage as soon as he got his big break and 1984 's `` Mashaal '' was the opportunity he 'd been waiting for . Kapoor 's performance won him Best Supporting Actor at India 's prestigious FilmFare awards and he married Sunita in May of that year . Kapoor cemented his status a Bollywood idol after starring in the hugely successful `` Mr India , '' which promptly became his nickname among a growing legion of fans . He has gone on to become one of the biggest names in Indian cinema , picking up a total of five FilmFare awards and a National Film Institute Best Actor award for his role in 2000 's `` Pukar . '' Following in his father 's footsteps , Kapoor made his debut as a producer in 2002 , with the comedy `` Badhaai Ho Badhaai , '' and he went on to produce `` Gandhi , My Father , '' which portrayed the fractious relationship between Mohandas Gandhi and his eldest son Harilal . For years now , in his home town of Mumbai Kapoor has been mobbed by fans wherever he goes , instantly recognizable by his trademark mustache , which he has proudly sported in all but three of his hundred-plus movies . But like most Bollywood stars , he received little acclaim outside India . That changed abruptly and unexpectedly with the release of low-budget British movie `` Slumdog Millionaire . '' The film has become an international sensation , winning four Golden Globe awards and receiving an astonishing 10 Oscar nominations . See Anil Kapoor 's `` Slumdog Millionaire '' success in photos . '' Kapoor 's role as the creepy quiz show host earned him a share in the Screen Actors Guild award for Best Cast . In typically modest fashion , Kapoor dedicated the award to the film 's child actors . `` They deserve this award '' he said during his acceptance speech . `` It 's the children who 've done it , not us . '' Kapoor remains proud of his roots , visiting his childhood neighborhood every year , and he is grounded enough to be aware of the social problems in Mumbai . He is a goodwill ambassador for Plan India , an organization that helps street children , and he donated his entire `` Slumdog '' fee to the cause . As he prepares to travel to Britain for the Bafta awards and to Los Angeles for the Oscars , Mr India remains characteristically self-effacing . `` I feel so humble and grateful . I never expected the film to be so huge and successful , '' he said . Whether he 's accepting awards in Hollywood or making movies for Bollywood , Kapoor seems sure to keep his feet on the ground . | Bollywood star Anil Kapoor played the quiz show host in `` Slumdog Millionaire '' He grew up in a tenement in a Mumbai suburb , sharing a room with 7 others . As an actor he is a Bollywood legend , and he is also a successful producer . `` I feel so humble and grateful '' says Kapoor of Slumdog 's global success . | [[3695, 3806], [908, 919], [955, 1008], [1016, 1063], [0, 84], [2613, 2679], [4470, 4501]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Italian champions Inter Milan have unveiled new signing Samuel Eto'o , with the Cameroon striker immediately being forced to deny suggestions from the Italian media that he has ever had a problem with new coach Jose Mourinho . Samuel Eto'o parades his new Inter Milan jersey after completing his move from Barcelona . Eto'o , who completed his switch from Barcelona on Monda , denied he has issues with Portuguese coach Mourinho and insists he never insulted his team 's style of play after a Champions League match between Barca and Chelsea . `` I never said those words that were attributed to me , '' he told a press conference . `` There is also a tape which proves it and , in any case , that was after an intense game . Top 20 summer transfer targets . `` Now I am happy to be here , for me it is a great honor to play for a coach like Jose . It has been years that I have been trying to play under Mourinho and I have never managed it . '' Mourinho also laughed off suggestions the pair do not see eye to eye , insisting they have very similar personalities . `` I have met Samuel six times in three years , and I never cared to know if he really said something not very nice about me , '' said the Nerazzurri coach . `` Why ? Because he is like me : after losing an important match he does n't go home happy . The year after this game I wanted to take him to Chelsea , but I was n't allowed to . I am very happy to have him with us and I 'm not talking only as Jose Mourinho but on behalf of the whole squad . Eto'o has signed a five-year contract with Inter as part of a swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic move the other way . Inter will also receive 45 million euros -LRB- $ 64m -RRB- but the 28-year-old , who only had a season left on his contract with Barca , has shrugged off suggestions this proves Ibrahimovic is the more highly rated of the two . `` Ibra is a great player but I am Samuel Eto'o and my past and my victories talk for me , '' said Eto'o . `` I do n't like parallels being drawn . `` I believe the victories I have earned until now can contribute to giving my name the right value . '' Eto'o scored 125 goals in 144 games for Barcelona , firing them to a string of titles , including three leagues , two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey success , in his five seasons with the club . Eto'o has spent his entire career in Spain since leaving Cameroon in 1997 , playing for Real Madrid , Leganes , Espanyol , Mallorca and Barcelona . However , he expects he will adapt easily to the Serie A style . `` It 's true I have always played in Spain but I have great experience of international matches , '' continued Eto'o . `` Here in Serie A there are big players because great players are in teams where they know they will be able to win things . I am here because it is a very competitive league . `` It 's true Ibra and Kaka have left Italy , but there are lots of great players in Italy and I am convinced I have made the best choice . '' | Inter Milan unveil Samuel Eto'o after he completes his transfer from Barcelona . Eto'o has signed five-year deal and moves in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic . Cameroon striker denies any past dispute with his new coach Jose Mourinho . | [[0, 15], [19, 87], [246, 336], [267, 336], [337, 342], [349, 393], [1537, 1608], [1597, 1608], [1614, 1636], [189, 200], [205, 245], [337, 342], [396, 503]] |
RAWALPINDI , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The office of Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas has a bank of six flat-screen televisions covering most of one wall , showing all the main international English-language news channels , and several local ones besides . Major General Athar Abbas addresses a news conference in Rawalpindi on April 28 , 2009 . This is one of the rooms where Pakistan 's media war is being fought , and Abbas , the Pakistan army 's main spokesman , is a key part of the battle . I kid with him that CNN is n't among the channels on his screens , and he seems slightly hurt , insisting it is . He 's right and I 'm wrong -- CNN was on a commercial break . In fact , I rather get the impression Abbas , who has become the face of the army 's operation against Taliban militants in the Swat Valley , watches our coverage closely . One of his subordinates complains about one of our reports -- not the accuracy , but something in the general tone . Perhaps CNN has been just a little too questioning of the army 's daily press releases , which claim hundreds of enemy fighters killed , and tightly controlled media trips . Whatever Abbas thinks of CNN , he is more than willing to explain how the Pakistan army sees the broad picture as it fights in the Swat Valley . The current conflict there is intricately linked to the situation in Afghanistan , in his view . He sees Swat as a political problem , which can only be partially solved by military intervention . He claims many of the Taliban 's arms are coming across the border from Afghanistan . I ask if that includes NATO weapons , as suggested in recent reports , and he agrees . He says Washington is too focused on the safety of Pakistan 's nuclear arsenal . The United States should `` stop worrying about the nukes and start worrying about the weapons lost in Afghanistan , '' he says . A U.S. government report last month warned that the Pentagon did not have `` complete records '' for about one-third of the 242,000 weapons the United States had provided to the Afghan army , or for a further 135,000 weapons other countries sent . The Afghan army `` can not fully safeguard and account for weapons , '' the Government Accountability Office found . I ask how well armed the Taliban are , and he says they are `` very well equipped from the border area . '' He also conspiratorially suggests they also are getting weapons and support from `` foreign intelligence agencies . '' When I ask what that means , he smiles and says he ca n't elaborate -- declining to repeat the speculation in the press here that India , Pakistan 's traditional rival , may be somehow involved in stirring up trouble on Pakistan 's northwestern border . India denies that . But the very suggestion plays to a military strategist 's nightmare scenario -- the Pakistan army bogged down in the northwest , unable to focus on the disputed province of Kashmir , a key element of its conflict with India . The military wants to get done in Swat as soon as possible , but the general acknowledges its troops will be there for some time . He estimates that 10 to 15 percent of the Taliban there are foreign fighters : `` Well-trained Arabs , Afghans , with a sprinkling of central Asians and North Africans . '' He also says there are Yemenis , Saudis and Uzbeks fighting , as Pakistan has become the destination du jour of the international jihadist , with Arabs in commanding positions and the other foreign fighters bringing in expertise . He thinks that perhaps Mingora , the main town at the gateway to the Swat Valley , may be secured in 48 hours , but it may be much , much longer before the area is totally pacified . `` First you have to disarm the Taliban and then re-establish the writ of government , '' he says . He admits that Swat and neighboring Bajur Districts `` were lost to the state '' and that now `` we are paying in blood for areas we had already occupied . '' Now , he says , the army is set for a long fight . `` We are prepared for that -- we are mentally prepared . '' But they are also prepared for the conflict to be taken to other parts of Pakistan . A building belonging to the country 's powerful intelligence agency , the ISI , was bombed in Lahore this week . The Taliban claimed they carried out the attack and Abbas says the security services expect more attacks . Just hours after I left him , his fears were confirmed , as details came in of more bombings in Peshawar . And then there is also the risk of the Taliban using the mass exodus of civilians from the Swat Valley as cover to penetrate other towns and cities . Already almost 3 million people have flooded out of what was once a tranquil tourist destination , and the military fears that among the mass movement of humanity there will be those plotting to strike at the heart of Pakistan 's cities . `` It 's a very big issue -- a serious concern , '' Abbas says . He describes the conflict in Swat as `` an existential threat '' -- a fight for the very existence of Pakistan in its current form . And he seems acutely aware that the portrayal of that conflict to the West will be critical . | Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas says Taliban 's arms coming across border from Afghanistan . He says Washington is too focused on the safety of Pakistan 's nuclear arsenal . He considers conflict in Swat a fight for the existence of Pakistan in its current form . He seems acutely aware that the portrayal of that conflict to the West will be critical . | [[1470, 1472], [1480, 1555], [1643, 1723], [1651, 1723], [4901, 4965], [5034, 5127], [5066, 5127]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iranian protesters have found a new outlet to mobilize and take action . The presidential election has proved how much opposition supporters can demand change without necessarily taking to the streets . Just give them a computer and an Internet connection and watch what they can do . Supporters of defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi protest in Tehran on June 13 , 2009 . At the height of the protests and disorder in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday , Twitter was used to give graphic accounts to a worldwide audience - even if they were a maximum of 140 characters . Tweets from `` Change for Iran '' were among several that offered real time updates : '' ... my friend saying more than 100 students arrested , I ca n't confirm this but the numbers are high . bastards just attacked us for no reason , I lost count of how much tear gas they launched at us ! ... we have now some students with urgent need of medical attention I 'm calling out to all ppl who can come here do n't leave us . '' Some Iranians are already veterans on social networking sites with loyal followings . They offer the world a unique voice : free , unfiltered and very different from what the Islamic Republic of Iran 's media propaganda offers viewers and readers . Internet service is available in Iran but it is still in its infancy . Available in homes , on hand-held devices and in select cafes , the Internet is slow and unreliable at times , says blogger and aspiring journalist Ali from Tehran , a supporter of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mossavi . This makes services such as Skype almost impossible to operate . Watch the role technology has had in the election '' Still , it provides users with an outlet to the outside world as the country waits for broadband and wider wireless coverage . With the absence of text messaging and mobile services -- both were cut off across the country on and around election day and were still blocked on Sunday -- Twitter proved to be the most reliable communication technique between people inside Iran and millions of others on the outside thirsty for any update . Twitter has enabled people to express to the world their hopes for the elections , excitement at the chance of exercising their right to vote , jubilation in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's camp and shock and disappointment among Mossavi 's supporters . Now they 're keeping the Twitterverse ablaze with information about Moussavi , his challenge to the election results and his intent to request their annulment . Moussavi 's supporters comfortably outnumber Ahmadinejad 's on Twitter but both are represented . Facebook is also very popular in Iran , says Ali . He wholeheartedly believes that Facebook was the reason behind what he describes as a successful campaign by President Ahmadinejad 's main rival . Ali says Moussavi campaign managers organized supporters , planned gatherings and garnered support through Facebook pages dedicated to the Reformist candidate . `` His Facebook page got huge amount of fans on it , pictures spread extremely fast , '' says Ali . It was used on Saturday and Sunday to organize and announce street protests , to send out warnings about police activity , but especially to keep followers abreast of his whereabouts . They were the first to talk about his forced house arrest . President Ahmadinejad also jumped on the social networking bandwagon ahead of the race . However , his popularity there pales in comparison to that of Moussavi . Both candidates ' pages remain a main source of information for updates and breaking news . In fact we 've seen many cases of news breaking on Facebook first while confirmation came later , including Moussavi 's house arrest and Ahmadinejad 's planned addresses . According to Iranian bloggers , website filtering falls under the oversight of the Intelligence Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Iran 's judiciary . Bloggers complain that at times the ministry filters words like `` violence , '' `` unrest '' and `` democracy . '' Recently , Ali believes the censors were filtering content based on a candidate 's name . Moussavi supporters claim filtering particularly targeted their candidate after his popularity soared and authorities feared he would pose a serious challenge to Ahmadinejad . Another challenge for Iranians comes from the U.S. Because of its sanctions against Iran , some services like video conversations are not allowed . So , it 's a tap dance sometimes to figure out the best way to talk to someone in Iran . People do n't like to use landlines or mobile phones for fear of their calls being traced . They do n't like e-mails as they can leave a trace . They do however feel comfortable with services like Google Talk . They find it safe , as no one can see what they look like and with common Iranian first names like `` Ali '' and `` Shahrzad '' , as my main contacts are named , they find a way to communicate with the world as few Iranians have done before . | Iranians protesting presidential election use Internet to mobilize and take action . Twitter used to give graphic accounts of protests to a worldwide audience . Social networking sites offer the world a unique voice : free and unfiltered . People do n't like to use landlines or mobile phones for fear of their calls being traced . | [[0, 15], [19, 91], [416, 566], [1122, 1157], [4573, 4649], [4638, 4664]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- There are two good ways to buy your new car or truck at a reasonable low price and avoid all of the negotiating games and hassles : . 1 . Buy through the Internet . Buying your new or used car or truck through the Internet is the easiest and most hassle-free way to make the purchase . All you have to do is choose the vehicle brand and model you wish to purchase as well as provide some basic contact information such as your name and e-mail address . In return , you 'll receive - via e-mail - low bottom-line selling prices from dealerships in your area for the exact vehicle you want to buy . Compare the various selling prices and find the lowest one . Then , simply go direct to that dealership 's Internet Department , sign the papers and drive your new car home - no negotiating , no hassles . To begin the process , get your free price quotes from AOL Autos . It only takes a few minutes . This service is totally free and you are under no obligation or pressure to buy . AOL , like CNN , is a unit of Time Warner . Within 24 hours , you 'll receive your bottom-line selling prices from dealerships in your area . Once you 've compared the various prices and found the lowest one , you then have four good options : . • You can go to the dealership that gave you the lowest price , sign the papers and drive your new car home -- no hassles , no negotiating . AOL Autos : Best deals of the month . • You can try to negotiate the lowest price with the dealership in order to get the price even lower . There 's nothing that says you ca n't . AOL Autos : Aggressive car buying tactics . • You can shop the lowest price around to other dealerships to see if any of them are willing to beat it . AOL Autos : Which dealers treat you best ? • You can do nothing . If you feel unsure or uncertain , then set it aside for a while . You are not obligated to buy anything you do n't want . By getting these low bottom-line selling prices via the Internet , you 're avoiding the car salesman 's entire negotiating game altogether . And you 're buying your car at about the same price you would expect after lengthy negotiations . It 's certainly the fastest and easiest way to beat the car salesman . AOL Autos : New rules to car buying . 2 . Buy through the dealership 's Fleet Department . Almost every dealership has a division called the `` Fleet Department . '' It usually consists of only a handful of salespeople who specialize in selling fleets of cars -- large orders of several vehicles direct to businesses . This department is authorized by the dealership to sell their cars at bottom-line non-negotiable prices . The prices they offer are about the same as you would expect from an online price quote or after lengthy negotiations . A secret of the car business is that many dealerships ' Fleet Departments also sell direct to the public . By the rules of the game , however , they ca n't advertise to the public since they do n't want to compete with the dealership 's retail sales team . So to buy from the Fleet Department , you have to specifically ask . To buy your vehicle direct from the dealership 's Fleet Department , simply call the dealership and ask to speak with the Fleet Manager . When you get him on the line , explain to him that you 're ready to buy a car and you 'd like to buy it from him . If he asks you what business you are associated with , tell him where you work . He 'll probably be happy to set up an appointment with you . When you arrive at the dealership , the Fleet Manager will show you the vehicle , allow you to test drive it , and then bring you to the office to discuss price . With absolutely no negotiations , he 'll offer you a reasonable bottom-line non-negotiable selling price for the vehicle . If the price he gives you falls within the pre-set limits of your buying goal and you 're satisfied with the deal , then you can buy the car . No pressure , no games , no hassles . If for some reason , you do n't want to buy the vehicle , you are under no obligation . Simply thank the salesman for his time and leave on good terms . Then , if you 'd like , you can visit -LRB- or call -RRB- the Fleet Departments of other dealerships to compare prices . The selling prices offered by the various Fleet Departments can vary depending upon their inventories . AOL Autos : Have a car shopping game plan . Michael Royce is a consumer advocate and former car salesman . For more car-buying tips and advice , visit his Beat the Car Salesman Web site . | You can solicit best price quotes from car dealers over the Internet . You can shop the lowest price to other dealers to see if they will match or beat it . Individuals can also buy car from dealer 's Fleet Department . | [[478, 487], [490, 603], [827, 829], [850, 893], [1431, 1503], [1618, 1699], [1913, 1977], [478, 487], [490, 603], [622, 656], [622, 629], [661, 682], [1148, 1213], [1216, 1247], [1431, 1503], [1618, 1699], [1660, 1724], [4133, 4136], [4156, 4229], [2265, 2313], [2342, 2385], [2805, 2841], [2847, 2874], [3028, 3060], [3094, 3160]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Anne and Michael Harris were an `` extraordinary '' couple with a zest for life , their niece said . Anne and Michael Harris ' niece says the couple `` loved life , loved everyone . '' `` We truly hope that they are remembered for the way they lived their lives and not this tragic end , '' Charlstie Laytin said in a telephone interview Wednesday . `` We 're all just devastated and going to miss them both so much . '' The Harrises were two of three Americans on board Air France Flight 447 when it crashed Monday . The plane was carrying 228 passengers and crew from Rio de Janeiro to Paris , France , when it crashed four hours into the journey . Investigators have not determined the cause of the accident . An official list with the victims ' names was not available Wednesday afternoon . The Harrises lived in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , Anne Harris ' sister , Mary Miley , said . Michael Harris , 60 , was a geologist in Rio de Janeiro . He worked for Devon Energy , a U.S.-based independent natural gas and oil producer , a company spokesman said . The couple were traveling to Paris for a training seminar and vacation , Miley said . The two `` loved everyone , they loved life , '' Laytin said . `` Definitely glass-half-full kind of people , '' she added , recalling her uncle as a `` ham , '' who could always offer a laugh on a bad day . She remembered a moment a few summers ago when her family was in Vermont , and had just seen a classical performance of Mozart . They were `` just sitting around and having a glass of wine , and laughing and talking about family and life and what was going on in our lives ... -LSB- the Harrises -RSB- could never get enough information about what all their nieces and nephews and family members were doing , '' she said . `` It 's really the last time I can remember us all sitting around as a family and I 'm so glad that I have that memory . '' She said her family was hopeful the investigation would soon determine what had gone wrong . `` I think the initial shock of it all has really started to wear off , and the reality that they 're gone is starting to set in , '' she said . `` The grief and the grieving process is beginning and we 're just really focused on helping each other heal . '' The majority of the people on the flight came from Brazil , France and Germany . The remaining victims were from 29 other countries . Ten were employees of French electrical equipment supplier CGED , according to Agence France-Presse . Nine of those employees had won the trip to Rio from CGED because of their strong work performance , AFP said . `` There was a competition for the best sales reps ... and nine of them won and went to Brazil for four days , '' Laurent Bouveresse , CGED chief executive , told AFP . The nine were allowed to take a friend or partner , and an executive also went along , Bouveresse said , according to the news agency . CNN tried repeatedly to reach representatives of CGED . Two others believed to have been on the flight were an engaged couple , Julia Schmidt of Brazil and Alex Crolow of Germany , the couple 's friend , Brian Buzby of Houston , Texas , told CNN affiliate KTRK . Watch Buzby talk about friends on Flight 447 '' Buzby said he met the two while they were all students at Bucerius Law School in Germany . They finished studies last August , KTRK reported . `` This was Alex taking her back to tell her mom they were going to get married , '' Buzby told KTRK . `` I just hope that they were not suffering , and at least they were together , because I would have hated for one of them to go through it alone , '' Buzby said . `` They were my two best friends . I just hope she knows I loved her , '' Buzby said . | NEW : 9 French victims won trip to Brazil for job performance , AFP reports . NEW : German victim was taking Brazilian fiancee home to announce engagement . Anne and Michael Harris were two of three Americans on Air France flight 447 . The Harrises lived in Brazil and were going to France for vacation , training seminar . | [[2403, 2406], [2469, 2504], [2505, 2603], [2676, 2692], [2676, 2688], [2697, 2725], [440, 536], [1075, 1145]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- There is no easy cure for teenage traffic deaths and injuries , but Susan Kessler believes she has at least come up with a way to help limit the carnage : When a new driver gets behind the wheel , just slap a temporary warning sign on the car . The Caution and Courtesy Driver Alliance volunteers hand out the magnets during 2008 publicity campaign . Kessler has developed signs for teens with learner permits and first-year licenses . They are attached magnetically to the car 's sheet metal and display the words `` Caution Newly Licensed . '' It 's not hard to imagine the signs being a nightmare to teens obsessed with what their peers think . But , Kessler , a Kennesaw , Georgia , mother of six , says the real horror is out on the highway : thousands of young people are killed and injured in traffics every year . More than 15,000 of people have ordered the signs since Kessler and a group of other moms introduced them four years ago . Parents can mount one on the trunk when a teenager takes off in the family car and remove it when he or she returns home . Once other drivers see it , they presumably exercise extra caution and create a `` protective bubble '' around the new driver , or so the thinking runs . AOL Autos : Rules for safe driving . Kessler would even like to see states require the use of the signs for new drivers , as some European countries do , and she has found some support for this in the Georgia legislature . Her goal is straightforward : limit teenagers ' capacity to do damage to themselves and others . Drivers 16 to 19 years old are four times as likely as older drivers to end up in a collision , all other things being equal , according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -LRB- IIHS -RRB- . All U.S. states have adopted tougher licensing systems since the mid-1990s , generally requiring more supervised hours of driving and imposing more restrictions on new licensees . But they have all stopped short of setting the minimum driving age at 18 , as most European countries do . The latest research has confirmed that putting restrictions on young drivers does pay off in lower accident , injury and fatality rates . One IIHS study over 10 years found that states with strong licensing laws had 30 percent fewer fatalities among 15 to 17 year olds than states with weak laws -LRB- those lacking restrictions on cell phone use , for example , or having only minimal restrictions on nighttime driving during the first year of driving -RRB- . AOL Autos : Most common car related injuries . Armed with a decade of data , activists like Kessler now see a chance to save more lives with further reform . `` My first fear for each of my sons is , ` Please do n't let anybody hit them , ' '' she said . `` My second fear is that they might hit anyone else . '' `` Do you have any idea what it is like to be the parent of a 16-year-old who has killed someone ? '' she asked . `` Parents have called me and said it 's like living in a black hole . '' Her campaign started four years ago when she started to worry about her son Donnie , even though his turn at driver training was still a few years down the road . The fact that nearby Atlanta ranked as one of the most congested cities in the country naturally fed her fears . She and a group of friends began to think about ways to give young drivers an edge . They did n't want to force teenagers to wait until they were 21 to drive . But they did want to help them stay safe while they were learning . AOL Autos : Teen driving tips . The moms came up the idea for magnetic signs , only later discovering that a similar approach is a requirement for new drivers in parts of Europe , Kessler said . Once , when she proposed the idea to a Georgia state official , he asked her if there was anyone who did n't like it . She laughed and said , `` Yes , my son . But we can work on him . '' But she is happy the other people can readily identify new drivers and give them plenty of room . `` And whenever you are being watched , your behavior tends to be a little better . '' Since they can easily spot teenagers right out of driver 's education , police can enforce restrictions on the number of passengers allowed in their cars , she said . Many states restrict the number of occupants for six months or a year in the second phase of their graduated license programs . `` When you are learning how to drive , you need all your concentration and you ca n't be cool for all your friends , '' Kessler said . Skeptics argue that teenage drivers will pull the signs off as soon as they are out of their parents ' sight . But Kessler has an answer for the skeptics : If parents ever found out a son or daughter did that , it should be the last time they ever drove the family car . One early success for the `` newly licensed '' signs was a pilot program in Cobb County , Georgia , in 2007 ; Kessler and her friends distributed more than 3,000 magnets . She now sells them nationally at cost , for $ 7.99 , through a Web site , newlylicensed.com , and is looking for a national retail outlet to handle them . She has also been a guest on television programs to promote the magnets . Kessler also advocates longer periods of supervised driving for new drivers , contending they should be at least 400 hours . Accidents only start to decline after drivers get that amount of driving experience under their belts , she said . AOL Autos : Teen drivers need better training . Many experts agree the quickest way to save lives would be to raise the driving age from 16 to 17 or higher . `` But it 's a tough sell , '' said Russ Rader , a spokesman for Arlington , Virginia-based IIHS . The states could withhold a provisional license until 17 . But so far , only New Jersey does that , offering new drivers a full license at 18 . `` But New Jersey has had a very positive experience with it , '' Rader said . There are other options , too . More states could impose tougher restrictions : less nighttime driving , a ban on cell phones -LRB- if they have n't already prohibited them -RRB- , and fewer passengers allowed in the car . Right now , states are all over the map on these issues . For example , Illinois has a cell phone restriction for the first year , while Montana and Idaho do not . Montana only allows one passenger unrelated to the driver the first six months of the provisional period but allows three for the second . During the entire probationary year , New Jersey allows only one person who is n't part of the driver 's household in the car . AOL Autos : Risky teen driving habits . North Carolina enforces a fairly tough nighttime restriction , 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. , while Florida prohibits driving between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. . The rule is more lenient in Texas : Driving is permitted anytime except midnight to 5 a.m. . Other countries are n't squeamish about placing nationalized limitations on young drivers . For example , the United Kingdom requires drivers to be at least 17 . The age is 18 in most other European countries . A movement is underway in Australia to more than quadruple the period of supervised driving to 120 hours . New Swiss drivers have to post a warning sign on the vehicles they drive , as do young drivers in New Zealand . Some countries requiring the warnings have even put teeth into their signage laws : Drivers who collide with a car displaying the new-driver signs face heavy fines or even jail time , Kessler said . That 's an indication that the signs are important tools to reduce accidents . `` We are n't going to save every kid , '' Kessler said . `` We are rational about this . But if we save at least some of them , it 's worth it . '' | Research finds putting restrictions on young drivers lowers accident rates . Some countries require new drivers to post warning signs on their cars . Mother of teen invents magnets for cars that warn , Caution Newly Licensed . Identifying teens lets police enforce restrictions such as number of passengers . | [[2056, 2193], [2095, 2193], [7160, 7221], [376, 460], [461, 539], [461, 465], [522, 567], [543, 567], [568, 570], [4160, 4221], [4197, 4243]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is on display inside a Harlem luxury car dealership . Macky Dancy , a partner at Dancy-Power Automotive , said the oil painting titled `` The Book '' is believed to be the only portrait for which Jackson sat . The oil painting titled `` The Book '' is on display at Dancy-Power Automotive in Harlem , New York . A different portrait of the entertainer was among items auctioned from his Neverland Ranch in April . It is not clear whether Jackson sat for that painting . The painting on display in Harlem belongs to Marty Abrams , a friend and customer of the owners of the high-profile dealership . The 40-inch by 50-inch portrait , by Australian painter Brett Livingstone-Strong , sold for $ 2.1 million in 1990 . Abrams acquired it as part of an unrelated business deal in 1992 and had it stored . The painting shows Jackson sitting in Renaissance-era clothes and holding a book . Jackson sat for the portrait because he was a friend of Livingstone-Strong 's . The painting was unveiled at the Dancy-Power Automotive Group showroom on Thursday but was removed Friday because of crowd concerns . It returned to the showroom floor Monday morning . Dancy said the painting 's owner chose the showroom because it 's near the Apollo Theater in Harlem , where the Jackson 5 won their first taste of fame by winning Amateur Night in 1967 . He said Abrams hopes the painting in some way can raise money for charities in the Harlem neighborhood . Dancy said Abrams is not necessarily interested in selling the portrait . When news broke about the resurfacing of the painting , Dancy said , he received a phone call from representatives of Livingstone-Strong , the artist . Now , Dancy said , `` We are in the middle of possibly putting together the artist with the painting again . Maybe for some auctions or charitable shows or something of the sort . '' The showroom features Rolls-Royces , Ferraris and other pricey cars and is famous for its celebrity clientele . | Oil painting said to be the only portrait for which Michael Jackson sat . Painting is displayed at Harlem-based automotive showroom . It shows Jackson in Renaissance-era clothes , holding a book . Partner : Painting 's owner chose showroom because it 's near Apollo Theater . | [[124, 135], [176, 255], [208, 219], [232, 279], [508, 539], [0, 24], [70, 123], [280, 368], [1033, 1115], [870, 952], [889, 952], [870, 882], [936, 952], [1218, 1317]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fans of Usher Raymond IV view him as a singing , dancing and acting superstar . Superstar performer Usher Raymond IV at the closing ceremony for Usher 's Camp New Look . But to a special group of young people , he is a mentor and a friend . `` He leads by example , '' said Arnold `` Supa '' LaFrance , a `` Mogul in Training '' at Usher 's Camp New Look . `` Usher 's all about peace and love and giving back to the community , and it 's genuine . He does it when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off . '' Now in its fifth year , the camp is a passion for the Grammy Award-winning artist , who each year gives more than a hundred teens from underserved communities across the country the opportunity to learn about the entertainment and sports industries . Thomas Springer , a 17-year-old Atlanta , Georgia , resident , has participated in the camp for four years and said he wants to use his talent in filmmaking and what he has learned at Camp New Look to help his community . `` Before I came to camp , I did n't think I had a voice in my community and that I could do anything based on my age , '' Springer said . `` The camp let me know that no matter what your age , no matter what you do , you can make an impact on your community . '' Usher came to fame as a teen and has sold millions of records , including the hit singles `` Yeah '' and `` Confessions II . '' His success has allowed him to become part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and to launch his own line of fragrances for men and women . The camp , the singer said , teaches participants the business aspects of the entertainment and sports industries and imparts the importance of being service-oriented . A selection committee selects campers that are nominated by partner organizations in various cities across the country . Now the father of two young boys , Usher said he is also enriched by the camp 's experience . `` It makes me a better man . It makes me a better individual , '' he said . `` There 's a difference between hard work and heart work , and this would represent heart work . '' Watch Usher talk about his camp '' As a youngster , Usher participated in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America , and he said it helped shape his ideas about mentoring . `` I think that the Boys & Girls Club is a very positive environment for kids , '' he said . `` It 's another place that allows you to be a product of your experience . I encountered a lot of people who became mentors for me there . '' At this year 's closing ceremony for Usher 's Camp New Look , held at the Alliance Theater at Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta , the energy level was high as campers and their family members walked a red carpet alongside some of Usher 's celebrity friends , including NBA star Alonzo Mourning and San Francisco 49er Allen Rossum . The free , residential camp held for two weeks every summer in Atlanta is an outgrowth of Usher 's New Look Foundation , which he established to empower at-risk youth by giving them the skills necessary to enter careers in the sports and entertainment industries and working with them to provide employment opportunities . Mourning said Usher is one who understands that `` to whom much is given , much is required . '' `` The service that Usher is providing for these kids with these educational opportunities and expanding their lives to a whole new level , it 's important that we all rally around these particular causes and support these initiatives , '' Mourning said . Gabrielle Brou , 16 , a first-year camper from Ocean Springs , Mississippi , who aspires to be an actress , said there were countless opportunities at camp to network with successful people who are living the lives she hopes to achieve . `` Once I found out that there were ways I could better myself in acting , learn the business and also give back ... I decided that this camp would be really great for me , '' she said . `` I would love to do it again next year . '' Having a day set aside for the campers and their families to revel in all that they have achieved and their future possibilities left Usher with a huge smile on his face . `` It 's really good to see them be able to live out their dreams , '' he said . | Usher 's Camp New Look helps kids from underserved communities . Campers learn business behind entertainment and sports industries . Singer serves as mentor to more than 100 participants . Usher , who was mentored , said camp represents his `` heart work '' | [[1566, 1581], [1584, 1723], [1555, 1563], [1584, 1668], [587, 618], [635, 714], [561, 618], [2117, 2148]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Officials recommended that more than 70,000 residents of the East Texas town of Bryan evacuate Thursday after a fertilizer warehouse caught fire , sending thick clouds of orange , toxic smoke into the air . City officials say they are worried the burning fertilizer could irritate skin and lungs . Another 10,000 residents of surrounding Brazos County were also included in the evacuation recommendation , officials said . City Manager David Watkins said 10 people were taken to a hospital with respiratory problems . Residue from the burning fertilizer ammonium nitrate can irritate skin and lungs . Smoke from the smoldering El Dorado Chemical Co. warehouse could be seen for miles . Watkins said he expected the fire to burn well into the evening , and that firefighters were not trying to extinguish the blaze , but were simply trying to keep it from spreading . Classes at nearby Texas A&M University were canceled , and the school opened Reed Arena , which can hold 12,000 people , for use as a shelter . `` We are prepared to do what it takes . We are bracing to possibly keep guests overnight , '' spokeswoman Sherylon Carroll said . | NEW : 10 taken to hospital with respiratory problems , city manager says . Fertilizer warehouse catches fire in Bryan , Texas . Authorities recommend evacuation for tens of thousands . Texas A&M cancels classes , opens arena for shelter . | [[442, 536], [469, 536], [19, 225], [19, 225], [317, 422], [886, 938]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Saudi Arabia has had its first death from swine flu , its Ministry of Health said Monday , bracing for more . The patient -- a 30-year-old man who lived in the country 's Eastern Province -- was admitted to a hospital in the city of Dammam on Wednesday with a high fever , cough and shortness of breath . He died Saturday . Saudi Arabia has diagnosed more than 230 cases of the H1N1 virus this year . In the past few weeks , a debate about the virus has erupted in the Middle East . Of particular concern is how to keep it from spreading among the millions of visitors expected in Saudi Arabia during this year 's Hajj -- a pilgrimage required of Muslims at least once in their lives . On Wednesday , Arab health ministers held an emergency summit in Cairo , Egypt , to discuss the issue . Guidelines were issued , banning various groups from participating in this year 's Hajj -- children under 12 , adults over 65 and people with chronic diseases . Saudi Arabia recommended that pregnant women stay home as well . At the close of the meeting , Saudi Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told CNN that , in all , Saudi Arabia had issued 15 recommendations to help ensure the safety and health of pilgrims participating in the Hajj . `` The most important of those is , first of all , that they should take the seasonal flu vaccine two weeks prior to Hajj , '' Al-Rabeeah said . Even with the guidelines in place , World Health Organization spokesman Dr. Ebrahim el Khordany acknowledged that it wo n't be easy keeping potential pilgrims away . El Khordany told CNN , `` It was discussed in detail how it 's going to be worked out between the country and Saudi Arabia to find out the best way to do it and , of course , to make sure that people do n't try to use their connections to get their visas or to get to go to Saudi , because people are really very keen to go to the pilgrimage . '' The Saudi government has also said it will set up quarantine centers at airports as another preventative measure . | 30-year-old man dies in hospital after suffering high fever , cough , shortness of breath . Saudi Arabia has diagnosed more than 230 cases of the H1N1 virus this year . Concern in Saudi over possible impact of virus on Hajj later this year . Saudi government says it will set up quarantine centers at airports . | [[129, 161], [198, 206], [210, 323], [343, 401], [1914, 2028], [1949, 2028]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt is the first to admit that she likes nice things . Stylist Philip Pelusi has offered his clients bargains and hosted two designers ' shows to help them save money . But these days when she passes the new upscale shopping area en route to her Chevy Chase , Maryland , office , she refuses to even glance at the lavish goodies . `` There 's a Ralph Lauren store , a Louis Vuitton store , Tiffany 's , '' said the attorney and principal of The Ghatt Law Group . `` I drive by and I do n't even look in that direction . '' With the economy in shambles and so many people losing their jobs and homes , it is no longer considered cool to brag about possessions and purchases . For many during a deepening recession , conspicuous consumption is out and frugality is the new black . `` People have long used the way they shop and what they buy as a way to communicate with other people about their values , their tastes and their interests , '' said Kit Yarrow , a consumer psychologist and professor at Golden Gate University in San Francisco , California . `` A year ago , what was considered the ultimate status symbol would have been the chicest bag or the most luxurious outfit , '' Yarrow added . `` Now what 's chic is being the most knowledgeable and efficient at saving money . '' Yarrow said that despite the tough economic times , there are many Americans who still have disposable income . Those people are choosing not to spend , she said , or making more thoughtful purchases . `` What I am saying is that we have moved from an era of conspicuous consumption to an era of considered consumption , '' Yarrow said . `` People at one time wanted to showcase all of the things they are buying and now they are stopping and really thinking about it . '' Brett Wright , co-founder and chief creative officer of Uptown Magazine , is also seeing evidence of that attitude shift . iReport.com : What adjustments are you making to your budget ? His publication is targeted at what he terms the `` triple A 's '' -- affluent African-Americans and those who want to be . Wright said he is seeing consumption of big ticket items being put on hold or done more discreetly . `` Buying the new red Ferrari is certainly not in favor , '' Wright said . `` Everybody is trying to do things sort of under the radar screen . No one is looking to be as ostentatious as they may have been in the past . '' Consumers are looking for value for their spending , Wright said , and focusing on `` How do you live like a king without having to spend a king 's ransom ? '' To that end , Wright and his staff are brainstorming ways to address the change in spending habits in their publication . `` We do n't believe that luxury lifestyle has gone away , '' Wright said . `` We 're looking at maybe not having the $ 250,000 watch , but a great watch you can get for perhaps $ 7,500 . '' Renowned hairstylist and salon owner Philip Pelusi said he , too , has seen the focus shift to more bang for the buck during the economic downturn . Pelusi said clients are opting for money-saving tactics like extending time between visits , partial highlights or getting services on `` training nights '' for the salon , which can trim their bill up to 60 percent . `` We are doing everything we can to accommodate the clients , '' said Pelusi , whose Tela Design Studio in Manhattan has only seen a slight decrease in business . Pelusi is also reaching out to others in the industry who are looking to economize . Two designers , Susan Cianciolo and `` Project Runway '' finalist Jillian Lewis , opted to forgo staging more expensive shows and used Pelusi 's design studio during Fashion Week for their presentations . Marilani Huling is a Washington-based jewelry designer who said she has reduced prices on her creations to cater to her clientele . Huling said that during the recent `` Crystal Couture '' event in Virginia , one of the most popular presenters during the two-week fashion festival was Goodwill Industries . `` Goodwill had stylists put together things off their racks and put them on the runway models , '' Huling said . `` I was surprised , because everything really looked good . '' HLN consumer advocate Clark Howard said a new term is `` in-sourcing '' instead of `` out-sourcing . '' `` People had their collection of ` Mys , ' '' Howard said . `` My massage therapist , my yard person , my hairdresser . Now people are really stepping back from that and saying ` If I cut my own lawn , I 'm going to have that $ 60 in my pocket . ' '' Howard said he has noticed from listeners to his popular call-in radio show that even those who really do n't need to cut back are still choosing to do so . That did n't happen , he said , during the last deep recession from 1979 to 1982 . Howard said he attributes the rush to downsize in part to the 24-hour news cycle , which continues to pepper the public with bad news . `` People did n't have access to the constant drumbeat of news that they have now , '' he said . With so much personal spending being tied to emotion , Howard said consumers are being much more cautious while they ride out the economic turmoil and are taking comfort in being able to score good deals . Ghatt posted unabashedly on Twitter when she spotted a pair of Cole Hahn shoes originally priced at $ 180 going for $ 20 at Marshalls . When a friend expressed his surprise that she would go public with shopping at a discount store , she had a quick comeback . `` I tweeted and said ` Do n't you know that bargain divas are in style now ? ' '' Ghatt said , laughing . | Conspicuous consumption is out and frugality is in during recession . Many who have money are being discreet with purchases . Consumers want more bang for the buck in a tough economy . Clark Howard : `` If I cut my own lawn , I 'm going to have that $ 60 in my pocket '' | [[5091, 5182], [2144, 2204], [2104, 2110], [2182, 2204], [2428, 2478], [2901, 3018], [2901, 2937], [2962, 3049], [4432, 4442], [4482, 4511], [4514, 4557]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- John Spieker stood on the back porch of his newly rented Bailey , Colorado , home , thankful for his Good Samaritan landlord and worried that his previous home , parked in the driveway , would n't get him to work the next day . John and Katie Spieker stand next to their camper with baby son , Jacob . His 1977 Toyota Dolphin camper , which Spieker rescued from a salvage yard , had carried him , his wife , Katie , and 4-month-old son , Jacob , from Florida to Colorado earlier this summer , a cross-country sojourn in search of work . He was uncertain it could handle the 14-mile commute the next morning , but he 'd make do . `` I 'm gon na get up extra early every morning like I have been , and if it -LSB- the camper -RSB- does n't get to work , I 'm gon na hitchhike , '' Spieker said last week . `` I have a wife and a son to support . '' Spieker had been making $ 12 an hour plus commission at his information technology job in Trenton , Florida . Katie was working part-time in a candle shop , and between them they pulled in a little more than $ 2,500 a month . But Katie , 21 , quit to have the baby , and they moved into a bigger , more expensive house to accommodate their larger family . As June approached , Spieker , 36 , was told his hours and commission were being cut as Florida 's economy sank . `` It got to the point where $ 6.50 an hour with a house just ai n't gon na happen . I was trying to do good for my family , but what can I do ? '' he asked . His last day of work in Florida was June 30 . With Florida 's unemployment rate at 10.6 percent in June , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , he investigated where prospects might be better , settling on Colorado -LRB- 7.6 unemployment -RRB- , and if things did n't work out there , North Dakota -LRB- the nation 's lowest unemployment at 4.2 percent -RRB- . The Spieker family prepared for the trip by holding a yard sale a few days before they were set to leave Trenton , a town of 1,800 near Gainesville . They dutifully cleaned up the home they rented but could no longer afford . `` You 're not going to pay the rent , you get out of the house , you know ? '' Spieker said . They hit the road with $ 1,000 in cash , a cell phone , some food and what clothing they could fit . The rickety old camper required some minor repairs along the way : a new battery strap after being bounced around on a rough Alabama highway , some brake work after one stuck near St. Charles , Missouri . Spieker said he sold wire art in taverns during the journey to earn extra money . He was teased by opportunities that did n't pan out . `` I never actually saw this before , but some towns are actually putting billboards up that say ` This town has jobs , ' '' he said of his travels through the nation 's heartland . `` I actually went to check it out , '' he said . `` They 've got a couple jobs , but nothing really great . They 've got some jobs I 'm not qualified for , in the medical field , '' he said . Still without work after arriving in Colorado , the Spiekers lived `` out in the woods '' for a few weeks . They did n't consider themselves homeless , John Spieker said , `` just camping . '' Using computers at a local office supply store and the library , Spieker and his family have been able to tap private and public assistance to care for themselves . A local church has taken care of some day-to-day needs . `` I went down and talked to them and said , ` Hey this is what the situation is , if there 's any help available . ' They said they could probably help us out with food , baby needs , '' Spieker said . `` And we 're actually going to apply for medical assistance . '' As for food stamps , Spieker said he 'd rather the program be used on the infirm than someone like himself who could provide -- no matter how meager the fixings -- for his family . `` I 'm sure there 's other people out there that do n't have the motivation or the ability -LSB- to work -RSB- that can use the food stamps , '' he said . Katie does n't fret about the family 's circumstances either . She said she leaves `` all the financial details up to John . '' `` My main job is to take care of Jacob , '' she said . Life got a bit easier on July 20 , when Spieker landed work at an auto parts store . A person he connected with through an online forum offered the Bailey house for $ 350 a month rent , a $ 400 discount off the normal price . The home 's owner is working a temporary contract construction job on the other side of Colorado , Spieker said , enabling the deal . But the `` For Sale '' sign out front and real estate agent 's lockbox on the front door remind Spieker about how temporary his lodgings may be . While he 's grateful for the auto parts job , nothing is certain there either . A national chain is trying to take over the independent retailer , he said . `` It 's a struggling company , '' Spieker said . `` At the same time , he 's busy enough to where he needs three people behind the counter . '' He 's making $ 10 an hour . But he knows that wo n't keep his family housed when the cheap rent goes away . `` At this point we have a place to stay for two or three months . He said ` maybe three , probably two , ' '' Spieker said , recounting his landlord 's words . `` I like it here . I just need something better-paying , '' he said . If he did n't find something soon , he said , `` At this point , I 'll be right back into the same scenario . '' But for the moment , the Spiekers are enjoying what they have . `` The house is great . It 's a one-bedroom , it kind of looks like somebody decided to build an A-frame . It has a really , really nice view , '' Katie said . Drinking in the surroundings on the back porch , John Spieker agrees . `` I have the most awesome view , '' Spieker said , looking at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains . `` I ca n't bring myself to walk off the back porch . '' | Florida man 's pay is reduced until he ca n't support his family . He fixes up rickety camper and with wife , baby and $ 1,000 , sets off for Colorado . They camp in woods until someone offers a reduced-rent house . He finds a job at an auto parts store , but still fears for future . | [[321, 351], [391, 454], [826, 849], [3055, 3114], [4252, 4296], [4718, 4761], [4764, 4797]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fifteen years ago this month , Rwanda declared a cease-fire in a genocide that left more than 800,000 dead . In the attacks that started in April 1994 , Hutu militias and members of the general population sought out Tutsis and moderate Hutus -- and went on a 100-day killing rampage . In June of 1994 , Rwanda was still in the grip of a 100-day killing rampage . Civilians and children got incentives to take part in the atrocities , including promises of land belonging to their Tutsi neighbors . It was one of the most brutal genocides in modern history . Some figures put the number of dead at 1 million , 10 percent of the population of the central African nation . Millions more were raped and disfigured . A whole generation of children lost their parents . What started the Tutsi and Hutu rivalry . The Tutsi ethnic minority and the Hutu majority had been at odds even before 1994 . The rivalry started during colonial times , when the Belgians considered Tutsis the privileged ethnicity , thus giving them better opportunities . The Hutus were considered inferior , prompting resentment that was passed on through the generations . The first major assault on Tutsis occurred in 1959 , killing thousands and prompting more attacks over the years . The animosity caused the Tutsis to flee to neighboring countries , including Burundi and Uganda . The Hutus took over the government when Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 , but the resentment remained . Hours before the genocide . In early April , a plane carrying then-President Juvenal Habyarimana , a Hutu , was shot down near the capital , Kigali . The president , his Burundian counterpart and their aides were killed . A few hours later , Rwanda erupted into chaos . Some have accused current President Paul Kagame , a Tutsi , of masterminding the killing . Kagame , who led a Tutsi militia group at the time , has denied any ties . He has accused Hutu rebels of instigating the assassinations to incite fury and attacks on Tutsis . Differences between Hutus and Tutsis . They speak the same language and practice the same customs . However , most Tutsis are considered tall and lanky , which has led to speculation that they have Ethiopian heritage . During the genocide , the bodies of Tutsis were thrown into rivers by the Hutus , who said they were sending them back to Ethiopia . The aftermath of the genocide . After 100 days of death and destruction , the Tutsi militia led by Kagame defeated the Hutu rebels and took control of the government . Scores of Hutus fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo , where they have been accused of inciting more violence . Rwanda has invaded Congo various times to launch an offensive against Hutus allegedly linked to the genocide . After the cease-fire , a multiethnic government made up of Hutu President Pasteur Bizimungu and Vice President Kagame came into power . Bizimungu was later accused of ethnic discord and jailed . Kagame became president in 2000 . Trials for genocide suspects . Top officials such as army generals and politicians who allegedly took part in the genocide are tried in the Rwandan justice system and the International Criminal Tribunal , which is based in Tanzania . Civilians who allegedly contributed either directly or indirectly are tried in gacaca courts . The latter are community courts conducted by a panel of nine civilians in an open field . The courts allow survivors to point out and confront their attackers . Gacaca means `` open grass '' in the local language . Human rights organizations say the gacacas fall short on delivering justice . State of the nation 15 years later . Rwanda is now considered one of Africa 's most stable nations . Education , health care , tourism and trade -- which were destroyed in the genocide -- have improved dramatically . Kagame has made big strides against corruption , a major problem in Africa . However , critics have accused him of being an autocratic leader who has stifled the country 's media . Others have said the growth in economy is limited to urban areas and has not trickled into rural areas . | Simmering hatreds between Tutsi and Hutu erupted in genocide in 1994 . 100-day killing rampage left 800,000 dead -- mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus . Rwanda is now considered one of Africa 's most stable nations . | [[825, 908], [82, 92], [98, 127], [128, 142], [172, 223], [268, 303], [304, 319], [322, 381], [3675, 3688], [3700, 3738], [3675, 3738]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The search continued Tuesday for as many as 67 people missing after a boat carrying about 200 Haitians capsized , the U.S. Coast Guard said . The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted this crowded boat last week and repatriated its occupants to Haiti . The boat overturned Monday off Turks and Caicos , a British territory about 550 miles southeast of Miami , Florida . Searchers aboard boats and aircraft have rescued 118 passengers and found 15 bodies , said Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson , a Coast Guard spokeswoman , on Tuesday morning . The Coast Guard described the boat 's occupants as migrants from Haiti . The overcrowded vessel was believed to have set sail from the Haitian port of Cap Haitien , the Turks and Caicos Sun newspaper reported . The search resumed at dawn Tuesday after being suspended because of darkness Monday night , Johnson said . The Coast Guard is contributing one boat , the 210-foot cutter Valiant , and three aircraft to the search , Johnson said . The aircraft are a Falcon jet out of Miami , an HH-60 helicopter and a slow-flying C-130 cargo plane out of Clearwater , Florida . Watch Coast Guard rescue Haitians after boat capsizes '' `` If the weather and conditions are right , -LSB- the C-130 -RSB- can fly really low , '' Johnson said . `` It makes a fantastic search aircraft . '' Turks and Caicos authorities are using small boats in the search , she said . About 70 people were plucked Monday from a reef near the island group , authorities said . Four other bodies were found , though it was unclear which authorities located them . A nurse at Myrtle Rigby Hospital in the Turks and Caicos said that about 70 people were brought there , including four who had died . Five people were admitted to the hospital , and the others had minor injuries , the nurse said . The Coast Guard said it intercepted another `` grossly overloaded '' boat , with 124 Haitians aboard , late last week in the same region . Those migrants were returned to Cap Haitien on Monday . Overloaded vessels can quickly lose stability and capsize , sending migrants into the water , a Coast Guard release said . CNN 's Jim Kavanagh and Lateef Mungin contributed to this report . | NEW : 15 confirmed dead after boat capsizes ; as many as 67 missing . Boat with about 200 Haitians capsized Monday near Turks and Caicos Islands . Coast Guard intercepted another boat overloaded with Haitians late last week . | [[63, 93], [380, 415], [448, 463], [87, 130], [109, 130], [133, 147], [161, 221], [553, 625], [1819, 1919]] |
DANVILLE , Pennsylvania -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Joseph Homicz 's doctor found what could be dangerous blockages of the arteries , he ordered catheterization , a common procedure in which tubes are inserted into the body to check the blood flow . Dr. Peter Berger , far right , has a 40-item checklist covering steps before , during and after a procedure . But Homicz 's treatment was not quite ordinary because he was sent to a cardiologist working at Geisinger Health System in Danville , Pennsylvania . Geisinger , which operates hospitals , community clinics and its own insurance company , is enacting what some consider radical ideas to improve patient care and lower costs . It 's a system that President Obama has billed as one of the nation 's `` islands of excellence . '' Homicz 's procedure was part of the Proven Care program , in which all of a patient 's medical professionals work together to ensure no mistakes are made . It is everyone 's job to make sure any errors are caught , and doctors are graded on the entire treatment a patient receives from the time of diagnosis through an operation to the care received weeks or even months later . `` We want to make it harder to make a mistake , '' Dr. Peter Berger , Homicz 's cardiologist , said after the procedure . Watch more on Geisinger 's approach to health care '' Berger has a 40-item checklist covering steps before , during and after the procedure , including checking whether the catheterization is really needed to ensuring he has the right patient on the table . Berger , who is also the system 's director of clinical research , says patients and doctors both benefit from this type of medicine . `` Every study that has been done has shown that doctors and health care systems are n't as good at administering all of the things a patient needs as we ought to be , '' Berger says . `` There are so many watchful eyes on the patient . All members of the team have an assigned responsibility , and we are all making sure we all do our job . I absolutely think that the patients benefit from that kind of approach . '' Leading up to Homicz 's catheterization and during the procedure , nurses and doctors checked off specific items and were encouraged to check in on what Berger was doing . Geisinger says this approach encourages teamwork , which leads to better results , less mistakes and increased profits . `` We got a lot of buzz out of the fact that we re-engineered all our care from beginning to end , '' Dr. Glenn Steele , president and CEO of Geisinger said . He said company employees went out and studied how medical professionals around the country were conducting specific procedures and incorporated the best of what was found . Watch more of Steele 's take '' `` When you 're having heart surgery how tightly should you control the level of your blood sugar ? Should you do that with a continuous drip of a medicine called insulin ? What should your temperature be exactly when you come out of the operating room and go to recovery room ? All of those things are thought or have been proven to be related to the probability of you having a perfect outcome , but none of those things has been formally engineered into a process until we did it , '' Steele said . Geisinger says its procedures and operations cost patients less than others . Some patients who have Geisinger insurance are able to pay a set price . In return , if within 90 days after a procedure they develop any related complications -- for example an infection , pneumonia , a bleed in the area -- they get free treatment . Geisinger estimates about a third of those using Proven Care are eligible for this guarantee . `` We 've found huge decreases in hospitalization and rehospitalization for those patients because they 're better cared for , '' Steele says . The company also helps keep patients with chronic problems from getting worse by assigning case managers to consult and check in with patients as often as necessary . For example , James Connelly , a 78-year-old patient with a history of congestive heart failure , kidney disease and artery disease , was admitted to the hospital in May of last year after gaining 14 pounds . After doctors stabilized him and sent him home , Connelly enrolled in the partnering initiative . Each day he enters his weight on a Web site , which is monitored by his case worker . A year later he has lost 14 pounds and is much healthier . Through technology and its use of electronic medical records , the company says it has shaved costs by preventing unnecessary tests . Also , patient data can be accessed at any of the hospitals or 40 clinics Geisinger operates . So can the Geisinger system be replicated nationwide ? Geisinger executives say not all of what they have put in place will work elsewhere , however , they say a good portion -- more reliance on electronic records and a greater emphasis on collaboration -- will help dramatically improve health care . `` I think what we can do over the next few years is rather than to try to come on the right formula , the right template for all of the reform , I think what we can do is scale this thing up , '' Steele said . `` I do n't think we have to push the entire system off the cliff because ... there is a lot that is designed out there that could n't do what we are doing . '' CNN national political correspondent Jessica Yellin contributed to this report . | Geisinger operates hospitals , community clinics , its own insurance company . Company says its procedures , operations cost patients less . `` We re-engineered all our care from beginning to end , '' CEO says . | [[505, 514], [523, 591], [3256, 3333], [3271, 3333], [2429, 2485]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actress Patricia Clarkson has a giggle whenever she thinks about the handwritten letter she received from the great Woody Allen . Woody Allen , Patricia Clarkson , Evan Rachel Wood and Larry David worked together on `` Whatever Works . '' The actress , who first worked with the famed director on the 2008 film `` Vicky Cristina Barcelona , '' was tickled by a letter on Allen 's personal stationery in which he said he had written a part for her , `` but if you have something better to do , I 'll understand . '' `` You know , he had me at the letter , '' Clarkson said . `` It 's Woody Allen ! ` If you have something better to do ' ? Woody , come on ! '' Clarkson definitely made time to perform in Allen 's latest film , `` Whatever Works . '' The movie centers on a quirky , grouchy New Yorker -- played by the aptly cast Larry David -- who abandons his privileged life to become more Bohemian and hooks up with a younger woman played by Evan Rachel Wood . David , the `` Seinfeld '' co-creator known for his curmudgeonly ways and his hit HBO series `` Curb Your Enthusiasm , '' had appeared briefly in two earlier Allen films , `` Radio Days '' and `` New York Stories . '' EW ranks every single Allen film . David said he was slightly hesitant about embracing a role as large as that of Boris Yellnikoff in `` Whatever Works . '' `` I read the script and I looked at the first page and there 's Boris all over the first page , then I turned to page 50 , and there 's Boris on page 50 , then I went to the last page , and there 's a big monologue by this character Boris , and I thought , ` Oh , wow , this is something , ' '' David said . `` So I called -LSB- Allen -RSB- up on the phone , and I said , ' I do n't know if I can do this , you 're making a big mistake ! ' '' Watch David talk about Allen encouraging him to `` stretch '' '' David said Allen convinced him that he could pull it off . He said he enjoyed his time acting for the iconic director who , he said , was great to work with and allowed his actors freedom . `` If you 're not comfortable with something , he does n't want you to do it , '' David said . `` He does n't mind if you change his words -- he 's very easy . It was very easy to work with him . '' It was n't as easy to work with Clarkson , David said , because she is such an amazing talent . `` You forget that you 're in the movie because you 're just enjoying what she 's doing , '' David said . `` Then all of a sudden it dawns on you , ` Oh , hey , I 've got a line coming up , I better get back to this movie . ' '' Clarkson , who recently garnered buzz for her appearance in the Justin Timberlake-Andy Samberg `` Motherlover '' SNL skit , plays Marietta , the mother of Yellnikoff 's young paramour . She echoed David 's admiration and said working with the comedian in an Allen-helmed film was incredible . `` You have a part written by Woody , you 're being directed by Woody , and then you 're acting with Larry David , '' she said . `` It 's just genius , genius , genius , and then you have Evan Rachel Wood , who 's this beautiful , amazing emerging star . I was in heaven every single day on that set . '' The movie marks Wood 's debut in a comedy , and like David , she found the experience a bit daunting at first . `` Not only am I doing Woody Allen dialogue , but opposite Larry , '' she said . `` Thank God he was just as nervous as I was , because he does ` Curb , ' but that 's mainly improv , so he never had to really memorize lines before . '' Her character Melody , Wood said , is n't exactly dumb , but she is earnest . `` She is incredibly naïve and just a very sweet Southern girl who sees the good in everything and everybody and is determined to have a happy life , while Boris is determined to have a miserable one , '' she said . `` I think that 's why they end up together . Opposites attract . '' And even though Wood grew up in North Carolina , she said Allen encouraged her to tap even further into her roots for the role . `` Woody always told me , ` More Southern , more Southern , ' '' she said . `` I was so worried about going over the top , and he really pushed me . I 'm glad he did . '' Although some of the characters hail from below the Mason-Dixon line , `` Whatever Works '' was shot in the mainstay setting of most of Allen 's films , New York City . Clarkson , who was born in New Orleans but lives in New York , said she marvels at how the director is able to attack similar themes like love , romance and the life of New York intellectuals while still keeping his films fresh . `` And yet , I do n't know how he does it , '' Clarkson said . `` And for me , this character , he takes this kind of archetypal Southern character , and he 's such a Yankee , yet he figures out this beautiful way to come at this character fresh , which is almost impossible , and he did it . '' | Woody Allen 's new film is `` Whatever Works '' Movie stars Larry David , Rachel Evan Wood and Patricia Clarkson . David plays a grouchy New Yorker who takes up with the younger Wood . Clarkson says Allen manages to always keep it `` fresh '' | [[174, 279], [793, 843], [962, 1006], [857, 883], [891, 977]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The man suspected of trying to attack the Dutch royal family by crashing his car near their bus has died , Dutch police said Friday . A car is pictured after crashing into the crowd waiting for the visit of the royal family in Apeldoorn . The man , whose name was not released , had been seriously injured in the crash Thursday in the town of Apeldoorn , about 45 miles east of Amsterdam , police said . He died early Friday , police said . He had been charged with trying to attack the royal family , authorities said . Were you there ? Send us your video , images . Police searched the man 's house but found no weapons , explosives , `` or any other clues that could lead to the involvement of other people , '' police said . Five people , as well as the driver , were killed and 12 were wounded in the incident , which happened during the country 's annual Queen 's Day celebration , police said . Crowds had lined the streets to see Queen Beatrix and her family ride by in an open-top bus during the Netherlands ' annual holiday . See who the Dutch royal family are '' As the bus moved along , a black hatchback zoomed past it . The crowds were behind barriers off the road , but security officials and journalists , including many cameramen , were in the road as the car went by . The car crashed into the low metal railing around a column on the side of the road . The vehicle appeared heavily damaged even before the crash , but the reason for that was unclear . There was no one other than the driver in the car at the time , police spokeswoman Esther Naber said . Members of the royal family saw the crash and gasped , then quickly sat down as the bus continued driving . The attack caused outrage in the Netherlands , newspapers Friday widely expressing disbelief and suggesting the monarchy would have to change . `` Queens Day will never be the same , '' the Trouw newspaper said . `` The Netherlands always has been proud of their no nonsense royal family . With this comes a Queen who not only cycles a bike , but also mixes with people without obvious security measurements . Is that still possible now the royal family has been the target of an attack ? '' The Algemeen Dagblad newspaper agreed . '' `` What is going to happen on the 30th of April next year ? And will we continue to see the members of the royal family cycling through the canals of Amsterdam or hunting for bargains in the Bijenkorf in The Hague ? '' Queen 's Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands , the Netherlands Antilles , and Aruba . The tradition started in 1885 and celebrates the birthday of the queen . Although Queen Beatrix 's birthday is January 31 , she officially celebrates her birthday April 30 , according to the Dutch government . Queen 's Day is known for its free market all over the country , where anybody is allowed to sell things in the streets . Other activities include children 's games and musical performances . The day is marked with the color orange all over the country as a reference to the colors of the royal family , who come from the House of Orange-Nassau . Emmy Dexel contributed to this report . | Incident happened during the Netherlands annual Queen 's Day celebration . Car hit crowd near open-top bus carrying Queen Beatrix of Netherlands . Police : No other clues that could lead to the involvement of other people . Police : There was no one other than the driver in the car at the time . | [[821, 833], [842, 904], [975, 1054], [19, 114], [0, 15], [80, 114], [153, 257], [153, 158], [171, 257], [659, 677], [683, 728], [1490, 1551]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thirty-eight years ago , Joseph McGinty Nichol was a boy in Kalamazoo , Michigan , playing with toy robots . Many of the robots in `` Terminator Salvation '' are real machines , which increased realism , the cast says . Today `` McG , '' as he is better known , builds and blows up real robots . The prominent filmmaker is the driving force behind one of the season 's summer blockbusters , `` Terminator Salvation , '' which is filled with very expensive and very explosive robots . The choice to use real robots when possible , instead of CGI -LRB- computer generated images -RRB- , was deliberate , McG said . According to the director and the film 's stars , the decision to use real machines was a testament to the growing sophistication of the moviegoing public , whom they believe can `` feel '' the difference between actors standing in front of a green screen versus actors interacting with the real thing . It was also done in honor of the legendary special effects supervisor , four-time Oscar winner Stan Winston -LRB- `` Jurassic Park , '' the other `` Terminator '' films -RRB- , who passed away during filming last year . Watch the robots in action '' The director and three of his cast members -- Christian Bale , Bryce Dallas Howard and Anton Yelchin -- took a time out with CNN to explain why gravity and singed eyebrows both played a role in `` Terminator Salvation . '' Bryce Dallas Howard : That was something that was really important to McG ... when an audience member sees this film , that they can actually feel what 's occurring . I think that audiences are very savvy now . We can feel when something is CGI and that 's no disrespect to CGI -- we could n't do this movie without it -- but , whenever possible , in the tradition of Sam Winston , he wanted to build the robots . So a lot of what you see is real . McG : And if you drop something , we 've spent our whole lives watching physics in play , and if you say , just have the CGI do that , people can tell something 's off , and it releases you from being involved in the picture . So , we built all the robots , we built all the sets , we blew them up for real , a great many of us lost our eyebrows ! Christian Bale : It was kind of comical at times because something that 's meant to be so intimidating was actually surrounded by five guys with these kind of puppet rods I had to blank out or I would start laughing . But , the end result is something really formidable and you know , really iconic in movie history . Anton Yelchin : Now I 'm obsessed with the robots ! I 'm so -LSB- annoyed -RSB- that this guy or whoever it is that 's in charge of it would n't let me have one ! | `` Terminator Salvation '' filmmakers decide to use many real robots . Idea to avoid CGI was partly in tribute to special effects master Stan Winston . Film is the fourth in the `` Terminator '' series . | [[153, 245], [961, 1030]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If you sell it , they will come . Prices are expected to grow for Michael Jackson autographs like the one he gave this young fan in 2002 . That 's the hope at least for many offering Michael Jackson related merchandise and memorabilia , including autographed items and domain names , in the wake of his surprising death . Almost 20,000 items were up for sale after his death on the popular auction site eBay , where collectors could snap up everything from the rare to the ridiculous . Among the many T-shirts , record albums , DVDs and posters , there were also magazines about Jackson , dolls and copies of newspapers announcing his death . There were Michael Jackson gloves -LRB- sparkly , of course -RRB- , masks , wigs , sunglasses and fedora hats . Anyone in the mood for some senior soda could try and win an auction for an unopened six-pack of Pepsi from the 1984 Jacksons world tour . For those seeking to establish Web sites , domain names were available including `` ILoveYouMichael.com , '' which was selling for the `` buy it now '' price of $ 5,000 . Officials at eBay said that compared with the daily average of the week prior , Thursday 's gross merchandise volume for Jackson memorabilia increased by 275 percent and sold items increased by 210 percent . New listings were up 61 percent , while the average selling price of items had increased by 31 percent . Online merchant CafePress also offered a variety of items , including mugs , `` R.I.P. Michael Jackson '' magnets and dozens of T-shirt designs , including one screened with a drawing of tennis legend Billie Jean King and the words `` not my lover . '' Some of the hottest items may turn out to be the ones bearing Jackson 's signature . On eBay , bids for what the buyer claimed was a signed Michael Jackson guitar had reached almost $ 1,300 by Friday afternoon . Jerry Ohlinger , owner of Jerry Ohlinger 's Movie Material Store in New York , predicted that although Jackson was generous in giving autographs , the price for a legitimate autograph probably will at least double from the $ 150 to $ 300 range it was prior to his death . `` He would sign autographs whenever he appeared in person , '' Ohlinger said . `` For instance , he visited our store at least three times , and he signed autographs for all of the employees . '' As a comparison , Ohlinger said , an autograph for the late actress Marilyn Monroe , who also was known to sign a great deal during her lifetime , sells for about $ 5,000 because of great demand . As of Friday , items purported to be autographed photos of Jackson were ranging in price from just over $ 5 to several thousand dollars . There is no way to predict whether there will be a sudden influx in demand for Michael Jackson memorabilia and merchandise , Ohlinger said . All of the hoopla would probably tickle the pop icon , who Ohlinger said was himself a fan of star items . Whenever Jackson would visit Ohlinger 's Manhattan store , he would shop for vintage photos of some of the legendary ladies of cinema , including his very dear friend Elizabeth Taylor , Ohlinger recalled . | NEW : Sold Jackson items on eBay increase 210 percent compared to last week . Plenty of Michael Jackson merchandise goes on sale . Online auction site ebay boasts thousands of items from T-shirts to soda . Memorabilia expert predicts Jackson autograph to at least double in price . | [[1164, 1224], [1254, 1291], [341, 421], [53, 124], [1862, 1876], [1941, 2105]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One of Africa 's brightest young writers , 31-year-old Chimamanda Adichie has already been recognised for her talent ; her debut novel was shortlisted for the Orange Fiction Prize in 2004 . The Nigerian novelist talks to CNN about her craft , her country and identity . | 31-year-old novelist grew up in Nigeria and studied in U.S. First novel was shortlisted for Orange Fiction prize ; has won other literary awards . Latest work is collection of short stories about the Nigerian immigrant experience . | [[138, 208]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Scotland 's Susan Boyle gives new meaning to the term `` overnight sensation . '' The `` Britain 's Got Talent '' contestant was expected to be something of a joke when she first sauntered on stage , but she absolutely wowed the audience , the judges -- and then the world via the Internet -- with her stunning rendition of `` I Dreamed a Dream . '' Along with Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan , Amanda Holden is a judge on `` Britain 's Got Talent . '' But like others who stumble upon sudden fame , she found the pressure and scrutiny to be overwhelming . `` Talent '' judge Amanda Holden and Dr. Drew Pinsky of VH1 's `` Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew '' joined CNN 's Larry King Tuesday night to discuss Boyle 's hospitalization for stress and the toll the spotlight and media criticism might have taken on her mental health . They also discussed whether Boyle will develop the emotional stamina for a high-pressure singing career . The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity : . Larry King : What do we know right now ? Amanda Holden : Basically , we 've spoken to Susan 's brother . He , in fact , spoke on -LSB- CBS ' `` The Early Show '' -RSB- this morning to say that his sister was very keen to come home as soon as she possibly could and that she was resting up in a clinic in London and that she was very much looking forward to coming out and seeing what was available to her when she felt better . King : Is the show , Amanda , paying for the hospital bills and are they taking care of her ? Holden : I have no idea if they 're paying the hospital bills . I would imagine that they are . We 're a very loyal show . We love Susan very much . In fact , all the contestants that appear on our show are extraordinarily well looked after . King : Your fellow judge , Piers Morgan , has said that there was talk of taking her off the show because of all the pressures on her . Were you involved ? Were there any discussions like that ? Holden : I was n't involved in any discussions like that . And I think Piers has a slightly closer relationship with her . ... The only thing I 'm worried about with Susan Boyle is that she seems to have a crush on Piers Morgan . ... I think that Piers kind of reassured her during the final that she was doing well and that she must n't pay any kind of attention to the press and all the other stuff that was going . King : Despite all the tumult , there 's no disputing that Susan sang her heart out during the finale of the competition . I know the dance troupe -LSB- Diversity -RSB- was terrific . But , frankly , why did n't she win ? Holden : Honestly , I ca n't criticize the decision because it was the British public that voted in the end . I have no real idea , to be honest . I wonder whether it could be that Diversity was utterly fantastic on the show that night . They decimated the show . They really , really were amazing . And I just wonder whether maybe younger people voted and were quicker on the texts than the kind of people that were voting for Susan . But as I keep saying , if Susan is a loser , then surely she is the biggest and best loser that we have in the world . And coming second is no bad thing . Watch Amanda Holden discuss Susan Boyle '' King : She came in , though , -LSB- as -RSB- a small-town amateur singer , -LSB- with -RSB- learning disabilities due to suffering oxygen deprivation at birth . Some say the program exploited her and her vulnerabilities . Do you agree ? Holden : I could n't disagree more . You know , she 's a grown woman who applied to come on a talent show . She enjoyed every second of every moment that I met her or saw her behind the scenes . She was very excited . She was very proud to be taking part in the show . I think the downturn in press in our country -LSB- Britain -RSB- , I think , maybe stressed her out a little bit . And I think she was just quite upset about all the exaggerated stories and the kind of falsehoods that were being written about her . I think that everybody gets upset about bad press when you 're in this business . And she 's somebody that 's gone from anonymity to -LSB- an -RSB- absolute worldwide phenomenon . King : Yes . Holden : So how is she expected to handle that ? Nobody can handle that with the best will in the world . I 've been in the business 15 years , and I 'm still not media savvy . -LSB- Dr. Drew Pinsky joins the show -RSB- . King : What do you make of this Susan Boyle thing ? Pinsky : The problem here is that here 's a woman that 's suddenly under the scrutiny of the spotlight who maybe has some developmental issues , who is under tremendous stress and -LSB- now -RSB- is in a psychiatric hospital . The question is , did the show harm her ? King : Did it ? Pinsky : It 's hard to say . This is the first time these kind of experiences have really been undertaken by people . People that come out of nowhere all of a sudden are international superstars . King : Should we be , Amanda , concerned about that ? Holden : First of all , I just want to say that Susan 's brother said on British television this morning that , yes , Susan has experienced learning difficulties . But in actual fact , when she was at school , she did as well as any of her other siblings . But throughout her childhood , always before an exam or anything else , she always got quite anxious . -LSB- Before the show -RSB- , she was feeling nervous . But she went out there and she nailed it . You know , she did the best performance that we 've seen . And let 's not forget , this is actually only the second or third time we 've heard her sing . ... She is in a place where celebrities go when they are burnt out . Now , I am obviously not a doctor . I have no factual information to give to you . I can only say to you her brother ... has said she wants to come home within a matter of days , rather than weeks . Pinsky : That 's excellent . King : Would you guess , Dr. Drew , that she still has a career in front of her ? Would n't you bet she does ? Pinsky : Oh , I bet she does , absolutely . And she will learn to become accustomed to this kind of stress , I am sure . But let 's make sure she has the care she needs . And let 's be sure that ... everybody that goes on shows like this has access to things that help them deal with the stress of these kinds of environments . | Amanda Holden : Boyle is `` a grown woman who applied to come on a talent show '' Holden believes negative press coverage stressed out the overnight sensation . Though Boyle was exceedingly nervous before finale , Holden says she `` nailed it '' Dr. Drew Pinsky : Contestants on high-pressure shows should get help with stress . | [[3528, 3536], [3539, 3559], [3539, 3598], [763, 845], [3827, 3834], [3837, 3874]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When it came to second bananas , Ed McMahon was second to none . Ed McMahon turned being a sidekick into art . McMahon , known to generations of Americans through `` Tonight , '' `` Star Search , '' `` TV 's Bloopers and Practical Jokes '' and as a commercial pitchman , died Tuesday . He was 86 . For 30 years on the `` Tonight Show '' -- and several years more beforehand -- he was Johnny Carson 's trusty sidekick , introducing him , feeding him straight lines , making the guests comfortable on the couch . It was a job that generally aimed the spotlight at Carson , the host . But it made McMahon a star nonetheless . `` He was a star in his own right . Being a sidekick did n't mean he was any less , '' Doc Severinsen , the longtime `` Tonight '' bandleader , told CNNRadio . `` Johnny defined what the host should be and Ed defined what the sidekick was . '' David Letterman , whose `` Late Night '' followed Carson 's show on NBC from 1982 to 1993 , said in a statement : `` Ed McMahon 's voice at 11:30 was a signal that something great was about to happen . Ed 's introduction of Johnny was a classic broadcasting ritual -- reassuring and exciting . Ed was a true broadcaster , and an integral part of Johnny Carson 's ` Tonight Show . ' We will miss him . '' Gallery : Ed McMahon through the years '' McMahon , known to generations of Americans through `` Tonight , '' `` Star Search , '' `` TV 's Bloopers and Practical Jokes '' and as a commercial pitchman , died Tuesday . He was 86 . While Carson could be insular and shy off camera , McMahon was always possessed of an outsized , hail-fellow-well-met attitude , comedian Joan Rivers -- a frequent `` Tonight '' guest and guest host -- told CNN . `` I remember him with great affection , and I remember him -LSB- as -RSB- very solid whenever I hosted the show . ... When you needed him , he was a rock . A real rock , '' recalled Rivers . `` He went beyond the ` Tonight Show ' and had his own identity and America liked him very much . He was a good guy . He was the neighbor . '' Watch Rivers ' memories of McMahon '' Dick Clark -- who really was McMahon 's neighbor in 1950s Philadelphia , when Clark hosted `` American Bandstand '' and McMahon was a local TV star -- remembered his `` Bloopers '' co-host as a man with `` a really big heart . '' `` Fifty years ago , Ed and I were next-door neighbors . Over the years , our friendship grew while he became one of America 's favorite television personalities , '' he said in a statement . `` We were together for years . Ed was a big man , had big talent and a really big heart . We 'll all miss him . '' Rivers remembers McMahon as someone who was always willing to reach out . After she left the Carson show -- which she had hosted frequently in Johnny 's absence -- for her own late-night show , she remembered becoming persona non grata with many in Hollywood . But not McMahon . `` Ed McMahon always , whenever he would come in a restaurant or see me anywhere , would make it his business to come over and say hello , '' Rivers said . `` And that was going against , quote-unquote , ` boss ' orders . ' '' Watch McMahon recall the invention of `` Carnac the Magnificent '' '' The boss , however , knew his sidekick 's value . In vaudeville vernacular , a `` second banana '' was the guy who played off the star comedian -LRB- the `` top banana '' -RRB- . He was the straight man , the set-up guy , the performer who smoothed the way and occasionally got in his own line , all in the service of the lead . And few were better than McMahon . `` Ed was the best at what he did and will never be replaced , '' said Don Rickles , a longtime friend , in a statement . `` Another giant is gone . '' | Ed McMahon , who died Tuesday , was known as a sidekick -- but also a `` star '' His outgoing public persona was in contrast to that of his boss , Johnny Carson . `` Tonight '' bandleader Doc Severinsen : `` Ed defined what the sidekick was '' Joan Rivers : `` When you needed him , he was a rock '' | [[290, 304], [605, 641], [645, 677], [1492, 1506], [848, 882], [1851, 1870], [1873, 1888], [1903, 1923]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For pro-surfers like nine-time world champion Kelly Slater , flying from continent to continent looking for the perfect wave seems like a freewheeling lifestyle , but for amateurs , it requires careful planning . Surfing champ Kelly Slater gains altitude at Hossegor , France , in 2002 . Surfers checking out unique vibes at sites in Australia , Fiji , Tahiti , Hawaii and France are driven by the buzz that comes from exhilarating swells , breaking waves and amazing barrel tubes created by truly awesome forces of nature . Unlike other travelers , surfers are interested in surfer-friendly places to crash , snagging the best airline rates for surfboards and where to hang out . Here 's Slater 's list of five great surfing meccas along with some hints about how to fully enjoy your search for the proverbial endless summer . See photos of Slater surfing his five great sites '' BANZAI PIPELINE , Oahu , Hawaii . Event : Billabong Pipeline Masters , December 8 to December 20 , 2009 . `` I grew up mesmerized by it , and it never lets you down , '' Slater said . `` It 's just an amazing place to be and a wave that always challenges you . '' The vibe : Surfers compare this event to professional golf 's Master 's tournament . Since the 1950s and '60s , mobs of fans have traveled to view one of the sport 's great venues to watch competing surfers . How to get there : To find this quarter-mile long treasure trove of breaking waves , drive southwest of Ehukai Beach Park along the Kamehameha Highway , about seven miles northeast of Haleiwa . During competition season -- in November and December -- visitors can soak up a lot of action on the beach , said Scott Bass , editor at Surfer Magazine . `` It 's a unique spot because a large , crazy death-defying surf breaks only 100 yards from shore . It 's very accessible as a viewer , '' said Bass . See map and more photos of Slater 's surfing spots '' Where to stay : Keiki Beach Bungalows offers tourists the best of both worlds : proximity to the Pipeline and a break from the crowds . Located on the beach about a mile away from Pipeline , the quiet bungalows also provide convenient access to a shopping complex with food and coffee shops about a quarter mile away . One and two-bedroom cottages range from $ 145 to $ 220 per night , depending on length of stay . Searching for more elegant digs ? Turtle Bay Resort offers hundreds of luxurious guest rooms , suites and cottages not far from Pipeline . On a budget ? Less than an hour 's drive away , campers can pitch near the Pacific at Barbers Point Beach Park . Where to hang out : Got something sweeter in mind ? Matsumoto Shave Ice has become a Hawaiian institution during its 60 years , serving the namesake snow cones , candy and crack seed , an island snack of dried fruits . Where to get lunch : Locals will tell you that hanging out on the North Shore must include a stop at some of the island 's tried and true mom and pop shops . Macky 's Sweet Shrimp Truck is literally just that -- a brightly painted RV parked in a private lot . Macky 's specializes in serving succulent shrimp , rice , fruit and veggies . CLOUDBREAK , Tavarua , Fiji . Best waves : April to October . `` One of the great surf discoveries ever , '' said Slater about Cloudbreak , the name given to a surfing reef about two miles off Fiji 's island of Tavarua . The South Pacific waters off Fiji offer the perfect temperature and a `` really good swell window '' for timing waves , Slater said . `` The wave has so many different faces to it . It 's challenging and perfect . '' The vibe : Exclusive . The Tavarua Resort on the island controls access to the reef . How to get there : Surfing Cloudbreak can cost you , both physically and monetarily because of its distance off the island and the expense of traveling to the middle of the Pacific Ocean . Surfers get to the reef on local boats or jet-skis -- or by paddling on their boards , which will take a lot out of you . Where to stay/hang out : Options are very limited . Surfer tourists can expect to spend at least $ 200 per night at the island resort . SNAPPER ROCKS , Kirra , Australia . Event : Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast February 28 to March 11 , 2009 . It 's no secret that surfing is a national pastime in Australia , especially during pro-surfing competitions in February and March , when the weather is toasty warm and the water is aqua blue . How to get there : Arrive at the Gold Coast airport at Coolangatta or at the airport in Brisbane , which is about 68 miles -LRB- 109 kilometers -RRB- to the north on the Pacific Motorway . The stretch of breaking waves between Snapper Rocks and Kirra is called the Superbank . The waves are `` perfect , hollow , fast , '' said Slater . Superbank 's sandy-bottom , barrel point break makes it worthy of his list . `` On its day , it 's the wave you would draw on your school books , '' he said . The vibe : The Gold Coast during competition season is similar to Spring Break in the United States , said Bass , a globetrotting surfer who has produced a documentary about the Vietnam War 's surfing soldiers . Gold Coast spectators tend to be young , hip trendy , college-age surf fans . For tourists with wider interests , the scene includes a music festival and skateboard competition . Where to stay : Take your pick . There are plenty of hotels along the Gold Coast , ranging from upscale three or four-star destinations to modest beach motels . For $ 20 -LRB- Australian -RRB- you can grab a bunk bed in a backpacker hostel . At the posh Palazzo Versace , you can spend thousands of dollars for one night 's lodging . Apartments near the shore run from $ 80 to $ 250 Australian per night . Book early if possible . TEAHUPOO , Tahiti . Event : Billabong Pro Teahupoo May 9 to May 20 , 2009 . Cloudbreak 's remoteness is matched by Tahiti 's Teahupoo , which is described by Slater as `` one of the most challenging waves and confronting waves in the world . '' When negotiating Teahupoo 's South Pacific monster waves , said Slater , `` Just make a decision and follow it . No second guessing . '' The vibe : Teahupoo is very exclusive and expensive , according to Bass . `` It 's a grand spectacle along the same lines as the Pipeline , just not as accessible . '' How to get there : You might have to pay a boater for transportation to the wave , which is about a quarter mile off shore , said Bass . Where to stay/hang out : Small pensions , homes that island residents rent to tourists , are the way to go in Tahiti , said Bass . Hiti Moana Villa offers bungalows for $ 110 to $ 160 per night . HOSSEGOR , France . Event : Quiksilver Pro France September 23 to October 4 , 2009 . For nonsurfers , Hossegor is a big secret . `` People do n't realize how good the surf is there but it 's incredible very often , '' said Slater . The elbow-shaped Bay of Biscay near the French-Spanish border offers `` lots of swell and good weather that Ireland and England do n't get . '' The vibe : More waves , more surfing , less competition . The Hossegor area offers many fine beach breaks that result in abundant waves . These `` peaky '' beach breaks democratize the surfing experience . With more good waves , there 's less jockeying among surfers for position . During most of the year , surfers will need to wear a wet suit . The Bay of Biscay is really cold . Where to hang out : The area has great food , according to Slater , and , `` Spain is just right next door for something different . '' Across the Spanish border , surfers can discover crashing waves along the shore of San Sebastian , the town made famous in Hemingway 's `` The Sun Also Rises . '' Continue down the coast to experience amazing waves off the Spanish towns of Zarautz and Mendexa . There , surfers will discover a pure point break , with waves breaking off cobblestone rocks on the ocean floor . Where to stay : All along the coast are dozens of beach hostels offering low-cost lodging . Also , there 's camping in the area , if you feel like really roughing it . The Hortensias du Lac hotel offers rooms from $ 170 to $ 220 per night . How to get there : From Paris , drive about 6 hours southwest to Bordeaux and then drive about 2 hours south to Hossegor . By train from Paris takes about 6 hours and costs about $ 130 . TOTING YOUR BOARD . The relationship between surfers and their boards is close . Sometimes very close . Many surfers feel their boards are like a physical part of them . As a result , they accept no substitutes -- or rentals . They bring their boards . Traveling with a 9-foot , 70-pound piece of sporting equipment can be expensive . Several airlines hit surfboard-toting travelers with stiff fees , sometimes hundreds of dollars . But a few carriers will allow surfboards to be checked as baggage free , within certain guidelines . Here 's a quick list of policies among major airlines for travel with surfboards as checked baggage : . American Airlines charges a special handling fee . British Airways bans surfboards as checked baggage . Delta Airlines charges a special handling fee . Singapore Airlines offers free baggage check for surfboards within certain guidelines . Otherwise , travelers are charged a handling fee . United Airlines charges a special handling fee . Virgin Atlantic offers free baggage checking within certain guidelines . CNN 's David Banks , a lifelong surfer , contributed to this report . | Pro-surfing champ Kelly Slater likes Australia , Tahiti , Fiji , Hawaii and France . Fiji 's Cloudbreak wave is `` one of the great surf discoveries ever , '' said Slater . The vibe at primo spots varies from Spring Break-like to exclusive . Airline surfboard baggage policies range from free to pricey . | [[1067, 1083], [3259, 3290], [3494, 3507], [4741, 4757], [6837, 6853], [8757, 8853], [8854, 8953], [8854, 8934], [8938, 8953], [9110, 9197]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In the black market of prison life , cell phones have become perhaps the hottest commodity . Now , Texas is among a growing number of state governments going after them . Hundreds of contraband cell phones were found behind bars or in transit to Texas inmates in 2008 . Tiny , easy to hide and an unmonitored link for convicts to the outside world , cell phones are valuable contraband , fetching a greater asking price from convicts than some shipments of illegal drugs . John Moriarty , inspector general for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice , said that one phone can fetch as much as $ 2,000 . `` It takes one crooked prison worker to populate a whole prison unit with them , '' he said . More than 1,200 wireless phones sit in law enforcement evidence rooms , all found behind bars or in transit to Texas inmates in 2008 . Moriarty is the investigator and bloodhound the state of Texas uses to trail the illegal traffic . `` These are not stupid people , '' he said of the coordinated efforts to slip phones into the prison and hide them . `` There are a lot of hands in between and they all want a piece of the action . '' Accomplices on the outside vary from family members , to friends to fellow criminals who buy or steal the phones and charge them with minutes . The contraband is then moved through an elaborate series of drop points and usually ferried into the walls of a prison by a guard or trustee -- an escape engineered in reverse . Finding the dirty prison employee is often the key . `` Some of these guys make next to nothing , so you can see how easy it could be to corrupt them , '' Moriarty said . State Sen. John Whitmire , a Houston Democrat and the chair of the state senate 's Criminal Justice Committee , became an ally of Moriarty 's after one phone call in October . He picked up a phone slip from his secretary and called the number on it -- only to realize he had returned a call to a death row inmate 's cell phone . The inmate , he said , was Richard Tabler -- a convicted double murderer who was sharing a wireless phone with nine other inmates . `` At first I thought it was a hoax , '' said Whitmire , who said he called the state justice board and `` read them the riot act . '' Whitmire is one of the sponsors of a bill in the Texas Legislature that would crack down on convicts caught with phones and allow prison systems to monitor and detect cell signals . It 's en route to Gov. Rick Perry 's desk after clearing both houses of the legislature this week . Other efforts are under way at both the state and federal level . In January , U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady , a Texas Republican , introduced legislation that would let prisons jam cell-phone signals within their walls . Last month , Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley asked the federal government for permission to do so in his state . Prison officials in Arizona are training dogs to sniff out cell phones . | Texas is among a growing number of states going after contraband cell phones . Savvy inmates , outside accomplices , corrupt guards make problem a thorny one . Bill cracking down on contraband phones clears Texas Legislature . Other states training dogs to sniff out phones , seeking feds ' help in jamming signals . | [[112, 115], [118, 170], [153, 189], [2286, 2310], [2316, 2344], [2426, 2525], [2740, 2750], [2753, 2850], [2851, 2923], [2897, 2923]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States and Britain said Wednesday they are committed to remaining in Afghanistan , despite increased military casualties and declining public support for the war effort . U.S. Marines partrol part of the Gharmsir district in Afghanistan 's Helmand province on Wednesday . `` We went into this together , and we will work it through together because we are stronger together , '' British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said after a half day of talks at the State Department with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton . Clinton praised Miliband 's approach on Afghanistan , including the call for the government to reconcile with moderate elements of the Taliban . `` His analysis of the way forward is very much consistent with ours , and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder in pursuit of our common objectives , '' Clinton said of her counterpart . In a speech at NATO headquarters on Monday , Miliband called for rank-and-file Taliban to be given the chance to reconcile with the Afghan government , even as the campaign continues against Taliban commanders who are waging jihad . He also urged greater burden sharing not only among NATO allies in Afghanistan but by the Afghan government . `` There is a lot of talk , rightly , about burden sharing within the coalition , but the greatest burden sharing must be between the international community and the government of Afghanistan , which increasingly needs to take the lead -- the security lead , as well as the political lead -- in shaping the future of that country , '' he said . Richard Holbrooke , the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan , told reporters that boosting the training of Afghan forces would be a big focus after the country 's August 20 election . When asked whether the election would be fair , Holbrooke , who just returned from the region , said he had heard complaints from all sides but was not `` unduly upset . '' `` It 's an extraordinary thing to hold an election in the middle of a war , and this is the first contested election in Afghanistan in history , '' Holbrooke said , adding the United States has no favorite candidate but only wants `` an election whose outcome is accepted as legitimate by the Afghan people and the world , which reflects the desires of those who vote . '' July has been the deadliest month for U.S. and British forces since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 , with 39 U.S. troops and 22 British troops killed . Miliband said the effort was going through a `` tough phase , '' but added that the British people understood the `` vital nature '' of the mission to stabilize Afghanistan . British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been under under enormous pressure from his opposition , which charges that British troops do n't have proper resources to fight the war , including helicopters . But he was sanguine . `` I think the British people will stay with this mission , because there is a clear strategy and a clear determination on behalf of the United States and other coalition members to see this through , '' he said , adding that the British people understood the mission 's `` vital nature . '' Americans , too , have questioned whether the war in Afghanistan is winnable and worth the effort . U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and members of Congress , including Democrats , have predicted that President Obama has a year to show progress in Afghanistan before public support for the war further erodes . Clinton said Britain and the United States `` have made significant gains in the recent operations '' against the Taliban , but `` there remains much work to be done . '' `` We know that this is a challenge that is not going to be easily resolved in a short period of time , '' she said , adding `` both of our countries are still threatened by the same enemy , an enemy that has attacked London , New York and Washington . '' `` We know they 've attacked us in the past , and , unfortunately , we know that they plot against us even today , '' she said . | July deadliest month for U.S. , British forces in Afghanistan since '01 invasion . `` We will work it through together , '' British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says . Miliband calls for Afghan government to reconcile with moderate Taliban elements . U.S. official : Boosting the training of Afghan forces will be a big focus . | [[2340, 2437], [635, 702], [900, 942], [945, 953], [965, 1049], [1588, 1605], [1671, 1792]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Relatives and friends of a judge and court reporter killed in a 2005 shooting at Atlanta 's Fulton County Courthouse took the stand Thursday in the penalty phase of the gunman 's trial . Some wept as they spoke of how the deaths have affected their lives and of their continued struggles with sadness , fear and anger . Claudia Barnes , widow of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes , recalled asking permission to hold her husband 's hand one last time before his body was cremated . `` He and I held hands constantly for 13 years , '' she said . She remembered running her hands over the judge 's face -- over the temple , where the bullet fired by escaped prisoner Brian Gene Nichols entered his head -- and over the judge 's beard , which she always kept trimmed . `` I hope the love of my life did not suffer , '' Claudia Barnes said softly , reading from prepared notes . `` My faith in God has allowed me to remain sane . ... At times , it almost seems too much for me , but I try to do the best that I can . '' She said her life with the judge `` was not long enough . '' Nichols , 36 , was convicted this month of 54 counts including capital murder . He overpowered Fulton County Deputy Cynthia Hall on March 11 , 2005 , as he was being led into Barnes ' courtroom to face a second trial on rape charges . Nichols then took Hall 's gun from a lockbox and fatally shot three people at the courthouse : Barnes , court reporter Julie Ann Brandau and Fulton County Deputy Sgt. Hoyt Teasley , who attempted to apprehend him outside the building . Nichols was also convicted of killing David Wilhelm , a federal customs agent , hours later at Wilhelm 's home in the Buckhead section of Atlanta . Jurors heard victim impact statements Thursday as part of Nichols ' penalty phase , in which they will decide whether he will receive the death penalty sought by prosecutors . As relatives of his victims spoke , Nichols appeared somber , with his eyes downcast , but showed no further emotion . `` Nothing anybody does will bring my daddy back , '' said an emotional Kiley Barnes , the judge 's daughter . She said her father raised her from age 2 and `` made it his life 's work to conquer becoming a single parent . '' She recalled her father asking her to bring him her Barbie doll and show him how to create pigtails on either side of her head , and said the judge once literally gave the shirt off his back to a man at a Christmas party after the man complimented him on it . She said her father shared his passion for the law with her , and she remembered how proud he was at her college graduation , as she was one step closer to becoming a lawyer . Kiley Barnes said she was hoping that after Nichols ' conviction , she would feel better because justice had been done . `` Instead , I feel as heartbroken and as lonely as I did on March 11 , 2005 , '' she said . Brandau 's daughter , Christina Scholte Greenway , was an 18-year-old college freshman at the time of the shootings . She told jurors her mother could not attend her graduation from college or nursing school or her wedding last month . `` My husband never got a chance to meet my mother , '' she said . `` I know in my heart that she would have loved him . ... I walked down the aisle wearing her veil . '' Brandau 's sister , Trudy Brandau , said she lost the only remaining member of her immediate family . The two sisters had grown close after the deaths of another sister and both parents , she said . `` Julie 's death changed everything in my life . '' Candee Wilhelm told jurors about her husband 's death and how she was `` ripped in two '' when he was killed . `` David was simply the most wonderful person I will ever know , '' she said . Both she and sister-in-law Allison Wilhelm spoke of Russell , Wilhelm 's mentally challenged brother , who was especially close to him . David Wilhelm planned to become his guardian when his parents grew too old to care for him , Allison Wilhelm said . Candee Wilhelm said she was adopted , and her husband helped her through the difficult process of locating her birth mother . The woman died in 2006 , she said , but `` in a way , she was a gift from David . '' She remembered looking at her husband 's body in the funeral home . `` As I stood there looking at this handsome man , bruised and battered from his murder , I remember thinking , ` This is n't my husband . ' I touched his hand , his arm , his leg . David was n't there anymore . I touched his hair . It was the only thing that really seemed familiar and real to me . '' Teasley 's widow , Deborah , told jurors she had thought of the courthouse as a `` safe haven '' for her husband . `` I hate to think that he was dying outside on the street , '' she said of her husband . `` But the truth is , he was . '' She said her husband `` was and still is our hero . He was the love of my life , my husband and my friend . '' Deona Teasley said she was in the third grade when her father died . `` Why did someone do this to such a good person ? '' she asked . `` He did n't deserve to die . He did not do anything wrong . ... We meant the world to him , and he meant the world to us . '' | NEW : Officer 's daughter : `` He did n't deserve to die . He did not do anything wrong '' `` I hope the love of my life did not suffer , '' judge 's wife says . Judge 's daughter feels as `` heartbroken and as lonely '' as day father was shot . Nichols could be sentenced to the death penalty . | [[5092, 5119], [5120, 5150], [822, 848], [822, 823], [829, 863], [866, 868], [4780, 4782], [4787, 4808], [2840, 2875]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The mayor of Portland , Oregon , publicly apologized Tuesday for lying about a sexual relationship he had with an 18-year-old male in 2005 , and for asking the teen to lie about it . `` This was a serious error that happened about four years ago , '' Portland Mayor Sam Adams tells reporters . `` I want to apologize to the people of Portland for my dishonesty and for embarrassing them , '' Mayor Sam Adams , a Democrat , said at an afternoon news conference . But the mayor -- who is openly gay and whose election last year possibly made Portland the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor -- said he has no plans to resign . `` This was a serious error that happened about four years ago , '' Adams said . `` My job now is to come clean -- I mucked it up -- and to press forward . '' Adams returned to Portland from Washington , where he had planned to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama , to hold the news conference . A day earlier , Adams issued a statement saying : `` In the past , I have characterized my relationship with Beau Breedlove as purely nonsexual . That is not true . Beau Breedlove and I had a sexual relationship for a few months in the summer of 2005 after he turned 18 years of age . '' Adams issued the statement Monday after a local newspaper , the Willamette Week , published a story about the relationship between Adams , who was a city commissioner in 2005 , and Breedlove , then a legislative intern . During the mayoral campaign , questions had emerged about whether Adams and Breedlove had a sexual relationship . Adams said he had lied about the relationship during the campaign , and had asked Breedlove to lie , because of `` untrue rumors being circulated saying that I had broken the law regarding sex relations with a minor . '' `` The allegation coming at me was ` sex with a minor , ' '' Adams said . `` But still , I should have told the truth at the time and taken the consequences . '' The relationship was consensual and `` although inappropriate , was legal , '' Adams said . `` I 'm the one that should be held accountable . I 'm the older adult , '' he said . Adams was 42 and Breedlove was 17 when the two met , according to the Willamette newspaper . Adams emphasized that what he called a `` romantic '' relationship with Breedlove did not begin until after Breedlove was 18 . Adams said the two had `` maybe three or four dates '' over two or three months in 2005 before the relationship ended . The mayor apologized to Breedlove for asking him to lie , and to Portland 's gay community `` for embarrassing them . '' It was not clear whether Breedlove was in attendance at Tuesday 's news conference . Adams said that `` this is fundamentally an issue of a public official lying . '' `` I do n't think this fundamentally is an issue about sexual orientation , '' he said . `` Other people can debate that but , for me , it 's about an error in judgment and then seeking to make amends for that and being very up-front about the mistake and then carrying on , '' he said . Asked by a reporter if he lied to get elected , Adams said : `` I definitely lied to avoid what I thought was another lie that I could n't overcome . So , in a way , yes . '' Asked if he had thought he could get away with lying , Adams responded : `` I think that 's going to be up to my colleagues and the people of Portland . '' | NEW : Portland Mayor Sam Adams says he has no plans to resign . `` I want to apologize '' for mistake , Adams says at news conference . Adams had affair with 18-year-old intern in 2005 , then asked him to lie about it . Adams makes admission after newspaper reports relationship . | [[485, 494], [622, 654], [267, 312], [408, 426], [442, 480], [96, 117], [121, 157], [0, 15], [164, 201], [1222, 1249], [1540, 1587], [1588, 1653], [1588, 1593], [1654, 1686], [1689, 1709], [1253, 1310], [1313, 1316], [1335, 1389]] |
LAGOS , Nigeria -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 2,500 Nigerians caught in the fighting between Islamic militants and government forces have fled their homes in the northern part of the country , a Red Cross spokeswoman said Wednesday . Mothers and their children take refuge this week at a police office in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri . More than 400 people have been killed , and 150 bodies were lying in the general hospital at Maiduguri , according to Aliyu Maikanu , a Red Cross disaster officer in the northeast . Most of the violence has been on the outskirts of the city , officials said . `` It 's a terrible situation for me . It 's a very serious battle -- something I have not seen in my life , '' Maikanu said . She said only security personnel were free to move around due to the risks . Up to 1,000 militants are holed up at their base of operations in Maiduguri , and police have cordoned off the area , she said . National police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said Wednesday that police were able to free 187 women and children whom they claim were being held in the compound of the Islamic militants ' leader , Mohammed Yusuf . Under the sect 's strict form of sharia law , the group that was released was shielded from public view , Ojukwu said . He said 100 arrests have been made across the north . Shehu Sani , president of the Civil Rights Congress , a human rights organization based in northern Nigeria , said people were seeking refuge in police and military barracks and in hospitals . The militants disagree with the government 's teaching of Islam in the region , maintaining that the government allows itself to be influenced by Western values . They have been targeting high-profile government institutions , police and Islamic clergy , Ojukwu said . The operation to defeat the militants is ongoing , he said , and police have been deployed in all northeast and northwestern states . There is a history of religious violence in central Nigeria , where majority-Muslim North Africa meets largely Christian sub-Saharan Africa . Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 1,000 people were killed there in riots in 2001 . Last week the human rights organization alleged that police and soldiers killed at least 133 people during two days of riots last year between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria . Most of the victims were young Muslim men , often unarmed , the group said in testimony before a state commission . CNN 's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report . | NEW : More than 180 women , kids freed from militants ' compound , official says . More than 2,500 flee fighting between militants , government in northern Nigeria . More 400 people killed in Nigerian violence , Red Cross official says . Militants holed up at base of operations in Maiduguri , Nigeria . | [[939, 1048], [346, 383], [810, 885]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- And now , the rejects . The photographs show the Boeing VC-25 making a steep bank not usually seen with passenger aircraft . Three months after the White House released a single photograph taken during a photo op of `` Air Force One '' flying over New York -- a flight that caused panic on the streets below -- the U.S. Air Force on Friday released the remaining 145 photos taken during the flight . The photographs show the Boeing VC-25 -- a military version of a 747 -- making three passes by the Statue of Liberty , at one point accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet and at another point making a steep bank not usually seen with passenger aircraft . That latter move may have contributed to the chaos below . The photographs and several lengthy government e-mail chains were released in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by CNN and other news organizations . The e-mail chains show that the flight 's government organizers were aware of many New Yorkers ' fears of low-flying aircraft before the April 27 flight , and show a flurry of second-guessing , finger-pointing , damage control and occasional expressions of regret in the hours immediately after the flight . Watch a compilation of still images of the flyover '' `` Thanks for the heads up on sensitivities in the New York area , '' an Air Force colonel wrote in an e-mail two days before the flight . `` This is an issue that PAG -LSB- the Presidential Airlift Group -RSB- has also been concerned with . As a result , their coordination has been substantial . '' But while the White House , the military and numerous federal and local government agencies coordinated the flight , the federal government demanded secrecy , preparing a news release that was to be distributed only if there were media inquiries . Those inquiries came during the morning flight , triggering a quick chain of e-mails among government officials . `` We ... need to construct some sort of timeline on when folks became aware of it if that is possible , '' one Air Force official wrote , responding to the public interest . `` I agree we ... need to accomplish damage control , but we are n't the POC -LSB- point of contact -RSB- , '' the response reads . `` Nor do I want to become a belly button for NORAD to push on this one . '' Wrote one top Pentagon spokeswoman : `` Nothing like having everyone point the finger at someone else so we ALL look like a big bunch of buffoons ... can you say Moe , Larry & Curly !??!?! '' In addition to the informal e-mail banter , the documents show the regimented system the Pentagon uses to monitor and respond to breaking news stories . A U.S. Northern Command document offers this `` assessment '' of the story : `` Last 4 hours : Story reported quickly . Covered by AP , CNN , FOX major news outlets . Local reporting very critical , highlighting ` scare ' factor . Local populace very critical of event , due to 9-11 sensitivities . '' It continues : `` Web site blog comments ` furious ' at best . Twitter search reveals ` tweets ' regarding two F-16 's chasing commercial airliner . Rate of 1 tweet per minute and growing . '' `` No positive spin is possible . Admit mistake , '' it concludes . In another e-mail , USAF Col. Scott M. Turner , commander of the Presidential Airlift Group , was doing just that . `` Again , my apologies sir . Real intent here was to honor NYC , not cause mass chaos , '' it reads . The next day , the Northern Command 's internal memo included depictions of New York 's three major tabloids featuring the headlines , `` Scare Force One , '' `` Just Plane Stupid ! '' and `` How Dumb Was This ! '' The photographs released Friday , meanwhile , show the presidential aircraft making a steep bank , seemingly well beyond the 30-degree maximum for Boeing 747s carrying passengers , according to one airline pilot consulted by CNN . That may have contributed to the anxiety on the ground . The Pentagon estimated the cost of the flight at $ 328,835 , which includes the Boeing aircraft and the two fighter jets that accompanied it . But , they said , `` the hours would have been flown regardless , and the expenses would have been accrued on a different mission . '' The VC-25 aircraft is designated `` Air Force One '' only when the president is aboard . President Obama was not on the plane during the photo op . After the incident , Louis Caldera , the director of the White House Military Office responsible for the flyover , resigned . `` I have concluded that the controversy surrounding the Presidential Airlift Group 's aerial photo shoot over New York City has made it impossible for me to effectively lead the White House Military Office , '' Caldera said in a letter to Obama . `` Moreover , it has become a distraction to the important work you are doing as president . After much reflection , I believe it is incumbent on me to tender my resignation and step down as director of the White House Military Office . '' | Presidential plane 's flight over New York led to panic on ground . Air Force releases 145 new photos of flight ; 1 had been released previously . Government e-mail chains from day of flight also released . `` No positive spin is possible . Admit mistake , '' says one . | [[249, 286], [290, 298], [304, 337], [2825, 2854], [2857, 2888], [3886, 3942], [155, 189], [341, 429], [740, 903], [1815, 1830], [1864, 1928], [3153, 3186], [3187, 3200]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man accused of entering New York 's LaGuardia Airport with a bag containing wires and batteries , sparking suspicion and leading to a large-scale evacuation , was ordered Saturday to undergo a psychiatric evaluation , a prosecutor said . LaGuardia Airport 's Central Terminal is being treated as a crime scene . Scott McGann , 32 , appeared in court after authorities said he walked into LaGuardia 's Central Terminal Saturday morning with what was determined to be a fake bomb . The terminal was reopened after several hours . Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said McGann was charged with placing a false bomb or hazardous substance in the first degree ; placing a false bomb or hazardous substance in a transportation facility ; and making terrorist threats . McGann appeared in court Saturday , but his arraignment was postponed , Brown said . McGann is being held without bail . `` The defendant is clearly a very troubled young man , '' Brown said . `` As a result , the Court has directed that he be examined to determine whether he has the capacity to understand the proceedings against him and assist in his defense . '' Earlier , officials said McGann would n't speak to his lawyer or anyone else . His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday . McGann allegedly arrived at a checkpoint in the terminal at about 4:50 a.m. , carrying a backpack and refusing to answer security questions . Authorities said the officer at the checkpoint was informed that a suspicious package was attached to the bottom of McGann 's backpack , and that McGann allegedly grabbed what appeared to be a trigger device with a red button connected to the backpack . McGann allegedly pressed the button several times before a Port Authority officer grabbed the trigger and the package away from him . The package turned out to be a device consisting of batteries , cylinders and electronic components that could have been used to make a bomb , Brown said , but the bomb squad found that it did n't not contain any explosives . McGann had a ticket on a United Airlines flight to Chicago and a seat on two other connecting flights with his final destination Oakland , California , according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation . Watch passengers talk about the confusion '' McGann has three prior arrests in the New York area , the source told CNN . The most recent involved June charges of tampering with evidence and resisting arrest . He was also arrested twice in 2008 , the source said . Port Authority spokesman John Kelly said McGann `` was just acting crazy . '' The arresting officers described McGann to Kelly as `` extremely disheveled and dirty , '' in a `` near catatonic state '' and `` staring off into space , '' Kelly said . McGann had been homeless for at least a year . Authorities evacuated the terminal after 5:20 a.m. , and allowed passengers back in to all areas except Concourse C by midmorning , Kelly said . The concourse was reopened shortly before 11 a.m. , according to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker . Watch the chaotic evacuation scene '' Authorities had stopped flights from taking off or landing at the airport , but by a little after 9 a.m. , flights resumed , Baker said . Central Terminal is one of four terminals in the airport , which is in the borough of Queens . It is about eight miles from Manhattan . The incident disrupted travel plans for many passengers , and caused American Airlines to cancel 16 flights , said an airline spokesperson . American Eagle , Continental Airlines and Southwest also reported delays . iReport : Watch crowds start moving back into the terminal . CNN i-Reporter Jose Ojeda , 24 , had been sitting on the tarmac on a plane headed to Chicago , Illinois , when the evacuation was ordered . `` We were all ready to go , '' Ojeda , of Bronx , New York , said of his flight , which he said had been scheduled to leave at 6:10 a.m. `` They did n't make any announcement other than , ` You need to evacuate , ' '' he said . `` I thought it was standard procedure , but then once we got out of the plane , they kept pushing us back and back , out of the terminal out of the actual airport . '' CNN 's Chuck Johnston , Aspen Steib , Ross Levitt , Laurie Segall and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report . | Suspect must undergo psychiatric evaluation before court appearance . Scott McGann , 32 , of New York , faces 3 charges , including making terrorist threats . Man had bag stuffed with wires and batteries , appeared intoxicated , official says . Flights resume at busy LaGuardia Airport after evacuation ends . | [[0, 24], [176, 245], [1011, 1094], [774, 800], [89, 125], [1460, 1668], [3224, 3248], [3251, 3266]] |
-LRB- Entertainment Weekly -RRB- -- Jaden Smith is getting a small taste of what it 's like to walk in dad Will 's action-blockbuster shoes . Keanu Reeves stars in the remake of the 1951 sci-fi flick `` The Day the Earth Stood Still . '' As expected , the remake of the 1951 sci-fi flick starring Keanu Reeves easily replaced `` Four Christmases '' atop the box office leader board with an opening weekend gross of $ 31 million , according to Sunday 's estimates . Despite mediocre reviews , the film held fairly steady throughout the weekend , falling slightly shy of our $ 36 million estimate . The Vince Vaughn-Reese Witherspoon yuletide comedy came in second with $ 13.3 million , bringing its three-week total to just under $ 88 million , while `` Twilight '' faded to the third spot during its fourth week with just over $ 8 million . The teen vampire romance managed to reach one milestone , however , grossing a total of $ 150 million -- the amount director Catherine Hardwicke surmised the movie would have to suck in for sequel `` New Moon '' to get the go ahead . Obviously , Summit executives saw the writing on the wall weeks ago and have hired Chris Weitz -LRB- `` About a Boy , '' `` American Pie '' -RRB- to direct next fall 's follow-up . Rounding out the top five are Disney 's doggie flick `` Bolt '' with $ 7.5 million and Baz Luhrmann 's underperforming `` Australia '' with $ 4.3 million . The weekend 's other new major release -- `` Nothing Like the Holidays , '' starring John Leguizamo and Debra Messing -- got coal in its stocking with a measly $ 3.5 million during its first weekend . Also of note is the Clint Eastwood-starring `` Gran Torino '' -LRB- rumored to be the actor-director 's last turn in front of the camera -RRB- . Although it opened in only six theaters -LRB- three in New York , three in L.A. -RRB- , the film scored the best per screen average , $ 47,333 , with a gross of only $ 284,000 . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . Copyright 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | `` The Day the Earth Stood Still '' debuted with a weekend gross of $ 31 million . The yuletide comedy `` Four Christmases '' slipped to second with $ 13.3 million . Teen vampire romance `` Twilight '' reached a gross total of $ 150 million . | [[387, 427], [597, 682], [841, 865], [909, 942]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Drew Peterson , the former police sergeant who authorities call the prime suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife , Stacy Peterson , has been indicted on murder charges related to his third wife , Kathleen Savio , the Illinois state attorney 's office said . Drew Peterson was arrested Thursday on murder charges relating to his third wife , Kathleen Savio . Illinois State Police said Peterson was taken into custody about 5:30 p.m. Thursday after a traffic stop near his home . Police had staked out his home all day , said police Capt. Carl Dobrich , but waited for Peterson to leave to arrest him out of concern for his three children , who were inside the house . Peterson , through his attorney , denied any wrongdoing in either case . Wills County State 's Attorney James Glasgow said he believes the case is strong and said Peterson is being held on $ 20 million bond . `` This is an extremely grave and serious matter and it is reflected in the bond , '' Glasgow said . Peterson 's attorney Joel Brodsky told CNN 's Larry King he believed the bond was excessive and would seek a more `` reasonable '' bond , noting it was the most expensive bond he 'd seen in 10 years . Watch Peterson 's attorney address his client 's arrest '' Charles B. Pelkie , spokesman for the state 's attorney in Will County , Illinois , said a grand jury indicted Peterson in the murder of Savio , whose death had been ruled an accidental drowning . Brodsky said in a written statement that prosecutors wo n't be able to prove their case because `` he did n't do it . '' `` There is no evidence that links Drew Peterson to the death of Kathleen Savio or anyone else for that matter , '' Brodsky said . `` Drew did not harm Kathleen ; he has said so from Day One . We 're obviously disappointed a grand jury indicted him . But an indictment does not mean guilt . '' Pelkie said the grand jury continues to meet and is studying the possibility of charges in Stacy Peterson 's disappearance . Watch family members react to the arrest '' After Stacy Peterson went missing in October 2007 , media frenzy and police scrutiny on Peterson revealed Savio had died mysteriously a few years earlier during a nasty divorce . Savio died just before the division of the marital assets was finalized , making Drew Peterson the sole beneficiary . Savio was found in the dry bathtub of her home . At the time , the death was ruled an accidental drowning . But her family continued to insist that Savio died as a result of foul play . The investigation into Stacy Peterson 's disappearance brought renewed interest in Savio 's death . Authorities exhumed Savio 's body , further tests were conducted , and her death has now been ruled a `` homicide staged to look like an accident . '' Brodsky told King he believes the case has always been about circumstantial evidence and that he will bring a pathologist to trial who will say Savio died from an accidental drowning . `` I think the jury 's going to see that , in fact , this always has been an accidental death and still is an accidental death , '' Brodsky told King . Kathleen Savio 's brother , Nick , told CNN affiliate WLS-TV he received a call from his sister saying Peterson had been arrested . Watch police arrest Peterson '' `` The state police had been telling us the day was coming , '' he told WLS-TV . `` We kept hearing it for about eight months . I 'm almost in tears here . It 's been so hard for our family . '' `` Hopefully , we 'll get the justice we 've always been waiting for . '' Martin Glink , attorney for the Savio family , said they were hopeful the grand jury felt there was enough evidence to charge Peterson . `` We 're very happy that the wheels of justice have continued to move and they are pointing in his direction , '' Glink told WLS-TV . The news was also bittersweet for Stacy Peterson 's family , who continue to wait for news about her disappearance . `` We have anticipated this coming . We have dreamed about it . We have been patient over it , '' Pam Bosco , spokesperson for Stacy Peterson 's family told WLS-TV . `` Now that it 's here , it 's almost a little bit calm . We 're waiting for the storm to calm now . The calm before the storm . '' Bosco said while she had not heard about any charges relating to Stacy Peterson 's death , she was hopeful those charges would follow . `` We always said from the very beginning that Kathleen and Stacy had one thing in common -- and that was Drew Peterson , '' she said . `` So , hopefully , we 'll have news soon about Stacy , too . '' Ernie Raines is also relieved about the arrest . His daughter , Christina Raines , is dating Peterson and was living with him before his arrest . Ernie Raines told CNN 's Anderson Cooper he was with his daughter and Peterson as recently as last week , when they talked about going to Las Vegas , Nevada , and getting married . Thursday night he spoke with his daughter after the arrest . `` My daughter was terrified , very emotional , upset , '' Ernie Raines said . `` And I tried to tell her from the beginning that this was going to happen , be prepared . '' Ernie Raines said more than anything , when he heard about the arrest , he was relieved . `` I 'm glad justice finally came -- before he hurt my daughter , '' he said . Police put Peterson 's three minor children in the custody of the state 's children and family service department . His adult son was contacted , at Peterson 's request , to take them , according to Capt. Dobrich . Dobrich said Peterson cooperated with police during his arrest . CNN 's Susan Roesgen contributed to this report . | Dad of girlfriend : I 'm glad justice finally came -- before he hurt my daughter '' Drew Peterson arrested in the slaying of his third wife , Kathleen Savio . Renewed interest in Savio 's death came after Peterson 's fourth wife disappeared . Peterson , through his attorney , denies any wrongdoing in either case . | [[5230, 5260], [5264, 5290], [181, 221], [286, 339], [325, 366], [2530, 2629], [696, 704], [730, 768]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson 's life has ended , but the legal battles over his possessions , his debts and his children are likely just beginning . Michael Jackson , seen here with two of his three children , died suddenly on Thursday . Perhaps the biggest and saddest question is what will happen to the late singer 's two sons and his daughter : 12-year-old Prince Michael I , 11-year-old Paris and 7-year-old Prince Michael II . Normally in such cases , care of the children would be taken over by the surviving parent or a close relative . But as with many other aspects of Jackson 's life , his family situation was complex , unusual and far from normal . Born to two mothers -- Jackson 's ex-wife Debbie Rowe and an unidentified woman who reportedly served as a surrogate -- the children lived and traveled the world with Jackson , their faces often covered by veils and masks when appearing in public . Rowe gave up her parental rights to her two kids with the singer , but later battled to have them restored . She may be considered to take over custody for Prince Michael I and Paris , said CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin , who has followed Jackson 's legal woes for years . `` Certainly any court that is looking at that sort of question will say , if the father dies who is the mother and would we consider giving the children to the mother ? '' Toobin said . `` As I understand it , in later years after a substantial amount of time when Debbie Rowe did n't see those children at all , she started to have a relationship with them again . So she 'd certainly be an obvious candidate for custody of those two children . '' Watch Toobin talk about Jackson 's legal issues '' The question of custody for the third child would be even more up in the air since his mother was likely never involved in his life , Toobin added . The three kids are staying with their paternal grandmother , Katherine Jackson , People magazine reported . She may just wind up keeping them , observers said . `` Katherine is the logical choice -- she has all the grandkids and nieces around her but it will be up to the courts , '' said Brian Oxman , a former Jackson family attorney , according to People . `` I would n't be surprised if there are more proceedings regarding the children . '' Complications may already be looming on the horizon . Katherine Jackson may wish to keep the children , but Michael Jackson wanted them to be taken care of by their nanny if anything happened to him , ABC News reported , quoting Stacey Brown , co - author of `` Michael Jackson Behind the Mask . '' Meanwhile , Rowe 's former attorney tells People that a judge returned parental rights to Rowe in 2005 , so she is the legal parent of her two children with Jackson and can gain custody of them . Chaotic legal life . Instructions specifying who should care for children after a parent 's death are often left in a will , but it 's not known whether Jackson had one prepared before his untimely passing . `` Michael Jackson led an extremely chaotic financial and legal life . ... Given how chaotic his life was , did he even have a will ? '' Toobin said . Beyond the question of Jackson 's children , a will may also be key to answering questions about what 's left of his estate . The pop star 's financial ups and downs have been as well-chronicled as his personal problems , including a near-bankruptcy and the threatened foreclosure of his Neverland ranch . Jackson accumulated almost $ 500 million in debt by living large over the years , but he also had considerable assets when he died , including his own music royalties and a 25 percent stake in a music publishing library that contained many Beatles songs , Fortune reported . Those assets might prompt new legal battles and it may be a long time before the dust settles . '' -LSB- Jackson -RSB- was surrounded by some of the sleaziest , most unethical advisers who came in and came out and he has had a tremendous amount of litigation in his life , '' Toobin said . `` His death will be followed by a great deal of further litigation . ... The sad thing about that is that if it does , it will be part of a pattern that those of us who followed Michael 's life saw , which is that ... lots of people with no talent , with none of his charisma , with none of his spirit , lawyers , publicists , hangers on who made money off of his earnings continuing after his death . '' | Michael Jackson had three children with two women . Ex-wife gave up her parental rights , but later fought to have them restored . She may be considered to take over custody for her two kids with Jackson . It 's not known whether Jackson left a will . | [[668, 687], [917, 981], [917, 921], [988, 1025], [1026, 1087], [2350, 2397], [2703, 2706], [2764, 2790], [2920, 2998]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hoboken , New Jersey , Mayor Peter Cammarano III -- one of dozens of politicians and rabbis arrested last week in a corruption scandal -- has resigned , the city attorney said Friday . Hoboken , New Jersey , Mayor Peter Cammarano III is accused of taking thousands of dollars in bribes . Steve Kleinman said City Council President Dawn Zimmer will be sworn in immediately as acting mayor . He said Cammarano 's letter of resignation , delivered to the city clerk at 9:15 a.m. , said his resignation would be effective at noon Friday . The Democratic Hoboken mayor was one of 44 people arrested in last week 's federal corruption probe . In his letter to the city clerk , Cammarano , 32 , denied all criminal wrongdoing , but said the charges have disrupted the city government and his ability to perform mayoral duties . `` It had been my hope and expectation that I could remain in office and perform my official duties until I had the opportunity to resolve the legal charges against me in court , '' he wrote . `` Regrettably , it has turned out that the controversy surrounding the charges against me has become a distraction to me and an impediment to functioning of Hoboken government . '' He apologized to Hoboken residents for the `` disruption and disappointment '' the case has caused , but said , `` I am innocent of any criminal charges and I intend to fight the allegations against me . '' Authorities said that 29 public officials and associates took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes , and that 15 people -- including five rabbis -- engaged in money laundering . Read about some linked to investigation '' One of the federal complaints alleges that Cammarano took about $ 25,000 in bribes from a government witness posing as a real estate developer . Dennis Elwell , 64 , the Democratic mayor of Secaucus , in northern New Jersey , resigned Tuesday after being charged with accepting $ 10,000 from a confidential informant . Elwell 's attorney , Thomas Cammarata , said the mayor had decided that resigning was in the best interest of his family and the people of Secaucus , but was not an admission of guilt . `` Dennis pleaded not guilty to the charges , is presumed innocent and will vigorously defend the unproven allegations made against him , '' the attorney said . Other city leaders arrested include Anthony Suarez , 42 , the Democratic mayor of Ridgefield , New Jersey , and Leona Beldini , 74 , the Democratic deputy mayor of Jersey City , prosecutors said . Earlier this week , Democrats L. Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt -- two members of the New Jersey State Assembly who were among the officials arrested in the probe -- were stripped of their legislative pay and benefits , Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. announced . When the arrests were announced July 23 , prosecutors said investigators had searched about 20 locations in New Jersey and New York to recover `` large sums of cash and other evidence of criminal conduct , '' and executed 28 seizure warrants against bank accounts that they believe were involved in laundering money . | Hoboken , New Jersey , Mayor Peter Cammarano III steps down in wake of scandal . Cammarano , one of 44 arrested in corruption probe , accused of taking bribes . Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell resigned earlier after being linked to investigation . Both maintain their innocence , saying stepping down is not admission of guilt . | [[204, 211], [214, 306], [204, 211], [214, 306], [554, 603], [594, 655], [1794, 1812], [1875, 1967], [1215, 1217], [1320, 1324], [1327, 1418]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson 's personal chef Kai Chase says June 25 was shaping up as another typical day in the superstar 's usually peaceful and orderly home until an urgent plea from Jackson 's personal doctor sent panic sweeping through the household . Michael Jackson 's personal chef Kai Chase appeared on CNN 's `` Larry King Live '' Thursday night . In an interview with CNN 's Larry King that aired Thursday night , Chase described the chaotic events that fateful day and what life was like inside the Jackson family before the singer 's shocking death . Chase said she was downstairs preparing lunch for Jackson -- being sure to wrap it in Saran wrap because the singer liked his meals served room-service style -- when Dr. Conrad Murray called out for her . Murray is the central focus of a federal investigation into the singer 's death , a law enforcement official told CNN on Wednesday . Around noon or a little after , Chase said , `` Dr. Murray comes down the stairs . There was a stairwell that leads into the kitchen . And he 's screaming : Hurry ! Go get Prince . Call security . Get Prince . '' Chase said she quickly got Jackson 's oldest son . `` Within minutes , the paramedics are there . And the security is running upstairs , skipping stairs and all of a sudden we 're all , you know , panicked , '' Chase told King . `` So the energy in the house had just kind of changed from that happy kind of day that we were having and preparing lunch and having a good time to just kind of eerie . '' Watch Chase 's interview with Larry King '' Chase said Jackson 's daughter , Paris , started crying and calling out for her father as people in the home came to realize how serious the medical situation was . `` We started crying and we all come together in unity in a circle and we started holding hands . And we started praying , '' Chase said . The chef said she was not allowed into the upstairs quarters of the home , but she had seen Michael Jackson downstairs on Wednesday , June 24 . Nothing she saw the day before cause her alarm . `` He ate lunch with his children at the dinner table . And then I packed ... his dinner for him to go to his rehearsal . He seemed like he was just , you know , tired , '' Chase said . She attributed the way he felt to his long rehearsals . Chase said Jackson did complain once about his demanding schedule . `` The third day I was there , when I came back , he had told me , ` You know , they 're killing me . They 're killing me because I 'm working too much . I 'm rehearsing too much . ' '' Between 1 and 1:30 p.m. June 25 , Chase said security asked her to leave the home , and she never saw Michael Jackson being transported to the hospital . She did n't learn of Jackson 's death until later that day on the radio . Chase said that Murray was in the house often in June and she attributed the doctor 's frequent presence to Jackson 's rigorous rehearsal schedule for an upcoming series of concerts in London , England . Search warrants filed Thursday in court in Clark County , Nevada , and carried out at Murray 's offices imply that investigators looking into his death believe the singer was a drug addict . In his interview with Chase , King pressed for details of evidence of drug use by Jackson : . King : Did you notice oxygen tanks , because if it was Diprivan and they have to measure ... your blood pressure ? They also need oxygen tanks if you 're giving that drug . Did you notice them ? Chase : I saw the oxygen tanks , yes . King : Where were they ? Chase : I would see Dr. Murray carrying the oxygen tanks down in the mornings . King : On that morning or other mornings ? Chase : No . I did n't see him that morning . I saw him in the afternoon , but other mornings . King : He would carry them down ? Chase : Carry them down . King : They were portable oxygen tanks ? Chase : Yes . Chase said she just recently learned the warrants to search Murray 's offices cited her name as a suspected alias for Michael Jackson . `` I was just made aware of that from my publicist . I think that is ... appalling . I have no clue what that is about , '' Chase said . She said detectives came to her home right after the death but did not ask her about her name being on any prescriptions . `` I do n't know what make of it , '' Chase told King . Chase , who said she 's been a professional chef for about 14 years , said she 's seen the Jackson children since June 25 . `` They 're doing great . And I saw them a couple of weeks ago , '' she said . `` And they look great and they 're playing with their cousins and having a good time . '' Chase said she was first employed by Jackson in March but was let go . She said Jackson asked her to come back to their California residence in June and that the children were happy about her return . She said the children gave her a `` box of happiness '' on return that contained little gifts and letters . One of them read in part : . `` Dear Kai , thank you for the gifts and the gumbo . I hope you enjoy the gift . I think you 'll like it . Love , Prince Jackson . '' Chase said she said no evidence that Michael Jackson was a poor eater . In fact , she said just the opposite was true from her observations . `` He ate very well , '' she said . `` He ate organic and fresh . He -LSB- was -RSB- into the health foods and juices and things of that nature . '' Chase briefly addressed other subjects : . • On Katherine Jackson , Michael 's mother : `` I saw the interaction with them when I went to the home . ... They love their grandma , you know . It 's a beautiful bond that they have together . '' • On Jackson 's ex-wife having visitation rights to her children : `` I think Debbie Rowe should see and raise her children . '' • On Jackson 's planned London shows : `` We started talking about bringing , you know , video games and stuff to the private jet . And it was just , you know , he was very excited about going on this -- doing this tour . This is his comeback . '' Life in the Jackson household -- from Chase 's account -- was a loving and cheerful one and that he loved his three children . `` You know , I would bring ... the lunches and set them on the table and they 'd all come in and sit , close the door and they 'd dine privately . And you would just hear laughter and story-telling and just beautiful things . Those were his babies . '' | Kai Chase served as Michael Jackson 's personal chef , said he ate well . She says she and Jackson children held hands , cried , prayed during health crisis . Chase says she saw Dr. Conrad Murray bring oxygen tanks into Jackson household . Life in the Jackson household was orderly and loving , the chef observes . | [[264, 296], [307, 327], [5235, 5251], [1831, 1853], [1856, 1864], [3481, 3503], [3543, 3593], [0, 15], [62, 219], [6000, 6029], [6058, 6099]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One man 's trash is another man 's mystery . Nick DiMola holds what he believes are about 60 artifacts and pieces of artifacts from Mexico . Five years ago , Nick DiMola 's rubbish removal company was hired to clean out a Manhattan apartment following the death of the owner , abstract artist Clinton Hill . The contents of a barrel that DiMola salvaged from the trash then has today raised a series of questions . What DiMola holds are about 60 artifacts and pieces of artifacts that he thinks are from Mexico , dating to between 300 B.C. and 500 A.D. . The mystery , which the Mexican Consulate in New York is trying to solve , is twofold : How much are the artifacts worth ? And , if authentic , whom do they belong to ? DiMola first saw the collection of pottery and figurines while cleaning Hill 's apartment in 2004 . He stored the barrel in his warehouse instead of disposing of it , then promptly forgot about it . Last week , DiMola rediscovered the pieces , only this time he told the New York Daily News about what he had found , announcing that he would sell them . That caught the attention of the Mexican government , which is studying the origins of the items and has claimed them . Now , DiMola wants to donate his find , but not necessarily to Mexico , he told CNN . The Queens native was excited about his discovery when he allowed representatives from the Mexican Cultural Institute to examine and photograph nearly all the pieces , DiMola said . His curiosity about them was growing , and he was expecting an appraisal from the government officials . What he got instead was a heads-up about a possible petition to return the entire collection to Mexico . `` My reaction is that that is not very diplomatic , '' DiMola said . `` It 's a blow to the jaw . '' Ruben Beltran , Mexico 's consul general in New York , was not available for comment Tuesday . However in an interview with the U.S.-based Spanish-language TV network Telemundo , he said that if the pieces are part of Mexican culture , the government will try to get them back . But as of now , no one is certain what the pieces are . Howard Nowes , an ancient art dealer who does appraisals , examined a handful of the pieces that DiMola holds . Nowes told CNN he saw a mix of authentic and non-authentic pre-Columbian pieces , which he valued at $ 3,000 . The pieces were broken and were n't very artistic , he said , adding `` from what I can see , it was mostly junk . '' Unfazed , DiMola thinks all the pieces probably are worth more than $ 16,000 total , he said . `` Something like this , you ca n't put a price on , because I may have a figure that no one has seen before , '' DiMola said . `` There 's a big value in these pieces . '' The Mexican government is n't taking any chances , and is conducting its own research into the authenticity and significance of the pieces . Museums in Houston , Texas ; San Francisco , California and Washington , D.C. , have expressed interest in the pieces as well , DiMola said . He said he 'd like to donate the artifacts to museums across the country , and some to the Mexican Cultural Institute at the Mexican Consulate in New York City , but that could change if Mexico uses international law to claim the items . The foundation that hired DiMola to clean the house is unlikely to try to reclaim the pieces , said John Koegel , the attorney who handled Hill 's estate . When Hill died , he left all his possessions to his lifelong partner , Allen Tran , Koegel told CNN . In turn , Tran bequeathed all of Hill 's possessions to a foundation `` to carry out his artistic legacy , '' he said . Hill had some pieces from Mexico in his apartment that were cataloged , but the artist had no strong connection to the country , Koegel said . For DiMola , all the fuss stems from a simple truth . `` Sometimes you find things that are good and salvageable in the trash , '' he said . | Nick DiMola finds Mexican artifacts worth thousands in trash barrel . Barrel belonged to deceased abstract artist Clinton Hill . Mexican government claims it owns artifacts , seeks their return . DiMola says he wants to donate artifacts to museums across U.S. | [[64, 159], [489, 498], [514, 529], [1097, 1101], [1188, 1216], [3024, 3166]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For most people , Post-it Notes are disposable , ordinary office papers used for note-taking and reminders . But for 19-year-old David Alvarez of Leavenworth , Washington , they were the perfect medium for a 10-foot-tall mosaic depicting Ray Charles . David Alvarez , right , made this 10-foot-tall mosaic of Ray Charles using Post-it Notes . Using more than 2,000 of those ubiquitous brightly-colored sticky scraps , Alvarez composed a three-dimensional representation of the famous musician . The piece has just gone on display at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee , Washington , where Alvarez is in his second year of studies . `` It 's something so simple . You can still see the flaps sticking out on some of them , '' he said . `` Naturally the Post-it Note just sort of flaps out . '' While learning new techniques in Adobe Photoshop in a class , he experimented with taking a photograph of Ray Charles and making it look like a mosaic on the computer screen . He then translated this idea into the Post-it work . He spent three months constructing the mosaic , sometimes sacrificing schoolwork for his art . At least one of his papers for his summer English courses suffered , but he persevered so that he could participate in an art show July 28 at the Stanley Civic Center in Wenatchee . Originally , the Post-it Notes stayed in this unique format only by virtue of their manufactured stickiness , which does not hold up as well as glue , Alvarez found . When he displayed his work at the show , he monitored the project for 14 hours , continuously replacing notes that were falling off . The aspiring art teacher now uses glue to hold the notes in place . For his next project , he is considering a mosaic using 4-inch x 4-inch notes , up from the 3-inch x 3-inch size used in the Ray Charles piece . `` Part of me wants to , part of me does n't , '' he said . `` It was so hard to align . It took a lot of time and patience . '' E-mail to a friend . | David Alvarez makes mosaic with more than 2,000 Post-it Notes . Mosaic on display at Wenatchee Valley College , Washington . Artist wants to teach art . | [[362, 434], [514, 589]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two of Turkey 's main political parties are pushing for a constitutional amendment to lift bans on headscarves at public universities , a move that has caused concern among Turkey 's secular population . The lifting of the ban on headscarves has caused concern among Turkey 's secular population . Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan initiated the move , saying it would create equality in Turkey 's higher education . The constitutional commission will discuss the proposal -- submitted by the AKP and MHP parties -- in the coming days before sending it to the floor for a vote . If approved , it would need President Abdullah Gul 's approval , which is expected . Under the proposal , veils , burqas or chaddors -- all of which cover a woman 's face -- would not be allowed . Bans on headcoverings were imposed in the early 1980s by Turkey 's universities because they were seen as political symbols and conflicted with Turkey 's secular governing system . The proposal to change Turkey 's constitution sent chills through Turkey 's secular population . Women 's groups went to parliament Tuesday to voice their rejection . `` This is a direct threat to the republic and its foundations , '' said Deniz Baykal , leader of Turkey 's main secular party , CHP . Another CHP lawmaker said she fears that if the proposal is enacted , parents will feel pressure to have their daughters wear headscarves , even in elementary school . Mustafa Akaydin , head of Turkey 's Higher Education Commission , is against the proposal . He said that allowing headscarves would be a rejection of Turkey 's secular system of government . `` It is an attempt to create a counterrevolution , '' Akaydin said . `` It will be a breaking point . '' He said a majority of female high school students at one school were wearing headscarves during last weekend 's entry exams -- a rarity in Turkish schools . The Higher Education Commission will meet Friday in Ankara to discuss the proposed changes . E-mail to a friend . | Turkey 's ruling party agrees to lift ban on head scarves in universities . Ban introduced after military coup in 1980 as seen as a sign of religion . Turkey is a secular nation but its population is mainly Muslim . Proposal has brought protests among the secular population . | [[153, 161], [167, 222], [223, 316], [978, 1074]] |
-LRB- Budget Travel -RRB- -- Prohibition-style bars and speakeasies have been popping up all over , but these lounges go beyond the gimmicks in their near obsessive devotion to the art of old-time cocktails and decor . The perpetually packed Beehive in Boston is known for its Beehive julep and champagne cocktails . The Edison , Los Angeles , California . The 1920s scene at legendary watering holes like the Cocoanut Grove and Ciro 's of Hollywood inspired this cavernous lounge , where current industry players mingle in their best vintage cocktail dresses and blazers . The Edison is in the basement of a former power plant ; leather furniture surrounds preserved industrial elements like furnaces and power generators . Silent movies play on brick walls , and a circus troupe performs weekly . On Soup Kitchen Fridays , drinks mixed from house-made Bath Tub Gin are 35 cents from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and come with free grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup . edisondowntown.com . The Violet Hour , Chicago , Illinois . Luxurious floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains create intimate spaces inside the Violet Hour , discreetly hidden behind an unmarked , wood-paneled door . Circles of high-backed leather chairs and the warm glow from crystal chandeliers and working fireplaces encourage conversation . So does a strict no-cell-phones policy . Eight kinds of ice -- shards , crushed and cubes of varying shapes -- are tailored to specific drinks , which gives an idea of how seriously this bar takes its cocktails . A favorite is the Juliet and Romeo , Beefeater gin with mint , cucumber and rosewater -LRB- $ 12 -RRB- . theviolethour.com . Budget Travel gallery : See the bars . APO Bar + Lounge , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . Look for the pharmacy cross marking the entrance to APO , short for apothecary -- a place where ingredients like gin and bitters were put to medicinal use way before the cocktail was born . Inside the sleek , green-hued lounge , barkeeps sporting '30s - style suits serve cocktails spruced up with creative , unusual ingredients . The Booty Collins , for instance , is green-tea-infused gin with brandied cherries , passion fruit and homemade seltzer , finished with agave nectar , cayenne pepper and fresh valerian root -LRB- $ 10 -RRB- . The bar recently introduced a simpler recession-proof menu of $ 6 drinks that lose the exotic accents and just mix fine spirits with fresh fruit juices . apothecarylounge.com . Flatiron Lounge , New York City . In a landmark 1900 building in Manhattan 's Flatiron District , this lounge evokes jazz-age glamour with velvet bar stools , red circular booths and an entire wall covered in blue vintage mirrored-glass tiles . The anchor is the 1927 mahogany bar salvaged from The Ballroom , where Frank Sinatra partied . Painstakingly crafted drinks range from fresh-fruit-infused cocktails -LRB- $ 13 -RRB- to daily martini flights -- three mini cocktails with a common theme , such as the Flight Back in Time , featuring a Sazerac , a Sidecar and an Aviation martini -LRB- $ 22 -RRB- . flatironlounge.com . The Beehive , Boston , Massachusetts . Named for a Paris café des artistes that once hosted artists Marc Chagall and Amadeo Modigliani , this Moulin Rouge-esque supper club presents jazz , cabaret and burlesque performances on a shimmering stage draped with theatrical red-velvet curtains . At round stage-side tables , diners feast on stick-to-your-ribs comfort food like gravy-smothered poutine . Chandeliers hang among exposed pipes over the perpetually packed bar , known for champagne cocktails and Beehive juleps -LRB- $ 10.50 -RRB- . beehiveboston.com . Velvet Tango Room , Cleveland , Ohio . This funky 1800s brick house was a speakeasy during the '20s , and it feels like not much has changed since then , as evidenced by the well-used jazz piano and the secret room hidden behind a two-way mirror . Bartenders measure ingredients on scales to ensure exact proportions go into cocktails -LRB- $ 15 -RRB- made with throwback mixers like frothy egg whites , fresh-brewed bitters and homemade ginger soda . velvettangoroom.com . Illusions Magic Bar , Baltimore , Maryland . With custom-made chandeliers above the cherry wood bar and jazz and swing played on the piano , Illusions gives the impression of being like any other roaring '20s - themed jazz club . Not so on Friday and Saturday evenings , when the stage -- cut into the middle of the bar -- hosts a one-hour vaudeville-style magic show -LRB- $ 5 cover -RRB- . House magician Spencer Horsman escapes from a straitjacket while hanging upside down from the ceiling , a feat best appreciated while sipping a multilayered `` magic '' martini of Hpnotiq liqueur , Stoli raspberry vodka , pineapple juice and Chambord -LRB- $ 12 -RRB- . The low-key second-floor lounge has leather sofas and retro magician posters that go nicely with Magic Hat beers -LRB- $ 3 -RRB- . illusionsmagicbar.com . Shanghai 1930 , San Francisco , California . China 's largest metropolis was known as the Paris of the Orient during the pre-WWII era , when diplomats , artists and expats mingled at over-the-top Chinese dining palaces . That decadent ambience is re-created at this supper club , which has dark wood booths , art deco red-velvet chairs and ornate Chinese rugs . After feasting on opulent dishes like minced roast duck in lettuce petals -LRB- $ 13 -RRB- guests retire to the backlit Blue Bar for live jazz and absinthe-spiked cocktails -LRB- $ 9 - $ 14 -RRB- . shanghai1930.com . Sazerac Bar , New Orleans , Louisiana . The fabled bar that first popularized the Ramos Gin Fizz and its namesake Sazerac reopened on July 1 in the revamped Roosevelt Hotel . Paul Nina 's original art deco murals adorn the walls of the bar , which has been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 . Also inside the hotel , the legendary Blue Room supper club -- where Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Durante cut their chops -- will once again host periodic evenings of Dixieland jazz and big band music . therooseveltneworleans.com . Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel , Inc. , all rights reserved . Note : This story was accurate when it was published . Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip . | The Velvet Tango Room in Cleveland was a speakeasy during the '20s . The Violet Hour in Chicago mixes cocktails with eight kinds of ice . In Boston , The Beehive presents jazz , cabaret and burlesque performances . | [[3675, 3735], [219, 259], [3212, 3320]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Piracy is expected to pick up in the high seas off Somalia after a lull caused by monsoon season , maritime officials warned Monday . Suspected Somali pirates sit behind bars during the first hearing in their trial at Aden port court on July 15 . The Combined Maritime Forces urged crews to take up safety measures , including using recognized transit corridors in the Gulf of Aden and reporting to the European Union 's security center before transit . `` The prior preparation and vigilance of merchant mariners at all times of day and night is more important now than ever , '' said Rear Admiral Caner Bener of the Combined Task Force . International forces made up of more than 30 ships and aircraft from 16 nations will continue patrolling the waters to help fight pirates , according to officials . `` While our ability to deter and disrupt attacks has improved over time , we are constantly adapting the way we do our business as the pirates adapt and modify their tactics , '' Bener said . The waters off Somalia are rife with pirate activity , despite increased measures by military forces and shipping companies to ward off attacks . Heavily armed pirates have struck the busy Indian Ocean shipping lanes and the Gulf of Aden , which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean . They have captured dozens of vessels and hundreds of hostages , making off with millions of dollars in ransom . It was unclear whether a ransom was paid . The Gulf of Aden , off northern Somalia , has the highest risk of piracy in the world . | Earlier this month Somali pirates release German ship held since May . Its crew was unharmed , NATO says . Gulf of Aden , off northern Somalia , has the highest risk of piracy in the world . | [[1017, 1069], [1461, 1477], [1503, 1548]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Billy Mays always let you know who you were talking to . OxiClean pitchman Billy Mays , king of the `` yell and sell '' technique died Sunday morning at his home in Tampa . `` Billy Mays , here . '' The 50-year-old became famous for hawking products like OxiClean -LRB- `` Powered by the air you breathe ! '' -RRB- and Mighty Mendit -LRB- `` Before you throw it away , let Mighty Mendit save the day ! '' -RRB- . You needed more space in your closet , Mays had a special hanger for that . You wanted to hang a picture without putting a hole in your wall , he had some supernatural putty you needed to know about . You had a spill ? One word . Zorbeez . `` I 'm a pitchman , my business comes from the pitch , nothing else , '' Mays said recently in an interview with Portfolio . `` My voice , my likeness is my livelihood . That 's it . I keep it simple . I pick good products . '' Mays died Sunday at his home near Tampa , Florida . The Hillsborough County medical examiner Dr. Vernard Adams said Monday that Mays had heart disease . Listen to the 911 call '' Mays ' wife , Deborah Mays , released this statement Monday : `` While it provides some closure to learn that heart disease took Billy from us , it certainly does n't ease the enormous void that his death has created in our lives . '' Handsome in a Brawny Towel Guy sort of way , Mays seemed to be as boisterous off camera as he was on , at least in interviews . He once compared his hands to `` weapons '' for the way they would whip around a product like a fast-dancing showgirl . And even when he did n't feel like cracking a smile , he dug deep . `` When I 'm up against a wall , that 's when Billy Mays performs best , '' he told a Fortune magazine writer earlier this year while driving his Bentley near his home . At the time , Mays ' bum hip was hurting him . He had his hip replaced last year and recently talked about using a special gel insole to help him with the pain -- another product he planned to push . How well does that work ? Mays had demonstrated it informally in interviews by wrapping his hand in the insole and whacking it with a hammer . That was just Mays : A sunshiny attitude and an `` I 've tried it '' believability . Even on Saturday , less than a day before his wife found him dead in their home , Mays was cheerful as he described being conked on the head by falling luggage when his US Airways flight had a rough landing at Tampa International . `` I got ta hard head , '' he said , shrugging . Watch Billy Mays smile and sell '' Mays ' success in the $ 300 billion infomercial industry was his ability to come off sincere , a magical feat for what is , essentially , huckstering , said Marian Salzman , partner at advertising PR giant Porter Novelli . `` He was the everyday Burt Reynolds ; Burt in a next-door neighbor format , '' she said . `` Burt Reynolds was not approachable , but Billy appealed to the ` Mrs. I Push My Cart in Wal-mart . ' Friend : `` No better pitchman on Earth '' '' `` He was that good looking guy at the end of the cul de sac that you could talk to , and even though you know he was going to talk a lot of nonsense , there was going to be an integrity in there . '' Mays often told interviewers of being raised in Pennsylvania , where he played high school football . He left college and began pushing products on the boardwalk in Atlantic City , New Jersey , a vibrant scene a few decades ago . `` There 'd be one here , one there , you know , it 's just the knife , the slicer , the Vitamix , you know , the Washamatic , '' Mays told ABC 's `` Nightline '' in April . `` And there would be tons of people coming in and you just had to , you know , attack these people , stop them , you know , where they 're shopping and tell them the story and sell the product . '' Perfecting what has been called the `` yell 'n sell , '' Mays traveled around the country , selling various doohickeys and thingamabobs . He met another salesman , Max Appel , a guru of cleaning products , and the two forged a friendship . In 1996 , Appel scored a chance to go on the Home Shopping Network and wanted Mays to appear as the pitchman , according to Fortune . That was the day the wood cleaner Orange Glo was born , a golden road that ended in a $ 325 million pay day when Appel sold the company to Church & Dwight , the maker of OxiClean . Celebrity was on the horizon . In the late 1980s cable TV was taking off as a marketplace as segments of late night airtime were relatively cheap . There was a science to what would evolve as a cottage industry . Keep the pitches short and bright . Demonstrate , do n't describe . Noting the commercials air globally , Mays joked with Portfolio magazine that he speaks 57 languages . Affordability is an international language . `` I feel that the magic number on the infomercial , the two-minute spots , it 's kind of hard to get past $ 20 , '' Mays told Portfolio . `` That seems to be the magic number . Or $ 19.95 . The best things in life are free and $ 19.95 . '' Mays also knew how to make fun of himself , including in a series of promos for ESPN . `` Billy Mays here for ESPN360.com , the revolutionary tool for watching sports , '' he shouts , crouching under a desk and pointing to a cable . `` The secret is in the Internet connection live sports travel on this wire to the back of your desktop ! '' Mays had recently starred in a Discovery channel reality show with fellow pitchman Anthony Sullivan , a Briton who has made many think , perhaps at 3 a.m. , that purchasing a Smart Chopper is the best move they 've made in months . Sullivan and Mays appeared together in a TV Guide television interview to talk about the show . `` America will realize that Billy does n't shout all the time , '' Sullivan said . `` He has another volume . '' | Billy Mays was `` Burt Reynolds in next-door format , '' advertising expert says . Mays started his career on the boardwalk of Atlantic City , New Jersey . `` I 'm a pitchman , my business comes from the pitch , nothing else , '' he said . Mays was found dead in his Tampa , Florida , home on Sunday . | [[3312, 3314], [3332, 3388], [675, 690], [693, 725], [76, 104], [127, 191], [901, 940], [2271, 2308]] |
TEHRAN , Iran -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The woman whose death has come to symbolize Iranian resistance to the government 's official election results did not die the way the opposition claims , government-backed Press TV said Sunday . A boy lights a candle beside a photo of Neda during a protest against Iranian elections in Frankfurt , Germany . Two people told Press TV there were no security forces in the area when Neda Agha-Soltan , 26 , was killed on June 20 . Neda 's death was captured on amateur video -- most likely by a cell phone -- and posted online . Within hours , she had become the iconic victim of the Iranian government crackdown . Eyewitnesses say Neda was shot by pro-government Basij militiamen perched on a rooftop . But Press TV said the type of bullet that killed her is not used by Iranian security forces . A man who told the state-funded network he had helped take her to a hospital said , `` There were no security forces or any member of the Basij '' government-backed paramilitary present when she was killed . Press TV did not name the man , who spoke Farsi and was subtitled in English on the broadcast . CNN has not identified him and can not confirm his account . Watch more about Neda 's death '' `` I did n't see who shot who , '' he said . `` The whole scene looked suspicious to me . '' A second man , whom Press TV identified as Neda 's music teacher who was with her when she died , told the station there was `` no security forces in this street '' when she was shot . Press TV did not name the man , who had a gray mustache and ponytail . He spoke Farsi and was subtitled in English as he walked and pointed at what Press TV said was the scene of the shooting . She was with a family friend who is a music teacher when she was killed . He appears to be the man who spoke to the Iranian broadcaster . `` There was no sign of a protest , '' he said . `` We crossed the street to the other side to get a cab ... When we reached this spot , a gunshot was heard . There was no shooting here ... There were no security forces in this street . There were around 20 , 30 people in this street . One shot was heard and that bullet hit Neda . '' `` The bullet was apparently fired from a small caliber pistol that 's not used by Iranian security forces , '' the Press TV anchor said . Iran has strict gun-control laws that bar private citizens from carrying firearms . U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday he had seen the video of Neda 's death and called it `` heartbreaking . `` And I think anyone who sees it knows there 's something fundamentally unjust about it , '' he said . The shaky video of her death shows her walking with a man , a teacher of music and philosophy , near an anti-government demonstration . After being stuck in traffic for more than an hour inside a Peugeot 206 -- a subcompact with a poorly working air conditioner -- Neda and the friend decided to get out of the car for some fresh air , a friend of Neda 's told CNN after her death . The two were near where protesters were chanting in opposition to the supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , whose calls for an end to anti-government demonstrations have sparked defiance across the nation . Neda , wearing a baseball cap over a black scarf , a black shirt , blue jeans and tennis shoes , does not appear to be chanting and seems to be observing the demonstration . Suddenly , Neda is on the ground -- felled by a single gunshot wound to the chest . Several men kneel at her side and place pressure on her chest in an attempt to stop the bleeding . `` She has been shot ! Someone , come and take her ! '' shouts one man . By now , Neda 's eyes have rolled to her right ; her body is limp . Blood streams from her mouth , then from her nose . For a second , her face is hidden from view as the camera goes behind one of the men . When Neda 's face comes back into view , it is covered with blood . Iran 's ambassador to Mexico -- one of few Iranian officials who has spoken to CNN since the disputed June 12 presidential election -- suggested American intelligence services could be responsible for her death . `` This death of Neda is very suspicious , '' Ambassador Mohammad Hassan Ghadiri said . `` My question is , how is it that this Miss Neda is shot from behind , got shot in front of several cameras , and is shot in an area where no significant demonstration was behind held ? `` Well , if the CIA wants to kill some people and attribute that to the government elements , then choosing women is an appropriate choice , because the death of a woman draws more sympathy , '' Ghadiri said . CIA spokesman George Little responded , `` Any suggestion that the CIA was responsible for the death of this young woman is wrong , absurd and offensive . '' | Press TV : No security forces in area when Neda Agha-Soltan , 26 , was killed . Her death was captured on amateur video and posted online June 20 . Eyewitnesses say Neda was shot by pro-government Basij militiamen . Press TV say type of bullet that killed her not used by Iranian security forces . | [[341, 407], [413, 429], [432, 460], [1320, 1384], [1418, 1484], [2027, 2073], [461, 535], [461, 474], [543, 558], [645, 710], [2152, 2169], [738, 770], [787, 827]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Search warrants filed Thursday in court in Clark County , Nevada , and carried out at properties of Michael Jackson 's doctor imply that investigators looking into his death believe the singer was a drug addict . Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died . The warrants , signed by District Judge Timothy Williams and given to CNN by Las Vegas affiliate KTNV , say `` there is probable cause to believe '' that searches would uncover evidence at the Las Vegas home and office of Dr. Conrad Murray of excessive prescribing , prescribing to an addict , excess treatment or prescribing , unprofessional conduct , prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter . They cite `` probable cause to believe '' that the premises contained `` records , shipping orders , distribution lists , use records relating to the purchase , transfer ordering , delivery and storage of propofol -LRB- Diprivan -RRB- . '' A source told CNN on Monday that the Texas-based cardiologist allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- in the 24 hours before he died . A source involved in the investigation into Jackson 's death has told CNN that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in his $ 100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills , California . Watch report on the warrants '' The items taken from Murray 's home included copies of his computer and cell phone hard drives . They were to be turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department , which is leading the investigation into Jackson 's death last month at age 50 . Murray is the central focus of a federal investigation into the singer 's death , a law enforcement official told CNN on Wednesday . Authorities have subpoenaed the records of various doctors who have treated Jackson over the years , but `` Dr. -LSB- Conrad -RSB- Murray is the only one we 're looking at , '' the federal law enforcement official said . The disclosures were among several developments Wednesday in a story that continues to gather steam more than a month after the death of the pop icon on June 25 . Other recent developments : . • Jackson 's father , Joe , acknowledged that a 25-year-old Norwegian performer is Jackson 's son -- even as the man himself denied the relationship in various news reports . • Jackson 's estate is worth at least $ 200 million , a source with knowledge of the estate 's dealings told CNN . Murray and the drug investigation . Despite the comment from the federal law enforcement official , Murray 's lawyer does not think an arrest is imminent because autopsy results into Jackson 's death are pending . Police have interviewed Murray twice since Jackson 's death . Murray 's lawyer , Ed Chernoff , said his client is ready to talk to investigators again , but a meeting has not been scheduled . Murray has consistently denied he prescribed or administered anything that could have killed Jackson . Watch a profile of Murray '' On Tuesday , investigators searched Murray 's home and office in Las Vegas , Nevada . Chernoff said he wo n't comment on `` rumors , innuendo or unnamed sources . '' Watch CNN 's Ted Rowlands report on drug allegation '' Meanwhile , Murray failed to make a payment of $ 15,000 on his $ 1.65 million home in January and has racked up debt since . If he does not make a payment by mid-August , he will lose his home to foreclosure , a spokeswoman confirmed . `` He was to be paid $ 150,000 a month by Michael Jackson , '' the spokeswoman said . `` He was not -LSB- paid -RSB- by AEG , the tour promoter , or Jackson , for the two months he worked for them . So he 's low on money . '' Murray has been beset by financial difficulties since graduating from medical school . He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 1992 and accumulated $ 44,663 in state tax liens in Arizona and California from 1993 until 2003 , according to court documents . He has also has been hit with several judgments related to unpaid bills , child support payments and defaults on education loans . On Wednesday , CNN learned Murray was arrested on a charge of domestic violence disorderly conduct in Tucson , Arizona , in 1994 . Murray 's then-girlfriend accused him of having an affair and threw something at him , Tucson law enforcement officials said . Murray allegedly pushed the woman down . The doctor was acquitted five months after the incident . Joe Jackson : Jackson had another son . In an interview with the Web site NewsOne , Jackson 's father , Joe , said the singer had another son , a 25-year-old Norwegian performer , Omer Bhatti . `` Yes , I knew he had another son . Yes , I did , '' Joe Jackson said . `` He looks like a Jackson , he acts like a Jackson , he can dance like a Jackson . This boy is a fantastic dancer . As a matter of fact , he teaches dancing . '' At Jackson 's memorial service this month , Bhatti was seated in the front row between the pop star 's father and sister . CNN has been unable to confirm the relationship . And Bhatti has told various media outlets that he and Jackson were close friends . Battle brews over Jackson 's will . Jackson 's estate is worth at least $ 200 million and could amount to much more , an informed source told CNN on Wednesday . Earlier this month , a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted control of Jackson 's assets to the executors of his will : John Branca , Jackson 's longtime personal attorney , and John McClain , a music industry executive and longtime friend . A third executor , accountant Barry Siegel , recused himself . Jackson 's mother , Katherine , now wants the judge to install her in the open slot . The judge has scheduled a hearing on Monday . `` The question is , will all this get resolved on Monday , when there is a hearing ? '' said CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom . `` Or will this blow up into a huge dispute between Katherine and the executors ? '' CNN 's Randi Kaye and Ted Rowlands contributed to this report . | NEW : Search warrants say there is probable evidence of prescribing to an addict . NEW : Source says numerous prescription drugs found in Michael Jackson 's home . `` Dr. -LSB- Conrad -RSB- Murray is the only one we 're looking at , '' law enforcement official says . Singer 's father confirms Michael had another child , says `` he looks like a Jackson '' | [[435, 734], [1165, 1358], [1650, 1729], [1732, 1782], [1888, 1954], [2197, 2216], [2225, 2313], [4474, 4499], [4500, 4533], [4544, 4561], [4570, 4601], [4730, 4753]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iraq 's former trade minister , who resigned this month amid accusations of corruption , was arrested by security forces as he was trying to leave the country , officials confirmed to CNN . Abdul Falah al-Sudani resigned as Iraq 's trade minister under allegations of corruption . Abdul Falah al-Sudani was aboard a flight to Dubai from Baghdad International Airport when police contacted the pilot and told him to fly back to the airport , Sabah al-Saedi , chairman of Iraq 's parliamentary integrity committee told CNN . Al-Sudani -- arrested on a warrant issued in Samawa on Saturday -- was seized after the plane landed , al-Saedi said . Lawmakers and government officials have raised questions with al-Sudani about Trade Ministry issues : the importation of goods intended for distribution in government food rations but rejected as unsuitable for human consumption ; missing shipments of food ; a missing $ 39 million ; and obstruction of justice . Al-Sudani acknowledged that his ministry has had problems with corruption but denied he was personally involved . Al-Saedi said al-Sudani did n't know that a warrant would be issued , but he was well-aware of the corruption accusations against him and had been told by lawmakers and officials not to leave Iraq . | Ex-trade minister Abdul Falah al-Sudani resigned in corruption scandal . Al-Sudani arrested after authorities tell pilot to return plane to Baghdad . Former official denies involvement in ministry 's corruption problems . | [[42, 63], [70, 120], [224, 314], [989, 1102]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Federal authorities indicted 24 people Wednesday on charges of selling , buying or exchanging archaeological artifacts stolen from Native American lands -- part of what Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called a crackdown on smugglers of such relics . The artifacts include burial and ceremonial masks , decorated pottery and a buffalo-hide headdress , according to a news release from the Department of Justice . `` Let this case serve notice to anyone who is considering breaking these laws and trampling our nation 's cultural heritage that the BLM -LSB- Bureau of Land Management -RSB- , the Department of Justice and the federal government will track you down and bring you to justice , '' said Salazar , who was in Salt Lake City , Utah , to announce the crackdown . President Obama is `` committed to a new relationship with America 's first Americans , '' Salazar said , adding that Wednesday 's announcements of indictments was a show of that commitment . Officials said the artifacts -- some stolen from grave sites -- were taken from the Four Corners area , so called because it is the intersection of four states : Utah , Colorado , Arizona and New Mexico . The area also has a rich history of Native American culture . The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department manages the Four Corners Monument , which attracts tourists as the only point in the United States where four states come together at one point . Authorities recovered 256 artifacts worth about $ 335,685 , said Deputy Attorney General David Ogden . About 150 agents assisted in an undercover investigation that tracked the suspects for more than two years , Ogden said . They had the help of an individual who knew about the smuggling ring , officials said . The investigation is ongoing , said Ogden . The recovered artifacts are evidence , but at some point after the investigation those that are privately owned will be returned to their owners , said Craig Leff , a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management . The suspects face charges carrying sentences ranging from one to 10 years in prison for violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation , Ogden said . | 24 indicted for selling , buying , exchanging archaeological artifacts . Artifacts stolen from Native American lands . Authorities recovered 256 artifacts worth about $ 335,685 . Undercover investigation tracked suspects for more than two years . | [[19, 89], [0, 15], [102, 171], [1444, 1501], [1576, 1603], [1609, 1653]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Verified Identity Pass Inc. 's Clear security system -- the program that expedited airport security line waits for paying customers -- ended operation Monday night because the company could n't reach a consensus with its senior creditors , according to its Web site . Clear promised to help passengers avoid security lines like this one at San Francisco International Airport . The New York-based company founded by entrepreneur Stephen Brill targeted business flyers , promising passengers that they would whisk through tedious airport security lanes more rapidly by being placed in private lines . Verified Identity Pass officials could n't be reached for comment . Clear 's fast-lane program began at Orlando -LRB- Florida -RRB- International Airport in 2005 . By the time the company shut down , it was operating in more than 18 locations , including major airports in Atlanta , Georgia ; Denver , Colorado ; San Francisco , California ; and Washington . USA Today reported that the company had about 250,000 members . With nearly 700 million passengers traveling domestically in 2006 , Clear company officials touted their program as a way to help avoid bottlenecks and , in some instances , reduce the wait time in security lines to as little as five minutes . Passengers using the Clear program doled out more than $ 200 a year . After announcing the shutdown , the company released no information on whether customers would receive refunds . John Harrington , a freelance photographer in Washington , renewed his Clear membership for the next two years about a month ago . He said he was disappointed to receive an e-mail from Clear officials saying the program had been terminated . Harrington relied on the quicker lanes when he traveled for assignments out of Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport . `` With Clear , I could get into my gate in less than 15 to 20 minutes , '' said Harrington , who is flying to San Francisco next week and will now have to arrive at the airport an hour earlier . `` Try that with regular airport security . It 's going to cost me time . '' The Clear program required applicants like Harrington to provide information such as a Social Security number and previous address for a background check . The applicant 's fingerprints and iris were scanned . The information was placed into a credit-card-size pass and for scanning at an airport Clear booth . After checking in at the Clear booth , customers were shuttled into a separate line overseen by the Transportation Security Administration . In some airports , Clear members were taken to security lanes reserved for them . In other airports , they used employee security lanes . Clear members went through the same security procedures ; they had to take off their shoes and take out laptops . Clear arrived at Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport , the busiest airport in the United States , last fall , officials said . At the same time , the airport added 12 security lanes , cutting the average security wait time to 10 minutes , airport spokeswoman Katena Carvajales said . `` Clear shutting down is not impacting our passengers at this airport , '' Carvajales said , adding that customer service officials are stationed near the Clear booths to instruct members on where to go . Some critics argued that the Clear lines were no faster than regular security lines . The Air Transport Association , the industry representing the major U.S. airlines , said the program did n't enhance security . Spokesman David A. Castelveter said airlines already offered frequent travelers and elite members separate lines with no charge . In 2008 , the TSA also began expanding its free Black Diamond Self-Select Lanes program to Logan International Airport in Boston , Massachusetts , Orlando and Spokane -LRB- Washington -RRB- International Airport . The program features a series of lanes broken down into categories for expert business travelers who fly frequently , casual travelers who do n't fly as often , and skiers or families with strollers who need special assistance . The program has helped decrease wait times at pilot locations in Denver and Salt Lake City , Utah , according to a TSA statement . `` Clear was a personal decision by travelers , '' Castelveter said . `` If they could afford it , then they could buy it , but it did n't offer anything that was n't already there . '' Seven years ago , Congress approved the creation of a speedier airport clearance system that would make the skies safer after September 11 rattled the travel industry . Government officials wanted to vet passengers and put those with a clean history into a separate , quicker line . But government officials worried that potential terrorists could sneak onto the approved list . The government program was handed off to private companies , like Verified Identity Pass , that saw the convenience factor as something they could sell . | Clear security system allowed passengers to use different security lines . Clear was operating in 18 airports and served 250,000 passengers . Air Transport Association said the program offered few benefits to travelers . `` It 's going to cost me time , '' says one traveler who relied on the Clear program . | [[2444, 2480], [2483, 2527], [783, 794], [819, 909], [2100, 2129]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world . Michael Jackson , the ultimate showman , craved attention and was rarely disappointed . Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the `` King of Pop . '' The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft . While his career -- and wealth -- had waned greatly in recent years , there was still enough support for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour . Fans from as far afield as Japan , Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets . Steve Greenberg , founder and CEO of S-Curve Records , was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv , Israel , when `` Thriller '' first dropped and witnessed first-hand how Jackson became an international icon . His was a global appeal , Greenberg said , among fans and artists worldwide . `` He was as big in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as he was in America and Europe , '' Greenberg said . `` He had that universality that not many people had . The Beatles had it , Muhammad Ali had it , but not many other people have had it . '' Jackson was known for far more than his music though . Speaking after his death in Los Angeles was announced , U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a `` trailblazer '' in helping people around the world through his charities . How will you remember Michael Jackson ? Sharpton added that the song Jackson co-wrote with Lionel Richie , `` We Are the World , '' a 1985 charity single that raised an estimated $ 50 million for famine relief in Africa , ushered in Live Aid and the era of celebrity philanthropy . Jackson was the supreme showman who had an unrivalled knack of grabbing headlines . From his precocious abilities as the 11-year-old singer in the Jackson 5 to his legendary `` moon-walk '' dance , the star craved attention , and was rarely disappointed . Jackson `` as big as it gets '' '' But in the years after his colossal 1982 hit album `` Thriller '' and its 1987 follow-up `` Bad , '' much of the focus did not cast him in a good light . In 1996 the lead singer of Pulp , Jarvis Cocker , caused a furor at the Brit Awards in London when he invaded the stage during Jackson 's performance of `` Earth Song '' in protest `` at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing . '' Jackson failed to see the humor in Cocker 's mockery , responding that he was `` sickened , saddened , shocked , upset , cheated , angry '' by the protest . He also alleged that Cocker had attacked children on stage , something that the Pulp singer denied . But many in the music industry backed Cocker , who was arrested but later released without charge . The theme of children was one that continued to haunt Jackson . In 2002 he caused a public outcry by dangling his baby son Prince Michael II from a third-floor hotel balcony in Germany before the world 's press . He later said he regretted the incident . Watch video of the incident '' And in a 2003 interview with British journalist Martin Bashir that was supposed to repair his image around the world , the singer revived allegations of child abuse when he said of sharing a bed with a young boy : `` It 's a beautiful thing . It 's very right , it 's very loving . Because what 's wrong with sharing a love ? '' A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of sexually molesting 12-year-old Gavin Arvizo . Jackson surrendered himself to police amid a media furor . In the 2005 trial conducted in the glare of the world 's media spotlight , Jackson was cleared of child molestation charges . Following the trial , Jackson 's finances took a hit and he was forced to sell his Neverland ranch in California . He later kept a low profile in the United States and spent time in Britain , where his friends included psychic spoonbender Uri Geller and Harrod 's owner Mohamed Al Fayed , and also in Bahrain . But in November last year , Jackson was sued by an Arab sheikh at the High Court in London for $ 7.7 million . They parted `` amicably '' after agreeing a settlement . Jackson had been invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain by the king 's son , Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa , who lavished money on Jackson and built a recording studio , which he believed would be used to record albums by Jackson using material the sheikh had helped to write . But Jackson insisted there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh 's case was based on `` mistake , misrepresentation and undue influence . '' He said sums of money paid out by the sheikh were `` gifts . '' As fans around the world mourn it is likely Michael Jackson will be remembered as a musical hero -- but also a man with human flaws . | Michael Jackson was adored by fans around the world . Total sales exceeding 700 million records over his 40-year career . U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to his charity work . | [[1400, 1439], [1456, 1608]] |
After years of rising cholesterol levels from fatty diets and pudgy waistlines , there 's finally good news , experts say . More people who are trying to lower their cholesterol are actually succeeding in getting their low-density lipoprotein , or bad cholesterol , down to healthy levels . Research suggests that decreasing LDL -- via drugs , exercise and/or diet -- can ward off heart attacks and strokes . However , there 's still room for improvement , according to research from nine countries , including the United States and Canada . And there 's good reason to stay focused on lowering your cholesterol : Research suggests that decreasing LDL can ward off heart attacks , strokes , and other health problems . In the new study , which was funded by Pfizer and published in Circulation : Journal of the American Heart Association , an international group of researchers led by David D. Waters , M.D. , of the University of California , San Francisco , looked at 9,955 people with an average age of 62 to see whether cholesterol-lowering efforts -- including taking medication or trying diet and exercise alone -- were having the intended effect . For healthy people , the current target for LDL cholesterol is less than 160 mg/dL , and for those with two or more heart disease risk factors , it 's less than 130 mg/dL . For people with heart disease , LDL should be less than 100 mg/dL and possibly even less than 70 mg/dL for those at super-high risk . The survey , known as the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project 2 , is an update of a similar survey done in the United States in 1996 and 1997 . At that time , just 38 percent of Americans in general and 18 percent of people with heart disease who were trying to lower cholesterol actually had their LDL cholesterol under control . Health.com : 4 tips for healthy drinking while dieting . Things have definitely gotten better . Waters and his colleagues found that in 2006 -- 2007 , 73 percent of people had their LDL cholesterol in an acceptable range . This included 86 percent of people at relatively low risk of heart problems , 74 percent at moderate risk , and 67 percent at high risk . But just one in three people , or 30 percent , who already had heart disease and at least two other risk factors -LRB- such as obesity and smoking -RRB- had their LDL cholesterol in the healthy range . About 75 percent of the patients in the survey were taking statins , 16 percent were treated with only diet and exercise , and the remainder took a cholesterol-lowering medication that was not a statin . Statins include brand-name drugs like Lipitor , Zocor , and Crestor , among others . The findings `` should be a wake-up call '' to people who already have or are at risk of heart attack and strokes , says Gregg Fonarow , M.D. , the codirector of the UCLA Preventative Cardiology Program , who was not involved with the research . People with cardiovascular disease should not `` assume that just because they 're under medical care that they 've optimized their cardiovascular health , '' he says . Health.com : Ultimate guide to fresh fruits and veggies . However , Dan Hackam , M.D. , Ph.D. , of the University of Western Ontario and the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre in London , Ontario , says the survey may not be a fair representation of people with high cholesterol . The survey included only people who had been using the same cholesterol-lowering approach for at least three months . `` There 's lots of people in the general population who should be on these drugs who are n't on them , '' Hackam says . `` I see a lot of patients who 've had heart attacks and strokes who are n't on these medications . '' Nevertheless , according to Hackam , the findings are `` very good news . '' When the original survey was done , he says , there were just a couple of major clinical trials showing the health benefits of cholesterol reduction with statins . Since then , there have been around 50 such trials , he adds , including some with women , minorities , and seniors . `` There 's just so much more awareness now among physicians of the clinical evidence , '' he says . Health.com : 10 celebrity couples : Who 's healthy , who 's not ? Fonarow says there are still plenty of doctors out there who do n't treat cholesterol as aggressively as they should . `` The threat to the patient is something that plays out over many years or decades ; it 's not an immediate threat , '' he notes . This time lag can make it difficult for some people to see the benefits of treating high cholesterol just as aggressively as they would a heart attack , says Fonarow . Hackam says he measures his patients ' heart disease and stroke risk by giving them a 12-hour fasting cholesterol test and a scan of the walls of the arteries in their neck . If the scan shows fatty plaques , he recommends cholesterol-lowering therapy even if the patient 's cholesterol levels are normal . Health.com : New iPhone apps for healthier , more earth-friendly shopping . Other steps people can take , aside from seeing their doctor , include quitting smoking and exercising more , Hackam says . There 's even a home cholesterol test -- just like the home glucose tests used by people with diabetes -- that patients could use . `` People can be very proactive , '' he explains . To find out if your cholesterol levels are where they should be , and what to do if they are n't , Fonarow recommends checking out the interactive Web sites run by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology . Why are more people hitting cholesterol targets ? It probably is n't because more patients are taking their medication properly or sticking with their diet , according to an editorial published with the study . It 's more likely that the newer cholesterol-lowering drugs do a better job of curbing LDL , writes Antonio M. Gotto , Jr. , M.D. , D.Phil , of Weill Cornell Medical College , in New York City . About half of the study participants were taking one of these newer drugs , he notes . Health.com : The medical tests every woman must have . Gotto is a consultant for Merck and other companies and is on the advisory board of DuPont and Novartis . Waters and other study coauthors have received consulting fees from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Study : More heart patients are succeeding in getting cholesterol to healthy levels . In 2006-07 , 73 percent of people had LDL in healthy range vs. 38 percent in 1996-97 . Likely that the newer cholesterol-lowering drugs do a better job of curbing LDL . There 's still room for improvement , says one expert . | [[124, 263], [5572, 5621], [1888, 2014], [1925, 1940], [1943, 2014], [5783, 5958]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- Letting someone else deal with the day to day expenses of maintaining an automobile -LRB- and just paying for what you use -RRB- seems to be a novel idea . Joining a `` car share , '' such as the popular Zipcar car sharing service , is gaining in popularity as consumers look to other ways to save money . Car-sharing services let you avoid paying for gas and insurance , but there are fees and rules . By using a car share , you 're not only shedding monthly car payments , taxes , insurance and upkeep , but you can let someone else worry about whether the old rattle trap will make it another year . You simply pay a fee and drive the car when you need it . By maximizing the utilization of a single automobile among many users , car sharing services claim they are helping to reduce pollution , too . Every single Zipcar removes about 15 personal cars from the road , the company says . Unclogging traffic and dialing back the amount of single-occupant vehicles burning fuel has a greening effect . Reducing expenses and saving the polar ice caps are n't the only reasons ; there 's as much justification for joining a car share as you can dream up , from impressing the client at a business meeting with a fancy car to going over the river and through the woods for family gatherings , all without actually owning a car -LRB- or paying for its gas or insurance -RRB- . But is a car share for you ? The concept seems best suited to metro areas , where car insurance rates and parking costs can be high . On the other hand , if you work out of your car , use it on a daily basis or live in a more rural or expansive suburban region , you might be better off keeping your current car . AOL Autos : Top 11 distracting things people do in their cars . `` The ideal candidates for car sharing are consumers and businesses in cities where owning a car is costly , where there is good public transit , and where most amenities are within walking distance , '' Zipcar President and COO Mark Norman said . `` In other words , where you do n't really need to own a car . In addition , students are ideal car sharing members , given the high cost of ownership as well as the increasing limits on parking on campus . '' AOL Autos : Cheapest cars to own . Automobiles can be a huge hassle and expense if you only drive occasionally , so we 've set out to look at what car sharing involves . AOL Autos : Pay as you drive insurance . How does it work ? The biggest North American car share , Zipcar , aims to be convenient , easy , and technologically savvy . Far more streamlined than an old-school rental car , Zipcar makes getting the use of an automobile about as easy as making a withdrawal from an ATM . The concept of car sharing had its genesis in Europe and has spread to the North American market as interest in frugality and environmental consciousness has increased . AOL Autos : Twenty cars of the future . The first step to using Zipcar is signing up . As a member , you 'll get a `` Zipcard , '' which allows you to reserve a vehicle near you via the company 's Web site or from a new iPhone application . Once you 've reserved a car -LRB- or truck -- the beauty of car sharing services is that you can get a big car when you need it , not when you do n't -RRB- , a pretty neat technology unlocks the doors when you walk near your vehicle -LRB- we wo n't bore you with the details , but if you 're wondering , it 's called radio frequency identification -RRB- . When it senses the card on you , the doors unlock , at which point , you 're on your way . Cars are located all over metro areas -LRB- Zipcar gives you a map to the location of the car you 've booked -RRB- . While application approval is usually quick , it takes a few days to get the Zipcard mailed to you . If your city has a Zipcard office , you can pick up your card there . Where can you find car sharing ? Car shares are springing up across the U.S. , but you 're likely to find them in major cities with a traffic problem . Zipcar is the largest service of its kind in the United States , maintaining a fleet of 6,500 automobiles that service 300,000-plus users . Twenty-eight states have at least one Zipcar outpost , and Zipcar has expanded its user base by 100 percent per year since 2004 , so new service areas will spring up where demand supports it . Zipcar also operates in Canada , as well as London in the UK . The service is strongest on the coasts , with the Northeast being particularly thick with coverage , but even Des Moines , Iowa has Zipcars available . Zipcar claims that as consumers are moving toward more `` access '' models -LRB- such as buying music by the song for your MP3 player -RRB- , cars could also move in this direction . `` Car sharing has always represented great value for consumers by giving them the freedom of car ownership without the cost and hassles , '' Zipcar 's Norman said . `` Now more than ever , in an economic recession and with gas prices on the rise , people and businesses are turning to car sharing . In addition , in an era where people buy music by the song , driving a car by the hour makes a lot of sense . '' Municipalities often tout car sharing if a service is available . Check with your city to see if there are any plans to bring car sharing to your city . What are the costs ? Since Zipcar is the most popular , we 'll take a look at their fee structure for a sample of what car sharing might cost you . Rates vary by city , but on average a Zipcar account costs $ 75 to startup and there 's an annual fee of $ 50 for an occasional driving plan . Additional drivers from the same household can be added to an account for $ 25 each . Insurance and fuel are covered -- each Zipcar has a gas card for fillup time . Overstay your reservation , and you 'll get whacked for at least $ 50 ; late fees are $ 50 per hour with a $ 50 minimum . Reminders can be set up so users are n't caught off guard by poor time-management . Extra value plans wipe away the annual fee for a monthly commitment of at least $ 50 . Ideal for heavy users , the rates are lower across the board . Businesses and Universities are also in Zipcar 's crosshairs , and the Zipcar fleet could save many businesses money on company cars . AOL Autos : Rental car prices can change in a heartbeat . Zipcar touts its fleet as the most diverse of its kind with everything from Priuses to pickup trucks . There are premium nameplates in Zipcar 's fleet that command higher prices -- the cars for the image-conscious versus plain-jane driver . Full-day rentals are $ 65 , and a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. business day runs $ 56 . Cars come with a full tank of fuel , and you get 180 miles per day before you start paying by the mile . Other car sharing services . Zipcar is n't the only game in town , of course . Traditional car rental services offer one-way rentals , which Zipcar does not ; this is something to consider depending on your travel plans . Hertz has jumped into the breech with its `` Connect by Hertz '' product , a veritable clone of Zipcar . Hertz only offers its service in five locations so far : New York City ; Park Ridge , New Jersey ; Ohio State University ; Pepperdine University in California ; and Washington D.C. UHaul has also tossed its hat into the ring with its UCarShare service , mostly based around specific college campuses in a small number of locations . UCarShare 's rates are higher and terms more restrictive than Zipcar 's . Regional players also abound , most based around a particular region . Bay area residents can use City Carshare , Chicago has I-GO , and there are small car sharing services in places like Denver , Philly , St. Louis , or Cleveland . Rates for these competitors vary from on par to more expensive . Terms of service may be different , some offering included miles , some charging for each mile -- it runs the gamut . | It is possible to drive a car when you want without owning it . Many big cities , some colleges have companies offering car-share services . Zipcar has U.S. fleet of 6,500 automobiles that service 300,000-plus users . You pay membership fee , monthly fee -- but do n't pay for gas or insurance . | [[628, 685], [4022, 4028], [4087, 4127], [331, 394], [628, 685]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pirates hijacked a British-owned bulk carrier Saturday in the Indian Ocean , but NATO forces stopped an attack on another vessel in the Gulf of Aden hours earlier , NATO maritime authorities said . 11 pirates are arrested by Yemeni security forces in an operation last month . The UK cargo ship , the MV Ariana , was carrying 35,000 tons of soya about 250 nautical miles -LRB- 287 miles -RRB- northwest of the Seychelles when it was seized around dawn . The crew members are Ukrainians and they are not believed to harmed , NATO said . It is unclear how many crew members were aboard the vessel and how it came to be attacked . NATO said it was unaware of ransom demands or any threats against those aboard . NATO said a European Union Protection Aircraft has been deployed to monitor and track the MV Ariana , which is making its way toward Somalia -- the epicenter of the pirate industry . The Seychelles is a republic consisting of a group of islands off East Africa . On Friday evening , a NATO operation conducted by a Portuguese warship disrupted a pirate attack on a Bahamas oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden . The tanker , the MV Kition , broadcast an emergency alert when a pirate-filled skiff approached . NRP Corte-Real , the closest NATO ship , and its helicopter responded and intercepted the pirates . Portuguese Navy special forces boarded a pirate mother-ship . They found and destroyed four AK-47s , a rocket-propelled grenade and four explosives . They seized 19 suspected Somali pirates but released them after consulting with Portuguese national authorities . Piracy has been soaring off the coast of eastern Africa -- particularly Somalia , which has not had an effective government since 1991 . Somali pirates have defied foreign navies patrolling the waters and have collected large ransoms from shipping companies . Ransoms started out in the tens of thousands of dollars and have since climbed into the millions . Journalist Ashleigh Nghiem contributed to this report . | Pirates hijack British-owned bulk carrier in Indian Ocean . NATO forces stop attack on another vessel in Gulf of Aden hours earlier . Piracy is a major problem in the waters off Somalia . Somalia has not had a stable government in place since 1991 . | [[19, 93], [100, 181], [991, 1008], [1011, 1133], [1655, 1675], [1684, 1732]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States will provide $ 73 million in aid to Zimbabwe , President Obama announced Friday after meeting with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House . President Obama -LRB- right -RRB- praised Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House on Friday . `` I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the prime minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe , '' Obama said . `` There was a time when Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa , and -LSB- it -RSB- continues to have enormous potential . It has gone through a very dark and difficult time politically . '' Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe `` has not acted oftentimes in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people and has been resistant to the democratic changes that need to take place , '' Obama said . `` We now have a power-sharing agreement that shows promise , and we want to do everything we can to encourage the kinds of improvement not only on human rights and rule of law , freedom of the press and democracy that is so necessary , but also on the economic front . '' The U.S. aid will not be going to the government directly `` because we continue to be concerned about consolidating democracy , human rights and rule of law , '' Obama said . `` But it will be going directly to the people in Zimbabwe . '' In a CNN interview following his meeting with Obama , Tsvangirai said he is grateful for the generosity . `` Whether it is humanitarian aid or transitional support , it adds up to the relief that Zimbabwe is seeking , '' he said . Watch Tsvangirai discuss importance of aid to Zimbabwe '' Tsvangirai said he told Obama he would like the United States to use its global influence to assist Zimbabwe in dealing with the challenges it faces . Tsvangirai said he understood other nations ' reluctance to support the Zimbabwean government , given Mugabe 's controversial history . `` I think it 's fair , '' he said . `` I understand it , given our history , and I 'm not going to defend President Mugabe . '' But , he noted , the two have agreed to work together and help Zimbabwe progress as a nation . In remarks with Obama , Tsvangirai said progress has been made by the transitional government , but much remains to be done . `` It is the problems of implementation , '' he said . '' ... even by the standard of our own benchmarks , there are gaps that still exist . '' He said he would continue to strive to meet those benchmarks , not for the international community , but because `` it gives -LSB- the -RSB- people of Zimbabwe freedom and opportunity to grow . '' The power-sharing arrangement between Tsvangirai , the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change , and Mugabe came after contested elections last year . `` Of course we can not brush away that history , that sad history , '' Tsvangirai told CNN . But he said he is hoping the country will heal and move forward , and wants even those skeptical of Mugabe to appreciate the transition process . Asked whether he believes Mugabe should retire , Tsvangirai said `` at the age of 85 , I think one needs to retire . '' But , he said , for his own legacy , it 's important for him to be thinking about a `` dignified exit . '' `` I think that -LSB- the power-sharing government -RSB- provides him with this opportunity , '' Tsvangirai said . Asked about his relationship with Mugabe , he said , `` We do n't have to fall in love to work together . But we have accepted that we have made an agreement to have a workable relationship between the two political parties . '' He said there had been acrimony between the two , but they realized it was not helping the Zimbabwean people . `` We are inspired by people like Nelson Mandela , who had to go for 27 years in jail but still come out and say , ` Let 's forget about the past ' ... '' he said . He and Mugabe have chosen the process of dialogue rather than violence , Tsvangirai said . `` Let history judge whether this historic experiment was the right course of action . '' CNN 's Elise Labott contributed to this report . | President Obama praises Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai , offers $ 73 million in aid . Tsvangirai in power-sharing agreement with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe . Tsvangirai on Mugabe relationship : `` We do n't have to fall in love to work together '' | [[0, 26], [30, 92], [95, 209], [210, 324], [3483, 3490], [3493, 3545]] |
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Angered by what he perceived as the systemic discrimination of the minority Tamils by successive Sri Lankan governments , 18-year-old Velupillai Prabhakaran , armed with just a revolver , set out in 1972 to right the perceived wrongs by forming a militant group . Sri Lanka 's defense ministry says this handout photo shows troops with a captured Tamil Tiger craft . That group eventually morphed into the Tamil Tigers , who have engaged in a brutal 25-year insurgency for an independent Tamil state that has left more than 70,000 dead . Along the way , the group has been declared a terrorist organization in 32 countries , pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and , according to the FBI , invented the suicide belt . It was also behind the assassination of two world leaders -- the only terrorist organization to do so . Over the weekend , the militants offered to `` silence '' their guns after an intense military offensive decimated their ranks , usurping them from their stronghold in the north and east of the country , and cornered the remaining rebels on a small stretch of land . Watch more on the possible end to the conflict '' On Monday afternoon , the Sri Lankan government said it had killed Prabhakaran . If the rebels now follow through on their announcement , the action will potentially mark the end of the longest-running civil war in Asia . Who are the Tamils ? The Tamils are an ethnic group that makes up about 12 percent of Sri Lanka 's population of about 20 million . They mostly dominate the northern and eastern part of the country . Tamils are mostly Hindu and speak Tamil . That sets them apart from Sri Lanka 's majority group , the Sinhalese , who make up 74 percent of the population . They are Buddhists and speak Sinhala . The tension between the two ethnic groups date to the British colonization of the country -- an island in the Indian Ocean , south of India . At the time , the country was known as Ceylon . Many Sri Lankans regarded the Tamils as British collaborators and resented the preferential treatment they received . The tables turned when the country achieved independence in 1948 and the Sinhalese majority dominated government . It was the Tamils then who claimed they were being discriminated against in politics , employment and education . By the 1970s Tamil politicians were demanding a separate Tamil state . It would be called Tamil Eelam . In this climate Prabhakaran emerged with his militant group , formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam . Who is Prabhakaran ? Prabhakaran operated from a secret jungle base in the northeastern part of the country , granting few media interviews and remaining an elusive figure to even many Tigers . He was reputed to wear a cyanide capsule around his neck -- to swallow rather than risk capture . And he reportedly expected the same dedication from his troops . As a result , few Tigers have been captured alive . To Prabhakaran 's supporters he was a hero fighting for the rights of his people . The Sri Lankan government deemed him a war criminal with disregard for civilian casualties . He was wanted by Interpol on charges including terrorism and organized crime . In 1975 , three years after forming his group , Prabhakaran was accused of fatally shooting the mayor of Jaffna , his birthplace . Prabhakaran was also accused of masterminding the killing of then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 in the Tamil-dominated Indian state of Tami Nadu . Sri Lankan authorities allege that Prabhakaran was avenging Gandhi 's decision to send Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka . Two years later , a Tigers ' suicide bomber , allegedly acting under Prabhakaran 's orders , detonated explosives that killed Sri Lanka 's then-president , Ranasinghe Premadasa , during a rally . Watch aid agencies fear for Sri Lanka '' Who are the Tamil Tigers ? The Tigers reportedly number about 10,000 , recruited from villagers in Tamil-dominated areas and unemployed Tamil youths who think they were passed over for jobs because of their ethnicity . Their armed struggle began in July 1983 when the Tigers killed 13 Sinhalese soldiers . It led to , what was until then , the largest outburst of violence in the island 's history . Hundreds of Tamils were killed , thousands left homeless and more than 100,000 fled to south India . Despite being vastly outnumbered , the Tigers have -- until now -- shown no signs of being overpowered by the Sri Lankan military . The Tigers are infamous for suicide bombings , with men and women strapping on suicide vests for more than 200 attacks against Sri Lankan citizens and dozens of high-profile political leaders . In addition to perpetrating the attacks that killed Gandhi and Premadasa , the rebels have carried out the assassinations of two lawmakers and four ministers . A suicide bomber targeted Sri Lankan then-President Chandrika Kumaratunga in December 1999 while she was campaigning for re-election . She was wounded but survived . The Tigers , however , have refrained from targeting Western tourists out of fear that foreign governments would crack down on Tamil expatriates who raise money for them abroad , the U.S. State Department said . Have there been peace talks ? Periodically fighting has briefly halted because of a handful of peace agreements . By February 2002 the Tigers had dropped their demands for a separate homeland in exchange for a power-sharing deal with the government . Norway and some other countries agreed to monitor the ceasefire . A year later the rebels dropped out of the negotiations , saying they were being marginalized . They launched a suicide bombing campaign soon after . What led to renewed fighting ? In January 2008 the Sri Lankan government announced it was annulling the nearly six-year-old truce with the rebels , declaring that it would crush the rebels . The fighting intensified with security forces driving the rebels from their strongholds in the east and north of the country . The government asked the rebels to lay down arms ; the rebels vowed to continue . Caught in the crossfire were civilians , thousands of whom were displaced and hundreds killed . International aid groups expressed concern that both the government and the rebels disregarded civilian safety even in no-fire zones and hospitals . Both sides blamed the other for civilian casualties and exaggerated accounts of their victories . With journalists not allowed into the battle zones , their claims could not be independently confirmed . On Sunday , the Tigers posted an `` urgent statement '' on a pro-rebel Web site , saying the battle had reached `` its bitter end . '' `` We have decided to silence our guns , '' the statement said . Euphoria gripped the war-wracked nation . And Sri Lanka 's President Mahinda Rajapaksa readied to announce to Tuesday that military operations had ended . But one last order of business awaited : The capture , dead or alive , of Prabhakaran . In the past , the Tigers have emerged from near-defeat . But if Prabhakaran 's death is confirmed , the government is optimistic that it can write off the Tigers . CNN 's Melissa Gray contributed to this report , which includes information from various sources . They include the U.S. State Department , the FBI , Interpol , Human Rights Watch , the Council on Foreign Relations , the CIA Factbook , and previous CNN reports . | 25-year long insurgency has killed more than 70,000 people . Tamil leader reportedly wore a cyanide capsule around his neck . FBI says group pioneered use of suicide belts for bomb attacks . | [[436, 459], [464, 538], [508, 538], [544, 576], [2760, 2819], [593, 602], [716, 736]] |
Editor 's note : This story is based on interrogation reports that form part of the prosecution case in the forthcoming trial of six Belgian citizens charged with participation in a terrorist group . Versions of those documents were obtained by CNN from the defense attorney of one of those suspects . The statement by Bryant Vinas was compiled from an interview he gave Belgian prosecutors in March 2009 in New York and was confirmed by U.S. prosecutors as authentic . The statement by Walid Othmani was given to French investigators and was authenticated by Belgian prosecutors . Al Qaeda recruits say they received training in how to handle rockets , explosives and bombs . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The interrogations of two accused Westerners who say they trained and fought with al Qaeda in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region provide an inside view of the terror group 's organizational structures . Arguably , they shed more light on the state of al Qaeda than any material previously released into the public domain . The documents reveal training programs and the protective measures the terrorist organization has taken against increasingly effective U.S. missile strikes . Bryant Vinas -- a U.S. citizen who says he traveled to Pakistan in September 2007 to fight against Americans in Afghanistan -- stated that between March and July 2008 he attended three al Qaeda training courses , which focused on weapons , explosives , and rocket-based or - propelled weaponry . During these classes , attended by 10-20 recruits , Vinas was taught how to handle a large variety of weapons and explosives , some of them of military grade sophistication , according to his account . Read how al Qaeda is now operating . Vinas stated he became familiar with seeing , smelling and touching different explosives such as TNT , as well as plastic explosives such as RDX , Semtex , C3 and C4 -- the explosive U.S. authorities have stated was used in al Qaeda 's attack on the USS Cole in 2000 . Vinas also learned how to make vests for suicide bombers . Vinas stated he was also instructed how to prepare and place fuses , how to test batteries , how to use voltmeters and how to build circuitry for a bomb . Read how Vinas met with al Qaeda leaders . According to his account , al Qaeda also offered a wide variety of other courses including electronics , sniper , and poisons training . Instruction in the actual construction of bombs , he stated , was offered to al Qaeda recruits who had become more advanced in their training . Vinas ' training during this period was very similar to the training described by members of a French-Belgian group who also spent time in the tribal areas of Pakistan in 2008 . Walid Othmani , a French recruit , stated the group were given explosives training and taught how to fire rocket launchers and RPGs . Othmani provided French interrogators with an account of his time in Pakistan after being arrested on his return to Europe . Three other members of his group are now in Belgian custody awaiting trial for `` participation in a terrorist group . '' Belgian prosecutors told CNN Othmani has been charged in France with participation in a criminal conspiracy with the aim of preparing a terrorist act . A Belgian legal document detailing his interrogation report was obtained by CNN . Like Vinas , Othmani said the group had been required to sign forms before their training . Othmani stated his group was required to pledge absolute obedience to their handlers and indicate whether they wanted to become suicide bombers . Othmani provided interesting new details about the training facilities being used by al Qaeda in the tribal areas . His group trained in a small mountain shack , a far cry from the large camps al Qaeda had run in Taliban-era Afghanistan , when it had been able to operate with little danger of being targeted by military strikes . Othmani 's account made clear that al Qaeda has had to decentralize its operations in Pakistan in response to the growing effectiveness of U.S. Predator strikes . However the wide number of training courses described by both Vinas and Othmani suggest that al Qaeda has been able to adapt well to the new security environment . By operating a larger number of smaller facilities , al Qaeda would also appear to have increased its resilience to attack . Read how al Qaeda is looking for Western targets . While the classrooms are safer from drone attacks than the pre-9 / 11 sessions on the mountainsides the content seems to have changed to match new targeting plans . Suicide vest and IED construction show how the curriculum is being modified for today 's combat with U.S. troops in Afghanistan . Making and handling explosives , as well as fuse construction , show the sessions may also be geared for killing in Europe and the United States . These are the very skills the July 7 , 2005 London bombers Shehzad Tanweer and Mohammed Siddique Khan came to Pakistan to learn . Al Qaeda , it would seem , may still want to pull off the spectacular attack in Europe or the United States . Vinas says he took a course in propelled weaponry with Hicham Bouhali Zrioul , a former taxi driver in Brussels , Belgium , whom he first met in March 2008 and formed a friendship with . Vinas stated that when they completed their training , Al Qaeda instructors did a written evaluation of their performance . Vinas had been judged qualified to participate in missile attacks against U.S. and NATO bases in Afghanistan , according to his account . That suggests al Qaeda has maintained its capacity for administration and paperwork even in a harsher security environment . When their training finished in the summer of 2008 , Vinas and Zrioul lived in the same house in the mountains of Waziristan . Zrioul managed to acquire a computer which he rigged up to watch jihadist videos . During a mountain walk with Zrioul one day , Vinas says he was told about a new course being taught by al Qaeda called `` international operations '' set up by al Qaeda 's head of international operations whom Vinas later identified as Abu Hafith . Hafith , he stated , was responsible for recruitment and direction of terrorist cells , and attacks outside Pakistan and Afghanistan . Hafith was identified by his initials in the legal document but CNN obtained his name from a source briefed on the case . He is believed to be still at large in the Pakistan-Afghan border area . Vinas was told that the training course that Hafith set up focused on kidnapping and assassination , including instruction on the use of silencers and how to break into and enter a property . The revelations raise the possibility that al Qaeda was developing a program of targeted assassinations . Though al Qaeda has carried out some assassinations in the past , most of its attacks in the West have not targeted any particular individuals but crowded areas , such as mass transport . According to Othmani , al Qaeda fighters totaled between 300-500 in Pakistan 's Tribal Areas -- spread out in groups of 10 . Such decentralization was a function of the growing deadliness of U.S. Predator strikes . Hicham Beyayo , a Belgian jihadist volunteer , said the group moved around a lot because such strikes were known to be `` very effective , '' his lawyer Christophe Marchand , told CNN . The loss of an increasing number of operatives , stated Othmani , prompted an order from al Qaeda 's top command for fighters to remain inside as much as possible . In order to keep in touch , jihadists operated a courier service across the region , according to the Frenchman 's testimony . The decentralization of al Qaeda 's structures appears to have created some costs for recruits . Two members of the Belgian-French group now in custody describe feeling increasingly cut off , bored , and fed up with the primitive living conditions in their mountain shacks , according to documents obtained by CNN and the defense lawyer of one of those charged . They often did not seem to know what their next orders would be or where their handlers would take them . They also described being deeply frustrated at being repeatedly given false promises that they would be able to fight in Afghanistan . Othmani also described the group 's frustration at having to pay for their own weapons and training -- at a cost of 1,300 euros each -LRB- about $ 1,800 -RRB- -- which if true might lend credence to reports that al Qaeda has come under financial strain . Vinas , for his part , made no mention of having to make payments to his handlers . Vinas and Othmani 's accounts also suggest that al Qaeda may be having leadership problems . While able to find fresh recruits to replace those killed and arrested , the group seems to have more difficulty replacing senior military trainers and other key operational figures . A former U.S. government official , specializing in counter-terrorism , commented that the insider accounts suggest the same people are leading training as a decade ago . The only difference , there are fewer of them . | Al Qaeda recruit tells of weapons and explosives training courses . Group trained in a small mountain shack -- a far cry from large Afghan camps . Al Qaeda also offered electronics , sniper , and poisons training courses . Some sessions could be geared for killing in Europe and United States . | [[582, 676], [604, 676], [1360, 1391], [1400, 1476], [2701, 2714], [2736, 2834], [3670, 3713], [3670, 3679], [3716, 3790], [2269, 2277], [2283, 2378], [4683, 4744], [4747, 4829]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As many of the world 's industries struggle in the face of global economic hardship , the inaugural Abu Dhabi Yacht Show went ahead earlier this month . On show : The recent Abu Dhabi Yacht Show attracted some of the world 's biggest super-yachts . Showcasing some of the top super-yachts in existence , the show symbolizes a luxury industry which is still thriving in the area . At the show , Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi , said the United Arab Emirates is becoming one of the world 's greatest super-yacht hubs . `` This show demonstrates Abu Dhabi 's commitment to be recognized as a global super-yacht player at the same level as leading centers in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean , '' he said . Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority chairman , Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan , hailed the event as proof that the region was still growing and performing well economically . `` It is a clear indication of continuing international confidence in this emirate 's robust and resilient economy . '' Evidence of positive developments in the region 's luxury yacht industry is written all over the emirate . In addition to the yachting infrastructure already complete in Abu Dhabi , a marina is planned on Saadiyat Island , in the historic marine district of Al Bateen . Another marina is planned on Yas Island , where there will be a dedicated mega-yacht marina . In total , 16 new marinas are planned in Abu Dhabi in the next decade . The inaugural Abu Dhabi show also attracted 20 of the world 's top super-yachts with a combined value of more than $ 500 million . Most of the globe 's top brokers were also in attendance . Senior yacht broker at Burgess Yachts , Rupert Nelson , told CNN that Abu Dhabi is committing to the industry -- a move which should help the emirate stay one step ahead of other destinations . `` Across the globe this year there has been a huge slow down , but in the Gulf they do n't seem to be too worried about it . '' Burgess Yachts recently sold a Dubai-built super-yacht called Al Hanem for just under $ 20 million , he added . Although the industry faces a number of challenges in the Gulf region , Nelson said the growth of marinas , yacht-builders , brokers and other related business should help to create jobs . `` The size of boats there is growing , the number of yachts there is growing ... and it seems they want to continue , '' he told CNN . The question on many lips is whether this growing industry could help the United Arab Emirates , and the wider Gulf region , survive the worst of the wider economic downturn . Probably not , is the answer from regional business experts . But it may ease some of the pain . Middle East business expert and author of `` Dubai & Co : Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States , '' Aamir A. Rehman , told CNN there are reasons for both optimism and pessimism in the Gulf luxury sector . Earlier this year Rolls Royce reported Abu Dhabi and Dubai had become the biggest and second-biggest markets for their cars after a 48 percent jump in sales during 2008 compared with 2007 . Rehman said Rolls Royce 's results of were promising for the wider luxury industry -- and could also indicate potential growth for the super-yacht industry . `` Transportation and the entire infrastructure around transport are important to the Gulf Cooperation Council -LRB- GCC -RRB- . There 's significant investment being made in transportation , suggesting potential for growth in related industries . '' However , despite the high-profile nature of the luxury yacht industry , Rehman feels there are still limitations . `` The Gulf is a relatively small market overall and the number of high-end buyers , while substantial , may be limited compared to regions with larger population bases . '' Liz Martins , head of Middle East and North Africa in the Country Risk department at Business Monitor International , told CNN the current economic climate would have a lasting impact on the luxury sector . `` I think it 's an area where people will cut back . There 's still a lot of wealth out there but some of these people have lost a lot of money . '' Martins said the boom period of the last decade had reached unsustainable levels of growth and , although the Gulf region does n't have a `` saving culture '' she predicted some changes . `` We 're not forecasting recession for many Gulf states ... but the last few years have been debt-fueled boom and I just do n't see things getting back to what they have been . '' Subscribe to SuperYachtWorld . COPYRIGHT © 2009 IPC MEDIA LTD. . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . | The inaugural Abu Dhabi Yacht Show was held this month . Super-yachts are growing in popularity in the Gulf region . Abu Dhabi wants to become world 's top super yacht destination . Experts say it is unlikely luxury yacht industry will have big impact on the economy . | [[122, 188], [189, 191], [199, 284], [416, 427], [430, 465], [496, 585], [599, 759]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 4-year-old Ohio girl who vanished more than three weeks ago was found alive and in good condition , halfway across the country in southern California , authorities said . Haylee Donathan was found with her mother and her mother 's boyfriend , fugitive sex offender Robbie Potter . Haylee Donathan , her mother Candace Watson and Robbie Potter were discovered hiding for the past week at The Morning Star Ranch , a retreat in Valley Center , near San Diego , said Peter Elliott , United States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio . Potter is a registered sex offender , officials said . He was being sought by the U.S. Marshal 's Service . Late Tuesday Haylee was in the custody of a children 's protective services agency in the San Diego County area , Elliott said . She was doing well but may have chicken pox , he added . `` We understand she is healthy and happy and I believe , waiting to come back to her grandmother here , '' he said . Watch authorities announce their find '' The journey west took them more than two thousand miles from Mansfield , the north-Central Ohio city where the girl and her mother live . `` I am very happy that my granddaughter 's coming home , '' said Mary Watson , Haylee 's grandmother . `` And I just want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart . '' Watson , 24 , and Potter , 27 , were arrested without incident and held by the San Diego County Sheriff 's Department . When asked their reaction , Elliott said , `` I believe a little shocked that we were able to find them . '' Potter and Watson were still using the same vehicle , a 1980s blue Chevrolet pickup truck they drove from Ohio , Elliott said . Watson 's hair was a bit darker and Potter also changed his appearance slightly . Authorities had feared Haylee was endangered . Potter , a sex offender , had escaped a half-way house on May 28 , the day the girl and her mother fell out of sight . Countless tips came in while they were missing but one in particular led to the breakthrough on Tuesday , Elliott said without elaborating . But a tip from members of the ranch could have lead to the raid and arrest , a ranchmember told CNN . Kevin Carlin , a member of the ranch in the neighborhood of Valley Center , told CNN in a telephone interview that ranch members became suspicious when a former ranch guest saw billboards urging help in finding Haylee and the two adults . Elliott also praised intense national news coverage from programs such as HLN 's Nancy Grace and Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell , as well as local media and Clear Channel , which put up missing child billboards across the country . When she is returned to Ohio , Haylee will be placed in the custody of her grandmother , Elliott said . The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force had offered a $ 10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 27-year-old Potter . Potter was wanted on a state warrant for parole violation and a federal warrant for probation violation . He is a convicted tier three sex offender , according to the U.S. Marshals Service , a unit of the Justice Department . While on the run , Potter and Watson were reportedly seen on surveillance video on May 31 at a Wal-Mart Store in Marion , Ohio , 40 miles from Mansfield . Haylee was not on that video . Adding to concerns , Watson 's roommate , Samantha Covert , said last week in an interview on Nancy Grace that she saw the little girl in bed with her mother and Potter the morning they disappeared . Covert said Watson carried a basket of clothing , pillows and blankets . Watson will likely face state charges , including harboring a fugitive , according to Elliott . In addition to other charges , he said Potter may be prosecuted under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act , a federal sex offender registration and self-reporting law that carries a multi-year felony sentence if violated . On its Web site , the Morning Star Ranch describes itself as `` a community of growers of organic , pesticide-free avocados , grapefruit , persimmons , nuts , and other produce . '' Elliot said he believed it is a rehab facility and also called it a Christian retreat . | Missing Ohio girl found alive near San Diego , California , authorities say . Tip led authorities to raid communal farm . Haylee Donathan was with mother , boyfriend who 's a fugitive sex offender . Haylee , mother were last seen May 28 . | [[2075, 2145], [192, 261], [19, 41], [46, 80], [1878, 1929]] |
TEHRAN , Iran -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iran 's supreme leader on Friday rejected opposition claims that last week 's presidential elections were rigged , describing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's win as `` definitive '' and demanding an end to days of protests . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first address since the June 12 presidential elections . In his first speech since the June 12 election outcome sparked the country 's worst unrest in 30 years , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the vote accurately reflected the will of the people and accused `` enemies of Islam '' of stoking anger . He warned opposition leaders , who are planning a new rally on Saturday , against staging further demonstrations , saying they would be held accountable for any violence . The `` Islamic establishment would never manipulate votes and commit treason . The legal structure in this country does not allow vote-rigging , '' Khamenei said , in his first address since the elections . He told a large crowd at Tehran University that the `` historic '' 85 percent turnout of more than 40 million people was a `` political earthquake '' and was too large to have been manipulated . `` There is a difference of 11 million votes . How can vote-rigging happen ? '' he added . Watch Khamenei dismiss claims of fraud '' Ahmadinejad , whose hardline policies have antagonized Western nations , claimed victory with more than 62 percent of the votes , surprising many experts who had predicted a stronger showing from main opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi . The Ayatollah 's speech was likely to come under heavy scrutiny in Iran , amid expectations that , despite conciliatory comments , his strong endorsement of Ahmadinejad will do little to appease Moussavi 's emboldened supporters . Read about Iran 's power structure '' Moussavi 's allegations of ballot fraud and calls for a fresh vote have rallied thousands on the streets of Tehran and other cities , in scenes not witnesses in country since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 toppled its monarchy . The unrest prompted Iran to place restrictions on foreign media , limiting their reports on six days of street protests , police arrests and some outbreaks of violence that have left at least eight people dead . Watch militia crackdown '' Khamenei described the dispute over the election outcome as a disagreement within Iran 's establishment , accusing `` foreign enemies '' and `` Zionists '' -- including the United States , Britain and Israel -- of fomenting violence , and criticizing international media coverage of the unrest . Britain 's Foreign Office confirmed shortly after the speech that it was summoning Iran 's London ambassador in response to Khamenei 's comments . His speech was punctuated with exhortations from the crowd , including : `` Allah is Great , '' `` Death to Israel , '' `` Death to America , '' and `` Death to Britain . '' Expressing support for Ahmadinejad , Khamenei accused rival election candidates of insulting the president in the run-up to the vote . `` They swore and called the president superstitious and called him names , which is embarrassing . They forgot about morality and law , '' he said . Khamenei , who has authorized a partial vote recount , said proper legal channels should be used for any challenge to the election outcome . He called for an end to street protests , warning that perpetrators of violence would face punishment . On Thursday , tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Iran 's capital for the sixth day in a row . Some estimates put the total number of participants in the hundreds of thousands . See where protests have taken place '' Moussavi spoke through a bullhorn from atop a building to the throngs of marchers who snaked through the city , in what was described as a peaceful protest . He spoke hours after the Iranian government agreed to meet with candidates for crisis talks to discuss complaints stemming from the election . With restrictions on reporting the unrest , much of the news , video and images emerging from Iran have come via social networking sites , often bypassing authorities ' attempts to block applications such as Facebook and Twitter . CNN 's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour described Khamenei 's address as a heartfelt defense of Iran 's establishment but said it was uncertain the opposition would heed his call to end demonstrations . Watch Amanpour discuss speech . '' `` That 's the all important question . Whether or not the leaders of the opposition -- Mir Hossein Moussavi -- will call on these people to stop their protests is unclear , '' she said . `` Whether they will end and whether the people on the the streets will listen -- because the protests have been spontaneous . It will be intersting to see after this call from the supreme leader , from whom all power in Iran flows . '' Moussavi , who called for a boycott of Khamenei 's prayer sermon , was absent from the audience , which included Ahmadinejad and , next to him , parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani , who has previously had a tense relationship with the president . Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani , who has been in a power struggle with Khamenei , was not visible on the TV broadcast of the event . Rafsanjani is chairman and overseer of the Assembly of Experts -- which is responsible for appointing or removing the supreme leader . iReport.com : Share images from Iran . In his speech , Khamenei defended Rafsanjani from charges of corruption made by Amhadinejad during a pre-election debate . However , he opened the door to corruption charges against Rafsanjani 's relatives . In discussing Iran 's support of human rights , Khamenei slammed U.S. policies in Afghanistan and Iraq . He even made an apparent reference to the deaths of people -- what he called the `` burning alive '' of 80 men , women and children -- during the federal siege of the Branch Davidian complex in Waco , Texas in 1993 . `` We have raised the flag of human rights through Islam , '' Khamenei said . There have been arrests and casualties in civil unrest , with human rights group Amnesty International saying reports suggest that up to 15 people have died . The government maintains seven people have died . Iranian TV Thursday night aired confessions from people who authorities say were paid to destabilize Iran . It aired remarks from some `` terrorists '' who said the United States paid them to enter from Iraq to committing terrorist acts against the Iranian leadership . CNN 's Badi Badiozamani contributed to this report . | Iran 's supreme leader rejects claims of ballot rigging in presidential vote . Ayatollah Khamenei delivers first speech since election outcome sparked unrest . He criticizes protests , says those who caused violence would be held accountable . He also criticizes international media for how they have portrayed the election . | [[0, 6], [9, 29], [66, 145], [1253, 1294], [259, 347], [905, 921], [924, 966], [588, 590], [703, 759], [3317, 3356], [3317, 3319], [3359, 3420], [2274, 2282], [2513, 2569]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb has turned down a move to Inter Milan in favor of returning to Bundesliga club Stuttgart on loan for the season . Alexander Hleb is presented to the media after completing his loan move to former club Stuttgart . Hleb had been expected to be part of the swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o switch clubs earlier this week . But the 28-year-old Belarus international has opted against joining Cameroon striker Eto'o at the San Siro due to the limited prospects of regular football under Jose Mourinho , and instead decided to return to Germany . Hleb left Stuttgart four years ago to move to English Premier League side Arsenal , where he spent three seasons -- including reaching the Champions League final in 2006 , which the Gunners lost to Barcelona . Top 20 summer transfer targets . Hleb eventually ended up moving to the Nou Camp last summer , but struggled to claim a place in the side and was omitted from the 18-man squad that beat Manchester United in this year 's Champions League final . Hleb told Stuttgart 's official Web site he had moved to Markus Babbel 's side because of their prospects for the coming season . `` I have opted for Stuttgart because the team has great potential and I am convinced that we can achieve a lot together , '' the 28-year-old said . Stuttgart general manager Horst Heldt added : `` We have signed a world class player with Alexander Hleb . He will increase the quality of our squad even further . '' Stuttgart had seen moves for both Real Madrid 's Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Vagner Love of CSKA Moscow break down in recent weeks . | Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb has turned down a switch to Inter Milan . Hleb had been expected to be part of the Ibrahimovic and Eto'o swap transfer . However , he has chosen to rejoin former club Stuttgart in a one-year loan deal . | [[0, 15], [40, 143], [401, 503], [268, 318], [305, 318], [324, 363], [0, 15], [40, 143], [0, 15], [102, 168], [169, 267], [169, 183], [210, 267], [401, 438], [579, 617]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For years , Alfonso Torress-Cook followed the rules in his quest to eliminate hospital-acquired infections . Patients at his hospital received large doses of antibiotics and were scrubbed down with alcohol-based soaps , as he and his colleagues aimed to kill every bacterium possible . Search and destroy was the mantra . By upending conventional wisdom , Alfonso Torress-Cook was able to slash hospital-acquired infection rates . Still , patients became sick with bacterial infections after checking in . Some died . `` I never saw anything change . I saw things getting worse , '' Torress-Cook said . Torress-Cook eventually joined Pacific Hospital of Long Beach , in California , where as director of epidemiology and patient safety , he changed the rules and slashed the number of patients who become infected . Torress-Cook is part of a growing movement in medicine that no longer accepts hospital-acquired infections as inevitable complications . Every year , such infections sicken 1.7 million and kill 99,000 people in the United States . At Pacific Hospital , Torress-Cook does n't go after all bacteria , just the dangerous ones . The staff members at the 184-bed hospital use antibiotics sparingly , feed patients yogurt to replenish healthy bacteria in the gut and bathe patients daily , using a soap that maintains the natural pH of the patient 's skin , killing only bacteria that do n't belong there . Meet some of the people fighting hospital-acquired infections '' Torress-Cook is also obsessive about hygiene : Nurses clean under patients ' fingernails and brush their teeth daily . He also enlisted the hospital 's cleaning crew as part of the infection-fighting team . Rooms receive a thorough cleaning every day -- more than simply emptying the trash and mopping the floor , he says . Under Torress-Cook , Pacific Hospital 's infection rate for the so-called superbug MRSA is down to 0.01 per 1,000 discharges , 430 times better than the national average . Approximately one out of every 22 patients who checks into a U.S. hospital acquires a bacterial infection , adding more than $ 28 billion to health care costs , according to a 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . But there are signs of improvement . Pennsylvania , which requires the most extensive reporting of hospital-acquired infections , saw the annual rate for all infections drop 8 percent , according to the most recent figures available from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council . And there are other signs of progress . The development and use of a simple checklist for a common procedure that threads a so-called central line to supply medicine directly to the bloodstream has been extraordinarily effective . The checklist made central line infections almost nonexistent at the 108 intensive care units in Michigan that adopted it . More than 1,700 lives -- and $ 246 million -- were saved in the first three years the checklist was adopted , according to the state hospital association . The checklist is now being adopted in all 50 states and three countries : the United Kingdom , Spain and Peru , says checklist designer Dr. Peter Pronovost , from Johns Hopkins University and Hospitals . At hospitals large and small , raising the head of the bed for patients on ventilators , brushing patients ' teeth and taking other precautions have dramatically reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia , another common and costly infection . Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids , Minnesota , has used these techniques to cut its ventilator-associated pneumonia rate by more than half , to 2.7 cases per 1,000 ventilator days . `` Our goal is zero , '' says Michelle Farber , a registered nurse who is Mercy 's senior infection preventionist . Simply requiring hospitals to report their infections has forced them to be more accountable to their patients , says Lisa McGiffert , who heads Consumers Union 's Stop Hospital Infections campaign , which among other things has pushed for more transparency . Twenty-six states now have laws requiring hospitals to report rates for urinary tract and other infections . Paul Levy , CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston , Massachusetts , is a big fan of publishing infection rates . He puts the hospital 's rates on its Web site and on his blog . Simply putting the spotlight on hospital-acquired infections keeps the staff focused , he says . Hospitals also have a new financial incentive to cut infections . As of October 1 , 2008 , Medicare no longer pays hospitals for the added costs incurred by patients who develop catheter-related urinary tract infections and other catheter - or surgery-related infections . McGiffert says there 's been a cultural shift in the past five years . `` I think it 's moving us toward eradication of infection or at least where infections are rare and will not be accepted , '' she says . | Every year , hospital-acquired infections sicken 1.7 million , kill 99,000 in U.S. They add more than $ 28 billion to health care costs annually . Small changes -- using a checklist and brushing patients ' teeth -- can lower rates . Expert : Attitude is slowly shifting away from accepting infections as inevitable . | [[972, 982], [985, 1019], [972, 982], [985, 1007], [1024, 1065], [1997, 2039], [2105, 2155], [3248, 3276], [3337, 3489], [881, 889], [898, 971], [4717, 4787], [4732, 4737], [4741, 4787]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Baz Luhrmann is the type of director for whom the word innovative was invented . Luhrmann and his costume designer wife Catherine Martin , who is a long time collaborator . With a filmography comprising of just three full-length feature films , -LRB- and one currently in post-production -RRB- Luhrmann has produced a stunning and highly visual body of work that is loved and loathed in equal measures . His films have a tendency to suck the viewer up into a swirling vortex of lush imagery and a lavish production style , often with a frenetic pace that one critic described as being like `` a madman on Benzedrine '' . But there is a method to Luhrmann 's madness . The trio of films , `` Strictly Ballroom , '' an adaptation of William Shakespeare 's `` Romeo and Juliet '' and `` Moulin Rouge ! '' all form part of a specific filmmaking technique described by Luhrmann as `` The Red Curtain '' cinema . Luhrmann incorporates traditional theatrical conventions into his films and morphs them to create visual treats in stories set in heightened otherworlds . Simple devices like song and dance are then used to drive the action . He always surrounds himself with the same creative team for all of his projects . His wife , production and costume designer Catherine Martin , who is known as CM , is intrinsic to his striking visual style . In his directorial debut `` Strictly Ballroom , '' Luhrmann injected dazzling colors and energetic dance moves into the stuffy world of ballroom dancing and was credited with making the genre hip again . Luhrmann himself was a ballroom dancer from the age of six , and the film reflects his affection for and intimate knowledge of that world . An intensely personal director who always draws on his own experiences , Luhrmann told CNN 's The Screening Room : `` Art and life can not be separated , they feed each other and creative decisions are based on what will make life rich and what will enrich the story telling . What I make comes from a personal level . '' It paid off for `` Strictly Ballroom , '' which became a global hit , winning eight Australian Film Institute Awards , three BAFTAs , and the Cannes Film Festival 's Prix de Jeunesse in 1992 . In 1996 , Luhrmann worked his magic again in `` William Shakespeare 's Romeo + Juliet , '' an MTV-style version of the classic love story set in latter-day Miami Beach , complete with warring gangs wielding automatic weapons . But it was in `` Moulin Rouge ! '' that the Red Curtain 's opulent and extravagant theatrical style would explode in , spectacular , some would say violent , fashion . Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor , it explored a young writer 's foray into the bohemian underworld of Montmartre , Paris . Following the film 's box-office success Luhrmann landed a highly lucrative Chanel contract , making a Red Curtain-inspired 2004 film for Chanel No. 5 , starring Nicole Kidman . At $ 36m , it is reputedly one of the most expensive adverts of all time . The maverick movie-maker began his film career as an actor , training at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney , but it was n't long before he was employing his flamboyant and creative talent behind the scenes . What seems to drive Luhrmann is his huge passion and appetite for all art forms . He is a veritable Jack-of-all trades : a writer-director who has produced theatre and opera pieces , worked as a guest editor for Australian Vogue and in 1999 , Luhrmann scored a surprise-hit single with `` Everybody 's Free -LRB- to Wear Sunscreen -RRB- . '' Following his Red Curtain trilogy , Luhrmann planned to move onto epic storytelling . He started work on a retelling of Alexander the Great , set to star Leonardo DiCaprio . But the film was set aside when Oliver Stone 's version was released -- and flopped -- in 2004 . '' `` My next great passion after musicals is the epic -- telling a recognizable universal story using a vast canvas of a far away place and historical events , '' he tells CNN . `` I embarked on that in my exploration of doing Alexander the Great . At one stage , I was collaborating with DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg . `` We were looking at sets around the world and studios were built in Northern Africa and Thailand . It got a long way down the road but for various reasons , not just because of the competing project , we walked away from it , '' he explains . `` For where we were in our life particularly because we were embarking on a very personal part of our story to have children , it was n't right . `` It 's all about the timing and what is right for your life in that moment in time . We walked away from that and I never regret that for a second . '' After a seven-year hiatus , during which he and CM have had two `` magical , incredible children , '' Luhrmann has finally made his epic film , simply titled `` Australia , '' with a budget of $ 130m , making it the expensive movie ever made in the country . `` Australia '' is a love letter to his home country . In it Nicole Kidman plays an English aristocrat who travels to 1930s Australia to sell a cattle ranch . A grueling journey across country with a rough drover -LRB- Hugh Jackman -RRB- ends with the pair witnessing the Japanese bombardment of Darwin at the start of the Second World War . `` It 's been a long time since we 've had those huge banquet like motion pictures , when I was a kid , if a big epic was coming it was a big event and the whole family went , '' Luhrmann says . `` It 's big drama , comedy , landscape -- a huge banquet and I would like to invite the audience to this cinematic table . '' Luhrmann is unsure if the departure from his normal style is a good career move but is adamant `` it 's a good life move . '' `` We found our inner spirit enlivened again , '' he says . Luhrmann , -LRB- unlike CM -RRB- , has been thus far overlooked for an Oscar award , but `` Australia , '' a big , bold movie with a vast emotional landscape is just the sort of film the Academy loves . Come 2009 , it seems they will no longer be able to ignore Luhrmann 's considerable -- and -- inimitable talents . What do you think of Luhrmann 's cinematic style ? Do you love it or loathe it ? Tell us your views in our Sound Off box below . | Baz Luhrmann 's early cinema style is known as `` The Red Curtain '' A striking and highly visual and theatrical style exemplified in `` Moulin Rouge ! '' His new epic film `` Australia '' is a departure from this cinema style . | [[855, 942], [281, 439], [440, 585], [1251, 1293], [1334, 1377], [2499, 2594]] |
NAIROBI , Kenya -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two U.S. filmmakers were injured Saturday when their small plane crashed into a three-story residential building in downtown Nairobi . People gather around the wreckage of a plane that struck a building in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Saturday . Dan Parris , 25 , and Rob Lehr , 26 , both from St. Louis , Missouri , were shooting an independent documentary on poverty in Africa . Both men were hospitalized and expected to survive , according to David Peterka , who was part of the film crew , but was not aboard the plane . He said that all four aboard the plane were Americans . A flight engineer , whose name was not released , was critically injured and was in a coma , Peterka said . The pilot , whose name has not yet been released , was killed in the crash . The crew had been in the east African nation for four days and was shooting video of Kibera , one of the largest slums in Africa . The plane was headed to nearby Wilson Airport , where most light aircraft land in the Kenyan capital . `` The pilot had warned that he was going to hover and go slow , '' Peterka said . `` They were surprised when they went to about 50 feet off the ground -- and then they hit electrical lines and the plane flipped into the building . '' Just before the plane crashed , the listening devices went off and they could not communicate with the pilot , Peterka said . Peterka said Lehr , who was ejected because the doors were open for filming , ran back in to rescue the others . Parris crawled out and Lehr , with the help of bystanders , pulled the pilot and the engineer out as the plane burst into flames , Peterka said . `` Local residents were using water , dirt to put the fire out '' before the fire department arrived , Peterka said . `` Before the plane crashed , witnesses said it was flying unusually low , '' said Francis Mwaka , a Kenyan federal communications official . The four-seater plane was owned by African Inland Missions company . No one on the ground was injured , Mwaka said . The crash is under investigation . CNN 's Ben Brumfield contributed to this story . | Pilot killed , three passengers injured when plane crashes into building . Two victims were U.S. filmmakers shooting documentary on African poverty . Dan Parris , Rob Lehr were taken to hospital , expected to survive . Witnesses say plane was `` flying unusually low '' before crash . | [[0, 7], [10, 31], [35, 169], [207, 214], [220, 284], [729, 740], [780, 805], [285, 342], [356, 419], [420, 446], [420, 428], [451, 470], [1824, 1851]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Somewhere , it 's engraved in stone : `` Thou shalt remove thy laptop from thy bag . '' Beginning Saturday , travelers will be able to leave laptops in bags that meet TSA screening requirements . But savvy travelers can begin ignoring that commandment of air travel beginning Saturday , when the Transportation Security Administration begins recognizing the latest innovation in aviation security -- checkpoint-friendly computer bags . The TSA said it has worked with bag manufacturers to address one of the biggest frustrations of air travelers , the need to remove computers from carry-on bags and place them in bins . It asked manufacturers to design bags that give X-ray machines a clear , unobstructed view of the laptops . Some 60 manufacturers responded to the TSA 's solicitation , with 40 of them submitting prototypes for testing . About a dozen manufacturers are currently advertising checkpoint-friendly bags . Many of the bags are deceptively simple . One common design resembles a clam shell . The case unzips into two , with one side holding the computer and the other holding computer peripherals , keys and other personal items . All of the bags are devoid of metal zippers , clips and buckles on the side of the bag that holds the computer . Learn about the TSA 's laptop bag requirements '' Travelers at Reagan National Airport near Washington had different opinions on the hassles of carrying computers but were uniformly supportive of having checkpoint-friendly bags . `` Sign me up , '' said traveler Seth Robertson , who was carrying a computer bag and a large , stuffed pony , a present for a friend in Nicaragua . Getting the computer through the checkpoint was more difficult than the stuffed animal , he said . `` The laptop , I have to take out of the bag and put it separately , '' Robertson said , whereas the pony , he could `` just stuff right through . '' Screeners did n't even look the gift horse in the mouth . The TSA says about one-third of all air travelers carry laptops . And the current screening procedures are cumbersome for travelers who sometimes leave laptops at the checkpoints in their haste . Watch a screening demonstration with a new laptop bag '' In fact , about 4,800 laptops are lost at airport checkpoints every day , according to a study conducted this year by the Ponemon Institute for the Dell computer company . It is not known how may are quickly recovered , an institute official said . But a checkpoint-friendly carrying case could potentially alleviate problems caused when folks grab the wrong computer by mistake , or grab the bag and forget the computer , he said . TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said the bags may even improve speed at checkpoints . `` Less time -LRB- is -RRB- spent putting things in the bin and putting things back in at the other end , so it may help the process along , '' she said . For a bag to meet TSA requirements , it must meet the following five standards : . The TSA says it is not approving or endorsing any bag design , but it says manufacturers have stepped up to the plate , providing a number of bags that qualify . | Checkpoint-friendly computer bags will be eligible for TSA screening Saturday . Travelers must use bags with a designated laptop-only section . There must be no metal snaps , zippers or buckles obstructing the view . | [[322, 465]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Questions swirled Friday about the possible role prescription medications may have played in the death Thursday of pop idol Michael Jackson , people close to him said . The cause of pop star Michael Jackson 's death has not been determined after Friday 's autopsy . His autopsy was completed , but further tests must be carried out before the cause of death can be determined , a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner said . Craig Harvey said the tests would take four to six weeks , after which `` we anticipate being able to close the case and issuing a final cause of death . '' Among the tests to be carried out , he said , are neuropathology -LRB- brain -RRB- and pulmonary -LRB- lung -RRB- tests . Harvey added , `` We know that he was taking some prescription medications , '' but said he was not able to divulge what . The possibility that Jackson may have been taking medication that could have contributed to his death at the age of 50 weighed heavily Friday on a number of people close to the star . Watch coroner 's office discuss Jackson 's death . '' In 2005 , after he was cleared on charges of child molestation , Jackson spent a week at a center run by Dr. Deepak Chopra , a physician who focuses on spirituality and the mind-body connection . During that week , Jackson asked Chopra for a prescription for a narcotic , the doctor told CNN . `` I said , ` What the heck do you want a narcotic prescription for ? ' And it suddenly dawned on me that he was probably taking these and that he had probably a number of doctors who were giving him these prescriptions , so I confronted him with that . At first , he denied it . Then , he said he was in a lot of pain . '' Chopra said he responded to Jackson that there were plenty of other ways for him to handle his pain , but that the arguments were not persuasive . Watch CNN 's Sanjay Gupta discuss Jackson 's death '' `` For a while , I lost him , '' he said . `` I have had that happen with me with other celebrities in Hollywood . There 's a plethora of doctors in Hollywood , they 're drug peddlers , they 're drug pushers , they just happen to be having a medical license and I hope that this episode today , this tragic death of a great human being , will bring to light the huge problem we have in Hollywood with some of the medical establishment , the celebrity doctors , who not only initiate people into the drug experience , but then they perpetuate it so that people become dependent on them . '' Chopra said Jackson had recently gone on a diet to prepare for his planned comeback tour , which was to have begun next month in England , and was excited about his planned resumption of his performing career . `` He was practicing , he was fasting , and yet he was n't physically in the condition to do this , and he was not confronting his drug addiction , which is the big problem , '' Chopra said . He blamed Jackson 's death on drug abuse , though he offered no direct evidence . `` When you have enough drugs in your system , your heart goes into an arrhythmia and your respiration stops , '' he said . `` I think the drugs killed him . '' Chopra said he had known Jackson to take the opium-derived painkiller OxyContin at one time , as well as injections of the narcotic pain reliever Demerol `` and other narcotics , and I was really desperate to try to help him , but you know you ca n't help somebody who would go into denial . '' Watch crowds gather at the hospital . '' Jackson typically would refuse to call Chopra for several weeks at a time , the doctor said . `` Then he would call me two or three weeks later and say he was sorry , that he had been busy and it was n't the drugs -- but it was the drugs . '' Chopra , who said he knew Jackson for more than two decades , described him as `` my little brother -- I feel very bad for him . '' Brian Oxman , a former attorney for the Jackson family who was with the family in the hospital emergency room on Thursday , also expressed concern about medications the pop star was taking . `` I talked to his family about it , I warned them -- I said that Michael is overmedicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop , '' Oxman told CNN 's `` American Morning '' on Friday . He referred to Anna Nicole Smith , the former model and reality TV show star who died of an overdose in 2007 . `` I said , ` If that 's what 's going to happen to Michael , it 's all going to break our hearts . ' And my worst fears are here . '' Oxman emphasized that he did not know what killed Jackson , and was not making accusations against any individual . Jackson 's ex-wife , Lisa Marie Presley , said in an online blog posted Friday that she was not surprised by Thursday 's news . She said she divorced him in January 1996 , after less than two years of marriage , because she was `` in over my head in trying '' to save Jackson `` from the inevitable , which is what has just happened . '' Jackson talked with her about his death during `` a deep conversation '' 14 years ago about `` the circumstances of my father 's death , '' she wrote , referring to Elvis Presley . The singer collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis , Tennessee , mansion -- Graceland -- on August 16 , 1977 , at the age of 42 . While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat , the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem . The similarity to the `` King of Rock '' apparently resonated with the `` King of Pop . '' `` At some point he paused , he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty , ' I am afraid that I am going to end up like him , the way he did , ' '' Presley said . Watch crowds gather at the hospital . '' `` I promptly tried to deter him from the idea , at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know , he knew what he knew and that was kind of that . '' That conversation haunted Presley as she watched television coverage of Jackson 's death Thursday , she said . `` I am sitting here watching on the news -LSB- as -RSB- an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home , the big gates , the crowds outside the gates , the coverage , the crowds outside the hospital , the cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me , as did the unstoppable tears , '' she wrote . `` A predicted ending by him , by loved ones and by me , but what I did n't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened . '' Her blog can be found online at http://blogs.myspace.com/lisamariepresley . CNN is seeking response from the family . Meanwhile , police -- who had spoken Thursday with Dr. Conrad Murray , who was with Jackson when he died -- were trying to reach him again Friday . A car that Murray had parked at Jackson 's home was impounded and may contain medications pertinent to the investigation , said Detective Agustin Villanueva of the Los Angeles Police Department . Public records show the impounded car was registered to a Texas woman who is an associate of the cardiologist , who is licensed in California and Texas and also has an office in Las Vegas , Nevada . CNN 's calls to Murray 's office were not returned Friday . AEG Live , the promoter of Jackson 's planned tour , said their deal with the singer included a dedicated private physician of his choosing and that Jackson chose Murray , his physician of three years . A source close to the family said Murray spent much of the last two months with Jackson , as he prepared for his upcoming concert series . The doctor is said to be cooperating with officials . Jackson was in cardiac arrest when paramedics took him Thursday from his home to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center , where the music idol was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. -LRB- 5:26 p.m. ET -RRB- . Listen to the 911 call '' He had been preparing for a comeback tour -- aimed at extending his legendary career and helping him to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in debt . Jackson began his professional work at age 5 , singing with his brothers , before shooting to superstardom as a solo singer . He had numerous No. 1 hits -- the best known being `` Thriller , '' the best-selling album of all time , at an estimated 50 million copies worldwide . After dominating the popular music scene for years , Jackson became reclusive and mired in scandals that included child molestation charges . He reached a settlement with one accuser and was acquitted in another case after a highly publicized trial in Santa Maria , California , in June 2005 . Jackson is survived by his three children , Prince Michael I , Paris and Prince Michael II . Condolences and appreciations continued to pour in Thursday from around the world . President Obama said he considered Jackson a `` spectacular performer '' and expressed his condolences to the Jackson family , the White House said Friday . At a briefing with reporters , White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he spoke with the president Friday morning about the death of the pop superstar . `` He said to me that , obviously , Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer , a music icon . I think everybody remembers hearing his songs , watching him moonwalk on television during Motown 's 25th anniversary . '' But Gibbs said the president also noted that `` aspects of his life were sad and tragic . His condolences went out to the Jackson family and to fans that mourned his loss . '' In a written statement , Jackson 's second ex-wife , Debbie Rowe Jackson , said , `` Though Michael is now at peace , the world has lost a beautiful and loving soul . I appreciate the outpouring of support and prayer for Michael , all of his family , me and our children , and hope our privacy can be respected at this difficult time . '' CNN 's Alan Duke and Drew Griffin contributed to this report . | NEW : Deepak Chopra believes prescription drugs killed `` King of Pop '' Cause of Michael Jackson 's death deferred ; no trauma or foul play found . Spokesman : Jackson was taking prescription medications . Physician 's car may contain `` medications pertinent to the investigation '' | [[0, 40], [69, 167], [2928, 2968], [3137, 3167], [213, 309], [0, 40], [69, 167], [755, 767], [771, 877], [770, 870], [6855, 6902], [6921, 6975]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fans of Michael Jackson lined the streets outside Harlem 's Apollo Theater on Tuesday for a chance to pay their respects to the late `` King of Pop '' at the hall that helped launch his career . A hat and glittery glove represent Michael Jackson at the Apollo Theater tribute . The crowd stood eight to 10 abreast in the sun and 80-degree weather for 10 blocks , waiting for hours for a chance to enter the theater . Fans were allowed in 600 at a time , where they lay flowers and other mementos at the foot of the stage and danced to Jackson 's music as it played over the sound system . `` We left our house at 4 o'clock in the morning and got here at 9 , and we were lucky to get here , '' said Angela Staples , who came to New York from Pennsylvania with her daughter Jasmine . `` I 'm so happy about the outpouring of love and the crowd and the people . It 's so respectful to Michael . '' Those in the hall observed a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m. -- the time Jackson was pronounced dead Thursday in Los Angeles , California . The cause of the 50-year-old singer 's death has not yet been determined . An autopsy on the 50-year-old singer was was inconclusive , leaving authorities waiting on the results of toxicology tests to determine what killed him . Fans have been gathering outside the theater since last week to remember Jackson , who at age 9 won a 1967 Apollo amateur night showcase with his brothers in the group the Jackson 5 . `` While he went on from the Apollo stage to achieve international fame on an unprecedented level , to us and all of you , he 's family because he started out here , '' said Jonelle Procope , the legendary venue 's CEO . Jackson became an idol of both black and white fans and was among the first African-American artists to get widespread play on the music-video channel MTV . But in later years , he was known more for a roller-coaster personal life , including extensive plastic surgery , financial woes and a 1995 trial and acquittal on child-molestation charges . The Rev. Al Sharpton , the New York civil rights activist who became a friend of the Jackson family , urged Jackson 's fans not to let critics `` scandalize '' a groundbreaking performer . `` Michael was n't no freak , '' Sharpton said . `` Michael was a genius . Michael was an innovator . You ca n't take someone with extraordinary skills , extraordinary talent , and make him an ordinary person . He was extraordinary . He lived extraordinarily , and we love him with an extraordinary passion . '' The Apollo had been one of the top venues for jazz , gospel and soul artists for decades before the Jacksons ' breakthrough . Sharpton said the theater was home to `` the best and the baddest . '' `` You 've got to come from the stage of the Apollo and go all over the world to understand Michael , '' Sharpton said . `` We understand his journey , because we were with him every step of the way . '' The Jackson brothers ' amateur night win led to a $ 1,000 deal for 31 shows at the Apollo , said Bobby Schiffman , whose family owned the theater . `` Shortly after their appearance , Diana Ross took them on an NBC special that she did , and there was no looking back after that . They just skyrocketed , '' Schiffman said . Jackson at the time `` was a sweet little boy , '' he said . `` He was extremely talented , extremely easy to get along with , '' Schiffman said . `` He always had a smile on his face , and it was a pleasure to see him working in the theater . '' CNN 's Aspen Steib contributed to this report . | Fans line streets for blocks to pay tribute to Michael Jackson at Apollo Theater . Fans lay flowers , mementos at the foot of the stage , dance to Jackson 's music . Jackson 5 won amateur night contest at Apollo in 1967 . | [[0, 24], [52, 126], [127, 190], [1291, 1371], [473, 474], [488, 548], [488, 492], [553, 616], [1364, 1371], [1387, 1445]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two snowmobilers died Wednesday in an avalanche on Logan Peak north of Salt Lake City , Utah , a sheriff 's department official said . Two people died after being trapped on Utah 's Logan Peak during an avalanche . Lt. Matt Bilodeau of the Cache County Sheriff 's Office told CNN that someone using a satellite phone called at 10:30 a.m. -LRB- 12:30 p.m. ET -RRB- and told authorities about the incident . `` Two people were trapped , '' he said . `` They have both been recovered . '' The body of only one of them , a male , had been taken down the mountain , he said . Logan Peak 's summit is at an altitude of 9,710 feet . Though the area is not off limits to snowmobilers , they had been warned of the danger after a recent snowstorm . `` The media 's been putting that in the paper , on the radio and on TV , '' Bilodeau said . `` We are still in extreme avalanche danger , '' he said , and he urged snowmobilers to `` take into account they need to stay in probably the areas that have less of a slope to them . '' CNN 's Scott Spoerry , who grew up in the area , said a recent avalanche knocked out the water supply for the city of Logan 's 47,000 residents . `` Every year , there 's a few avalanches , '' he said . The area is also popular during the summer , when hang gliders launch themselves from the peak . | Sheriff 's Office says two people had been trapped in avalanche . Call about avalanche came in at 12:30 p.m. ET . Sheriff 's Office says people had been warned of danger after recent storm . Body of one victim has been brought down from Logan Peak . | [[154, 233], [154, 164], [170, 233], [425, 451], [695, 758], [505, 533], [538, 577]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The World Health Organization cautioned that the swine flu outbreak could gain momentum in the months ahead , despite claims by the health secretary of Mexico -- the epicenter of the outbreak -- that the virus `` is in its declining phase . '' The number of confimed cases of the H1N1 virus continue to multiply . The outbreak is only about 10 days old , and even if the illness is declining , it could return , said Gregory Hartl , the WHO spokesman for epidemic and pandemic diseases , at a briefing Sunday . `` I ... would like to remind people that in 1918 the Spanish flu showed a surge in the spring , and then disappeared in the summer months , only to return in the autumn of 1918 with a vengeance , '' Hartl said . `` And we know that that eventually killed 40 million to 50 million people . '' Mexican authorities believe the virus 's most active period in Mexico was between April 23 and April 28 , and Mexican Health Secretary Jose Cordova described the outbreak as being in decline in his country . As of late Sunday , Mexican health officials reported 568 cases and 22 fatalities linked to the flu . WHO says it has confirmed 506 cases and 19 deaths in Mexico . The world has 898 confirmed cases of the virus , known to scientists H1N1 virus , in a total of 18 countries , WHO said Sunday . The United States has reported 226 confirmed cases in 30 states . The U.S. cases include one death -- a Mexican toddler visiting relatives in the United States . According to WHO , Canada has 70 confirmed cases ; the United Kingdom has 15 ; Spain has 13 ; Germany has 6 ; New Zealand has 4 ; Israel has 3 ; France has 2 ; and Austria , China , South Korea , Denmark , Netherlands , Switzerland , Costa Rica and Ireland each have one . In China , officials have quarantined 68 people , including 13 crew members , who were passengers of a Mexico City to Shanghai flight , which carried a passenger who tested positive for the virus , China 's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday . None of the other passengers has exhibited any flu-like symptoms , one health official said . About another 110 people who were on the Aeromexico plane went on to other destinations , and may face quarantines elsewhere , the news agency said . Fifteen have been quarantined at a Beijing hotel . Shanghai 's airport is now barring other Aeromexico planes from landing there , a representative of the airline told CNN . Aeromexico is suspending flights to Shanghai until May 15 , the representative said . The airline does not fly to Hong Kong or Beijing . In the United States , New York has the most confirmed cases , with 63 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Texas has 40 ; California has 26 ; Arizona 18 ; South Carolina 15 ; Delaware 10 ; Massachusetts and New Jersey each have seven ; Colorado has four ; Florida , Illinois , Indiana , Ohio , Virginia , Wisconsin each have three ; Connecticut , Kansas and Michigan each have two ; Alabama , Iowa , Kentucky , Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , Nevada , New Hampshire , New Mexico , Rhode Island , Tennessee and Utah each have one . California officials suspended visitation and other `` nonessential activities '' at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County after an inmate was suspected of having swine flu . The case has yet to be confirmed with lab testing . On Sunday , health officials in North Carolina and Pennsylvania announced the first confirmed cases in those states , and Louisiana 's governor said his state had seven confirmed cases . The cases from those three states were not immediately included in the CDC tally . In Washington , U.S. Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius , appearing on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' warned that even if the flu outbreak wanes , `` it could come back with greater force in the winter and fall , when we get into flu season . '' `` So , this is no time for complacency , '' she said . `` We want to stay out ahead of this . '' Dr. Anne Schuchat , the CDC 's interim deputy director for public health , told reporters Sunday that she was `` heartened '' by Mexican authorities ' reports but still is `` very cautious . '' `` I know that influenza can be surprising , and the time course here in the United States is later . We believe we 're just on the upswing here , and in several parts of Mexico , cases began quite a while ago , '' Schuchat said . `` From what I know about influenza , I do expect more cases , more severe cases and I do expect more deaths , '' she added . `` And I 'm particularly concerned about what will happen in the fall . '' Acting CDC Director Richard Besser , also speaking on `` State of the Union , '' said U.S. health officials are examining whether people who received flu shots for the swine flu in 1976 may have some level of protection from the current swine flu . `` That 's going to play in very , very big as we move forward with our plans around vaccines , because that may help guide some of the issues around who is most at risk at getting this in the future , '' Besser said . Offering a general picture of the state of U.S. efforts to combat the virus , Besser said `` there are encouraging signs . '' `` We 're not out of the woods yet , '' he said . `` But what we 've learned about the virus itself -- it does n't contain the factors that we know are seen in much more severe flu strains . '' While the new virus strain in the recent outbreak has affected humans , Canadian officials said it has shown up at a pig farm in Alberta , Canada . Officials said the pigs may have been infected by a Canadian farmer who recently returned from a trip to Mexico , the epicenter of the outbreak . The pigs have since been quarantined . `` We have determined that the virus H1N1 , found in these pigs , is the virus which is being tracked in the human population , '' said Dr. Brian Evans of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency . iReport.com : How should H1N1 be handled ? Evans and other officials said it is not uncommon for flu viruses to jump from humans to animals , and that it does not pose a risk for consuming pork . The number of pigs infected was not disclosed . The infected farmer had flu-like symptoms , but he is recovering , Evans said . Learn about the virus '' | WHO has confirmed 898 cases of H1N1 virus worldwide . Mexico says illness declining there ; WHO warns it could return . Mexico has largest number of confirmed cases , followed by U.S. , WHO says . Canadian officials claim pigs at farm have been affected by virus . | [[1195, 1241], [0, 15], [19, 210], [933, 1030], [1486, 1502], [1133, 1194], [1486, 1502], [5394, 5427], [5466, 5530], [5542, 5609]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Houston Rockets team physician Tom Clanton has said the foot injury currently sidelining Chinese center Yao Ming could threaten the seven-foot-six-inch player 's career . Yao Ming 's entire basketball future could be in danger due to his persistent foot injury . `` At this point , the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening , '' Clanton told the Houston Chronicle regional newspaper . `` One of the things we are trying to get is a consensus opinion on that , to make certain there is no option we are overlooking that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that he would prefer rather than doing additional surgery , '' he added . Yao fractured his left foot last month during a semifinal match against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Western Conference semifinals and has been visiting specialists ahead of treatment since then . Clanton continued : `` At this stage , he is having no symptoms or physical signs , he has no tenderness , no swelling , no redness . When he came back in , he was feeling like everything was perfect , and he would start rehabilitation and get ready to play . `` The findings on the CT were shocking for him and for us . You do n't treat a CT scan ; you treat a patient . We are looking for every reason to treat this on clinical findings but do n't want to put him at risk for a greater fracture , '' he added . The diagnosis raises doubt over the playing future of one of the biggest stars in the National Basketball Association -LRB- NBA -RRB- and one of the most famous celebrities to hail from China . Yao is a national hero in his homeland , and the news has prompted a frenzy of postings on the internet , arguing about the why 's and wherefore 's of his injury . `` He is really tired , '' says one Netizen posting on Sina.com . `` He needs to rest , we can not let the giant fall ! '' `` I wish everything will work out well for Yao Ming , '' says another teenage basketball fan . `` There is always a way to deal with injuries . We should not give up . '' Some Yao supporters think he should take a long break -- even for the whole season -- and make a comeback later . `` I think his injury is very bad , '' opines Ma Jian , a TV commentator who played for the Chinese national team . `` With all the weight training the team have put him through in the past seven years , Yao has gained about 20 kilos in his upper body . But his lower body , especially his feet , did not gain much strength to hold his large frame . '' The 28-year-old Yao has been a perennial pick for the NBA All-Star teams since moving from the Shanghai Sharks to the Rockets in 2002 . Yao also captained the Chinese team as hosts at the 2008 Beijing Games , as well as taking the role of flag-bearer in the opening ceremony . Yao was awarded the honor of `` model worker '' in 2005 by China 's ruling Communist Party . However , despite his popularity , Yao still has his share of detractors . Known as `` Yao hei '' -- they are people who are out to smear the player . `` He is a man made of glass , '' says one posting on Sina.com . `` Should we call him Yao the glass or Yao the porcelain ? '' asks one rhetorically . Yao is now a multi-millionaire , earning millions of dollars yearly , not just from his NBA team but from lucrative commercial endorsements . Admirers say Yao has done more for improving China 's image overseas than any modern-day politician or diplomat . Next to the giant panda , Yao is perhaps China 's best known and much loved , icon , in part because exudes a wholesome , feel-good image . `` He is such an affable , likeable guy , '' recalls Colin Pine , who used to serve as his personal translator during his years as an NBA rookie in Houston . His demeanor on and off the court has endeared him to the media and multitude of basketball fans overseas , who admire his modesty and maturity . His loyal fans hope Yao will get an extension of his already long and successful career . | Houston Rockets physician says Yao Ming injury could `` threaten his career '' Yao fractured his left foot playing for Houston against the L.A. Lakers in May . The 28-year-old was flag-bearer for China at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games . Yao has been perennial All-Star selection since he moved to the U.S. in 2002 . | [[0, 189], [87, 189], [190, 281], [301, 362], [301, 311], [367, 394], [376, 382], [383, 394], [397, 407], [732, 845], [2703, 2706], [2712, 2773], [2703, 2706], [2787, 2843], [2567, 2702]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson knew `` exactly how his fate would be played out '' and feared his death would echo that of Elvis Presley , Lisa Marie Presley wrote in an online blog posted Friday morning . Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 . Presley says , `` I loved him very much '' and believes he loved her . Presley -- the daughter of Elvis , the `` King of Rock , '' and the ex-wife of Jackson , the `` King of Pop '' -- wrote on her MySpace page that she wanted `` to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once . '' Her publicist confirmed Presley wrote the blog . She said her short marriage to Jackson -- from May 1994 until January 1996 -- `` was not ' a sham ' as is being reported in the press , '' but she divorced him because she was `` in over my head in trying '' to save Jackson `` from the inevitable , which is what has just happened . '' Jackson talked with her about his death during `` a deep conversation '' 14 years ago about `` the circumstances of my father 's death . '' Watch more from Presley on Jackson '' `` At some point he paused , he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty , ' I am afraid that I am going to end up like him , the way he did , ' '' Presley wrote . `` I promptly tried to deter him from the idea , at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know , he knew what he knew and that was kind of that . '' That conversation haunted Presley as she watched television coverage of Jackson 's death Thursday , she said . `` I am sitting here watching on the news -LSB- as -RSB- an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home , the big gates , the crowds outside the gates , the coverage , the crowds outside the hospital , the cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me , as did the unstoppable tears , '' she wrote . `` A predicted ending by him , by loved ones and by me , but what I did n't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened . '' Elvis Presley collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis , Tennessee , mansion -- Graceland -- on August 16 , 1977 , at the age of 42 . While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat , the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem . `` As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness , reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date , watching on the news almost play by play the exact scenario I saw happen on August 16 , 1977 , happening again right now with Michael -LRB- A sight I never wanted to see again -RRB- just as he predicted , I am truly , truly gutted , '' she wrote . `` I wanted to ` save him ' , '' she wrote . `` I wanted to save him from the inevitable , which is what has just happened . '' `` The hardest decision I have ever had to make , which was to walk away and let his fate have him , even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow , '' Presley wrote . Their marriage , which some suggested was only to help Jackson 's image , was real , she said . `` It was an unusual relationship , yes , where two unusual people who did not live or know a ` normal life ' found a connection , perhaps with some suspect timing on his part , '' she wrote . `` Nonetheless , I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much . '' Presley called Jackson `` an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated . '' `` When he used it for something good , it was the best and when he used it for something bad , It was really , REALLY bad , '' she wrote . Presley 's blog entry ended with a thank you to those who would read it . `` I really needed to say this right now , thanks for listening . '' Presley 's blog can be found online at http://bit.ly/5wR7p . | Lisa-Marie Presley , Jackson were married from 1994 to 1996 . She says Jackson feared he would die like her father , Elvis Presley . Presley says their marriage was not `` a sham '' as press has said . `` I wanted to save him from the inevitable , '' she says . | [[44, 165], [0, 3], [116, 165], [2776, 2798], [2821, 2861], [3014, 3015], [3042, 3077]] |
NEW DELHI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` Slumdog Millionaire '' leaves audiences uplifted . But that is hardly how one of its child stars felt on Thursday . Indian authorities demolished the home of `` Slumdog Millionaire '' child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail . Despite the hit movie 's mega-millions in box-office receipts , Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail 's life changed little after he returned home to Mumbai , India 's , Garib Nagar , or city of the poor . On Thursday , even the roof over the real-life slum dweller 's head was taken away as Indian authorities tore down the shanty where Ismail 's family lived . Authorities said the home and about 20 others around it were illegally built . Senior Inspector Rahim Sheikh told CNN that the shanties were brought down as part of a municipal drive to clear encroachments on public land . Bulldozers leveled the slum built on a municipal garden , said Sheikh , who is in charge of the locality in Mumbai where Ismail lived . The little boy sat among twisted corrugated metal and other debris , surrounded by filth and squalor . Memories of Hollywood 's glitz and glitter were distant as tears streamed down his face . He said his family was given no notice of the demolition and did not have time to remove their belongings . But , they said , they plan to return and rebuild . Watch ` Slumdog ' actor 's home razed . '' `` Slumdog Millionaire '' is the story of Jamal , an impoverished , uneducated teen who competes on an Indian game show . Ismail , who played a young Jamal 's brother , Salim , traveled to Los Angeles , California , in February for this year 's Academy Awards , where the movie won eight Oscars , including best picture . CNN 's Sara Sidner contributed to this story . | Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail 's home is in Garib Nagar , or city of the poor . Indian authorities say the home , 20 others , were illegally built . Family says they got no notice , plan to rebuild . | [[329, 460], [618, 673], [635, 696], [1170, 1277], [1178, 1226], [1284, 1293], [1296, 1329]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With record low approval ratings and intense criticism for his handling of the Iraq war , Hurricane Katrina and the economy , the word most used to label George W. Bush 's presidency will be `` incompetent , '' historians say . President Bush makes remarks on the presidential transition November 6 . `` Right now there is not a lot of good will among historians . Most see him as a combination of many negative factors , '' said Julian Zelizer , a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University 's Woodrow Wilson School . `` He is seen as incompetent in terms of how he handled domestic and foreign policy . He is seen as pushing for an agenda to the right of the nation and doing so through executive power that ignored the popular will , '' he added . But like so many presidents before him , Bush 's reputation could change with time . Harvard University political history scholar Barbara Kellerman said when President-elect Barack Obama takes over in January , people may view Bush in a new light . Watch Bush address staff about transition of power '' `` I think it 's possible when people have stopped being as angry at the Bush administration as they are now ... that they will realize that some of this is just ... the luck of the draw . '' Kellerman , author of the book `` Bad Leadership : What It Is , How It Happens , Why It Matters , '' noted that Bush has not had luck on his side for the past eight years . `` He -LSB- Bush -RSB- has been a quite unlucky president . Certain things happened on his watch that most people do n't have to deal with -- a 9/11 , a -LSB- Hurricane -RSB- Katrina , the financial crisis , being three obvious examples , '' she said . `` And yet they happened on his watch . He is being blamed , '' she said . And that fact -- coupled with approval ratings around 27 percent , according to CNN 's poll released October 21 -- is in large part why Obama and Democrats won big on November 4 . Douglas Brinkley , a presidential historian and professor at Rice University , said the country is dealing with a `` lame duck president '' who will most likely face an uphill battle in getting anything passed through Congress before he leaves office . `` We 're dealing with an economic meltdown ... We 're dealing with two wars . So everything Obama does now is going to be seen as he is the de facto president , '' Brinkley said Thursday . Read Zelizer 's take on what Obama should avoid . Historians , beginning to examine Bush 's legacy , note that the 43rd president could end up with a better reputation down the road -- something that happened to Harry Truman . At different points in his presidency , Truman earned some of the highest and the lowest public approval ratings in history : 87 percent approval in June 1945 vs. 23 percent approval in January 1952 , according to a CNN analysis of polling at the time . Truman , who is often noted for his upset victory over Thomas Dewey in 1948 , faced several domestic and foreign policy problems throughout his term in office , which lasted from 1945-1953 . Most notably : The Korean War , World War II and later , Cold War relations with an aggressive Soviet Union . `` One of the things that has been conventionally done is to compare George W. Bush to Harry Truman , both of whom had upon leaving office dismal approval ratings and of course as it is well known by now , Harry Truman 's reputation has , by virtually every account , not only improved , but I would say escalated nearly to the top of the list of greater American presidents , '' Kellerman added . Another president Bush may be compared to down the road ? Ronald Reagan . Prior to leaving office , Reagan faced strong backlash from Republicans and Democrats on opening negotiations with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev during the Cold War era as well as the handling of the Iran-Contra Affair . `` He was seen as bumbling ; he was seen as unintelligent ; he was seen as a guy driven by his advisers , '' Zelizer added . `` And now he 's being talked about like FDR , one of the great presidents in American history and we have a new look at who he was . '' Reagan is often invoked by Republicans in presidential races -- most recently with the campaign of Sen. John McCain -- looking to shore up the conservative base . Bush , meanwhile , who has long defended his decision to invade Iraq as a way to spread democracy , could also see criticism dissipate over time if Iraq becomes a thriving , stable country . `` If you imagine that an Iraq in 10,15 years is actually a vibrant , stable democracy and other countries neighboring it move in that direction ... I think you 'd have a strong Bush revisionism , '' Zelizer said . `` How things unfold in coming decades can help repair a battered presidency , '' he added . Kellerman said that while many will credit Bush for taking charge of democracy-spreading , his `` incompetence '' will still be noted . `` The level of incompetence after the initial ` mission accomplished ' was so acute that my guess is , even if the decision to invade might be historically justified , the incompetence that succeeded it ... I think that 's going to be very difficult to ever alter our negative perception of that . '' | Presidential historians weigh in on how history will perceive President Bush . Zelizer : `` There is not a lot of good will among historians '' for Bush . Bush is often compared to Harry Truman , whose reputation improved over history . Kellerman : Bush will be remembered for his `` incompetence '' | [[2460, 2470], [2473, 2508], [227, 246], [320, 383], [4701, 4718], [2460, 2470], [2511, 2591], [145, 224], [559, 644], [3888, 3914], [4812, 4947], [4832, 4900], [4903, 4947]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For someone who claims to be incredibly laid back , Jason Mraz is certainly piling up the accomplishments . Jason Mraz was recently honored with a songwriting award for his work , which includes the hit `` I 'm Yours . '' The singer-songwriter was the recipient of the Hal David Starlight Award at last week 's Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee ceremony in New York . The honor typically goes to newcomers striking a chord in the music industry . Or , as Mraz puts it , `` I hope it has something to do with their savvy freshness . '' Mraz , who turned 32 this week and took his parents to the celebratory dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square June 18 , says he feels great about the honor . `` I never thought my songs would escape my bedroom , '' he said . `` To have the music shared all around the world , and to be acknowledged by communities like this ... it 's inspiring . '' Mraz 's 2008 album `` We Sing . We Dance . We Steal Things '' has been a runaway success , with more than 2.5 million copies sold worldwide . It also led to three Grammy nominations , including song of the year and best male pop vocal performance for the reggae-inflected hit `` I 'm Yours . '' Mraz -LRB- whose name reflects his family 's Czech heritage -RRB- hits the festival circuit overseas before kicking off his stateside `` Gratitude Café Tour '' July 25 . The tour 's quirky title was inspired by a wholesome San Francisco , California , restaurant Mraz loves . A fan of maintaining a diet of predominantly raw foods , Mraz is also a farmer of sorts : He owns an avocado farm in his home city of San Diego , California . He 's also a juggler , a skill Mraz taught himself during the downtime that comes with touring . Watch the multitalented Mraz perform '' Mraz shared tales of his avocado farm , as well as what it 's like to get the cold shoulder from Simon Cowell , when he sat down with CNN recently . CNN : So , you live on an avocado farm . What 's that like ? Jason Mraz : It 's fantastic . Anytime you 're harvesting something in your yard -- whether you have a small herb garden or I 've got avocados , and now we have a solar system so we 're also harvesting sun energy , which is great -- for me that 's when I became an environmentalist . I was like , `` Wait a second . This is my environment . This is my piece of the Earth that I 'm responsible for . '' Yes , the trees give me avocado and fruit that we sell and we eat tons of , but I feel like I have a role to play back to that , too . So it 's cool . CNN : So if you 're at home , daily how many avocados would you eat ? Mraz : At least two . Sometimes three or four . CNN : So you must have very nice oily skin . Mraz : I do , thank you . It 's the avocado . I just lather it on . CNN : Do you really ? Mraz : I do . Yeah , why not ? I 've got tons of them ! CNN : Do you cook ? Mraz : I prepare . There 's not much cooking in our household . We do a lot of raw food so it 's more about putting the right ingredients together to create something scrumptious . See Mraz 's chocomole recipe . CNN : When eating healthy is so important to you , how difficult is that to maintain when you 're traveling around the world so much ? Mraz : Well , I bring tons of backup supplies with me . CNN : How did you like performing on the `` American Idol '' final ? -LRB- Mraz performed `` I 'm Yours '' with contestants Anoop Desai and Alexis Grace . -RRB- . Mraz : I loved it . It was such a great event . And I have compassion for every one of those kids that dares audition . I was n't a contestant . I was just there to sing , and when I saw Simon at the end of that panel I freaked out . I was like , `` What does he think ? '' And then I had to stop myself and say `` Dude , you 're not a contestant . '' He 's aloof . But I watched during the rest of the night and he did it to all the acts . That 's just his way . CNN : Do you think you could hack it as an `` American Idol '' contestant ? Mraz : It is really tough . I watch what those guys do backstage between songs and their weekly schedule is super intense -- to learn new songs , to shoot videos , to learn dance moves and all this . They actually go through a pretty amazing transformation during the course of that show . I just do n't know that I could commit myself to something like that . I 'm a little more laid back . And some days if I ca n't show up to work , I do n't show up to work . And I love that -LRB- laughs -RRB- . CNN : Were you surprised by the success of `` I 'm Yours '' ? Mraz : Very surprised . There 's something simple about it ... like a nursery rhyme . I thought it was so playful . I never expected the world to really grab it and run with it the way they have . CNN : Can you talk me through how you went about writing that song ? Where were you ? What were you doing ? Mraz : I was at home . It was a sunny afternoon . And just as any afternoon where I play music , I was playing on an electric guitar , just chugging around , feeling a little reggae in me you know , and the melody and the words just started to pop out rather quickly and so I recorded it rather quickly . And the whole process only took about a half an hour . CNN : You 're about to go overseas to play various festivals . Is there anywhere you 'll be going for the first time ? Mraz : This year we 're going to explore South America , which I 've visited as a tourist , but I 've never taken my music down there . I hear the crowds turn up in masses , so I really want to see what that 's like . I love getting to bounce around and explore so much . I love Scandinavia . I love Spain . It 's so mystical and romantic , yet it 's gritty . CNN : Do you speak Spanish ? Mraz : No , but I have the Rosetta Stone . I have begun my level one training . | Jason Mraz recently honored with songwriters award . `` I 'm Yours '' artist amazed at where music has brought him . Mraz intimidated by appearance on `` American Idol '' | [[136, 159], [168, 205], [136, 146], [151, 205]] |
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