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NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A technical snafu left some Visa prepaid cardholders stunned and horrified Monday to see a $ 23,148,855,308,184,500 charge on their statements . Josh Muszynski noticed the 17-digit charge while making a routine balance inquiry . That 's about 2,007 times the size of the national debt . Josh Muszynski , 22 , of Manchester , New Hampshire , was one Visa customer aghast to find the 17-digit charge on his bill . Adding insult to injury , he had also been hit with a $ 15 overdraft fee . He noticed that his debt exceeded the world GDP while making a routine balance inquiry on his online Bank of America account . According to his statement , he had spent the profound sum in one pop at a nearby Mobil gas station -- his regular stop for Camel cigarettes . `` Very , very panicked , '' he jumped in his car and sped to the station . Had they perhaps noticed any `` outrageous '' charges come across their books recently , he inquired of the cashier there . She checked the records . They had not . Watch the story of an astounded customer in Memphis , Tennessee '' Muszynski wondered aloud what he might possibly have asked to purchase for such an astronomical price . `` Can I buy Europe on pump 4 ? '' He next called Bank of America , the issuer of his Visa prepaid debit card . The bank kept him on hold for two hours , during which time he contemplated the impossibly bleak financial future that might await him . He also felt a stab of fear that he had saddled all his unborn grandchildren -- and their grandchildren -- with a lifetime of debt . `` Down the generational line , nobody would have any money . '' Finally , a bank representative told him that the $ 23 quadrillion charge -- and the $ 15 overdraft fee -- would be stricken from his account . Muszynski compared the giant debt reprieve to receiving `` an amazing Monopoly card that says , ` Bank error in your favor . ' '' In a statement , Visa said the rogue charges affected `` fewer than 13,000 prepaid transactions '' and resulted from a `` temporary programming error at Visa Debit Processing Services ... -LSB- which -RSB- caused some transactions to be inaccurately posted to a small number of Visa prepaid accounts . '' The company assured customers that the problem has been fixed and that all falsely issued fees have been voided . `` Erroneous postings have been removed ... this incident had no financial impact on Visa prepaid cardholders . '' | $ 23,148,855,308,184,500 charge is about 2,007 times the size of the national debt . Visa customer in New Hampshire , also hit with $ 15 overdraft fee , finds out online . Statement said he 'd spent the big sum at gas station where he buys cigarettes . Card issuer strikes charge and fee , blames `` temporary programming error '' | [[257, 282], [466, 514], [671, 741], [1690, 1710], [1721, 1787], [1918, 1932], [1935, 2103]] |
Men who are circumcised are less likely to get sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus -LRB- HPV -RRB- , but not syphilis , according to a study of adult African men published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine . Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe , but they 've been on the decline . The finding adds to the evidence that there are health benefits to circumcision . It was already known that circumcision can reduce the risk of penile cancer , a relatively rare disease . In a previous study , the same research team found that adult circumcision could reduce the risk of HIV infection . Efforts to increase the practice of male circumcision in areas with high rates of sexually transmitted infections , including Africa , could have a tremendous benefit , say the study 's authors . Genital herpes has been associated with an increased risk of HIV , and HPV can cause genital warts as well as a higher risk of anal , cervical -LRB- in women -RRB- , and penile cancers . Health.com : Is your partner cheating ? How to protect yourself . In the United States , infant circumcision is declining . About 64 percent of American male infants were circumcised in 1995 , down from more than 90 percent in the 1970s . Rates tend to be higher in whites -LRB- 81percent -RRB- than in blacks -LRB- 65 percent -RRB- or Hispanics -LRB- 54 percent -RRB- . Some opponents say the removal of the foreskin is an unnecessary surgical procedure that may reduce sexual sensitivity in adulthood . In Jewish and Muslim cultures , young or infant boys are routinely circumcised for religious reasons . Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe , but the American Academy of Pediatrics currently says that the medical benefits are insufficient to recommend circumcision for all baby boys . In the new study , a research team at the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Uganda -- in collaboration with researchers from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore , Maryland , and Makerere University in Uganda -- conducted two clinical trials involving 3,393 uncircumcised men ages 15 to 49 . All the men were negative for HIV and genital herpes -LRB- also known as herpes simplex virus type 2 -RRB- ; a subgroup of men also tested negative for HPV . Roughly half of the men underwent medically supervised circumcision at the start of the trial , while the other half were circumcised two years later . Overall , circumcision reduced the men 's risk of genital herpes by 28 percent -LRB- 10.3 percent of uncircumcised men developed genital herpes compared with 7.8 percent of circumcised men -RRB- and HPV infection by 35 percent -LRB- 27.8 percent of uncircumcised men were infected with HPV compared with 18 percent of circumcised men -RRB- . Circumcision did not , however , protect against syphilis . -LRB- About 2 percent of men in both groups contracted syphilis . -RRB- Health.com : A sexual risk taker comes to terms with drinking , depression , and STDs . Study coauthor Thomas C. Quinn , M.D. , professor of global health at Johns Hopkins University , says that choosing circumcision , whether it 's the parents of an infant or an adult male for himself , is and should remain an individual decision . `` But the critics need to really look at the benefits versus the risks , '' he adds . `` By now a large body of evidence has shown that the health benefits clearly outweigh the minor risk associated with the surgery . In our study , we did n't see any adverse effects or mutilation . We 're recommending supervised , safe , sterile environments -- not circumcision out in an open field with rusty instruments . '' Increasing circumcision rates in Africa may not only help men , but would likely protect women too , possibly lowering the rates of female cervical cancer , the authors say . Ronald H. Gray , M.D. , professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University and study coauthor , says that the researchers plan to look at whether male circumcision reduces the transmission of HPV to female sexual partners . Health.com : 10 questions to ask a new partner before having sex . Even in the United States , this study has relevance , says Anthony Fauci , M.D. , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -LRB- which funded one of the trials -RRB- . `` In this country , circumcision for infant boys remains a personal decision for the parents , '' he says . `` This makes us rethink whether doctors should be more aggressive in recommending that it at least be considered . If parents say no just because generations before them have said no , they should learn more about the significant health benefits before making that choice . '' Roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults have had at least one HPV infection , according to an editorial by Matthew R. Golden , M.D. , and Judith N. Wasserheit , M.D. , both of the University of Washington . Although vaccines against some of the most dangerous HPV strains have been approved for girls ages 13 to 26 , the vaccines are expensive and routine Pap tests are still necessary to pick up cervical cancers . Health.com : How to tell your ex you have an STD . Golden and Wasserheit note that `` rates of circumcision are declining and are lowest among black and Hispanic patients , groups in whom rates of HIV , herpes , and cervical cancer are disproportionately high . '' Medicaid , which insures many low-income patients in these populations , does not pay for routine infant circumcision in 16 states . The study authors hope that this growing evidence in favor of circumcision will persuade policy-making bodies , both in the United States and in other countries , to officially recommend the procedure -- which could make patient education and insurance coverage more likely . It 's not clear why circumcision may affect infection rates . But the study authors suggest that penile foreskin may provide a moist , favorable environment for herpes and HPV to survive and enter cells on the skin 's surface . Once the foreskin is surgically removed , the risk of infection may be reduced . Health.com : Men can lose their sex drives too . They also note , however , that male circumcision is not completely effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections . Safe sex practices , including consistent condom use , are still necessary to provide the best protection . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Study : Circumcision reduces risk of HPV infection and herpes , but not syphilis . Circumcision known to reduce risk of HIV infection and penile cancer . 64 percent of American baby boys circumcised in ' 95 , down from 90 percent in 70s . | [[0, 161], [0, 161], [381, 462], [419, 462], [463, 477], [484, 538], [463, 465], [470, 538], [569, 588], [591, 684], [6133, 6172], [6175, 6213], [1134, 1154], [1157, 1191], [1192, 1258]] |
-LRB- InStyle -RRB- -- The multi-talented star Mandy Moore shares her stylish secrets . Mandy Moore spins in a Chaiken cashmere dress and Ibisco belt . 1 . Start defining your style . `` It all goes back to wanting to be an individual . I have my days of not feeling super-great , but that 's universal . My style has evolved as I 've become more aware of myself as well as what looks good on me -- and what does n't . '' 2 . Find labels that work for you . `` It 's always nice to have a running tally of designers that fit your body well and that you feel comfortable in for any number of events . It makes you feel less limited . '' 3 . Identify shapes that flatter . `` I 'm not super-picky about color . I 'm more picky about the cut of a garment . I look terrible in anything bias-cut for instance , and I prefer Empire waists . '' Mandy explains other fashion choices '' 4 . Dresses are secret weapons . `` I love dresses ! If it 's flowy and loose , you do n't have to worry about what shape you 're in , frankly . Plus there 's something romantic and ethereal about vintage dresses that I adore . '' 5 . When in doubt , bring a belt . `` I 'm looking at my dress today , and I wish I had brought a belt with me because it looks like a gigantic tent . Having a belt to define your waist is always better than hiding behind something . '' 6 . What really makes you look good . `` If you 're confident and you feel good , people pick up on that . And it does n't really matter what 's happening from the neck down . I 'd rather be comfortable than anything else . '' InStyle.com : Witness Mandy 's amazing style transformation . 7 . Some trends wo n't flatter you -- avoid them . `` I tried footless leggings and then I realized , this is not a trend for me . When something stops at your midcalf , it can be somewhat shortening . But I feel like long tights make any look ladylike and classy . '' 8 . Find a great tailor . `` I 've been having trouble finding jeans lately . So I 've been buying vintage high-waist trouser jeans and having them tailored . My tailor understands my body . She 's always encouraging me to wear stuff tighter . '' 9 . Hoop earrings work on everyone . `` My friend Raina 's always telling me to wear hoops . She 's like , ` Even if you 're in jeans , a T-shirt and flats , hoops are sexy , cool , and everyone looks good in them . ' '' 10 . Give yourself a break . `` You have to take a break and treat yourself . I treat myself by getting massages , manicures or pedicures . I treat myself by having a cookie or frozen yogurt , or whatever it may be , because I know I work hard and I deserve it . '' E-mail to a friend . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | Mandy Moore offers style tips : Avoid unflattering trends . Do n't worry about your shape with flowy , loose dresses . Find a great tailor . | [[1639, 1669], [934, 955], [958, 1022], [1908, 1929]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police say they are investigating the disappearance of more than $ 400,000 worth of jewelry from a photo shoot involving Lindsay Lohan in London on June 6 . Jewels are missing from an Elle magazine photo shoot of Lindsay Lohan . `` Items of jewelry went missing from an Elle photoshoot ... and the matter is now being investigated by the police , '' the fashion magazine said in a statement to CNN . `` Elle has no reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible and has no further comment to make . '' Lohan 's representative told CNN the actress was `` happy to cooperate , '' and that `` No one has contacted Lindsay '' about the investigation . The magazine would not say whether the 22-year-old actress wore the jewelry in the photo shoot , and could not say when the photos would be published . `` The theft was reported to a central London police station on 8 June 2009 after earrings and a necklace , believed to be diamond and estimated to be worth in the region of # 250,000 -LSB- $ 410,000 -RSB- , were found to be missing approximately two days earlier , '' London 's Metropolitan Police said in a statement . No arrests have been made , the police said . Big Sky Studios in London , where the shoot took place , refused to comment . CNN 's Nicola Goulding , Max Foster , Laura Perez Maestro and Jonathan Wald contributed to this report . | Police are investigating disappearance of jewelry from Lindsay Lohan photo shoot . Lohan was doing photo spread for Elle magazine . Magazine : `` No reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible '' Lohan 's representative told CNN the actress was `` happy to cooperate '' | [[36, 146], [193, 264], [330, 380], [133, 192], [193, 264], [439, 443], [458, 541], [555, 645]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Los Angeles-area man has been charged with murder in the death of his wife while on a cruise along the Mexican coast , an FBI spokesman told CNN sister network HLN . Shirley McGill , 55 , was found dead on Tuesday in her cabin on the Carnival Elation . Shirley McGill , 55 , was found dead in her cabin on the Carnival Elation on Tuesday as the ship , after a five-day cruise to Cabo San Lucas , was heading back to its origination point of San Diego , California , authorities said . Robert McGill , who is in his mid-50s , is charged with murder on the high seas , FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter told HLN . The FBI and the Carnival cruise line said that a domestic dispute Tuesday night resulted in the woman 's death , but did not elaborate on how she was killed . The FBI said the cause of death would be determined through autopsy . Another passenger became suspicious that foul play had taken place `` for a variety of possible reasons , '' Slotter said , and notified ship security . When security checked the couple 's room , Shirley McGill was found dead inside , he said . Authorities believe she had been dead for no more than a couple of hours . Watch Slotter describe how the body was found '' Robert McGill was arrested on board the ship and was kept in its brig for the remainder of the cruise , the FBI said . After the ship docked , he was taken into federal custody , as crimes on the high seas fall under federal jurisdiction . FBI agents boarded the ship to start the investigation as the vessel neared San Diego , with the Coast Guard transporting the agents about 10 miles offshore . Agents were completing their work on the ship Thursday , having interviewed about 50 passengers and processed the crime scene , Slotter said . He would not elaborate on the domestic dispute , saying authorities are still trying to piece together what happened . The 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation had departed on the cruise July 11 . CNN 's Scott Thompson contributed to this report . | Shirley McGill , 55 , was found dead in her cabin on the Carnival Elation on Tuesday . Husband Robert McGill , in mid-50s , charged with murder on the high seas , FBI says . FBI and Carnival cruise line said domestic dispute Tuesday night led to death . | [[187, 201], [204, 273], [274, 288], [291, 347], [1023, 1063], [1066, 1102], [506, 519], [546, 585], [1343, 1357], [641, 799], [688, 751], [641, 652], [688, 706], [758, 799]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean wants to set the record straight . Carrie Prejean says pageant officials wanted her to make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere . Prejean garnered widespread criticism when she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage in a response to a question posed to her during the Miss USA pageant . Prejean was allowed to keep her Miss California USA crown in May , despite a controversy over topless photos and missed appearances . However , state pageant Executive Director Keith Lewis took her crown on Wednesday , saying it was a business decision based solely on `` contract violations . '' Prejean offered her side of the story when she spoke with CNN 's Larry King on Friday . She also discussed whether she would sue to reclaim her title and her future plans . The following is an edited version of the interview . Larry King : You 've had a couple of days now , Carrie , to think it all over and it 's sunk in . What are your feelings today ? Carrie Prejean : I 'm definitely a little bit surprised just by the way that I found out about this . You know , I was called by the media to inform me that I was fired . King : Are you saying the pageant did n't call you ? Prejean : No . I have n't received any phone calls . In fact , my lawyer found out from the media , as well , before we received any contact . I still have not , to this day , received any contact from Mr. Lewis . King : Now , since they were so supportive of you at the time and after the Trump announcement , what do you make of the fact that they did n't call you ? Prejean : Well , I think Mr. Trump was definitely in the middle . And I think that , you know , he has only heard one side . Ultimately , at the end of the day , you have to think about , Are you going to release Mr. Keith Lewis or are you going to release Carrie Prejean ? I think that they had to release the beauty queen at the end of the day . King : How do you respond to -LRB- charges from Lewis -RRB- ? Prejean : Well , Larry , all I can tell you was this basically comes down to the answer that I gave the night of the pageant . As you can see , Mr. Lewis does not agree with the stance that I took . I think he 's very angry . I think he 's hurt . He said in a previous statement that he 's deeply saddened and hurt that -- what Carrie Prejean believes in -- a marriage is between a man and a woman . Politics and religion have no play in the Miss California family . My question is , then why was the question asked at the pageant in the first place ? If politics has no role in the pageant , why was I given this question ? It was a hidden personal agenda that judge No. 8 asked , and I think that they were not ready for my answer that I gave . King : Let 's say they were upset by your remarks . They did n't like your answer . Why did n't they just tell Donald Trump , we 're unhappy and let 's pick the runner-up or whatever ? Prejean : He absolutely did . I mean Keith Lewis held a press conference in Los Angeles and did n't invite me to the press conference and , you know , awarded the first runner up as the new ambassador of California . That is just undermining me and undermining his own titleholder from day one . Watch how e-mails between Prejean , Lewis may have contributed to firing '' As far as the other appearances , I 've had some inappropriate appearances that Keith Lewis has asked me to do . And I 'm sure you 're aware of them already -- one of them being Playboy ; another one being a reality show which is being filmed in Costa Rica . So had I said yes to these , I mean , I would have been out of the country . Again , Playboy , I could n't believe . I was completely shocked that he would even pass this along to me . Another one was a gay movie premiere that he wanted me to attend incognito . He actually said he wanted me to wear a hat and go in disguise and attend this movie premiere promoting gay marriage and then come out with a statement the next day saying that Carrie Prejean attended a gay movie premiere . It just does n't seem right , Larry , does it ? King : Are you now sorry you even entered . Or , in retrospect , has this been a boom for you publicity-wise ? Prejean : You know , this is n't something that I signed up for , Larry . I simply entered in a pageant , the Miss California USA contest , and I gave an answer that a lot of people were n't expecting . The bottom line , I took a stand , and I think I am now being punished for the answer that I gave . This is n't about contracts . This is n't about me missing out on appearances . If you want to ask Keith Lewis any appearances that I have made prior to the Miss California U.S. pageant , I will guarantee you , Larry , he will not even -- he ca n't even tell you an appearance that he -- he scheduled for me . This is n't about appearances . This is n't about a breach of contract . This is about Keith Lewis not agreeing with the stance that I took on saving traditional marriage . And from day one , he wanted me out . King : Well , are you going to sue , Carrie ? Prejean : That 's -- you know , that 's something that is not something that I want to -- I want to do . I think that what 's going on is wrong . And I think that there is definitely some information that is missing . And I know that sooner or later , the truth will come out and people will recognize here who 's right and who 's wrong . King : What are your lawyers telling you to do or advising you to do ? Prejean : You know , that 's up to my lawyers to determine whether or not they think that there will be a lawsuit involved . But that 's not up to me , at this point . King : What are you going to do right now , career-wise ? Prejean : Well , first of all , I want to thank the millions of viewers . I know you have so many viewers on your show , Larry . Thank you so much for your support . Thank you to all the Californians who have supported me , who backed me , who sent me thousands of letters and e-mails . I just want to thank you so much for your prayers , for your support . And I know that when God is for you , no one can be against you . So thank you . King : Can you tell us what you 're going to do , though ? Prejean : I 'm not sure . Definitely some -- a lot of offers -- opportunities have come my way , a lot of offers . I 'm just really excited . I feel relieved . I feel just so blessed and so honored to have represented the state of California . And I 'm ready to move on with my life and just be where God leads me . | Carrie Prejean says she learned she lost Miss California USA crown from media . Prejean : Pageant director asked me to make `` inappropriate appearances '' Pageant officials say Prejean 's firing due to `` contract violations '' Prejean 's response to question on same-sex marriage raised eyebrows . | [[96, 203], [3361, 3439], [511, 555], [586, 660], [204, 323]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Dionne Warwick was one of the thousands of guests to attend Michael Jackson 's memorial service Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , California . Dionne Warwick said Michael Jackson brought a new insight to things people should be paying attention to . Warwick talks with CNN 's Larry King about the moving tributes during the service and the legacy left behind by the `` King of Pop . '' King also talks with Warwick 's son , Damon Elliott , who has been a friend of Jackson 's since childhood and was writing a song with Michael just before his death . The following is an edited version of the interview . Larry King : What did you think of the event , Dionne ? Dionne Warwick : Well , it was probably one of the most emotional mornings and afternoons that I 've spent in a very long time . It was done with a great deal of style and class . King : He would 've liked it ? Warwick : He would 've loved it . He would 've loved it . King : How did you and Michael hook up , Damon ? Damon Elliott : From Mom . We shared moms . When I was very little , I used to beg her probably at least once a week , `` Mom , you have to take me out to the house , you have to take me out to the house . '' She 'd always say , `` I 'm on tour right now , baby . But when we I get home , we 'll go see Michael . '' And one day we did , and he showed up , I think , in my living room or somewhere . King : You were writing a song at his death ? Elliott : Yes . Actually , I was working on some music for the new record that I was going to get over to Jermaine . And the night before he passed away , it 's crazy we were writing a song . King : How great a singer was Michael Jackson ? Warwick : Michael was ... King : A singer -- a pure singer ? Warwick : And he could sing . Yes . Yes . It was more than the magic of everything else that he did . He was a brilliant singer . King : What was he like to work with , if you were working on a song together ? What was that experience like ? Elliott : Well , from a distance , I got to work with Michael . I mostly worked through Jermaine , who was another amazing talent . But just all the brothers , you know , they have so much conviction and so much feeling in their delivery . Watch Jackson family address crowd '' And Michael was like the greatest teacher to all of us -- producers , dancers , singers , songwriters . He just had it all . He would come in and beat box a melody and you 'd try to emulate it on a drum machine and it just was impossible . So you 'd just keep what he did . King : What 's Michael Jackson 's legacy ? Warwick : The wonderful things that he did for this entire world . I think he brought a new insight as to the things that we really should be paying attention to . He did it brilliantly , and I think that 's his legacy . | Singer Dionne Warwick : Jackson 's memorial service was done with style , class . Warwick 's son was writing a song with Jackson days before his death . Damon Elliott : `` Michael was like the greatest teacher to all of us '' | [[823, 873], [418, 422], [456, 461], [528, 583], [1416, 1456], [1574, 1609], [1612, 1648], [2278, 2381]] |
ALSIP , Illinois -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Cook County cemetery where hundreds of graves were dug up and allegedly resold has been declared a crime scene , meaning that relatives of people believed buried there will not be allowed to visit for several days , an official said Friday . Family members and police gather outside the Burr Oak Cemetery office in Alsip , Illinois , on Wednesday . `` It would be the height of irresponsibility for me to invite people in , to raise expectations and then crash them , '' Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart told reporters in a news conference held at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip , Illinois . He pleaded for patience , saying he hoped to reopen the 150-acre cemetery to the public in five to seven days . Dart said the scope of the investigation has broadened to include `` Babyland , '' a section of the cemetery intended for children . `` A lot of women came up to me and asked for help with Babyland , '' he said . `` To a person , every one I talked to could not find any of their children in Babyland . '' Watch sheriff discuss gruesome revelation '' A large number of grave sites `` are completely missing , '' he said , adding that he had received more than 5,000 telephone inquiries and 1,700 e-mails about the matter since the investigation began . As many as half of the complaints were about missing headstones , 25 to 30 percent were about loved ones who had been relocated , he said . He cited the experience of one family looking for 10 relatives buried there . `` They could n't find anybody , '' he said . In addition , in some cases there are no records of burials having taken place , despite relatives ' insistence that they did , he said . In other cases , records have been altered , destroyed or found in people 's houses , he said . `` Our office has to investigate over 5,000 grave sites due to the vast amounts of inquiries from grieving family members , '' he said . Dart said he himself walked through the cemetery on Friday and what he saw was disturbing . `` I found bones out there , '' he said . `` I found individuals wandering aimlessly looking for their loved ones who ca n't find them . '' Some people told him that an entire area that used to have gravestones facing in one direction now has them facing in another direction , he said . `` This is getting bigger , '' he said . `` We do n't have an end in sight ... more people have not found relatives than have found them . '' More than 2,000 families have descended on the cemetery since authorities uncovered what they say was a scheme to resell the plots , excavate the graves , dump the remains and pocket the cash . Four people face felony charges for their alleged involvement . He had said earlier this week that the number of disturbed graves was around 300 , but said Friday that number was sure to rise . One family arrived on Thursday to bury a woman in a plot they had purchased and found the plot was already occupied , he said . Authorities also discovered Emmett Till 's original casket in a dilapidated garage on the cemetery grounds . The casket had been replaced by a new one after Till 's body was exhumed in 2005 . `` There was wildlife living inside of it , '' Dart said of the old casket , found in the corner of a garage filled with lawn care equipment and other `` piles of things . '' Till was killed in August 1955 in Mississippi after the 14-year-old reportedly whistled at a white woman . His body was exhumed 50 years later as part of a renewed investigation into his death . The Chicago Tribune reported that he was reburied in a different casket . Thousands of people had viewed Till 's body in the original casket in Chicago shortly after he was killed , the Rev. Jesse Jackson said at the news conference . `` His mother had the gut and grit to say that ' I want America to see what they did to my baby 's body , ' '' Jackson said about Till , whose body was mutilated . `` More than 100,000 saw his body lying at the church . It is said that those who saw his body were never the same again , '' he said . `` Emmett Till 's lynching redefined emotions in our culture in very fundamental ways . So to see his casket in this state of desecration and neglect is very painful . '' Cemetery groundskeepers told investigators that Till 's grave was not among those disturbed in the alleged resale scheme , Dart said earlier this week . Carolyn Towns , an office manager for the cemetery ; and Keith Nicks , Terrance Nicks and Maurice Daley , all gravediggers , have each been charged with dismembering a human body , a felony charge for which sentences range from six to 30 years , authorities said . Steven Watkins , an attorney for Towns , said his client is innocent . The public defender 's office in Cook County said it had represented the three others at the bond hearing but could not provide a statement for them . Authorities began investigating the cemetery -- where , along with Till , blues legend Dinah Washington and some Negro League baseball players are buried -- about six weeks ago after receiving a call from its owners , who said they suspected `` financial irregularities '' regarding the business , Dart said earlier this week . He said the owners are not believed to be involved in the alleged scam . | Officials say there was scheme to resell plots , excavate the graves , dump remains . Four people face felony charges for their alleged involvement . Emmett Till 's original casket found in dilapidated garage on cemetery grounds . Cemetery closed temporarily so officials can investigate . | [[59, 95], [2450, 2602], [2512, 2643], [2644, 2707], [2966, 2977], [2983, 3074], [3218, 3232], [3235, 3266], [4874, 4918]] |
MOSCOW , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Russian authorities are investigating the recent killing of a model-turned-bodyguard . Anna Loginova in a photo shoot for the Russian edition of Maxim magazine . Anna Loginova , a 29-year-old former successful model , ran a private security firm of female bodyguards , highly trained in martial arts , demanding high prices to protect Russian billionaires . One notable client was Russian boxer Kostya Tszyu . A carjacker pulled Loginova out of her Porsche Cayenne Sunday in Moscow . Loginova grabbed onto the door handle as the car picked up speed and she was dragged along the street before letting go as the car sped away . `` An intruder just threw her out of the car '' Russian police stated , `` She grabbed the door handle , but when the car picked up speed , she let go . '' Her fearlessness proved fatal . Loginova died on the scene from serious cranial injuries . The vehicle was later found abandoned in southern Moscow . Luxury car theft is common in Moscow . Loginova told Maxim magazine in a recently taped interview that she fought off a car thief just four months ago . `` I stepped out of my car and closed the door when I suddenly saw a young man near me . He grabbed me by the arm in which I was holding the car keys , '' she was quoted as saying . `` By reflex , I used a jiu-jitsu technique . I twisted his arm and hit him on the face with my elbow . The guy obviously was not expecting such a reaction . He fell down on the rear windshield , which gave me enough time to grab my gun . He immediately jumped into his Honda and drove away , '' Those who knew her said she was never deterred by danger . For many Russians she was a feminine icon , bridging the glamorous world of modeling and the rough underbelly of Russian crime . `` I think she was kind and sweet , not like a terminator , not like Sigourney Weaver in ` Aliens ' '' said Igor Cherski from Maxim magazine `` but I feel that she was not afraid of anything , there was no fear in her eyes . '' E-mail to a friend . | Russian model-turned-bodyguard Anna Loginova killed in Moscow during carjacking . Loginova recently told a magazine that she fought off a car thief four months ago . For many Russians she was a feminine icon , bridging glamorous and crime world . | [[0, 6], [9, 31], [35, 121], [1007, 1055], [1066, 1120], [1658, 1756], [1676, 1679], [1702, 1786]] |
-LRB- The Frisky -RRB- -- You do n't have to be Jennifer Aniston to think that the four women who Krazy-Glued a cheater 's penis to his stomach were way harsh and beyond psycho . If your ex 's loved ones ask why you broke up , it 's OK to admit he cheated on you , writer says . But in our less scrupulous/mature moments , many of us want to punish a particularly nasty ex , especially if he was a cheater . Ladies , let 's keep it legal -LRB- and Krazy Glue-free -RRB- , OK ? Here are 10 ideas : . 1 . Email his crappiest crap e-mail to Jezebel.com 's Crap E-mail From A Dude and when they publish it , discreetly post the link as your GChat away message . 2 . Call up your hottest platonic male friend , grab your digital camera and go do something adorable together . Now it 's time to create a Facebook photo album full of pics of you looking smiley . -LRB- Bonus points if your ex was slightly paranoid that this guy had a thing for you -RRB- . The Frisky : Possible to remain friends with an ex ? 3 . Permanently adopt that comfy sweatshirt he left at your place . Especially if he 's the one who caused the breakup , he probably does n't have the cojones to ask for it back now . 4 . Gain that extra 10 lbs that fills you out nicely , like Joan Holloway on `` Mad Men '' ... 5 . ... or lose that extra 10 lbs so you can fit into your sexy jeans again . Either way , this also requires a Facebook photo album . The Frisky : How Joan Holloway gives me confidence . 6 . You might hear from his mom , sisters , or other family members you were close to after the breakup , especially if you dated for a long time . Airing too much of your dirty laundry to them will make you look like a psycho . But if he did cheat on you -LRB- and you did n't cheat back -RRB- , it could n't hurt to mention how his bad behavior led to the split . The Frisky : 10 rules on way men and women eat . Dude sure as hell did n't tell them the truth about why you broke up ! And any mom or sister worth her salt will tear your ex a new one when they learn that 's why he lost a great girl like you . The Frisky : Continue relationships with an ex 's loved ones ? 7 . Ignore every single text , Tweet , Facebook poke and email from here on out . But kept posting stuff on your social networking sites on the regular . 8 . If you 're a songwriter or a poet , well , you know what to do . The creep who caused Ani Di Franco 's song `` Untouchable Face '' probably has n't forgotten what he did . 9 . Penning aggressive-aggressive emails -LRB- as opposed to passive-aggressive ones -RRB- is always therapeutic . The Frisky : Passive aggressive notes Web site . 10 . Spend a few months feeling down . Indulge in some therapy . Do some fun things single women do . Work extra-hard at your job and get a promotion . Go take a trip or buy some new clothes . Whenever you 're ready , go meet a new guy . Fall in love . Have tons of great sex . Laugh a lot . Talk about baby names and where you want your honeymoon to be . The next time you run into your ex , mention all the great things that have happened in your life since you broke up ... or just smile . The Frisky : Happy to be single . TM & © 2009 TMV , Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | If your ex cheated on you , there are legal ways to get even . Do whatever it takes to look your best , post pix on Facebook with male friend . If his mom or sister ask about breakup , tell them he cheated on you . Ignore all social media contact from him . But post a song about his cheating ways . | [[182, 224], [227, 262], [2148, 2219]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Once-missing Virginia Tech mental health records regarding a student who killed 32 people and himself in a campus rampage were released Wednesday . Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 students and faculty members on April 16 , 2007 , then killed himself . The records cover all the interactions between Cho Seung-Hui , 23 , and Virginia Tech 's Cook Counseling Center during November and December 2005 -- the only times the center saw Cho , the university said , and nearly two years before his April 16 , 2007 , shooting spree . They were found recently at the home of Dr. Robert Miller , the center 's former director . According to the university , Miller 's attorney has said the records were inadvertently taken from the center when Miller left his job there more than a year before the shootings . The records detail a phone evaluation by the counseling center on November 30 , 2005 , and on December 12 , 2005 . Cho was evaluated in person following his release from a mental health facility on December 14 , 2005 . He was sent to the facility on a temporary detention order , the records indicate , after a female student filed a complaint with university police that Cho had been instant-messaging her and left a message on her dry erase board . The records from the facility , Carilion St. Albans , note that Cho told his suitemate he might as well kill himself because `` everybody just hates me . '' The records said Cho stayed overnight at the facility . `` Essentially , it does not appear that he had any serious intent when he made the suicidal statement , '' the records said . `` He was counseled about the need to act responsibly . '' In each of the three evaluations at the Cook Counseling Center , Cho `` explicitly denied any intent to hurt himself or others and there was no evidence to the contrary , '' Virginia Tech said in its statement . `` At the time of his last appointment , Cho was completing his fall 2005 semester exams and was scheduled to spend the holiday break with his family . He was provided with emergency contact information . `` As we know , Cho never called or returned to the Cook Counseling Center , and more than a year elapsed between the time he was evaluated by counseling center professionals and the tragic events of April 2007 . '' The records also contain a December 14 , 2005 , e-mail to the center from a university housing official , documenting Cho 's `` history of erratic behavior and counseling-based issues at the time of his referral to Carilion St. Albans . '' Cho 's suitemate had notified police because he had made suicidal statements and had `` blades '' in his room , said the e-mail . Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said last month the files were discovered at Miller 's home in connection with a civil lawsuit , but did not elaborate . The records ' absence was a mystery and a concern during the investigation , he said . The governor said his office was asking the Cho family for permission to make the records public . Cho 's family agreed earlier Wednesday to the records ' release . `` The family has consistently favored and urged disclosure of their son 's and brother 's records in the interest of advancing the investigation into the tragic events of April 16 , 2007 , as well as ensuring that the families of the victims have as much information as possible , '' said family attorney Bernard DiMuro in a letter to Mike Melis , Virginia assistant attorney general . `` The unavailability of pertinent counseling center records during more than two years of investigation and review has created needless uncertainty and understandable speculation that has compounded the suffering of the survivors , families and the Virginia Tech community as a whole , '' the university said in a statement . The records confirm facts already established by the panel that reviewed the incident , the university said . But `` Virginia Tech remains deeply dismayed by the prolonged unavailability of the records and looks forward to the completion of the Virginia State Police investigation into their unauthorized removal from the Cook Counseling Center . '' CNN 's Eric Fiegel contributed to this report . | Files show dialogue between Cho Seung-Hui and VT 's Cook Counseling Center . Report : Cho talked to suitemate about suicide because `` everybody just hates me '' University says it was `` deeply dismayed by the prolonged unavailability '' of the files . | [[263, 374], [1262, 1291], [1316, 1378], [1326, 1415], [3889, 3976]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cars have Global Positioning System devices to pinpoint where drivers are when they get lost , so why ca n't GPS be used to locate the exact position of planes when the worst happens ? There is currently no way to constantly track planes as they fly over oceans . It took search and rescue teams over 30 hours to locate the wreckage of the Air France plane that crashed in the Atlantic on Monday . It appears that the aircraft 's onboard GPS system was little help to rescuers in the mission . Although details of Air France flight 447 's fate remain uncertain , in some air accidents , this critical time could mean the difference between life and death for any survivors . Michel Roelandt , aviation expert for Eurocontrol , a European air navigation safety organization , told CNN that nearly all modern planes are fitted with GPS navigation systems . How sophisticated those the communications and navigation systems are is down to individual airlines when they fit out their planes , an Airbus spokesperson told CNN . On board GPS systems are primarily navigation tools for the crew , and do not currently enable a constant tracking of a jet by a ground crew at all times . Planes receive a position signal , but do n't transmit that back . This is not a problem when a jet is flying over land or in coastal areas , as it is tracked by radar . Over oceans radar does not work as it relies on line-of-sight tracking from a ground station . On oceanic flights a flight crew will know its exact position via GPS , but it is not able to be tracked by air traffic control . It is left to someone in the cockpit to relay information via satellite communication to air traffic control or a ground station . `` Airlines often have a contract with a private operator to provide their satellite communications . Some companies pay for it , some have free contracts , '' Roelandt said . Modern jets equipped with an Aircraft Communication , Addressing and Reporting System -LRB- ACARS -RRB- , like the A330-200 , are also able to send automatic digital signals . These are not instigated by the crew but report automatically on the plane 's systems and relay information to a receiving station . In AF447 's case that was Air France 's head-quarters in France . According to an Airbus spokesperson , it is up to an airline to determine how much information is sent in a data signal ; it may or may not include location details . Shortly before the AF447 disappeared , its automatic system initiated a four-minute exchange of messages to Air France 's maintenance computers , indicating that `` several pieces of aircraft equipment were at fault or had broken down , '' Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said on Monday . When the Air France Airbus A330-200 's systems failed these messages would no longer have been able to be transmitted . They did relay the plane 's location , but the plane continued flying for an unknown period of time , so the precise location where it went down could not be known . Once a plane loses its electronic system , the automatic data messages can no longer be sent , and in those circumstances no one on the flight deck would be able to transmit a message either . Aviation experts have stated that the idea of GPS tracking has not been part of any safety review within the aviation industry . The general consensus has been that a trained flight crew is on hand that always has the capability to be in contact with someone on the ground should an emergency arise . In the case of Air France Flight 447 , it appears that the crew had no time to relay an emergency message . As well as searching for wreckage , a crashed plane can be found by pin-pointing the location of the in-flight black box recorder . Black box flight recorder devices contain flight deck data and crew voice recordings . When a plane has crashed black box recorders automatically emit a honing signal , located via radar . Emitting a regular ping for 30 days it can be picked up via radio waves , meaning there is a limit to the distance from the device search and rescue teams can be before they can pick up the signal . According to Airbus the capabilities of tracking a black box is down to the airline ; satellite tracking of black box recorders is not a standard requirement . The Air France jet was equipped with a satellite-tracked black box recorder , but it is thought that depths of the ocean in the crash area are too deep for it to be located It 's also possible , although unlikely , that the location of a troubled aircraft could be pinpointed by military defense satellites , experts said . Some U.S. military satellites employ heat-sensitive cameras that scan the skies for missiles and could possibly detect a plane if it were not obscured by clouds , said John Pike , director of GlobalSecurity.org , a public policy organization whose Web site provides news on weapons systems and the defense industry . Upgrading from radar to satelitte . The aviation industry is moving toward replacing its traditional radar-based tracking system with a satellite one that would allow air traffic control to know where a plane is at all times . However the new systems would still not enable air traffic control to track planes over remote ocean areas . The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has begun implementing a system , nicknamed NextGen , in which GPS signals would transmit an aircraft 's precise location to air traffic controllers via ground receivers . The system would allow planes to fly more direct routes instead of zig-zagging between radio beacons . The FAA is testing the system in pockets of the U.S. and plans to be using it by the end of the year in the Gulf of Mexico , much of which is out of radar range . The agency hopes NextGen will cover the entire country by 2013 . Roelandt says a similar system will be implemented in Europe by 2015 . `` It means planes will automatically transmit the GPS position to the ground and surrounding aircraft within about 150 miles , '' he said . `` In the far future the idea is to be in a free flight condition , '' where pilots have more flexibility in their routes while GPS keeps planes safely separated . In a trial last year using an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system , two Airbus planes were able to change altitude safely while cruising over oceanic airspace . At present , airliners flying over oceans are usually not permitted to change altitude , because oceanic airspace beyond a certain distance from land can not be controlled by radar . Controllers and pilots keep the planes on vectors , or defined highways in the sky , to maintain safe distances between aircraft . The ADS-B system is being developed internationally . But the expense of outfitting planes with GPS is dwarfed by the cost to upgrade from radar to satellite tracking of planes . According to a 2006 FAA report , it would cost $ 4.6 billion to change to a satellite-based system in the U.S. `` It 's a bit of a chicken and egg situation , '' Roelandt said . `` If you do n't put an implementing rule on this equipment , airlines wo n't install it as it 's a costly operation for them . It is ongoing , and will be installed on European commercial airliners , but it takes time as always . '' CNN 's Brandon Griggs and Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this story . | GPS on airliners ca n't help locate planes , as they receive but do n't send signals . Pilots know their position over an ocean but do n't automatically share that data . Both the U.S. and Europe are implementing GPS-based air traffic control systems . | [[417, 512], [433, 512], [1198, 1204], [1237, 1264], [1198, 1204], [1237, 1264], [5281, 5470]] |
JAKARTA , Indonesia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Indonesian authorities believe two suicide bombers checked into the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta and carried out coordinated bombings Friday morning , killing themselves and at least six victims and wounding more than 50 others . A body is removed following the blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and the nearby J.W. Marriott hotels in Jakarta on Friday . It is unclear what group is behind the attacks on the Marriott and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton hotel , Indonesia 's National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso said at a news conference . He warned that the death toll could rise . Four of the six victims in Jakarta 's hotel bombings were foreigners , the Indonesian Healthy Ministry said Saturday . The ministry identified two of the dead as Australian , one from New Zealand and one from Singapore . Another victim was Indonesian and the sixth remained unidentified . Eight American nationals were among the wounded , according to the U.S. State Department . Investigators are also analyzing closed-circuit television footage from the Marriott that shows a man , sporting a baseball cap and pulling a wheeled suitcase , heading toward the JW Marriott Hotel 's lobby-level restaurant seconds before the deadly blast . Five victims and one suicide bomber were killed at the Marriott , according to police spokesman Inspector General Nanan Soekarna . Minutes later , another suicide bomber struck the adjacent Ritz-Carlton , killing one person and the bomber . Indonesian national police confirmed that the man seen in the CCTV video , distributed by Indonesian television , is being investigated in connection with the blast . `` We are suspecting the man in the footage because the time frame matches with the time of the bombing , '' national police spokesman Nanan Soekarma said . `` It is obviously premature to confirm it right now as we will have to wait for the lab results and the investigation to conclude . '' Indonesian authorities have detained several witnesses and others for questioning , and have sent forensic evidence from the scene for testing , a spokesman for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said . `` It 's all being studied now , '' Dino Patti Djalal told CNN . Yudhoyono warned that it is still too early to determine who was behind the attacks . `` This terrorist action is thought to be the work of a terrorist group , even though it is not certain whether this is the terrorism which we are familiar with up until now , '' the recently reelected president said . See images of the aftermath '' The bombings at the two luxury hotels -- which are connected by an underground tunnel -- happened shortly before 8 a.m. -LRB- 9 p.m. Thursday ET -RRB- , first at the Marriott and then 10 minutes later at the Ritz-Carlton , police officials said . Both blasts struck the hotels ' restaurants and several prominent international business leaders were among the casualties . Watch footage of the scene of the blasts '' An unexploded bomb was found on the Marriott Hotel 's 18th floor where several suspects believed to be linked to the bombings were staying , Hendarso said . Indonesian investigators believe the bombers checked into the Marriott on Wednesday and were scheduled to check out on Friday , he added . It is unclear how they got around the `` robust security '' at the hotels , according to Alan Orlob , security chief for Marriott Hotels . Ritz-Carlton is a subsidiary of Marriott . Orlob said there had been no indication of any `` immediate threat in Jakarta . '' Watch Orlob describe security measures '' Security has been extremely high at the Marriott hotel in Jakarta since it was struck by a car bombing in August 2003 that killed 12 people . Suspicion immediately fell on Jemaah Islamiyah -LRB- JI -RRB- , the Islamist terrorist network with ties to Osama bin Laden 's al Qaeda terrorist network that was tied to the 2003 Marriott attack and the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed more than 200 people , mostly foreign tourists . Hendarso said the type of explosives found were similar to those found in a recent raid on a home in West Java that was linked to Noordin Top , a suspected leader of a small JI splinter group that espouses the use of large-scale terror attacks to push for the establishment of Islamic states in the region . So far , there has been no claim of responsibility for the latest attack . Al Jazeera English reported that it was in touch with a JI member who denied any involvement in Friday 's hotel bombings . Watch analysts discuss potential suspects '' The fatalities include New Zealand national Timothy David McKay , 60 , according to Indonesia 's state-run Antara New Agency . McKay -- the CEO of Holcim Indonesia , a cement company -- was at the hotel for a breakfast meeting with fellow prominent business leaders , the Jakarta Post reported . Indonesian media also reported that two directors of Freeport Indonesia , the largest copper and gold mining company in Indonesia , were wounded in the attacks on the two hotels . English soccer team Manchester United canceled its trip to Indonesia after the bombing . It had been scheduled to check into the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday . Hotel guests said the first blast at the Marriott shook the building . The second blast at the Ritz-Carlton apparently struck the hotel restaurant on the second floor , according to witnesses . The force of the blast blew out the windows on the Ritz-Carlton 's second floor . `` The shocking part was entering the lobby , where the glass at the front of the hotel was all blown out and blood was spattered across the floor , but most people were leaving calmly , '' hotel guest Don Hammer said . Greg Woolstencroft said he had just walked past the hotels to his nearby apartment when he heard an explosion . `` I looked out my window and I saw a huge cloud of brownish smoke go up , '' he told CNN in a telephone interview . `` I grabbed my iPhone to go downstairs ... and then the second bomb went off at the Ritz-Carlton , so I then ran around to the Ritz-Carlton and I was able to find that there had been a massive bomb that went off in this ... restaurant area and the explosion had blown out both sides of the hotel . '' Woolstencroft said he saw a body that `` looked like someone who had been a suicide bomber or someone who had been very , very close to the explosion . '' The chief technology officer for a television station said he had lived at the Ritz for a year before moving to his nearby apartment , and had been impressed by the facility 's security . `` I just do n't know how someone could get in there with a bomb , given the level of security and screening that people have to go through , '' he said , citing armed guards at checkpoints and thorough searches of people , bags and vehicles . CNN 's Kathy Quiano and Andy Saputra in Jakarta , Indonesia contributed to this report . | Police say bombers had earlier checked into Marriott hotel . Death toll in bomb attacks now six with at least 50 injured . Police defuse bomb found on 18th floor of JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta . Indonesian president : Too early to determine who was behind the attacks . | [[0, 7], [10, 35], [39, 187], [3057, 3124], [3127, 3135], [3143, 3226], [10, 35], [190, 246], [10, 29], [238, 268], [2986, 3050], [1822, 1871], [2234, 2319], [2256, 2319]] |
BRYCEVILLE , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Ratley was known as a hero . Michael Ratley will spend the rest of his life in jail , without parole , for killing his wife with a hammer . In December 2006 , Ratley carried his 2-week-old son , Aiden , and his wife , Effie Ratley , 29 , from the flames as fire engulfed their Bryceville , Florida , trailer . Days after the fire , a teary-eyed Ratley told local media that love drove him to save their lives . `` I might have lost everything physical , but I 've still got my two most precious things , '' Michael Ratley told CNN affiliate WJXT-TV at the time . A month later , Effie Ratley was dead , bludgeoned with a hammer in a bedroom of her in-laws ' home , not far from the trailer 's ashes on a dirt road marked only with a black arrow on a wooden sign . The man who was hailed as a hero for saving his wife was convicted in July of murdering her . On Tuesday , a Nassau County Court jury in Yulee , Florida , said he should spend the rest of his life in prison for the crime . Circuit Judge Robert Foster sentenced the 25-year-old to life without possibility of parole . What changed a heroic husband into a hammer-wielding wife killer ? Hero gets life for murder '' During the trial , no motive was offered . On January 27 , 2007 , with his parents downstairs watching TV with the door shut and his infant son in the other room , prosecutors said , Ratley put on a pair of thick black gloves , grabbed a heavy-duty hammer and went into the bedroom where his wife was lying down after taking some medication . He lifted the hammer and `` savagely and brutally beat her on the head over and over '' -- at least seven times , said Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda . During the trial , Ratley said he had nothing to do with the slaying . His defense lawyers argued that an intruder , who Ratley alleged attacked him in the barn the night before , was the culprit . But prosecutors said that was part of Ratley 's plan , setting up for a scenario in which an intruder killed his wife by cutting the wire on their window . Testifying on Tuesday , his friends and family spoke of him as a church-going , gentle man who always went out of his way to help others -- the elderly at a nursing home , a neighbor whose husband was slain and sick family members . `` He has always been a caring , nonviolent person , '' said his mother , Cindy Ratley . `` He 'd give you the shirt off his back . '' Cindy Ratley said it had been her dream to have her close-knit family living together on her secluded 20 acres . Witnesses for Ratley tried in court to give a picture of the son , grandson , and friend they said he had always been , with the defense calling the murder a `` single , horrible snapshot '' in Ratley 's overwhelmingly positive life . They urged the jury to give Ratley 's son a chance to know his father , one who cares and loves deeply for him , they said . As his mother and others left the witness stand in the packed and divided courtroom , they each told Ratley they stood behind him and loved him . As they walked back to sit down , many mouthed , `` I love you . '' The prosecutors argued Ratley 's character could n't be clearer , based on his actions . `` Unfortunately , the best example we have of his character is in what he did . This shows his best character , '' de la Rionda said , showing the jurors gruesome photos of Effie Ratley 's injuries . De la Rionda disputed the description of Ratley as a wonderful father . `` This loving father had no problem whatsoever -- a short distance from his son -- exterminating the life of his son 's mother , '' he said . Michael Ratley met Effie Williams when she was having car trouble . He offered to buy a new tire for her and change it . Effie Ratley , who enjoyed listening to '50s music and watching black-and-white movies , was thrilled when she and her husband had their baby , her family told the court Tuesday . `` Her son was her pride and joy , '' said her stepmother , Joy Williams , wearing a purple and pink `` Justice for Effie '' bracelet . `` But she never knew more than six weeks of her motherhood dreams . '' By all accounts , the Ratleys ' relationship had its rocky points . They were married , separated and remarried . Michael Ratley 's family said that the first time the couple got married , they were worried he was n't mature enough , that he needed to grow up , and they said the couple definitely had growing pains . `` He did n't know if he could love her enough , because he only wanted the best for her , '' Donna Stanley said , talking about her nephew . Effie Ratley 's father , Duane Williams , cried on the stand Tuesday as he talked about his only daughter . His voice quivered as he tried to explain how he feels her loss each day . `` She 's the first thing I think about in the morning when I wake up , '' he said , his voice wavering . `` And the last thing before I go to bed . '' Neither Effie or Michael Ratley 's families wanted to speak about the sentencing after the hearing , but de la Rionda said Effie 's family was pleased with the result . `` They were always hoping for -LSB- the -RSB- death -LSB- penalty -RSB- , but they 're happy he 's going to get life and he 's not going to be able to get out , '' de le Rionda said . `` He 's going to die in prison . '' While the announcement of the sentence , which spared him from death , was greeted with a pronounced `` Yes ! '' from Michael Ratley 's family inside court , the gravity of the situation seemed to hit during a short recess . His grandmother began sobbing . Family members comforted her until Cindy Ratley sat down next to her . The two cried and embraced for a couple of minutes . Michael Ratley looked over , saw his grandmother upset , and he , too , began to cry . | Michael Ratley , 25 , sentenced to life without parole for murdering wife . Prosecutors : Ratley beat wife with hammer four weeks after rescuing her from fire . Family says Ratley was gentle man ; attorneys call murder `` single , horrible snapshot '' Effie Ratley 's family recall her spirit , love for newborn son . | [[77, 131], [882, 886], [890, 905], [906, 916], [919, 954], [967, 1034], [1035, 1096], [1196, 1221], [142, 148], [151, 187], [611, 624], [627, 639], [651, 710], [2112, 2178], [2694, 2736], [3913, 3948]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's a high-tech , high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse . Ryan Kelly , a Web designer from London , England , says his software was used to attack an Iranian Web site . As the Iranian government seeks to crack down on the online networks being used by protesters who question the nation 's election results , a community of Net-savvy users -- both inside and outside the country -- are working to try to stay one step ahead . `` To the Iranian government hackers who keep attacking the places they see as a threat , you are wasting your time , '' wrote one anonymous poster to a message board loaded with eyewitness accounts of violence , plans for protests and notices about people reported missing or dead . `` You are completely outnumbered . There are thousands of Iranians who want to be free and people who support them for every one of you there is . '' That site , with a server in California , was unable to be accessed for a couple of hours Wednesday afternoon . The error could have been caused by too many people trying to access the site at the same time . The same error would be caused by a so-called `` denial of service '' attack -- using a program to flood a site with thousands of hits in a short time . Access to networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and photography site Flickr have been blocked in Iran , where the government also has been accused of blocking text-messaging , launching denial of service attacks and spreading misinformation to protest communities online . Watch CNN 's Octavia Nasr explain how voices of dissent are getting out '' But Web users have been able to get around those roadblocks by the thousands , thanks to Internet proxies -- Web servers set up in other countries that allow Iranians to hide their computer 's Internet Protocol address from censors within the country . `` I think the filters and the restrictions have been going on for so long in Iran that the experienced people are already prepared for this , '' said Jon Pincus , a former Microsoft project manager and digital activist who works on projects promoting online freedom . The networking sites have been crucial in sharing information among protesters . Equally important , they 've helped spread word to news organizations now barred from covering massive anti-government demonstrations and the violence that reportedly has led to the deaths of an untold number of demonstrators . Many blogs , message boards and Web pages sharing information from inside Iran are urging users to log on through programs such as Tor , a free Web page designed to allow users to surf the Web and communicate with each other anonymously . The Web page bounces a user 's information through relays -- other networks provided by volunteers all over the world -- preventing someone monitoring an Internet connection from seeing what sites are visited on that connection . The measures have n't always been successful . In Twitter posts and on various Web sites , protesters in Iran on Wednesday described having their online access shut down . Pincus compared it to Chinese dissidents trying to crack their country 's stringent rules for Internet use . iReport : Share your photos , video and stories from Iran . `` Word continues to get through , but basically it 's very , very difficult , '' Pincus said `` Many people who try are caught . '' In Iran , `` there 's been a noticeable decline already in the amount of photos and video that 's coming down , '' he said . `` That says that , thus far , the government is succeeding . '' Early Thursday morning , a Twitter user with a new account and who was not following anyone else on the site was posting false information -- including a report that opposition candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi had conceded the election and that a demonstration had been canceled because government tanks were in the street . The Twitter user posted the phone number of a `` safe house '' and urged other demonstrators to call it . Other users quickly began spreading word that they think the user is a government agent . But the fight is ever-changing and moving on , proponents said . On Twitter , users all over the world were changing their personal information and time-zone settings to make it appear they live in Iran . It 's an effort , they said , to provide cover for people really posting in the country . `` Security forces are hunting for bloggers using location and timezone searches , '' read a message on a Web page titled `` Cyber War Guide for Beginners . '' `` If we all become ` Iranians ' it becomes much harder to find them . '' Kevin Arth , 40 , of Reno , Nevada , is one of the Twitter users who took up the call . `` I do n't know how it started , '' said Arth , who is pursuing a degree in computer science . `` I was monitoring things that were going on at Twitter and at some point somebody said , ` Here 's what we 're doing . ' '' Arth said he 's not sure how effective the technique is -- there are other ways for Iran 's government to track Internet users -- but for him it 's a show of support as much as anything . `` It 's easier to fight a battle when you know you 've got support behind you , '' he said . And at least some members of the community are taking the fight to Iran 's government and its supporters -- using some of the same online scrambling techniques they believe are being used against them . Ryan Kelly , a Web designer from London , England , said his free software meant to refresh pages on sports and auction Web sites automatically appears to have been used to attack Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's Web site . Watch how Kelly 's software works '' He received an anonymous e-mail asking him to take his site down Tuesday , he said . He then discovered traffic at his site had risen from a typical 700 visits a day to 41,000 on Monday . `` I suppose I am taking sides because I 've put the site back up , '' he told CNN . `` But I have no problems with it being used in this way . '' CNN 's Peter Wilkinson in London contributed to this report . | Iranian government trying to stop Internet communication from protesters . Community of Net-savvy users are working to try to stay online . Iranians getting help from people around the world with foreign servers . Twitter users change settings to appear they 're in Iran to give Iranians cover . | [[189, 254], [1240, 1349], [2943, 2984], [2987, 3067], [326, 356], [388, 395], [399, 442], [1705, 1742], [4227, 4283], [4302, 4311], [4314, 4373]] |
KABUL , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Security remains a top concern , as Afghanistan holds its second-ever presidential election Thursday , prompting the government to ask for a ban on media coverage of violence . An Afghan police officer walks near a bank in Kabul where an armed robbery ended in a gunbattle . Afghanistan 's government has ordered the media to refrain from covering possible attacks on election day in an effort to `` ensure the wide participation of the Afghan people . '' `` If anybody broadcasts or gives news about any movements or activities of terrorists , domestic media offices will be closed , and foreigners will be kicked out of the country , '' according to a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Zahir Faqiri . He said the order is in line with Afghanistan 's constitution , which allows for such mandates `` in exceptional situations '' to protect `` national interest and national security . '' Escalating violence in the capital , Kabul , this week has made some Afghans think twice about whether to venture out to vote . `` If we are not at peace , why should we vote , who should we vote for ? '' asked Ferishta , 21 , who last weekend lay in a blood-soaked shirt and was connected to an intravenous drip after a suicide bombing . But at least one independent news agency refused to heed a blackout on reports of violence . Restricting media freedoms has no basis in the Afghan constitution , said the Kabul-based Pajhwok News Agency . The U.S. Embassy in Kabul insisted that press freedoms are necessary to ensure credible elections . `` While we recognize the sovereign rights of the Afghan government and note their intention to encourage Afghans to turn out and vote , we believe that free media reporting is directly linked to the credibility of the elections and continue to support the freedom of the press and responsible reporting , '' spokeswoman Fleur Cowan said in an e-mail . On the eve of the election , roadside bombs killed three Afghan election workers in the southern province of Kandahar , and four others were killed Tuesday in the northern province of Badakshan , Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said . Amid the violence , the candidates wrapped up last-minute campaigning with the hope that the elections can showcase their country 's fledgling democracy . `` We 're at a moment of truth , '' said Mark Schneider , senior vice president of the International Crisis Group , an independent advisory and analysis organization . An incumbent president and about 40 challengers , including two women , are on the ballot , vying for the votes of what the election commission says are an estimated 17 million registered Afghans against a backdrop of war , graft , poverty and illiteracy . More than 3,000 donkeys , 3,000 cars and three helicopters will traverse harsh terrain to carry voting materials to remote polling stations , the election commission says . And 30 observer groups , domestic and international , will be on hand to help guard against fraud , it says . At the heart of every vote will be the two biggest impediments to progress in one of the poorest nations in the world : stifling corruption and an increasingly bloody Taliban insurgency . International donors are helping pay for the $ 223 million electoral undertaking , and hundreds of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers have moved into strife-torn southern Afghanistan to protect voters against possible Taliban attacks . The top U.S. envoy to the region , Richard Holbrooke , expressed optimism that Thursday 's vote would be Afghanistan 's moment to shine . It 's tough to organize elections during a war , he said , but the reality is that violence during elections is commonplace in many parts of the world . `` Afghanistan has never had a contested election , '' Holbrooke said . `` So this is a remarkable experiment in democracy and something that Afghanistan needs to give legitimacy to the new government . '' That legitimacy has become a key issue in the campaign . Frontrunner President Hamid Karzai 's chief challengers -- former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah -- have both lashed out at the incumbent for failing to rein in corruption . In its annual global corruption perception index in 2008 , Transparency International ranked Afghanistan 176 out of 180 countries and said graft is `` a major factor impeding the country 's stability and future growth . '' Ghani said the most significant challenge Afghanistan 's next president will face is earning back the trust of the people . `` This government has lost it , '' he said in a recent interview . `` There is no sense of trust , not only in the current leadership but in the political class as such . And in the capacity of the state or the international community to improve the lot of our people . '' Ghani characterized Karzai as a `` very poor manager '' who failed to deal with pressing issues and create any sense of momentum for the nation moving forward . As a guest on CNN 's `` Fareed Zakaria GPS '' this month , Ghani said Afghanistan 's corruption had metastasized into a cancer that was `` eating through the society . '' Abdullah argued that people 's dissatisfaction with the Karzai government has helped strengthen the insurgency . `` There is no doubt there is a hard-core element in it , '' he said . `` But there are thousands of people under the same brand , Taliban , -LSB- who -RSB- have joined the insurgency because of other reasons . '' The insurgents are filling a vacuum left by Afghanistan 's Western-backed government , which foreign diplomats and military commanders concede suffers from nepotism , corruption and predatory practices . During a recent political debate , Karzai admitted that corruption was a problem but offered no specific cures . He also has been blamed for what has become the bloodiest summer since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 . Most polls , however , show Karzai with a commanding lead . Latifa , a Kabul housewife , said she was pleased with Karzai 's stewardship and would vote for him . `` Like raising a child for seven years , in seven years he has helped our Kabul , our Afghanistan , stand on its own two feet , '' she said . `` We did n't know an election before ; we had n't seen a parliament . '' But can a nation as troubled as Afghanistan carry out fair and free elections ? Some observers of Afghanistan and human rights activists have voiced their doubts . Kai Eide , the United Nations special representative in Afghanistan , said Thursday 's election will be the most difficult he has encountered in his life . Besides the violence and corruption , a weak infrastructure and a high illiteracy rate will add to election woes , he said . The problems were reflected in a new Gallup Poll that found fewer than one in four voting-age Afghans are confident the election will be fair and transparent . Voting in Afghanistan , Eide said , is not yet the kind of democratic expression understood in the West . `` If you look at the well-established democracies in the West , for instance , that 's not possible under these circumstances , '' he said . `` But what my objective is that we have credible , inclusive elections where the result will be accepted by the people . That is our level of ambition , and I think we will achieve that . '' Eide said that a significant number of polling stations in Helmand , Kandahar , Ghazni and Wardak provinces will not be able to open for security reasons . He said ballots ought to be counted at the polling center itself instead of transporting them elsewhere and increasing the possibility of fraud , encountered in the last election in 2004 . Of the 4.6 million new registered voters , 39 percent are women . So thousands of women had to be employed to search burqa-clad female voters at polling places . Human Rights Watch , however , said this week that the recruitment drive for women began too late and as a result , not enough women will be available for security checks . `` Women voters have been badly let down by their government and its international backers , '' said Brad Adams , Asia director for Human Rights Watch . Women 's votes will be closely watched in Afghanistan , where the Taliban regime stripped women of equal rights and education , essentially hurtling them back to the Stone Age . But despite the violence , despite the threats from the Taliban to disrupt the voting , enthusiasm filled the air this week . A campaign rally resembled more a rock concert than a political event in Afghanistan , as Kabul stadium transformed into a sea of blue , Abdullah 's campaign color . Supporters hoisted banners and sported T-shirts emblazoned with Abdullah 's face . Not old enough to vote , another young woman named Ferishta -- this one 15 years old and a beauty school student -- attended a rally for Ghani with many of her classmates . `` We want a president who is peaceful and caring , '' she said . `` We do n't want any more bombs . In these bombs , so many Afghans have died , one person 's son , one person 's child . '' But no one can predict whether abounding energy will translate into high turnout . Not in a war-ravaged nation . Not when bombs were still exploding just hours before balloting was to begin . CNN 's Atia Abawi , Ivan Watson , Kevin Flower and Moni Basu contributed to this report . | Afghan media blackout called amid fresh violence in Kabul . Seven Afghan election workers killed by roadside bombs . Corruption , insurgency expected to be voters ' top issues . President faces major challenges from two of his former ministers . | [[142, 215], [314, 432], [942, 976]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- House Republicans on Wednesday presented what they called a `` sorely needed '' alternative to Democrats ' proposals to overhaul health care . Rep. Eric Cantor says Republicans are drafting a plan to ensure all Americans have access to affordable coverage . Republicans want to make sure all Americans have access to affordable coverage , Rep. Eric Cantor , the House minority whip , said Wednesday . `` We do so by making sure we keep down costs and incorporate the ability for folks to pool together to access lower costs , to bring private sector into the game and keep government out , '' Cantor said . Neither Democrats nor Republicans have detailed how they would pay for their proposals . Rep. Roy Blunt , R-Missouri , said his party 's plan will cost `` far less '' than that of the Democrats and `` provide better results for the American people . '' Rep. Dave Camp , R-Michigan , who co-authored the GOP plan , said it 's important to make sure the bill is one with a `` common-sense approach . '' `` We are not going to have a bill that is larger than the GDP -LSB- gross domestic product -RSB- of most countries , which is what we are beginning to see roll out , '' said Camp , the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee . `` Clearly , if we move forward and this bill is on the floor , we are going to have to have a bill that is paid for and that 's going to depend on what the scores come back . '' A score is a preliminary estimate of the cost of proposed legislation . A preliminary review by the Congressional Budget Office of a plan being drawn up in the Senate found it would cost about $ 1 trillion over 10 years to extend health insurance to 16 million people who otherwise would not be covered , about a third of the roughly 45 million now uninsured . Camp said that the House Republican proposal calls for refundable tax credits for lower-income Americans . But Camp and Republicans have not determined key details for their proposal , including the amount of those tax credits or who precisely could be eligible . House Republicans on Wednesday planned to release a two-page summary of Camp 's proposal , which CNN Radio obtained . Some highlights include : . This Republican alternative bill also contains several health care ideas that are increasingly championed by both parties . This House Republican plan comes a day after fellow Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois and other moderates in the so-called Tuesday Group released their proposal , which spelled out many of the same ideas as the Camp bill . Kirk contends his plan is less partisan but said he supports Camp 's effort . CNN 's Lisa Desjardins contributed to this report . | NEW : Rep. Eric Cantor says plan keeps `` government out '' of health care market . House Republicans plan to release two-page summary of health care bill . Plan 's author says it 's important bill have `` common-sense approach '' Neither Democrats nor Republicans have detailed how they would pay for proposals . | [[2087, 2175], [890, 917], [951, 1034], [637, 725]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A high-pitched device used to combat anti-social behavior among young people has been called `` unfair '' by children 's campaigners in England . `` The Mosquito '' has been used to combat anti-social behavior among young people across England . The Children 's Commissioner for England , who oversees children 's rights , has called for a ban on the ultra-sonic gadget , known as `` The Mosquito , '' which disperses young people by emitting sharp , piercing sounds . The device causes discomfort to younger ears by exploiting their ability to hear very high frequencies -- a power which declines once they reach their 20s . But human rights groups say the machine infringes civil rights and creates a divide between young and old . Launching the `` Buzz Off '' campaign , England 's Children 's Commissioner Al Aynsley-Green said : `` I have spoken to many children and young people from all over England who have been deeply affected by ultra-sonic teenage deterrents . '' Aynsley-Green said about 3,500 of the devices are in use across England to split up gatherings of youth in areas such as parks and shops . `` These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people , including babies , regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving , '' he added . Youth leaders backed the campaign , adding that The Mosquito fails to address the root problems of anti-social behavior among youths -- and may even push teenagers to congregate in unsafe areas . `` Police , local authorities , and business instead should work collectively with young people and their communities to address the underlying causes of anti-social behavior in areas that cause concern , '' said Fiona Blacke , chief executive of the National Youth Agency , a government-funded group that works with young people on social development . The Mosquito was invented by Howard Stapleton , from Merthyr Tydfil , south Wales , and is manufactured by Compound Security Systems . The company describes The Mosquito as an `` ultrasonic teenage deterrent '' and `` the most effective tool in our fight against anti social behavior . '' It says the device has a range of 15 to 20 meters and teenagers are `` acutely aware of The Mosquito and usually move away from an area within an average of 8 to 10 minutes . '' The company says The Mosquito has proved popular with shop keepers who buy it to move along gatherings of teenagers and anti-social youths . It could not be contacted for a response to criticism of the deterrent . Railway companies have also placed the device to discourage youths from spraying graffiti on trains and station walls , Compound Security said . The controversial gadget was first used by shopkeeper Robert Gough , from South Wales . He told The Times newspaper : `` Either someone has come along and wiped them off the face of the earth , or it 's working . '' However , Shami Chakrabarti , director of the human rights group Liberty , said : `` What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children ? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender , rather than to our kids . `` The Mosquito has no place in a country that values its children and seeks to instill them with dignity and respect . '' E-mail to a friend . | Campaigners want to ban ultra-sonic device used against young people . `` The Mosquito '' emits sharp sounds that can only be heard by under 20s . About 3,500 of the devices are used in England to disperse young people . Human rights groups say they create divide between young and old . | [[282, 322], [350, 405], [383, 405], [408, 432], [435, 437], [444, 484], [467, 504], [182, 281], [1012, 1083], [666, 685], [729, 769]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Need some social etiquette advice for the digital age ? Brad Pitt 's got your back in this month 's cover story from Wired Magazine . In Wired 's new cover story , Brad Pitt offers etiquette for the digital age . So Brad , should people talk on the phone while they 're using the restroom ? `` No , you ca n't talk on the phone ! '' Pitt tells the magazine . `` Do you want the guy next to you to hear your entire conversation ? `` That 's why you should only text in the bathroom . Just be sure you do n't hit the wrong button and end up putting a photo of your junk on Twitter . Trust me , you do n't want those followers . '' Watch a CNN video about cell phone etiquette '' Humor covers for Pitt 's lack of tech credentials as the Hollywood hunk and star of Quentin Tarantino 's new film , `` Inglourious Basterds '' offers up a range of tongue-in-cheek advice for Wired readers . He touches on subjects ranging from managing your online persona to looking at porn on your work computer . Wired says Pitt approached the magazine with ideas for the story . The magazine , which is owned by Conde Nast and is a CNN.com content partner , collaborated with Pitt and contributing photographer Dan Winters to create the article . `` How to Behave : New Rules for Highly Evolved Humans '' hits newsstands July 21 . Wired said in an e-mail that the piece is a re-think of the celebrity magazine profile . On the cover , a photo shows Pitt wearing a Bluetooth device in his ear . `` Rule No. 52 : Ditch the headset . He can barely pull it off -- and you are not him , '' a blurb on the magazine front says . Most of the article is delivered in a spoof question-answer format . Pitt contributes several answers , as do regular Wired writers . One question asks if a person who exaggerated his or her salary on an online dating profile should confess . `` Hell no , '' Pitt writes . `` Everyone lies online . In fact , readers expect you to lie . If you do n't , they 'll think you make less than you actually do . So the only way to tell the truth is to lie . '' A question about viewing pornography at work is paired with a photo of Pitt scanning a copy of Hustler magazine at an office desk . A half-eaten doughnut sits on the table in front of him . `` Do n't just look at it at work , bring in your old porn mags and scan them there ! '' Pitt writes in the magazine . `` It 's like converting your vinyl to MP3s . Fill up your hard drive , and when you need a break from spreadsheets , just open a favorite pictorial . '' Pitt 's OK with porn , but he 's less understanding of people who want to answer urgent cell phone calls during movies . `` It may be a brief interruption -- just a few seconds -- but what if someone sitting near you is trying to make a decent bootleg ? Did you ever think of that ? Now all those street-corner copies are permanently defiled by your so-called 'em ergency , ' '' he writes . `` Do n't be so damn selfish . '' | Wired Magazine 's cover story features spoof tech advice from Brad Pitt . The Hollywood hunk is promoting his new movie , `` Inglourious Basterds '' Pitt says talking on the phone at the urinal is rude ; you should text instead . Pitt : Online communication is based on lies : `` The only way to tell the truth is to lie '' | [[75, 152], [153, 180], [183, 231], [812, 902], [449, 501], [2029, 2032], [2042, 2071]] |
HERMOSILLO , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Parents in northern Mexico on Sunday began to bury the children who died in a horrific day care fire as Mexican authorities raised the death toll from the blaze to 41 . Maria Jesus Coronado Padilla mourns her 2-year-old daughter , Paulette Daniela Coronado Padilla on Sunday . A large crowd of mourners attended a funeral for six of the victims Sunday afternoon in Hermosillo , about 200 miles -LRB- 320 kilometers -RRB- south of the U.S. border . The cause of Friday 's fire at ABC Day Care was n't known , but investigators concluded that the fire did n't start inside the building , said Eduardo Bours , the governor of Sonora state . Neighbors described parents arriving at the day care center completely desperate on Friday , seeing it engulfed in flames and knowing there was no way to get the children out . The building had two doors , one of which was padlocked shut , and windows were too high for the children to reach , officials said . Some parents rammed their vehicles into the building to try to free the trapped children , witnesses told CNN . Watch parents gather at site of fire '' `` When we went out and ran towards the nursery , teachers already had many children outside , those who could walk properly , '' said one man at the scene , who did not give his name . `` A pickup truck broke down the walls . The dad of one of the kids broke down one of the walls with his car driving in reverse , and that helped us a bit . '' Others said they waited for hours for news of their children . Watch a town in deep shock '' `` They did n't tell us anything , nothing , until like 6 p.m. , '' said Ofelia Vasquez , whose 4-year-old son Herman was in the building . She said she eventually was told he was at Chavez Hospital . `` We went there and we saw that he was badly burned , 75 percent of his body was burned , '' she said . Herman Vasquez died after surgery , his mother said . As of Sunday afternoon , 26 children remained hospitalized , 12 of them in critical condition , Sonoran authorities said . Another 10 children had been transported to other hospitals : eight to Guadalajara , one to Ciudad , Obregon , and two to Sacramento , California . A team of 29 medical experts in Hermosillo was deciding if any more victims would be moved to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento , or elsewhere . In addition , six adults were injured , Sonora spokesman Daniel Duran said . `` Without a doubt this is the worst disaster we 've had , '' Bours told CNN . President Felipe Calderon traveled to Hermosillo on Saturday . He arrived with Interior Secretary Fernando Gomez Mont and Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova to get firsthand updates from doctors and investigators , the state news agency Notimex reported . Calderon ordered the nation 's attorney general to investigate the blaze . Most of the victims died from smoke inhalation and not burns , Bours said . But the fire was serious enough for the roof to collapse , he added . At the time of the blaze , 142 children were inside the ABC Day Care . The day care is for children ages 2 to 4 , but Bours confirmed that children even younger were among the victims . All the children at the center had been accounted for by Saturday evening , Bours said . A severely burned 3-year-old girl arrived Saturday at the Sacramento hospital -- where pediatric burn treatment is a specialty -- and was in critical condition , according to Dr. Tina Palmieri , assistant chief of the burn unit . The child was burned over 80 percent of her body , the doctor told reporters . She said the hospital normally can save just over half of the children with burns that severe . In Hermosillo , a large crowd gathered outside of the emergency entrance of the city 's general hospital and many people consoled each other , video from the scene showed . `` They told me that this happened in a matter of five minutes , '' Hermosillo Mayor Ernesto Gandara told reporters after surveying the scene . | NEW : Funerals for children killed in Mexican day care center fire begin . Neighbors describe panic , horror as parents try to rescue kids from burning building . One door was padlocked shut and children could n't get to high windows , officials say . At least 41 children die in fire ; dozens more in hospitals in Mexico and U.S. | [[0, 10], [13, 35], [76, 139], [90, 102], [107, 207], [883, 914], [921, 959], [971, 987], [90, 102], [107, 207], [1939, 1961], [1964, 1997], [2062, 2121]] |
BUNNELL , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Faith Coleman had no health insurance when she learned she had cancer , but she describes her battle with the illness as `` one of the absolute greatest blessings '' of her life . Faith Coleman 's ordeal as an uninsured cancer patient drove her to help others without health insurance . `` Having kidney cancer was one of the best things that ever happened to me ... because I can truly empathize with patients , '' said Coleman , 54 . That compassion inspired Coleman to open a free clinic in her Florida community to help other uninsured people in need of medical care . In July 2003 , Coleman , a nurse practitioner , learned she had a malignant tumor growing on her right kidney . But as a contract worker for several doctors , she did not receive health insurance . Coleman 's treatment totaled about $ 35,000 , and she was forced to take out a mortgage on her house to help pay for it . `` I -LSB- fell -RSB- through the crack ... and I -LSB- had -RSB- a great job and a good education , '' said Coleman , a mother of six . Realizing that her financial and health woes were not unique , Coleman -- now in remission -- became determined to help those in similar situations access medical treatment . `` I have been given another chance , and I felt that it was important for me to make a difference and to help other people , '' she said . So after her recovery in 2004 , Coleman approached Dr. John Canakaris . The local physician with 60 years of experience had been treating the indigent population for years . Canakaris was eager to reach more patients in need . The two worked together to establish the Flagler County Free Clinic in Bunnell , Florida , which provides medical care for the uninsured . It has treated more than 6,700 patients . The clinic opened its doors in February 2005 , with eight volunteers treating eight patients . Since then , it has expanded to 120 volunteers who see about 80 patients every other weekend . Coleman said she 's seen an increase in the number of patients at the clinic , which serves people who meet federal poverty guidelines . `` If you see 100 cars in the parking lot , that 's us ! '' Coleman said , describing how she tells people the way to find the clinic . `` We have what I call ` controlled chaos . ' It 's just busy , busy , busy , go , go , go . '' Watch the `` controlled chaos '' at the clinic '' Health insurance : ` Nebulous , fairy-like thing ' Flagler County has a 15.5 percent unemployment rate -- the highest in Florida -- according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Living without medical insurance often is the only way for some local struggling families to make ends meet , Coleman said . `` When your health insurance -LSB- premium -RSB- is the same or more than your mortgage payment on your home , which one do you think they 're going to choose ? '' Coleman asked . `` They have to live . They have to eat . Insurance becomes the nebulous fairy-like thing that 's flying around out here . It would be nice to have because it 's silver and shiny and pretty , but it 's too expensive to hold on to . So it has to go , '' she said . The clinic , which operates out of a building donated by Canakaris and other doctors for use on the weekends , is not affiliated with any hospitals , Coleman said . The local Rotary Club , churches and private contributions help fund the operation . In addition , physicians volunteer to see patients recommended by the clinic , and an imaging center donates two X-rays and two CAT scans per month . Coleman says she and her team generally treat common illnesses like diabetes , hypertension and other chronic diseases , but adds `` we 've also found a lot of cancers . '' Many diagnoses have led to life-saving treatments . Watch Coleman interact with patients at her clinic '' `` I had this lump growing in my throat on the right side and it just kept getting bigger and bigger , and I did n't have any insurance , '' said Franklin Dias , a cancer survivor . `` Ms. Coleman called in one of her buddies who said this is an emergency ... -LSB- then -RSB- I was in the hospital . '' Today , Dias is cancer-free . And to show his appreciation of the clinic , he bakes . `` I paid them in banana bread , zucchini bread , pumpkin bread , '' Dias said . Emilio Viera , a Cuban immigrant , also credits Coleman with saving his life . `` She was perfect , she was precise , she was accurate , '' said Viera . `` I 'll be very grateful all my life to Ms. Coleman . She 's ` Faith , ' and when you have five minutes with her she makes you have faith . '' Want to get involved ? Check out the Flagler County Free Clinic and see how to help . | Faith Coleman was uninsured when she found out she had kidney cancer . Her experience inspired her to help others with similar financial , health issues . She co-founded a free clinic in Florida to help the uninsured access health care . | [[80, 106], [217, 323], [610, 622], [625, 632], [658, 721], [217, 323], [278, 323], [1067, 1229], [1130, 1137], [1161, 1241], [278, 323], [473, 552], [498, 609], [1609, 1687], [1680, 1687], [1706, 1747]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Elvis Presley . Marilyn Monroe . Jim Morrison . Officials wo n't say where Michael Jackson was buried , but family gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park . Their graves are public shrines for fans and followers . Countless people from all over the world make pilgrimages to their burial sites , hoping to draw close to those they adored from afar . Now Michael Jackson 's gravesite will become the next holy grail . A private gathering for the pop icon was held Tuesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills , California . Afterward , his casket was taken to the public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles . But it remains unclear whether his body has been interred -- or where . Officials at Forest Lawn wo n't disclose where Jackson 's body is being buried . If his final resting place is at Forest Lawn , fans who wish to visit will have to overcome the funeral company 's stringent security patrols . A Los Angeles Police Department official told CNN that the force hoped Jackson would be buried outside of its jurisdiction for fear officers might be assigned to protect the grave for months . There has been some speculation that Jackson 's body will eventually be moved to Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County , California . But that would require the family to obtain zoning exemptions and settle legal disputes , which could take years . Jackson retained only a small share of ownership in the ranch . If a public memorial were created at Neverland -- or anywhere -- it might easily surpass the tombs of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley as the most-visited gravesite . `` If it gets moved somewhere more public , I think a lot of people will come visit , '' said Steve Goldstein , author of L.A. 's Gravesite Companion : Where the VIP 's RIP . `` He 'll probably take over as the most visited grave site over Marilyn . '' Fame follows celebrities in life and in death . `` There 's always a fascination with celebrities , but it 's rude to stalk people and sit outside their houses , '' says Jim Tipton , founder of findagrave.com , a site that lists the grave records of more than 34 million celebrities and ordinary citizens . `` But once they are interred into the ground , anyone who wants to go can go . '' Tipton 's fascination with locating earthly remains began 15 years ago , when he saw mobster Al Capone 's grave in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside , Illinois . He and many others who are avid about visiting celebrity and historical graves dub themselves `` grave hunters . '' They seek the dead for various reasons . Some go out of simple curiosity . Others are history lovers . Many are fans who deeply admired the stars . Some say they feel a connection to the celebrities by standing beside their graves . At Elvis Presley 's Graceland in Memphis , Tennessee , guests visiting the grave can stay at the retro Heartbreak Hotel and visit the museum to learn more about the King of Rock and Roll . Westwood Memorial Park and Cemetery in Los Angeles houses Hollywood notables including sex symbol Marilyn Monroe and comic Rodney Dangerfield . The most recent celebrity to be buried there is actress Farrah Fawcett , who died of cancer last month . Visitors can access the cemetery easily , and even tour buses drop by . `` I 'm a product of that era , of Charlie 's Angels , '' said Jayne Osborne , a self-proclaimed grave hunter who visited Fawcett 's grave a week ago . The 48-year-old education administrator began searching for celebrity graves in the early 1970s . Since then , she 's visited hundreds of celebrity resting places in Southern California . `` I wanted to pay my respect . '' At Westwood , the most popular grave site remains Monroe 's . Fans often decorate her grave with flowers and cards . Her headstone is slightly darker than the others from so many fans touching it , grave hunters say . In Père-Lachaise , the largest cemetery in Paris , France , American singer Jim Morrison 's grave is tattooed with graffiti and artwork . Morrison fans like to leave candles , poems and gifts as tokens of appreciation . At one point , fans were so rowdy that a stone block was put in place in an attempt to seal the grave from fans trying to unearth it . After unsuccessful attempts by French authorities to move the tomb to another site , security officers were placed at the grave . Similar trouble plagued Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon , Georgia , where members of the Allman Brothers Band were buried in the early 1970s . Thousands of fans journeyed to visit the graves and party there , leaving behind cigarette butts and empty alcohol bottles . Relatives fought to have an iron fence erected around the graves . Some celebrity graves prove tempting to visitors , like that of heartthrob actor James Dean . His headstone in a public cemetery in Fairmount , Indiana , has been stolen twice . Forest Lawn Memorial Park remains one of the most exclusive Hollywood burial sites . The staff is tight lipped , refusing to release the whereabouts of anyone buried there , except to family members . Security cars constantly patrol the grounds . `` We do n't advocate or promote any visitation out of respect for the privacy of the family , '' said William Martin , a spokesman for company . Company officials would n't say whether Jackson 's body was , or could be , tucked into one of the cemetery 's locked gardens where celebrities like Humphrey Bogart , Jean Harlow and Sammy Davis Jr. are laid to rest . If Jackson is buried in Forest Lawn , that wo n't stop fans and grave hunters from trying to sneak in , says Karen Fogarty , a paralegal from the San Fernando Valley area in California and an occasional celebrity grave hunter . `` It 's going to keep Forest Lawn on their toes , '' she said . | Celebrities ' graves become public shrines for fans and followers . Grave hunters say people will try visit Michael Jackson 's burial site . Forest Lawn Memorial Park employees wo n't say whether Jackson 's body is there . Funeral company has stringent security patrols . | [[174, 230], [231, 310], [231, 271], [313, 342], [2438, 2449], [2454, 2513], [4507, 4570], [231, 310], [231, 271], [313, 342], [1670, 1709], [3863, 3882], [5512, 5523], [5531, 5589], [67, 120], [726, 806], [5270, 5395], [854, 876], [882, 950]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- You do n't have to tell the Reverend J. Peyton that these are hard times in Indiana . He 's been seeing it for years . The Reverend J. Peyton leads the Big Damn Band in playing the blues . Even down south in rural Brown County , which the country-blues guitarist and his Big Damn Band call home , the struggles on `` Main Street '' are more than just a political catchphrase . They 're a reality . The Rev , as he likes to be called , is well aware of the hardships elsewhere in his state , too . In the northern Indiana county of Elkhart , where President Obama held a highly publicized town hall meeting to discuss the economy and his stimulus package , the unemployment rate has more than tripled over the past year to almost 19 percent -- more than double the national average . `` The writing 's been on the wall for a long time , '' says The Rev. `` To me , this is n't anything new . It 's new that people are covering it -- it 's new that it 's on the news . '' The Reverend Peyton 's Big Damn Band , made up of The Rev , his wife Breezy on washboard and his brother Jayme on drums , has been touring the country almost nonstop for several years , and they 've had a chance to see the harsh realities of the American dream up close . They 've made their personal struggles , their family 's setbacks and stories from people they meet into lyrical fodder -- and despite the grim subject matter , put on an enthusiastically upbeat , memorable performance in each town they play . Watch the Big Damn Band perform `` Worn Out Shoe '' '' `` We do n't take it lightly , '' The Rev says . `` I just hope that when people come to the show , we 're able to make them feel a lot of different things -- make 'em laugh with us and make 'em hurt with us . '' It 's a tradition as old as the blues . The Rev says on the band 's Web site , `` I feel like I got to directly be involved in a song . Maybe if I played a different genre of music I 'd feel like I could get away with -LSB- making stuff up -RSB- , but this style of music is too honest ; you ca n't lie to people , because they 'll see right through it . '' For The Rev , part of being brutally honest also means keeping it simple , allowing listeners to be engaged with the music without having to search for hidden meaning . Among the songs from the band 's latest album , `` The Whole Fam Damnily , '' are `` Ca n't Pay the Bill , '' `` The Creek 's Are All Bad '' and `` Walmart Killed the Country Store . '' The band gets its ideas from personal experience , says The Rev. `` I ai n't got cable where I live , '' he says . `` I stay up on current events as well as I can , but I do n't really draw from newspapers . I draw from my family and friends . '' Reviewers have praised the work . `` The band bring to their retro-fabricated rootsy Americana an utterly gripping compulsion , '' wrote the -LRB- UK -RRB- Independent 's Andy Gill , giving `` The Whole Fam Damnily '' four out of five stars . The Big Damn Band is also the cover story in the April/May issue of Blues Review magazine . What the songs purposefully lack in lyrical flair is made up in sparkling musicianship . The Rev picks his way across old standard-tuned National resonators and acoustic guitars , adding a little slide here and there ; Breezy rattles away with metal-tipped baseball batting gloves and washboard , while Jayme keeps rhythm on a rather modest drum set , highlighted by a 5-gallon pickle bucket . It 's simple , heartfelt country blues at its best , played by a family that revels in its blood ties . And that 's good enough for The Rev. `` You get by through things that do n't cost much , like music , like laughter , like food . You know , those are the things that I think get you by . '' | The Reverend Peyton 's Big Damn Band is an Indiana-based blues group . Song titles include `` Walmart Killed the Country Store '' The Rev : Band wants to `` make 'em laugh with us and make 'em hurt with us '' | [[156, 225], [185, 225], [1007, 1043], [1046, 1064], [2464, 2500], [1678, 1680], [1764, 1787], [1742, 1759]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Some lucky Michael Jackson fans got the e-mails they were hoping for Sunday , saying they 've won two free tickets to Tuesday 's memorial service . Some memorial tickets went out to `` friends and family '' on Sunday . `` OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service !!! '' Deka Motanya wrote Sunday afternoon in a Twitter message . The 8,750 fans chosen were summoned to Dodger Stadium Monday to pick up their tickets and have a wristband placed on their arms to prevent them from reselling them . The Michael Jackson memorial , set for 10 a.m. -LRB- 1 p.m. ET -RRB- Tuesday in the Staples Center arena , is expected to be a star-studded and emotional tribute to the entertainer , who died June 25 . Twitter.com served as a seismograph Sunday as fans anxiously watched their inboxes for an e-mail from AEG Live , the memorial organizer and Staples Center owner . More than five hours after the notifications were to be sent , none had been received . `` Come on and let me know , Staples ... did I win tickets to Michael Jackson 's memorial ? '' read one tweet posted at 3 p.m. , four hours after the e-mails were supposed to start flowing . One woman wrote she `` is checking her e-mail anxiously to see if she got tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center . '' Just before 5 p.m. -LRB- 8 p.m. ET -RRB- , Twitter erupted with messages of excitement : . `` I won the Michael Jackson tickets for Tuesday !!!! Heading to LA tmrw !!!! '' read one tweet that linked to a photo of an iPhone screen with the e-mail . Watch reporters prepare for Tuesday 's service '' `` Apparently my dad 's friend who hates Michael Jackson , may have won tickets tu the memorial service ... Step-mom 's freaking out . . ! '' Other messages came from disappointed fans who did not get the e-mails : . `` I guess i didnt make the drawing to win tickets to Michael Jackson Memorial !!! go figure , I 'm sadden and hurt :--LRB- '' The odds of winning the tickets were long -- just one of every 182 were chosen . Organizers used a computer to choose 8,750 names from 1.6 million who registered online since Friday . Motanya , 27 , works in a doctor 's office in San Francisco , California . She scrambled Sunday night to line up plane tickets so she and her boyfriend could fly to Los Angeles Monday to claim her tickets . `` Oh yeah , I 'm going , '' she told CNN . `` I 'm e-mailing my boss saying I 've got to leave early because I 'm going to L.A. '' Each winner gets two tickets , bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17,500 . Just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the Staples Center , while the other 6,500 are for viewing the memorial telecast across the street at the Nokia Theater . iReport.com : `` Surreal journey '' to get tickets . Winner must meet other requirements `` in order to avoid the reselling of tickets , '' according to a news release from the Jackson family . The notification gives them a secret code and instructions to appear at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to claim their tickets . Along with their tickets , they will get the wristbands `` one of which will be placed on their wrist at that time , '' the family statement said . `` Fans attending the memorial service must have both a valid ticket AND a wristband , '' the Jackson family statement said . `` Wristbands that have been ripped , taped or otherwise mutilated will be void . '' The Jackson family set aside 9,000 Staples Center seats to give out to people they choose , according to organizers . Some people were seen picking up those `` friends and family '' tickets at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon . Two wristbands , one blue and one gold , were given out with each ticket . Ticketholders were instructed that they must wear the wristbands to validate their tickets . Police have said no one will be allowed near the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles without tickets or media credentials . | Just before 5 p.m. -LRB- 8 p.m. ET -RRB- , Twitter erupted with messages of excitement . Each winner gets two tickets , bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17,500 . The odds of winning the tickets were long -- just one of every 182 were chosen . Police : No one will be allowed near memorial without tickets or media credentials . | [[1353, 1393], [1396, 1439], [2518, 2546], [2518, 2529], [2549, 2603], [1995, 2026], [2040, 2075], [3270, 3354], [3879, 4005], [3891, 4005]] |
RIO DE JANEIRO , Brazil -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Automated messages sent from Air France Flight 447 just before it crashed Monday indicate the plane 's systems were providing contradictory information about its airspeed , the jet 's manufacturer said on Friday . Friends and relatives of the 228 people aboard Air France Flight 447 attend a memorial service Thursday in Brazil . That suggests the pilots may have been flying too fast or too slow through the violent weather they encountered before the crash , officials said . In addition , investigators have said the plane 's autopilot disengaged , cabin pressure was lost and there was an electrical failure before the disaster . Airbus confirmed on Friday that in the wake of the crash it sent a Telex to operators of all Airbus models reminding them what to do when speed indicators give conflicting readings . The spokesman said the notice does not mean there is any major flaw in the aircraft , but is simply a reminder to pilots about what to do in the cockpit if they get conflicting information about air speed . Message transmissions from the aircraft in the final moments before it crashed Monday into the Atlantic Ocean show there was an `` indicated inconsistency in measured air speeds , '' Airbus said . The company did not elaborate . Experts said that could mean the pilot 's and co-pilots ' sensors were showing different speeds . `` If they 're malfunctioning , it can give a false read that can be misinterpreted in the cockpit , and a disaster can follow , '' said Peter Goeltz , the former managing director of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board . While the pilots themselves sent no distress calls , the aircraft 's computer system relayed about four minutes of automated messages indicating a loss of cabin pressure and an electrical failure , according to investigators . Airbus said it sent the Telex Thursday night after the action was recommended by the French investigating agency , which plans to hold a news conference Saturday morning in Paris , France . Watch as experts question whether recovery is possible '' Meanwhile , the hunt for debris continued Friday , a day after a Brazilian air force official said debris plucked from the ocean was not from the Air France jet . A U.S Navy P-3 temporarily based in Brazil has flown three missions -- on Wednesday , Thursday and Friday -- in assisting the Brazilian government search for debris , but found nothing connected to the disaster , U.S. Southern Command spokesman Maj. Darryl Wright said . Earlier Friday , Goeltz said the search for Flight 447 's voice and data recorders is becoming more difficult as ocean currents disperse debris from the crash site . `` The clock 's ticking '' in the search for the plane 's recorders , he said . `` The batteries on these locator devices attached to the black boxes have a limited life span -- just 30 days , '' he said . `` The longer time goes on , the further away from the actual crash site the debris floats . '' All 228 passengers and crew aboard the Airbus 330 are presumed to have died when the plane disappeared northeast of the Fernando de Noronha Islands , an archipelago 355 kilometers -LRB- 220 miles -RRB- off the northeast coast of Brazil . The flight originated in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , and was en route to Paris . Map of Flight 447 's flight path '' While the ocean depth in the area where the plane is thought to have crashed presents a challenge , the challenge may not be insurmountable , Goeltz said . `` We 've recovered boxes as deep as 6 - or 7,000 feet , '' he said . `` We 've recovered debris from as much as 10,000 feet . '' Authorities have said the depth of the water in the area ranges from 3,000 meters -LRB- 9,840 feet -RRB- to 7,500 meters -LRB- 24,600 feet -RRB- . Cmdr. Christophe Prazuck of the French Ministry of Defense said Friday that a French research vessel was expected to arrive this weekend in the search area carrying a deep-diving submersible . The submersible would try to pinpoint the recorders , but must rely on another vessel to retrieve them , he said . The submarine helped recover artifacts from the Titanic disaster . Meanwhile , France 's transportation minister warned that `` extreme prudence '' should be used in releasing information about why the plane crashed . It is possible the plane experienced a total electrical failure , officials have said . Goeltz said it is possible the jet 's speed indicator was faulty . `` That could really be disastrous and it 's happened before , '' he said , speaking generally . If it malfunctions , `` it can give a false read into the cockpit that can be misinterpreted , '' he said . Investigators also said the autopilot system may have failed . A Spanish pilot reported seeing an `` intense flash '' near where the plane is believed to have crashed , the Spanish carrier Air Comet said on Thursday . The co-pilot and a passenger on the flight from Lima , Peru , to Lisbon , Portugal , also said they saw a light . Air Comet said the pilot 's report has been sent to Air France , Airbus and the Spanish civil aviation authority . CNN 's Mike Mount contributed to this story . | French officials : Sub could find recorders ; other vessel needed for their retrieval . Airbus : Automated messages indicate contradictory info provided on airspeeds . Such a problem `` could really be disastrous , '' ex-U.S. aviation safety official says . Expert : Finding where recorders lie on seabed harder as debris scattered . | [[3982, 3997], [4034, 4084], [43, 136], [106, 213], [766, 859], [1016, 1066], [1067, 1237], [1067, 1176], [1188, 1244], [4470, 4523], [2552, 2644], [2648, 2700]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Charging chesty women more for their bras does n't win a lot of support , British retailer Marks & Spencer acknowledged Friday as it announced an end to the surcharge on its larger lingerie . Marks & Spencer have apologised for charging chesty women more for bras . `` We boobed , '' screamed a full-page Marks & Spencer ad , which appeared in British newspapers Friday . Marks & Spencer gave in to campaigners who argued that the higher prices of the bigger bras was unfair . The retailer charged as much as # 2 -LRB- $ 3 -RRB- more for all sizes DD and up . `` It 's true that our fantastic quality larger bras cost more money to make , and we felt it was right to reflect this in the prices we charged , '' the ad said . `` Well , we were wrong . '' It follows a nearly year-long campaign by members of the Facebook group Busts 4 Justice . The women behind the site argued other chain retailers did n't charge extra for bigger sizes , so Marks & Spencer should n't , either . And it pointed out that the store does n't charge extra for larger sizes of clothing , so it should n't charge more for larger undergarments . What 's your view ? `` We would like to thank everyone who has supported us on this issue ; especially the thousands of brilliant , busty women that have joined forces with us . We could n't have done this without you , '' the two administrators of the group , Becky Mount and Beckie Williams , posted Friday on Facebook . `` Busts 4 Justice remain committed to making things better for busty women on the high street , but for now we 're happy just to be able to encourage all ladies to reward themselves and their boobs with some properly fitted , fairly priced lingerie . '' Marks & Spencer is a stalwart British chain , known for classic wardrobe staples and low prices . Its underwear department is the first stop for many British shoppers and is especially famous for reliable basics . And to give customers an added lift , Marks & Spencer also announced it is cutting the prices of all of its bras by 25 percent for the rest of May . `` I think even though we all obviously held a bit of a grudge against buying our bras from M&S we should really be grateful they got rid of the surcharge and have given us the super generous 25 percent off , '' Mount wrote on the group 's site Friday . `` They may get cleared out by the time the weekend is over ! '' | Marks & Spencer is ending its surcharge on larger lingerie . Retailer takes out adverts admitting `` we boobed '' Campaigners argued that the higher prices of the bigger bras was unfair . | [[110, 227], [435, 446], [451, 512], [1105, 1157]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Department of Homeland Security will investigate a Halloween costume party hosted by a top immigration official and attended by a man dressed in a striped prison outfit , dreadlocks and darkened skin make-up , a costume some say is offensive , the department 's secretary said . Julie Myers , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement , called the man 's costume `` offensive . '' Julie Myers , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and host of the fundraising party , was on a three-judge panel that originally praised the prisoner costume for `` originality . '' Myers later apologized for `` a few of the costumes , '' calling them `` inappropriate and offensive . '' She said she and other senior managers `` deeply regret that this happened . '' A department photographer photographed Myers with the man , but the images were deleted after the costume were deemed offensive , ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said . Between 50 and 75 people attended the party , which was a fundraiser for the Combined Federal Campaign , a federal government collection of charities . Nantel said one employee , whom she declined to identify , was wearing a black-and-white striped prison outfit , dreadlocks and a skin `` bronzer '' intended `` to make him look African-American . '' But , she said , it was not immediately apparent that he was wearing the make-up . `` Most people in the room did n't realize he was wearing make-up at all , '' she said . `` It was unintentioned . The employee did not mean to offend although there were some employees that were rightfully offended by it , '' Nantel said . Myers and the other judges `` noted his costume for originality . '' `` There were a couple of people who were offended , '' Nantel said . `` When it was confirmed through a conversation with the employee that he was wearing make-up , '' Nantel said , the employee was counseled and Myers sent out a note to employees apologizing . In a November 2 email to ICE employees , Myers wrote , `` It is now clear that , however unintended , a few of the costumes were inappropriate and offensive . While we were all thrilled to be a part of the CFC fundraising effort , I and the senior management at ICE deeply regret that this happened . '' She reminded all employees to be compliant with the department 's diversity training requirement . Myers has served as head of ICE since January of 2006 but is still awaiting Senate confirmation . An ICE congressional liaison said ICE officials briefed congressional staffers about the costume party this week as a courtesy . But at least one congressional staffer said they approached ICE after receiving an anonymous fax about the incident . Myers called House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson , D-Mississippi , about the incident and is expected to meet with him before the end of the week , a Thompson spokeswoman told CNN . Myers also contacted the National Association of African-Americans in the Department of Homeland Security . In a letter to NAADHS members , the group 's vice president , Sjon Shavers , said the group `` appreciates -LRB- Myers -RRB- reaching out to us so quickly in order to keep us apprised of the matter and we commend her on moving so swiftly toward appropriate corrective action . '' As head of ICE , Myers heads the law enforcement agency charged with enforcing immigration law inside the United States . It is the second largest investigative agency in the federal government , with more than 15,000 employees , including 6,000 investigators . Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff `` supports the actions that Assistant Secretary Myers has taken , '' DHS spokeswoman Laura Keehner said . `` We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior at DHS . '' `` The Secretary has asked for an inquiry into the facts surrounding the incident . Once the facts have been determined , we will take all necessary and appropriate actions , '' Keehner said . E-mail to a friend . | Man in prison outfit , dreadlocks and darkened skin make-up came to party . Party host was Julie Myers , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement . She and other judges at first gave man praise for costume 's `` originality '' But some were offended and Myers later apologized in an email to employees . | [[162, 241], [1111, 1259], [3315, 3419], [518, 537], [543, 603], [1635, 1661], [1665, 1700], [1565, 1579], [1585, 1615], [1730, 1736], [1741, 1754], [1757, 1759], [1870, 1884], [1887, 1952], [1967, 2005], [2008, 2019], [2023, 2090]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- -- A poor decision by a regional airline was being blamed Friday for Continental Airlines passengers getting stranded overnight as their plane sat on a tarmac in Minnesota , federal transportation officials said Friday . Passengers on a Continental flight operated by ExpressJet sat on the tarmac for nearly six hours on August 8 . U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said a representative of Mesaba Airlines improperly refused requests by the plane 's captain and crew to let passengers off the plane . They were stuck on the tarmac in Rochester on August 8 from 12:38 a.m. to about 6 a.m. with nothing but pretzels to eat , LaHood said . `` There was a complete lack of common sense here , '' LaHood said in a written statement . `` It 's no wonder the flying public is so angry and frustrated . '' Mesaba , based in Eagan , Minnesota and owned by Delta Air Lines , was the only carrier able to assist Continental Flight 2816 , which was on its way from Houston , Texas , to Minneapolis , Minnesota , when it was diverted because of strong thunderstorms , LaHood said . Watch how pilot tried to get passengers off plane '' The flight 's 47 passengers described crying babies , overflowing toilets and cramped conditions . According to a Department of Transportation preliminary report , Mesaba 's representative refused to help passengers off of the plane , incorrectly saying the airport was closed to passengers for security reasons . In audiotapes released by the Transportation Department , the unnamed captain of the aircraft can be heard pleading with an airline dispatcher to find a way to get the passengers off the plane . `` We 're stuck here with no lavs , no nothing -- no food , '' he says . `` And they wo n't let them get off because the terminal is closed . '' Later , the dispatcher tells the captain that he has spoken to the commuter airline 's representative and that `` she says there is nothing she can do to help us out . She 's not going to let them off the plane . '' `` That 's ridiculous , '' the captain responds . LaHood , who called the incident a `` nightmare , '' said federal regulations allow passengers to get off of a plane , enter an airport and reboard without being screened by safety personnel as long as they remain in a secure part of the terminal . Mesaba said Friday that its employees tried to help . `` Mesaba respectfully disagrees with the DOT 's preliminary findings as they are incongruent with our initial internal review of the incident , '' CEO John Spanjers said in a written statement . `` Because Continental Express Flight 2816 diverted to an airport where they have no ground handling service , Mesaba offered assistance as a courtesy during this delay . `` While the investigation is ongoing , Mesaba is fully cooperating with the Department of Transportation and looks forward to the final report . '' Mesaba is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwest Airlines , which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines . Delta CEO Richard Anderson said the airline is working with Mesaba , Continental and the Department of Transportation to help determine exactly what happened . In the department 's statement , LaHood said that the Continental crew was not at fault for the passengers being stuck . `` In fact , the flight crew repeatedly tried to get permission to deplane the passengers at the airport or obtain a bus for them , '' he said . Department of Transportation investigators have interviewed passengers , the flight crew , airport workers and others during an investigation expected to be completed in the next few weeks . The department `` is considering the appropriate action to take against Mesaba , '' according to the statement . The investigation did show that while the crew of the flight , operated by carrier ExpressJet , did all it could , higher-level officials should have become involved in the effort . The Aviation Enforcement Office has proposed regulations requiring airlines to have plans for how to handle lengthy tarmac delays . | Continental passengers were stuck on airplane nearly six hours . Secretary LaHood calls incident a `` nightmare , '' says crew did all it could . Regional airline Mesaba was only one that could have helped , feds say . Mesaba says it disagrees with feds ' findings , offered to help . | [[88, 161], [254, 274], [298, 350], [650, 663], [2069, 2075], [2082, 2116], [3772, 3794], [3830, 3846], [896, 912], [918, 951], [2318, 2371], [2372, 2441], [2679, 2738]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A small plane crashed Friday near an Ohio-area high school during a football scrimmage . Spectators at a high school football scrimmage watch as a plane goes down Friday in Ohio . Spectators at a practice game at Harrison High School watched from the bleachers as the plane went down at 8:08 p.m. ET , said police officer Jennifer Coyle , who witnessed the incident . Two people on the plane died at the crash scene , authorities said . According to CNN affiliate WLWT , witnesses said the plane was heading toward the football field when it suddenly dropped , crashing in a gravel pit near the school . `` It looked like he was going straight for the boys on the field , but then just did a straight nosedive , '' Mindy Brinson told WLWT . It is not yet known what caused the plane to crash . Harrison is in the southwest corner of Ohio . CNN 's Dave Alsup contributed to this report . | Plane crashes near football scrimmage at Ohio high school . Witness says plane was headed toward field when it did a sudden nosedive . Two people on board died in the crash , authorities say . | [[0, 15], [19, 20], [33, 107], [164, 198], [490, 552], [505, 577], [700, 728], [387, 434], [437, 455]] |
Hamid Dabashi is the author of `` Iran : A People Interrupted . '' He is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York . His Web site is http://www.hamiddabashi.com/ . Hamid Dabashi says allegations of rape and torture are testing Iran 's Islamic Republic as never before . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Troubling news of kidnapping , rape , torture , and murder is flooding out of Iran . Neda Aqa Soltan was murdered point-blank in the streets of Tehran for the whole world to see ; while Sohrab Arabi was killed far from any global attention and his body given to his mother quietly to bury , as was the tortured body of Mohsen Ruholamini . These names have assumed symbolic significance for many more innocent young men and women murdered by the custodians of the Islamic Republic with a wanton disregard for the lives and liberties of its own citizens . Not just murder , but the rape of young men and women also is on the shameless roster of the Islamic Republic . After years of sporadic charges and troubling rumors , finally a courageous cleric has put a stamp of public recognition on atrocious practices in the theocratic state . Mehdi Karrubi -- one of the revolutionary founders of the Islamic Republic , a high-ranking cleric , a presidential candidate , a former speaker of the house and now a widely popular political activist -- has published a letter , addressing it to the former president and current head of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani . He accuses the security officers of the Islamic Republic of repeatedly and violently raping young women and men while they are in custody . Since the publication of this letter , a massive outpouring of testimony and reports has come out , corroborating Karrubi 's charges that rapes of young women and men are a widespread , common practice in the Islamic Republic . These are not light charges for any state , for any republic , let alone for an Islamic Republic . These charges are no longer brought by expatriate , and at times discredited , opposition . It is the founding fathers of the Islamic Republic , with impeccable revolutionary credentials , who are bringing these charges , as others are coming out and corroborating them in excruciating detail . The Islamic Republic has never faced such a deep crisis of legitimacy in its turbulent 30-year history . As widely evident , it is not just the regime 's claim to a `` republic '' that is in question and in jeopardy , but , perhaps far more seriously , it is its claim to Islam that has troubling consequences for more than 1.3 billion Muslims around the world . People in the streets of Tehran are chanting , paraphrasing a famous slogan of the 1979 revolution , `` Independence , Freedom , Iranian Republic , '' pointedly replacing `` Iranian '' for `` Islamic . '' Though this a perfectly legitimate demand , given the criminal record of the Islamic Republic , by no means is this sentiment a common denominator of the growing opposition to the regime . To the degree that , at least in part , he represents this uprising , Mir Hossein Moussavi , as a pious and practicing Muslim , continues to insist that he wishes to restore the ideals and aspirations of the Islamic revolution within the constitution of the state . Never have the two opposing ideas of an `` Islamic Republic , '' and Muslims living in a democratic republic seemed so at odds with each other . The 30-year experience of the Islamic Republic shows fundamental flaws in defining a state apparatus in the exclusive terms of a militantly legalistic Islam , while at the same time Iranians , the overwhelming majority of them Shiite Muslims , have repeatedly demonstrated , under this regime , they are perfectly capable of democratic behavior . Not just as immigrants in the E.U. nations and the U.S. , but as citizens in Iran , millions of Muslims have shown they are integral to the democratic institutions embedded in the notion of a nation-state . What is in question is the viability of an Islamic republic -- or for that matter , a Jewish state , a Christian empire , a Hindu fundamentalist government -- or any state or movement that is defined not by the democratic apparatus of citizenry , but by exclusionary membership in a world religion . As in the rest of the Muslim world , Islam is integral to Iranian society . But not exclusively so . Over the last 30 years , a radically legalistic interpretation of a cosmopolitan faith has been force-fed into a multifaceted political culture -- and today all the world can see the violent convulsion of the system . There has been much talk of the need for an Islamic `` reformation '' over the last few years . But what Islam needs is not a Christian-style Reformation . What Islam needs is a restoration of its historically cosmopolitan character in which Muslims and non-Muslims live in peace and prosperity , and which they now need to retrieve in order to live in peace and prosperity in a world that is not entirely Muslim . By virtue of living in a democracy , and having endured indignities of rampant Islamophobia in their own country , American Muslims have a historic role to play , by way of sending a delegation to Iran , connecting to this grassroots democratic movement in a Muslim nation , and helping it restore its cosmopolitan character in pursuit of enduring democratic institutions . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Hamid Dabashi . | Hamid Dabashi : Rape and torture allegations being made in Iran . He says a prominent cleric and activist has accused security forces of wrongdoing . The charges threaten the Islamic Republic 's standing within the faith , he says . Dabashi : Iran needs to restore notion of Muslims and non-Muslims living in peace . | [[229, 279], [1020, 1072], [1075, 1189], [1528, 1598]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient who volunteered to return to the Army and serve in Afghanistan became the oldest U.S. service member to die in combat there , the U.S. military announced Friday . First Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo was killed by a roadside bomb in Kabul on Tuesday while riding in an armored Humvee . His body was flown to the United States early Thursday morning . Crisostomo of Spanaway , Washington , was 59 . He would have turned 60 later this month , according to KING television in Seattle , Washington . He was one of a very few service members who served in Vietnam and in current U.S. military operations , his record shows . He twice received the Bronze Star , which is awarded to U.S. troops for combat valor . Crisostomo also received the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat , according to his records . It was not clear from his official records if he received the medals for combat in Vietnam or Afghanistan . His records also indicate he received numerous other commendations . He also served during the first Gulf War in 1991 and received the Kuwait Liberation Medal . He jointed the Army in 1969 and retired in 1993 , then volunteered to serve again in 2008 . According to his records , his position in the Army was automated logistical specialist , but it was unclear in what capacity he was serving while in Afghanistan . Earlier this year , a 60-year-old soldier was killed in Iraq , becoming the oldest U.S. service member killed in either the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan . | First Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo killed by a roadside bomb in Kabul . He served in Vietnam , retired , rejoined Army in '08 to serve in Afghanistan . Crisostomo of Spanaway , Washington , was Bronze Star , Purple Heart recipient . | [[237, 338], [52, 73], [78, 136], [0, 26], [116, 136], [1151, 1153], [1201, 1242]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Some of the strongest support for health care cooperatives ' place in the national effort to reform the nation 's health care system comes from those who experience a co-op 's care every day : doctors and patients . Co-op patient Norman Nistler says he did n't even realize he was a part of a health care co-op . Co-ops are non-profit organizations , so any money that is earned goes back to be used on patients and other costs . Patients also elect a governing board , which is in stark contrast to operations under private health insurance plan . Proponents point to two co-ops as evidence they are an alternative in the health care reform debate : HealthPartners in Minneapolis , Minnesota , and Group Health Cooperative in Seattle , Washington . HealthPartners has been in business for half a century and served more than a million people in Minnesota and Wisconsin . Some decades-long members said they did n't know they were with a co-op . `` I watch a lot of it on television now . There 's a lot of talking about co-ops , but I did n't realize this was a co-op , '' said patient Norman Nistler . The co-op was able to save millions , officials note , by switching to generic drugs and cutting tobacco use among its members by double the Minnesota state average because doctors help patients to quit . Darla Andrews , a patient at the co-op , said she and her doctor have easy access to her records . `` It 's all digital , so it works out good for me . It 's more convenient . '' Dr. Eric Seaver , who works at Group Health . `` We can communicate with patients through secure e-mail for routine questions or concerns that in the private world physicians often are n't able or wo n't do because there 's just no motivation to do that . There 's no reimbursement . ... Here with Group Health 's model , it 's all about providing patients the care that they need when they need it in a form that works best for them . '' Group Health lists Microsoft and Starbucks as organizations that use its system . `` I have great contact with the doctors , '' said Group Health member Dave Jacobs . `` I 'm treated like a person , not a number . '' `` My care has been absolutely exceptional . And that 's because I believe I 'm going to a private medical facility , dealing with doctors one-on-one and not a bureaucrat , '' he said . `` Part of the great value in that structure is that our patients are actively engaged , not just in the organization and governance but actively engaged in finding ways to engage themselves in their care itself , '' said Scott Armstrong , president and CEO of Group Health Cooperative . `` We all know that an engaged patient leads to a better health outcome . So much of health care is actually the responsibility of us as individuals . '' Aaron Katz , of the University of Washington Health Services , says the group health model could be viable nationally , but only if there are tougher restrictions on insurance companies . The reason co-ops are successful , he says , is because they employ their own doctors , specialists , pharmacies and can reduce the amount of tests and procedures that drive up costs . Seaver says his co-op emphasizes evidence-based medicine and making decisions in patient care based upon `` the best evidence that we have available for what 's effective and what is ineffective . '' `` I think what we 're finding in this model is doing the right thing for the patient is the best thing not just for the patient but also for the system as a whole , '' he said . `` I feel like I 'm able to practice medicine the way I had envisioned back in medical school . '' Working at Group Health `` has been a breath of fresh air for my career , '' he said . CNN 's Dana Bash , Ed Hornick , Lesa Jansen , Chris Welch and Patrick Oppmann contributed to this report . | Co-ops are non-profit organizations where patients elect a governing board . HealthPartners and Group Health Cooperative are often cited as successful plans . Patient : `` I 'm treated like a person , not a number '' Doctor says co-ops let him connect with patients using e-mail . | [[332, 367], [449, 457], [463, 567], [2116, 2142], [1553, 1588]] |
Editor 's note : Uwe Reinhardt is James Madison professor of political economy at Princeton University 's Woodrow Wilson School . From 1986 to 1995 he served as a commissioner on the Physician Payment Review Committee , established in 1986 by Congress to advise it on issues related to the payment of physicians . Uwe Reinhardt says health costs are rising at unsustainable pace , gobbling up middle-class incomes . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Watching the angry outbursts at town hall meetings on health reform and the continuing public ambivalence about current efforts to reform our health system almost makes me wish that the reform effort fails . Perhaps Americans need to be taught a basic lesson on the economics of employment-based health insurance before they will feel as smugly secure with it as they do now and before they will stop nitpicking health-reform efforts to death over this or that detail . And America 's currently insured middle class will be increasingly desperate if health reform fails . Millions more such families will see their take-home pay shrink . Millions will lose their employment-based insurance , especially in medium and small-sized firms . And millions will find themselves inexorably priced out of health care as we know it . Milliman Inc. , an employee benefits consulting firm , publishes annually its Milliman Medical Index on the total health spending by or for a typical American family of four with private health insurance . The index totals the family 's out-of-pocket spending for health care plus the contribution employers and employees make to that family 's job-related health insurance coverage . The Milliman Medical Index stood at $ 8,414 in 2001 . It had risen to $ 16,700 by 2009 . It is likely to rise to $ 18,000 by next year . That is more than a doubling of costs in the span of a decade ! Since 2005 , the index has grown at an average annual compound rate of 8.4 percent . Suppose we make it 8 percent for the coming decade . Then today 's $ 16,700 will have grown to slightly over $ 36,000 by 2019 . Economists are convinced that this $ 36,000 would come virtually all out of the financial hides of employees , even if the employer pretended to be paying , say , 80 percent of the employment-based health insurance premiums . In the succinct words of the late United Automobile Worker Union leader Douglas Fraser : . `` Before you start weeping for the auto companies and all they pay for medical insurance , let me tell you how the system works . All company bargainers worth their salt keep their eye on the total labor unit cost , and when they pay an admittedly horrendous amount for health care , that 's money that ca n't be spent for higher -LSB- cash -RSB- wages or higher pensions or other fringe benefits . So we directly , the union and its members , feel the costs of the health care system . '' -LRB- `` A National Health Policy Debate , '' Dartmouth Medical School Alumni Magazine , Summer 1989 : 30 -RRB- . Unfortunately , very few rank-and-file workers appreciate this fact . Aside from their still modest out-of-pocket payments and contributions to employment-based insurance premiums , most employees seem sincerely to believe that the bulk of their family 's health care is basically paid for by `` the company , '' which is why so few members of the middle class have ever been much interested in controlling health spending in this country . The price for that indifference will be high . If efforts at better cost containment fail once again , and health care costs rise to $ 36,000 on average for a typical American family of four under age 65 -- as almost surely it would -- that $ 36,000 will be borne entirely by the family . That family 's disposable income would be much higher if the growth of future health spending was better controlled . And , as noted , many smaller firms will stop altogether providing job-based health insurance . It would be a major problem for families with an income of less than $ 100,000 a year . In 2007 , only about 25 percent of American families had a money income of $ 100,000 or more . Close to 60 percent had family incomes of less than $ 75,000 . Here it must be remembered that the wages and salaries of the solid American middle class have been relatively stagnant in recent years and are likely to remain so for the next decade . Unemployment is not likely to fall significantly soon , regardless of what stock prices do on Wall Street . Indeed , often stock prices rise as firms lay off workers to drive up profits through leaner payrolls . This prospect -- relatively stagnant family incomes combined with family health-care costs that double every decade -- is what America 's middle class should contemplate as it thinks about the imperative of health reform . It is a pity that this central issue seems to have been shoved aside by mendacious distortions from Sarah Palin , Betsy McCaughey , Rush Limbaugh and other extremist commentators seeking to frighten Americans with their prattle about `` death panels '' and `` pulling plugs on granny '' that no bill before Congress even remotely envisions . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Uwe Reinhardt . | Uwe Reinhardt : Consider what will happen if health reform fails . He says health costs have already doubled in a decade . Reinhardt says dollars spent on health care come out of wages for middle class . | [[314, 415], [1781, 1842], [4634, 4658], [4664, 4683], [314, 415]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One person died and six were injured when a cargo train derailed , causing an explosion and massive fire in Illinois , a fire chief said Saturday . A train carrying chemicals derailed and burned for hours , forcing the evacuation of about 600 homes . Crews were still fighting the blaze at midday , but expected to have it fully contained in the afternoon , said Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten . `` It 's under control and we 're taking every precaution not to harm firefighters or residents , '' Bergsten said , adding that federal and state environmental officials were on scene monitoring air and soil samples . The fatality was a woman , said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia . The cause of death had not been determined because Fiduccia was unable to get close enough to examine the body . Bergsten said six people were injured , and all train workers were accounted for . The train was carrying chemicals that burned for hours , forcing the evacuation of about 600 homes in the town about 50 miles -LRB- 80 kilometers -RRB- northwest of Chicago , authorities said . Officers were called to the scene near Rockford about 8:30 p.m. Friday , a city police spokeswoman said . The derailment involved automobiles , but it was unclear whether they were on the tracks , she said . Three motorists who were stopped at a train crossing were burned , one severely , Bergsten said . One of the victims , who tried to run from the blaze , suffered second-degree burns on his hand while trying to shield his neck from flames , according to Bergsten . At least 14 cars of the 114-car train caught fire after the derailment , officials said . The rest of the Canadian National Railway train -- including 70 cars carrying ethanol , a colorless , highly flammable liquid -- was disconnected and moved away from the blaze , Bergsten said . CNN 's Greg Morrison and Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report . | NEW : Woman dead after train derails , erupts into flames in Rockford , Illinois . Several cars of the train were carrying ethanol , authorities say . Explosion forced evacuation of nearly 600 homes . | [[39, 135], [638, 662], [1081, 1099], [1662, 1747], [1791, 1807], [167, 202], [226, 269], [906, 915], [929, 938], [963, 1078]] |
MIAMI , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Described as `` an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane , '' Hurricane Bill was churning closer to the Atlantic island of Bermuda on Wednesday , forecasters said . Most forecast maps show Hurricane Bill passing to the west of Bermuda . Although Bill is not expected to make a direct hit on the island , forecasters cautioned that the storm is large and will generate large swells on Bermuda as well as the islands of the northeast Caribbean Sea over the next day or two . Swells may also affect the eastern United States on Friday and Saturday , the National Hurricane Center said . CNN meteorologists said Bill could cause cause dangerous rip tides and some coastal flooding in the northeast United States and could move very close to or make landfall in Newfoundland , Canada , early next week . In addition , Bill may strengthen further over the next couple of days , forecasters said . As of 5 p.m. ET , Bill 's center was about 335 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands and about 970 miles south-southeast of Bermuda , the hurricane center said . `` It 's a little too early to evaluate what kind of direct impact Bill may have , '' said Jack Bevin , a senior hurricane specialist . `` Most of the computer guidance has the storm passing between Bermuda and the U.S. coastline , then turning northeastward . '' Other models show Bill turning more sharply out to sea and not affecting any areas , he said . Bill 's maximum sustained winds were at 135 mph Wednesday afternoon . It was moving northwest at near 20 mph and was expected to continue that motion over the next day or so , turning north-northwest by late Friday . Five-day forecast maps show Bill passing to the west of Bermuda before turning to the northwest . `` Bill is a large tropical cyclone , '' the National Hurricane Center said . Hurricane-force winds extended up to 85 miles from its center , with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 230 miles out . CNN Radio 's Andrew Spencer and Lee Garen contributed to this report . | Storm is not expected to make a direct hit on Bermuda . But island , eastern United States could see large swells . Category 4 hurricane 's maximum sustained winds are at 135 mph . | [[284, 339], [342, 510], [511, 582], [622, 791], [1451, 1520]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If an e-mail popped up in your inbox promising a house for $ 100 , you 'd expect to see it sent from a guy in Nigeria asking you to wire him several thousand dollars first . Zeb Smith lies on his front lawn and spends a quiet afternoon with his neighbors . But this depressed housing market dream is real . And Detroit , Michigan , artist Jon Brumit and his wife , Sarah , are living it . The couple never counted on owning a home . `` It 's not that we have a little money , '' Jon Brumit said , laughing . `` I 'm saying we have no money . '' But the couple began entertaining the idea of a permanent nest when their friends Mitch Cope and Gina Reichert , also artists , started taking advantage of foreclosures in the city , where the average home price dipped to $ 11,533 in April , according to the Detroit Association of Realtors . Dragging down the average are homes that are long abandoned or foreclosed on that are selling for pennies on the dollar . Detroit already had the lowest market value houses in Michigan before the latest rounds of job losses at GM and other huge employers , market analysts say . `` Those artists are doing a good thing ; they are at least helping to stabilize neighborhoods that would be all but lost , '' said Mike Shedlock , an investment adviser who blogs frequently about Detroit 's economy . For less than a few thousand dollars , Cope and Reichert snapped up a dilapidated bungalow in a north Detroit neighborhood called `` BanglaTown , '' for its unexpected mix of Bangladeshis , African-Americans , Polish and Ukrainians and the occasional shady character . Scrappers had cleaned the house to the bone . The copper had been stolen ; the electrical wiring was stripped . But no matter . Here was a chance for Cope and Reichert , who run a popular Detroit art store , to rehabilitate the 1920s brick house into a bastion of energy savings , with solar panels , LED lights , recycled wood and high-end insulated windows . They 're installing a security system that exemplifies elegant efficiency with hurricane-proof windows and steel doors replacing burglar bars . They are also experimenting with running their air-conditioning on a car battery . The project became known as the Power House . Cope and Reichert wanted to create a central place to power homes nearby and , in turn , revive a neighborhood 's sense of community . The trick was getting their friends not only to cheer the concept but invest in it by moving next door . `` It was much easier than we thought it might be , '' Cope said . `` We told everyone that Detroit is an interesting city to work in as an artist , and the neighborhood is diverse . But , really , it came down to money . '' `` I kept telling Mitch , ` Wow those are an awesome , ridiculously good deals but if you find anything that 's less , let me know , '' Brumit said . `` Like , if something comes along for next to nothing , cool . '' A few weeks later , Cope e-mailed Brumit a photo of an abandoned home on his block . Its windows were boarded up and plywood was nailed across the front door . The huge hole in the roof was courtesy of the fire department . A neighbor said the house had been set on fire -- twice . Pricetag : $ 100 . Brumit called a real estate agent with the Department of Housing and Urban Development , who confirmed that bids on the foreclosed property started at $ 95 for the property , $ 5 for the house . There were no back taxes -- no one seemed to be sure who once owned the house , it had been empty for so long , Brumit said . Cope , also a designer and builder , and an inspector did a walk-through . `` Inspection was fine and Mitch told me the foundation was good , '' Brumit said . `` He just said , ` If you did n't mind scraping some peeling paint , doing some surface treatments , putting in new utilities , windows and repairing the roof ... this could be pretty interesting . ' '' Now , when he 's not hauling loads of rubble away or knocking out walls to create a single , open studio space , Brumit 's searching Craigslist for a furnace . In exchange for designing the business Web site of a local barn recycler , he 's getting materials to turn that hole in his roof into a skylight . `` I saw it as a project , '' the artist said . `` I 'm a builder . I 've been building skateboards since I was 12 . '' Skateboards are one thing . Rebuilding homes where the plumbing has been ripped out or the cabinets destroyed in a fit by an upset foreclosed homeowner is another . Michigan housing authorities acknowledge that there 's little incentive for people who are n't quite as handy as Brumit . In two weeks , the state will begin offering $ 25,000 to anyone who buys a home , as long as they pay 1 percent of the total cost and live in it . Landlords or speculators are n't eligible . Part of a $ 263 million grant given to Michigan and other states under 2008 's Housing and Economic Recovery Act , the funds are intended to help buyers bring trashed properties up to code , according to Mary Townley , a director with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority . She and other housing officials CNN spoke with said Michigan 's economy has some extremely frustrating woes . A report from the nonprofit think tank Brookings Institution said Detroit had the lowest performing economy out of 100 U.S. cities it analyzed -- scoring the worst in unemployment and average wages , the highest foreclosure rates and the lowest market value homes . The artists in BanglaTown are careful to say they are not looking to change a city . Their goal is simply to improve a neighborhood , one house at a time . New neighbors , freelance photographer Corine Vermeulen-Smith and her husband Zeb Smith , a designer , are always checking out www.freecycle.com , where a stainless steel kitchen sink can be bought for $ 65 . The Smiths bought their 660-square-foot home for $ 549.99 from Cope and Reichert , who originally purchased the foreclosed home for $ 500 . `` We knew the property , we knew it had been sitting there empty for at least a year , and it had been trashed , '' Vermeulen-Smith said . `` But we wanted to own a home . '' All the copper in their `` micro-home '' had been ripped out , as well as every electrical outlet , Vermeulen-Smith said . Trash had to be hauled out in several loads . `` You have to get over that fear that the house had that history , that you 're going to be a victim of a crime or something , '' she said . `` Crime is everywhere . My husband and I have lived in the city for a long time ; we know that people look out for each other here . We do n't have that kind of fear . '' Careful not to entice thieves again , the Smiths replaced the copper with plastic . They are considering taking the home completely off the grid by installing a mini-wind turbine , but for now they are happy to put in the basics . A bathtub from Habitat for Humanity cost them $ 100 . And Zeb Smith , who works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit , brings home wood the museum would otherwise toss when installations close . `` This is , for us , very exciting to believe that we could totally reinvent a space , '' she said , `` and prove that having a home is n't about having money . '' | Detroit artists buy a trashed , abandoned house for $ 100 , fix it up . Other artists have bought cheap houses in the same neighborhood . The Power House was the first home , meant to power the other houses nearby . | [[45, 83], [1393, 1476], [2257, 2343]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- They were taken before Marilyn Monroe became branded as the voluptuous blonde who oozed sex appeal in dozens of Hollywood films . A 24-year-old Marilyn Monroe poses for Life magazine in August 1950 . They were taken before rumors of an affair with President John F. Kennedy swirled and her mental breakdowns became public . They were taken before the beautiful actress 's mysterious overdose that resulted in her death at the age of 36 . In a collection discovered by Life.com last month , unpublished photographs of Monroe reveal a softer , more innocent 24-year-old budding starlet in a more peaceful time , before her fame peaked . Her flawless face bears a natural look with minimal makeup , unusual for the star , who was often glamorized in photo shoots with lipstick , designer dresses and expensive jewelry . Monday would have been Monroe 's 83rd birthday . In one photo , the young Monroe lies in bliss , reading on a park bench , which editors at Life.com believe was shot at Griffith Park in Los Angeles , California . In another , her face is serene as she is perched over a bridge barefoot . The shoot , which dates to 1950 , was conducted by Life photographer Ed Clark . It 's a side of Monroe that the American public has rarely seen . `` She has n't really exploded as a star , yet she was on the brink of something big , '' says Dawnie Walton , deputy editor at Life.com , a Web site harboring more than 7 million Life magazine photographs . The site was launched in March . `` I was amazed looking at her face . Although she looks very innocent , there is something very ... sexy . '' Last month , Walton stumbled upon the rare photographs while combing through the company 's digital photo archives . Apparently , no one at Life.com even knew they were ever taken . Upon investigating the photos , Walton says , she found there were few notes left on the negatives . She says the photos were probably taken for a cover shoot that was never used . Monroe appeared on her first Life magazine cover in 1952 . See some of the previously unpublished photos of Monroe '' `` It just got lost and stowed away , '' Walton said . `` It was just ... somewhere in a warehouse in New Jersey . '' At the time the photos were shot , Monroe had her first small breakout role as a mistress in `` The Asphalt Jungle . '' The star was better known as a model at the time , though she 'd had a handful of cameos in films . Photographer Ed Clark told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune a friend from 20th Century Fox alerted him that the studio had just signed `` a hot tomato . '' `` She was unknown then , so I was able to spend a lot of time shooting her , '' Clark said . `` We 'd go out to Griffith Park and she 'd read poetry . I sent several rolls to Life in New York , but they wired back , ` Who the hell is Marilyn Monroe ? ' '' Photographs later in the 1950s and early 1960s would display a much more confident and sexual Monroe -- images that would become iconic in popular culture . There is the famous photograph of a busty Monroe in a white halter dress , standing with her skirt blowing up in 1955 for her role in `` The Seven Year Itch . '' In 1962 , American photographer Bert Stern shot a tipsy , sometimes nude Monroe in a series of delicate shots that would be known as `` The Last Sitting . '' Monroe died about six weeks later , on August 5 , 1962 . Life.com staff members say there are 15 million photographs in the Life archive dating back to the late 1850s , even before Life officially began publishing in 1936 . Two years ago , the publication began slowly transferring the photographs into a digital archive . From time to time , unpublished photographs will be found that the company does n't know existed . Other times , the photographs may have been taken but never selected to be used for publication . Last March , to commemorate the 11th anniversary of Frank Sinatra 's death , Life.com released a series of unpublished photographs of the singer . In April , Life.com released newly recovered , never-before-seen photographs of Martin Luther King Jr. taken by a Life photographer on the day King was assassinated at a Memphis , Tennessee , hotel in 1968 . | Unpublished photos of Monroe shot by a Life photographer surfaced in May . The photos , taken in Los Angeles , California , show a more innocent Monroe . Life.com has over 7 million images , and lost images are occasionally recovered . The Monroe pictures were `` in a warehouse in New Jersey '' | [[460, 506], [457, 472], [509, 626], [1124, 1133], [1158, 1203], [2044, 2102], [3859, 3920], [3923, 3992], [457, 472], [509, 626], [1409, 1477], [3649, 3666], [3669, 3747]] |
BOSTON , Massachusetts -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hurricane Bill spun northward toward the New England coast Saturday with wind and rain as officials warned beach lovers to head indoors for the night . Signs at Lighthouse Beach at Chatham , Massachusetts , warn beach-goers Saturday of rough waters . At 11 p.m. , the center of the Category 1 storm was about 195 miles southeast of Nantucket , Massachusetts , the National Hurricane Center said . Forecasters said the island can expect 1 to 2 inches of rain , and Outer Cape Cod and Martha 's Vineyard may receive only an inch . Swells as high as 19 feet are expected Monday night , Coast Guard Petty Officer Jordan Berryman told CNN in Chatham , Massachusetts . `` It 's been generally calm but tonight we recommend that everybody stay off the beach , '' he said . The storm continued its northerly pace of nearly 25 mph . A gradual change to the north-northeast is predicted for Sunday . Bill 's sustained winds remained at 100 mph , with higher gusts . `` The surf is definitely big , '' Emily Chibaro of Nantucket told CNN Radio Saturday . `` The south shore part of the island is closed off to all people on the island . '' iReport.com : Are you bracing for Hurricane Bill ? A gradual weakening is expected Saturday night and Sunday as the hurricane moves north of the Gulf Stream , a swift , warm Atlantic Ocean current . The core of the storm should pass New England offshore Saturday night , and approach Nova Scotia on Sunday . Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said tropical-force winds from the outer bands of the storm were forecast to hit his state at 9 p.m. ET , earlier than expected . The speed of tropical-force winds range from 39 mph to 73 mph . Watch the waves crash on Massachusetts beach '' A tropical storm warning was issued for the coast of Massachusetts from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach , including the islands of Martha 's Vineyard and Nantucket . The hurricane itself is predicted to stay offshore , the hurricane center said . The most intense period of the storm should be between midnight and the predawn hours of Sunday , the governor told reporters in a conference call . Patrick cautioned boaters to expect high seas and to avoid the area around Cape Cod . Forecasters have warned of dangerous riptides , or undertows , along the New England coast and points north . `` Waters will be unsafe even for strong swimmers , '' the governor warned . Rip currents , or riptides , are strong seaward flows of water that occur where there 's a break in the shoreline . They are difficult to detect . Watch CNN 's Bonnie Schneider talk about rip currents '' Patrick said advisories will be posted , and beaches on the cape were closed . He urged residents to stay home . President Obama and his family are scheduled to arrive Sunday for a vacation at Martha 's Vineyard . `` We look forward to welcoming him to Massachusetts as soon as he can safely get here , '' Patrick said . Hurricane Bill skirted Bermuda , leaving rain in its wake . The tropical storm warning for Bermuda was discontinued . Canada 's weather service , Environment Canada , issued a tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches for parts of Nova Scotia . Watch how Nova Scotians are preparing for Bill '' A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours . A watch means conditions are expected to change within 36 hours . Total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with isolated amounts of 7 inches are expected near the track of Bill across Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland . CNN 's Susan Candiotti and CNN Radio 's Brendan Gage contributed to this report . | NEW : In Massachusetts , Coast Guard recommends `` everybody stay off the beach '' President Obama and family scheduled to arrive Sunday at Martha 's Vineyard . Massachusetts governor : Intense weather expected overnight to Sunday morn . Forecasters warn of dangerous riptides along New England coast and north . | [[746, 792], [2147, 2154], [2197, 2232], [2703, 2736], [2737, 2837], [2737, 2767], [2782, 2837], [1998, 2093], [2147, 2232], [2165, 2196], [2233, 2342]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pop star Michael Jackson will avoid foreclosure on his Neverland Ranch property with a new loan , a Jackson insider told CNN Wednesday . Michael Jackson owes millions of dollars on his sprawling property in the Santa Ynez Valley in California . Documents show that Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos , California , is scheduled for a public auction on March 19 at Santa Barbara 's downtown courthouse . But the Jackson source said that wo n't happen . `` Michael Jackson 's ranch is not going to be auctioned off at the courthouse , '' the Jackson insider said . `` The financing is all being worked out . '' `` There are plenty of lenders willing to work with him . The real estate market is very bad right now and Jackson is being affected just like many other Americans , '' the source said . The Santa Barbara County Recorder 's Web site lists a `` notice of trustees sale '' by Jackson and his property lenders , Financial Title Company , filed Monday . In California , title companies typically represent lenders in foreclosure cases . A notice of trustees sale can not be posted earlier than 90 days after a notice of default is filed . That notice is not filed unless a loan is in substantial default , sometimes six months or more past due . A real estate source inside Santa Barbara County said the trustees filing is only the first step in a long process that could drag on for months . The real estate source said other options are available to Jackson , including selling the ranch directly to another party or making a payment on his $ 24.5 million Neverland debt that would satisfy the trustee . The recorder 's Web site also reveals there was a release of lien on Jackson on February 4 , showing he paid off all or part of delinquent taxes to the state of California . `` It seems unlikely that someone would pay off back taxes , only to let the ranch go up for auction a few weeks later , '' said the real estate source . Jackson has not lived at Neverland since June 2005 , after a Santa Barbara County jury found him not guilty of child molestation charges . E-mail to a friend . | A public auction has been set for March 19 , according to court documents . Jackson owes $ 24.5 million on the property . Jackson insider : `` The financing is all being worked out '' The singer has not lived at Neverland Ranch since June 2005 . | [[264, 416], [284, 313], [316, 326], [329, 416], [1872, 1917], [156, 263], [1555, 1591], [1597, 1624], [547, 576], [577, 619], [1953, 2003]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Brad Pitt gets top billing in Quentin Tarantino 's `` Inglourious Basterds , '' but Austrian actor Christoph Waltz may have turned in the most memorable performance as a Nazi `` Jew Hunter . '' Christoph Waltz attends a special screening of `` Inglourious Basterds '' in New York . Waltz , a 52-year-old veteran of German television , was hardly known outside of Europe , until now . Tarantino , insisting on actors with geographic origins similar to their characters , chose Waltz to play a complex and unforgettable villain : Nazi Col. Hans Landa . Landa mixes charm , humor and intelligence with great cruelty and opportunism as he travels through Tarantino 's unpredictable screenplay . Waltz calls Landa `` one of the great villains in dramatic literature . '' His performance earned Waltz the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival , but the actor credits the writer for creating a `` multifaceted and layered '' character . `` It 's what Quentin -LSB- Tarantino -RSB- has written , and let me tell you , that 's plenty , '' Waltz said . `` Because I could still be sitting there trying to figure out what else is in there . And it 's bottomless . '' The opening scene of `` Inglourious Basterds '' is itself a short film in the style of a spaghetti western , starring Waltz as `` The Jew Hunter . '' Watch the stars of the movie discuss the film '' `` It was pure Tarantino to me in that it blended so many different elements perfectly , of tension and comedy , dialogue and excitement , '' actor B.J. Novak said of the scene . Waltz 's character uses three languages in his encounter with a French dairy farmer who was hiding a Jewish family under his farmhouse floor . `` The feature that makes me such an effective hunter of the Jews is , as opposed to most German soldiers , I can think like a Jew , where they can only think like a German or , more precisely , a German soldier , '' Landa tells the farmer . Landa 's motivation is more complex than the typical Nazi depicted in a past movies . A literature scholar could build a career around studying the character , Waltz said . `` Landa is one of the great villains in dramatic literature from the very beginning , for specific reasons , and it 's a real job to find out the reasons , '' he said . `` You sit there and you study and you study . '' The role provided him `` ample opportunity to show other sides , '' Waltz said . `` That 's the fantastic thing with Landa , is it 's so multifaceted and layered . '' But Waltz said he will be careful about repeating a similar role . `` This is the best villain there is , and now it has to be significantly different for me to consider , '' he said . His three-decades-long acting résumé shows the diversity of his talent . His 1996 portrayal of Roy Black , one of Germany 's most beloved pop stars , earned him one of Germany 's highest acting honors . Waltz , now with a Hollywood agent , hints that scripts are coming his way because of the `` Inglourious Basterds '' exposure . One disadvantage of playing the villain in a Tarantino film is that the director insisted that Waltz not pal around with cast mates while away from the set . `` It might be a good idea not to establish this buddy-buddy situation , to keep everybody on their toes a little bit , '' he said . `` That awkward distance that they kept from me made it easier . '' Pitt , however , did approach him early in the filming , he said . `` The fact that he is one of the biggest stars did n't come into that equation after he eliminated it , '' Waltz said . `` He approached me literally with open arms , and that was that . '' `` Inglourious Basterds '' -- rated R -- hits theaters Friday , August 21 . | Christoph Waltz plays Nazi Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino 's new movie . Performance earned Waltz the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival . His three-decades-long acting résumé shows the diversity of his talent . The German television veteran was hardly known outside of Europe , until now . | [[810, 887], [2715, 2787], [326, 331], [379, 413], [416, 427]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One year ago , a sheriff 's dispatcher in Orange County , near Orlando , Florida , received a strange 911 call . A small child was missing -- and had been for a month . Casey Anthony did n't tell anyone for 30 days that her daughter , Caylee , was missing . The child 's grandmother was frantic , talking a mile a minute . But her mother seemed unemotional , disconnected from the drama around her . So began the Caylee Anthony case , a mystery that became a nightly fixture on cable television and captivated true-crime buffs across the country . Today , the tot 's 23-year-old mother , Casey Anthony , is in jail , charged with first-degree murder , and faces the death penalty if convicted . She denies harming her daughter or having anything to do with her disappearance . Her attorney , Jose Baez , has said that once all the facts are known , it will become clear that his client is innocent . While reports of missing children are not unusual -- a Haleigh and a Haylee are two recent examples -- several elements came together in the Caylee case to make it a high-profile news story , said Robert Thompson , who heads the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University . `` The fact that it 's a toddler had that really dramatic , ` this is our worst nightmare ' thing . It does n't get any more dramatic than that , '' he said . `` Then , of course , there 's Casey herself . '' The 30-day delay in reporting Caylee 's disappearance , along with the frequent release of police documents containing the personal details of the family 's life , whetted the public 's appetite . See how the case unfolded '' `` By that time , it becomes self-fulfilling , '' Thompson said . `` Once the story gets into the inbox of places that cover this thing -- Dateline , America 's Most Wanted , Greta van Susteren , Nancy Grace , Geraldo -- it becomes a packaged drama . We want to know how it turns out . '' Caylee 's body was found December 11 , six months after she disappeared and just a few blocks from her grandparents ' house . The remains were bagged and partially buried in a swampy , vacant lot . Duct tape covered the child 's mouth . But the cause of Caylee 's death is just one of many questions that remain unanswered a year later . And the answers are not likely to come soon , if at all . Casey Anthony 's trial , originally scheduled to begin October 12 , has been pushed back until some time next year . Thousands of pages of court files have been made public . Police questioned Anthony 's friends and boyfriends , pored through her cell phone records , went through her computer , and seized her digital photo albums . They even analyzed her sleep patterns . But the picture that emerges is far from clear . The story begins at about 9:40 p.m. on the evening of July 15 , 2008 , with Cindy Anthony 's call to 911 . The call capped a day in which she and her husband , George , a retired police officer from Ohio , received an impound notice and tracked down their daughter 's abandoned white 1998 Pontiac Sunbird -- and then their daughter , Caylee 's mother , who was staying with a boyfriend . `` I found out my granddaughter has been taken , '' Cindy Anthony told the 911 dispatcher . `` She has been missing for a month . Her mother finally admitted that she 's been missing . ... We 're talking about a 3-year-old little girl ! '' `` I need to find her , '' Cindy Anthony continued . `` I told you my daughter was missing for a month . I just found her today , but I ca n't find my granddaughter . She just admitted to me that she 's been trying to find her herself . There 's something wrong . I found my daughter 's car today , and it smells like there 's been a dead body in the damn car . '' George Anthony told police later that the car gave him `` a bad vibe . '' `` I got within three feet of it . I could smell something . You look up and you say , please do n't let this be . Please do n't let this be , '' he said in a July 24 police interview . A cadaver dog confirmed for police the scent of human decomposition in the car trunk . Casey Anthony 's friends told police she said she hit an animal with the car . But many of her stories did not check out , investigators said . Although Casey Anthony has frequently fallen out with her parents , they have always insisted that she is innocent . They have n't visited her in jail for months , in part because authorities record the visits and release them to the public . During the search for Caylee , some say Casey Anthony did n't behave the way one would expect of a worried mother . She went to nightclubs and sent hundreds of text messages to friends , according to cell phone and text transcripts and investigative reports released by police . Those phone and text records also showed that she hardly mentioned her missing daughter . At one point , police analyzed her sleep patterns , finding that the cell phone calls and text messaging ceased for only three or four hours a night at about the time Caylee disappeared . For weeks , curiosity seekers camped out in lawn chairs outside the Anthony home , where the family had posted large flyers asking , `` Where is Caylee ? '' When the crowd grew unruly , Cindy Anthony waved a hammer and George Anthony shouted back at the hecklers . Authorities say they also found traces of chloroform , a knock-out drug , in the trunk of Casey Anthony 's car . And they said that on her computer , they found Internet searches of missing children and chloroform Web sites . Investigators first labeled Casey Anthony a person of interest , and later , a suspect . She was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on October 14 . But Thompson , the pop culture professor at Syracuse , cautions that the final curtain has n't fallen on this drama . `` It is n't necessarily a slam dunk , '' he said . `` We have the JonBenet Ramsey case to show that we may think one thing , and it is n't so . '' Early in that investigation , authorities said John and Patsy Ramsey were `` under an umbrella of suspicion '' in their daughter 's death , but they later were cleared . `` These things are capable of twisting around , '' Thompson said . `` But that 's another element that makes them interesting . '' | Cindy Anthony called 911 , reported Caylee missing a year ago . Child already had been missing for a month . Casey Anthony was arrested several times , charged with murder in October . Caylee 's skeleton was found in December in vacant lot near family 's home . | [[132, 157], [132, 145], [158, 187], [239, 251], [263, 276], [3245, 3282], [3316, 3337], [3449, 3497], [5629, 5696], [1946, 1982]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- You pay for checking your baggage , for snacks and for extra legroom . Word is one airline has even toyed with charging you to use the toilet . So it makes perfect sense to some fliers that heavier passengers should pay for spilling over into the next seat . Earlier this year , United Airlines formalized a policy that charges some larger passengers for a second seat . Frequent flier Ross Murphy , 54 , has been sandwiched between larger fliers in coach , and he believes they should have to shell out for a second seat . `` They have a right to sit in the seat next to me , '' said Murphy , who travels cross-country at least 15 times a year to watch his sons ' sporting matches . `` But they do n't have a right to sit in my lap . '' A growing number of airlines are forcing bigger passengers to pay more as they cope with the costly and uncomfortable quandary that arises when obese passengers can not squeeze into a single coach seat . With airlines trimming flight schedules -- meaning fuller passenger loads this summer -- the issue is bound to spur some awkward encounters . Chart : Compare some of the common airline fees . `` It 's a growing problem , no pun intended , '' said George Hobica , president of AirfareWatchdog.com , a site that is part of Smarter Travel Media LLC , which provides airfare deals and advice . `` Everyone suffers . The obese people suffer and the people who are skinny and get spilled over on suffer as well . '' U.S. obesity rates have mushroomed during the last 25 years , but the width of a coach airplane seat has changed little , remaining between 17 and 18 inches in most commercial planes . More than one-third of Americans fall into the obese category , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . This makes traveling in tight spaces vexing for airlines trying to bolster profits by selling the maximum number of seats . The Federal Aviation Administration does not regulate seat width , but it does require passengers be able to sit belted and with both arm rests down to comply with safety standards . In April , UAL Corp. 's United Airlines formalized a policy that says passengers who are unable to safely fit into one seat must pay full price for a second seat . They may receive it free if the plane has vacant seats . Flight attendants on the airlines are responsible for making sure passengers are fitting in their seats and may ask a heavier passengers requiring two seats to pay extra . Robin Urbanski , a spokeswoman for United , said the company received 700 complaints in 2008 from passengers who were upset because a larger passenger encroached on his or her seat . `` This new policy was created for the comfort and well-being of all our guests on board , '' Urbanski said . A survey conducted this year by Europe 's low-fare airline Ryanair found a third of the 100,000 passengers polled believed a `` fat tax '' should be instituted , requiring heavier passengers to pay more . Most U.S. airlines have a policy or plan for dealing with heavier passengers , though some are not formalized like United 's . Officials worry heavier passengers squished into one seat may pose a safety hazard when a plane must be evacuated during an emergency . Southwest Airlines has had a `` customer of size policy '' for more than 20 years , requiring passengers to buy a second seat on a full plane if their body crosses the armrest boundary . The company will issue refunds if unoccupied seats are available , which they say is the case 97 percent of the time . Airlines with open seating policies such as Southwest find it easier to relocate passengers in need of an extra seat . On all airlines , passengers can buy first-class or business-class seats , which are wider . But those tickets cost more than a coach seat . Experts at Boeing Company , an aircraft manufacturer , say 17-inch seats can accommodate 95 percent of the traveling public . They say studies have found most seat space invasions happen because of wider shoulders and not derrieres . Still , some larger passengers who need more than one seat believe being charged extra is discriminatory and the airlines are not accommodating the growing American waistline . `` The airlines need to be making bigger seats , '' said Peggy Howell , a spokeswoman for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance , a group based in San Francisco , California . `` It 's not safe to be cramming us into two seats . '' Lawsuits have been filed by heavier passengers and by those who complain about large passengers encroaching on their space . The courts have ruled the airline policies are within their rights . In the United States , there are n't any discrimination laws to protect obese people , attorneys say . -LRB- In some employment discrimination cases , attorneys have been able to win by proving obesity was a genetic disease beyond the person 's control . -RRB- . In 2003 , the issue of passenger weight surfaced when a commuter plane crashed on takeoff from Charlotte , North Carolina , because of excess weight and a maintenance error . The accident prompted the FAA to increase the estimated weight per passenger by 10 pounds , including 20 pounds of carry-on luggage . For example , the average weight for a passenger traveling in the summer -LRB- including carry-on luggage -RRB- went from 180 pounds in 1995 to 190 pounds in 2003 . `` We realized after that accident that the weights we were using probably did n't reflect the current state of the American traveling public , '' said Les Dorr , a spokesman with aviation safety at the FAA . In 2004 , a CDC scientist studied the effects of obesity on the airline industry . The scientist calculated his findings based on data revealing the average weight of an American had increased by 10 pounds in the 1990s . He estimated the extra weight cost airlines $ 275 million extra for fuel in 2000 . The figures are likely higher today , with fuel costs rising . Scott Cluthe , 57 , who works in the radio industry in Houston , Texas , a city known for its obesity epidemic , said average-sized passengers should not have to incur the higher fuel cost caused by the airline 's heavier customers . `` A small child needs to pay for a flight , so why would n't an obese person ? '' said Cluthe , who flies several times a year , mostly in coach , for personal trips . `` I 'm not a discriminatory person , but we have to look at the reality of the situation . It 's getting a little crowded in here . '' Some larger passengers do n't mind paying for the second seat . Other heavier fliers argue while tall passengers pay a fee for legroom , the fees are only a fraction of the price of a entire seat . Air France offers obese passengers booking a second seat up to 33 percent off the ticket price , depending on the type of seat and availability . Mike Vasey of Cheyenne , Wyoming says even some normal-sized people ca n't fly comfortably when they are packed in the cabin like sardines . Vasey , 45 , who considers himself a large guy at 400 pounds and over six feet tall , usually pays for two seats . `` I 'd rather be comfortable first , '' he said , `` and worry about discrimination later . '' | Obesity rates have grown in the last 25 years but plane seat sizes remain the same . A growing number of airlines are creating polices to deal with heavier passengers . Heavier passengers cost more fuel and space , say some passengers . National Association of Fat Acceptance says it 's unsafe to cram passengers . | [[1471, 1530], [2980, 3056], [846, 883], [889, 960], [2775, 2776], [2937, 2979], [6090, 6114], [6131, 6205], [3107, 3164], [3107, 3242]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Watch more from Talk Asia 's interview with Edison Chen in these online exclusive clips . From how his family reacted to the scandal , to what he feels he learnt from the whole experience , Chen gives his thoughts and opinions to CNN 's Anjali Rao in Hong Kong . | Exclusive online only extra footage from Talk Asia 's Edison Chen interview . Chen talks about how the scandal affected his family . Gives his thoughts on what he thinks he has learnt from the experience . Watch the full Talk Asia interview with Edison Chen . | [[0, 74], [118, 151], [154, 173], [162, 206], [0, 74]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- She 's only 23 , but Deepika Padukone is already living a life millions would envy . From calendar model to Bollywood big-time : Deepika Padukone . The model-turned-actress was spotted in a music video and then cast in one of the biggest grossing films in Bollywood history . She still only has three movies under her belt , but star status has already been bestowed upon her . With no family connections to the film industry and not being from Mumbai , Padukone traveled a route to movie stardom millions could only dream of . After deciding to become a model at the age of 16 , she was picked out of a music video by acclaimed director Farah Khan and cast in her next film opposite Shahrukh Khan . `` Om Shanti Om '' went on to become not only a hit in India , but also gained wider acclaim among western audiences . `` I completely did n't expect it . When I met Farah I thought she was joking . And at that point it seemed too good to be true . Shahrukh is someone who I 've grown up watching , and I did n't think that I deserve being a part of such a huge film . It 's only later , when I met Shahrukh and when things actually started happening , when I realized that this is for real , '' she told CNN . Despite her meteoric rise to fame and work on some big budget films she believes she 's learning the job of being an A-list Bollywood actress . `` I had great debut , a successful film , but after that ... I would think it 's quite difficult to choose the right film . You never know what 's right and what 's wrong , '' she said . `` Things for me changed quite overnight , actually . I remember a couple of months before the film release , not too many people knew me . In November 2007 when my film released and immediately after that I had to travel to New York , to Dubai and to London , and suddenly everyone on the streets started recognizing me , especially the Indians . That 's when I realized that things have changed . '' With the public attention has come the inevitable media spotlight on her private life . She says she never experienced the `` casting couch '' but is consistently romantically linked with other Bollywood stars , and there were rumors about a relationship with Indian cricketer MS Dhoni . `` As someone who did n't know how to deal with it , yes it was really difficult for me initially to read about myself or to read about things that are untrue . But I think slowly you start learning to deal with these things . '' Padukone 's father was a professional badminton player , and she played too as a teenager , traveling across the country to compete in tournaments . But by her late teens she decided she wanted to be a model and got the full support of her parents . `` I trained , I lost some weight . I then got a portfolio done . I sent it to Bombay to a couple of agencies and waited for awhile . I think that period is really the most challenging . Because that 's really the time that one can really go wrong . The waiting period . You can really make some wrong decisions and go completely wrong , '' she told CNN . `` I had the support of my family . I did n't get carried away . I think I was patient enough to wait for the right assignment to come my way . '' As a model she appeared in commercials and music videos . Since her move into the movie business more commercial endorsements have come her way , but in an industry notorious for its high turnover of starlets she is aware that for actresses there is often a limited shelf-life . `` For me my life now is my work . But I know that at some point I will have to have a life beyond my work . And I know that today there 's me , tomorrow there will be someone else . Maybe I 'll be here for 5 years , maybe I 'll be here for many , many years . `` I 'm definitely going to work hard and make sure that I can be here for as long as I can , but I 'll also make sure that people do n't get bored of me . And ... yes , let 's see how it goes . '' | Padukone was picked out from a music video to star in `` Om Shanti Om '' 23-year-old began career as a model and has appeared in three movies so far . She has no family connections to movie industry . | [[167, 220], [547, 667]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 23-year-old beauty queen and seven men arrested in vehicles loaded with weapons and cash near the central Mexico city of Guadalajara have been transferred to Mexico City , the state news agency said Wednesday . Laura Zuniga and seven men were found in vehicles with guns and $ 50,000 , Mexican police say . Laura Zuniga and the men were traveling Monday night in two vehicles that contained AR-15 assault rifles , 38-caliber specials , 9 mm handguns , cartridges and $ 50,000 in cash , said Luis Carlos Najera Gutierrez de Velazco , secretary of public security for the state of Jalisco . Police , who had received a tip that armed men were in a home , detected the vehicles in the city of Zapopan as authorities were en route to investigate the call , Najera said Tuesday . Inside one of the vehicles , authorities found Angel Orlando Garcia Urquiza , 29 , who is Zuniga 's boyfriend and the brother of `` one of the greatest capos -LSB- bosses -RSB- of narcotraffic , '' Ricardo Garcia Urquiza , a member of the Juarez cartel already in police custody , Najera said . All eight were filed before the news media Tuesday . Zuniga , wearing blue jeans and a gray sweater , raised her handcuffed wrists to cover her face in a police picture . Watch footage of the eight arrested and weapons seized '' They were transported in a heavily armed 30-vehicle convoy late Tuesday to Guadalajara International Airport and flown to Mexico City , the official Notimex news agency reported . The federal organized crime team in Mexico City will investigate , and the suspects will face arms charges , Najera said . Zuniga is from Culiacan in the state of Sinaloa , a center of drug activity . In July , she won the title Our Sinaloa Beauty . That gave her the right to compete two months later in the national Our Mexico Beauty in Monterrey , where she won `` The Election of the Queens , '' one of five special recognitions , and came in third overall . In October , she won the title `` Hispanoamerican Queen 2008 '' in Santa Cruz , Bolivia . Mexican newscasts referred to her Wednesday as `` Miss Pistols '' and likened her situation to `` Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . '' According to the Nuestra Belleza Mexico Web site , she is to represent Mexico in next year 's Miss International contest . A statement issued Wednesday by Lupita Jones , director of Our Mexico Beauty , said the organization will wait to see what happens in the legal system . `` In order to determine the situation with Miss Laura Zuniga , Our Mexico Beauty will be watching the case and will take appropriate action once the results of the authorities ' investigation are known , '' said the statement , published on the Web site for CNN affiliate Televisa Mexico . | NEW : Mexican newcasts refer to arrested beauty queen as `` Miss Pistols '' Mexican police : Laura Zuniga , seven men face arms charges , federal probe . Zuniga , men found in vehicles with weapons , $ 50,000 , police say . Zuniga set to represent Mexico in next year 's Miss International contest . | [[2053, 2184], [1571, 1606], [50, 80], [72, 153], [232, 304], [384, 396], [402, 504], [2239, 2310]] |
TOKYO , Japan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A U.S. Marine based on Okinawa has been arrested in connection with the reported rape of a 14-year-old Japanese girl , the island 's police force said Monday . Police said the assault was reported Sunday night in the Chanton entertainment district on Okinawa , a major hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific . The 38-year-old American was arrested shortly after the report , police said . The Marine was not identified , and there was no immediate comment from the service on the allegation . Previous criminal cases against American troops have triggered widespread protests by Okinawans since 1995 , when three American servicemen were found guilty of raping an Okinawan schoolgirl . Under U.S.-Japanese military agreements , the U.S. government has custody over service members suspected of crimes while on duty . In addition , the U.S. military is not required to turn over those accused of crimes until an indictment is issued . E-mail to a friend . | Marine , 38 , arrested after report of the rape . Previous cases against U.S. troops have triggered protests by Okinawans . In 1995 , three servicemen were found guilty of raping an Okinawan schoolgirl . | [[0, 5], [8, 29], [56, 149], [339, 401], [522, 628], [636, 714]] |
FERNANDO DE NORONHA , Brazil -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Forty-one bodies have been recovered from the crash of Air France Flight 447 , the Brazilian Navy Command and Aeronautical Command said Tuesday . Brazilian military personnel on Tuesday carry the remains of one of the passengers of the Air France crash . Sixteen bodies pulled from the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday were taken to Fernando de Noronha for transportation Wednesday afternoon by helicopter to the air base in Recife , Brazil . The 25 bodies previously found were put aboard a Brazilian frigate . Searches for the remaining bodies will continue overnight , the navy and aeronautical command said in a written statement . The Airbus A330 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean June 1 en route from Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , to Paris , France , carrying 228 passengers and crew . The first bodies were recovered about 320 kilometers -LRB- 200 miles -RRB- northwest of the Brazilian archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul ; Tuesday 's recoveries were 80 kilometers -LRB- 50 miles -RRB- away . It was not clear whether the bodies had drifted in the 1-2 knot currents or whether their separation suggested that the jet may have broken apart in the air . Watch bodies being returned to land '' Meanwhile , the French , who are leading the investigation , were increasing their naval efforts . The nuclear submarine Emeraude was expected to reach the search area Wednesday to search for wreckage , including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder . And the French sent two tugs towing 40 tons of recovery equipment , a surveillance ship and a ship equipped for amphibious operations . The United States is also sending equipment to help with the search . Watch challenges faced by search crews '' Brazilian authorities said the plane debris will be taken to France for investigation but the bodies would undergo forensic tests in Recife . The cause of the crash is not known , but investigators are looking at the possible role of airspeed sensors known as Pitot tubes , among other factors . Air France has agreed to replace the sensors on its Airbus A330 and A340 jets , a pilots ' union said Tuesday . The airline said Saturday that it began replacing its fleet 's sensors last month . Another Air France pilots ' union , ALTER , has advised its pilots not to fly planes until their Pitot tubes are replaced . ALTER , the smallest of three Air France pilots ' unions , would not say what percentage of the carrier 's pilots it represents . Watch an explanation of what could have caused the crash '' The biggest union , SNPL , said Tuesday it has accepted Air France 's assurances that no Airbus A330 or A340 will take off unless at least two of its three Pitot tubes have been replaced . Union spokesman Eric Derivry added that there is no indication that the Pitot tubes caused the accident . Air France said over the weekend that it began to notice in May of last year that Pitot tubes sometimes briefly iced up at high altitude on A330s and A340s . That caused `` a loss of airspeed data , '' according to the airline -- that is , the pilots did n't know the plane 's speed . Air France decided to replace all its probes starting April 27 , following laboratory tests earlier in the year , the airline said . That is the program the pilots say the airline has promised to complete within days . The location of the crash has not been determined , because ocean currents have moved the bodies and debris . Map of Flight 447 's flight path '' The ocean depth where the debris and bodies have been found varies , but averages about 3,000 meters -LRB- nearly 9,900 feet -RRB- deep , according to the University of New Hampshire/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Joint Hydrographic Center . The search area covers 200,000 square km -LRB- 77,220 square miles -RRB- , nearly the size of Romania , Brazilian officials said . Brazilian officials emphasized Monday that finding bodies was their main priority . The French are in charge of finding the voice and data recorders . Fourteen aircraft -- 12 Brazilian and two French -- were participating , along with five Brazilian ships and one French frigate . The U.S. Navy will contribute two high-tech acoustic devices to listen underwater for the emergency beacons that are attached to the voice and data recorders . The `` towed pinger locators , '' which help search for emergency beacons on downed aircraft to a maximum depth of 20,000 feet -- will be placed aboard two French tugs that are part of the search efforts , the official said . CNN 's Karl Penhaul , Ayesha Durgahee , Niki Cook , Jim Bittermann and Barbara Starr contributed to this report . | First bodies recovered from the crash of Air France 447 returned to land . Air France agrees to replace within days speed sensors , pilots ' union says . Air France said it began replacing parts in April . The location of the crash has not been determined . | [[2046, 2123], [2126, 2157], [3269, 3354], [3277, 3354], [2158, 2241], [3136, 3198]] |
-LRB- InStyle.com -RRB- -- A hit TV show . An Emmy . A summer blockbuster . A new company . A wedding ! Katherine Heigl has every reason to smile for our camera . A star -- and a trio of gorgeous looks -- is born . The Ingénue : `` This is my favorite look of the three just because it 's sexy but not overtly so , '' Heigl says . `` I like simple hair and makeup . '' There has been a self-tanning mishap . As Katherine Heigl crosses the parking lot of the sandwich shop at the Roosevelt Golf Course at Griffith Park in Los Angeles , she walks stiffly , holding her arms away from her like a paper doll and apologizing profusely for running 10 minutes late . Earlier , she 'd sprayed her entire body with self-tanner , which refused to dry . She resorted to having her fiancé , musician Josh Kelley , take a blow-dryer to her -LRB- did n't work -RRB- . So here she is , in a strapless , ankle-length Juicy Couture sundress -LRB- donned to accommodate the residual stickiness -RRB- , fanning herself and wondering how mottled the tan will be when -LRB- or if -RRB- the lotion ever sets . Not that one bum experience could turn her off beauty products . `` I love everything new , '' says Heigl , 28 , who , in addition to being nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress on `` Grey 's Anatomy , '' just started a production company at Fox . `` When I was in Rhode Island filming this summer , I went to Sephora for the first time . It was like my holy mecca . '' She recently had her bathroom vanity renovated with a high counter to make more room for the large drawers below that hold her well-organized loot . Then there 's her deal with Coty to be the face of Nautica 's new women 's fragrance in January . Considering this fondness for all things beauty -- as well as Heigl 's impressive acting range -- she plays TV dramedy as deftly as cinematic romantic comedy , as in the mega-hit `` Knocked Up '' and next year 's 27 Dresses -- it seems natural for her to be In Style 's first ever triple-cover girl . These three looks take her from girl-next-door to red-carpet knockout to pixie-coiffed vamp . The star , whom pals call Katie -LRB- and Hollywood calls the Next Big Thing -RRB- , popped out her retainer to talk about makeup , breakouts and what boys like . KATHERINE HEIGL : I 'm so sorry , I have to take out my Invisalign before I eat . IN STYLE : Who knew you wore them ? I guess that 's the point of Invisalign . KH : I got them because of this wonky tooth . I was like , OK , I ca n't take it . It 's awesome because every two weeks you switch to a new retainer . Pretty much the perfect way to describe Invisalign is Netflix for your teeth . IS : Right -- the things we do for beauty . So , how did you like being transformed into three such different looks ? KH : It was fun . I was working with such great hair and makeup people . And to have these professionals turning you into someone else is pretty neat . IS : Do you ever go without makeup ? KH : There was a time when I would . Now that I get followed by photographers , I 'm really paranoid about it . I do not want to be the `` Look What This Celebrity Looks Like Without Makeup '' picture . I 'm clearly vain , and I do n't need that . Plus , I like products . IS : How often do you go through your drawers and purge ? KH : Often , because people send me a lot of stuff now , which is exciting . I love getting those boxes . -LSB- Into the tape recorder :] Send me a box of makeup , Stila ! When that happens , I feel like I have to clean out and give stuff to my sister , mom and friends because there comes a point of gluttony that I ca n't accept . IS : How do you think you express your personality through style ? KH : I 'm a big hair-up person . Last night at work they put my hair in two French braids to keep it flat under the scrub cap . I thought it looked cute and that I could pull it off after I 'd slept on it . And ... no . So I thought I could recreate it myself ... no again . As far as clothing style goes , I fluctuate almost as much as I do with beauty products . I like to shop for sweaters -- maybe it 's the New Englander in me . I 'm building a house in the mountains in Utah , so I tell myself I 'm `` preparing '' for that . I like sweaters -- they 're like scrubs -- you do n't have to suck it in or worry about the bloat . IS : Do you know how you want your hair and makeup at your wedding ? KH : I have an idea , but it 's so dependent on the dress , and I have n't gotten there yet . My sister is getting married too , so we looked for dresses together . After about five stores I was like , `` I 'm done . '' Everyone says , `` You just know when you put that dress on . '' My sister found the right dress just like that . So I know it can happen . But it 's grueling . IS : Wait , so your mom has two daughters getting married within months ? KH : My poor mother is probably like , `` Why , God ? Why ? '' But I hired a planner . I want the day to be spectacular , but mostly I want it to be fun . And I do n't want to freak out or stress . IS : Does your fiancé have any particular opinions about your look ? KH : Josh would n't mind if my hair was brown , if it was still long -- that 's such a boy thing . IS : Would you ever wear a wig out ? KH : I 'd contemplate it , but I do n't know if I actually have the courage to pull it off . I once wore a long hair-extension ponytail , and someone asked me if it was real , like I was one of those dolls when we were little , and the hair just cranks out . IS : How would you describe your skin ? KH : My skin is sensitive , so everything bothers it . And I 'm the jerk who keeps switching products and making it worse . IS : How do you treat a breakout ? KH : I got a great product at Ona Spa called Sebuspot . I 've tried so many that were disappointments , but maybe I stand too close to the mirror examining my pores . If I backed up , things might look fine . IS : What do you always carry in your bag ? KH : Powder , because I get shiny . And lip balm , either the Smith 's Rosebud Salve or C.O. Bigelow 's Mentha Lip Shine in Black Cherry Soda from Bath & Body Works . It 's shiny with a little shimmer and tastes so good . IS : An In Style.com reader wants to know how you maintain a healthy body image in Hollywood . KH : I train with Harley Pasternak . I love him with my whole soul and follow his 5-Factor diet . I first said , `` I 'm never going to be -- nor do I want to be -- an uber-athletic girl . '' It 's just not me and I do n't have that kind of discipline . He said , `` I just want you to be healthy . '' A lot of what we focus on is posture . I slump into myself when I get stressed . If I were going to play an action hero , I 'd have to get that look . But I 'd never maintain it . For me it 's never about achieving a look that 's impossible . E-mail to a friend . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | `` Grey 's Anatomy '' actress Katherine Heigl has own production company . Star of hit movie Knocked Up '' is getting married . Does n't go without makeup for fear of ugly photographs . Says shopping for wedding dress is `` grueling '' | [[3085, 3175]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A bit of music history was lost Friday morning when flames gutted the Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia . The Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia , smolders after firefighters put out a morning blaze . The 19th-century building was a cornerstone in the alternative rock music scene that gave the world the B-52s , R.E.M. and the Indigo Girls , said Doc Eldridge , president of the local Chamber of Commerce . The theater , in downtown Athens near the University of Georgia campus , suffered heavy damage from the fire , which was discovered at 7 a.m. , according to Athens-Clarke County government spokeswoman Sandy Turner . `` The facade is still there , but it 's very bad , '' she said . `` From the big names to the no names , countless of musicians and groups have left their mark on the Athens music scene from the stage of the Georgia Theatre , '' Eldridge said . iReport : Photos of theater burning . Sheffy McArthur was a University of Georgia student when he and two friends converted the movie theater into a music venue in 1978 . `` The B-52s paid us to play there , imagine that , '' McArthur said . Sea Level , a blues-jazz-rock group that grew from the remnants of the Allman Brothers Band , played the first show in the theater in January 1978 , McArthur said . It became the place `` for alternative music , instead of cover-type stuff for real artists to play , '' he said . Wilmont Greene took over the theater five years ago and began renovations . R.E.M. , which formed in Athens in 1980 and became one of the first popular alternative bands , played in the 600-seat theater in the group 's early days . In recent years , the theater served as host for album release parties and benefit shows by R.E.M. , which is based in a building just down the street . `` All of us here certainly wish Wilmont Greene and his staff the best of luck and Godspeed in their efforts to rebuild the Athens landmark , '' an R.E.M. statement said . | Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia , gutted by fire Friday morning . Historic theater known for playing host to notable bands , including R.E.M. Theater was the place `` for alternative music , '' said first owner . | [[0, 15], [28, 114], [430, 441], [503, 538], [223, 302], [1299, 1390]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The first bodies to be recovered from the crash of Air France 447 arrived at a Brazilian Air Force base in Recife , Brazil , Wednesday , the air force announced . Brazilian pilots and a medical team bring one of the first bodies ashore at Fernando de Noronha island . The 16 bodies were taken to the Legal Medical Institute in Recife for identification , the statement said . Police will perform DNA tests at their lab in the capital , Brasilia , if necessary , they said . Another 25 bodies have been found and will go through the same procedure starting Thursday , the air force said . Official identification of the bodies will be made only by the Legal Medicine Institute , even if any of the bodies could have been identified while on Fernando de Noronha , the islands where they were first brought after being recovered . A French nuclear submarine joined the hunt Wednesday for the flight data recorders and other wreckage from Air France Flight 447 as Brazilian air force and navy crews continued to pull bodies from the Atlantic . Bad weather and poor visibility are expected in the search area , Brazilian Air Force spokesmen said . France is leading the investigation into what caused last week 's accident when the Paris-bound flight from Rio de Janeiro plunged into the sea off the Brazilian coast with 228 passengers and crew on board . The French nuclear submarine Emeraude began patrolling the area Wednesday morning , the French defense ministry said . Around 400 French military personnel are involved in the salvage effort . France has also sent two tugs towing 40 tons of recovery equipment , a surveillance ship and a ship equipped for amphibious operations . Fourteen aircraft -- 12 Brazilian and two French -- are participating , along with five Brazilian ships . The U.S. Navy will contribute two high-tech acoustic devices to listen underwater for the emergency beacons that are attached to the voice and data recorders . The `` towed pinger locators , '' which help search for emergency beacons on downed aircraft to a maximum depth of 6,000 meters -LRB- 20,000 feet -RRB- -- will be placed aboard the French tugs . Watch challenges faced by search crews '' Brazilian officials emphasized earlier this week that finding bodies was their main priority . The French are in charge of finding the voice and data recorders . The 16 bodies retrieved Tuesday from the Atlantic were taken to the island of Fernando de Noronha for transport by helicopter to Recife . The 25 bodies previously found were put aboard a Brazilian frigate . Watch bodies being returned to land '' The first bodies were recovered about 320 kilometers -LRB- 200 miles -RRB- northwest of the Brazilian archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul ; Tuesday 's recoveries were 80 kilometers -LRB- 50 miles -RRB- away . See photos of bodies arriving at Fernando de Noronha '' It was not clear whether the bodies had drifted in the 1-2 knot currents or whether their separation suggested that the jet may have broken apart in the air . The location of the crash has not been determined , because ocean currents have moved the bodies and debris . The search area covers 200,000 square km -LRB- 77,220 square miles -RRB- , Brazilian officials said . Map of Flight 447 's flight path '' The ocean depth where the debris and bodies have been found varies , but averages about 3,000 meters -LRB- nearly 9,900 feet -RRB- deep , according to the University of New Hampshire/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Joint Hydrographic Center . Brazilian officials said the plane debris will be taken to France for investigation but the bodies would undergo forensic tests in Recife . The cause of the crash is still not known , but investigators are looking at the possible role of airspeed sensors known as Pitot tubes , among other factors . Did plane 's tail fin snap off ? '' Air France has agreed to replace the sensors on its Airbus A330 and A340 jets , a pilots ' union said Tuesday . The airline said Saturday that it began replacing its fleet 's sensors last month . Another Air France pilots ' union , ALTER , has advised its pilots not to fly planes until their Pitot tubes are replaced . ALTER , the smallest of three Air France pilots ' unions , would not say what percentage of the carrier 's pilots it represents . The biggest union , SNPL , said Tuesday it has accepted Air France 's assurances that no Airbus A330 or A340 will take off unless at least two of its three Pitot tubes have been replaced . Union spokesman Eric Derivry added that there is no indication that the Pitot tubes caused the accident . Air France said over the weekend that it began to notice in May of last year that Pitot tubes sometimes briefly iced up at high altitude on A330s and A340s . That caused `` a loss of airspeed data , '' according to the airline -- that is , the pilots did n't know the plane 's speed . Air France decided to replace all its probes starting April 27 , following laboratory tests earlier in the year , the airline said . CNN 's Karl Penhaul , Ayesha Durgahee , Niki Cook , Jim Bittermann and Barbara Starr contributed to this report . | 16 bodies retrieved from crashed airliner arrive in mainland Brazil . Bodies taken to police laboratory in Brasilia for DNA testing . French nuclear submarine joins hunt for wreckage from Air France Flight 447 . Location , cause of crash off Brazilian coast have not been determined . | [[2365, 2490], [395, 452], [847, 975], [1370, 1451], [3685, 3726]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Billy Joel and his wife , Katie Lee Joel , are separating . Billy Joel married Katie Lee in 2004 . `` After nearly five years of marriage , Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate , '' a joint statement on behalf of the pair said . `` This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration . Billy and Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other . '' Billy Joel , 60 , and Katie Lee Joel , 27 , were married in 2004 . Billy Joel is the multimillion-selling musician behind such albums as `` The Stranger , '' `` 52nd Street '' and `` Storm Front . '' Katie Lee is a food critic and chef . The marriage was the third for Billy Joel . His marriage to Elizabeth Weber ended in divorce in 1982 after nine years . He married his second wife , model Christie Brinkley , in 1985 ; they divorced in 1994 . Both Joels have retained attorneys , according to a report in the New York Daily News . Billy Joel 's publicist , Claire Mercuri , told the Daily News the singer was bearing up well . `` Billy 's doing fine , '' Mercuri said . `` He 's looking forward to resuming his Face2Face Tour with Elton John . '' | Billy Joel separating from wife of almost five years , Katie Lee Joel . `` This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration , '' said joint statement . Marriage was Billy Joel 's third . | [[0, 42], [62, 78], [118, 156], [159, 213], [216, 265], [266, 329], [654, 697]] |
NEW DELHI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Indian authorities Tuesday filed a police complaint against Continental Airlines for frisking a former president of the country as he was to travel to New York in April . Former president APJ Abdul Kalam was exempt from body checks , officials said . Civil aviation officials in New Delhi accused Continental of gross violation of Indian security rules that prohibit pre-embarkation body checks on certain dignitaries like a former president . The police complaint followed a probe that had established that APJ Abdul Kalam was subject to frisking before he boarded a flight from New Delhi to New York on April 21 , the Indian civil aviation ministry said in a statement . The ministry also alleged the airline did not respond to its show-cause notice in connection with Kalam 's body checks . In its police complaint , Indian civil aviation authorities accused the airline staff of `` willful violation '' of their directions on exemptions from pre-embarkation frisking . Continental , however , insisted it followed standard American air-safety procedures . `` TSA -LRB- Transportation Security Administration -RRB- requirements impose a final security check in the aerobridge just before boarding the aircraft . `` This procedure is followed by all carriers flying to the U.S. from most of the countries in the world and there is no exemption to this rule , '' it said in a statement . | Indian authorities file complaint against Continental for frisking former president . Former president APJ Abdul Kalam was exempt from body checks , officials say . Continental , however , insists it followed standard U.S. air-safety procedures . | [[0, 9], [37, 152], [165, 177], [0, 9], [118, 164], [208, 268], [1010, 1021], [1034, 1096]] |
Editor 's note : Rep. Charles Boustany is a Republican who represents southwest Louisiana . Before being elected to Congress , Boustany practiced medicine as a cardiothoracic surgeon for 14 years . Rep. Charles Boustany says Democrats ' health care plans do n't focus on quality . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Americans deserve the best health care system in the world -- one that emphasizes quality , but reduces cost , so all Americans can participate . As a doctor , I saw firsthand the problems many patients face finding a doctor , navigating the system , and paying their health care bills . Unfortunately , Democrats ' plans in Congress fail to focus on quality . House Republican Leader John Boehner , R-Ohio , recently stated that the Democrats were proposing `` a government-run nightmare operated by federal bureaucrats . '' If enacted , their plans would complicate the system and take more money from American pockets -- a nightmare , indeed . One report estimates more than 100 million people could drop their current health care coverage if the plans were open to all employers . One reason cited for the drop in current coverage -- businesses no longer offering private coverage -- would contradict the president 's promise to allow Americans to keep their current coverage , if they like it . Imposed employer mandates could cost 4.7 million people their jobs . All of this means that many people who like their current health insurance might not be able to keep it and be forced into a new system , including a government option with lower reimbursement rates that might discourage their current doctor from continuing to treat them . Just as a doctor has the obligation to be honest and straightforward with their patients , Democrats in Washington must inform the public of the impact their plans will have on current insurance and the exact costs . As the economy struggles to recover , Americans are rightfully concerned about the potential cost of health reform , as shown by a recent CNN survey . Before we know how much it will cost and how it will affect those currently with insurance , we can not have an open and honest debate on the merits of any proposal . While the House bill remains unscored by the Congressional Budget Office , health overhaul plans being crafted by Senate Democrats will likely cost more than $ 1 trillion over 10 years and could fail to cover millions of Americans . As a doctor , I know there is a better way to help all Americans achieve meaningful health care access . The president 's proposed cuts in health care spending will result in limited treatment options for patients , and by shifting the burden of debt to the next generation of Americans , our children will be the ones helping to defer the outrageous costs . With our government 's inability to maintain the Medicare and Medicaid programs that we currently fund , how much deeper can the hole get ? The Government Accountability Office refers to Congress ' failure to face Medicare 's monetary difficulties as a `` leadership deficit . '' Even some Blue Dog Democrats are asking if funding a new plan is even possible if the government can not solve the funding problems of the current plans . Patients in these programs continue to be denied access to a doctor in many communities . A few months ago , I received an e-mail from a Medicaid patient diagnosed with a brain tumor . Doctors told her that she would likely be put on a six-month waiting list for brain surgeons currently serving Medicaid patients . For timely care , she had to borrow a neighbor 's car , secure child care for her autistic child and drive four hours to a hospital in Shreveport , Louisiana . Patients in government-run plans obviously deserve better than this , so is this new government-run plan going to be any better ? Republicans will give all Americans the liberty to select the plan that works best for them and let those who like their health care coverage keep it . We pledge to make quality health care coverage more available and less expensive , including those with pre-existing health conditions . We want to protect Americans from losing their current health coverage because an employer drops private coverage for a government-run program . This plan should also improve American lives through effective wellness , prevention and disease management programs , while finding innovative treatments for life-threatening diseases . We will ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors . By lowering costs and building more personalized plans , we can help more Americans develop a meaningful doctor-patient relationship . President Obama stated that `` if you like what you 're getting , keep it . Nobody is forcing you to shift . No one will take it away , no matter what . '' This rhetoric sounds comforting , but fellow Democrats do n't seem to share his view -- as evidenced by their proposed bill . Some Democrats are completely unwilling to reach across the aisle . Sen. Chris Dodd , D-Connecticut , said , `` My goal is to write a good bill ; my goal is not bipartisanship . '' Other Congressional Democrat members were told `` explicitly not to work with Republicans . '' Moderate House Democrats even recently complained in a letter to several committee chairmen about being left out of any meaningful discussions on health-policy changes . Health reform should be open and transparent . No matter what party weighs in on the issue , Americans must fully comprehend the complicated decisions we face , and also understand how these new decisions will affect them . Leaders need to compromise , negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies , and reform health care the right way -- by developing a strong plan that encompasses the needs of all Americans . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Charles Boustany . | Rep. Boustany : Many Americans could lose current health plans . He says they could wind up in government system without current doctors . Boustany : Plans could burden next generation with enormous cost . | [[947, 1042], [1369, 1567], [2516, 2570], [2631, 2697]] |
There 's always something happening in the city that never sleeps , but if you 're in New York at the right time you 'll get to see New Yorkers coming together for one of the city 's big annual events . Giant inflatables are the highlight of the Macy 's Thanksgiving Parade . St Patrick 's Day Parade -LRB- 17 March -RRB- St Patrick 's Day is when New York 's sizeable Irish-American community celebrates its long association with the city , with thousands joining a flag-waving parade of traditional marching pipe bands . Dating back to 1762 , it 's far more traditional than New York 's other parades . There are no floats or corporate sponsors involved -- just vast numbers of green-clad revelers . Indeed , it 's the one day of the year when shamrock-adorned hats and stick on ginger beards are considered appropriate attire . The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at 44th Street , making its way past St. Patrick 's Cathedral at 50th Street and the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd , finishing at 86th Street at around 5:00 p.m. Needless to say , New York 's Irish bars get pretty crowded in the evening . Watch Candace Bushnell take CNN on a tour of New York . '' Met in the Parks -LRB- June -RRB- An al fresco treat for opera lovers , every summer New York 's Metropolitan Opera Company lays on free outdoor performances in the city 's parks . The 2009 program will feature performances in each of the five boroughs , at Staten Island 's Tappan Park , Crotona Park in The Bronx , Queensbridge Park in Queens ; Coffey Park in Brooklyn , East River Park in Manhattan and at SummerStage in Central Park . If that 's whet your appetite for evenings of outdoor classical music , `` New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks '' takes place in July at parks around the city . Take a blanket and a well-stocked picnic hamper for maximum enjoyment . What do you think are New York 's seasonal highlights ? Sound Off below . Independence Day -LRB- July 4 -RRB- The day America declared its independence from Britain in 1776 is a national holiday celebrated in style throughout the country . But , naturally , New York is where the celebrations become a full-blown extravaganza . The highlight of New York 's Independence Day celebrations is the Macy 's fireworks display . Usually , fireworks are launched from the East River , but the 2009 fireworks will be launched from barges positioned between 24th and 50th Streets on the Hudson River . That means Manhattan 's West Side and New Jersey will provide prime viewing spots and will consequently be packed to the gills with tens of thousands of rubbernecking New Yorkers . See photos of Candace Bushnell in New York . '' Village Halloween Parade -LRB- 31 October -RRB- Halloween is a big deal in America and the nation 's biggest and best Halloween parade takes place along New York 's Sixth Avenue . Greenwich Village 's `` anything goes '' attitude is what makes this event special , translating into eye-popping costumes , heaps of audience interaction and dazzling giant puppets , brought to life by showboating puppeteers . The parade begins at 6.30 p.m. , starting on Spring Street and making its way to 23rd Street . You 'll need to stake your roadside spot early if you want to see more than the backs of other spectators . Better still , wear a costume and you 're entitled to join in the parade -- nothing is too outrageous . Even if you 're cheering from the sidelines , you should get into the spirit of things by donning a ghoulish mask at the very least , thousands of which suddenly appear in local shops in the days leading up to the parade . http://www.halloween-nyc.com . Macy 's Thanksgiving Parade -LRB- fourth Thursday in November -RRB- A New York institution , the inaugural parade in 1924 included live animals on loan from from Central Park Zoo . The zoo animals have long been retired , replaced by floats that act as moving anchors for enormous helium balloons of various colorful cartoon characters . These floating colossi are the highlight of the event and attract annual crowds of around three million New Yorkers . The parade runs from 9 a.m. to midday and follows a two-and-a-half mile route through Central Park West to Herald Square . A new route for the 2009 parade has yet to be confirmed -- check the web site for details . To enjoy the giant balloons without battling the crowds , wrap up warm and see them inflated the night before the parade on West 77th and 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue . | New York turns green for the city 's traditional St Patrick 's Day Parade . Wearing a costume lets you join in the the Village Halloween celebrations . Inflatable cartoon characters are the highlight of Macy 's Thanksgiving Parade . | [[3304, 3356], [3876, 3882], [3888, 3979], [3980, 4083]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Authorities regained control of a Kentucky prison early Saturday after inmates torched buildings , shattered windows and threw rocks at guards . Inmates set fire to a Kentucky prison on Friday after the warden said he would ease restrictions on a lockdown . Inmates at the medium-security Northpoint Training Center in Burgin started an uprising shortly after the warden announced he 'd ease restrictions on a lockdown , Northpoint Public Information Officer Mendalyn Cochran told CNN . Two inmates were transported to hospitals with chest pains , she said , and there were no reports of hostages taken . The lockdown was instituted Tuesday , after about 10 to 15 inmates assaulted two others in a fight over stolen property , Cochran said . Warden Steve Haney told prisoners about 6 p.m. Friday of his plan to ease the lockdown , but 30 minutes later , fires began to spread through the dorm-styled institution , she said . Inmates were evacuated to the prison yard and authorities threw tear gas over the fence to subdue the prisoners , Cochran said . The damage to the facility was so severe that all the prison 's 1,200 inmates had to be kept outside in a prison yard . `` There are several buildings in the front that will be a total loss , '' said Lt. David Jude of Kentucky State Police . An investigation will determine whether criminal charges will be levied against some of the inmates . Burgin is about 40 miles southwest of Lexington . CNN 's Leslie Tripp contributed to this report . | Guards regained control of Kentucky prison early Saturday after inmate uprising . Prison was placed on lockdown Tuesday after fight among inmates . Warden planned to ease lockdown when fires broke out in prison . | [[19, 97], [624, 659], [662, 690], [164, 276], [218, 276], [277, 437]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A U.N. tribunal convicted two Serb cousins Monday of having burned alive more than 100 Muslims in what the presiding judge called a part of the `` wretched history of man 's inhumanity to man . '' Serb Milan Lukic has been found guilty of burning alive more than 100 Muslims . Milan Lukic and Sredoje Lukic were convicted of crimes dating back to the early 1990s , during the bitter ethnic conflict that ravaged the former Yugoslavia . Milan Lukic organized a group of local paramilitaries with ties to police and the military , sometimes referred to as the `` White Eagles '' or `` Avengers , '' according to an indictment . Before and during the war , his cousin Sredoje Lukic worked as a policeman before joining the group . The crimes include two incidents in which Muslim men , women and children were forced into homes that were then set on fire -- and some who tried to escape were shot . Milan Lukic was found `` guilty of persecutions , murder , extermination , cruel treatment and inhumane acts , as crimes against humanity and war crimes , in relation to six discrete incidents , '' the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia -LRB- ICTY -RRB- at the Hague said . He was sentenced to life in prison . Sredoje Lukic was found guilty of `` aiding and abetting the commission of the crime of persecutions inhumane acts , murder and cruel treatment . '' He was sentenced to 30 years in prison . Their crimes were committed during the 1990s . Bosnia-Herzegovina seceded from Yugoslavia in 1992 and Radovan Karadzic declared himself president of a Bosnian Serb republic . The Bosnian Serbs , backed by the Serb-dominated Yugoslav military and paramilitary forces , quickly seized control of most of the country and laid siege to Sarajevo , the capital . During the conflict that followed , the Serb forces launched what they called the `` ethnic cleansing '' of the territories under their control -- the forced displacement and killings of Muslims and Croats . The cousins ' cases are a small part of the caseload the Tribunal has dealt with regarding violations of humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001 . Since its creation the Tribunal has indicted 161 people on charges of serious violations of humanitarian law . The court found Milan Lukic responsible for the murder of 59 Muslim women , children and elderly men in a house in the town of Visegrad . `` On 14 June 1992 , the victims were locked into one room of the house which was then set on fire , '' the tribunal wrote . `` Milan Lukic was found to have placed the explosive device into the room , which set the house ablaze . Milan Lukic shot at people trying to escape from the burning house . '' Sredoje Lukic `` knew what would happen to the victims that he helped herd '' into the home , the court wrote in its judgment . Milan Lukic was also found guilty of the murder of at least 60 Muslim civilians in another house in Visegrad later that same month . The court found that he and others `` forced the civilians inside the house , blocked all exits and threw in several explosive devices and petrol , setting the house on fire . '' In all , the court found that Milan Lukic `` personally killed at least 132 Muslim people . '' The defense for both men denied the accusations against them , but the evidence demonstrated their guilt , the court said in its judgment . `` The perpetration by Milan Lukic and Sredoje Lukic of crimes in this case is characterized by a callous and vicious disregard for human life , '' presiding judge Patrick Robinson said . `` In the all too long , sad and wretched history of man 's inhumanity to man , the Pionirska street and Bikavac fires must rank high . `` At the close of the twentieth century , a century marked by war and bloodshed on a colossal scale , these horrific events stand out for the viciousness of the incendiary attack , for the obvious premeditation and calculation that defined it , for the sheer callousness and brutality of herding , trapping and locking the victims in the two houses , thereby rendering them helpless in the ensuing inferno , and for the degree of pain and suffering inflicted on the victims as they were burnt alive . '' | U.N. tribunal convicts Serb cousins of burning alive more than 100 Muslims . Milan Lukic , Sredoje Lukic convicted of crimes dating back to the early 1990s . Muslim men , women and children forced into homes that were then set on fire . | [[19, 85], [0, 15], [45, 61], [69, 113], [216, 295], [2296, 2433], [296, 350], [344, 381], [1439, 1485], [747, 843], [838, 843], [854, 870], [2296, 2433], [2496, 2505], [2512, 2520], [2525, 2532], [2496, 2505], [2516, 2532], [2998, 3173], [3019, 3073], [3146, 3173]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Michael Jackson 's publicist wants you to know that , despite a tabloid report to the contrary , the 50-year-old singer `` is in fine health . '' Michael Jackson 's spokesman says reports of the singer 's ill health `` are a total fabrication . '' The United Kingdom 's Sun newspaper started a stir Monday morning when it quoted the author of an upcoming book about Jackson saying he was battling a potentially fatal disease that required a life-saving lung transplant . Other papers echoed the Sun 's thinly-sourced story and the rumor spread quickly through Internet message boards . By Monday afternoon , Jackson 's spokesman issued a response that said `` The writer 's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson 's health are a total fabrication . '' `` Mr. Jackson is in fine health , and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company & television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances , '' said Dr. Tohme Tohme , identified as Jackson 's `` official and sole spokesperson . '' The original report quoted writer Ian Halperin saying Jackson 's illness had robbed him of 95-percent of the vision in one eye and that he needed a lung transplant `` but may be too weak to go through with it . '' Jackson 's reclusive lifestyle -- and a photo earlier this year of him being pushed in a wheelchair -- created a fertile ground for the planting of the rumor . Tohme suggested Halperin 's motive was to get attention for his book about Jackson . `` Concerning this author 's allegations , we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized ` biography , ' '' Tohme said . The Sun 's report attempted to bolster its source 's credibility by calling Halperin `` an award-winning investigative journalist '' who has `` written for respected Rolling Stone magazine . '' Halperin 's biography on his publisher 's Web site claimed he was the winner of the `` Rolling Stone magazine Award for Investigative Journalism . '' Rolling Stone magazine responded Monday afternoon by denying Halperin ever won that honor , but did note he was on a school newspaper staff in 1985 that collectively received the `` College Journalism Award '' from the magazine . Halperin has made a career writing about Hollywood scandals and the trouble lives of various celebrities , often claiming to have gone undercover to penetrate their inner-circles . The Jackson story was off the Sun 's online front page by Monday evening . Instead , the paper featured a shirtless photo of President-elect Barack Obama on a Hawaii beach with the headline : `` As President Elect Goes Topless , How Do World Leaders Shape Up ? '' | UK 's Sun newspaper ran report saying Jackson battles a potentially fatal disease . Report quoted writer Ian Halperin saying Jackson needed lung transplant . Jackson story was off the Sun 's online front page by Monday evening . | [[410, 468], [425, 514], [425, 514], [1071, 1237], [2500, 2574]] |
MOSCOW , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Ukrainian general has been arrested in connection with the murder of a journalist nearly nine years ago , the country 's president said Wednesday . Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko has labeled Georhiy Gongadze 's killing the country 's most important case . Gen. Alexei Pukach was detained Tuesday in connection with the killing of Georhiy Gongadze , who was abducted in September 2000 and later found decapitated . The Gongadze killing is the country 's most important criminal case , President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement on his Web site . `` To me , it 's a question of honor to resolve the murder of Georhiy Gongadze . It 's a question of whether or not good or evil prevails , '' Yushchenko said . Organizations ranging from the European Union to the Committee to Protect Journalists have demanded that Ukraine bring the journalist 's killers to justice . Pukach had been on the run for years before he was seized Tuesday in a joint operation by the Security Service and the prosecutor general 's office , Yushchenko said . He has already been interrogated once and is cooperating with the investigation , the president added . The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the arrest , it said in a statement to CNN . `` As the suspected organizer of the killing , Pukach could point the investigation to those who ordered the crime nine years ago , '' said Nina Ognianova , the organization 's Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator . `` Only with the masterminds behind bars would Ukrainian authorities be able to reverse the impunity in Gongadze 's assassination , '' her statement said . Three former police officers were convicted last year of killing Gongadze and given jail sentences of 12 to 13 years , the Committee to Protect Journalists said at the time . There has long been suspicion that top Ukrainian government officials were involved in the murder . `` Gongadze , the pioneer editor of critical Internet newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda -LRB- Ukrainian Truth -RRB- , had long angered authorities with his highly critical reports detailing corruption in -LRB- former President Leonid -RRB- Kuchma 's administration , '' CPJ said last year , when the three men were sentenced . Kuchma has long denied involvement in the killing . Pukach was a high-ranking interior ministry official at the time Gongadze disappeared . His former boss , Interior Minister Yuri Kravchenko , was found dead at his country house in March 2005 , days before he was to be questioned by prosecutors over the killing of the journalist . The Ukrainian security service , the SBU , suggested Kravchenko killed himself , and the dead man 's successor quoted a suicide note , according to Russian media . `` Please forgive me , I 've become a victim of political intrigues of President Kuchma and his people . I 'm leaving you without a twinge of conscience . Farewell , '' then-Interior Minister Yuli Luzenko quoted the note as saying . But Myroslava Gongadze , the slain journalist 's widow , noted Kravchenko had two bullets in his head . `` I think it has to be investigated , '' she said of the death . `` He was the main player of my husband 's murder ... he was the person who -LSB- took -RSB- the order and who gave the order , '' she told CNN at the time of Kravchenko 's death . Kuchma had been implicated in the murder by critics who cited secretly recorded audio tapes in which the president allegedly ordered his staff to get rid of the journalist . Kuchma vehemently denied those charges . | Ukrainian general arrested in connection with murder of journalist . Georhiy Gongadze abducted in September 2000 and later found decapitated . Gen. Alexei Pukach , who has been on the run for years , was captured Tuesday . | [[0, 6], [9, 31], [37, 136], [298, 388], [2507, 2582], [369, 390], [395, 425], [298, 302], [430, 455], [298, 388], [911, 957]] |
BOSTON , Massachusetts -LRB- CNN/IN Session -RRB- -- A German man who called himself Clark Rockefeller and passed himself off for years as a member of the moneyed clan was sentenced Friday to four to five years in prison for kidnapping his daughter . The man who said he was Clark Rockefeller actually is Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter . Earlier in the day , a jury of eight women and four men found Christian Carl Gerhartsreiter , 48 , guilty of the kidnapping and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon . Judge Frank M. Gaziano noted that Gerhartsreiter showed little regard for the impact his actions had on his former wife and daughter . He said he also considered the defendant 's long history of deceptive and manipulative behavior , including the use of multiple aliases . Gerhartsreiter already has spent a year in jail , meaning that with credit for good behavior he could spend just another year or two in prison . Gerhartstreiter , who was born in Germany and is in the U.S. illegally , faces removal by immigration authorities when he completes his sentence . In addition , his lawyer said , authorities in Los Angeles , California , have convened a grand jury to investigate his possible role in the 1985 deaths of a couple who rented a carriage house to him . The defendant stared straight ahead as the judge announced the sentence . He was equally impassive when the jury returned its verdicts . Watch the verdict '' The jury rejected Gerhartsreiter 's insanity defense , but found him not guilty of two lesser charges after deliberating for 26 1/2 hours over five days . He faces up to 15 years in prison . A sentencing hearing was set to begin at 2 p.m. ET . `` Today the victims in this case have some sense of justice , I hope , '' said Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley `` We are very happy with today 's verdict . We 're very happy with the jury . '' After announcing the verdict , all 12 jurors returned to the courtroom and delivered a prepared statement . `` This was a complicated case , and not as clear-cut as it might have seemed to those who followed it in the media , '' the jurors ' statement said . `` We are confident that our verdict is fair and just , and based only on the information we were legally allowed to consider , '' it continued . `` Our verdict is a unanimous one , as the law requires , and all of us stand by the verdict completely . '' The jurors said the terse statement was their final word on the case . They did not take questions . The case has attracted international attention because of the defendant 's bogus claim to be related to the Rockefellers , one of America 's wealthiest families . He fooled even his wife of 12 years , who said on the witness stand that she had `` a blind spot '' for a man who charmed her , then controlled her and bullied her . Prosecutors said Gerhartsreiter came to the United States from Germany in 1978 as a student . They said he is a con man who has been telling fanciful tales and misrepresenting himself ever since . The defense said he has long suffered from mental illness that boiled over into insanity when he abducted his 7-year-old daughter , Reigh , last summer . The jury heard closing arguments and legal instructions before retiring for deliberation Monday . `` This is not a man playing with a full deck , '' said Jeffrey Denner , one of two lawyers who gave closing arguments for the defense . According to testimony from defense experts , Gerhartsreiter believed his daughter was in danger . He also believed they could communicate telepathically and shared a secret language . `` You see him descending into madness , '' Denner said . `` You see completely irrational action that other people are buying because of the name Rockefeller and the appearance , the veneer , of respectability with a powerful wife . '' The defense called two experts who , he said , spent 28 hours with the defendant before diagnosing him as having a narcissistic personality disorder and grandiose delusions . Prosecutor David Deakin called the insanity diagnosis `` preposterous . '' He argued , `` This is not a case about madness . It 's a case about manipulation . '' He described Gerhartsreiter as a controlling man who was angry that his former wife , Sandra Boss , had moved with their daughter to London in December 2007 . According to testimony , Boss , a Harvard business school graduate and senior partner at McKinsey & Co. , a global management consulting company , took full custody of the child , giving her ex-husband $ 800,000 , two cars , her engagement ring and a dress he had bought her . She said she believed the fanciful stories her husband wove around his image as Clark Rockefeller and never saw any sign of mental illness . Denner asked how a successful businesswoman who was educated at Stanford and Harvard universities and made $ 1 million a year could fall for an impostor . `` There 's a big difference between intellectual intelligence and emotional intelligence , '' Boss explained . `` I 'm not saying I made a very good choice of a husband . It 's obvious I had a pretty big blind spot . '' `` He told compelling stories , '' she said . `` It seems stupid in hindsight , and it really was , but that is how it was . ... I lived with a person who told me a set of internally consistent things . '' `` I was completely traumatized , '' Boss said of the abduction . `` I was hysterical . '' | Jury deliberated for 26 1/2 hours over five days returning guilty verdicts . Eight women , four men on jury reject insanity defense . Man who said he was a Rockefeller faces 15 years in prison . Ex-wife , Sandra Boss , testified for the prosecution . | [[1382, 1414], [1436, 1444], [1495, 1590], [337, 355], [358, 510], [1436, 1488], [1591, 1626], [2556, 2621]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A federal court has ordered a Kuwait-based contractor to pay nearly $ 5 million in damages to the family of a U.S. military officer killed in Iraq -- a rare court decision holding a contracting company accountable for its actions in the war . Lt. Col. Dominic Baragona was the highest-ranking soldier to die in Iraq when he was killed May 19 , 2003 . Army Lt. Col. Dominic `` Rocky '' Baragona was just an hour away from a U.S. base in Kuwait -- ultimately headed home to the United States -- when a tractor-trailer operated by Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company slammed into his Humvee on May 19 , 2003 , killing him instantly . Baragona , a West Point graduate , was 42 years old and the highest-ranking soldier to have died in the war at the time . His family filed a wrongful death suit against KGL . Earlier this month , the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia sided with the family , holding the Kuwait company negligent in Baragona 's death for failing to provide safe passage on the three-lane road where the accident occurred . A key issue in the judge 's decision was whether a U.S. court had jurisdiction over a foreign contractor and whether there was a legal basis to find it negligent . Ultimately , Judge William Duffey found that there was . `` The court enters judgment in the amount of $ 4,907,048 to be paid by KGL in a single lump payment , '' the judge wrote in his 12-page decision issued on November 5 . Baragona 's father , Dominic Baragona , a former U.S. Marine , told CNN he is embarrassed his family was forced into a lawsuit to learn details surrounding his son 's death . He also said the court decision is bittersweet : No amount of money will ever bring his son back , but it feels good that a court of law sided with his family . Watch family describe Rocky 's hugs , his Mustang and his character '' `` You feel good for the Rock , '' he said of his boy . `` We 're going to make KGL sweat it a little bit . I mean they 're going to remember Rocky 's name . '' Baragona 's sister , Pam , added , `` Even in his death , he 's still handing out more messages -- very quietly , in Rocky 's way . '' CNN sought comment from KGL for this story , but got no response . The law firm Crowell & Moring , which has represented KGL in the past , declined comment . KGL has received millions of dollars in U.S.-government contracts . On its Web site , the company says it `` performs multiple operations such as providing of vehicles and equipments to customers , '' including the U.S. Army and coalition forces . It also boasts of having more than $ 1 billion in market capitalization . CNN legal analyst Jeffery Toobin said the court decision theoretically `` does open the door to more lawsuits '' against contractors , but that the Baragona family is a long way from ever seeing the money . `` It is always very hard to collect judgments against foreign companies and , when you overlay the chaos of Iraq , it makes it extremely difficult -- if not impossible , '' Toobin said . The court decision comes at a time when Congress has been closely scrutinizing contractors and seeking ways to hold the companies accountable for their actions in war zones . The Baragonas say their suit was never about money . They would like to see changes made in the contracting business , most importantly to have third-party investigations carried out when something goes wrong and to keep everyone abreast during that reporting process . '' -LSB- Rocky -RSB- was about improving and changing systems so that we had a better Army . And that 's what he believed in and that 's what he dedicated his life to . If in his death , he adds more on to that -- that 's what I 'm fighting for , '' said Pam Baragona . If the family ever gets paid , they say they want to set up a foundation to honor their son and brother to help pay for college educations of deserving students . `` Rock 's the little guy . We have to vindicate for him . We have to take care of the little guy , '' his sister said . `` Creating a legacy for him is a huge responsibility . '' Born on Flag Day on June 14 , 1960 , Rocky Baragona dedicated his life to the military , entering West Point after high school and graduating among the top of his class in 1982 . His motto was : `` More than expected . '' He was one of seven children , five boys and two girls . One brother , Christopher , died of leukemia just before he would have turned 9 . The family says it was a young , energetic and super smart Rocky who `` held our family together through that dark time . '' `` Rocky was my heart , '' his mother , Vilma , said . So sharp was Rocky that he attended a computer camp in the mid-1970s and then taught a computer class in high school for two years because nobody else at school knew much about computers , his mom said . Rocky loved the military . He also loved gadgets , the Cleveland Indians , the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns . His father , Dominic , said he spoke with his son just two hours before he was killed in Iraq . As the commander of the 19th Maintenance Battalion based out of Fort Sill , Oklahoma , his son was helping his soldiers get out of Iraq en route to Camp Victory in Kuwait . Once at the Kuwait base , they were scheduled to head home to Fort Sill . `` I remember asking him : ` Well , Rock , is there anything I have to worry about ? ' '' the father said . `` He said , ` The only thing you have to worry about , Dad , is something stupid happening . ' '' According to the lawsuit , Baragona was traveling south through Iraq as part of a three-vehicle convoy when the crash happened . The suit claims the KGL tractor-trailer struck a pile of dried concrete that had spilled on the road , jack-knifing the big rig and then slamming into Baragona 's Humvee . The soldier driving Baragona 's vehicle survived the accident . The Baragona family never expected more than four years later to be talking to a reporter about their son over the Thanksgiving holiday , a court decision and the grief they 've endured -- grief over losing a young child to leukemia and then a grown son three decades later to an accident in war . `` It just never goes away , '' his mother said of her pain . The father says he and Rocky loved to talk politics . Rocky would always take the opposite position just to rile up his old man . `` I did n't win too many arguments off him because he was so damn sharp , '' he said . `` To me , he was the guy I could n't wait to talk to . '' The dad then paused and said , `` What a great relationship . '' E-mail to a friend . | Federal court orders Kuwaiti contractor to pay $ 5 million to soldier 's family . Lt. Col. Dominic `` Rocky '' Baragona died in Iraq accident on May 19 , 2003 . Dad : `` They 're going to remember Rocky 's name '' Ruling comes at a time when Congress is weighing contractor accountability . | [[0, 7], [10, 33], [37, 168], [310, 387], [2004, 2053], [2011, 2053], [5426, 5446], [3067, 3174]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Couples in the African kingdom of Swaziland are being urged to get tested together as part of a HIV `` love test '' campaign . A couple discusses the love test with a PSI member . Before the campaign , only 2 percent of couples got tested . The nationwide initiative -- funded by the United States government and implemented by global charity ` Population Services International ' -LRB- PSI -RRB- -- is aimed at couples because tests can be useless if partners are not aware of the others ' HIV status . `` If partners get tested separately , they may not disclose the results and not get the support they need , '' Dominic McNeill , spokesman for PSI Swaziland , told CNN . Only one in four people -- mostly female -- know their HIV status despite the fact that approximately 26 percent of the population in Swaziland is HIV positive . The charity says it also wanted to move away from the traditional HIV campaigning methods . `` We wanted to turn HIV on its head and move away from the fear-inducing campaigns we 've seen in the past , which do n't work . Instead , we focus on love , saying that it is love that should be contagious and couples should get tested together , '' McNeill explained . Would you get tested with your partner ? Tell us in the Soundoff below . But in a country where a macho culture still prevails , getting couples tested together has proved challenging . McNeill said : `` In Swaziland it is difficult to convince men to get tested as it makes them feel inferior . '' PSI said it found that one of the most successful campaigning tools has been to directly target men in areas where they are often concentrated . `` We go to the places where men have their cattle disinfected and also work extensively in churches . We even have a testing facility in one of the countries ' prisons '' said Iulian Circo , PSI 's country director . Watch PSI in action in Swaziland . `` Men are the head of the family and we try to get them to own up to that responsibility . '' PSI Swaziland received $ 3 million this year from the United States ' President 's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief -LRB- PEPFAR -RRB- and has so far spent $ 35,000 on radio , TV and print advertisements . Since the launch of the campaign in April , PSI -- which partnered with UNICEF and UNAIDS -- told CNN it has already seen a 25 percent increase in couple testing and a 400 percent in general testing year-on-year . And neighboring countries such as Zambia , Mozambique and Namibia have already shown interest in the ` love test . ' The tests are also quick and free . Offered in facilities in the four regions of the country , they take only 45 minutes , including a 30-minute counseling session and on-the-spot results . If results show one or both partners are HIV positive , PSI offers longer-term free counseling . The HIV campaign is expected to last until the end of the year and the charity is also partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- which has donated $ 50 million to fight aids in the region -- to promote male circumcision , medically proven to lower the risk of getting the HIV virus . | Couples in Swaziland are being urged to get the HIV ` love test ' together . Tests can be useless if partners are not aware of the others ' HIV status . Only one in four know their HIV status and 26 percent in Swaziland are HIV positive . The charity wanted to avoid the traditional fear mongering that surrounds HIV testing . | [[1105, 1107], [1124, 1211], [277, 348], [427, 496], [488, 539], [711, 734], [755, 776], [799, 872], [873, 964], [890, 892], [898, 964], [968, 1048]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Despite efforts to keep people from profiting from Tuesday 's public memorial service for Michael Jackson , scalpers online Monday were asking as much as $ 9,000 per ticket to the free event . Free tickets to Tuesday 's memorial service for Michael Jackson have appeared for sale online . Dozens of listings selling vouchers for Jackson tickets appeared Monday on auction site eBay and Craigslist , the classified ads site , prompting complaints from Jackson fans and others who felt the sales were inappropriate . `` You people trying to sell these tickets should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves , '' said a Craigslist user in a post Monday morning . `` Please flag all of these money-grabbing opportunists ... if you 're a true MJ fan you wo n't give money to these parasites . '' Organizers of the public memorial service , scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles , made 8,750 pairs of tickets available through an online lottery . But demand far outstripped supply , as about 1.6 million fans registered for a chance at the tickets . Winners received an e-mail Sunday directing them to print vouchers and bring them Monday to Dodgers Stadium , where they were to receive tickets and have a nonremovable wristband placed on their arms . Those entering the Staples Center on Tuesday must have wristbands to match their tickets . But that did n't stop some people from trying to sell their vouchers to anyone who could make it to Dodgers Stadium by 7 p.m. Monday . One pair of tickets attracted a bid of $ 275,000 on eBay before the listing was removed . It was difficult to tell whether the offer was serious . Both eBay and Craigslist took steps Monday to thwart the ticket sellers . `` eBay will not allow Michael Jackson memorial service tickets to be listed on the site , '' the company said in a statement . `` If found , eBay will remove them from the site immediately . '' By Monday afternoon the number of listings for `` Michael Jackson memorial tickets '' on eBay had dropped to a handful , and the site was removing them shortly after they appeared . Learn more about plans for the memorial '' Craigslist allows its users to flag ads they find inappropriate , and ads receiving enough negative flags are automatically removed from the site . Many ads proffering Jackson memorial tickets were removed shortly after they were posted Monday . Among those was a listing posted by a man who identified himself only as Peetey , 29 , of Venice Beach , California . He was asking $ 8,000 for a single ticket ; the winning bidder would accompany his girlfriend to the service , he said . The ad was removed within 15 minutes , he said , but that was enough time for five people to call with interest . When contacted by CNN , Peetey said he sees nothing wrong with selling a free ticket to a memorial service . `` We live in a capitalist society where money is what really speaks , '' he said . `` I 'm not trying to make a huge profit . I 'm not trying to take advantage of anybody . '' Peetey , who did not want his last name used for fear of backlash from Jackson fans , said he would go to the memorial service if he ca n't get at least $ 5,000 for the ticket . His girlfriend won the lottery-issued tickets , he said , and will attend the event . `` I want to go , and I have a large desire to go , but if I can get a lot of money , especially in this economic climate , it does n't seem wise for me to sit there for two hours if I can get $ 10,000 for the ticket , '' he said . Daniel Moreno , 33 , of Murrieta , California , said people trying to sell the tickets are disgracing Jackson by trying to capitalize on his death . `` That kind of sucks , you know . The guy 's dead , '' said Moreno , who posted a statement on Craigslist vowing to flag any listings selling Jackson memorial tickets . Moreno said those with tickets should give them away if they do n't want to attend the service . `` I do n't have $ 1,000 to spend on this ticket and would n't want to spend $ 1,000 on this ticket , '' he told CNN . `` And I would n't want to be in the presence of someone who 's trying to sell the ticket because I 'd be arrested for battery . '' By 2 p.m. -LRB- 5 p.m. ET -RRB- , organizers had handed out more than 6,400 pairs of tickets . Los Angeles police Capt. Bill Murphy said the distribution process was going smoothly as of early Monday afternoon . One person tried to pass off a photocopied voucher and was ejected , Murphy said . CNN.com 's John D. Sutter contributed to this story . | Tickets for Tuesday 's memorial for Michael Jackson have appeared for sale online . Both eBay and Craigslist took steps Monday to thwart ticket sellers . Craigslist user : Ticket sellers `` should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves '' Seller : `` We live in a capitalist society where money is what really speaks '' | [[212, 307], [308, 395], [806, 847], [934, 999], [2320, 2364], [1678, 1751], [1714, 1751], [3798, 3871], [534, 619], [2883, 2914], [2894, 2914], [2921, 2948]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax figure of Michael Jackson on Thursday , showing the late entertainer in a pose from the concerts he had planned to hold this month . The new waxwork of Michael Jackson -- only Queen Elizabeth II has been portrayed more times by Madame Tussauds . Sculptors at the wax museum started working on the figure four months ago . They had intended to display it this month , to coincide with the start of Jackson 's `` This is It '' comeback tour in London . The new figure is modeled on a Jackson pose from the concert poster , the museum said . It shows him `` arms outstretched , pelvis thrusting and tip-toed , with his trademark trilby angled forward , '' the museum said . It is the 13th Jackson waxwork by Madame Tussauds , the museum said . Only Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II -- who has been on the throne for almost 60 years -- has been portrayed more often . `` It is extremely unusual for a personality to have been portrayed so many times , '' said Madame Tussauds spokeswoman Liz Edwards . `` But Michael Jackson was totally unique and his iconic status made him one of the most popular stars here . '' The London museum has two other Jackson waxworks -- one in a pose from `` Thriller '' and another from his `` Dangerous '' album . The other 10 Jackson waxworks are in other Madame Tussauds museums around the world . The museum said it decided to proceed with the figure after Jackson 's death last month `` as a tribute to one of the greatest musicians of all time and to celebrate his amazing 40-year career . '' | Waxwork is the 13th of Jackson unveiled by the London tourist attraction . Model had been commissioned before singer 's death to coincide with London concerts . Only Queen Elizabeth II has been portrayed more often by the museum . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [36, 104], [738, 787], [478, 517], [200, 234], [249, 312], [808, 842], [887, 927]] |
EDGEWATER , New Jersey -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- People steadily file into movie theater No. 4 , but they 're not carrying buckets of popcorn or soda -- instead , it 's Bibles and coffee . Worshippers sing at Joy Christian Fellowship , which meets at Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas in New Jersey . The sign above the double door announces `` The Proposal , '' the latest Sandra Bullock movie , but there 's no romantic comedy playing on the screen -- instead , the lyrics to a Christian song fade in and out to the beat of the music : `` We are here because of you , because of you . '' On this Sunday morning , the approximately 200 people on hand are n't here to watch a movie but to worship God . Some stand stoically as they sing , others sway back and forth with eyes closed , a few have their hands raised toward the ceiling . At the front of the theater below the screen is a six-piece rock band that continues to sing , `` Oh , beautiful sound . The joy of heaven here . '' And it 's here -- at Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas -- where Joy Christian Fellowship has been meeting for the past two years . `` It 's not a traditional church setting , '' said Danny Han , Joy Christian 's senior pastor , `` but we turn this theater auditorium into a worship place . '' Reclining cushioned seats take the place of pews ; the movie screen stands in for stained glass windows . An entertainment venue has turned out to be an unconventional yet conveniently popular religious venue , attracting a new crowd of worshippers deterred by the traditional church setting . About 200 churches are renting theater space under a one-year contract with National CineMedia , a nationwide multiplex cinema chain . That 's an increase from three churches six years ago . `` The economy has had clearly a positive impact , '' said Kurt Hall , the CEO of National CineMedia , about the trend of Sunday theater rentals , `` as churches have found it more difficult to raise money to build their own buildings . '' It 's an alternative not only for small start-up churches that can not afford space but also for large churches seeking to set up multiple locations . The movie theater offers a perfect setting : comfortable seats , state-of-the-art audio-visual technology , central air , ample parking , and prime locations . Joy Christian Fellowship leases two theaters from National Amusements , another multiplex cinemas chain , at $ 1,000 for 3 1/2 hours each Sunday . National CineMedia has `` Worship Solutions '' packages with negotiable rates . But what may have started as a practical and economical solution has surprisingly become a spiritual solution for boosting church attendance . Only about four in 10 Americans say they attend religious services at least once a week , according to surveys conducted in recent years by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life . In Indianapolis , Indiana , the Rev. Ethan Maple decided that since people were n't filling the church pews , he would go to them . In March he started The Movie Theater Church . `` We 're reaching out to those who have no religious background and also people who have been hurt by the traditional church setting , '' Maple said . His vision is not to build a physical church but to build a church community in a comfortable and unintimidating place . `` Everyone 's gone to see a movie , and going to a theater to see worship is not a huge jump . '' Courtney Gonzales said he had been in and out of churches all his life before he came to The Movie Theater Church . `` I really had n't had a permanent church home and was always feeling sort of disconnected , '' he said , adding he was raised in a Catholic family but did not relate to the rituals . `` I never really felt anything was getting through to me . '' As soon as he walked into the movie theater , Gonzales said , he immediately connected . `` I just felt comfortable , unlike when I had been at other churches . '' Congregation members eat popcorn and drink soda while worshipping . The offering is collected in popcorn buckets . `` Sunday best '' is often sneakers , jeans and an untucked T-shirt . Song lyrics and movie clips that illustrate sermon points flash across the large screen . -LRB- And during normal theater hours , church ads are included in the movie previews . -RRB- . `` Lots of pastors give us feedback that they 've seen an increase in church attendance because they 're in the movie theater , '' said Hall from National CineMedia , which has created a team of nine people exclusively focused on church-theater relations . At The Movie Theater Church , attendance for this year 's Easter service was 268 people , up from 91 last year , Maple said . `` The numbers show that the congregation accepts this new church style . '' It 's a style these churches want to keep . According to National CineMedia , 67 percent of their church clients consider the movie theater to be a permanent facility . `` We would n't go any other way , '' said Chris Jarrell , a pastor National Community Church in the District of Columbia area . `` We see this as a long-term strategy . '' Four of National Community Church 's five locations are movie theaters near subway stops , including the Phoenix Movie Theater on the lower level of Union Station . Watch congregants talk about having services in a cinema '' However , Pastor Steve Kelly of Wave Church in Virginia said staying in a movie theater sends a certain message to the community . `` The moment you define yourself as ` We 're just going to rent this facility , ' you 're saying that you 're not necessarily here to stay , '' he said . His congregation has been leasing theater space for five years while they wait for more members and money to build a facility on 31 acres of already-purchased land . Being a tenant comes with other drawbacks , such as the task of transforming the theater into a sanctuary every Sunday . Kuen Doo , a member of Joy Christian Fellowship , is in charge of setting up for the 9:30 a.m. service . His morning begins at 7:30 a.m. at a storage location , which houses 14 large black boxes on wheels that contain everything from music stands to speakers , church signs to drum set . `` It takes about an hour to load everything , come to this movie theater , unload , and help set up , '' Doo said . At least 17 congregation members are devoted to setting up and breaking down each Sunday . Joy Christian Fellowship has to clear out before noon , when the matinees begin , and theater No. 4 -- along with other movie theaters nationwide -- no longer belongs to the church . | Idea appeals to small start-ups , big churches seeking to set up multiple locations . At one cinema-based church , Easter attendance was up threefold from year before . Pastor : Staying in a movie theater risks sending message that you wo n't stick around . One big drawback : Setting up and breaking down sanctuary weekly is a lot of work . | [[2081, 2134], [4340, 4424], [4556, 4583], [4586, 4643], [5336, 5413], [5398, 5456], [5778, 5898]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Since the moment Barack Obama took office , he has made a concerted effort to speak directly to the Muslim world . Election posters hang on the exterior of many buildings in Tripoli , Lebanon , last week . Even his inauguration address sent a new and different message from the United States : . `` To the Muslim world , we seek a new way forward , based on mutual interest and mutual respect , '' he said on January 20 , standing in front of a changed nation . `` To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society 's ills on the West , know that your people will judge you on what you can build , not what you destroy . '' Next month , Obama will deliver a long-awaited speech to the Muslim world from Cairo , Egypt . He will speak at a critical time for Lebanon , days before an election that could bring powerful Shia militia group Hezbollah to power . This possibility could shake the foundation of Obama 's attempts to bring stability and peace to the Middle East . With one of the most powerful armies in the Middle East , Hezbollah is poised to lead Lebanon 's government with the help of Lebanese Christian opposition leader , Gen. Michel Aoun . Aoun signed a memo of understanding with Hezbollah in February 2006 and joined the March 8 bloc , led by Hezbollah . That could give the bloc the numbers it needs to control parliament after the June 7 elections . There have been sporadic incidents of violence ahead of the vote : Billboards have been defaced and just last week , a Hezbollah-aligned political office was burned to the ground . While these acts of violence are small by Lebanese standards , a friend who lives near the burned office told me it was a `` terrifying reminder of last May . '' That is when Hezbollah militants , in a blatant show of force , seized control of the streets of Beirut , marking the worst violence to hit Lebanon since the end of its civil war in 1991 . Many saw it as an embarrassment to Saad Hariri 's ruling March 14 bloc , which had to grant major political concessions to Hezbollah to restore order to Beirut . Hezbollah 's leader has painted May 7 , 2008 , as a `` glorious day that prevented civil war , '' but journalists like myself remember the day slightly differently : pinned down behind a building by raging gunfire . At the time , I could not believe that Hezbollah gunmen were about to occupy half of the Lebanese capital . They did so until the government gave in ; then they withdrew back to Beirut 's southern suburbs , allowing the city 's wealthy neighborhoods to return to normal for the summer . Regardless , it was a show of force that people in Lebanon have not forgotten . The lead-up to next month 's vote has seen the same , typical -- and at times stereotypical -- Beirut antics . Hezbollah has accused Hariri 's political bloc of bringing Lebanese expatriates into the country in droves to try to swing the vote in its favor . Anyone who drives out to Beirut 's airport can see these expats arriving from countries like Brazil , Canada and the United States . Hariri swept to power in the wake of the 2005 assassination of his father , former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri . Many Lebanese blamed Syria , which had dominated Lebanon politically and militarily since the civil war , for the killing . The assassination sparked widespread protests that led to the election of the younger Hariri 's anti-Syrian bloc in parliament and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon . Damascus has denied any role in Hariri 's killing , but a U.N. investigation has found indications of Syrian involvement . Now , it appears the tide is turning once again in Lebanon , this time in Hezbollah 's favor . Three years ago , Hezbollah -- which is supported by both Syria and Iran -- fought a war against the Israeli military , which failed to weaken the militia . Since that perceived victory over Israel , Hezbollah has been considered by its supporters to be the `` defender of Lebanon . '' So what happens on June 8 when the world wakes up to a Lebanon that sees Hezbollah aligned with Aoun as the majority and Hariri 's March 14 bloc as the opposition party ? When Hamas won the elections in Gaza in January 2006 , former U.S. President Jimmy Carter called the elections `` free and fair . '' But that made no difference as Israel tightened its grip , and the two rival Palestinian factions , Hamas and Fatah , killed each other in the streets of Gaza . Is the situation any different now for Lebanon , or is it perhaps even worse ? Lebanon 's political landscape is shifting months after a similar shift in Israel . Voters in the Jewish state overwhelmingly supported conservative parties over more moderate groups , bringing into power Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year . Netanyahu is viewed in the Arab world as more hawkish than his predecessor , Ehud Olmert , who ordered the war against Hezbollah in 2006 . With an estimated 30,000 rockets pointed at Israel from southern Lebanon -- all under the control of Hezbollah -- how can Netanyahu sell the idea to the people of northern Israel that they are safe from a country ruled by Hezbollah-aligned politicians ? The situation means that the Arab world will be listening even more closely to Obama 's June 4 address in Cairo to hear whether the U.S. president will champion democracy -- even if it means an inevitable standoff between Israel , a historically staunch ally , and Lebanon , as it struggles to find an identity both within itself and in the outside world . | Lebanon elections on June 7 could bring Hezbollah to power , says CNN 's Cal Perry . That would shake President Obama 's efforts toward Mideast peace , Perry says . Obama plans to give major speech to Muslim world on June 4 in Egypt . Will Obama champion democracy , given the situation in Lebanon , Perry asks . | [[822, 840], [846, 906], [907, 971], [954, 959], [972, 1021], [61, 133], [675, 685], [688, 759], [5236, 5322], [5323, 5483]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Philadelphia Eagles welcomed Michael Vick back into the National Football League on Friday after the quarterback spent almost two years in federal prison on a felony dogfighting conviction . Michael Vick speaks at a Philadelphia Eagles news conference on Friday . Vick , formerly with the Atlanta Falcons , has signed a two-year deal with the Eagles . `` I think everybody deserves a second chance , '' Vick said at a news conference in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , on Friday . `` Now I want to be part of the solution and not the problem . '' The league suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia . Vick , 29 , was freed from federal prison at Leavenworth , Kansas , on May 20 and returned to his Virginia home to serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement . iReport.com : Is this a good move ? `` Everything that happened at that point in my life was wrong , '' Vick said of his involvement with the dogfighting ring . Watch bloggers discuss Vick 's return to the NFL '' `` I had to reach a turning point . Prison definitely did it for me , '' he said . Flanked by Eagles coach Andy Reid and former NFL coach Tony Dungy , who acted as a mentor to Vick after he was imprisoned , the newest Eagle vowed `` to do all the right things . '' `` I want to be an ambassador to the NFL and the community , '' he said . `` I 'm glad I got ... a second chance . I wo n't disappoint . '' Dungy said that he thinks Vick can revive his career and turn his life around in Philadelphia but that the quarterback will be tested by fickle Eagles fans . `` He is gon na have a lot of people who do not think he should be playing . He 's got to prove them wrong on the field and off the field , '' Dungy said . Watch why Dungy thinks Vick will be a positive force '' Earlier reaction to Vick 's signing was mixed . The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday night in a statement that it was `` incredibly disappointed '' at the news . `` Philadelphia is a city of dog lovers and , most particularly , pit bull lovers , '' said Susan Cosby , the organization 's chief executive officer . `` To root for someone who participated in the hanging , drowning , electrocution and shooting of dogs will be impossible for many , no matter how much we would all like to see the Eagles go all the way . '' However , Ed Sayres , president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , said in a statement that '' -LSB- NFL -RSB- Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Philadelphia Eagles have granted Michael Vick a second chance , and the ASPCA expects Mr. Vick to express remorse for his actions , as well as display more compassion and sound judgment this time around than he did during his previous tenure with the NFL . `` We hope that Mr. Vick uses his stature for the betterment of the community and the advancement of the issue of animal cruelty , '' Sayres said . Reid said he knows that there are some fans who will not accept Vick . `` I understand how that works , '' he said . `` But there 's enough of them that will , and then it 's up to Michael to prove that that change has taken place . I think he 's there . That 's what he wants to do . '' He said Vick `` seems very focused , and he wants to get his career back on track . '' It is unclear what role Vick will play in the Eagles ' offense . But it was clear that the move had the blessing of Eagles starting quarterback Donovan McNabb . `` I pretty much lobbied to get him here , '' McNabb said . `` Because everybody deserves a second chance . '' The NFL reinstated Vick on a conditional basis last month . Vick `` will be considered for full reinstatement and to play in regular-season games by Week 6 based on the progress he makes in his transition plan , '' the league said in a statement last month . Week 6 of the NFL season is in October . Vick may participate in practices , workouts and meetings and may play in his club 's final two preseason games under the conditions of his reinstatement , the league said last month . `` I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege , not a right , and I am truly thankful for -LSB- the -RSB- opportunity I have been given , '' Vick said in a statement last month upon his reinstatement . Goodell said last month that Vick underwent tests , including a psychiatric evaluation , after requests from animal rights groups . Vick has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy . At a hearing in that case , he told the judge he earned 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor while in prison . Court documents released in Vick 's case showed that two of his co-defendants , who also pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal , said that Vick helped kill dogs that did n't fight well and that all three men `` executed approximately eight dogs '' in ways that included hanging and drowning . The dogs were killed because they fared poorly in `` testing '' sessions held at Vick 's property . The Humane Society of the United States has said Vick offered to work with the organization on anti-dogfighting campaigns . Wayne Pacelle , the organization 's president , has said Vick was to work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting and on programs to assist youths who have been involved . In November , Vick pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge and received a three-year suspended sentence . The Eagles are scheduled to play Vick 's former team , the Falcons , in Atlanta on December 6 . | Philadelphia Eagles introduce Michael Vick at news conference . Eagles head coach Andy Reid : I know some fans wo n't accept Vick . NFL suspended Vick in 2007 after he pleaded guilty in dogfighting case . Vick wo n't be able to play in regular season games until October . | [[0, 15], [19, 213], [214, 286], [1560, 1701], [3070, 3113], [3094, 3140], [568, 714], [5448, 5459], [5462, 5511]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered its inspectors to make sure regional airlines ' training programs are in line with federal regulations , authorities announced Tuesday . Regional airline Colgan Air 's Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo , New York , on February 12 . `` It 's clear to us in looking at the February Colgan Air crash in Buffalo that there are things we should be doing now , '' FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said . `` My goal is to make sure that the entire industry -- from large commercial carriers to smaller , regional operators -- is meeting our safety standard . '' Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo , New York , on February 12 , killing all 49 passengers and crew members aboard . One person on the ground was also killed . Federal investigators held hearings on Capitol Hill last month on the cause of the crash but have not concluded their inquiry . Several shortcomings of the crew came to light during the National Transportation and Safety Board hearings when it was revealed that Colgan Air Capt. Marvin Renslow failed to reveal two pilot exam failures in his job application . Testimony at the hearings also revealed that fatigue apparently contributed to the failure of Renslow and First Officer Rebecca Shaw to save the plane as it approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport . USA Today newspaper reviewed the safety board 's accident reports over the past 10 years and found that in nearly every serious accident involving a regional airline during that time , at least one of the pilots had failed multiple skill tests . `` In eight of the nine accidents during that time , which killed 137 people , pilots had a history of failing two or more ` check rides , ' tests by federal or airline inspectors of pilots ' ability to fly and respond to emergencies , '' USA Today reported Sunday . `` In the lone case in which pilots did n't have multiple failures since becoming licensed , the co-pilot was fired after the nonfatal crash for falsifying his job application . '' In addition to reviewing regional airlines ' training programs , Babbitt and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have called on representatives from major air carriers , their regional partners , aviation industry groups and labor to participate in a `` call to action '' in Washington on Monday , according to a U.S. Department of Transportation news release . The review will address pilot training , cockpit discipline and other flight safety issues , the release said . | FAA to examine training at regional airlines to make sure it meets federal standards . NTSB investigation into fatal crash in Buffalo revealed pilot exam failures . USA Today inquiry found pilot test failures in eight of nine regional airline crashes . | [[0, 26], [30, 180], [2062, 2064], [2074, 2124], [928, 1035], [1368, 1387], [1461, 1613], [1693, 1750]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Church of England is offering unmarried parents who want to tie the knot the option of having baptisms for their children at the same time . Statistics show an increasing number of couples live together before their wedding day , the church says . The offer is a response to demand after church-sponsored research showed that 20 percent of couples getting married in a church already had children , whether together or from a previous relationship , the church said . It is also a way to make the church more welcoming for unmarried parents and their families , a church spokesman said . The church is issuing new guidelines to priests that encourage them to offer parents the option of having a baptism or thanksgiving service for their child 's birth at the same time as their wedding . The guidelines also advise priests on how to perform the dual ceremonies , the spokesman said . `` Patterns of relationship and marriage within society are presenting new opportunities for the church , '' said Bishop of Wakefield , Stephen Platten , who chairs the Church of England 's Liturgical Commission . `` We are therefore offering guidance on how thanksgiving for the gift of a child , or indeed baptism , might be incorporated within a marriage service so that the church can respond pastorally to our changing world if a priest feels it would be advisable to offer this option . '' What do you think of the offer ? Have your say . It has always been possible to hold both ceremonies at the same time , but priests did n't always know how to go about it , spokesman Howard Dobson said . The guidelines make it easier for priests to know how to offer and perform the dual ceremonies , he said . Research from Britain 's Office of National Statistics shows that for many couples , having children is now the first major milestone of adult life , ahead of marriage -- in contrast to their parents ' generation , the church said . Statistics also show an increasing number of couples now live together before their wedding day , the church said . The Church of England said it hopes the ideas `` will help churches show their welcome for couples with children , and give the whole family a special occasion and a new beginning . '' | Church of England looking to be more welcoming to unmarried parents . Church research : 20 percent of couples getting married already had children . Parents offered baptism for their child at the same time as their wedding . | [[508, 599], [288, 353], [328, 487], [0, 6], [9, 32], [58, 180]] |
JOHANNESBURG , South Africa -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- South Africa 's police chief said Monday that violence directed at foreign nationals had killed 22 people over the past week . Police carry an unidentified Malawi national on an improvised stretcher after he was badly beaten in Reiger Park township . The attacks have been concentrated in Johannesburg 's poorest areas , and many of the victims were Zimbabweans who have fled repression and dire economic circumstances . The Nelson Mandela Foundation issued a statement condemning the `` senseless violence '' that police say was sparked a week ago in Johannesburg 's Alexandra Township . `` We join the rest of South Africa in deploring this violence , '' said Achmat Dangor , CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation , according to a statement released on Monday . `` Whatever the underlying causes they have to be addressed , but this senseless violence is not a solution . '' Police said those behind the attacks accused the foreigners of stealing jobs , carrying out criminal activities and benefiting from social services -- such as free housing -- meant to benefit South Africans . iReport.com : Are you there ? Send photos , video . Police arrested more than 200 people during the violence for offenses including rape , murder , robbery and theft . Police said at least one foreigner was burned alive over the weekend , while others had their houses torched , their shops looted and their possessions stolen . Many have sought refuge at police stations . Some women have told police they were raped as part of an effort to drive the immigrants out . South Africa 's police director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said 22 people had been killed in the past week . The Red Cross estimates some 3,000 more were displaced . The attacks were concentrated in some of the poorest parts of South Africa where locals are jobless , hungry and in need of basic services such as clean water , sanitation and housing . South African President Thabo Mbeki called for an investigation into the violence . He has been reluctant to describe it as xenophobic because many South Africans have criticized his government for not doing enough to deal with the crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe . Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic collapse , with nearly 80 percent unemployment and inflation estimated to be at 160,000 percent . In addition , it is also in a state of political limbo . A presidential runoff between long-time leader President Robert Mugabe and his opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai is scheduled for June 27 -- three months after the initial vote . Opposition leaders have accused the government of carrying out a campaign of political intimidation ahead of the runoff . The economic and political situation has seen an influx of Zimbabweans to South Africa , seeking a better life . Archbishop Desmond Tutu also condemned the violence and urged South Africans to remember the help that he and other anti-apartheid leaders received from neighboring countries . `` Although they were poor , they welcomed us South Africans as refugees , and allowed our liberation movements to have bases in their territory even if it meant those countries were going to be attacked by the SADF -LRB- South African Defense Forces -RRB- , '' Tutu said . `` Please stop the violence now . This is not how we behave . These are our sisters and brothers . Please , please stop . '' A South African military veterans ' group plans to mobilize soldiers who fought against the country 's former system of legalized racial separation `` to help educate the people ... about the role played by other African countries in securing South Africa 's freedom . '' `` Many brave comrades paid the ultimate price on African soil , but never at the hands of the people of those countries , '' according to a statement from the Military Veterans ' Association in the Western Cape province . `` In the light of these facts , the xenophobic attacks witnessed in Gauteng -LRB- Province -RRB- over the past week -- and previously , against refugee traders in Cape Town -- are totally repugnant . '' | At least 22 people killed by mobs targeting foreigners in Johannesburg . Police arrest more than 200 people for offenses including rape and murder . Zimbabweans who have fled their own country are driven from squatter camps . South Africa 's Archbishop Desmond Tutu condemns the attacks . | [[0, 12], [15, 43], [76, 173], [1601, 1705], [1656, 1705], [1184, 1299], [1245, 1299], [2829, 2852], [2858, 2880]] |
Although it may have been Jon and Kate Gosselin 's unusual family that landed them a reality show , it is their marital problems -- to which much of their audience can likely relate -- that have made them a household name in recent weeks . Jon and Kate Gosselin 's marital problems have give their TLC show record-breaking ratings . During the previous four seasons of TLC 's Jon & Kate Plus Eight , the couple has bickered , eye-rolled , and jabbed its way through adventures in rearing now 9-year-old twins and now 5-year-old sextuplets . In this past Monday 's record-breaking fifth-season premiere -LRB- 9.8 million viewers -RRB- , Jon and Kate finally addressed the very topic that has kept them on tabloid covers for weeks : Their marriage is on the rocks . Even without the stress of eight children , rolling cameras , and public scrutiny , all couples encounter tension in their relationships . Below , five trigger points that have tested Jon and Kate in their reality-TV run -- and how to make sure the same stressors do n't take a toll on your relationship . Stress trigger No. 1 : A growing family . Whether you 're bringing home one new baby or six , expanding your brood requires adjustment . Sleep deprivation can trigger depression and anxiety , said Dr. Ken Robbins , a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin . New moms are also at risk for postpartum depression , and both parents will likely feel stretched for time . Health.com : 4 Myths about healthy sex . Then there 's the issue of intimacy , which will undoubtedly be affected with children in the house . `` Sex lives of people who have children are worse -- there 's data to prove it , '' said Dr. Andrew Goldstein , an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the author of Reclaiming Desire . `` But a relationship is not like a job where you just have to accomplish what is necessary ; you ca n't just put it on autopilot . '' Smart solutions : Couples need to work together to find creative ways to support and appreciate each other through this transition . • Adjust sleep schedules so that one partner sleeps while the other is awake with the baby . • When possible , get a friend or relative to occasionally help out at night so mom and dad have some time to cultivate their relationship one-on-one . Especially as kids get older , make sure they understand that mom and dad need time to themselves . • Be aware of the signs of postpartum depression like appetite changes , trouble concentrating , loss of energy , and hopelessness . Health.com : 6 Rules for a healthy postpartum slim-down . • Make activities that promote mental health -- such as exercise and social time -- a top priority . Stress trigger No. 2 : Career changes . Before Jon & Kate Plus Eight , the Gosselins worked like the rest of us -- she as a nurse , he as an IT consultant . But things have changed since their family morphed into reality-show fodder , with Kate parlaying her notoriety into a career that includes two books , television appearances , and publicity tours . `` Kate 's career has taken off and I 'm a bit lost , '' Jon told People magazine in April . Any couple going through a similar change -- whether one partner loses a job or takes on a new one -- can experience tension in the relationship . Smart solutions : Couples should speak honestly and listen carefully to each other to see if a career change has affected their relationship . • The partner who is earning less money may struggle with a diminished self-esteem and feel extra sensitive , while the other may feel resentful about being the primary breadwinner . But both partners need to respect the other 's role and recognize their situation as shared . In the case of Jon and Kate , `` the only reason she can do what she does is because he probably takes care of the kids while she 's giving a lecture , '' Goldstein pointed out . • Find family and friends dealing with this same issue . Talking about shared struggles can help couples gain perspective and give them a chance to feel good about using their experience to help others . • If one partner is out of work , he or she should be encouraged to pursue a new skill set and stay intellectually and physically active . This will improve his or her role within the family and may open new doors in the future . Health.com : Help ! My spouse has ADHD . Stress trigger No. 3 : Intrusive in-laws . Although most couples do n't have extended family announcing their disapproval on national television , it is certainly not uncommon for couples to elicit criticism from relatives over how they 're raising their children . When people come together as a couple , they bring their own family 's rules and ways of doing things with them , said Robbins . Smart solutions : Family members may have their own ideas about everything from how often you should go out to eat to what religion to observe to whether or not it is appropriate for children to appear on national television . And in all likelihood , both sets of grandparents may disagree . But you do not have to end up in a war over whose rules , if any , you will adopt . • First , listen to your in-laws . But in the end , decide as a couple which rules and guidelines are in your -LRB- and your children 's -RRB- best interest . • Talk to each other . If one partner is under more scrutiny , it 's important that the other listen carefully and that both talk about how they may be affected . • Present a united front to your extended family . It is crucial that they know you stand together . Stress trigger No. 4 : You pick on each other . Kate has famously criticized Jon for breathing too loudly . He continually seems irritated by her neat streak . `` When couples begin to argue over small things , it usually means they have not resolved a more important problem , '' said . Robbins . Smart solutions : Since the partner who is doing the picking may not even be aware of his or her behavior , the onus in this situation is on the person who feels disrespected . • In a calm moment , sit your partner down and ask him or her if there is something you have done that is troubling them . Be clear about why you feel mistreated and be specific in your examples . • If you 're the one doing the criticizing , first consider how much actual damage your partner 's annoying habit can do , said Goldstein . `` If your spouse is text messaging while driving , that 's worth talking about . If someone slurps when they drink -- well , you have to weigh the cost of the criticism versus the change that you 're going to get . '' Health.com : How to care for and cope with a bipolar spouse . • Do n't give up . It may take some discussion to figure out what is really going on , but in the end it can prevent unnecessary and unproductive conflict . Stress trigger No. 5 : Infidelity . The tabloids have been buzzing with reports of Jon 's and Kate 's alleged indiscretions , which they have both denied . But it raises a common question for many couples -- what constitutes an inappropriate relationship ? Smart solutions : Do n't put yourself in situations that you 're not comfortable discussing openly with your partner -- even if they do n't technically involve cheating . Every couple has to develop its own definition of what is appropriate and what is not . • Sit down and talk about what relationships were like in your family when you were growing up . Maybe you 're comfortable with your partner going out for lunch at work with a member of the opposite sex , but not for happy hour . Be open about what feels `` normal '' to you . • Do n't be constrained by other people 's ideas of what is right and wrong . This is a private matter for the couple to agree on . • If a line has been crossed , you need to decide together if the marriage is salvageable . If both members feel that there is a possibility of working things out , seeing a professional can help you sort out the feelings you are left with and move past them . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Jon and Kate Gosselin 's marital problems are what audience likely can relate to . Even without eight children , all couples encounter tension in relationships . Five trigger points have tested Jon and Kate ; tips on preventing the stressors . | [[100, 181], [848, 902], [3183, 3193], [3285, 3329], [909, 930], [936, 980], [911, 930], [992, 1069]] |
Editor 's note : Reza Sayah is one of the few Western journalists reporting from Tehran after the Iranian government placed restrictions on coverage . A man in the crowd holds up a photo of Ahmadinejad during Khamenei 's address at Friday prayers . TEHRAN , Iran -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- People in the crowd sang songs of tribute as they waited . When he arrived , they stood and welcomed him in unison : `` Praise be to God and to his prophet , Mohammed . '' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Iran 's supreme leader for two decades , took the stage during Friday prayers at Tehran University with a few notes on small pieces of paper in his left hand . He leaned on the lectern with his right arm , crippled in an 1981 assassination attempt . He was ready to put an end to a week of unrest . First , a sermon about the dangers of division and disunity , using the language of Islam . Then came secular sentences , decidedly direct . He praised the huge turnout at the polls as a victory for Iran but criticized post-election turmoil as the work of Iran 's enemies -- the United States , Israel and Britain . `` The enemies want to destroy our confidence . They want to create doubt about the election , '' Khamenei said . A full hour passed before he delivered a verdict that supporters of opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi did not want to hear . `` Eleven million votes difference ? '' he asked . `` Sometimes there 's a margin of one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand , or one million , maximum . Then one can doubt , be concerned that there has been some rigging or manipulation . `` But there 's a difference of 11 million votes . How can vote rigging happen ? '' To be clear , he reminded the crowd of the victor at the polls . It was the man sitting in the front row : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . He was the `` the absolute victor , '' Khamenei said . `` If political elites want to ignore or break the law and willy-nilly take wrong measures which are harmful , they will be held accountable for all violence and blood and rioting . '' Few in the crowd were disappointed with the cleric 's words . `` Death to America ! '' the people chanted repeatedly , interrupting Khamenei 's speech . `` Death to Israel . '' Noticeably absent Friday was Moussavi , the man who had sparked Iran 's unrest by calling for a recount of the votes . Absent , too , were Moussavi 's supporters , who did not take to the streets to protest as they had done in previous days . There were no signs and placards on the streets . Or people clamoring for change . The tens of thousands who showed up for Friday prayer were a stark contrast to the demonstrators . They were mostly religious conservatives , supporters of Ahmadinejad . And they had a message for the president 's opponent , though it was not always consistent . Some were conciliatory . `` The nation should come together , '' one said . `` We are all one . '' Others took a hard line : `` They must stop with the demonstrations , otherwise there will be consequences . '' Just what those consequences might be may become apparent Saturday afternoon , when the demonstrators are expected again on the streets of Tehran . But for now , Iran 's supreme leader had issued his warning clearly : Enough is enough . | Supreme leader sermonizes about dangers of division and disunity . Khamenei : Post-election turmoil the work of the United States , Israel , Britain . Ayatollah endorses official results showing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected . Crowd repeatedly interrupts him to chant `` Death to Israel '' and `` Death to America '' | [[919, 921], [986, 1049], [2153, 2185], [2188, 2221]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Before Adam Walsh , Etan Patz and Madeleine McCann , before the first Amber Alert , before a young face stared back from the side of a milk carton , there was Danny . Danny Barter was 4 when he vanished in 1959 while on a family camping trip . Danny Barter vanished in 1959 . He was on a family camping trip to Alabama 's Perdido Bay . He was playing with his dad one minute , gone the next . `` Just like that , '' recalled his brother Mike Barter . Danny was 4 years old . Last weekend , his loved ones returned to the campsite and to the scene of the presumed stranger abduction . They came to remember Danny and to rededicate a half-century mission to find him . Even with the passage of time , their faith has not wavered . `` We 've never doubted that he 's ... out there , '' Mike Barter said . `` Until they prove otherwise , we hope one day we will be reunited . '' Their hope has been bolstered by investigators with the FBI and the Baldwin County Sheriff 's Office , which reopened the case last year after hearing of a recent conversation . `` A lead was sparked when someone was sitting in a public area talking about what happened , '' FBI spokeswoman Joyce Riggs wrote in an e-mail to the media . As cold case cops know , a wisp of a lead can turn into a big break , a fact FBI Special Agent Angela Tobon believes can solve the Daniel Barter mystery . `` Even if -LSB- people -RSB- think it 's insignificant , it 's probably not , '' Tobon said . `` Each little piece of the puzzle may not mean something , but when you put it all together , you get the big picture . '' Danny was the third youngest of Paul and Maxine Barter 's seven children . He had brown hair and big brown eyes . `` He 's such a very pretty and sweet child , '' his mom told the Mobile Register in an article published June 21 , 1959 . `` I can understand why someone would want to take him , because he 's such a pretty child . '' Three days earlier , Danny , his parents and his siblings were enjoying a family outing near the Gulf shore . Danny and his dad had just returned from getting some drinks at a store . Tents were pitched . Fishing poles were prepared . And then someone noticed that Danny was gone . `` I had first believed that despite Danny 's fear of water , he had wandered into the water and drowned , '' Maxine Barter told the Mobile Register . `` But not now . I believe he probably walked up the road , and someone picked him up . '' The search was extensive and immediate . Hundreds combed the land and the waters , looking for Danny . Bloodhounds were given his scent and dispatched to follow it . Alligators were killed and cut open . But there was no trace of Danny , then or now . For his parents and the police , the sickening conclusion was quickly reached : He was stolen by a human predator . Danny 's mom could not fathom that the kidnapper would bring harm to her boy . `` I hope now that someone did take Danny , because I know if anyone wanted him bad enough to kidnap him , they would take good care of him , '' she said . Fifty years later , the family longs for closure . Paul and Maxine Barter are both deceased , but their children carry on the decades-long pursuit to know the truth . On dannybarter.com , a Web site dedicated to finding answers , the family posted this plea to the public : . `` We strongly believe that someone out there knows what happened to Danny and possibly knows him as another identity . We hope to find him safe and sound . '' The FBI is also seeking information on Danny Barter . It has published two photographs of him on its Web site . One shows the smiling child , taken in the months before Danny was abducted . The other picture is age-progressed , depicting what Danny would look like today at 54 . If you have any information on the Danny Barter case , go to dannybarter.com or contact the FBI , your local police or the Baldwin County Sheriff 's Office in Alabama . | FBI says it has a new lead in a 50-year-old cold case . Danny Barter , 4 , is believed to have been taken by a stranger . Boy went missing during a family camping trip in Perdido Bay , Alabama . FBI says someone was overheard talking about the boy 's abduction . | [[195, 271], [479, 502], [503, 515], [518, 611], [2801, 2838], [195, 271], [219, 271], [304, 363], [1947, 1965], [1968, 1973], [1976, 2056], [1131, 1172]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Formula One 's new Team U.S. F1 will have the financial backing of YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley -- and the video sharing Web site 's chief executive expects to make a big impact in motorsport . Chad Hurley is hoping his start-up experience can help the US F1 team become a major player . The American , who along with co-founders Steve Chen and Jawed Karim sold YouTube to internet giant Google for $ 1.65 billion in 2006 , has faith in the team 's prospects for the 2010 season . It is fronted by engineer Ken Anderson , formerly involved with NASCAR team Haas CNC Racing , and Peter Windsor , a journalist who has worked with F1 's Ferrari and Williams . `` I believe in Ken and Peter and the team that they have put together , and I believe that we have a chance to hopefully start from a clean slate and try to build a team in a different way , '' Hurley told Web site Autosport.com . Hurley started YouTube from scratch , and sees parallels with his involvement with US F1 . `` The business aspect of what attracted me to US F1 is just that , that it is a start-up , '' he said . `` And it 's a very similar situation to one that would be in Silicon Valley . `` It 's a small team of talented , smart individuals trying to break the mould , trying to accomplish something that others think is impossible . '' However , Hurley does not expect instant success for the new franchise , which will be the only F1 outfit based outside of Europe and comes into the sport in difficult economic times when sponsors are dropping out . `` Obviously we want to be competitive , '' he told Autosport.com . `` I know there is going to be a lot of competition -- it 's going to take quite a few years to ramp up this team and get the cars into a position where we are competing for the world championship , but ultimately that 's our goal . `` We 're not necessarily going to get involved and be satisfied with just getting a car onto the track . Our aspirations and goals go much farther than that . '' While major manufacturers have been reviewing their participation in motorsport 's premium category -- Honda withdrew at the end of last year and BMW will end its association with Sauber at the end of this season -- Hurley is confident that he can find other investors to back the American team . `` I hope so , and I hope it goes beyond Silicon Valley , '' he said . `` I am definitely going to be involved in helping the team with sponsors , helping the team with business relationships , and helping the team with integrating technology -- ways that they can leverage and benefit from social media and the Internet broadly . `` So in many ways , I hope to add benefit to the team and what they are trying to accomplish . '' | Formula One 's new Team U.S. F1 backed by YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley . Hurley primary investor in American outfit ahead of its debut season in 2010 . He sold video sharing Web site to Google in 2006 but is still its chief executive . Hurley hopes new American team will make a big impact in elite motorsport . | [[0, 15], [43, 116], [0, 15], [43, 116], [124, 214], [309, 321], [378, 442], [124, 214]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A U.S. soldier convicted of rape and murder two decades ago will be executed December 10 in the nation 's first military execution since 1961 , the Army said Thursday . Pvt. Ronald Gray has been on the military 's death row at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , since 1988 . A court-martial panel sitting at Fort Bragg , North Carolina , unanimously convicted him of committing two murders and other crimes in the Fayetteville , North Carolina , area , and sentenced him to death . Gray 's execution by injection will be carried out by Fort Leavenworth soldiers at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute , Indiana , the Army said in a news release . Gray was convicted of raping and killing a female Army private and a civilian near his post at Fort Bragg . He was also convicted of the rape and attempted murder of another fellow soldier in her barracks at the post . Both military and civilian courts found Gray responsible for the crimes , which were committed between April 1986 and January 1987 . Gray pleaded guilty to two murders and five rapes in a civilian court and was sentenced to three consecutive and five concurrent life terms . The general court-martial at Fort Bragg then tried him and in April 1988 convicted him of two murders , an attempted murder and three rapes . In July , President George W. Bush approved the Army 's request to execute Gray . `` The president took action following completion of a full appellate process , which upheld the conviction and sentence to death , '' the Army said in the news release . `` Two petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court were denied during the appellate processing of Pvt. Gray 's case . '' Members of the U.S. military have been executed throughout history , but just 10 have been executed with presidential approval since 1951 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice , the military 's modern-day legal system . The Army also sought Bush 's authorization to execute another condemned soldier , Pvt. Dwight Loving , who was convicted of robbing and killing two cab drivers in 1988 . The last U.S. military execution was in 1961 , when Army Pvt. John Bennett was hanged for raping and attempting to kill an 11-year-old Austrian girl . Bennett was sentenced in 1955 . The U.S. military has n't actively pursued an execution for a military prisoner since President John F. Kennedy commuted a death sentence in 1962 . Nine men are on military death row . CNN 's Mike Mount contributed to this report . | Pvt. Ronald Gray convicted of raping , murdering fellow soldiers , civilian . Gray will be executed December 10 by soldiers in Terre Haute , Indiana . Army Pvt. John Bennett was last man executed by military in 1961 . | [[30, 73], [298, 341], [361, 504], [682, 789], [682, 686], [715, 789], [901, 972], [1034, 1103], [1176, 1215], [1249, 1277], [1280, 1317], [0, 26], [86, 171], [505, 635], [2079, 2123]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The much-maligned symbol of motoring in Communist East Germany , the Trabant , is set to make an unlikely comeback as a concept car at this year 's International Motor Show in Frankfurt . The old-style Trabi is a common sight in Germany where tourist operators use the car for local tours . Designers have replaced the car 's smoke-belching two-stroke engine with electric fuel cells and solar-powered air-conditioning . This , they promise , is not the four-wheeled object of ridicule that rolled off production lines in East Germany from 1957 until 1991 . This is the new Trabant , or Trabi as they 're known , an energy-efficient city car for modern drivers . `` I think the market will be people who say the old Trabant was a cool car , and people who want to have a stylish car , and want to have a green car , '' Daniel Stiegler , of Herpa Miniaturemodelle , told CNN . Herpa is not a carmaker , at least not in the traditional sense . It makes model cars and airplanes , of the type that sit in display cabinets , not garages . Two years ago , a member of its management team , Klaus Schindler , decided it was time to make a miniature model of the Trabant . Herpa took it to the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 2007 and were stunned by the response . `` We had a special folder where people at the fair could fill out and give it back to use . We had about 14,000 reactions on that , and most of them , 90 percent , said ` Yes , the Trabant is a really cool car , let 's bring it back , ' '' Stiegler said . Herpa teamed up with German auto parts maker IndiKar , which has designed a prototype to be unveiled at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September . They hope to attract enough interest to put the car back into production . The early response of Trabi enthusiasts to an electric version of their much-loved cars has been encouraging . `` This will be an ideal vehicle to try it on , '' Geoff Armitage , who had been the president or chairman of the Wartburg Trabant IFA Club UK on and off for some 18 years . `` If they go for the same type of cladding of duroplast , or western-style glass fibre , you have a light body which obviously will be an advantage for an electric car . '' The original exterior of the cars was made from duroplast , a blend of cast-off cotton fibers from Russia mixed with glue . Armitage bought his first Trabant in the Netherlands in 1987 , two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall . Over the years , he 's owned around 20 of the German cars , adding `` we have several restoration projects in the yard at the moment . '' Like many admirers , he appreciates the Trabi 's simplicity . `` They are basic technology . There is absolutely nothing that we ca n't repair ourselves . If we ca n't get the parts we can usually make them , '' he laughed . `` If they can do the electrical conversion , for want of a better term , in a relatively low-tech way so they keep it simple I think it could be a success , '' he said . German filmmaker Maximilian Spohr spent four years making a documentary about the Trabant . He became fascinated about the car 's origins as a child growing up in the East where residents faced up to a fourteen-year wait for delivery of their vehicles . `` There was only a certain contingent , a certain amount , allowed every year , because they did n't have enough screws , they did n't have enough parts , '' he said . For his documentary , `` A Car For A Dollar , '' he interviewed former Trabant engineers and owners and found an abundance of nostalgia for the old-style vehicles , despite their association with Communist repression . `` People remember it as their only partner in crime , '' Spohr said . `` It was the one and only thing that brought them around the country . They were n't allowed to go far . This was the only vehicle they could use and it was always reliable , most times . '' Many of the cars were dumped by their owners as soon as they 'd driven them to freedom over the border from East to West . Spohr said it did n't take long for nostalgia to kick in and the first Trabi appreciation meeting was held in 1990 , just one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall . Of plans for a new , eco-friendly Trabi , Spohr says , '' `` I think it 's great . People would probably love it , I think it will sell . Big time . '' If the modern Trabant fails to materialize , there 's always the option to step back in time in the original version . Trabis can still be seen slowly weaving through traffic , particularly in Berlin and Dresden , where Trabi-Safari leads tourists in a procession of up to six cars to local points of interest . | Relic of Communist East Germany to be revived as eco-friendly city car . New electric Trabant to be unveiled at International Motor Show in Frankfurt . Car was once the only vehicle available in East before fall of Berlin Wall . Trabi enthusiasts admire the car 's simplicity , ability to make running repairs . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [105, 223], [2649, 2689]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Animal rights campaigners were holding a meeting Tuesday with Britain 's Ministry of Defence to argue against the use of bearskin in the iconic furry headgear worn by royal guards at Buckingham Palace . A PETA activist in Sofia , Bulgaria earlier this year protests against UK troops wearing bearskin hats . Robbie LeBlanc , European director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -LRB- PETA -RRB- , was meeting with Ann Taylor , the minister for defense equipment and support , the defense ministry said . `` We are hoping that they will switch to a humane synthetic alternative , '' a PETA spokeswoman said . PETA has been campaigning for years against the use of bearskin in the headgear , a familiar symbol of London worn by the guards who keep watch over royal buildings like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle . The hats are part of the footguards ' ceremonial dress , along with the bright red jackets . PETA says the bears used to produce the fur hats are killed cruelly and unnecessarily . `` It 's an absolute moral disgrace , '' said Mike Hancock , a British lawmaker who has joined PETA 's campaign against the bearskins . `` I do n't think the British public or tourists will mind if it 's synthetic fur , and I 'm absolutely amazed in this day and age that we see beautiful animals skinned and killed '' to produce the hats . A spokesman for the National Army Museum in London , Julian Farrance , said the fur comes only from Canadian bears that have died naturally , and that no bears are killed for the hats . Campaigners say they still want the defense ministry to use a different material . `` It still promotes the usage of animal fur in areas where it 's totally unnecessary , in my view , for fur to be used , '' said Glenda Jackson , another British lawmaker opposed to the use of the fur . The British Army 's use of the bearskin hats dates back to the Battle of Waterloo on in 1815 , when Wellington 's army defeated the French Imperial Guard in a victory that marked Napoleon 's downfall . The British soldiers captured the headgear from the defeated Imperial Guardsmen and have worn them ever since , although today the hats are only worn for ceremonial duties . Those British soldiers were renamed the Grenadier Guards to honor their defeat of the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guards . The Grenadiers are now among five bearskin-wearing regiments that guard British royal buildings . But each bearskin hat is heavy and can prove very hot for the wearer . `` There have been occasions where soldiers have suffered from heatstroke , because obviously wearing that much fur on your head ... can get quite warm , '' Farrance said . | Animal rights campaigners oppose UK royal guards wearing furry headgear . Scheduled to stage meeting with defense ministry in London Tuesday . Iconic headgear has been worn since the battle of Waterloo in 1815 . Army expert : Fur comes only from Canadian bears that have died naturally . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [36, 194], [1861, 1953], [1388, 1438], [1459, 1502], [1483, 1502], [1508, 1527]] |
Florence 's best buys tend to be leather goods , designer wear and food . Roberto Cavalli 's Florence store , just one of the city 's many high-end boutiques . If money is no object , head to Via Tornabuoni , Florence 's answer to 5th Avenue , and snap up Prada , Gucci , and local-born designers Cavalli , Ferragamo and Pucci . If your budget does n't stretch that far , head south to the city outskirts by car or taxi to the designer outlets where you can pick up luxury goods from Dolce and Gabbana and more at bargain prices -LRB- www.outlet-firenze.com . -RRB- . For hand-made cashmere or silk-lined leather gloves , try Madora -LRB- Via Guicciardini 1/R ; +39 055 239 6526 -RRB- . Some people travel all the way to Florence just to shop here . If you have ever admired Sting 's suits , you can buy one of your own from Piero and Franco Cisternino -LRB- Via del Purgatorio 22/R ; +39 055 280 118 -RRB- who make men 's suits to measure . One of the most beautiful shops in Florence is an ancient herbal pharmacy or apothecary , Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella -LRB- Via della Scala 16 ; +39 055 216 276 -RRB- , set in a 13th-century frescoed chapel . Its world renowned products include pomegranate perfume , orange blossom water and carnation milk soap . Italians have typically been late adopters of vintage fashion but Elio Ferraro -LRB- Via del Parione 47/R ; +39 055 290 425 ; www.elioferraro.com -RRB- was ahead of the game . A visit to his gallery/shop will unearth vintage Yves Saint Laurent , Dior and Chanel from the 1930s onwards . ... . Florence City Guide : . Where to stay | What to see | Where to be seen | Where to eat | Where to shop . ... . Do you agree with our Florence picks ? Send us your comments and suggestions in the `` Sound Off '' box below and we 'll print the best . | Florence 's shopping is n't cheap : think high-end luxury goods . Italian designers can be found on Via Tornabuoni -- and also at the outlet mall . Florence is famous for its quality leather goods , like silk-lined gloves . Made-to-measure suits and vintage fashions can also be found . | [[568, 619], [622, 659]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 7-year-old girl died after a large ocean wave kicked up by Hurricane Bill knocked her and two other people into the Atlantic off Maine 's Acadia National Park on Sunday , a park official said . An ocean wave knocked three people into the Atlantic off Maine 's Acadia National Park on Sunday . Coast Guard rescuers plucked the three from the ocean after a wave swept them from a rocky ledge at the park , according to Sheridan Steele , the park 's superintendent . The conditions of the two survivors -- a 12-year-old girl and a man -- were not immediately available . No names were released . Ocean waves also injured a few other people at the park , knocking them to the ground or into rocks and crevices , Steele said . Some were taken to a hospital with broken bones or other injuries , Steele said . The victims were among several thousand people who were at the park late Sunday morning to watch the high waves that Hurricane Bill -- a Category 1 storm -- was producing offshore . `` Even though we try to warn people and try to get people to watch from a safe distance , we were n't able to contact everybody in time , '' Steele said Sunday evening . The hurricane 's center passed New England without making landfall and got very close to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Sunday afternoon . It was expected to pass near or over southeastern Nova Scotia , Canada , on Sunday night , the National Hurricane Center said . Watch how Canada is bracing for Bill '' At 11 p.m. , Hurricane Bill was about 115 miles west-northwest of Cape Race , Newfoundland , according to the hurricane center . The storm had maximum sustained winds near 75 mph , and was moving to the east-northeast near 40 mph the center reported . Bill would become a tropical storm if its winds fall below 74 mph . `` Weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Bill is expected to become extratropical on Monday , '' the center 's 11 p.m. advisory said . `` Large and dangerous swells generated by Hurricane Bill will continue to impact the Atlantic Maritimes of Canada overnight . '' Though tropical storm warnings were lifted in the United States , tropical storm warnings were in effect for parts of Canada 's Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island and and Newfoundland . A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours . `` Large and dangerous swells generated by Hurricane Bill '' were possible along those provinces Sunday night , and 2 to 6 inches of rain were possible in Newfoundland , the advisory said . Earlier , the weather service warned that dangerous surf and `` life-threatening rip currents '' remained concerns along the U.S. East Coast . Rip currents are strong seaward flows of water that occur where there 's a break in the shoreline . They are difficult to detect . Watch a primer on rip currents '' The water is unsafe even for `` strong swimmers , '' Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick warned Saturday . Though beaches along the Massachusetts coast remained closed , the National Weather Service lifted its tropical storm warnings there Sunday morning . Stuart Smith , the harbormaster in Chatham , Massachusetts , said there were reports of `` insignificant '' storm-related damage , but Bill did not cause much concern . `` I think we really dodged a bullet , '' he said . `` It stayed just enough offshore to give us a break . '' Watch how Canada is bracing for Bill '' It 's good news for President Obama and his family , who planned to arrive for vacation in Martha 's Vineyard , Massachusetts , on Sunday . `` We look forward to welcoming him to Massachusetts as soon as he can safely get here , '' Patrick said . Rain was scant in Chatham on Sunday morning as residents went about their normal business . Doug Ricciardi , a cook at the Chatham Pier Fish Market , was making 5-gallon buckets of chowder , as he does every morning . He said he was expecting a typically busy day at the restaurant . Watch how surf warnings persist in North Carolina '' Smith said the only problems reported were a few small boats washed ashore or coming loose from their moorings . Patrick O'Connell of Chatham said he has a house on nearby North Beach Island , and neither his nor his neighbor 's house suffered any damage . Smith said the beaches should reopen Monday at 2 p.m. after the heavy surf and rip currents pass . The Coast Guard reported swells reached 18 feet about 15 miles off the Massachusetts coast early Sunday . The swells began diminishing around 3 a.m. , and swells off the coast of Chatham on Sunday morning were 11 feet . Watch the waves crash on Massachusetts beach '' Hurricane Bill skirted Bermuda , leaving rain in its wake . A tropical storm warning for Bermuda was discontinued . iReport.com : Are you bracing for Hurricane Bill ? The weather service reported that swells from Bill continued to affect Bermuda early Sunday , but should gradually diminish over the course of the day . CNN 's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report . | NEW : One of three people in Maine swept into Atlantic Ocean by wave dies . Victims were among people at state park to watch high waves from Hurricane Bill . Storm skirts East Coast ; Massachusetts residents carry on with daily lives . Chatham , Massachusetts , harbormaster : `` I think we really dodged a bullet '' | [[0, 15], [19, 66], [95, 145], [215, 313], [48, 94], [215, 313], [614, 625], [631, 669], [848, 871], [913, 1006], [1975, 2019], [2413, 2460], [1178, 1220], [3718, 3809], [3765, 3809], [3324, 3357]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A glimpse of something shiny on the ocean floor nine years ago led a Welsh diver to uncover a piece of local history that had been forgotten for more than a century . The silver pocket watch was found off the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales . Diver Rich Hughes was exploring a shallow shipwreck off the Pembrokeshire coast in April 2000 when he noticed the object embedded in sediment . He thought at first that he had found a coin , but he found it was actually an intact silver pocket watch , still bearing the inscription of its owner . Hughes said he was determined to trace the history of the watch , believing such a prized object deserved to belong to family members or a local museum . But that led Hughes on a nine-year search with lots of dead ends and few leads . Now , months after enlisting the help of a local researcher , Hughes has finally tracked down a family member and will be presenting the watch to him next week . `` I 'm very happy and satisfied that we found out who he was , '' Hughes told CNN by phone Wednesday . `` It sort of brings the story to a close . It 's quite rewarding that it has n't just sat in the back of somebody 's garage . '' The watch inscription reads `` Richard Prichard , Abersoch , North Wales , 1866 . '' That was the only information Hughes had to go on for most of the past nine years ; even the name of Prichard 's ship was a mystery at the time . Over the years , Hughes searched records in person and online , contacting everyone from county records offices to Lloyd 's of London . Nothing turned up any information about Richard Prichard . `` It becomes a bit of a bug , really , '' Hughes said . `` It 's hard to describe . If you find something like that -- it 's a very personal item , and one of my biggest bugbears is if somebody pulls something off a shipwreck and it just sits in the back of their garage . `` It 's just a lost opportunity and it 's tragic when that happens , that history is just put in a corner , '' Hughes said . `` You 're obligated to find something out about it . It 's your duty to do it . '' Earlier this year , out of frustration , Hughes said he turned his attention again to the place name inscribed on the pocket watch , Abersoch , a coastal town in north Wales . `` I just kept doing searches on Google to find out whether any historical societies at all had any information on it , '' he said . That led Hughes to a couple that runs the Web site for a nearby village , Rhiw , and they put Hughes in touch with researcher and historian David Roberts . Roberts searched the graveyards of local churches and found two references to Richard Prichard . He also found a reference to Prichard on the Welsh Mariners ' Web site , showing that Prichard was captain of an iron-clad barque called the Barbara . The pocket watch was probably a gift to Prichard when he was promoted to mate in 1866 , from his fellow sailors or his parents . Prichard became captain of the ship and died in 1881 while the Barbara was en route to Rangoon , which is modern-day Yangon , in Myanmar . He was buried at sea . The watch was lost on the Barbara 's return trip to Wales with a cargo of rice later that year . Roberts believes the man who took over from Prichard , Captain Jones , was probably bringing the watch home in order to present it to Prichard 's widow . Jones probably intended to sail through St. George 's Channel , between Ireland and Wales , on his way to Liverpool , Hughes said . But on a dark November night , in driving rain and gale-force winds , Jones took a wrong turn and found himself stuck in the Bristol Channel , along Wales ' south coast . `` These ships could n't turn around -- they could only go 90 degrees to the winds , '' Hughes said . `` He would n't have known where he was . '' Hughes said the captain would probably have been filled with fear to see the cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coastline in front of him , where waves that night were probably at heights of 30 to 40 feet . With no way to turn around , the Barbara crashed into the cliffs and sank . Everyone on board the ship was saved , with the exception of Captain Jones , who went down along with Prichard 's pocket watch . While that solved the mystery of the unidentified shipwreck , tracing Prichard 's descendants proved a tougher task . Though Prichard had a son , he died with no heirs , and Roberts found no descendants from Prichard 's three sisters . Prichard 's only surviving relative is Owen Cowell , a retired dentist living in Pwllheli , North Wales -- incidentally , not far from Abersoch . Cowell 's grandmother was Prichard 's cousin . Hughes now plans to present the pocket watch next week to Cowell , who in turn plans to present it to the Abersoch village hall for display in an annual exhibition . This year 's display will open a week from Saturday , he said . | Diver finds watch on sea floor off Welsh coast , spends years tracing its history . Diver discovers watch originally belonged to Richard Prichard , captain of the Barbara . Prichard died at sea in 1881 ; watch was probably being returned to his widow . Watch was lost when Barbara was shipwrecked in driving rain , gale-force winds . | [[9, 32], [99, 152], [573, 636], [1435, 1449], [1452, 1496], [2956, 2964], [2996, 3050], [3095, 3117], [3532, 3568]] |
PHOENIX , Arizona -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama took a brief hiatus from his health care push on Monday , promising increased help for America 's war veterans in dealing with life after combat . More money will be spent to treat and screen war veterans for post-traumatic stress and brain injuries , Obama says . Obama , speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix , said his government will always honor military service and never abandon what he called true American heroes . Obama promised increased spending to help war veterans cope with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury , calling those `` the defining injuries of today 's wars . '' `` So , caring for those affected by them is a defining purpose of my budget -- billions of dollars more for treatment and mental-health screening to reach our troops on the front lines and more mobile and rural clinics to reach veterans back home , '' Obama said . `` We are not going to abandon these American heroes . We are going to do right by them . '' The president also repeated he intends to have all U.S. combat brigades out of Iraq by the end of August 2010 , and all other U.S. troops out of that country by the end of 2011 . The VFW and ladies auxiliary delegates applauded when he promised to eliminate wasteful Pentagon practices that he said squander billions of dollars that would better be used for supporting U.S. troops and veterans . `` This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue , '' Obama said . `` It 's about giving our troops the support that they need . And that 's something that all Americans should be able to agree to . '' The crowd laughed when Obama cited one example of needless spending -- for a presidential helicopter that he said would enable him to cook a meal when the nation was under nuclear attack . `` Now let me tell you something -- if the United States of America is under nuclear attack , the last thing on my mind will be whipping up a snack , '' he said . Overall , Obama was intent on cementing his support from a key voting demographic that generally tends to back conservative candidates . In a thinly veiled dig at the previous administration , he complained that U.S. forces were being used for far more tasks than fighting wars . While pledging to never hesitate `` to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests , '' Obama also said any decision to deploy U.S. forces would be based on strategic necessity and `` good intelligence . '' `` And I will give you a clear mission , defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done , '' he said to applause . The Obama administration has committed more resources and troops to Afghanistan to battle the insurgency and train Afghan security forces , while also sending additional diplomats and civilian aid workers to focus on reconstruction and development . Obama noted the mission includes providing security for this week 's presidential election there . Gen. Stanley McChrystal , the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan , told The Wall Street Journal that he is still considering a request to send 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan in addition to the planned 68,000 troops who are expected to be in place by the end of the year . Obama made no mention of any troop levels for Afghanistan in his speech . His appearance before the VFW wrapped up his four-day swing through the West . The president has spent the past few days traveling through Montana and Colorado , where he held a series of town hall meetings to promote health care reform , his top domestic priority . He raised the health care issue in his speech to war veterans , pledging that their medical benefits would be untouched in any overhaul of the nation 's health care system . `` No one is going to take away your benefits . That is the plain and simple truth , '' Obama said in reference to what he called misinformation on the issue . CNN 's Ivan Watson and Ed Henry contributed to this report . | NEW : President promises more money to help veterans cope with postwar life . NEW : Money would help with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury . Obama speaks to Veterans of Foreign Wars convention . | [[10, 33], [111, 163], [111, 199], [502, 615], [502, 615], [318, 323], [326, 388]] |
PARIS , France -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The French Senate began debate Tuesday on a law that would mark a significant cultural shift -- allowing many more shops across the country to open on Sundays . The law would permit shops , department stores , and shopping malls to open on Sundays in 20 zones . The bill passed the lower house , the National Assembly , last Tuesday by a vote of 282 to 238 , a partial victory for President Nicolas Sarkozy , who backs it . What seems routine in much of the Western world has been fiercely resisted in France , where Sundays have officially been set aside as a day of rest for more than a century and where a 35-hour workweek remains the norm . The new legislation , if approved by the Senate , would overturn a 1906 law that forbids Sunday trading in all but the largest cities . It is part of a raft of reforms Sarkozy has pushed for since becoming president . While the change is significant , it is not as much as the government originally hoped because Sarkozy had to deal with opposition from both the left and the right . Socialists filed thousands of amendments to the president 's original version of the law . Leftists and unions said it would effectively introduce a seven-day working week and allow bosses to force employees to work Sundays . Members of the president 's own ruling conservative party opposed the law despite assurances it would boost economic activity , saying it would instead deprive families and church groups of their dedicated day . The law would permit shops , department stores and shopping malls to open on Sundays in 20 zones of what are called `` exceptional commercial '' centers near three of the country 's largest cities : Paris , Marseilles , and Lille . Additionally , 29 areas involving about 500 cities and towns would be added to the list of tourist areas , which already allow some economic activity on Sundays . The new law will , among other things , straighten out a somewhat chaotic situation in which some stores managed to obtain exceptions from the old law and others did n't , and where some stores found it made more sense financially to accept fines for breaking the old law because the income from Sunday sales more than made up for the penalties . Opinion polls in France show that slightly more than half the population want shops to have the freedom to open on Sundays , according to Time magazine . The Senate debate is scheduled to last three days , with a vote expected late on Thursday . CNN 's Jim Bittermann contributed to this report . | French Senate debates new law allowing more shops to open on Sundays . If approved new law would overturn 1906 law forbidding Sunday trading . Sarkozy has had to deal with opposition from both left and right . | [[0, 5], [8, 30], [34, 81], [130, 194], [679, 726], [729, 814], [952, 1062], [1289, 1414]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With four Phoenix , Arizona , boys ages 9 to 14 charged with sexual assault on an 8-year-old girl , a prosecutor vowed Thursday his office will `` seek justice for the young victim in this heartrending situation . '' Police say a girl was lured to a storage shed at an apartment complex where she was sexually assaulted . `` This is a deeply disturbing case that has gripped our community , '' said Maricopa County attorney Andrew Thomas . According to Phoenix police , the girl was lured to a storage shed at an apartment complex on July 16 . The four boys , who had offered the girl chewing gum , allegedly restrained and sexually assaulted her . At a news conference about the case Wednesday , police did not release any information on the girl 's condition , but officers called the case one of the worst they have investigated in many years . The 14-year-old was charged as an adult and will face two counts of sexual assault and one count of kidnapping , Thomas said Thursday . The other three boys were charged in juvenile court with sexual assault , and two of them also were charged with kidnapping , Thomas said . All the suspects except for the 14-year-old live in the same apartment complex , according to Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill . The victim and the boys charged are all from refugee families that have come to the United States from the war-torn West African nation of Liberia , police said . Detectives said the girl was placed in the custody of Phoenix child protective services after the attack because of her parents ' attitude toward her . `` The parents felt that they had been shamed or embarrassed by their child , '' Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill said . The Phoenix Police Department has a community response unit that assists with such sensitive cases . `` They made some initial contacts with the refugee community . They acted as liaison and were present when the child protective services agency took the victim , '' Hill said . Protective services officers `` will determine what 's going to happen in the days ahead and they 'll look at the past history with that family , if there is one , '' he said . CNN affiliate KTVK said it interviewed the girl 's 23-year-old sister , who said she was baby-sitting the girl at the time of the alleged attack . The sister , who was not identified by name by the station , expressed mixed feelings about her sister 's attack . `` I came to her and said it 's not good for you to be following guys because you are still little , '' the sister told KTVK . She also said that she wanted the suspects to be released from jail because `` we are the same people . '' `` When she comes back I 'm going to tell her do n't ever do that again because all of us , we are the same family , we are from the same place . Now she is just bringing confusion among us . Now the other people , they do n't want to see her , '' the sister told KTVK . Tony Weedor , a Liberian who fled civil war with his family and now lives in the Denver , Colorado , area , told CNN that cultural aspects are deep in the case . In Liberia rape was not against the law until 2006 , he said . `` The family -LSB- believes they -RSB- have been shamed by her , not a crime , but the name of the family has been degraded and news will get back to Liberia . And they 're more concerned about that than the crime , '' said Weedor , who is co-founder of the CenterPoint International Foundation , which aids Liberian refugees in the United States and provides aid for those still in Liberia . Edwin Sele , the deputy ambassador of Liberia to the United States , also responded to the incident . `` Having heard the story myself , I 'm outraged , '' he said . `` In Liberia , the family and law enforcement officers would be embracing the victim . To hear that the family is not doing that , that should be an isolated case . '' Resettlement groups around the country help refugees settle into life in the United States . Among them is the Refugee and Immigrants Relief Center in Phoenix , where Omar Dolleh , a refugee from Sierra Leone in West Africa , is the program director . As a part of the refugee orientation program , he said , his group touches upon the laws in the United States , but the most immediate goal for refugees and organizations that help them is finding employment and places to live . CNN 's Sara Pratley contributed to this report . | Prosecutor vows justice for girl who says she was sexually assaulted by young boys . Officers call the case one of the worst they have investigated . Victim 's sister wants suspects released because `` we are the same people '' Police in Phoenix , Arizona , say 8-year-old girl lured to vacant shed with gum . | [[119, 157], [164, 232], [563, 603], [643, 667], [786, 827], [815, 866], [2547, 2550], [2556, 2622], [2570, 2650], [236, 305], [459, 486], [489, 562]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- They are domestic relics of a bygone era when space travel was new and exciting and the world was buzzing with optimism about what could be . This Coney Island playground climbing frame is one of the larger items clogging the Kleeman family 's barn . NASA 's Apollo 11 moon landing 40 years ago reinvigorated demand for space-inspired mementoes that was stirring well before the start of the Space Age in the 1950s . Shops offered everything from rocket-shaped lamps , to skateboards , biscuit tins and toys emblazoned with stars and futuristic astronauts . Such was the excitement surrounding the momentous moon landing in 1969 that some were moved to create their own memorabilia in needlepoint and tin . See memorabilia of 1969 moon landing '' Many early examples of space-inspired design , both professional and homemade , can now be found in a 100ft hay barn at the Kleeman family home in the U.S. state of Connecticut . They 're not on display -- yet -- but the family hopes to soon show the world what they call the `` Space Age Museum , '' a collection of as many as 10,000 pieces inspired by humanity 's adventures in space . `` Everything started with a toy ray gun Peter and I bought at a flea market in Brimfield , Massachusetts 20 years ago for $ 10 , '' John Kleeman said . `` We have never lost the excitement of that first find and since then we have continued our quest for cultural artifacts which tell the back story of the Space Age -- how ordinary folk like us experienced the magic , adventure and meaning of human space exploration . '' Weekend trips to markets and auctions became more frequent and over time the collection grew to include more cumbersome items including a 40-foot promotional trailer based on the design of `` Terra IV , '' a battle cruiser in the 1950s U.S. television series , `` Space Patrol . '' `` They had a movie theatre inside so 40 people could sit inside it and watch a rocket launch , '' John 's son Peter explained . `` We had to adjust the doors to the barn to fit it , but it 's in our barn now . '' As the barn became more crowded , references to their `` collection '' morphed into `` the museum '' and their father-son hobby transformed into a potential business . `` It was kind of a ` some day ' kind of thing , '' Peter said . `` My dad had a day job as an attorney and I was in college and we said some day we 'll create a museum so people can visit . '' `` Then three or four years ago I was at a point where I 'd been working in the outdoors leading trips for youth at risk and thinking , `` Do I want to do this forever ? How am I going to fit this space museum into the picture some day ? ' I realized that I 'd like to do it now . '' Since then , they 've been carefully peeling back layers of packaging and photographing their second-hand treasures for a digital catalogue . `` My mum is surprisingly and wonderfully supportive of all this , '' Peter said . `` Because it 's a family business she always gets consulted , especially on large acquisitions . I think there have been some vetoes but there 's nothing that she 's vetoed that we wish that we 'd gotten . '' Now 29 , Peter Kleeman travels back and forth from his parents ' house and his new home in New York to build the business . `` For now we 'd like to contract out our exhibits to other museums and then if funding and the right sponsorship came in we 'd be open to doing a permanent location so people could visit , '' he said . For Peter , the Space Age Museum is not simply about nostalgia ; it 's an important reminder of the enthusiasm that once gripped the world about future frontiers that has slowly deflated with time . `` One of the questions I ask myself is , ` what would it take to turn that around and for us to have a more creative and adventurous optimism for the future , and get that pioneering spirit back in our culture ? ' '' A mission to Mars might be one , he suggested , along with a long-term plan for future exploration . This museum curator is not in the camp that argues that money for space programs is better spent at home . `` A lot of people feel that because of our environment and different social and economic struggles that are going on in the planet that we should just focus all of our resources on fixing things here , '' he said . `` I agree -- there 's a lot that 's not working on our planet . We should be taking care of each other but that should n't stop us from also exploring -- there 's a got to be a way to balance it . `` I think that knowing our place in the solar system and beyond helps give us perspective on who we are and where we are . I think it can be humbling and it also helps us remember how precious and rare our planet is and that we really need to protect it and manage its resources better . '' | For more than 20 years the Kleeman family has collected space-inspired items . Collection includes rocket-shaped lamps , old space toys , climbing frames . Family preparing to launch the `` Space Age Museum '' to display exhibits . Kleeman : `` Knowing our place in the solar system helps give us perspective '' | [[178, 248], [453, 502], [1000, 1010], [1020, 1078], [4542, 4629], [4593, 4643]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Britain 's Prince William went hiking Friday with a group of homeless teenagers on a picturesque peak in northern England to raise awareness for two charities he patrons , spokespeople for the prince and one of the charities said . Prince William , right , joined a group of homeless teams on a mountain climb in the UK . William , 27 , was joined by six teenagers from Centrepoint , a charity for homeless young people , as they walked up Helvellyn , a mountain in the Cumbria region of northeastern England . Leading the group were members of Mountain Rescue , a volunteer-run charity . Prince William is the patron of both charities . The aim of the walk was to provide some of Centrepoint 's homeless teens with a memorable and challenging day , and also to have an event that both charities could participate in together . Each teenager was paired with a Mountain Rescue volunteer as they climbed the mountain , said Andy Simpson , a spokesman for the charity who was on the walk . After days of spotty storms , the group got lucky with the weather and had sunshine and big , billowy clouds for much of the two-hour climb , Simpson said . He described Helvellyn as a moderate mountain that requires a certain level of fitness . The prince , however , did very well -- not surprising , given his military training . `` He 's a very fit bloke , '' Simpson said . `` I had trouble keeping up with him . '' The location of Friday 's hike was kept a secret until the last minute . That meant other climbers on Helvellyn had no idea they would encounter royalty on an otherwise-normal day out . `` One or two of the people were quite surprised , to say the least , to see the future king of England coming the other way , '' Simpson said . William stopped to chat to the people he met , he said . `` It was nice to see him engaging with so many members of the public . They just happened to be out for a walk and it 's just made their day , '' he said . Partway up the mountain , by a lake called Red Tarn , the prince flew a flag for the London 2012 Olympics , Simpson said . Monday marks three years until the Opening Ceremony of the Games . | Prince William joins homeless teens on hike to help charities . William , 27 , was joined by six teenagers from the charity Centrepoint . `` Fit '' prince leads the way up mountain . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [62, 157], [268, 282], [293, 357], [358, 365], [368, 370], [373, 417]] |
-LRB- Entertainment Weekly -RRB- -- Sandra Bullock will surely be popping open the champagne as her new romantic comedy , `` The Proposal , '' accepted the top spot at the box office this weekend by grossing $ 34.1 million , according to early estimates by Hollywood.com Box Office . Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock have reason to celebrate after `` The Proposal '' takes top box office spot . Not only did `` The Proposal '' win the weekend , but it was by far the best opening of Bullock 's career , nearly doubling the opening of her previous best , `` Premonition , '' which debuted to $ 17.6 million in 2007 . While `` The Proposal 's '' success was fueled mostly by women -LRB- 73 percent of the audience was female -RRB- , both women and men gave it a healthy `` A - '' CinemaScore rating , so expect the movie to hold up fairly well during the next few weeks . The weekend 's other big release , the prehistoric buddy comedy `` Year One , '' landed in fourth place with $ 20.2 million -- an okay debut for the $ 60 million movie . However , all indicators point to a quick descent for the Jack Black/Michael Cera flick . `` Year One '' dropped 24 percent from Friday to Saturday -LRB- never a reassuring sign -RRB- , and the movie received an unimpressive `` B - '' rating from CinemaScore . `` Year One '' is all but certain to join `` Land of the Lost '' as another box-office disappointment for high-concept comedies . On the other hand , `` The Hangover '' -LRB- No. 2 with $ 26.9 million -RRB- and `` Up '' -LRB- No. 3 with $ 21.3 million -RRB- continued to show off their box-office stamina , dropping only 18 percent and 31 percent , respectively , from the prior weekend . `` Up '' now stands at $ 224 million , and may levitate past `` Star Trek '' -LRB- currently at $ 239 million -RRB- to become the year 's highest-grossing film . Finishing off the top five was `` The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 , '' which fell an alarming 52 percent for an $ 11.3 million weekend stash . Also opening this weekend was Woody Allen 's `` Whatever Works , '' starring Larry David . The New York-based comedy laughed up $ 281,000 from just nine theaters for a weekend-leading $ 31,000 gross per theater . The film will expand to more than 300 theaters on July 3 . Overall , the box office was up 3 percent compared to last year 's Father 's Day weekend , when `` Get Smart '' debuted to a surprisingly sharp $ 38.7 million . Hope you all are having a splendid Father 's Day ! I know I will -- I 'm taking my pop to see `` Up . '' CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . Copyright 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | `` The Proposal , '' accepted the top spot at box office by grossing $ 34.1 million . This is the best opening of Bullock 's career , nearly doubling her previous best . Jack Black 's comedy `` Year One '' landed in fourth place with $ 20.2 million . Check out the rest of the top 10 movies at this weekend 's box office . | [[140, 195], [183, 187], [196, 222], [284, 394], [351, 394], [449, 500], [449, 451], [503, 551], [948, 993]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A jury in Arkansas convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on Friday of 10 federal counts of taking minors across state lines for sex , according to the court in the Western District in Arkansas . Evangelist Tony Alamo was convicted of all 10 counts against him and will be sentenced later . Authorities in September charged Alamo , the 74-year-old founder and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries , and raided his 15-acre compound near Texarkana , Arkansas . Jurors reached the verdict after more than eight hours of deliberations . Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years . Between March 1994 and October 2005 , Alamo transported five girls younger than 18 across state lines for sex , according to the indictment . The criminal complaint included accounts from three of the girls , two of whom were 17 when the complaint was filed last year and one who was 14 . All three said Alamo sexually abused them . Alamo , whose real name is Bernie Hoffman , had denied all wrongdoing . In a phone interview last year with CNN , he called the accusations a hoax . `` They 're just trying to make our church look evil ... by saying I 'm a pornographer . Saying that I rape little children . ... I love children . I do n't abuse them . Never have . Never will . '' Asked why authorities were searching the property , Alamo compared himself to Christ . `` Why were they after Jesus , '' he asked . `` It 's the same reason . Jesus is living within me . '' Alamo also has compounds in Oklahoma and New Jersey . The Southern Poverty Law Center says Tony Alamo Christian Ministries is anti-Catholic and a cult . | Jury convicts Tony Alamo of all 10 counts against him . He was accused of transporting minors across state lines for sex . Alamo , whose real name is Bernie Hoffman , heads Tony Alamo Ministries . | [[0, 15], [38, 144], [208, 272], [935, 940], [959, 976]] |
After years of speculation and rare case reports , a study suggests that stimulant medication -- mostly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- may have played a role in a handful of cases of sudden , unexplained death in children and adolescents . Untreated ADHD can lead to poor school performance and increase adolescents ' risk for harmful behavior . The study authors stress , however , that parents and doctors should not refrain from treating children with ADHD just because of these results . `` The association is significant in that it 's real , but that does n't mean it 's not a very low risk , '' says lead author Madelyn S. Gould , Ph.D. , a professor of psychiatry and public health at Columbia University , in New York . `` There probably does need to be more careful monitoring , but the bottom line is that parents should not take their children off stimulant medication they 're currently on and should not be scared to have their child go on a stimulant if that 's what they and their doctors decide is the best thing for their child . '' The study , published this week in the American Journal of Psychiatry , is the first to suggest that the stimulants may pose a risk -- albeit remote -- in children without underlying heart problems . About 2.5 million children in the United States take such medications . Stimulants linked to 1.8 percent of unexplained deaths . Gould and her colleagues compared medical records and parent interviews of children and adolescents who had died between the years of 1985 and 1996 , including 564 who had died from an unexplained heart-rate abnormality or other causes , and 564 who died as passengers in motor vehicle accidents . They excluded cases with other known possible causes of death , such as asthma or congenital heart diseases . Of all the unexplained cases , the researchers found that 10 children , or 1.8 percent of the group , had had stimulant medication prescribed . This compared with only two cases of stimulant use , or 0.4 percent , among healthy children who had died in motor vehicle accidents -- a group used to represent a general population of healthy children and adolescents . Health.com : Treatment options for ADHD at any age . In all 10 cases , the children were taking methylphenidate , the active ingredient in Ritalin and Concerta . A similar drug , Adderall , is composed of mixed amphetamine salts and was not included in the study results because it was first approved in 1996 . However , the Food and Drug Administration in 2006 asked the manufacturers of stimulants , including Adderall , to add a warning to their label saying the medications should not be used in children with structural heart abnormalities or other heart problems . At the time , the FDA advisory panel rejected a more stringent black-box warning about the possible risk of sudden unexplained death . Strattera , another medication approved for ADHD in children , is not a stimulant medication . A spokesperson for McNeil Pediatrics , which distributes and markets Concerta , says the company welcomes any data that add to the body of knowledge in this therapeutic area , but did not make a specific comment on the new study . Michael Billings , a spokesperson for Novartis , the manufacturer of Ritalin , notes that the drug has been used for more than 50 years and is the most studied ADHD medication . Health.com : Secrets to a stress-free home . `` For all of its products , Novartis reviews its global safety and efficacy through post-marketing surveillance and consistently reports new information to health authorities on an ongoing basis , '' says Billings . `` Review of Novartis safety data has failed to detect an increased risk in sudden cardiac death associated with methylphenidate use . '' Not a watershed moment , researchers say . Gould says it 's important to report this association , but she is also concerned about the results being misinterpreted . `` We 're very sensitive to not wanting this to be some watershed moment where stimulant medications start to get used less and get used inappropriately , '' she explains . In an editorial accompanying the article , Benedetto Vitiello , M.D. , and Kenneth Towbin , M.D. , of the National Institute of Mental Health , agree with Gould 's concerns . Health.com : The Top 5 cholesterol myths . They write that the study findings `` should underscore that stimulant medications are not innocuous and that their therapeutic use requires careful diagnostic assessment , diligent safety screening , and ongoing monitoring . `` However , it is equally clear that sudden , unexplained death is a rare event , this is only the first such study , it relies on small numbers , and it is not possible to quantify the risk beyond estimating that it is very small . '' Indeed , since a double-blind , placebo-controlled trial is n't ethically possible in this situation , it is hard to conduct a study that 's not without flaws . Although the researchers are confident that the results are not due to any underlying factors -- children with ADHD often have asthma and heart conditions also linked with sudden death , and so these cases were eliminated from the analysis -- `` one can never be 100 percent sure that there are n't other unknown or undiagnosed issues , '' says Gould . Health.com : Slideshow : Celebrities with ADHD . James Perrin , M.D. , a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children , says the study is n't surprising `` nor particularly convincing . '' He says the research is flawed because , among other problems , it may have underestimated the number of children who were taking stimulants . The rate of stimulant use , particularly in the accident-related deaths , was lower than expected , he says . `` The study adds very little to what we already know , i.e. , that some children who receive stimulants experience sudden unexpected death , '' says Dr. Perrin , who was not involved in the study . `` The current study should not change the use of any medications or treatments . '' More research , careful monitoring is needed . Stimulant medications currently contain a warning targeted to specific high-risk children , including those with structural heart defects , cardiomyopathy , or heart-rhythm disturbances . The medication labels also warn that stimulants may raise blood pressure and heart rate , and have been linked with stroke and heart attack in adults . When deciding whether to put a child on stimulant medications , both clinicians and parents should weigh the seriousness of the situation , says Gould . The benefits may not outweigh the risk in cases in which attention problems may be keeping a B-student from becoming an A-student , she explains . Health.com : Yoga moves to beat ease stress , insomnia , and pain . But with more serious cases , the choice should be clearer . Untreated ADHD can be harmful in itself , leading to poor performance in school and increasing adolescents ' risk for harmful behavior such as reckless driving , unsafe sexual practices , and substance abuse . `` I have two boys , now grown , so I can certainly relate to parents facing these decisions , '' Gould says . `` If my child was having problems to the extent that a neurologist or psychiatrist was recommending medication , I would want the medication -- although , even though we did n't discuss this specifically in the study , I would want my child to have an EKG . '' In 2008 , the American Heart Association recommended that doctors consider routine electrocardiograms before starting children with ADHD on stimulants or other psychotropic medications , but underscored the need for future research . An EKG may help to detect cardiac abnormalities that would increase a child 's vulnerability to sudden heart problems . Parents considering stimulant medication for their children should also provide their doctor with a detailed family history , including any heart problems or sudden deaths of close family members . Future research should focus on new ways to detect which children are most at risk for sudden death when taking stimulants , says Gould , since not all cases seem to be detectable with routine screenings . Until then , a thorough examination and careful monitoring is the best way to reduce a child 's danger . The study was funded by a grant from the NIMH and a contract with the FDA . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Study : Stimulant meds , often used in ADHD , may have role in kids ' deaths . Authors warn parents not to stop treating kids with ADHD ; risk is low . Stimulant meds currently contain a warning targeted to specific high-risk children . About 2.5 million U.S. children take such medications . | [[0, 48], [51, 266], [1077, 1088], [1149, 1276], [373, 397], [400, 407], [410, 486], [373, 376], [410, 518], [6149, 6336], [6189, 6336], [1277, 1348]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Tensions mounted in Paris , Texas , on Tuesday when about 100 mostly black protesters clashed with white supremacist groups in a verbal confrontation over a black man 's death . White supremacists taunt black protesters who marched Tuesday in Paris , Texas . The confrontation stems from the 2008 death of 24-year-old African-American Brandon McClelland . After his body was found mangled on the side of a rural road , investigators concluded he was run over , dragged , and killed . Two white men were initially charged with murder , but the charges were dismissed last month because of a lack of evidence . Black protesters marched through the town Tuesday , hoisting a flag of red , green and black , the colors associated with African liberation movements . They chanted , `` No justice , no peace . '' White demonstrators waved a flag emblazoned with a Nazi swastika and taunted the black marchers , shouting through a megaphone : `` White power , white power . '' Watch the confrontation '' Paris , in northeast Texas , has 25,000 people , 70 percent white and 20 percent black . No violence or injuries were reported but two white men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for trying to incite the protesters , Lt. Danny Huff of the Paris Police Department said . McClelland 's mother , Jacqueline McClelland , told CNN the demonstration was not about race but was aimed at achieving justice for her only child . `` We come seeking justice , not only for myself , but -LSB- for -RSB- other people who have been done wrong , '' she said . `` I want for everyone to get equal justice . `` I do n't know the whole story , '' she said . `` I ca n't be at peace until I know what happened to my child . '' CNN 's Carolina Sanchez contributed to this report . | People in Paris , Texas , march to protest dismissal of charges in black man 's death . Supremacists wave a flag with a Nazi swastika , shouting `` White power '' Two white men charged with disorderly conduct after taunting marchers , police say . Battered body of Brandon McClelland , 24 , was found next to rural road . | [[197, 267], [628, 677], [826, 890], [826, 845], [895, 921], [1143, 1174], [1147, 1160], [1179, 1202], [1192, 1202], [1211, 1246], [278, 374], [375, 435], [438, 487]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus , commonly known as the swine flu , the government said in a televised statement on Tuesday . Oscar Arias , the president of Costa Rica , has contracted the H1N1 virus . Arias fell ill on Sunday , complaining of a sore throat and temperature , Presidential Minister Rodrigo Arias said . A doctor 's visit on Tuesday revealed that the president had the H1N1 virus , cases of which had been reported earlier in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose . The president 's overall health was good , but following his doctor 's advice , he will rest at his home until Sunday , Rodrigo Arias said . The president is expected to return to work on Monday , the minister said . As of Friday , there were 718 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Costa Rica , and the virus has been blamed for 27 deaths , according to a report by the country 's ministry of health . A majority of the confirmed cases -- 480 -- were in San Jose . Arias , 67 , won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for helping bring an end to Central America 's civil wars . More recently , he acted as mediator between two feuding sides claiming the leadership of Honduras . | President Oscar Arias has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus , government says . Arias fell ill Sunday , complaining of a sore throat and a temperature . Arias is expected to return to work on Monday , presidential minister says . As of last Friday , there were 718 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Costa Rica . | [[0, 15], [19, 91], [186, 197], [223, 261], [379, 538], [422, 454], [262, 286], [262, 267], [289, 333], [336, 378], [680, 733], [736, 755], [771, 833]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Health care reform should mean all Americans can get coverage while allowing doctors to heal patients instead of being bureaucrats , President Obama told the American Medical Association on Monday . The AMA agrees with Obama on the need for health care reform but not how to go about it . In a speech to the 158th annual meeting of the doctors ' advocacy organization , Obama called an overhaul of the ailing health care system the most important issue for the nation 's long-term economic stability . He acknowledged the concerns of doctors that reforms could bring a government-heavy system that would dictate how patients get treated and how much physicians get paid . But he called such thinking wrong . Obama urged all players -- doctors , patients , insurance companies , drug companies and the government -- to contribute to a workable system that would provide coverage for the 46 million uninsured Americans while reducing costs and increasing efficiency . `` You did not enter this profession to be bean-counters and paper-pushers , '' Obama said to a standing ovation at the conference in Chicago , Illinois . `` You entered this profession to be healers , and that 's what our health care system should let you be . '' Obama has made health care reform a top priority of his young administration , and Congress will consider at least three proposals in coming weeks to address an issue that deeply divides Democrats and Republicans . Watch Sen. John McCain discuss health care reform '' The AMA represents a powerful constituency of U.S. physicians , and its support is considered important in getting a bill through Congress . Dr. J. James Rohack , president-elect of the AMA , welcomed Obama 's speech for acknowledging the challenges facing doctors , including excessive bureaucracy , the threat of malpractice lawsuits and medical students ' debt burdens . The president 's 50-minute speech detailed the problems of the U.S. health care system and presented his plans for confronting them . He blamed some of the spiraling costs on a reimbursement system that he said pays for the number of tests and services provided , regardless of what is needed . `` It is a model that rewards the quantity of care rather than the quality of care ; that pushes you , the doctor , to see more and more patients even if you ca n't spend much time with each ; and gives you every incentive to order that extra MRI or EKG , even if it 's not truly necessary , '' Obama said . `` It is a model that has taken the pursuit of medicine from a profession -- a calling -- to a business . '' He also cited unnecessary tests and procedures as part of a `` defensive '' medicine culture created in part by the risk of medical malpractice lawsuits . To loud applause , he said ending unnecessary procedures could require restrictions on malpractice liability to protect doctors . `` I 'm not advocating caps on malpractice awards , which I personally believe can be unfair to people who 've been wrongfully harmed , but I do think we need to explore a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first , how to let doctors focus on practicing medicine , how to encourage broader use of evidence-based guidelines , '' Obama said . Watch the Health and Human Services chief talk about the administration 's plan '' Rohack called for a `` safe harbor '' for doctors to determine treatment , warning that `` unless we have protection in a courtroom for not ordering a test , we 're going to order that additional test . '' Obama 's speech advocated an end to health care insurance providers denying coverage for pre-existing conditions , with an emotional reference to his mother 's battle against cancer amid concerns of whether her treatment would be covered . `` Changing the current approach to pre-existing conditions is the least we can do -- for my mother and every other mother , father , son and daughter who has suffered under this practice , who 've been paying premiums and do n't get care , '' he said to another ovation . Any health care bill must include measures to modernize record-keeping with an electronic system that reduces paperwork and increases efficiency , and to emphasize preventive treatment to reduce overall illness and chronic conditions that sap the health care system , Obama said . He defended his call for a government-funded health insurance option for people who are uninsured or can not afford full coverage . Obama repeated a promise that reforms will not require anyone to change from existing coverage but said an overhaul should include mandates for individuals to obtain coverage or employers to provide it . A proposal from Sen. Edward Kennedy , D-Massachusetts , a longtime health care reform proponent , includes a public option as one choice for consumers . Republican leaders adamantly oppose any public option , complaining it would lead to an eventual government takeover of health care similar to the cradle-to-grave coverage in Canada and England . Kennedy 's health-care bill would cost $ 1 trillion over a decade and reduce the number of uninsured by about 16 million , according to a preliminary analysis released Monday on the the unfinished bill . The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office , which examined the unfinished bill with the the help of the Joint Committee on Taxation , said that the health-care bill would cost about $ 1 trillion over fiscal years 2010 to 2019 . The AMA acknowledges the need for reforms but opposes any public option plan that forces physicians to participate , expands the fiscally challenged Medicare program for senior citizens or pays Medicare rates . Obama outlined a series of steps to lower current costs and raise taxes to pay for an overhaul of the health care system . His actions would realize almost $ 1 billion over the next 10 years in cost reductions , new revenue and other funding , which is roughly the amount that health care reforms would cost , the president said . His plan includes reducing tax deductions for high-income Americans . Another funding idea under consideration is taxing the medical benefits of employer-provided health coverage , which the Obama administration opposes but has not ruled out entirely . Watch more about who pays for health care '' A national survey released last week by Diageo/Hotline found that 68 percent of those questioned opposed taxing health insurance benefits to provide funding for the enormous cost of expanding health care coverage to all Americans . Possible alternatives to a public health insurance option include private cooperatives , like electricity cooperatives , owned and paid for by communities that would compete with existing insurance programs . Supporters say such a program would require initial government support , but eventually would provide the kind of competition Obama seeks without creating a new government bureaucracy . Watch Rep. Ron Paul weigh in on health care reform '' Obama said Monday that the nation is ready to overhaul the health care system after decades of debate with no substantive action . `` What makes this moment different is that this time -- for the first time -- key stakeholders are aligning not against , but in favor of reform , '' he said . `` They are coming together out of a recognition that while reform will take everyone in our health care community doing their part , ultimately , everyone will benefit . '' As Obama spoke to doctors in Chicago , Senate Republican leaders in Washington intensified their attacks on the proposals , with one predicting `` momentum will inevitably slow '' as Americans learn the details of the complicated overhaul . Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona , the No. 2 Republican in the Senate , also said it 's `` fairly unlikely '' Republicans will back a Finance Committee bill that has been seen as the most likely measure in Congress to gain bipartisan support . In speeches and press events on Capitol Hill , Republican leaders highlighted controversial aspects of the proposals that have drawn criticism from key doctor and hospital groups . `` Over the weekend , the administration proposed making cuts to Medicare as a way of deferring costs of a new government plan . That is exactly the wrong approach , '' Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in speech on the Senate floor . `` America 's seniors expect Congress to stabilize Medicare so it continues to serve their needs , not drain its resources to pay for another even bigger government plan . '' Kyl said Obama 's proposals would lead to higher taxes , rationing of health care and too much government control of a sector that needs vibrant private sector involvement to thrive . Kyl and McConnell introduced a bill Monday that would prevent the government from using comparative medical analysis to ration health care . The stepped-up criticism came days before two Senate committees begin the process of formally passing their bills . While GOP support for the Obama reforms has never been strong , Democrats have been negotiating with Republicans for months in hopes of bringing some on board . CNN 's Paul Steinhauser and Ted Barrett contributed to this report . | NEW : AMA official welcomes speech , calls for malpractice protection for doctors . President calls for insurers to stop denying coverage for pre-existing conditions . He also wants modernized record-keeping , cut in paperwork , increased efficiency . AMA agrees nation needs health care reform , is unsure about public option plan . | [[3567, 3643], [942, 984], [727, 732], [961, 984], [4120, 4140], [4146, 4188], [218, 278], [5444, 5485]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Three Disney monorail workers have been placed on paid leave just days after two monorail trains crashed at the Orlando , Florida , theme park , killing one of the train 's operators , according to a Disney spokeswoman . Train operator Austin Wuennenberg , 21 , was killed in Sunday 's monorail crash . Walt Disney World spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said the action was `` part of an investigative process , not a disciplinary action . '' The three workers were a monorail maintenance shop member , the monorail pilot of one of the trains and a transportation manager . Disney would not name the employees . The National Transportation Safety Board , which is investigating the Sunday morning accident , is expected to be at the park for several days . `` To this point in the investigation , no anomalies or malfunctions have been found with the automatic train stop system or with any mechanical components of the switch or with either trains , '' the NTSB said in a statement . The crash killed operator Austin Wuennenberg , 21 . The operator of the other train was taken to a hospital , where he was treated and released . Additionally , six passengers on Wuennenberg 's train were treated at the scene for minor injuries . Wuennenberg was piloting the `` Purple '' train . The other train , known as the `` Pink '' train , was operated by one of the employees who has since been placed on leave . The Pink train was instructed to go back through a track switch that would take it from the monorail 's Epcot loop to the Magic Kingdom loop . `` For undetermined reasons that are currently under investigation , the switch had not changed position needed to allow the Pink train to be routed to the Magic Kingdom loop , '' putting the Pink and Purple trains on a collision course , the NTSB statement said . NTSB investigators believe that Wuennenberg attempted to put his train into reverse before the collision , attempting to avoid the crash . The Orange County Sheriff 's Office , which is investigating Wuennenberg 's death , would not comment , citing the ongoing investigation . | Action is `` part of an investigative process , '' spokeswoman says . Workers are maintenance shop member , pilot and transportation manager . Sunday morning crash of two trains killed one driver . NTSB is still investigating incident . | [[322, 451], [371, 421], [1965, 2000], [2069, 2103], [455, 512], [240, 273], [276, 278], [281, 321]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 14-year-old boy allegedly beaten at a boot camp in China for young Internet addicts was in critical condition Thursday , less than three weeks after a youth at a different camp died , Chinese state media reported . People sit at a wireless cafe in Beijing , using their laptop computers . Internet use has skyrocketed in China , especially among teens . And Chinese parents have turned to hundreds of training camps that offer to wean their children -- mostly teenagers -- from excessive Internet use . There are at least 400 private rehabilitation clinics or camps in the country , according to a recent survey by the China Youth Internet Association , adding that China has 10 million teenage Web addicts . But the Chinese Ministry of Health says none of the private rehab clinics are legally registered . The parents of Pu Liang , the injured teen , had sent him to a camp called the Anti-traditional Education Training Center on August 4 near Chengdu , capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan , Chinese media reported . Pu allegedly was beaten three times between August 4 and August 11 . Police discovered the boy in solitary confinement last week and he was taken to a hospital , according to media reports . His parents accused a counselor at the camp and Pu 's peers of repeatedly hitting him , Chinese media said , adding that particular camp has been closed . `` He is suffering from water on the lungs and kidney failure , '' Pu 's father , Pu Shiwei , told the publication China View on Wednesday . `` All injuries were done by the people at the camp . '' The training center denied that a counselor beat the youth , contending Pu was hit by other campers because he could n't get along with them , China View reported . Authorities in Zhongjiang county , where the camp is located , said they detained the counselor after a report of alleged abuse from the parents of another child . The man who established the military-style camp , Wu Yongjing , admitted to the BBC that youngsters were sometimes subjected to `` physical punishment . '' `` Physical punishment is an effective way to educate children -- as long as it can be controlled , '' he said in an online story Wednesday . The injured youth 's mother told Chinese media that her son `` got addicted to online games and frequented Internet cafes ... at the end of last semester , my son said he did n't want to go to school . '' The mother , Li Shubing , saw an ad for the training camp and hoped her son could be helped , she told China Daily . The parents signed a contract with the center and paid 5,000 yuan -LRB- about $ 730 -RRB- , she said . In a separate incident , 15-year-old Deng Senshan died after his parents sent him to a summer training camp for his Internet addiction , according to Chinese news agency Xinhua . That camp was in south China 's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region . Authorities detained several counselors and were investigating the incident . Injuries found on the body indicated the teen had been beaten , Xinhua reported . China is in the process of classifying Internet addiction as a mental illness , according to China Tech News . Medical experts have called for laws and regulations to govern treatment . Last month the government banned electro-shock therapy as treatment for Internet addiction after abuses were reported . Internet users claiming to have received the treatment wrote in blogs and forums about being tied down and subjected to shocks for 30 minutes at a time . `` The market of Internet addiction treatment in China is in a total mess due to lack of diagnostic standards and treatment guidelines , '' said Tao Ran , director of the country 's first Internet addiction clinic at Beijing 's Military General Hospital . China started to pay attention to the prevention of addiction in 1994 , when his clinic opened , Tao said . Data from the Beijing Public Security Bureau indicate that about three-quarters of juvenile criminals in China say they are addicted to the Internet . The proposed Diagnostic Criterion of Internet Addiction makes clear that the Internet-addicted should be treated in medical units with psychiatric departments , Tao said . `` Internet addiction is treatable . Through about three months ' treatment , 80 percent of the patients can get away from the addiction , '' Tao has said . Some youths are so immersed in chat rooms and online games that they drop out of school , he added . `` They are suffering from depression , nervousness , fear and unwillingness to interact with others , panic and agitation . They also have sleep disorders , the shakes and numbness in their hands , '' Tao said . One authority on Internet use in China said she has known several college students there who are wildly enthusiastic about the Internet . `` When they 've come to the U.S. , they 've all been hooked on the social networking sites , '' said Susan Barnes , associate director of the Laboratory of Social Computing at the Rochester Institute of Technology . `` No matter what time it is , you can always find somebody online . '' The Internet can easily become compulsive behavior for anyone with an addictive personality , Barnes said . | Survey : China has 400 private rehab clinics or camps , 10 million teen Web addicts . Chinese Health Ministry says none of the private rehab clinics are legally registered . Pu was allegedly beaten three times between August 4 and August 11 . Report : Boy is suffering from water on the lungs and kidney failure , father says . | [[524, 601], [675, 729], [734, 803], [770, 828], [1053, 1121], [1244, 1329], [1402, 1460]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man was stabbed in the chest and 13 people were arrested after violence marred an English League Cup tie between Premier League side West Ham and east London neighbors Millwall . Millwall fans taunt West Ham supporters during their English League Cup tie . The 44-year-old man was stabbed in Priory Road , a few yards from West Ham 's stadium as fans clashed with police before and after the match ; police say he is now in a stable condition . During the match , which West Ham won 3-1 , fans fought with police and stewards inside the stadium and play was temporarily suspended when numerous supporters invaded the pitch . Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Steve Wisbey , who was in charge of policing the match , confirmed his force were investigating the events and would seek to punish those responsible for the trouble . Commenting on the tie which has a tradition for trouble among rival fans Wisbey added : `` Police worked closely with West Ham Football Club , British Transport Police and the local authority to minimize disorder . `` Officers responded swiftly whilst missiles were being thrown as they tried to separate fans outside the ground after the match . `` Incidents of this nature at a match are thankfully rare , but it would appear that a small number of supporters were intent on causing a confrontation . `` A team of dedicated police officers will be reviewing all the events that took place and will be looking at CCTV both inside and outside the ground to identify evidence of offenses and offenders . `` We will proactively seek to obtain football-banning orders for those responsible so they will not be permitted in stadiums throughout the country or abroad . '' The Football Association -LRB- FA -RRB- , who are currently promoting England 's bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup , have denounced the violence . `` We absolutely condemn all of the disorder that has occurred at Upton Park , both inside and outside of the ground , '' an FA spokesman said . `` We will very quickly be working with all parties , including the police and clubs to establish the facts surrounding the events . We expect all culprits to be banned from football for life - they have no place in our game . '' And West Ham confirmed they are assisting with investigations and would not hesitate to issue lifetime bans to those deemed to have been intent on causing trouble . A statement on the club 's Web site said : `` West Ham United will fully investigate the deplorable scenes that took place during the cup tie with Millwall on Tuesday evening . `` The club will not tolerate the unacceptable behavior witnessed inside the Boleyn Ground and will take the strongest possible action against anyone found responsible , including life bans . `` As was the case before , during and after the match , we are cooperating fully with the relevant agencies , including the police . '' The incident caps an troubled period for West Ham off the pitch following the stabbing of defender Calum Davenport and the death of the father of midfielder Jack Collison in a motorbike accident in recent weeks . | Violence marred the English League Cup tie between West Ham and Millwall . A 44-year-old man was stabbed in the chest and police made 13 arrests . Metropolitan Police are now identifying evidence of offences and offenders . West Ham , Millwall and the Football Association denounce troublemakers . | [[54, 188], [84, 199], [2458, 2591], [0, 15], [19, 49], [54, 188], [278, 324], [1498, 1501], [1509, 1557], [1722, 1761], [1839, 1874]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The name `` Vampire Weekend '' describes the band perfectly : distinctive and eccentric . Vampire Weekend has earned a following for its upbeat , surf-laden songs . Made up of four guys who attended Columbia University , the band 's sound is distinguishable from other bands competing for attention in the indie pop arena with its percussive use of drums , shakers and guitars , as well as upbeat , surf-inflected melodies . The group -- Ezra Koenig , Rostam Batmanglij , Chris Tomson and Chris Baio -- earned generally favorable reviews for its first , self-titled CD release in 2008 , which landed on many year-end best-of lists . Among its songs : `` Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa '' and `` A-Punk . '' The band is working on a new album , scheduled out early 2010 . And what about that name ? It comes from a film Koenig was making in his backyard , which was in turn inspired by the 1987 film `` The Lost Boys . '' In Koenig 's version , a character had to go to Cape Cod and fight vampires on the way there . Watch Koenig talk about the source of `` Vampire Weekend '' '' The band was originally going to be called simply `` Weekend , '' but opted for the slightly longer version . `` It feels right , '' Koenig said . So does their sound , though it 's not likely to earn them any No. 1 singles in the current musical environment . `` Ultimately we wanted to make music we listen to , and like most people we listen to a lot of music outside of rock and roll , '' Koenig said . The members talked to CNN about the band 's origins , the forthcoming album and maintaining Facebook accounts . | Vampire Weekend working on second album . Band created splash with first CD in 2008 . And that name ? It comes from a film one member was making . | [[718, 752], [444, 518], [522, 595], [573, 577], [578, 603], [809, 829]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Libya will pay hundreds of millions of dollars to victims of terrorist attacks involving Americans in an agreement signed and finalized Thursday , the U.S. State Department said . U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch , left , and Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Fitouri sign the deal . Assistant Secretary of State David Welch signed the deal in Tripoli , Libya , on Thursday . If implemented , the deal will end Libya 's legal liability in numerous lawsuits from families of victims of what the United States considers Libyan terrorist acts . It also paves the way for stronger ties between the two nations and increased U.S. involvement in the oil-rich nation . `` This resolves the last major historical issue that has stood in the way of a more normal relationship between our two countries , '' Welch said . The deal had hinged on congressional approval . Last month , just before leaving for summer recess , Congress unanimously adopted the Libyan Claims Resolution Act , sponsored by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg , D-New Jersey . The legislation cleared the way to end the feud with Libya over terrorist attacks and creates a fund for victim payments . `` The Libyans did n't believe that Congress would ever be helpful , and Congress did n't think Libya would ever do it , '' Welch said Thursday . `` We found a diplomatic way to accommodate both sides by turning suspicion into an asset . '' Under the new law , Congress gives the Bush administration the authority to restore sovereign immunity for Libya only when the United States receives the agreed-upon money to pay American claimants in the fund and the secretary of state certifies it . See a timeline of events following the Pan Am attack '' Once the money is received into the fund , Libya would be exempted from legislation passed this year enabling terrorism victims to be compensated from frozen assets of governments blamed for attacks . The 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie , Scotland , killed 270 people , including 189 Americans . The 1986 La Belle disco bombing in Berlin , Germany , killed two American servicemen and injured 79 Americans . Libya has paid 268 families involved in the Pan Am bombing $ 8 million each of a $ 10 million settlement . It was withholding the remaining $ 2 million owed to each family over a dispute regarding U.S. obligations to Tripoli . Under the deal , Libya would pay more than $ 500 million to settle remaining claims from the Lockerbie case and more than $ 280 million for victims of the La Belle disco , according to Jim Kreindler , the lead attorney for the Pan Am families . It would also set aside funds to compensate victims of several other incidents blamed on Libya but for which Libya has n't accepted responsibility . The total settlement could exceed $ 1 billion . The pact , supported by the victims ' families , closes the book on a contentious period in U.S.-Libyan relations . Ties between the two countries began to improve in 2003 , when Libya gave up its weapons of mass destruction program and began compensating Lockerbie victims . But lingering lawsuits prevented the two countries from fully normalizing ties . A joint U.S.-Libya statement issued Thursday in Tripoli said `` both parties welcomed the establishment of a process to provide fair compensation for their respective nationals , and thereby turn their focus to the future of their bilateral relationship . '' This spring , Libya made a proposal to the Bush administration that held some promise in settling the dispute , Welch said . Over the next several months , he and State Department lawyers held closed-door negotiating sessions with the Libyan delegation in London , England ; Paris , France ; Berlin ; and Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates , where he finally secured a tentative agreement in late July . The afternoon he came back from Abu Dhabi , Welch met with Lautenberg and urged passage of the legislation . Welch said Libya would expect an end to the claims and put the longstanding dispute with Libya to rest , despite the lingering mistrust of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi . `` This could not have worked without a great deal of honesty on everyone 's part , '' Welch said . On Thursday , Lautenberg issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the agreement . `` For too many years , Libya has refused to accept responsibility for its horrific acts of terror against American victims , '' he said . `` The signing of this agreement means these victims and their families can get the long overdue justice they deserve . Today 's agreement is a critical development in moving Libya forward on its path toward diplomatic respect , '' he said . The State Department said the `` agreement is being pursued on a purely humanitarian basis and does not constitute an admission of fault by either party . '' Senior State Department officials said the formula was designed to respect Libyan sensitivities about compensating victims for incidents for which it has n't taken responsibility . But it also allows Libya to settle outstanding claims for U.S. air strikes on Tripoli in 1986 , in which Libya claims more than 40 of its citizens were killed , including Gadhafi 's adopted daughter . Donations to settle Libyan claims would be placed in the `` voluntary '' fund , from which each country involved in the claims draws the money to pay its citizens . Welch said no U.S. taxpayer money would be used to compensate Libya but said he was `` optimistic '' donations to settle Libyan claims would be made . Other senior U.S. officials said American companies eager to do business in Libya could possibly make a contribution . The deal is to be followed by a U.S. upgrading of relations with Libya , including the confirmation of a U.S. ambassador and possible American aid . Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit Libya before the end of the year . | Deal ends Libya 's liability in lawsuits from families of victims of terrorist acts . Libya to pay more than $ 700 million to settle Lockerbie , La Belle disco cases . Libya will be exempt from law allowing terror victims to be paid with frozen assets . | [[439, 553], [27, 108], [2401, 2415], [2418, 2570], [1792, 1797], [1850, 1928]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For astronaut Jose Hernandez , his first space flight , scheduled to be aboard the space shuttle Discovery , marks a remarkable journey from the farm fields of California to the skies . Astronaut Jose Hernandez is an American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan , Mexico . Hernandez , an American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan , Mexico , is getting plenty of attention at home and abroad for his journey from working the fields to operating some of the most advanced mechanics on the space shuttle . Mexican President Felipe Calderon called the 47-year-old astronaut over the weekend to congratulate him . A transcript of the entire conversation was promptly posted online by the Mexican government . Hernandez is also reaching out to fans through Twitter , where he posts updates under the name '' @Astro -- Jose . '' `` I come from a very humble family and what I would call a typical migrant farm working family , '' Hernandez said in a NASA interview . As a child , Hernandez 's family split their time between Mexico and California , where they worked as migrant farm workers . During the school year his parents emphasized his education , but on the weekends Hernandez would help the family , he said in the interview , posted on the NASA Web site . Growing up in Stockton , California , it was Hernandez 's job as the youngest child to hold up the rabbit ear antennas on the family 's television set in order to get the best reception while everyone watched the Apollo missions . `` Now I kid around with my family saying that , you know , it was through osmosis that I became an astronaut because I was closest to the whole situation , '' Hernandez told NASA . The real catalyst for his dream to become an astronaut , however , came when Franklin Chang-Diaz , became the first Latin American astronaut in 1981 . `` There was a lot of parallels and that 's when I challenged myself . I said , `` Hey , if Franklin can do it , why ca n't I do it ? '' Hernandez said in the interview . Hernandez earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering , and before joining NASA worked on a number of high-tech projects , including an X-ray laser to be deployed in space , a digital mammography system and the disposal of excess nuclear material in Russia , his official biography states . According to NASA , there are nine Hispanics currently in the astronaut program , and 13 total in the program 's history . Astronaut Danny Olivas , also of Mexican descent , will also fly on Discovery 's upcoming 13-day mission . The scheduled launch of Discovery on Tuesday was scrubbed twice , once because of weather and then hours later because of of mechanical issues involving a drain valve . NASA did not announce a new launch schedule . | Astronaut Jose Hernandez is an American-born son of Mexican immigrants . Jose Hernandez scheduled to be aboard the space shuttle Discovery . `` I come from ... a typical migrant farm working family , '' Hernandez said . Mexican President called the 47-year-old astronaut to congratulate him . | [[205, 282], [0, 15], [75, 125], [205, 282], [851, 928], [888, 943], [1074, 1111], [529, 634], [601, 604], [613, 634]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Somali government forces have seized control of a central town from an al Qaeda-linked Islamist militia , a spokesman for Somalia 's president said Thursday . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has offered aid to Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed , Somalia 's president . `` Bulo Burde is now under the control of government forces after our forces overran a stiff resistance at the entrance bridge of the town by Al Shabaab fighters , '' said Abdulkadir Mohamed Osman , communication director for Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed , Somalia 's transitional president . Despite the announcement , residents said heavy fighting continued Thursday and the town is still divided between pro-government forces and Al Shabaab fighters . The ongoing exchange of heavy-weapon fire between the two sides has trapped people in the town , residents said . `` Everyone inside this house is scared because heavy shells are raining in the town , '' said one resident , Sahra Muse . Bulo Burde is about 155 miles -LRB- 250 kilometers -RRB- southeast of the Somali capital of Mogadishu . The United States is supporting the Somali government 's fight against the insurgents , including providing weapons to government forces . Al Shabaab is on the U.S. list of terror organizations because of its ties to Osama bin Laden 's al Qaeda network . The United States is concerned that Somalia 's weak government could fall to the Islamist insurgency , as it did in 2006 before Ethiopian forces ousted the militants from power later that year . Earlier this month , U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Somalia 's transitional president and vowed to continue U.S. support for his government . `` The United States and the international community must serve as an active partner in helping the TFG -LSB- transitional federal government -RSB- and the people of Somalia confront and ultimately move beyond the conflict and poverty that have gripped their country , '' Clinton said at a joint news conference with Ahmed at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi , Kenya . The United States announced in June that it is providing weapons and ammunition to help Ahmed 's government fight the militants . The weapons shipments are in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions , which ban some arms shipments to Somalia , said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly . Clinton warned that terrorist groups like Al Shabaab pose a threat to the broader international community . `` Certainly if Al Shabaab were to obtain a haven in Somalia , which could then attract al Qaeda and other terrorist actors , it would be a threat to the United States , '' she said . There are growing concerns that Somalia could be the next base for al Qaeda as U.S. forces pound their positions in Afghanistan and Pakistan . CIA Director Leon Panetta recently said that the intelligence agency is keeping tabs on the region as a possible destination for fleeing al Qaeda operatives . `` Our concern right now is that likely safe havens are areas in the Horn of Africa , like Somalia and Yemen , that are countries that because of their political status can be attractive to al Qaeda in order to operate there , '' Panetta said in June . Separately , the FBI is investigating what appears to be a massive recruiting effort by Al Shabaab in immigrant communities in the United States . More than a dozen young men of Somali descent have disappeared from the Minneapolis , Minnesota , area in recent months . At least three of them , including a suicide bomber , have been killed in Somalia . Also , Australia recently announced the arrests of four men with ties to Al Shabaab who were suspected of planning a suicide attack on a military base in the southern state of Victoria . President Ahmed is a former member of the Islamic Courts Union , which took part in the 2006 coup . His decision to renounce the bloody insurgency and try to establish peace in Somalia has put him at odds with Islamist hard-liners who are still battling for control of Somalia . It also paved the way for his election as president of Somalia 's U.N.-backed transitional government in January . Journalist Mohammed Amiin Adow contributed to this report . | Troops `` overran a stiff resistance '' from Islamist militia , spokesman says . But residents still report heavy fighting between Al Shabaab , pro-government forces . U.S. backs Somalia 's weak government , fears it could fall to al Qaeda-linked group . U.S. officials warn that Somalia could become haven for al Qaeda operatives . | [[284, 370], [350, 445], [602, 736], [3947, 3967], [3972, 4015], [1333, 1433], [2642, 2773], [2511, 2518], [2527, 2537], [2546, 2581], [2642, 2773], [2785, 2943], [2944, 3052]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Worldwide tributes for U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy , who has died after a long battle with brain cancer , poured in Wednesday , led by politicians hailing his role in securing a lasting peace in Northern Ireland . Senator Edward Kennedy , right , pictured with Northern Irish politician Gerry Adams in 1996 . Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair , whose administration presided over the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to an end to decades of sectarian violence in the province and established a united ruling Assembly , praised Kennedy 's commitment to the process . `` I saw his focus and determination first hand in Northern Ireland where his passionate commitment was matched with a practical understanding of what needed to be done to bring about peace and to sustain it , '' Blair said . Kennedy , of Irish Catholic ancestry , was initially an outspoken opponent of British military deployment to the province during the violence of the 1970s and 80s in which more than 3,600 people were killed , but later moderated his views to support negotiations that brought all sides to the table . The senator is credited with getting an American visa for Gerry Adams -- leader of the pro-Irish nationalism Sinn Fein party accused of links to Irish Republican Army militants -- allowing him to attend a pivotal U.S. conference on Northern Ireland 's future . Sound off : Your reactions to Sen. Kennedy 's death . Kennedy was awarded an honorary knighthood in March 2009 , for his contribution to Northern Irish peace , which included a landmark speech in the province in 1998 urging mainly pro-British Protestants and mainly pro-Irish Catholics to work together . Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen described Kennedy `` a great friend of Ireland . '' `` He has used his considerable influence in the world 's most powerful parliament for the betterment of this island , '' he said . `` In good days and bad , Ted Kennedy worked valiantly for the cause of peace on this island . He played a particularly important role in the formative days of the Northern Ireland peace process in the early to mid-1990s . '' iReport.com : Share your tributes . Irish President Mary McAleese added : `` He will be remembered here in Ireland as a hugely important friend to this country during the very difficult times . `` His death will be greeted with a great sense of sadness here because of his long-standing affection for this country , not just with the peace process , but on many other issues , including emigration , '' McAleese said . `` His outstanding and remarkable personal contribution was made , despite the sacrifice and sorrow that was part of the overall contribution of the entire Kennedy family . '' Sinn Fein president Adams greeted Kennedy 's death with great sadness , according to the UK Press Asscociation . `` He has served the American people with courage and commitment for nearly 50 years . His service to Ireland through his role in the peace process was exceptional and contributed significantly to its progress . '' Irish former policitician John Hume , a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending Northern Irish violence , described Kennedy as a close personal friend who took the Northern Ireland issue onto the world state . `` Ted Kennedy was at the forefront of persuading the British government to talk to the Irish government , '' he told CNN . Shaun Woodward , the British government 's Northern Ireland minister , said he was `` deeply saddened '' to hear of Kennedy 's death . `` Ted Kennedy was a true and constant friend of the peace process in Northern Ireland whose huge influence in engaging the United States in that process can not be over estimated , '' he said . `` In every sense he was an immense figure whose part in transforming Northern Ireland will be a lasting memorial . British Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Kennedy 's achievements on the wider world stage , describing him as the `` senator of senators . '' `` He led the world in championing children 's education and health care , and believed that every single child should have the chance to realize their potential to the full , '' Brown said . `` Even facing illness and death he never stopped fighting for the causes which were his life 's work . I am proud to have counted him as a friend and proud that the United Kingdom recognized his service earlier this year with the award of an honorary knighthood . '' In Israel , Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman hailed Kennedy as a `` great friend of Israel and the Jewish people a defender of human rights and member of a family that through the years at the Senate was always at the side of Israel , in bad times and good and contributed to the deep and special relationship between Israel and the United States . '' German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Kennedy as a `` towering figure in U.S. politics . '' `` His battle for justice and equality was defined by persistence and resoluteness . In Senator Kennedy both Germany and Europe have lost a great and dear friend , '' she said . Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Kennedy as a `` great American , a great Democrat and also a great friend of Australia . '' `` He has made an extraordinary contribution to American politics , an extraordinary contribution to America 's role in the world , '' Rudd said in a statement , according to Agence France-Presse . | Sen. Edward Kennedy praised as influential in Northern Ireland peace process . Former UK prime minister Tony Blair says Kennedy `` committed '' to peace . Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen : Kennedy `` a great friend of Ireland '' | [[171, 249], [2018, 2145], [2944, 3004], [3025, 3068], [345, 385], [566, 612], [1706, 1758], [2185, 2220], [2223, 2342]] |
NEW DELHI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A dilapidated building collapsed in Mumbai , India , on Wednesday , killing at least 16 people who had defied orders to vacate the structure , a police spokesman told CNN . Rescue workers clear away debris after a building collapsed Wednesday in Mumbai , India . Another 26 people were injured and hospitalized , the spokesman said . Mumbai city officials had told residents living in the old building to leave it because of structural concerns . The chief minister of Maharashtra state , Vilasrao Deshmukh , visited the building hours after the collapse to pay his respects to the victims . Last July , another building collapse in Mumbai -- formerly Bombay -- killed 26 people . | Officials had warned people to leave building due to structural concerns . At least 26 people injured as dilapidated building collapses . Chief minister of Maharashtra state pays his respects to victims . | [[371, 438], [402, 483], [37, 79], [300, 347], [484, 523], [546, 591], [579, 628]] |
CAPE CANAVERAL , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Space shuttle Discovery was scheduled to launch early Tuesday morning for a mission to deliver equipment to the international space station . Discovery rests on launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral on Monday evening . The seven-member crew was boarding the orbiter Monday night on Cape Canaveral 's launch pad 39A . Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Kevin Ford will guide Discovery to the space station after launch , scheduled for 1:36 a.m. ET Tuesday , NASA said . Forecasters gave the Cape an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions at launch time . One of Discovery 's seven astronauts , Nicole Stott , will remain on the space station as a flight engineer , replacing astronaut Timothy Kopra , who will return home aboard Discovery as a mission specialist , according to the NASA Web page for the mission . Also on board : The Leonardo logistics module , science experiments and the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill -LRB- COLBERT -RRB- , named for Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central 's `` The Colbert Report . '' Earlier this year , NASA conducted an online poll to name the space station 's newest compartment , asking voters to choose one of four given options or offer their own suggestion . Colbert urged his viewers to suggest `` Colbert , '' which won . But Colbert and the space agency compromised to give the moniker to the treadmill instead . The new module was given the name Tranquility . `` I 'm so proud my treadmill will be going into space to help trim down those famously fat astronauts . Lay off the Tang , Chubby ! '' Colbert said in a statement last week . The mission will be Discovery 's 37th to space , and the 30th shuttle mission dedicated to international space station assembly and maintenance , NASA says . | Discovery scheduled to launch at 1:36 a.m. ET Tuesday . Cape Canaveral has 80 percent chance of acceptable weather for launch . Shuttle to deliver equipment to international space station . Astronaut Nicole Stott will remain on the space station as a flight engineer . | [[0, 14], [17, 34], [44, 127], [356, 400], [458, 492], [507, 603], [118, 185], [604, 640], [650, 711]] |
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